#i guess parade looks interesting but honestly i think i'd only go if i was already in the city. i wouldn't plan a whole trip around it

[supercantaloupe]

genuinely except for maybe a passing interest in seeing camelot (which is closing too soon for me to do anything about anyway) i haven't wanted to actually Go To New York to see smth on broadway since the music man. i am going to do everything in my power however to go see this cabaret tho

[localrye]

LADS I'M BACK AGAIN! Kind of! My nerves are fucked again! c': (personal ramblings ahead)

I had a big three weeks since like mid-June till early July So first I went to this hardcore fest I mentioned last month, and it was fine, but I found that fests aren't really for me. I'm glad I went because now I know. I guess I may attend again but buy only one-day ticket in the future but idk if I'll want to honestly, maybe only if some band I really like would play. Guess the only fest I'm still interested in is K-Town but that'd be different coz I would be sleeping at my friend's house in a town nearby, so at least I'd get some *peace and quiet* far away from people and only come to the fest for the bands. But yea, it was kind of overwhelming and uncomfortable. Completely unlike venue gigs, which feel intimate and comfortable and make me feel very present and like I'm a part of this scene. Fest was just chaotic, and since there was no breaks in-between sets I feel like all bands blent into one, I literally don't feel like I made any memories beside discomfort. And also almost everyone was drunk, which of course was to be expected and I know that getting wasted is the point of fests for many people and it's fine, but just not a space for me and it definitely contributed to the discomfort; I'm really glad my friend who was there with me also doesn't drink alcohol. But I got cassettes and a vinyl from bands and distros so that's nice!!

Then after I came back, I only had 3 days before leaving again to visit my best friend to go to some Pride events, a Xiao & Speedway gig and a bonfire on which I was supposed to play mandolin. Pride was nice as usual, I think I looked pretty faggy at the main parade but I'm def getting some chained harness for the next year, I'm brave enough for that by now lmao But neither the gig or the bonfire happened!!! :/ The gig was cancelled like 3 hours before it was supposed to happen coz bands' plane was delayed. And bonfire didn't happen coz one person couldn't attend and I couldn't play mando coz my fucking...... nerve issues in the right arm came back...... But it was still great, I love my best friend, we had such a lovely time, love just spending time with them!! Heals my accumulated mental damage lmao

And since I came back I've been waiting for my nerves to heal, not doing much, which is very annoying coz I got only like, 3 months since the last time I couldn't use my hand. It's really difficult to accept new disabilities, especially when they're still pretty new and you don't know what you can and can't do yet. But I guess I know a bit better now. Definitely can't spend a few days in a row writing down the chords and playing an instrument, definitely can't do any strength-based activities like lifting heavy objects multiple times a day or doing push-ups and I definitely need a longer stick for my aro flag so I don't have to raise my hands at all!

Honestly I'm still pretty upset about the gig not happening coz like I said, the fest just blurred into one, so I feel like I haven't been at any actual show this summer! (and also I REALLY wanted to see Xiao) Thank fuck Frail Body plays here at the beginning of August coz I wouldn't go at any gig before October otherwise!! But it sucks to live in the middle of nowhere, having to travel 2 to 4 hours to see a gig, pay a lot of fucking money for the train tickets and having to always figure out the place to sleep coz no trains go back to my county from the cities past like, 19:30 lmao

But anyway, guess I can try to come back on tumblr again, I miss my blog!! My hand is still doing bad, it'll probably take at least one month till it's fine again. I hope only a month!

[katnissdoesnotfollowback]

What do you think about Star Crossed Lover strategy on the 74th THG?

Who did invent it?

Who benefited from it?

Thank you, @curiousnonny

Hello @curiousnonny, thanks for the ask! I think Peeta had the idea in his head that he was going to do whatever he could to make sure the Victor was from Twelve that year, and in this way, he makes his death meaningful, although he wasn't exactly sure how to go about it at first. From there, I think Haymitch was able to figure out that Peeta had some sort of feelings for Katniss based on how Peeta insisted Katniss take credit for her skills and not sell herself short to Haymitch leading into their training. I think Haymitch also noted the way the two of them weirdly gelled as a team (briefly) to push back against his disregard for their lives on that train.

I'd also give some credit to Cinna in this, because unless Peeta and Haymitch started hatching the Star Crossed Lover's angle on the train -- which seems unlikely given time and states of sobriety -- then Cinna making them hold hands in the parade could actually be seen as the original seed of this idea. And it is, as Katniss points out, a revolutionary idea for the Games. The Games rely on a lot of garbage, but one thing they rely on very heavily is the idea that people are ultimately selfish survivors who would rather kill than be killed. Holding hands, showing any kind of solidarity or caring for a fellow tribute is RADICAL. Which means it's going to gain attention, and Haymitch is s strategic thinker, as is Peeta to some degree. Haymitch is able to take that holding hands in the parade, the way these two tributes passionately demanded the other admit their skills and capabilities, and oh look the boy's got a crush on the girl, and this all adds up to probably making Haymitch practically giddy with delight that he's not only got a pair of fighters, but a pair of fighters whose story he can spin/expand and most importantly -- sell to sponsors. So I'm not sure it's so much a question of who invented it so much as it is who was able to put all the pieces together and turn it into a useful narrative. And that would be Haymitch, guiding Peeta in executing the strategy.

Granted, Peeta tells Katniss that it was his idea and Haymitch just helped him with it, but I also wouldn't put it past Haymitch to manage the conversation in such a fashion to make it seem to Peeta like it was Peeta's idea entirely. The interview training with Haymitch and Katniss, as she describes it, is almost like a mock interview. I imagine it was similar with Peeta, and that also might add to why Haymitch gets so infuriated with her. He trains for the interviews with Peeta first. They've hammered out this revolutionary, interesting strategy/narrative to sell, and then Katniss doesn't cooperate during her training because it turns out she kinda sucks at being personable unless the conditions are right. Honestly, I'd guess Haymitch is thinking "what the fuck does that boy see in her?" during their training, just because he's crotchety like that.

