#basil stilt

[my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction]

Lightning Makes The Roots Grow Deep

Basil Stilt x afab!Reader • Rating: 18+ pals Masterlist• ao3• want to be tagged? | request info • Kinktober 2024 Masterlist • Kinktober 2023 Masterlist • Day 19: Voyeurism

Summary: There's something watching in the woods.

A/N: This was meant to be for kinktober 2023 (I'm so sorry). I don't know how this became what it is.

Warnings: sort of magical realism, Basil becoming a sort of Green Man, plants growing out of people, cut to black sexy times, please let me know if I have missed a warning!

Word Count: 1101

It had started when leaves began to grow from the scar tissue along Basil’s face. It wasn’t painful, just odd. But then again most things had been strange in the last few days… months? How long had it actually been? 

He often woke with berries on his eyelashes, the small red fruits falling when he first opened his eyes to the new day. 

He ate less. Began to just sit for hours by the window to soak up the sunshine. On rainy days he opened them, hung out bowls and cups on string to catch the rainwater and drink it down. There was nothing else like it. No other food or liquid, even tap water sustained him in the same way, nothing else quenched the deep ache in his chest. 

After a long time, when the vines from his skin had begun to twist and creep down along his arms and across his chest he had left. Finally. 

He wasn’t sure where the energy had come from, the drive. He just simply walked out of his flat in the dead of night. 

His car, the poor thing had sat dormant for years, started the second he got in and put his hands on the wheel even though his keys were still somewhere upstairs in the reminiscence of his old home. 

He drove for a long time. Out of the city and further still. He wasn’t sure where he was going, but something pulled at his nerves, an urge he could not deny. 

Basil didn’t know the name of the place when he arrived, surely a national forest of some sort. But it was the right place. 

As he walked further into the trees his muscles relaxed, the cobwebs in his lungs cleared. He was home. 

. 

“Are you sure there’s no bears?” Elizabeth asked sincerely, and Barry laughed. 

“No fucking bears, I promise.” He grinned. 

Elizabeth didn’t look so reassured. “Are you 100% on that?” 

Jamie, her boyfriend wrapped his arms around her. “No bears.” 

“Hmm.” She didn’t look so impressed. 

“I wouldn’t be here if there were.” You say, trying to comfort her. 

She gave you a brilliant smile. “Okay, you I trust.” 

You laugh, all four of you saying goodnight as you went to your respective tents. Elizabeth and Jamie shared, Barry to another, and the last was yours. 

Part of you was sure that this whole trip was secretly Jamie’s and Elizabeth’s attempt to set you up with Barry. He was nice but there was something you couldn’t put your finger on. Something just didn’t seem right. 

It’s difficult to sleep. You’d expected the cold and had packed well for it. It was the noise that was getting to you. This forest seemed louder than any you’d ever been to before. Busy. As if it was teaming with life ten times the usual amount. 

Somehow you manage to get to sleep for a while. A little after 2am you wake, needing to pee. 

You sigh and pull yourself out of your sleeping bag and grab your torch. Even though you were just going to duck behind a tree didn’t mean you weren’t going to get lost. People who got lost were people who thought they couldn’t get lost. 

You stepped as quietly as you could, not wanting to wake the others and walked around the back of a large tree and peed quickly. 

You’d just finished disinfecting your hands when there was a snap from the distance. You jolted, looking up in the direction quickly and shining your light. There was something there. Between the nearest outcrop. Like… light? Soft glowing orbs of dark pink and red. They floated like bubbles, a seemingly high pitched soft sound emanating from them. 

You don’t remember following them, one moment you were there by the campsite and the next you were deep in the undergrowth, mud high up on your jogging bottoms from your journey. 

“What?” You frown, blinking hard and trying to shift the wave of dizziness that floats next to your eyes. 

Panic doesn’t grip you, doesn’t sink in despite you not knowing where the hell you are. Instead, you feel sort of… warm. 

There’s a faint light blue glow up ahead filtering through the trees. A ranger’s station or something. You walk further in, closer to the light and…

You stop in your tracks. 

The forest is glowing. All manner of plants, flora you have never even seen in a textbook cover the clearing. Soft moss lines the floor. You lightly touch the bark of the closest tree, it’s warm. Not uncomfortably, not in a way that would make your skin crawl. It’s nice, soothing. 

It’s only then that you notice the figure in the middle of the clearing. You pause, swallowing as he looks at you. 

He says your name softly.

“How… how do you know…?”

“I’ve been watching,” he pauses, turning his head so you can see the leaves growing from his face. He moves closer, seeming to float across the moss. “You… and the others.” Lightly he touches your cheek, you can feel the vines that run along his fingertips. 

“What… are you?” You breathe, unable to take your eyes away from his skin, how the ivy twists in his hair and the moon seems to glow in one eye, his other dark like the night itself. 

He leans forward, pressing his lips to yours and opening your mouth with his own. You moan, shiver as his hand trails down your neck, his hand resting just above your heart. 

You pull him closer when he licks into your mouth. He tastes like fruit, sweet and heady and when you pull back small flowers have budded and bloom along the side of his face. 

He places his hand on your hip and minuscule vines grow and slip under your clothes, pushing them from your body and tearing them away with small thorns that do not touch your skin.

You gasp, heat rising to your skin. 

“It’s alright,” he whispers, kissing your cheek and jaw. “You’re safe. I promise.” 

“I…” You swallow, words escaping you as he sucks a love bite into your skin, pulling you flush against him while he traces his hand down and lightly teases your nipple. 

When your mouth opens in a soft moan he groans, letting his fingers sink further down your body and stroke along your centre. You can feel the vines from his hand run along your skin, start to twist and stroke along your thighs. 

He licks into your mouth the same moment he sinks his fingers inside of you.

Thank you for reading!

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If you'd like to be taken off the tag list please let me know here

[caesarsaladinn]

I finally got around to reading that Byzantine graphic novel, and unfortunately i'm not too impressed. it's very stilted.

however, it gets full points for even bothering to write it and 1000000 extra points for making Basil Lekapenos a major character

[romanarose]

Favorites of 2023

Hi! I've seen a lot people doing these so I thought I would too!

These are all sorts of Oscar Issac/Pedro Pascal fics that delighted me this year <3

I tried to keep it to one rec per author just because I have soooooo many friends with wonderful fics and blogs who deserve recognition

If yours didn't make it, NO FEAR you are still wonderful to me &lt;3

Everything is labeled properly in the fic so be warned, many of this contains dark!

