#another role played by so many UK It Boys

[queeringclassiclit]

King Richard II

from Richard II by William Shakespeare

[absolutebl]

What to watch after Pit Babe? Thai BL Actor Guide

So you loved Pit Babe and you wanna see your favorite BL boy in his old series? But should you?

Here's a guide...

Babe AKA Pavel - 2 Moons 2

Pavel is one of my favorite actors in BL (he's this blog's icon for a reason) and actually 2 Moons 2 is pretty good, primarily because of his character, Forth. Who has an actual character evolution and growth arc... in a BL!

Amazing.

Don't be fooled 2 Moons 2 is a reboot and extension of 2 Moons, not a spin off. So you don't have to have watched the first iteration, in fact I recommend against it.

Anygay, the main couple of 2M2 is naff, but Forth is great and Pavel is great as that character. He has good chemistry with his pairing, and as a BL fan it's not a bad idea to know your 2 Moon's roots. 2 Moons is one of the most popular Y-novels ever written, one of the most popular shows of it's time, and the perpetuator of many Thai BL tropes.

Pavel's second BL, Coffee Melody, is not worth watching.

If Babe was your favorite character, and Babe & Charlie a pairing you enjoy, I would suggest Big Dragon as your next BL. Same vibes, high heat, chaotic. Another possibility is the slightly lower heat but stil unhinged Laws of Attraction.

You also might like some stuff out of Taiwan. They tend to have the angst + high heat + sappy softness that characterized Charlie + Babe.

Way AKA Nut - Oxygen

Nut is way different in his previous rolls, as the lead in both Oxygen, and Something in My Room. Same gorgeous voice and soulful eyes and Nut tends to play sensitive torn characters but the similarities end there.

In Oxygen, his acting is stiff. In fact, Oxygen as a whole is pretty stiff. I like it very much and it is a big comfort watch for me because of it's smooth peaceful softness, but it's flawed, slow and awkward. I did an episode by episode thing for that show (my first watch along).

In his second BL, Something in My Room, Nut demonstrates improved acting and chemistry, but I don't recommend it. It's a touch of horror, built on the "my ghost boyfriend" trope, and it's quite sad.

So try Oxygen but if what you're after is more BL with a Way-like main character then I would recommend Moonlight Chicken or The Eclipse chewy BL with sensitive boys and some grey morality.

Jeff AKA Pon - Starhunter Talent

Pon was with Starhunter before this and so has appearances in several of their BLs. He's demonstrated great natural acting talent, charisma, and good chemistry with all his pairs but because he often appeared in chaotic ensemble pieces has been easily forgotten (including by me). Starhunter chronically underused him but also utterly miss-applied him.

Gen Y 2 is actually a master class in flawed casting. They put Pon into a triangle, where he plays a fated mate pining uke against a very stiff lead pair - but they expected us not to want him to be end game. Big mistake. Watch this mess if you just want to see how a good actor can eat up all the air of a bad pair, winning hearts and influencing fans.

Otherwise the Gen Y series is a bloated mess, and I can't recommend them. I trashed watched so you don't have too. While Pon demonstrates skills against a backdrop of ranging tallent, oddball story, and chaotic outcomes I wouldn't have bothered if not for the dumpster fire.

Pon's first BL is The Moment, and he's good in it, but it's a terrible show. Boring and plotless.

He's fantastic in Make A Wish but only a side part (despite what is said in MDL) and his arc is VERY sad. Still it's a GREAT under appreciated BL, I recommend it as the one to watch if you have to see Pon in something else. It's nothing like Pit Babe though.

Yeah our pathway for Pon ends here, so lets look, instead, at

Alan & Jeff - Bed Friend

This was Sailub's first BL role, and I speak for all of us when I say... more please.

So instead of a watching a pathway for him, I'm gonna give you a few BL suggestions based on the assumption that this side couple was your favorite from this series (as it was mine).

What we had with this pairing was

older sensitive sweetheart sunshine seme + tortured dark scared tsundere uke.

FUN dynamic! Here are some options where this style took center stage:

Bed Friend

Between Us

Love By Chance (AePete only)

Triage

Tokyo in April is

I Became the Main Role of a BL

Pete & Kenta - Word of Honor

Ah you like your boys troubled with money, questionable morals, and the slight inclination to pick at their fingernails with a knife?

Neither Garfield nor Ping have done other BLs but here are my picks for BLs that feature this kind of character and dynamic, and we are leaving Thailand for these (since it's darker territory than Thailand usually handles... well).

HIStory 3: Trapped 

Long Time No See 

Irresistible Love

Word of Honor

Where Your Eyes Linger

Other familiar faces

NORTH AKA Michael

North played by Michael was our big comedy insert for this show.

But all his roles prior to this were very serious. Till the World Ends and Call It What You Want are practically depressing, even his role in Oxygen is pretty dark. He actually has been in BL a very long time, he was one of Noh's friends in Love Sick at just 18. Frankly, that'd waht you should watch if you are gonna watch any of his back catelogue, but it's NOTHING like Pit Babe or his role in it, still it's the beginning of Thai BL and Noh is a little sunshine of chaos, and it's great so...

Where was I?

If you really want a comedic himbo lead character there are are quite a few out there, and it's a crazy playing field because Japan is in it to win it.

Leaving aside high school stuff, here are some options:

Cherry Magic (Japan)

Ossan’s Love 

Mr Unlucky Can Only Kiss

Love Tractor

Bad Buddy

Love Stage!!

My Day

History 4: Close to You

KIM AKA Benz

Benz who played Kim has also done BL before, En of Love: This Is Love Story, but it is not good and not worth watching.

While I want the queer Falling Into Your Smile or Love O2O or Appledog more than anything, that doesn't exist. We have yet to have a true gaymer BL. (I mean come on, nerdy queer is practically a stereotype at this point, where is it?)

All of which is to say if Kim was your favorite... I don't know. Our Dating Sim maybe Semantic Error?

WINNER AKA Pop

Pop has lead out a BL, it's a very slow, very queer, very unwatched piece called La Cuisine.

@heretherebedork and I loved it, but it's hard to imagine anyone else enjoying it. You have to be a hard BL stan to tolerate the pace and pulp quality of that one. He's a completely different character but if you really like the actor try him in La Cuisine, I think he was better cast for that than Pit Babe.

I just enjoyed the show in general, what's next?

In general, if you really enjoyed Pit Babe itself as a series (and it's multiple couples and chaotic noise and erratic concept) you're in the KinnPorsche camp of Thai BL. I actually made a "watch next" pathways and rating guide for that show, which might work for you.

Specifically I would say Manner of Death. It's a little more focused in character and plot but still a wild ride. And MaxTul are the Kings for a reason.

You might also try Not Me, Never Let Me Go, and 3 Will Be Free although all of these, coming from GMMTV, are lower heat levels than Pit Babe.

Finally, seriously, try The Sign. I know it was airing "in competition" but there is room in your heart for both shows. I promise. They have the same wild sexy energy, and are loads of fun.

(source)

[dangermousie]

Top Dozen 2023 drama MLs so far

It's August, so not the end of the year, neither it is at halfway year mark, but why would I ever do anything like a normal person? Here my very very subjective list. I have limited myself to one dude per drama or LYF would be half the list. No order except alphabetical.

Chen Wende (Sun Yizhou in Gone With the Rain, China)

The epic troll lord stole the whole drama as competently as he stole the FL's heart. He was competent and adult and oh-so-amused by but also gone for the heroine.

Gu Jiusi (Bai Jing Ting in Chang Feng Du/Destined, China)

CFD lost steam for me halfway through but Jiusi's character remained a delight throughout and BJT gave a great performance as a golden boy who went through a bunch of hell and grew up but remained goodnatured at heart.

Han Dong Jin (Kim Young Kwang in Call It Love, Korea)

You know, he and Jing (from LYF1) really fit the same mold even if one is in a mellow realistic modern and another in xianxia - lovely traumatized people from monster families who win over heroine with a metric ton of baggage through sheer unswerving decency. I have a type.

Jang Uk (Lee Jae Wook in Alchemy of Souls s2, Korea)

I loved Uk in S1 and S2 continued that love - he's so intense, so grieving, so still in love with Naksu. LJW is always a good actor so it's such a pleasure to see him in a good role.

Kim Do Ha (Hwang Min Hyun, My Lovely Liar, Korea)

The year of surprises - Minhyun, who I found utterly wooden in AoS stole my heart here as this hopeful, traumatized sweetheart of a man.

Kim Moo Chan (Park Hae Jin, The Killing Vote, Korea)

Yeah, we are only one ep in but who said anything about this list was objective? PHJ brings his usual unsettling intensity to the role of a cop who breaks all the rules and teeters on the edge and now is set to catch a killer who really only differs from him in a matter of degree.

Lee Jang Hyun (Nam Goong Min in My Dearest, Korea)

If I had to pick a favorite ML from this list, it would be between him and Jing (LYF). This is basically if you took Rhett Butler and took out slavery and rape but gave him a sword. The character is complex and nuanced and NGM is giving his usual incredible performance.

Lee Rang (Kim Bum in Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938, Korea)

I was not a Rang fangirl for most of the original (even if he was well-acted; and he did win me over by the end) but I fell for him head over heels in this sequel/prequel/spin-off. I am so happy the man who believed he had nobody and was abandoned by everybody ends the story with his beloved brother and his beloved woman, both.

