#alma awards

[stylestream]

Jessica Alba | Narcisco Rodriguez dress | ALMA Awards | 2008

[mikenesmithmpreg]

i’ve gotta stop being so beautiful and accomplished and smart and funny and kind and everyone’s best friend and the best daughter in the world. if i keep going at the rate im going im gonna end up the subject of a true crime documentary

[angela-yuriko-smith]

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month: Spotlight on Alma Katsu's THE FERVOR

Celebrating Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month with Alma Katsu!

Today’s guest is Alma Katsu, author of The Fervor, a fantastic novel set in 1944, that tangles the lives of a newspaper reporter, a newly ordained minister, Japanese internees, and a Japanese scientist around a mysterious illness. The narrative alternates among several characters, drawing them together as more is revealed about the illness spreading through the internment camp and the appearance…

[xiimy-bufoona-d-lucifer13]

"Estaba en el desierto y... Probablemente debí dejar un resto de migajas de pan. Pero me encontraste... Y como los mejores directores tú me mostraste dónde ir, para llegar a dónde necesitaba estar. Si tú, como un tipo como Charlie a quien intérprete en esta película (The Whale) De alguna manera luchas con la obesidad o sientes que estás como en un mar oscuro, quiero que sepas que tienes la fuerza para levantarte e ir a la luz... Cosas buenas sucederán."

Palabras de Brendan Fraser en los Critics Movies Awards 2023 a mejor actor

[hotvintagepoll]

Propaganda

María Félix (Doña Barbara, La Mujer sin Alma, Rio Escondido, La Cucaracha)—Maria Felix is still possibly the most well-known Mexican film actress. She turned down multiple-roles in Hollywood and a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer in order to take roles in Mexico, France, and Argentine throughout the 1940s, 50s, 60s. She was so famous and so respected as a dramatic actress that she inspired painters, novelists and poets in their own art--she was painted by Diego Rivera, Jose Orozco, Bridget Tichenor. The novelist Carlos Fuentes used her as inspiration for his protagonist in Zona Sagrada. She inspired an entire collection by Hermes. In the late 1960s Cartier made her a custom collection of reptile themed jewels. She considered herself to be powerful challenger of morality and femininity in Mexico & worldwide--she routinely played powerful women in roles with challenging moral choices and free sexuality. But even still, years after he death, she is celebrated with Google Doodles, and appearances in the movie Coco, and holidays for the anniversary of her death.

Vyjayanthimala (Madhumati, Amrapali, Sangam, Devdas)—Strong contender for /the/ OG queen of Indian cinema for over 2 straight decades. Her Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award came not a moment too soon with 62 movies under her belt. Singer, dancer, actor, and also has the most expressive set of eyes known to man

This is round 5 of the tournament. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. Please reblog with further support of your beloved hot sexy vintage woman.

[additional propaganda submitted under the cut.]

Vyjayanthimala:

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María Félix:

She's Thee Hot Vintage Movie Woman of México. She's absolutely gorgeous and always looks like she's about to step on you. you WILL be thankful if she does.

"María Félix is a woman -- such a woman -- with the audacity to defy the ideas machos have constructed of what a woman should be. She's free like the wind, she disperses the clouds, or illuminates them with the lightning flash of her gaze." - Octavio Paz

María Félix is one of the most iconic actresses of the Golden Era of Mexican Cinema. La Doña, as she was lovingly nicknamed, only had one son, and when her first marriage ended in divorce her ex-husband stole her only child, so she vowed that one day she’d be more influential than her ex and she’d get her son back. AND SHE DID! María Félix rejected a Hollywood acting role to start her acting career in Mexico on her own terms with El Peñón de las Ánimas (The Rock of Souls) starring alongside actor, and future third husband, Jorge Negrete. She quickly rose to incredible heights both in Mexico and abroad, later on rejecting a Hollywood starring role (Duel in the Sun) as she was already committed to the movie Enamorada at the planned filming time. Of this snubbing she said, quote: “I will never regret saying no to Hollywood, because my career in Europe was focused in [high] quality cinema. [My] india* roles are made in my country, and [my] queen roles are abroad.” (Translator notes: here the “india” role means interpreting a lower-class Mexican woman, usually thought of indigenous/native/mixed descent —which she had interpreted and reinvented throughout her acting career in Mexico— and what abroad was typically considered the Mexican woman stereotype, with the braids, long simple skirts, and sandals. This also references the expectation of her possibly helping Hollywood in perpetuating this stereotype for American audiences that lack the cultural and historical contexts of this type of role which would undermine her own efforts against this type of Mexican stereotypes while working in Europe) She was considered one of the most beautiful women in the world of her time by international magazines like Life, París Match, and Esquire, and was a muse to a vast number of songwriters (including her second husband Agustin Lara,), artists, designers, and writers. Muralist Diego Rivera described her as “a monstrously perfect being. She’s an exemplary being that drives all other human beings to put as much effort as possible to be like her”. Playwriter Jean Cocteau, who worked with her in the Spanish film La Corona Negra (The Black Crown) said the following about her, “María, that woman is so beautiful it hurts”. Haute Couture houses like Dior, Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Hérmes, among others, designed and dressed her throughout her life. She died on her birthday, April 8, 2002, at 88 years old, in Mexico City. She was celebrated by a parade from her home to the Fine Arts Palace in the the city’s Historic Downtown, where a multitude of people paid tribute to her. Her filmography includes 47 movies from 1942 until 1970, and only two television acting roles in 1970. She has 2 music albums, one recorded with her second husband, Agustín Lara, in 1964 titled La Voz de María y la inspiración de Agustín «The voice of María and the inspiration of Augustín», and her solo album Enamorada «In Love» in 1998. Her bespoke Cartier jewelry is exhibited alongside Elizabeth Taylor’s, Grace Kelly’s and Gloria Swanson’s. In 2018, Film Director Martin Scorsese presented a restored and remastered version of her film Enamorada in the Cannes Classics section of the Cannes Festival and Google dedicated a doodle for her 104th birthday. On august 2023 Barbie added her doll to the Tribute Collection.

[coolpointsetta]

iwaizumi hajime (47) athletic trainer who publishes award winning research, becoming a pioneer in his field. he goes to conferences and presents said research for thousands of people. there are techniques named after him, he gets to write a textbook. his work is included in dozens of textbooks. he is invited for guest lectures at colleges and universities in nearly every country; including, but not limited to, his alma mater in california.

the topic of said research? knee recovery in athletes and recognizing the signs of the particular injuries before they start, stopping the injuries before they even happen. the goal of said research? to maximize an athlete’s performance and lengthen their career and limit muscle fatigue and surgeries even after they retire.

he is asked many questions about his research, but the one posed most often is why. why would he chose this topic.

“it is simple,” he always says. “i want to help others. this felt like the best way to do it.”

others, he says; he means it of course. he wants to help others and he has, he has helped thousands of athletes across the world. but to those who know him, they know it all ties back to one person.

in all of his published works, oikawa’s data is present. his x-rays and scans and initial prognosis, his routines and procedures and how the exercises made him feel. all of it compared to iwaizumi’s newly developed research and routines. oikawa’s name is omitted for privacy, but everyone knows it.

obviously, iwaizumi needed to gather data from hundreds of participants, but the same images and scans and quotes are all pulled from the same person.

iwaizumi loves his husband to the point of rewriting the story that oikawa would never make it as a professional athlete. watching tooru never give in to the critics was the whole he reason he chose this field in the first place, after all. hajime healed his injury with his own two hands and stood beside him every step of the way. iwaizumi loves him to the point of creation.

because all of it, after all this time, was for oikawa.

[the-orange-tabby-cat]

A Lesson In Nature

Dieter Bravo x fem!reader

Summary: A hike with your handsome co-star made you believe two things: 1. Your agent would be fired as soon as you got signal, 2. Dieter was a full pain in the ass. Forget about having the starlet breakout of your dreams, you were about to murder whoever cast you both together. But first, you need to survive this.

read on AO3 | masterlist

Rating: Teen - no allusions to sex, just fluff

Warnings/Tags: enemies (but not really) to lovers, fluff, soft!Dieter, co-stars, power imbalance, mention of irritated skin and that's all, No use of y/n

Word count: 4,2k

Tabby note: Part of the Summer Lovin' 24 Challenge by @pedgito, under the hiking category. It was so much fun! 🧡 I wanted to write a Dieter fic for so long and it was the perfect opportunity. Go ahead and check the other works too! 🐾

GIF by @miguelo-hara

You were certain of two things: 1. Your agent would be fired as soon as you got signal, 2. Dieter was a full pain in the ass. Forget about having the starlet breakout of your dreams, you were about to murder whoever cast you both together.

Your dismay started when you found out about a script that would be directed by an awarded director: two astronomers stuck in the middle of the Atacama desert, unable to fully leave the lab region after a strange meteor affected the nearby community in a modern adaption of The Color Out of Space by H. P. Lovecraft. It was a serious project and you wanted to be seen as a serious actress, not only fit for a romcom.

After convincing your agent to make a call and book an audition, you got the job and shed some relief tears.

God forbid being 30 and still cast as a teenager, there was a limit on how many times you could look like a 17 year old and the clock was ticking. This is why you still accepted the part even after being told that the chief astronomer, an older and tortured man who avoided intimacy with his younger partner at all costs, would be played by Dieter Bravo.

“He isn’t as bad as it sounds, you know? Met him at a Vanity Fair party a few years ago, harmless. Just stay out of his way and you’ll be fine,” your agent guaranteed as you analyzed the studio offer.

Fuck it, this was your moment: you said yes.

You were excited about many things as the pre-production started. Being in Chile for a few months, getting to see the ALMA observatory out in the desert, and proving yourself to the director and executives. Fuck, even acting with Dieter was something that you were looking for.

However, you felt something off during a meeting with the production team.

“For most of the story, it will be only you two. I know we still have some time before production starts, but I need you to get used to the harsh conditions of the desert.” The director said on a Zoom call with the executive producers, HR, Dieter, and you.

These calls were a regular thing, even more so when discussing working conditions. And yet, Dieter looked a little scared.

“What exactly are you proposing, Alan?” He questioned while scratching his beard, his sunglasses hid most of his stare.

“A hiking. Nothing too intense, enough for you to get used to the lack of humidity. The producers believe that will help preview how your body will react to the extreme conditions; this way we can prepare the set better for the real thing.”

Dieter just nodded, still a little zoned out. You pondered about it, he hadn’t spoken a word towards you since being cast, except a “congratulations, doll” on the email announcing it to the studio. For someone known as a party animal, he seemed worn out.

“And when will we be hiking? The Atacama weather will be pretty mild when we arrive there, right?” You frowned just to gain a chuckle from one of the producers.