3 series that I couldn't stop thinking about

Hungry Hearts By @atinylittlepain: The Last of Us, A Bruce Springsteen themed Joel series? SHEEEEEEEESH

Yearling by @justagalwhowrites : The Last of Us, Jackson!Joel and a victim of prolonged sexual assault. If you know me, you know I love a traumatized reader healing with the power of love and friendship

The Fractured Moon by @melodygatesauthor : Moon Knight, NON CON, dark moon boys is always a slay but the way Marc is so tortured and Steven is so needy?!?!?!?! Mels characterization of Steven may or may not have influenced my Ben in ROF

Three fics that rewired my brain

On the Waterfront by @beefrobeefcal : Triple Frontier, Now, I've always loved a tubby man with a belly (who else had a crush on Samwise Gamgee in LOTR?) BUT DARK FRANKIE?!?!?!?! Turned it into a full obsession.

I can be your pretty girl by @walkintotheriveranddisappear : The Last of Us, Wow, I devoured every single chapter!!! I thinka bout it so much, ESPECIALLY that scene with Tommy... I've never looked at a pool ball the same way.

Dancing With Wolves by @hon3yboy : Moon Knight, Now, I'm not the biggest monster fucker out there, but this?!?!?!?! WEREWOLF MARC SPECTOR??? Unwell about it.

3 times men jerking off was hot

Caught by @toxicanonymity : The Last of Us, I've mentioned in the authors note for Keep Cry'n that this fic inspired it, it's one I go back to allllll the time

Take Care of me Tonight by @missdictatorme : Moon Knight, Jake is horny and lonely and jerks of..... reader helps, and makes our boy feel special <3

Pent Up by @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin : Narcos, Javi is... well... pent up, needs to let loose! and boy does he.

4 times it got gay bc something is wrong with me and I couldn't decide

Behind Enemy Lines by @astroboots : Triple Frontier, Y'all know how much I love this series, seeing as I wrote a fic for it XD but this chapter is something i always hold close <3

Captain of the team by @writefightandflightclub : Triple Frontier, MAAAAAANNNNN this fic is why I will never be the same as a person.

Trine by @my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction : Sucker Punch. Anyone who reader blue jones should be reading this. Incredible.

What if he never had to go? by @velocibeewords : Triple Frontier, The infamous series I read on my friend bachelorette weekend! So good I couldn't put it down, going so far as to read it at a casino XD Benny and Santi, my babies

3 times underused characters shined

Oxford Comma by @whatthefishh : The Two Faces of January, Tell me, how does someone take a character with almost no following and make a series so damn beloved by many??? Only Mona could.

My Ex's Tapes by @runa-falls : Lighteningface, Basil Stilt AND Jake Lockley??!?! God bless this mess hnnggggg

I'm Getting What's Mine by @winniethewife : The Card Counter, dub con, I think we as a society need more William Tell, and sensory deprivation to break down reader? Amazing.

3 times they talked dirty to me *trumpet noises*

Not a Survivalist Girl by @tightjeansjavi and @chaotic-mystery : The Last of Us, when they finally fuck??? HELLO?!?!! unreal

Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line by @millerscoffee : The Last of Us, Joel is so degrading and condescending in this I think about it so much it's fucking unreal.

Making Trouble by @juneknight : Moon Knight, The fic that completly fried the brains of the moon knight fandom. "You cried like I was killing you—except you were begging me not to stop" yeah. Yeah...

3 times there were three or more

The story of us by @pimosworld : Triple Frontier, This series has a special place in heart bc Priscilla said I influenced a lo of it with the characterizations and thats such a big honor. Priscilla Is so talented and I adore how she writes these guys... and the FishBen wins my heart

Eyes on Me by @cavillscurls : The Last of Us, Soft Joel? Tommy watches? AFTERCARE?!?!?! Y'all know how much I love aftercare.... I should read this again shouldn't I?

Run the Table by @katiexpunk : The Last of Us, MORE TOMMY JOEL THREESOME! MORE!!!! This one came out recently so its still fresh in my mind

3 Times I should NOT have been into that

No Soul to Sell @atticrissfinch : The Last of Us, NON CON V DARK, this is the fic that made me like... yeah I'm into piss. No doubt. It was so dark and hot ;-;

Plushies Series by @pedge-page The Last of Us, Haru knows how much I love this, and it was a toss up between this and their piss kink but seeing as I got that above.... plushes needs more love bc its so soft and domestic and horny <3

Plaything by @missannwinchester : The Last of Us, wow, I adored this fic… then I lost it!!!! Thank you to everyone who helped find it bc it’s one of my favs. I wanna be Joel’s lil doll he dresses up 🥺

3 times I said “this is underrated af”

No One But Me by @koshkamartell : The Last of Us, Are y'all tired of me talking about this fic yet? Koshka told me my series The Wrong Way inspired this so it's special to my heart <3

Safe by @criticallyacclaimedstranger and @apascalrascal : Triple Frontier, Cal has so many good Frankie one shots it was hard to pick, but this one is sooooo soft. We love Frankie being willing to listen and learn.

Through the Scope by @ssuperficialspacecadett : Triple Frontier, Y'all know I love a traumatized reader learning to heal, but his fic is fantastic bc it's a traumatized reader who has done a lot of the work already and is strong and brave as it is <3 Also, all 4 of the guys are her friends now which is the best way to have a fic

Thank you all soooooo much for all these amazing fics and for a great 2023! Well. Not so great, I had terrible time lol but y'all were my solace <3

If you feel so inclined, check out my best of year wrapped for both RomanaRose and Romana-after-dark

I'm not gonna say 2024 is my year, I leanred my lesson XD I am approaching 2024 with RESPECT. It will be the year it is.

[comicgeekery]

Sherlock & Co.: The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax

This was an adventure that showed up to have fun. Right off the bat there’s the April Fool’s dramatic skit, which did get me for a bit (mostly because I listened to it after April 1st). It’s actually really nice to see that Sherlock had fun with it. It wasn’t nearly as stilted as other times he’s tried to do acting. I’m thinking of The Resident Patient where John lost the recording of their amazing prior adventure and tried to have Sherlock and Mariana reenact it.

Early in the series Sherlock also claimed that he never engaged with fiction media, but between this prank and the movies and games John keeps introducing him to, it feels like Sherlock is finding ways to enjoy a bit of whimsy. I wonder how much he’s aware of it? He’s certainly eager to incorporate any pop culture references John gives him into his dramatic speeches. And by pop culture, I mean anything from fairy tales to movies to the concept of truth or dare.

Also, I saw you, rat of Sumatra reference. Nice job!

As for the adventure, I surprised anyone could speak, their tongues were so stuck in their cheeks! I was wary when I first listened, but I think it’s really clever that they changed Lady Carfax into a stand-in for classic Sherlock Holmes portrayals. It’s a fun way to reference the long legacy of adaptations, without breaking the fourth wall. I really liked the allusions to the original Lady Carfax story in the modern Carfax’s film too.

On the other hand, I have to admit I came into this adventure with a lot of trepidation. I really didn’t like The Norwood Builder. It was just really contrived in a lot of ways and particularly insulting to Watson. Because of that, I got frustrated when the narrative set up obvious parallels between John and Carfax’s on-screen side-kick, Wilton.

