#i like how this is still a disney feature so he has to be like ahaha i didnt have any political message with this at all i just started

[dior-luxury]

hello!! could I request how the dormleaders would react to you being a descent of the different disney princesses? (or in some cases alice and hercules), hopefully my point came across because this was kinda hard to explain! ✧

How'd They React To You Being A Descent Of The Disney Princesses

( ✧ ) ────── boyfriend stories . drama/fluff - she/her .

- [𝐜𝐡.] dorm leaders

- [𝐩:𝐬] dramatic writing

Note: I literally fell in LOVE with this prompt! ♡ This was so fun to do and thank you so much for requesting!

Riddle Rosehearts

Riddle had always prided himself on knowing everything about the Queen of Hearts' rules, the history of Wonderland, and the traditions upheld in Heartslabyul. But nothing—absolutely nothing—could have prepared him for the revelation that you were a direct descendant of Alice herself.

The first time you told him, he nearly dropped his teacup.

“What?” he blurted out, his usually pristine composure cracking as he stared at you in disbelief.

“I’m a descendant of Alice,” you repeated, shifting slightly under his intense gaze. “You know, the Alice. The one from all those Wonderland stories.”

The teacup in Riddle’s hand trembled slightly before he carefully set it down on its saucer. His mind raced, piecing together every bit of history he had learned from childhood about the infamous girl who had once thrown Wonderland into chaos—the girl who had openly defied the Queen of Hearts’ rules and questioned the very nature of Wonderland itself.

And now, you, his beloved girlfriend, carried her blood in your veins.

For a long moment, Riddle was silent, processing. His stormy grey eyes flickered with an unreadable expression before he finally spoke.

“… Are you sure?”

You chuckled. “Positive. My family has always told me stories about her. At first, I thought they were just tales, but then… well, certain things started making sense.”

Riddle exhaled slowly, his hands folding neatly in his lap to disguise his lingering shock. He had imagined many things about you—admired your kindness, your wit, your ability to handle his strictness—but this? This was unprecedented.

It wasn’t until later that day, after the initial shock had settled, that you noticed something was off about him.

At lunch, he stared at you a little longer than usual, his spoon hovering over his soup as if he had completely forgotten about it. During your usual evening walks through Heartslabyul’s rose gardens, he kept glancing at you from the corner of his eye, as if trying to see something—some trace of Alice herself in your features.

Finally, you stopped walking and faced him. “Okay, Riddle, you’ve been looking at me like I’m going to grow rabbit ears and hop away any second. What’s going on?”

His ears tinged pink. “I—ahem—I was merely… contemplating.”

“Contemplating what?” you pressed, crossing your arms.

Riddle hesitated before admitting, “I wonder if you… share any of her tendencies.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Tendencies?”

He looked at you seriously. “Alice was known to be reckless. She broke rules, disregarded orders, and caused immense chaos in Wonderland.” He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as if the very thought of such disorder was giving him a headache. “And if you truly are her descendant, I cannot help but wonder if… if you, too, might have inherited such traits.”

You couldn’t help but grin. “Riddle. Are you afraid I’m going to start shouting, ‘Off with his head!’ and overthrow Heartslabyul?”

His face flushed instantly. “N-No! That is not what I meant! Don’t be absurd!”

You laughed, stepping closer to take his hands in yours. “Riddle, I may be Alice’s descendant, but I’m still me. Sure, maybe I have a rebellious streak, but I would never cause trouble for you. And besides,” you added, tilting your head, “Alice was just curious. She asked questions and wanted to understand things. Kind of like you, actually.”

Riddle stiffened at that, caught off guard. “… Like me?”

You nodded. “Yeah. You always ask why things are the way they are. You want to understand rules, not just enforce them. Isn’t that kind of like Alice?”

He stared at you, visibly deep in thought. The idea had never occurred to him before. He had always viewed Alice as a symbol of chaos, while he stood for order. And yet, when you said it like that…

Perhaps curiosity wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

After a long pause, Riddle let out a soft sigh, squeezing your hands gently. “I suppose… I may have misjudged her. And you.” His expression softened. “If you are truly Alice’s descendant, then… I am glad. Because despite everything I have been told about her, I cannot deny that she left a great impact on Wonderland. And you… you have certainly left an impact on me.”

Your heart fluttered at the sincerity in his voice. Smiling, you rose on your toes and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. “Does that mean I have your approval, Housewarden Rosehearts?”

He huffed, though his face was undeniably red. “Just don’t go falling down any rabbit holes, please.”

You laughed, lacing your fingers with his. “No promises.”

And even though Riddle still insisted on keeping you far away from any wild, Wonderland-esque adventures, he couldn’t deny the excitement that bloomed in his chest whenever he looked at you—the girl who carried the legacy of the one who changed everything.

Leona Kingscholar

You weren’t sure how to bring it up at first.

Leona wasn’t the easiest person to talk to when it came to things like lineage, legacy, or royalty—especially not his royal family. You knew how he felt about being second in line, about being constantly compared to his older brother, and most of all, about the name Mufasa.

But it wasn’t something you could keep from him forever.

One evening, the two of you were lounging in the botanical gardens, where he often went to escape the suffocating responsibilities of being the Housewarden of Savanaclaw. The golden hues of the setting sun cast long shadows over the grass, and Leona, as usual, had his head resting on your lap, eyes closed, tail flicking lazily.

That was when you decided to say it.

“… I think I’m related to Mufasa.”

His tail stopped moving.

Leona’s emerald eyes opened just a fraction, peering up at you through his long lashes. “You think?” His voice was low, but you could hear the tension beneath the lazy drawl.

You swallowed. “Well… my family’s history traces back to an old royal bloodline. And after putting the pieces together, it looks like I might be descended from him.”

Silence.

For the first time since you met him, Leona was utterly, completely still. His usual smirk, his dry sarcasm, the ever-present air of indifference—it was gone.

“… So, what?” he finally said, sitting up from your lap. “You telling me you’re some kinda lost royal?” His voice was even, but there was an edge to it, sharp enough to cut.

You hesitated. “I’m not saying that.”

“But you are saying that his blood runs in your veins.”

You winced at the way he said his—like the very name burned his tongue.

“I knew you’d react like this,” you muttered, looking away.

Leona let out a sharp breath, raking a hand through his thick mane. He was quiet for a long time, long enough that doubt crept into your mind. Was this a mistake? Did he see you differently now?

Then, he laughed.

It wasn’t a warm laugh, nor was it amused—it was bitter, mirthless.

“Figures,” he muttered, voice dripping with sarcasm. “Even my own girlfriend’s got Mufasa’s blood. Guess I can’t escape that shadow no matter where I go, huh?”

Your heart clenched.

“Leona…” You reached for his hand, but he pulled away, standing up and shoving both hands into his pockets.

“I get it now,” he continued, looking up at the darkening sky. “The way you walk, the way you talk… the way people naturally listen to you. Should’ve known it wasn’t just you being you—it’s in your blood, ain’t it? The great Mufasa’s legacy, living on through you.”

That stung.

You stood up, crossing your arms. “That’s not fair, Leona. I don’t want to be compared to him any more than you do.”

His ears flicked, but he didn’t turn to face you.

“I know you hate hearing his name,” you continued, stepping closer. “But I’m not him. I’m still me. I don’t care about some ancient legacy. And I sure as hell don’t think I’m better than you just because of who my ancestors were.”

Leona’s shoulders tensed.

You reached out again, this time catching his wrist before he could pull away. “You’re the one I chose, Leona. Not my bloodline. Not my history. You.”

For a moment, you thought he might push you away.

Instead, he exhaled heavily and finally turned to look at you. His expression was unreadable—his sharp green eyes held something deeper, something raw, something vulnerable.

“… You’re a real pain in the ass, you know that?”

You smiled. “Yeah. But you love me anyway.”

Leona clicked his tongue, but the smallest, faintest smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

“Tch. Whatever,” he muttered. Then, with a gentleness most people never got to see, he pulled you into his arms. His chin rested on top of your head, and his tail lazily curled around your leg.

“… I don’t care about legacies,” he murmured. “And I don’t care that you’re descended from him. But if anyone ever tries to use that against me, I’ll make sure they regret it.”

You chuckled against his chest. “That’s my Leona.”

He scoffed but held you just a little tighter.

And though he would never admit it, a part of him—one buried beneath years of resentment and bitterness—felt oddly at peace knowing that if Mufasa’s bloodline had to live on… at least it was in someone like you.

Azul Ashengrotto

Azul Ashengrotto had always prided himself on knowing everything about the sea. Every tale, every legend, every tragedy—it was his business, after all. Knowledge was power, and power was something he had worked tirelessly to obtain.

But this?

This was something he had never seen coming.

“You’re what?” Azul’s normally composed voice cracked slightly, and he immediately cleared his throat, trying to maintain his usual calm.

You shifted awkwardly in your seat across from him in the VIP room of the Mostro Lounge. “I’m related to Ariel,” you repeated.

Azul let out a breath, his gloved fingers tightening slightly around the delicate handle of his teacup. “As in… the Ariel? The mermaid princess who abandoned the sea for a human prince?”

“The very same.”

A tense silence settled between you. Azul didn’t say anything at first, and you could practically see the gears turning in his mind. His eyes, deep as the ocean itself, studied you carefully—searching for any trace of a joke, a trick, something that would make this revelation less… monumental.

It never came.

Azul placed his teacup down with deliberate care before folding his hands in front of him, his expression unreadable. “… And how, exactly, did you come upon this information?”

“I looked into my family history,” you explained. “I’d always heard stories passed down through generations, but I never thought much of it until I actually started tracing my lineage. And, well… everything led back to her.”

Azul exhaled slowly, reclining slightly in his chair. “I see.”

You frowned. “Azul, say something. Anything.”

His lips twitched, but it wasn’t quite a smile. More like something torn between amusement and disbelief. “Forgive me, dear, but I’m still processing the fact that my girlfriend is descended from one of the most reckless mermaids in all of history.”

Your brow furrowed. “You don’t like her, do you?”

