#cathy was honestly one of the best parts of the show

[urjustaguyonahorse]

you KNOW cathy was so glad when kate came back home after all that time no matter how broken she was but she also must have been so so so unbelievably relieved as a mother to see that kate was opening up to others again and she had people taking care of her. like obviously part of her making tyler stay for dinner and giving him the guest room was typical mom scheming because why would you let a guy like that slip through your daughters fingers? but also, she watched her daughter lose three of her best friends and push everybody else away as a coping mechanism and there's no way she wasn't so comforted by the sight of somebody coming her her aid when she obviously didn't ask for it and staying for her even when it was an awkward situation to say the least. i just know she would love the rest of the wranglers and let them set up base there whenever. she would love having javi back and cooking them all bbq while they play poker in her living room after a long day. she'd let them redo the barn and put bedrooms in the loft and not bat an eye if any of them moved in more permanently in the off season. she would love boone's help with the animals and dani's help with the machinery. she would let dexter move a whole library into the loft "as light reading when we stay" and let lilly spread new t-shirt design ideas across her whole kitchen and give her feedback while she's deciding. she'd love tyler like a son (in law cause she's still a schemer after all) and tease him when she wears his t-shirt and he'd unclog the sink drain like a man. she'd love javi like a (more favorite) son and the guest bedroom in the house would be permanently his and they'd watch house md together. i just feel like a safe place to come back to that's filled with laughter and home cooked food would be exactly what kate and all of them would need to heal and carry on. and knowing kate's in good hands with good people who love her and let her be in their lives would be exactly what cathy needs as a mother who lost her daughter once.

[sadrockandwaltzes]

That Was Then This is NOW

Spoilers below

It's kind of interesting rereading it because it's even more different from the movie than I remembered.

When I read it maybe 5 years ago, I thought the book was kinda gay and that there were feelings on the part of Bryon for Mark.

And then the movie leaned into the other direction, making it seem as though Mark was in love with Bryon.

But reading it now, they really do just seem like brothers and best friends. They're the kind of bond most people yearn for but never end up with, so I think it's kind of telling about society that something like that could be misconstrued as romantic🤔 Just look at 21 Pilots

And it's interesting because so many of the books and shows I grew up with did feature bonds like this, but nowadays a lot of people read those as romantic (and I don't necessarily read them that way, but it's usually more entertaining for me to view them in that light)

What's really interesting about the movie, is that it's mostly following Mark, instead of Bryon. From his pov, Bryon is cold and always brushing him off, but in the book there isn't a moment where Bryon isn't thinking or mentioning Mark. That's mostly because this is him remembering things, but I thought it was a very interesting way to see the other side of things.

I'd never been in love the first time I read the book nor the second time, but I do think there are things you catch more the second time reading something. I don't believe I noticed that the foreshadowing was Bryon telling the audience that this was his memories instead of the events as they were happening. I noticed how he never stopped talking about Mark, how he never resented him for being treated better, and how he was the only person he really cared about. Until Cathy.

Both times I've read it I've loved her and loved her with Bryon. She's an awesome person, and she makes the mc way better of one too. But both the movie and my first reading of it (although I never thought his friend was necessarily in love with him) both saw Mark being jealous of Cathy, it wasn't because Bryon was in a relationship with her, or even that he loved her. It was because Bryon started spending more of his time with her instead of Mark.

Which he did, because he was grieving. I don't think the movie showed that well, and I honestly forgot how badly Charlie's death affected him. But he only started avoiding Mark, because Mark couldn't understand his friend and made him feel weird for taking it so badly. Cathy understood, and he felt like he could talk about anything with her. They mostly talked about their feelings and any part of themselves they wanted to share, because they trusted each other.

Mark felt uncomfortable feeling vulnerable or talking about his feelings. He would always act happy or good around, and switch the subject if he started talking about anything that made him sad.

Their relationship really just needed more communication. Mark had never really felt like a part of the family, but I think once he and Bryon started drifting away, he got scared that they wouldn't want him around anymore, and he needed to prove his worth. They'd never fought before, so he wasn't used to the distance, and there was no one around to spend time with him while Bryon was with Cathy.

But anyway, it's just kind of funny I think, since I'll find gayness in almost anything I read or watch. It's really a talent. But every so often I don't find it, and it'll be in something as commonly read as gay as the Dead Poets Society. Or this, but I think I was probably one of the only people shipping these two.

I saw one person on here headcanonning Mark as aro or aroace, and I could see it. He doesn't care about romance or girls, and the only think he cares about is _Family_. And the only family he has is Bryon.

[youtubeyourself]

Before there were E-girls we had Chans! Chans were usually just quirky girls who sat in front of their laptops and acted weird on 4Chan in their homes and got a cult like following because of their niche interests or eccentric looks (for that time atleast) They were usually given the chan suffix due to 4Chan being filled with weebs and horny dorks and because the Japanese suffix is used as a term of endearment, most frequently used for girls but not limited to them. The name would be based on what you were known for on the image board (creepy, loli, black) (I'm not joking about loli and black btw...)

Chan interests were but not limited to

-Anime/Japanese culture

-Something taboo (drugs, alcohol, blood, etc)

-Drawing

-Memes/internet culture

-Video games

-Thick and often bad eyeliner

-General cuteness

4Chan took interests in these girls because...well 4Chan.

Some well known chans have gone on to make decent careers for themselves while others faded away to obscurity.

Below are notable mentions:

Boxxy (BoxxyBabee, Queen of b or Catherine "Cathy" Wayne)

While not having the Chan suffix anywhere in her name she definitely belongs on the list, some could argue she was above even being considered a chan (I'm some). Best known for her online character "Boxxy" in her highly energetic vlogs which showcased her bubbly personality and iconic scene girl eyeliner we all came to love but to my surprise alot of people are unaware she actually caused an entire war on 4Chan.

Boxxy spam and flame wars had filled the image board to the point where 4chan users launched a denial of service (DDoS) attack on themselves causing the site to shut down for 7 hours. Channers took to Twitter to launch a Twitter bomb. Things got so bad to the point they doxxed her, left gifts on her doorstep and hacked her YouTube channel. In my honest opinion she was the first victim of cancel culture but I digress. Boxxy is honestly my personal fave since I was around to whitness her in real time and because her high pitched voiced pleased my underdeveloped child brain.

Boxxy has went on to attend comicons and do voice acting (you definitely heard her in some videos, don't worry)

Creepy-Chan (Tussin Chan, Cute Chan, Allicat, Queen of /X/)

My second favorite Chan since I was also around to witnesses her in the prime of her popularity (we get it I've been chronically online since a child)

Creepy chan being the given pseudonym of fashion model Allison Harvard, whose photos were shared on 4chan as early as 2005 due to her eccentric and at time unsettling looks, (Ex: large eyes, heavy makeup, slim body, pouty lips, lanky hands) and peculiar interests like fascination with blood, she earned several nicknames on the site. In 2009, she gained mainstream notoriety after appearing as a contestant on the reality television show America's Next Top Model and spoiler alert: she came in 2nd place.

Creepy-Chan has continued her modeling career. (You go Allison!)

Cracky-Chan (Sky Queen, ScareCrowMaiden, Goddess of 4Chan)

Now this one... Is a relic, despite being the first chan/camgirl on the site's board /b she seems to be lesserknown compared to Boxxy and Creepy-Chan but she is a huge part of 4Chan lore because she defined what /b/ thinks today of camgirls. It was Cracky who first coined the phrase "'sup 4chan" which is now widely used on imageboards and forums. (Or was...) "Cracky-chan" was given to her because she looked as if she had "Snorted crack" due to her messy applied red makeup, heavy eyeliner and distorted mischievous smile. In 2005 photos of her wearing the classic Japanese schoolgirl uniform with black animal ears and badly applied make-up appeared on the random board. The first ever Cracky image to be posted. It showed her in her iconic sailor outfit with the phrase “’Sup 4chan” written on her palm. The images were quickly pronounced cute and sweet by Anonymous and she was given the name Cracky-chan. Now like with most girls on the site the basement dwellers on 4Chan obsession with Cracky-chan had developed such a grip on /b/ that 4chan's then-Admin W.T.Snacks put a wordfilter over cracky [which has since been lifted] in an effort to discourage cracky discussion. (When you posted the word "cracky" it was automatically changed to a random word ending in -cky such as Jacky, Packy, etc)

During this time the teenage "Cracky-chan" laid low and kept out of the spotlight due to the unexpected attention and internet fame which caused her fanboys to mourn the lost of their queen...so they leaked her Livejournal full of drawings, portraits and selfies.

(Some of the photos had nudity, menstrual blood on the face and her in gothic lolita fashions)

What drove /b/'s enduring obsession with Cracky-chan was the collection of self-portraits that Cracky had made being artistic and usually having unusual themes (blood, guro, lolita, other typical chan themes) She was so loved that fansites were created of her in which she would come out of hiding to ask them to be shut down due to unwanted attention.

Despite being the backbone of Chan culture, She has faded into obscurity which is said to be a result from her father contacting the then admin of 4Chan to remove all traces of her daughter since she was being stalked,harassed and her job has been contacted. In 2022 I did find a person on Twitter claiming to be her but the post hadn't gotten alot of attention, their faces did match up but it was hard to tell since the adult woman was bigger in size compared to a smaller teenage girl, the Twitter account is now gone.

(Soon to be updated)

[peccatula]

politely requesting any and all of your thoughts about heathcliff ^w^

THANK YOU FOR SENDING THIS IN IM DOING THIS ONE NOW theres like 20 before it but idc

THIS IS KINDA LONG SO ITS UNDER A CUT. i have a lot of thoughts because holyyyy shit this guy is me. they put me in limbus company

warning for discussion of self harm and self destructive tendencies but its not too in depth

heathcliff is transmasc genderfluid bisexual because i am and im projecting. he's gotten top surgery but it wasnt by the best doctor so it looks a bit odd but hes got enough scars all over that it doesnt rly matter. and hes on testosterone, how he managed to secure it living on the backstreets i dont CARE im not here to figure that out

genderfluid not in the male female nonbinary way but in the I dont fucking know sometimes im a guy sometimes im something else but usually a guy kinda way

he has borderline personality disorder, not even just me projecting here though thats a part of it

he's impulsive as hell, does self destructive things because ^^^^^^^ bpd. this is exacerbated by the fact that he can just Come Back To Life so he doesnt need to be careful anymore. he doesnt like pain but he also doesnt like himself and feels like he deserves pain + he just doesnt care to be careful and not self destruct because Oh i can come back so its fine

sneaking suspicion some of his scars are not entirely inflicted by other people. even if he doesnt like. Do it himself he throws himself into dangerous situations as a way to self harm

he's got all that bpd shit goin on including dissociation/emptiness, mood swings, he struggles with his sense of self and identity and worth and hes fucking terrified of abandonment to the point he will sabotage his own relationships because it hurts less to do that than to be left behind or hurt

he's also autistic! i havent done as much thinking on this its mostly just projection here honestly

i dont wanna go too heavily into speculation for his chapter because i hate the idea of being wrong about it but i think he and cathy had a really turbulent relationship that was not great on both sides. i havent read the source material but i think its like that in the book as well. i dont think its gonna be a relationship that you would want to root for

he gets angry a lot because like, he takes things very personally and has very bad self esteem so anything you say to him he will not take well and instead of getting sad about it his brain defaults to anger because Can't show weakness in front of others. he's competitive as a result because he wants to prove to others and himself that he's not a trash heap of a human being and actually has some worth

not a headcanon but hes not fucking stupid can the fandom stop calling him stupid f or one second and read the goddamn dialogue. he's highly observant and street smart and when he's not being impulsive he has good ideas and thinks things through

[queengiuliettafirstlady]

Fairy Legends

Fairy Legends

Fandom: Ikemen Prince

Pairing: Luke x OC (Julie)

Prompt: Day 5 - June 23rd - Forbidden love AU | Soulmates AU & Day 6 - June 24th- Office AU | Circus/Magic AU

Part of content creation challenge hosted by me and @xxsycamore

Tag: Childhood sweethearts to lovers Fluff Kisses Established relationship Magical talents

Word Count  2.079

Author’s Note: The soulmates signs in this work are the sharing of a birthday and of a beauty sign, placed on the same place.