Moon Seo Ha (Ahn Bo Hyun in See You in My 19th Life, Korea)

A lot of MLs on this list have serious trauma and haunted by it and can't let go of their past love (I have a type) but even by those standards, Seo Ha was such a lovely, quiet person slowly healing.

Tantai Jin (Luo Yunxi in Till the End of the Moon, China)

Abuse victim/monster/praiseworthy king/xianxia saint/man on the brink - LYX portrayed a character in multiple timelines and many different complexities and did it amazingly. Tantai Jin may or may not win my favorite place on this list, but his performance was hands-down the most glorious thing this year.

Tushan Jing/Ye Shiqi (Deng Wei in Lost You Forever part 1, China)

If before LYF aired someone would have told me that a character played by Deng Wei, an actor I've always found eminently forgettable, would make it on this list and be in the running to win the whole thing actually, I'd have wondered what weird reality they came from. They somehow managed to make someone genuinely good and kind not in the least boring; I am ridiculously invested in the man who managed to keep his soul after all he's been through.

Yun Xiang (Chen Xiao in The Ingenuous One, China)

A schemer on a revenge quest, smarter than anyone else in the room but helpless in front of love. Yun Xiang was an adult in an adult story for adults and it was glorious.

[pynkhues]

Do you have post-Emmy predictions or thoughts for Snook's career?

Oooo, I'm actually not too sure? She's such an incredible actress, and I'd really love her to hit the A-list, but her choices even since Succession started and her star rose have been kind of odd ones? Like Pieces of a Woman was such a bit part for her, albeit one in an interesting art house movie, Run Rabbit Run saw her as the lead in a pretty terrible psychological thriller, and The Beanie Bubble? Just - - yeah.

Really odd choices.

I do suspect her career has likely been impacted a bit by the fact that she moved back to Australia, married another actor who has a steady, ongoing gig (Dave Lawson's a part of the core ensemble in Utopia which is a very good and very funny sitcom here!) and has had a baby, to say nothing of the pandemic, and I think she's perhaps still feeling out herself what she'd like her career to look like.

That said, I thought it was really smart that both Sarah and Jeremy have gone back to theatre for their first major roles post-Succession, and Sarah's move I think is particularly smart strategically given it's a Sydney Theatre Company production being performed on London's West End, which kind of relaunches her in theatre in two different spaces.

Sydney Theatre Company is a huge deal in Australia and a world class company - Cate Blanchett and her husband, Andrew Upton were co-artistic directors there for a number of years, and it's a home for many of Australia's best actors like Rose Byrne, Toni Collette, Hugo Weaving, Heather Mitchell (my beloved!!). Sarah already had a relationship with STC prior to Succession - having played Joan of Arc in the STC production of Saint Joan in 2018 - so for one of her first major roles after the series to be back at the Company does really feel like both a homecoming and an opportunity to ascend within the theatrical elite in Australia. The production though that she's in being in the UK's West End I feel offers that two-fold as well.

Getting back into STC though I think opens her doors again to local connections, particularly with the Cate Blanchett set and given Blanchett's been moving steadily into producing in Australia, I could see Sarah being cast in one of her productions? Hopefully a film, given The New Boy and Shayda were infinitely better than Stateless, haha.

In my experience with actors in Australia, the ones with young children tend to lean towards theatre residencies and TV because it's (generally speaking) better / more flexible hours and steadier work, and in many ways, Australian TV is having a bit of a renaissance right now with shows like The Newsreader, Deadloch and Boy Swallows Universe, so I could absolutely see her headlining a mini-series? Perhaps a literary adaptation?

I'd love to see her in something from Jane Campion, Jennifer Kent or Goran Stolevski, and I think all three are a possibility - Goran probably least at this stage just because he's such a new voice.

I think she'll probably pop back up in some US films and TV, and I think she'll probably land a few really meaty ones, but I do kind of think she might be more likely to work between Australia and the UK in the future? I couldn't quite tell you why, and I could be wrong, but yeah. I guess my prediction is that she'll have an incredible career, but I don't necessarily think it'll be US-centric post-Succession, or tremendously high profile.

[solittles]

mota rewatch with subtitles in my native language (swedish), something i have never done before . spoilers™ below

sometimes the translation of the lines are soooo incredibly good like wahhhh

sometimes i cringe because ???! not that swedish is embarrassing, but it's vulnerable to me. i struggle with expressing myself in general, and especially in swedish because how personal it is to use that language.

so this rewatch made me feel soooo many more things than this show usually does. because swedish. i love these boys sm and they came so much closer than they usually do because of subtitles in my mother tongue

every of bucky's gay lines to buck? in swedish? screams into a pillow i love them so much

also fun to think of the swedish equivalent to all the references to places in the us the characters refer to

but ok lets leave the language part behind

bucky's way to change between his personal self (that is partially a performance though) and his leader role. when he starts barking orders 👉👈🥺🫣 im on my knees and so is buck . he can be a good dom and he'll ask buck if he can knock him up because with buck by his side he wouldnt mind having kids. anyway

goes insane about curtbuckybuck btw. it's like buck knows bucky loves him and wants him, he's too repressed to accept his queerness, so bucky finds curt. the two of them love each other, but curt isn't buck, though he's the best bucky can find. and buck and curt respect and care for each other, despite both of them know that bucky is with curt because he can't have buck (though, if he could he would have them both). and buck knows he can't give bucky what he wants, so he has to keep curt alive for bucky's sake, even though it means he partially loses bucky to someone else. but that's how it has to be, he can't. be queer.

and that's another reason why episode two where the buckies work together to make sure curt doesn't get shot down is so good

ALSO the relationship between pilot and co-pilot. pilot and bombardier. trusting another man with your ship. homoeroticism much!!!!

the superstition is. insane actually, i'm obsessed with it.

100% that buck and bucky are raised religious but lose their faith individually from each other and when they arrive in the uk during the war, superstition is all they have left.

everyone says it but bucky's waist.... he's. a unit!!!!! while buck is just an itty bitty ken doll

done with my buckies thoughts, over to ROSIE

my beloved!!!! i wanma write about his grief losing nash so bad. too bad i can't write i hate it here

him humming the chant when theyre the only ones left. darling boyyy!!!!

im also Obsessed with the entire arc he has in episode 6 at the flak house. rejecting he's not ok, trying to find meaning in their stay at the house, solidifying his role as a pilot and a leader after the talk with the doctor. being responsible for the rhythm of the whole band.....

then when he's going to get back into the plane, he's scared!!! he actually is!! he's feeling something, he's not fine! and that's such a huge step for him!!! and then he finds the beat, he gets back into the drum solo a week after he had to stop and he just goes!!!!

rosie's arc in ep 4-6 is Insanely good. that's my fav character right there!!!!!!

the chant starts playing and the cut over to bucky in the stalag... come On one of the best scene transitions. obsessed

bucky seeing his boys, his and buck's kids!!!! crank!!! murph!!!!

only to be reunited with his husband, the mother to his kids!!!!! HE SMILES SO WIDELY HES SO RELIEVED HIS OTHER HALF MADE IT . THAT BUCK'S ALIVE WAHHHH

sorry guys but. this show. i hold it in my hands

[agentnico]

The Boy and the Heron (2023) Review

Robert Pattinson, is that you??

Plot: Mahito, a young 12-year-old boy, struggles to settle in a new town after his mother's death. However, when a talking heron informs Mahito that his mother is still alive, he enters an abandoned tower in search of her, which takes him to another world.

Seriously though, we need to discuss Robert Pattinson in this movie. He voices the titular heron, and this is Pattinson’s first ever foray into voice acting… and it is a true masterclass. He gives an unrecognisable performance using a raspy, zany voice, and one that you could easily mistake for the other voice actors in the movie like Mark Hamill and Willem Dafoe, to whom such vocal chords come much more naturally. Honestly, you have never heard Pattinson like this before, with the closest sounding performance in his filmography being in the 2020 crime drama The Devil All the Time as the high-pitched preacher, but even then you could mentally connect the voice to the actor. I must give Pattinson all the props in the world - for someone who started out as a sparkling teen-vamp in the Twilight films, he’s really worked hard to break himself out of the shadows of that series and consistently defy expectations and be an acting force to be reckoned with. Now his turn in The Boy and the Heron only justifies this even more, and more importantly should be a signal to other animation studios to give this guy more voice acting roles, as he’s great with those evidently. Like seriously, you can’t even begin to fathom Pattinson’s grows in this film - its something else.

Right, let’s talk about the actual film now! The Boy and the Heron sees the return of the legendary Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki who most know through his projects with animation company Studio Ghibli. The guy’s a legend in the realm of anime, so me and my fiancée were excited to go see it, so we had a full date night planned - we travelled quite the way to get to the cinema that was showing this movie, as the film so far has had a very limited release here in the UK, and we enjoyed a fine meal at the local pub, and yours truly had the pleasure of accompanying the meal with a couple of pints as one should. We then go to buy the tickets and whaddayaknow they have all sold out. Yep, all that travelling and effort to see a film and yet it was not meant to be. Nonetheless, I instead made my way there again today, this time pre-ordering the seat a day in advance as that was a lesson learned. Oh yes, when it comes to a Hayao Miyazaki animation, I am one dedicated son of a bee to see that! Thank heavens I pre-booked that time, as the screening I was in was packed, and as I was in the lobby I overheard other customers trying to purchase tickets for The Boy and the Heron and being turned out. Look, Studio Ghibli has its fan-base, so it’s not surprising so many people want to go see it. It’s surprising though that cinemas aren’t providing enough screens to show it though, but that is a separate distribution matter in itself.