Azul let out a soft, mirthless chuckle. “It’s not about liking or disliking her, my dear. It’s about what she represents.” He leaned forward, resting his chin on his laced fingers. “Ariel was many things—bold, stubborn, impulsive—but above all, she was a dreamer.” His voice dipped, almost as if the word itself was an insult.

You tilted your head. “And you don’t like dreamers?”

Azul’s gaze flickered to the contract-lined walls of his lounge, then back to you. “Dreaming is fine,” he admitted, “but blind idealism? That is dangerous. She gave up her home, her family, her voice for a world she barely understood. That is not a risk—” He stopped himself, inhaling sharply before finishing in a calmer tone, “—that is a gamble. And the house always wins.”

You could hear the bitterness in his voice. Azul, more than anyone, knew what it was like to make a deal from a place of desperation. To hope for something more, only to learn the hard way that the world did not hand out kindness freely.

You reached for his hand, your fingers lightly brushing against his glove. “She wasn’t perfect, Azul,” you said gently. “But she didn’t just give up everything for a gamble. She fought for what she wanted. She saw a world that she loved and refused to let anything keep her from it. Even when she lost her voice, she still found a way to be heard.”

Azul’s fingers twitched beneath yours.

You smiled softly. “And doesn’t that remind you of someone?”

His lips parted slightly, as if to argue—but then he stopped.

Because he knew exactly what you were implying.

Ariel’s story wasn’t so different from his own, was it?

A young, ambitious soul, born into the ocean but yearning for something more. Someone who wanted power in their own right. Someone who wouldn’t accept being overlooked or underestimated.

Azul clenched his jaw, tearing his gaze away. “That’s different,” he murmured.

“Is it?” you challenged. “You built yourself up from nothing. You changed your fate with your own hands. You defied expectations. You and Ariel aren’t as different as you think, Azul.”

He was silent.

You squeezed his hand gently. “And for what it’s worth… she got her happy ending.”

A dry chuckle escaped him, though there was no malice in it. “Yes, well, fairy tales always end conveniently, don’t they?”

You gave him a teasing smile. “So does that mean you’re my prince now?”

Azul’s face reddened instantly, and he quickly pulled his hand away, clearing his throat. “Ahem. I— I hardly think such a title is fitting for me.”

You giggled. “Would you prefer ‘Sea King’?”

Azul groaned, rubbing his temples. “You are impossible.”

But there was a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at his lips.

After a long moment, Azul finally exhaled, his posture relaxing. “It doesn’t change anything,” he admitted. “Whether you’re Ariel’s descendant or not, you’re still you.”

Your heart swelled at his words. “And you’re still you—my Azul.”

His ears turned a bit pink, and he quickly turned his gaze to the side. “… Well, if nothing else, I suppose this just proves that my ability to attract unique individuals is unparalleled.”

You laughed, reaching across the table to steal a sip of his tea. “You love it.”

Azul smirked. “I tolerate it.”

And as the two of you sat there, basking in the warmth of each other’s presence, Azul couldn’t help but think that—perhaps—Ariel’s bloodline wasn’t so foolish after all.

Kalim Al-asim

Kalim was not the type to keep secrets.

In fact, he was almost comically terrible at it. He was the kind of person who would accidentally blurt out a surprise party plan within five minutes of deciding it, who would beam with excitement over something he wasn’t supposed to know, and who would definitely be unable to keep a straight face if he ever tried to deceive someone.

But you? You had been keeping something from him. Not out of malice, of course. You just… weren’t sure how to bring it up.

It wasn’t every day that you told your boyfriend that you were a direct descendant of the legendary Aladdin.

You had been meaning to tell him, but the right moment never came. Kalim was always surrounded by people—whether it was his entourage, his friends, or the ever-watchful Jamil—and dropping that kind of information in the middle of an afternoon feast seemed a bit too dramatic.

So, you waited.

Until one evening, when the two of you were sitting on the grand balcony of Scarabia’s dorm, overlooking the golden dunes of the desert under a sky full of stars. The warm wind carried the scent of exotic spices from the marketplace below, and for once, it was just the two of you—no attendants, no interruptions.

“Kalim,” you started, voice soft.

He turned to you with his usual bright, open smile. “Yeah?”

You hesitated. “… There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”

His eyes widened a little, curiosity instantly piqued. “Oh? What is it?”

You took a deep breath. “I recently found out that my family is related to Aladdin.”

Kalim blinked.

Once. Twice.

Then, his entire face lit up like a festival firework.

“NO WAY! THAT’S AMAZING!!”

Before you could react, he had grabbed both of your hands in his own, practically vibrating with excitement.

“Wait, wait, wait—you mean Aladdin—as in the Aladdin?! The diamond in the rough? The guy who found the magic lamp and won the heart of a princess?! The legend himself?!”

You laughed nervously. “Y-yeah, that Aladdin.”

Kalim’s excitement was instantaneous and overwhelming. “THAT’S SO COOL!” he exclaimed, practically bouncing in his seat. “Do you know what this means?! You’re like—desert royalty! A hero’s descendant! A real-life legend!!”

You smiled at his enthusiasm, but you weren’t sure how he’d feel about the whole story. “You really think it’s that amazing?”

“Of course! Aladdin was one of the greatest adventurers ever! He was clever, kind, and he never let anyone tell him he wasn’t good enough! And he never needed riches to prove his worth—he was already great all on his own!”

You bit your lip, fidgeting with the hem of your sleeve. “Yeah, but… you do know he started off as a street rat, right?”

Kalim tilted his head, confused. “So?”

“So… my family didn’t come from wealth,” you admitted. “We were commoners, just like Aladdin. We had to fight for everything we had. I didn’t grow up in a palace or anything like that.”

Kalim’s expression softened, and before you could blink, he was pulling you into the warmest, tightest hug you’d ever felt.

“That doesn’t change anything!” he said earnestly, his voice muffled against your shoulder. “Who cares where you came from? You’re you! And you’re amazing just as you are!”

You felt yourself relax in his embrace. “You really don’t mind?”

“Mind? Are you kidding?!” Kalim pulled back, his ruby-red eyes shimmering with excitement. “This just makes me love you even more! We have to celebrate! OH—WAIT—Jamil! JAMIL!!”

He immediately turned toward the dormitory, calling for his ever-suffering vice housewarden.

You quickly grabbed his arm before he could get Jamil involved. “Kalim, wait! I don’t think we need to—”

“But this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing!! We have to have a feast! Fireworks! Maybe even a whole festival!!”

You sighed, already imagining the extra work Jamil was about to be saddled with. “Kalim… maybe let’s keep it between us for now?”

Kalim pouted dramatically but nodded. “Okay, okay! But at least let me do something special for you!”

You smiled. “You already did.”

He blinked in surprise. “Huh?”

You laced your fingers with his, squeezing gently. “You didn’t care where I came from. You were just happy that I was me. That means more to me than any festival ever could.”

For a moment, Kalim just stared at you, his mouth slightly open as if processing your words. Then, his face broke into the softest, most genuine smile you had ever seen.

“You’re the best,” he murmured, wrapping his arms around you again, pulling you close.

And as the warm desert breeze swept around you, carrying the scent of spices and jasmine, you realized that you didn’t need riches or a magic lamp to feel like the luckiest person in the world—because you already had Kalim.

Vil Schoenheit

Vil Schoenheit was a man who prided himself on control.

Control over his appearance. Control over his reputation. Control over every detail of his life, from his carefully curated skincare routine to the way he carried himself in front of the world.

So, when you first told him—softly, cautiously—that you were a descendant of Snow White, you expected a reaction.

A scoff. A dismissive wave of his hand. Maybe even an unimpressed "Of course you are."

But what you weren’t expecting was the eerie, suffocating silence that followed your confession.

Vil simply stared at you, his amethyst eyes unreadable, as if you had just uttered some kind of dark curse.

“… Say that again,” he finally said, his voice carefully neutral.

You swallowed. “I— I found out recently. My family lineage traces back to Snow White. You know, the Snow White.”

Another pause.

Then, slowly—almost imperceptibly—Vil’s lips curled into a small, icy smile.

“How poetic,” he murmured.

His tone was unreadable, and you weren’t sure whether that was a good thing or a very bad thing.

You fidgeted in place, your hands clenching slightly at the fabric of your clothes. “Vil…? Are you okay?”

He let out a small, humorless chuckle. “Oh, darling, you must forgive me. I simply find it ironic.”

You blinked. “Ironic?”

Vil turned, gracefully walking to his vanity mirror, his reflection shimmering beneath the soft glow of golden candlelight. He lifted a hand to touch his cheek, his long, manicured fingers ghosting over his porcelain skin.

“You do realize, don’t you?” he said quietly, his gaze locked on his reflection. “The very story that shaped my life—the tale that cast my role before I ever had a say in it—is the same one that runs through your veins.”

Your heart clenched.

Vil had always carried the weight of that old fairytale on his shoulders. No matter how hard he worked, no matter how dazzling his performances were, there would always be those who whispered in the shadows:

"Ah, the Evil Queen reborn."

He had spent his whole life fighting against it—proving that he was more than a villain in someone else's story.

And now, you—the person he had let into his heart, the one he adored—were descended from the very girl that fairytale had deemed the fairest of them all.

“… Vil.” You took a hesitant step forward. “I didn’t want to hide it from you. I just… I didn’t know how you’d feel about it.”

He exhaled slowly, his fingers trailing down the edge of the vanity before he finally turned to face you again.

And then, something shifted.

Gone was the cool mask of detachment. In its place was a look that was unmistakably Vil—proud, regal, and fiercely unapologetic.

“Well,” he said smoothly, walking toward you with an effortless grace, “I suppose this only proves what I’ve always known.”

You raised an eyebrow. “And what’s that?”

Vil’s lips curled into a knowing smirk. “That even Snow White’s own bloodline cannot resist me.”

You let out a startled laugh as he lifted your chin with a gloved hand, his eyes gleaming with something both possessive and deeply amused.

