#character study: blaine

[klaineineverylifetime]

Andante, Andante

Title: Andante, Andante (2020)

Author: fionapear

Words: 15k;  POV: Burt,  Rating: G/T

Summary: Burt settles himself down in the chair of the vanity, peering up at the wall-mount TV at the movie. He fishes in his pocket for the piece of paper from the restaurant earlier. His fortune cookie fortune reads: “With time comes understanding.” It feels a little apt, even if he can’t place exactly why. (Or: In which Burt Hummel, slowly, begrudgingly, grows to accept Blaine's presence in his life.)

Review: This is a roughly canon compliant look at the end of season two into the summer as Blaine slowly integrates himself into the Hummel-Hudson fold. There are road trips, beach outings, backyard bbqs and one particularly poignant heart-to-heart which includes some of the most accurate Blaine dialogue I’ve ever read (you could hear the words come out of his mouth, see his gestures of resignation, feel his well-worn defeat!) I’ll admit it made me a little weepy and let’s be real: Burt POV outsells EVERY time.

[porcelainvino]

some gleeple studies

[kurtsascot]

Rating: Teen

Words: 4,200

Summary:

There’s a jolt. A crunching sound. The back wheels lift, and Blaine slams on the brake. Kurt’s holding the handle above his door and looking over his shoulder with a wild expression. “Oh my God-“ he sputters, shaking his head. “I-“ “You just backed into that snow bank, didn’t you.” It’s not a question. The answer is yes. The backend of his Prius is covered in snow. All Blaine sees in his rearview mirror is white.

or: where kurt teaches blaine how to drive sometime between 2x16 and 2x18, and i try make sense of season 2 blaine

[d-criss-news]

How Maybe Happy Ending Became the Surprise Hit of the Broadway Season

DO ANDROIDS DREAM? The leads of Broadway's Maybe Happy Ending: Darren Criss, in Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello, and Helen J Shen in Michael Kors Collection. Swarovski ring. Hair, Edward Lampley; makeup, Kuma. Photographed by Norman Jean Roy. Fashion Editor: Edward Bowleg III. Vogue, March 2025.

---------- Bringing the androids to life, as it were, are stage veteran Darren Criss and Broadway newcomer Helen J Shen. Backstage in his dressing room before curtain, Criss, 37, is bursting with chattiness, hazel eyes flashing and ring-laden fingers aflutter. He credits much of Maybe Happy Ending’s success to its extensive Korean incubation, comparing it to a nearly decade-long out-of-town tryout. “The level of nuance we focused on from the beginning is stuff that you don’t typically get until months in the weeds,” he says. “The trial and error has been happening long before us,” says Shen, who’s 24 but could easily pass for far younger, sitting serenely in a Winnie-the-Pooh sweatshirt. A classically trained pianist who competed internationally before studying theater performance at the University of Michigan (where Criss is also an alum), Shen has had a busy 2024, starring off-Broadway in The Lonely Few and Teeth. Meanwhile Criss is best known for the five seasons he spent as the endearingly charming, openly gay Blaine Anderson on Fox’s Glee. For this performance as an android with creakier movements than Shen’s, he drew on something he’d never put to use professionally: his college semester spent studying commedia dell’arte in Italy. “Stereotypical modern acting is about what you don’t see, and what I’m doing here is what you do see,” Criss says. His robot had been programmed to display unsubtle emotions: happy face, sad face, surprised face. These expressions and Criss’s faintly wooden physicality, inspired by the harlequin figure, “immediately make people more willing to connect to the show’s nonrealness,” he says. In rehearsals, he kept top of mind a note from Arden: “Just because it doesn’t feel real doesn’t make it not true.”

GROUP INTELLIGENCE Shen and Criss are joined in the cast by Dez Duron (center left) and Marcus Choi (center right). Costume design by Clint Ramos. Hair and wig design, Craig Franklin Miller; makeup, Suki Tsujimoto.

Underscoring that feeling of unreality is the shape-shifting set, involving a rotating turntable, proscenium LED tiles, and hologram-like projections. “The backstage mechanics are so unbelievably intricate,” Arden says. “My hope is that it’s working so well the audience doesn’t even notice.” The set was inspired by how we consume media on our phones; Arden estimates that the show spends more time in a vertical orientation than horizontal. Likewise, switching between sliding rooms on tracks emulates the effect of swiping on a personal device, and simple theatrical techniques like irising, created with black panels and neon, mimic how we pinch and zoom. Another influence was manga, which can tell big stories briskly, gracefully pushing readers from one image to another. The emphasis was on containing and focusing the audience’s point of view, Arden explains. “I wanted to take the audience on an adventure, leaving more to their imagination rather than trying to show everything.” Within those silently whizzing frames is a comforting, retro future-scape that the director compares to 2001: A Space Odyssey. “There’s this mix of cold futurism with warm sentimentality that’s also present in the score,” Arden says of the set. “You’re watching a classic Burt Bacharach musical, even though we’re driving a flying car.” The team has been floored by the rabid army of fans. Dubbed Fireflies, after a magical moment in the show, they range from repeat viewers dressing up as their favorite characters to those creating art inspired by HwaBoon, the emotional-support potted plant that many find the production’s low-key true star. (Arden calls her “a fabulous silent diva” who appeals to wallflowers in the audience.) A significant portion of those waiting by the stage door to meet the cast are Asian American, and while nearly all the actors in this production are also of Asian American descent, Shen shies from labeling the show narrowly. “It’s important to mark accomplishments, but whenever we put that pressure on to be a mouthpiece for any group of people that is multifaceted and contradictory and complicated, it’s going to fail.” Although actors of various races and ethnicities have previously portrayed the robots, almost every production has been set in Seoul. Yet Criss maintains “the show is as distinctly Korean as Romeo and Juliet is distinctly Italian...It’s where we set our scene, and some aspects of the show might spring from the culture.” (South Korea has the world’s highest density of robot workers.) “But it’s a story with universal themes: We all live, we all end, we all, hopefully, at some point, love or are loved.” The offbeat premise and ingenious staging prove that no algorithm can yet prescribe a hit Broadway musical. “As we enter into this world of AI, theater is one of the last completely human-made, -operated, -performed, and -received art forms,” Arden notes. “And that’s why we go to the theater—to learn something new about what it is to be alive.” How delightful that it’s possible in a musical about robots.