I was always curious about the beauty sign of each prince, and Luke of course being my fave is the one who caught my attention the most this coupled with the fact he loves animals, and they are naturally attracted to him made this story being even more special since I decided to melt in it some magical themes along a fairy like village nestled away from the world in the countryside, because honestly this is the best setting I like to write for Luke and his childhood sweetheart turned lover as they grew up together, that said I hope you can enjoy it too. 🥰

Side Note: All the images were found on Pinterest-Google and I was unable to find the source, please if any of you know the owner tell me and I will provide to give the artist the credit for the image.

Tag list

@kissmetwicekissmedeadly @aquagirl1978 @violettduchess

@nightghoul381 @william-rex @candied-boys @writingwhimsey

@fang-and-feather @moonstruckmelancholic

@wistfulwanderingone @rjthirsty @lichtluv

@ike-garden2024 @jollibeeshappiness @starzyquee              

@maeko-kun @rkmaru

You can find me on AO3 as QueenJuliet 😊

Thank you for everyone who will like, reblog, or comment please be gentle with me english is not my first language so please do not leave rude comments I apologise for eventual errors I hope you will like it 😊

Soulmates bounded by the red string of fate liaison no one could sewer destined to be together from the beginning of the universe for all eternity, multiple signs could help them find one another, one of them was a shared birthday, this was wide known in all the world they lived in but for two to born in the same place it was quite unusual and yet that is what happened in a little village amidst the forest, hidden from the human view and protected with magic from the nature guardian, one boy and one girl born on the same day 12 hours aside from the other, great celebration were held that day, as they would have been destined to be together.

Pleasurable years went them by, strengthening the bond of affection day after day, united as one being some could say, they could have not been closer to one another even if they were joined at the hips, and yet they knew deep down that if they wanted to prove the old of the village they were destined to be, they needed another long awaited sign to show itself on a summer day, that what the guardians told them when they got engaged.

It was a chilly autumn day, the birds chirped quietly on the branches as she made her way into the forest following a sweet scent scattered all around the hill by the frizzy breeze, a smile curled her lips as she finally spotted him, concentration written on his gorgeous features as he busy himself around the beehives, intent on collecting the honey glimmering like molten golden in the warm rays of the sunset kissing his fierce auburn hair making him look like a deity, she slowed her steps doing her best to not not disturb him, when suddenly a little bee flight around her

“Hello you too, how are you doing ?” what was a normal discussion would have been heard as nothing more than a low series of bzz for anyone but her and his lover, a knowing smile touched her lips as he saw him talk with the bee

“Thank you for letting me know.” after his answer he turned around smiling at her

“Cathy told me you had arrived.”

“I imagined she is such a gossiper.” the little bee buzzed once more to protest before drowning her rant in a flower she accommodate herself into

“She said it is not true.” their hearty laugh resonated in the air filling their heart with affection

“How is your work going ?”

“It has never been better, you shall see the amount of delicious honey we have ?”

“How much ?”

“Enough to cover all the winter and sell it too at the market.”

“Wow what a great job they have done.” the bee buzzed lowly something she did not grasped, he chuckled softly before turning to her

“She thanked you and told you to not doubt about their job.”

“I was not doubting at all. It is amazing but this is also your merit 'cause you took so much care of them and they know it.” he smiled shyly his cheeks red as she planted a kiss on his cheek 

“Yeah but the credit goes to you too if I am this happy and ya know the best mood I am in the best I work.”

“When you decide to work for real.”

“Eheheh you got me but I can tell I am slacking off less than when we study, that's 'cause it's a job I love to do, because I want you to eat only the best homemade honey I do for you.”

“Awww it is tasteful only when I get to share it with you.”

“Julieee.”

“Ehehe it is not my fault it is the truth.” she wrapped his arms around him, moaning at the feeling of his soft lips melting on hers, softly he pulled away leaning his forehead to her his voice a soft murmur for her ears alone as his eyes glimmered with affection

“I love you so much my princess.”

“I love you too, my bear.”

“Dinner is almost ready.” she kissed his nose revelling in his bright smile, bliss curling her lips upward at the feeling of his arms tighten around her

“I see my little princess has come to bring me home.”

“Yes or else my bear would have stayed there all night long.”

“Nah I would have come back eventually. I couldn’t leave my little one all alone.”

“Left to your devices you would return at dawn.

“Ya know I would anything to make you happy.” she nuzzled in his chest looking dreamily at him

“I know honey but you deserve to relax too.”

“This is relaxing.”

“Work is relaxing ?” incredulity glimmered in her bright eyes as she looked at him, meeting his leaf green eyes staring at her with convinction

“Yeah cause it is something that would make you smile.” His words were enough to melt her heart whole, keeping her warm so much she did not felt the air of the evening became a bit more sparkling

“Aww you said the sweetest of things and then you expect me not to be madly in love with you.”

“Awww you really are sweeter than honey c’m on when I think I could not be more crazy  about ya you go up and melt my heart like that.” his frown deepened before they burst out laughing, coming down from their euphoria he took her hand in his waving goodbye at his bees, entwining his fingers with hers as they strolled back home.

The moon begin to appear shyly in the sky when tiredness overcome over them, noticing a clear path among the trees he dived deeper, followed in tow by her, the spectacle in front of their eyes left them in awe, there stood a bear looking over his cubs playing together, slowly he approached them, seeing confusion flickering in the bear eyes as he growled lightly, after a moment he reached to pet head earning a soft growl that sounded almost like she was enjoying it, 

“Don’t be afraid she won't bite you.”  he continued to pet the bears ears inviting her to do the same, all the while he pulled away sitting on the grass, a smile brighter than the sun curled his lips as the two cubs cuddled comfortably near him, while one of them pawned at his jacket making him chuckle

“Ya are a good eater I see.” not hesitant in the slightest he took out a small jar of honey from his hood offering it to him, smiling as he saw him eating it hungrily soon joined by his brother, after a while the bears decided to retire for the night, waving their new friends goodbye they managed, somehow, to not get distracted by any other animals, to return home.

They knew everything about one another, sharing not only their bday but even taste and traits of their personality, growing up together, destined to be, and yet she could not ignore the belief their clan had regarding love, true soulmates shared one beauty sign on their body.

Now it was true they spent every time together and were to a point where they were aware of their love, engaged even, and yet this sign was bothering her, afraid of seeing him away from her if she would have mentioned it.

She had yet to see him naked moreover who knows which of the many mole on her skin could have a twin on his body, if there was that is even though she hoped with all herself he would have been his one and only, dreams and doubts keeping her awake until late at night, comforted only by the warmth of his arms around her.

Before they knew it summer has arrived, bringing with it the scorching warmth of the sun and the crickets playing softly in the bushes as they lazed around under the shade of a tree, with the leftover of a picnic thoroughly savoured still on the white and red tablecloth, their lips tasting of strawberries and swollen with kisses as they dozed off in the tepid air of the early afternoon, light filtering through the leaves tracing patterns on his skin shining on his auburn hair she did not resist brushing her fingers into, reveling in its softness as she laid with her head on his lap, lulled by the fresh breeze she drift asleep smiling as she felt his fingers caress softly her hair.

When they awake the sun had just begun to set, the frizzy air of the evening giving a break from the unbearable hotness of the morning as they decided to collect some peaches from the trees, to have another tasty and hopefully passionate break like at lunch, 

“What do ya think about taking a break ?”

“It is a wonderful idea.” she smiled in relief, at the proof they were still in tune as always, she followed him taking shelter under the foliage of a tree, sitting by the river streaming peacefully toward the sea, taking in the melodious chirping of the birds smiling as she caressed some soft bunnies passing them by, following the lazy flies of the colourful butterflies wandering from one flower to another followed by the busy bee that stopped to have a chat with them.

She dived her hand in the river, hoping to cool down her sweat with the freshness of the water, when suddenly a sly smile curled her lips before he knew it a splash of water reached him right on the chest, he looked at her in disbelief revelling in her tingling chuckle she was about to splash him again when something wet and cold hit her shoulder, she looked up at him chuckling softly, that scoundrel would have paid for it, laughing they continued their little game until she slumped on his chest, tired from all that activity, her mind still in a daze when she noticed how crinkled his shirt was

“Your shirt is so soaked I am sorry.”

“Why should you be ? It was fun plus it will dry up in a minute. It did not bother you if I took it off ?”

“Oh no, not at all.” she bite her lip keeping her thought to herself -Quite the contrary, she never noticed how brawny and soft his chest was until that moment, and what a gift it was, really a sight for sore eyes she wanted to keep all for herself, in a minute he had already took it off and hanged it on a branch before retaking his sitting place next to her, casually draping his arm on her shoulder as he always did, holding her close, the intimacy of that contact make her blush, as she tried to hide it in his now naked and soft chest, she absently caressed to keep her own steamy thought at bay, but falling at doing so she focused her gaze on it.

It was in that moment that she noticed it, as in a maze hoping to not be an illusion she reached to touch it, a smile brighter than the sun itself curled her lips, her hearty laugh resonating in the air melting his heart

“Do ya like the view ?”

“Yeah definitely.” 

“Is it something on my chest ?”

“Yes.” she brushed her finger over the chocolate brown mole on the upper part of his left chest, her voice softer than what she intended but it was all she could do to contain her excitement

“There.”