The Boy and the Heron plays out a little like a montage of Best Of, revisiting themes and devices familiar from Miyazaki’s previous films and tying them together with elements that have a clear autobiographical resonance for the director. From the various magical and absurd creatures to the stunning animation to the piano-heavy score by frequent Miyazaki collaborator Joe Hisaishi, it’s all the usual Ghibli goodness you know and love. Speaking of the score, the lush orchestral Hisaishi soundtrack is shimmering and exultant, that is filled with innocent beauty, yet also managing to embrace the darker aspects of the narrative. The animation as stated is superb, but I do mean it looks incredible. From the very opening sequence where Mahito is running through the burning streets of Tokyo to find his mother, the dizzying effect of the flames and the people around running in panic and being engulfed in the horrible disaster - that sequence is both beautiful from an artistic standpoint but also frightening as it reminds us of all the damage the Second World War brought to innocent people. But the rest of the film also brims with the spectacular hand-drawn animation Ghibli artists are know for, and I always loved how they managed to balance the whimsical fun elements with the more scarier ones. Speaking of which, after seeing this movie you’re going to have a very different opinion on parakeets. You have been warned.

Now in terms of the negative… the characterisation. A huge part of Ghibli movies in general, and especially those directed by Miyazaki, is that as a rule they are always driven by its characters, with their journeys at the forefront. World building and the narrative always took second place. Major examples of this are Howl’s Moving Castle, Laputa: Castle in the Sky and Spirited Away, where you had these absolutely crazy fantasy-driven landscapes, yet at the same time the stories were laid back with simplicity and effective means and rules. However with The Boy and the Heron the world building is so convoluted and confusing at times that it seems Miyazaki put all his efforts into fleshing out this narrative instead of giving more time to the main character, who supposedly undergoes a deep emotional journey. However because we are busy being distracted with all the craziness of the world, the journey of the character’s growth is near non-existent, and as such the finale seems very abrupt and unfitting, with the story choices feeling undeserved and unnatural.

The Boy and the Heron is a beautiful animation from an auteur who’s delivered so many greats previously to which this one doesn’t come close to, but even Miyazaki’s mid-level film is most directors’ best. The lack of character building and interpersonal relationship is a heavy hindrance, but aside from that this is an engaging original story featuring a superb music score, great vocals (especially from Pattinson) and also nostalgia that reminds us how great Studio Ghibli truly is. Again, it’s not Miyazaki’s best, but it’s easily one of the best animations in the last few years, and will also make you want to avoid parakeets for good. Don’t make their cute little look fool you - they are sinister little bastards.

Overall score: 7/10

[gillianthecat]

My School President episode 6

My heart just smiles everytime Gun and Tinn are together. Fourth is so good as Gun, he brings so many layers to the part. I feel like I'm seeing Gun growing up before my eyes.

I continue to appreciate how this show is playing with BL (and general Romance) tropes, both on silly visual level, with all the fantasies and this making of the BL version of a music video, and on a more serious structural level. I'm thinking of Tinn's various not-quite-confessions of his love, and Gun's reaction. The typical trope would be for Gun to be totally oblivious, but this show (and Gun) are too smart for that. He knows that Tinn likes him, but he's afraid, afraid both that he's wrong and that he's right. Being wrong would be heartbreaking and so he wants to stay in this suspended moment of not knowing the truth. And it's scary for him that he's probably right. His reason is the no dating rule, but I suspect that's just an excuse for why he's reluctant. Falling in love is scary! And so the show keeps that tension of not-quite dating going that is often achieved by one character being unrealistically oblivious, but does it in way that feels true to life.

And so I love that this show is just letting them be real and scared and yet still honest and open with each other. They both just feel so human, so much like teenagers growing up and figuring out what it means to love and be loved. Like My Only 12%, (and I Told Sunset About You) this now feel like a coming of age story as well as a BL, as Tinn and Gun are figuring out how to love and care for each other like adults. What's fascinating is that while those other shows did that by moving away from BL tropes, My School President is doing it by embracing them but then turning them inside out to examine them.

I have inchoate thoughts about how QL stories (and Romance in general) are often coming of age stories, as the characters discover their own self in the process of discovering each other. This is especially true of High School characters, but I think it holds for every setting. Old Fashioned Cupcake for example, even there the characters are growing into themselves in order to be able to love each other. But that's another post, a big sprawling one that I won't attempt now. And I do think even with that, My School President is more of a coming of age story than most.

And in terms of tropes, I adored the use of that clear umbrella, how it created a little world for the two of them, and particularly how they were trading off holding it, emphasizing that neither is the seme or uke, they aren't playing roles here of pursuer and pursued, they are just two boys who like each, trying to figure out what to do with all their feelings.

So far I'm less interested in either of the side couples (or side couple? I'm assuming Tiw and Por will be a thing but we've only had the barest hints that it's happening so far). I think because they're given more of the silly teenage shenanigans and that's fun but less compelling to me. I did like all the layers of BL tropes at work in the scene with Sound and Win's "kiss" through the medal.

Perhaps my problem with them is that the rap battle confused me—there Sound was being all mature and supportive of Win, but now he's back to being petty and combative. Was the rap battle only in that somewhat non-diegetic music video from last week? Is it just a mistake in the script or editing?

Also, it's not that important, but I was confused by the scene where they were asking each other the questions in Gun's bed, when just before they had been doing it on the phone. At first I thought it was Gun imaging they were next to each other, but they serious talk about grief and the hug made me think it was happening in real life. Was it just a continuity error? Did I miss a scene transition were Tinn was like, "I'm coming over to cuddle?" Or was it really just a fantasy?

Last thought: the economics of Thai BL being what they are, I appreciate the product placement for allowing these shows to be made. And My School President is doing the best they can with it to make it plot and character relevant. But I still find it annoying.

handing off the umbrella 🥰

[lovenliterature]

I am in my first year of life and I am dressed in dark green because my mother dislikes pastel tones. Strangers frequently assume I am a boy. She does not correct them.

I am 6 and I am adamant that I would prefer to do judo than ballet. My parents do not disagree.

I am 8 and I have one dress I will willingly wear. It is covered in poppies and it feels like summer. Otherwise I am always to be found in trousers. My mother says they are better for climbing trees, anyway.

I am 11 and playing football after school because girls cannot play football in the normal team. My mother and I often go down to the park so that I can practise. She recalls my father saying he did not want a boy because he did not want to play football. That year each team in our tournament scores the same amount of goals. I save one more than the other two keepers. I am told it shows that girls can do just as well as boys.

I am 12 and a staunch feminist. I am terrified of my developing body. I am so worried about not having my period and being behind everyone. It arrives and I wish I could turn back time so desperately. I go for the male roles in as many productions as I can. Sometimes people remark that I play a boy well.

I am 15, experimenting with names and labels in the safety of online anonymity. I finally cut my hair, as I have been longing to do for months. More than one classmate mistakes me for a boy despite my skirt. I laugh it off and tamp down the twin flames of terror and joy rising in my chest.

I am 16, in love and happy and learning that female is not who I am. An elderly woman asks why I have a girls name written on my hoodie, comments that she thought I was a boy. I don’t think about it too hard, for fear of what I’ll realise. Later, I make an offhand comment about it to friends and one of them makes an attack helicopter joke. I realise that to be trans is to be mocked.

I am 17 and breaking down. I say it out loud for the first time and it feels like my world falls apart. My mother is nothing but supportive and educates herself. I am terrified.

I am 18 and hiding from the reality of coming out. I lose my partner and I will never stop wondering if me coming out set that in motion. I tell my family and they are nothing but kind. We decide not to tell my grandparents. I use my new name for the first time. I start university and no one ever knows me as anything different.

I am 19 and tired. I am losing time and my body is not working right. It feels like it never will. I nearly die. A psychiatrist says there are few measures he can recommend that I am not already taken. He says starting testosterone would likely help.

I am 20 and I have ownership of my name. I have appointments with medical professionals that range from kind and insightful to invasive and woefully uninformed. I begin to grow facial hair. My voice cracks and drops and I’m finally passing more, though not consistently. My body feels more like a home than it ever has.

I am 21 and in legal limbo. I exist in two genders, two names, two nationalities. I may have to travel to Germany to declare my identity in a German court and spend another few thousand pounds on doctors letters. I put off that problem for another day. Grandpa is dead, we are in a pandemic and I’m due to move countries in less than 6 months. Some things will have to wait.

I am 22 and experiencing my gender in German for the first time. It’s exhilarating and bittersweet, tinged with the pain of still having to show the wrong passport to prove my nationality. I translate an autobiography of a trans man from German to English and I realise that this is what I love. I feel more accepted here than I have in the UK. I think, maybe, I could make a home here.

I am 23 and in my final year. I have taken courses that give me the chance to study gender and prove my knowledge of what I want to continue studying. I begin my first job and wind up in the Daily Mail in a mildly transphobic article. I stand by my tweets. Fuck JK Rowling.

I am 24 and the transition milestones are coming thick and fast. I email enquiring about a top surgery date only to be told it would be over half a year. I research another surgeon and contact that in the hope of a consult within a few months. From initial contact to surgery is six weeks. I feel like I have whiplash. I’m so grateful for my new body. After being told that Germany does not accept the new UK birth certificates, I am contacted to say this has now changed. I have a lot of paperwork to do. I get my forms in order and receive a shiny new green birth certificate. I change my NHS number to male. A few months later, I pick up my German passport and for the first time ever, I have documents to prove all the facets of my identity.