“You are mine,” he murmured, his thumb brushing against your lower lip. “Snow White or not. And if anyone dares suggest otherwise—” His voice dropped to something silkier, more dangerous. “—they will learn why I refuse to be cast as a mere villain in this tale.”

Your breath hitched, heat crawling up your neck. “Vil…”

His smirk softened just a fraction, and he tilted his head, studying you with something warmer—something genuine beneath the layers of carefully controlled elegance.

“… Does it bother you?” he finally asked. “That our story was written long before we ever met?”

You shook your head. “No.”

And you meant it.

Because you knew Vil was more than that old fairytale. More than a poisoned apple or a wicked queen. He was himself—dazzling, sharp, ambitious, and breathtakingly human.

“You’re not a villain,” you murmured, reaching up to tuck a strand of his golden hair behind his ear. “And I’m not some helpless princess waiting to be saved. We make our own story, Vil.”

For a moment, he just looked at you.

Then, he let out a soft chuckle, his eyes glinting with something dangerous and beautiful all at once.

“Well then, my darling,” he purred, “let’s make sure it’s a story they’ll never forget.”

And when Vil kissed you that night, it wasn’t the kiss of a villain, nor the gentle affection of a fairytale prince.

It was his kiss—fierce, intoxicating, and entirely his own.

Idia Shroud

To say that Idia did not take the news well would be a massive understatement.

He froze. Absolutely, completely froze.

One second, he had been lounging in his dimly lit room, gaming console in hand, complaining about an impossible boss fight. The next? He had gone full blue-screen-of-death mode, his flaming hair flickering wildly in sheer panic.

“W-w-wait, WAIT—hold up!!” He almost yeeted his controller across the room, scrambling to sit up. “Y-you’re saying—y-you’re telling me—that you’re related to HERCULES?! Like, the Hercules?! Buff golden boy, slayer of titans, Mr. I-Can-Go-the-Distance HERCULES?!”

You blinked. “Uh… yeah?”

Idia made a strangled sound, looking one bad shock away from an actual shutdown.

“Error. Error. System malfunction.” His voice wavered as he pressed his hands to his temples. “This… This has gotta be a joke. A prank. You’re messing with me, right?”

“Nope,” you said casually. “It’s true. Turns out my family has a direct lineage to him. I only found out recently when—”

But Idia wasn’t even listening at that point. He had already spiraled deep into an existential crisis, muttering a very concerning monologue to himself.

“Ohhh, great, great, this is just like one of those cursed romance routes where the MC turns out to be some kind of secret OP chosen one and the weak nerdy love interest is completely outclassed—OH WAIT, THAT’S ME!!”

“Idia—”

“Like, you’re literally the descendant of the most brokenly overpowered himbo in Greek mythology! D-does that mean you also have god-tier strength?! Are you secretly bench-pressing me every time we hug?! WAIT—h-have I ever said anything bad about Hercules before?! OH NO, DID I ACCIDENTALLY TRASH TALK YOUR ANCESTOR IN A GAME?!”

You sighed, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Idia.”

He flinched. “D-don’t hit me, please! I don’t wanna get punted into orbit!!”

You deadpanned. “I’m not that strong.”

“Yeah, yeah, that’s what you say—but next thing I know, you’re single-handedly throwing a Cerberus across a battlefield like some kind of action movie protag!”

At this point, Idia had curled up in a dramatic ball, shaking like a frazzled NPC who had just aggro’d the final boss by accident. His hair flared up in stressed-out little sparks, and his eyes darted between you and the exit like he was debating whether or not to make a full-speed getaway.

“… Idia,” you sighed, kneeling in front of him. “I don’t care that you’re not some super strong warrior. You know that, right?”

He hesitated, his golden eyes flickering with doubt. “Y-you don’t?”

You gave him a fond smile. “Of course not. I mean, sure, my ancestor was pretty strong, but that doesn’t mean I care about all that legendary hero stuff. You’re the one I like.”

His expression wavered, caught somewhere between disbelief and hope.

“… Me?” he mumbled.

“Yes, you,” you said, tapping a finger against his forehead. “The guy who can hack into anything, the guy who builds the most insane tech, the guy who somehow beat that boss fight with 1 HP left and refused to let me quit until he avenged me.”

Idia’s hair flared a little pink at the memory. “T-that was just—! I mean—!! UGH.” He groaned, covering his face with his hands.

You chuckled, leaning in. “And, might I add, the guy who looks really cute when he panics.”

A strangled squeak left his mouth, and suddenly, his entire head of fire was a brilliant neon pink.

“O-overheat detected! System compromised!! Aaaaahhhh!!”

You burst into laughter as he absolutely imploded, his entire body curling inward like a dying star. It was honestly kind of adorable how flustered he got—especially when you reminded him that, hero’s bloodline or not, he was still your favorite person in the world.

Maybe you weren’t the legendary hero that people wrote myths about. Maybe you weren’t destined for some grand, godly fate.

But one thing was certain:

Even if you were a descendant of the mighty Hercules—Idia Shroud was the only person you’d ever want as your player two.

Malleus Draconia

Malleus was not one to be surprised often.

For centuries, he had existed as a being of immense power, feared by many and revered by few. The world rarely held any mysteries for him—he had seen the rise and fall of kingdoms, walked among mortals and fae alike, and held conversations with spirits older than time itself.

And yet…

When you, his beloved, softly confessed to him beneath the glow of a full moon that you were a descendant of Princess Aurora, the fabled Sleeping Beauty—

He stilled.

For a moment, the usual ever-present hum of his magic, the quiet whisper of the wind, and even the distant chirping of the nocturnal creatures all ceased.

You felt a strange shiver crawl up your spine as Malleus gazed at you, his emerald eyes darkening, an unreadable emotion swimming beneath their depths. His lips parted slightly, as if about to speak, yet no words left them.

“… Malleus?” you whispered, almost hesitantly.

His claws twitched at his sides. Slowly, deliberately, he stepped closer, his tall, regal figure casting an elongated shadow over the grass as he loomed before you.

Then—his voice, deep and almost dangerously soft:

“My beloved… are you certain of this?”

You swallowed, nodding. “Yes. My family recently traced our lineage, and it turns out Aurora was our ancestor.” You gave a small, nervous chuckle. “Crazy, right?”

Malleus did not return your laughter. Instead, his expression remained unreadable, his piercing gaze locked onto you in a way that made your heart stutter.

Then, he exhaled, long and slow, his eyes fluttering shut for the briefest moment. When he opened them again, his magic thrummed faintly around him, causing the air to shimmer slightly with an unseen force.

“… Fate is a cruel, ironic thing,” he murmured.

Your brows furrowed. “Malleus?”

He reached for you, his clawed fingers gentle as they cradled your face, his thumbs tracing slow, almost reverent circles along your skin.

“You do not understand what this means to me,” he said softly, his voice carrying the weight of centuries in its depth. “Aurora, the Sleeping Beauty… she was the princess cursed by Maleficent—the very fae whose blood runs through my veins.”

Your breath hitched.

It was true. Maleficent, the dark fairy who had cursed Aurora to a century of slumber, was his ancestor.

The ancient magic of their bloodlines had once clashed, one bringing forth the curse, the other carrying the blessing of awakening.

And now—they had converged once more… within you and him.

“… Does that bother you?” you asked hesitantly, searching his expression. “That we’re… connected this way?”

Malleus let out a deep, quiet chuckle. “Bother me? No… Not in the way you fear.”

His thumb brushed along your lower lip, his eyes gleaming with something old and possessive.

“If anything… it only solidifies the idea that you and I were always meant to meet.”

You felt your heartbeat quicken.

He leaned in, so close that his cool breath ghosted across your skin, his long lashes casting delicate shadows over his high cheekbones.

“Do you realize,” he murmured, “what your existence means to someone like me?”

You blinked up at him, utterly entranced by the way his voice wrapped around you like an enchantment. “What… do you mean?”

Malleus let out a low hum, his lips curving into a small, knowing smile.

“All my life, I have been cast as the villain,” he said simply. “A creature of darkness… a being to be feared. Even now, many tremble at the mere mention of my name.” His hand traced down your arm, his claws lightly grazing your skin in an almost reverent touch.

“But you… You, my beloved, are a descendant of the very princess I was once meant to stand against. And yet—here you are, standing beside me. Loving me. Choosing me.”

His voice dropped to a whisper.

“… Tell me, does that not feel like destiny?”

Your breath caught.

There was something dangerous and intoxicating in the way he spoke—as if you had been ensnared in the most beautiful, inescapable spell.

And yet, you felt no fear.

Because deep down, you knew Malleus was not a villain.

He was yours.

You reached up, cupping his cheek in your hands, tracing the sharp angles of his features with your fingertips. His skin was cool, like moonlight, yet it burned under your touch.

“If this is fate,” you whispered, “then I have no regrets.”

Malleus let out a deep, satisfied hum. His other arm wrapped around your waist, pulling you closer into his embrace.

“Then allow me to make you a promise,” he murmured, his lips ghosting against your forehead.

“No curse, no fate, and no force in this world will ever separate you from me.”

His voice was low, dark, and absolute—not a mere vow, but a declaration.

Because Malleus Draconia had waited centuries to find a love like this.

And now that he had you, his beloved descendant of Sleeping Beauty—

Nothing in this world or the next would take you away from him.

