#doll-zone raphael

[arlequinelunaire]

The Archangel Uriel, alias Elizabeth Fomalhaut, in colour. For my story project and hypothetical doll line Archangelette.

Be kind, reblog

Uriel/Elizabeth is an angel of wisdom, arts, and sciences. She always tries to learn new things, for while knowledge can hurt, she believes it’s better than blissful ignorance. As a messenger of free will, she helps people pursue their passions for arts and sciences despite the restrictions they face.

However, unlike energetic Michael, eloquent Gabriel, and laidback Raphael, she is the least social and most timid of the archangels. While Raphael's happy to just let her be herself, Michael and Gabriel can be too eager to help push her out of her comfort zone. Despite this, Uriel can also feel left out from the other archangels, as she's the only one of the four not recognised by the Catholic Church.

As Uriel has been linked with both the Sun and the element of Earth, I’ve compromised by giving her gravity powers

[lady-jane-screams]

new concert outfit ideas for gerard way

ballerina, specifically the vibe of giselle in her mad scene

a flapper

pirate... or anything with a poet's blouse

the archangel raphael

a blythe doll

the eye of the beholder twilight zone episode doctor

mad scientist like in young frankenstein

harley quinn. or poison ivy.

a cowboy, babyyyyyyy

Carrie bloodsoaked at prom

tomie <3

the crow (in the makeup ofc)

thank you for attending my Ted talk

[fuck-yeah-romantica]

The love of my l- Sada. Just, Sada.

Romantica photoshoot

- Position: guitar / bass

- Birthday: april 3 (no there is no year. Being lucky, only ten years later than Karen)

- Zodiac: aries

- Height: 170cm.

- Weight: 53kg.

- Bloodtype: A

- Previous musical projects: ...

Sada's first look, claims Karen Fox, 2004 (look at him. Look at him. L o o k.)

- Favourite bands (Japan): X japan, Baiser, Kuroyume, Shazna, Velvet eden, Art marju duchain, Luna sea, Malice mizer, Moi dix mois, Raphael, Hizaki grace project, Izam, Lareine, Metis Gretel, Sadist, Parasite, S (visual kei era), Syndrome, Phantasmagoria, Jun solo, hide, Anti feminism, Madeth gray'll, Je*reviens, Dir en grey (visual kei era), La:sadie's, Aliene ma'riage, Noir fleurir, Eliphas levi, Noi'x, Missalina rei, Neil, Celestia le ciel, Eze qul, Luinspear, Marry+an+blood, Misery, Orugo/ru, The piass, Loon eye's millye, Verfe gorl, Schwardix marvally, Due le quartz, Kagrra (visual kei era), Da'vid shito:al, Alc A dia, Kar maria, Allegory pill, Lanus dune, Aikaryu, Kamaitachi, Gargoyle, Kuroahega, Sex Android, Angel heart.. and a looot more....

- Favourite bands (Outside Japan): Sex pistols, Specimen, Siouxsie and the banshees, Cinema strange, London after midnight, Heart Throb Mob, Queeny Blast Pop, The devotchkas, The damned, The adicts, Vice Squad (80's), Misfits, The Ramones, Motley crue, Visage, Dead or alive, Boy george, Mayhem, Dana International, The horrorpops, Dick dale, Dead can dance, Karen Fox, She-ra. (Damn that goth strike)

- Favourite Videoclips: Fade to Grey (Visage), Out of fashion (Boy George), Long Hard Road Out Of Hell (Marilyn Manson), Zero (Smashing pumkins), Sad Mask (Velvet eden), Omocha no miisha (Noir fleurir), Metamorphose (Lareine), Gekka No Yasoukyaku (Malice mizer), Sumire september love (Shazna), Sister (Kuroyume), Koi shite kura kura (Izam), Weekend (X japan), Tsuki ni kasamura kumo hana ni kaze (Omnyouza), To.ki.me.ki. (Missalina rei), Sangeki no yoru (Dir en grey), Michi no sora (Psycho le cemu), Hoy no (Entre Rios), Paris (Romantica).

- Hobby: ...

- Interest: Hollow earth, Nazi esoterism (ufo), not official science, comics, manga.

- Personality: dejado (ditzy, out of touch with the surroundings), dreamer.

- Favourite colour: black, violet.

- Ambition: youth.

- Your first love: myself

- Would you like to be in love again?: here I am.

- Romantica in one word: machos (alpha males)

- Favourite phrase: y.. ya no se puede confiar en naides!! -by: shinjidark- (well... Neinbody is to trust!!)

- Favourite book: ...

- Favourite writer: Pierre Boulle, H.P. lovecraft, Julio Verne, John uri lloyd, H.G. Wells, Ray Bradbury, Ellis St. Joseph, Edward Bulwer Lytton.

- Favourite movie: Hedwig and the angry inch, Star wars (original trilogy), Dagon, Glen or glenda.

- Favourite t.v. series: Lost, The outer limits (60's), The twilight zone (50's).

- Favourite politic: Gral. Juan D. Peron.

- Favourite word: ...

- Type of woman liked: Real doll.

- Type of woman disliked: Real women. (Somebody should tell this guys homosexuality isn't the answer to mysoginy... Or maybe it is?)

- Treasured thing: my body.

- Who is your rival: myself

- Favourite anime: NHK ni youkoso!, Neon genesis evangelion, Arbegas (El rayo custodio!), Mononoke hime, Gunnm, Magic knight rayearth, Petshop of horrors, Robotech, Berserk, Gantz.

- Animated series: The smurfs, South park, The simpsons, Batman the animated series, Transformers, Spiderman and his amazing friends, Dino raiders, G.I. Joe, Thundercats, Birdman.

- What did you wanted to be as a child: pope

- What subjet did you like at school: none, I hate school.

- When did you discover music: 14 years old

- Something you always carry with you: Brain.

- Time of the year: autumn

- Where you would like to go: tokyo, inside of hollow earth.

- Who you would like to meet: ...

- What song defines you: sad mask - velvet eden.

- Message to fans: I don't know who you are, but I don't believe you anything!!!.

[blacksheepdolls]

that project I was working on is finally finished: I made Eli a new wig! it’s made of extremely fine yarn that was an absolute PAIN to brush out, but it was worth it for how soft it is, not to mention it was the only yarn I could find with that perfect color blend. it doesn’t show up in these pics but it’s got a mix of reds and creams that gives it really nice depth. at last, hair that doesn’t cover his whole face!

I may be letting go of his old Leeke fiber wig soon, which was one of their limited “art” wigs from years ago. there’s nothing wrong with it, it just never fit him. DZ heads are small.

[solitaryagentbjd]

It's true!

dollzone/dc’s normal yellow skin is underrated imo.  it’s a really pretty, deep colour, almost bordering on tan.  it’s just pleasant to look it!  it doesn’t suit every character of course, but if you’re looking for something new to try and hadn’t considered it, i’d really love to see more normal yellow dolls from them around!  

~Anonymous         

[the-slender-doll]

My new doll came in today! I adopted him from owlmusic (who was the same previous owner of Juniper). At this rate she might become my unofficial doll dealer 😂

Hes a Doll-Zone Baby Raphael in Normal Skin! Im planning to name him Mayar which is a Turkish name meaning “Moon Glow.” due to my plans to make him my Luna Moth fairy themed boy ♡

Im just glad Juniper isnt alone now and my collection is growing!

[dragongutsixofficial]

#10 for the ask game you reblogged?

Oooooh that one is hard. Mostly because each character’s supports with each other have their good and weak points. In particular, I don’t believe there’s a specific chain of support convos that I think would be the best. On a similar note, some support chains that are super popular in the fandom left me underwhelmed- that is notably the case of Sylvain and Felix’s supports because from what I had heard beforehand, I expected… more. I am not a fan of Jeritza and Byleth’s supports either, though I know it is a very popular ship as well.

So, I don’t know if I can truly rank my favorite support convos but I’ll list some of them here:

Jeritza and Bernadetta’s supports took me by storm. I am absolutely in love with the strange wholesomeness of their interactions, so much that I managed to get their joint paralogue during one of my runs because I was so curious as to where it was headed.