I’ve written about this before, but I have an odd fondness for Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as Holmes and Watson. They’re old-timey and I have CDs of a bunch of their radio episodes (I have their sponsor, Petri Wine, burned into my brain). Listening to them is instant charm and nostalgia. But….Yeah, Bruce’s Watson is a complete dummy. And he’s far from the only version of Watson to be utterly clueless.

With Lady Carfax I was worried the S&C team was still pushing the ridiculous Watson from The Norwood Builder and trying to find another way to point and laugh at John through the Wilton character. John certainly has a whole speech where he seems oblivious to Wilton being annoying in the same ways that John himself can be annoying.

But, for the second time, this adventure managed to fool me. Because the story took a sharp turn away from that condescension and even a sharp turn away from Watson’s canon shortcomings. In the original Carfax story, Watson is on his own for the most part because Holmes is busy. Watson does his best to find clues and follow leads, despite baffling messages from Holmes. Then, when Holmes finally shows up, he makes fun of Watson for completely failing to do any helpful detective work. It’s pretty mean actually.

The Sherlock & Co. writers obviously had similar feelings, because they confront Sherlock and John’s relationship head-on.

Before I get into that though, I have a few lighter things to address. First of all, John and Mariana working together was delightful! They have excellent banter. I loved the little exchange about who would get the window seat. It’s really nice to see how much their friendship has grown. I hope the show finds a way to give Mariana and Sherlock some time on their own together too. I’m curious what they specifically like about each other at this point.

It was refreshing to see Mariana and John figuring some stuff out for once, even if they couldn’t manage as much without Sherlock. Usually they mostly just ask Sherlock incredulous questions which, yeah okay he needs someone to show off for, but I like Sherlock & Co. best when everyone gets to pull their weight. The bit where they got a screenshot of a random millionaire’s bank account was silly, but also pretty clever. I like seeing them being good at thinking on their feet.

Next, I have to just ask: S&C, are you trying to torment me in particular? Is this on purpose? Have you just decided that every adventure will feature the gang more and more explicitly committing crimes with no concern for the fact that they’re recording them? Is my pain funny for you?

In this case it was bribery, which Mariana specifically explained was a crime and then went ahead and did! But we’ve already had endless breaking and entering, theft, assault, and owning a gun that caused an international incident! Please, pleeeeeeeaaase, tell me this is setting up a big story arc. Some grand reveal about Mycroft working to keep them all from getting arrested. Because if it turns out to just be something I wasn’t supposed to worry about in my fun podcast about a detective with an extreme eye for detail, then I will melt into soup.

Ok. Back to the meat of the adventure.

So, in its first obvious change from the original story vibes, John recognizes that Sherlock is in disguise and tears off his fake mustache. That was great. It was validating for John and it’s refreshing to see Sherlock mess up sometimes. (John could really use a “Norbury”. Can’t wait for that adventure!)

The fight between them felt natural and appropriate. John had every right to be angry about Sherlock insulting his hard work. Under other circumstances, John might have complained but then dropped the issue as he often does, but this time they were both too stressed and scared about rescuing Carfax. Sherlock lost patience with John’s limited abilities and snapped. John was hurt and angry because he’d literally just gone through thinking he and Mariana could be killed and being a brave protector in response. He snapped back at Sherlock and suddenly both their egos and tender hearts were on the line. Sherlock lashed out and was down-right brutal.

And then John just collapsed. His self-doubt won. Which makes sense, it usually does with him. I like that Mariana was still pushing him to fight because he was right, but it also made so much sense that he just got quiet and left. It’s so easy to focus on Sherlock and his unusual idiosyncrasies, but John’s journey is also essential to the show. It makes me wonder if Sherlock is aware that he’s helped John as much as John has helped him.

It’s interesting. Sherlock, John, and Mariana are characters with deep insecurities, but they all handle them differently. Sherlock tends to close himself off when he’s hurt or feels misunderstood. John finds ways to blame himself for anything going wrong. Mariana is inclined to insult others to distract from her own possible shortcomings. It’s a potential powder-keg in any tense situation, but they get by through their mutual love, respect, and communication.

I don’t completely like how things between John and Sherlock got resolved. It doesn’t really make sense that John’s mom would have this whole insightful psychological speech about how Sherlock’s mind works. Mrs. Watson’s main character trait has been being oblivious about social boundaries, especially in regard to being a supportive mother. But now suddenly she understands autistic geniuses? Plus it’s this whole trope I don’t like where a jerk main character doesn’t have to reflect or explain himself because a supporting character is their to exposit his inner angst. It’s annoying.

Still, I’m glad John got his moment to lick his wounds. The mutual apology when he and Sherlock reunited was very sweet, though I would have liked it to go on longer. At least they got a good hug in, which was also some excellent foley work.

The climax of the adventure was really good. John and Mariana got to offer practical help, Sherlock got to be clever, and the solution to the mystery was clever combination of new elements and the original story. An excellent hat trick! It reminds me of the subversive ending of The Lion’s Mane.

I’m not entirely sure to what extent S&C is a mystery show. It’s kind of limited in how many twists it can throw us as a one-to-one adaptation. I know that for me that the character interactions are way more interesting than the mysteries. The bad guy is always going to be one of the handful of new voices I just heard. The how can be interesting, but I really just want to hear the main three banter and have emotions.

To that end, the voice note Sherlock sends John when they get home is adorable! Sherlock obviously struggles to express his tender emotions, but he did it anyway because it was something John needed to hear. And he couldn’t manage it face-to-face, so Sherlock did something else that would show he cared about John’s feelings; he finally left a voice note! It was beautiful and touching.

I feel like this show tears my heart back and forth constantly. Usually I love it. Sometimes I hate it. But it never fails to leave my brain buzzing with a thousand thoughts I can’t help putting down.

So it’s got me for another adventure, and likely a big one. Moriarty is being alluded to more and more and next up we’ve got Charles Augustus Milverton! I’m looking forward to seeing where things go with these major players in the Holmes rogues gallery.

Also, I’m still sailing my Sherlock/John ship. Do it, Sherlock & Co.! It’s what fans have craved for a century! And hey, you’re a podcast! Don’t you want that sweet, sweet Tumblr devotion? Don’t you remember Welcome to Night Vale? The Adventure Zone? The Magnus Archives? They all have great stories and settings, but they went huge through their central queer relationships! You have done a great job establishing Sherlock and John as friends. Now give them some mushy feelings too! You’re about halfway through the canon. It’s a great time to hint at a slow burn!

[melodygatesauthor]

This man needs a college au. Young basil stilt.

I’m not trying to give you any ideas *wink*

Miss you friend I hope you’re doing well 🤍.