Something that's important to note is that while I think Haymitch and Peeta intended for the Star Crossed Lover's plot to primarily help Katniss, I think it wound up benefiting Peeta a great deal more in terms of physical survival. Katniss has a high af training score going into the interviews. People already have their eyes on her, and while Haymitch might not have been convinced of her ability to survive the arena when they go into it, she manages to survive on her own for several days and proves to him, to the Gamemakers, to the audience, that she's a definite contender. She could have done that without the Star Crossed Lover's ploy. She doesn't even need a sponsor gift until after the fire, several days into the Games. What the strategy DOES do for her is keep the attention of the audience after she's gotten that high score and before she reaches the arena. It keeps her constant in their heads, and keeps them curious about her, enough so that once she's in it and doing her thing, the audience is already paying attention and therefore NOTICES that she really is a strong contender to win. I'd say that it lessens the amount of effort Haymitch and Effie have to expend to garner sponsors, but the task wouldn't have been impossible for them in regards to Katniss, even without the Star Crossed Lover's plot. Attention may have dipped after a lackluster interview, but it'd rise back up with coaxing from Haymitch and Effie, and with her performance in the arena.

Which means that the Star Crossed Lover's ploy really helps Peeta initially, whether that's what he intended or not. It gets him noticed even more and probably helps get him into the Career Pack... which keeps him fed and supplied and, in a way, protected for those first few days in the Games. It makes him an asset to the career pack because it turns out Katniss is a real threat to them and he's literally the only person in the arena who knows a damn thing about her.

Once he's injured, the strategy SERIOUSLY helps Peeta, and primarily Peeta. Injured and sick, while Katniss is nicely recovering with some help from Rue, Peeta is the one who NEEDS that rule change to survive. He's the one who NEEDS Katniss to start making decisions based on his survival, not her own. He now needs her to play into the strategy in order to live. Then it becomes the tool through which Katniss and Peeta maintain audience and sponsor interest to get him the medicine he needs so he doesn't die of an infection. Now we could argue all day and night about whether or not Peeta would've been a victor if he'd gone into the arena with someone other than Katniss (or Prim), but that's not what you asked lol.

So, did it help Katniss at all? I personally say that it's a mixed bag for her. On the one hand, it forced Katniss to take risks she might not otherwise have done. Without the rule change, would she have ever sought Peeta out in the arena? Sad but true, probably not. She never worked up the nerve to thank him for the bread, and that only inspired her to keep fighting. What are the odds she'd actually sort her thoughts out enough to go looking for him in the arena after literally saving her life by fighting Cato and risking his own? Not very good.

But then again, the Star Crossed Lover's strategy also forced her to consider the survival, life, and humanity of another tribute. Not that she didn't do that at all already. Her alliance with Rue is definitely a sign that Katniss isn't entirely a cold-hearted, self-centered survivor. But she does acknowledge that Rue's death is inevitable if Katniss herself wants to go home. It's a fraut and doomed alliance from the start.

Which is why, in part, when Katniss rationalizes that she HAS to go find Peeta after the rule change or she'll stop getting sponsors, it's an interesting trick she plays on herself. She's trying to justify being compassionate, but by the end of the Games, she admits that if Peeta dies, she won't ever be able to go home, not really. The whole thing is a mixed bag for her because she doesn't love him the way the audience thinks she loves him (yet), but she does deeply care about him, his survival, and his well being. In a way, playing the Star Crossed Lover's strategy allows her to hold on to a little bit of her humanity and her compassion, because if she cares that deeply about someone else's survival, even when it could mean her own death, then she can't be a complete monster... right?

But as I said, it's not a perfect or clean effect on her psyche since she still feels like she lied to him and used him by going along with it to the point that Peeta himself bought into it as well. But I do think that it did provide some benefit to her in allowing her to see and hold onto part of her own humanity and compassion. And to some degree, after losing Rue, it gave her a reason to keep fighting for her own survival rather than just giving up.

[misterbitches]

some thots. having a bad time so this is rougher than usual. oh well

....

i guess he really does know hiim best cos if that was my mans (man specifically cos if anyone else did that id take it more srsly) i would be like oh my god ur singing me a love song? i would love it but i woudl SCREAM in embarrassment. UNLESS it was a really deep love song that's about us dying together.

like i want to eat ur skin type of thing (drain u nirvana) lmaoa but i really like this song it reminds me of that velvet underground song (the only one i know cos of juno lmao) and nico or whatever 'i'm sticking with you)

my adhd would be out of fucking control i had to spend my time listening to this looking around i kept getting distracted by a tissue and thinking "wow this song is nice but i wish it would end bc i am getting distracted" and lo and behold i paused it and i have to pee and i know it's gonna take forever to undo this

ok about 12m later i turned it back on and they kissed and then he bit the corn then that night li chen also lost his virgin teas after watching gay porn and being like "hm interesting" and he'll be like "i see, ur dick is not medium sized"

i'm honestly gagging i cannot at this 12 year old marrying his mom

beautiful theyre beautiful

ayea you fucking psycho we do too because he was 17 and we had to witness it (or well, other people did cos i didnt watch the show even tho wayne song is [BEEEEEEEEEEEEEP BEEEEEP BEEEEP] and i want him to [BEEEEEEEP] and ppl even liked it which is fine like i get it in theory but they put this in my eyeballs so i'm gonna make fun of it bc it's fuckin DUMB lmao like i can't I CANNOT and he said "u were so persistent" BITCH UR 30??!?!???!?!?!?)capi hve it on mute and i tried to get a screencap of li chen and mu ren like together and not just his face but i cant find the timestamp and seeing their faces as they get married is literalyl traumattizing i'm like scremaing at my screen going "HE'S 5 HE'S 5 HE'S 5" and every time theyre like "we acn live forever together" like no bitch ur bones rae creaking

also is the officiator white? if anyone knows why or if that's common i'd love to know more. EDIT: HE ISN'T I JUST THOUGHT HE LOOKED LIKE MOBY FROM THAT ANGLE

anyway here

i'm almost done with this fucking bullshit and i am in a really ould mood and usu they make it a bit better but imo it's kind of....annoying i guess balancing all these story elements and introducin gother couples (even in the periphery) since the story in itself can't focus. i feel like all in all the time spent with these two is a lot more limited and we get the feel for the rship because of their chemistry as actors, irl chemistry as friends and colleagues, and hopefully being happy and working on a good set. so it isn't the strength of the writing or production.