Ashe and Annette’s supports when they get to the dark tower, then panic, then Annette loses her doll and Ashe confronts his fears head-on to get it back for her. Their friendship is absolutely adorable and I will never get over it.

Just Ferdinand and Hubert talking to each other. All the time. My beloved twin jewels of the empire <3

Ferdinand and Bernie’s supports, especially the B one where he goes to apologize to her, and respects her comfort zone by staying outside her door.

Byleth’s C support with Hubert. Come at me Hubert. Just try.

All of Marianne and Raphael’s supports. I love Raphael a ton in general, and his gentle nature is exactly what she needed. Perhaps the most wholesome supports of the game- and how could it not be when you’re trying to learn how to talk to birds?

Marianne and Shez’s supports in Three Hopes also hit me in the guts with the feels. They are just perfect. I love their bound.

Ignatz and Marianne’s A support when they watch the landscape together.

I was pleasantly surprised by how good Lorenz and Leonie’s supports were ! In all honesty, I was surprised by how nice of a character Lorenz is as a whole because I did not expect to like him very much.

Edelgard and Byleth’s supports because of course I would put them here.

CAN WE TALK ABOUT SHEZ AND LINHARDT’S A SUPPORT IN THREE HOPES. HELLO.

Also, I loved Shez’s supports with both Ferdinand and Hubert. Sidenote: Robbie Daymond and Billy Kametz’s voice acting in Three Hopes is the best thing in the whole Fire Emblem franchise.

“WhY dON’t wE HaVe a LiTtle DUeL oURsElvEs?!!!” 

“Unless I… throw him in the fire too…”

Caspar and Mercedes’ supports in Three Hopes are just. How could I even begin to describe the level of perfection of their supports. I never knew I needed them.

There’s probably a ton more that I forgot but yeah ! I’m sorry I couldn’t give you a straight answer but yeah.^^

[ms-rampage]

Hello. You must be tired of me, no I really like the way you write. Can I ask imagine for Supernatural? Y/n is the sister of the archangels and Chuck's favorite daughter. After being captured and tortured by Asmodeus, y/n is broken, and Chuck tries to support his daughter. Please. I really like the kind Chuck who takes care of his children)

The Broken Archangel

No its fine! I don't mine 😁😊

Summary: Y/n is kidnapped and tortured by Asmodeus for several years. She’s rescued by Arthur Ketch, and is taken to the Winchesters, where God makes the discovery of his youngest Archangel. 

Warnings: Some language, mentions of torture and rape. I apologize in advance. This might be a little bit dark.

______________________

Y/n was captured by the Prince of Hell, Asmodeus while she was protecting her older brother Gabriel.

She was taken to Hell where she was tortured and completely drained of her grace. Torturing her in ways, for her to give him the locations of her elder brothers Gabriel and as well as Lucifer either one of them.

She spent 8 years in Hell, being drained of her grace, making her a broken Archangel with little no no powers. 

He was feeding off her grace, keeping her locked up in the deepest parts of Hell. Sewing her mouth shut. 

Locking her in a cage inside a dark room, keeping her in solitary confinement. 

She was basically his “little pet”. He drained her dry of her grace to make himself powerful and be ruler of Hell. Other than him torturing you, taking away your grace, he did other unspeakable acts to you, that you wished to never speak of, or even think of. With him weakening you, he knew you wouldn’t be able to fight back or defeat yourself. 

Making you feel dirty, disgusted and making you want to kill every demon in Hell. Wanting to kill that white suit, KFC dickhole. 

“So Y/n?” he asks, holding a sharp blade in hand wiping it with a hand towel “Where are those two brothers of yours?”. 

You say nothing, sitting on the floor staring down at it, with a metal collar around your neck, attached to a chain on the wall. 

You knew he was asking about Lucifer and Gabriel because Michael and Raphael are dead. He knew your grace wasn’t as strong as theirs.

“I asked you a question doll” he says, kneeling in front of you. You don’t dare to look at his face because you’d want to bitch slap him, and you would. 

He straightens his posture, and grabs you by your hair, pulling it to make you look up at him. 

You cry out, you try to hit him back but the chains around your wrists prevent that. 

“I asked you a question, and you will obey it!” he growls, “I know your grace isn’t as strong as your brothers. I’m nearly done with you, a good 60% done with you. So where is Lucifer, and/or Gabriel?!?”. 

You didn’t know the locations of Lucifer and your “twin”. Even if you did you weren’t gonna give them up. Finally being able to speak. 

“Fuck off” you wince out. Knowing that response wasn’t gonna go well with this demon. 

He clicks his tongue, kneeling in front of you again. “You know I’ll break ya, and when I do I’ll just dump out like the angel trash you are”. 

Fast forward to several years later, and still under the torture of Asmodeus.

You are rescued by the British Men of Letters. Arthur Ketch because him and the Winchesters needed the grace of an Archangel to keep a rift open to go into the Alpocalypse world.

Since Lucifer and Gabriel were nowhere to be found, AU Michael is a douchebag, but Team Free Will weren’t the only ones looking for an Archangel.

Chuck spent the last several years searching for his youngest Archangel, his favorite daughter. Going from one world to another searching for her. Every universe he had created to find her since she left Heaven. 

When Ketch brought her to the bunker, to the Winchesters, Chuck was able to track her down. On Earth in Kansas. 

Him, and along with his two sons went to her location. 

“Wait, wait” Ketch says to the two brothers aiming their pistols at him, he lifts his arms up to show that he means no harm ”I come bearing a gift”. He pulls you from behind the wall by your arm, showing you to Sam and Dean. 

They put their guns down, looking at you and Arthur confused. 

“Uhhh who is that??” Dean asks, pointing to you. 

“This is Y/n” he tells them, sitting you down on a chair in the library, “Archangel Y/n”. 

They look at each other, still confused. “Archangel??” Sam asks him. 

He clears his throat, putting his bag on the table “Yes Archangel”. 

“I thought there were 4 Archangels??” Dean asks, glaring at him. 

Shaking his head, “Nope, there are 5. Michael, Lucifer, Raphael, Gabriel and her” he tells them, pointing to you.  

You sit there, staring off into space. Your lips sewn shut, your all bloody and beaten after years of torture. Zero grace left in you. 

Stammering, and not knowing what to say “I don’t-. Where did you-” Sam not knowing what words to use. 

“Where did you get her??” Dean asks Ketch for Sam. 

He sighs, “From Hell, she’s a feisty, stubborn one. She’s low on grace but enough to open the rift”. 

You’re still in a trance, zoning out when it’s broken by another celestial energy in the room. 

“Y/n!” a familiar voice shouts, Sam and Dean turn around, and see Chuck, a worried and scared look on his face. Seeing you for the first time in several years, possibly centuries. 

You look up, and see your father. Eyes widened, even though you look, and are broken. Can only express one facial reaction, he can tell you wanted to cry.  

You look up and down at him, as he cautiously approaches you. Thinking that this is all some game Asmodeus is playing with you, when he reaches to move your hair away from you face, you wince away from his hand. 

Scared for anyone to even touch you. When Ketch rescued you, you were terrified, you had no idea who this British man was. So you didn’t trust him, even if you couldn’t tell him. He knew you didn’t trust him. 

“I’ve been searching for you” Chuck mutters to you, “For centuries, I’ve been looking for you. I thought I would never find you”. Almost in tears, his voice starts to break, looking at what has become of you. How weak and broken you’ve become. 

Dean clears his throat, getting his attention, “I don’t mean to interrupt. But why didn’t we, or the whole world know about a 5th Archangel??”. 

He turns around to face the two brothers, “Because I never wrote about her in the Bible or in any of my stories. I wrote about the other 4, my 4 boys but her” he motions back to you, still sitting on the chair, “I never wrote about her because she was always my favorite. My favorite daughter, she’s the last of the Archangels and the only girl out of them. I needed to protect her”. 

“Well looks like you did a great job” Dean sarcastically mutters. 

Later that evening, they put you in Sam’s room. You sat on the bed while Sam removed the stitching from your lips. The pinching feeling of the threads being removed hurt more now than when they were put on. 

Castiel enters the room, just as Sam finishes up with removing the stitching on your lips. 

He looks at you in shock, you look up and see your little brother. 