OMFG YES YOU'RE RIGHT

[oohlookafrog]

IM BORED WE’RE DOING TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE and if y’all wanna make this a tag game go ahead :) @grahoria @theconfusedacorn @cuppatea8 @thatonejock poking all of you come join me here

…my name in 2020 was either my deadname or basil. Bug never was an actual consideration sorry to the Bugs of the world

[nerdy-arty]

Hey can you give any advice on starting to make essay videos? I want to eventually start making them but I just want tips, I love the videos you did on Kel, Basil and Sunny :)

It's hard to lay out any tips because I've literally only made three of them, and I'm still learning. Even so I feel weird not laying out at least one thing I find helpful to do in order to kickstart the process. I tend to start off the script doc by just making a point form list on all the things I want to cover. Once that layout is done, I go through in sections and fact check my points before writing a concise script with the other points as reference so I can flow from one to another in a way that comes off less stilted. So far, that's what has worked for me, but I'm only a little less of a newbie than you are pff

[austencollins]

day 57 kodansha daily review challenge

Today's Manga Is: Omori

Nice to get recommended another creepy little story right after getting drawn into I Want To Hold Aono-kun So Badly I Could Die and When The Chameleon Flowers Bloom! I'm not familiar with the indie horror game Omori adapts, but it was swiftly apparent from the first chapter that this was adapting a game. The parental dialogue urging Sunny to contact all of his old friends, followed by the background panels as Kel takes Sunny to the hobby shop that established the names of several important map locations, felt very much like the introductory part of a indie game, where the player is walked through how to perform basic functions, use the map, and told what the premise of the game's plot is.

This isn't necessarily a bad thing, of course! The chapter first establishes Sunny is so overwhelmed with feelings of dread, terror, anxiety, and fear that he's become unused to normalcy; which means the sensation of being dragged through an introductory video game cutscene is eerie enough that it increases the reader's identification with Sunny. Aubrey and Basil's introduction, however, feels a little too stilted. I expected them to be introduced, but that introduction happens too quickly and gets way too intense too fast. It winds up feeling too contrived for the emotional intensity to really hit.

Part of the issue is that the 4-way confrontation is depicted via a bunch of panels centered around the characters' faces and expressions; but which don't really locate where Sunny is in the space. This is especially frustrating on the page where Aubrey and Kel confront each other, because Sunny is just not present on that page at all -- even though it's Sunny's reaction to learning that Aubrey has turned hostile towards her former friends (and has built up considerable resentment towards Sunny during his time as a shut-in) that's important in this scene. The best solution, imo, would be to add Sunny into the background of this panel showcasing Kel's reaction:

Although Kel should remain the focus of that panel, putting Sunny behind him or right next to him (slightly out of focus) would maintain a sense of emotional continuity by allowing the panel to keeping conveying Sunny's horror and shock at seeing two of his old friends transformed into a bully and her victim, while also showing the reader that Kel feels hurt by Aubrey's rejection the notion that any of them still care about their old friendships.

The bigger issue with the video game-ness of this chapter is that it the sudden transition from Sunny snapping at Aubrey to Sunny waking up in "White Space" doesn't work as well as it probably did in the game. Part of the issue is that the blank empty voidlike nature of White Space doesn't come across as all that different from how a mostly black-and-white comic that relies heavily on negative space most of the time depicts ordinary normal non-supernatural environments. Plus... most of this chapter has involved Sunny abruptly transitioning from one state to another. Not only does it start to feel repetitive right around when Sunny wakes up in White Space, but the threat that we're going to suddenly ditch the current scenario for a totally new one makes it hard to invest emotionally in whatever drama is currently happening in front of us.

Overall, I did enjoy this! The heavy use of simple black and white shapes, and wobbly, stiff lineart, reminded me of I Want To Hold Aono-kun So Badly I Could Die. Although the introduction of White Space did throw me out of the story, then next two chapters of Omori did drag me back in, because there's more happening and being talked about, and so it's easier to draw connections between what's happening in the Present Day timeline vs in the dreamlike White Space hallucinatory pseudoflashback timeline. Doesn't look like there are many chapters out there currently though.

[processes]

Carved wooden bench, furniture, textile crafts, lanterns and suspended mobile sculptures, at the wooden Heuan Chan heritage house, stilt building with wooden ceiling, Luang Prabang, Laos. Basile Morin

[daisiesonafield-blog]

Although that would now seem rapturous in comparison to what Styles might be receiving for his follow-up, a polite and anonymous melodrama that should provide the confirmation many were looking for. Just weeks after his misfiring comments surrounding gay sex were being rightfully critiqued, it appears that his performance will also be, a turn just as tepid as his soundbites. The film, based on the novel by Bethan Roberts, isn’t exactly a washout but it’s not exactly much of anything, a disappointingly drab and stridently straightforward love triangle saga overstuffed with furtive glances and maudlin moping while underpowered by a blank lead performance. If the wheels were coming off pre-festivals, consider the train completely crashed now.

Styles might look like the handsome movie star he’s being aggressively pushed as with his sleek matinee idol hair always in place but he’s all construct and no conviction, a performer as unsure of his ability as we are. There’s a crucial dissonance between the confidence he exudes on stage and the awkwardness we see on screen, a star fizzling out right before our very eyes, as uncomfortable for us as it appears to be for him. There’s too much of a visible process to his acting, the joins of what he’s doing, or trying to, always on display, with a messy, uneven accent requiring an added level of thinking to his every line of dialogue, making the character’s many instinctive moments feel sluggish and stilted. Words are over-pronounced with a sort of stage school affect that clashes with what’s supposed to be an earthy, beer-drinking vision of hyper-masculinity.

Defenders might argue that Styles’s second guessing is in fact perfect for a character trying to hide his sexuality but that would be an overly generous reading for even in his most intimate and private sexual moments, he remains overly, distractingly hesitant. Navigating the world as a queer person, especially in a time when it was still punishable by law, requires too much complexity for someone still testing out his sea legs, it’s essentially two roles at a time when he struggles to play one. He’s drowning in the deep end and it sinks the movie around him.

Not that an actor of more skill and experience could do that much more with something that’s painted in such boringly broad strokes. The characters are based less on real people and more on romantic drama types, lacking in idiosyncrasies and texture, familiar more to people who have watched others be in relationships on film than people who have actually been in them themselves. The queerness does little to differentiate the triangle from so many others we’ve already seen and what’s frustrating for those with even a cursory knowledge of gay cinema is that so many films before it have carefully navigated similarly tricky territory with ease and insight, from Basil Dearden’s Victim and William Wyler’s adaptation of The Children’s Hour both in 1961, James Ivory’s Maurice in 1987 and, more recently, Terence Davies’s devastating Benediction. The stinging tragedy of being gay at the wrong time in history is something that will always prove ripe for emotive, painful drama but director Michael Grandage struggles to pull our heart-strings, an easy target easily missed.

