#especially older art and tashi

[luvmoonie]

am i gonna have to be the one to say it … i know the end is challengers coded

[chlmtsdoll]

SHOPPING WITH ART

౨ৎ Summary: it’s in the title ! Ballerina!reader x Art on a shopping date 🤍

౨ৎ Word count: 2k

౨ৎ Warnings: sugar baby! reader, mentions & talk of sex (duh !), semi public sexual acts, age gap (reader early 20’s) dilf age Art, fluff, needy reader, horny Art, mentions of Tashi in between, mutual pinning, petite!reader (sorry tall ppl), reader and Art are all over each other constantly

A/N: don’t know if I should classify this as a blurb or a fic but I’m gonna go with blurb since it’s short and sweet !!

“Dogs ?”

You had scrunched up your nose and shook your head terribly at Arts attempts to guess your favorite animal. He tilted his head as he looked down at you with a grin.

“Cats ?” He probed. You nodded pleased, with a giggle.

“Do I strike you as a dog person at all ?”

“No.” Art had laughed out and it sounded of wealth and pure adoration of you.

You two had been walking down Rodeo Drive in the mist of perfect weather on a bright day, Art had offered to take you shopping while Tashi took care of tennis business for the two of you. She requested some space and quietness for an hour or two — so of course you’d never pass up your expectation of basically trying on dresses for Art Donaldson as a living.

It still hadn’t hit you on the full one-eighty your life has taken from going from a lost ballerina to Art and Tashi’s young, beautiful, tennis protégé.

Or shared girlfriend. Whatever you had been.

You loved it. Especially days like this, you’d spend as much time as you could with Art when he wasn’t touring because he made you feel like it had only been the two of you on earth when you were together. You never stopped laughing, blushing, kissing… and a spawn of other things.

But when he’d been actually playing tennis, or doing things for his career like press or photoshoots. You missed him dearly. Even when he’d spend time with his daughter Lily.

It made your mood dim, and you’d find yourself dissociating from conversations or tennis to think about him or ponder when he’d be back to steal you away again. Tashi always caught you in the drift of it, but you’d snap right back to reality when you’d hear her say. “Okay. Art’s gonna take you out.” Your mood and demeanor would shift entirely.

“I feel like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.”

“Isn’t that movie controversial ?” Art questioned.

“Aren’t you much older than me ?” You replied as you glanced up at him, giving him every glitter of your wide Bambi eyes. He chucked.

“Oh. So should I walk on the other side of the sidewalk.. if that’s too much for you ?” He looked down at you as he moved from where you walked to the other side of the not so spacious side walk to prove his sarcasm.

“No!” You pleaded with a girlish laugh as you followed him anyways, bumping your shoulder into his arm on purpose not to be separated for another second.

You’d want to hold his hand so badly when you two would be out together, but with his public image being Tashi Duncan’s star husband, it wasn’t exactly the best decision when it came to the press — so even with as much as he wanted to, Tashi always told him to lay low when it came to physical contact with you in the open. Especially somewhere as public as Beverly Hills.

You’d never known where paparazzi had been hiding, lurking and waiting. And it wouldn’t be so easy for them to try and idealize it as Art Donaldson and his exceptionally younger “friend” that he takes shopping and on dates.

Tashi couldn’t control when you had been at home and essentially couldn’t keep your hands off each other entirely. Always hugging, cuddling, fucking. It didn’t matter. You were on him or vise versa, but when you’d go out Tashi would specifically insist “don’t touch each other.” before you’d leave.

But hiding didn’t transpire to you so much when you just completely couldn’t help yourself when it came to the man that made your heart flutter, you’d fought the limitations anyways.

Walking side by side you brushed your pinky against Arts much bigger hand. You saw him look down and a soft grin took upon his lips at the sight of your manicured pink tips grabbing at his hand. He could never resist you. locking pinky’s with yours, your smile had turned bashful but pleased as you’d walk together. Just praying no paps had caught the moment and you’d have to go through Tashi’s wrath later on.

♡

It was dress after dress you’d pick off of the rack, skirts, tops, and more shoes than you’d ever seen at once in person. But you absolutely adored this. Trying not to make another painfully high pitched sound when you’d find another pair that made your eyes go wide in awe.

Art was right there behind you as he chuckled at all of your darling reactions, finding it utterly too cute. You were like a doll and he’d spoil you till you’d probably pass out from exhaustion the moment you both got home from all the perks of shopping till you dropped. Literally.

“I don’t know. I love the waistline, but a deep v neck ? I just don’t see it.” You stepped out of the dressing rooms to where Art had been lounging on a chair since he wasn’t allowed in the actual dressing room area.

Art couldn’t say he didn’t know a thing or two when it came to a sense in fashion. Tennis was a sport based around the most expensive and luxury brands displaying their most fashionable and articulately put together pieces on star athletes like himself. But mainly living with the total of four ladies including the maid, had done his knowledge of the craft wonders.

“I think you look amazing in it, baby.” He implied, crystal blues tracing your perfect body cinched into the tight dress.

It made your breast sit in such a way that Art had to adjust the way he sat in his seat. You looked at yourself in the mirror while your hand ran down your curves. Your heels made you stand taller and your legs showcased eloquently.

One of the workers brought you a glass of champagne and you thanked her kindly before taking a sip, then turning to Art with a suggestive unsure look on your face.

“But do I look amazing though ?” You asked puzzled, with mostly sarcasm and art had shook his head, he chuckled as you glided back into the dressing rooms.

He even brought you things to try on as he just couldn’t pull back from his own suggestions of what he thought you looked to die for in.

“Art,” You turned to him opening up the curtain of the small space as you’d been in the mist of changing, just in your bra and panties.

“Put this on.” He passed you a dress and you were taken back by his desperation and need to see you in his choice of clothing. You stood and took it from him, but you couldn’t deny the slight pass of dominance from him turned you on a bit. You smiled at the curtain when he closed it quickly to leave so he wouldn’t get caught.

When you came out in what he had gave you, Art unfolded his leg and sat straighter in his chair as he examined the sight. And was it a sight to see.

The dress was white, a sixties kind of cut as it made your waist look otherworldly. The corset top made your torso extend and it was short enough that if you moved a little too much it would have been quite a show.

“So, what do you think of your outfit choice on me, Mr. Donaldson ?” You asked with your hands on your hips and the look on his face as his eyes graced over you had you blushing terribly.