“We’ll be shooting during South American spring, in a few months. We must do all pre-production until then: get all licenses, the costumes, the usual. We can’t wait for a similar weather, you’ll go hiking this week.” His hands were typing something on his phone, a smuggle smirk on his face. You fought the urge to roll your eyes.

Unless they were able to recreate the driest place on Earth, you doubted that it would help that much. A hike? With quiet and problematic Dieter? A nightmare. You and him, however, weren’t able to say anything as the meeting continued. 

“Also, if you allow me: the director has a special request for both of you. It isn’t mandatory in any way, but it would be nice if you could consider and give us an answer by the end of this week.” The HR manager smiled in a silent plea, catching Dieter's attention.

“In the script, the astronomers have known each other for years, they can communicate with just their eyes. They have a high level of intimacy that has been constructed over time. It would be fantastic if you could share a room when we arrive there.” You and Dieter opened the mic to reply, but he put his hand up in a quick motion asking to finish his proposal. “The room will have two beds, of course. We have an intimacy coordinator in the set as required, I don’t want to create any stress, just allow you to get closer so these characters can show up better on screen.”

Dieter huffed and you got offended. You were the weakest link here, he had an Oscar and a name in the industry, this was your first big role. Why the hell did he huff at the idea of sharing a room with you for a few weeks?

“Again, no need to give us an answer now. Just food for thought.” HR was getting under your skin, but fine, you could discuss it later with your agent.

“Whatever, what about the hike?” Dieter asked as he lighted up a cigarette and played the asshole so well.

And this is how you ended up in the Sonoran desert on a Saturday afternoon, you and your co-star. The sun was unforgiving, the air so dry that your lips were about to get chap if you didn’t reapply the balm now and then (if this was unforgiving, imagine the real thing). 

You wanted to prove to the studio you were star material so you kept to yourself every possible complaint as the van crossed the desert. Dieter seemed a little happier, a sweaty mess of curls. Inside the van, you caught him staring at you a few times.

Because you were sneaking glances at him too. How could you not? His broad shoulders on a tight t-shirt that got loose around his waistline, his neck glistening from sweat. God, you wanted to bite him there and taste his skin. Acting like a gentleman, he was carrying the backpack the studio provided for you two in an unusual kindness.

As you left the van and walked out, you felt the dust filling your lungs and hated yourself for accepting this absurdity. Dieter immediately put on his sunglasses, trying to shut down his discomfort. Great, at least you weren’t the only one suffering.

The fitness coach for the production team gave you some instructions as he put a map and a satellite radio in Dieter’s hands.

“Pay attention ‘cause I’m only gonna say it once. Your task is to do this hike as smoothly as possible without much equipment. The trail is marked on this map, see that mountain over there? We’ll be waiting for you behind it. The radio is for emergencies only. Any questions?”

Of course, why not make it in fucking Survivor style?

“How much time do we have to complete it?” Checking your surroundings, you could see mostly flat surfaces with eventual rocks and yellowish green, mostly cactuses and small shrubs. The mountain was rocky in an orange undertone, you could do it without much worry, even if you were pissed off.

“Four hours. Good luck!” And just like that, the coach jumped back on the van and left you and Dieter alone.

You were still incredulous at how the studio cared so little for your well-being by pushing their cast like that. Why the hell would a simple hike take four hours? Looking at the man, he seemed so fucking lost at how the trail was marked.

Scratching the nape of his neck, his eyes trying to make a way out of his map-reading skills. His mouth was slightly open, the tongue placed in a corner. You could be turned on a little by the sight, but instead noticed that the map was upside down.

Without much patience, you got from his big hands (not without gaining a little “hey!” as a response) and put it in the right direction. A muttered “oh” came from him and you started to walk.

“That was impressive,” he tried to get chatty following your step, eyes still on the map.

“Identifying the right side of it?” His cheeks got warmer and he nodded, you were starting to believe that maybe he was just shy.

The truth is that you never paid much attention to Dieter Bravo. You knew that he got an Oscar a few years ago, that he did a horrible blockbuster franchise that later turned into a cult classic winning documentary, and that TMZ loved to tease about his drug addiction.

His bigger than life persona seemed so fake after meeting him in flesh and bone. Your agent told you that Dieter had been clean for longer than it seemed by the public eye — hadn't used again since the rehab post-divorcing a woman who was 20 years younger than him. That for sure would be enough to wear anyone out.

“Do you want to keep it? You’re clearly better than me at it,” he tried with a soft voice after a few seconds of silence. A hand offered you the map while his eyes avoided yours.

“Not really. C’mon, show me the way,” you smiled trying to be friendly.

Trying, that’s the word, because the second he saw your smile he scuffed again. In a second, he started marching down not waiting for you to follow.

Something was off, maybe he wanted someone different for the role? Perhaps an actress more known by the public? Maybe a friend? It didn’t matter, you wouldn’t allow him to get under your skin.

A few feet into the track, there were no words between you. A scorching day, way too hot for your taste, and he was the one carrying the backpack with your water bottle.

“Stop.” You hissed, the angry tone getting out before you could diminish it. He immediately dropped everything and turned around to you with round eyes. “Could you pass me the bottle, please?”

“Oh, sure. Sorry.” 

His big hands opened the backpack quickly in a clumsy way, as he found the bottle you extended your hand so he could carefully place it there, his fingers caressing a little yours (or that was what you imagined).

“Why did you say sorry?” After a big gulp, you asked without thinking, just curious.

Dieter, on the other hand, was panicking a little bit. Scratching his beard, poking his tongue out as he processed his answer. 

“I-I don’t want to invade your space,” he sounded genuine, waiting for a response from you but your only reaction was to shoot your eyebrows, “I mean it. I was once too fresh meat and the studio executives are vultures.”

With sunglasses down his nose bridge, his eyes twinkled beautifully and you felt your knuckles relaxing with the conclusion that he wanted to say something more, but wouldn’t. He swallowed dry waiting for your response.

“It’s fine. We’ll be shooting together soon and this is the first time we’re talking. Can’t we just start over?”

Dieter had a dimple, a cute one even that only showed up when he smiled lopsided. In the first minutes after your proposal, you found out that he wasn’t exactly shy, he was talkative.

You don’t know how he was doing it, with the dry weather and the relentless heat. And yet, he had one hand holding the backpack strap and the other moving in the air as he explained the benefits of doing yoga with baby goats.

“And they are so, so fucking soft! Have you ever touched a baby goat fur?” His eyes got bigger as you shook your head, incredulous even. “That’s it! I’m booking us a session when we arrive at the set! Trust me, it's the best thing ever!”

“I don’t know if it’ll be that easy considering we’re shooting in the middle of the desert,” you chuckled and he nodded very seriously.

“You’re right, I might need to fly them there. Should have put it on my contract…” He replied lost in a train of thoughts that made sense only for him.

“Uhm, Dieter, haven’t we walked by here before?”

Either the sun made your mind play tricks or you were sure that you got lost. The mountain wasn’t any closer, the vegetation around was in a similar pattern too… Oh fuck.

“Let me see the map, please,” he pouted as if you didn’t trust him.

And damn right you didn’t, the map was upside down again.

“We’ve been walking all this time in the wrong direction! You said you could show the way!” Snapping at him, you raised your voice and immediately felt guilty looking into his puppy eyes.

“I told you that you were better than me at it!” He didn’t shout or raise his voice, simply pouted sadly.

Grumply, you defined a new route and got quiet once more. Dieter followed you a little shyer than before, you pounded his words in the back of your mind, “I don’t want to invade your space” and realized that the same way he hadn’t spoken with you properly, you weren’t treating him courteously.

“I’m not mad, fyi. Just angry with the heat, that’s all.” Without lifting your eyes from the paper, just nodding your head in his direction.

“Thank god, ‘cause I couldn’t take the silence anymore!” He sighed dramatically dropping his head like a diva after a minor occurrence. “You’re really good at it, what’s your secret?”

“Not a secret, I grew up in a road trip kind of family. I’m the shotgun.”

That and being a girl scout, but you were terrible and it was a long time ago, he didn’t need that information. Even more when his deeply furrowed eyebrows confirmed that he had enough food for thought.

“What is the strangest thing you saw on the road?” No teasing in his voice, he was an oddball.

“I don’t know. Oh wait, I do know: a cookie cutter museum.” His face lightened up immediately.

This is how you learned, again, that Dieter is a chatterbox. The difference is that you also learned that you liked to hear his deep voice so close to your ear. Sometimes he would get so excited that he would bump into you, the first time you got goosebumps, but now you were craving his body heat.

He was slowly showing you his true colors. Milk chocolate was his favorite. The triangle tattoo on his arm was an inside joke with his dad who used to say that his mind was lost at the Bermuda Triangle. He painted in his free time, it relaxes him and he would love to make a portrait of your orange cat after shooting.

For someone so inside his head, he also enjoyed learning about you. What was your first word? Are you a salty or sweet kind of person? If the world ended tomorrow, what would you do for the last time? Do you think technology will eventually kill us all? Where do you want to eat after the hike?

You don’t remember the last time someone wanted to know you as a whole. Dieter almost fell as you walked because he was too busy bumping his shoulder on yours and looking into your eyes whenever you opened your mouth. Clingy and adorable.

“I’m getting hungry, can’t believe that the studio didn’t pack food. SAGA must have a rule against it or something,” he mumbled as you traced a plan for crossing the mountain.

The terrain was rockier than you imagined, a little too risky for his clumsiness. If you were to go by the sides, it could take longer than expected. You decided to go little by little up the rocks, at least you wouldn’t have to climb it.

“Dieter, eyes here,” you pointed to yours and he happily obliged, “we’re going up this mountain. You can’t slip, alright? Mind your step.”

He nodded quickly and did his best following you closely, watching where you walked by. It was quiet as he tried to concentrate, contrasting to the constant rambling from minutes ago.

Step by step, you go up the mountain getting dizzier. Your nostrils on fire, your throat getting raspier as you started to breathe with your mouth. Stopping for a few seconds, you signed Dieter to stop walking.

For someone in recovery, he was surprisingly in better shape than you. In his clumsy way, he opened the backpack to grab you water (without you having to ask, he learned your signals) but got the zipper stuck.

“Damn it, hold on,” he mumbled, cutting you before telling him to stay out of the border. He wasn’t fully looking at where he was and you had less than a second before he almost fell.

Right there, at the path border. Up high. He was about to become one with the desert, if not for your grip on his hand pulling him towards you.

His chest was up close to yours, you could smell his sweat mixed with expensive perfume. His hands were displayed on your waist by impulse, but it didn’t matter, you could feel all his fingers in your body. His eyes were no longer covered by the orange-tinted sunglasses, they were instead boring into yours.