for some reason they get like less dynamic ways of being together which i think is part of their charm, they do things their own way, but the writers really should have substantiated this more. it's really just the way everyone in the show has managed to deliver these AWFUL story lines and production decisions (like seriously who the fuck was on costume? lighting?)

like maybe hot take but all the moments that are cringe and insane in the show are not pleasant, per se, because they aren't thought out clearly. so they're not a joy to watch in the normal sense but the actors are good enough to pull it off. i didn't cringe at the talks they had because it felt like actors like acting these lines out instead of us being embarrassed for it and you CAN TELL theyre embarrassed.

this is a huge kudos to the casting director and the actors and whatever crew that actually did a good job. i don't particularly like watching bo xiang and his grandfather husband not because of the content but because i feel like, to me, they're so awkward even though they have chemistry. i don't have that issue with xing si and his rapist brother boyfriend because watching them is actually really pleasant, it's intimate. this isn't to do with the story though because when it hits you how devoid this other person is and how stupid the situation is it changes (for me, for me, for me, this is all my opinion think whateverrrr u want im not telling u 2 ok!)

so truly kudos to this cast. idk if i'm misremembering here but imo the most cast appropriate series in this was crossing the line and close to you. one is a decent atmosphere and execution (yes even with that brother story line, notice the major key differences though because that's a sincere false equivalence. they try to execute power imbalances soooo badly and then fail every time but here's one meant to shock too and it was just likelmao ok girl?)

it may not make sense to say either in a writing way or for the character to do it but i believe that whoever the characters these people are supposed to be especially those super not well written on the page still get that message aacross (yong jie's actor is a good ex. not sure if i should ccongratulate him for having the worst job on earth and the worst character and his character is flat but. ostensibly they should let their actions speak for themselevs but what they do is they back themselves into a ccorner with unsuretyabout their characters or a dilemma that pops up they just want to excuse it. well guess hwat u couldnt do enough legwork. but to some extent the disposable side couple works here on a um "our eyes see them and get it" way

also to me it seems like they chose this story just to have this specific wedding. like it's a timely topic and i'm pretty sure like another provision? (correction? idk) was made WRT taiwanese same-sex marriage so it's topical but it isn't like a "papa and daddy" situation where they're interacting in it and there (for ex: the pride parade) and there being like real life terms and consequences. here it seems like they were like ah yes wedding ah yes dumb couple from modc bc we kiled off the other one sooooo (then outsource them to life love on the line u__u) then hamfisting in some fucking message which is funny bc

- despite the hints peppered in and the clear attraction they both acknowledge ur like ~not gay just him~ even tho...i mean i just. again they dont read over what they write i don't think considering. but wahtever.

- the only gay dude (verbally said) is with his rapist brother with an awful power dynamic oh or IS a rapist (gao) (or his brother but i think it was just a "im a psycho so it's him" thing unless they said it. in which case idc cos i wasnt paying attn but that's also not great) or i guess the wedding but like....that's also a ridiculously inappropriate and dumb relationship taht it's built on. i mean i don't really see much respect her so i dont particularly want to hear abt gay weddings being important when they didn't even utilize it in the story beforehand and have we ever. this is a huge indication to me that it was a reverse engineered chosen story beforehand (if it was one) or thought of

soooooo

so reversal of that....it didnt give us enough time to breathe with these two at all but for both of the actors they can capitalize what's on the page and the writers didn't. like their dynamic is very i give/you give like taking car eof each other etc that's why

again, no artist worth their salt will ever say their work meant nothing. that's a cover up. i'm sick of lazy production and then getting away with it claiming being subversive or attacking an issue by not doing anything. we show crazy shit all the time but it has a POINT and ur point is "i like the gays" then girl.....i mean it's not great

but the acting really carried it. i have a feeling if this series continues it might continue to use more experienced actors cos maybe the budget goes up but they also have less inhibitions now when it comes to acting. i like the way li chen expresss himself and teng teng too. i like anson a lot and there's some angles that did not do any favors and i think eh has to get more control of his body movements (bc he's SO LARGE and thin) but he wasn't bad at all and there were real human tears. of course i, personally, favor charles tu. he has more control over his body because he has...less to work with and he's a bit bigger and he was really great in this role. he's a himbo a bit of a meathead but you like him. you like them. there's some things i think they had them say and do that they wouldn't let happen if they stuck to the characters and the story (mainly liking that dumb idiot rapist)

what i notice is that the reprehensible actions people criticize others for in the show and in real human life lalways gets turned around. teng teng being surprised that this boy's grandfather boyfriend met him when he was a junior in high school and he's 12 years older and him apologizing for being shocked and then whatshisface going "ur better at it than most people" and then the convo about gao with whatshisface and then rapist brother comes to pick him up. they are admonishing gao but thinking that rapist brother is noble for doin gwhat he did (and oh rapist brother shows up) like the hypocrisy and the decisions are immense. so now it's like "guys see he's a great guy" like girl STICK TO SOMETHING but whatever so i live in this universe where muren and li chen do everything right and have lots of different interesting fun seex with all their friends. i would write this but i cannot i am dying

[dukereviewsmovies]

Duke Reviews: Pinocchio

Hello, I'm Andrew Leduc And Welcome To Duke Reviews, Where We're Continuing Our Look At Disney...

Where Today We Look At Walt Disney's Second Animated Feature, Pinocchio...

This Film Is About An Old Wood-Carver Named Geppetto Who Carves A Wooden Puppet Named Pinocchio Who Is Brought To Life By A Blue Fairy Who Informs Him That In Order To Become A Real Boy, He Must Prove Himself To Be Brave, Truthful And Unselfish...

Will Pinocchio Succeed In His Quest?

Let's Find Out As We Watch Pinocchio...

We Open With When You Wish Upon A Star As The Credits Roll, Eventually Ending We See Jiminy Cricket Finishing Up The Song As He Sits On A Bookshelf...