His direction insists that we find meaning or emotional resonance in the small details of the everyday but Philadelphia screenwriter Ron Nyswaner’s perfunctory script rarely gives us enough reason to. It’s a prestige shell for a film that mostly plays like a stodgy soap opera, a misguided hope that we might be suckered into thinking that this is all of more substance if it’s presented in more elegant packaging. Corrin and Dawson are easily more effective than Styles but still a little too mannered to pierce through and so it’s up to the elder iterations to do the heavy lifting and while Everett is stuck in a thankless role that essentially just requires him to dribble and wail, in small, all-too-fleeting bursts, McKee and Roache manage to make us believe in a difficult dynamic against considerable odds. Exploring the festering consequences of a marriage built on this specific kind of lie is far more dramatically interesting than the blandness of what comes before and a better film might have tipped the balance in their favour. Their scenes arrest but the rest of the film is nowhere near as charged as it should be.

The Guardian review by Benjamin Lee - Not full review, read here.

[equatorjournal]

Basil Davidson, Ganvie in Dahomey, a town entirely built on stilts, 1968. From "Africa: history of a continent" by Basil Davidson, 1972. https://www.instagram.com/p/CZSQztktxRN/?utm_medium=tumblr

[my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction]

• Masterlist• ao3• want to be tagged? • request info • ko-fi •

🍑Using this prompt list.

🍆Second year. Gotta kick butt, I swear. (I am also completing last years, don't look at me.)

🍑I've used a random generator to choose which kink out of the options and which character(s) to use. I wanted to write for a different Oscar Isaac character each day.

Pink text means that the fic is completed, and will definitely be coming out on the correct day.

Rydal Keener - Overstimulation

Jack Mojave - Edgeplay

Outcome 3 - Drinking Game

Steven Grant - Collars

Michael Perry - Biting

Poe Dameron - Sex Work

Laurent Le Claire - Thigh Riding

Lleywn Davis - Fingering

Cecil Dennis - Sex Pollen

King John - Toys

Nathan Bateman - Threesome

Jake Lockley - Floor Sex

Orderly!Blue - Shower

Shiv - Begging

Standard - Slow & Soft

Orestes - Public Sex

Bud Cooper - Frottage

Shimmer!Kane - Psychic Bonds

Club!Blue - Masturbation

Richard Mũnoz - Filming

Robbie Paulson - Bondage

Anselm Vogelweide - Smoking

Miguel O'Hara - Can't Get To Sleep

Jonathan Levy - On The Counter

William Tell - Sleepy Sex

Duke Leto Atredis - Marking

Santiago Pope Garcia - Body Worship

Marc Spector - Face Sitting

Basil Stilt - Hair Pulling

Abel Morales - Afternoon Delight

[lucidpantone]

Firstly, I love you. Thanks for always talking sense.

Your point about Amber being turned into the basic watered down version of Vilde is so true. And it frustrates me to no end that we have seen absolutely no progression with her character in the 5 seasons, particularly given the fact she’s basically had some form of minor subplot in 4 out of 5 of them. They’ve never let her grow from any of it and she’s been turned into this stilted, vapid girl.

I do think by the end of this season wtfock will have basically watered down 95% of their characters in a similar way. The way they constantly write them with inconsistent personalities, and use whoever is convenient at the time to just push a certain narrative regardless if it fits doesnt help, means none of the characters actually feel fleshed out from their og counterparts anymore. Some they just never bothered to flesh out in the first place. I think about the Jonas character and I look at how Italia expanded on him with Gio, and then you have Jens - there’s absolutely nothing there - empty character. And the same with France and Basil, then you have Aaron - again nothing. Jana obviously is no more but obviously her replacement offers nothing. Same can be said about so many of wtfocks characters at this point. Even the new additions - I mean balloon squad may as well not exist in wtfock.

There is just little to no depth to any of them on the whole now and I truly wonder what half of them even bring to the table. Leaves the whole show feeling so hollow.

Thats why tho am annoyed am also sorta of happy Sander was not part of this season they legit would have destroyed him as they did with bits of Zoe and Robbe. @bowieexaminprogress said it best its like they write the script or copy from OG and then after the fact select who delivers those lines without any rhyme or reason even if its nonsensical and completely out of character. Nothing makes sense, nothing is paced well, no one for the last 2 seasons has had any profound character development. Literally two seasons have gone by with surface explorations of characters and mains. Everything just feels like a shell of itself. Also thanks for the support and kind words!!

[moonb-eam]

ok i just saw the p&p confession ask and i could not resist: so if eliott was so unsure about if lucas would read his letter, how did he feel when lucas came to arbrenne? what was his pov during that dinner when lucas tried to make him smile and all? and also, why(i know why but i need his thoughts) did he cry when lucas said he loved him too? was he not expecting the kiss bc he seemed confused about lucas saying he'll keep the jacket? anyway i love love love your writing!!!

ahh thank you love!! 💛💛

so, let’s see...

(this got a bit long so i put it under the cut)

Eliott had no idea whether Lucas read his letter or not, and it weighed on him, nearly as much as the thought that Eliott may very well never see him again weighed on him.

He hates the possibility that the letter will remain unopened, and that Lucas will forever hold this impression of Eliott in his mind that is sour and warped - an impression that was cultivated on Charles’ persuasive nature and Eliott’s own foolishness.

He tries to make peace with it, that the letter was his last chance to explain himself to Lucas, and as the days pass: spring slipping into summer, fading to fall, hardening to winter, and returning to first blossom of spring once again, Eliott tries to accept that Lucas will now exist only as a memory to him. A distant dream just out of his reach, a star that he can only ever admire from the surface of the Earth.

He doesn’t have faith in magic and fate like he used to as a child. He’s not hoping for any divine intervention that will point their twisting paths back together, but then.

There’s a warm, sunny day when Eliott returns home early from his trip to Paris, when he surprises Daphné at her piano, and in the midst of spinning them both in a circles, both of them laughing, he hears a faint gasp, notices a flash of brilliant blue in the gap of the open door.

And there, Eliott is wondering if he needs to start believing in magic and fate and all manner of things unexplainable again, because he knows those eyes.

Eliott would know those eyes anywhere.

His chase after Lucas is a bit ridiculous, his subsequent awkwardness embarrassing, but he cannot be blamed for his own lack of decorum, not when he’s standing before Lucas on the steps, watching the way the sunlight kisses his skin.

He’s here. He’s at Eliott’s home.

What are you doing here? Eliott wants to ask. Did I conjure you from thought? From dream?

Did you read it?

Lucas gives a hasty explanation - he’s travelling with friends around Loire, admiring the castles, and they came for a tour, as Madeleine claimed the house was open for tours.

Eliott takes all of this in stride. He knows that people are curious about Arbrenne, knows that Madeleine is always eager to show of the house she works so tirelessly to run, and knows that, often when he’s away, she will show these people around, taking them through the sculpture gallery, the garden, the formal dining room.