“I told you, be careful. Do you have a death wish?” You whispered like a small prayer, not moving.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered back, putting pressure on your waist before you realized that the backpack was no longer with him.

“Dieter, where is the backpack?” His eyes got bigger, his eyebrows shot up.

“It felt. It rolled down the mountain. Sorry.”

Shoving his body from yours, you took a look at the mountainsides and couldn't find a single trace of the damn backpack.

“No, no, no… Where is the map? And the water?” You looked at his hands that were caressing your body so sweetly seconds ago with anger. “DIETER!”

His face was a deep shade of pink.

“You were so tired, I wanted to give you water, but the stupid zipper wasn’t working an-” you screamed and he shushed.

“How are we supposed to cross this fucking mountain now? Huh?” He shrugged self-consciously as you scratched the top of your head. “Fuck. Fine, pass me the radio, I need to talk with the studio.”

His face was a deeper shade of pink.

“Are you kidding me? Oh fuck, I can’t believe it!”

Taking a deep breath, you looked at the sun's position and tried to force any memory of what you were supposed to know from the scouts. You could see your shadow, your body proportions were almost right, which means it was pointing to the east, right? How the fuck people count the hours with shadows?

Your dilemma was over as soon as you noticed Dieter wasn't anywhere near you. Where the hell was the man? Did he just leave you alone and try to find the way by himself? Worst, did he fall and you didn’t notice?

 This is the exact moment when you decided two things: 1. Your agent would be fired as soon as you got signal, 2. Dieter was a full pain in the ass. Forget about having the starlet breakout of your dreams, you were about to murder whoever cast you both together.

Maybe you already murdered Dieter, who knows!

In a pure panic, shouting his name to the four corners of the wind, you hear a muffled sound coming from the shrubs. You scan the area until you see there, at the bottom of the mountain, a big hand waving the radio at you. So not dead, just stupid, that’s better.

“No! Don't... Touch that, for fuck’s sake!” You yell at him once you think you recognize the type of plant he was just now. He is oblivious to your concern, laughing mischievously as he finds a way out of the shrub that you are sure to be some kind of poison ivy. “You have a minute to come up here!”

It takes more than a minute, but his clumsy feet find its way to you. His skin looks fine, you never claimed to be a good girl scout, below average in fact. He is smiling big with the backpack in his hands. You want to scream at him, but he shoves the water bottle in your hands.

“Drink it, then you can yell at me,” he says with a smirk, the dimple showing up in its glory.

“I thought you fell! You need to tell me things!” You shout angrily but drink the water anyway. Your eyes never leaving his, as if he would disappear once more.

“Don’t be dramatic, I made a mistake, I fixed it. You’re the brains, c’mon, look at the map!”

His hand is anchoring you to the ground, thumb casually caressing your shoulder. You melt into his touch before finding your exact position. Okay, not that bad, still on time. Deciding it was good news, you look at Dieter’s face and panic once more.

A rash was slowly appearing on his tanned skin. From his neck to his arms, like a new tattoo. Dieter managed to make you worry more times in one day than the whole previous year by yourself. Not a great moment to feel proud about your girl scout skills.

“Please tell me that you looked around that shrub before recovering the backpack,” you urge looking closer at his skin, he huffs, but now in good humor.

“What do you me- OH FUCK, NO!” You show him his arm and he emits a guttural howl surprising you. “DO SOMETHING!”

“Who is the dramatic now, huh? Calm down, we just need to finish this mountain first. We are stuck, remember?”

His breathing is irregular, he is holding tight to your hand. His face screams discomfort. Your heart breaks a little. Thinking fast, you decide to act a little silly just like him.

“If I kiss it better, will you go up this mountain so we can get into the van AC?”

The twinkle from his eyes is back, the shyness too as he nods and moves his head towards yours. Before you can process it, Dieter Bravo is giving you a sweet kiss. The type of kiss that makes you thankful for bringing a lip balm with you, because his lips are so soft on yours. His hand holding your jaw delicately like you are fine china, his mustache tickling your skin deliciously. Fuck, his taste is addictive.

“Finally! I couldn’t wait any longer,” he confess on your lips still.

“What do you mean? You couldn’t even look at my face until I proposed a truce,” you question and he rolls his eyes before putting a little more space between your bodies, but still holding your face.

“Have you ever heard about being professional? I wanted to kiss you since I saw your audition video. You were the best by far, it was an easy choice for casting, but terrible for everything else.”

He knows you are about to complain about what he means with “everything else”, so he kisses you once more and continues as if nothing happened.

“You are a talented actress, didn’t want to make you feel like you haven’t earned your place by shameless flirting with you. Even if you made it really hard by being so nice and hot.”

“For context, “kiss it better” was about kissing your hand.” His smile drops as his eyes get bigger, now it is you who kisses him before he can say something. “But I like your version better, though. And I’m not nice, I yelled at you at least three times today.”

“Oh, sweetheart. You are such a type A. You have no idea how much I enjoyed that,” he smirks and you huff, but pleasantly.

If before he was clumsy and clingy, now he is double and you don’t mind at all. After roughly three hours and half, you arrive at the studio van, just in time to see Dieter explain awkwardly how the radio got broken to the fitness coach, who is putting some kind of lotion on his rashes.

You follow your co-star to the van’s seats, sitting by his side as he opens his phone and puts all his focus there. Maybe you wouldn’t fire your agent, just ignore the next time he says something is harmless: Dieter is a walking hazard and a pain in the ass, but a very enjoyable one.

“Ha! They don’t have a baby goat yoga class, but I found a duck one. I’m gonna book it. It’s a duck farm, you can even hold the babies, look!” He is shoving his phone in your face and you must admit, the babies are indeed cute.

“We have months until the shooting, wouldn’t be better to wait until we arrive there?” Shoving his phone back in his pocket, he looks very seriously into your eyes. You shiver, thinking it might be the AC in your sweaty heated skin, but knowing it is Dieter being sure that he will still want your company down the road.

“Let me be the shotgun this time. You point the direction and I plan everything else, have you already decided where do you want to eat? ‘Cause my only plan is to follow your lead.”

You have no idea about where to eat tonight, but you are sure that the two beds the director promised won’t be necessary once you and Dieter get a shared room.

[iovebarca]

A Shoulder to Lean On - Pau Cubarsi

Authors note: I needed to write something (tbh for myself) after this clasico cause wth.

WC: 700+

warnings: incorrect grammar (probably), my first language isn't english so if you notice any mistakes please tell me, angsty but not really angst, fluff.

summary: Pau seeks solace from their partner after feeling responsible for a el clasico loss. Their partner reassures them, emphasizing their unwavering support.

As the final whistle blew, signaling the end of the match, a heavy silence descended upon the stadium. Pau's shoulders slumped, his gaze fixed on the ground, as a wave of guilt washed over him. The opposing team had secured victory through a penalty awarded after his challenge in the box. The weight of responsibility bore down on him, each step heavier than the last as he trudged off the field.

You watched from the stands, your heart aching for Pau. The look of anguish etched on his face was unmistakable, and you knew he blamed himself for the loss. Determined to offer him solace, you waited patiently for him to emerge from the locker room.

When he finally emerged, his expression was one of defeat. Without a word, you approached him, wrapping him in a tight embrace. He tensed at first, his guilt still palpable, but gradually, he leaned into your embrace, seeking comfort in your arms.

The journey home was filled with heavy silence, each passing mile echoing the weight of Pau's burdened conscience. As you pulled into the driveway, you turned to him, your voice gentle yet firm. "Pau, listen to me," you began, your eyes locking with his. "You did your best out there, and that's all anyone can ask for."

His gaze softened, tears glistening in the corners of his eyes. "But I caused the penalty," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion.

You reached out, gently wiping away his tears. "And you've owned up to it," you replied, your voice steady. "That takes courage, Pau. But remember, mistakes happen. It's how we respond to them that defines us."

After arriving home, you guided Pau to the comfort of your shared bed, the weight of the day's events still heavy on his shoulders. With a soft sigh, he sank into the familiar embrace of the mattress, his expression weary but grateful for the sanctuary of home.

Without a word, you slipped in beside him, the warmth of your presence a reassuring constant in the darkness. His body tensed at first, still consumed by the echoes of defeat, but gradually, he melted into your embrace, seeking solace in the comfort of your touch.

"Hey," you whispered softly, brushing a strand of hair away from his forehead. "I know today was tough, but you don't have to carry this burden alone. We're in this together, remember?"

Pau's breath hitched, and he turned to you, his eyes reflecting a mixture of gratitude and vulnerability. "I just... I can't shake the feeling that I let everyone down," he admitted, his voice laced with self-doubt.

You squeezed his hand gently, offering a reassuring smile. "Mi amor, listen to me," you began, your voice filled with conviction. "You're an incredible athlete, and one penalty doesn't define your worth. You've brought so much to the team, and they know that. We all do."

Feeling the tension begin to melt away from his body, Pau nodded, his features softening with relief. "Gracias, mi alma," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

With a tender smile, you pressed a kiss to his forehead, savoring the moment of closeness between you. "De nada, mi amor," you replied, your voice a gentle melody in the stillness of the room. "Now, let's focus on getting some rest. Tomorrow is a new day, filled with possibilities."

As the night draped its cozy blanket over your shared space, you and Pau found yourselves nestled in the sanctuary of your bed, a haven from the world outside. The day's trials seemed to melt away as you snuggled closer, finding solace in the warmth of each other's embrace.

With a contented sigh, Pau buried his face in the crook of your neck, his breath tickling your skin with each gentle exhale. You couldn't help but giggle at the sensation, the sound filling the room with an infectious joy that banished any lingering shadows.

In the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the curtains, you traced lazy circles on Pau's back, the touch light and soothing against his skin. He let out a contented hum in response, his body relaxing against yours as if melting into a puddle of pure bliss.

As the night stretched on, conversations gave way to whispered confessions of love and affection. You peppered Pau's face with gentle kisses, each one a testament to the depth of your adoration.

In the quiet intimacy of your shared bed, surrounded by pillows and blankets cocooning you in warmth, you felt as if the rest of the world had faded into insignificance. All that mattered was the love you shared, a bond as tender and unbreakable as the night itself.

[thottybrucewayne]

While I'm happy that many Morehouse students and staff protested Biden being there, I'm looking at the president's decision to award Genocide Joe at MLK's alma mater. I keep seeing people say "Oh well they couldn't just disinvite him!" why not? If you've built your institution's reputation off the back of the Black radical tradition, you should jump at the chance to put those words into action. They should have disinvited him, they should have banned him, the president of the college should have made the address to the graduating class and told them that sometimes the correct decision is the unpopular one and standing firm in what you believe is more important than putting on the aesthetics of a revolutionary.