And Honestly, Who Doesn't Like This Song?

It's Basically One Of The Top 2 Songs You Immediately Think Of When You Hear The Word "Disney" (With The Other Being A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes From Cinderella)...

However, Lately It's Been Brought Into Question By People Who Believe It Promotes Laziness And A Lying Belief That Everything Will Be Okay If You Believe Hard Enough, But I Honestly Think That People Like That Never Had A Childhood Or Has Never Thought Like A Child In Their Adult Lives...

Also I'd Be Crazy To Not Point Out That As Jiminy Is Singing The Last Words Of When You Wish Upon A Star, You Should Also Notice That The 2 Books Alongside The Pinocchio Book Are Peter Pan And Alice In Wonderland, 2 Other Stories That Would Later Become Disney Animated Movies...

Introducing Himself, Jiminy Acknowledges That Many May Not Believe That A Wish Can Come True, Which Leads Him To Tell Us The Story Of Pinocchio As He Gets Off The Bookshelf To Open The Book...

Saying That One Night, Jiminy's Travels Through A Quaint Little Village Where He Took Up Shelter In The Workshop Of A Wood-Carver Named Geppetto, Who Carved Dozens Of Toys, Clocks, Music Boxes And Puppets...

Hearing Geppetto Enter With His Cat, Figaro, Jiminy Hides As He Works On A Marionette After Greeting His Goldfish, Cleo. Painting A Face On The Marionette, He Names Him Pinocchio And Tests Him Out By Walking Him Around The Workshop While Playing Music...

And While It's Really Not A Song, I Actually Enjoy This Scene And The Marionette's Interactions With Figaro And Cleo Are Pretty Cute...

With The Clocks Indicating It's 9 O'Clock (In A Scene Which Shows Some Of The Elaborate Clocks In The Workshop (Some Interesting, Others Slightly Offensive) Geppetto And Figaro Get Ready For Bed...

But Before Going To Sleep, Geppetto Wishes Upon The Wishing Star That Pinocchio Would Become A Real Boy, With The Star Growing Brighter And Closer To The Workshop, It Eventually Arrives And Transforms Into The Blue Fairy, Who Grants Geppetto His Wish And Brings Pinocchio To Life...

However, The Fairy Informs Pinocchio That The Task Of Granting The Rest Of Geppetto's Wish Is On His Hands, Saying That He Must Prove Himself Brave, Truthful And Unselfish In Order To Become A Real Boy And Also Know The Difference Between Right And Wrong...

But Unable To Know It As...

Well, One Of The Complaints People Have In This Movie Is That Pinocchio Is A Little Dumb And Yes, Even I'll Admit He Is A Little Dumb But It's A Naive Type Of Dumb So I'll Let It Go..

Anyway, Unable To Know, Jiminy Tries To Explain To Pinocchio The Idea Of A Conscience Which Leads The Blue Fairy To Ask Jiminy To Become Pinocchio's Conscience. Agreeing To, The Blue Fairy Dubs Him As So, Before Taking Off...

Though Unsuccessful At First, Jiminy Tries To Explain The Concept Of Right And Wrong And Tells Pinocchio That He Wants To Do Right, Which Leads Into Our Next Song, Give A Little Whistle...

But As Pinocchio Joins In, He Wakes Up Geppetto, Figaro And Cleo Who Discover That Pinocchio Is Alive And That If He's Brave, True And Unselfish He'll Be A Real Boy, Which Leads Geppetto To Celebrate With His Music Boxes...

Tell You The Truth, I've Always Wondered What Geppetto's Neighbors Thought About All The Music Boxes Playing At 3Am At Night?

But When Pinocchio Sets Finger On Fire, The Party's Over And They Go To Bed...

The Next Day, The Village Is Alive With Boys And Girls Going To School, With Pinocchio Going With Them..

Seriously, If Can Ask How Did Geppetto Enroll Pinocchio In School After Only Having Him For One Night?...

But As He Goes To School, He "Befriends" A Cat Named Gideon And A Fox Named Honest John Who Tells Him That He Is Just The Type To Become An Actor Which Leads Into Our Next Song...

And I Honestly Like The Tune As It's Very Catchy...

Late On His First Day, Jiminy Tells Pinocchio Not To Listen To Honest John, But Pinocchio Ignores Him And Goes Off With Honest John And Gideon While Jiminy Follows...

Taking Pinocchio To Stromboli's Caravan, He Buys The Puppet Off Of Honest John And Makes Him His Star Attraction That Night As Jiminy Watches From The Audience As Our Next Song Starts...

And What Can I Say About This Song Except That It's A Great Song, In Fact It's So Good Even Ultron Likes It...

Becoming A Smash Hit, Jiminy Realizes That Maybe He Was Wrong And Decides To Let Pinocchio Go On Without Him...

Meanwhile At Geppetto's Shop, He Worries About His Wooden Boy And Goes Off To Look For Him While In Stromboli's Caravan After The Show, He Congratulates Pinocchio On A Successful Show...

But Wanting To Go Home To His Father, Stromboli Throws Pinocchio In A Cage And Declares That He Will Stay In There As They Tour The World And When Pinocchio Gets Too Old He'll Chop Him Into Firewood...

Calling Out To Jiminy For Help, He Eventually Shows When He Goes To Say Goodbye To Pinocchio. Attempting To Get Him Out Of The Cage Proves Impossible As It's An Old Lock And He Can't Unlock It...

Feeling Sorry For Themselves By Crying, Their Worries Grow Bigger When The Blue Fairy Shows Up...

(End At 1:39)

Freeing Them And Returning Pinocchio's Nose To Normal, They Sneak Out Stromboli's Van Before Heading For Home...

Celebrating At Red Lobster...

May As Well Call It That As It's Called The Red Lobster Inn...

Honest John And Gideon Meet With A Coachman Who Will Give Them A Huge Bag Of Money If They Bring Him Stupid Little Boys For Him To Take To Pleasure Island, Though Honest John Is Worried About Getting Caught At First, He Eventually Accepts...

