#gaudy character design my beloved

[carolmaclaine]

sometimes making a very gaudy and overdesigned tav is good for your health actually

[talaofthevalley]

for "send me a yugioh character", i could go with the obvious one (your wife), but instead i will pick: blue angel! (only if you want)

How dare you tease me with questions regarding wife. Jail for Sam, jail for ONE THOUSAND YEARS-

But yeah I can do Blue Angel.

Why I like them/why I don’t Blue Angel/Aoi is fine. I don't like or dislike her necessarily. I think she's interesting to think about from a writing perspective (glances at the giant analysis post in my drafts), and I can easily write walls of texts about her motivations and behaviour. But that doesn't really translate to me being invested in her? I don't think she's a bad character, just underutilised, and one of the characters who got off the worst from not getting a complete character arc.

Honestly the only thing that makes me irritated with her is solely caused by fandom influence. Like god speed to the people who wish she got more and think the world of her, I would never look down on ya'll or claim you should stop. This is 100% a me problem and I try my best to not make it other people's problems. But this is my post, so.

My irritation comes when people make her more noteworthy than she actually is. It's a common occurence with female characters in fandom, where rather than work with the flaws and hurdles they have, they're made more competent and stronger instead. Or making bonds with other characers that don't make much sense or have any meat behind them. Like putting the character on god mode and calling it a day. And that doesn't automatically make for interesting writing.

Frankly I like Aoi best when she's kinda pathetic. I think it's funniest that way.

What I like about their appearance Since she's the poster girl of "gees Aoi how come your brother lets you have two FOUR designs?" I'll do all of them.

Aoi: The standard blend. She's cute! A little bland maybe? I like her short hair. Wish she had some colour somewhere though, like in her hair or eyes. As is she doesn't much look like a Yugioh character in her civilian form except for the artstyle of the show she's drawn in.

Blue Angel: My idol girlie. I really like this design, it's cute and kinda gaudy but in the best way. The way her hair is done I especially love. That she's clearly inspired by Hatsune Miku without looking like a rip-off is very fun too.

Blue Girl: Again, fun short hair! It's very Ghost Girl inspired, which makes sense since Aoi is taken under her wing in S2. Not much else to say really, other than I like the colours and the sporty vibe.

Blue Maiden: I think this design would be great were it not for the lipstick. I've made a low effort edit removing it and I think she looks so much better without it. And again with the hair, I really love it. The light shade of blue is very pleasant to look at, and I like the half up-do she has. The wet suit look fits her archetype change and partnering up with Aqua, but it does sometimes feel like it was meant for a different character and was tweaked to fit Aoi better.

Do I prefer their dub names or original names? Sub name. I don't watch the dub nor do I like it, so I don't like any name changes either.

OTP Zinniashipping I guess? But the one with the depiction of Miyu I have in my head. It's not a ship I seek out.

NOTP Angelmakershipping.

OT3 None.

Favourite card they use Trickstars my beloved. My favourite Trickstar monster ever sadly didn't appear in the show, but Trickstar Bloom is another one of my favourites so I'll go with her.

Favourite moment they were in I think.... the scene at the very start of S2, when Aoi and Yusaku talk at the Cafe Nagi truck. It's by itself a very funny scene because of how uninterested Yusaku is in interacting with her. But I like it because we see Aoi bracing herself before thanking Yusaku for helping her when she collapsed on the roof. Aoi's very self-centered in S1, and she clearly struggled getting the words out to a person she claimed was trying to suck up to her last time they talked months ago, but this shows she's grown a little. And again, it's very funny how obvious it is Aoi has no clue how to interact with Yusaku when he is giving her nothing to work with.

Least favourite moment I did have a part in mind for this, but the more I thought about it the more I realise it's less a fault on Aoi's part as a character and more on the writers.

So I'll go with the other option; the scene before Blue Girl vs Soulburner. It's a moment that's not out of place with how Aoi's been written until now imo, and that's why I like it in a way despite how bullheaded she's being. Trying to offer assistance to Playmaker's team and the Ignis, saying Akira will definitely be of help to them. But when Playmaker refuses their help and Soulburner points out they have zero reason to trust SOL Tech, she gets offended and demands they hand over Ai and Flame. And it turns into a duel, despite Playmaker being confident they could talk this out since Ghost Girl was there. And Emma gets upset with Aoi for escalating the situation to this when it didn't need to. And I know this is in my least favourite moments for her but that's interesting character writing!! It's fun she's being a stubborn and petty teenager.

[loveforpreserumsteve]

Love Grows (demon!Bucky and pre-serum!Steve omegaverse au)

10

HALFWAY THROUGH Symbol of Courage, Hodge came home. Not for long though. He rushed in, gave Steve a kiss to the top of his head, and then left for 12A. Claiming that he was going to talk business with Bucky and Daniel. With Bucky, because of the alpha's connections. With Daniel, because of the man's late father and the stories of the influential people he had known.

Huffing, Steve shoved himself further into the armchair. Sure, he knew that getting buddy-buddy with the neighbors could potentially help boost Hodge's career. But couldn't he have waited? Couldn't he have spent some time talking with Steve? A funny story about his acting coach, Michael Joseph Duffy aka MJD aka Duff? Or a story about how ridiculous another actor was during auditions? Anything?

Sighing at his own jealousies, Steve tried to get back into reading. It was a decent first draft. Good characters. Good story. Hodge would fit the Brett Hendrick character perfectly. All American Grade A Beefcake. Pinnacle of non-toxic alphaninity. Yeah, Hodge was perfect for that. Even if he was a beta.

He'd need a little help in the sass department, sure, but he could work on that. Steve knew that Hodge could do anything that he put his mind to, even – no, especially – when Hodge didn't think so himself.

Just as Steve was getting back into the script, there was a knock at the door. Heart racing from the horrible fate of the beloved character, Jimmy, Steve's brows furrowed, but he still got up to get the door. Surprisingly enough, it was Peggy and another older woman, petite, frail, and smiling, with a gaudy, silver floral brooch pinned to the shoulder of her yellow polka dot dress.

"Hi, dear," Peggy smiled, "We're not bothering you, are we?"

"Of course, not," Steve said, opening the door to welcome the two older women into his home. Pressing his lips together to suppress his disgust at the scent that the women brought with them. The same scent that came from Sharon's good luck charm.

"This is my dear friend, Angie Martinelli, who lives on six. Angie, this is Arnold's nephew's husband, Steve."

"Welcome to Stark Tower!"

"Thank you," Steve smiled, closing the door. Then, his brain caught up with the women and he asked, "Martinelli? As in Angela Martinelli? White Christmas in Vermont, Angela Martinelli?"

"The very same," she smiled, and Steve was starstruck.

"Ms. Martinelli, it's an honor," Steve started, taking her offered hand in his. Gushing, "My mom and I watch your holiday movies every winter, and would marathon Dear Betty almost every morning."

"Well, bless you," Angie giggled, giving Steve's hand a squeeze.

Wait until mom hears of this!

As the two women made their way down the hallway to the living room, they kept commenting about how beautiful the apartment was. Steve couldn't take any credit for the interior design though, Uncle Arnie had some decent taste. All he and Hodge had done was move their stuff into the lavish space.

Reaching the living room, both women sat down on the velvet navy-blue sofa. Both women had brought identical sewing bags and started opening them and took out their current projects. Crocheting for Angie and darning for Peggy. Clearly, settling down for a long evening of needlework and conversation.

"Oh, before I forget," Peggy said, reaching into her bag to pull out a small box. "This is for you. From Daniel and me."

"For me?" Steve asked, brows furrowing once more.

"It's just a little present is all," Peggy smiled, dismissing Steve's concern and puzzlement. "For moving in and for being so thoughtful."

"That's very kind of you," Steve said, taking a seat in the plaid armchair. Opening the little wrapped box, he froze. There, Sharon's silver filigree ball-charm and its clustered together chain. Sharon's not-so-lucky good luck charm. The smell hit him again, stronger, and made Steve rear back.

"It's really very old," Peggy continued, as though Steve wasn't refraining from pinching his nose at the scent of the translucent-bluish spongy substance. "Over three hundred years old."

"It's lovely," he said, gaze glued to it as he debated whether he should tell her that Sharon had already showed it off and told him the exact same thing.

But he didn't want to upset the older omega. She had, after all, been very kind. And Sharon was her niece, her daughter-surrogate, who she lost.

"The inside is called terrigen, it's a root," Peggy said. "It's good luck."

Not for Sharon, Steve thought. Instead of speaking the words out loud though, he tried to give the necklace back, "It's lovely, but I can't accept such a –"

"You already have," Peggy insisted, not looking up at Steve as she darned a brown sock. "Put it on."

Angie assured, "You'll get used to the smell before you know it."

"Go on," Peggy said.

"Well, thank you," Steve smiled and hesitantly, reluctantly, put the chain over his head, tucking the charm into the collar of his shirt. It was cold for a moment against his skin and he told himself that he'd take it off once the two women left.

"Is that the script?" Peggy asked, gesturing to the ottoman and the thick stack of papers fastened together.

Angie perked at that, asking Steve, "Are you a writer."

"No," Steve said while Peggy added, "He's an artist. Hodge says that he's very talented."

"Your children must be very creative," Angie smiled, not knowing how much that comment alone broke his heart.

Lifting the script so he could keep reading, he corrected, "We don't have children."

"Soon, I'm sure," Angie encouraged, and Steve hoped it would be. From her lips to God's ears.

As the night continued, Steve found himself content. With the two women making small talk and telling stories while Steve sat, listening and reading. Surprisingly, it was a pleasant evening. Time even got away from them.

At around eleven, Hodge came home. He said hello to the women and bent so he could kiss Steve's cheek. Only then did the women realize how late it was and pack up their things to leave.

"Come and visit me anytime you want, I'm 6C," Angie smiled, following Peggy out of the apartment.

Once he and Hodge were alone, Steve asked, "So, ya gonna be a big movie star now or what?"

"Yup." Hodge weakly joked, "Gonna get my Hollywood Star tomorrow."

Steve chuckled, stretched, and then stood from the chair. Gesturing towards the script, "If it helps, Bucky's friend wrote one hell of a script. And I know that you'll make the perfect lead."

"Let's keep our fingers crossed."

Following Hodge into their bedroom, Steve changed out of his clothes. The necklace hung low, stretching down his naked sternum. Just looking down at it made him feel icky. Almost like he had taken it off of Sharon's corpse himself.

"What's that?" Hodge asked, climbing into bed in only his boxer briefs.

"A present. It was Sharon's. The police must've, I don't know, given it back or somethin'."

"She probably wasn't even wearing it."

Lifting the chain off over his head, he held it out in front of him, looking at the charm. It really was beautiful, but it wasn't his. Not really. Plus, it still reeked.

"Aren't you going to wear it?" Hodge asked.

"It smells," Steve complained. "There's stuff in it. A root. Rotten food smells better."

"Oh, c'mon, it can't be that bad," Hodge chuckled.

Steve carried it over and shoved it in his husband's face so the beta could get a nice, big whiff. Nonplussed, Hodge shrugged, "It's not that bad."

Rolling his eyes, Steve carried the necklace into the bathroom. Opening the vanity drawer, he placed it inside. While Steve closed the door, Hodge stood in the doorway, "If you took it, you should wear it."

"If you took it, you should wear it," Steve mocked, leaving the bathroom. Stretching up on his tiptoes, Steve kissed his stubbly cheek.