[yaminobean]

Thank u! I'm not alone in thinking that Blaine's behavior with Frederick and everyone else was fake. I kind of caught on to that side of Blaine very early in the story. And the lack of him not being told off for his behavior and being praised for it rubbed me the wrong way. I was too scared to say anything because most of everyone felt immediately bad when it's revealed that Leland was abusing them. But I feel like fans have forgotten that just because an abuser was or is being abused doesn't excuse their actions. In your previous posts you said that most of Frederick's problems are with Blaine. Being gaslit and the scape goat for the older sibling's mistakes has given Blaine a major narcissist and misconstrued view of the world. He believes that he can do know wrong and that if things go bad for him then it's someone else's fault.

But don't worry, my main fic is definitely going to delve into that and give him some humility. And because that'll take a while, I have a current 2 parter fic idea that's...... Just the Most.

Keep an eye out for it in Friends and family can be found in the most unlikely of Places.

Y'know, I ended up rereading some of the series to make something, and I'm now starting to realize that Blaine is massive d***.

Even if you exclude the gaslighting and beating of Frederick, he's a total jerk to literally everyone. He basically bullies Dandridge (I'm probably spelling that wrong), because he has a crush on a girl. He's really egotistical, and has this holier than thou attitude with almost everyone, including his own family. He is a smug d*** in the worst way possible, and I'm saying that as a proud smug jerk, so you know it's bad. He lectures everyone else, and his inflated ego just makes me angry. I have no idea how I didn't notice this on the first read, but I'm noticing it now, and I'm pissed off that this borderline narcissistic behavior gets encouraged by everyone around him for almost the whole series. You could say that the recital was him comeuppance, but after it he gets comforted by Maria like he isn't a total b****. He's just so vindictive, he has an inflated ego the size of Jupiter, and he treats everyone around him like inferiors.

And again, this is almost completely excluding his relationship with Frederick. His holier than thou attitude is blown up to monstrous proportions whenever he talks with him. He beats Frederick, calls him names, and gaslights him, while still thinking that he's some perfect angel and that Frederick is at fault for everything. He's so hypocritical with Frederick, saying horrible things to his face, and then hitting him for saying something remotely similar about Gwen. He rats Frederick to their father, who he's said himself that he doesn't feel same around, for literally no reason other than spite. He treats his own brother like a god damn cockroach and it's encouraged by the narrative. Considering all that's happening to Frederick over a single insult, I'm franky offended by how Blaine and narcissistic, self centered attitude, not only goes completely unpunished, but gets encouraged. Later in there series, when they reconnect, there is no change whatsoever from Blaine. Sure he starts kinda thinking of Frederick better, but he doesn't try to treat him any better. I mean, he doesn't treat Frederick like a cockroach anymore, but he really doesn't treat him much better. He still talked to Frederick like he's some inferior being that he has to push along. And Frederick is just expected to play along. Frederick did agree to the marriages, but I think I know how Blaine would have reacted if he didn't. Blaine would have forced two LITTERAL CHILDREN to get married and spend the rest of their lives chained together, because he's Blaine, and Blaine is the only important person on the planet and everyone are inferior being looking up to their god in hopes of guidance. "Oh, who cares that they're 17? Let's get married!" "Oh, who cares that Frederick is afraid of Gwen and flinching when she makes sudden movements? Gwen is lovely and Frederick deserves to get beaten and coerced into child marriage by his own family, and this is absolute and right because I am Blaine and I think so and I an always right and Frederick is always wrong because I am a perfect angel sent from heaven and Frederick is just a dog at my heal."

In conclusion: BLAINE IS A FUCKING BITCH

[joanthangroff]

fic rec - best of 2024

I haven't done one in ages so i thought [mariah carey voice] IT'S TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMEEEEEEEE. These are my fave fics from 2024 + two or three I read in 2025 already but I wanted to include them :)

Arrowverse

Once More, Mr. Queen by mybrotherharry

Olicity but turly mostly a genfic with a character study on Oliver!! The monitor makes Oliver travel to different universes to make sure the Ollies from there also become the Green Arrow. Shows different paths Oliver's life could have gone and how much he's grown. i loved it!!

Sacrifice by MaddyBaby

Genfic with a focus on Barry's and Hartley's friendship!! Set in season two when Barry travels back to the events of Hartley's first appearance. In the new timeline created by this, they're friends only that Barry doesn't know and has some trauma from the time Hartley wanted to kill him <3

Cold Storage by @sproutwings

Iris gets locked in a freezer and hallucinations of Snart help her get out of there. But maybe it's actually been him? Set Post-Oculus.

Partial Disclosure by RetroactiveCon

Hartmon bonding!!! Over queerphobia, too lmao. They're still at each other's throats but realise they have a lot more in common than they thought. Trans!cisco my beloved.

An Honest Thief by @sophiainspace

Coldwest team-up!!!! Polyamory!!!! Aromantic!Iris!!!!!! Coldflash!!!! Iconic Mick behaviour!! What more can I say????

The Memories That Hold Us Back by Cogentranting

Set after the Arrow finale where Oliver brought Tommy back to life. He's Mia's uncle and THEY'RE FAMILY. I love them.