“Sam” he says in a soft voice, “She shouldn’t be here”. He looks at him confused. 

“Why?! What’s wrong?!” he asks. 

He looks over at you and says, “Because she is wanted, not only by Hell, but Heaven as well”.  

He looks at Cas, eyebrows raised, “Why is she wanted by Heaven??”. 

Castiel sighs, “I’m not sure, but if she’s wanted it's not good”. 

“Can’t you heal her?” he asks, “Is there anyway you can do that??”. 

He sighs, approaches you and puts his hand on your forehead. The second he does he hears your voice, in your own mind say. 

“I must reiterate”. 

“It’s not possible for an Angel to heal an Archangel” he tells Sam. 

They both leave the room to give you some privacy, and alone time. Feeling free that you’re no longer chained to the wall or to the floor, and not being tortured every minute of every day. 

The door opens, and Chuck steps in. Making you look away from the open door. Pressing your knees up to your chest, pressing yourself against the headboard. 

“Y/n?” he mutters, slowly sitting down on the edge of the bed, “Y/n, please I want to help you”. 

Being too scared to even look at your father, he sighs in disappointment. 

“Y/n, I want to help you. What happened to you?, please tell me”. While Chuck is talking to you. The bunker gets two more surprise visitors. 

Word got around Heaven that you were there at the Winchester’s bunker, and word got around to Lucifer and Gabriel as well. 

The two Archangels made their way to the bunker even though they weren’t together, arriving at the exact same time. Separately. Startling Sam and Dean, making them have their guard up. 

“What the hell do you want??” Dean asks, pistol ready in hand. 

Lucifer rolls his eyes, “Calm down Deano, I heard a little rumor about a long lost sister” he tells them. 

Gabriel appears right after he says that, “Where’s Y/n?!” he asks, frantically looking for his “twin”. 

“Why are you here?!?” Sam asks him. 

He rolls his eyes in annoyance, “It’s quite obvious! Isn’t it?!”. He goes down the hall towards Sam’s room, where you’re at, Lucifer follows behind him. 

The two brothers follow behind them, and the two Archangels burst into the room. Startling you, making you fall out of bed onto the floor. Trembling out of fear.

Chuck tries to reassure you, “Y/n, Y/n, it’s okay. It’s your brothers”. You look up and see your older brothers. 

“Y/n?!” Gabriel mutters, slowly approaching you. Chuck helps you up, back onto the bed. You look at him wide eyed, seeing your “twin” again. 

“Why are you two here?” Chuck asks the other 2 Archangels in the room. 

“We heard about Y/n” Lucifer finally speaks up. 

Their normal conversation starts to turn into a heated argument between a father and two sons. 

You on the other hand, you feel yourself grow angrier and angrier. Not at your father and brothers, but at the fact that they’re fighting about something that doesn’t even matter anymore. For the first time in several years you finally speak up. Loudly, very loudly that the whole building shakes. 

“Stop!!!!” you scream loudly, causing the entire bunker to shake, making the lights flicker on and off. Making a few light bulbs burst into sparks. 

Sam and Dean cover their ears, shielding their hearing from the ear piercing screech you’re producing, while the other 3 look over at you. You look up at your father and brothers. Slowly standing up from the bed. 

“Asmodeus” you mutter before speaking slightly louder, “I was sold off to Asmodeus by those Pagan fuckers. I was tortured, I was abused, I had my grace stolen from me. He weakened me, he did things to me that should never happen to anyone!”. 

Trying to hold back tears, “He used me for his own little affairs, he abused me. He violated me!” you scream, causing the walls to shake again. Making your lips sting from the stitch wounds around them.

You cry out these words, and they hurt even more explaining to them to your own family. The looks on all these men's faces soften, looks of empathy, looks of despair. Gabriel automatically knowing who did this to his little sister, to his twin. 

“You don’t forgive those who did nothing but put you through constant pain, and torture. What he did to me you don't forget, nor do you ever forgive!. He made me feel vulnerable, live in constant fear. I was betrayed, I was backstabbed. I was protecting you two!”. 

Your older brothers look at you with sadden eyes. “I was protecting you two from that Colonel Sanders demon prick!” you cry out, shouting through the pain. 

Chuck trying to hold back tears. He knew deep down you're broken, and so did your brothers. Feeling horrible that their little sister, their youngest daughter went through a lot of pain and abuse just to protect her family. Knowing that she may not fully recover from the pain she endured for the last 8 years. 

[in-tentationem]

Commission done for @zirkusdolls, her DZ Mo Raphael. I painted him the first time back in 2009, this is the fourth time now he’s been on my desk. It felt crazily nostalgic to paint him again y_y Doll Zone Mo “Raphael”, owned by @zirkusdolls Customization, photos and editing by me

[arlequinelunaire]

Full colour drawing of Sarah Aldebaran, the earthly alias of the Archangel Raphael. With that, the main four of my story and doll project Archangelette are all done.

From before: Raphael is the most carefree and laidback of the four archangels, lacking Gabriel’s fussiness, Michael’s energy, and Uriel’s anxiousness. Being the best healer of the angels gives her less to worry about when she can swiftly patch anything up, after all. And where the other three archangels roam the Earth either for their jobs or being stranded there after a botched summoning, Raphael is happy to travel simply because she likes to.

She’d prefer to ignore any arguments between Gabriel and Michael, but will try to play peacemaker if she has to. Whenever Gabriel and Michael aren’t united in calling her a slacker, of course. As for Uriel, Raphael is the only one of the four who accepts her as she is and won’t try to push her out of her comfort zone. Despite being the most laidback though, Raphael has not one but two Archdevils, Asmodeus and Azazel, who see her as their mortal enemy. Not that Raphael’s all that bothered by them, even as Michael insists she really should be.

I wanted to give her butterfly wings, but thought people would mistake her for a fairy. You can also feel the Snufkin influence

[poupeesdecirque]

BJD Rainbow of Orientation Day: A-Spectrum.

I decided to feature Oisín and Raphael for this.

Oisín isn’t in any way interested in any relationship, he just have feelings for himself and nobody else.

Raphael wasn’t able to feel anything at the beginning, within the time he got a kind-of relationship with Psyche :3

[dreamsofthescreen]

Stanley Donen’s Marvel At Love - Two For The Road Review & Analysis

Albert Finney & Audrey Hepburn in ‘Two For The Road’

As far as romance goes, in the era of classics, we are given a idealised and soft edged view on a what love is or could be. Stanley Donen’s ‘Two For The Road’ appeals in it’s quirky and realistically sharp depiction of a marriage, as the beloved Audrey Hepburn and renowned film star Albert Finney ‘make something wonderful out of being alive’, as the trailer depicts. Driving cross country through France, we follow the unravelling of a decade long relationship, having us along for the ride & analysing the highs and lows of love. The simplicity of a love story with no certain grandeur is the greatest excitement, as room for interest is in the writing and expression of the story itself. A catalogue of successful retro arthouse, colour-blocked aesthetic films, Donen’s 1967 love story combined with Frederic Raphael’s blunt writing style delivers a versatile and greatly entertaining tale of love lost and found.

Joanna (Audrey Hepburn) and Mark (Albert Finney) have been married for a decade, and are now establishing their rocky connections. Travelling from London to the South Of France on a work trip related to Mark’s architectural career, they unpack the highs and lows of their relationship, reestablishing where they’re at now, and ultimately going back to how much they do need each other. Finney and Hepburn hitchhike, drive and fly around France, as we follow the couple in all their quirks, romantic moments and complications. The entire film is like a diary of their relationship, based on their travels in France throughout the years. Frederic Raphael’s award winning writing captures the moments that come with being in love, like striking grief and pure elation, set on the backdrop of the stunning French countryside. Their adventures have them repeatedly joking about Mark’s tendency to misplace his passport, finding themselves abandoned in the rain & having to sleep in a concrete cylinder on a moving truck, as well as Mark falling clumsily into a pool when trying to chase after Joanna.