Somewhere throughout the night, Steve awoke and found Hodge sitting beside the open window, smoking in the dark. Brows furrowed, Steve glanced at the alarm clock and then back to his husband. The beta had quit smoking over two years ago.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Hodge assured, putting the cigarette out. "Insomnia, probably. Nothing to worry about. Go back to sleep."

Figuring that he was nervous about auditions and upset with the stories about old-time stars and their fame, Steve climbed out of bed. Wrapping his arms around the muscular blond, he tried to comfort his husband the best he could. "I love you. Not just for your immense talent, but for you. For who you are. And who you are is a good man."

When that didn't seem to help any, Steve told him that he didn't need to worry.

"About what?"

"About anything."

"Alright," Hodge weakly smiled, "I won't."

"You're the greatest," Steve kissed the top of his head. "Y'know? You are. And it's all going to come out right. You're gonna have to learn karate or somethin' to get through the mob of fans. And let's not even talk about what you'd have to do to get rid of the paps."

That small, sad smile remained on his face as he looked down at his lap.

"Any day now," Steve insisted. "Something big. Something worthy of you."

Hodge nodded, not arguing. Encouraging Steve, "Go back to sleep, honey."

"Wake me if you can't sleep."

"Sure."

"I love you."

"Love you, too."

The screenplay that Steve reads is an early version of the "Captain America: The First Avenger" screenplay. I only changed the character's names with aliases used either in the MCU or in the comic books. I hope you're doing well wherever you are! Much love and appreciation Minnie ❤❤❤

[oonajaeadira]

For the Star Wars Ask Game

6, 9, 19

Now it's now secret what your fav for 9 is... but I don't think I know which one is you least fav...

💚

Hazel my beloved witchsister.

Fave / least fave planet:

(Gonna copy/paste from an earlier ask)

Favorite is Endor because forests, but mostly because Ewoks. Also because it now has a “moon” that’s a reminder that fuzzy little teddy bears can be a spanner in the works for the Empire.

Least favorite is maybe Drathomir? I mean, aesthetically, I should be all about it and it is home to the Nightsisters which are rad. But There’s just something stark and depressing about it. It isn’t like Mustafar that is just badass enough to house evil, Drathomir tends to breed it. But like, in a sad way, like there’s just no possibility for hope there or that oppression is just inherent in the atmosphere.

.

Fave / least fave ship:

Tsk. YOU ALREADY KNOW MY FAVORITE. RAZOR CREST FOREVER. Like, I love that ship so much that if you asked me to rank my favorite Mandalorian characters, RC would be #2. I know everyone loves Grogu, and I do too, but the Crest is something very special to me. I might actually own more Crest toys than Din toys......*mentally counts* Nope. Din beats the Crest. By one.

Least favorite ship is that hussy of a starfighter. You knew I was gonna say it. You just asked me this to get me all riled up, didn't you. AND I BOTH LOVE AND HATE YOU FOR IT. GIVE ME ANY REASON TO GUSH OVER THE CREST. GIVE IT TO ME.

.

Fave / least fave outfit:

Favorite outfit:

I had an obsession back in the day for the costume design for Amidala's amazing gowns, but this one was my favorite. It's one of the more understated of her bolder outfits, but the pearls in the headdress, the subdued cool color palette, the embroidery texture, the silhouette...it's always been one of my very favorite designs.

Special mention to Riyo Chuchi's streetwear from Clone Wars, a Pantoran senator:

I clearly have a taste for the dusty purple-toned outfits, but I love her bun adornments and high collar so much... she was also a really lovely sympathetic character too...

Least favorite outfit:

I dunno. I can't think of one I really dislike with a passion. But I do remember thinking this was both pretentious AND boring. It didn't match his character or his skin tone. Something about that shade of green on a peachy Twi makes him look sickly. If they wanted to beef up his self-importance the design could have gone much further into the realm of gaudiness. Maybe put him in a warmer color. Or white.

.

star wars faves / least faves

[thelemoncoffee]

https://twitter.com/danganronpawiki/status/1378167423715704835

NOW THAT WE HAVE THE FULL BODY DESIGNS!

i have some snazzy little opinions, so let’s just go down the line: 

!!Really long post under cut!!

-Makoto is a basic bitch, always and forever, and we stan that -Taka looks like a Penguin and you cannot change my mind -Byakuya is just trying to look rich- -Mondo’s outfit is so extra i love it- he even added some probably temporary dye to his pompadour that was hard to see due to the lighting in the group pic -LEON! everyone was calling his fit ugly in the group pic and honestly i’m salty because he and i have the same sense of formal fashion. work it king! -Hifumi’s honestly suits him just fine, i was iffy when i saw it in the group pic but it doesn’t look too awful in full -Hiro..... buddy- i- i mean- what do i say??? it’s ugly as shit and really nice at the same time?? -Sayaka’s formal wear is a massive step up from the outfit she wears in her splash art- i never really liked that dress that much- even if it does have a cultural significance the design the picked felt cheap. But this one is really nice, and i dig it way more -Kirigiri looks pretty, it looked waaaay more purple in the group pic, but looking back the whole thing was over saturated for the lighting affects they did, so i shall forgive. she looks oddly nice in blue actually.  -AOI LOOKS LIKE A BETA FISH AND I’M LIVING FOR IT! GO QUEEN!! -Toko’s dress looks way better in full than i expected, because so much of it was covered up i kinda didn’t like it all that much in the group pic, but i’m really digging it now -QUEEN SAKURA! BEAUTIFUL!! A DAMN SUNSET OF A DRESS!!! i love seeing her indulge in being a gorgeous queen despite people’s remarks on her physique -Celeste! also beautiful, but girl are you a vampire?? the layers on that dress- and that’s a massive veil- she’s gotta be overheating in that thing.  -JUNKO! Fashionista know’s what’s up! it’s alot less gaudy than some of her casual outfits, but in a way that’s actually pretty good. i love the masquerade mask, it’s a nice touch -Chihiro....... Lucky Charms-

-Hajime’s outfit actually looks better in the group pic than here, i think it’s cause the yellow is more vibrant due to the saturation filter, so it stand out more -Nagito’s outfit is great honestly, i love how they put the shirt design on the sleeves, and i love the half-up hair, and the crooked bowtie- it’s great! -Twogami is a king, all he did was invert Byakua’s outfit and he just pulls it off so much better -Gundham’s is honestly underwhelming. This is Gundham Tanaka for fuck sake! Junko’s is more in character than this. where’s the drama sir???? -Kaz... buddy..... the colors look nice on your jumpsuit, but not an actual suit. I love the suspenders though -Teruteru’s outfit actually make him a bit cute. i’m about 80% sure the brown is suppose to be mud as to reference the fact that he’s characterized as a pig in more ways than one, but i’m choosing to call it a cola pattern ‘cause fuck you i’m going to be nice to him for once -Nekomaru’s suit is... it feels like a cursed amalgamation of a noir detective, a car sales men, a mobster, and a casino owner- and i just works so well on him -Fuyuhiko! i love it, fits him well, but the rolled up slacks are odd and kinda distracts me from the rest of the design- showing off some Bi pride there boss baby? -AKANE IS A DAMN QUEEN!! GOD PLEASE SHE COULD STRIKE ME DEAD IN THAT AND I’D THANK HER -Chiaki’s is simple, but it looks really nice on her -SONIA MY QUEEN! the oversaturation in the group pic did her dress dirty! i saw the blue originally and went “that isn’t her color”, but now seeing it without all the lighting crap she looks alot better.... and also a bit Elsa-ish -Hyoko’s in a lovely Kimono, but she’s always wearing pretty Kimonos, so it’s somewhat underwhelming compared to the rest -MAHIRU YOU SUMMER QUEEN! Mahiru has the best sense of fashion in the whole series imo, her wardrobe’s vibes make me so very happy. I grew up in a christian household (i’m not religious anymore btw) and use to be brought to services, and her dress gives me mad Easter Sunday Potluck nostalgia that i just can’t un-notice -Mikan looks too much like a hooker- i’m sorry, they really just went with the fan-service crap here and i don’t like it at all. Even if it wasn’t meant to be fan service, the dress looks tacky and has a shine on it that signifies it’s latex, so that’s just gotta be uncomfortable as hell- and for a clumsy character like her to try and survive a party in??? -IBUKI LOOKS LIKE FANCY RAVE COTTON CANDY!! THAT’S ALL!!! -Peko’s Kimono looks surprisingly nice on her, she wasn’t a character i’d assume to look good in a checker pattern but damn. i also appreciate how she still has the sword, bet- Fuyuhiko tired to convince her to leave it behind but failed

-Rantaro looks like a Used Car Salesmen. -KOKICHI MY BELOVED!!! i already voiced how much i adore his outfit when the group pic came out, so instead might i point out that he’s wearing high-water slacks and tall socks? it’s just as jarring as Fuyuhiko’s bi-slacks, but this is Kokichi so i feel like he did it on purpose. -Kiibo??? he dead ass changed his plating i-???? idk what i’m feeling towards it, but boy howdy am i feeling -GONTA!!! i love his suit, it’s out there in a good way, and i also love how he’s holding what looks like his casual coat. -Shuichi looks lovely in that suit, and i’ll never forgive everyone ever for saying he looked like a grandpa in it. It make him look a bit more Sherlock-esque and i love -3- -KORK IN A DRESS EVERYBODY MOVE!! i love how Androgynous his outfit is, both in gender and in time. like- is it feminine? masculine? modern? 1800′s england? who the fuck knows! -Ryoma looks good, but the fedora- who tf on the design staff decided to get cheeky?? eh- he’s vibing, doesn’t look too bad so long as you don’t hyperfixate on the pointy groin-stabber fedora -KAITO YOU SNAZZY GALAXY PATTERN SNORTING BASTARD! i swear he’s allergic to putting his right arm in it’s sleeve-. anywho, i love how even his dress jacket has a galaxy lining in it, i think it would have been funny if he was wearing galaxy dress shoes too but Maki would have chopped his dick off for that one -Kaede looks like her dress was inspired by one of those cinnamon peppermints- ya know the ones, they have the pink center and all that jazz? -Miu looks like she’s ready to hit up a casino in LA and honestly that’s such a good vibe! her skirt is a bit funky so it took me a hot sec to realize it was indeed a pencil skirt and not a fancy jumpsuit. -Tusmugi’s looks nice, i don’t have much else to say- kinda fitting considering her Plain Jane shtick -TENKO LOOKS LIKE SHE’S THIS CLOSE TO BREAKING OUT INTO A TAP DANCE AND I’M SO FUCKING HERE FOR IT!!! GO QUEEN!!!! -Kirumi is- well- i don’t go to Genshin Impact, but she looks like that one Genshin character, you know the one right? i think their name was a Starbucks drink size- they have a harp?? yeah -Maki’s dress is really pretty, it is a bit odd for her to wear that considering her character, but i can’t say she doesn’t rock it like the queen she is. -Himiko would be nicer without the transparent extra part- it make her looks like one of those half sphere popper things my friends terrorized me with in middle school. Other than that, you go you cute little magical girl you! -ANGIE OH MY FUCK!!! i love- i- dfj;adgad;jdgd!#2342nh;werkw??? i have no clue at this point what culture she’s suppose to be from, but that definitely looks like some traditional garb she’s got going on and holy crap is is pretty

Over all, i think the staff did a great job with this, i love a good lot of the outfits alot more than i though i would from the group pic. I do wish they would have added at least Komaru and Mukuro though- gimmy my queens yo!