Other DC

Perfect Paradise, Tearing at the Seams by McKat

Payneland fic with a truth spell!! Crystal buys a hexed necklace from Tragic Mick and when Charles accidentally touched it, he has to tell the truth.

heartbreak is one thing, my ego's another by @artemisadore

Catwin with SPOT-ON characterization!!! Edwin stops Thomas when he trashes his ex's car, only to find out that they have the same ex. To make him regret fucking them over (and for other reasons) they start fake-dating :)

myself and this body that they stuck me in by @misspickman

Kon has a few realizations about his gender hehehe

straight on 'til morning by @mamawasatesttube

Big brother Kon realizes that throughout his life he has been treated uhhhhh horribly?? And learns to talk about it

Other fandoms

the fubb cinematic universe by @tkffyrpntsndjckt

The most unhinged chatfic i have ever read I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!! Basically a rewrite of glee starting during ?? season 3 i think?? Blaine doesn't go to McKinley but stayed at Dalton, he and Sebastian are besties. Sebastian used to be Kurt's roommate at Dalton. so many shenanigans. someone dies. someone goes braindead. hilarity and craziness en masse. i had the time of my life reading this

white christmas by @lalalenii

you may think i'm biased but it really!!!! is that good!!!!! leni plays with formatting in the best way. like you FEEL the pauses while you read and it's so awesome. but robert please stop taking drugs

L'Chaim by sebastian2017

Erik's life and how he has been influenced by being a Jew. It's so so good and has so many gutpunches

A Book Half Unread by @jakeluppin

I still don't properly go here because i'm stuck in 911 s1 BUUUUTTTTT we love buddie in this house. and ezra put so much love into this because being a librarian is ezra's passion and you can FEEL it. it's so good. i love how dorky they are. and chris and buck's friendship is just so cute

The Line of Thought by @shotbyafool

Typical House MD episode tbh. The ducklings meddle with House's private life and he decides to play tricks on them. Unfortunately, he enlists Wilson to help him

The Live Forever Job by jessikast

Leverage/The Old Guard crossover!!!! It's so good and placed perfectly tbh.

[spaceorphan18]

If you had to cast the Bridgerton actors into glee 09-15 as special guests stars, have you any thoughts on who any of them could be? I could see Jonathan Bailey as a cousin of someone, maybe Blaine (and bring back Cooper) or Rachel. Or pick a Bridgerton actor as love interest for any of the glee characters? Or a mother figure or mad teacher?

So. I thought about this all the way to and all the way from my doctor's appointment today. And the more I thought about it, the more fun I had with it, lol! I have soooo many thoughts, so you're getting a whole bunch of ideas, Nonny!

Btw, I realized that the Bridgerton actors are, on average, younger than the Glee cast! Isn't that wild? Mostly because it's been so long since Glee was on the air.

So, I came up with story lines for a hypothetical Glee Season 7 -- that takes place solely in New York, and ignores about half the plot points of Season 6, lol. Oh, and I decided the Bridgerton actors are playing characters with the same or similar names because I'm too lazy to create new character names for this kind of thing.

Oh. And. Apparently, Glee makes everything just a smudge gayer, lol.

I hope the five of you who don't mind me continuing these crossover things enjoy this <3

*****

Nicola Coughlan...

... (as a season long guest star) plays Penny, a quirky, fun loving, gossipy student from Ireland, come to New York to study script writing. She and Kurt take the same class, and Kurt thinks she's the greatest thing ever, and the two become joined at the hip (much to Rachel's chagrin; Blaine doesn't mind one bit). She and Kurt decide to work on a project together -- writing a play about a drama school -- it takes them the whole year to do (and of course, they put it on at the end of the season/year).

And I mean -- I'm not out here advocating for people to be in Ryan Murphy productions -- but if anyone could really sell one of his bonkers characters, it'd be Nicola Coughlan.

2. Rege-Jean Page...

...plays Simon; a hot, young TA for stage combat and movement, and every one has lined up to take the class.

3. Pheobe Dynevor...

...plays Daphne, a young girl whom Quinn is mentoring. She ends up pregnant and alone, after her boyfriend dumps her. Quinn takes her under her wing, and helps her figure her life out.

4. Jonathan Bailey...

...as Tony, Cooper Anderson's just as neurotic, weird, and attention seeking roommate, who also wants to be an actor. The two of them have a ridiculous love/hate relationship, which makes staying with Blaine (and Kurt) question whether or not they might actually be in a relationship together. (The answer is no, but Tony is gay, and he and Cooper are ultimately fond of each other)

(if there's another person who could also really go all in when it comes to eccentric Ryan Murphy characters -- it'd be Jonny Bailey.)

5. Jessica Madsen

...as Cress, a waitress at the same bar where Santana works. She's has a fiery streak about her, and goes toe to toe with Santana. She's also a lesbian. There's a regular enemies to lovers thing going here.

6. Claudia Jessie

...as Ellie. She's the student director of the all-female play that Rachel is starring in. She doesn't really like Rachel, and felt somewhat forced to have her in the production, but deals with her anyway. She's smart and clever and really opinionated and very direct, and she and Rachel butt heads a lot. But Rachel becomes a better person after being in the production and having Ellie really help her get her shit together.

7. Adjoa Andoh

...as Mercedes's favorite aunt, Agatha. She's in town and helps Mercedes decide how to move forward in her life. (And also shows up to attend the wedding between Mercedes and Sam.)

8. Luke Thompson

...as Ben, Tina's new boyfriend. Who figures out he's bisexual when he does a play with Blaine. Blaine helps him figure out his sexuality (not personally - Klaine is still very much a thing) but it's alright, he does actually like Tina, too, and they stay together. :)

9. Yerin Ha

...as Sophie, Mike's girlfriend-turned-fiancee. She is not at all in the entertainment industry, and Tina decides she doesn't like her. Until she meets her, and thinks she's great. It gives Tina and Mike a chance for some real closure.

10. Golda Rosheuvel

...as Char. She takes over NYADA after Carmen Tibideaux retires, and she makes Carmen seem kind and charming.

11. Hannah Dodd

...as Frannie. Artie sees her in a coffee shop once and becomes obsessed with her -- wanting her to be the star of his movie. He searches the entire city for her, only to find that she works in the building next door as an accountant (who loves her day job). She won't star in his movie, but she does agree (eventually) to go on a date with him.

12. Victor Alli

...as Johnny, Brittany's new best friend, a rich, handsome, world traveler, who is using Brittany's intelligence to help him in his scientific work. It's a season runner -- where she always mentions him, but everyone thinks it's just Brittany just being Brittany, until he shows up at the end of the season to be completely real.

14. Martins Imhangbe

...as Willy. He runs the piano bar they all go to (and Santana works at). He doesn't really like theater, and finds the kids annoying, but hey, it's a living.