“Oh that, I had it since birth, the guardians said I had to find someone who has a beauty sign in the same place but I dunno want to be with anyone but you.” a soft feeble curled his lips, an heartbreaking expression in his eyes she did not shied away from brushing off, her voice rekindling hope in him 

“I want it too.” she kissed his sign once more, revelling in the way he sighed dreamily at the touch of her lips on his sun bathed skin

“Trust me we will be together forever.”  confusion flickering in his bright eyes as he looked in herm shining with determination

“I promise I will do anything to make it happen.” the confidence in his words made her smile, she caressed his cheeks smiling tendelry at him

“I have something to show you too.” shyly she trailed to unbutton the first few buttons of her dress, lowering its hem just a bit, one of her fingers showing him the way to the upper part of her right  breast.

Unable to say anything he stared at it in awe, caressing her beauty sign with the same hesitant mixture of fear and hope she had felt before, he took her in his arms placing her to sat on his lap as he kissed it reverently, emotions getting the best of him he melted his lips on her, they tumbled on the grass kissing over and over again until the asters raised high in the sky, only witness of their peculiar love story happening under their curious gaze.

Smiling fondly at one another he kissed her forehead, holding her close to her chest, their eyes mirror of one another shades of green glimmering bright with affection

“I love you to madness, my princess.”

“I love you so very much, my bear.”

One month after and they were married, sharing a cottage as they always dreamed of doing, bonded in that affection that showed them the way since birth, soulmates destined to be together from the beginning of the universe for all eternity, able to write their own story with the emotions ruling in their heart only for one another, the strongest spell that ever was able to push on their knees peasant and Kings alike for nothing could stop the mighty power of love.

[signalwatch]

Watch Party Watch: The Amazing Mr. X (1948)

Watched:  01/27/2023

Format:  Amazon Watch Party

Viewing:  First

Director:  Bernard Vorhaus (sp?)

This is "moral relativism, the movie".  Not often do you see a movie where you're straight up unclear why you should care about anyone in the film, but this is it.  If you believe women should be helpless dummies, I guess you can pick the two rich, guileless sisters who are shown to mostly be cotton-brained marks through 90 minutes of film, and who discuss their long history of what easy targets they've been, but when your hero of the third reel is the guy who has been outmaneuvered by the even shittier guy in the movie... woof.

These characters kind of all deserve each other.  

I dunno.  The version we watched for free on Amazon Prime was a very, very rough, dark print that hadn't been touched since being put away probably in 1949.  John Alton was the DP, and there's some gorgeous John Alton stuff in this movie that was unfortunately dimmed by time.  I will pay to see this again in a restored version just for the photography.

I was willing to see this movie immediately because it co-starred Cathy O'Donnell, who is fantastic in They Live By Night, Side Street and The Best Years of Our Lives, but here she's mostly asked to be a simp and whine a lot, and...  it's fine, but it's thankless.  Playing a gullible dummy isn't a good look for anyone.

I know Lynn Bari less.  She's in Nocturne, which is a fine film, but that's the only place I've seen her.  And while the picture was blurry and dark, she's, how does one say?  fun to watch.  

The plot is that two rich sisters live in a Manderlay like mansion on an ocean cliff.  Two years prior, Lynn Bari's husband died in a fiery car crash.  She's both mourning him and about to be engaged to a too-practical attorney.  Her sister, O'Donnell, is a character type we'd start seeing a lot in this era- the teen or young woman who is certain in her belief she's smarter and wiser than everyone around them.  

Well, Lynn is being set up by her housekeeper (who is playing a Swedish maid) and her partner, the shady Alexis (the titular Mr. X, I guess), and they basically do the spiritualism bit on her, convincing her he's magic and there are ghosts.  

The movie goes to great pains to show us how the shenanigans of a seance work, and do the job of showing us how a complex spook show convinces both sisters (O'Donnell's character predictably wants to be on Mr. X).  But, lo, and behold, the dead husband shows up as NOT dead, and begins blackmailing our scammer into partnering.  

And, honestly, the pragmatic attorney does kind of blow.  Mr. X is played by character actor Turhan Bey, who was a wildly prolific talent, but who didn't really star in much other than this movie and The Mummy's Tomb.  The film's third-reel decision to have him grow a conscience seems... iffy.  He's dedicated his whole life to scamming.  And I think there's probably a good movie in that idea, but this isn't it.

Anyway, I actually enjoyed watching the film in part due to Alton, the two female leads, and because it's completely bonkers.  Is it a good movie?  Not particularly.  But it's a great late-late-show kind of movie that deserves a better print than what we saw.

https://ift.tt/p8gicMm

from The Signal Watch https://ift.tt/qFsnX49

[imalrightifyoudontask]

I’m actually going to explode if I don’t say this: anikishipping is the peachshipping of gx.

follow me

so first of all they’re potentially each other’s earliest friend (since Judai wouldn’t have had any opportunities for close friendship in a while until DA, and Sho was also easy pickings for bullies, compared to Anzu and Yugi having been friends since elementary school)

second of all, both Sho and Yugi are initially viewed as ‘like a little brother’ (Sho asking to call Judai Pharaoh and then backpedaling to ‘aniki’ really feels like he doesn’t know that what he’s feeling for Judai is a crush, like he just has that urge to be near him and stare at him, but in the process ruins his own chances. And Anzu although protective of Yugi literally refers to him as a little kid in the same breath when they are the same age)

third there’s a love triangle* at least in the anime, I actually only read the DM manga so I don’t know a lot about Rebecca but I know she’s associated with archeology LIKE KENZAN! (which also has parallels to Kotori v Cathy for Yuma in Zexal because it’s the oldest childhood friend vs an animal themed duelist but that’s besides the point) *it’s not a real love triangle since Rebecca is literally 10, she just has a crush on Yugi and annoys the hell out of Anzu. You know who else gets annoyed when other people steal his crush’s attention? Sho

fourth, and this killed me, ‘Both versions of you are good.’ Duelist Kingdom is where Anzu assures Yugi that she does not only like Yami Yugi, but both of them, and that really sealed the deal for me about how cute and genuine their relationship is. SHE PUTS HER HAND OVER HIS AND THE STARS ARE SHINING- IT’S TOO CUTE. And all I knew going into season three of GX was that Johan would show up and Sho would get ignored BUT THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN AT ALL! S3 is so hard to discuss in a coherent manner but Sho following after Judai to reassure him that it’s best to accept every part of himself and that everyone’s okay and that they all love Judai. Like yeah that IS Sho’s message to give, he IS a beacon of caring and love for Judai thank you for noticing.

AND THEN, FIFTHLY, they have a moment overlooking the water under the stars in season 4 just like the scene in Duelist Kingdom. And there’s a lot of moments that point to Sho (and honestly many of the main cast) having a crush on Judai but by far what utterly destroys me is Judai (with the luck of the draw) bringing Sho a pile of sandwiches to share and Sho pulling the golden eggwich out of that pile because they did that TOGETHER. But Also both of them watch each other spend that season trying to mature and solidify who they are and what they want for themselves and that’s peachshipping! That’s the main issues that Yugi and Anzu must overcome (as individuals) becoming capable, loving themselves on their own, and not breaking down when they or others have to leave because their bonds continue. And they’re in love! Yugi wants to prove who he is and when he successfully does that she sees him and she realizes she loves him. S4 has Sho trying to find his way out of people’s shadows and damn it Judai sees him!

and most importantly: one has two toned brown hair and the other is canonically shorter than all but one of the 13 year olds in zexal, they’re the same ship.

[cherryblossomtease]

Chapter 16

18 + only

warnings and summary - Masterlist

Authors Notes: So maybe sometimes I get a little wrapped up in the romance and the drama amongst the kink *shrug* I was very much in my feelings while writing the next few parts but I sincerely hope you enjoy the next few posts over the next couple of nights. I’m happily working on the ending!

Warnings: 18+ only as always. Thank you for knowing your own limits. Not everyone can handle this much Bronte… by Bronte I mean m/m/f action lols- no but really— explicit sexual situations, m/m first time sexual exploration and insinuation, dom Zemo, sub reader, sub Bucky

You’re convinced overindulgence was invented on the first yachts. It was probably the romans who came up with it. Caligula comes to mind. Terrible person, evil fuck really. Threw epic parties though and some of the best were on boats. While you’re missing a few hundred people to reach those levels, the next couple of days could inspire a depraved emperor or two.

You eat drink and laugh your way through a hazy cloud of hedonistic delight until you've managed to find yourself between them, beside them or beneath them on every level of the yacht. And if you aren't being fucked into oblivion, then you and Bucky are on your knees obeying Helmut’s many commands.

And yet it’s not all A.D. levels of body fluid swapping. You and Bucky convince Zemo to give your favorite baking competition show a chance and end up binging all of season three from the start, with you cheering when the winner is announced because you called it when they thought it would be the odds-on favorite.

During the lazy days that drag on so much longer than real life would ever allow, you team up with Bucky and nearly defeat Zemo at an endless game of chess which you can see only happens because he allows it; however you both easily beat the Baron at shuffleboard and more than once until he's convinced you’re both cheating.

The games are fun of course, but what you most like is watching Zemo and Bucky find their stride as a couple while learning how to share you, after all they've only ever had you apart. It's sweet to see them so attentive and aware of one another, not wanting to make the other feel pushed aside or less than. Yes Zemo is the dominant one in this relationship, thats been established, but respect and care for feelings is not bound by a role.

It's the little things that show this, like how Zemo will watch the way Bucky traces his finger down your neck thinking you don't see him looking and adjust his own subtle displays of affection. It happened in the lounge after you all went swimming just this past afternoon. You’d settled onto the low couch together, reading and scrolling. He used to touch you just like that—playing with your hair, stroking the back of your neck— now he watches, and it makes him smile to see Bucky so gentle with you. Without a word and little effort he lifts your legs up and over his own putting his feet up on the coffee table before getting lost in his book again so that you are cradled between them. This way, Bucky is free to touch you as much as he wants and Helmut can wrap his arm around the tops of your thighs and lay his warm hand on your knee. Sometimes, when he reads something especially interesting, he grips just a little tighter...

Helmut Zemo.

Your ever observant Baron. Always attentive to every need, so ready to serve for a man so quick with a command. Be it a drink, or a late night snack; Helmut is never above offering every comfort. He is a gentle and adoring force of such intense love that you both feel swallowed by the world he’s built around you.

On a calm and peaceful night —you can’t say which one, because you’ve intentionally lost count— the sky is full of stars and a low hanging white moon, so the three of you go out onto the bedroom balcony and curl up together on the oversized white sofa. You’ve brought a glass of wine and a blanket and take a big gulp of the jammy red before laying your head in Zemo’s lap while Bucky rests in the crook of his arm making himself small enough to fit and Helmut opens one of the many books from the den.