Running Into Pinocchio, Who Is On His Way Home, Honest John And Gideon Pretend To Be Doctors Who State That He's Allergic...

Allergic To What?!?

They Don't Really Say But Either Way They Say That He Needs A Vacation And Must Go To Pleasure Island To Get Better Which Leads Jiminy To Go After Him...

Once On Board The Coachman's Coach, Pinocchio Meets A Boy Named Lampwick...

Who I Honestly Love...

Seriously I Love His Character Design So Much I Wanted To Meet Lampwick At The Park And Take A Picture With Him...

And I Knew He Was In The Parks As For A Time They Had Him And Pinocchio In The Main Street Electrical Parade...

However, Every Time We Went He Was Never Out And Eventually He Became One Of The Characters That Was Taken Out Of The Park And It Made Me Sad As I Knew I Would Never Get That Picture...

And Ever Since It Has Been My One Disneyland Childhood Regret...

But Enough With Childhood Regrets, Let's Move On..

As I Was Saying...

Pinocchio Meets A Boy Named Lampwick, Who That Pleasure Island Is A Swell Joint Where Boys Can Run Without Fear Of Reprimand From Authority Figures And Everything Is Free...

Reaching Pleasure Island By Boat, The Boys Go Off And Enjoy Themselves While The Coachman Orders His Men To Lock The Doors Trapping The Boys In...

Search The Now Empty Fairground For Pinocchio, Jiminy Eventually Finds Him With Lampwick In The Pool Hall. Telling Pinocchio That He Has To Go Home, Lampwick Hits The Cricket With A Pool Ball That Goes Down With The Other Pool Balls...

Laughing At Jiminy, He Quits Again As Pinocchio's Conscience But When He Discovers That All The Boys That Arrived On The Island Have Transformed Into Donkeys, Jiminy Races Back To The Pool Hall To Save Pinocchio...

(Start At 1:00)

Arriving Just In Time To Get Pinocchio Off The Island, They Swim For The Shore So They Can They Can Return Home. But When They Do Return Home, Geppetto's Workshop Is Empty With Geppetto, Figaro And Cleo Gone...

But Through A Message From The Blue Fairy They Discover That Geppetto Went Looking For Pinocchio Only To Be Swallowed By A Whale Named Monstro. Deciding To Go Save His Father, He Ties His New Tail To A Rock And They Dive Into The Ocean To Go Looking For Monstro...

Well, If You're Looking For Whales I Think I Know A Fish That Can Speak Whale...

But Dory Aside, They Eventually Find Monstro Who Eats Them Along With A Bunch Of Fish Which Geppetto Tries To Catch From Inside Of Monstro. Managing To Catch Pinocchio Father And Son Are Reunited...

But Despite Being Happy To See His Son, Geppetto Tells Pinocchio That There Is No Way To Get Out Of The Whale But Luckily Pinocchio Comes With An Idea To Gather Everything That's Wood And Burn It So Monstro Will Start Sneezing,..

Doing Just That, They Board A Small Boat That Geppetto Made As Monstro Sneezes Them Out, Furious Over Losing His Food, Monstro Chases After Them And Destroys Their Boat But Grabbing His Father, Pinocchio Paddles For A Hole In The Cliffs, Getting Through As Monstro Crashes Into It...

With Geppetto Coming To, Him And Jiminy Discover Pinocchio Face Down In A Puddle, Dead After Saving His Father...

Ah! Let's Hold The Darth Vader No's For Now...

Returning To His Workshop, Geppetto, Figaro And Cleo Mourn The Death Of Pinocchio, However, Proving Himself To Be Brave, Truthful, And Unselfish Pinocchio Is Returned To Life And Becomes A Real Boy...

So While Geppetto Celebrates His Wish Coming True, Jiminy Goes Out To The Window Ledge....

And That's Pinocchio And I Honestly Love It...

The Story Is Great, I Love The Characters And While There's No Real Bad Guy (I Guess Since Honest John, Gideon And Stromboli Are In The Parks At Times You Could Classify Them As The Bad Guys But Still) I Absolutely Enjoy It...

However Looking Back At It Now And Watching The Nostalgia Critic's Disneycember Review Of It I Do Have Some Questions Some I Asked During The Review Others But This One I Seriously Agree With The Nostalgia Critic On Is What Happened To The Boys On Pleasure Island Did They Just Stay There Forever? Or Did Pinocchio Rat Out The Coachman's Operation?

Either Way I Feel Something Should Have Happened...

But Still It's A Good Film And I Say See It...

Be Sure To Stop Check Out Duke Reviews Xtra As This Week We Are Back Doing Drew Carey In Geppetto Till Then, This Is Duke, Signing Off...

[d-noona]

MAKE OVER

Chapter 6: Euphoria

Jung Hoseok x Reader

Reader as Kang Hyeonji

SUMMARY: When Kang Hyeonji transformed herself into a striking redhead, the entire male population of Seoul stood up and took notice. But her make over was for Jung Hoseok’s benefit alone. He began to show interest in the new look but not in the way she wanted. Suddenly he was over-protective, perhaps a little jealous. It seemed that the idea of having a relationship with her couldn’t be further from his mind. The girl however wants more. So it was time for an ultimatum. If Hoseok didn’t want Hyeonji to lose her virginity to another admirer, he had no option but to make love to her himself.

After seeking help from one of Taehyung and Jimin's recommendations for her make up tutorial Hyeonji took several lessons with Seokjin. He was a splendid man who had a face of an angel who taught her to differentiate a blusher from a bronzer.

Hyeonji was practicing her daytime make-up routine the following Sunday morning when the telephone rang. "Can you answer that, Mum?" she called out.

There was no reply and the phone kept on ringing. Hyeonji suddenly remembered that her mother had gone down to the corner store to buy the Sunday papers. Carefully, she put down her new mascara wand then hurried downstairs to sweep the receiver.

"Hi there," she said breezily.

"Hyeonji? Is that you?"

Her heart caught the sound of Hoseok's voice, reminding her forcibly how much she loved this man. The realization wrenched her momentarily out of her newly found optimism, bringing her down to earth with a thud. But then she regathered herself, her spirits lifting with the thought that Hoseok was actually calling her. That was a first!