[ofmdrecaps]

08/18-19/2024 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; David Jenkins; Taika Waititi; GalaxyCon SanJose: Vico, Con, Kristian, Nathan; Leslie Jones; Madeleine Sami; Connor Barrett; Tell Tale TV Poll; Fan Spotlight: BairNecessities Affirmation Cards; Our Flag Means Fanfiction; Love Notes; Daily Darby/Tonight's Taika.

== David Jenkins ==

Davi's sharing more love for our crewmates and their dedication to OFMD. @smolbus, you're right hon, there is always hope! Ty for sharing your ink!

Source: David Jenkins Twitter

== Taika Waititi ==

More birthday shenanigans for Taika and Rita!

Source: Rita Ora's Instagram

Annnnd More Time Bandits Articles! This week Taika's gonna be in quite a bit of the final episodes it looks like!

Image Sources: The Taika Archives Twitter

= GalaxyCon San Jose: Vico, Con, Kristian, Nathan =

These four had such a lovely time in San Jose, and so did so many of our crewmates!! The cast was kind enough to post lots of pictures of the convention! Hope yall had fun! Please feel free to share your pics/stories!

Source: Kristian Nairn's Instagram

Source: Vico's Instagram

Nathan was out with Harvey Guillen and lots of other friends at the Winchester Mystery House while out in San Jose!

Source: Nathan Foad's Instagram Stories

== Leslie Jones ==

Leslie's going to be doing another stand up tour-- coming up Sept 29 you can see her at the Because They're Funny Comedy Festival at The Wharf in Washington D.C.! Learn more on their website!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BECAUSE THEY’RE FUNNY- BTF (Property of NICE CROWD) (@becausetheyrefunny)

Source: BecauseTheyreFunny Instagram

== Madeleine Sami ==

Nice to see Madeleine was out with the ladies of Deadloch at the 2024 TV Week Logie Awards!

Source: Prime Video AUNZ's Instagram

== Connor Barrett ==

Our beloved Hornberry out and about watching Angel City FC!

Source: Connor's Instagram

== Tell Tale TV Votes ==

Our dear friends over at @adoptourcrew are keeping us appraised of Tell Tale TV's new polls! You can vote for Ed and Stede for Category 3: Ship of the Year (Comedy or Animated Series)! While you're there if you want to help support some other queer shows, What We Do In The Shadows - Nandor and Guillermo are up in Ship You'd Most Like to See Sail (Round 1)!

Source: Adopt Our Crew Twitter

== Fan Spotlight ==

= BairNecessities =

Back again tonight is the kindest soul, Mik, aka bairnecessities! Her OFMD Affirmation cards continue to make me smile every time I look at them! Did any of you get to stop by her table this past weekend at GalaxyCon San Jose? If you didn't get to you can check out her shop/follow her on the various socials here: Instagram / Twitter / Linktr.ee / Etsy

First up is probably my favorite card from her S2 Deck:

The next two are from her secondary character expansion! I adore that we get Alma and Louis in there, and even Doug NoLastName and Jeffrey Fettering get a spotlight with wonderful messages for all of us!

Mik does other series too aside from OFMD (like Good Omens, and Helluva Boss!) You can check them out on her instagram below!

Source: Bearnecessities Instagram

= Our Flag Means Fanfiction =

New Epitizer this week from our good friends over at Our Flag Means Fanfiction. Seriously, the amount of content they put out, keeping us all engaged is amazing. If you haven't given them a listen or a follow please do! You can check out the new "when life gives you lemons" on their linktree!

Source: Our Flag Means Fanfiction Instagram

== Love Notes ==

Hey there lovelies, I hope your Monday started your week off well <3 As I'm sitting here typing this I have my son asleep under one arm, so I apologize if this is a bit scattered. I saw this infographic today and it made me think of you all. I don't know about you, but I spent a lot of my life thinking I had to do everything, excel at everything, have all the money, and the car, and the house, and the kids, etc. But you know what? Life isn't about having everything. It's about finding the things you love and matter most to you and focusing on them. The things that matter most to me will absolutely be different from everyone else (we may share some of the same) but no two people are exactly the same when it comes to interests, and thats beautiful. Dig deep into the things you love crew, and remember you don't have to feel any shame for the things that mean the most to you. Do you like video games? Or Ornithology? How about fanfiction? Or maybe Indy 500 races? Do you find joy when you're alone in the woods? Or sitting out with friends at a bar? Do you enjoy being alone? Or maybe you love to sing your heart out at karaoke? Whatever it is you love-- embrace it, whether it's "Weird" by someone else's standards or not. If it makes you smile, if it makes you enjoy your time on this little blue dot-- dive in lovelies, with no regrets. I so very hope that even if it's only little bits at a time this week you get to spend doing the things you love, whatever that may be. Rest well and drink some water tonight <3 Love you crew

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The New Happy® (@newhappyco)

== Daily Darby / Today's Taika ==

Happy Murray Monday, and Taika Tuesday everyone! Tonight's gifs are courtesy of @fandomsmeantheworldtome and @meluli, thank you so much for keeping us well fed with fantastic gifs of our favorite folks <3 You are doing Calypso's work my friends.

[elpida]

Red was a colour poeple could get wrong so easily, make it look cheap and tacky and yet... Eden wore that colour like it was made purely for her. She didn't just look pretty tonight, she wasn't just beautiful... she looked elegant beyond compare. Maybe Adelaide likely appearing at some point spurred her to want to outdo her, see she always thought Adelaide looked too over done, eccentric, but Eden looked so.. timeless. It was like berries had been crushed and the colour painting the silk fabric of her dress. She was beyond compare.

Despite how she appeared, this room felt.. daunting to her. She was stood at the side, her clutch bag in hand, fretting. What if Angelo didn't turn up tonight? What if she embarrassed herself by thinking she'd win anything at all? What if she did, then how was she meant to accept an award? All of it felt like pressure.. until she saw him. It'd been so long now.. and yet her heart still leaped at the sight of him. She'd never stop adoring him, she'd never not love him and the only way she'd stayed away was by working hard, repeatedly. Work was her distraction from wanting him. The thing is, she'd never done events like this without him and he made this room feel like it was breathable. He made it feel easy.

Eden was timid in her approach but when she knew his eyes had found her, she smiled so brightly. "I have something to show you!" excitement suddenly filed her as she took out her phone and went to her gallery. There were so many photos, but the one she chose to show Angelo was the first, when she was just a couple days old. She waited, gave them chance to adjust but Eden had been so excited to meet Alma. "She's called Alma, isn't that lovely?" in the photo she was holding her, swaddled, so sweetly nestled and asleep, tiny in her arms that'd cradled that baby girl. She swiped to show him another, Alma fast asleep on her whilst they'd all watched a movie.

"I thought you might want to see, I've so many more and she's such a lovely baby, I think she'll really get her giggle soon! I'm hoping they let me babysit her overnight next weekend so I can steal all the cuddles." she laughed, god she laughed.. and nothing had ever sounded so sweet.

"How's Lawrence? I miss him..." and what she really should have told him, was that she missed him more. @wiinestories

[bluehardtops]

"Vice-Chancellor,

Formula 1 Grand Prix racing is regarded as the pinnacle of motorsport and, even if we are not die-hard aficionados, most of us are familiar with the names of recent world champions. Less familiar, however, are the names of the men and women who provide the expertise and infrastructure essential to the performance of those champions and their cars. Today we celebrate one of the most successful and distinguished of that supporting cast: Andrew Shovlin, the Chief Race Engineer for the highly successful Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team.

Andrew arrived in Leeds to start his undergraduate course in Mechanical Engineering in 1992. His final-year project on the mathematical modelling of car suspension systems directly led to a PhD project, under the supervision of the late Professor Dave Crolla, on the dynamics of military logistics vehicles.  As a member of Dave’s renowned Vehicle Dynamics research group, Andrew presented his work at several international conferences, at one of which he was awarded the prestigious Institution of Mechanical Engineers Viscount Weir prize.

As well as chasing Challenger Tanks around the North York moors as part of his PhD project, Andrew also found time to become involved with our early Formula Student race car activities:  he travelled with the team to the US when, in 1997, we became the first UK university to enter the Formula SAE event.

After receiving his PhD in 1998, Andrew joined British American Racing, the start of his highly successful career in Formula 1. He went on to became Jenson Button’s race engineer – the person responsible for crucial decisions about car setup and race strategy before and during a race – and was much acclaimed when Jenson won the world championship with Brawn in 2009. Andrew became Michael Schumacher’s race engineer the following year, when Mercedes took over Brawn; and was then promoted in 2011 to be chief race engineer for Mercedes.  In that role, he has helped secure three successive world titles, for Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, as the team has come to dominate the sport. 

Despite his busy and demanding career in motorsport, Andrew has not forgotten his alma mater, and has returned frequently to give talks to our students and to offer advice to our current Formula Student team. And it is perhaps no coincidence that in recent years we have had at least one of our students undertaking a much sought after year-long work placement at Mercedes F1. 

Through his outstanding success in the demanding world of Formula 1 racing, Andrew is a great ambassador for automotive engineering at Leeds, and a true inspiration to our students.

Vice-Chancellor, I present to you for the degree of Doctor of Science (Engineering) honoris causa, Andrew Francis Shovlin." [x]

[immabethehero]

How Well Do You Know Alma Madrigal?!

A/N: A lil Mother's Day fluff, Encanto style!!!

Mother’s Day has been nothing but loving bliss in La Casa Madrigal. That in itself is making Alma nervous. Bruno, her youngest child and biggest mama’s boy ever, has not given her a gift yet. It’s nearing the end of dinner and not once has he given her a brand new book, or flowers or even new jewelry that she’ll never wear (she might this year though).

Not that she’s expecting much from him, considering that only a year ago he was hiding in the walls of his own house. Still, he’s always gone out of his way to give his mamá a nice gift to show her how much he loved her… and also to one-up his sisters. When the triplets were children, they used to make a game out of Mother’s Day. Every gift was especially bought or made in order to impress her, and to win the award of best Mother’s Day gift that year.

The intensity and the competition lessened as they got older, and as Alma and Bruno’s relationship became more strained. However, even with the tension between the two, Bruno always ensured his mother had a lovely Mother’s Day gift. So how is this year any different?

Come to think of it, Mirabel hasn’t given Alma a gift either, or rather, any gift relating to a series of very specific questions she had asked Alma the other day. Her favorite colour, what holiday did she and Pedro meet, when she puts her slippers on, how she takes her tea, etc. Alma had no idea what that was about, but she answered all of Mirabel’s questions willingly, even one that was supposed to be “a secret”.