Art had to take in a breath with an embarrassing place being lost for words, he stood up to walk towards you. His hand touched the delicate straps.

“Turn around.” he instructed.

“Okay. Bossy.” You joked, meanwhile he bit his lip to hold back nearly letting out an audible noise as he took in the way it cupped your ass just right. You were perfection in his eyes, all dolled up just for him. He licked his lips,

“You’re gorgeous, angel. Do you like it ? Because I love it, and I think you need it in your wardrobe. Well, not need, but it would be a nice touch.” He went on and you laughed at his high regard, your face heating up quite quickly now.

“I think it’s really pretty.” Your hand ran across the top that was embroidered with jewels, your smile enchanting as Art watched you.“next one coming up.”

You had walked by to go change again, but as you did you felt a smack on your ass and you turned around quickly to see Art grinning to himself when you gasped.

The responsible side of you would of protested as you remembered Tashi’s words, but you were anything but responsible when it came to your favorite blonde. You shook your head as your sly smile matched his and you went back into your dressing room.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t that long before Art had snuck in again and opened up the curtain, this time inserting himself into the room with you.

“Art!” You could hardly stop him before he had moved your hair out of the way and started attacking your neck with kisses, sucking in your sent as hands ran over your body,

“Fuck, you look good.” He breathed out as he kissed you and you’d fallen weak to his trap. Hands running to grab his hair as he groped your tits through the dress and kissed you sloppily. He towered over your dainty figure as he treated your body like clay for him to mold, you let out a whine from the back of your throat as he ran his tongue over yours.

His hands were flighting to unzip your dress while hiking it up your hips at the same time.

“Careful, it’s not mine,” you breathed out as Art peppered kisses anywhere he could.

“Oh, it will be yours. I’m buying it as soon as I’m done with you.” his tone was low and full of arousal as he pushed your front against the wall of the dressing room.

As much as you wanted him to fuck you right there, feel every inch of his need to have you take his cock while he treated you to an entire wardrobe that any girl your age would die for, was enough to make you shed your panties right then. But you had slipped from under his grasp.

“We can’t, we’re in public.” You uttered and Art had backed away from you with a groan as he ran his hands down his face and you grinned at the state you had gotten him in, uncomfortably hard and dick nearly ready to come through his fly at just the sight of you.

“Fine,” he sighed out and got ahold of himself before leaving again, you tried not to give him a mischievous smirk as you adjusted yourself and the dress. “Don’t think I don’t know how much you want it, you little minx, be ready for later because we’re not done here.”

You batted your eyelashes and acted all innocent as he shut the curtain and then you giggled to yourself. You had all the shoes and dresses you wanted ready by the time you exited again, and now with lips shimmering with gloss, you made eye contact with Art as he paid for all your new attire with pleasure. Licking his own lips every time he scanned over you, he carried all of your bags and he walked out with you happily.

Completely forgetting about the paparazzi, Art took your hand in his with ease. leading you down the walkway and you had bitten your lip under a satisfied little smile.

A/N: ugh ! I need that !

[voidsuites]

FANTASY-THEMED BOT RELEASE !!! (12/20/24) ⌢ ✨ .ᐟ

art donaldson ・゜゜・．angelic inquisitions. he's your guardian angel. while he's not as naïve as he appears to be, art is not as well-versed in some parts of human culture as he is in others. you've opted to give him some hands-on experience when it comes to the more... romantic side of humanity, and that alone in and of itself is more daunting than anything he's done. you'll just have to forgive him if your lesson ends with him short-circuiting any electronics in the area... it's really not his fault.

art donaldson ・゜゜・．siren song. in a small, seaside town like new rochelle, tales of sirens are shared as warnings— and as reasoning for their curfew as soon as the sun sets over the sea cliffs. no one has spotted in one in decades since the town's formation, but no one dares to investigate if the infamous mythological creatures truly reside in the waters that span their coast... all until art's curiosity gets the best of him. what's the point of being wary of something if it doesn't truly exist? he'll quickly come to learn that some legends are based in fact, not fiction.

patrick zweig ・゜゜・．bones and all. you knew patrick was the same as you the moment your eyes met; you don't live with something like vampirism your entire life and not know how to spot it in others. still, with patrick came understanding, and with understanding came connection. still, it doesn't help to soothe the ache that's left whenever your true nature manages to slip out, but patrick would never hold something like that against you. with you both being vampires, there's nothing guaranteed for the two of you in terms of safety and security, and patrick would never forgive himself if you got hurt. everything he does— every thought, every action, every unnecessary breath from lungs that don't require air— is for you.

patrick zweig ・゜゜・．post-full-moon blues. patrick's always a bit irritable and clingy after the full moon leaves its toll on his body, so his routine of trudging in at the wee hours of the morning is all but commonplace at this point. just because it was patrick underneath all the fur, teeth, and claws didn't mean that he was any better than the overactive golden retriever that belonged to the grocer in town, and that fact is all the more apparent when he comes in smelling like the woods, dirt, and wet dog (not that you'd ever tell him that). but sleep disturbances and handsy touches aside...he's had a long night. give him a little break.

tashi duncan ・゜゜・．staking her claim. most vampires weren't dumb enough to encroach on what tashi's claimed as hers— not when she's been around for as long as she has. but when some fledgling vampire at the club she's taken you to puts his hands on her human... it's more than enough to make the vampiress seethe. maybe she should have chosen some other place to take you to— somewhere older, cleaner, and that served more dignified vampires like herself who understood their kind's customs. tashi doesn't share, nor does she ever plan to, and she's more than willing to prove that for all to see.

got a request? go ahead and leave em here :) THANK YOU GUYS SO SO MUCH FOR FOR 7.2K! that number is so crazy i'm still processing it... thank you thank you thank you!!!! these were so much fun to make omg especially the patrick ones... patrick zweig "bones and all"... definitely hope i can make some more bots like this in the future! shoutout to 🥧 anon fr and juliana and diya and lee and the countless other anons who send requests both on here and on my request form... u all do the most and keep this thing going lol. love you guys! <333333

[amymbona]

Tashi my bbg :( I need to help her process her injury, especially when she’s older. Like, you start dating the three of them and you notice how closed off and weird she is about tennis :(

Rubbing cream on her knee and kissing the skin, taking to her over glasses of wine bc she’s only open up when drunk :(( ugh she’s so tragic and no one talks about it

RIGHT!