15. Simone Ashley

...as Katie. She rides a motorcycle, and frequents the piano bar, and Santana is obsessed with her the whole year. Santana finally figures out how to talk to her, and the two hook up, but Katie does not have time for Santana's bitchy shenanigans, and puts Santana in her place.

(I don't know why my brain wanted this to happen, but my brain wanted this to happen.)

16. Luke Newton

...as Colin, Elliot's younger, half-brother, whom he hasn't seen in years. He's in New York to try to reconnect with Elliot (and hey, why not form a new band and bond through music). Kurt hates him. Mostly because he's way too distracting to Penny, and my god, they have to get their script done!!

(See...tying it all together ;) ... also, things I never knew I needed - Luke Newton to work with Adam Lambert.)

17. ...and Julie Andrews

...as Kurt's Grandma Hummel. Because it's what Chris always wanted. :)

Alright, I know I didn't get everyone (Sorry Ruth Gemmell, I just couldn't think of anything!) But man, now I want/wish we had all of these things. :D

[calicomarie11]

Evan and Tommy are sitting at the table in Evan’s loft, a couple of beers in front of them and relaxing now that the clean up from dinner is done.

“So, how’s Bobby handling retirement?” Tommy asks.

“Still fighting to come back, but he does start a temporary gig tomorrow.” Evan answers. “He’s going to be a technical advisor on Hotshots.”

Tommy looks impressed. “That’s a big deal. That show is huge.”

Evan shrugged, “I’ve never seen it.” 

“What do you mean, you’ve never watched Hotshots? How could you miss it. It’s been the hottest show on TV for the past 2 years.” Tommy’s voice is filled with incredulity as he stares at Evan. “We have viewing parties at Harbor, even the off shift crew comes in if they don’t need to sleep.”

Evan lifts a hand to rub the back of his neck and shrugs sheepishly. “I know it exists, I’ve seen the billboards, it’s just….” he trails off and looks towards the ceiling, his go to move when he’s being evasive. 

“What, did you sleep with the star during your Buck 1.0 days?” Tommy teases him.

“Not the star.” Buck takes a breath and fiddles with his beer bottle, tearing strips off the outside as he talks. “So, you are not the first TK that I’ve dated. I used to be off and on with Taylor Kelly.”

Tommy interrupts “The Taylor Kelly who wrote a tell all about the 118? That was your ex-girlfriend? What a bitch.”

“Yeah, well, we weren’t a good fit. Anyways, after she published the book it got picked up for development and Hotshots was the end result. I think she’s even working on the show as a consultant. I didn’t read her book and I’m not about to watch her show.” 

“I can’t believe I didn’t put that together.” Tommy sits back, a thoughtful look on his face. “So does that mean the characters on the show are based on the 118?” He cocks his head and studies Evan and then slaps his hand down on the table. “Holy shit, you’re Sandy.”

“Sandy?” Evan asks, his nose wrinkling adorably in confusion.

“Blaine “Sandy��� Sanderson. He’s kind of the show’s punching bag. Last season an ambulance rolled over on top of him during an earthquake and crushed his arm.  This year the season opener had him trapped in a mudslide with his best friends kid.”

Evan takes a slow pull on his beer as he processes that. “Why do you think I’m Sandy?”

“Well, he gets hurt a lot, he’s a daredevil, he’s got a heart of gold, he’s a bit naive, and he always has a collection of fun facts that relate to the rescue at hand.”  

“And that’s what you think of me?” Evan asks with a frown.

“No, baby. But superficially it matches up.” Tommy reaches out to cover Evan’s hand with his own.

“Okay.” Even still looks put out, but a little intrigued. “So, what about the other characters?”

Tommy sits back and purses his lips. “Well, Bea is obviously a stand in for Hen, and Shaft must be Chimney.”

Evan interrupts “Shaft?”

“A nickname they never bother to explain.” 

Evan nods. “Yeah, we never did tell her how Chimney got his name. Who else?”

“Well, the captain’s name is Billy, but everyone calls him Cap and he’s married to a police detective named Artemis.” 

“And you’re just now putting this together?” Even quirks an eyebrow at Tommy.

Tommy holds up his hands in defense. “Hey, I wasn’t exactly expecting to see my old house on the hottest show on television. I started watching before I met you.” 

“So is that it? Me, Cap, ‘Thena, Hen and Chim?”

Tommy looks away and shifts in his seat. “There’s also Ricky.”

“Ricky?”

Tommy sighs. “Ricardo “Ricky” Noches. Air Force veteran, single dad to an autistic kid, and Sandy’s best friend.”

“She made Chris autistic?” The outrage is clear in Evan’s voice. “I know she didn’t spend much time with him, but that is supremely uncool.” Evan sinks back in his seat, a look of frustration on his face.

“There’s more.” Tommy says matter of factly.

Evan huffs. “Alright, lay it on me. How much worse can it get.”

Tommy hums and looks around the room, avoiding eye contact with Evan. “There’s a significant portion of the fan base for the show that “ships” Sandy and Ricky.”

“Ships?” Evan says, his face a mask of confusion.

“It means they think they should be in a romantic relationship. Their ship name is Randy.” Tommy says.

Evan sinks into his seat, his brow furrowed. “So, the people who watch this show, based on my life, think that I should be, what, dating Eddie?” 

Tommy holds his breath and nods. 

Evan stares at him for a long moment, a riot of expressions crossing his face, before he bursts out in laughter. It takes him a few minutes to get himself under control, the giggles rising each time he thinks he’s ready to speak. 

He finally wipes away the tears from his laughing jag. “That would be an epic disaster. Don’t get me wrong, I love him like a brother, but he has more trauma than me, and that’s saying something.” 

 Tommy lets out a breath of relief. “I’ll pass that on to Donato.”

“Lucy?” Evan shoots him a look of confusion.

“Oh, yeah, she’s a big Randy fan.  Spends way too much time on shift reading fan fiction.”

Evan lifts an eyebrow at him. “Do you think she knows?”

“That it’s based on people she knows?”

“Yeah.”