[timetravelingshark]

So what exactly is this "The Arcana" you keep reblogging stuff for and what's it about? I am curious.

Okay, so I haven’t played it too much yet (I’m only like a fourth of the way through Julian’s route and that’s it, RIP) but the gist of it is that it’s a visual novel where you can romance six different characters. It’s set in a fantasy world, primarily in the city-state of Vesuvia, which is based off of Renaissance Venice with some definite Middle Eastern and Indian influences as well. Tarot is an overarching theme in the stories: the main character, each love interest, and all of the supporting characters have different cards from the Major Arcana that represent them and give insight into their character. The Major Arcana has some pretty interesting forces at play within the world and greatly influence the story. There’s a chance of getting a good, aka Upright, ending, and a bad, aka Reversed, ending. It all depends on the choices that you make while playing.

The main plot is that your character, who is a magician in training (in this world, magicians can actually use magic and are considered very valuable) who is summoned to the palace by the Countess Nadia. She tasks you with finding out who exactly is responsible for the murder of her husband, Count Lucio, who was burned alive in his bed on his birthday three years ago. (What a way to go, yeesh.) The lead suspect is a man by the name of Julian Devorak, who was the head doctor for the palace and treated many Vesuvians during a horrific outbreak of plague within the city a few years ago. He confessed to the murder before disappearing, but his guilt may not be so set in stone..... You’re assisted in the investigation by your somewhat flighty but extremely talented and mysterious Master, Asra, and Portia, one of Countess Nadia’s most trusted servants. A few other very interesting figures pop up along the way, each giving their side of the story of Lucio’s death.

Along the way you meet a cast of amazing characters, all of whom have really awesome designs and fun, unique personalities. I’ll describe the love interests below the cut because holy SHIT I ended up writing way more than I originally thought and also while I haven’t played many routes this is what I’ve picked up from browsing the tags.

First: Asra Al-Nazar

Your Master and one of your dearest friends. Very enigmatic and a man of few words, and is definitely one of the more subdued and laid-back love interests. He tends to disappear for bits of time to places unknown and has a deep understanding of magic and the magical realm itself. He’s got History™ with many of the major players in the story and knows more than he lets on. He’s very Somft™ to the Apprentice and cares about them greatly. Just generally a very sweet if mysterious guy. Lotta people really like him and for good reason.

Countess Nadia

The widow of Count Lucio and the ruler of Vesuvia. She’s very poised and generally keeps a cool demeanor about everything. She’s a very competent ruler and loves her people. Has, hands down, some of the absolute BEST outfits in the game. Like this girl ALWAYS looks good, and like a wealthy aunt, is always willing to make her loved ones look good, too. Very intelligent and crafty, and loves horseback riding and music. Doesn’t care much about the class of a person, and rather their talent and character. However, like all people, she does have flaws. She holds grudges for a very long time and holds them with a white knuckle grip. She’s also extremely reserved and finds difficulty in trusting people, expressing herself, or making herself vulnerable. Like Asra, is very Somft™ with the Apprentice and is very easy to simp for. 

Julian Devorak

The man I’m currently simping for. And yes, you can smooch the accused murderer! He’s a very tall goth doctor who cares way too much and has a massive guilt complex that he hides under a mask of drama and suaveness. Very much a protector type and would do absolutely anything for the people he loves. This man tries not to worry the people around him but at the same time probably survives off of like an hour of sleep and caffeine and he really looks it. He likes being very smooth and cool but if you throw him off his game this boy gets FLUSTEREDDDDD it’s great and hilarious. Kind of has Flynn Rider vibes. Love him to bits. (Can you tell that he’s the only character whose route I’ve played so far???) He wants to find out who killed Lucio, and why. (Minor spoiler: he doesn’t know if he did it or not and would rather like to find out) Feels as though he’s failed everyone he loves and can swing between joy and melancholy very quickly. He’s also ridiculously self-sacrificing. Despite all this, very loveable.

Portia

Nadia’s most trusted servant and also my homegirl. Very sweet, bubbly, and snarky, but is also a total ride or die. Very loyal to Nadia, but will side with the Apprentice over her on certain issues. She knows pretty much everything that goes on in the castle and all the secret nooks and crannies. She lives in a little cottage in the middle of the palace gardens alongside her kitty, Pepi, where she has a huge garden full of fruits and vegetables and flowers. She’s definitely a cottagecore type girl. Also pretty adventurous and willing to go do crazy shit if need be. She’s rather secretive, though. Her personality is quite a bit like my own, which is probably why I don’t really have her on my to-romance list, but I’ll still do her route to satisfy the little completionist gremlin that is my brain.

Muriel

Count Lucio. Or at least, his ghost.

Ah, the BEEG BOI. At a whopping 6′10, he’s the tallest and most muscular of all of the love interests, so if you’re into that Muriel is absolutely your man. He’s very stoic and grumpy, and almost always has a furrowed brow, even when he’s happy. Very much a hermit and likes to keep away from civilization and society. Underneath it all, he’s very gentle towards the ones he loves and especially loves animals and nature, especially dogs and his beloved chickens. Seriously, this boy loves his chickens. When he smiles it’s absolutely adorable. Kind of afraid of his own strength but has no qualms about using it if necessary. Don’t piss him off, he’s scary when he’s angry. Like Nadia, holds a grudge for a long time and is again, very antisocial.

And lastly (and most surprisingly),

Ah, this trainwreck. He’s such an asshole, but such a loveable asshole. Full of himself and with a flair for the gaudy and dramatic, he’s one hell of a piece of work but with the Apprentice’s help becomes an actually good person. Despite his vanity, cruelty, and pettiness, when he decides he likes you, you’re one of his people and he’ll love you wholly and move the heavens and earth for you. Still kind of holds a flame for Nadia despite everything, which is actually really sweet, fight me. He’s kind of got a hero complex and runs headfirst into things without thinking and desperately needs someone to hold him back by the collar at all times because while not pure of heart, this man IS dumb of ass. His facial expressions and dramatics are absolutely hysterical and he’d rather die than admit it but he’s such an ugly crier and it’s hilarious and also very endearing. He’s also kind of in denial about being actually dead, and instead refers to his state as a ghost as being an “Oopsie” and that he’s “Just stuck >:(” He actually doesn’t know who killed him, but is determined to find out. Underneath his pomp and circumstance he’s actually pretty vulnerable and super lonely and could probably do with some hugs and actual human connection. As I said, he does become a good man, or at least a better man, but it takes work on both his end and yours. A pretty divisive route among fans. I’ve personally played the first two chapters of it and honestly I really love him. At the same time, I’m pretty sure if I met someone like him IRL I’d try to strangle him, so there’s that. He’d probably be into that though, the kinky bastard.

So yeah! There’s the main characters and a bit of the plot. Sorry for such an essay but I really wanted to explain all this since you were curious (^^;) I’d definitely recommend playing it, I've had a lot of fun! 

(Also, tip: the scenes that you can buy with coins are just little add ons and treats for the player- the game is very explicitly NOT pay to win and what matters when it comes to getting a good or bad ending is what non-paid dialogue options you choose while interacting with them.)

[twistedintern]

Kyuu’s Chronicle - Entries #1-6

Entry One

“Everything happens for a reason.”

...That was, up until recently, a favorite adage of mine. Through good times and bad, I would think back to those five little words.

Everything happens for a reason.

Struggle.

Success.

Waking up inside a sealed coffin after an unremarkable night’s rest.

...Hello, Lady Fate? Might I be able to file a tiny complaint? WHAT THE FLYING EVER-LOVING F*CK? 

You don’t just up and isekai a normal adult woman into the middle of some Harry Potter-grade magical college without providing her with purpose, know-how, and a means of returning home! I am NOT the token light novel hero with a personality that screams ‘lovable fish-out-of-water,’ alright? SHEESH. I could’ve been injured, kidnapped, or worse....

Fortunately--yes, there’s always a silver lining, Kyuu. Remember that--while I now know I could’ve ended up as mincemeat at the hands of delinquent students, I was first happened upon… by a cat. That cat was accompanied by a pair of men. Well, I knew one of them was a man. I couldn’t make out his features clearly in the dimly-lit chamber before he left, but he sounded and held himself like a middle-aged man would.

His companion, though? Different story entirely. When he lifted his lamp to get a better look at me, providing me with some much-needed light with which to take in my surroundings…

Feathers. Gaudy shiny things. A suit, tie, cloak, a grand hat.

Two piercing yellow lights shining from a beaked half-mask.

...Mere inches from my face.

I had never fought so hard to suppress a scream in my life.

Entry Two

A bit of time has passed since that, um, eventful night. Because I’m really bad at keeping diaries, I’ll just give a recap:

I have never wanted to go home so badly in all my life.

The individual I met back then--he introduced himself as Dire Crowley, by the way; a fitting name if I do say so myself (I still flinch whenever I see him or hear him call my name. God, he’s so weird)--turned out to be the headmaster of this place. ...Um, what was it called again?

...Right! Night Raven College. He tells me nonstop how prestigious this place is. He’d better not be exaggerating, though that seems to be his general way of talking about things that matter to him.

(I hope he’s telling the truth: if so, it’s only a matter of time before word gets out that I don’t belong here. He won’t believe me whenever I tell him I’m from another, altogether separate world.)

In the meantime, Crow Man has me holed up in a rather spacious (and quite homey) tool shed a short hike away from the central plaza of the school.

I wish I knew why he’s always so hellbent on emphasizing how terribly kind he is when it comes to doing things for others. Normally, I’d consider that sort of behavior to be incredibly suspicious. I mean, I know administrative heads of these kinds of institutes have it tough and are largely underappreciated, but it really feels like he’s hiding something...

Entry Three

Crowley invited me to his office today, and for once, he was the least remarkable thing in the room.

I have never been so shocked in all my years. So much so that I fainted as soon as I processed what I was seeing. (I don’t faint.)

Portraits flanking his seat, seven in total, suspended midair by magic forces beyond my understanding.

The no-nonsense Queen of Hearts

Scar, the usurper lion king

Ursula, the sea witch

Jafar, the sultan’s scheming right-hand

The beautiful and vain Evil Queen

Hades, lord of the dead

Maleficent, the preeminent sorceress of all that is wicked

When I recovered consciousness, I nearly shrieked. 

“THEY’RE YOUR ‘MAGNIFICENT SEVEN’?”

Crowley responded with a simple nod of the head. Hadn’t I seen their statues on the main street? He wished to know why I was surprised.

“I… KNOW THEM.”

Crowley blinked before affirming that yes, I ought to. Very few people in the world don’t. Then I reminded him I wasn’t from this world.

Fast-forward, crow man drags me to some grandiose “Hall of Mirrors” and asks the principal spirit what my deal is. (Why didn’t he do that sooner…?) The spirit (which also looks eerily familiar) validates my entire argument: that I’m a magic-less adult from outside their realm.

And Crowley? Crow Man? He and the mirror spirit might as well have been discussing the weather, because he didn’t seem bothered or troubled by the revelation in the slightest!

Entry Four

A few days later, Crowley made a formal announcement that I would be joining the staff of the college. …As an intern of sorts.

Huh? Excuse me? Did a bird man really just make an executive decision to take me on as his servant?!