Flashing back between Joanna and Mark’s early days of marriage, to their downfall that had them engaging in extramarital affairs, the grandeur and pathos of love that is portrayed was not usual for films at this time. Made in 1967, honest emotion like this was only starting to break out in cinema, as the Production Code (dictated what could be shown or said in film), was changing. For audiences, we are given insight into the pure joy and heartache in a couple that, despite their changing dynamics and hostility to one another, do still truly belong to each other. By combining a comedy with romance, drama and even some philosophical commentary, some may argue that this, along with the constant jump-cuts, is too much at once for a film. Yet I believe that it creates powerful interest, taking audiences on a journey that is tastefully stylish and does not overwhelm us too much.

Stanley Donen is not shy of success, having directed ‘Singin In The Rain’, ‘Charade’ and ‘Funny Face’, making ‘Two For The Road’ a rather less heard of film of his. His films were technicolored with soul and charm, almost seeming to follow a New Wave style. Once films started using colour, especially in the 1960s, it became one of the main assets, bringing great life and joy to a movie, Two For The Road doing just this. Though an American director, his works are never seeped in Hollywood-fakery or predictable cliche’s, as they seem to follow a more natural style, this honesty being so important to the depiction of a marriage like Joanna & Mark’s. The Los Angeles Times wrote on his directing style, stating that he ‘brought wit, style, heartache and joy to the movies’ and too asked, ‘What does pure joy look like on screen? Stanley Donen gave us no shortage of possible answers’. With the beautifully sweeping and romantic soundtrack by Henry Mancini and Donen utilising jump cuts between different time periods, ‘Two For The Road’ really does follow the art-nouveau, French New Wave style of cinema. This has Donen stray away from the typical process of an American director, ultimately saving the film from becoming a corny, glamourised love story. The pain, happiness and change is what makes this story so widely romantic, as it follows something so uniquely realistic. 

This, along with Frederic Raphael’s lyrically raw and amusing writing creates an honest interpretation of a relationship that we can either relate to or know about, given the tenderness and change of a love barely standing. But Donen and Raphael don’t just have audiences follow Mark and Joanna. We are given an analytical look at their time together, delving into how they fall in love, what changes after getting married and having a child, time changing their dynamic. We see how a marriage turns sour, it’s charm wearing away as Finney and Hepburn are left with a child, and a love gone cold. The opening scene has Hepburn and Finney stylishly pulling up in their car, passing a wedding, Hepburn stating “They don’t look very happy”, to which Finney replies, “Why should they? They just got married”.

Of all of Audrey Hepburn’s doe-eyed, elegance-seeped roles that she is so well known and loved for, Stanley Donen shows her in a beautiful new light, her performance soaring. It can be argued that ‘Two For The Road’ is one of her strongest roles. As an avid Hepburn fan myself, it is the freedom that she is given within the character that adds edge and interest, as opposed to the doll-faced, girly performances of hers that are beautiful, but can be shallow. This was a real change for her, as she drops the classic black Givenchy dress for a colourful, more casual wardrobe. This only made me fall in love with her more, as she is involved in a comedic and rich performance, creating such layers to her, as well as really exuding her acting talents as she steps out of her comfort zone. This is also a more realistic Hepburn, as the role is even closer to herself as a person, as during filming she was going through the beginning of a divorce. You’d hope that this is what Donen had been meaning to succeed, by showing such a beloved icon in one of his films. Albert Finney was a match made in heaven for Hepburn in this film, as their chemistry is electric, making something so basic seem so wonderful or painful. As the trailer itself states, we watch ‘Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney make something wonderful out of being alive’.

The way of taking what can be seen as a basic story and turning it into something so spectacularly beautiful and interesting is one of the most powerful aspects of film. This is what Two For The Road so greatly achieves, as from afar, Joanna and Mark’s relationship is seemingly regular, with no great glory or achievement involved. Yet it is the way in which the story of this marriage is executed that gives it all the glory. All shot on location, the trip we take with the couple may seem like a simple journey, yet the storytelling and execution of emotion through the writing and stylistic choices is something so outstanding. This road-trip certainly can be seen as a symbol of Mark and Joanna, the cars they drive being symbols of the adventure that is marriage. All features of the film are utilised to create a powerful story, the differing environments being a significant aspect, as they tie into the theme of change. The costuming too plays an important part in the emotive experience of audiences, as Joanna and Mark’s wardrobe moves from colourfully casual and free to professional and tight-fitting, representing how they’ve settled, after having married and had children. 

Henry Mancini’s score is something that is so tear-jerking, moving audiences through the motions. Gleefully slow moving strings accompany the scene where Joanna professes her love for Mark early on, ditching her ride and humorously imitating a traffic signal, surprising Mark. He questions, “what happened to your slick friend in the Alfa Romeo?”, to which Joanna responds, “I told him I was in love with you, so he put me down”. These exuberantly happy moments are paramount in the story, as the simplicity and beauty of travel, food, romance and new meetings create interest. You can really say that not much happens throughout, but it is the collective moments that make it all the while. Moments like Hepburn’s bright red top on the background of a French food market on the day she met Mark and getting to know him, as they too discuss their values, ideas and past. Travel is such a wonderful pastime, bringing heart, experience and memories of a lifetime, as well as closeness and complications. This makes their journey such an interesting and beautiful facet, as it is a remarkable setting for stress and joy throughout. Moments like this they share, in an amusing scene where they drive in ‘the old MG’. Joanna wears a bright pink ensemble and announces her pregnancy, as her and Mark toast with a cup of coffee in the car, just before it sets fire & they spontaneously find a hotel to stay in after being isolated from their accident.

The contrast between the beginning of and later on in Mark & Joanna’s relationship is a clear indicator of their fading infatuation, though love is still there. Though always in France, always travelling together in a car, and staying in the same hotels over their decade spanning relationship, audiences can clearly see the difference in their attitude towards each other. Where there was enthusiastic adoration in their first stay at the luxurious hotel in France, years down the line, Mark draws up architectural plans, as Joanna utters ‘aren’t you coming to bed at all?’. What was once a fun-loving beach holiday, where Mark fought with and then proposed to Joanna, is now a dismal seaside lounge chair for them to sit in, as they vacation there years later, with almost nothing to say to one another. The bitterness that marriage can bring is noted very well in the monologues that Mark and Joanna deliver to each other. With Mark asking about their relationship, stating “is it worth it?”, Joanna responding with, “Yes it is worth it sometimes, only not now”, this being a strong summary of a long-lasting marriage. As arguments test their devotion to one another, the ending scene shows Joanna and Mark driving home from a party, discussing their place in their marriage. As Mark taunts Joanna with questions about what she might be doing having not been with him, he goes onto ask “What can’t I accept?”, to which Joanna replies, “That we’re a fixture, that we’re married. You go on about my leaving you, when I’m always still there. You sure you don’t want me to leave you?” Mark replies with, “Positive.”

Ranked at no. 57 on the American Film Institute’s 100 Years…100 Passions list, Donen’s ‘Two For The Road’ can be seen as one of the greatest and certainly strongest love stories in cinema that there is. A romantic marvel it is, due to all it’s ever-changing realism and depiction of what could be true love. Strangely very modern for it’s time and still very contemporary today, Donen’s work so artistically mixes comedy with romance and drama. Expertly executing these genres all at once, a message is sent to audiences on the beauty of love, even amongst all it’s painful change. 

Stars Out Of Five: 4.5/5

visit at: dreamsofthescreen.com

[blacksheepdolls]

A couple more photos from our hike. Someday I’ll replace this boxy wig. Someday.

[tuseriesdetv]

Noticias de series de la semana

Renovaciones

CBS ha renovado Young Sheldon por una quinta, sexta y séptima temporada

ITV ha renovado Unforgotten por una quinta temporada

Netflix ha renovado ¿Quién mató a Sara? por una segunda temporada

PBS ha renovado Miss Scarlet and The Duke por una segunda temporada

Cancelaciones

Starz ha cancelado American Gods tras su tercera temporada

Disney+ ha cancelado The Right Stuff tras su primera temporada

Netflix ha cancelado Monarca tras su segunda temporada

FOX ha cancelado Bless the Harts tras su segunda temporada

Noticias cortas

La reunión especial de Friends para HBO Max se grabará esta próxima semana

Regé-Jean Page (Simon) no estará en la segunda temporada de Bridgerton.