Tommy hmphs. “I’ll be sure to tell her.” 

Comments and Kudos AO3 are greatly appreciated

[majachee]

did you say….a power rangers x td au?

IVE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE ONE BUT HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO THANK YOUUUUUUUUUU I owe my life to you power rangers was the shit

please yap about it I’m begging

IT CAME TO ME IN A VISION EARLY ONE MORNING, AND IT HASN'T LEFT MY BRAIN.

I am writing a fic about it, though it isn't my number 1 priority wip atm cuz its just smth silly and self-indulgent, but because I now know there's someone out there REALLY DIGGING THIS IDEA, it'll be moved up on my list by a few notches lol

This AU is heavily focused on comedy and action, so rather than assigning TD characters to PR roles that they'd actually fit, I went with what would be REALLY FUNNY to write about.

So the Rangers consist of Harold (red), Duncan (Black), Noah (blue), Courtney (yellow), and Heather (pink).

These guys were assigned to work on a lab/project for their science class, specifically on the effects of pollution, littering, and climate change. No take-backsies, they're stuck with eachother and 4/5 of these guys don't want to fail... 4/5 of these guys are also assholes.

After some healthy doses of bitching, they agree to meet up and study an abandoned rig. But GASP! They get attacked by some guys... made of putty? Damn dude that's CRAAAAAAZYYY

... this is specifically based on the MMPR tv show, and I'm very tempted to draw the putty monsters exactly like how their costumes look in the show (silver fullbody suits with seams visible and monster claws/masks.) Listen, the putty monster costumes bring me A LOT OF JOY, I genuinely love this show dO NOT @ ME (unless its for mmpr fanart... please @ me...)

Anyways, these assholes fumble through the fight: Harold shows off the skills he learned at Defensive Steve's Defense Class, Noah gets thrown off a small cliff because he weighs less than a paper weight, Courtney feels the exciting rush of bloodlust for the first time... Normal stuff, really!

Of course, this ends up with all 5 of them being summoned (lazer kidnapped) to Power Rangers Headquarters! And it's revealed that Zorgon's role was taken by Chris McClean I'm SORRY. Look, it's funny. He has the same personality he does in canon, but instead of running a reality TV show centered around teens, he has to babysit a small group of teens who hate eachother. This will be really funny in execution, I promise.

Some of the kiddos have a few words to say about the Dinozords... cuz half of them aren't even dinosaurs. Also, they do NOT like the idea of being forced to work together on a color-coded superhero team of all things!

Drama Bot is Alpha, it focuses on the team's publicity ratings.

Rita Repulsa? Meet Blainely McBlamey!! SELF EXPLANATORY!!

I love Rita Repulsa, so Blainely fans consider this a very high honor.

The Green Ranger is Alejandro.

I plan on having the AU mostly focus on campy episodic adventures with some character development sprinkled in, and having the more important PR plots be... well... important and more thoroughly executed, if I ever get around to it.

As for the main gang themselves?

Harold is quite stoked and honored about being a superhero, and quickly ends up being the team leader and team morale – due to his smarts, and quick-to-forgive personality. He doesn't take shit from anyone, but he also won't hold grudges, especially on the battlefield... Though he does have a slight problem with going on long tangents about certain factoids (same...)

He has a vast array of skills and knowledge at his disposable... It all depends on how/when he uses said skills lmao. So far he's probably the least developed one in this AU, right next to Duncan. That'll change when I write more of them.

Courtney? Oh... Oh you KNOW she likes being a Power Ranger. She preaches about the importance of morals, and upholding laws, and how some people ought to respect the responsibilities that come with being a Power Ranger... and some people are more deserving of being recognized as heroes than others. Courtney I love you and I hope I do you justice... mwah... She very much likes taking the lead, and claims that she should be the team leader... and valedictorian, and class president... Oh yeah, you KNOW she worries about her grades a lot, especially after becoming a Ranger. She becomes a lot more productive with her passion as the story goes on, and learns to trust and respect her teammates.

Noah takes on the role of reluctant tactician... Aka the smartass. Physical activites aren't his forte, and he plans on keeping it that way. He relies on his Zord the most, and when that isn't available he resorts to evasive maneuvers and hiding while the other guys handle it. Him staying on the sidelines, however, does lead to him being more observant to the enemies' weaknesses, which will eventually lead to him having a more active role in the team as the main tactician. I'd imagine once that happens, he'll have a lot of interesting back-and-forths with Harold and Courtney. Still a sarcastic, laidback asshole, but more active in his participation when it comes to the team.

Duncan... is more aligned with his season 1 and early season 2 personality. No cheating or love triangles here. He is still an ASSHOLE, though, especially to Harold and Noah. They don't take his shit. I dont have much to say about him yet iM SORRYYYYYY

Asshole punk with a heart of gold... that's his schtick alright...

HEATHER MY BELOVED. She looks hella good in pink and she knows it. She doesn't like being a part of this team, but by god will she put the effort in, because she doesn't want to die to some clay-freak. Her zord-buddy is the pterodactyl, which she finds to be quite convenient, considering it's on the smaller side and can fly, very easy for aerial advantage. Very hellbent on defeating Blainely McBlamey, because once she's defeated they can all go on with their lives. Presumably... evil grin...

I don't know how to really put it in more fancy words, but like... Heather is the most active participant along with Harold and Courtney. She's very headstrong, tends to butt heads with Courtney a lot (not only are they both stubborn, but they also both view themselves as the leader of the group. Nobody realizes it's Harold, not even Harold himself, dramatic irony at its finest.)

Everyone on the team loses their shit when Alejandro (the enemy[tm]) gets a frickin' DRAGON-ZORD of all things.

If yiu have questions about specific characters or MMPR episodes, I'll do my best to answer lol

[justforbooks]

David Soul, who has died aged 80, stormed to fame in the 1970s as half of the television “buddies” detective duo Starsky and Hutch, who careered across Los Angeles in their red and white Ford Gran Torino, over the roofs and bonnets of other cars, and through piles of cardboard boxes.

