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descendantofthesparrow · 4 years ago

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Interlude - Rewrite POYW - Harry Hook x reader - part 2 - preparations

*i realized today was Saturday and was like “oh holy shit time to post part 2!! so enjoy!*

*felt like doing another episode entrance to this so deal with it*

-a camera pans from Auradon to the isle of the lost, zooming in on a large ship that held the symbol of Harriet Hook, the camera zoom fades into Harriet watching her crew move around the deck, a small stack of papers in her hand-

Harriet glanced up suddenly as Xiaohui slid down from rope as she switched out with another member of the crew for lookout in the crow's nest “what ‘cha got there captain?” she hummed, stepping next to Harriet and leaning over to look at the papers.

“just stuff that king beasty sent me, something about guardians for the twins, Sammy, and CJ” Harriet muttered, folding the papers and shoving them into her inner jacket pocket. “apparently because im a legal adult” Xiaohui rose her brow in confusion and Harriet waved it off “Auradon thing I don’t know, but since I’m an adult, they think that I can be the twin's guardian and they are trying to see if I can be CJ’s at the same time since im her sister n stuff” Xiaohui nodded a bit and looked back at the crew, most of which was getting the new supplies of food and water into the lower decks for safekeeping.

“I’m slightly impressed that (y/n) girl actually kept her word” Xiaohui hummed, crossing her arms and leaning on Harriet a bit, who pushed her back with her shoulder “like only a week ago the king announced the new program for us getting better shit and its already in full effect.”

“I think (y/n) scares whoever's in charge of that stuff and made ‘em work faster” Harriet snorted, remembering when she had passed by the main market almost everyone was whispering about the Auradon girl that had kicked her father's ass and left him as an amputee.

“well, she sure scared the fuck out me when she went apeshit on your dad” Xiaohui chuckled, pushing off the rails of the ship and about to walk towards the crew as they began to head out for another shipment “so how long do you think it gonna be before they get the next group of kids off” Harriet looked off for a moment.

“well with the letter Harry sent me, they are aiming for at least within the month, and at most within the next two, but first they got to get the guardian shit out of the way first” Xiaohui nodded, glanced back at the crew then back at Harriet, “I think once we get over there, I’ll be able to help out with choosing more kids to come over to Auradon, Evie might have her heart in the right place but she hardly even knows any kids, I have a lot more tabs on everyone on here and will be able to help get those who need it more off first.”

Xiaohui nodded again, understanding that the crew would probably be left on the isle for a bit longer just to make sure everything was running smoothly on their side, to make sure no one ruined a single kids chances at getting a better life. “now go on, Im pretty sure Sammy’s about to trip over nothing there”

Xiaohui turned and sighed, running over to Sammy and catching his arm just as he stumbled forward, she chided him as they walked off the ship and towards the barges again to collect the last of their shipments.

Harriet let out a small sigh and took out the papers again, tapping her foot anxiously as she flipped through the “guardian” application copies that Ben had sent her just in case she wasn’t able to be the twins and CJ’s guardian, and they needed someone from Auradon to be their guardian.

'Application of guardianship

Child; Skipper Smee - parent; Sam Smee

Guardian applicant(s) - Wendy Darling, Rapunzel Fitzherbert, Eric & Ariel Barnes’

'Application of guardianship

Child; Sterling Smee - parent; Sam Smee

Guardian applicant(s) - Wendy Darling, Eugene Fitzherbert, Eric & Ariel Barnes’

'Application of guardianship

Child; Sammy Smee - parent; Sam Smee

Guardian applicant(s) - Wendy Darling, Rapunzel Fitzherbert, Eric & Ariel Barnes’

Harriet raised her brow at the repeat of applicants, especially the Wendy Darling one, considering she dealt with her father and uncle Smee first hand. Though (y/n) had written on the blank side of the applications that Wendy had applied for that exact reason.

She folded away the Smee papers and looked at her little sister's Guardian application.

'Application of guardianship

Child; Calista Jane Hook - parent; James Hook

Guardian applicant(s) - Wendy Darling, Eric & Ariel Barnes, Tiana Maldon’

Once again Wendy Darling and freaking King Eric and Queen Ariel had applied to be a guardian of her “family” Harriet sighed again and let her hands drop to her thighs, staring off at nothing as she thought about the upcoming future.

She broke out of her trance as a sheepish Dizzy stepped onto the deck, hands clenching tightly to her denim jacket “um…Harriet?” she squeaked, stepping forward a bit as Celia, Dr.Facilier daughter, pushed her towards Harriet “I-I was wondering if there was anything about…me in those papers King Ben sent you?”

Harriet brought up the papers again and flipped through them, nodding as she spotted Dizzy’s name on a guardian application and a blue envelope “yeah” Harriet muttered, handing the envelope to Dizzy and glancing back down at the application.

'Application of guardianship

Child; Dizzy Tremaine - parent; Drizella Tremaine

Guardian applicant(s) - Ella Charming, Fairy Godmother, Anita Radcliffe’

She handed the younger VK the application a moment later and the girl gasped as she read the names of the people who signed up to be her guardian “Cinderella? Fairy Godmother??” she squeaked, crunching the papers in her hand as Celia walked up behind her and looked over her shoulder “why would they-holy moly!!!”

“please just say fuck” Celia laughed, snatching the application from Dizzy and looking it over, curling her lip at all the other information details under the main application script. “wow that’s a lot of shit do to”

The guardian applicants had to fill out most of their information, sign waivers, and multiple other things just to be the guardian of a singular kid.

“oh, Harriet?” Harriet looked up at the call of her name and raised her brow as Dizzy held out the letter she had gotten from Evie, pointing at the back of it “there's some stuff for you on the back of the letter”

She grabbed it from Dizzy and started to read, not recognizing the handwriting but it had been signed by (y/n).

-Hey Harriet, so real quick all I need you to do is pick out who YOU would want to be your fams guardians (aka CJ, the twins, and Sammy) and we’ll pick out who we think is best with your opinion in mind. the kids are never obligated to interact with their guardians but I thought you would be more comfortable knowing exactly who the guardians were.

There are two pieces of blank paper in the envelope with Dizzy’s name on it, one for Dizzy to write back to Evie and one for you to write to me.

-see you soon, (y/n) (l/n)

Ps. Gil and Harry scream-said “hi”-

Harriet snorted at the last bit and folded the letter back up and gave it back to Dizzy “ey Dizzy” the younger vk looked up at her with wide eyes, Celia peeking over her shoulder “who would you rather be your guardian, Cinderella, FG, or that Anita chick?” Dizzy looked off for a moment then shrugged.

“um, I don’t know?...I guess which everyone Evie picks out is okay?” Dizzy gave a slightly uncomfortable grin before jumping as Harriet's crew started to return and lug the last of the new supplies abord. “oh, um, I have to go, bye!” Before she could leave, Harriet grabbed Dizzy’s shoulder and grabbed the envelope from her, taking out one of the blank papers then letting the vk go on her way. Dizzy and Celia turned on their heels and raced off the ship, Dizzy’s letter from Evie clenched tightly in her hand.