"It certainly is me, Hobi. Don't I sound like me?"

"Actually, no...you sound different, somehow." He replies.

"Really...?" Well I look different too, she was tempted to add, but didn't want to spoil the surprise when he eventually saw her in the flesh. "Sorry. It's just the little old me," she went on, smiling to herself. Her height was one thing she simply could not change. Though the four-inch heels she'd tried on yesterday and which would buy shortly certainly gave her a taller view of the world. "So to what do I owe the dubious honor of you call?"

"Are you being sarcastic?"

Hyeonji chuckled at the shocked tone of his question. "Who, me? Never!"

"Have you been drinking?" he sounded almost crass. "This early on a Sunday morning?" it was five past ten. "Which brings me to a repeat of my question. Why are you calling me?"

"What? Oh, I um...I'm on my way to help Mother move some furniture around. She's decided she's bored with the layout in the living rooms. Actually, I think it was just an excuse to get me home and feed me up. Anyway, I thought of you saying the other night that you don't get fed properly at home, and I was wondering if you'd like to join us for lunch."

"Join you for lunch," she repeated, swallowing convulsively and immediately going blank. "You don't have to sound so thrilled," came his testy remark. "I realize I'm not your Mr. X but I've always thought you enjoyed my company."

"Oh, but I do!" she hastened to assure him. "I mean, I...I..."

"You have something else on? Is that it?"

Hyeonji tried to pull herself together. It was the shock, which was all it was. She glanced in the wall mirror above the telephone table and nerves immediately besieged her. Would Hoseok think she looked fantastic when he saw her? Might he be inspired to ask her out on a date, like Jungkook had? A real date?

"No, nothing else on," she said at last. "And I'd love to join you and your mother for lunch. Would you like me to help you move the furniture as well?"

"Would you?"

"Love to. Make-overs are my thing this week," she says.

"What?"

"Nothing," she muttered, and wished she were more confident of Hoseok's reaction to her own make-over. "I'll come see you in about fifteen minutes, then. Just come over when you see my car."

"But...but..."

"Look, I'm ringing you from my mobile and I'd better hang up before I get into trouble."

He hung up and Hyeonji groaned into the dead receiver.

Fifteen minutes. Oh God...

With a shriek, she dropped the receiver back into place and dashed upstairs, throwing open her wardrobe and searching for something Hoseok might like. No pants, she reminded herself, and past over the cheap tights and track suit pants she lived around the house. Her eyes went to the black crop top she'd bought the previous day, the only item of clothing she could afford.

But she had nothing to go with it. In despair, she pulled a pair of white shorts, though bought two years back when she'd been larger, she never actually got around to wearing the thing since it didn't fit her then. She tried on the shorts, looking at the mirror it hugged her bottom nice and tight. It looked good. Plus it was too hot for jeans, and she didn't have enough time to find anything else.

Ten minutes had flown since Hoseok had called. Shoving her feet into tan sandals, Hyeonji spun round to the dressing-table to finish her make-up, but her hands were shaking so badly she had to abandon applying mascara. Fortunately, she'd already done her eyeshadow and eyeliner, adding enough depth and definition to her eyes for casual daytime wear. She had a light powder on and cheek tint were in place. All that was left to do was her lip tint.

This last thought sent Hyeonji's pulse racing. There was only one man she'd want to wake up with in the morning with her make-up still intact. Somehow, the red lip tint found its proper place without wondering all over her face. It gave an impression of a plump luscious lips.

She did a quick brush of her hair, several deep, steadying breaths and she was ready. Just in time, too, for when she leant across her bed to glance through her bedroom window she was greeted by the sight of Hoseok's new red car coming up the hill.

Her stomach tightened another notch, her heart pounding. One last glance at her shorts and crop top brought a grimace of and another flicker of doubt. The last thing Hyeonji needed at that moment was to come downstairs and be met with her mother's open scorn.

Zil walked in the front door just as Hyeonji approached it. "And where do you think you're off to with your face all done up like a dog's dinner? No. You don't have to tell me. I can guess. I saw his car pass by as I walked up the hill, and you're running straight over to parade yourself in front of him. Dear heaven, but you're a fool, Kang Hyeonji! That girlfriend of his would still run rings around you for looks and style. You can tart yourself up all you like and it won't make a blind bit of difference. Not where Hoseok is concerned. Of course there are other men around here who aren't so particular. Not that they ever marry the girls they ask out."

For a few seconds, Hyeonji's confidence in her appearance wavered. But she'd come too far to allow anyone to undermine her newly found self-esteem. Not that her mother's nasty comments hadn't hurt.

"Maybe I'm not in Tinashe's league in the looks department Mum," she said, her voice shaking with emotion. "But I still think I look pretty good. And I'll have you know I'm not running over there to parade myself in front of Hobi. He rang me while you were out and asked me over for lunch. It seems that he and Tinashe have broken up. Maybe I don't stand a chance with him, Mum, but that's no excuse for your trying to put me down like that. It was mean."

To give her credit her mother looked shocked, then stricken with remorse. "Oh, Hyeonji... I... I... Oh, dear. Oh, I'm so sorry. I... I just don't want to see you hurt..."

"Then stop hurting me," she countered, sweeping out of the house before her mother could say another word, anger propelling her down the front path. As she stalked out onto the roadway and turned right, Hyeonji indulged in some none too ladylike mutterings.

"My, my," drawled a male voice. "Does that brand-new temper come with the brand-new hair?"

Hyeonji scudded to a ragged halt, her eyes whipping up to see Hoseok leaning against his open car door, watching her. His eyes immediately narrowed on her newly made-up face, then lifted to once again take in her new crowning glory. She couldn't tell if he approved of her transformation or not.

"You...you don't like it?" she almost groaned after a few seconds silence, one hand flying up to touch her hair in that age-old feminine gesture which invited reassurance. Hoseok straightened and slammed the cardoor before glaring back her way. "Don't be ridiculous. What's not to like? You look fantastic. But I think you already know that, don't you?"