I am 25 and back in Vienna, a city dotted with rainbow zebra crossings and traffic lights featuring gay couples. There is a trans zebra crossing near my apartment. It makes me feel a little bit more at home every time I see it. Someone puts up stickers with “cinnamon rolls not gender roles“ near my school. Some of them stay up. I discover I will have to see an endocrinologist here and possibly go through the whole process of diagnosis all over again. I am exhausted. I commission a trans artist to draw my first ever tattoo to celebrate my transition. I am growing up. I find a trans community who switch between German and English as easy as breathing and it feels so, so good to be seen. The vitriol in the UK gets more and more brutal and I do what I can - I educate, I advocate but mostly, I keep myself alive. That has to be enough for now.

[zot3-flopped]

Not the Liam Payneful stans celebrating 4 years of LP like it won 10 Grammys 🤣🤣🤣

An apt moment to remind ourselves of what Pitchfork said about it!

Score: 4.3

By Rawiya Kamei

REVIEWED:

December 16, 2019

The former One Direction member’s solo debut is just another pop star flailing to find his identity amid trend-hopping production and half-baked lyrics.

One Direction was famously assembled because Simon Cowell and his fellow X-Factor judges didn’t have much faith in the boys’ potential as solo artists. If Liam Payne’s debut, released more than a decade after the band’s televised genesis, is any indication, Cowell was right. Payne is, at best, competent.

His voice is pleasant but not especially charismatic. His choices are safe but uninspired. A couple of years after launching his career, his musical identity remains wholly unremarkable. (Cowell has since criticized Payne in the press for signing with Capitol, and not his own pop-pipeline label.) 

LP1’s 17 songs, including a 2018 Rita Ora collab from the 50 Shades Freed soundtrack and a Christmas number tacked on at the end, have the ambiance and trend-scraping of a Zara fitting room.

The journey from boy band to solo act has broken many aspiring pop stars. But what it requires most—gesturing at a distinct, compelling identity—is Payne’s biggest question mark. Despite being a UK tabloid fixture, he’s been unable to convey a discernible personality—or any personality at all.

Even with a built-in global audience of millions, it’s unclear who this collection of middling songs could possibly resonate with. Former Directioners clamoring for a solo Liam album? New fans seeking nondescript, paint-by-numbers pop? And yet, improbably, Payne has been among the band’s most successful solo members, metrics-wise.

“Strip That Down,” a 2017 love song premised on his freedom from One Direction and featuring a bloodless verse from Quavo, has amassed billions of plays. Other singles, like “Familiar” with J Balvin and “Get Low” with Zedd, despite being completely unmemorable, have proved adequate enough to satisfy the low bar of a generic pop playlist.

Throwing spaghetti at a Spotify algorithm and seeing what sticks appears to be Payne’s strategy with the rest of LP1. The single “Stack It Up,” featuring A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, further betrays his ambition of an Ed Sheeran-style metabolism of the current pop sounds. There are layered R&B harmonies, vaguely Latin rhythms, and compressed synths as melody, but even with two songs written by Sheeran himself, Payne only gasps at his radio-ready effectiveness.

In recent press, Payne has hinted at the complexity of his life post-One Direction, including fatherhood, brushes with substance abuse, and frustration with accepting his role as the band’s most-boring member. But he draws little inspiration from that wealth of real-life experience. Instead, he relies on inane songwriting concepts, rote misogyny, and feelingless flexing.

The lyrics are puerile and half-baked. It’s hardly worth laying them all out on the page, but the worst offender must be from (the nerve!) “Hips Don’t Lie”: “Don’t be giving me the eye/Unless you got what I need/I hope your hips don’t lie/Unless they’re lying with me,” he sings.

One song, “Both Ways,” takes the trope of hetero objectification of bisexual women to gross new lows: “No, no, I don’t discriminate/Bring it back to my place/Yeah, she like it both ways.”

In addition to being offensive, it’s not even convincing as an expression of desire. If you can’t effectively use a pop song to communicate horniness, the most basic of human emotions, then what do you have?

Listening to LP1, you almost feel sorry for Payne. It’s maybe more pathetic to have failed not for risking too much, but after seeming to have tried so little.

[twinge-of-cosmicangst]

Watched Queer as Folk for the first time, as I kind of want to make my way through RTD’s back catalogue as I really like Cucumber, years and years, It’s a sin and of course doctor who…

and well Stuart is definitely the most likeable nonce on television, like seriously 15??? Wtf even at the time that must have raised eyebrows it was only 1999 anyway. But most of the outrage of the show at the time was not about Nathan being 15 but just about gay sex being ‘depraved’ in general, Queer as folk got incredibly homophobic responses (I saw some media clips in Russell T Davis: The Doctor and me) Like I get rtd wanted to do teenage gay experience, and that is realistic for some people, but I feel that Stuart should have been called out for it more then he was, Stuart is supposed to come off as morally grey, but not a complete shit bag so maybe they should of made Nathan 17 instead or even 16 (For those who don’t know age of consent in the uk is 16 but rather homophobicly, until recently, the age of consent for gay men was 18 even though it was 16 for heterosexual sex) But I did enjoy the show overall, and whatever you think of Stuart, Aiden Gillen was incredible in the role, also Vince dumping his Australian boyfriend because he didn’t know all the names of the doctor who’s was very funny. I liked the ending with Vince and Stuart and giving Nathan the speech but the scene in America with the gun was a tad ott, but that’s generally Davis’ style.

Bonus note: There was a line in the first episode that really confused me, Vince said “It used to be 70s night now it’s 90s night, that made me feel old” any other context that sentence would make sense but it was literally 1999, surely all nights that play modern music were 90s night, music that came out after 1999 literally didn’t exist, that would be like having a 2020s night today. I guess it was a joke but it was one that didn’t make sense, dumb of me to concentrate on a throwaway line but I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Oh wait writing about Vince’s first line made me think about one of Stuart’s where he talks about how he lost his virginity to his PE teacher when he was 12! He mainly talks about like he’s bragging but he does say ‘I must have been terrified’ almost in a jokey way but still… Russell T Davis is a good and very nuance writer so I think Stuart being sexually abused at 12 (even though he clearly doesn’t see it as sexual abuse he sees it as consensual) is connected to him sleeping with a 15 year old. I don’t think it’s meant to be in a ‘those who are abused as kids grow up to abuse others’ kind of way, I don’t think Stuart and Nathan’s ‘relationship’ was meant to be seen as abusive, problematic, but not abusive. Stuart isn’t attracted to very young men particularly, he sleeps with a large variety of men, he actively tries to sleep with as many men as possible, and a large variety of men, he slept with Nathan because he was just another notch on the belt (and good looking) and seen as he was 12 when he lost his virginity and was going to the clubs and having one night stands at 16, only a year older than Nathan, he generally doesn’t see much wrong with it other then it being taboo, but he’s been told all his life that being gay is taboo in general, he just thinks those who take issue with him sleeping with a 15yo are prudish or don’t understand the gay male experience (I am in no way saying sleeping with underage boys is part of the gay experience, I’m just trying to get into the head of Stuart and what he thinks)

[tarafitzgerald]

Name: Tara Vivianne Fitzgerald Nicknames: / Gender/Pronouns: Cis-female, Her/Hers Age: 35 Birthday: September 3rd, 1987 Hometown: London, UK Neighborhood: Soho Occupation: MI5 detective Gang affiliation: The Jabberwocks - the high priestess Sexuality: Heterosexual Languages spoken: English, German, Italian Positive traits: ambitious, charismatic, loyal, fearless Negative traits: impatient, stubborn, arrogant

The streets of London were her playground.. well, they had been up until she was six years old. It was a couple of days after Tara's birthday her family had to move from the posh London's Belgravia.. first to Berlin, then to New York. See, Tara's father John James Fitzgerald was working for the United Nations and it was due to his career Tara had been all around the world - from Australia to Argentina. With his diplomatic background and career, it was only a matter of time when he would have to start working at UN's headquarters in New York. However, considering her parents didn't quite believe in the quality of American education, Tara was sent back to England when she was thirteen years old.. with her governess, not her parents. What kind of Fitzgeralds would have they been if they had left their careers and their position in the New York society?

Moving back to London wasn't quite easy - living in the way too big Belgravia house with no one but her governess, a chef, and a maid or two, was utterly boring.. just as school was boring. Well, it was boring until she met the boy who was anything but an ordinary boy. He didn't even go to her school, but didn't mind waiting for her in front of it everyday. He even introduced her to his friends.. and very soon she became more fond of his friends than him. It didn't matter she was just fourteen and she was always the youngest of all of them - just as it didn't matter she was a girl. Tara had finally learned how it felt to belong to something.. The Jabberwocks' became her home and her family.

Yet it was evident that she was more than just another member of the gang. With her family's background, she had connections and she had money.. all of it could be used for the gang's benefits. Thanks to her paternal great grandfather, both of her grandfathers, her father.. Tara got into Oxford. Getting in was easy, getting out.. there were far more interesting things to do in life than studying, but it was her job to get that degree and put it to a good use.

And so she did. To the outrage of her parents, instead of marrying rich and taking her role in the high society, the loyal member of the Jabberwocks' became an MI5 detective. Some said it was the first step towards the MI6, but it was the first step to her role of playing another sort of an agent - the double agent. And she was so good at it that there were times when she was not even recognizing herself anymore, but the high priestess - as they called her, was fearless and would do anything and everything for the family she had chosen for herself when she was merely fourteen years old. Her life was in the constant danger, but what was she if not dangerous herself? Sipping chaos wherever she went, Tara Fitzgerald was one of the most powerful weapons the gang had.. day to day, this angel look-alike beauty is crossing her family's enemies off the list, to make them them rue the day they dared to even think of crossing the Jabberwocks.