As dinner comes to an end, Bruno stands up and taps his glass, catching the family’s attention. Alma gulps.

Bruno clears his throat. “As you know, today is Mother’s Day, and you know what that means. Presents for our glorious mamás.” He gestures to his sisters and Alma. Alma raises an eyebrow.

“So to celebrate my own wonderful mamá, I have created a wonderful new game show! Everyone come to the living room, please!” Bruno dashes out of the room, Mirabel hot on his trails. The rest of the family exclaim in excitement and confusion. Mirabel suddenly runs back in, wearing a comically large pink bow tie around her neck and a top hat the same colour of Alma’s dress. She walks over to her grandmother and holds out a hand.

“¿Nosatras iremos?” she asks. Alma laughs and takes her hand, allowing the girl to guide her to the living room, where a huge painting has been set up, bearing the words “¿Qué Tan Bien Conoces a Alma Madrigal?” Bruno holds his arms out, beaming.

Alma bursts out laughing. Bruno had mentioned once before how in the future, people will partake in “game shows”, where questions are asked and the right answers are rewarded. This explains Mirabel’s questions.

Bruno glows with excitement as he guides Julieta and Pepa to three coloured wooden podiums, each painted in their signature colour, before taking his place at his own green box.

Mirabel guides Alma into her comfy armchair while the rest of the family gets settled in their own seats. Once the family is settled in, Isabela sprouts a large flower shaped like a sphere.

Mirabel takes it and asks, “Who’s ready to play our favourite game?”

She and the family yell out, “‘¿Qué Tan Bien Conoces a Alma Madrigal?’!”

“Welcome one and all! I’m your host, Mirabel Madrigal!” Mirabel continues. “In this game, three contestants will answer questions regarding their mother, and the winner who knows her best will be crowned this year’s favourite child!

“I’ll ask a series of questions related to Abuela, and if you know the answer, tap your toucan and say it loud and clear! Right answers will get you 10 points each, and wrong answers will subtract 10. If any question stumps you, you may ask one audience participant to help you. Good luck!”

Bruno, Pepa and Julieta raise their hands, ready to tap their toucans at the first question. All three wear the same look of determination, the kind that Alma used to see when they were kids. Dios mio, she’s missed watching them play like this.

A rat pushes a box of cards towards Mirabel. She picks one up and says, “OK, first question: What holiday did Abuela and Abuelo meet at?”

Julieta taps her toucan, who squawks. Mirabel turns to her. “Julieta?”

“¡Día De Las Velitas!” Julieta says.

“That is correct!” Mirabel says. In the audience, Agustín and his daughters cheer loudly.

“Next question: what time does Alma put on her purple slippers?”

Bruno’s toucan squawks. “4:30 pm!”

Mirabel winces. “That is incorrect, sorry, Tío. Anyone else want to try?” Bruno’s confident smile fades.

Pepa’s toucan squawks. “4:35 pm!”

“Tía Pepa is right! Ten points for Pepa!” Pepa’s family cheers.

“Ha! I told you so, Bruno! You didn’t believe me!” Pepa teases. Bruno playfully sticks his tongue out at her.

“Give me a break, I was in the walls for ten years! Things might have changed!”

“That specific schedule never changed, Bruno. Are you going to keep using that excuse for every question you get wrong?”

“If it makes you mad, then yes.”

“NEXT QUESTION!” Mirabel yells. “How does Alma take her tea?”

The next hour is pure joy for Alma. She laughs at her children’s antics as they answer each question, quips between triplets and shouts from the audience making it all the more fascinating.

“I told you she likes the blue ones more, Pepa! Who’s the dumb one now?!”

“Mamá, what do you mean you didn’t like the soup I gave you when you were sick?! I thought you loved that flavour!”

“Tío Bruno, it was the butterfly earrings that Manolo the Fourth rescued from the sink! Manolo the Fourteenth just told me!”

“I WAS RIGHT?! I was just guessing!”

30 questions later, the triplets are tied. The family sits at the edge of their seats as Mirabel takes the last question out of the envelope.

“This final question will determine the true winner and favourite child,” Mirabel warns. “This last question is worth 1000 points. Contestants, are you ready?”

A chorus of “yes” rings through. Mirabel takes a card out of her dress pocket. The triplets lean forward, hoping to ring in first.

“What is Alma’s favourite hair clip?”

Ah yes, the trick question. Alma had come up with it herself, given that she never wore hair clips any more. But surely one of the kids remembers the pretty bird-and-branch beaded hair clip she used to wear during church and fiestas. Then again, they were eight when she last wore it.

“Is it shaped like a candle?” Bruno guesses, half-jokingly. Mirabel shakes her head.

“Does it have a butterfly on it?” Julieta asks.

“Surprisingly, no,” Mirabel says.

“Was it a gift from Papá?” Pepa questions.

“Actually, my sister gave it to me,” Alma says. “It was a birthday present.”

Silence follows. Alma purses her lips in frustration. How do none of the kids remember?!

Mirabel nervously turns to the audience. “What about you guys? Do any of you know?”

Agustín and Félix both look confused. They’ve never seen Alma with anything in her hair other than the ribbon used to hold her bun.

“Is this a trick question? I mean, I’ve never seen you wear anything other than your usual bun and a sunhat,” Félix finally says.

Alma can’t believe it. Surely Isabela, who she has told many stories of her youth to, would remember? Has Alma passed it down to her already? Alms turns to her.

Isabela wears the same stumped expression as her mother.

“Have I not told any of you about my favourite clip?” Alma asks. “I still have it upstairs! I can bring it down and show you.”

Mirabel raises her hand. “I know about it. I can get it-”

“Yes, I told you for this game, but-”

“You were showing me some of the stuff in your room while I helped you clean it out,” Mirabel continues. “I was around four at the time? I still remember it being in the first drawer of your bedside table.”

Now that Alma does not remember. Still, she thanks Mirabel and lets her run upstairs to grab it.

Soon enough, Mirabel returns with the bird-and-branch hair clip, still as pretty and as new as the day Alma received it.

“That’s your favourite hair clip?!” Bruno exclaims. “Huh. I don’t remember ever seeing that.”

Murmurs of agreement ring through the crowd. Alma shrinks in her seat. How much of her life had she hidden away from the family?

Sensing his mother’s embarrassment, Bruno clears his throat. “Um, well, in that case! Mirabel Madrigal, as the winner of this year’s Mother’s Day game, you win the privilege of presenting Mamá with my real Mother’s Day gift!”

Mirabel’s jaw drops. “Wait, what?! Tío Bruno, are you sure you want-”

“To do this? Yeah!” Bruno says. He whistles, and Casita rolls in a large box with the biggest green bow known to Alma sitting on top.

“Or Casita can do that,” Bruno says. He nudges it towards Alma, bouncing on his toes. “Go on, open it up!”

Alma laughs at his excitement as Mirabel unties the ribbon and opens the box. She and Bruno lift the present out…

“Oh my!”

Bruno has painted a beautiful picture of the family at a beach, sitting under trees as they enjoy a lovely picnic. Alma is seated in the center, a lovely smile on her face.

“Earlier in the month I had a vision of all of us finding a beach outside of the Encanto,” Bruno explains. “I decided to turn the tablet into a painting! It was a beautiful vision, the best I’ve had in a while.”

“I asked the animals the best route to get to the beach! They can lead us!” Antonio adds.

“So what do you say? Tomorrow we have our first ever beach day?” Bruno asks, eyes sparkling. Behind him, Julieta and Pepa glance at each other in mock disappointment, knowing they’ve lost this year’s Mother’s Day competition.

Alma laughs. “Of course. Gracias, Brunito.”

[perhaps-in-anotherdream]

[CN] Victor’s Nostalgic Memories Date (Eng Translation)

“You’re my first.”

“You’re my first, too.”

⌚Warning⌚ This post contains detailed spoilers for a date, 旧忆之约, that is yet to be released on the global server! ♡

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

─  

【Subbed Video】    

[Heads-up]: Read the transcript for reading, but  PLEASE DO WATCH THE VIDEO!! THE BGMS, THE VOICE ACTING, EVERYTHING!! (also, yes, I’ve made my real-time reactions 🤪)

───────

【Transcript Version】

【Chapter 1】

Not long ago, Victor received a commemorative book.

The sender is his alma mater, Loveland Central Elementary School, which is about to celebrate its 100th anniversary.

The book is filled with old photos of his school. With unending excitement, I relentlessly search for that familiar figure among them.

Little Victor holding up his award certificates with a composed demeanor, hoisting the national flag with aplomb, or standing on the winner’s podium during the sports meet… all these are images of him I haven’t seen before.

MC: Model student, flag-raiser, long-distance running gold medalist… how many more surprises does this man have in store that I still don’t know about?

?? (Victor): What are you muttering to yourself this time?

I look up and find that Victor has entered the bedroom without me noticing.

MC: I can’t help but feel sentimental~ After all, you were that “kid from someone else’s family” when we were little.

–

[Tidbits]: The term MC uses here is “别人家的小孩,” I guess you’ll understand this better if you are an Asian/ of Asian descendance/ have Asian parents LOL; it’s often used to describe how parents spur their own kids into working harder by often mentioning “the other kid” as a role model who usually excels in many aspects~ :> And MC playfully follows this with– he belongs to her/ they’re a family now. So, she can take pride that “the prized boy” is all hers 🤣💕 (aside from the obvious knife about MC being regretful of missing out on each other’s lives, which comes later~ 🥲)

–

Victor: Someone else’s family?

Watching his cool and collected expression as he arches an eyebrow, I cheekily walk up to him.

MC: Hehe, but now you’re mine~

As I notice him smiling slightly, I can’t help but be insatiable and pull him along to join me in flipping through the photo album.

We have just flipped through a few photos of the “Campus Singing Competition” when the person beside me seems to have seen something, causing his pupils to quiver ever so slightly.

Following his gaze, I catch a glimpse of a young kid with dramatic stage makeup, sporting a red dot on the space between his brows.

Before I can take a closer look, the commemorative book in front of me is abruptly snapped shut.

MC: Wait!

Hastily, I clutch his hand down and carefully inspect the photo. There is actually a small caption below it that reads–– “Little Victor, photographed by Dad”

Astounded, I snatch the book and examine it closely–– the child’s solemn expression, with furrowed brows, is unmistakably identical to that of a certain someone I know so well.

I stare at Victor in utter disbelief, while he seems to have already resigned himself and closed his eyes.

MC: Hahahaha–– you’re so cute, hahaha!

