#and ivo is still the love of my life

[mironemec]

I'm so in love with Michael Fitz's music. There's something magical to me about his songwriting.

[palskippah]

Hi! I give you this Stobotnik fankid I made a while ago :'y

She's Sofia --or Ivania or some other name ending in 'ia'-- Robotnik (coolest last name)

It's a compilation and also there's some Stone for practice bc I have no idea how to draw him pipipi Eggman is easier bc it's just his Sonic Boom design (I love it)

Some stuff about this universe under the cut!

(Btw if there's incongruencies is bc I can't make up my mind about the facts whwhw)

-Robotnik and Stone are married, very much married. Cartoon villains in love, I love that for them.

-["MARTHA I'M COMING HOME SWEETIE-"] Mixing up the movie things and the whatever's going on in the Sonic Boom, so Robotnik was gone for eight months and when he's back she's already born.

>Also the drawing is a reference to Icarly's "Whatcha got there?" "A smoothie" but she was clearly asking about the ostrich Spencer brought with him.

>Alternatively, Eggman's there and they go through the journey together yippiee. Choosing names, making evil parenting plans and whatever, being their idiot selves.

(After celebrating because they're good news actually) "I want a boy or a girl-" (Eggman) "Yeah me too." (Stone) "-and we should name them a single, worth of remembering name! Like... Eggette for a girl and Eggson for a boy." "I'm not letting you name them any of that, doctor..." "Okay, then how about Beyonce for a girl and-"

>They wouldn't have kids (?? maybe? I don't really know, I only know sonic boom and the movie :'U)- but she was probably the 1% the birth control warns you about. Also, Stobotnik got a very active seggsual life, and I'm imagining she came to be from a quickie over the desk, why not.

>Helpful diagram of Eggman + Stone kissing and then = baby. They were in work hours.

-In the one where he comes back and the baby's already there, Eggman does a terrible job as a father the few first months, but then he gets the hang of it and it's not so bad.

>He gets projectile vomited on and he's immediately asking to get an abortion (the baby's already born) (he didn't give birth to her), Stone says no anyways.

>"Surprisingly, I'm a good father" he thinks one day and it's because he's still very much an orphan here with no frame of comparation or example aside from researching the matter.

-In the one where they wait for her together, he does all the research necessary in all those months, absolutely refusing in doing an average job in that matter, he's the great Ivo Robotnik c'mon. He excels at anything and he'll be a great father (jk he's terrified of fucking up).

-The Stobotnik family is an evil but loving family, like the bears in Puss in Boots whwh criminal family✨

-For the funny of it, Sonic and Eggman got a sort of relationship like in Sonic Boom, so sometime maybe our favorite boy, Tails and Knuckles had to look after their child.

-Also since Knuckles broke Stone's and Robotnik's hands with their handshake, let's have him handle the baby with the most careful grip ever, just to demonstrate that he didn't have to grab their hands that hard aksdjask

-She's a big fan of Sonic and friends (Sonic the Hedgehog, not Sonic Wachowski, the second guy hadn't done even half the things she admires him for, but no one has the heart to tell her when she's a kid). Has a bunch of merch and all the comics of Sonic the Hedgehog.

>When she's a teenager she proudly uses her Sonic backpack in the same way Deadpool uses his Hello Kitty backpack.

-BTW Sonic, Knuckles and Tails are all brothers and Maddie and Tom's kids bc that's the best idea ever made.

-ALSO I'm definitely gonna draw that scene where Knuckles was about to put the baby in the blender and Sonic shouts THE CHILI DOG NOT THE BABY. Some day, you'll see pipipi.

-SAGE was created for various reasons, to be her sister (since she wouldn't stop asking for one but neither Stone nor Robotnik were willing in raising another human kid, thanks very much), to protect her, and also to answer the tedious "why?" questions that neither father had the patience for (A+ parenting right there). Maybe she was used for the original purpose too idk (I don't know that sonic game where she debuts).

>The child's delighted about having a sister, then she grows up and SAGE doesn't, so she has a little sister.

>METAL SONIC TOO MAYBE? Perfect lil american family, the two happily married parents and their three kids (one human girl, an IA and a robot clone of their alien enemy).

-On her early months she was called Pebble, because she really was a mini Stone, Robotnik went along with it (bc he also looked at her and only saw his husband whw) until she was a little older and they started calling her by her name.

>Alternatively, since Eggman was gone, Stone waited for him to return in hopes of choosing together a name for their child, and Pebble worked as a placeholder since she was just a bebi.

>Alternatively alternatively, Eggman came up with the nickname. ROCK-ONNAISSANCE 🗣️ also yeah I know he was going crazy from the mushroom stuff, but he's not above making silly puns, he's a dad now and also he's naturally silly.

(NGL I really gotta make up my mind about how it all happened ajsdkad)

-She's a spoiled kid and also a little menace, unintentionally evil, she can't help it.

>Good-hearted too sometimes, she loves Sage and does her best to protect her back (it's not necessary but it's appreciated anyways).

-Robotnik calls himself 'daddy' way too much in the live-action movies to ignore it, so he's daddy and Stone's dad (dada when she was younger).

>"These are my daddies!" (points to what's clearly two villains -but also good fathers-)

-She has Robotnik's eyes but as big as Stone's. They're the lethal-est sad puppy eyes ever (they work wonders on both parents and other people) (both men got beautiful dark brown eyes with visible eyelashes fight me).

>Look at Eggman's silly eyelashes:

>Also, you know that picture of Lee Majdoub with the beautiful everything? I think he was wearing eyeliner so my Stone wears eyeliner too in contrast to Eggman's dark circles under his eyes JDJS😭

-She's the five-year-old that made Sonic fear them because 'they can be so cruel when they sense weakness' (she was brutally honest as any young kid is).

-Stone and Robotnik got Gomez and Morticia Addams kinda parenting. They see their child beating up someone and they're like:

"What did we do wrong?" (Stone while shaking his head in disappointment) "I know... she lacks resourcefulness." (Eggman) "Exactly, there's her baseball bat right there, why doesn't she use it?"

-Remember that Shadow said in a game that he wouldn't mind taking a candy from a baby? (fandub I think but still) This comes in handy when neither Tails, Sonic or Knuckles want to upset the kid (so Shadow does it instead).

-She plays sports too because she got too much energy. In each of them she loses her patience. She grabs the football and hauls it at the nearest team member, she throws her baseball bat to the ground and starts beating up whoever threw the ball that she missed, she stomps in frustration if she loses, she's great at dodgeball (sends her classmates to the infirmary).

-Throws tantrums and stuff and overall's an annoying kid if she's upset. Eggman's like UGH WHY'S SHE LIKE THIS?? and Stone's like Because of you, doctor (terrible temperament runs in the family and also Robotnik just spoiled her too much).

-I'm kinda dressing her up in the clothes that existed in my mind that supposedly Eggman wore (the weird dress-like jacket with the big zipper in the middle). Under her jacket there's a dress in the same pattern as the original Eggman's clothes, also she wears a baby onesie like that too.

-When she's older she's definitely proud of her fathers, but she doesn't appreciate the rumors that she's prone to go power-crazy like Robotnik did. Especially because it may be true, but what do they know.

-For the irony, she can't stand drinking coffee, but loves the smell of it because it reminds her of home (omg).

-THEY HAVE A PET CAT like I read in some fics and her name is Robot and she's a lil shit and also grumpy like Robotnik.

>Maybe she brings her alive mice to experiment on all sort of stuff (like Pávlov and his dogs and the guy Skinner with his mice and cats (??))

-She gets to hang out with Sonic and friends under the condition of annoying him as much as possible. So, she complies. (She loves Sonic the Hedgehog, but she loves making her fathers happy more).

-Very smart kid but not to the level of Tails or Robotnik at that age, she's just got very good memory and learning skills and knows a lot of stuff ever since she was a little kid. More like a Matilda-kinda intelligence.

-She's a scientist when she grows up too but the kind that makes evil potions and serums and stuff aksjdk probably (chemistry things? biochem idk). She can make silly little robots for the fun of it but it's not her passion, unlike Robotnik and Stone's. PROBABLY. I'm still deciding.

-BTW LOOK (it says 'carefully crafted ploy to distract space porcupines')

>While Eggman's there with the baby and Sonic in front of him going AWWW BABY BOO and making her laugh, Stone is sneaking up on him holding a chair above his head to knock him out.