For some reason… I’m not as pissed about this as I feel I could be. After all, I’m painfully aware of how I have zero business at Night Raven; it was well within his rights to kick me out. The least I could do is make myself useful.

Crowley (I never thought I’d be calling a bird my boss, but here I am!) sat me down later over a light lunch to tell me about the men I’d be assisting in the days ahead:

Mozus Trein, Professor of Magical History

Very serious, highly respected. A good judge of character with zero tolerance for poor work ethics (yikes!)

Divus Crewel, Professor of Alchemy and Magical Sciences

Exacting, charismatic. A celebrated fashion designer (???) whose wrath has earned him admirers and foes alike

Ashton Vargas, Professor of Kinesiology (I guess he’s the PE guy)

Passionate, persistent. Is known for his narcissism, but is a dependable team player when it counts

Sam, Proprietor of “Mr. S’s Mystery Shop”

The go-to man for all your buying needs. Is a bit on the eccentric side, but that’s part of his charm

Maybe this won’t be such a lousy arrangement after all....

Entry Five

Allow me to amend my earlier statement ever so slightly:

THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE WORST ARRANGEMENT IMAGINABLE.

My first day on the job has been nothing but one disaster after another. These men are unreasonable, larger-than-life characters with the most obtuse expectations and tendencies I’ve ever met! Why oh why couldn’t I have been made younger in the process of this whole isekai-ing business? A great many students, as I’ve now come to learn, aren’t half bad. (The remarkable ones among them certainly left a lasting impression…) What’s more, they actually seem terrified of these fellows birdbrain assigned me to aid.

Divus Crewel is not my type of person AT ALL. He’s vain, cold, and completely unforgiving. He tore at me from the get-go, his cold grey eyes boring into me as he informed me how drab my sense of style was. The headmaster spoke so highly of me; he thought it fair to assume that I would be a remarkable presence having come from a world apart. I know well his type: petty and shallow. (Bastard thinks he can wear fur like that in his line of work? Tch.)

Ashton Vargas was, unsurprisingly, the textbook definition of a musclehead. He chewed me out for my poor physical constitution and demanded that I join him for early morning jogs around campus followed by intense cardio. Not for nothing, but exercise is not my thing. Naturally, he’s so into himself that he didn’t bother listening to me when I tried to politely turn down his invitation.

Sam… where do I even begin about that piece of work? ‘A bit eccentric’? Only a little? Way to downplay things, boss bird! The guy is a bonafide freak. He’s all about making sales and nothing else, and he’s as sketchy as rotten fish smells. And get this… his shadow? The thing has a mind of its own, and he does nothing to keep a reign on it. I couldn’t tell if he was joking, but as soon as he started talking about his “friends on the other side” with a snicker and a twinkle in his eye, I hightailed it out of there. I am never going back to his place of business ever again, even if it kills me.

I haven’t even met the last person the Headmaster told me about, but if he’s anything like his colleagues--or worse--Crowley might as well throw me to the sharks and put me out of my misery. Going by the information that… crow so generously shared with me, he doubtless feels like someone who’s going to see right through me and utterly crush what little self-worth I have left.

Please, I just want this nightmare to be over already....

Entry Six

So… um, hold on. I need to gather my thoughts. Deep breaths, Kyuu. Deep breaths.

Today was… nice. I can’t believe I’m saying any of this but… I’m kind of happy.

Although I had initially considered skipping my appointed first meeting with Professor Trein, I decided to suck it up at the very last minute and take whatever fate had in store for me head-on. I do not regret my decision in the least.

Where do I begin? I was so damn nervous when I knocked on the door to his office. A voice urged me inside, but the first thing that greeted me wasn’t the voice’s owner… but a cat.

This fluffy black and white feline, its expression demure, ran up to me immediately and took to rubbing against my leg. It was the cat from that fateful night I woke up inside a coffin! He held still and stared at me expectantly before issuing a rawl. I looked up to find a stern man, dressed in antiquated robes, regarding me with an unflinching glower. I was paralyzed with fear--I’d screwed up, hadn’t I?

Then he smiled at me. “It has been a while, Kyuu. I was expecting you.” He was the other person from that night! I just nodded my head dumbly and followed him inside. I could see how one could find him intimidating, what with his piercing visage and strict, commanding aura, but for me there was something almost comforting about his olden mannerisms.

We had a delightful talk over freshly-brewed tea. He asked me about myself, and I was stunned to learn that he and I had many things in common! He was positively amazed how quickly his beloved cat (who’s name is Lucius, by the way) warmed up to me. All the while, I was fondly reminded of my university days where I would spend hours on end talking with one of my favorite history professors after class.

I eventually opened up to him about my catastrophic first day with his colleagues. He expressed sympathy, but at the same time he was quick to point out that perhaps I was taking things too personally, and that I had jumped to conclusions without putting things in perspective. Knowing my tendencies, I conceded that he was probably right.

[ffwriteradvisor]

The power of description

His blue eyes glittered like the ocean before them, barely a shade of difference between them. For once, he looked his age - a teenager, full of dreams and hopes for a future not yet broken by an unkind reality.

-

The sword was a masterwork katana of the anime style - too brightly colored to pass as anything real if not for the all-too-real play of light along the grain of the steel. It would have been gaudy if not for that detail; as it was, it was the coolest goddamn thing I’d ever seen.

Well, I thought as I bounced it on my hands, careful not to grab the edge despite the lack of consequences to dreams. I’ve certainly had worse dreams than ‘mes gets a bitchin’ sword’.

-

Description is a powerful tool and one that needs to be used carefully. Not just in the sense of it being wrong to use too much or too little, but also in its distribution - certain characters or items getting more description of a more involved nature than other subjects receive for no reason is a definite misstep.

As a writer, you are making a movie for the mind’s eye of your audience on your own - you design the sets, act out the characters, decide the dialogue, set the angle and focus of the camera, and call ‘cut’ on the scenes when they’ve gone on long enough.

It’s, like I’ve said so many times on this blog, a balancing act. You need to balance your ‘panning shots’ - moments when you take to describe an entire area or scene - with your ‘close-ups’ - where you focus on one particular thing to the exclusion of all else - and space out the two with all the distances and levels of detail between.

Where that balance lies changes with the nature of the work or even the emotion you’re trying to convey with a scene. Obviously, you need to describe things when you introduce them, but the tone and measure of it can vary immensely. There’s also a matter of cost effectiveness in the word count

For example -

The city was a crawling grey-black sprawl of brick and mortar mold on the face of the continent.

- gives you a pretty good idea of what the unnamed city looks and feels like in the span of a sentence. It’s a mess of a place that’s being compared to rot and decay - it’s not going to be a nice place or, at least, it’s not going to be pretty in any classical sense. With how short it is, it almost acts as an aerial shot, giving you a bird’s eye view of the world you’re about to step into as a viewer and reader.

But then you can have longer descriptions that do more than give you the big picture - not yet a close-up, but a rolling shot that still lacks a specific focus. It gives you more detail, more facts -

This borough in particular was a fair example of the city’s history. Perhaps once, these buildings had been bright, beautiful, and beloved by those that lived in them, but the paint had long since cracked and peeled under the pressure of post-industrial pollution, leaving the materials beneath to fall to pieces as poisoned rain washed over and into every possible gap. Windows warped and shattered, doors hung crookedly on broken hinges, and the roads and sidewalks had become more pothole than pavement decades ago.

Now you have more to work with. The city used to be nice - nicer to live in, nicer to look at - but it’s since fallen apart thanks to human failure. You now have a mental sketch of the place and, barring the introduction to a new scene, either a specific building that needs to stand out in your mental memory or another location altogether, you don’t need much more description from this place other than what you need to establish that your characters are interacting with it.

Something crunched beneath her boots - glass, she realized as she caught the slightest glint in the gloom. Had to be mindful then - she couldn’t afford to get cut here. There weren’t enough tetanus shots left in the world to help her if she did.

Something like that can come up as relevant instead of coming up at the earlier description. It’s still not a proper close up, but it is the kind of ‘shot’ that focuses the reader’s attention on a specific detail.

Now, a proper close-up reads like this -

People didn’t usually leave behind photographs, especially not the happy ones. One in particular, a wedding among a dozen celebrations of a prototypical heterosexual family, caught her attention as she passed. Time had treated the photo well, allowing the bride’s dress to yellow to a faint ivory instead of something less appealing like the crawling rot that had eaten away the woman’s face. The groom was more intact in that respect - all that interrupted his part of the picture was a splintering crack in the glass. His hair - greyed naturally or by the slow destruction of the photograph? - was perfectly parted in the typical newscaster style and just as artfully bland as the rest of his face.

Still, there was something familiar about his eyes. Was it the plastic expression or the color? It was impossible to say, but somehow, her mind demanded she remember this before anything else she found in the house.

You get a bit like that, you expect it to come up again. Maybe your character has met the person in the photograph, for better or worse. Maybe there’s just a strong reminder of someone else in those details. Either way, you should make something of it, even if it isn’t a whole lot more than setting up a singular interaction that ends with the other person disappearing from the story forever after that.

I think that covers the major points - if anyone wants any more specific articles on the subject, just ask and I’ll get them put together!

[kendrixtermina]

Thoughts and Feelings about“Change Your Mind”

I really wish I could rewatch this motherfucker somewhere but I have to sleep and go to work 

Well on the one hand the main story lines are pretty much done for, on the other, the fallout alone could fill another season, and I’m actually glad that they’re not relegating that to the epilogue but actually going to show it

I assume season 5 will be Steven working with the Diamonds to improve homeworld, explaining things to Jasper, integrating the former corrupted gems on earth, finding out the deal with pink pearl, further developing Steven’s new fusions etc. 

Other open questions involve gem origins and peridot’s renewable energy project, but I suppose that will come up as Steven tries to make the Empire less... imperialistic. 

I understand why they wanted to air this in one piece, you couldn’t leave the younger viewers hanging with some of these creepytastic scenes and no resolution

There’s various concepts I feel reminded of. 

There’s this idea of “tzimtsum” in kaballalistic thought, about how God created the world - In order to create a being apart from himself, he “hid” some aspects of the being, the ones that would seem - So every part of creation reflects one aspect of god, but none shows the complete pictures of it, and because everything has some aspects of god but not others, it is unique - so all humans are made in gods image, but still be different from each other.  

Maybe Pink Diamond would be something like Lucifer in this analogy, part of the creation but as far from the god as you can get while still existing, and somehow their antithesis (stretching the analogy here, of course Judaism has no counterpart to Lucifer let alone the positive-ish early modernity interpretions of him - but of course, White Diamond isn’t exactly a benevolent God either. )

First of course Star Trek, like the ep where Captain Kirk is split into what at first seems like his good and evil half but is more like his animal instincts and higher reasoning, or in Voyager, when B’Elana Torres is split into her human and Klingon halves. 

I guess Garnet wasn’t completely wrong in his being something in-between fusion and human reproduction, his gem half could be considered A Pink Diamond, but not the same one who created him - He must be fricking powerful to shrug off WD’s beams like that, like how Stevonnie still has “boosted” versions of Steven’s abilities despite Connie being human, Steven’s probably like Pink Diamond, but ‘boosted’.  