“When the Starsky and Hutch series was showing, police on patrol duty were adopting sunglasses and wearing their gloves with the cuffs turned down,” claimed Kenneth Oxford, a British chief constable. “They also started driving like bloody maniacs.” In south London, a council lowered a wall after fans of the tyre-squealing screen action used it as a launchpad to jump on to parked vehicles.

While Paul Michael Glaser played the streetwise, cardigan-wearing, junk food-eating Dave Starsky, Soul’s character, Ken “Hutch” Hutchinson, was the quieter, yoga-loving, healthy-eating one – two cool cops looking after each other as if they were brothers.

Over five series (1975-79), they patrolled a rough area populated by muggers, drug dealers, sex workers and pimps. They also fraternised with Huggy Bear (played by Antonio Fargas), a snazzily dressed, “jive-talking” informant with his own bar.

Soul traded on his newfound stardom to return to his first love, music. He recorded the ballads Don’t Give Up on Us (1976), a No 1 in the US and UK, and Silver Lady (1977), another British chart-topper.

His television career continued, but the starring roles rarely resonated beyond his homeland. An exception was the miniseries World War III (1982), in which he played an American cold war colonel trying to avert a nuclear holocaust. It also chimed with his political and social campaigning, which included supporting the anti-nuclear movement.

He took up the tempting offer to play Rick Blaine in Casablanca (1983), a five-part TV prequel to the film classic, in the role originally played by Humphrey Bogart, but it proved a flop.

Soul found renewed success – particularly on the West End stage – after moving to Britain in the 90s. He even hit the headlines beyond the review pages in the title role of Jerry Springer the Opera (Cambridge theatre, 2004-05), taking over from another American actor, Michael Brandon, as the “shock” talkshow host.

The BBC’s decision to screen Richard Thomas and Stewart Lee’s musical, complete with thousands of swear words, transvestites, tap-dancers dressed as Ku Klux Klan members and a nappy-wearing Jesus, received more than 60,000 complaints from viewers.

Soul simply relished the chance to fulfil his “dream to play in the birthplace of English-speaking theatre” after failing to “cut the mustard” when auditioning on Broadway.

He was born David Solberg in Chicago to June (nee Nelson), a teacher who had also performed as a singer, and Richard Solberg, a Lutheran minister of Norwegian descent. His father’s work as a representative of the Lutheran World Relief organisation during the reconstruction of Germany after the second world war meant the family moved to Berlin in 1949, returning to the US seven years later to live in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where David attended Washington high school.

He then acted in plays while studying at Augustana College, before moving to Mexico with his family. Influenced by his father’s work, he initially had plans to join the diplomatic service, and learned Spanish and studied Latin American history. He was also taught to play the guitar by Mexican students.

After a year, he hitchhiked to the US, landed a job singing Mexican folk songs at a coffee shop in Minneapolis and set his sights on a career in music. He also gained some acting experience with the city’s Firehouse theatre company.

While talking with friends about the metaphorical masks people wear, he came up with the idea of wearing a real one while performing so that the music stood on its own merits, and billed himself “David Soul, the Covered Man”. The William Morris Agency signed him up after hearing a demo tape, and he soon had bookings. One was in The Merv Griffin Show on TV between 1966 and 1968, when he eventually dispensed with the mask. More significantly, a talent agent spotted his acting potential.

He had a regular role in Here Come the Brides (1968-70), a comedy western series set after the civil war, as Joshua Bolt, one of the brothers running a logging company in a male-dominated Seattle frontier town and importing marriageable women.

A guest star, Karen Carlson, became Soul’s second wife (1968-77), following the dissolution of his first marriage, to Mirriam “Mim” Russeth, in 1966, three years after their wedding.

Soul was then popping up all over American TV in guest roles himself, and had a short run in 1974 as Ted Warrick, the defence lawyer’s assistant, in Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law, before wider fame came in Starsky and Hutch. By then, he was living in an “open” relationship with another actor, Lynne Marta. When he moved on to his third marriage, to Patti (nee Carnel, 1980-86), former wife of the 60s pop idol Bobby Sherman, he hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

In 1982, having already struck Patti several times, he returned home drunk one night following a day’s filming on Casablanca – which he correctly feared would bomb – and hit her repeatedly. He was arrested on a charge of misdemeanour battery, but a judge spared him jail on condition that he underwent therapy. Soul admitted to having a violent streak and, although he and Patti were reunited, the marriage was soon over.

He kept working, landing starring roles as Roy Champion in the cattle ranch soap-style drama The Yellow Rose (1983-84), the private eye of the title in the TV movie Harry’s Hong Kong (1987), and “Wes” Grayson, leading an FBI forensics team, in Unsub (1989), but his star was on the wane. Another marriage, to Julia Nickson (1987-1993), also failed, before he had a relationship with the actor-singer Alexa Hamilton.

Soul’s career was revived when in 1995 the theatre producer Bill Kenwright was looking for an American to star in the comedy thriller Catch Me If You Can on tour in Britain. He played Corban, a newlywed whose wife goes missing. There were other tours and Soul was in the West End as Hank in The Dead Monkey (Whitehall, now Trafalgar, theatre, 1998), Chandler Tate in Alan Ayckbourn’s Comic Potential (Lyric, 1999-2000) and Mack in Mack & Mabel (Criterion, 2006).

In between, he had one-off roles on British television, including as a locum surgeon in two episodes of Holby City (2001 and 2002), a Boston detective helping to investigate his wife’s murder in Dalziel and Pascoe (2004) and a criminology lecturer in Inspector Lewis (2012). Soul and Glaser had cameos in the 2004 film spoof Starsky & Hutch, alongside Ben Stiller as Starsky and Owen Wilson as Hutch. In the same year, Soul was granted British citizenship.

He is survived by his fifth wife, Helen (nee Snell), whom he married in 2010, and five sons and a daughter.

🔔 David Soul (David Richard Solberg), actor and singer, born 28 August 1943; died 4 January 2024

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[klaineineverylifetime]

The Wandering Poet

Title: The Wandering Poet (2012)

Author: wynniethepooh

Links: AO3 [x] FF.net [x] LJ [x] Klaineficspdf [x]

Words: 27k; POV: Blaine; Rating: T

Summary: Love is not a common factor between the people in Blaine's life.