THAT'S IT THANKS FOR READING ✨✨

[lazypanartist]

HELLO i fucking LOVE ur stobotnik and their kid series!!! its what initially got me to watching the movies and into the sonic franchise as a whole!!! can i request a stobotnik and their kid whos sort of like maria.... like they genuinely love the world and humanity despite (ahem) everything Ivo says. Maybe add in a sprinkle of shadow who sees reader and is taken aback by how similar they are to maria, and now stone + ivo has to deal with their kid having a new guard dog/brother HDSHSDH love ur writing, hope u have a good day!!

AHHH I'M SO GLAD I COULD HELP YOU GET INTO THE SERIES!! Super touched 💙💙💙

*Frantically googling Shadow's personality + Maria Robotnik*

*Having a Crisis™ because WOW OKAY*

Anyways! I've been working on this since the request rolled in, and am 100% invested. Willing to take related requests ^-^

Stobotnik + Sweetheart! Child, + Guard Dog Bestie! Shadow

Note: this is long. Like, LONG long

Your fathers have always loved you, if a tad.. oddly.

Papa Ivo doesn't understand your interest with the rest of humanity.

"What if one of those disgusting cretins gets my baby sick? What if someone actually wanted to hurt you?"

"No, it's far safer for you if you stay by his or Papa Stone's side. Or in the lab. The lab is VERY safe, you know. Well idiot proofed"

Not that he's calling his baby an idiot, of course -

Baba Aban, however, seems to understand you.

Of course he respects Papa's wishes, keeps you close when you do go out, but he tries to sate your interest in humanity best he can.

Always open to questions, and will try to answer everything as age-appropriately as possible.

"What does Papa do all day?"

"He builds things for the government."

"Why?"

"Because it pays well enough to raise you and keeps him busy."

"Why doesn't Papa like other people?"

He.. doesn't have an answer for that one. Not really.

"Just because" sounds too shallow, and "Because people can be horrible" is almost worse.

"To keep you safe."

It's not a lie, but it's not the truth, and the way you huff lets him know you're onto him.

Lets Ivo know before you two are finished with errands, in case you bombard the older man with questions next

They both try and keep you entertained in their own ways

Papa Ivo tries to keep you interested in his machines, how they can be used to better your life

Baba Aban takes you out for errands and helps teach you in the kitchen

Life is as balanced as it can be, considering your solitude growing up

Both dads help you set up a little greenhouse in the traveling lab

"For self sufficiency!" - Papa Ivo

"To give them a new hobby." - Baba Aban

"To keep me busy." - Baby You™

You know what's up

SO since we don't yet know how Shadow calmed tf down in the movie, bare with me here.

After the events of Movie 2 and then the unearthing of Project Shadow, you and your dads are living in the Crabmeat base deep in the Pacific

You and Baba Aban still surface occasionally for groceries and supplies, while Papa Ivo throws himself into his work to distract himself from his latest defeat.

During one surface visit, looking around the Seattle streets while on the back of Baba Aban's motorcycle, you see a strangely familiar figure on a similar vehicle.

You tug on your das's sleeve before gearuring toward the hedgehog

"Baba.. that's not Sonic, is it?"

He looks, does a double take

"Uh.. no."

He's stopping near the same lot the two of you are, and Baba instructs you to message Papa

"Found another alien hedgehog, will update"

He seems wary when the two of you approach, glancing between you as Aban steps closer, an arm in front of your chest to keep you back behind him

"Who are you?"

The hedgehog glares, and you slink just a bit closer to see him

"I am the ultimate life form."

"Decided by who?"

"That's none of your concern."

The two are almost circling one another now, Baba keeping you behind him, even if just barely

"It's my concern if you're here to.. to destroy humanity, or whatever."

You eye him from behind your dad, but he just huffs a laugh

"Destroy? I was created to preserve your human lives."

Your eyes widen again, catching his own before he glanced back towards your Baba

"Is that a problem?"

You tug at Aban's sleeve again, and he slows his movement, letting you peek out more from behind him

"No.. I don't suppose it is."

You finally slip out from behind him, smiling, and Shadow is hit, mentally, with the image of Maria, smile - the same energy as your own

A certain kind of sad loneliness, with an undertone of care

He doesn't know why he thinks of it that way

All he knows is that it feels like home again

The two of you see each other a few times after that, while out on errands with Baba

Papa wants to meet him - of course - but doesn't want another Knuckles situation

(He's very glad that the echidna didn't try and go after you for revenge - after the emerald was taken away, he wasn't sure he could have saved you)

So he lets you - and Stone - approach him on the surface

Not that you know explicitly that you're helping.

Neither of your dad's know about Maria - at least not explicitly - and Shadow still hasn't voiced why he's so attached to you

He finds himself following you whenever he sees you on earth

Of course you're with Baba every time, kept at arms length from Shadow, but he keeps coming back

Papa allows it because he hasn't made any threats

Baba allows it because he seems genuinely friendly

And doesn't seem to recognize him

Finally - FINALLY - Papa asks Baba to help bring him to the base

Respectfully, if possible. He wants to keep the peace, even if it's just for your sake

You get to be the lucky one to invite Shadow to the base

You smile when you ask if he'd like to come, and all he can see is Maria inviting him to see a new breakthrough from her grandfather

He says yes

Immediately

Your smile gets wider

"This is the first time I've invited a friend home!"

His poor, walled-off heart cracks just a little, and he gives Stone a Look™

Baba just glanced away before offering him a ride in a (rented) car

The two of you sit in the back, just talking to each other, while Stone contemplated how he got to driving one of the aliens.

To his home.

With his child in the backseat next to said alien.

As long as you're happy, and Ivo's happy, then he's sure he'll be fine

Shadow is still vague with answers around his past - every time you try and engage him about family, friends, childhood, home - he thinks of Maria

He still tries to answer you - he grew up in space, with his best friend and her grandfather.

She was.. sick. Very sick. And she died.

Conveniently leaving GUN out of the convo.

He sees the sadness you have for him - the same Maria held when she told him to go - and decides that he'll make space for himself in your life

If you let him.

ONLY if you let him.

The three of you make it back to crabmeat safely, and both of your dads hover, but let you interact how you want

Shadow sees a lot of Gerald in your Papa, but won't say anything.

He can't

Not yet, at least

He ends up staying the night, nested on your floor next to your own little fort, facing the door even in his sleep

Ivo tolerates it, if barely

He brought the hedgehog here to study, not to befriend his baby

"What if he has.. space rabies?!"

Stone just rolls his eyes as he shuts your door most the way, alarm systems all in place for the night

"This is the first time they've had a friend over, Ivo. We'll know if something goes wrong - just let them have this."

"This" turned into "a live-in best friend" rather quickly, to both parents' surprise (and your absolute delight)

Eventually, he caves.

He starts answering questions truthfully, the pain still rather fresh in his mind

He tells you about Maria, about GUN, about his purpose and pain

And you're there to comfort him

He's not graphic, and you don't push, and he appreciates it more than he'll voice, even to you

He figures that as long as you're willing to be there and listen, he'll be there to keep you safe company

Both dads are.. annoyed

Ivo thinks this new hedgehog is overbearing - always at your shoulder, keeping you company when he's supposed to be, never seeming to let you out of his sight

Stone thinks he's up to something, the way he lingers between streets when you're out, watching from the shadows (ha)

In reality, he's just trying to keep you safe

Your dads seem to figure that out when one of Ivo's ridiculous predictions comes true - you wander just a bit too far from Baba to look at some UV lights for your plants on Crabmeat, and someone grabs your arm as they walk past, jostling you enough that you yelp

Shadow is there in half a second, sending the aggressor to the floor before tugging on your hand, coaxing you down so he can look at the bruise forming on your bicep

Baba Aban is there a second later, lowering himself and helping Shadow turn your arm before helping you back up

"We should leave."

The three of you are silent until halfway back to the base, when Baba tilts the rearview to look at Shadow while he's druving

"Shadow.."

"What?"

He always glares when he talks to anyone besides you. Typically toward the floor or their chests, but right now he's looking your Baba in the eyes through the mirror, watching your father's gaze soften

*Thank you."

And thank YOU anonymous requester for all of this!

The requests for Sonic Movieverse, and this particular headcanon set, are wide open! Please send me reqs! I'm fixating like a mofo right now!!