[kalims]

⭒ㅤwith a disney princess

premise. surely there's been a mistake, cause there's no way someone out of place like you ended up at nrc, right? (spoiler alert: months later and they will fight whoever might drag you to rsa)

featuring. dorm leaders (from diasomnia to heartslabyul)

content. at best this might imply a female reader, given they're based of a 'princess' but I tried to take the gender vague and focused mainly on the qualities of them! mc has hair in the rapunzel part lol

note. no beta we die lol. I worked on this by group so i honestly don't remember if I accidentally gendered mc. I absolutely love idias part lmaoooo

malleus (aurora)

ooh intimidating x soft couple.

you look way out of place in somewhere like nrc of all places, given your mother is the infamous sleeping beauty (infamous, in the college’s standards that is.) your kindness is easily taken advantage of, even if you do realize it there is always forgiveness spared for the undeserving.

said kindness was extended to the quiet malleus.

surprise no surprise. he’s impeccably drawn to the sparkling aura you seem to exclude. malleus feels as though there are traces of familiar magic always hovering around you, like its embowed into your very being. a blessing would be a better word for it.

well, he’s just curious but if he were to ever ask he’d be met with the confirmation that you were, indeed blessed by the same three fairies your mother was blessed by (minus the curse… ironically he’s quite similar to the same lady that your mother loved and looked up to.)

he’s just fascinated. something as glittery as you, shiny like gold would’ve been whisked away to his nice tower, homey. he’d tell you. almost as if making its image seem heavenly. (lowkey highkey getting your consent for kidnapping)

animals always seem to flock around you everywhere you go, they sneak around to reach you. in your dorm, during lunch, even in class. there’s either a bird on your shoulder or a squirrel making itself comfortable atop your head. its a curious sight, critters don’t really like him much.

in short they run away, humans or animals alike are both afraid of his presence it seems.

so he’s incredibly still when you nudge an adorably round bird in his palm, peering at it with cautious eyes. tense as a statue lest it flies away.

cue staring contest.

he felt incredibly accomplished that day, and immersed him in the role of making this creature like him. leaving seeds, offering it the most sought off food from the valley, literally conjuring a small home for it. everything.

HE’S SO HAPPY.

malleus often asks of you to sing, perhaps its the blessing talking but its the most unique form of sound he’d ever heard in his life, the more he sings the more he wants to imbue his very being with the loveliness of your song.

always following you around like a lost puppy (lizard?) any evil that actually wants to take advantage of your unfortunate naive desire for peace and kindness is scared away. although malleus would never want your interactions to be reduced entirely because of him, he only starts looking like a demon one he figures out their motive is less than fitting for you.

“yeah, the ingredients were to complicated for me to remember—”

“oh! perhaps i can help you?”

spots the demon behind you (just your lovely giant staring them to their grave.)

“you know what i actually got it— sorry for wasting your time.” you watch them, confused as they dip.

you look to him, as though to ask what just happened but he merely casts you an oblivious glance and shrugs.

favorite past time → coddling you in his dragon form.

he was doubtful whether he should pull through in actually showing it to you, since you were already such an angel towards him. would it be a stretch if he let a selfish desire get in the way? perhaps you’d get scared if you see how large he is there—or if he’s—

idia (rapunzel)

okay that amazed smile on you was totally worth it.

wow your hair is fire.

he should have never made a comment about it in the first place because now you’re completely confused about his reference, were you living in like… in isolation? a cave? you’re a little less worse than the scarabia’s dorm leader when it comes to being oblivious.

just two idiots miscommunicating, he atleast is trying to make an effort to explain that he doesn’t mean it literally but his wording is so bad that you get absolutely nothing from what he is trying to infer.

okay your hair though.

“why is that person stuck in that square!?”

good thing ortho was near cause you almost charged towards a television and judging by the, pan!? in your grip you definitely would have smashed the screen trying to be righteous and rescue the character.

okay then. 1. don’t let you near electronics, specifically when its playing something.

you are a literal danger to his society. shivers

you’re always asking something like “what are those glowing balls on the ceiling?” those are lights… “why is that thing speaking?!” that’s a speaker… “why is it on fire?” oh that’s his hair, he doesn’t really know either it was just like that.

it does feel a little nice to get asked like that and he’d know the answer (its literally the most common knowledge ever but whtv)

EPIC! idia is now trying to figure out how resistant your hair is. its literally like, the most OP shield there is!

at first he had some reservations. like, used a knife once and was flabbergasted when it came back in half. your hair didn’t even move an inch. then he got motivated and tried a sharper sword, longer, and larger of course. he let ortho handle it cause he probably would have stabbed himself.

“wtf.”

flinches cause the half of the sharp end came completely off and stabbed right beside his head onto the wall.

what are the limits of it?! had some doubts before using one of the tech he came up with, it could literally cut through a diamond and he isn’t sure if its entirely safe but you’re all for it cause you were always curious whether your hair could even get cut in the first place.

anyway you’re way too happy to be near a lazer that could obliterate you and its kinda infecting him. yikes.

less than happy cause the lazer literally got reflected by your hair and hit itself so it’s just gone.

on the bright side he can use you as a scapegoat (in a good way)

alright. 2. don’t enrage you unless he wants to experience getting hit by a pan really hard.

wow. he felt that for days.

maybe its the hit or he’s just feeling a little woozy whenever you’re around.

definitely the pan.

vil (mulan)

bold x shy couple

pretty x pretty defender

he’s used to people heeding his suggestions but damn, are you a stubborn one.

not only have you not listened to his propositions for becoming a more refined person (cause the way you held yourself was too.. much for him to ignore, and it bothered him for a long time until he decided to help you.) but he can respect you, he supposes. not a lot of people can stay true to themselves.

it seems like epel, the boy himself has taking a liking to you. no wonder he’s been becoming more rebellious lately.

vil would never stoop so low to purposely direct someone advice that would change their entire self, decimate their unique traits. but all he told you was out of the goodness of his heart, if you’d be less clumsy of your ways your reputation would be better for the long run.

not being respected amongst nrc is never a good thing.

still, you’re still headstrong. never too overconfident, nor cocky. just a humble soul, that’s rare so he tends to stick by you if he ever wanted an honest opinion cause people just tell him what he wants to nowadays. vil never enjoyed the biased remarks.

more often than not he enjoys making your already pretty face, prettier than it is.

finds out you’re no bark and all bite, he never even knew you could take down someone who has an advantage over you in physical terms. come on, its savanaclaw. apparently the guy had spared him an unsavory comment and (apparently, in your defense. only told him a few words, got attacked so it was self defense.)

it came a surprise to him. seeing as you’re generally relaxed in nature, your military prowess a mystery to most since you seemed content with resorting matters with peace. though you seem to lack more restraint when it comes to your close relationships.

vil scolding you in the infirmary (you don’t have a scratch, and the guy whose pride you handed back to is in some corner lamenting cause he can hear you guys.) and you just taking it.

contrary to how you first treated to each other. you seem to be more prone to his opinions, or suggestions the more you progress with each other. he admits maybe he was too outright in his manner of speaking the first time, but it only highlights the change you’d gone through with each other.

you’re the perfect doll, in a way. not in a demeaning way or anything but its so satisfying to him to use products on your face just for the sole reason that you sit so still. his absolute favorite past time is skin care together even if you mostly just follow his lead.

you and epel must be kindred spirits, once he was on his way to retire to the indoors of pomefiore. seeing as it started raining, heavy so it meant it would stay for a while. and then paused when he spotted you both sharing words.

and planting apple seeds in the rain? both of you are stained with the rain, some dirt and mud alike. and vil had never looked so mortified. so just cause you don’t protest when he cares for you doesn’t mean you’re bothered by getting dirty he guesses.

“you both… clean yourselves up, i’ll brew medicine lest you fall under the weather.” ← disappointed sigh.

kalim (jasmine)

ended up waiting for you both to finish under the covers and ushered you both to baths.

you have a tiger!

just living char x their absolute biggest stan

wow you have a tiger.

did he mention you have a tiger?

majority of nrc knows not to mess with you haha, if it’s not obvious already with the seemingly lax tiger that behaves like some sort of overgrown cat following you around and growls at someone when you aren’t looking.

then you always raise a brow at the people who tell you otherwise. “bab doesn’t bite.”

kalim is lowkey highkey their biggest fan, i mean. jamil is having the worst year of his life dragging kalim away wherever you seem to be because the first apparent instinct of the boy is to try to pet the tiger cause it’s ‘cute’.

at some point jamil had to investigate your routine throughout the day, what you do, where you go at specific times like after classes conclude to make sure kalim doesn’t cross path with you.

well, not necessarily you but rather your… tiger. which is hard, honestly. you seem to visit scarabia a lot for a reason unknown. jamil would be suspicious you’d be planning something but all you really do is stay out on the balcony with your companion.

but alas, fate would have it otherwise.

“hi,” kalim blurts before he could remember his friend’s warning. you turn, along with your… also friend who watches him closely. you blurt out a greeting back, seeing as it’s courtesy, you seem to be amused at his fascinated eyes staring at your tiger.

“want a pet?” you offer, bab making sounds of protest.

jamil almost had a heart attack seeing the two of you attached by the hip, only calming down a few weeks later. seeing as your companion wouldn’t pose as much danger as he assumed, seeing as the tiger’s protectiveness started extending to the ray of sunshine.

rich couple ig. everyone overhears your conversations and doubles over. “i had a small statue of gold made for bab, for you.” and then a; “oh, thanks. but we already have a lot at home. hmm…”

actually it’s not really the manner of being attached, more like two following you. kalim, and then your cutie pie tiger.

your reserved nature in particular greatly contrasts kalim, yapper x listener i guess. although the object of his interest was initially because of bab, he might as well be another overgrown cat of yours cause he seems to love touch.

its concerning cause bab themselves felt challenged for your affection and when they spotted kalim’s head nestled on your lap they ‘accidentally’ kick him off.

in a way you seemed untouchable, pet included. you don’t seem to mind kalim much, people might even go as far as to say you enjoy his company. occasionally the vice of his dorm as well, the three of you have this sort of aura that screams ‘don’t approach’

said aura is in the form of a very big cat.

azul (ariel)

one time you admitted to having not much friends and three heads turned towards you. face twisted incredulously.

he doesn’t know why but you looked like you went through ten stages of grief (3 more cause the 7 definitely wasn’t enough.) when you took a glance at him, during the time you were looking around, you almost went past him, actually. but then doubled back immediately.

that’s concerning.

morally suspicious (devil in disguise) x angel

azul often asks your opinions out of habit, he himself isn’t even sure when it started but he considers you a factor in decisions. though he does prefer to keep you out certain… endeavors of his away entirely, no need to concern your innocence in his doings.