Headcanons:

she loves sneaking up on people - you can never see or feel her coming

the fact she is one of the Jabberwocks isn't known outside of her gang, and even more so, many people in the gang doesn't know it

doesn't do love so her love life consists of hook-ups, flings & one night stands

has insomnia, but can barely function without coffee

hates talking about her parents & her family in general

has travelled all around the world, but her favorite continents by far are Africa and South America

loves Krav Maga and Jiu-Jiutsu

drives Aprilia RSV4 bike

[fenrirswood-hq]

I'm happy to announce the winner of the FENRIR'S WOOD QUIZ! It was a close call point wise because everyone did extremely well, but I happily announce the winner: KIM! Congrats, your prize is a fan drawing of two characters of your choosing by me. Send your preference to the main [prompt, names, etc.].

I do want to thank everyone for participating! As this is a murder mystery rp, it has been fun to see all the answers and boy was I surprised at the freaking intelligence and wit shown in them, definitely giving me the impression that before the game is over (and the conclusion reached) you'll be able to figure it out together!

I will do another one of these in the future.

The answers to the quiz are below the read more!

QUESTION 1: Name three figures from Norse Mythology used in Fenrir’s Wood lore/locations/etc.

Fenrir's Wood - the Fenrir Wolf, son of Loki Hel Coven - Hel is ruler of the world of the dead, daughter of Loki Saga's Coven - Saga is the goddess associated with the locations of sunken river beds Lukas Thorsun - Thor is the god of Thunder Shrine of Måne - Måne is the moon personified and appears in the Poetic Edda

QUESTION 2: Where did the first murder happen?

In the bike parking lot of the Fenway Pool.

QUESTION 3: What was used to write the messages on the Fenway library and on the trees near the Trail?

Red paint. The police first thought it was blood, but closer inspection revealed it to be paint.

QUESTION 4: What’s Nico’s favourite animal that appears throughout Fenrir’s Wood rather often?

Ducks. : D

QUESTION 5: Why do covens have two leaders?

Division of power.

QUESTION 6: What do spirits like the most?

Gifts! Though I accept the following answer as well: chaos, praise, intense emotions.

QUESTION 7: How many murders have been committed so far?

10 murders have happened so far in relation to the mystery. Four in the summer, six during the winter.

QUESTION 8: What sense do you need to interact with the Wild Hunt?

Hearing. You can not see or smell or feel or taste the Wild Hunt, but you can hear them.

QUESTION 9: Which neighbourhood is the most often targeted?

Fenway. The first five murders all happened in Fenway.

QUESTION 10: What movie has the admin referred to when it comes to cops in Fenrir’s Wood?

Hot Fuzz (aka the best cop film ever). Admin Nico likes to refer to this movie whenever the police of Fenrir's Wood come up.

QUESTION 11: How often has the cloaked figure appeared in the fever dreams?

The Cloaked figure first appeared in the dreams of the SEVEN, later as a ferry man also in the dreams of the SEVEN, and then the same cloaked figure shows up in the dreams of all the Werewolves of Fenrir's Wood, bringing the number to 3.

QUESTION 12: Where did Merrin Rolf die?

In a public bathroom at Fenrir University

QUESTION 13: Which name in Fenrir’s Wood’s lore means Raven?

Brann's Peak is named after Brân (Raven in Celtic) a Celtic deity. Fun fact: I picked Brân for the comparison to a certain other body-less deity in Norse mythology: Mímir. Only Brân is said to bring entertainment in his headless form and Mímir brought knowledge and wisdom. Brân was known in medieval Welsh tales as "crowned king over this island" (meaning Great Britain), and local legend (aka Fenrir lore) says the severed head was moved from London to Fenrir's Wood.

QUESTION 14: Which norse monster of the apocalypse is missing? Which are the other two?

Ragnarok is said to be brought about by the Children of Loki, with three of them playing a central role in some retellings: the Fenrir Wolf; Hel, goddess of the Underworld; and Jormungadr, the Midgard Serpent. Fenrir & Hel are part of Fenrir lore, Jormungadr is missing (for now?). Sleipnir is also accepted as an answer, as is Surtr.

QUESTION 15: Which of the packs is named after a real city in the UK?

Slough is a city in the UK near London.

QUESTION 16: Are there actual ducks in Fenrir’s Wood?

This is the trick question. I've never mentioned there being actual ducks in Fenrir's Wood, aside from once in a the Fever Dreams. But yes, there are actual ducks in Fenrir's Wood, though I accept all jokes that were made on this question.

QUESTION 17: What happens when you get bitten by a Werewolf?

You either die after a long illness, or you become a Werewolf after a long illness. All jokes made on this question were likewise accepted.

QUESTION 18: How many days a year does it rain in Fenrir’s Wood on average?

So, since Fenrir's Wood is based on Oxford, the answer to this question is: 165 days a year on average.

QUESTION 19: What city is Fenrir’s Wood based on?

Good olde Oxford

QUESTION 20: When did Hel Coven come to Fenrir’s Wood?

Around one or two centuries ago, though not all its members came to Fenrir's Wood right away, they've been in the city for a century or two.

[augmented-beauty]

A bit late, but I had to keep my Christmas nostalgia at bay. I’m also in my Price feels and developing my oc, Blair, and here we are. Yes, that’s how I’m properly showing her for the first time, with cheesy Christmas fluff. Since there are no details about Price’s family right?, I took the liberty of filling the blancs. My gut tells me he has a younger sister and the biggest soft spot for his niece and nephew. Price being a proud, supportive uncle gives me life ok. 

Summary: Blair has been struggling with heavy waves of nostalgia on Christmas for years. John always made it his mission to be there for her every single Chirstmas. This year, he decides to take advantage of the positive changes in their lives and shore leave, taking it to the next level. He can help her experience a cosy Christmas again, and he will.

Warnings: mention of death and family loss. Other than that it’s fluff, fluff and more fluff. 

Word count: 2062

You can also read this on AO3.

Blair used to love Christmas with her whole being. Her family's table was never that big, but it was cosy. Her four grandparents, her parents and her. It was a chance to see her American grandpa and grandma, which didn't happen that often due to distance, and spend some days with all her family. In her book, there was nothing better than this. The typical festive atmosphere only added to the enjoyment. Things started to get progressively sadder as nature and fate got their dirtiest job done over the years. First, it took her American grandparents separately. Then, her father went missing in action and was later killed. Her British grandmother was the next to leave them relatively soon after, and it's clear that losing her son played a big part in her health deteriorating to the point of no return. 

For many of her serving years, Christmas was still something to look forward to, and she always hoped to be on shore leave to spend it with what was left of her family. It already brought a lot of nostalgia and woke up grief without fail, but it didn't matter. Her grandfather was still alive, and every new year he got to live was a blessing for her. That time had to be spent wisely and fully with the man while he was still there. But inevitably, after moving to the US Army and getting her own team, he was taken away from her. Christmas has lost most of its significance ever since. Serving or being on shore leave in time for the festivity barely makes a difference now. Even if she's back in the UK, it's not celebrated anymore. Staying home it's no option, the half-empty table hurts too much. Blair and her mother created a new tradition of their own to spend quality time together and overcome the inevitable nostalgia. They either go on small adventures inside the country or straight-up trips if they manage to organise them. 

Christmas feels like another day of the year, but she's no Grinch. It's no secret that she hopes it will get back at least part of its old meaning and charm. Not only that, but if her team and Blair are serving on Christmas, she does all she possibly can to make it enjoyable for her boys and girls. They decorate how they can, feast with what they can get, and spend some quieter time together. Blair struggles a lot with Christmas songs, but she'll never tell them. Music plays a big role in the festive atmosphere, and she wants the holiday spirit for her team to be intact. And so, she sucks it up and sings with them, ignoring that aftertaste of nostalgia. Not only it's worth it, but they keep grief at bay without even knowing it and make Christmas less sad for her. She can do Christmas songs in return. It's not as carefree as Christmas with her family used to be, but it's enjoyable.

When they were just friends, John always made sure to get in touch with her around Christmas time. Every December, he does all he can to soothe her heavier feelings, no matter the circumstances. Price knew about her December angst and the toil it has on her ever since it started to get stronger. It doesn't matter if he's serving or on shore leave: John has to at least call her. Dodging bullets or excusing himself during the family gathering makes no difference. One way or another, he takes a moment to call her and lock nostalgia and grief away, at least for a while. If they're both on shore leave and Blair is in the UK, they always hang out after Christmas without fail, even on multiple and consecutive days if possible. 

This year is slightly different. It's their first Christmas as a couple, and the 141 is on shore leave. Yet, Blair is convinced they'll spend the holidays as every other year. John will go back to Herefordshire and spend them with family, while she'll go somewhere in the UK with her mother. They'll spend time together after Christmas and probably have a New Year's Eve party with the boys. As much as Blair would love to have a cosy Christmas with family again, she doesn't say a word about it to John. Meeting your partner's family is a big deal, even if they've known each other for years and his relatives sure have heard about her. Blair has no intention of pressuring him to make a selfish wish to become true. As the 25th approaches, Blair learns they'll visit a friend of her mother's who's alone for Christmas and stay at his place for some days. 