[panelshowsource]

sorry i took a lil break from posting gifs and stuff, it was my birthday and then i went on vacation and then i went to the dentist and now it's father's day and asdfghjk real life whirlwind ugh i much prefer my internet bubble of self-indulgence!!!

anywayz i have still been working to keep my google drive updated and add a few new things :)

new have i got news for you

new i'm sorry i haven't a clue

standup specials by ardal o'hanlon, daniel sloss, fern brady, katherine ryan, romesh ranganathan, stewart lee

what's that lady doing? by lou sanders (audiobook)

mostly unrelated to britcom, i do have a googledrive linked on my main account and share films & tv there :) new series i added there that may be of interest is russell t davies' it's a sin

also want to shout out some things on the drive that i recommend or people may have missed!

with the taskmaster podcast wrapping up, there are tons of audiobooks in the books folder :')

for (mostly) wholesome buddy comedy stuff: dara & ed's road to mandalay and great big adventure, miles jupp and elis james travel wales, rob & rylan's grand tour, world's most dangerous roads (just watched the namibia episode with mike wozniak and ola labib and LMAO the concept of the show is just so bizarre i love it), not to mention the latest series of travel man!

campervan travel series british as folk with fern brady, ivo graham, and darren harriott

i have a feeling not every tm fan has seen the actual horne section tv show (+ the 2018 special) so here they are!

does anyone else miss charlie brooker as much as me... screenwipe rewatch marathon when?

[aperiodofhistory]

20 books in 2024

Another year, another year of a TBR pile. I'm really satisfied with my reading in the year 2023. I read some books I wanted to read for a long time. But still, I left some for the year 2024. So I'm transferring the remaining ones into this year, and adding a few more. I'm happy about the upcoming year, as I want to read a lot of fantasy.

The library of Babel by Jorge Luis Borges

Babel by Rebecca F. Kuang

Legends & Lattes by Baldree Travis

Fabric: The Hidden History of the Material World by Victoria Finlay

The Island of missing trees by Elif Shafak

Ways of being by James Bridle

The Gathering Dark: An Anthology of Folk Horror by various authors

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet

The return of the king by Tolkien

A game of thrones by Martin

Shakespearean: On Life & Language in Times of Disruption by Robert McCrum

A court of thorns and roses by Sarah J. Mass

Femina by Ramírez Janina

Anything by Ava Reid

The road by Cormac McCarthy

Red rising by Pierce Brown

Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

Spinning silver by Naomi Novik

Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

I'm tagging @artmill-danaan for its book list for the year 2024.

-------

Other read:

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

The Bridge on the Drina (Bosnian Trilogy, #1) by Ivo Andrić

Love and Friendship by Jane Austen

A court of Mist and fury by Sarah J. Mass

A court of wings and ruin by Sarah J. Mass

A clash of kings by Martin

An atlas of Tolkien

[joeymerenset]

Void’s Romance Club blog Introduction

You can call me Joey, online I use the nickname Void, I use any pronouns but tend to prefer she/they (I’m still figuring that out,) I’m pan and polyamorous

I’m from Palestine and that is not up for your personal interpretation. It is a fact, and if you do not support Palestine, block me.

I’m obsessed with Romance club, my other interests include writing, analyzing literature and media, learning theology and culture, and making art, mostly by drawing but I do other things as well.

I speak Arabic, English and despite having learned French in school all my life, I only know the basics. Trying to learn it on my own time now.

Romance club facts:

I play Romance Club on three accounts because I cannot decide on love interests to save my life. 🥲

My first story on RC was The Flower from Tiamat’s Fire. My favorites are PSI and Song of the Crimson Nile.

I’d love to make friends/ find Romance Club mutuals, you can ask for my discord.

What Romance Club stories I’ve played, in order of my first to latest:

The Flower From Tiamat’s Fire

Status: on my 6th playthrough

Love Interest: Kingu

Path: Fire

Kali: Call of Darkness

Status: on my 4th playthrough

Love Interest: Ratan

Path: Loyalty, Kindness of the Goddess. Now playing on Independence path

Heaven’s Secret

Status: Completed

Love Interest: Malbonte

Path: Harmony Bearer, Path of Malbonte

Heaven’s Secret 2

Status: Completed

Love Interest: Malbonte (plan to play on other account for Hunger)

Path: Composure

Rage of the Titans

Status: Completed

Love Interest: Murphy

Path: Divinity

The Desert Rose

Status: Season 3, Ep 6

Love Interest: Adil

Path: Rebellion, The Desert Flower

Song of the Crimson Nile

First account:

Status: Season 2, Ep 6 (caught up to latest update)

Love Interest: Undecided, waiting for Anubis

Path: Honesty, Necromancy

Second account:

Status: Season 2, Ep 5

Love Interest: Set

Path: Cunning, Oneiromancy

Kali: Flame of Samsara

First account:

Status: Season 2, Ep 2

Love Interest: Ram

Path: Pride, Legacy

Second account:

Status: Season 1, Ep 5

Love Interest: Saraswati

Path: Passion, Freedom

PSI

First account:

Status: Completed, on my 7th playthrough (Replaying S3 for a bad ending)

Love Interest: Ivo

Path: Control, Form

Second account:

Status: Season 2, Ep 10

Love Interest: Kay

Path: Impulse, Form

Third account:

Status: Completed, on my 2nd playthrough (Replaying for middle ending)

Love Interest: Jonas

Path: Control, Form

Arcanum

Status: Previously reached the end of season 2 before making a second account, panicked when I couldn’t choose a love interest, and replayed the whole thing. Currently on Season 1, Ep 7

Love Interest: Liam (will play on other accounts for Bert and Rob)

Path: Emperor

Astrea’s Broken Heart

Status: Season 1, Episode 5

Love Interest: Undecided (will probably play on multiple accounts for Mikael, Raphael and Felonia)

Path: Faith

W: Time Catcher

Status: Season 1, Ep 7

Love Interest: Shen? (I'm falling hard for Onyx and Tallis)

Path: Moon Heiress

Legend of the Willow

Status: Was previously about to end season 2, forgot too many plot points. Now just began replaying

Love Interest: Kazu (Will probably play on other accounts for other love interests)

Path: Coldness, The Pearl Fox

Soulless

Status: Just started, Season 1 Ep 2

Love Interest: Threxia

Path: Pride

I will continue to update this list as I keep going.

[lukethompsondaily]

He is best known for Netflix hit Bridgerton, but Luke Thompson’s theatre pedigree encompasses Shakespeare, Greek tragedy and Ivo van Hove’s marathon A Little Life. He talks to Fergus Morgan about his passion for the stage and his worries for its future

Luke Thompson might have shot to stardom thanks to his role as Benedict in Netflix’s smash-hit series Bridgerton, but the 35-year-old actor is most at home on stage.

“I spectate on myself,” Thompson says. “I always have done. It’s been a bit painful in my life. And the only place on earth it doesn’t happen is on stage when someone else is spectating instead and so I don’t have to worry. You’re watching me so I don’t have to watch myself. I feel free. Those are the best moments of my life.”

Fortunately, Thompson has not been short of stage work. Born in Southampton in 1988, he grew up just outside Paris, returning to the UK to study English and drama at the University of Bristol, before training at RADA. He landed his first job almost immediately after graduating in 2013: playing Lysander in Dominic Dromgoole’s staging of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Shakespeare’s Globe in London.

Since then, alongside screen roles in BBC One’s In the Club and Bridgerton, Thompson has starred in Julius Caesar at the Globe, Oresteia and Hamlet – opposite Andrew Scott – at London’s Almeida, and King Lear and A Little Life in the West End. Both he and co-star James Norton were nominated for Olivier awards for their performances in Ivo van Hove’s acclaimed adaptation of Hanya Yanagihara’s hard-hitting novel.

“A Little Life was such an intense experience,” Thompson says. “Intense in a good way, I mean. The material was very bleak, but acting is always pleasurable because you are indulging in a fantasy, even if it’s a dark one, and that is inherently fun.”

Thompson also thinks that theatre has lost some of its belief in itself. “Theatre is supposed to be provocative. I’m not on social media, but I think it can be very aggressive and vicious, and I think theatres cave to that a bit. Deep down, theatre is the opposite of social media. It is about people being in a room, exchanging opinions and emotions. I worry that social media is spoiling that a bit, which is a shame.”