as such he often uses the twins to steer you away from trouble cause you seem to have no sense for it whatsoever, whenever there’s a fight brewing instead of walking off you stride closer. curious to whatever was happening.

and, you believe too easily apparently.

jade had held you by your shoulders and directed you away from the fight before the dispute reached you and inevitably dragged you in. “why are they fighting?”

he replied. “ah, well. they inhaled an unpleasant shroom and got affected.” your mortified face spoke you believed him. human culture! you thought.

your brain should be inspected honestly. floyd told him all about the pile of stuff you had “found” in your dorm, ranging from innocent collectibles to items that brought the question of whether or not they were really yours but you didn’t really claim otherwise, just that you found em’ so no more questioning.

azul doesn’t even wanna know why you started staring at mushrooms like they were a mortal enemy of all living forms. speaking of, the three of them didn’t even consider that you could be from the sea as well. seeing as, well. you have two feet, even if they have the same.

besides the fact you’re too clumsy for your own good you sure had no fear when you leapt overboard during a field trip cause a trinket that caught your eye fell and gave the entirety of the attendants a heart attack. floyd had patted him on the back and wishes him condolences.

also the shock of the century when you emerged, pretty tail and all. holding it the trinket up like you just found it the most fascinating thing on the globe.

since then underwater dates were a thing. which took a lot of prompting honestly, you didn’t know he was a merman either, curiously asking him what kind he was. in nature, you were persistent. like a need to sate your questions so he eventually relented.

even then, it took a while before he let you see the form. ← to his fluster you seemed engrossed in this form of his. swimming around him and asking questions.

now azul also have a small pile of items hidden in a box beneath his bed, all from you. which, upon being opened would be mistaken for unused items since its literally random stuff, and a concerning favor towards forks.

oh yeah. sometimes the tweels crash your date.

you could be in his office, going about your business. chilling on his couch and playing with one of your treasures and be completely unaware of the ominous discussion ongoing within the three about anemones? contracts?

“what are you guys talking about?”

“hairstyles for azul.”

“what—”

“ooh. i can brush his hair so you can style it!” pulls out a fork.

leona (belle)

“oh my sevens, WAIT—”

i was having a crisis trying to think of a dynamic so why not just, beauty x beast.

leona is less than pleased to admit he doesn’t like you much. or atleast, he used to. it was clear his feelings of you was reciprocated, based on the uninterested side glances you cast him. your type, well liked, pristine, proper, and informed reminds him all to well of what mold he was forced into. though it never really fit.

you on the other hand, just dislike him in general. more pointedly as to how he acted, too self righteous in your opinion. he sure spends a lot of time moping about how he could have been king when he’s acting like he’d be a terrible one. you’d say it to his face but even you aren’t too crude.

if you’re both looking at the bright side though, you’d probably prefer each other’s company above others. you’re quiet, perfect for napping around. he’s surprisingly true to himself, his morals aren’t too bad either.

as such, to your disdain he now naps in the library. which you had titled your own space, but he didn’t really just care.

relatively you’re a lot more cool headed than he is, you told him concerns about his laziness which he weaved through. after opening up with each other… well you know how it goes.

okay, fine. you no longer berate leona for napping at the public space, quickly shut up when he threatened you. “i’m gonna tell you the real reason ‘m here nowadays if you don’t calm down. and it ain’t the peace i’m here for.” he eyes you, and you shut up after that.

leona doesn’t know if he should be amused or annoyed at the fact that you stand up to whatever he says. ‘that’s rude,’ this. ‘are you out of your mind?’ that. at some point where he doesn’t wanna admit, leona had disliked seeing you upset (particularly towards him) that he started listening.

at others is a different story though. he will gladly watch you shut down someone else.

sometimes he makes weird remarks, like. “throw an egg at them, who knows might hatch into a chick and give them the company they’ve been lacking.” ← just bullies random people while you defend them. “what? don’t be stupid, eggs that are sold don’t hatch into chicks.”

you often lament in his arms, regretting ever coming near his sleeping frame cause next thing you know you’re subjected to prison, and you had accidentally dropped the book you were reading so even if you try to reach for it he’s pulling you back.

will reach for it if you ask tho lol.

just one look from you has him suddenly behaved tbh.

bothers your productive time by crashing it with his opposite word of productive idk im to lazy to check. more often than not tramples over your things, but always looks dead to life when you end up scolding him heavily.

also kicks out the animals that gravitate towards you for some reason, got jealous of a bird nestled in your hair once cause apparently you paid too much attention to it.

apparently told ruggie to fetch books for you when you’re running out, at that point you might actually milk the nrc library with how fast you burn through them.

“you’re not even from here, what do—”

“actually. originally from times before, they—”

riddle (cinderella)

got lectured about history, eugh.

easy to fluster x enthusiastic and sweet

how are you so nice.

you’ve got most of the population of nrc enamored with your natural charm alone, though some do tend to mock you. unfortunately they aren’t wrong, you really do fit in more at a different school like rsa with your personality.

i mean you fit the bill, kind, pretty, talks to animals.

good for you though. cause riddle would prefer a behaved student than a troublesome one anyway so he would definitely dig you lmao.

speaking of. he definitely goes to you whenever the hedgehogs are lost in the maze, or the flamingos just don't wanna step out the farther spot from the pond, somehow they love you in whatever you do.

as in, you spoke to the hedgehogs with a lower tone. almost like a coo, and he almost tells you to stop because that's the universal worse tone to talk to hedgehogs until... it nuzzles into you?!

flabbergasted, he can only watch.

sevens... you're just so pleasant to be around he could die.

at some point it felt like you were the epitome of being kind. riddle understand that the virtue was just embedded into you, letting others berate you for whatever... he even thought you were too kind for a place like nrc where the complete opposite traits are admired.

you are, but only to those who deserve it. riddle had the pleasure to spot you nitpicking a crude student and they looked like they were gonna burst into tears.

so... you knew what to say almost always. when troubled, he'd learn that it's best to talk to you cause you'd know what to say to ease his worries, when you're treated wrongly? sevens.. you also know what to say.

but, in a putting whoever in their place way?

(idk man I'm just rambling at this point lmao idk how to write a cinderella reader.)

riddle has grown accustomed to random critters breaking in the door. well, he was used to animals in the first place. or atleast thought he was when he opened a door in the dorm and almost yelled at the sight of a group of mice looking like they were having conspiracies.

a few weeks after that he knocked on doors before opening them.

was also very disturbed when you announced they were your friends.

I don't know. I feel like he'd lowkey be the type to write your name in a heart on the back of his notebook and straighten his face like: 'what in the world am I doing' but not erasing it anyways.

over time, your little 'friends' got used to him, and vice versa. at the very least he isn't screaming at their sudden visits, be it flying through the window or just popping out of something they climbed on.

who's screaming though are his dorm members, and he's found humors in the encounters.

"ah, thank you, myrcella." he nods gingerly, toward the very tiny white mice who seems to twirl around, touched by the thanks. the little thing was nice enough to carry the pen he'd been using to scribble down the main definitions he'd been copying from the textbook.

in the middle of reaching for a glass of water the door opens, riddle watches one of his residents striding in rambling. probably about to be exposed to the sight of a group of mice sleeping on top of each other atop a cushion he'd personally placed for them.

and maybe the birds. whom seemed comfortable by his small collection of plants.

"dorm leader, octavinelle stude—GAHHHH—"

[nikibogwater]

Actually while I'm thinking about it, I just wanna say that the more live-action remakes Disney shlups out like shoveled manure, the more amazed I am that Cinderella (2015) exists. It breaks literally every standard of Disney's LA remakes.

It's not a shot-for-shot remake of the original 1950 animated film, though it does include small references and homages to it, but only when such things can be incorporated organically into the story.

The creators understood and respected the cross-cultural significance of the Cinderella story. They didn't want to "fix" it, or add some wacky twist to it, they just wanted to make the best possible version of the Quintessential Cinderella that they could.

Everything that could be done practically was done practically. The carriage was a real, the horses pulling it were real, and all of the other animals (with the exception of the mice and lizards, since their performance was a lot more involved than the others') were real living animals, the lizard footman and goose carriage driver were wearing prosthetics instead of just having their animal features added in post, the Fairy Godmother's dress had little LED lights sewn into it so that it would actually glow for real, the ballroom set was built by hand and included real chandeliers with more than 2000 total candles that were all actually lit for the scene, and I could go on but you get the point.

There's a ton of attention paid to little details that make the world feel real and lived in. Ella's shoes are always a little scuffed and dirty. Her farm dress is faded and wrinkled. When she breaks down and runs away to the woods, she rides her horse bareback (which, once again, was a thing Lily James actually did, no stunt-double or editing in post), because not only is that something a country girl like her would know how to do, but it also makes sense that with as upset as she is, she wouldn't want to waste time with saddling the horse. When she's dancing with the prince, it's visually obvious that he is leading her and giving her cues because of course Ella wouldn't know the latest ballroom dances, and would need him to guide her through it.

Hey speaking of dancing, y'know what else this movie does that no other LA remake has been allowed to do (at least not to this extent)? ROMANCE. Land sakes alive, this is one of the most unabashedly and yet still tastefully romantic movies I've ever seen. Ella and Kit are just oozing romantic chemistry from the moment they lock eyes for the first time. It all comes down to the fact that these two characters both have the same core values of courage and kindness, which makes their admiration for each other feel grounded and believable. Richard Madden also really sells Kit's feelings for Ella with the way his eyes go all big and soft whenever he looks at her. And don't even get me started on Lily's performance as Ella. Her quiet awe that someone as powerful as the prince loves her. The timidity and fear that she's not really worthy of that. The selfless determination to protect him from her family's cruelty, even if it means she'll never see him again, I'm just-- *banging my fist against the table and screaming into a pillow*

Absolutely god-tier costume design. No notes, I think Sandy Powell's work speaks for itself. Btw, in case you were somehow still wondering, yes, Ella's ballgown is fully practical--those layers upon layers of dreamy silk skirts are real. CG was only used to brighten up the blue color to make her stand out from the crowd more.