Harriet hummed to herself and lifted the papers again, looking at the notes next to the guardian applicants that (y/n) had put.

She made eye contact with Xiaohui and nodded at her, the girl nodding back and taking command of the ship as Harriet moved to go into the captain's quarters. Sammy breathed a sigh of relief as Xiaohui took command, he might have been the first mate but he was horrible at being in control of things.

Harriet sat down at her creaky old cherrywood desk, grabbed a pen, and started to write.

“im still surprised that we actually got more people signing up to be guardians for the vks” you chuckled setting down the copy of Dizzy’s file and leaning back on Bens desk “I mean, almost all of them are repeats for the first round but my point still stands” Ben smiled and nodded.

“yeah, something about since the first round went well enough that people are not as averse to being guardians for the vks” Ben signed off a paper with a flourish of his wrist and set it aside. “though we might have to figure out something else as we go along, I don’t think there are enough adults in Auradon to claim every single kid on the isle, even if one person can claim two kids”

You sighed and nodded, rubbing the side of your head slightly “yeah, and at some point, we need to figure out another way to transfer kids off safely without having to go through the whole ‘guardian’ thing, because eventually, we will run out of guardians”

Gil, who had joined you and Ben for today's ‘vk shit’ meeting, looked up from his bowl of grapes “oh this reminds me of when Harry and I went to the animal shelter with Carlos, and-and um, there was a bunch of rooms for the cats n dogs n stuff and Carlos asked something about chips and the lady said that as long as the worker was licensed, they could claim the animal” he looked back down at his snack as you and Ben looked at him with wide eyes “what?”

“that-that was the weirdest thing you have ever said” you laughed, shaking your head a bit and crossing your legs at the ankles. Ben smiled at the blonde-haired vk and turned back to his papers, then popped his head back up with sparkling eyes and a wide grin.

“THAT’S IT!” you and Gil jumped slightly at his suddenly loud voice. Ben stood and pointed at Gil “Gil that is brilliant!”

You and Gil looked to each other then back at Ben “Ben please tell me you didn’t get an idea from Gil's weird rambling?” you laughed, leaning back a bit as Ben's grinning face turned to you. “you did….what is it then?”

“A shelter for vks!!!” Ben exclaimed, bouncing on his heels as he moved away from his desk and towards a large blue painted filing cabinet to the left of his desk. “here in Auradon! And I have just the place for it!!! And-and we can start an organization just for people to be guardians for vks! And we can figure out a system to have one person be responsible for multiple kids so we’ll never run out of them!” he rushed back to his desk and threw a set of building blueprints along with the deeds to the building.

You looked over the papers, raising your brows as you realized you were looking at a large castle that was written in Bens name “that…doesn’t sound like a bad idea?” you laughed, picking up the blueprints as Gil pawed at the deed. “in my world there's a thing called orphanages or foster systems, they kinda suck but usually there is one or two people in charge or responsible for sometimes over twenty kids, so this could work for our vks if we do it correctly and get good people” Ben grinned and nodded, grabbing the paper from you and shaking it in his hands.

“and-and! This castle, which was my parents, is in my name! I can do whatever I want with it! Let's turn it into the shelter! It's near the ocean too so these kids can see the real ocean every day and go swimming or build sandcastles whenever they want!!! And-and during the summer! Or warm days! I can hire people to take the kids on boat rids or-or!” you laughed and set your hands on Ben’s shoulders, calming him down a bit.

“Ben! Amazing ideas, love them, let's take it one step at a time, first we get Harriet and the others off” you gestured to the stack of papers for the six vks that held their information “then we start working on the shelter and the guardian organization, not baby steps, just one step at a time” Ben took a deep breath and nodded, the grin still wide on his face

“then let's finish up! All that’s left is choosing their guardians! Then we can send the limo next week!!!” he set down the castle blueprints and picked up two of the vk folders, handing you and Gil the last three “we got no time to lose!”

Celia slyly glanced up from her cards as Dizzy danced around her grandmother's hair salon, her aunt and mother busy working on some client's hair as Dizzy swept up the fallen locks. “now Diz” Anastasia, Dizzy’s aunt started to speak, the young vk immediately stopping in her little chore and looking to her “remember, while there will be people there that will accept you with open arms there will inevitably be people that will be out to hurt you” Dizzy’s shoulders dropped at the reminder and slowly nodded “that doesn’t mean we don’t want you going, it just means that even in Auradon it's not a fully safe space, there will always be assholes in every place” the clients ignored the surprisingly supportive talk from Anastasia and looked down at their torn magazines.

Dizzy sighed and nodded again “I understand” Dizzy smiled, starting on her chores again, though with less energy than she had a moment before. Celia looked away from Dizzy and shuffled her cards, laying them out on the table in front of her and closing her eyes, focusing her energy on Dizzy and hovering her hand over the cards.

In her mind's eye, three cards seemed to glow. She quickly picked them out and flipped them over to show their art. Celia opened her eyes, and looked at the first card, which symbolized Dizzy’s past.

The reversed fool. Celia furrowed her brows; Dizzy had been taken advantage of? When? Then again, Celia hummed looking to the next card, this was the isle, being taken advantage of was a daily thing, especially for someone like Dizzy who sometimes could be a bit airheaded.

The next card, which symbolized Dizzy’s present, was the upright chariot. Dizzy was heading in the right direction then huh? She was going to Auradon soon after all. Celia looked to the last card, which symbolized Dizzy’s future.

The upright sun. Celia nodded again, Dizzy’s adventures in Auradon would be successful then, all the more reason to see if she could stay on Dizzy’s good side even after she left for Auradon so that maybe one day Celia could have that success as well.

“watcha doin?” Dizzy asked suddenly, peeking over Celia’s shoulder as the younger VK jumped and threw herself over her cards. Celia looked back at Dizzy with a pout.

“if you have to know” Celia sighed, pushing off the table and gesturing to the now strewn about cards. “I was reading your fortune, I got curious” Dizzy hummed at that and kneeled next to Celia slightly, looking at the cards that were still facing up.

“what do they mean?” Dizzy asked, picking up the upright chariot and tilting it in her hands.

“just stuff from your past, present, and future. Your past is not the best, your present is going in the right direction, and your future is bright, that’s basically what those say” Celia held out her hand, Dizzy setting the card and a few coins in her hand “uh-“ Dizzy grinned.

“well you did read my fortune, and I remember you said you never read without a payment!” Celia stared at Dizzy as the girl skipped over to her chalkboard with all her chores on it and checked off the sweeping chore. Then she started cleaning the windows, picking up a rag and a spray bottle with a blue liquid chemical in it.

Celia watched for a moment before looking at Dizzy’s aunt and mother, who finished up with their last clients and sent them along, getting their payment and reminding Dizzy to close up properly as they went upstairs to the family's apartment.