Hyeonji glared back at him. So much for Hoseok being bowled over her sudden beauty. "I only did what you suggested the other night," she defended hotly. "True. But honestly I never expected you to do it. I guess I underestimated the power of your Mr. X. So...has he seen the new hair yet?"

Hyeonji bristled, then lifted her small chin too at Hoseok straight in the eye. "Yes, he has, as a matter of fact."

"I suppose he said you looked fantastic."

Once again, Hyeonji was spurred on to play an ironic game with the truth. Somehow, it soothed the pain of Hoseok's ongoing blindness. How could he not guess? She agonized inside. Couldn't he see her love for him?

"Actually they were his exact words," she tossed back coolly. His frown was instant "Where is it that you see this...Don Juan?" he demanded to know. Hyeonji smiled a darkly devious smile. It amused her that Mr. X didn't favor with Hoseok. If only he knew!

"Oh he lives nearby, and I run into him from time to time. But as I said before, my love life is really none of your business, is it? Now shouldn't we be going inside to help your mother with the furniture?" she went on with more forcefulness than was usually her nature. "Time is wasting, you know, and I have to get back to practicing my new make-up before the working week begins. I aim to knock their socks off tomorrow morning."

He threw her an incredulous glance, then shook his head "They say women change their personalities when they change their hair color. I'm beginning to believe it."

"Oh? Did you know Tinashe before she peroxided her hair? Was she a sweet little thing before she became a bottle-blonde?" raising an eyebrow at Hoseok. "We're not talking about Tinashe here, Miss Sarcasm. Which is exactly the sort of thing I'm referring to. You were never one to be bitchy before. Neither did you go around swearing under your breath."

Hyeonji places one hand on her waist then looks at Hoseok straight in the eyes "Maybe you just never heard me before. Maybe you don't know the real me at all, Hoseok. Maybe you've never stopped to smell the flowers."

"Stopped to smell the flowers? What in the hell has my stopping to smell the flowers got to do with you turning into a shrew?" says the infuriated man. Hyeonji laughed while Hoseok scowled. It was that moment when his mother opened her front door and came onto the porch to stare over them.

Mrs. Jung was a beautiful woman. Somewhere in her late forties, she was tall and slender, intelligent brown eyes and a shimmering black hair which fell to her shoulders in a stylish bob. Unlike her son she obviously liked women in trousers for she lived in them. Today she was wearing a loose pair of fawn cotton trousers with a bright floral floaty over blouse.

She lifted her hand to shade her eyes from the sunlight, squinting down at this strange young woman with her son. Heyonji smiled with satisfaction when she realized Hoseok's mothers didn't recognize her.

"Hi Mother," Hoseok waved. "Be right with you. Hyeonji here is going to help us."

"Hyeonji?" his mother repeated, frowning.

"Hyeonji? Oh my goodness, it's Hyeonji! From next door!" she smiled at her. "Yes, it's Hyeonji from next door," Hoseok said as he pecked his mother on the cheek, then threw Hyeonji a dry look over his shoulder. "In a fashion..."

"I'm so sorry Hyeonji dear," Hoseok's mother directed at Hyeonji with an apologetic smile. "I didn't recognize you with that stunning new hair color and style. My, but it suits her, doesn't it, Hoseok? She looks like a different girl entirely."

"She does indeed," Hoseok said in a tone which had his mother raising her eyebrows at him before turning to take Hyeonji's arm. "Who did it for you, dear?" she asked as she led her inside. "I'm always on the lookout for a good hairdresser."

They stopped together in the tiled foyer while Hyeonji raved about Taehyung's abilities and moderate prices, till Hoseok finally interrupted. "Have I come home to move furniture or not?"

"Don't be rude, dear," Mrs. Jung told him dismissively. "The furniture can wait. It's not going anywhere. I'll just go put on the jug and catch up with Hyeonji here for a bit. I haven't had a good talk to her in ages. Remember when she used to come over every Sunday, Hoseok, and you would make her sit in your room all afternoon while you showed her whatever game you were working on that week? I used to think she deserved a medal for how patient she was with you. And how kind. Not too many girls her age would have bothered being friends with an egocentric computer nut like you, dear."

"I didn't mind, Mrs. Jung," Hyeonji confessed. "Truth is I enjoyed it though I can't say I always understood everything. Hobi's nothing short of a creative genius. I dare say he gets that from you."

Mrs. Jung smiled her pleasure at the compliment. "What a nice girl you are," she said. "But my son is no genius. Not in the things which count, that is," she muttered as she turned to walk down several steps into the sunken living areas of the house.

Mrs. Jung's home was roomy, split-level and messy, Hyeonji saw as she traipsed after Hoseok's mother. And it smelt like a tavern. Housework was clearly not a priority with Mrs. Jung. Funny. Hyeonji couldn't remember it being so unkempt in the old days.

"Sorry about the mess," Mrs. Jung excused with an unconcerned but elegant wave of her right hand. "My cleaner had to quit through ill health a couple of weeks back and I'm on a deadline for a book. I've been meaning to advertise for a replacement but haven't got around to it."

An idea popped into Hyeonji's brain "How much does a cleaner earn

"What?" Mrs. Jung asked in confusion. She repeated her question. Hoseok's mother slanted her a sharp look. "Do you know someone who might be interested?" Hyeonji hesitated "I might..."

"Your mother?" Mrs. Jung guessed, turning to put the kettle to plug it in. "Well...yes. Dad left her with a lot of debts, you see, and her pension doesn't go far. I suggested that we take in a boarder to help make ends meet better, but I don't think Mum liked that idea much."

"Why don't I go ask her, then, right now?" Mrs. Jung offered. "And while I'm at it I'll ask her over to lunch with us. I've got plenty of food. Meanwhile, Hoseok, load up the dishwasher for me, like a good boy, will you? If Hyeonji's mother's house is anything like her garden then she'll be horrified at the state of this place. Hyeonji, love, would you mind collecting the dirty glasses from the living room?"

Hyeonji was happy to. What a nice lady Hoseok's mother was. As soon as Mrs. Jung left, she whizzed around the living room, straightening it up a bit while Hoseok made clattering noises in the kitchen. When she came out with the last four dirty glasses he had just closed the dishwasher door and started a cycle.