What production made you fall in love with theatre?

I remember standing in the Yard at Shakespeare’s Globe in 2009 and watching Thea Sharrock’s production of As You Like It, and thinking: ‘Oh, wow, this is really funny and it actually works. When done simply and confidently, Shakespeare still speaks to us today.’ For my first job to be at the Globe a few years later was magical.

What are you finding inspiring at the moment?

I love watching Ivo [van Hove]’s company do stuff. There is something so wild about the acting in his shows. We get very bogged down with facts in this country, but Ivo understands the dream logic of plays. Some of the most moving things I’ve seen don’t completely make sense. I find that inspiring.

What do you wish you could change about the performing arts industry?

I wish theatre had more confidence. Right now, it feels unsure about how useful it is and about how taboo, complex and provocative it should be. I feel as though theatre has lost confidence in its societal function.

What is the worst thing that has happened to you on stage?

There was a scene in A Little Life in which James ran around naked for a bit, then I would bring him clothes. During one show, I couldn’t find his underpants, so I just brought him his trousers and he put them on. But I forgot that people pulled his trousers off again later and they were expecting him to be wearing underpants. James knew it was coming and I knew it was coming and we couldn’t look at each other for the rest of the play. I hope he doesn’t mind me telling that story. It was so funny.

What is the best thing that has happened to you on stage?

There are so many. That sounds naff but I don’t care. I love the challenge of going on stage night after night and trying to make something feel alive in front of an audience.

What role do you really want to play?

I would work with Ivo again at the drop of a hat. And there are loads and loads of roles I would love to play. I did a reading of a rewriting of The Seagull the other day. The role of Konstantin is really beautiful. I’d love to play that. I’d love to play Iago one day, too. Of course, I’d love to play Hamlet but it’s boring to say that.

What projects are you involved in at the moment?

I’m playing Berowne in Emily Burns’ production of Love’s Labour’s Lost with the Royal Shakespeare Company. She has set it on a Polynesian island owned by these big tech billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg or Elon Musk, of which I am one. It’s a really smart concept that unlocks a lot of very interesting stuff in the play. Season three of Bridgerton is coming out in May and June, too. And we will be filming season four soon after that. There’s a lot still to come.

Source: The Stage

[aqspec]

BUT WHAT IF EVIL SONIC AU WIP? *slides him towards you*

i think i was going for an organic metal type of look to really sell that hes with eggman/evil

then we have some fun doodles to help me jot some fun ideas down, and also make them silly

For characters I think:

tails in terms of appearance would be basically boom tails but I think personality wise I have the idea that he’s still an smart pants but like… snarky about it with Amy if you get what I mean, and also he doesn’t really care about the things he makes, like if he made a sentient robot he’d be indifferent about it and if it got destroyed he would be like oopsie daisy I’ll probably have to make a new one

Then to Amy I think shed be more inline with fleetway amy, since she never met sonic here she never tried to be more girly to get his intention. Sometimes she gets exasperated with tails being annoying and is sometimes concerned about the robot thing, because she still cares about all forms of life but knows he’s a good person at heart and sticks with him

For knuckles, I’m still thinking of what to do with him, whether to keep him the same or make some major changes but at the moment he’s pretty much normal knuckles

For sonic I think he’d be a sore loser and have a short fuse, he is still supposed to be a kid after all… he was raised by eggman what do you expect but still the cocky never gives up kind of guy as well which correlates with how he is previously stated to be. I think when he first met tails and friends they probably underestimated him but they quickly got the upper hand and now he just doesn’t like them, especially tails since he always says he’s ‘copying ivo’ on the fact that he makes machines as well. Then eggman, a big change to him would be that he cares about his robots, he considers them family, and he actually has a caring bone in his body which is why he took sonic in and raised him, doesn’t pummel orbot and cubot etc etc, which is supposed to be in contrast to tails with his nonplus care about what happens to robots and eggman doesn’t like that. He doesn’t care what happens to tails and all the other mobians, the only organic I think he cares about is sonic because of their history. But despite all that he’s still an evil guy bent on ruling the world, but he’s not heartless (that’s debatable for tails and friends because they don’t. Think he actually cares about sonic and just keeps him around to make tails and Amy hesitate when attacking because they would be hurting a fellow mobian)

Bonus: Super form idea/sketch ✨

silly guy

WOW I SURE LOVE WRITING MULTIPARAGRAPH RANTS ABOUT RANDOM AU IDEAS THAT COME TO ME, im a first timer and it feels great

you never know, i might say more about this idea in the near future, and also if people wanted to ask funny things for fun my ask box is open

And JUST as i finsihed this giant post i was, URETHRA, i have a wip name for this... Pint Sized Evil AU (i just came up with that it probably sounds cringe ass) so if i ever post about this again ill use that tag

THANK YOU FOR COMING TO MY TED TALK

[egg-emperor]

Soft beams of light shine on Ivo's face from the setting sun as he looks down and smiles at me as we walk along the shore of his private sandy island, hand in hand. My heart races at his smile, his big warm hand in my own, his infectious giddiness and laughter. We reach our spot and watch the beautiful skies of hues of purple, orange, and red while sharing kisses under palm trees while the sun goes down. I make a promise that I'll always be here, we're in this together and we'll keep trying and fighting, we'll reach his goals together and all his dreams will come true someday. I vow that I'll do anything to make it happen for him

Cut to years in the future, a dark world with smog filled skies and dead land. Where the sun doesn't shine a day and everything is cold, dead, and mechanical but illuminated by the neon lights of dangerous theme park attractions and technology. Things have changed immensely, this world isn't the same colorful sunny one we met in and it's long gone now, I had to say goodbye to it and all its natural beauty and it was destroyed, polluted, and burned to nothing but ashes. But it's not the end because from those ashes rises a whole new world under the glorious Eggman Empire that grants whole new opportunities

Sacrifices had to be made, a lot was lost along the way. But that was the promise I made to do anything for him to make his dreams come true, so I accept and embrace it and let go of everything I once knew. I show him the deepest devotion by crawling through hell with him, willingly following him down the darkest paths, as long as it means getting to be by his side, I'll do it for him. I see all the darkest, scariest, most vulnerable parts of him and love him all the same, maybe only even more as I get to know him so intimately inside and out. It only makes the bond grow stronger

They say the sun will never be seen again as the thick dark clouds and smog block out all rays but I still see the bright sunlight every time he smiles. At night all the stars have faded away from pollution but the biggest, most beautiful, and special of them all still remains; Ivo. I've given him the sun, moon, and pulled all the stars from the sky to make his dreams come true. But I don't need to miss them because I still see them all in him. It's not all dark and grim as others see it to me, he brings a brightness and excitement even greater than the pretty lights and thrills of his crazy theme park attractions, as fun and beautiful as they are too

Nothing of the old world is the same except for us. I was hurt, broken down, and struggled along the way but stayed as determined as my master and kept fighting. We're in this together, we said to each other, and I held on to him through it all. Even after everything, he holds out his hand to me and I take it. We stand high above at the tallest tower of the city, he looks down at it all with his theme park, bases, factories, and all kinds of other Eggman-made creations with great pride swelling in his chest. He turns to me, gives me the widest brightest smile I've ever seen from him and says "It's finally all mine. Isn't it so beautiful?"

It was worth it all for that smile.

"It is so beautiful, but you're even more beautiful," I say as I admire the beauty of the new powerful handsome emperor, feeling so lucky to be at his side, though never worthy. That makes him chuckle as he ruffles my hair and says "I know I am!" Despite the darkest times, the challenges, and all the sacrifices I made to get here, Ivo finally claiming his sweet victory and making all his dreams come true in conquering the world, and my dream of seeing his eternal happiness, excitement, and pride made it all worthwhile. This is just the beginning of the rise of the glorious Eggman Empire and I'm so happy to spend this life with him 💜

[enteringdullsville]

Underrated Real Time Fandub Lines: Sonic Adventure 2

“Za Warudo!”

“I’ll make you eat those words!”

Sonic trades barbs faster than his mind can process them.

“THAT’S RIGHT, SONIC! I’M TAKING IT FROM THE oh wait, Sonic isn’t here. Knuckles, I’m taking your emerald.”

Eggman fails to account for the Master Emerald’s guardian.

“SHADOW.”