One of the things you’ve found out during your travels is that in preparation for his escape, Oeznik had been busy readying two crates full of the things the Baron would need; some things which were private and other small luxuries a man like Zemo can not live without, like these books. You’ve begged him to start Wuthering Heights. He doesn’t mind, Helmut is a tragic romantic at heart, it’s Bucky who seems a little doubtful at first but by the time Cathy’s ghost is begging to be let in through Heathcliff’s window, Bucky is silent and listening, completely lost in the story, or as your suspect, this beautiful telling of it. You’re just glad he’s able to experience the delight that is Helmut's voice all soft and calm as he brings the story to life. Everyone should be so lucky…

When he’s gone through the first couple of chapters and you’re starting to fall asleep, he closes the book, kisses your head and rubs Bucky’s thigh suggesting that it’s time to go in.

The bed is a welcome change and while you’re all too tired for a wild session like what happened on the upper deck this morning (your knees still ache and you’re pretty sure Bucky would have marks from Helmut’s belt across his back if it weren’t for his healing abilities) you can sense something special starting.

It’s easy to forget on nights like this that anyone is submissive or dominant in your relationship. There is no edge to the way you touch one another, just love. Limbs intertwine, hands touch and rub and hold; only Bucky’s cool vibranium gives away his identity, otherwise there is a playful mystery in the dark that you all choose to let remain until you kiss a mouth and smile figuring out that it's Bucky because his lips are full and pillowy soft while the fingers that calmly stroke your wet center are Helmut’s because they move in his confident, graceful way. And you find yourself thinking of something you really haven’t before.

Experience. It’s something the three of you have so much of and in so many different ways that you nearly forget one of you is technically a virgin.

Hard to imagine the man kissing you, the man who has been inside of you so many times is new to this, well a form of this. The thought makes your heart flutter with excitement as you feel the deft fingers leave you and Helmut gets up from the bed.

He doesn’t go far and you wonder what it is he’s gotten.

When you feel the weight of him dip the mattress and much closer this time, you open your eyes curious but realize it’s a little too dark and Bucky’s face is too close to see. You pull back wanting to catch a glimpse of what you think is happening as the faint scent of bergamot tells you all you need to know.

Bucky raises up, not far, but enough that the moonlight shines on half his face letting you see how his brows knit close together. His gasp is light. He does not exhale. You can’t see past him but you know that Helmut has been slowly nudging him closer towards his first time and you have been watching this man be readied for a moment that just a few days ago he never would have imagined— or maybe he has? Honestly based on the way he grinds his ass against Zemo when the three of you are lost in all sorts of lovely situations, you’d say he’s imagined it a lot more than he’s letting on.

He exhales and they moan together as you pull him down into a deep kiss.

Is that one finger or two?

“Would you like to come inside of her?” Helmut asks softly as Bucky breathes through the feel.

He hovers over you, eyes shut tight, licking his lips before moaning softly again “Yes.” He manages to say, and you’re so wet you think Zemo could have saved the oil.

Permission must come through some physical contact because you hear nothing, just feel him at your entrance and then inside of you. You can’t help but to moan and arch your back, your stomach pressing against his, your nipples brushing against his warm chest groaning as you give into the familiar size of him, opening your mouth with a deep sigh as your heart races knowing he is taking you while being had.

Between breaths you catch a glimpse of Helmut beside him —right hand flat on the small of Bucky’s back the muscle of his left forearm flexing rhythmically— his face is stern with concentration but his eyes are soft. He does love to make you both feel good. For all his bluster and demanding, nothing ever makes him so happy as pleasing you and Bucky.

The fact that you start to come so quickly is no surprise but the fact that you start to come together makes you look at one another. You smiling through the quick breaths, Bucky’s furrowed brow a sign of his shock but absolute pleasure. It’s too much for him in the best way as he rocks his hips, slowly thrusting deep into your body that clings to him.

You shut your eyes, your gasp mixed with a laugh and a cry as you come.

Bucky lays over you, his face tucked into the safe corner of your neck, so soft and warm where he moans heavily, climaxing in a way he’s never experienced before. You put your arms around him holding him tight and the sound he makes is the sound of a man who has just discovered quite a few things about himself.

He raises up, breathing hard, stunned and happy as he kisses you.

That was incredible for you both and together you quickly look over Bucky’s shoulder at Zemo who sits gazing at your faces in the dark…

[dahlia-coccinea]

A few thoughts on the scene of Catherine returning to the Heights after her stay with the Linton’s - it is commonly cited in discussions about her character and generally, the narrative goes that she shows herself to be vain and narcissistic in laughing at Heathcliff, and this honestly confuses me? I think that is quite selective in what details are noted about the scene and misses placing it in a wider context. To start I think its best to reference the scene in its entirety, sorry it is quite long (bolding is mine):

Heathcliff was hard to discover, at first. If he were careless, and uncared for, before Catherine’s absence, he had been ten times more so since. Nobody but I even did him the kindness to call him a dirty boy, and bid him wash himself, once a week; and children of his age seldom have a natural pleasure in soap and water. Therefore, not to mention his clothes, which had seen three months’ service in mire and dust, and his thick uncombed hair, the surface of his face and hands was dismally beclouded. He might well skulk behind the settle, on beholding such a bright, graceful damsel enter the house, instead of a rough-headed counterpart of himself, as he expected. “Is Heathcliff not here?” she demanded, pulling off her gloves, and displaying fingers wonderfully whitened with doing nothing and staying indoors.

“Heathcliff, you may come forward,” cried Mr. Hindley, enjoying his discomfiture, and gratified to see what a forbidding young blackguard he would be compelled to present himself. “You may come and wish Miss Catherine welcome, like the other servants.”

Cathy, catching a glimpse of her friend in his concealment, flew to embrace him; she bestowed seven or eight kisses on his cheek within the second, and then stopped, and drawing back, burst into a laugh, exclaiming, “Why, how very black and cross you look! and how—how funny and grim! But that’s because I’m used to Edgar and Isabella Linton. Well, Heathcliff, have you forgotten me?”

She had some reason to put the question, for shame and pride threw double gloom over his countenance, and kept him immovable. 

“Shake hands, Heathcliff,” said Mr. Earnshaw, condescendingly; “once in a way that is permitted.”

“I shall not,” replied the boy, finding his tongue at last; “I shall not stand to be laughed at. I shall not bear it!” And he would have broken from the circle, but Miss Cathy seized him again.

“I did not mean to laugh at you,” she said; “I could not hinder myself: Heathcliff, shake hands at least! What are you sulky for? It was only that you looked odd. If you wash your face and brush your hair, it will be all right: but you are so dirty!”

She gazed concernedly at the dusky fingers she held in her own, and also at her dress; which she feared had gained no embellishment from its contact with his.

“You needn’t have touched me!” he answered, following her eye and snatching away his hand. “I shall be as dirty as I please: and I like to be dirty, and I will be dirty.”

With that he dashed headforemost out of the room, amid the merriment of the master and mistress, and to the serious disturbance of Catherine; who could not comprehend how her remarks should have produced such an exhibition of bad temper.

Importantly Nelly specifies that Heathcliff isn’t just his usual level of childish dirtiness and unkemptness, which assumedly Catherine wouldn’t have noticed when she comes home eager to find him. She wasn’t expecting him to be so neglected and her worst fault here is carelessly misplacing the reason for Heathcliff’s dirtiness, and not recognizing the larger neglect done by Hindley and how laughing could very understandably have hurt him (I don’t think many 12 year-olds are particularly emotionally intelligent though). Initially, she doesn’t seem to notice his state since she runs to him and gives seven or eight kisses. What she does not do, is she does not come back and say she’s better than him, acts embarrassed of him, or indicates she doesn’t want to be friends anymore - she says “it will be fine,” he just needs a wash. 

Catherine’s presence must have been part of what kept him tidier as Nelly notes that it during her absence is when he fell into such neglect. This would be in line with Nelly’s previous description of the two of them of when Hindley first comes home: “Heathcliff bore his degradation pretty well at first, because Cathy taught him what she learnt, and worked or played with him in the fields.” Just as she would teach him what she learned and worked with him in the fields I’d say in this scene she’s simply consistently showing care for his wellbeing, even if she isn’t completely considerate when expressing it.

Not to get too off subject but I think this is pertinent - the line, “They both promised fair to grow up as rude as savages” might be another quote that is taken too literally at times - I don’t think they were just running around dirty all the time as Nelly noted that Heathcliff isn’t generally this uncared for. Also, this line ends up being understood as their rejection of all society and their resistance towards growing up which I think may only be partly true. While I love that Nelly calls them “unfriended creatures,” I don’t take this to mean that they are simply elements of nature. Along with @astrangechoiceoffavourites’ recent post about how “Heathcliff does not reject Culture. Culture rejects him,” I think it’s also often overlooked that they both admire the beauty of the Grange. He describes the house in great detail: 

“ah! it was beautiful—a splendid place carpeted with crimson, and crimson-covered chairs and tables, and a pure white ceiling bordered by gold, a shower of glass-drops hanging in silver chains from the centre, and shimmering with little soft tapers.”

He tells Nelly if they were in Edgar’s and Isabella’s position, “We should have thought ourselves in heaven.” Catherine is not more vain or materialistic than Heathcliff, or vapid just because she tells a 13-year-old boy who works on a farm and is only washing once a week he needs to wash more.

Still, Heathcliff has every right to feel hurt, he’s facing terrible physical and emotional abuse and as mentioned previously this has repercussions on his self-esteem for his whole life. Hindley in this scene is clearly trying to demean him to the level of a servant in the eyes of Catherine. A few months previously he was loved and cared for by Mr. Earnshaw but now any bright future is quickly disappearing. Heathcliff must know his situation won’t change under Hindley. The encounter with the wealth of the Linton family and Catherine’s acceptance into their world is also a stark example of Catherine’s ability to have something better than being with him forever. They both will grow up one day and she will eventually marry and there is no way Hindley would allow them to do so, nor would he give Heathcliff any means or education to provide for a family and have a home. 

Seeing Catherine obviously well cared for I think ignites a little jealously and fear that he is already losing her company. He seems at least mildly aware of Edgar as a potential rival as we see the next day during his conversation with Nelly when he tells her, “...if I knocked him down twenty times, that wouldn’t make him less handsome or me more so. I wish I had light hair and a fair skin, and was dressed and behaved as well, and had a chance of being as rich as he will be!” He did already note Edgar’s reaction to Catherine at the Garage saying, “Edgar stood gaping at a distance...I saw they were full of stupid admiration.” It seems easy to assume he is at least starting to be aware of her - three months prior he mentions to Nelly Catherine’s “beautiful hair,” “enchanting face” and says, Catherine is “immeasurably superior to them—to everybody on earth.” Catherine of course doesn’t necessarily know he feels this way and most likely isn’t fully aware of all his feelings about the situation he’s in. Seems reasonable to assume that she’s somewhat blind to his inner conflicts - later when talking to Nelly she seems to think that Heathcliff understands her completely yet its apparent they aren’t on the same page. She is as blind to the extent of his feelings, as he is of her’s. 