Nicola Walker (Cassie Stuart) no estará en la quinta temporada de Unforgotten. Otro inspector acompañará a Sunny Khan (Sanjeev Bhaskar) en la investigación de un nuevo caso.

Jesse Metcalfe (Trace) abandonará Cheseapeake Shores al comienzo de la quinta temporada.

NBC descarta Bo & Cheyenne, el spin-off de Superstore.

Fichajes

Colin Firth (The King's Speech, Bridget Jones's Diary) sustituye a Harrison Ford como protagonista de The Staircase en HBO Max.

Amanda Seyfried (Mamma Mia!, Mank) sustituye a Kate McKinnon como protagonista de The Dropout. Naveen Andrews (Lost, Sense8) será Sunny Balwani, socio y novio secreto de Elizabeth Holmes (Seyfried) durante el auge y la caída de Theranos.

Erika Christensen (Parenthood, Traffic) se une al reparto de Cheaper by the Dozen. Se desconocen detalles.

Jack Reynor (Midsommar, Strange Angel) se une a The Peripheral. Interpretará al hermano del personaje de Chloe Grace Moretz.

Donald Faison (Scrubs, Clueless) será el profesor Utonium en Powerpuff, la secuela de acción real de The Powerpuff Girls. Nicholas Podany (Hart of Dixie) será el hijo de Mojo Jojo.

Gil Bellows (Ally McBeal, Patriot) será Gerald Chatham, fiscal del distrito que luchó para llevar a los asesinos de Emmett Till (Cedric Joe) frente a la justicia, en Women of the Movement.

Dan Stevens (Legion, Downton Abbey) sustituye a Armie Hammer como protagonista de Gaslit.

Ian Gomez (Cougar Town, Felicity) será recurrente en Physical como Ernie, un pionero de la tecnología que triunfó con uno de sus inventos y ahora juega un gran papel en la política local.

Moses Ingram (The Queen's Gambit), Joel Edgerton (Loving, Boy Erased), Bonnie Piesse (Sundays), Kumail Nanjiani (Silicon Valley, The Big Sick), Rupert Friend (Homeland, Strange Angel), O'Shea Jackson Jr. (Swagger), Sung Kang (Power, Gang Related), Simone Kessell (Terra Nova, Of Kings and Prophets) y Benny Safdie (Pieces of a Woman) se unen a Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Joanna Lumley (Absolutely Fabulous, Finding Alice) se une a la tercera temporada de Motherland. Se desconocen detalles.

Clarke Peters (The Wire, Treme) será Josiah Falls, científico e ingeniero y padre de Justin (Naomie Harris); en The Man Who Fell To Earth.

Daniel Zovatto (Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, Here and Now) y Lori Petty (Orange Is the New Black, A League of Their Own) se unen como regulares a Station Eleven. Serán The Prophet, el enigmático líder de una misteriosa secta de jóvenes; y The Conductor, la líder de un grupo de artistas ambulantes que interpretan a Shakespeare. Andy McQueen (Coroner), David Cross (Arrested Development, Goliath), Enrico Colantoni (Veronica Mars, Person of Interest) y Julian Obradors serán recurrentes como Sayid, un actor encantador e impaciente de Traveling Symphony; Gil, un director de teatro brillante pero temperamental; y Brian, agente de una actriz famosa en todo el mundo hasta que la pandemia detiene todo; y Tyler Leander, el hijo precoz de dos estrellas de cine.

Enrico Colantoni (Veronica Mars, Person of Interest) será Rudy Giuliani en un episodio de The Hot Zone: Anthrax. Morgan Kelly (Killjoys, Tiny Pretty Things) se une como recurrente interpretando al agente del FBI Eric Sykes.

Max Jenkins (Dead to Me, The Mysteries of Laura), Charlie Barnett (Chicago Fire, Russian Doll), Leslie Jordan (Will & Grace, American Horror Story) y Ana Ortiz (Ugly Betty, Devious Maids) se unen como recurrentes a la segunda temporada de Special.

Jason Dohring (Veronica Mars, iZombie) será recurrente en la cuarta temporada de SEAL Team como el capitán de corbeta Whitshaw, agente carismático e inteligente con una reputación estelar.

Jordan Fisher (Liv & Maddie, The Secret Life of the American Teenager) será recurrente como Bart Allen, el hijo de Barry (Grant Gustin) y Iris (Candice Patton), también conocido como Impulse, en la séptima temporada de The Flash.

Wallace Langham (Hodges) también volverá como regular al revival de CSI: Las Vegas, que ya ha recibido encargo oficial. Mandeep Dhillon (After Life, Bulletproof) también se une a la serie.

Matías Novoa (Enemigo Íntimo, El Señor de los Cielos), Daniel Giménez Cacho (Zama, Club de Cuervos) y Antonio de la Vega (Monarca, Club de Cuervos) se unen a la segunda temporada de ¿Quién mató a Sara?.

Nicky Torchia (Black Mirror, The Goldfinch), Michael Rivera (Oz) y Ibrahim Renno (The Looming Tower) serán recurrentes en Law & Order: Organized Crime como Eli Stabler, hijo de Elliot (Christopher Meloni); el detective Diego Morales y Izak Bekher.

Mareya Salazar será recurrente en la tercera temporada de Charmed como Joséfina, prima segunda de las Embrujadas.

Hayley Marie Norman será recurrente en la cuarta temporada de A.P. Bio como Shayla, profesora sustituta de Whitlock High.

Meera Syal (The Split, Broadchurch) y Adrian Edmondson (War & Peace, The Young Ones) se unen a la segunda temporada de Back to Life.

Charithra Chandran será Edwina, la hermana pequeña de Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley), en la segunda temporada de Bridgerton. Rupert Young (Merlin) será Jack, un personaje nuevo creado para la serie.

Mackenzie Cardwell (Get Shorty, Unspeakable) será recurrente en la segunda temporada de Upload como Tinsley, nueva agente del servicio al cliente.

Nate Mann (Ray Donovan) protagonizará Masters of the Air. Será el comandante Rosie Rosenthal.

Peyton Alex Smith (Legacies, The Quad), Cory Hardrict (The Oath, Warm Bodies), Kelly Jenrette (Manhunt: Unabomber, Grandfathered), Sylvester Powell (Five Points), Netta Walker y Camille Hyde (Katy Keene, American Vandall) se unen a All American: Homecoming.

Brett Cullen (Devious Maids, True Detective) y Lola Kirke (Mozart in the Jungle) serán Bill Sharman, antiguo jugador y actual entrenador de los Lakers; y Karen, la esposa de Jerry West (Jason Clarke); en el drama de Showtime sobre los Lakers.

Enrique Arrizon (Las hijas de Abril, La jefa del campeón), Damian Alcázar (Narcos, Señora Acero), Camilla Pérez (A Teacher, Gotham) y Raphael Alejandro (Once Upon a Time, Bunk'd) protagonizarán Acapulco junto a Eugenio Derbez. Serán la versión joven de Máximo (Derbez); Don Pablo, jefe de operaciones del resort; Julia, recepcionista; y Hugo, sobrino de Máximo.

Pósters

   Nuevas series

NBC encarga Ordinary Joe, drama inspirado en la película Sliding Doors (1998) en la que James Wolk (Watchmen, Zoo) será un cantante de rock, un enfermero y un policía en tres vidas paralelas tras una decisión importante en un momento de encrucijada basándose en el amor, la lealtad o la pasión. Le acompañarán Natalie Martinez (Kingdom, Under the Dome), Charlie Barnett (Chicago Fire, Russian Doll) y Elizabeth Lail (You, Once Upon a Time). Creada y producida por Russel Friend y Garrett Lerner (House, Altered Carbon).

CBS encarga Ghosts, comedia monocámara adaptación de la serie británica en la que una pareja hereda una casa de campo destartalada y llena de fantasmas. Protagonizada por Rose McIver (iZombie, Woke) y Utkarsh Ambudkar (The Mindy Project, Brockmire) junto a Brandon Scott Jones (The Good Place, The Other Two), Rebecca Wisocky (Devious Maids, For All Mankind), Danielle Pinnock (Young Sheldon, Get Shorty), Richie Moriarty (The Tick), Asher Grodman, Sheila Carrasco (Jane the Virgin) y Román Zaragoza (Austin & Ally).