Victor: …stop laughing, give me back the book.

MC: Alright, but you have to agree to one condition of mine.

Victor: ...you sure know how to make demands.

MC: Don’t want to agree? Well, then I might just turn you into an emoji pack, huh?

Victor takes a deep breath as if he has reached the limit of his patience. He then takes out his phone, quickly taps on the screen, and holds it to his ear.

Victor: I had planned to bring a certain someone along to visit the school when I’d sign the contract to donate to the school building.

Victor: But since the photos seem enough to satisfy you, I think I’m gonna talk to the school about reducing your title to a colleague.

Hearing his words, I immediately grab his arm, displaying a sincere expression.

MC: Why didn’t you tell me about the building donation before? I’m not laughing anymore, I promise!

He arches an eyebrow and moves his phone a few inches away, as if waiting for me to offer a bigger bargaining chip.

I narrow my eyes and steel myself.

MC: I’ll give you three of my embarrassing childhood photos!

Victor: Deal.

Hearing a muffled chuckle in my ears, I suddenly realize what’s going on. I seize his phone and, sure enough, find that the screen is still locked.

MC: …you’re so childish, Victor!

Despite my reproach, he remains composed and raps my head.

Victor: He who touches ink becomes black, you know?

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

【Chapter 2】

Victor: …wish strips?

An old metal box is gently placed on the table, inside of which is stacked with many pieces of weathered papers, tinged with a yellow hue.

After the completion of the donation contract signing, only three people remain in the empty conference room— the two of us and the principal.

Principal: When I learned that you were coming back, I inquired with your homeroom teacher about anything that might have been left behind from back then, and she really found it.

Even as I try hard to focus my attention on their conversation, an inevitably innate urge drives me to reach out and flip through the wish strips with my fingers, looking for a certain one.

Soon, a weathered piece of paper catches my eyes, with meticulously and neatly penned six letters that form the name “Victor.”

However, before I can reach my hand for it, a large hand with slender fingers lands on top of the paper––

Forced by the seriousness of the atmosphere we are in now, I can do nothing but watch helplessly as Victor nonchalantly slips the note into his pocket.

Victor: If there’s anything else you need help with in the future, please feel free to contact me again.

Principal: Thank you, Little Vic. Despite your remarkable achievements in the outside world, you still haven’t forgotten your alma mater.

–

[Tidbits]: I’m freaking crying, haha–– look at his Principal still calling this grown-ass man “小李 (Xiao Li)” aksdknld– the sheer adoration you can’t let go of despite the admiration a person has achieved from you– 🥺 

–

Victor: You’re too kind. On a different note, I wish to take my girlfriend on a tour of the school later. I wonder if it would be convenient?

Principal: Absolutely! You two are welcome to wander around and have a good time.

–

It’s summer vacation, and the campus is absolutely empty.

The continuous symphony of cicadas seems to transport me through countless summers, carrying me to the past that belongs to him.

Hand in hand, we walk beneath the shade of the sycamore tree, retracing the journey captured in old photos, from the faintly plastic-scented crimson athletic track to the library, and eventually arriving at his former classroom.

–

MC: Where would you sit back then?

Seeing him pointing to a seat in the back row, I press against the window frame and peer inside, yearning to glimpse that small figure across the boundaries of time and space.

MC: Do you have any special memory from your elementary school days?

Victor: What do you mean by special?

MC: Copying homework? Not paying attention in class? Or maybe… puppy love?

It seems like he’s heard something that displeased him; a slight frown creeps onto his face, and he gives me a subtle, scrutinizing look.

Victor: [strikes immediately LMFAO]  Your elementary school life was this eventful and colorful? It seems like I underestimated you a little.

MC: Of course not; I didn’t do anything of the sort! I’m just simply curious about your school life~

Victor: It was like any regular elementary school student’s life–– attending classes, doing homework after school, and occasionally playing soccer. Nothing out of the ordinary–– 

Suddenly, the sound of a series of brisk footsteps interrupts his words. Before long, two kids carrying backpacks appear at the far end of our sight.

Little Boy: Did you check? If you forget to bring your homework again, I won’t come with you next time.

Little Girl: I’ve really brought it this time! Where should we go to do our homework today?

Little Boy: The library.

Little Girl: But we need to stay quiet in the library, and I won’t be able to talk with you there.

Little Boy: …let’s go to the burger joint then.

Watching their departing figures from behind, I tug at the corner of Victor’s clothes.

MC: Have you ever done homework together with other kids?

Victor: Might have done some group assignments at some point.

MC: With you sitting next to them, their study efficiency must have gotten a massive boost. I’m really envious of those classmates who had the chance to do homework with you…

Hearing me say this, Victor’s face takes on a curious and contemplative expression.

Victor: Don’t be envious. I’ve got an idea.

MC: What do you have in mind?

Victor: It just so happens that I have to work tonight. You can bring in your unfinished proposal, and we can “do homework” together.

MC: …I’ll pass. Even a dummy can tell the difference between a friendly invitation and being supervised by a capitalist.

As we are talking, I see the kids from earlier run out of the convenience store in front of the school gate.

With delight on their faces, they share a pack of crisp instant noodles. The savory and crispy aroma from afar feels as if it reaches the tip of my teeth as well.

Just like me, Victor turns his head toward the source of the noise. Upon seeing his reaction, I immediately reach out and take his hand.

MC: Wanna go to the convenience store? It’s my treat!

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

【Chapter 3】

The store is not big, but it boasts a diverse selection of snacks arranged on the shelves.

However, my eyes are drawn to a seemingly ordinary pack of candy tucked away in the corner. Memories of my elementary school days rush back, when this candy was all the rage for playing pranks, and I also couldn’t resist tasting it once myself––

Even at this very moment, the fast secretion of saliva in my mouth is a vivid reminder of its “special” flavor.

Filled with curiosity, I pick up the candy and shake it at Victor.

MC: This candy used to be so popular back in the day. Have you ever tried it?

Victor: Nope, I haven’t.

MC: Your childhood is missing just a little something, then.

Victor: If being a glutton is your yardstick, you probably had the most complete childhood in the whole world.

Listening to his playful banter, I silently make up my mind to tease him a little. I grab the candy and settle the bill.

Just imagining the look on his face when he tastes the sourness makes me involuntarily curl my lips into a smile. However, realizing that his gaze is fixed on my face, I hasten to temper my smile.

MC: Victor, may I fill in the missing pieces of your childhood?

Victor: No need.

Ignoring his attempt to decline with a shake of his head, I affectionately bring a candy close to his lips.

MC: Come on, give me some face! I never asked any boy students out for snacks back when I was in school. You’re my first.

Upon hearing my words, his motions pause momentarily, and he stares at me fixedly with downcast eyes.

Just when I think he’s going to reject me again, he softly lets his lips part, lowers his head, and eats the candy from my hand.

I instantly widen my eyes, not wanting to miss any nuance of his expression. But all I see him is chewing the candy nonchalantly without any changes in his demeanor.

This isn’t right… could they have changed the recipe? Puzzled, I pop a candy into my mouth, but as soon as it touches my tongue, I grimace from the sourness.

MC: Sss! So sour!

Victor seems to can’t hold back and bursts into laughter.

Victor: Mmm, it’s indeed sour.

MC: You did that on purpose!

As my indignant glare meets his eyes, he arches an eyebrow in response.

Victor: You sure have a talent for turning the tables. But speaking of doing it on purpose—

Victor: Back when I was in school, I never teased or played with any girl students, either. You’re my first, too.

The candy in my mouth still gives rise to an unending stream of sourness, yet I can distinctly taste a sweet flavor.

Victor: So happy that you’re in a silly daze?

Upon hearing his teasing, I  realize I’ve been rooted to the spot and giggling like a silly person this whole time. I quickly pretend to be composed and divert the topic.

MC: I was thinking that we visited all the locations where each of the old photos was taken, except for one that slipped through the cracks!

MC: Where was that adorable picture of you with the red dot between your brows taken?

Victor: Why do you always apply your surplus obsession in places where it’s not necessary?

MC: Humph, it took me so much effort to get you to bring me here. Even if I have to dig the school three feet deep today, I’ll definitely find it!

Seeing me steadfastly staring at him, he lets out a sigh and helplessly takes my hand.

Victor: My alma mater had to spend so much effort to reach the lifespan of a hundred years. I’m not letting it be dug up by you.

—

We’re obviously supposed to be searching for the location of the photo. However, Victor brings me back to his old family home, which is currently empty.

Before I can even ask anything, my gaze is captivated by a rather extravagant box of jewelry on the foyer table.

As I let out a small gasp of surprise, Victor also glances over, and his expression turns somewhat speechless.

Victor: Aunt Grace purchased these during her trip abroad. She said you might get tired of seeing me in formal attire, so I should occasionally change things up…

MC: Pfftt! Why didn’t she just send them to you directly?

Victor: Because I declined. She probably planned to take a roundabout approach and ask my dad for help.

MC: Well, that works out perfectly. There’s no need to bother Uncle.

I “obligingly” pat my chest as an expression of “taking responsibility” and put the ornaments in my bag.

MC: But you didn’t especially bring me here just to pick this up, right?

Victor shoots me a wordless glance and then points toward the flower house ahead.

–

Victor: Not just the head is slow, the eyes are slow too.

MC: Hey, you meanie…

After a few seconds, I’m suddenly taken aback, my eyes widening. I pull out the photo from the commemorative book and compare it to the flower house before my eyes. To my surprise, it turns out to be exactly the same.

MC: This photo was actually taken at home?

Victor: After I came back from the performance, the teacher notified us that we needed to take a photo.

MC: But I thought you would remove your makeup right after the performance!

Victor: You’re right. I did wipe it off as soon as I got off the stage. But my dad deliberately used a red seal ink paste to reapply that dot.

Seeing the awkward look on his face, I can’t resist the urge to tease him and fish out the lipstick from my bag.

MC: How is it fair if you just make do with a red seal ink paste? Since the other kids have it on, you should too.

Victor: …I should not have told you.

He firmly grasps my unruly hand, but I use my left hand to snatch the lipstick and persistently keep inching closer to him. At this point, I’m practically draped onto his body.

Just as the lipstick is about to touch his forehead, he suddenly looks behind me.

Victor: Dad, you’re back.

I jump off him in a panic, and with my eyes closed, I immediately bow towards the entrance.

MC: Hello, Uncle!

After waiting for quite a considerable amount of time without any response, I’m beginning to feel slightly puzzled when I hear a soft chuckle from above me.

Victor: Turns out that there are still ways to restrain a certain someone’s out-of-control unruliness.

I raise my head and see that there is no one at the entrance.