“Hey, Diz” Celia started, fixing up her cards and putting them into her hip cardholder. The older vk hummed and turned to look at Celia “you…you aren’t gonna forget me once you get to Auradon…will you?” Celia, while her original intentions with Dizzy were ill-intentioned and she just wanted to get a leg up on a future in Auradon by being friends with the vk that had connections already, but Dizzy was just that kinda person you couldn’t be fake around, and Celia had come to genuinely care for her.

Dizzy’s face bloomed into a bright smile that could blind the sun and she set down her rag and bottle, skipping over to Celia and hugging her tightly. Celia froze at the sign of affection and moved to push Dizzy off but stopped herself as Dizzy pulled back and shook her head “of course not! Once I get to Auradon I’ll make sure you’ll be the next one off, just after me! I would never leave you here willingly.” Celia felt her nose and eyes burn and she quickly twisted around, wiping her face as Dizzy giggled.

“sap” Celia chuckled, letting out a small breath as Dizzy slammed into her and wrapped her arms around Celia, shaking them around a bit “hey hey come on” Dizzy giggled again and released the young shadow witch, skipping back over to the rag and bottle and resuming her chores.

Celia let a smile grow on her face as she bopped her head to the song Dizzy started to hum as she took out her pocket watch and checked the time. “oh shit it's late, I got errands to do, bye dizzy!” Celia grabbed her bag and bolted out the salon door, rushing towards the market to grab a couple of things for her “boss”

Well, less boss and more someone who just hired her to grab stuff for him because he was a hermit and didn’t like going outside his little underground hidey-hole.

Celia skidded to a stop as she spotted the short ombre blue hair of Hadie, the son of Hades. Aka the son of her “boss”. Hadie was a tall, oddly buff, blue ombre haired, punk-styled villain kid, the oldest on the isle at that at, being born before Hades had been shipped off to the isle.

“hey,” she muttered, reaching around him and grabbing a couple of peaches, that were not bruised thanks to the fresh shipments that were coming as of late, from in front of the much larger vk. Hadie glanced down at her and opened his messenger bag, allowing Celia to dump the fruit into it. “what’ca here for?”

“stuff” Hadie simply replied in his usual dry tone, following Celia as she started to travel the merchant stands, grabbing what Hades had requested from her and letting her dumb the items into his messenger bag.

One of the merchants, which Celia had stolen from before on her own time, sneered at her, flinching back as the spotted Hadie just behind her just staring at him. The merchant looked away as Celia took two cans of corn and dumped them into Hadie’s bag, skipping away with the older vk following her.

“why does he let her do that?” one of the market keeps whispered to their friend, who shrugged and looked back down at her stock of oranges.

“dunno, but it keeps the creeps off of her and keeps a fight from breaking out so who am I to care?” Hadie glanced at them but kept pace behind Celia, scrunching his nose slightly as one of the merchants leered towards Celia, the merchant reeling back as Hadie flashed his pocket knife.

Celia smirked to herself knowing that Hadie was subtly protecting her as she picked up things for his dad, and with a snatch of some packs of water, she was done for the day. “come on!” she yelled back towards Hadie, who grabbed a small pack of blueberries and followed after her, digging his key to the opening of the mineshafts that lead to his dad's lair out of his pocket. Celia bounced on her heels as Hadie opened the gate and followed him inside.

The two foregoed the bicycle contraption and just walked down the length of the tunnel that lead to the main area, Hadie taking one of the water packs from Celia and hoisting it onto his shoulder.

He ignored the echoing bark that blasted in his ear as he passed by a speaker that his dad made him set up a couple of years ago to keep trespassers out. He and Celia finally made it to the main living area and Celia skipped down the wooden steps, setting one of the water packs on the large metal table in the next room.

Hades looked away from the fading tv and raised his brow as Hadie let Celia snatch the bag from around his neck and take out the items she had taken from the market. “you get everything kids?” Hades teased, standing and walking over to the vks, ruffling his son's hair and laughing a bit as the just shorter Hadie smacked his hand away. “yep” Celia nodded, turning and holding out her hand to Hades, who dug into his jacket, pulled out a small red velvet pouch, and dropped it into her hand, Celia tugged it open as Hadie reached around her to grab a small peach and moved to plop into his dad's makeshift minecart seat. Celia nodded five rubies and several silver coins. “pleasure making business with cha’” Celia held out her hand, grinning as Hades gave it an exaggerated shake and skipped out of the lair, leaving the two gods behind.

She skipped all the way back to the hair salon and moved into the alleyway just next to Hades restaurant. Celia knocked a specific rhythm on the spray-painted door with the words ‘Pa Deranje’ on them. As it slid open Celia slipped through and ran into the quiet arcade her dad manned when school was out for the summer.

“Daddy~!” Celia cheered, running towards her father as he spotted her and held out his hands to lift her up and around.

“Cher~!” he called back, setting her back on her feet and wrapping his arms around her shoulder “so how was the hussle tonight?”

Celia grinned and held up the red velvet bag, her father grinning and holding out his hand. Celia dropped it into his palm and sat down at his fortune reading table, gasping happily at the steaming bowl of food that was resting in front of her.

Her father gestured for her to eat as he dug into the bag, nodding to himself as he saw the inside. He took out the silver coins and set them in front of Celia, stashing the rubies away for safekeeping as they were a higher currency on the isle.

“mmmhmm!” Celia hummed happily around her food, kicking her legs as she took another full bite of the soup-like meal. “what is this?!”

“good ol’ Gumbo my dear” Facilier took a seat in front of her and dug into his own bowl of Gumbo. “found all I needed to make it with at the market, thanks to those shipments” Facilier laughed at his daughter as she eagerly downed the gumbo, reaching out slightly to slow her “now slow down there cher, it’s a bit strong” Celia glanced at him and obeyed, setting the bowl back down and swallowing her current mouthful of food. “now after this you head straight to bed, it’s almost nine am and you’ve been up since eight yesterday” Celia went to object but stopped as her father gave her a look.

“fine” she pouted, smiling behind her bowl as he nodded and reached out to tweak her ear.

The two finished their “dinner” in comfortable silence, Celia finished first and stood from the table, giving her dad a quick kiss and hug before running up to the apartment where she and her dad stayed.

Facilier sighed and took the two empty bowls and followed Celia up the apartment, counting down from 5 and nodding as the telltale sign of Celia’s room door closing sounded just as he reached 0.

While the isle was just a bit better nowadays, thanks to the program that Hooks sons girl had started, he still hoped one day his little girl would be in Auradon one day and never have to worry about where her next meal would come from.

“one day cher” Facilier whispered to himself, setting his top hat on the hat rack and moving to his room “one day you’ll get your cut.”