FOX encarga Our Kind of People, drama inspirado en la novela de Otis Graham (1999) que sigue a una batalladora madre soltera que decide reivindicar el nombre de su familia y triunfar con su línea de productos para el cuidado del pelo de mujeres negras. Escrita y producida por Karin Gist (Revenge, Grey's Anatomy) y producida por Lee Daniels (Empire, Star).

Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Ringer) protagonizará Hot Pink, comedia protagonizada por una adolescente, en Amazon. Creada y producida por Elisabeth Holm (Obvious Child, Landline) e inspirada vagamente en la novela 'What Girls Are Made Of' de Elana K. Arnold (2017).

BBC One encarga seis episodios de Blue Lights, drama policial centrado en los agentes en periodo de prueba de la policía de Belfast, donde el trabajo tiene presiones y peligros únicos que enfrentan el idealismo de la academia con la realidad de la vida. Creado por Adam Patterson y Declan Lawn, los guionistas de The Salisbury Poisonings, e inspirado en investigaciones y entrevistas de policías de Irlanda del Norte.

BBC One encarga seis episodios de Better, una historia de redención ambientada en Leeds y sus alrededores, que sirven de telón de fondo para la épica batalla por el alma de una mujer. Tras evitar por los pelos una tragedia familiar, una detective corrupta sufre un doloroso despertar moral y decide arreglar veinte años de mala conducta, pero no será fácil. Solo se redimirá cuando derribe el poderoso mafioso para el que ha trabajado todo este tiempo, al que ayudó a triunfar y al que considera un hermano. Escrita por Sam Vincent y Jonathan Brackley, guionistas de Humans y Spooks.

BBC One encarga tres episodios de The Control Room, drama que cuenta la historia de Gabe, un hombre normal que trabaja al teléfono del servicio de ambulancias escocés. Su mundo se viene abajo cuando recibe una llamada desesperada de una mujer que parece conocerlo. Bajo la presión de averiguar quién es, toma una decisión que amenaza con provocar consecuencias devastadoras. Ambientado y grabado en Escocia. Escrito por Nick Leather (Mother's Day, Murdered for Being Different) y dirigido por Amy Neil (Trust Me, Hanna).

BBC One encarga seis episodios de Wolf, en la que una familia aislada en una casa en el campo sufre los crueles juegos de un aterrador psicópata. Mientras tanto, el inspector Jack Caffery trata de encontrar pruebas para acusar a su vecino del asesinato de su hermano de ocho años en los años 90. Las dos historias colisionan en un híbrido entre thriller y película de terror. Ambientada y grabada en Gales. Basada en las novelas de Mo Hayder y escrita por Megan Gallagher.

BBC One encarga cuatro episodios de Rules of the Game, thriller sobre las políticas sexuales en el lugar de trabajo inspirado en el escándalo de Harvey Weinstein. Cuando la nueva directora de recursos humanos de una empresa familiar del Noroeste comienza a investigar casos antiguos de mala conducta, Sam (Maxine Peake, Silk, The Bisexual), la obstinada gerente, se altera ante la insinuación de parcialidad institucional contra las mujeres. Un día, Sam encuentra un cadáver en la recepción de la oficina y se ve obligada a considerar tanto los turbios comportamientos del presente como los sangrientos secretos del pasado. Escrita por Ruth Fowler y dirigida por Jennifer Sheridan.

BBC Three encarga seis episodios de Grime Kids, drama que explora el paso de la música grime de subcultura a fenómeno internacional. Se centrará en un grupo ficticio de adultos jóvenes a finales de los años 90 con acontecimientos reales y momentos culturales como telón de fondo. Inspirado en el libro de DJ Target (2018) y escrito por Theresa Ikoko.

BBC Three encarga seis episodios de Wrecked, thriller de misterio que mezcla la comedia negra y el slasher. En él, Jamie, un joven de diecinueve años, se une a la tripulación de un megacrucero para investigar la desaparición de su hermana, que nunca volvió a casa tras el último viaje. Allí conocerá a las tribus adolescentes que forman el personal: los de teatro, los marginados, los mal pagados, etc. Para ellos, este trabajo es una odisea de fiesta y excesos, pero no son conscientes de los asesinatos que ocurren a bordo. Grabado en Irlanda del Norte. Creado por Ryan J. Brown.

BBC Three encarga seis episodios de Domino Day, en la que una poderosa bruja joven llamada Domino utiliza una app de ligoteo para cazar y alimentarse de la energía de otros. A pesar de sus ganas de empezar una nueva vida en Manchester, su hambre crece cada vez más. Busca una comunidad que le ayude a entender lo que le ocurre, pero un aquelarre de brujas ya rastrea sus movimientos porque están convencidas de que deben detenerla antes de que sus poderes destruyan todo y a todos. Creada, escrita y producida por Lauren Sequeira (Kiss Me First, Gangs of London).

Netflix prepara una comedia romántica spin-off de To All the Boys centrada en Kitty (Anna Cathcart). Creada, escrita y producida por Jenny Han (To All the Boys).

HBO Max encarga Head of the Class, comedia multicámara reboot de la serie de ABC emitida entre 1986 y 1991. En ella, un grupo de ambiciosos estudiantes de instituto que se encuentran con su mayor reto: una profesora (Isabella Gomez; One Day at a Time, Matador) que quiere que se centren menos en las notas y más en vivir la vida. Con Jorge Diaz (East Los High), Jolie Hoang Rappaport (Watchmen), Gavin Lewis (Little Fires Everywhere), Dior Goodjohn (The Unicorn), Brandon Severs (Diary of a Future President), Adrian Matthew Escalona y Katie Beth Hall (Happy!). Creada por Amy Pocha y Seth Cohen, guionistas de American Vandal y Paradise PD; y producida por Bill Lawrence (Ted Lasso, Scrubs).

Netflix Francia encarga Les sept vies de Léa, en la que una adolescente viaja a 1991 y se despierta cada mañana en el cuerpo de una persona diferente. Creada por Charlotte Sanson.

Netflix Francia encarga Bendo, thriller en el que una periodista de televisión deberá unirse a sus hermanas para devolver dos millones de euros a un gran traficante de drogas antes de que acabe el Ramadán. De Nawell Madani (C'est tout pour moi).

Habrá adaptación televisiva de The Rose Code, la novela de Kate Quinn (2021) protagonizada por tres descifradoras de códigos en Bletchley Park en la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

Fechas

Too Close se estrena en ITV el 12 de abril

La segunda temporada de ¿Quién mató a Sara? llega a Netflix el 19 de mayo

La segunda parte de la quinta temporada de Lucifer llega a Netflix el 28 de mayo

La segunda temporada de Intelligence se estrena en Sky One el 8 de junio

La quinta temporada de Rick & Morty se estrena en Adult Swim el 20 de junio

La segunda temporada de Sky Rojo llega a Netflix el 23 de julio

Tráilers y promos

The Handmaid's Tale - Temporada 4

Mare of Easttown

Younger - Temporada 7 y última

Shadow and Bone

 Rick & Morty - Temporada 5

[turtle-inserts]

3. Your First Christmas (Raph x reader)

The reader is a master of mixed martial arts, traveling around the world to train and learn different forms of martial arts with her father all while battling a severe illness in their lungs, but this is their first christmas home in a long time, will a certain turtle be able to keep her warm?

FIRST

NEXT

PREVIOUS

I was huddled in my winter jacket on my way to the lair, coffee in one hand and two boxes of pizza in the other. A strange combination in my opinion, but the guys loved pizza so I thought I'd surprise them with it! I had become good friends with the turtles by now and it wasn't hard to see their love for pizza was like an addiction to drugs.

Lifting the heavy manhole cover I climbed down, finally escaping the freezing cold snow previously blowing around me. I remember when I thought the sewer smelled horrible but over time I had gotten used to the smell of the place they called home and it doesn't bother me nearly as much.