All four of you have a wonderful relationship, even though it is full of constant teasing and the sub-dom dynamic during sex, some arguments too, but you and Tashi seem to have your own special bond. It's kind of similar to what Art and Patrick have had before the two of you have joined them.

You are the only one from your little love group who has never played tennis before, at least not professionally, and so you're able to offer Tashi something she desperately needs. Complete tranquility. You never force her to speak about tennis, don't bring up the topic of her injury but at the same time hold her close to your chest when she's grieving the end of her career and squirming in pain as if her knee was still sore as if it was the day it happened.

With gentle care, you spread all sorts of herb lotions over her skin, knowing the smell should help her calm down a bit, and then kiss the softness around her scars. You're everything she has ever needed, her guardian angel with the face of a human. Kind and tender, but never treating her like she's immobile.

You're able to offer her a completely new life without robbing her of what she had before. The discussion of your family life and bringing up a child (of whoever gets pregnant - Tashi mentioning she'd like to see you with that full belly) help her focus on something else and find a thing to be looking forward to. Perhaps that is her new sense of life. To be a mother. Taking care of her girl's baby the same way she's taking care about her.

[ghostgirl-22]

Random Holiday Headcanons

Happy Holidays y’all! Some holiday head canons just because... 💙🤍💚❤️

Under the cut because there’s a million 😅

Patrick

Patrick is canonically Jewish.

In my head his grandparents are more religious and give them Hanukkah gifts and when they visit the family celebrates somewhat formally.

Among his immediate family though I imagine it’s mostly his dad leading their observance of Hanukkah traditions.

Growing up he spent quite a few Christmas holidays at Arts house in New England and likes how traditional they are. Even though he teases him about how over the top it is.

Stanford age!Patrick celebrates Christmas socially. He goes to parties and events and sometimes gives gifts to his friends/partners.

Okay Dilf!Patrick is super into winter activities. He likes to go to the mountains and go sledding with the kids. He’s an okay snowboarder but often bites off more than he can chew and ends up spending more time sitting on the side of the mountain than actually snowboarding.

He’s not big into decorating but he does like to share Hanukkah traditions with the kids even if he was never that into them growing up. Especially if his sister and her family is visiting.

He’ll fry latkes and light the menorah. He likes blending the holidays and making it feel unique and special.

The kids love it because they get more gifts before and after Christmas depending on when the holiday falls.

The kids also love when Patrick tells them the Hanukkah story and the meaning behind the oil lamp burning for 8 days.

Tashi

For Stanford!Tashi the holidays are all about being with family.

Thanksgiving is always in South Carolina where her grandma(dad’s mom) lives. All her dad’s siblings (he has four) and their families show up there. Cook together… watch football and the cousins hang out which she loves because there’s a big group of them that are around her same age.

Thanksgiving night they go for a walk around her grandma’s neighborhood if the weather is mild.

For Christmas she goes to Long Island, New York to see her grandparents (mom’s side).

They have a holiday party every year on Christmas Eve with various relatives who live in and around New York (and her grandparents also invite people who are in town or may have no family to spend Christmas with).

Everyone opens their gifts together Christmas morning and the younger cousins play together. It’s less fun for Tashi because she’s the oldest. But she doesn’t mind hanging out and watching after her brothers and her little cousins.

She loves watching the Charlie Brown Christmas specials and it’s a wonderful life on Christmas Eve.

On Christmas they play board games. They’re all really competitive and monopoly is a dangerous game to pull out.

Older!Tashi can get kinda Pinteresty about decorating.

When she had her daughter she just wanted to build new traditions and those traditions generally involve traveling because of Arts career.

I imagine they visit Switzerland for Christmas time with her mom’s family as a stop off before going to Australia for the open.

They stay in cozy lodges and decorate. And light the fireplace. She likes to read the night before Christmas book she heard when she was growing up.

They visit Christmas markets and do all the snowy winter activities.

She’s a skier and is judgmental of Patrick’s tendency to just sit on the mountain most of the day (like me to snowboarders because that can’t be fun).

Art

Arts family was very into the holidays growing up

The entire house was decorated. They actually listen to Christmas music on purpose.

They wear Christmas pajamas all day. Drink cocoa and watch Christmas movies together.

His grandma would go above and beyond to make it special for him and his sisters. Making sure they built gingerbread houses and played in the snow. And that they all got tons of gifts. When they were young his grandma would make his dad sneak the gifts in on Christmas Eve at a crazy hour to make it seem like Santa came.

His tradition was him and his sisters would bring their sleeping bags in the living room and fall asleep by the tree. His oldest sister always got the couch and him and his middle sister had to sleep on the floor.

They did it well into their 20s when they were all home together. And did it with his first nephew when his oldest sister got married.

He still thinks the whole thing is magical.

Older!Art is probably the most holiday pilled (when he’s not depressed).

He over does it with the Christmas decorations. Tashi rolls her eyes like “there doesn’t need to be Christmas lights in the bathroom Art.”

He makes them carve pumpkins at Halloween and makes them build gingerbread houses on Christmas.

Lily loves it.

He helps Lily bake sugar cookies and chocolate chip cookies on Christmas Eve. And leaves them with a note for Santa and a glass of milk.

Then he dresses as Santa in the middle of the night to sneak presents under the tree while Lily is asleep. He does it no matter where they are in the world.

Later when Patrick finds out he plays Santa baby on repeat Christmas Eve morning.

Art wants to play Christmas music all the time but Tashi draws the line there unless it’s jazz or instrumental. She can’t listen to the same lyrics over and over all season.

Art is a skier but he took snowboarding lessons with Patrick and spent most of the day sitting on the mountain.

I have a million more because I’m insane but I’d love to hear yours if you want to share.

[diyasgarden]

posters?

Art and Patrick had a bunch of random posters in their dorm room at the Mark Rebellato Tennis Academy. It's a collection of movie posters, some musicians, and some tennis players, and they'd change it based on what they were interested in the moment. When Art goes to Stanford, he takes all those posters with him. He doesn't put them all up, but he likes having them. After he and Patrick stop talking to each other, he puts all these posters into storage. Simply seeing them feels like putting salt in the wound. When he graduates and goes onto his professional career, the only posters he has up are his own. He usually has a hand in picking what photos are used, and this is something he likes to get you advice on. These posters feel much more personal to him for this reason.