But that is people. People who Eliott may never meet, who wander the halls his family built, admiring the architecture. People. Not him. Not Lucas.

Lucas, who is shy with Eliott, in a way that feels oddly incongruous to the image of him Eliott has in his mind: brash and loud, with a tongue like a whip. This Lucas stares everywhere except at Eliott, while Eliott can stare at little except him. This Lucas has his hands clasped neatly in front of himself. He gives stilted and abrupt answers, and it worries Eliott. It makes him think he’s making Lucas uncomfortable.

Maybe he didn’t read it.

Or maybe he did read it, and now he doesn’t want to be near you.

Except he is there. Here. Right in front of Eliott, as mesmerizing as he’s ever been, and Eliott must not have a sliver of self-preservation left because he’s asking Lucas to stay, trying to invite him for tea, trying to do anything to keep him there, to stop him from disappearing on the spring wind like a secret uttered between lovers.

The fragility of Eliott’s invitation, however, is unnecessary. Because Lucas’ friends arrive, and with them, an instant  feeling of camaraderie Eliott did not expect.

Basile Savary and Arthur Broussard. They have an infectious energy about them, an unselfconsciousness that Eliott is a bit envious of. They’re loud and they seem - or at least Mr. Savary does - to speak without considering their words, and Eliott is fond of them immediately.

Eliott invites them all for dinner, because the notion of their dining room being filled with laughter all night is a pleasant one, and because Eliott is sure the Daphné will be endlessly amused by all three of them together.

It’s only then, once Mr. Savary and Mr. Broussard have accepted as Lucas watches on with an indiscernible expression, that Eliott realizes he chased after Lucas without re-buttoning his shirt, and it is with as much dignity as possible that Eliott scurries away from them, clumsy fingers fumbling against the thick material.

Daphné, of course, teases him mercilessly for it.

“Look at the state of you,” she says with a laugh, tying up Eliott’s cravat for him while Eliott sits on the arm of the sofa, pouting. “Running after his with your neck all bare.” She shakes her head. “It’s a basic level of seduction, but it is still seduction, and for that, I commend you.”

“I’m not trying to seduce him,” Eliott complains, ignoring it when Daphné lets out another laugh. “I’m trying to be his friend.”

Daphné pauses, looking up to meet Eliott’s eyes. There’s a soft turn to her mouth, a caring, gentle expression, that makes her look just like their mother. “But you love him, don’t you?”

Eliott sighs, lowering his eyes to his knees. “Yes.”

“So, you want to be more than his friend.” She says it as if it’s the simplest thing in the entire world. As if it could be as simple as Eliott says, Lucas, I want to be everything to you. As if he hasn’t already tried that.

“I don’t think he wants that from me,” Eliott says quietly, and Daphné nudges him under his chin, forcing him to look up and meet her eyes.

“Then he’s a fool.”

“But-”

Daphné shakes her head. “You’re the best person I know in this world, Eliott. And if he can’t see that, then he doesn’t deserve you.” The conviction in her voice, is strong, sure, and it’s almost enough to make Eliott believe her words as if they’re his own, the way Dr. Daucet tells him to speak to himself whenever he falls into a cavern of self-doubt.

I am deserving of good things.

I am deserving of happiness.

I am deserving of love.

Sometimes, when he says these things out loud, he almost believes them too.

“You’re right,” he tells Daphné and she grins, smacking a wet kiss to his cheek and running a hand through his hair.

“Now,” she says seriously, “we have to make you look presentable.” She hums, considering. “Presentable, but in a rogue-ish sort of way.”

“Daphy,” Eliott says, just as seriously. “I don’t think I know what that means.”

They eat dinner together, all of them, including a man named Herman, who has the most wonderfully entertaining stories Eliott has ever heard. They eat together, and it’s perfect, the way they are all able to come together. It’s perfect, because Eliott sits across from Lucas the entire meal, and he gets to watch as Lucas’ shyness morph into something else: something that’s still sweet, but a bit bolder, shades of the Lucas that Eliott has seen in ballrooms: quick and clever and so funny that Eliott nearly snorts wine into his nose from laughing.

He glances up, hoping no one saw him, except there’s Lucas, smiling at him from across the table as though there’s a private joke they’re both in on.

(And well, Eliott supposes there is.)

The weight of Lucas’ gaze is utterly intoxicating.

Eliott feels himself melt under it like sugar under his tongue.

Daphné won’t stop nudging her knee against his under the table, but Eliott barely notices. He’s consumed by a thought. Not even a thought, but a word. One word that encompasses an entire ocean of meaning.

Eliott feels Lucas’ gaze on himself and the word comes, arresting and gorgeous and hopeful: maybe.

Now, as far as Eliott feelings in the field scene, I’ve touched on that a little bit here.

But the best way I can explain it is like this:

Something happens, and it’s something you’ve been dreaming of for so long that it feels like memory as it unfolds in front of you, and it takes a moment for you to realize that no, this is real. This is not me hoping, this is something happening to me right now. And it’s like, the happiness inside of you is too much to contain. Your heart is a comet. Your soul is a sunrise. Your hands are the wings of a morning dove, but at the same time, you are so wholly, utterly yourself. You are at home in confines of yourself, infinite in your limitations. You are loved. And you love. And you are loved.

That is what Eliott feels, standing in that dew-fresh field as Lucas confesses to him.

That’s why he cries.

[jebentnietalleen]

21!

‘why are you so nice to me?’

If there is one thing Lucas would change about his best friends, it’s how quickly they are willing to open up their inner circle for someone who is nice to them. He truly doesn’t get the need to expand their group, it’s enough just as it is, isn’t it? They have fun together, they can joke around, tease each other. Why would they befriend someone else? And okay, fine, maybe it isn’t just the fact that they included someone new, rather than the person they chose. Because right now, they are hanging out with the new guy. The guy that the whole school can’t shut up about. The guy that is so gorgeous that it makes Lucas want to fling himself out of a window every time he looks at him. Eliott Demaury. He hates him, because it’s fucking unfair the way he makes him feel like he is set on fire just with one glance in his direction. And on top of that, he is also really nice to him. Like, overly nice. He doesn’t get it at all. It’s like Eliott took a bet or something, hanging out with them, with Lucas, to win 100 euros. Someone as cool and collected and handsome as Eliott doesn’t just hang out with someone like Lucas. That’s not how the world works. It feels like he is secretly making fun of him behind his back, because why else would he give Lucas the time of day?