Punching in the code to open the lair, I walked in. None of the guys were around so I assumed they were training with Splinter. I set the pizza on the table, plugged in my headphones and listened to music to pass the time. I went and sat on the couch, closed my eyes and just zoned out, daydreaming about everything; specifically a certain turtle mutant and his muscular arms. Suddenly something wet hit me on the side of my face, effectively interrupting my daydreaming! I stared wide-eyed as I saw Mikey dying of laughter. He'd just hit me with a water balloon and now my hair was soaked!

I calmly took out my headphones and gave him the glare of death. He immediately stopped.  "I guess Mikey doesn't get pizza now. Oh well." I got up and he grabbed me into a hug.

"I'm so sorry (Y/n)! I swear I'll never do it again!" Laughing, I accepted his apology.

"So where's the pizza?" Raph asked.

"In the kitchen of course." I watched as the four boys sprinted to the kitchen. I snickered as I watched them before following them into the kitchen. They had immediately started chowing down on the pizza the second they opened the box! I was offered a slice but I declined, coffee and pizza don't taste good together. I noticed a member of our makeshift family was missing.

"Where's April?" Donnie answered my question.

"She's at the library doing research for a school project."

"Oh. Okay, cool.”

"Hey wait. Aren't you two in the same classes?" He pried further.

"Yea? What are you getting at?"

"You haven't done the project yet have you..."

"Of course not Donnie, I'm a procrastinator."

"I noticed."

"Don't worry; I'll get it done eventually." He shook his head and went back to his pizza, which was now missing because Mikey had eaten it.

"MIKEY!" He shouted at his brother who just shrugged.

"I was hungry."

Donnie just sighed, "I'm going to my room," he left the table. I got up as well he had reminded me I needed to do something.

"I should get going, I have homework and I need to get ready for my dad’s visit tomorrow."

"Do you want me to walk you home?" Raph asked me. I shook my head and smiled. It was sweet of him for asking, but I needed to get home quickly.

"Nah, I'm a big girl Raph. I can handle myself." I grabbed my jacket, slipped it on and left after saying goodbye.

                                                   Raphael’s P.O.V.

Once (y/n) left, Mikey and Leo looked at each other grinning.

"Can I walk you home?" Leo was trying not to laugh, "Honestly, you're worse than Donnie."

"Can it, Leo!" He just rolled his eyes, still having that shit-eating grin of his, and left.

Mikey looked at me, "Just ask her out dude. The worst she can do is say no."

Actually, she could do a lot worse, but I didn't say that. Crossing my arms I lied, "I don't like her like that. I was just being nice."

"Woah. Raph? Being nice? That's not normal." I tackled him.

                                               Normal P.O.V

The moment I stepped into my apartment, I sprinted to my medicine cabinet. Over the past few months, my condition has been worsening and showing no signs of ever improving. I got to the sink and began to cough and hack until blood finally came up. I had forgotten to take my medicine earlier and only remembered once Donnie had left, which is why I ran out in such a hurry. My dad wasn't even coming over tomorrow, I made that up, and my homework? I finished it all in class.

After what felt like forever, I finally stopped coughing up the blood trapped in my lungs. I took a shaky breath, took out my medicine, and swallowed two of those little blue pills. They'd take half an hour to kick in but in half an hour I'd be fine again. At least I hoped that would happen.

I groaned at my misfortune; stupid disease! Why'd you have to ruin my social life!? Now, why didn't I just tell them about my condition? Because I didn't want them to start treating me like some fragile doll, or as if I was made of a thin sheet of glass that could break at any moment. April doesn't know either, at least I've never told her. God, I hate this. I decided to take a shower to rinse off the blood on my face, also because I smelled a teeny bit like a sewer.

After my shower, I dried my hair so I would be ready for whatever tomorrow had in store for me. I looked at myself in the mirror. I was pathetic, pathetic and tired so I went to bed grateful I didn't have school in the morning. As soon as my body hit the mattress, I fell into a restless sleep.

*tap* *tap* *tap*

Who the hell was that and what time could it be to warrant a visit? I looked at my clock which told me it was only 8 am. Whoever it is, is gonna be dead meat. I looked towards the window and saw Raphael waiting. After opening the window, I let him come inside. "What are you doing here so early in the god damn morning...." I asked, rubbing my eyes sleepily.

He looked at me like I was crazy. "It’s 8 o'clock in the morning, what do you mean early?"

"Normally I'm still asleep until at least 10ish...."

"I haven't even gone to sleep yet."

I paused, "Why?"

"Night patrol?"

"Oh, that'd make sense."

"Yea ya dingus."

After a few moments of, awkward silence I spoke. "Soooo, is there a specific reason you're here instead of sleeping?" I asked him.

“ I thought I’d come help you set up for your dad." Shit. OK. I have two options, keep going with the lie or tell him he's not coming over anymore. I like option two, it’s less complicated in the long run.

Smiling sheepishly I lied through my teeth, "Well, actually, he canceled. Last night. When I got home."

"Oh,"

"Yea, sorry for making you come out here for nothing."

"It’s fine." His eyes lit up as if he'd gotten an idea. He  didn't look at me as he suggested, "We could hang out if you want to." Why not? It’s not like I had anything else planned today.

I smiled at him, "Sure! It’s been a little while hasn’t it?” It looked like relief washed over him for a second but that quickly disappeared and his normal confident look returned. "Can you get my allergy pills for me while I get dressed? They're in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom, just above the sink." He nodded and left so I could change. It wasn't anything too fancy, just black leggings and a sweatshirt. I wasn't trying to impress anyone today. Well, there was Raph, but he's seen me look worse. Post workout sweat and grease is not a good luck for anyone.

As I brushed my hair out, Raph called me into the bathroom. "What? Couldn't find i-" I stopped when I noticed there was still blood in the sink from last night's "fun". I stared at the blood, shit shit shit SHIT.

He looked at me. "What's this from?" He asked.

"Good question," I lied. I knew he wasn't buying it so I lied to him yet again. "Fine. I was having lady problems and had to wash out something, okay?" This immediately shut him up, as I knew it would. Periods, they're good for two things. One, telling me I'm not pregnant and two, grossing most guys out. He turned bright red and left the bathroom.

Once I finished taking care of the sink I took a pill and walked back out. Raph was sitting on the couch flipping through a sketchbook. Oh no...

I saw his green eyes glance up at me and back to the book. "You're not a completely horrible artist." I think that was a compliment? Only April had seen my drawings so far. I never let anyone else look in my sketchbook, not even my dad. The fact that he had just grabbed my sketchbook irked me a little, but I wasn't about to make it a big deal.

"Thanks," Walking over to him, I peered over him to see which sketch it was. Thankfully it was just one of a forest in colored pencil. He flipped the page to the next one of a duckling. He went to flip again and I tried to take it back.

"What's your problem?" He put his hand on my face and pushed me away at arm’s length so I couldn't reach it. As he flipped he turned red. It was of him, a full body sketch in pencil. He dropped his hand from my face. I felt my face heat up again, he regained his composure and smirked. "Now who's this handsome turtle?"

"Shut up," I murmured as he handed me the sketchbook back. Two embarrassing moments in one day, jeez. I'm on a role today.

We spent the rest of the day chatting and joking around. I made us lunch and after clearing the living room of furniture and whatnot, we sparred for a bit. I'd like to say I won, but I didn’t. Raph ended up making me fall on my ass with a kick to the stomach. He went all out during the fight, he's definitely gotten better since the first time whereas I seem to have gotten worse, weird right? I still work out a lot, despite having school I find time.

After having my ass handed to me on a silver platter, he helped me up. I groaned as I cracked my back and stretched, "Jeez, you really went all out..." He simply smirked and shrugged knowing I could take it. "You've really improved since the last time we sparred though." The last time we sparred was a few says before my tournament in the middle of November. I thought I saw him blush but it was probably just my imagination.

"Oh," He saw the time, 3:24, and told me he had to go. "Before I go, Splinter said I could invite you over for Christmas. So, what do ya say, (Y/n)?"

I smiled "I’ll totally go! My dad’s out of town for Christmas this year, he has a special class to teach in California."

"Great, see you tomorrow then." After opening the window for him, I turned around to face him. I always made sure to tell him goodbye. After all, you never know when the last time you'll see someone is. I never got to say goodbye to my mom so I make a point to do it now. He almost looked nervous. I was about to ask him if he was okay when he suddenly leaned forward and got really close to my face.