-end of part 2-

here it is! part 2!!! hope yall liked it, and yes, Dr.Facilier is a good dad, i liked that in the OG D3 so thats what i kept, Hades is kinda an asshole but Hadie is Persephone's kid he’s gonna love and tease the young punk looking god to death, Dizzy's aunt is kinda nice, grandma still ain't but Anastasia was redeemed twice in the Cinderella sequels. anyway yeah tell me what u think and i hoped yall liked! part 3 next Saturday!

permtaglist

@queer-cosette @sephiralorange

@lunanight2012 @daughter-of-the-stars11

@musicarose @remembered-license

@random-thoughts-003 @rintheemolion

@verboetoperee @imtryingthisout

@thecaptainsgingersnap @jatp-rules-my-life

#Descendents #descendants #disney descendants #harry hook x reader #harriet hook #dizzy tremaine #celia descendants #dr facilier #hadie son of hades #hades #anastasia tremaine

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cto10121 · 3 years ago

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re-watched west side story (2021) on dvd!!! with a lot more of a critical eye than before, and there’s still plenty of good, bad, and ugly. i’ll try not to repeat myself

the good:

the dancing was largely on point, as it should be

tony learning spanish was still the cutest thing (although how in the hell could he write all of that down? is he using english phonetics or what?)

the tonight quintet was better done here than in the ‘61 movie. yesss

the actors were all consistently good, better than in the ‘61 movie. only exceptions i can recall is natalie wood in the ending scene; she had more dramatic weight than zegler.

the historical setting was well done. source: my dad, who was living in new york at the time

the sharks had genuine puertoriqueñan accents, a nice touch

mike faist killed it!!! that said, his singing left much to be desired, as did the jets’

i still say elgort and zegler had personal chemistry, better than in the ‘61 movie. it was the writing of their relationship that really sunk them as a couple. more on that below

cinematography, lighting, composition…yes, all better. the film people were very happy with this movie and rightfully so. the last ending shot was effective

i’m tentatively putting the cool reimagining here, although i felt it ended on a weak note (only riff singing? awkward). also the choreography of the original ‘61 movie really can’t be beat

lt. schrank and officer krupke were really well played, they killed it.

the bad:

missed robbins’ choreography something awful. it was still there in the broad outlines but that diamond-cut perfection was gone. his ballet fit bernstein’s music like a glove

the orchestra was really not as powerful, even woefully thin at parts, as the ‘61 or bernstein’s version with kiri te kenawa and josé carreras. they also tended to elongate some of the music artificially (dance at the gym: mambo was hit the worst). a waste of dudamel, frankly

tony should have been dubbed, yes. but so should have riff and diesel and the rest, lol. the jet actors in general were really awkward about the big swing numbers and their lyrical expression was not as good as the ‘61. you need a lot of cockiness, a lot of irony and cool self-detachment—you know, the ‘50s-style smoothness. but this is 2022 and no one has any chill whatsoever, so…emphatic flatness it is.

the screenplay exposition of tony kushner. i feel a lot better about it than i did when i first saw it in cinema, but i still prefer arthur laurents’ book. i kept mentally rewriting some of the lines. small example: when maria asks tony if he likes to dance tony says “no. i mean, yeah. i like it, a lot, with you” (?). just “i do now” would have sufficed!! convey the same idea but more succinct!!! the extra backstory of maria wanting to go to college was also useless and a lot of repetition in general. some of it even felt like fanfiction.

maria beginning the “maria cha cha” and tony copying her (yes, this deserved a whole bullet point). it was salvaged by some sweet choreography at the end, but oh, the cringe was bad. again, why ditch the fantasy sequences?

is it me or was tony’s love for maria better established than maria’s for tony? it didn’t help matters that they had maria push tony away and just…act very aggressive towards him in general? “you cannot stay here, go, what are you doing here, coming like a rat (?)” and that’s the bloody balcony scene! the fuck? this isn’t protecting him, this is downright abusive. does she even tell him about her feelings for him? why is tony consistently the one making the effort at romance? i also dislike the script’s flirting with the notion of tony’s wanting to date a puerto rican girl as “restorative justice” for his crime. nah, son.

america still sucked. the censored lines, the complete whitewashing of anita’s disdain for puerto rico, the softening of her desire to assimilate, bungling her loss of faith in the american dream after the rape attempt, and just her confused writing behind her character in general…the ‘61 version is still the gold standard.

“one hand, one heart,” the weakest song of the musical, being the most lovingly filmed of the love duets. side-eyeing you hard now

changing maria’s job from a dress shop/seamstress in the original movie to cleaning lady. because that isn’t stereotypical in the least

anita starting the mambo. “ponle huevo!!!” cringe. for one thing, the piece isn’t even a true mambo!!! it’s a latin jazz hybrid, which makes sense since it’s a “dance battle” between the two sides. at least they didn’t try to arrange it as a true mambo, that would have 100% been terrible.

the placement of “i feel pretty.” on stage it’s fine, but to go from the rumble to that…ouch, emotional whiplash.

the ugly:

the culture and language sociology made probably even less sense, if possible, than the ‘61. for one thing, the latino characters were way too comfortable with speaking spanish to the gringos (yeah, no. not at the time. there was huge pressure not to speak your native language in public + racism). ironic, given that the movie tried so hard to be more socially realistic than the ‘61, but it was still very confused. are maria, bernardo, and anita recently arrived or not? for how many years have they been in new york? because, babes: no immigrant fresh off the boat would join a gang—or even could. it’s the children of immigrants, born and raised in the states, but treated like foreigners that organize and join gangs. by all accounts, bernardo and maria should have been mostly raised in new york and speak fluent new yorkian or new yorican. anita can be the recently (3-5 years, give or take) arrived and still starry-eyed over america, land of opportunity. anita would definitely latch onto bernardo, who is american enough to impress her (social climbing up!) but still a latino who is all about the borricua(tm) pride. she doesn’t mind the english: on the contrary she insists on it, to get rid of her accent. maria is probably better with languages and white-American-passing, so she has no racial resentment or insecurities the way her duskier and less studious brother does. that way, when she and tony meet, then, they each believe the other is of the same race/ethnicity—they’re both assimilated enough for that misunderstanding to be believable. bernardo, of course, will be all about the island, even though he hasn’t been there since he was a child, probably. all three of them, then, should speak majority english. and there you go, my re-write of west side story sociology that no one asked for.

the swaths of untranslated spanish, which include actual character detail. the dvd subtitles only had a few spanish phrases, untranslated. in one scene, anita accuses bernardo of him not thinking she is family because she is black. not at all translated and completely missed (even by me in the cinema!). this movie had a lot of things going for it, but if only half of your audience can understand it, then it will bomb, period. also a big fuck you to international non spanish-speaking audiences

giving somewhere to rita moreno. #forever bitter

no, seriously, it makes no sense however way you splice it: artistically, dramatically, etc. rita moreno is old and her voice has deteriorated. valentina already had her “somewhere” with doc—she lived tony and maria’s dream of racial integration! why would she sing about wishing for something that already came true for her? for others, i guess? ugh, it sucks. i know that in the original broadway production the song is sung off-stage by an unnamed girl—a an ethereal voice off-screen would have definitely been way better than this. as it is, tony and maria have so few love duets in the musical proper, it would have made perfect sense if they had sung the song and given it full expression and weight. it would have been the musical justification for maria’s forgiving tony. the decision would have been a no-brainer and instead spielsburg fucked it up.