Steven’s victory certainly showcases how it comes from both sides of his heritage. It involves making WD laugh/embarassed like what Pink used to do, but unlike her, he has the communication skills from Greg - I don’t think Pink ever talked to Blue in that way, she didn’t seem aware of what the other Diamonds were thinking at all, any more than she really understood Pearl’s lingering knot of complexes. It’s just not a skill she could have picked up before Greg - when? From whom?  

His responsibility is all uniquely him and due to his upbringing with the CG’s and wanting to help him more, tho, both his parents where free spirit hippy bohemians, but it was Steven who decided “Nope, I WANT to fix it, because I can”, not because he owes it to anybody, even when no one could fault him for running. 

Also, Frankenstein (the Novel not the film) - The original Victor was a sympathetic, even admirable character, but somehow he just couldn’t bring himself to have empathy with the monster, though Adam was in many ways alike to him and initially didn’t wish to be his enemy.  Because while the gems relate to White Diamond as their goddess and the other Diamonds see her as their mother, she seems to regard them as extensions of herself. Maybe she would, as their creator. Gods are expected to smile benevolently upon their followers and solve their problems, Mothers, while they are flawed humans,  are supposed to love their kids as they are and realize that they become their own persons, but artists frequently tear up their own work if they’re dissatisfied with it, because it’s supposed to be a reflection of their existence, so they might hate it for not reflecting them well enough - 

i often regret tearing up half my teenage fanfics, but I’m able to view them different now that I’m - Back then, I felt like they reflectzed badly onto me - but if had kids and treated them like my fanfics or crumpled drawings, well, that would scar them for life. 

You could certainly see this as a metaphor for narcissism, particularly in the way WD judged everything by how much it was like her, to the point that she would ‘overwrite`’ ppl’s personalities with her ideas of how it ought to be, while lacking a solid identity of her own apart from being “perfect/the best” by default, but that only goes so far because the gems literally are her creations who take their characteristics from various aspects of her being. 

She’d have a completely different conceptual framework to anyone else, though she’s certainly not “above it” in any way. 

I don’t think she was completely unaffected by Pink’s dissapearence either, if you want to complete the Stages of Grief analogy she would be Denial or Bargaining. Most likely,  she was growing increasingly frustrated with her ability to make her empire “perfect” like she ought to and that’s why she started keeping to herself more and assuming that Pink couldn’t be dead. 

She seemed like the knowing one when she was as much in denial as anyone else - you can tell they had a complicated relationship because of how White saw herself in her, that might be why she indulged and preferred her, but then again she didn’t always like what she saw and felt that Pink represented parts of her that she didn’t want to see. 

It’s not without reason that Steven tells her to “get out of her own head” and try to see the world for what it is rather than her preconceived notions of what it is or means. You could perhaps relate that to 

When she realizes that she’s actually dead - that’s when she has her breakdown. 

You could even draw a parallel to “Romeo And Juliet”, where the older generation only realizes how much its ways were fucked up when it gets their beloved children killed for just trying to live happy lives. 

Cal Gustav Jung would certainly remind us that what irritates us about others are often things that irritate us about ourselves, that we may be liable to “see the world as we are” and never is that more apparent than when we view everything through some skewed belief system, or when we hate - people hate people who blur boundaries because they don’t want to confront the ambiguity within themselves, or act as “superior” and merciless because they’ve rejected their own mortal fragile humanity.

Another observation is that when you set up anything as the “default” you create pressure not to deviate from the norm and prevent its members from experiencing their individuality. (see societal pressure on heterosexual men, or Euro-Americans saying they ‘have no culture to celebrate’ - maybe instead of becoming a devouring plague upon your fellow men, you could actually appreciate European culture? Like, read some books, eat some cheese, learn a language, listen to some classical music, vote for worker protection laws?)

It speaks for PD that she even tried to save other aliens at some point. steven stepped completely out of her shadow the moment he was able to feel sorry for her, like “Geez, she had to live like that? No wonder she turned out the way she did!” he pretty much calls the other Diamonds out at some point, like he gets a secure sense of the differences between them when he realizes how much better off he’s been in his own life. Like, UGH. 

For my part, I don’t believe the “best of the worst” thing was true, and more of an “evil cannot comprehend good” moment from White, if not outright projection. (after all, White seems to view all other Gems as imperfect copies of herself) If anything, Pink seemed upset that she got stuck being the leader even as “Rose Quartz” (see the Beach scene in “Greg the babysitter”) - but of course Steven, not being Pink, wouldn’t know whether or not White is right. 

Other Thoughts:

In the earlier scenes you could see a lot of parallels to less than ideal family situations, and how people might end up acting as proxies of the problematic person, almost sprouting their words, in the name of keeping the peace, and how people in such an environment may have no idea of how it’s not normal

You CAN talk down such a person (I know of multiple people who made a bona fide job out of talking sense into literal nazis and clansmen, person by person - their tactic was generally to find whatever problem their rage came from), but there’s a difference between “flawed” and “awful” and I do think it came through that White is a piece of work quite unlike, say, Connie’s mother, and that Steven’s dealing with her because he wants to for the good of society, because he’s the bigger person and secure in himself,  not because he owes it to her or anything

It seems like they went for “awesome” rather than “beautiful” with Steven’s fusions. The designs are kinda gaudy, but even so, once you getpast the gaudy design, it’s kind of touching how Steven’s and Garnet’s fusion is essentially a motivational speaker who sprouts encouraging advice nonstop. Garnet was always Steven’s Mentor and  as well as the main person (besides greg) to teach him morals, as well as generally encouraging & supportive, but Steven of course encourages and supports her too, and both like doing that for others

I love Peridot’s short shorts and that she and Bismuth repaired the ships/ went a-tinkering together. It took me a bit to notice that it’s supposed to be shorts and not just her old outfit with starts instead tho

Voice of Reason!Connieis a gift that keeps on giving

[hadarlaskey]

LWLies 90: The Dune issue – On sale now!

Prior to embarking on this issue, I’d never had the pleasure of tackling Frank Herbert’s vaunted sci-fi doorstop, ‘Dune’, but thought if there was any occasion to tick that planet-sized box, then the release of a big, new movie adaptation was it. I was about half-way in when the lure of this story became crystal clear – that is, why people have obsessed over it for nearly half a century, and also why it has been something of an untapped goldmine when it comes to big screen adaptations.

The story so far: Chilean cine-sorcerer Alejandro Jodorowsky discovered that his reach exceeded his grasp in his wild, eye-wateringly expensive attempt to film Herbert’s rich tome, while David Lynch delivered an enjoyably gaudy rendition of this laconic space opera in 1987 that ended up being sliced and diced by his producers and led the filmmaker to all but disown his work.

And now we’re back once more, as ‘Dune’ superfan Denis Villeneuve has earned enough tokens in Hollywood to fulfil a childhood fantasy and make a modern epic that does justice to Herbert’s densely layered and politically ripe narrative. This new issue of LWLies – our 90th! – jumps into a purring ’thopter and takes an aerial tour of the godforsaken plains of the desert planet Arrakis, with Timothée Chalamet’s spiritual messiah-in-waiting, Paul Attredes, as our guide. It’s a magazine for both the battle-hardened Dune-o-phile, and any newbies looking for an entry point into this enthrallingly complex world.

Order Your Copy

On the cover

If you hold Lola Beltrán’s extraordinary cover illustration up to the light, you’ll get a little surprise, as this issue comes with a bonus twinkle. The orange glow of the spice melange – the most valuable material in the Duneiverse – was the inspiration for the colour route of this cover, and the concept draws on Beltrán’s love of mid-century sci-fi imagery while also keeping a foot in the realms of the modern. The duel layer effect is a subtle hint at the man that this boy is set to become.

Illustrators in this issue include Alex Fine, Adriana Bellet, Emma Balebela, Nick Taylor and Rumbidzai Savanhu.

In this issue

Enter the Duneiverse Tom Huddleston offers a whistle-stop tour of Arrakis through the ages, and the various iterations of Frank Herbert’s beloved book.

The Sandman Anton Bitel talks big screens and small gestures with Quebec’s modernist sci-fi maestro, Denis Villeneuve.

Farewell My Concubine Leila Latif meets one of Hollywood’s most wanted, Rebecca Ferguson, to chat about progressive interpretations of 1960s characters.

Timothée Chalamet in Five Acts Philippa Snow deconstructs the image of the accidental idol across five of his recent starring roles.

Arrakis Rising Dune production designer Patrice Vermette discusses his dream mission.

Desert Movies: A Taxonomy A short, sharp round-up of the deserts in which filmmakers love to make movies.

Go See a Star War David Jenkins explores the alterno space race to cash in on the surprise success of George Lucas’ Star Wars.

Woman of the Dunes The authors of a new book on Studio Ghibli ask whether 1984’s Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind has any link to ‘Dune’.

They Shoot, He Scores Lillian Crawford talks to film composer extraordinaire Hans Zimmer about how he draws on the classics of the past.

Threads #19 Christina Newland looks at the diverse iconography of the veil in her regular column on clothes and movies.

In the back section

Sparks Hannah Strong meets the hard-bopping brothers who have supplied music and lyrics to Leos Carax’s Annette, and who also reveal their formative run-ins with the great Jacques Tati.

Ulrike Ottinger Caitlin Quinlan profiles this unique German filmmaker in tandem with the release of a new documentary about her formative years, Paris Calligrammes.

Cary Joji Fukunaga The director of Bond 25, No Time To Die, talks Charles Bramesco through the process of how an industrious indie director scores such a prestigious gig.

Jeymes Samuel Rōgan Graham meets the director of the forthcoming politically-infused action western, The Harder They Fall.

Marley Morrison Josh Slater-Williams chats to the director of Sweetheart, a British gay romcom with a twist.

Bette Davis Ahead of a major retrospective at London’s BFI Southbank, Soma Ghosh deconstructs the queer appeal of one of Hollywood’s grandest dames.

Journeys: The Cannes Film Festival Hannah Strong reports on a vintage crop of films, a great Palme d’Or winner, and lots of time spent spitting in a test tube.

In review

Leos Carax’s Annette Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch Liesl Tommy’s Respect Sean Durkin’s The Nest Ayten Amin’s Souad Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy’s Rose Plays Julie Darragh Carey and Bertrand Desrochers’ A Brixton Tale Nia DaCosta’s Candyman Ulrika Ottinger’s Paris Calligrammes Anne Zohra Berrached’s Copilot Sam Hobkinson’s Misha and the Wolves Marley Morrison’s Sweetheart Michael Sarnoski’s Pig Mark Cousins’ The Story of Looking Jeanette Nordahl’s Wildland

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[acsversace-news]

Can Ryan Murphy return to the scene of the crime and get away with it?

At least as much as any mystery behind the titular slaying, this creative question is what The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story must solve. The Gleemastermind and workaholic TV creator/producer/director’s work is as wide-ranging as it is prolific, with ACS in production at the same time as his other series American Horror Story, FEUD, 9-1-1, the now-canceled Scream Queens, and the forthcoming Pose, Ratched, and ACS‘s third season, Katrina, which may as well be a whole different series.

But however you feel about his other projects, ACS‘s debut season, The People v. O.J. Simpson, is unquestionably his apotheosis. In conjunction with writer-creators Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, Murphy revisited a media-circus murder case nearly everyone thought had been exhausted of any creative or sociopolitical potential, and the result was a kaleidoscopic, knockout-powerful examination of racism, sexism, celebrity culture, journalism, the judicial system, the rise of reality TV, domestic violence, police misconduct, and the whole goddamn human condition. It was one of the best television shows of all time, full stop. Can Murphy, now working with writer Tom Rob Smith and adapting journalist Maureen Orth’s book on the case Vulgar Favors, draw water from that same dark well a second time?