Tashi had posters of all her favorite tennis players on her wall growing up. It served as motivation for her to lay down in bed and look to the side, and then see Serena and Venus staring down at her. As she gets older she starts to put up posters of her favorite musicians and movies, even books. She also likes designing her own posters to put up, and it's something you both did together. When it was time for her to go to Stanford, one or two posters she took were bought and the rest you both made together.

Besides the posters in his dorm at the Academy, Patrick kept a bunch of pinup girl posters in his room back at his parent's house. He put them up as a teenager. Partly because he found it hot, but also because he loved how it pissed his parents off. Killing two birds with one stone. There are so many up, that you actually find it comical. You always tease him for it, especially for the ones he has on the ceiling above his bed. How did he even get those up there?

[justeeeen]

Challengers: A Good Time to be Bisexual

Just watched Challengers. It's 3 am and I'm still thinking about it.

For starters: I LIKED MIKE FAIST FIRST I LIKE HIM FIRST I LIKED HIM IN DEAR EVAN HANSEN OK I LIKED HIM FIRST.

Secondly, I'm realizing that I'm not into tennis enough to have realized just how erotic the sounds people make when they hit the ball are? Like I could handle the make out scenes, the nudity, the almost sex, but the sounds?? Especially for Art, like why did they have this man to make the most erotic whimpery moaning noise I've ever heard EVERY SINGLE TIME he hits the ball (I know why)? Like I felt like I was intruding and I shouldn't have been there. Convinced they locked Mike Faist in a recording studio, blocked out the windows, and had him do what he had to do in there cause that was OBSCENE.

Thirdly, I cannot begin to express my excitement at the resurgence of loser pathetic men in movies. I think Patrick is a loser, but Art is PATHETIC. Like peak simp behavior. He literally turned on his best friend for Tashi, a woman he had like 2 interactions with. To be fair, he was young and dumb and this was by far the worse thing anyone did in the movie, but it's pathetic man behavior. He literally equates her to Jesus. I'm going crazy.

Fourthly, this movie is so fucking sexy. Honestly it doesn't show any physical sex happening on screen, but just, the vibes? The music?? The noises?? Did I mention the noises?? Zendaya is absolutely stunning, and I appreciated their refusal to let her wear a bra in this. Josh O'Connor, I never found attractive before, but there were some shots in this movie where I was like "Ok, yeah ok, I get it." And Mike Faist, the man that you are (between the two of us I originally only wanted to see this movie to see Mike Faist be pathetic).

Finally, this movie is actually pretty straight forward. Tashi says multiple times that all she cares about is "watching some good fucking tennis" and that she doesn't want anyone to be in love with her. As for Art and Patrick, I feel like the only reason they really love tennis is for the relationships they get out of it. Art played tennis when he was younger because he liked being with Patrick and he even mentions that his Grandma is really proud of him, so that's another person he's playing for. And later, he's playing tennis for Tashi. Patrick plays when he's younger for Art, but I think when he's older he might be playing for fame? He just seems like that kind of person. And in the beginning of the movie he seems a little upset that no one knows who he is. Tashi played tennis because she loves tennis, and when she can't play tennis anymore, she's in love with two people who can. And she knows that what they have is the potential to play a good game of tennis. Which is all she cares about. I mean, I don't think that's true. I think she loves Art, but I don't think she respects him (it's giving TomShiv). I think she has more chemistry with Patrick, and potentially loves him more, but thinks she could never be with him because he challenges her too much, and she's too egotistical to be with someone like Patrick who's also egotistical.

I think Art loves Tashi the most, Patrick loves Art the most, and Tashi loves Patrick, but loves tennis above all.

To be fair, I don't support Tashi erasure, like this is one hundred percent a polycule and not like, a gay romance with a woman getting in the way of it. I just think that above all, Tashi loves tennis. That doesn't mean that she's not deserving of love, and that doesn't mean she doesn't love Art and Patrick, she just loves something else more. Tennis will always be the 4th person in their relationship.

At the end they all get what they want. Art wins the game, and wins Tashi by proxy. Patrick wins Art back by physically catching him in his arms and reigniting their friendship. And Tashi gets to watch some good fucking tennis.

[judeable-brainrot]

genderfluid patrick headcanons 🌀🌀… oooo u wanna make genderfluid patrick headcanons so baddd 🌀🌀🌀…

oooo i've been hypnotized....oh noooo

Patrick is a he/she pronoun user, he understands they/them but he just doesn't feel a connection with it

goes through his self-discovering in middle school but doesn't really come to terms with it until after Art and Tashi leave for college and he's alone with his thoughts

only really feels comfortable being at home on his more fem days for fear of ridicule, but slowly builds up his confidence (i feel like he really only experiences dysphoria when he’s experimenting and he isn’t quite sure of himself yet; once he’s older he just rolls with it!)

takes inspiration from many drag queens and even participates in some shows himself

likes women's blouses more than skirts, but he'll wear them during the summer especially

he LOVES eye makeup, loves experimenting with thin liner options and making it so pretty and stunning and loves eyeshadow especially

fem nicknames are his jam like “honey, princess, doll, babygirl, baby doll, etc.” makes him feel very special

would see him telling Art and Art being confused but doing his best—buying him more fem clothes but even some gender neutral wears as well <3

when he’s really in his later years, aka 2019, he just does not gaf about anything anymore, he’ll wear whatever and everyone else has to deal with it

if the throuple happened after the match, i envision him talking to Art and Tashi about it back at their hotel and them being really supportive! they even build him a walk in closet in their home so he can have all his favorite outfits in there <3

could also see him fucking hard with acrylic nails! maybe not to Cynthia Erivo lengths but he loves to get them done up all pretty and nice and step onto the court with them and watch his opponents face change lol

i hope you like!!!!

[destinyc1020]

I loved your review of Challengers!!!! I watched the movie 3 times now and although I love the vibes the film gave me, I had big issues with the script and overall's Tashi's arc. I felt that the male characters were more interesting as ppl and their story of a close friendship turned rivalry to ending with both of them not speaking for years was quite compelling. I honestly just thought Tashi was a symbol for them tbh. this is where I blame the writer Justin cause the reason he made Tashi black was because he was inspired by Serena and Naomi Osaka however, this film is very apolitical. Outside of the mention of the alleged racist tennis opponent, her race is never mentioned. Her black father isn't even present in the older Tashi scenes. So what was the point of taking such good care of her white boys' line?