Wicked stepmother was allowed to actually be wicked. The movie never tries to make you sympathize with Lady Tremaine, or shift the blame off to someone else. And her villainy is given an extra layer of depth with the reveal that she is a dark reflection of Ella. They've both lost people they loved, but where Ella refused to let her grief get in the way of kindness, Lady Tremaine became utterly consumed by it. She views the death of her first husband as a sort of twisted justification for pursuing all her worst impulses. She despises Ella for her ability to flourish even while enduring terrible suffering, for being everything Lady Tremaine was either unable or flat-out refused to be.

Also Cate Blanchet absolutely SLAYS in this role. Hands-down my favorite portrayal of the wicked stepmother character.

Anyways, TLDR: Cinderella (2015) is the only Disney live-action remake that can justify its own existence and that's because it actively defies everything the LA remakes are today.

[artist-issues]

I Hate How She Talks About Snow White

"People are making these jokes about ours being the PC Snow White, where it's like, yeah, it is − because it needed that. It's an 85-year-old cartoon, and our version is a refreshing story about a young woman who has a function beyond 'Someday My Prince Will Come. "

Let me tell you a little something's about that "85-year-old cartoon," miss Zegler.

It was the first-ever cel-animated feature-length full-color film. Ever. Ever. EVER. I'm worried that you're not hearing me. This movie was Disney inventing the modern animated film. Spirited Away, Into the Spider-Verse, Tangled, you don't get to have any of these without Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937.)

Speaking of what you wouldn't get without this movie, it includes anime as a genre. Not just in technique (because again, nobody animated more than shorts before this movie) but in style and story. Anime, as it is now, wouldn't exist without Osamu Tezuka, "The God of Manga," who wouldn't have pioneered anime storytelling in the 1940s without having watched and learned from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in the 1930s. No "weeb" culture, no Princess Mononoke, no DragonBall Z, no My Hero Academia, no Demonslayer, and no Naruto without this "85-year-old cartoon."

It was praised, not just for its technical marvels, not just for its synchronized craft of sound and action, but primarily and enduringly because people felt like the characters were real. They felt more like they were watching something true to life than they did watching silent, live-action films with real actors and actresses. They couldn't believe that an animated character could make kids wet their pants as she flees, frightened, through the forest, or grown adults cry with grieving Dwarves. Consistently.

Walt Disney Studios was built on this movie. No no; you're not understanding me. Literally, the studio in Burbank, out of which has come legends of this craft of animated filmmaking, was literally built on the incredible, odds-defying, record-breaking profits of just Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, specifically.

Speaking of record-breaking profits, this movie is the highest-grossing animated film in history. Still. TO THIS DAY. And it was made during the Great Depression.

In fact, it made four times as much money than any other film, in any other genre, released during that time period. It was actually THE highest-grossing film of all time, in any genre, until nothing less than Gone With the Wind, herself, came along to take the throne.

It was the first-ever animated movie to be selected for the National Film Registry. Actually, it was one of the first movies, period, to ever go into the registry at all. You know what else is in the NFR? The original West Side Story, the remake of which is responsible for Rachel Ziegler's widespread fame.

Walt Disney sacrificed for this movie to be invented. Literally, he took out a mortgage on his house and screened the movie to banks for loans to finish paying for it, because everyone from the media to his own wife and brother told him he was crazy to make this movie. And you want to tell me it's just an 85-year-old cartoon that needs the most meaningless of updates, with your tender 8 years in the business?

Speaking of sacrifice, this movie employed over 750 people, and they worked immeasurable hours of overtime, and invented--literally invented--so many new techniques that are still used in filmmaking today, that Walt Disney, in a move that NO OTHER STUDIO IN HOLLYWOOD was doing in the 30's, put this in the opening credits: "My sincere appreciation to the members of my staff whose loyalty and creative endeavor made possible this production." Not the end credits, like movies love to do today as a virtue-signal. The opening credits.

It's legacy endures. Your little "85-year-old cartoon" sold more than 1 million DVD copies upon re-release. Just on its first day. The Beatles quoted Snow White in one of their songs. Legacy directors call it "the greatest film ever made." Everything from Rolling Stones to the American Film Institute call this move one of the most influential masterpieces of our culture. This movie doesn't need anything from anybody. This movie is a cultural juggernaut for America. It's a staple in the art of filmmaking--and art, in general. It is the foundation of the Walt Disney Company, of modern children's media in the West, and of modern adaptations of classical fairy tales in the West. When you think only in the base, low, mean terms of "race" and "progressivism" you start taking things that are actually worlds-away from being in your league to judge, and you relegate them to silly ignorant phrases like "85-year-old cartoon" to explain why what you're doing is somehow better.

Sit down and be humble. Who the heck are you?

[viaviavie]

SEEKING DREAMLIGHT | INTERLUDE 1

in which you return to twisted wonderland. welcome back home to the ramshackle dorm, or at least, what became of it in your absence. it certainly welcomes you back. the ghosts have never forgotten that young student that took so much care of this place. its current inhabitants swear you are one of those ghosts, and you are in a way. do not fret alice, wonderland has not truly forgotten you.

SUMMARY: based on disney’s dreamlight valley. years after the ramshackle prefect had left twisted wonderland, former students suddenly find themselves back in night raven college with missing memories and dreams of a magicless student they were supposed to know. an older prefect finally makes a return to a shell of the fantasy you once lived, falling in love once more with what was forgotten.

FEATURING: skully j. graves, ace trappola, deuce spade

NOTES: there actually wasn't going to be an interlude, but if i added heartlsabyul onto here, the pacing doesn't taste well.

[ INDEX ] [ PREVIOUS ] [ NEXT ]

The very moment your feet takes a step outside the Room of Mirrors, this twisted world threatens to steal your breath for good. Heavy as Grim was, nothing could ever compared to how low your heart sank as you see nothing but thorns upon thorns. Much to your relief, it was nothing like shadows that a certain horned housewarden casted over the island. This was something different.

There was no overlooking sense of death this time. Rather, there is only melancholy and emptiness, akin to the exploration of a lost ruin. Vines had overgrown past the concrete and construction, almost swallowing every building hole in its wake. As you walk past the stone pathway, you could only hold your breath as you glance at the Great Seven.

Once polished and prim, now obscured with moss and rust.

Still, you carry on as the direbeast purrs against your neck. It almost astounds you how calm Grim has become. Memories of that hotheaded cat-like beast still runs fresh through your mind, and this is that very same beast on your shoulders. You wonder if he carries the same longing and sadness as you. Grim is a bigger now, more beast-like than feline if anything. Even so, he controls the fire burning from his ears, warming you lovingly as he had so long ago.

And you stare at what remains of the Ramshackle Dorm, seemingly unchanged compared to the rest of this world.

"You actually remember the way home, Henchman." Grim murmured, slitted eyes fixated on the old wooden door. It surprises you to see it untouched by any thorns. The building just looks the same as it did in your faint memories, from its pathway to the creaky window of the bedroom you once lived in.

Welcome home, voices whisper and you don't miss the slight luminescent figures hiding in the chandelier.

You don't expect the door to open itself without resistance, and you don't question it. With furrowed brows, you press your cheek against the grey fur. "Dumb and Dumber, are they here?" You whisper, quietly shutting the entrance behind you. It is dark, save for the sunlight that had filtered its way in through dusty windows.

This wasn't right, you think to yourself as your hand brushes against a dusty side table. The old run-down Ramshackle Dorm, truly befitting of the name. Except, the last time you saw it, it appeared so brand new and taken care of.

You put an end to the thought, feeling a slight pang from your temples the more you forced yourself to remember.

Grim huffed, finally jumping off your shoulder and landing onto a nearby platform. "Somewhere. They're always here somewhere." You narrow your eyes as you follow the direbeast up the rickety stairway. Dumb and Dumber, who could they possibly be? You don't register the way your bottom lip is caught between your teeth, struggling to recall a memory. Once at the top of the stairs, your hand tightly grips the railing as you force yourself forward.

Grim pauses, turning around to look at you with worry. "Henchman? What's wrong?"

You don't remember a thing at all. Something was horribly wrong. You know what those two people meant to you, and yet, you cannot remember it at all. Your nails are unknowingly scraping at the wooden structure, and you crane over as fog begins to overtake your senses.

"Prefect, why?!"

A cry is torn from your throat as you felt a heavy weight knock you onto the floor. Grim scampers onto your torso, baring his teeth towards a shadow creeping up the stairs. "Henchman, get back!" He screeches, and you do not take a moment to rest when you clambered onto the balcony railing. Your eyes are trained onto the stairway as a inky blotted shadow slowly approaches.

Blue flames breath out of Grim's jaws as he growls at the abomination, and you could only stare in awe at the large flames he can spit out. You recall how small those fire orbs were in the past, but now, they can even compare to a true mage's spell.

Alas, the blot does not respond even as it takes damage. It continues to crawl, ignoring the direbeast and only moving closer and closer to you. A hand-like figure is outstretched towards you, and you swear that you can hear it screaming your name.

That was all that took to make you run. Grim is hot on your trail as you make a sprint down the hallway. It is all slowly coming back to you, these halls that you once lived in. The shadow continues to wail, but it lacks the speed to truly catch you. Floors whine and creak with each step you take, and it ceases when you reach a dead end.

All that is left to you is a rusted book resting on a table top and a vase. None of these rooms will not help you, only delay the inevitable. Grim lowers himself onto the floor, ready to pounce onto that blotted monster that had now resorted to pulling itself on the carpet.

"PREFECT."

You choke back a scream of your own as your hand impulsively latched onto the book, throwing it onto the blot to no avail. The book only phases through the monster, and your back is now pressed against the corner. Grim yells at you, but you cannot register his words anymore. Instead, your breath is held in your chest as you squeeze your eyes shut, hoping to wake up from this horrid nightmare.

—but the light that glimmered behind the shadow forces your eyes open, followed by a long gloved hand smiting through the monster. It wails, melting into an unrecognizable shape until it is cut in half once more. Your knees buckle as Grim shields you, nails buried onto the rough fabric of the carpet as the blotted monster is reduced to nothing.