“Thanks, I forgot who this was! Did we ever establish our names? Hi, I’m Sonic!”

All said in the same angry tone of voice.

“F*** you, moon! You never had the cheese I wanted!”

Doctor Ivo Robotnik, IQ of 300.

“I’m sorry, did you not consent to me saving your life? I’ll put you back down, I’m sorry!”

Knuckles knows not to push his boundaries.

“And now I will control the universe! AND EVERYONE WILL BE ABLE TO WATCH splatoon2letsplays BY EGGMAN! NOW GET IN THE F***ING ROOM!”

I feel like it would’ve been easier to put it on the news while you were taking everyone’s Best Buys, but you do you, buddy.

“THANKS, JESUS!”

Knuckles and the big man upstairs go way back.

“You know I’ve seen my fair share of piss rocks~”

“…You said that really sensually!”

I quote Sonic’s response constantly.

“What you see is what you get! Just a guy who loves piss rocks…and adventure. I’m gonna run now.”

“What the f***.”

From Shadow, that kinda hurts.

“It’s been seventeen days…”

Cut to later…

“THREE YEARS! I’VE BEEN IN HERE FOR THREE YEARS!”

How much time passed between those fades?

“Please stop, Ivo.”

“Uh…HOW DID YOU KNOW MY MIDDLE NAME?”

This can go one of three ways. Either Eggman’s lying to cover his tracks, his full name is Ivo Ivo Robotnik (his actual name is pronounced “Eee-Voh”), or he’s just named “Doctor”.

“I put hot sauce on everything-”

“No.”

Alfred immediately catches on to what Ryan’s going for.

“WOOP! WOOP! THAT’S THE SOUND OF THE POLICE!”

“That rap! It reminds me of her!”

I really want to know what the heck crimes Maria committed.

“I’m here to show you what Ninten can do…and what Za WaruDON’T!”

“That doesn’t even make any sense.”

Shadow as he prepares his epic Earthbound Beginnings/Jojo crossover fanfiction.

“My follower base!”

“And yet they still can’t figure out how to get nazis off their site.”

In which Shadow utterly scorches the entire platform.

“As long as I get my weed back, I don’t really care.”

“I don’t have a character motive.”

The best part is that since Shadow’s been shot down to Earth for reasons completely unrelated to G.U.N., he really doesn’t have a character motive other than being a troll.

“Are you my mom?”

“No? What? The f***?”

Amy the Hedgehog to Tails, who is a boy, a fox, and far younger than her.

“Yes, Rouge. Thank you for listening to my insane ramblings about peeing in a Hot Topic.”

You can just hear the realization hit him.

“NOW GET OUT OF MY F***ING FACE! BEFORE I PISS ON YOU TOO.”

Odd as it may be to put a line from the moon rant in an “underrated lines” compilation, nobody talks about how brilliant a conclusion this is.

“I can’t believe he came to his intervention drunk.”

Really? Because it sounds just like him.

“Here comes the WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED!”

DJ Inexplicable Talking Gemstone’s new hit rock song.

“Wait, I know you! I saw your dick on Twitter!”

That’s one heck of a way to introduce yourself, Amy.

“When I see you, it is ON SIGHT! IT IS ON! SIGHT-”

“Yeah, piss off.”

The Ultimate Life Form cares not for your threats.

“What the f***, you Hot Topic hot sauce motherf***er, why would you even say anything!?”

“There’s nothing hotter than hot sauce, Rouge.”

That’s not even remotely an answer to the question she asked you!

“But I wanted the last thing I breathe to be pot!”

I always used to mishear it as “pie”.

“I NEVER LEARNED HOW TO REEEAD!”

“That’s not really a surprise!”

Amy’s line was golden as is. Tails’ barely audible snapback is just icing.

“And that is why I! Am the true owner of the world! That’s right! All that you see before you? Everything the piss touches? That is your kingdom! And you, my son, shall go forth and inherit it!”

…what?

“MAN, THOSE BALLS SURE ARE SHAKING.”

Yes, thank you, Knuckles.

“Ah gave birth.”

Another great throwaway line.

“As we know, my dick is on my hand.”

This guy’s about to jack off…

“If I gave Shadow fifteen apples…and then Amy gave Shadow another sixTEEEN…and then Tails took away three…my question is…what is the total mass of the sun?”

“As Obama told me, it’s THREE!”

“YOU FIGURED IT OOOOUUUUUUUUuuuuuuu…ah.”

“Why does it sound like he’s getting further away-this is stupid.”

I think this is the beginning of a beautiful binge watch.

“Wait, that’s no moon, that’s a space station!”

“Nice reference. I also love Star Trek.”

Oh, Shadow.

“Shadow didn’t deserve to die for his piss-”

“Yeah he did!”

“-but here we are.”

She’s not wrong.

“My shoes-my shoes in my reflection are opaque, bye!”

Again, she’s not wrong.

“I’m not understanding any of this, but here’s a gloog.”

We all need a gloog in our life.

“So if we were to all drink piss, does that make you or me?”

“It makes us both avid piss drinkers.”

This explains so much.

“Can I ask you, um-”

“No. Make sure to like, comment and subs-”

No is one of the greatest words in the English language.

“This is a Big McIntosh…”

“Eeyup.”

It took me years to catch that reference.

“This is wagyu steak. Named after the dog, because wagyu tail?”

“WHAT?”

…I got hit by a “deez nuts” joke.

“I’m gonna get a paper towel.” (Grabs a jar of pickles)

Eh, close enough.

“Don’t worry, this one literally has gold on it, so you will die if you eat it.”

“Good, that was the goal.”

Talk about a rich flavor.

“You hit me in my nose! That’s the spot where I don’t like being hit!”

“Well then that’s where I’ll hit you on repeated instances!”

Sonic being a menace to society.

“Hey, that’s some good bars man, y’know I’m coming to kill you right now.”

“…Can you not do that?”

“Uhhh, for how long?”

“Give me at least…y’know fifteen, sixteen…years.”

Followed shortly by Eggman trying to gaslight Sonic into thinking he destroyed the world.

“If they did make a prune juice cocktail, like half prune juice, half vodka, that would be called the ‘factory reset’.”

I have no idea how they started talking about prune juice, but whatever.

“I HAVE…REEFER MADNESS!”

The Dark Story version of Rouge and Knuckles’ encounter is…strange to say the least.

“Hey that’s…”

“Hey, that’s…”

“Hey, that’s…”

“Hey, that’s!”

I think Shadow’s the fake hedgehog around here.

“I’m gonna kill you, and I’m sober now, ‘cause I went to my own intervention!”

Sometimes it just be like that.

“That was completely unnecessary. My back hurts now.”

Screaming for three consecutive years finally caught up with him.

“I diagnose you with DEAD, Wazowski!”

The entire Roz sequence came out of nowhere, and I love it for that.

“IS THIS WHAT HOT TOPIC IS NOW?!”

Not pictured: the epilogue to the Piss Saga.

[wherebettertoescape]

A Little Life - Harold Pinter Theatre

For anyone who does wish to attend this production, please don’t take the content warnings lightly - the self-harm is graphic and two characters have full-frontal nudity. 

I (Freddie) attended the matinee production at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London on Sunday 7th May

THIS REVIEW/ANALYSIS DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR BOTH THE NOVEL AND STAGE PRODUCTION, SO PLEASE BE AWARE!

Trigger Warnings: talks of self harm, child abuse, sexual assault, domestic abuse and more

There’s no discernible reaction from the audience when Luke Thompson as Willem makes his entrance onto the stage. He’s wearing a dark blue hoodie, the hood pulled up over his hair - perfectly innocuous, nothing spectacular or grand as he walks about the stage. The lights are still bright, the audience is still chatting, laughter is filling the room. And Luke Thompson as Willem is onstage frying himself some bacon and eggs.

What has struck me again and again whenever I reread A Little Life - because, yes, I get a masochistic kind of joy from putting myself through that pain repeatedly - is the intimacy of it. Naturally with any book, the reader is granted the chance to feel close to the characters, to garner a look at their lives behind the veil. But if you were to ask me, I would say that there are very few - if any - novels that create this illusion as Hanya Yanagihara’s does. For 813 pages you are allowed to experience this life as they are, to experience snapshots of their lives - the good, the bad and the unimaginably horrifying - even as the rest of New York, the rest of the world, goes on as normal, with no thought spared to what is occurring within the walls of Lispenard Street and their subsequent homes. 