The last point is not going to be a point but a link. It discusses how Zendaya is the next leading lady of the generation. I have some thoughts but I hope you can read it so we can discuss. I do think that one critic has some inflammatory comments on Z that I feel are more personal than biased, but as a dark-skinned black woman, I can understand where that frustration comes from. It is tough because it is a lot and I appreciate if you do want to add any more discourse because I do feel Z sometimes is separated apart because she biracial black woman the bigger issue is Hollywood as an entity but using that white boy line kinda justify it for me.

https://www.vulture.com/article/zendaya-challengers-leading-lady-debate.html

Whew!!! Anon....this was a very deep and interesting read! Thank you for your kind words Anon about my review. Like I said, I'm always 100% honest on here about how I feel lol. 😄

I'll just say this, that overall, people are going to have varying opinions on someone's acting or just a film in general. I look at films and an actor's performance as just something that is subjective.... One person may LOVE a film or an actor's performance, and another person may think the film/acting was just "So-so". It's just like a piece of art. We can all have various different tastes, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that necessarily? Sometimes, our life experiences, exposure, and world view can shape how we view certain films or pieces of art. So, I am not even surprised that one of the critics in this article doesn't really care for Z's acting/films, etc... It's her personal opinion I guess.... 🤷🏾‍♀️

I'm a little iffy as well on Justin's writing tbh.... I remember when leaks of the script/screenplay FIRST came out, people were cringing lol. 😅 I'm glad that the film version wasn't as cringe-worthy as some people felt the film would be. I still would have changed some things about the writing.

But hey, sometimes, you don't need a picture-perfect film with picture-perfect characters. Sometimes, life is complicated, PEOPLE are complicated, and you don't need an ending that's tied neatly into a nice little bow with a "happily ever after" attached.

With that said, I'll comment and provide my reaction to some of the points in the article you just linked:

Whew... Welp...She made some interesting points. I know this will probably ruffle a few feathers here, but she's definitely coming in with some hard-hitting thoughts and feelings.

I've been saying this about Hollywood for years... The fact that monoracial, YOUNG, desirable, darker-skinned black women are basically ignored in Hollywood.... I do agree with her statements on this. I am a huge supporter of Z, and I love that she has the type of power that she has in Hollywood, but I do also feel for my darker-hued sisters as well. 😔

With regards to race.... Don't get me wrong, I don't need films where black people (black women especially) have to address RACE in every single role that is given a black person. Is it just me?? But sometimes, it's just REFRESHING to watch a movie, see a black person onscreen, and NOT have to think about race. 👀 We already have to deal with race and think about it just about every single day, 24/7... That can at times be exhausting. Sometimes, when you watch movies, you just want to ESCAPE...Escape your problems, escape reality, escape real life, or just escape what's on your mind atm, etc... You don't need a constant reminder of societal issues, and views of "blackness" in every single film that features a black person. At least, I don't feel that way.

But I do feel like certain elements and ways that woc (black women in particular) are portrayed onscreen DO play a huge role in how we are viewed in society, how we view ourselves, and how certain stereotypes are continuously perpetuated. 🤷🏾‍♀️

Anyway, I still hate that "white boys" line lol. It just seemed cringe to me, and totally out of nowhere lol. 😅 I'm like, do people even talk like that in REAL life? I doubt it lol.

Hmmm....interesting take.... 🤔

.

I meannnnn....I DO have to agree w/her statement on Timmy and Zendaya in the "Dune" franchise. I sense more platonic/"Friendship" chemistry btwn them, than actual sexual or sensual chemistry tbh. 👀

Whereas, I felt like she and Josh definitely seemed to have tangible sexual chemistry onscreen in "Challengers". Sometimes, you can know someone a little TOO well, that when you act with them in romantic scenes, it's not really believable because you two are like brother and sister vibes irl with each other lol. 🤣 I think that's the case w/Timmy and Zendaya onscreen.

.

While I don't agree with her that black people should ONLY work with mostly other black people onscreen lol, I will say that I agree with her part highlighted above. I've been saying for a while now that I'm really curious to see how Z would fare in a film directed by a black director, surrounded by a primarily black cast. 😊

.

With all of this said, I have to admit, this little part right here made me smile...

I can see it too! The Academy LOOOVES indie films like these. 😊😃

Anyway, great read Anon! 👍🏾 Thanks for sharing! It was good to get dual sides of the coin from their differing opinions.

[senseofnewness]

Which Art fic idea were you unable to write? Was it the bully one or the fluffier ideas?

actually i have a standfordboyfriend!art headcanon coming soon, i will finish it, i promise, i just got caught up in a lot of thing (especially a patrick fic i was really inspired by), it's a fluffy one but i can write young art being cute, now ask me to write older art being cute???? I CANT

as for art being a bully I WILL WRITE ANYTHING, i love that bitch being a snake, an anon had talked about art and reader being scheming assholes to break tashi and patrick and i love that idea so much

[lillianmurtonen]

My favorite books of 2024:

Anna Karenina:

Sumptuous, sweeping, long—this is how I'd describe the process of reading Anna Karenina in the hyper-digital age. Levin's contemplations of farm life and peasantry, interspersed with farmboy hijinks and dissolving into passionate moods, feel like taking a nice long bath with your notifications off—a cleanse for the mind, if you will. It offers sustained, static stimulation for the mind rather than the usual frenetic cries for attention.

Reading Anna Karenina will take you into moods of reverie, charm, and desire during the month you read it. Where Vronsky and Anna fail, Levin begins. Yes, I enjoyed this immensely and, obviously, related to one character the most. In an age where dating culture is scrutinized, the youth are moving rightward or being blackpilled, and stoicism is being resold as a cure-all, this passionate, contemplative Russian novel will cause you to respect your passions and passing thoughts—and ignite your faith in humanity and the existence of noble souls.

Fathers and Sons:

Turgenev is my favorite sentimental writer. Everyone is blushing and excusing themselves from the room in silent fits of heart-bursting adoration. Emotionality is taken to religious heights and given a rare respect in Turgenev's aristocratic universes; sensitivity is admirable, associated with refinement. I especially enjoyed First Love in 2023 with its interior view of madness, spinning around in lovesickness and dangerous passion, and general lost-doggery.