Seeing the smirk of triumph in his eyes, I let out a “humph” and decide to turn the tables against him. At this moment, I coincidentally spot the wish strip peeking out from his pocket because of our earlier playful fooling around.

But he’s guessed my intentions, and almost simultaneously, he presses his fingertips on the slip of paper along with me. This results in a brief standoff as neither of us releases our hold.

The silent confrontation lasts for a few seconds until I pout, and that’s when I hear him let out a resigned sigh of compromise. I finally have my wish fulfilled and get my hands on his wish strip.

The paper has already yellowed and become brittle, but the carefully and neatly written words haven’t faded even a bit during the overlong passage of time––

“I want to grow up fast so that I can find her.”

Caught off guard by intruding into the “secret” of his past, I somehow feel a mixture of indescribable emotions flooding my heart.

How come he never mentioned to me that he had such a wish before? I can’t help but lift my eyes to look into his.

And he stares at me for a long, long time, as if he too wants to glean something from my expression. His lips twitch, but he doesn’t utter a single word even after a long time passes by.

Seeing him hesitate like this, I decide to be the one to break the silence first.

MC: Haha, I didn’t expect your wish to be so sincere and honest.

MC: But don’t worry, who didn’t have some little secrets in their childhood? I’ll just pretend I didn’t see it!

Victor: Little secret?

He doesn’t seem to have expected me to say this, causing him to evidently be stunned for a moment. But soon, a glint of playfulness sparks in his eyes.

Victor: Well, that’s a shame. I was originally going to share it with you, but since a certain dummy isn’t curious––

Victor: I guess I’ll just have to leave it be.

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

【Chapter 4】

He has really done what he said, not uttering a single word of explanation.

He even seems to be in high spirits as he grabs a bottle of whiskey from the liquor cabinet, as if he does not feel my indignant glare fixed on him at all.

Victor: Let’s celebrate together.

MC: Celebrate what?

Victor: I’m really lucky; my wish has come true.

With a hint of tenderness crested between his eyebrows and in his eyes, he uncorks the wine bottle. “Pop”–– the celebration begins, but I feel as if it’s my heart that has begun to deflate.

I push down the bitter feelings in my heart and take a sip of my drink.

MC: Congratulations to you, then.

Victor: Why does this “congratulations” sound a bit like you’re saying it against your will?

Being relentlessly pressed by his step-by-step advances while he is greatly amused, I suddenly feel a mix of embarrassment and anger soaring into my chest.

MC: How should I congratulate you then? Do you want me to take a photo of you for comparison to prove that you’ve grown up properly, just as you wished?

Victor: Sure, how do you plan to take the photo for me?

Originally, it was just an impulsive remark I made out of anger. But his reply suddenly causes me to choke, rendering me momentarily speechless. I can’t help but feel a little itch in my teeth.

However, upon glancing at the extravagant jewelry box in my bag, I narrow my eyes.

The next second, I push him onto the couch and start “hanging” all the jewelry on him without even asking him.

Victor: …are you decorating a Christmas tree?

MC: Since we are taking new photos in the once familiar place, you naturally have to dress up enough like an adult to give them the true value of commemoration.

However, I gradually realize that the ornaments on him don’t look over the top at all; instead, they make him look even more exquisite.

Seeing this, I wickedly pull open a section of his collar, exposing a large expanse of sculpted muscles that charges into my eyes. I can’t help but gulp at the sight.

Victor: Is this how a certain dummy defines an adult?

MC: Why? Can’t I do this?

Hearing his soft chuckle, I huff in anger as I mutter under my breath.

The next second, my wrist is clasped in place, and I find myself falling into his arms. That familiar scent of his hems me tightly.

Victor: Of course you can. But I think there’s still a bit of room for enhancement.

His warm breath grazes my ear now and then, making my heartbeat accelerate involuntarily.

Realizing that my chance to counterattack is slipping through the cracks, I inwardly compose myself and tilt my head slightly, forcefully suppressing my racing heartbeat.

Aiming my gaze at the lipstick on the table, I immediately come up with a plan.

MC: You’re absolutely right; there’s still room for enhancement. It was my bad. I still need to mark you like an adult––

I grab the lipstick and apply several thick coats on my lips, then seal it with a big kiss on his cheek.

The corners of his lips twitch slightly, seemingly evident that he didn’t anticipate my move at all. After a brief moment, he just casually leans back against the couch.

Victor: Have you finished all your preparations for taking the photo?

Looking at his face painted with the mark of my kiss, I nod in satisfaction.

He raises an eyebrow at my reaction, then pulls me closer to him once again.

Victor: Now it’s my turn.

Victor: Photos that hold the true value of commemoration should be taken alongside the witness testimony who made my wish come true.

MC: Witness testimony? Me?

Victor: Is there a third person here?

Victor rubs his temples helplessly, but the smile hanging at the edge of his lips seems to validate the daring conjecture harbored in the depths of my heart.

MC: The “her” you wrote about in your wish strip… it’s me?

Victor: You dummy, who else could it possibly be except you?

Without a moment’s hesitation, he admits it candidly.

In this instant, my heart feels as if it has been drenched.

The mottled wish strip in front of me is akin to the tip of an iceberg I have somehow peered into. It reminds me that in places I’ve never seen, millions of emotions lie buried that I still don’t know about and have yet to fathom.

And those deep eyes of his, which have been fixed on me all along, are so honest and sincere without the slightest concealment, make me surer than ever that––

The impact of our childhood encounter, the bond that forged our destinies together, perhaps runs much deeper than I had ever imagined it to be possible.

It turns out that I have already had my place in his past long ago.

By the time I speak again, my tone has already become joyful.

MC: Ah–– it turns out I had already become your heart’s desire so, so early on. I must have had quite the charm back when I was little, huh~

Victor: …I really underestimated how thick-skinned you can be.

He laughs involuntarily and watches me quietly for a while. The light in his gaze becomes even deeper and more earnest.

Victor: But MC, when I say “I’m lucky,” it’s not because I found the little girl from my past.

Victor: It’s because of the fortunate circumstance–– that little girl turned out to be you.

I instinctively find myself rooted to the spot, feeling a tingling itch sprouting in my heart, as if a wobbly little flower has blossomed within me.

It’s not until he takes hold of my hand that I finally snap out of it. Accompanied by the silky smooth touch of his fingertips, an English word takes form on the glass wall of the flower room –– Morii.

MC: What does it mean?

He lowers his gaze to look at me, his eyes seemingly concealing a subtle smile.

Victor: Originally, for me, those past days were nothing but ordinary moments, days that I would never want to look back on.

Victor: But the moment you stepped inside and looked around, those old times suddenly came to life again.

Victor: Perhaps it’s the gift of a certain dummy; you’ve always made me want to keep holding onto these moments that exist because of you.

His gentle voice is reminiscent of a feather landing in my heart, creating concentric ripples of waves.

I find myself unable to contain my giggle and lean in closer to him.

MC: Then let’s keep holding onto it.

He is slightly stumped for a moment but soon understands the meaning of my words and turns on the camera, aiming it at us. From beginning to end, those eyes of his gazing at me have held a perpetual interplay of tender and fervent glimmers.

Lifting myself up on my toes, I approach the figure that is also drawing closer to me.

Two throbbing hearts appear to have traversed the confines of endless dusty time, seeking solace in each other’s arms time and time again.

Right at this moment, the flash of the camera lights up.

────────

[Tidbits]: Didn’t wanna break the immersion, so kept it for the last here. The word Victor led MC to write together, i.e., “Morii” means the “desire to capture a fleeting moment that cannot be retained.” It’s basically the ephemeral nature of life, the reminder of everything inevitable. It’s like a time in which you expect the least, a time in which that moment spontaneously confronts you, but there is nothing you can do to preserve it— and the desire to do all you can to keep that moment to yourself is “Morii.” And if you know Victor and Victor x MC’s story, I’m sure you understand why it’s so important that they wrote it together, or rather MC instinctively followed his strokes without asking why— (இ﹏இ`｡)❤️

—

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

[Anika’s Long Analysis & Ramblings]

───

[yellowcry]

Isabela headcanons

 

Isabela Belén Rojas Madrigal. Born 7th of August 1928

 

Childhood

Was the golden child since her birth. Obviously, she wasn't forced into perfection since day one, but still was favourised for being the first grandchild.

Isabela said her first word when being babysat by Pepa and Bruno. Pepa called her brother "dumb". Isabela had repeated. (Can you tell me Pepa wasn't crying from how proud she was?)

Extremely stubborn. You couldn't make her stop if she wanted to do something. No matter how many candy you'd give her.

Used "I'm older so you should listen to me" card all the time. Especially when it came to her sisters.

Friendly teased Luisa for being younger. It didn't happen with Mirabel much because Isabela was busy exploring her cool new gift when she was born.

Was fascinated with flowers. Enjoyed making flower crowns even before getting her gift.

She was slowly rising in perfection even before Mirabel's ceremony. But it wasn't very obvious. Failed ceremony just made the process way faster.

 

Adult years (pre-movie)

 

Enjoyed reading about various plants. Could easily give advice about any plant. Did anyone used it? No

Actually pretty good in sport. Had won several award in school, mostly for gymnastics. Probably the second most sportive Madrigal after Luisa.

Made flower crowns manually in her room as a way to distract herself and calm down when she was overwhelmed.

Started to date Mariano because she didn't want to upset him or Abuela. Mariamo was the one to confess his feelings (ableit to his Abuela), Alma didn't set them up.

Had thoughts of running away several times to escape perfectionism and always felt guilty for it.

Started to have gray hair at the age of seventeen. Always styled her hair the way when it would be hidden. As Isabela thought it wasn't perfect

If she has to go on a date with Mariano, she'll try to get them to the meadow. There Isabela could at least withness a beautiful nature.

Disliked Mirabel because felt that her sister wad getting everything without an effort. And was jealous of the fact that their parents were closer to Mirabel. Isabela didn't realize the full extent of how her actions hurt Mirabel too.

Had nearly no relationship with Luisa, taking how busy they both were.

If anyone dared to misgender Dolores, even prior WECID, they would wake to see their house wrapped in roses. Thorns work just as good as cacti.

Post-movie

Changes her dress every odd day. Coloring it, cutting, whatever she can think off. Girl knows no consistence. Her favourite colour also changes constantly. Today it's sky blue, tomorrow will be green and yesterday it was gray.

Same goes for her hair. She regularly paints it. And don't forget glimmering silver! She doesn't hide it anymore.

Julieta cried when she saw Isabela having gray hair. Because it made her realize just how much she had grown up

Experiments with herself all the time. How else should she find herself?