giving “somewhere” to rita moreno also discarded the emotional justification of maria’s forgiving tony, and so you get a lot of people getting major whiplash. in the original shakespeare juliet rationalizes (somewhat correctly) that tybalt would have killed romeo and makes the conscious decision of privileging her love’s life over her cousin’s. in the original broadway musical it’s implied that maria blames the tribal warfare than tony, “pushing” him to extreme (“but it’s not us, it’s everything around us”). this dialogue was cut and replaced by…nothing. yeah, kushner, give us nothing!

valentina’s character. making her doc’s widow was a cool, even clever meta touch. what was not cool was her blatant favoring of the puerto ricans instead of being the neutral party like doc was in the original. in the original, doc had very harsh words for the jets specifically—valentina doesn’t even give so much as a reprimand to the sharks for killing riff and escalating the situation. this makes no sense, given the backstory of valentina and doc’s successful interracial marriage. valentina of all people should have been the one to urge peace, be strongly against gangsters of all kinds, and support tony being with maria. instead she is consistently resistant and even critical (her dry trolling of tony learning spanish—what, she never taught doc spanish? usually latinos are thrilled when people learn spanish). it’s one thing for her to be skeptical of tony and maria’s whirlwind romance, it’s another thing to be mocking. tony has to remind her that him and maria is like her and doc’s relationship. just awful.

the overall thematic harping on ethnic division. the ‘61 movie at least had tony and maria shrug off their ethnic differences and treated them accordingly as unimportant. this adaptation was completely obsessed with racial hate to the point of…literally forgetting to condemn it at times? the jets were the main antagonists in the ‘61 version; here they are the de facto villains. the sharks are flattened to defenders. tony and maria are sidelined even harder. it was so bad that they had tony and maria arguing in the subway over which of their people had it worst (?!!!). tony and maria are not tribal people and by all accounts should not give a shit. i hate this rewriting of the basic dynamics of their relationship, i hate it

so yes, a lot of potential realized and squandered. the musical has always shied away from the full eroticism of the original r&j, preferring to focus almost exclusively on the tribal warfare, but in the past when bernstein was in control the music (and even sondheim in his more tender side) has always managed to carry that intensity of romantic feeling even when the book and direction failed it. now even the book has turned against tony and maria as it has forgotten the whole point of the musical in the first place. i felt this movie was so obsessed in “fixing” what was wrong with the original film that it forgot to actually do the thing justice. for my part, there is very little wrong with the original west side story film—pretty much only the needless brownface, maybe some of the broad characterizations, fixing some of the riddling sociology (maybe not even that, since it’s baked into the musical). but otherwise don’t mess with greatness!!!

#west side story #west side story 2021 #cristina reviews #overall i’d still like to have it #i feel bad for it doing so poorly in the box office #especially since it’s the only movie i’ve seen in ages that i had wanted to rewatch #that alone is high praise

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jinkieswinkies · 5 years ago

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I made a fic where lifeline fixes revenant. I like them together.

Heavy metalic footsteps echoed throughout the corridor. One step slightly becoming louder than the previous.

He was mad. Fuming even. He didn’t like asking for help much, especially anyone from here. He didn’t really care about the other legends much less the supposed mechanic- er closest to a mechanic At least.

A low growl escaped the robot's lips, his hip stuck out at an unnatural angle. Each time he lifted his right leg he wanted to rip it clean off, the high pitched squeak filled his ears and it was getting quite annoying.

He groaned again, ‘fucking great’ he thought.

The games were done for the day so that meant he didn’t have to rush this.

He rolled his eyes, or the bright orbs that would’ve been his eyes. This wouldn't have happened if that dumbass skinbag didn't decide to strike a piece of glass into his right hip. Fucker, they'll pay next game.

What was her name? Bangalore? Bagboar?

Whatever it was, it didn't matter. For sure; next time, she's his first victim. He chuckled deeply, just thinking about what poor skinsuits are pitiful enough to be at the mercy of his hands, got him riled for next time.

That damned whine returned, his thoughts back at hand.

Getting repaired

Grimacing, he stopped his tracks. He's arrived. The one who has close experience with robots. Looking to a slight right, he read the nameplate.

Ajay Che (combat medic)

”Wouldn't call that little pet a robot.” he grumbled.

Huffing, he had second thoughts about this. Glancing to his right hip again, and back to the name planchette. This could slow him down, this needed to be taken care of.

Cursing under his breath, he knocked. Well more like banged. Nothing. Nothing was happening. No response. No sounds coming From inside. Nothing.

He crossed his arms and huffed heavily, it was taking all of him not to just go back to his room. This situation needed to be resolved and if she couldn't help him he'd make her. Still, there he stood In silence until three loud shuffles were heard from inside.

“A’right, a’right. Hol’ on.” Her voice was loud but breathless.

He froze, he didn’t really associate with the other legends much less Ajay. He did not want to talk. At all.

The automatic metal doors slid open, revealing a tired and worn out looking medic.

“Ain’t dis a surprise, what you doin ere?”

He briskly walked inside, ignoring her question. Scanning the room, in the middle he saw a metallic table and a few spare robot parts for her drone.

“Dats a bit rude to jus come in ‘ere like you own da place.”

Shoulders tense, he turns around. He doesn’t know how to respond. How does a conversation like this work? He didn’t like socializing and this was hard as is. Someone else touching this robotic fucking monster of a body. That’s a fucking NO. He already had a hard time accepting this fucking form.

Ajay stared, her eyes full of curiosity. ”Well?”

He was getting angry, the words didn't seem to form out his mouth. Was it not obvious? Did he really need to say more? Just fucking looking at his hip and you'll see why he came here.

She knew and he knew that she knew. So why? Why does she still ask?

”If yah come ere’ to stand and stare den leave I don have time to chat.” she rubbed her temples.

She did look tired But he didn't care. Pointing to the right hip and back to the table.

“F-fix.” He grumbled.

She raised a brow as if challenging him to say more. She hummed. Still looking at him, She wants him to say more.

‘He said fix, why does she still stare at him dumbfounded.’

Her arms crossed, she lets out a tired sigh. “I don have time for dis...chu want sometin ask nicely.”

Knuckles cracking, he let out a feral growl. ”fix. Or else.”

Her face contorted into annoyance. ”look you won't be gettin fixed...yah hear.” She pointed to the door, Getting up close and personal to his face. She demanded. ”Play nice or get out.”

The crimson-plated robot shook with anger. This was not going well and the atmosphere in the room was suffocating. He didn't like her attitude even when she wasn't sassy. A happy go lucky, rich spoon-fed kid who grew up with luxury needed to be put in place.