This is the book I'd recommend to anyone interested in the centuries old Russian debate about how society and the individual fare without God. Fathers and Sons captures it in a particular moment in time—the late 1800s. It depicts the clash between the law of binomial nomenclature and the virtues of studying poetry, brutish nihilist rationalists against the old romantics, love as silly physiological phenomena versus as a transcendent, transformative power, a dialectical materialist against a decadent class, and a hot-blooded, clear-sighted youth who has gone far beyond "well-bred indignation." It's about a young anarchist versus the stuffy landlords (who put him up for free), a fake socialist who declares himself the voice of the peasants and goes full SJW against his friend's parents while completely taking his own doting (and well off) parents for granted. Yes, if you are familiar with the book, these are all descriptions of Bazarov in his plight against the old fashioned elder Kirsanovs.

At its core, it is a generational divide between the audacious intellectual Bazarov, his loyal but now uncertain pal Arkady, and the rest of the older characters around them—each a bit different in their methods of listening to and questioning him. This book asks: which view is right to lead Russia? And Turgenev, masterful as he is, illuminates the faults, flaws, and shining moments of integrity on both sides.

Read this book. Out of everything I read this year, it was the best.

Also: Peep the Challengers (2024) moment between Bazarov (Patrick) and Arkady (Art) for Odintsova (Tashi). Bazarov is very Patrick—he's very "chip on his shoulder," natural talent gone small, but cool and instinctive enough to make the most lasting impression on the girl. Everyone around him can tell he has more to give than he allows himself to.

The Hour of the Star:

Clarice Lispector's voice is a shining, shining star. Originality in its best-kept form. The narrator's voice is rhythmic, charming like a smart girl at a dinner party, fluid like a fish and just as slippery, impossible to catch or predict its next move.

Easy Beauty:

This was a sleeper hit for me. I didn't expect to like it, because I usually dislike the voices of millennial memoir writers. It's a great introduction to aesthetic theory through the lens of life. Some women think about beauty to the point of self-annihilation. In the first 30%, I was worried about this potential ending. However, this book was academic, self-reflective, and tastefully well-edited.

After reading this, my theory is that if you've dedicated your studies to beauty theory, there is some great loss you have associated with it. You aren't necessarily getting the social benefits of beauty, and you have been left fascinated with an encrypted lock to pick at. What defines allure? What draws someone closer to you? What do you have to barter with? What ruins beauty? What makes a beautiful face or, barring that, constitutes a beautiful mind? What are the parameters? Perhaps by defining them, we can see precisely what we have been left out of.

Maybe you can believe that this knowledge will bring you closer to the experience of having it. For a moment, walking around in the museum of a foreign country, she catches the eye of a handsome father. Beauty is a panacea for the author. It ignites the potential of a romantic drama that washes everything else away, expanding her possibilities of self… But when the fantasy deflates, she is left thinking about what beauty hasn't done for her. In many instances, it is sad and painful to read, like watching a girl poke her bruises. Infuriating, even. But her love of beauty comes through throughout, and any aesthete will appreciate her reverent offering to Aphrodite.

The Master and the Margarita:

A helluva run. It brings to mind the relentless pace of Oldboy, with high-octane action from start to finish. I find it ironic that the book opens with the empty, inaccurate, and cloudy headed musings between the poet and the editor, only to be swiftly overtaken by 200 pages of chaos and action unleashed by Satan. Feeble theory versus Chad praxis. This book is hard to put down for long and a lesson on the true meaning of value.

[buckee]

yuletide 2024 letter

Dear Yuletide writer,

Happy Yuletide! Thanks for being my writer this year! <3 More under the cut:

Hi Yuletide writer, thank you so much for your patience! I haven't had access to my personal computer for a bit, and I've tried uploading this from my phone, but I don't think it's been visible (?) until now. Anyways, apologies for the technical issues!

General likes: Dead dove content, darkfic content (any & all, I have no qualms with anything re: non-con, incest, underage, violence), NSFW stories, romantic comedies, character studies, sympathetic villains, unlikeable female characters, fraught relationships (platonic, romantic, or sexual), stories where two characters are isolated from others (e.g. quarantined, stranded on an island, etc), lovers to enemies, bittersweet endings, queer homoerotic toxic best friendships, one-sided love, fleshed-out backstories, villain/corruption arcs, power imbalances, age gaps, canon divergence AUs.

General dislikes: Stories about weddings (if the plot revolves around this topic), kidfic, single parent AUs, soulmate AUs, heavy-handedness, SFW stories, slice-of-life, coffee shop AUs, maternal abuse (if the plot revolves around this).

FANDOMS + potential prompts

Challengers (Art, Patrick, Tashi):

A post-canon fic exploring Tashi coaching Patrick while Art retires to be with Lily would be interesting–how does Patrick integrate himself into that family? How awkward and painful is it to discuss the years that went by, and what happened in-between? Do they have rules for intimacy?

Patrick and Art exploring a romantic & sexual relationship while Tashi mostly removes herself from that part of their dynamic would be really appealing–she’s part of their throuple, but in a remote way. I’ve always seen her as kind of their…coach? And also, that she’s aromantic, but not asexual. I think Art mourning a part of his relationship with his wife but gaining a new partner is really interesting. Art/Patrick have the most interesting dynamic to me, ESPECIALLY in the context of the throuple (no Tashi erasure), because Tashi has never seemed intensely invested in romance or commitment, even if she is involved with the both of them. And since she’s a parent and someone who could have a career comeback, this would be cool to see!

AU where Patrick & Art are Gen Z/zoomers who come of age in a time when gay marriage became legalized in the USA/queerness has a different connotation than it did even in the early 2000s. What would their relationship look like if it had started a lot earlier? If they had been involved in the queer community as a couple/in their young adulthood? And what would their relationship look like once they met Tashi?

The Acolyte (Qimir, Mae):

I really want to see a tense, psychosexual exploration of their dynamic while Mae was training under him. It’s fascinating that he becomes fixated on her twin afterwards–they’re identical, which means he had to find her face superficially attractive at the very least. Wouldn’t mind it getting darker on this end, especially with crossing boundaries in a mentor/mentee dynamic. How did they meet? Why is she so interested in his good opinion? Why does she stick around if she is afraid of him?