The awareness that despite what Jude is revealing to the readers about his past, the beyond nightmarish history he has, the world is continuing to go on as normal was perhaps the aspect of the novel I adore so much that I was most scared about losing in adapting it for other mediums.

But from the moment Luke Thompson stepped onto stage, transformed into Willem and beginning to go about his daily life, with the moving images of New York streets surrounding him in his apartment, I knew that my worries had been unfounded. Ivo Van Hove with his unbelievable direction paired with Jan Versweyveld’s set design had found a way to maintain that understanding. 

Throughout almost all of the performance, there is no moment of stasis. Be it JB and Malcom painting and working at desks on the right side of the stage, or Andy reading his book in his clinic, or the ever-present Willem and Harold. 

The former is always in the same spot on a sofa at the back of the stage, flipping through scripts, determined to make it big as an actor, pouring all of his attention and focus onto learning the lines, dedicated to making his dream a reality, and yet always there ready to support Jude. In the second act, Luke Thompson takes the exact same pose when listening to Jude revealing the details of his childhood, desperate to understand his best friend, and at this stage his lover, in the same way he had been desperate to make it as an actor.

Harold, however, spends much of his time on stage left, stationed at the kitchen set up. Constantly in movement, cooking several dishes throughout the course of the play. A reference, perhaps, to the number of Thanksgivings Jude is reported to have spent with him and his wife, Julia (absent from this adaptation). 

Despite the eternal loneliness that James Norton as Jude exudes with just his presence, he is only truly alone for a few moments - the harrowing whisper of “x equals x” that he gasps out after Elliot Cowan as Caleb leaves him naked in the street. It is then that he is alone onstage, laying in his blood, until he is retrieved by his loved ones and taken to rest on Andy’s hospital bed.

It is this detail of James Norton’s performance as Jude that I found the most powerful - which is saying something, considering that I am considering suing him for emotional damages, hasn’t anyone ever told him to think about using his acting powers for good, rather than evil? He captures a side of Jude that I had not previously considered - Jude views himself as a side character in his own life. He doesn’t feel worthy of attention, of his friendships, he is lonely in spite of being surrounded by those he loves the most and as a result feels unable to call out and ask for the help he desperately craves but does not believe that he deserves. 

The contrast between this and the fact that Jude is always centre stage is immense and almost disconcerting to watch and caused me to spend the entire performance practically begging him in my head to just turn around, they’re right there!

But this desire to be helped and to be heard is brought to life by the presence of Nathalie Armin as Ana. The first person in Jude’s life to truly care about him, and the only female in this adaptation of the novel. Armin has a commanding presence on the stage, even as she is a mere figment of Jude’s imagination. Dressed in all black, a stark difference to the bright set, allowing her to melt into the darkness when the spotlight focuses on Norton. 

In many ways, Ana vocalises the audience’s own thoughts - pleading with Jude to confide in his friends, desperate to stop him from harming himself further, and the relief in Armin’s expression as Jude finally tells Willem his story. 

The choice to keep the cast small causes a heavy weight to be put on Elliot Cowan’s shoulders, as he is tasked with portraying three different, truly heinous characters. Even without the costume changes, however, I truly believe it would be possible to tell which of the three he was in each scene.

Cowan gives truly fantastic portrayals of each of the villains of Jude’s life, as Brother Luke he shows the softer touch which allowed for him to manipulate Jude in his innocence, he never handles Norton roughly when playing the part of Brother Luke. Carefully pulling him along, coaxing Jude to trust him to the point that the child does not realise just how wrong it is what Brother Luke asks of him. 

This acting from Cowan makes Jude’s words all the more heartbreaking in Act 2 when talking to Willem, as the audience is able to see why Jude insists that Brother Luke was different, that he did love him.

When taking up the role of Caleb, however, he becomes the manifestation of everything Jude believes about himself. He has none of Brother Luke’s gentleness, but all of his intensity and possessiveness. The last that we see of Caleb, is when he lifts Jude up by the arm, Norton’s body used to reflect the words he says - “x equals x”. Being with Caleb has brought to life Jude’s darkest thoughts of himself, and Jude views this as proof that no matter what he will always be the same. Damaged and unlovable, to be blamed for everything he had been subjected to in his youth.

As Dr Traylor, Cowan’s words are clipped and straightforward. He is the most detached of Jude’s abusers, not caring for his name and only referring to him as “a prostitute” and reinforcing what Jude already believes about himself. It is not until Jude’s “release” that we see any true kind of emotion from Dr Traylor. Cowan shows Dr Traylor with a manic kind of joy upon forcing Jude to run from him, all the while on the tail in his car. The chase scene is long, and dramatic with the incredible musicians rising in volume and intensity with their instruments. The length of the scene forces thoughts back to Jude’s earlier response when JB asked about his legs - “I used to run cross country”.

In all of his roles, Cowan has the same commanding presence onstage as Armin. The moment he leaves the wings, regardless of who he is in that moment, the audience’s attention is drawn to him. As though by sheer glares and willpower we will be able to change Jude’s story, that we as mere observers will be able to push against Cowan’s slow, purposeful steps and keep him away from Norton. 

Zubin Varla and Emilio Doorgasingh gave masterful portrayals as Harold and Andy, respectively. They are markedly different to the presence of Willem, Malcom and JB - in what proves to be a very physical play, Harold rarely touches his son, while Andy only does so as necessary in his medical examinations of Jude.

This respect for Jude’s boundaries when it comes to physical contact is what truly sets Harold and Andy apart from the other older figures in Jude’s life (those villains played by Cowan). Varla’s portrayal of Harold is always evaluating his own movements, always second guessing himself before moving towards Jude - he does not seek out the easy, casual contact shown by the other three young adults. But when Jude comes to him for comfort, Harold is always eager to provide it.

The final scene of Harold and Jude embracing - Jude in his wheelchair, Harold knelt on the ground in front of him, with the rejected trays of food scattered on the floor around him - when Norton practically falls into Varla’s arms, sobbing into his shoulder, as a screen slowly comes down to hide them, JB on the outside, is one that I believe will stay with me for years to come. 

There is an emotion in Varla’s voice when he confides in the audience the story of Jacob, his first son. And in that closing scene we are forced back to that monologue, when he confesses to anyone listening that when Jacob died, there was a little part of him relieved, as that meant it was over. And although it is heartbreaking, it is this statement that makes it no real surprise that when the screen lifts again, Harold is alone in front of that wheelchair to report Jude’s suicide.

Where Armin’s Ana shows the sympathetic side of the audience, the aching desire to hug Jude and promise him it will be okay, to protect him both from the world and himself, Doorgasingh’s Andy exhibits the rougher side of it. His frustration at Jude’s abject refusal to accept help, his anger at watching someone he loves destroy themselves. The hopelessness he feels when his advice goes unnoticed, and his frequent calls to Harold and Willem - often screaming at the two people Jude is closest to, desperate for them to be there for him more.

Andy does not have the same stage presence as many of the other characters do, instead he - and the same can be said for Malcom - almost fades into the background at times. But they are there, ready to pick up the pieces. Both Doorgasingh and Wyatt are spectacular in their characterisations. In the novel, Andy and Malcom show an awareness that they are not the most important people to Jude, that they cannot help him in the ways others can, and in this adaptation, the actors bring that feeling to life.

They are there, working in their own lives, on their own projects. Malcom quietly sees what Jude refuses to acknowledge about his worsening condition and accommodating for it even despite the push back of his best friend. And Andy who can be seen pacing at the side of the stage, calling Jude when he can sense everything is getting too much for him - they are both there for him in their own quiet ways, and their loyalty and love for Jude is never questioned by the audience. It is also important to note that in this adaptation of the novel, neither of these characters address the audience directly - the only two whose focuses are solely within the story with no fourth-wall breaks.

Omari Douglas as JB, on the other hand, stands out more than anyone. First as a result of his costumes - often more brighter than those of his castmates - and then just as how he presents himself. Anyone who watched his performance in It’s a Sin will recall how Douglas’ presence demands to be noticed, and this is carried forth onto the Harold Pinter Stage. He captures the heart of JB’s character - desperate to be heard, to be needed by his friends. Charming in his own way, despite how his messy character causes him to betray his friends at several points in the story. 