Anyway (getting a little off topic), Catherine’s subsequent reaction to this scene is totally out of line with the narrative of a wildly self-loving and cruel girl, and again we get a glimpse of a morose Heathcliff, nursing his pride and slowly pulling away from her. The fact that he storms off and they don’t immediately go back to their former relationship before her stay at Thrushcross Grange completely shocks her. After this encounter Catherine shows feelings of guilt and distress over the sour encounter. “She cried when I told her you were off again this morning,” Nelly tells Heathcliff the next day. And later again Catherine cries over Heathcliff’s mistreat by Hindley upon the Linton’s arrival. Later that evening when he’s locked in a garret Nelly details how she sneaks off to visit him:

“She made no stay at the stairs’-head, but mounted farther, the garret where Heathcliff was confined, and called him. He stubbornly declined answering for a while: she persevered, and finally persuaded him to hold communion with her through the boards. I let the poor things converse unmolested, till I supposed the songs were going to cease, and the singers to get some refreshment: then I clambered up the ladder to warn her. Instead of finding her outside, I heard her voice within. The little monkey had crept by the skylight of one garret, along the roof, into the skylight of the other, and it was with the utmost difficulty I could coax her out again.”

Later on she tells Nelly that his miseries have been her miseries - and she certainly isn’t ever as classist in her treatment of Heathcliff as her daughter is towards Hareton. When she misses Heathcliff for three years she’s only missing a “ploughboy,” as Edgar calls him. When he returns a gentleman she scoffs at Edgar’s suggestion that Heathcliff be let into the kitchen and mockingly gives the order: “Set two tables here, Ellen: one for your master and Miss Isabella, being gentry; the other for Heathcliff and myself, being of the lower orders.” And later tells him “Heathcliff was now worthy of anyone’s regard,” which shows she’s obviously blind to how many will always perceive him as an outsider and never a true gentleman.  

For fun, here is how this scene was adapted for the 1939 film - in the scene Catherine dreads seeing Heathcliff and upon seeing him makes no move to embrace him, then they have this AWFUL exchange: 

Heathcliff: Why did you stay so long? Catherine: Why? Because I was having a wonderful time. A delightful, fascinating, wonderful time...among human beings. Go and wash your face and hands, and comb your hair...so that I needn't be ashamed of you in front of the guests.

I have a lot of questions. Number one: how dare they? lol How did they extrapolate that from the book? This has become the lasting memory of her for many film viewers, and also somehow for people that have read the book. 

I know there are many conversations that could be had on Catherine saying it would degrade her to marry Heathcliff, or at various time saying he is a baby, a pitiless wolfish man, and a brute. I’m not trying to gloss over when she is demanding and not always kind to him or other characters but people really choose to be blind to some of her actions in order to paint her as the villain of the story. Catherine Earnshaw is a wonderfully flawed and human character and these interpretations make her so 2D. 

I feel like a lot of these views are an expansion on this discussion as well as this other post (credit to @princesssarisa) about the relationship between Catherine and Heathcliff before he leaves - I’ve found so few critics talk about them in a realistic, rather than metaphysical, way. Fewer yet discuss Heathcliff’s role in their failed relationship. More commonly they assert that Heathcliff’s feelings for her are true and hers are based on a shallow self love or whatever. So I guess I’ll just have to write it myself lol.

[apollostears]

COLLEGE STUDENTS [ bts ] II

↬︎ group: bts

↬︎ featuring: jungkook, taehyung, & jimin

↬︎ warning(s): swearing

PLOT. hcs on what i think the maknae line would be like in uni!!!

hyung line

*photos not mine*

↳︎ park jimin

ahhh baby mochi...

honestly jimin kinda skates through university without a care in the world.

he’s such a social and loveable guy that he could literally get anyone to do anything for him.

however, he does do his own work for the most part but that doesn’t stop people from giving him the answers 😉

borrows books instead of buying. usually because people just offer to share so they have an excuse to get to know him.

is very visual and is usually the go-to for making ppt slides for assignments.

is actually good at tutoring and teaching the material to other students so he becomes a student assistant for certain classes that are harder than others.

also does dancing like hobi, but he focuses on contemporary/ballet instead of hiphop and pop. the two often collaborate on school pieces though and the shit is always fire.

i headcanon him as being apart of the university’s acapella group, eventually convincing the other boys to join him as well.

is apart of the fashion club but only as a model.

goes to parties, but only if one of the other boys are in attendance and he doesn’t go all the time.

also shows up to them dressed to the gods.

has a pass to every single frat function and he totally dresses like one too.

attends all of yoongi’s games, but literally as a cheerleader. this is because he’s really flexible and strong so the girls be needing him sometimes for stunts. they been trying to recruit this man since he stepped foot on campus 💀

idky but i see him as being the campus’s ‘love doctor’ and he probably has an entire radio segment where he reads horoscopes and gives love advice on the school’s broadcasting system.

is fairly tardy to most of his classes. the boy can’t help it honestly. he’s either late because of oversleeping or because someone needed help finding classes.

despite how social he is, he’s incredibly private. most people have tried to use him to get close to the boys or find dirt on them, so he’s learned to be very selective of his words.

KNOWS ALL THE MOTHERFUCKIN TEA LIKE HOBI OH MY GODDD

now...jimin isn’t messy i’m fuckin lyin but he does wind up in some shit. and that’s ONLY because he’s usually defending the boys or someone tried his shit and thought he wasn’t going to step.

sometimes sits with the girls and the gays at the gossip table during break just to hear the latest university gossip. jungkook is always mentioned but we’ll get into that later.

always has the best reactions to things. professor says pop quiz? mans is fallin out his seat. someone got chlamydia? it’s the gasp heard around the world.

despite being involved in so much, jimin does well turning in work. except, the beginning of every semester when he forgets to turn in things because he’s still trying to switch into school mode.

jimin is the type of student to literally go to college without school work in mind and his main goal to be to make as many friends as possible and have the most fun in the shortest amount of time. while still managing to maintain a 3.6 gpa 😐

↳︎ kim taehyung

mans seems like the type to be quiet af right??? no.

he is a little shy when he first gets to class and he’s also not a chatty cathy, but if he genuinely vibes with you then he’ll chat with you on occasion.

also prefers ebooks because a) save the trees and b) it’s less likely to get damaged/lost that way.

drinks tea/coffee every morning underneath the big tree in the middle of the courtyard, with an old book in hand. why? because of the ✨aesthetic✨

does not understand the definition of casual dress. thinks casual dress is a pure of brown slacks by burberry, a matching sweater vest with a white button up underneath, and louis vuitton dress shoes. i’m not even about to get into the accessories.

that look is what he would call an outfit on his worst day. BURBERRY ON THE WORST?!!

despite all this, he can dress down but it doesn’t matter because he pulls every. fucking. thing. OFF! mans could show up in baggy sweats, a beanie, a bomber jacket, some t-shirt, and slides and STILL look like he stepped off a runway.

but he definitely loves to thrift shop. like thrift shopping > new shopping. if you wanna get good clothes at a thrift store, take taehyung with you.

honestly, he’d probably work at a thrift store. OMG! taehyung was probably able to get the university to open up a thrift store on campus with stuff other than clothes, for students to buy/donate

king. mfing. shit.

okok, moving on.

taehyung definitely joins the jazz club as a saxophonist but then he made the mistake of singing and now they tryna make him lead vocalist.

also does modeling for the fashion club on the side.

turns in all his work three days before it’s due and always makes sure it’s turned in by emailing his professors that he did so. why? because some professors be on they bullshit and he does not have the time.

is a tutor but only for art theory. that’s the only class he feels a 100% confident in to teach to another student.

namjoon is always one of the first people to see his work because tae knows that nami will genuinely appreciate it for what it is.

has art showcased everywhere in school and also collaborates with the schools graphic design team on projects sometimes.

lovessss pottery and bc he looks good while doing it, a lot of students have flocked to the elective course in hopes of seeing him there.

attends parties, mainly as one of hobi’s plus ones but is a wallflower the whole time. he’s not comfortable letting completely loose in front of a bunch of people.

joins the university’s tennis team with jin after losing in a game with the boys and the two actually end up being really good and carry the team to nationals.

would be the one to get the boys into intermural sports, like volleyball, because he knows its a way for them to stay active and spend time together.

spends time with joon and hobi in their little ‘garden’ from time to time. he’s in charge of the packing and the styling of it.

taehyung is the type of student to dabble in a bit of everything but only becomes seriously invested in a few.

↳︎ jeon jungkook

jkkkkkkkkkk

jungkook looks hard and is hard, but also incredibly soft.

being the youngest, his hyungs try to expose him to so much his first semester there. trying to get him to put himself out there.

it works...but not in the way they hoped. jk is the type to dip a toe in just about every club offered on campus, but not commit to any of them.

he’s really focused on finding himself while also being free to experience a whole lot with no obligations to anything just yet.

that doesn’t stop him from participating in things though. 9/10 if you have an event going on, just let him know and he’ll most likely attend.

he’s the kid that shows up to pretty much everything. especially when it involves food.

runs basketball drills with yoongi. helps hobi and jimin with dance rountines. listens to taehyung rehearse for an upcoming concert. listens to jin’s speech for an upcoming debate in one of his classes. indulges in namjoon’s campaign ideas or environmental proposals.

whatever you need, jk will be there to help the boys out in anyway he can. that’s partially why he ends up so involved in just about everything.

does work on his own and if he needs help, he’ll ask one of the boys for assistance.

doesn’t actually socialize with a whole lotta people. he does have a few friends his age and they have a gc called the ‘97 liners but outside of them and the boys, he’s not likely to br caught speaking to others.

bc he’s to himself, the idea of him being hardcore started spreading and when his sleeve was complete, that rumor raged like wildfire.

a nigga wears all black and has tats and all of a sudden he a bad boy 🙄

anyways, he’s not in the mix but his name is somehow always in some shit and jimin is the one to tell him so he knows what’s going on.