Push (Nick, Cassie)

Nick and Cassie blurring the lines between brother/sister as she grows older is always fascinating. Would love to see them be codependent and inappropriate and odd with one another, without realizing why until it’s too late. How do they handle being lovers? How does Nick deal with the conflict of self-hatred and desire? Does Cassie ever realize that no matter how much she loves him, he still groomed her? Do they ever try to make it work, white-picket-fence style? Do they live perpetually on the run? Do they grow tired of each other? Do they try to separate at all?

Alternatively, their romantic/sexual relationship starts at the age they both are in canon. Feel free to get dark here, so long as Nick remains horrified and conflicted and resistant to what he wants to do. Cassie can be coerced into increasingly inappropriate behavior, or she can instigate out of a childish crush. So long as it isn’t a vaudevillian, mustache-twirling event on Nick’s end, I’m interested in all ways this could go down!

Thank you so much! I'm so excited, and appreciate your time. :)

[batifresa]

Aside from everything you guys already mentioned, I wanted to add a couple of things!

Lily's Age There is absolutely no way in hell that child is older than 5. Lily would have to be around 7 years and 4 months old to be Patrick's, and she's clearly much younger. So the timeline does NOT match.

The Wedding Art and Tashi had just gotten engaged when Atlanta happened. Weddings take several months to be prepared, especially celebrity weddings. So you're telling me, they got married while Tashi was visibly pregnant? I can already see the TMZ headlines: "Art & Tashi, shotgun wedding?", "Art Donaldson, was he baby trapped?", "Tennis coach baby traps America's golden boy", etc, which leads us to:

Tashi & Her Obsession with Her Image Tashi is very mindful about how she is perceived. A whole control freak. Every action she took was a calculated move to strengthen her brand (even as a teen!). She would have never allowed a mistake baby to negatively impact her image or her future. Lily being Patrick's kid would only be a stressful ticking time-bomb, cause if the media ever found out, Tashi would get torn apart. That woman was obviously on birth control until the day she decided, and very much planned, to have a baby with Art, which leads us to:

Lily, a Tool to Strengthen The Donaldsons™ Brand It's quite clear Tashi clings to this image of her and Art being a power couple (the hot Aston Martin ad). THE tennis power couple. The perfect pretty people with the perfect little marriage. Having a child was just an easy way for her to upgrade their status from "perfect couple" to "perfect all-American family". And of course, the child not being Art's would obliterate this image she has so carefully crafted.

TLDR, it doesn't make sense with the timeline. And it's so ridiculously out of character for Tashi to have willingly birthed a mistake baby that could very easily destroy her second chance at having a career in tennis, and also her image.

I need people to stop pretending this "who's the real father" theory makes sense. It's preposterous no matter how you look at it.

the “lily is actually patrick’s daughter!!” theory is one i cannot get behind. tashi duncan had her whole life planned out, controlled. the one unpredictable thing in her life was her knee injury which completely threw her off course. every choice she makes is a concious one - she has weighed the pros and cons of it all before making a decision. yes, even cheating on art in atlanta. but there is not a chance in HELL that she wasn’t tracking her cycle or on long form birth control or something akin to her knowing her windows. you really think patrick zweig’s daughter wants to cuddle and watch spiderverse? that child would be bouncing off the fucking walls. lily was certainly planned between tashi and art. maybe i’m wrong and i’m willing to be wrong, but the way tashi is written i cannot imagine her having an unplanned pregnancy with patrick. regardless, art is lily’s father in every sense of the matter.

[mysterioushimachal]

Kinnaur surrounded by the Tibet to the east, in the northeast corner of Himachal Pradesh, about 235 kms from Shimla is a tremendously beautiful district having the three high mountains ranges i.e. Zanskar, Greater Himalayas and Dhauladhar, enclosing valleys of Sutlej, Spiti, Baspa and their tributaries. All the valleys are strikingly beautiful. The slopes are covered with thick wood, orchards, fields and picturesque hamlets. The much religious Shivlinga lies at the Peak of Kinner Kailash Mountain. The beautiful district was opened for the outsiders in 1989. The old Hindustan-Tibet road passes through the Kinnaur valley along the bank of river Sutlej and finally enters Tibet at Shipki La Pass. And it is not only the scenic beauty which appeals to the young and old alike but also the life styles of the people, their culture, heritage, customs and traditions.

Temples & Monastries

Hindu gods being worshipped side by side with Buddhist deities in Buddhist and Hindu temples, especially in Middle Kinnaur. Dabla, one of the major Bön deities, is greatly revered by the Kinners in the area. Folk Hindu gods are also worshipped in Middle and Lower Kinnaur. These include the Durga (locally known as Chandi, Narayan, Vishnu) and many other folk Hindu–animist gods. Folk deities play a major role in the daily life of the Kinners.

Chandika Temple Kothi 

A handsome temple dedicated to goddess Chandika, more especially designated as Shuwang Chandika has spread the fame of village Kothi in greater part of the district. The local people hold the goddess in great reverence and consider her to be one of the most powerful goddess. For want of social contact by the local people with their more advanced and brahmin ridden brethren they have evolved their own peculiar procedure of ritual and worship to this presiding deity. There is an image of gold, seated in an ark. It is danced up and down by four persons at the time of worship.

Mathi Temple at Chhitkul

Mathi is the local goddess of the people of chhitkul having three temples the main one said to have been constructed about five hundred years ago by a resident of Garhwal. The square ark of the goddess is made of walnut wood and is covered with clothes and surmounted by a tuft of yak tail. Two poles called bayanga are inserted into it by means of which it is carried. Her legend goes that she started from Brindavan and passing through Mathura and Badri Nath reached Tibet. Afterward she came to Garhwal, and via Sirmour reached Sarhan in Bushahr and ultimately reached the Barua Khad. Beyond Barua Khad she found the territory divided into seven parts. The deity of Shaung village was Narenas, her nephew. She appointed him to guard the territory.Then she proceeded to Chasu village. There too she appointed the Narenas of Chasu, her nephew as a guard.

Then she visited the Kamru fort where her husband Badri Nath, was a guard of the throne of Bushahr. She further went to Sangla where her another nephew, Barang Nag, was responsible for safeguarding the Rupin Ghati. Thereafter she proceeded to Batseri village, where Badri Nath of Batseri, her husband was responsible for guarding a place named Dhumthan. Thence onward she arrived at Rakchham where Shanshares, yet another nephew was appointed as a guard of Dhumthan. Finally she arrived at Chhitkul and settled there permanently assuming the overall responsibility of safeguarding the seven divisions. After her arrival, people had plenty of food, animals had sufficient grass and the village began to proper. She had also a pujares. In the morning the pujares bring water from the nearby spring and worship goddess by burning incense, while musical instruments are played by Domangs.