Douglas transitions well from how JB is around his friends - brash, loud, confident - to how he truly feels when talking to the audience. His voice is softer, he somehow seems a little smaller as he talks about watching Jude, how he feels Willem doesn’t value his friendship as highly as the others, how he feels they don’t need him anymore.

While JB’s drug addiction is rather rushed in this adaptation - it’s discussed at length in the novel - Douglas eloquently displays his anguish to the audience, his desperation to quit. A previously difficult to like character, after having seen him mock Jude’s disability, and betray his trust, the audience is able to empathise and understand him better. And when it is just him and Jude left at the end of the show, Douglas doesn’t say anything, but takes up the same space as had previously been filled by Willem and Malcom. He quietly watches Jude - just as he had before with his painting, only this time, it’s out of concern for his friend, rather than concern for his career and viewing him as a muse.

I have already mentioned how this production brought me to tears on several occasions, however none made me sob more so than Luke Thompson’s monologue at the end before his car crash. Having already read the book several times, I had known that this was coming and yet it didn’t stop me from hoping that somehow I’d misunderstood the plot point and that Willem did actually survive. So when Thompson took centre-stage and I knew what was next, my sister took my hand as the two of us prepared ourselves.

Beyond the tear-jerker of a monologue, when I later considered the adaptation as a whole I wondered over the choice to mention Hemming at that point. Perhaps this mention worked some some of the audience, however for me I felt it should have been mentioned earlier, as it is in the novel. With Willem only mentioning Hemming before he dies and only in reference to Jude, it caused me to reflect somewhat poorly on their relationship. It’s a minor point about the adaptation, however I do wonder if mentioning his older brother earlier, before Jude himself begins to use a wheelchair, it would have been more impactful.

I could sing praises about the chemistry between Norton and Thompson onstage - however considering I have the voice of a dying seal, it’s probably best that I don’t. Instead, I’ll simply say that their interactions in the second act, as Willem confesses his attraction to Jude, and he struggles to understand it caused my heart to skip a beat. 

Norton captures Jude’s innocence throughout the play perfectly - from the moments that he slips into his childhood self in flashbacks, to when he’s so unsure in his relationship with Willem, unused to being with someone who does genuinely love and care for him. 

All in all, I enjoyed this stage adaptation of A Little Life - if “enjoy” can be the correct word for a production that brought me to tears and caused me to question the meaning of life. It was hauntingly beautiful, heartbreakingly sad and utterly harrowing. I don’t believe I’ve ever been quite so moved by a whole troupe of actors and the way that they characterise their roles. While I certainly have some criticisms and hang-ups about this show and the story in general, I shall save those for another post, hopefully less long and wordy.

Would I return to the Harold Pinter Theatre to watch it again given the choice? Truthfully, I’m not sure. While I fell in love with these actors, the direction, set design and music, I’m unsure if I could watch it again and feel the same level of intensity as I did on this watch. Also, I cried enough to give myself a headache by the end - so if I were to watch again, I’d have to remember to bring a water bottle to ensure I stayed hydrated.

[patientlibrarian]

Goran Thursday.

Hello everyone, everywhere, it's "Goran Thursday" and still very hot here in the UK. Lots of Goran about at the moment.

Talking of hot:

Translation:

Goran Višnjić and Zrinka Cvitešić together on stage for the first time: "We became like a small family "

The most successful Croatian actors abroad, who play the main roles in the play 'Equinocija' at the Dubrovnik Summer Games, discover what the atmosphere is like at rehearsals led by director Krešimir Dolenčić and recall their summers in Dubrovnik where their professional paths have never crossed before.

Location: Croatian National Theater in Zagreb. Weather: three in the afternoon, end of the week, heat, steam. Wardrobe no. 106, make-up artist, hairdresser, Gloria's team and two of the most outstanding actors of contemporary Croatia - Zrinka Cvitešić (44), laureate of the highest British theater award Olivier, and Goran Višnjić (52), our most successful representative in Hollywood.

The reason for the meeting: the Dubrovnik Summer Games and their collaboration on the play "Equinocija" by Ivo Vojnović, directed by Krešimir Dolenčić. Goran plays a rich returnee from America, Nika Marinović, and Zrinka plays his love from his youth, Jela. This time, Višnjić did not return from America, but from Great Britain, where he lives with his family in the southwest of the island - in Cornwall, while Cvitešić is still at two addresses, one in Zagreb and one in London with his partner, former soccer player Niko Kranjčar .

In preparation for our recording, Zrinka and Goran excitedly exchange impressions from the rehearsal they just came from. Both she and he have the text with their notes in their hands and are commenting on younger colleagues from the play's team - whose performance they are delighted with. Lovers of acting recognize each other, one might say. Director Krešimir Dolenčić , however, did not choose this "duo fantastikus" by chance.

"Nothing is a coincidence, and then again, it is. We met by chance after a performance at the &TD Theater and then he told me that he had a meeting the next day regarding the Games and that we would talk to each other when he knew exactly what it was about. I am in that moment I said that I would like to work at the Games, I just don't know when and which show. And then he called me the next day and offered to do "Equinocia", to which I immediately said - come on! Krešo and I have known each other for almost thirty years. ever since he was an assistant to our professor Neva Rošić at the Acting course. When I was a student, he gave me a scholarship at Gavella," recalls Goran Višnjić with a laugh.

Zrinka agrees with the statement and complements the answer with his memory. "An actor should be very lucky to work with directors like Krešo in his career. I've had very few of them so far - they're directors you don't ask what, how, why... When you're invited to a project, you just ask them when and where you should come. They are unreservedly guided, inspired, and loved by you. It's nice to come back to Kreša after more than ten years, but we both asked ourselves - is it really so?! Because we both feel like we've worked together before. In short, we had a great time at the rehearsals. The ensemble is not big and after a week we have become like a small family. The young actors Lara Nekić and Karlo Mrkša are wonderful and curious actors. It's best when it's created together, when there's no "this is not my scene and I'm not interested in it". The most beautiful ideas are born from togetherness, this has been confirmed to me again and again throughout my life, and so it is this time," says the actress who, together with Goran Višnjić, recalled her first associations with the Games, and they also revealed to us something about their summer plans.

PLUS: Wonderful 'presentation' for a new concept Verne car by Goran on his instagram page. Must have taken ages to do. Has priceless references to a couple of old tv series!!

Hope your day goes as you would wish it to.

[somin-yin]

Favourite moments with Kay this update<3

Not me planning to go for Ivo and then falling head over heels for Kay 😂😂 I'm sorry Ivo but Kay is Kay and his connection with Lou reminds me of my own connection with my S.O. so of course you're a goner 🤷‍♀️ I still like you tho but Kay 🛐 It's just, the soulmatism level and emotional connection between Kay and Lou? Unparalleled ❤️

HHHHHHHHH when they add to your life instead of subtracting >

Trust me Lou, I know what you mean ❤️

It's so easy to surrender when you finally find forever ❤️

Again, I know what you mean ❤️

They didn't just have sex, they made love ;u; ❤️

HE GAVE HER FLOWERS AFTER SEX, KAY YOU'RE TOO LOVELY ❤️

So considerate too hhhhh ❤️

For real, Kay and Lou are just very special to me, perhaps because of my personal experience but they just hit different ❤️ and this is coming from someone who romances all the LIs and has read the scenes with the other LIs, the level of emotional connection here is on another level!!

[mythicaldemigoddess-of-deltarune]

Which Version Of Eggman Do You Think Is Extremely Attractive And Hot...?

just so ya know, my attraction for Doctor Deep, is that he is kinda funny, and he is bit of a cute idiot....also he is kinda cute.

though some forms of crushes can be less big at times, I'm still not interested in trying to get a boyfriend (even though I had bad luck with online boyfriends....and even with guys I knew in Real Life who didn't really return the feelings or noticed that I liked-liked them.) , when I'm able to and hopefully I wont have trouble making it like I was having trouble with it yesterday, I will make myself a Gray-Aroace Flag with the Fictoromantic with it...there can be different types of Aroaces ya know...I guess only some can understand why I would be both Gray-Aroace & Fictoromantic, even if there is the chance I might be...in love with someone, but they will have to respect my space, not touch me if I don't want to be touched, and no surprise hugs that might startle me.....anyway back to talking about this poll...

who knows if this will get enough votes before the week is up.