“wtf do you mean jennifer and i had sex last weekend? i was playing league with the boys!”

yeah. that kind of mess.

issssss DEFINITELY a class clown. but a lowkey one and he makes cheeky jokes that even get the professors cracking a smile.

turns in his homework late a lot but not bc he didn’t do it. his fucking wifi went out at the last minute of submission. so his assignments are turned in at least ten minutes past the due date. and yes, he gets points off.

borrows books from the boys when he can, but he never buys his own because jin always gets them for him 💀 they literally baby this man whenever they can.

never has any idea of whats going on in group projects. he’ll do his part, but then the day they go to present, the group wants to do some elaborate shit and jk is just like ‘that’s not what’s on this powerpoint tho’ so he just stands behind them, head empty and lost.

whenever he can, he likes to spend time writing songs ever since namjoon got him into music. he also likes drawing sketches of whatever catches his eye. maybe it’s the little bird he saw on his way to class. or maybe its a sketch of jin looking focused on his homework. sometimes it’s the next idea for his sleeve. he has a whole sketch book full of things.

during sophomore year, he does end up getting involved in the photography club and from that, realizes that he likes film and videography so he’s sometimes a director for school projects. or he’ll film highlights of sports events or a welcome intro for the school with hobi in it.

oh and he drinks banana milk daily. even got namjoon and hobi to campaign for a banana milk vending machine, but in order to make it appealing to the public they added other milk flavors too.

attends parties, also as hobi’s plus one but he always gets invited to them anyways by the hosts. since he has nothing else to do, he’s more likely to show his face here and there. def not afraid to bust a move like tae.

has a job at the tattoo shop twenty minutes from campus.

in summation, jungkook is the student who is just there. he does his work and minds his business. just truly enjoying the college life one step at a time.

*join our taglist:* @supop @olamidey @sweeneyblue1 @knjkitten @simplyskz-maya @valkryienymph @pimpnameyannie

[the-quiet-winds]

The Gravity of Tempered Grace (part eight)

[This is the end of this story, hope everyone enjoyed!]

[part one] - [part two] - [part three] - [part four] - [part five] - [part six] - [part seven]

[Part 8: Till All My Sleeves are Stained Red]

The Life and Times of Jane the Queen, Chapter 13 - The One Who Kept Her Head

“Jane’s relationship with Henry was not nearly as tumultuous as the ones that preceded her. It was filled with ups and downs, as relationships tend to do, but those highs and lows were not nearly as intense as when Henry was married to Catherine of Aragon or Anne Boleyn.

Regardless, Jane was passionate about what she believed in, and that passion would sometimes spill into arguments with Henry. Even though she was often quiet and reserved, she was no stranger to giving her husband a piece of her mind, and even breaking decorum by calling him “Henry” in front of courtiers, much to his ire.”

It’s the blinding lights that catches their eyes. 

Red and blue, flashing harshly against the darkness of the townhomes, careening down the street. 

Police aren’t an uncommon sight by any means in New York, but lights blazing down their road at almost four in the morning?

Something isn’t right.

“Jane’s in trouble,” Cathy says immediately. “It- it has to be.”

No one even stops to question her, and as soon as they’ve somehow all found shoes they’re rushing out onto the sidewalk and following the lights.

Oddly enough, the mass of police cars come to a stop only a few blocks down, and they are nearly blinding as the girls approach.

Cathy has to admit, it’s definitely not the scene she was expecting. 

Jane, completely unscathed, is leaning against the rail of one of the house stairs, talking to an officer.

Henry is in handcuffs, raging and storming and yelling all sorts of nonsense as he’s forced into a car.

Jane looks past the officer she’s speaking to and sees the other queens, all in their pajamas and whatever shoes they could find in a hurry, and she excuses herself.

She doesn’t get any words out before throwing her arms around as many of the girls as she can fit, who all reciprocate the hug in turn.

“But I thought…,” Anne starts, faltering as her gaze falls on Henry, who is glaring daggers at all of them through the back windshield of the cruiser.

“I know, I know, I’m sorry,” Jane says. For the first time since they’ve returned, there’s emotion and sincerity in her words and in her eyes. “I had to make him think I was on his side.”

“What… how did you get the cops here?” Kat asks.

“When I didn’t have my heart, I did a lot of reading,” Jane says. “It made sense, I guess, when nothing else did. When I left earlier, I wandered into our favorite bodega.”

That was just earlier this same night, they all find themselves remembering, and yet it seems like forever ago.

“There was a newspaper on the stand from yesterday,” Jane continues. “I flipped through it and found an article about a man who was wanted by Interpol for destruction of property. Specifically, destruction of property at Chapel Royal at Hampton Court. And the suspect looked ‘suspiciously like Henry the Eighth’.” 

“You knew you could get him arrested,” Catherine says.

“At the time I didn’t, because I wasn’t sure that I knew anything,” Jane quips, chuckling softly. “But when he showed up and he had my heart… I just knew it was the best thing to do.”

Cathy gasps quietly. “That’s what you meant!”

“Is this really what you want? Do you really want to go with him, despite everything?”

Jane meets Cathy’s eyes. “This is the best thing I can do.”

Jane nods. “I wanted to tell you guys. I really, really did, but I couldn’t risk giving you any clues or anything that Henry might’ve figured out. I had to get him to give me my heart back and convince him to leave with me right then. He did, so I went upstairs, called the police, and then we left.”

“Are you okay?” Anna asks, reaching out to take Jane’s hand with a soft squeeze.

The squeeze is reciprocated and Jane smiles. Really, truly smiles. “I feel better than I’ve ever felt before.”

She’s yanked, once again, into a group hug, and it isn’t until she pulls away that she sobers slightly.

“I’m really sorry,” she says.

“You don’t have to apologize,” Anna says.

“I know, I know. But I need to say this.”

No one objects further, and Jane takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you all about any of this heart business sooner. I mean… at first I didn’t know, of course, but once he was talking to me… he manipulated me, I know that now. And he made me say and do a lot of things I really regret. So I’m sorry, I guess.”

Out of everyone, it’s Anne who steps forward to speak. “I think we all owe you an apology too.”

Catherine elbows her, and Anne clears her throat sheepishly. “Okay, okay. I owe you an apology. I was really quick to dismiss anyone’s thoughts that something was off with you, which was a real dick move. I’m sorry.”

Jane gives a chuckle. “Well, I can’t blame you entirely. It’s not every day that someone suggests your housemate-slash-costar doesn’t have a heart in her chest. And I know we didn’t have the best relationship last time around.” Her eyes turn shy, just slightly. “I hope that this time it’s different.”

“I do too,” Anne says.

“This is a touching moment and all,” Kat says, “but it’s like… four in the morning. Can we go back to bed now?”

They all make their way back to the house, leaving the blinding police lights behind, and Jane feels like she can finally breathe again.

She’s too wired to sleep, though, so as everyone slinks back to their rooms for some much-needed rest, Jane finds herself seeking solace in the only other person who’s usually up this late.

“Can’t sleep either?” Cathy asks, spinning halfway around in her desk chair.

Jane shrugs and makes herself comfortable on the end of Cathy’s bed. “Just… still adjusting, I guess.”

Cathy moves to her side. “I can’t even imagine-”

“Stop, please, I don’t want your pity or anything.”

“It isn’t pity,” Cathy says honestly. “You went through something traumatic, Jane. I…,” she sighs. “You’ve gone through something that not a single other person has ever gone through. I can’t imagine how lonely that must feel.”

Jane draws her knees to her chest. “I guess I hadn’t thought about that.”

“I know that we don’t understand what you’ve been through, but we’re here for you, alright? Always.”

“I know you are. And I appreciate it, more than you think.”

Cathy smiles and bumps Jane’s shoulder with her own. “I know that Catherine is glad to have you back, but I’m just excited to get to meet you.”

“As am I. I… I’m excited to get to experience all of this for real. To have fun with you all and not wonder if something was missing.”

“We’ll make the best company we can for you and all your experiences.”

Jane grins, then yawns.

“Maybe you should get some sleep,” Cathy suggests. “You’ve had quite a night, if I do say so myself.”

Suddenly, Jane turns bashful. “Do you mind if I stay here?” She asks softly. “I really don’t want to be alone-”

“Of course you can stay here,” Cathy says. “You just make yourself comfortable.” She takes Jane’s hand. “He can’t hurt you anymore, I promise.”

Jane pulls her into a hug, and when they pull apart, Cathy helps Jane get comfortable in the bed.

It doesn’t take long at all for Jane to pass out, the exhaustion of the night all catching up with her at once, and Cathy returns to her desk.

She clicks through a few things on her laptop before stumbling upon her email, where she has an unread message from “Boleyn.”

It’s actually from herself - she had emailed a link to Jane’s biography to her personal computer in case she needed to do some further reading, but it seems now that Jane is back to the way she should be.

Still, though, even as Cathy clicks the link and skims the first few paragraphs of the book, something doesn’t feel right.

This isn’t Jane’s story. Not the way it should be told, at least.

Cathy closes the tab, pulls up a new document, and begins to type.

The Life and Times of Jane the Queen, Chapter 1 - The Return of a Monarch.

[ladyherenya]

This was more-books-than-sometimes month, because rather than take the time to write about the books I'd finished, I just read more books! Also, I read a lot over the Easter break, including some shorter books and a very binge-able series.

Also read: Two-Step and Someone Like Me by Stephanie Fournet, Hooked by Cathy Yardley, “Cloudy with a Chance of Dropbears” and “All the Different Shades of Blue” by W.R. Gingell, and “Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory” by Martha Wells.

Reread: A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer.

Total: nineteen novels (including two audiobooks and one reread), one novella collection, two novellas, two novelettes and one short story.

Cover thoughts: Bellewether’s blue cover is (unsurprisingly) my favourite. I also really like The Ghosts of Sherwood. 

Still reading: A Portrait of Loyalty by Roseanna M. White and Playing Hearts by W.R. Gingell.

Next up: Torch by R.J. Anderson.

My full reviews are on Dreamwidth and LibraryThing.

*

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn (narrated by Saskia Maarleveld): Historical mystery about three young women who worked at Bletchley Park during WWII.

My favourite out of the books I’ve read so far this year. Most of the narrative is set during the war, but interspersed with sections set in 1947 -- when Beth, in a sanitarium after a breakdown, has sent her two estranged friends a coded message begging for help. I loved this, but at times found it stressful and heartbreaking! The writing is so lively and effective and emotional. 4½ ★

 *

Castle Charming by Tansy Raynor Roberts: Fairytale retellings, collection of novellas.

A very entertaining and a somewhat different take on fairytales, focusing on the reporters, Royal Hounds and royalty at Castle Charming. Some of the character dynamics felt similar to those in Roberts’ Unreal Alchemy although I didn’t feel quite as attached to these characters. I’ll read the sequel. 3 ★ 

*

Bellewether by Susanna Kearsley: Historical and contemporary fiction, set in Long Island during the so-called Seven Years War in 1759 and the present day.

Alternates between a curator overseeing turning a house in a museum and some of the house’s previous occupants, including a French-Canadian Lieutenant awaiting hostage exchange. Despite the various tensions the characters face, there’s something slow and ultimately gentle about this story. Which is lovely --  I enjoyed the picturesque sense of place and astute observations of people -- but it is less dramatic than I was expecting. 3½ ★

*

Happy Trail by Daisy Prescott: Contemporary romance, set on the Appalachian Trail.

A park ranger and a hiker shelter together during a storm. I was fascinated by the insight into hiking the Appalachian Trail and enjoyed some of the characters’ interactions, although I thought the way the romance unfolded was somewhat anticlimactic. Not always what I wanted, but I don't regret reading it.