He didn't care and he didn't fucking like her. Period. This girl, she’s testing him. This ship had a respawn beacon anyways wouldn’t make a difference if she magically disappeared. She acts like she isn’t afraid of death. She’s odd. Something about her pricked his interest but he shoves it away.

Why wasn't she afraid? Why is she provoking him? Obviously, things would just go smoothly if she just did what he asked.

He backed away, he needed this to be done. If this wasn’t resolved then it’s gonna fuck with his performance and If it fucks with his performance then oh boy. He’s gonna fucking throw a fit.

Looking at her eyes, they’re filled with annoyance and tiredness. Her brown eyes dark, making her eye-bags pop out more.

He huffed out his nose. “Fix me.”

He saw her grit her teeth. She opened her mouth. “You-“

He interrupted “Please.”

It took all of him not to shout at her, to force her to fix him. She was a toughy. Something new?

She backed away, briskly making her way to the table. Grabbing the tools on her way, she turned and gestured him to come closer.

He followed suit, wanting no needing for this to be over. He propped himself up on the table.

Having a cocky grin she asked, ”Where?”

Throwing him off, he stared. How dumb can she be???

lip quivering. He simply jutted his hip out and made a simple ”hmmph.”

Rolling her eyes, her arms wrap around his waist to bring him closer.

Surprised, he shouted. ” Be gentle or I’ll fucking kill you!” His Hand twisting into a pointy makeshift knife.

”Yah kill me, yah won't be fixed. Sorry for triggering sometin.” she whispered.

After pulling him closer she rested her hands on his lap, reaching her hand softly onto the left hip to ground the crimson robot. He winced.

He’s always been sensitive, especially near his hips. That’s just how his wires feel. Sensitive. It’s worse since they’re usually exposed. The sad excuse of a shawl covered the majority but not the sides. It’s crazy how Hammond designed his model. Crazy how even then, even after dying. He can still feel things. Not like he messed with anything there anyways.

“Sorry...”

He grumbled, annoyed with the whole situation he didn’t want to put up a fight.

She chuckled softly, “I see Anita dit a numba on yah hip.”

“Hmph.”

He wasn’t going to engage in conversation as she wanted. She got enough of cooperation from him.

“I notice, yah know.”

This piqued his interest. “Mmh?”

“I notice yah, yah don like talkin to us.”

He weakly shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t care enough to.” His voice was almost nothing.

Her hands wrapped around the shard of glass, swishing it slowly back and forth.

The murder robots hands gripped the table underneath him. Letting out a shaky breath he whimpered, “Be more careful...”

The shard was a long one and it came out rather easily. The matter was his wires were pulled out as well. Clicking her tongue she grabbed a screwdriver and pried the small space just a little more open.

He wanted to run out of this room right now. He wanted to close his legs. He wanted nothing more to do with this. This stupid sickening feeling, dumb stupid retarded Ajay. “Wa-wait..”

She didn’t hear him. Or did she. Point is his message didn’t cross. Her hands trailed up his exposed wires. Picking the shortest one, she rolled the tip whilst pinching the end to squeeze into place. Making him shudder, His hips jerked. His voice was static and breathless “Wait, I said wait...ho-hold on.”

She rolled her eyes for the umpteenth time today. “Look I know dis hurts but I’m workin as fast as I can.”

Ignoring his pleas she continued with putting his wires back in place.

His right hand gripped her uniform, she didn’t mind or she just didn’t care at this point.

His body trembled with each touch of her fingertips. “Haa...”

Her fingers made their way to the second thickest wire, this one was much more troublesome to get into the right place. Slightly twisting the dark gray wire, she tugged it into place. Next to it, a smaller sized green one stood out, pinching this one just like the first. It found its way into proper standing.

His grip had become increasingly tighter, desperately trying not to roll his hips into her hand. He refused to be like...this. Taking a deep breath he steadied himself.

“Dis is de last wire.” She mumbled.

The last one was...difficult to say the least. Located closest to his pelvic area, she knew she had to be gentle. Sure he may be a robot but it’s courtesy to still treat him with respect.

“Uhm.” He mumbled. “This is the last one right?”

“Jus Said id was.”

If he still had a real working body, his face would’ve been red and his heart would’ve been a Jackhammer. If it was even possible he missed having a heart, missed hearing how it drowned out his hearing when it bumped, missed having it beat when a lover of his said they loved him. He didn’t want to feel this anymore. So small and shy.

Ajay couldn’t pinch this wire, this one was way much thicker than the rest. She had to be more gentle. If it hurt him this much then it was better safe then sorry. (Little does she know. ) She found where it was originally stored rather quickly, stroking the wire, she increased her hold on it.

Revenant let out a high pitched wheeze, his hips rolling into her hand. His legs tightened around her waist.

”wha- what are ya doing?” She stammered, clearly confused.

This was so fucking embarrassing he wanted to fucking die. More than he already wished. “I- you- I said-“

She groaned, “I’m workin as fast as I can. We’re both tired I know but cha gotta work with me, Rev.”

A shiver ran up his would be spine caused him to falter. “Rev?”

“My bad broter. Thought since I’m doin yah a favor I could give cha a nickname..”

“I don’t care and I don’t like it, just finish.” He replied, looking away.

“I would if yah let me go witcha legs.” She snickered.

He jumped, slowly letting go of her. Her hand down back at his right hip, stretching him back out. He leaned back on the metal table with his palms carrying most of his weight.

This felt weirdly intimate, and he didn’t like it. Another shiver went up to his makeshift of a spine. Twisting the darkest wire back into place, she had to squeeze the middle area for it to fit. This time, he couldn’t hold it back. He let out a shuddered breath, Lidded luminescent eyes now found their way closed, hips slowly rolling once again.

Ajay looked up, with a quizzical look on her face. She didn’t bother questioning it but she still wanted to test something.

She squeezed harder and he let out a small mewl. The tips of her fingers found their way traveling ever so delicately down to the thickest part of the wire. Her thumb circling around the base, she felt the failed suppressed shudder throughout his body.

he breathed, “Fuck...”

She hummed, she put the wire back In place but she still wanted to play with him. Hands wrapped on his waist she began feeling his back indents. His panting was audible now. Pressing inwards of one of the indents. His voicebox crackled, letting out a cute “mmph.”

He slowly moved back, letting her climb on semi top of him. His hips rutting against her leg, he was really needy. Whimpering and begging practically. She smirked.

Figured as much, he’s been alive for almost 3 centuries. Nobody to touch him, nobody to make him feel good. She almost pitied him.

“P-please let me.”

Ajay hummed.

Another voice crack, “Ajay-emmhp”

His rutting became more aggressive, more sloppy. He needed this. However, he did come into the room with an attitude. Can’t let that go through can we. Moving her leg back, she got off him.

“N-no..” his hips chased her leg. His eyes flicked to her.