It’s all Arthur’s fault, really, for agreeing to help paint the foyer when Eliott asked them if they wanted to pitch in to make the foyer a bit more homely. Apparently Daphné had heard that Eliott is quite the artist (which, of course he is, like he wasn’t perfect enough as it is. Ugh) and had stormed on over to him to ask him to paint over the ugly mural. He had heard about it from Manon and rolled his eyes, telling her that he wished them a lot of luck dealing with that ugly mural and the foyer in general but there was no way he is wasting his time on that. No way at all. Unfortunately Arthur is a ‘speak first, ask later’ kind of guy, so when Eliott skipped on over to their table at lunch time (Lucas wishes he was kidding about this detail, but he isn’t) and smiled at them while he asked if they cared to help out, Arthur immediately agreed on all of their behalves. When Eliott shrugged his shoulder in the cutest manner possible, his eyes turning into crescent moons, he almost couldn’t be mad at Arthur for agreeing. Almost. Because how the hell was he suppose to spend an entire afternoon and evening painting a mural, being in close proximity to Eliott freaking Demaury, without embarrassing himself? Let’s be honest, that was a trick question. He was doomed.

Yann had only smiled and said it could be cool to have a space in school where they could all chill and hang out in after school or during breaks. Basile agreed, of course, and said he hoped he could trick Daphné into kissing him after he showed her that he helped out a lot. Figures. As if Daphné would ever give him the time of day. He’s glad he isn’t that delusional himself, at least he knows that Eliott would never fall for a guy like him. For one thing, he probably wasn’t even into guys in the first place because he heard he had recently broken up with his girlfriend. For another, Lucas is a right mess while Eliott looked like he could be a supermodel. So, it was best to just avoid him all together, which was now something that was made impossible because of Arthur and his big mouth.

They met up after school to get some snacks, Basile insisted on taking some disgusting gummy worms and Yann wanted chocolate. His friends truly had no taste, obviously chips is the way to go. Throwing everything into his backpack, they made their way back to school. Daphné had convinced the principle to let them stay late to work on the foyer, he had given them until after the genitor and cleaning crew would be done, which usually took a couple of hours. The closer they got to school, the more his nerves started to grow. This was stupid, ridiculous really, it was just a guy for gods sake, not a god. Or, well… no, snap out of it, Lucas. Get yourself together.

He stops for a second right in front of the foyer to take a deep breath. Here it goes. When they walk into the foyer, the first thing he sees is Eliott, standing on a ladder with a paintbrush in his hand. He looks like he is enjoying himself a lot, even though the only thing he is doing right now is painting the wall white. He has a concentrated look on his face, his tongue peeking out of his mouth just a little bit. It shouldn’t look as endearing as it does. Basile trips over a can of paint, he’s lucky that it hasn’t been opened yet. It’s loud enough to make Eliott lose his concentration and finally look back at them, smiling instantly when he sees the boys have arrived. Funny thing is, it looks like he is only looking at Lucas. He knows that’s not the case and that he is just seeing what he wants to see, but it makes his cheeks burn up non the less. ‘You’re here! So great! Just grab some paint brushes and get started whenever you’re ready. Best to drop your bags and jackets in the corner over there’ Lucas looks over to where Eliott is pointing, and nods stupidly. ‘Looking great already, Eliott! Maybe we should just leave it white’ Arthur smiles enthusiastically, looking at the mural with approval on his face. ‘Pff, white is boring, we’re gonna make something amazing on here once the paint has dried. I already have so many ideas. Of course, I am open to suggestions, though.’ Eliott rambles on about some of his ideas, one of them is painting the night sky on it, which actually sounds pretty cool. It’s weird how his enthusiasm about art can rub off on people, but it does. It makes him want to know more about art. Makes him want to hang out with Eliott. And god, that makes him angry, because he shouldn’t fall for this. This. Nice guy façade. He is planning on ignoring Eliott for as long as he can, starting to paint at the exact opposite of where Eliott is painting.

For a while his plan is working really great, he is concentrating on painting everything white, standing on his toes whenever he has to reach the ceiling and climbing of from his ladder to paint to bottom of the wall. He can hear Basile and Yann argue in the background, while Arthur is making small talk with Eliott. Every once in a while, it feels like Eliott is looking at him, like, really looking. The kind of stares that makes his skin burn, makes him have to control the urge to turn around and look back. He is able to resist, but just barely. Then all of the sudden, without him even noticing how it happened, he is standing next to Eliott. It seems like they both worked quick enough for them to now be meeting each half way. ‘Fancy seeing you here’, Lucas can’t deny Eliott’s present any longer, not with him standing close enough that he can feel the warmth of his body, not with him making such a corny joke. So he does look, and he can’t help but grin back at that beautiful smile Eliott gives. What a dork. ‘I know right, quite the surprise.’ He bites his lip, regretting the fact that he engaged in conversation the moment he closed his mouth. He shouldn’t indulge Eliott like this, not when it’s clearly nothing more than flattery for flattery’s sake. He climbs back on his ladder, intent on going back to what he is there for: painting this wall as white as he can. It is working for a while, until he feels Eliott’s presence right by his side. He doesn’t turn to look at him, but all of the sudden their arms are brushing against each other, lighting up a spark deep within him, making his arm feel like it’s set on fire. He jerks his arm back automatically, so fast that he stumbles back and falls of the ladder, landing on an open can of paint that falls over and covers the floor. The floor that they forgot to cover with newspaper or anything else. Shit. Daphné is going to be pissed. Thankfully, Lucas isn’t injured, just extremely embarrassed. ‘Just my fucking luck’ he mutters under his breath, trying to salvage the situation and grabbing some paper towels to clean up the paint.