On Christmas day, the two women wake up early, have breakfast together and get ready. Ruth asks her daughter to get the gifts upstairs and load them on the back seats of the car while she takes care of getting the food and their bags in the trunk. She smiles knowingly while Blair climbs the stairs. She grabs the thermic bag from the kitchen and quickly checks if Blair's gift for John is properly hidden under the driver's seat: it's safe and impossible to spot. Then, Ruth moves to the trunk as if nothing ever happened. Blair doesn't see it when she carefully places the finely wrapped-up boxes in the car and is still blissfully unaware of where they're really going. Everything is going according to their plan. 

The long car ride goes by quickly and incredibly smoothly, with Queen's songs playing from the stereo system, good old mother-and-daughter chatting, and some occasional judgment on other's people driving performance. It's a fun, peaceful ride. It takes a while for Blair to realise where they are. "Herefordshire? My goodness me, the world sure is a small place". Her mother plays along and comments on it by agreeing with her but quickly turns her head to look out the window and hide her grin. As they get closer to their destination, Ruth sends a message to John. “Almost there, and Blair has no idea what's going on”. After ten minutes, Blair parks in the driveway and they get down the car. The family inside goes quiet to keep up the act until the very last second. Blair must not hear them as they approach the door. Ruth knocks, and Daniel warmly greets them, introducing himself to the younger woman. He's supposed to be Ruth's friend, after all. Blair is slightly taken aback while they shake hands. His eyes are uncannily similar to John's. Weird. He catches her perplexity and fears he got busted for a brief moment.

"Are you alright, dear?"

"Oh, absolutely. It's random, but you vaguely look like someone I know."

Little does she know that John heard her saying that from his hiding spot, and he finds it amusing. The man shows Blair and her mother inside, and before she can even process that the house is not, in fact, empty, a familiar voice shocks her in the best way.

"Hi, Sparrow."

John has the cheekiest grin she ever saw on him yet. She can't say a word, only look around and take in everything, mouth agape. With a quick glance, she recognizes his niece and nephew and his sister, but her gaze quickly goes back to John. The resemblance she picked up at the door makes sense now, but she still gestures at one man and then the other, asking for a silent confirmation. That's your dad. Both John and Daniel nod. 

"Holy mackerel". Everything is clear in a split second. Once again, she didn't need to say a word. John knew about her unspoken wish, and he made it possible with her mother's help. Not only that, but he feels no pressure about introducing her to the family. To him, it feels natural. Blair takes it all in and tries not to tear up, but fails miserably. "You two sneaky devils". John chuckles wholeheartedly before pulling her into a bear hug. She immediately locks her arms around his neck, getting as close as physically possible. 

"I love you so much", she whispers, all her gratitude seeping out of her words. 

"I love you too, sweetheart", he reciprocates as softly. 

Everything is warm and cosy. They let go of each other, but Blair gets into one hug after the other as each member of the Price family introduces themself to her. John's father, Daniel, is the first to properly welcome her into their house. His mother, Alice, comes next with lucid eyes, a bright smile and soothing words. Then his niece, Rebecca, and his nephew, Andrew, both so excited to finally meet her, losing no time and calling her auntie. Finally, his sister, Caroline, who just knew they were meant to be, and her husband, Eric. As soon as Blair glances at her mother, she can see her getting the same treatment. Somehow, it feels like the two of them already belong here. 

It’s been ages since she last sat close to a Christmas tree to unwrap gifts with loved ones, and Andrew seems particularly excited about it. The 8-year-old child confidently grabs a small box from under the tree as soon as everyone is ready.

"Auntie, start with this one, please. Uncle John told us your friends call you Sparrow, so Becky and I immediately thought about you when we saw this"

Blair genuinely smiles at the kid, taking the gift from him. "Oh dear, thank you. You guys are so sweet." She carefully unwraps it, curious to see what's inside. She opens the box, and her eyes sparkle at the sight of the sparrow keychain plushie. It represents the animal quite accurately but with a cute, chunky twist. "It's adorable! And it's a female, too." 

"Of course, it's you." he states without a shadow of a doubt. Blair holds it by the ring close to her, supporting her nephew's statement. After all, her natural shade of blonde is similar to a sparrow's feathers. His attention switches to John to ask him one of the cutest questions she ever heard. "Do you and your friends call auntie Sparrow because she looks like one?" 

Blair's free hand goes to her chest while she melts inside, glancing at the rest of the family and mouthing "I love him already". Meanwhile, uncle John doesn't let his nephew down. "That's one of the reasons. Nowadays, sparrows symbolize teamwork. They're also social animals that stick together and protect one another. It describes your auntie very well, and here you have it."

"He was the first to come up with the idea, actually, and it stuck to me like glue ever since, becoming my nickname in the military." 

A teasing smile curves his sister's lips. "Why am I not surprised?" 

John admits his defeat, pretending to be annoyed. "Because you were right about us, Caroline."

This is not the only moment filled with laughter and warmth throughout the day. It goes on as everyone unwraps their gifts, with Blair helping Andrew open one of his new toy's packaging as he struggles with it and John watching them fondly. The same mood fills the big Christmas lunch and the whole day, with the crackers being opened, the talking, the jokes being shared, and the bonding going on. As Blair plays with the kids after lunch, clearly feeling welcomed and at ease, he can't help but think she's right where she belongs. Watching them, his heart swells with happiness and a healthy hint of pride. He's proud of the two siblings for welcoming Blair as they did, and he's happy to see how much they love her already. His sparrow's joy is breathtaking and contagious. And the way she interacts with his nephew and niece, looking like she has known them since they were born, is making him fall in love even more. Blair always showed interest in their life, always happy to hear how they were doing as the years went by, asking about them. John knew she cared, but he still wasn't expecting to see her immediately so invested and embracing the role of the aunt with such confidence. He didn't have doubts anyway, but now he's utterly sure that having her meet his family so soon is one of the best choices of his life.

[user-needs-new-hyperfixation]

Some of this is copy-pasted from my response to a comment on one of my fics several months back, so sorry to anyone who read that and will now have deja vu.

These thoughts are based on my perception/headcanon of Sherlock and Liam as an allosexual couple. I’m totally supportive of people who like to ship pairs as ace/queerplatonic/etc, but with these two I do find it a liiiiiitle bit of a stretch...have y’all seen the train scene? They have the horniest of energy, good golly. But that’s in my opinion, and anyone who sees it differently is absolutely valid; we’re here to have fun, so have fun with it!

Okay, disclaimers out of the way: the more canon Sherliam gets, the more I love that they don’t meet typical BL seme/uke cliches. I do catch myself borderline feminizing Liam on occasion, primarily because I want him to be held, and engulfed in too-big sweaters that smell like Sherlock, and tucked into comfy armchairs with blankets and books: and alas, gender stereotype nonsense makes that feel like feminization even though it really isn’t. And that’s totally separate from the way I perceive their potential sexual dynamic, which is basically: switchy as hell, but Liam is more prone to being a bit dommy.

But like...They're the same age and height and even weight to start with. There are no particular inequalities in their education or unbalanced power dynamics. Sure, the Lord of Crime is puppeting Sherlock around, but Sherlock knows that, and though he doesn’t feel he’s truly on equal footing with Liam until right before the fall, it doesn’t feel...skeezy. Liam never actually lies to him (*glares at English manga translation*). There might not be outright spoken honesty between them, but there’s a mutual understanding of the game they’re playing, and overall their energy is incredibly nontoxic for an “enemies to lovers” dynamic (not that they ever really managed “enemies” to begin with).

(Another disclaimer: I don’t have a problem with shipping toxic pairs, Hannigram is one of my all time fave ships. But the older I get the more I’m drawn to happy stories and healthy representation and boy oh boy has Yuumori been delivering.)

Anyway, back to avoiding BL standards: Liam is pretty and fashionable and a scholar but sometimes exudes such dom vibes. Sherlock is an athletic borderline himbo, vaguely wrong-side-of-the-tracks, but gets blushy and flustered easily. Liam is the damsel in distress saved by his dashing hero: but he is also the criminal mastermind taunting his rival. Liam is rich to Sherlock's working-class, except nope, Liam is an adopted East End kid and Sherlock's family is running the country.

So many gay stories, with BL being probably the worst offender but far from the only one, blatantly signal top/bottom, feminine/masculine. They practically put a giant flashing arrow over one guy’s head that says “HE’S THE GIRL IN THE RELATIONSHIP.” And as someone who is neither a gay man nor prone to entering relationships at all, I can’t really speak for the realism of these things; I know there are people who strongly align themselves with presentations like twink, bear, etc. And I’m sure many people have a strong preference for a particular role in the bedroom, especially in a dating scene dominated by hookup culture: but it also feels so disingenuous to me that anyone, particularly in a long-term partnership, would be like, “This is the only one thing I ever do.” Even in a straight relationship that sounds hella boring.

And Sherlock and Liam sidestep those assumptions so neatly, which up until chapter 67 I would have said is simply because...it’s not BL. But now we’ve got chapter 75 and they’re practically married. Mix together the almost undeniable sexual charge of their early interactions with their more recent LITERALLY VOWING TO SPEND THEIR LIVES TOGETHER and it seems reasonable to assume that sex is on the table. Yet nothing about the way they look or act demands the reader assign them certain sexual roles. They don't feel like a collection of stereotypes signalling top and bottom, they feel like an actual human couple who probably have preferences in bed but also like to switch things up and try new things.

I appreciate that.