Review: A lovely little heartache of a character study about Blaine coming of age and doing his best in an unfair situation. It can be a tough read at times, especially given the tenuous nature of his relationship with Cooper (a decidedly more dour version with canonical tensions pulled out and exaggerated), but the pacing and voice helps cast some light on the shadows. Though this is arguably more of a Blaine story than a KurtandBlaine story, there’s still moments of quiet, grounded emotional intimacy as they build their friendship that really cuts to the heart of their connection. This is one of those stories that you can really settle into while it settles itself under your skin; they feel real, Blaine’s hurt and desperation is palpable, and all that’s left to do is hope they find their happy ending (or perhaps their happy beginning).

[deldeldel90]

hey what do you think of cpc characters as flowers,, maybe plaid family specifically. the sunflower post had me thinking

!!!!!!!!! CPC as flowers!!!!!!! YES. yes yes yes. oh my gosh. CPC as flowers >>>

gonna do the plaid family rn :D

FIRST;;; Lance!! the ultimate middle child, my boy

I feel like Chicory would really represent him well!

it's a wildflower (which I think fits him) and it belongs to the Sunflower family. it's name, according to a Trusty Google Search, means, "The German word for chicory means “The Blue Lookout at the Wayside.”

It's a cool season veggie and prefers a sunny location (Lance being a Sunshine boy my beloved). the nicknames for Chicory are, "Chicory is also called blue daisy, blue sailor, wild bachelor's button, blue or Italian dandelion, or even coffeeweed" (all of which I think kinda fit Lance)

"Chicory has also been used to symbolize the force of perseverance in martyrdom, as seen on the St Augustine's altar from 1487" - some study from 2009

NEXT:: Isolde!! :D

carnations!! specifically red carnations!! these symbolize deep love and affection, and the ruffles at the end of the petals really remind me of her.

There's also this little bit of info, "The color was thought to resemble human flesh and carnation flower meaning took on the idea of the incarnation, God being made flesh." WHICH. I think is pretty baller NGL.

Next: Blaine!!

I picked this because 1. It does resemble a carnation, which I felt was a nice detail :D (esp since he resembles his mother the most!!) and 2. red roses are known for a lot of things, like love and passion and stuff, AND red roses are often associated with throwing them at the end of plays and movies, which I find fits him!!!

"The red rose whispers of passion, And the white rose breathes of love; O, the red rose is a falcon, And the white rose is a dove." - some poem that makes me go a little Cray. and there's also this: "It's the rose of romance and deep feelings, but can also relay desire, beauty, victory, harmony, joy, luck, pride, martyrdom, [according to McCord Jones.]"

They thrive off direct sunlight and take a while to grow :D pretty high maintenance flowers yk :D PLUS!!!! they're super pretty and soft-looking, but they have thorns!!

FREDERICK....

A Green Jewel Coneflower :D okay I was mildly tempted to just put a sunflower BUTTT you know. So I picked this!!!

a Green Jewel Coneflower can pretty much grow anywhere (and it grows pretty tall too!!), and they actually like a little bit of shade!

Sources say this: "Today, the Orange Coneflower is a symbol of enthusiasm and vitality. Its bold hue radiates excitement, making it a perfect emblem for those eager to make a statement. It's not just a pretty face; it's a nod to resilience, attracting pollinators and feeding birds, while standing strong against deer and drought." Which I think really suits him!!

and,

Leland..... bro would be like poison or something. Actually, maybe he'd be like a Petunia- "A flower that is not very common, Petunias display feelings of deep resentment and anger." It's not a poisonous flower but I feel like the negative meaning of it fits him :D

[calsvoid]

yeah i do the same and like it’s honestly surprising more people don’t see canon as bad writing because so much of it is just poorly written? like a lot of the breakups seem like the writers just running out of ways to create drama and instead deciding to go oh this person cheated (like it’s to the point where people joke that everyone in glee sleeps with one another, that’s for a reason y’all)

tbf i used to be a kurt hater because i stay in the seblaine side of the fandom and then i realized that he is also probably a victim of whatever shitty decisions the writers made (just to a different extent and manner), so it makes sense

honestly, i find it hard to ever go along with canon maybe because of my personal experiences in the past with shitty canons and the way i consume media purely from fandom nowadays. i think that part of the reason people hate blaine more easily is because the writers were continuously fucking up with his character and making him mess up in canon which would set a standard of supporting kurt when it came to problems in their relationship even if kurt was at least partially at fault

I come over to the seblaine side of the fandom when the Kurt adoration gets a bit much. I need to be reassured my belief that Blaine is brilliant in every way is shared by others.

yeah we love blaine here (especially me, he is my angel baby and i adore him) and i’m glad you find some safety in our small space

while i understand why people bash on blaine, it feels sad knowing that it happens because his character got really unfair treatment from the writers and people often overlook the fact that kurt’s made mistakes too. blaine’s character revolved a lot around his relationship in canon and since klaine was written to have a lot of conflicts and issues, it made him seem like a much worse person than he truly was.

like he’s so much more than that, he’s kind and talented and he tried so hard to bring people together and help them succeed. he tries so hard in everything he does and is such a supportive, caring friend. i really wish more people could see the good side of him because like, plenty of his problems were problems of other characters and if you can excuse it for them, then you can totally excuse it for blaine

anyway, like i said, glad to have you here and that you get to feel seen in your enjoyment of blaine. it’s always nice seeing people explore the complexities of his character and see his strengths and not only his flaws

[forabeatofadrum]

Thank you for tagging @that-disabled-princess. It's Thursday, innit? I forgot to post yesterday cause I got great news: I got the offer to move to my first apartment! It's still student housing, but it's slightly bigger, in a great neighbourhood, and everything for myself. I even have a balcony! And for some reason it's cheaper than where I currently live!

But back to fic! It's quite funny to write a story about a character trying to move, although unlike Kurt, I don't want to go to the other side of the country.