In its place was a man with long legs, donned in a suit that never seems to meet its end. Perhaps if he stood at full length, the tuft of his hair could barely brush against the ceiling. His head was cast down, but you don't miss that grin that seems to be missing a tooth. He breaths out a dry laugh, brushing away the inky that seems to have splattered on his dark gloved hands.

He frightens you, and he knew it.

"Oh my! Did I scare you?" The stranger smiles, eyes obscured by the round shades that he wore. Your breath is stolen away as he takes a step forward, and Grim growls so quietly that you swear he is more lion than cat. The direbeast does not deter the long-legged man who had stretched out his hand for you to take.

Maybe it was the haze of exhaustion that suddenly took over you, or your poor judgement, but you find yourself lacing your digits onto his own, dragging your body up. The stranger grins, looking down on you as he bows slightly, pressing your knuckles against his cold chapped lips.

"Who are you?"

And the man's grin falters for a moment, only to be replaced by a content smile. He scares you, but you do not fear him.

"Skully J. Graves," He purrs, pressing his cheek against the warmth of your hand. "How I missed you, my dear."

Skully follows you like your own shadow, except he makes your true shadow appear taller than it should. You do not question his sudden attachment, nor do you address the slight discomfort you feel when he hovers over you as a lamp would while you read.

Grim is suspicious, and he had every right to be when the fellow claims to have met you in a distant past. It doesn't raise a flag for you, however, considering that you can't even recall the faces of those you promised to remember. Skully was the one who saved your life as well, and he didn't seem to have any ill intent at all.

You halt your steps as your eyes are trained onto a familiar door. You remember now as the flickers of a smaller direbeast rampaging through that door replays itself in your mind.

You do not recall ice encasing the doorknob which had been obscured with thorns. Barely brushing your fingertips over the cold substance, you hiss at the sensation.

"Can you melt the ice, Grim?" You ask, only to be replied with an upset whine. "No can do, Henchman. This doesn't look like ordinary ice." Grim's tail curls itself around your leg, tilting his nose up at the frozen doorknob. It drips, trailing from crystalline ice down into an inky puddle. "It's melting ink!" The direbeast hissed, and you shift slightly as the taller man crouched down.

Skully hummed, eyeing the obstacle with piqued curiosity. "How peculiar. The ice is infused with some sort of magic." He muttered, tilting his glasses down so his amber eyes lock onto your worried gaze. He takes a gloved hand to dip at the puddle of blot, much like a child would. "I suppose you will need someone who specializes in fire spells."

You sigh, rubbing the back of your neck. You can't imagine that Grim could melt it, and if Skully knew how to, he would have certainly done it by now. "We can come back to this later. I'm sure we can figure this out, somehow." You tell them, crossing your arms. A hand trails over your chin, and you knit your eyebrows in frustration. "But who did this?" The possibility of another person in this world is not lost to you, but the motive is clouded with mystery.

The tall man shrugged, a smile dancing across his dry lips. "I'd imagine someone didn't want that door opened." Your body does not stiffen as he dances his finger tips onto your shoulder, leaning closely into your ear like a tempting devil. "It leaves plenty to the imagination, don't you think?" Your nose crinkles, and Skully chuckles at your plight.

"What could the perpetrator possibly be hiding? A love letter? A dangerous weapon? A body?" Lips twisting into a frown, you whip your head to the side. "Skully!" You whine, all too uncomfortable with the idea of a corpse being on the other side of the door. The skeleton-like man grins, hands in the air as if he were innocent of a crime. "So many possibilities!"

You never even noticed that Grim had long departed from your side, not until you hear footsteps from the first floor.

Grim's voice is echoing and bouncing off the walls. "I'm telling you, the Prefect is here!" He cried out. "Quit your yapping! I heard you the first time!" Your eyes widened, ears registering that familiar voice. You can't even realize that your lips had suddenly curled up into a strained smile, flooded by a hazy memory of mischief. "Grim..." Blue. That voice is blue, and it sounds like clumsy yet gentle hands.

Your legs carry you to the stairway, and

"—tried using every key I could find. Even tried to pick the lock, but it wouldn't budge." Grim yowls in frustration, followed by another man's sigh. "We can try again later."

"Are you not listening to me?!"

You barely catch a glimpse of red hair, and there are two men at the bottom of the stairs. Seeing the standard Night Raven College Uniform seems so uncanny on them, not when their faces had long outgrown their youth. You know them now, and your heart finally stills.

The redhead runs a frustrated hand through his hair, turning around as the direbeast cries for attention. "Grim, look. We'll check the Prefect thing out after a nap, so calm do—" Finally, he sees you at the top of the stairs, along with your wide-eyed expression that had long wormed its way into his heart so long ago.

He looks upon you as if you came from a distant dream.

"Ace," It is your uncertain voice that catches his companion's attention. Quickly now, the dark haired man looks upwards and gasps. That dumbfounded look of his only served to coax a nervous yet warm laugh from you. "Deuce." You whisper, a hand creeping up to your mouth to conceal the way you threaten to cry on the spot.

You remember now—

"Prefect." Ace breathes out, unwilling to believe it is a ghost that called out his name.

"Prefect!" Deuce cried, relief evident in his voice as he rushes up the stairs with reckless steps.

—and so do they.

Unbeknownst to you, the key glows softly within your pocket.

TAGLIST: @jjsmeowthie @deviious @hellfirestarter @thatpersonuouknow @knorreine @nerenda @goths4gambit @ghostlysyntaxed @minkyungseokie @daeda21 @red1sg0n3 @hatsumekannazuki @driftaway27 @alienlatteinspace @michtellch @loyalkatniss

[spitdrunken]

man. still have NOT managed to get my hands on the book of bill because it's sold out literally everywhere over here, but have any of you seen the new 'how not to draw' vid on the disney youtube channel that features bill? it really got me thinking.

notes: fourth wall breaking, obsessive behaviour, unhealthy relationships, implied sexual content, implied mind control

it's heavily implied that the video takes place in a world where gravity falls is supposedly fictional, like our own. bill literally says he's going to break the fourth wall! because i'm a sucker for fourth wall breaks and characters being aware of their own fandom (to an extent), i simply just HAD to run with this scenario.

i just like the idea of 'you' being just a person, some totally, in the large scheme of things, insignificant human walking the earth. you have a tendency for escapism, perhaps. you have always been drawn to stories. you like gravity falls. maybe it was something you watched while you were younger and recently rewatched, or an interest that had never waned. regardless, bill cipher, charismatic and unapologetically evil villain that he is, is one of your favourites.

you doodle him on the edges of paper when you're supposed to be doing anything else. (regardless of anyone's artistic skills, it's not difficult to draw a triangle with a top hat and an eye, is it?) and in this world, you are hardly the only one who likes him, who, perhaps, ships himself with him, who thinks about him a lot. who makes drawings and writes or reads fic. you don't think it's all that unusual.

in a stroke of luck or, depending on how you look at it, the exact opposite, the universe's idea of a cosmic joke, you are the one to catch bill's eye. (it's, after all, much easier to infiltrate the dreams of someone who already has you on their mind. makes sense, doesn't it? a tentative, wavering link had been formed already.) there, in your dreams, he tells you what to say--triangulum, entangulum. meteforis dominus ventium. meteforis venetisarium--and the next morning, you remember it clear as a memory.

you do it. for funsies. why wouldn't you? you don't expect it to actually work. he's a fictional interdimensional demon. why would it work? but much to your surprise, and horror, because surely a screw must've gotten loose for this to be happening, one of your little doodles has life blown to it. as a response to your summon, a tiny little bill cipher darts across your paper, alive but still confined.

(you've given him an in. now, he only has to take the crack you've opened for him, dig his fingers in, and tear it open.)

oh, he'll be funny! he'll be exactly what you thought of him. perhaps he even voices a line of dialogue you swore you wrote down somewhere days prior. yes, he's read whatever you wrote or read, whatever you looked at. he's keeping it himself for now. it's not easy to inflate his ego further, but you might have succeeded. rather than a meatbag, bill first looks upon you with the eye of someone presented with a puppy. fundamentally lesser, but capable of being something with the right training.

he urges you to make a deal with him and the promise he'll act out whatever fantasy you've been cooking up in that brain of yours, even if it's gross and weird and physically impossible!

he'll warp your dimension to make all of it possible!!! it's great!!! don't worry about it!!!!!!

…you don't do it. you don't touch the paper. you've seen the show, and you aren't stupid. bill nearly balks. he'd expected you to be the easiest mark of all time, but he suppose he forgot that even puppies have teeth. that's fine. he can work with this. because even though you have not let him in yet, and you refuse to shake his hand through the paper, you don't seperate yourself from him just yet.

you could oh so easily take the piece of paper he's on and throw it in the nearest shredder. or set him on fire. in you, he recognises lingering curiosity, and the excitement at having stood out, at being chosen, in one way or another. it's not hopeless yet.

he can play a bit of a longer game, then. he's been at this for a long, long time. he'll tolerate the paper he's on being folded into a little square and tucked into your breast pocket, granting him a view of your life and the world you're living in. (all the time, his hunger grows.) your decision not to throw him away ends up being your downfall. spending so much time with bill, letting him joke around with you, complaining about your problems… it takes a while for you to realise that, for a while now, he has not been speaking out loud anymore, but instead through your mind.

a connection that cannot be cut has been formed in between two of you.

on bill's part, he had thorougly expected to be bored. but perhaps it's your genuine interest in him, not the things he's offering, which he does not often see. (he's been down this road before. won't end well. but...) the sheer mundanity of your life that makes him wish he could twist and turn it all around. or just a random alignment of the stars. the heart doesn't always follow logic. in this scenario, at some point, bill realises that he has become genuinely invested in you, too. and at that point, you'll never manage to slip away. he's already dug in his heels in your mind far enough. you had no adequate protection.

he still wants to take over your world. he still wants to escape the discomforting flatness of the paper you've summoned him in. but, perhaps, you two could share that meatsack of a body of yours, before things get that far.