[dippedanddripped]

Old Nollywood aesthetics and fashion may be considered trendy today, but the films were not always so well-regarded. In the 90s and early 2000s, when these movies were made and watched in parlours across Nigerian homes as they were shot, straight-to-video, they were considered as bad entertainment, or ‘low culture’. To watch and enjoy Nollywood films was to celebrate mediocrity. But today, nostalgic young Millennials and Gen Zers are overlooking the jarring audio, grainy pictures, and sometimes hammy acting, to appreciate not only the grooming and style of the actors, but the original and diverse stories that reflect unique Nigerian experiences.

It was for this reason that sisters Tochi and Ebele Anueyiagu started Nolly Babes, a nostalgic Instagram account dedicated to celebrating the cinematic period’s women. Started in December 2017, their first post was of Nollywood’s biggest star Genevieve Nnaji; a still taken from 2004 film Sharon Stone In Abuja, directed by Adim Williams. Nnaji plays the titular character, a sexually liberated young woman who uses her beauty and charm to ensnare unassuming men into doing her bidding.

The account is an ode to the female characters of old Nollywood who were often portrayed as warning examples. The storylines were steeped in moral principles rooted in the patriarchal culture and the dominant Christian religion of Southern Nigeria. A large number of the female characters were considered immoral because they kissed other women, challenged men, smoked and drank, or wore mini skirts. Today, Nolly Babes and similar accounts are reimagining these women, taking their scenes out of the moralistic context of the films, and turning them into iconic feminist personas.

The first time Nollywood content seeped into the mainstream internet consciousness can be traced back to 2017 when videos of Nollywood’s favourite comedic duo Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme, better known as Aki and Pawpaw, rose to popularity due mostly to the influence of a now-defunct Twitter account @nollywoodroll ran by Nicole, a woman based in Brazil.

Their memes became the go-to reaction videos for expressing a wide range of emotions: joy, disappointment, sadness, frustration. The appeal was in seeing children making mischief or in adult situations – drinking beer and smoking cigars, wooing bigger women, or in oversized suits shouting instructions at people twice their size. Although both Ikedieze and Iheme were in their 20s in the early 2000s when most of the films were made, they mostly played children because of their body stature. By 2019, the memes had achieved such virality that brands like Rihanna’s Fenty would use them for social media clout.

Theodora Imaan Beauvais is the curator of Yung Nollywood, another archive of clips and stills from old Nollywood paying homage to its controversial female characters, after screenshotting moments from Nollywood she found “appealing or inspirational”. Yung Nollywood is remarkably distinct from Nolly Babes for its subtitling of the films’ stills from Nollywood films, something she attributes to Tumblr. While the idea to give witty captions to the actors’ facial expressions came from watching Netflix. “I thought, ‘If someone could describe Nollywood reactions in short phrases it’d be an art form on its own,’ and I became that someone.’”

In December 2019, Tochi and Ebele hosted a Nollywood-themed party in Lagos. Nollywood actor and musician Nonso Bassey attended the party dressed in a two-piece jean set and bucket hat, a signature look of the bad boy/alpha male archetype, and a role reprised multiple times by older actors such as Hanks Anuku, Emeka Ike, and Jim Iyke. Since that party, Nonso has attended social functions and premieres in outfits that make a nod to the fashion choices of that era of Nollywood. He insists, though, that he isn’t cosplaying Nollywood characters of that era. “I’ve always been attracted to the idea of merging old world charm with a new school approach,” he said.

The party caused a cultural stir amongst Nigerians and Africans both at home and in the diaspora – every other week, there seems to be a Nollywood-themed party held either in Lagos or London. Take for instance friends and business partners Imani Okunubi and Aseosa Uwagboe, two Nigerian-British kids who grew up in the UK. Nollywood was one of the ways they could connect back to their roots. That experience informs their event brand, Lasgidi to London, targeted at Nigerians living in the UK. “We wanted to create events that were reminiscent of the Naija hall parties (Owambe) we attended as kids, as we don’t want to see that culture die,” Aseosa said. Their next owambe is a Nollywood-themed party and guests are expected to come dressed in their “best nolly Y2K aesthetic”.

Below, the Nolly Babes sisters talk about creating and hosting the first Nollywood-themed party and the cultural moment it has inspired.

How did that first event come about – please take me through it, from the planning to how it turned out?

Nolly Babes: From the inception of Nolly Babes, we knew we had to throw a party. Fashion is a huge part of what makes Nolly Babes different from other Nollywood-themed pages and we knew we were the only ones that could set Nolly Babes as the dress code and have people commit as they did. There are many iconic Nollywood scenes and scenarios. The daughter meeting her evil mother-in-law, the ominous visit to the Babalawo, the campus stroll – just the mere mention of these scenes evokes images that have been embedded in the minds of our fellow Nollywood enthusiasts. The party scene is probably the most iconic of them all. Whether it’s in a club, a mansion while mum and dad are out of town (but coming home early to crash the whole thing) or poolside, the Nolly Babes party scene has its staples: mad music, dancing, and sick outfits.

December in Lagos is notoriously hectic. On each day, there are day parties, beach hangouts, concerts, and we just knew we had to be a part of it. Our flyer was the first thing we made sure was done right, and that has been replicated (but never duplicated) many many times. We went through at least six drafts of that until we got the flyer to be a realistic replica of the home video covers from the golden era. The DJs Kemi Lijadu and vIVENDII Sounds understood the assignment and played music from the Nolly Babes era. We’re talking Tony Tetuila, Mo Hitz, Wande Coal, Plantation Boyz… We curated a special cocktail menu: Genny Colladas, Jim Iyke’s Hard Lemonade, MargaRita Dominic, and our Lagos Island Iced Tea, in tribute to Nollywood stars Genevieve Nnaji, Jim Iyke, and Rita Dominic respectively. We had a video projection on the famous red wall at Nok showing a mashup of emblematic scenes. We were partying while seeing images of a young Jim Iyke dressed just like many of the attendees were dressed. It was magical! We have an event we’re planning in New York for the summer – it’s going to be a madness.

Did you envisage it becoming the cultural movement it’s now become?

Nolly Babes: We really didn’t. We hosted the party because we knew people were taking inspiration from our page for styling jobs and music video treatments, and wanted to give everyone a chance to recreate some of their favourite looks. Now every week we see people planning Nollywood-themed parties and sending people to our page for references. It’s awesome. Toke Makinwa even recently attended a Nolly Babes-themed party and she was dressed as a character we have immortalised – Regina Askia in President’s Daughter. She killed it! Even though the character wasn’t referenced, it was clear as day and it was awesome to see that she pulled it off! Honestly, when we see people really pay attention to detail and execute the theme well it’s so, so dope.

How has TikTok helped grow Nollywood's influence? You posted a scene from Girls Cot, the famous “you stink with poverty” clip on TikTok and it went viral and birthed these recreations even by non-Africans.

Nolly Babes: We’re just happy to see that another aspect of Nollywood that we champion – the iconic scenes and one-liners – is also resonating across the world. We see Nolly Babes as an archival work and as much as we focus on beauty and looks on Instagram, it’s nice to be able to point people in the direction of the scenes that are forever embedded in our brains. These are scenes we recreated in jest ourselves before there was even a Nolly Babes to begin with, so to see it catching on TikTok is exciting and a new frontier for us to fully explore. I think what distinguishes Nolly Babes from other Nollywood pages and what contributes to our TikTok success is that we really watch Nollywood movies. We grew up watching these movies and continue to do so now so we can capture those moments in films that the casual consumer or poster of Nollywood content might not.

What are your thoughts on Nollywood’s influence on the Alté scene? Music videos of artists such as Lady Donli and Odunsi nod to the aesthetic and fashion styles of that era.

Nolly Babes: Nollywood, and specifically the aesthetic we have shone a spotlight on, is probably one of the biggest influences in terms of visuals in that scene right now. I have never seen so many Eucharia (Anunobi) eyebrows on TV and we love it! It’s awesome to see our images and scenes being used in treatments and storyboards. If we’re being candid, we think it would be great if we got the chance to step into our stylist/creative direction bag and help with the execution of the aesthetic.

“The bottom line is really that Nolly Babes has brought what was already an international cultural influence to the modern social media realm with a new lens” – Nolly Babes

How far do you see Nollywood's influence on pop culture, beyond Nigeria and Africa?

Nolly Babes: When we moved to New York we found our Dominican and South American friends had also grown up watching Nollywood films. The bottom line is really that Nolly Babes has brought what was already an international cultural influence to the modern social media realm with a new lens. Nollywood clips were online everywhere – but it was always in a comedic way. Aki and PawPaw are meme gods now, and that’s because their expressions transcend cultural boundaries. Black Twitter eats that stuff up.

Nolly Babes chooses to center the beauty, style, and iconic imagery, even the home decor with our #NollyDecor hashtag of the golden era of Nollywood. We share the makeup, accessories, fashion, iconic phrases, and scenes in a way that isn’t just comedic but inspirational and aesthetically groundbreaking. I see Nollywood being at the centre of this Y2K resurgence that is happening all over the world, from TV to runways and fashion collections. That era is coming back around and, this time, the Black experience is being revisited and centered in a way it wasn’t back in the late 90s and 2000s. (Black people) were always the originators of the trends and this time they’re tapping into the source and Nollywood, particularly the era we celebrate as Nolly Babes, is a great resource for that.