“I fixed yah, chu can leave.” She moved to her desk.

“Wha- I ehm...” he really didn’t know how to respond. He didn’t want to be left feeling this way.

“Yah Heard me.” She snickered.

He covered his face with his arms, he couldn’t do this. He didn’t want to be the only one feeling this way.

His breath still irregular, his voice box struggled to make out coherent words. “i-“

“Yah don’t have tuh say anyting.” She interrupted.

He swallowed. Getting up from the table, he still looked at her.

His thoughts raced. ‘What should I do? I came to be fixed And I was. Why am I feeling this way? I don’t want to anymore.

Why is this happening? Why did that happen?why did I allow that?’

He awkwardly walked up to her desk where she sat. Turning her around, his eyes darted to look anywhere but her face.

Why’d I do this again? I want- I want her to touch me again..

“Hm?” She questioned.

He kissed her cheek and turned to walk out of her room, he heard her giggle. “I’ll see ya in the games, yah smhook.”

Stopping his tracks at the open door, he shouted. “STUPID SKINSUIT!”

“Fuck ya!” She burst out laughing.

He was down the hall when he heard her respond, he wanted to be back in his room. Nobody was going to stop him. Briskly making his way down the hallway. The crimson plated robot found his room on the right.

His back met his bed issued from the company. His Body still ached for her touch. Wanting more. Rolling back and forth like a toddler on the sheets. He shouted, “Stupid SKINSUIT!”

#revenant apex legends #lifeline #lifeline apex legends #lifeline x revenant #revline #wireplay #dont use tumblr much as you can see #apex legends #revenant kind ooc at the end #begging #sassy lifeline

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youranemicvampire · 2 years ago

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Favorite movies and shows i've watched (and finished) in 2022

TBH, This might be one of the best years for films and shows especially fornthe BIPOC community and i'm glad i've had enough time to consume a lot of media this year. In order-is

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

This is a cultural reset. I know multiverse concepts are not new, but this is different and might be the best. The concept coincided with the storyline. The title says it all, it is everything, everywhere all at once. Not just one of the best for 2022, but of all time.

2. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Felt it with my heart from start to finish. You can really see that all the cast and crew put their heart and soul on it. No need to recast T'challa because Shuri as the new Black Panther is perfect and it won't erase T'challa and Chadwick's legacy. Amazing production and soundtrack.

3. NOPE (2022)

Jordan Peele did it again. I'm glad i've watched it in the cinema because this is something that would scare more on the big screen. We are not lying when we say that this is a different Alien or UFO story.

4. Abbott Elementary (2021-)

Quinta Brunson is a genius. This sitcom is fresh and this just proves that you can make a funny content without being problematic. A comedy series that tackles relevant issues. We need more of this.

5. A league of their own (2022-)

This might be the best, most diverse and intersectional wlw or queer series so far. This and Orange is the new black. Women, lesbian and black-led. Majority of the cast and characters are queer and they don't only focus on queerness alone, but also their dreams, skills, family and friendship.

6. Wendell and Wild (2022)

One of the best art and animation style i've watched. I like how digestible it is for children. It is fun, enjoyable and doesn't shy away from real issues especially when the specific issue doesn't talked about in art and media, Also, KEY AND PEELE!

7. American Vandal (2017-2018)

This is better than most of the true crime shows on Netflix. They don't glorify the culprit while not boxing the story from a black and white perspective. Very enjoyable.

8. Ang huling cha-cha ni Anita / Anita's last cha-cha (2013)

A coming of age film abput a lesbian girl and her first love or crush. Assuring you that this is not creepy at all. This is very wholesome and reminds me of my own childhood and journey into my lesbian identity. It can be watched on Juanflix (Message me if you are outside Philippines)

9. The school for good and evil (2022)

Not a big fan of fairytale stuff, but this is a very cool concept and i'm a big sucker for great production and costume design. I love the storyline too. It reminds me of Maleficent.

From left to right

10. I, Tonya (2017)

11. King Richard (2022)

12. Liway (2018)

13. Batwoman (2019-2022)

14. Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)

15. Paper girls (2022)

16. Dollface (2019-2022)

17. Betty (2020-2021)

18. Inside Job (2022)

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res--publica · 5 years ago

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I was tagged by @zabbonisa 💖 Thank you so much love! (i took so long lol)

Rules: answer 17 questions then tag 17 people you want to know better (yeah well see about that)

Nickname: people call me Anita (and i like it more than my name) some call me Barju

Zodiac sign: ♈

Height: 1,73 cm (5′8 i think)

Hogwarts house: hufflepuff

Last thing I googled: imdb movies about loneliness

Song stuck in my head: María José Llergo - El Péndulo

Following: 525

Followers: 558

Amount of sleep I get: around 6-7 hours

Lucky numbers: 14 and 22

Dream job: to create and tell stories with images (so cinema i guess)

Wearing: my pijama and a dirty tshirt because im dying my hair

Favourite songs:

Maria Arnal i Marcel Bagés - No he desitjat mai cap cos com el teu

Swet Shop Boys - Aaja ft. Ali Sethi

Calle 13 - El Aguante

Ellie Goulding vs Daft Punk - There's Something About Us Under The Sheets

Los Rivera Destino - Dura (Cha Cha Cha)

Elton John - Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting

Janelle Monáe - Make me feel

Queen - Fat Bottomed Girls

and many more

Instrument: i have an ukelele but i dont play it because i dont have patience and i like singing

Random fact: i can touch my nose with my tongue ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Aesthetics: The warmness of sunlight, very blue skies, pink skies, stars, pink flowers in a green garden, long flowy dresses, black shoes (doc martens, nike air force1 and espardenyes), boxing wraps, bruises, high ponytails, multiple hoop earrings in one hole, winged black eyeliner, classical art museums, contemporary art ones too, big detailed carpets (persian style i guess), the beat of this song in 2:27, a house full of art and books with mustard and white painted walls and dark wood furniture, antifascist posters (and everything tbh), red mg mgb cars and montesa and bultaco motorcycles (even though I don't have a driving license lol) a cats nap, lavender (and more or less things)

Tagging: @lordmeowdemort @lamemoment @serenaissance @the-quasar-hero @no-passaran @marazt @gat-de-casa @quatregats

and if i havent tagged you but u want to do it go on! (tag me so i can see) 💖 💖 💖 💖

#jo #like with the aesthetic thing i could go on and on

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zukadiary · 7 years ago

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Ill Conceived Terror Trip Day 1: West Side Story

After I made that dramatic post about missing Daimon’s ohirome, one KazukiMotherfuckingSora showed up to rehearsal in red nails and dangly earrings, and here I am for a meager week, something my fear of flying and I never planned nor desired to attempt, least of all in the winter with my vacation days tapped out and my work schedule running 11pm-7am. Daylight where?