Yes.

“The Man Who Would Be Vogue,” the premiere episode of ACS Versace, is every bit as gripping and impressive as its predecessor, but with two major structural differences. The first is that there’s not even a shadow of a doubt as to whodunnit, and no trial to determine the suspect’s guilt on the horizon. Andrew Cunanan, a handsome young social-climbing sociopath who’d crossed paths with Versace and become obsessed, killed the great Italian fashion designer at the tail-end of a cross-country murder spree; it’s his story as much as the title character’s, if not more so. From the start, this gives Versace a tighter focus, with a tone more in keeping with a serial-killer biopic or a dark Coen Brothers murder-morality play (I honestly catch major Barton Fink/Fargo/No Country/Blood Simple vibes from this thing) than O.J.‘s sprawling canvas.

The second structural change is that while Versace, too, centers on a high-profile crime involving a wealthy ’90s celebrity, it appears poised to tackle virtually the only hot-button issue O.J. didn’t: homophobia. From Cunanan’s quasi-closeted status and resentment of a man able to live more freely on his own terms, to the culture clash between Miami’s thriving gay scene and its reflexively bigoted cops, the era’s prejudices come across like unindicted co-conspirators.

This gives the assassination a truly tragic air. After all, the show’s approach to Versace himself, per writer Smith’s own characterization of it, is one of straight-up celebration. In this episode he emerges as the opposite of what you might expect from his almost grotesquely lavish, Young Pope-esque taste in furnishings and home design: a real man of the people, a guy who’s kind to his employees, who’s friendly to the neighbors, who (as he tells Andrew) wants nothing more than for his “love for life” to shine through in the clothes he designs. He and his partner Antonio (Ricky Martin, restrained and heartbreaking) have an open relationship, but it’s an openness they share together — an “if you’re happy and feeling good, I’m happy and feeling good” kind of deal that the tawdry imaginings of the local cops can’t even begin to encompass.

He’s also a family man. To the extent that there’s any strife in Versaceland at all, it’s because his partner Antonio and his sister-slash-heir apparent, Donatella, are basically locked in a contest over who loves the guy more. As he tells Andrew, his sister is his muse, and their childhood adventures together exploring the local ancient ruins inspired the Versace brand’s legendary Medusa logo. (“I know that many people call it pretentious, but I don’t care. How could my childhood be pretentious?”) For pete’s sake, the thing that wins him over to Andrew is when the young man tells a story about his beloved Italian mother! More than a fashion designer or a gay icon, the Gianni Versace of ACS is a secular saint.

And if you’re going to kill an angel, you need a demon. That role falls to Darren Criss as Andrew Cunanan, a performance that in this hour alone looks headed for cinematic serial-killer hall of fame. It’s not too soon, I think, to compare Criss’s work as Cunanan — a straight man playing a gay predator — to Psycho‘s Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates — a gay man playing a straight predator. Physically and verbally they’re not so far apart: lean physiques, softly handsome features, gentle voices, a tone of good cheer that sits atop a wellspring of hatred, resentment, self-loathing, and violence like the lid of a pressure cooker. Cunanan’s love of the finer things, his ability to convincingly portray himself as a “normal” young upper-class up-and-comer, and his penchant for creeping around bare-chested and bikini-briefed will also call to mind Christian Bale’s iconic Patrick Bateman from American Psycho. Indeed there are several times throughout the episode — most notably the moment where Andrew sees a news report on the murder he’s just committed and literally mimics the shocked reaction of a nearby onlooker — where you can see Cunanan physically applying Bateman’s “mask of sanity.”

The difference between this killer that one, the thing that makes him closer to the original Psycho than its American descendent, is the sense that underneath that mask of sanity there really is something, someone. The show isn’t above portraying Andrew’s personality in a comical way to make that point, either. With his hoity-toity manner of speech, his compulsive social climbing, and his constant stream of impressive names to drop, places he’s gone, things he’s done, et cetera an ad nauseam, he often comes across like David Hyde Pierce on Frasier, if Dr. Niles Crane had happened to be a murderer.

But there’s pain in Andrew, too. Recall how he screams into the ocean water during his pre-slaying swim, how he vomits into a public toilet as he works up the nerve to pull the trigger. When he bullshits his way into Versace’s presence and winds up attending the opera for which he’s the costume designer, the music moves him to tears. After the show, he clearly wants to believe all the kind, supportive things Gianni is saying about him as they hang out on stage together. (And there’s every reason to believe Gianni means every word, him being such a mensch.) Andrew sucks people in with lies and sucks life out of his resulting proximity to wealth, glamour, sex, and power to fill a hole in his heart, yes, but his heart really does exist. He’s a vacuum, not a void. It’s a subtle distinction, but so far it seems to be a crucial one.

There’s so much more to talk about here: the gauzily gaudy cinematography by Nelson Cragg, capturing the splendor of Versace’s Miami mansion with a lens so wide it’s almost fish-eyed; memorable cameos by Mad Men‘s Jay R. Ferguson and Raging Bull‘s Cathy Moriarty; Edgar Ramírez’s instant likability as the powerful but kindly designer; Penelope Cruz’s appropriately mush-mouthed but resolutely non-caricatured turn as the larger-than-life Donatella; all the stranger-than-fiction touches, like Antonio’s blood-spattered tennis whites, the wannabe model striking poses in front of news cameras at the crime scene, the cops and FBI’s multiple blown chances and near misses in their pursuit of the killer, the bird that got caught in the crossfire when Cunanan made his move. Between the subject matter’s milieu and the swirlingly stylized approach the show takes to it, you may be tempted to describe the result as camp. To do so is to deny the depth of what’s happening here, and the moral seriousness with which Murphy, Smith, Criss, and company are depicting it. Until it all wraps up eight weeks from now, a killer walks among us.

[kunishirou]

happy early xmas for me, since I really love WinterIron concept so much lately so why not?

Rating: General/Teen Characters: James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes, Tony Stark, Steve Rogers Relationship(s): James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes/Tony Stark, James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes & Steve Rogers Other Tags: Single parent!Bucky, kid!Steve, Family, pre-relationship, alternate universe - modern/no power, Christmas themed

                                                 ・。・゜★・。・。☆・゜・。

“Stevie, take it easy, pal. We still have some time before dinner time. You can choose whichever slowly,” Bucky huffed, shaking his head as he looked at his little spitfire fondly, who seemed so unsure which toy he wanted to get. It had been a long while since they managed to shop together like this, especially as it was getting closer to Christmas holiday. Last year was a lonely one for both of them, as Bucky couldn’t go home from his tour and Steve stuck with his Poppa and Nana. It broke his heart so much when he tried to video call his family, only to see Steve wailed really hard for his Dadda until the boy fell asleep, still crying. But now he came home for real and could spend all time he had with his beloved son. Taking the little guy to the toys store to pick up what Steve wanted for his Christmas gift seemed like a great idea a few hours ago.

And it didn’t even take more than 30 minutes until Bucky completely lost him.

                                        ・。・゜★・。・。☆・゜・。

He knew he shouldn’t go to the store alone without any supervisions or guarding. Even Happy didn’t know that his employer just gone from the office, wearing the best civilian, cheap clothes he got and simply dashed into the said best toys shop in the city. Tony Stark probably could just get whatever he needed right now by ordering online. Heck, maybe even bought five the exact things. Maybe even the most expensive one in the world with just a single click from his tablet.

But no, Pepper would be so pissed if Tony tried to spoil her daughter, Gwen, by buying yet another expensive toy for the lovely baby girl’s Christmas present. But then again, Tony just wanted to be the coolest uncle ever (besides Rhodey, maybe, they could share the honorable title with him) for her. Also, again, Pepper would notice if Tony bought anything suspicious like the last time he bought the $300,000 Barbie doll for Gwen. Or that one time when he bought a dollhouse worth at least $250,000. Partially, it was his fault for just bought whatever caught his eyes in the first place.

It was just a present, Gwen shouldn’t care about how much they worth and simply played with the gifts!

Alas, the parents knew and Pepper banned him to buy anything online or way too expensive anymore. So here he was, at the suburban area that somehow had the best and apparently also the largest toy store in the whole city. Fair enough, since the said store was more like a renovated warehouse anyway. Thus, the adventure began from the time Tony entered the place, which rather packed with families right now because the Winter holiday was approaching fast.

Lucky for him, no one seemed to notice his face yet. So he could quietly slipped deeper into the store while looking around.

What he didn’t expect was that there was a little boy who was sleeping alone. On top of a big teddy bear’s belly. And no one else seemed to see it as a strange scene. Some questions had been inside Tony’s head already: who’s this boy? Why is he alone? How old is he, Jesus Christ, he’s so tiny and very skinny but adorable with those Captain America onesie getup hidden briefly under another layer of warm clothes awww - but where’s the parents? Tony didn’t hear any announcements or a voice of distress parents calling names for their child yet. But there was no way this boy was walking alone, right? Despite how much he didn’t want to get involved and only wanted to look for the presents, Tony could imagine how the parents would feel when they knew they just lost their kids inside the store. It wasn’t like the little boy was equipped with any kind of gadgets for the parents to call as well.

Groaning internally, Tony walked closer to the boy who started to stir awake. Let’s just hope he won’t cry or even wail enough for other people to accuse him as a kidnapper, geez.

“Heya, little dude. Sleep well? I assume you’re not walking around the shop alone, since you look really small and I don’t think any parents should allow you to do that yet.” Welp, that earned the man some sleepy glare, which should look a bit scary, but somehow made the boy looked even cuter. “Not that I think you’re small small, I mean uh - anyway, where’s you parents? Are you here with them, right? You got separated?”

And the little kid - Tony noticed how blue his eyes were - only stared at him, looking unconvinced. Slowly, the boy wiped his eyes with one hand before stepping down from the teddy bear. Blue eyes still looked up at Tony.

“...Dadda said not to talk to a stranger if I’m alone. And I don’t know you.” Oh good, the boy was speaking, yay. Tony was afraid what if the boy wasn’t old enough to even speak proper English yet, but it seemed he underestimated how fast children could grow nowadays. The man grinned, giving his best, mostly not - well, hopefully not that kind of awkward, smile and crouching down to the boy’s level.

“Your Dadda is a good man and you’re such a good kid for listening to him. So I suppose a proper introduction is in order, you know, so we can get to know to each other and we’re no longer strangers. Well, technically still strangers, but at least there’s a progress. So? I’m Tony, what’s your name, little guy?”

Another glare, before the boy said, “I’m not little, I’m 3,” well it’s still too little for Tony, but he won’t argue with that, “....’m Steve.”

Honestly, Tony’s heart melted a little when he saw how brave and yet still so shy this Steve boy acted towards the man. Now he really wanted to make sure the boy returned safely to his parents, almost instantly forgetting his own mission to the store. Well, it was a big store, he could still find something proper later on. Now, back to Steve.

“Oh, wow okay Steve, you’re a big boy then. My bad. Nice to meet you, glad we’re already on first name basis at our first meeting or we had to go through boring and awkward situation before getting where we are,” okay, no more rambling to the poor kid. Tony would just confuse him even more. “So, Steve, Stevie, can you tell me where the last time you see your Dadda? Or Momma? You go together with them, right?”