I still plan to make a poll that has to do with Transformers, Steven Universe and maybe a few extra worlds...

this would be my third poll, also yeah I know I'm being weird with this one as well, not sure if I can make more than one poll in one day or if I have to wait until the time limit of the poll is up...

I have no idea about the chances of Doctor Done-It getting votes on this poll, but I added him in anyway.

I guess I can see if I can make another poll on the same day as this, but I'm not sure if it is possible...guess I can see for myself, which it works it means both polls will have that 1 week time limit, I would make it 1 day but that might not be enough time for many who might end up seeing the polls too late.

if it turns out I will have to wait to make another poll until this one's time limit is up, and there is a winner...I guess I will have to wait.

I will still check to see if it is possible to post two polls on the same day, and if it is maybe I can do it everyone once in a while...

anyway hope some like this weird poll, and yeah I know of the chances some Sonic Fans may end up crushing on Eggman...

you can't hide it, stop being in the Crush On Eggman Closet...

anyway I will check to see if I can make another poll on the same day next, right after I post something else first before that...

anyway pick a Eggman and wait to see which one of them wins. :)

[grapefruide]

Episode 8: Burned Out

Reading the transcript instead of listening to this one, as I still do not have international data and my headphones broke.

I have a penchant for Hill Top Road episodes. The presence and details of all the interactions with the different Fears and people is just great. Maybe this is why I liked the Eye so much, just because I liked learning about these things. I just mistook the reason.

It's not because I sought knowledge for it's own sake, it's because the concept fascinated me. The madness had to be my own.

Ivo here's work in wiring reminds me for some reason of that one video of that guy redoing an old lady's wiring and correctly guessed that her son, who did the (very bad) wirings' house burnt down.

Yeah sure bro go to a half-built house in the middle of the Oxfuck suburbs in the middle of the night and do wiring. Alone. That sounds safe and normal and cozy warm.

Damn do I hope this guy's gay

Oh fuck it's near South Park. That explains a lot.

Look, no offense to construction workers and I'm sure they're not all like this, but from what I've seen they leave a lot of nails just sitting around. I was tearing up my grandma's carpet once to have it replaced and there was just. Stuff under there. And my brother once made like 100 bucks with his magnets cleaning up people's yards after they'd had their roofs redone.

The tree! Oh, the beautiful tree. It's so infused and congested with Fear. I would sleep in it even if it gave me nightmares for the rest of my life. I bet it gave great fruit while it still lived lol

Reminds me of the tree from the Chronicles of Narnia, the one they made into a wardrobe. So much ancient power, I'm fucking salivating. God that sounds weird.

Anyway, the mention of the shadows makes me think of the Dark.

Hmm yes very normal guy this Raymond Fielding

Bet bro didn't check the dates on those papers

Why the fuck is Fielding here. What point does his presence serve. Like why does he have to be the inciting incident he is not that scary in and of himself.

Oh shit, this guy's got history. Fear of schizophrenia, fear of not knowing what's real... I mean, an awful disease. But. I like.

I self-diagnosed myself with schizophrenia at like. Age 7. I don't have schizophrenia, fucking shocker.

Ivo's dad reminds me of Montague in a way, each locked in a room working their life away in service of a fear, however aware of it they are, until their wife disappears in one way or another and their kid is left traumatized and is later touched by Fear themself in adulthood, often after the death of their father. Huh. Sure it doesn't signify anything.

Fractals are fucking cool, I would study them myself if I wasn't both on the run from the law at the moment and no good at math.

He's right about the hands.

I wonder if he ever saw the hallways.

Bro was just trying to see the hands for real, pity they were too sharp for him.

Isn't a huge part of construction work like. Spatial awareness. Fuckin dumbass.

This man is straight and I am in shambles

That's a pretty bad concussion if he had to stay in the hospital for two days, maybe it'll lead to further issues - or perhaps it's just because he lives alone and won't be able to care for himself with the injury.

I love the word diocese, it reminds me of eglantines

Agnes is so fucking cool she would make a great fruit

wait how the fuck did she get an education

Wonder who the house belongs to now. The statement says the legal troubles over ownership were resolved, but how?

Bro doesn't believe in ghosts. Such an L move

Too bad about the tree, but it does make sense.

This apple reminds me of the Tree of Growth cult. A beautiful apple in a horrible place, seemingly engulfed with fear, but it shrivels away to nothing upon closer inspection.

This continues to confirm my hypothesis that Fears go after people who are less likely to be believed. This of course increases the psychological trauma of the experience but also lowers the likelihood that the Fears' true nature will be discovered. Very clever.

This is a good statement, a great introduction to the problem of Hilltop Road. Jude Approved!

[suna1suna1]

Hello, Tumblr! It's WIP Wednesday!

I think I'm gonna switch some stuff up because I haven't been getting much interaction with my WIP Wednesday game for a while, which is understandable. After a while of the same things, it isn't as exciting anymore and just gets boring.

So for this week, I'm gonna start a (no pressure) tag game! If you don't like participating in these, you don't have to, and if I tag you and you don't want to, PLEASE feel free to let me know. I don't want to be that annoying moot in your activity every week.

That said, here are the rules.

If I tag you, you can send 500-1000 words if your current WIP if you're a writer, your current WIP or WIPs if you're an artist, or both if you're both!

Then, once you're done, you can tag as many or as few people you want! Once again, NO PRESSURE! You can do or not do this as you please! ^^

Gonna get the tags out of the way first

@deadrabbithq @killingthecringe @nodulemodule

Starting with the art WIP, I have Silver's ref that I'm working on for To Catch a Hedgehog (as requested by the poll I put out)

And underneath the cut, here's about 500 words from To Catch a Hedgehog (if you don't like sonadow, no need to look under this cut. Ik at least one of the people I tagged isn't too big on it so yeah, no need to read if you're not into it lol)

"Informant. Now, why haven't you moved yet?" 

Sonic: "SO YOU WERE STALKING ME! GO AWAY!" 

Shadow: "I told you, it's not stalking. And I'm trying to save your ass."

Sonic: "After trying to take me out? Nah. I'm good." 

Shadow: "Look, I get it. But if you don't get out of the city, Robotnik is going to fire me and sick somebody else on you, and I doubt they'd be as merciful as I have been." 

Sonic: "Huh... 'have been'... interesting word choice. Okay, I'll bite. Why do you want to save me so bad when it's obviously putting your job at risk? I'm literally the person trying to wake people up and get Butt-nik out of power. Why are you turning on your boss?" 

Shadow didn't respond for a while. Why was he doing this? Sonic was right. He was putting his job, hell, maybe even his life on the line for a random guy. But this random guy was the only person stubborn enough to pull the kind of stunt he did. But if Robotnik wanted him dead so bad, then maybe it was because it was working. 

Besides, while Shadow had a job, it wasn't pleasant. It had never been something he wanted. He remembered wanting to help people, help Maria. He remembered saving up for medical school... before Ivo took out the council. Now he'd ended too many lives with his own hands.

Maria would have hated the person he'd become. He sure did. 

Her face flashed in his mind's eye. Her smile, encouraging. 

He swallowed. Then he typed out his reply.

Shadow: "You're not the only one who's lost people you loved to that monster." 

Sonic didn't reply for a bit. Shadow wasn't sure if he was going to, if that was a good enough reason to listen to him. 

Several minutes later, there was a new reply. 

Sonic: "I guess everyone has. But then why have you gone along with it for so long?" 

Shadow: "In the moment, I guess it beats starving." 

Sonic: "...Yeah, I still don't trust you. How do I know you're not gonna come here and murder me in my sleep anyway?" 

Shadow: "If I were going to do that, I already would have."

Sonic: "Sure... Anyway, is that all? Because I'm hungry and I can smell my roommate making chili." 

Shadow: "No. I want to know how you got those paintings up so fast. And you said you'd seen it when people become completely cybernetic. How?" 

Sonic: "Question numero uno, trade secret. Question numero dos, you don't want to know." 

Shadow: "I work for the government and even I don't know. I didn't even know that could happen." 

Sonic: "Oh, it does. All the time. Not pretty." 

Shadow: "How do you know?"

Sonic: "...Alright, look. I'm gonna set up a more secure account (and probably burn this one). I'll message you on the one condition that you don't tell anyone who I am. We can go from there after I've eaten." 

Shadow: "Fair enough."