Maheshwar Temple at Sungra

The portals of Maheshwar temple of Sungra have superb wood panels on either side. deeply cut images of prominent Hindu deities are a treat for the art historian. On the eastern wall are panels depicting the Vishnu Avatars and the symbol of the Hindu zodiac. The friezes on the eaves are beautiful and the buildings arround the temple courtyard are similarly embellished . A small stone shrine of eighth century stands a short distance from the temple doorway, evidence of the site’s antiquity. The Sungra Maheshwar was once said to have been attacked by an enemy of superhuman strength, often linked to the Pandava hero, Bhima. Bhima hurled a huge boulder at the temple from the mountain tops across the Satluj. The Maheshwar deflected the missile to one side. It now lies close to the road, a short way from the temple and still shelters the alpine flowers found only in the high mountains.

Chango Temples at Chango

Chango Temple

Chango has three temples. In lower Chango, the red walls of Rinchen Zangpo temple stand out atop a little promontory  but contain little of note. Nearby, the village temple, in more regular use as a place of worship, has a large prayer wheel, clay idols and contemporary wall paintings. A large image of Avalokiteshwara, crudely carved in stone, lies on the path between these two shrines. It was found in some out of the way and the monks decided to place it in a temple but the combined strength of many men was insufficient to lift the stone. Then the present location was though. The temple in upper Chango is the best kept but of relatively recent vintage. Close by, a new prayer hall, library and guest rooms are nearing completion. Across the Chango stream, perched above yellow, alkaline cliffs, is an older collection of religious buildings.

Rarang Monastery at Rarang

Just outside Rarang, on the Thopan side is the newly built Monastery of Tashi Choeling. This new monastery has come in the wake of post-1960 Tibetan influences from the Drugpa sect. Close to the monastery are older dwellings and temples, merging into the rugged surface of a rocky mountain side. These older units are traced to Nyingmapa adherents.

Durga Temple at Ropa

There is a Durga temple at Ropa also known as the Chandika temple. Chandika had apportioned to herself this semi-arid tract when she divided Kinnaur amongst her brothers and sisters. Her temple at Ropa, a new structure with a reinforced cement concrete frame, is an architectural malapropism.

Charang Temple

Just beyond Charang is a temple of the eleventh century known as Rangrik Tungma complex. The temple takes its name from the goddess Rangrik Tungma and her small metal image, astride a horse is the oldest at the temple. In all likelihood Rangrik Tungma must have been a pre-Buddhist deity, absorbed into the pantheon of the later religion. Two other bronze statues appear to be of considerable value; a Maitreya seated with legs pendant, in bhadrasana and a Buddha in bhumisparsha mudra. The walls of the main hall are linked with clay idols, in the same style as the mandala in the dukhang at Tabo.

The wall paintings below are old although the wheel of life outside the door has been redone lately. There is also an interesting hoard of ivory and bonehandled knives and daggers at the temple. Many centuries ago, it is said a robber gang from across the Tibetan border raided the temple. The clay images of protective deities at the entrance set up a terrific noise, resembling the thundering hooves of galloping horses. The terrific robbers droped their weapons and took off, running up valley to vanish in the crevasses of the huge glaciers streaming down from the high peaks above.

Brelengi Gompa at Brelengi near Peo

Near Reckong Peo in Brelengi there is a Buddhist Monastery also known as the Brelengi gompa.This is an impressive modern Buddhist edifice. The monastery of Mahabodhi society was constructed specially for the Dalai Lama to perform the Kalachakra ceremony in 1992. Next to the monastery is a 10 meter statue of the standing Buddha, which is visible from a considerable distance.

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Mystical Kinnaur – Land of Gods Kinnaur surrounded by the Tibet to the east, in the northeast corner of Himachal Pradesh, about 235 kms from Shimla is a tremendously beautiful district having the three high mountains ranges i.e.

[diyasgarden]

drunk?

Patrick is a messy drunk. Messy in every sense of the word. He is not thinking straight about anything he is doing. He can be quite fun to be around, especially in 2006/2007. He is the dictionary definition of life of the party. But he always seems to have some sense of control, but this changes as he gets older. He continues to be a heavy drinker, but becomes more reckless when drunk. When Art and Tashi are no longer in contact with him, he gets blackout drunk more often. Naturally this is concerning to you. Although it's clear that this is more of a coping mechanism. For losing people he cares about, but also for losing his youth and talent. You miss when he was a fun drunk, even though you know you'll never get that version of him back. On the topic of alcohol itself, Patrick is not picky. He usually drinks beer and sometimes hard liquor. He does enjoy little fruity drinks (think Strawberry Daquiris, Pina Coladas, etc) and if that's what you order, you best believe he is going to take couple of sips.

Art gets drunk very quick. During their time in the academy, Patrick found this amusing. All it took was one to two drinks and he was gone! He is very talkative drunk. Most of the time, Art is a guarded person when it comes to this feelings and thoughts. He isn't going to willingly share these things unless he thinks you need to know something. Except when he is drunk, it's so easy to get him to talk about pretty much everything and anything. Everything just comes pouring out of him. This is why as he gets older, he becomes less of a drinker. Part of this is also because of his career, but really he doesn't want to lower his inhibitions and share whatever is on his mind. He drinks whatever Patrick has when they're still friends, and sticks to just a bit of hard liquor as an adult.

Tashi handles alcohol the best among all three of them. She is rarely every drunk. It's not that she has a very high tolerance for alcohol (she has a normal level tolerance), but she just never lets herself get drunk. When she drinks, she does so in moderation to maintain some level of sobriety. If anything she gets tipsy. In the rare instances she does get completely drunk (which were all mostly after her injury), she gets kind of brutal. She'll say everything she is thinking without any hesitation and no matter how rude. This was rough after her injury when she got drunk because she would say all kinds of awful things about the people around her but also herself. It was part of the reason why you were so concerned. After that period in her life, when she goes back to being a drinker in moderation, you're thankful you'll never have to deal with that again. It's too much to handle. She is a wine drinker, and if she prefers red or white depends on however she is feeling that day.