Tony swore the kid’s expression changed for a brief seconds there before he looked down at the floor, two small hands played with the hem of his sleeve. “Don’t have mommy. Only with Dadda,” Steve mumbled, which made a wonder, and another ton of questions but Tony kept them to himself.

“With your Dadda, then.” the man nodded, “What do you say if we go to the help center and wait for your Dadda there? I’m pretty sure it’ll be kinda pointless to search for him by ourselves in this big place, so we should go and make sure he can find you at one place. What do you say?”

“And how can I be sure that you won’t trick and kidnap me?” Wow, this kid was really perceptive and fully aware his situation could go wrong if he wasn’t careful to who he should trust. Tony absolutely underestimated this little guy so much. Quick, think of something.

“Because,” Tony shushed, looking around before beckoning the kid to come closer. He pulled his right sleeve a bit to reveal a rather gaudy toy watch with Iron Man design on it - courtesy of his lovely niece Gwen, and she insisted Tony to keep wearing it and somehow it became his habit now. Even if he had some proper watches collection. “Don’t tell anyone, but I’m actually Iron Man, Cap. I know you’re actually Captain America, right? I can see through you with those kind of red-white-blue outfit you hid inside that jacket, you know.”

“You’re silly,” Steve giggled, and Tony grinned again.

“Oh, am I now? I’m hurt, Cap, I thought you’ll be less judgmental in person.” He faked a gasp, one hand clenching his chest before grinning again, “Us Avengers have to watch each other’s back, no? So why don’t you let me help you for this once? Pinky promise no funny business, I can swear it by my Arc Reactor. I’d say my heart, but I guess my Arc Reactor is one and another my second heart and even more important to keep me alive anyway, so there’s that.”

“You’re still silly, but alright, Mister Tony. My Dadda likes Iron Man too and I think I can trust you not going to do anything funny to me.”

“I probably already said this, but your Dadda is a good man with a good taste,” he laughed, “Now I can’t wait to see what your Dadda looks like, I have a hunch that me and your Dadda can get along just fine with our similarity, then.”

                                       ・。・゜★・。・。☆・゜・。

Turned out Steve’s father had a pair blue eyes as well. Very blue eyes and Tony was entrapped. He probably lost a few first words here and there, okay, maybe a lot of words when they finally met at the customer help desk. The very first part that he was aware was those gorgeous blue eyes and  deep, raspy voice probably roughed up because he shouted too much for his son, and -

“Mr. Tony?”

Oh, oh. Shit. How long he had been staring, again? “Yes? Yeah, uhm, I’m still listening. Got a bit distracted a bit just now. Too much noises around here, don’t you think - what was it that you said again?”

Tony thought the man would be offended at least, but he just gave Tony an understanding smile. “I can sympathize. Not quite a fan of crowded places with too much noises myself, but I’m trying. What I wanted to say was thank you for finding and bringing Steve here for me.” Bucky smiled at the little boy, who curled himself up on Bucky’s arms and wrapped his tiny arms around the man’s neck, looking ready to sleep again. “I was panicking and probably running around the store just to find him until I got back my common sense and went to the customer desk before I started crying myself.”

Oh, dear God, those laughter. Tony was pretty sure that it should be so illegal to laugh or even chuckle so beautifully like that. The father himself in overall had been already illegal. Not only just because of those blue eyes, but that strong jaw, those impressive cheekbones that probably could cut, rather long hair that look quite silky that he tied into a messy bun that suited the man so much, how the corners of his eyes crinkled when he laughed - 

Wait, why was the father still laughing at him?

“Believe me, my hair usually ain’t as silky as you think. Maybe because I took the wrong shampoo rather than my usual one for a whole month and didn’t realize it. Who knows a baby shampoo can do such a thing.”

Tony smacked his face as hard as he could. “Oh, my God. Did I say it out loud in front of you? I said it out loud in front of you and your kid. Oh God. I swear I’m not a creep, I just have a tendency to say whatever came out in my mind and it’s not helping since I have a very big mouth - no other intention intended. I’m so sorry about this. I hope you won’t sue me. Please don’t sue me. I still have to attend the Christmas party with all my friends - which probably can be counted with one hand - and spend more time with my lovely little niece. What would she think if she knew his cool uncle just got into prison because he just accidentally compliments his sudden crush - I’m going to shut up now before you really want to sue me.”

To his surprise, the father didn’t seem to annoyed to the very least. He just simply...blushed and scratched the back of his neck with his free hand. “Uhm, thank you? I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that if you want. And no, I won’t sue you. You just saved my Stevie from getting lost too far. Besides, he said you’re, like, Iron Man?” he teased, starting to sound more confident, “No way I’m going to sue Iron Man who just saved my son, he’s way too cool for being taken into prison for that. And I’m a big fan of Iron Man myself. Isn’t that right, Stevie?” The said boy looked up at both Tony and Bucky, smiled sleepily and continued burying his face to the man’s shoulder.

Tony blinked stupidly, “Really?” he cleaned his throat before smirking at the man, “Really, now. Glad to hear that then, Steve’s father.”

“Bucky.”

“Bless you.”

“No, not that,” the man - Bucky - snorted. “That’s my name. Well, James, actually. But no one calls me that unless you’re my Ma.”

“Bucky, eh? Nice to meet you. I like the sound of it, suits you. I was gonna ask where you got ‘Bucky’ out of James, but I guess you got other people asking you that a lot and it seems like a question for a first date thing - I mean. Shi - shoot, sorry. No, not that I want to pressure you with such a thing. I just like talking whatever came out of my mind, again. This sounds awkward already, sorry about that.”

“No, that’s okay. Well, Mr. Iron Man,” Bucky bit his lower lip, considering, “I was hoping maybe you can join us for tonight’s dinner as a thank you, it’s the least I can do to repay you. Maybe by then we can get to know each other fairly well, don’t you think? Unless if you already had a plan.”

Again, Tony blinked, “Dinner? With you and Steve? You sure I won’t interrupting your family bonding time?”

“Absolutely sure. And I’m sure Steve will be so thrilled anyway. I can see he already likes you enough. He doesn’t trust people so easily like he does to you. Most of the time he will run away as fast as he can if he doesn’t feel safe around strangers, Stevie is intuitive like that.“

Tony was pretty sure his heart just swelled in pride. “S-Sure, yeah. I’d like that very much. So, like, numbers exchange? So you can send me your address and time? Promise I’ll be there on time.”

“Smooth, but alright,” Bucky chuckled, fishing out his phone to exchange his number with Tony.

“It’s a date, then,” Tony said casually when he pressed save button for Bucky’s number on his phone, but froze when he saw Bucky raised his eyebrow, realization of what he just said. “I mean, like, with family. So it’s a family date? Dinner? No? Alright, sorry, didn’t mean to say that.”

“Tony, calm down. You look like you’re about to burst into fire like that,” the brunet chuckled, shifting Steve on his arm. Cheeks flushed red a little. “It can be a family date if you want. We - well, I - I’d like to know more about you.”

“...really?”

Bucky nodded, and it was Tony’s turn to blush as he gave his charming smile.

“It’s a family date, then.”

[the-promise-has-been-made]

I went and saw Beauty and The Beast on Friday and I wanna do some real talk here because a lot of people were a little concerned/angry in the last weeks leading up to the release. Spoilers below, but as a summary, I loved it.

So. Real talk.

I was worried those last few weeks, with stills of the yellow dress released,and the news about LeFou in particular.I was VERY worried, and almost did not want to see it. But I did, and let me tell you: It was wonderful!

First things first, the big issue: LeFou. 

Le Fou was in my opinion arguably the smartest character next to Belle. People said he was portrayed as ’pining’ over Gaston, and I absolutely disagree. Sure, he had an obvious crush on him and sure, he was at times a bit of a stereotypical ‘gay best friend’. But this new interpretation of LeFou was clearly leagues smarter than Gaston, as shown in their very first scene together and throughout their interactions. That first scene had me actually gasp: Gaston is trying to describe what Belle stirs up in him, and LeFou says ‘je ne sais quoi?’ - which is a phrase used to describe an intangible quality someone has, that makes them special or attractive - so literally the words Gaston was looking for - and Gaston goes ‘I don’t know what that means’ which is of course the LITERAL translation from french and I just wanted to scream because that was SUCH A GREAT WAY TO INTRODUCE THESE CHARACTERS!

LeFou was shown conflicted between his loyalty to Gaston and his principles both when Gaston was leaving Maurice behind and when he was put on the spot to lie for Gaston. He did it,sure, but he did not do it happily. And boy, there was a ‘moment’ during The Mob song where LeFou drops the line “There’s a beast running wild, there’s no question/ but I fear the wrong monster we chase” suggesting he actually thinks the monster is Gaston, and it was such a powerful line, so well delivered! During the invasion of the Castle LeFou switches sides, saves Mrs. Potts and helps defend the castle. There is a moment when LeFou is in trouble and reaches out for Gaston to help, like he was always there for Gaston. But Gaston leaves him, and that is when the penny drops, when LeFou realises he will be better off without this guy. He becomes a hero. 

LeFou has a clear, strong character arc, getting over his hopeless crush, over Gaston’s abuse (Gaston is CLEARLY using LeFous affection and loyalty) and he comes out on top (ending up with a cute guy, too). There is not a single moment where LeFous sexuality is made an issue (during the song in the tavern, there is one moment where LeFou gets carried away with affectionale praise and everyone goes silent and he’s like ‘Too much’ and evryone is like ‘well,maybe a little much’ but that is literally the only time it is commented on. I was scared when the news of LeFou dropped, but his character arc is great, and I am really glad I saw that now. I don’t think his whole arc circled around his affection for Gaston, but it is about two forms of loyalty (the loyalty between Belle and her father, vs. the one sided loyalty between LeFou and Gaston). This new LeFou is nothing at all like the ‘butt of the joke’ character he was in the original. If anything, his witty one-liners make GASTON the butt of jokes Gaston is too dense to realise. It makes LeFou’s name ironic,and Idon’t think he is bad representation (my bf’s best friend and her wife loved his character in this as well).

In Summary: My God I loved LeFou’s characters!

Secondly: the dress. 

Oh boy was I worried because of the dress. In the stills we saw the yellow was gaudy, the design not at all what it should be like according to the source material, and people compared home made cosplay dresses to it,dresses that were all absolutely stunning and well made and way more true to the original. It was just a big nono. It looked like a cheap prom dress. 

In the actual movie, on the big screen? GUYS the dress was beautiful! The yellow was a little muted, but still bright enough to make Belle visible from the tower of the castle like a vanishing light in the distance. The DEATILS ON THE FABRIC HOLY MOLY! there are golden details on the fabric you couldn’t really see in the stills. AND when SHE MOVES?!  

Is it as breathtaking as the Cinderella dress was, or as iconic as we hoped it would be? No. But here’s a thing tho: when they dance, the dress moves beautifully, it’s aethereal! But also, Belle can run in that dress. She can ride a horse in that dress, and she confronts the villagers in that dress. She only takes that dress off towards the end of the film. There is much more demanded of that dress than there was in the original, or in Cinderella. This dress is more than pretty. It is a dress for a girl that needs to get shit done. I love the dress.