"I'll wash this up in the sink," she said, and set to work straight away. Hoseok leaned against a nearby counter, his arms crossed his eyes thoughtful upon her, "When you say your father left debts behind, just how much debt do you mean?"

She sighed "A lot," Hyeonji admitted. "The year before he died, he took out loans against the house to finance his latest business venture, which went bust like every other one of his great get-rich-quick schemes. Unfortunately there was no life insurance to cover these loans. The repayments take nearly all my salary each week."

Hoseok straightened, his expression appalled. "But that's terrible! Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?"

"Why should I have? It's not your problem Hobi."

"Some best friend you must think I am," he said sharply. Hyeonji was astonished by his annoyance. "But I... I..."

"I want you to tell me exactly who these loans are with and what interest you're paying" he said sharply. "Why?" Hyeonji confused with what Hoseok was trying to imply. "Because I want to help you that's why. That depends if you'll let me, it depends on how much stupid pride you've got."

Her chin shot up. "I have quite a bit. And I don't think pride is stupid!"

"That's what I thought, so I could do one of two things. I could have my accountant look at these loans and see what's the best way to refinance them at the lowest possible interest. Men like your father always have to borrow at exorbitant interest rates because they're a credit risk. On top of that, interest rates have dropped lately. Alternatively, I could organize to pay off debts myself by giving you an interest-free loan. Either way, your repayments would be substantially less than they are now."

Hyeonji's face lit up. "An interest-free loan! Oh, Hobi, that would be wonderful! Simply wonderful!" but her face fell. "But they're not my debts. In a legal sense, that is. They're Mother's. She would have to sign any documents. And I don't think she would agree to your last suggestion. I mean... she might think it was funny."

"What do you mean funny?" he asks. "She might think there were strings attached to such an arrangement." Hyeonji replies honestly. However this left Hoseok with a confused look. "Strings? What strings?"

"Hoseok, don't be thick, please. Between you and me." Hoseok's shock was not altogether flattering. "She think I would demand you sleep with me in exchange for money? Why in God's name would she think such a thing?"

"Don't take it personally. Mum doesn't have a great opinion of men in general when it comes to sex," she said "My father was a womanizer, you know."

"No," he said slowly, that frown still in place. "I didn't know. You never told me. You never told me anything about yourself or your family." Now he was sounding frustrated.

"You never asked..." Hyeonji shrugged. "Well, I'm asking you now!" says Hoseok who is now irate.

"Why?" as she tilts her head and looks at him. "Why?" he immediately responds. "Yes, why this sudden interest?" Hoseok was taken aback, thoroughly exasperated. "Why must women make mountains out of mole hills? There is no mystery to my interest. Neither is it sudden. I've always cared about you, Hyeonji, I guess, I've been so wrapped up in my business going that I haven't had much time to think of other's problems. I suggest you put this change of heart down to my maturing at long last, of you have to put it down to anything. I did just turn twenty five."

"Yes I know," she said dryly. "I bought and lit the candles on your cake"

"You still haven't forgiven me for forgetting your birthday, have you?" he asked.

"I'll forgive you anything if you have your accountant get me some more money each week. I'm dying to buy myself some lovely new clothes to go with my new look. Believe me, Hobi, you can organize that refinancing business. I'll be your willing slave forever." He gave her a decidedly disgruntled look. "So I'm to be responsible for even more changes in my Hyeonji. Your Mr. X won't be able to resist you soon. Frankly I'm not so sure I want to send you into the arms of some good-looking bastard who's had oodles of women and who didn't appreciate the lovely person you were before you became a fashion plate."

Hyeonji was startled, then flattered by the jealous edge in his words. It occurred to her that inventing the mythical Mr. X was the best she'd ever done. She'd never had so much attention from Hoseok in her life. Suddenly, she was a reasonably attractive female, complete with her secret sexual obsession. The fact that the secret sexual obsession was Hoseok himself might have escaped him, but the concept of her madly in love with some good-looking Casanova clearly bothered him. Surely that had to be a reason to keep going?

"I don't think you're in love with this man at all," Hoseok pronounced abruptly. "From what I've heard, it's a simple case of infatuation. When and if he ever takes you to bed, you'll realize that. Men like him rarely live up to the romantic and sexual fantasies women weave around them. They're much too selfish to be good lovers."

"That's a very interesting theory," Hyeonji said thoughtfully. "And do you think you're a good lover, Hobi?"

"Me? We're not talking about me!" he grumbled irritably. "We're talking about lover boy here."

"I was just wondering," she said with feigned innocence. "After all, you confessed the other day to being selfish. And you just said selfish men weren't good lovers."

"Yes, well, there's selfish and there's selfish. I like to think I excel in anything I put my mind to. So yes, I think I'm a good lover. Are you going to argue the point, Miss Picky, or accept my word for it?" Hoseok says extremely annoyed.

Actually, I'd like a demonstration...

Hyronji thought with a quickening of her heartbeat. She stared first into Hoseok's beautiful brown eyes, then down to his equally beautiful mouth before letting her hopefully unreadable gaze drift down his even more beautiful body. Her own ached with longing for that body. It was a bittersweet ache, filled with delicious sexual awareness, yet framed with in a frustration so acute, she wanted to scream and shout and stamp her feet.

"I guess I'll have to accept your word for it," she managed to say, though her words were clipped. "I certainly won't be ringing Tinashe and asking her, that's for sure. The best thing you ever did was to break up with her."

"Break up with Tinashe? I haven't broken up with Tinashe. Wherever did you get that idea?"

"But the other night...you said..."

"I said we were having a trial separation. Actually it was her idea. She had some bee in her bonnet about my taking her for granted, which was probably true. So she told me she wasn't going to see me for a month, during which we were to have no contact whatsoever, even by telephone."

"I see." Hyeonji felt her brave and exciting new world tip out of kilter. "So when is this month up?" she asked, voice flat and heavy. "Next Sunday." He raked his hand through his hair. "And it can't come soon enough, I can tell you. This has been the longest, most frustrating four weeks in my life!"

Chapter 07

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