*

Legacy by Stephanie Fournet: Contemporary enemies-to-roommates-to-lovers.

Wes offers to move in with his late-best friend’s girlfriend to help her out financially. This sort of hurt/comfort appeals to me. I liked how seriously this story takes Corinne’s messy, consuming grief. I don’t really want to spend any more time with the characters, but I was very invested in seeing them reach a better place in their lives.

Two-Step by Stephanie Fournet: Contemporary romance between an actress and a dance instructor. I enjoyed reading this. I particularly enjoyed how Beau helps Iris with her anxiety about dancing and with her controlling mother/manager. He’s very supportive and understanding! But I finished this with a niggling feeling of dissatisfaction -- Iris needed more opportunity to support Beau in turn.

Someone Like Me by Stephanie Fournet: Contemporary romance between a yoga instructor and her new neighbour, who has just got out of prison.

This one didn’t particularly appeal to me. Although interesting to see the experiences of someone recently released from prison, the romance developed too quickly.

(No, I didn’t read all three of these back-to-back!)

*

Hooked by Cathy Yardley: Contemporary fandom-y romance novella, set near Seattle. Takes place during Level Up and is about two of Tessa’s colleagues.

I enjoyed the characters' interactions and would have liked this more if it hadn't felt rushed. 

*

The Ghosts of Sherwood by Carrie Vaughn: Historical Robin Hood retelling, novella.

Exactly what I wanted! It alternates between Robin and Marian’s eldest daughter, Mary, and Marian herself. I liked seeing Robin and Marian as a long-married couple, who still love each other and still have disagreements. And the dynamic between their children gave me a zing of recognition, reminding me of my siblings. 3½ ★

*

The City Between by W.R. Gingell: Australian YA urban fantasy (murder) mysteries. Set in Hobart.

I ended up enjoying this series so much more than I’d expected to!

Between Jobs: After a neighbour is murdered, our seventeen-year-old orphaned narrator acquires some unexpected housemates -- two fae, one vampire. Once I got past the opening, with its tales of murder, the worldbuilding intrigued me. I still wasn’t sure what I thought about her housemates or the fact that they call her “Pet”, but was willing to reserve judgement until I’d read more. 3 ★

Between Shifts: About supermarket shifts and shapeshifters. Pet and JinYeong go undercover at the local grocery store. This is a reasonable murder mystery. I was initially disappointed with how something played out (but in retrospect can see how that was actually a positive development for Pet). It ended on a cliffhanger, so I was extra motivated to start the next book. 2½ ★

Between Floors: This is where the series took off, because things suddenly get personal! One of her fae housemates has been captured and the closest any of them get to finding Athelas is Pet contacting him in her dreams.This raises a lot of interesting questions, not just about Pet’s abilities, but about her relationship with her housemates. How much does she trust them and how much do they value Pet’s personhood? 3½ ★

Between Frames: Pet’s housemates are hired to investigate a series of fae deaths around Hobart, which involves scrutinising some baffling security footage.  Another solid murder mystery.  The final pages felt like one step forward, two steps back, but yet again, in retrospect, this was a positive development. I’m glad I could dive immediately into the next book. 3 ★

Between Homes: Pet has moved in with some friends. Hurray for Pet having friends! I think this was the point where I started to feel comfortable with Pet calling herself Pet -- when it's the name used by people she likes and trusts and who don’t view her as a pet at all. 3½ ★

“Cloudy with a Chance of Dropbears” (novelette): An awesome title and an entertaining opportunity to see Pet from someone else’s perspective -- moreover, someone who doesn’t know her or what she’s capable of. 3 ★

Between Walls: Pet’s friend Morgana is worried about an online friends and asks Pet and co to investigate his disappearance. Along the way, they discover that there are human groups who actually know a lot about Behindkind. I am also becoming increasingly entertained by the Korean vampire. 3 ★

“All the Different Shades of Blue” (novelette): A great cover and it explains who that guy at the cafe is, but otherwise didn’t really do anything Cloudy with a Chance of Dropbears hadn’t already done -- ie., show us Pet from someone else’s perspective. Most of the time, I have enjoyed this series all the more for binging it, but I suspect this particular story would have worked better if I had read it after a period of absence. 2½ ★

Between Cases:  My favourite of these have been the ones where things get personal, and this involves a lot of revelations about who Pet is -- from a fae perspective -- and why her parents were murdered. I enjoyed this one a lot. 3½ ★

*

The Duke of Olympia Meets His Match by Juliana Gray: Historical espionage romance novella, set in 1893 onboard an ocean liner travelling to England. Apparently not the Duke’s first appearance in Gray’s fiction.

I liked the idea here much better than the execution. I liked Penelope, a fifty-year-old widow dependent upon her position as a governess, and I enjoyed her interactions with the older Duke of Olympia. But parts of the spy plot were rushed or confusing, and the resolution was almost-but-not-entirely satisfying. 2½ ★

*

A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer: Fantasy. Follows on from the fairytale-retelling A Curse So Dark and Lonely and its sequel, A Heart So Fierce and Broken.

If this is meant as a conclusion to a trilogy, then the ending was a bit too anticlimactic, with a few too many loose ends, to be really satisfying. But I reached the end feeling positive about the story, because I really enjoyed the characters’ interactions. All of the protagonists have to deal with conflict in relationships. I loved the times when they each navigate these conflicts by acting fairly and communicating honestly, when doing so is often difficult and complicated. That’s realistic and satisfying. 3½ ★

*

“Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory” by Martha Wells:  Science-fiction short story. Part of The Murderbot Diaries series, set after Exit Strategy.

Very, very short but I really liked seeing things from Dr Ayda Mensah’s (third person) perspective. 3½ ★

*

Emily of Deep Valley by Maud Hart Lovelace: Historical coming-of-age fiction, set in Minnesota in 1912-3.

I am very glad to finally have read this! It’s delightful, a fascinating insight into community life in a Minnesotan town, and it effectively captures the emotional experience of navigating a period of transition. After high school, Emily’s friends  leave for college, but Emily has to find her own path to purposefully fill her time, build connections and further her education. 4 ★

*

On Wings of Devotion by Roseanna M. White (narrated by Susan Lyons): Romantic historical mystery, set in London during 1918. Christian fiction. Features characters from The Number of Love.

Arabelle Denler is a nurse working in a London hospital; Phillip Camden is an airman now working for British Intelligence. I enjoyed their interactions, especially once they start to get to know each other. I didn’t like the antagonist’s contribution to this narrative -- between the dangers of wartime and the protagonists’ respective issues, there’s enough tension without her. But what I enjoyed about this story outweighed what I didn’t. 3½ ★

*

Our Darkest Night by Jennifer Robson: Historical fiction set during the Nazi occupation of Italy in WWII.

Nina, a young Jewish woman from Venice, goes into hiding by pretending she’s married to Nico, a Catholic farmer. Robson’s strength lies in pairing details of daily life with likeable characters, realistic dialogue and a sweet romance. I read this quickly and eagerly. But if the characters had been more nuanced, more complex, or if their emotions had been conveyed more vividly, I likely would have found reading this a more emotional experience. 3½ ★

[lit-in-thy-heart]

you know what, what's the point of being on this platform if you don't get to bellow into the void about your interests in the hope of finding someone with the same interest?

in light of this, let me inflict a lowdown of the victorian literature (mostly novels because poetry is difficult to collate) that i've read for my module this year upon my mutuals

i'll do a separate one for vampire novels and reblog with the link

because what are the victorians without vampires? straight

bleak house (dickens): what a ride that was! yes, it was nearly a thousand pages and, yes, some chapters i was like can we move on please, but that's dickens for you. honestly, i loved it. if you're looking for thinly-veiled lesbianism, this is the book for you (esda all the way, if they even have a ship name). unfortunately i already knew one of the plot twists due to watching dickensian five years before, but there are plenty more to go around! if you can get through the first chapter describing nothing but fog and the law courts, you're in for one hell of a treat -- just don't google anything about it until you've finished because you will get spoiled (or don't share a house with me, where i'll tell you the entire plot as i'm reading it). definitely recommend, but marking it down for the heteronormativity with allan. (9.5/10)

villette (c. brontë): where to fucking start. i, quite frankly, do not care for charlotte brontë, and when reading the earlier novel agnes grey by anne, i could see some more things that charlotte has filched for this travesty. no victorian novel is going to be without problems, but this one was xenophobic, ableist and, of course, racist. the protagonist doesn't really give anything away, which is meant to make her more mysterious, but it just renders her an empty vessel. oh, and she tells you stuff that she's figured out waaaaaay after she says she's figured it out, a bit like she's allowing you to feel smart for making a connection before going 'oh yeah i knew that like twelve chapters ago, keep up'. some of the passages are really striking and there's maybe one character who's likeable but that's about it. i'd say it's more a story of omission than repression tbh. (4/10)

janet's repentance (eliot): wait, have i even finished this? no, no, i have not. it's fine, i wasn't going to tell you the ending anyway. i did get hooked eventually, there were just a LOT of names thrown around in the first few chapters, and a word that i didn't know was used frequently (turns out it was a name for the followers of this guy). i did get strong hester prynne/arthur dimmesdale vibes from some of the main characters, but janet is a very sympathetic character which, after reading villette, was nice. slightly depressing in some places, but a good enough read if you're not cramming it in the day before your tutorial, because it is mildly dense. (7/10)

the wonderful adventures of mrs seacole in many lands (seacole): not what i'd been expecting to read on my module, what with it being a biography, but enjoyable nonetheless. horrible histories lied to me, though, she was in her 40s/50s when she treated people in the crimean war, not in her 20s, but that's minor. it was actually quite funny??? like she was very reluctant to give away to give away her age and almost slipped up a couple of times, and also made some very biting remarks about people who were passing comment on her skin colour. for a biography, it wasn't hugely biographical, in that she was married for what seemed all of five minutes before her husband died, when in fact they were married for several years, but if you want an in-depth depiction of war, this is for you. not what i'd usually read, but some of the descriptions are so vivid that it does read like a novel in places, though sometimes the descriptions were so detailed that i did tune out at odd intervals. (9/10)

the happy prince and other stories (wilde): if you're feeling low, don't read these. don't. especially not 'the nightingale and the rose', because that was honestly heartbreaking. really well-written, some passages were just beautiful, i just wasn't in the right headspace to fully appreciate it. it also has a lot of death, i should probably explicitly say that. (8/10)

agnes grey (a. brontë): chef's kiss, honestly. if i'd read this last year then i think it definitely would have hit a lot harder, what with agnes moving away from home for the first time and struggling with loneliness around people who she is different from. beautifully written, i'm irritated at myself for not reading it sooner, even though i've owned a copy for about four years or so. agnes does come across as a bit wet sometimes, but those moments are rare and far between, she's overall a resilient character who is trying to make her own way in the world. seeing as i managed to get through the whole thing and didn't lose focus on what i was reading, i rate it higher than jane eyre (which is a rip-off of this anyway). we stan anne. though i am marking it down for the underdeveloped romantic relationship that just pops up (9.5/10)