There was a dusting of a blush on his face as we locked eyes. Our lips were so close. “Can I?” I didn’t know where this was coming from but I liked it. I nodded and he kissed me softly on the lips. I stared at him wide-eyed, speechless, and blushing hard. He simply smirked at my reaction and said, "See ya later." Then left me standing there, dumbfounded and staring at where he was just a few seconds ago. I put my hands to my lips. I've never been kissed before, not even on the cheek. Dammit, Raph! How dare you surprise kiss me!

                                            Raph’s P.O.V

Once I got back to the lair I lay down on the couch and closed my eyes, I'm tired. Tired and happy. She didn't slap me after I kissed her so that means she didn't hate it, right?

"What're you so happy about, Raph?" I opened my eyes and saw Leo standing over me.

"Yea, you're smiling with your eyes closed, it’s creeping me out dude,"  I glared at my youngest brother. Man, he really knew how to ruin a guys mood.

"He was probably hanging out with (Y/n)," Donnie commented as he walked in from his lab.

"As a matter a fact I was," crossing my arms in front of me.

"Ooooh," they said in a chorus.

"Probably making out with each other," Mikey said and the other two agreed, making kissing noises for emphasis.

"Shut up!" I yelled at them and they all laughed at my reaction. "It was only one kiss..." I murmured. They all stopped laughing and looked at me dumbfounded.

"You actually went for it?" Donnie asked.

"Yep," I said with a smirk.

"Why aren't you all beat up then?" Mikey asked.

"Maybe because she actually enjoyed it?" I told him annoyed. They laughed and I went to my room, pissed at them all.

                                                Normal P.O.V.

It’s Christmas and I'm headed over to the guy’s lair. It was cold and a snowing, the cold wind had turned my cheeks pink as I carried 6 boxes, I had gotten Christmas presents for the guys, April, and even Master Splinter. As I walked into the lair I saw a Christmas tree up and many other decorations as well. The guys were sitting on the couch with April. Leo, April, and Donnie were wearing Santa hats but Raph and Mikey wore reindeer antlers making Raph and Mikey look adorable. Mikey was smiling obviously happy to wear them, but Raph wasn't quite as excited as his brother about it.

Walking over to the tree I laid the presents down underneath it then walked up behind the couch. "Cute hats, guys!" Four green heads whipped around, plus one red one, to look at me.

"(Y/n) is here!" Mikey yelled and got up to hug me.

He placed a Santa hat on my head and I laughed, "Yea, I put the presents I got you all under the tree."

Mikey smiled, "Yes! You are awesome! Thank you!" He ran to the tree to see which one was his.

"Mikey, wait until it’s time to open them," Donnie told him.

He pouted, "I was just looking."

I sat down next to Raph. "You didn't have to buy us anything ya know."

"But I wanted to, you guys have been such good friends to me so, I thought I'd repay the favor." He looked like he was about to say something but I interrupted him, "And besides, friends get friends gifts for Christmas, right ?" He simply nodded and stayed quiet, not looking at me. Why not? Oh, was it because he kissed me? But why would that make him be quiet around me? I enjoyed it. As I thought about what happened the other night, I began to feel a blush make its way across my face. Raph looked at me confused for a moment but it quickly changed into one of his infamous shit-eating-grins. He’s probably remembering the same thing I did.

He whispered in my ear, "We can do that again if you want." I sat there quietly, not saying anything in response. God, I wanted to but Master Splinter walked out of his room.

"Merry Christmas my sons and friends."

"Merry Christmas Sensei!" We all chorused back. Soon everyone unwrapped the present I got them, I got Master Splinter a book on old Japanese fairy tales, in case he was feeling a little homesick, he was hard to shop for.... I made April a scrapbook of all the places I visited since she'd been dying to see them all since forever, and I promised that we'd go on an adventure together someday. Leo was easy to shop for since he was obsessed with Space Heroes, so I got him a set of action figures from the show and a complete disk set of the first season. Donnie was given a book on astrophysics and I got him other sciencey books. I wrote him a note telling him to man up and ask April out since I was 99% sure she liked him.

Mikey was also pretty easy to shop for as he was happy with basically anything, so I got him an iTunes card for music and a new video game he'd been asking for. It was funny watching their reactions, they were all so happy with their gifts, it gave me that good old warm fuzzy feeling inside. Raph's reaction was the best by far though.

I gave him a new colored pencil drawing of him, full body, which took me HOURS to finish so he better worship the damn drawing, and I gave him photos from our trip to the photo booth, He let me keep them but I figured he should have them. The last thing in his box was the note I wrote him.

Raph turned red while reading it since I basically called him out on his little crush on me. His brother noticed this and went to read over his shoulder.

"Oooooo! Raph got a love letter!" Mikey yelled. I could tell my face was beet red by now.

Raph shut the letter and put it back in the box, "No, it’s not!" The guys laughed and April asked me what it said.

I whispered, " I called him out on his crush on me and I just wrote I wouldn't mind if he kissed me again, that's all." She stared at me wide-eyed.

"So it is a love letter!" Mikey yelled. I didn't even notice him listening in.

"Shut up Mikey!" We both yelled at him he simply laughed at our reaction.

Time flew by as the guys teased Raph, he got annoyed but I calmed him down each time. I also played video games with Mikey, helped make dinner, and then did some of the dishes with Leo. When I had to go around 12:30 am Raph offered to walk me home. Of course I accepted, so here we are now, walking home. I'm wearing the antlers now though, Mikey stole my hat when I started making dinner and Raph gave me his antlers so I could still look, "festive". Now Raph's wearing my hat after he took it back from Mikey.

As we got home Raph asked me about the letter. "So what made you write that letter?"

"Well, um," I wouldn't look at him because I could feel my face heating up out of embarrassment. I wanted to tell him, so I just blurted it all out! "RaphiIreallylikeyouandIknowyoulikemeto." Great. It was jibberish.

He just stared at me and after a moment of processing what I said, he laughed! "That must've been a mouth full."

"S-shut up!" I told him red in the face.

Suddenly his face reddened too, he looked at me and said, "So, the feelings are mutual then?"

"Y-yea."

"You don't care I'm some freak? A mutant?"

"You're not a freak Raph."

He grinned a genuine grin of joy and, grabbing me by my waist, kissed me. He pulled away after what felt like forever and I was a little dizzy from the lack of oxygen. He still held my waist and all of a sudden a wolf whistle was let out by someone we couldn't see. We both whipped our heads around to see who it was. It turned out the who was a group of people.

April, Donnie, Mikey, and Leo all stood on a roof laughing, whooping and hollering while wearing scarves and hats. They all looked cozy. My face heated up when I realized they must've seen our kiss. Raph yelled at them but the group only laughed, besides April. She shook her head smiling, and ran off with them. Raph growled and I could tell he was going to follow them, I kissed him on the cheek before he left, "Merry Christmas, Raph." He gave a small smile, mumbled a goodbye, then ran off to chase after his brothers and April.

I walked happily into my apartment, enjoying my boldness a few seconds ago. After changing into my pajamas I fell asleep on my couch by my Christmas tree.

“Best Christmas ever.”

[pyropansysdolls]

So I thought I would try to do this. I'm not home so just kind of bare with me. I know this isn't going to be done that well. (I can fix it later.) The Grail: Honeydew Topaz from Doll Soom the Gem. The most expensive: Probably Honeydew Topaz seeing as I've never seen a legit for sale. Or the Dream of Doll Ducan Elf Ver. I haven't seen that one for sale, either. The least expensive: There are a few that I want that are around $120, but that's the cheapest I can think of. The one you never thought you'd like: Honestly, every Yo-SD I want. I didn't like them the first few years I was in the hobby. The one that has been there the longest: Doll-Zone Floy The largest: Doll-Zone Sawadieda The smallest: I want a Dream High Studio one, or one that is similar, I just haven't found one that I really love. But I know I want one someday. The weirdest:Doll-Zone Sawarieda The dreamiest: Dream of Doll Ducan Elf Version The priority: Doll-Zone Raphael and Crobidoll Tei The full list: Haha, I don't have a comprehensive list. At all. Unfortunately.