“In your e-mail you said that you want to learn more about theatre outside of New York, since, as we all know, the New York theatre scene is a lot in different ways, but why are you specifically interested in Los Angeles?” Because my boyfriend lives there, Kurt mentally answers, but he is pretty sure his advisor isn’t ready to hear that. Good thing Kurt’s an actor, because he starts talking convincing nonsense. Okay, that might be a bit much. Kurt does like the idea of LA. Even if he hadn’t met Blaine, he would’ve loved to visit it. It is literally on the other side of the country, and being there is so different from what he knows. But he never thought about studying there, or even moving there. But there’s also no denying that Blaine is the main reason.

Blaine isn't the only one who is having a hard time. Unlike Blaine's Mrs. Bauer, I didn't give Kurt's advisor a name, but now I am wondering if I should also name her after a Dutch folk singer. Dutchies... Thoughts? Suggestions? (Mrs. Joling? Mrs. Hazes? Mrs. Smit? Mrs. Nick en Simon?)

Anyway, now that I have your attention, please feel free to fill in my stupid poll about which game I should play next. It still runs for around 2 days.

And now, the weather: @quizasvivamos @coffeegleek @caramelcoffeeaddict @raenestee @tectonicduck @nightimedreamersworld @urban-sith @you-remind-me-of-the-babe @bookish-bogwitch @confused-bi-queer @special-bc-ur-part-of-it @larkral @cutestkilla ​ @wellbelesbian ​ @artsyunderstudy ​ @facewithoutheart ​ @shrekgogurt @rockitmans @whatevertheweather @theotherhufflepuff @shame-is-a-wasted-emotion @esilher @kurtsascot @blackberrysummer @nightimedreamersworld @ivelovedhimthroughworse @thnxforknowingme @bitbybitwrites

[kurtsascot]

fic masterlist

wips:

klaine!clueless au

complete:

treading water 90k+ words, multichap, kurt pov, explicit

tropes/important tags: angst, kurt being dumb, blaine being smitten

fic playlist

feel my heart's intention. 17k words, blaine pov, explicit

tropes/important tags: enemies to lovers, coworkers, bisexual blaine

rate my professor 7k words, kurt pov, mature

tropes/important tags: professors!klaine, mutual pining, oblivious!kurt

distraction 7k words, blaine pov, explicit

tropes/important tags: age gap, manager!kurt, musician!actor!blaine

unexpected 4k words, blaine pov, teen

tropes/important tags: pining, oblivious!blaine, meet ugly adjacent

spring break and the snowbank 4k words, blaine character study, teen

tropes/important tags: early!klaine, kurt teaching blaine to drive, canon compliant-ish

getting older 2k words, blaine pov, teen

tropes/important tags: canon compliant, blaine being insecure, glasses

[gleefulpoppet]

Interesting to read your dom/sun analysis. I tend not to read that trope because a large amount of time it’s written badly, so thank you for explaining it to me. The majority of Klaine fics of this trope have Kurt as dom, and I feel the author is wanting to imply he is the stronger, decision maker, more capable of the couple. What do you think?

Thanks for the ask! I'm sharing this as -my perspective only- and each person, of course, can headcanon as they please. I am incredibly passionate about this subject and trope, and I could write about another 100k words.

A true dominant 'doms' out of service, love, and compassion for their sub or fellow human being. It's not born entirely of ego or acted on in a need to control others and/or some magical intelligence that makes them better at making decisions or being in charge. Although, that doesn't exclude the possibility that they might be those things. Someone should not be labeled a dom simply because they have the ability to be strong, just as someone should not be labeled submissive because they have the ability to surrender (and I always use the word surrender as a sacred, consenting action).

In the fewest words possible, a dom/sub relationship is a trust so profound that they trust someone to be what they need. Sometimes as a sub, that is the dom making a decision for them, sometimes it's holding their hand, sometimes it's asking them to kneel so they can go deep within, sometimes it's pain (like edging or crops etc if the dom/sub pair is into that) because they feel so numb in this world that they're begging their dom to help them feel something. It can be anything and everything as they explore what they each need, but it is never about power/and the powerless. There must be consent, understanding, and a safe way out for both parties if desired.  The surrender is all about letting go, surrendering so you can find that thing you need, whether it's ethereal or tangible. It's trusting that the other can provide it (either the dom or sub). A dom's true satisfaction comes from knowing that they are accomplishing the giving and the helping (this can come in various forms that people outside the scene might not understand).

I don't know the intention behind other author's takes, they are vast and varied. I speak only for myself, when I say there are dozens of reasons why I think that Kurt and Blaine each exhibit both tendencies at different times. I don't only see Kurt as a dom, just as I don't only see Blaine as a sub. I can observe that in different circumstances, they each take up different roles. They each have strengths and weaknesses, and they both need help at different times. They are each brilliantly divine and magnificently flawed, as we all are. And that's why I love AUs. I love to take these complex characters and say. "Okay, what if this one thing was different or that thing? What then?"

I go into DEEP character studies in my D/s stories. If you've ever wanted to try one, I promise you they aren't what you're used to in this trope. They are always equals. Always loved and always safe with each other (out in the world is a different thing altogether). 

Just One Look dom Blaine and sub Kurt This one is about Kurt fighting his submissive instincts (he has no idea what they are), and when he realizes why he's having them, everything changes when Blaine discusses in great detail what a dom/sub relationship actually is. 

Since Sense Sensory dom Kurt and sub Blaine Explores how the boys found each other again after a long separation. They have many conversations about how the dom/sub scene has helped them overcome grief and loss and manage their strengths and weaknesses. 

Soulsons and Seatstars dom Kurt and sub Blaine (with hints of dom Blaine) Is an AU world where a natural chemical balance is needed. A dom cannot live without a sub, and a sub cannot live without a dom (that's an oversimplification), so if you are new to dom/sub, this is an interesting take because it helps you better understand the symbiotic relationship in tangible terms. Again, they talk so much about their dynamics. And this one might surprise you how Blaine might be a sub, but he's got a sassy tongue and a dom streak that Kurt very much encourages. 

Thanks for the question. I hope I answered it, alright. I love these boys so much! Klaine owns my whole heart and soul. I always want the best for both of them.