now for some old classics that weren't taught on my module, but i can't not mention them

a tale of two cities (dickens): this was my first dickens book and oh my word what a book. yeah, okay, lucie is a bit of a wet dishcloth and has basically no personality, but there is definitely something there between her and her maid. sydney is my baby and oh so gorgeously dramatic ("you have kindled me, heap of ashes that i am, into fire"), which was perfect for the pangs of unrequited love. the plot is slightly confusing, and you don't really understand everything until right near the end, but i loved finding parallels in the chapters set in france with the chapters set in britain. oh and the showdown between miss pross and madame defarge is wonderful. i had a tradition of reading it on the run-up to christmas, just because that was the period when i read it for the first time, but i haven't done that for the past two years just because of exams and stuff. now, bleak house just pips it at the post, but i still love it dearly. (9/10)

wuthering heights (e. brontë): i couldn't review victorian literature and not include this. there are very strong similarities between this and villette (seems charlotte really drew on her sisters' work), particularly in terms of me not liking a single one of the characters except hareton. everyone is called cathy. literally. and heathcliff/cathy one is a toxic ship that should not be boarded. it is obsession, not love. the second volume is basically a repeat of the first one, thus showing that humanity will never move past its vices and will be caught in a vicious cycle of self-destruction for the rest of time. again, though, beautifully and vividly written. the characters are the type that you love to hate. (8/10)

the tenant of wildfell hall (a. brontë): what. a. book. this was a book that was simultaneously loved and condemned as scandalous when it came out. there's mystery, there's a woman escaping a horrible situation and making her own living, and there's a well-developed relationship! and the characters are likeable (i love rose, she's great, completely goes off at her brother when she has to do things for him all the time), which always puts it onto a winner. there's one chapter with gilbert that i have to skip just because i hate what he does in it. there are quite a lot of religious references, with redemption playing a huge part in the novel, but even the religious views brontë expresses went against a lot of the teachings of the anglican church at the time. do i even need to say that it's beautifully written if it's anne? marking it down for gilbert's behaviour and arguable control of helen's narrative. (9.5/10)

far from the madding crowd (hardy): i love this book. a little more uplifting than tess but still with the drama and murder you'd expect from hardy. maybe my review is influenced by my tiny crush on bathsheba: she's not the best role model but damn what a woman. gabriel isn't quite bae but i love him all the same, i'm so glad he's happy in the end. (9/10)

[intheseautumnhands]

Sorting The Last 5 Years

Hello I’m back with yet more tiny fandom sorting because I have Thoughts and also, Feelings. Let’s talk about The Last 5 Years, which has ranked consistently among my favorite all-time musicals for so very, very long, and has such great characters for dissecting.

First some brief housekeeping: This is based specifically off the script for the stage show, and the cast recording version by Norbert Leo Butz and Sherie Rene Scott in 2002. I have not been lucky enough to see this live. I also promise no consistency with the movie because I just... nope, sorry, don’t like it. I think I remember things being consistent enough that this’d probably be good for both, but I’m not gonna try to include movie-based thoughts.

Second: I am not purposefully getting into the great “who was at fault” debate but I think my thoughts on them as characters makes it clear that I think both of them have flaws, and that while Jamie crossed a lot more lines at the end, neither of them are blameless for the relationship’s issues. SHC is always kinda YMMV, but even moreso than usually, if you’re really biased towards one side or the other, we probably read these characters very differently. Which is cool and I’d love to hear other opinions! But I will not be surprised if we disagree somewhere along the line.

I’m going to do this slightly different than usual -- since we’ve only got two characters to talk about, and I want to discuss how their houses bounce off each other, I’m going to go by house instead of discussing by character. In addition, I’m going to go Secondary first, because I have a lot I want to say about their Primaries.

Secondaries

In his second song of the show, Jamie tells us exactly how he approaches life: 

But I say no, no, whatever I do I barrel on through, and I don’t complain No matter what I try, I’m flying full speed ahead.... Things might get bumpy, but Some people analyze every details Some people stall when they can’t see the trail Some people freeze out of fear that they’ll fail But I keep rolling on

If I had to pull out one singular moment to crystallize how he approaches things, that’d be it. Jamie doesn’t bother to stop and consider or change his approach. He sees what he wants, and he goes for it, and he’s lucky enough that that works out really, really well for him. And even when it’s a response to hardship, that’s still his approach. Just look at I Could Never Rescue You: so we could fight, or we could wait, or I could go. He decides there’s nothing else worth trying, calls someone else to help him leave, and goes.

Even when it’s not the best idea right now, when tempering what he has to say might help him get what he wants (If I Didn’t Believe In You) he doesn’t do it.  Jamie charges, he’s stubborn, he’s set on what he wants -- he’s a pretty intense Lion, in other words.

Cathy tries to go after what she wants, too, but she ends up with several more obstacles in her way. While a lot of that is luck of the draw, she’s also a little more hesitant overall. Look at her running internal monologue throughout Climbing Uphill, second-guessing every decision (why’d I pick these shoes, why’d I pick this song, why’d I pick this career).  In The Schmuel Song Jamie alludes to the same hesitance: maybe it’s just that you’re afraid to go out onto a limb(-o-vitch), maybe your heart’s completely swayed but your head can’t follow through.

She comes off as having that preparedness of a foundational Secondary -- I don’t see any hints of the breathless charge and certainty of a Lion, or the adaptability of a Snake. I honestly think either Bird or Badger would be suitable for her, and could easily be played into in either direction depending on small acting choices.

Absent of other interpretations, I’m going to lean Bird, off that line from Jamie above and some of the little nuances of Sherie’s performances. There’s a lot of frustration that this all isn’t coming more easily that, while it probably has a lot to do with how easily things have come to Jamie, also leans me away from Badger a little bit; but she’s clearly not unwilling to put in the work, and I could absolutely see that interpretation working just as well.

Primaries

Interestingly, Cathy is outright stated as having the traditional Snake-y trait: don’t you think that now’s a good time to be the ambitious freak you are? That’s not why I’m going to say that Cathy’s a Snake Primary, and Jamie’s clearly got ambitions too, but it does make me smile a little.

Loyalist Cathy’s earliest (timeline-wise) songs are so full of Snake wrap-myself-up-in-my-favorite-person sentiments and lines. Goodbye until tomorrow, goodbye until the rest of my life, and I have been waiting, I have been waiting for you. You don’t have to change a thing, just stay with me. I want you and you and nothing but you, miles and piles of you. I don’t mean to put on any pressure, but I know when a thing is right. Once Jamie’s in her life, that’s it, he’s a priority. It is heartbreaking to go back over this show and realize how much more of what Cathy says is directly about Jamie than the other way around.

Even later on, after we get the first tiny signs of tension, it’s still there. In The Next Ten Minutes: I don’t know why people run, I don’t know why things fall through, I don’t know how anybody survives in this life without someone like you. I could protect and preserve, I could say no and good bye -- but why, Jamie, why? In Summer in Ohio: I found my guiding light, I tell the stars each night, look at me, look at him -- son of a bitch, I guess I’m doing something right.

It’s not even the first time she’s done this. In I Can Do Better Than That, she talks about a previous relationship in the same terms: I gave up my life for the better part of a year. When Cathy gets serious about someone, she makes them her priority,

And that’s what she gets, until that’s all she has, and she lashes out with the exact same thing she wanted at the beginning: you and you, and nothing but you, miles and piles of you. And I don’t think it’s because she didn’t actually want it. It’s because she thought it would be less one-sided.

Because idealist Jamie does put her high in his priorities, but he doesn’t put her first in the same, fixated way. Jamie’s instinctual and set-on-his-decisions Lion Primary chafes against Cathy’s expectation that he’ll put her above what he wants, fed into by that charging, bold instinct from his Secondary.

Which is not to say that Cathy isn’t important to Jamie. But the downfall in their relationship is that what that looks like is so different between the two of them, and they never figure out how to meet middle ground. They’re both unreliable, biased narrators in this story, and neither of them see what the other needs.

A while back, I talked about how different Primaries love. Jamie and Cathy could be case studies in what I said there, and especially in how that love can go bad.

Lion Jamie sees that they both have big dreams, and encourages Cathy to push her way forward on her dreams: Shouldn’t I want the world to see the brilliant girl who inspired me?... Stop temping, and go and be happy! He uses the thing that is most important to him -- his writing -- to encourage her, show her that he sees her hesitance and he believes in her. And when they’re having problems, he puts the blame on how her dreams are going first: Is it just that you’re disappointed to be touring again for the summer? Did you think this would all be much easier than it’s turned out to be?

And that’s where we get, I think, one of the biggest highlights of how they misunderstand each other: If I’m cheering on your side, Cathy, why can’t you support mine? Cathy feels unsupported, Cathy feels like everything has become all about Jamie -- but Jamie feels the same way. The kind of support they need is different, and neither of them see it.

(Even at the height of their love story, the one moment they’re at the same page, The Next Ten Minutes, it says so much to me that Jamie keeps getting these lines about a bigger picture that he and Cathy are just part of: there are so many dreams I need to see with you -- not dreams about them, dreams they can see come true together. I will never change the world, until, I do.)

And Jamie withdraws, and takes her more and more for granted, and steamrolls over her both accidentally -- A Part of That, and Cathy’s fierce declaration of I will not be the girl who gets asked how it feels to be trotting along at the genius’ heels getting disproven in front of her eyes -- and then purposefully, when he decides it’s time to stop trying.

Meanwhile, Snake Cathy sees that as the betrayal. She puts him first, makes him the priority, and when she doesn’t get that in return, she sees it as everything being about Jamie instead of the balance being equal. Fed into by her own ambitions going unfulfilled despite her own best efforts, she clings tighter, until he feels suffocated by it: all that I ask for is one little corner, one private room at the back of my heart, tell her I found one, she sends out battalions to claim it and blow it apart.

Until Jamie leaves, and Cathy is left bitter by it: Jamie is probably feeling just fine. Jamie decides it’s his right to decide. Run away, like it’s simple, like it’s right. Because to her steady, solid foundational Secondary and person-focused Snake, Jamie’s impulsive choice and quick action is cowardice at best, proof he doesn’t care as much at worst.

In summary:

Cathy Hiatt is a Snake Primary/foundational Secondary, either works with the text, but based on OCR, likely Bird.

Jamie Wellerstein is a Double Lion.

And Cathy’s person-first version of support VS Jamie’s dreams-first version of support, and their lack of understanding what each other is trying to provide and needs to recieve, is the entire crux of why their relationship fails, with some help from their uneven amounts of luck in their dream careers.