He doesn’t know when it happened, but Eliott came down his ladder during this ordeal, because he is now helping Lucas clean up all the mess. They work in silence, until all of the sudden there’s a voice that sounds through the room: ‘What the hell happened here?!’ It’s Daphné, looking angry and confused, shooting death glares at Lucas. Before he can say anything, Eliott speaks up: ‘I’m very sorry Daphné, it’s my fault, I am so clumsy. I promise I’ll make it up to you though, I’ll make sure the mural is done by the end of the week’. Of course Daphné can’t get mad at Eliott, not when he is apologizing so eloquently, not when he is giving her a blinding smile. Daphné stutters for a bit and says it’s okay, no big deal, and returns to get back to the girls. Lucas can’t believe that Eliott just did that, and for what? He looks at him, slightly stunned still, when Eliott asks: ‘What? Something wrong?’ Lucas shakes his head a bit in disbelieve. ‘Why are you so nice to me? I’ve been nothing but distant and mean to you ever since you’ve arrived at school, I’m not dumb enough to believe that you actually like me, literally everybody wants to hang out with you and yet you still spend your time with us and talk with me. And now on top of everything, you took the blame for something that was in no way your fault. Why?’ Eliott looks down for a bit, looking shy all of the sudden. ‘It’s not that I haven’t noticed that you have been quieter than the rest of the guys whenever I am near. But. I don’t know. There is just something about you. I keep hoping that that will change and that one day, you’ll actually give me a chance.’ He looks back up at Lucas at that last word, his hands stilting after cleaning up most of the paint. Lucas doesn’t know what a say for a moment. Trying to get his head around Eliott’s words. ‘What do you mean, give you a chance?’ A small smile is spreading over Eliott’s face. ‘Well, if you really want to know… I have been trying to find the courage to ask you out for months now. But I wanted to wait until I have won you over a bit. Is it working?’ he bites his lip, tilting his head sideways just a little bit while his eyes seem to stare into Lucas’ soul. He can feel his face glow, getting redder and redder by the second. ‘Ask me out? For what? A date?’ his voice cracks when he spits out that sentence, because of course it does. Eliott just laughs and nods at him: ‘Yes, a date, what else?’ out of all the reasons Lucas could think of, Eliott being this nice to him because he wants to date him would never have crossed my mind. ‘Are you sure you want to date someone who has been this horrible to you for the past few months? Although in my defense, I think it was just my way of trying to deny my feelings for you’ as soon as the confession leaves his mouth, he regrets it, but there’s no turning back now. Eliott’s smile grows wider and wider: ‘That’s very good to hear, actually. Makes me feel a bit less like a dork for trying to catch your attention all this time. So it’s settled then? We’ll go on a date?’ Lucas can’t help himself: he’s smiling too. ‘Yes, we will. So whatever will we do, mister Demaury?’ he can’t believe he is openly flirting with Eliott Demaury as if it’s nothing. Apparently, this is something he has wanted before he was even ready to admit it to himself. ‘I hear the foyer well look amazing next week. We can have a picknick right here, under the stars.’ Eliott jerks his head towards the white wall, that will be transformed by this time next week. ‘Honestly? I can’t think of anything more perfect’. Who would have thought the night would end with Lucas and Eliott planning a romantic date? It’s like Eliott can read his mind when he says: ‘You know what, you are surprising. I like surprising people.’ One thing is for sure, there isn’t anybody else who can make Lucas feel as alive as Eliott is making him feel right now, and if that is something that will continue? Sign him up.

[papermoonloveslucy]

THE CAVALCADE OF AMERICA:  “SKYLARK SONG”

June 21, 1948

The Cavalcade of America ran on NBC Radio from 1935 to 1953. It featured events from American history, usually dramatizing the positive aspects of the nation’s past. Additionally, the show attempted to end criticism of its sponsor, the Du Pont Company due to negative publicity from profiting by producing gunpowder during World War I. 

Throughout the years, actors and actresses from Broadway and Hollywood were featured. The show was broadcast live from the Longacre Theatre in NYC and repeated later in the day. 

In 1952, the series was transferred to NBC television and lasted until 1957, nearly identical to the run of “I Love Lucy” on CBS. For six months the radio and television versions also overlapped. The TV version featured “Lucy” actors Robert Foulk, Dayton Lummis, Byron Foulger, Maurice Marsac, Ross Elliott, Roy Roberts, Hayden Rorke, Pierre Watkin, Will Wright, Nestor Paiva, Joi Lansing, Dorothea Wolbert, Don Rickles, Burt Mustin, Lurene Tuttle, Gladys Hurlbut, Paul Picerni, Richard Reeves, James Flavin, Larry J. Blake, Peter Graves, Rhodes Reason, Irving Bacon, Milton Frome, Eleanor Audley, Joe Mell, Mary Ellen Kay, Mario Siletti, John Banner, Harry Bartell, Robert Carson, William Fawcett, Mabel Paige, June Whitley Taylor, Iron Eyes Cody, Strother Martin, Norma Varden, Madge Blake, Ellen Corby, Dick Elliott, Vivi Janiss, Ida Moore, Elizabeth Patterson, Frank J. Scannell, Herb Vigran, and William Schallert. 

Synopsis: "Skylark Song" by Virginia Radcliff is the story of Grace Moore,  charting her climb from a small southern church choir to star of the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.

Grace Moore (December 5, 1898 – January 26, 1947) was an operatic soprano and actress in musical theatre and film. Born in Slabtown, Tennessee, she was nicknamed the "Tennessee Nightingale." Her films helped to popularize opera by bringing it to a larger audience. She was nominated for the Academy Award for  for her performance in One Night of Love. In 1947, Moore died in a plane crash at the age of 48. She published her autobiography in 1944 titled You're Only Human Once. 

In 1953, a film about her life was released titled So This Is Love starring Kathryn Grayson and Lucy’s friend Merv Griffin. The movie featured “Lucy” players Herb Vigran, Victorio Bonanova, Moroni Olsen, Mario Siletti, Ray Kellogg, Olin Howland, Tristram Coffin, Jack Chefe, and Barbara Pepper as Fat Girl with Sailor in Nightclub!

Lucille Ball (Grace Moore) may be the last person on earth one would consider to play one of the most famous opera singers of all time - but this was radio - and recordings of Grace Moore and studio singers were used to supplement the program. Ball affects a slight southern accent during the broadcast. Operatic trills and other miscellaneous singing by the character was provided by Marjorie Brett and Marjorie Hamilton. 

Lucille Ball signed the contract for “Skylark Song” on June 11, 1948 and was paid $3,500 for her work. 

The story starts when Moore is 17, convincing her father to allow her to attend music school. She goes to New York City where her father tells her to “only take parts in Shakespeare”.  She tells him she will report to theatrical impresario David Belasco to ask him if she can play Juliet.  

GRACE: “Hark! What light through yonder window breaks...”

Belasco stops her. Moore is reciting Romeo’s speech because that is the role she played in school. Lucille Ball purposely does a very stilted rendition, with a large country twang. 

Lucy Ricardo also did Romeo and Juliet in school, later hoping to repeat her triumph with Orson Welles. 

Belasco sends her to see composer and producer George Gershwin, who unfortunately hasn’t got a job for her.  

In 1920, Moore finally lands a job in the chorus of a Broadway show called “Hitchy-Koo.” The show was produced by Raymond Hitchcock (hence the unusual name) with music by Jerome Kern (”Showboat”).   

GRACE: “Well, Daddy, what do you think of your skylark, now?” 

Grace lands an audition at the Metropolitan Opera but is told that her Broadway work has damaged her classically-trained voice and sent away. 

GRACE: “I’m either a skylark or a mud hen. There’s nothing in between.”

A fortune teller named Carmen tells her that she should go to Europe and make her name. In a montage sequence, Moore trains in Europe. Now at the peak of her vocal range, Grace finally gets a job at the Metropolitan Opera as Mimi in La Boheme.  

Her proud father and mother attend Grace’s triumphant opening night. 

Announcer Ted Pearson sums up Grace’s remarkable journey, as well as her tragic death in a plane crash in Denmark. 

Pearson reminds us that next week on The Cavalcade of America Basil Rathbone will play Thomas Jefferson in “The Common Glory”...

...and that Lucille Ball will soon be seen in the Paramount Picture Sorrowful Jones, despite the fact that the film will not premiere until a year later, June 1949. Filming began on April 7, 1948.