This whole situation is so... unfortunate. It’s ticket cancellation hell; I was supposed to go with three friends today and all their tickets evaporated. My second ticket got cancelled too. But faced with the painful reality that barring a true miracle this show will be entirely lost to the void, I’m feeling very lucky for the one shot I got, and very justified in deciding extremely late be extremely stupid. I wish something this good didn’t have to be this ephemeral. I tried my very best to burn it into my jet lagged memory... knowing West Side Story helped.

Other than dilution of the racism issue, the show was basically untouched. Some of that was just kind of lost in translation, but a bit was consciously altered (for example, America is all ladies minus the dissenting Shark men). EDIT: two people have now informed me that this was actually a movie change! Anyway, while it would be cool to see them tackle something like that, I get that there’s no cultural reference point, and I really can’t complain about my experience, other than that it was too short.

I’m rescinding all that haha. After a last minute blessed second viewing in which I comprehended significantly more dialogue, sure some things were still lost in translation but I feel comfortable calling this an EXTREMELY RESPECTABLE EFFORT ⭐

If you’re one of the lucky few with a future ticket, stop here and don’t deprive yourself of the impact.

Moment 1: the curtain rises on a few Jets with Zun-chan at the center looking, to be perfectly accurate, FINE AS HELL. Breathtakingly so. Grown up and absolutely slaying.

Moment 2: they start to move, and the work of the imported Broadway choreographer is immediately evident. Sometimes you don’t realize you’ve been watching Very Takarazuka Choreography until you see the same girls dancing something else.

Moment 3: enter KikiBernardo, and all of my internal organs lurched upward a bit. If this is the beginning of Soragumi Kiki, be very afraid.

Makaze enters casually after the opening dance number, without the typical dramatic “enter PAUSE” that leaves room for everyone to applaud the top star. The more I dwell on it, the happier I am that our first taste of Top Star Makaze Suzuho is a soft role; I live for Makaze struggling to keep the sexface just under the lethal dose, but her softness is also so beautiful. Love at first sight so strong you don’t even care that this asshole killed your brother is pretty unbelievable, but Makaze had me buying in 100%. And the 50s street clothes look—t-shirt under a collared shirt tucked loosely into slightly awkward dad jeans with a thick belt and sneakers, topped with a bomber depending on the scene—is SO GOOD for her.

WSS is home run casting, for all the Soragumi members on this side of the split, but particularly for our pair of fresh top stars, and particularly at this stage. They have a lot of figuring each other out to do as a combi—specifically learning how to sing together—but this worked; they aced the naive and reckless Tony/Maria dynamic. Maria throughout is a flatter character than Madoka is capable of playing, but she took full advantage of the emotional final scene and was excruciating. The silences in between her words were deafening.

Every dance number is an absolute delight: the fights more dynamic than most of the actual stage combat I’ve seen Takarazuka attempt; Mambo with its rotating pair dances and KikiSora giving everyone a lesson in erotic chemistry; America with its cha cha ruffles and my kid leading a pack of fierce musumeyaku; Cool being just that, featuring a really relatable moment of Zun-chan pleading “chill out” and Moeko screaming anyway; I couldn’t pick a favorite if I wanted to. There are some GENUINELY SCARY and hella impressive bits too; first someone... Zun-chan? (it’s APPALLING that my feeble memory is the only place this show can live) ((EDIT: it was Junna Subaru)) does some crazy jump flip thing and everyone catches her. Later Kiki SCALES A REALASS CHAIN LINK FENCE by 1) jumping right up to mid-fence 2) climbing to the top 3) UPSIDE DOWN FLIPPING HERSELF OVER THE TOP and 4) landing like a wild cat, resulting in possibly the hottest single feat I’ve witnessed on a stage (shortly afterwards pretty much everyone in a gang, including the TOP STAR who must be protected at all costs, followed suit with the partially upside down fence scaling).

Our notable Jets: Zun-chan, in addition to upping her look enough to stop my heart, still has this delightful little brother vibe about her that made her the perfect Riff, while still showing impressive leadership abilities as essentially the head of the group while Tony is off being lovestruck dumb. Another favorite was EBI as Velma (Zun’s girl), for her adorable look, her ace dancing, and her PFF BITCH NO faces made at Zun’s attempts to order her around. Fuuma Kakeru is forever the literal best, and likewise picture perfect in the 50s street urchin uniform. Monchi needed more opportunity to use her voice but got to wear glasses. Moeko gave an impressive effort as hot-headed Action, especially considering difficult choreography is not really her thing. BABY TONAMI, fresh 103rd Yumeshiro Aya as Anybodys, went above and beyond ken-1 (I still think roles of pure spunk are the easiest to slay, but impressive nonetheless).

And our notable Sharks, working up to my Main Event: if you count lines said with your EYES, Sao might have had the biggest role in the whole show, along with absolutely perfect disgusting Grease hair (one stray lock on her forehead). She also made me cry at the end when she’s the only Shark to help carry Tony’s body. She outshone Riku (Chino) a bit, but much like Madoka, Riku also turned it up for the last scene, even with completely wordless acting.

Dark, sleazy, terrifying, devastatingly handsome Kiki. Her Bernardo made the show (objectively... I KNOW I HAVEN’T GOTTEN TO *HER* YET). Every face and every mannerism was calculated and perfect. Wiping her hand on her pants every time she had to touch a Jet... somehow manufacturing absolutely electrifying chemistry with Soragumi’s giggliest loser idiot otokoyaku as her lady partner despite being BRAND NEW; the way she like inhaled Sora, and put firm hands on her with her fingers spread wide, and grabbed big deep handfuls of her skirt... Maybe all of Sora’s reactions were just straight up real. Favorite moments: their proper kiss; when they hook up in the Mambo scene and Sora slides her hand inside Kiki’s jacket to touch more of her actual back; Kiki being macho and gross and yelling at Sora to come here and Sora repeatedly replying hell no you come HERE until Kiki gives up (also notable: their perfect height difference, despite Sora in heels and Kiki in flats).

And SoraAnita, who put my sorry ass in this freezing Airbnb writing up this devastating show at 4 in the goddamn morning, who was so so so so good. It’s hard to look past the tight-top floof-bottom dresses and the adorable heeled sandals and the legs and the scene where she’s primping cross-legged in a chair wearing sheer thigh highs with garters and black lingerie that doesn’t even cover her butt which I don’t *at all* remember being in the movie... BUT, she was just so good. She made no attempt to change her voice (even though I’m pretty sure she could have) and it worked; I’m sure she spent much of rehearsal a mess but she was a fiery hot match for Kiki; she nailed all the feminine mannerisms and the bits of otokoyaku left over weren’t awkward but perfect Anita sass; the way she worked that tulle-laden skirt, her DANCING in Mambo and America; the way she big sister’d Madoka; and her final scene where the Jets assault her in the drug store, when she made me fully cry. I would hate myself forever and ever and ever if I hadn’t seen this.

::Sigh:: It’s only a week but I kinda wish this had been my grand finale.

#takarazuka #reviews #west side story #ill conceived terror trip

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