 I had one issue that made me cringe now and again and that was the Beast. Because in some scenes, the Beast had visible fangs that poked out over his lips, and in others, he clearly did not have these fangs. Which bothered me to no end! Did Disney forget? Did they make that choice consciously? (My bf said maybe they did leave out the fangs in scenes where he needed to look ‘gentle’ on purpose, but I think that would be dumb, cause the whole point is that he doesn’t look gentle and Belle learns to look past that to see what lies underneath, and loves him despite his appearrance but whatever). So yeah, that I will say was a bit of beef for me. But in the overall big picture, the grand scheme of things that was this movie, I am willing to look past it.

Don’t even get me started on the scene in the end where the last petal falls and everyone turns to actual objects, they all say their farewells. It is literally the saddest scene to ever happen. I KNEW it would all turn out fine, and I was SO ANGRY at Disney for making me feel all of these things! I was cursing while crying! I was so mad! I am pretty sure when they talked through this in prduction they were like ‘okay, we took 2 hours to make these peopel care for household items, what do we do now?’ ‘How about we... kill them all very slowly and in each others household item arms?’ ‘Yes! Good!’ 

UGH! SO MANY TEARS! I cried to Lumiere saying goodbye to his beloved Plumette as she turned to a feather duster in his arms. I cried over a demented wardrobe opera singer and her toothless grand piano husband reuniting only to be torn away from each other! I cried over Chip rushing to say goodbye to his mother,only to turn to a real cup midair, falling to shatter on the ground - only to be caught by a sentient coatrack that gently sets him down next to his teakettle mother, only to then turn into a coatrack permanently! I cried over Ian McKellen’s heartfelt Cogswoth farewell to Ewan McGreagor’s weird french accent Lumiere ‘It has been an honour to serve... with...y...’ THAT WAS SOME TITANIC SHIT RIGHT THERE MAN! THE TEARS!

Is it my favourite of the remakes so far? No. Cinderella is, hands down. Is it as big of a letdown as some people paint it to be? No. No it is not. I really want to make that point. It is obviously a Disney cash-grab, but I still believe it is absolutely worth seeing (on the big screen, too, because damn Belle’s dress pops on the big screen). And Disney fucking owns my ass, so I will watch all their cash-grab remakes, come hell or high water.   

[swfhentaigames86]

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His particular methods "Antoni Gaudi i Cornet was born as he died, untidily - the subject of controversy." So begins the biography that tells us about Gaudi himself, his family, his work, his clients, his friends, Reus and Barcelona. van Hensbergen brings the city of Barcelona to life and tells us about the seemingly insurmountable struggles between Catalans and Spaniards, between his wealthy clients and the working, rebellious underclass. Gaudi's work for the Church and various long-suffering bishops is detailed without being exhausting. Dealing with Gaudi must have been exacerbating, fraught with unseen pitfalls - his tendency to lecture church officials on the finer points of faith, sacraments and Bible is an example. Gaudi pursued outward manifestations of being a Catholic to a degree that is rarely seen in laymen - he almost starved himself to death during one Lenten Fast. While we marvel at Gaudi's not-yet-finished Sagrada Familia, the beauty and colors of Park Guell, not all designs were beloved by clients. At the end of his life, Gaudi maintained a near-constant presence of the Sagrada Familia building site. Is Gaudi going to be elevated to sainthood? We have to wait and see. Meanwhile van Hensbergen has left no stone unturned and explained to us every aspect of Gaudi's life - his diet, for example. "One suspects that Gaudi's diet sprang directly from the Judaic tradition of always leaving the stomach half empty to leave space for the Lord." Go to Amazon

Tame to start but finishes with a grand flourish befitting his subject Gijs van Hensbergen has written a good biography of one of the world's most creative and unconventional architects, but it could so easily have been a great biography. The best parts of the book come towards the end where he writes in compelling style of Antoni Gaudi's work on his most controversial project - the La Pedrera apartment block - and also of his legacy. Here van Hensbergen brings to life the eccentricity, the obsession, the combativeness and the incredible creative energy of Gaudi and the account is fascinating and very moving. The fact that this last private commission co-incided with the political turmoil of the 1909 strikes in Barcelona adds to the story as van Hensbergen tells it and makes up for the more plodding style of the early chapters. A good editor would have helped the author fill in the gaps, introduce the large and often confusing cast of characters better, and produce the all round tribute this remarkable man deserves. Go to Amazon

Wonderful Gaudi biography with Catalan context Wonderful biography of Gaudi written in the context of Catalan nationalism and Catholicism. Gijs also provides historical background of turn-of-the-century Barcelona with its financiers behind its industrial growth funding architects and other artists. This book is well researched and heavily footnoted. Go to Amazon

Five Stars I am so enjoying this book. Such an intentional look into Antonio Gaudí. Go to Amazon

Want to Learn About Antonio Gaudi? Read this! An enjoyable read about the life of the amazing Antonio Gaudi. Go to Amazon

Five Stars Wonderful insight on a beautiful cathedral Go to Amazon

get this book and visit BAC I got this book in addition to my visit to Barcelona. It really gives you a deeper understanding of the life and inspirations of this famous man. I was comparing this book in the store with others and in my opinion it is the best choice. Go to Amazon

What a Genius! Very interesting biography of Gaudi with great sketches, photos etc to illustrate the depth and scope of his considerable work. Gives a good understanding of him as a man, an architect, as a Catalan, his beliefs and general philosophy on life, politics and design. Well worth reading despite sometimes providing a bit too much detail. Go to Amazon

Three Stars and kept getting lost rolling ahead on the beautiful quotes and exquisite illustrations Really interesting book and easy to read Five Stars Interesting Subject

[dandwyeroffscript-blog]

WAR PAINT

ONLY DIVAS NEED APPLY

Divas dominated this Broadway season - Glenn Close reprising her role as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOPULEVARD and Bette Midler making Dolly Levy her own in the revival of HELLO, DOLLY!  But the real double diva treat is WAR PAINT featuring the inimitable Patti LuPone and the beloved Christine Ebersole - with nearly 80 years of musical theatre credentials between them - as cosmetic queens Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden.  Never mind that the beauty industry magnates never actually met. Playwright Doug Wright has stitched together a narrative that is as much socio-cultural time-travel through a post-modern feminist lens as it is a semi-campy pastiche of Broadway musical conventions.

Though Rubinstein and Arden differed vastly in backgrounds they we remarkably similar in how they re-invented themselves to appeal to different segments of the women’s cosmetic markets. “Madame” Rubinstein grew up in a Jewish shtetl in Poland but cultivated a persona of Eastern European nobility that appealed to the aspiring second generation women of immigrant ethnics.  Arden escaped the impoverishment of an Ontario farm life to present herself as a cultured woman of WASP good breeding to appeal to upper class, New York society types.  Fact-based, too, is Wright’s take on their business acumen. Both adopted modern principles of health science to product development and innovative marketing techniques. Still, Rubinstein envied Arden for her signature “pink” design packaging and Arden envied Rubinstein for her “secret formulas” for her product.  

Into this historical background, Wright works two “men in their lives”, somewhat based on fact, who expediently create a narrative bond that glues his book together.  Arden’s husband and marketing executive Tommy Lewis (dutifully played, like the character, by John Dosset) can’t take Arden anymore and ends up working for Rubinstein.  Rubinstein’s “companion” and advertising man, the closeted homosexual Harry Fleming (dutifully played, like the character, by Douglas Sills) can’t take Rubinstein anymore and ends up working for Arden. Really. If the parallels between the two cosmetic queens weren’t facile enough, this partner-switcheroo provides ample fodder for the women to fret mutually over how they put business before relationships. It’s just a matter of time before they are both lamenting the injustice of being women in a man’s world in the duet “If I’d Been a Man”.

Except for a few scenes of “book” dialogue, most of the story, which occurs in Manhattan between 1935 and 1964 (just before Rubinstein and Arden’s deaths), is told through 20 musical numbers, some interstitial sing-through dialogue. The music is by Scott Frankel and lyrics by Michael Korie, who both worked with Ms Ebersole on GREY GARDENS, as did director Michael Greif, who also directs DEAR EVEN HANSEN this season. Greif cleverly integrates scenes with assist from the nimble orchestrations by Bruce Coughlin and a unifying set design by David Korins. Rubinstein pretty much stays stage left to tell her life story, Arden stage right.  The backdrop is a huge expanse of shelved, translucent perfume bottles that reflect the shifting lighting designs of Kenneth Posner.

Versatile costume designer Catherine Zuber does homage to the legendary movie costumer Edith Head,  evoking styles from the Art-Deco of the 1930s, to WAC military uniforms and Rosie-the-Riveter coveralls of WWII, to Fifties swimwear,  right up to Op-Art miniskirts of the Sixties.  The individual costumes for LuPone and Ebersole, particularly Rubinstein’s with layers of opulent (gaudy), ornate jewelry, are over-the-top.  Does anyone still wear a hat? Rubinstein and Arden sure do.  

Overall, there’s a cinematic quality to the production.  The opening sequence set in the Elizabeth Arden flagship store in Manhattan, with the ensemble of woman customers, looks like a Technicolor version of the spa sequence in the film classic “The Women.”  

Choreography is by Christopher Catelli.  Dancing is pretty much left to the ensemble in WAR PAINT:  the divas don’t engage in it much at all.

Besides the recurring theme of women’s struggle, the songs reflect the competition between cosmetic businesses (“My Secret Weapon”), how cosmetics emboldened women’s’ identity (“Better Yourself”), or the undiluted pursuit of the good old American Dream (“My American Moment”).  

WAR PAINT covers a lot of ground, making awkward short-shrift of Rubinstein’s relatives caught in German-occupied Poland, moving onto a big WWII ensemble number, “Necessity is the Mother of Invention”.  (War paint, besides being a metaphor for the imagined relationship of the two cosmetic queens, is also what Arden called the lipstick she developed for the WACS in WWII service.)

In the 1950s, Rubinstein faces anti-Semitism when denied purchase of a penthouse on Park Avenue. (She goes out and buys the whole building).  Arden suffers injustice, too: she’s denied entry into the Waspy Mayfair Club, because she’s nouveau-riche and not “old money.”  Wright more deftly incorporates upstart Charles Revson into the plot as the diva’s mutual nemesis, who perceives the market changing with the times, moving cosmetics from department store luxury items into inexpensive drugstore staples. By this point, the aging beauty magnates’ careers have peaked, noted in a witty duet between Harry and Tommy in “Dinosaurs”

WAR PAINT finally hits its stride for the last 30 minutes. The divas get below skin deep and Frankel serves up his best music. Ebersole and LuPone each get big 11 o’clock numbers.  In “Pink”, Arden furiously unleashes a lifetime of private disappointment.  For a moment, Ebersole’s rage recalls Elaine Stritch’s “Ladies Who Lunch” in COMPANY.  In “Forever Beautiful”, in reviewing the gallery of portraits of herself by artists like Dali and Picasso, Rubinstein’s outer aggression gives way to inner, reflective melancholy. LuPone pours it out, with all her vocal idiosyncrasies, layer upon layer.

For the finale, Rubinstein and Arden meet privately in a fictionalized award ceremony wherein they, by mistake, are both honorees. In a soulful duet “Beauty of the World” there is a truce which is really each coming to peace with the self. WAR PAINT is not quite the tour de force that might have resulted from a deliriously fantastical treatment of its fictional premise.  For this semi reality-based, literal production to work, real divas playing divas are the vital, magic ingredient.  Lucky for WAR PAINT it has LuPone and Ebersole.