It took her a while to get comfortable with showing her true self to people outside of the family. Sometimes she still wonders if others actually like her.

Grows avocado around just to add it to her food. She's allergic to avocado.

Adds milk to people's coffee just for the sake of it. Only drinks café con leche with an extreme amount of sugar.

The biggest drama queen you could meet.

The favourite niece to both Bruno and Pepa.

The most talkative and outgoing out of her sisters, won't shut up if you say a word about plants and will spend hours talking on it.

Protective. Will join Luisa on fighting whoever had insulted their sister/cousins. If not fight all by herself of course. 

Relationship.

Alma: Has a bit hard time with her post-movie. Doesn't hate her grandmother and probably still close to her, but does have troubles with expressing herself to her for the first few years. Eventually gets over it and starts to show her messy side in all its beauty.

Pepa: They are very similar. Isabela adores her Tía. Pepa probably often joins to gossip with Isabela and Dolores. Both are emotional and very dramatic. Pepa also helps Isabela with expressing her emotions via plants with her gift. Same way the weather express her emotions. .

Bruno: Isabela likes her Tío. But feels awkward around him for the time being. The last time she saw him was when she was eleven. And he was barely socialising even back then.. She likes him. And Bruno seems to understand her pretty well, as he was the favourite back in his youth too. She probably the first one ut of grandkids to be comfortable around him.

Julieta: Likes her mother, but they aren't overall close. Isabela is an adult, and way more active and crazy than calm and responsible Julieta.

Agustín: Closer to her dad, expessially as she doesn't smell like flowers all the time anymore. But the thing of being an adult is still in work. It's easier to open up to her Tíos rather than to her parents.

Félix: Cool but pretty distant. 

Dolores: Best friend since childhood™, gossip about everything. Isabela was the first person Dolores had confessed her feelings for Mariano after the engagement failed. Attached to the hip and together almost all the time. They were close even when both still were involved into the whole thing with Mariano.

Luisa: Grew closer as both became free from expectations. They like to tease eachother and playfully fight (which is usually Isabela trying to hit Luisa and Luisa blocking her). Isabela uses her muscles as a pillow whenever she wants. Luisa pays the favour by using Isabela as an armrest.

Camilo: Arguing and competitive relationship. Both are active for the sake of being messy. Probably will fight eachother just for the sake of it. Isabela was very jealous of Camilo and found him annoying pre-movie (even more than Mirabel). She still thinks Camilo is annoying but enjoys messing with him.

Mirabel: Now both are pretty cool. They still argue from time to time, but it's never even half as bad as it used to be. Mirabel encourages Isabela from time to time, and Isabela looks after her sister especially when Luisa's not around. Both try to make it up for all the problems in their relationship

Antonío: Wasn't close to him before, giving an age gap. Now adore spending time together as two the most passionate about nature. Isabela often takes Antonío out to show him wild outskirts where he can see many animals

Nicknames:

Isa (by Mirabel, Luisa, Dolores, Agustín and Felíx)

Bela (By Dolores, Luisa, Camilo, Julieta, Pepa, Alma and Bruno)

Hermanita (By Luisa when Isabela annoys her. Or when she wants to annoy Isabela)

Señorita Perfecta. (Mirabel when Isabela annoys her. Other grandkids as a joke. Isabela herself when she refers to her old self)

Mi Flor (Alma, rarely her parents)

[hotvintagepoll]

Propaganda

María Félix (Doña Barbara, La Mujer sin Alma, Rio Escondido, La Cucaracha)—Maria Felix is still possibly the most well-known Mexican film actress. She turned down multiple-roles in Hollywood and a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer in order to take roles in Mexico, France, and Argentine throughout the 1940s, 50s, 60s. She was so famous and so respected as a dramatic actress that she inspired painters, novelists and poets in their own art--she was painted by Diego Rivera, Jose Orozco, Bridget Tichenor. The novelist Carlos Fuentes used her as inspiration for his protagonist in Zona Sagrada. She inspired an entire collection by Hermes. In the late 1960s Cartier made her a custom collection of reptile themed jewels. She considered herself to be powerful challenger of morality and femininity in Mexico & worldwide--she routinely played powerful women in roles with challenging moral choices and free sexuality. But even still, years after he death, she is celebrated with Google Doodles, and appearances in the movie Coco, and holidays for the anniversary of her death.

Maureen O’Hara (The Parent Trap, The Quiet Man)—They called her the Queen of Technicolor. That right there should help introduce people to the fiery, wonderful, stunning Maureen O’Hara. She was from Ireland, born in 1920, and started in theater at the age of ten. At 15, she was winning drama awards, including one for her performance as Portia in the Merchant of Venice. At 16, she was the youngest pupil to graduate from the Guildhall School of Music. By 18, she transitioned to film, starting off with a bang alongside Charles Laughton in Hitchcock’s Jamaica Inn, and proceeded to work steadily up through the early 1970s. She was in adventures and comedies and romances, spent a lot of time in westerns giving merry hell to John Wayne (and less merry hell to the indomitable John Ford — she held her own even when he was verbally abusive and demeaning to her). She was in The Quiet Man, which was the first American-made film entirely filmed in a foreign country. She helped make American Christmas what it is with Miracle on 34th Street. She played a lineup of headstrong, forthright women second only, perhaps, to Katharine Hepburn. She was married three times, lived for a while with a boyfriend in Mexico, sued for custody of her daughter in the 1950s, AND sued a magazine for libel in the same era. After mostly retiring from acting, she edited a magazine. She eventually sold the magazine to spend more time with her grandson, but even then ran a ladies fashion store. She was an outspoken, brilliant, passionate lady, with amazing red hair, a career to envy, and — well — that face!

This is round 2 of the tournament. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. Please reblog with further support of your beloved hot sexy vintage woman.

[additional propaganda submitted under the cut]

María Félix:

She's Thee Hot Vintage Movie Woman of México. She's absolutely gorgeous and always looks like she's about to step on you. you WILL be thankful if she does.

"María Félix is a woman -- such a woman -- with the audacity to defy the ideas machos have constructed of what a woman should be. She's free like the wind, she disperses the clouds, or illuminates them with the lightning flash of her gaze." - Octavio Paz

María Félix is one of the most iconic actresses of the Golden Era of Mexican Cinema. La Doña, as she was lovingly nicknamed, only had one son, and when her first marriage ended in divorce her ex-husband stole her only child, so she vowed that one day she’d be more influential than her ex and she’d get her son back. AND SHE DID! María Félix rejected a Hollywood acting role to start her acting career in Mexico on her own terms with El Peñón de las Ánimas (The Rock of Souls) starring alongside actor, and future third husband, Jorge Negrete. She quickly rose to incredible heights both in Mexico and abroad, later on rejecting a Hollywood starring role (Duel in the Sun) as she was already committed to the movie Enamorada at the planned filming time. Of this snubbing she said, quote: “I will never regret saying no to Hollywood, because my career in Europe was focused in [high] quality cinema. [My] india* roles are made in my country, and [my] queen roles are abroad.” (Translator notes: here the “india” role means interpreting a lower-class Mexican woman, usually thought of indigenous/native/mixed descent —which she had interpreted and reinvented throughout her acting career in Mexico— and what abroad was typically considered the Mexican woman stereotype, with the braids, long simple skirts, and sandals. This also references the expectation of her possibly helping Hollywood in perpetuating this stereotype for American audiences that lack the cultural and historical contexts of this type of role which would undermine her own efforts against this type of Mexican stereotypes while working in Europe) She was considered one of the most beautiful women in the world of her time by international magazines like Life, París Match, and Esquire, and was a muse to a vast number of songwriters (including her second husband Agustin Lara,), artists, designers, and writers. Muralist Diego Rivera described her as “a monstrously perfect being. She’s an exemplary being that drives all other human beings to put as much effort as possible to be like her”. Playwriter Jean Cocteau, who worked with her in the Spanish film La Corona Negra (The Black Crown) said the following about her, “María, that woman is so beautiful it hurts”. Haute Couture houses like Dior, Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Hérmes, among others, designed and dressed her throughout her life. She died on her birthday, April 8, 2002, at 88 years old, in Mexico City. She was celebrated by a parade from her home to the Fine Arts Palace in the the city’s Historic Downtown, where a multitude of people paid tribute to her. Her filmography includes 47 movies from 1942 until 1970, and only two television acting roles in 1970. She has 2 music albums, one recorded with her second husband, Agustín Lara, in 1964 titled La Voz de María y la inspiración de Agustín «The voice of María and the inspiration of Augustín», and her solo album Enamorada «In Love» in 1998. Her bespoke Cartier jewelry is exhibited alongside Elizabeth Taylor’s, Grace Kelly’s and Gloria Swanson’s. In 2018, Film Director Martin Scorsese presented a restored and remastered version of her film Enamorada in the Cannes Classics section of the Cannes Festival and Google dedicated a doodle for her 104th birthday. On august 2023 Barbie added her doll to the Tribute Collection.

Maureen O'Hara:

I thought she was one of the most beautiful women in the world when I was a kid and I have yet to really change my mind. Always loved her temper and her red hair. Plus she was kind of a MILF in The Parent Trap

Haughty, red hair, hot.

I would have to give up my passport if I didn't submit Maureen O'Hara but also have you seen her? Not only did she look like that (she was called the Queen of Technicolor, though she wasn't a big fan of that sobriquet), she was also very funny and tough as nails. She faced off against Walt Disney in a contract dispute and the legend goes that when someone mentioned her at his deathbed, he sat up and said 'That bitch!'. Her comment on that story is "At least he didn't think of me and say, 'That wimp'." She struggled to get serious roles for a time, saying ""Hollywood would never allow my talent to triumph over my face," so she plays the sexy princess/pirate/harem girl in a LOT of early movies that she referred to as "Tits and Sand" films, she being the tits in question. She also turned down so many leading men and studio bosses (Errol Flynn and Howard Hughes are among her rejects) that there were rumours spread that she was a lesbian. Many egos were battered it seems. I'm including the infamous Lady Godiva scene in the photo propaganda for the sheer Moment of it [link] . It was a bit of a flop critically, but it was one of Clint Eastwood's first film appearances and she said he told her later that he was very glad of the money at the time.

She was a very proud Irish woman and when she went for her American citizenship they insisted on referring to her as British (the timeline of Irish independence is a bit wibbly wobbly, we won't get into it here). She refused to accept American citizenship under that condition and argued her way through every level of US immigration she could find, supposedly saying "I'm not responsible for your antiquated records here in Washington", until a judge finally gave up and said "Give her what she wants, just get her out of here". This made her the first ever person seeking US citizenship to be proclaimed Irish on the record!

The hair. The accent. The figure. The acting chops. The perfection.