Follow Nolly Babes on Instagram

[littlemixnet]

To me, a good ally is someone who is consistent in their efforts – there’s a difference between popping on a pride playlist or sprinkling yourself in rainbow glitter once a year and actually defending LGBT+ people against discrimination. It means showing my LGBT+ fans that I support them wholeheartedly and am making a conscious effort to educate myself, raise awareness and show up whenever they need me to. It would be wrong of me to benefit from the community as a musician without actually standing up and doing what I can to support. As someone in the public eye, it’s important to make sure your efforts are not performative or opportunistic. I’m always working on my allyship and am very much aware that I’ve still got a lot of unlearning and learning to do. There are too many what I call ‘dormant allies’, believing in equality but not really doing more than liking or reposting your LGBT+ mate’s content now and again. Imagine if that friend then saw you at the next march, or signing your name on the next petition fighting for their rights? Being an ally is also about making a conscious effort to use the right language and pronouns, and I recently read a book by Glennon Doyle who spoke of her annoyance and disappointment of those who come out and are met with ‘We love you…no matter what’. I’d never thought of that expression like that before and it really struck a chord with me. ‘No matter what’ suggests you are flawed. Being LGBT+ is not a flaw. Altering your language and being conscious of creating a more comfortable environment for your LGBT+ family and friends is a good start. Nobody is expecting you to suddenly know it all, I don’t think there’s such a thing as a perfect ally. I’m still very much learning. Even recently, after our Confetti music video I was confronted with the fact that although we made sure our video was incredibly inclusive, we hadn’t brought in any actual drag kings. Some were frustrated, and they had every right to be. You can have the right intentions and still fall short. As an open ally I should have thought about that, and I hadn’t, and for that I apologise. Since then I’ve been doing more research on drag king culture, because it’s definitely something I didn’t know enough about, whether that was because it isn’t as mainstream yet mixed with my own ignorance. But the point is we mess up, we apologise, we learn from it and we move forward with that knowledge. Don’t let the fear of f**king up scare you off. And make sure you are speaking alongside the community, not for the community. Growing up in a small Northern working-class town, some views were, and probably still are, quite ‘old fashioned’ and small-minded. I witnessed homophobia at an early age. It was a common thought particularly among men that it was wrong to be anything but heterosexual. I knew very early on I didn’t agree with this, but wasn’t educated or aware enough on how to combat it. I did a lot of performing arts growing up and within that space I had many LGBT+ (mainly gay) friends. I’ve been a beard many a time let me tell you! But it was infuriating to see friends not feel like they could truly be themselves. When I moved to London I felt incredibly lonely and like I didn’t fit in. It was my gay friends (mainly my friend and hairstylist, Aaron Carlo) who took me under their wing and into their world. Walking into those gay bars or events like Sink The Pink, it was probably the first time I felt like I was in a space where everyone in that room was celebrated exactly as they are. It was like walking into a magical wonderland. I got it. I clicked with everyone. My whole life I struggled with identity – being mixed race for me meant not feeling white enough, or black enough, or Arab enough. I was a ‘tomboy’ and very nerdy. I suppose on a personal level that maybe played a part in why I felt such a connection or understanding of why those spaces for the LGBT+ community are so important. One of the most obvious examples of first realising Little Mix was having an effect in the community was that I couldn’t enter a gay bar without hearing a Little Mix song and watching numerous people break out into full choreo from our videos! I spent the first few years of our career seeing this unfold and knowing the LGBT+ fan base were there, but it wasn’t until I got my own Instagram or started properly going through Twitter DMs that I realised a lot of our LGBT+ fans were reaching out to us on a daily basis saying how much our music meant to them. I received a message from a boy in the Middle East who hadn’t come out because in his country homosexuality is illegal. His partner tragically took their own life and he said our music not only helped him get through it, but gave him the courage to start a new life somewhere else where he could be out and proud. There are countless other stories like theirs, which kind of kickstarted me into being a better ally. Another standout moment would be when we performed in Dubai in 2019. We were told numerous times to ‘abide by the rules’, which meant not promoting anything LGBT+ or too female-empowering (cut to us serving a four-part harmony to Salute). In my mind, we either didn’t go or we’d go and make a point. When Secret Love Song came on, we performed it with the LGBT+ flag taking up the whole screen behind us. The crowd went wild, I could see fans crying and singing along in the audience and when we returned it was everywhere in the press. I saw so many positive tweets and messages from the community. It made laying in our hotel rooms s**tting ourselves that we’d get arrested that night more than worth it. It was through our fans and through my friends I realised I need to be doing more in my allyship. One of the first steps in this was meeting with the team at Stonewall to help with my ally education and discussing how I could be using my platform to help them and in turn the community. Right now, and during lockdown, I’d say my ally journey has been a lot of reading on LGBT+ history, donating to the right charities and raising awareness on current issues such as the conversion therapy ban and the fight for equality of trans lives. Stonewall is facing media attacks for its trans-inclusive strategies and there is an alarming amount of seemingly increasing transphobia in the UK today and we need to be doing more to stand with the trans community. Still, there is definitely a pressure I feel as someone in the public eye to constantly be saying and doing the right things, especially with cancel culture becoming more popular. I s**t myself before most interviews now, on edge that the interviewer might be waiting for me to ‘slip up’ or I might say something that can be misconstrued. Sometimes what can be well understood talking to a journalist or a friend doesn’t always translate as well written down, which has definitely happened to me before. There’ve been moments where I’ve (though well intentioned) said the wrong thing and had an army of Twitter warriors come at me. Don’t get me wrong, there are obviously more serious levels of f**king up that are worthy of a cancelling. But it was quite daunting to me to think that all of my previous allyship could be forgotten for not getting something right once. When that’s happened to me before I’ve scared myself into thinking I should STFU and not say anything, but I have to remember that I am human, I’m going to f**k up now and again and as long as I’m continuing to educate myself to do better next time then that’s OK. I’m never going to stop being an ally so I need to accept that there’ll be trickier moments along the way. I think that might be how some people may feel, like they’re scared to speak up as an ally in case they say the wrong thing and face backlash. Just apologise to the people who need to be apologised to, and show that you’re doing what you can to do better and continue the good fight. Don’t burden the community with your guilt. When it comes to the music industry, I’m definitely seeing a lot more LGBT+ artists come through and thrive, which is amazing. Labels, managements, distributors and so forth need to make sure they’re not just benefiting from LGBT+ artists but show they’re doing more to actually stand with them and create environments where those artists and their fans feel safe. A lot of feedback I see from the community when coming to our shows is that they’re in a space where they feel completely free and accepted, which I love. I get offered so many opportunities to do with LGBT+ based shows or deals and while it’s obviously flattering, I turn most of them down and suggest they give the gig to someone more worthy of that role. But really, I shouldn’t have to say that in the first place. The fee for any job I do take that feels right for me but has come in as part of the community goes to LGBT+ charities. That’s not me blowing smoke up my own arse, I just think the more of us and big companies that do that, the better. We need more artists, more visibility, more LGBT+ mainstream shows, more shows on LGBT+ history and more artists standing up as allies. We have huge platforms and such an influence on our fans – show them you’re standing by them. I’ve seen insanely talented LGBT+ artist friends in the industry who are only recently getting the credit they deserve. It’s amazing but it’s telling that it takes so long. It’s almost expected that it will be a tougher ride. We also need more understanding and action on the intersectionality between being LGBT+ and BAME. Racism exists in and out of the community and it would be great to see more and more companies in the industry doing more to combat that. The more we see these shows like Drag Race on our screens, the more we can celebrate difference. Ever since I was a little girl, my family would go to Benidorm and we’d watch these glamorous, hilarious Queens onstage; I was hooked. I grew up listening to and loving the big divas – Diana Ross (my fave), Cher, Shirley Bassey, and all the queens would emulate them. I was amazed at their big wigs, glittery overdrawn make-up and fabulous outfits. They were like big dolls. Most importantly, they were unapologetically whoever the f**k they wanted to be. As a shy girl who didn’t really understand why the world was telling me all the things I should be, I almost envied the queens but more than anything I adored them. Drag truly is an art form, and how incredible that every queen is different; there are so many different styles of drag and to me they symbolise courage and freedom of expression. Everything you envisioned your imaginary best friend to be, but it’s always been you. There’s a reason why the younger generation are loving shows like Drag Race. These kids can watch this show and not only be thoroughly entertained, but be inspired by these incredible people who are unapologetically themselves, sharing their touching stories and who create their own support systems and drag families around them. Now and again I think of when I’d see those Queens in Benidorm, and at the end they’d always sing I Am What I Am as they removed their wigs and smudged their make up off, and all the dads would be up on their feet cheering for them, some emotional, like they were proud. But that love would stop when they’d go back home, back to their conditioned life where toxic heteronormative behaviour is the status quo. Maybe if those same men saw drag culture on their screens they’d be more open to it becoming a part of their everyday life. I’ll never forget marching with Stonewall at Manchester Pride. I joined them as part of their young campaigners programme, and beforehand we sat and talked about allyship and all the young people there asked me questions while sharing some of their stories. We then began the march and I can’t explain the feeling and emotion watching these young people with so much passion, chanting and being cheered by the people they passed. All of these kids had their own personal struggles and stories but in this environment, they felt safe and completely proud to just be them. I knew the history of Pride and why we were marching, but it was something else seeing what Pride really means first hand. My advice for those who want to use their voice but aren’t sure how is, just do it hun. It’s really not a difficult task to stand up for communities that need you. Change can happen quicker with allyship.

Jade Thirlwall on the power, and pressures, of being an LGBT ally: ‘I’m gonna f**k up now and again’