[makingqueerhistory]

The Male Gazed: On Hunks, Heartthrobs, and What Pop Culture Taught Me about (Desiring) Men

Manuel Betancourt

Featuring deep dives into thirst traps, drag queens, Antonio Banderas, and telenovelas--all in the service of helping us reframe how we talk about (desiring) men--this insightful memoir-in-essays is as much a coming of age as a coming out book Manuel Betancourt has long lustfully coveted masculinity--in part because he so lacked it. As a child in Bogotá, Colombia, he grew up with the social pressure to appear strong, manly, and, ultimately, straight. And yet in the films and television he avidly watched, Betancourt saw glimmers of different possibilities. From the stars of telenovelas and the princes of Disney films to pop sensation Ricky Martin and teen heartthrobs in shows like Saved By the Bell, he continually found himself asking: Do I want him or do I want to be him? The Male Gazed grapples with the thrall of masculinity, examining its frailty and its attendant anxieties even as it focuses on its erotic potential. Masculinity, Betancourt suggests, isn't suddenly ripe for deconstruction--or even outright destruction--amid so much talk about its inherent toxicity. Looking back over decades' worth of pop culture's attempts to codify and reframe what men can be, wear, do, and desire, this book establishes that to gaze at men is still a subversive act.

(Affiliate link above)

[bullet-prooflove]

Wildflowers: Dennis Whitaker x Reader

Tagging: @kmc1989 @cosmic-psychickitty @sargeant-sad-eyes @caffeinatedwoman @hooks-martin

Companion piece to:

Peppermint - The taste of peppermint will always have a special place in Dennis’s heart.

The Morgue Thing - A miscommunication between you and Dennis almost ends things before they begin.

Written In The Stars - Your first date with Dennis takes place underneath the stars.

In The Park - Dennis reveals a secret after the two of you spend the night together in the park.

Virgin - There's a rumour going around about Dennis.

Debauched (NSFW) - Karaoke night ends a lot differently than it did the first time around.

Symphony (NSFW) - Dennis has never eaten pussy before…

Pretty Boy (NSFW) - You and Dennis take the next step in your relationship.

Permanent Marker - You find out about the betting pool.

Dennis makes beautiful flower crowns. You learn this during an afternoon spent in the park, your head resting in this lap as the two of you watch the clouds.

Time spent outdoors is integral to your mental health. You spend twelve hours a day in the mortuary sub-basement without access to a sunlight, you need to be immersed in nature at least once a week to maintain some form of balance.

Dennis does too, which is why you’re sitting amongst the wild flowers. The miniature meadow reminds him of the wilderness back home, of the days he spent foraging at his mother’s behest for flowers to make bridal bouquets for the girls in his hometown.

His fingers trail along the petals of the vibrant blue cornflowers before he plucks three of them and begins to weave the stems together. You don’t get them in Nebraska, which is a shame, he thinks because his mother would love just how stunning the colour is. He braids half an inch and then picks up a daisy for contrast, repeating the process.

It’s wonderful watching him work, his dexterous fingers creating something out of the landscape around you.

“My mom used to make flower crowns in the summer for all the weddings that took place.” He tells you, his tongue sticking out of the edge of his mouth as he focuses on the task at hand. “I used to help with the bridesmaid’s ones because the girls in our town always had an insane amount of siblings. Anything that was left over we’d use for buttonholes and centre pieces.”

“I’m surprised the two of you didn’t set up your own business.” You tell him, fascinated by the motion of his fingers. “Whitaker’s Weddings.”

He laughs as he drapes the growing ribbon of flowers across your forehead before deciding to add more flowers.

“I always did it to spend a little time with her.” He says, selecting another daisy, weaving it into his design.  “She was always so busy with the farm and corralling my brothers that there wasn’t much time for me. This was just something that we could do together, that was just for the two of us.”

He ties the two ends of the crown together, holding up his handiwork for you admire as you shift into a sitting position.

“Can I?” He asks you almost shyly, gesturing towards your hair and you nod enthusiastically before he places it gently upon your head. “Just like a summer bride back home in Nebraska.”

He takes his phone out and snaps a picture, tilting the screen to show you and you can’t help but smile. You look like a Disney princess, the blue and white petals a dazzling hue against your ebony locks.

 “You should send the picture to your mom.” You tell him, settling back into his lap.

His smile fades just a little, the ghost of his sadness lingering on his features as he picks another cornflower, using it to trail along the length of your nose.

“We’re not really talking much at the moment.” He reveals, twirling the flower back and forth between his fingertips. “She’s still heartbroken that I decided not to become a pastor after I completed the theology degree. She thought I’d settle down with the church, meet a god fearing woman, have a family by now.” He shrugs his shoulders with a sigh. “We haven’t spoken since I went home for Christmas, I don’t really know what to say to bridge the gap between us.”

“She may not either.” You say softly. “Sometimes you’ve gotta be the one to break the stalemate, to let her know you’re still thinking about her even though you’re a thousand miles apart.”

It occurs to Dennis that the distance may also be part of the problem. The people in his hometown, they live their whole lives there and his mother had clearly expected him to do the same. The fact he’s out in the world, experiencing it must terrify her because it creates the very real possibility that he may not be coming back.

Something that’s looking more and more likely the closer he gets to choosing his residency.

The intention has always been to match with an Internal Medicine Residency in Nebraska, somewhere closer to home so he could be near his family and serve his community. Now that plan is changing because he’s fallen in love not only with you but also with Emergency Medicine.

There are only 12 open spots back home in Nebraska for that speciality, in Pennsylvania there are 222.

It doesn’t take a genius to work out where his future lies.

The problem is, it’s going to break his mother’s heart, which is why he hasn’t reached out. He knows she’ll try to convince him to switch his speciality and he’s not ready for that fight just yet.  

It’s later that night that his phone rings. You’re in the shower and he’s neatly arranging the flower crown over the mirror in your bedroom so that it dries out over well enough over the next couple of weeks to be preserved. He just misses the call but they leave a voice message. He tucks the phone between his shoulder and ear as he listens to it, his heart sinking in his chest.

“Hi Denny, it’s mom. I’m just letting you know me and your Dad are going to be in Pittsburgh with the church next month. It would be great if we could catch up.”

Love Dennis? Don’t miss any of his stories by joining the taglist here.

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Like My Work? - Why Not Buy Me A Coffee

[sleepypanda01]

hm....

hmm...

hmmm...

hmmmmm......

hmmmmmmmm....🧐

Nox in the main story has been tied to the theme of trust and recently, loyalty, which if you think about it, trust and loyalty are two values that are connected to each other. Throughout the main story, it is heavily implied that Nox has been used by someone to the point he has developed trust issues that make it hard for him to be vulnerable around others and put his trust in them.

Nox has been warming up to Chase since the beach boys arc, and even in Cinderfella arc he showed subtle signs of kindness by providing guidance to Chase on how to follow the story and letting him know that fairy tale food is safe for him to consume. It is not though until the honour among thieves arc that he expresses his gratitude for the snacks and apologises to Chase for calling him underhanded all this time. Even if Nox was already forming some sort of attachment toward Chase, he still was not trusting him fully (which is understandable). Despite him sleeping in Chase's hoodie the night before returning it, that same night he went through what he thought was Chase's notebook in order to conclude whether Chase was actually trustworthy or not. It is not until the Requiem of the blood arc that he shows his trust toward Chase and it is in the same arc that he gets hurt after deciding to start opening up his heart to someone. Despite him being hurt by Chase's actions, we see that he was thinking of giving him the benefit of the doubt and he stayed with him in the damaged book until the end, showcasing his loyal nature, but even after all that, he still has not revealed his name to Chase, which could be the ultimate sign of trust that Nox can offer since it provides crucial info about him and his circumstances.

The reveal in the hiatus of his habit of putting others first and the fact that he is the protector of loyalty not only reinforce my theory that he was betrayed by someone close to him,but is also on par with his traits in the main story, where he displays his caring nature by not running away from a dangerous situation and actually staying to help someone he has come to care about, even if he is not ready to fully trust Chase yet. It is interesting though, that despite Nox's self-sacrificing tendencies and his kind and loyal nature, the first time Chase asks him to help someone else, he is confused as to why he should do that. At first, it might look like the concept of helping someone is foreign to him and can't quite grasp it,yet in that arc he had been following Chase around to make sure he is okay as if it was second nature to him. This leads me to believe that the idea of helping others might not have been confusing, but it rather was tied to a bad experience that involved helping someone out and resulting in something bad.

As I have suggested in other posts, taking his name into consideration and how unique it sounds,it is possible that someone took him in with the objective to use him later and gave him the name ''Nox'' cause he was always supposed to replace a key, unless he has forgotten his human name. However, his self-sacrificing tendencies also hint on that he might have tried to protect someone and that is how he ended up in the situation he is. What if someone else was supposed to be turned into a key and Nox took their place and got stabbed in the back by that person, leaving him alone to this fate? I am gonna get repetitive, but in the official art featuring Nox, where one of the cookies is in a perfect shape while the other is broken, feels like it symbolises his broken trust caused by the betrayal he experienced, he lent a hand only to lose an arm, and his cup is empty because he sacrificed so much,that now he himself is empty, while the person who most likely betrayed him did not suffer any damage. It is clear that whatever happened to him, left a deep scar within him.

This theory about Nox kind of reminds me of Meg from the Disney movie ''Hercules''. I think their circumstances might be similar. She tried to save her lover by selling her soul to Hades only to be left behind,just like Nox could have tried to protect someone by sacrificing himself, only to be abandoned. Then Meg uses Hercules to earn her freedom, just like Nox might be using Chase by possibly stealing his narratonin to turn human again.However, Meg ended up falling in love and self-sacrificing once again, only that this time her loyalty got returned and she was saved. Nox has fallen in love too and we have seen him putting himself in danger by staying in the damaged book to help Chase, and I can see him doing something similar again in the future if it is for Chase,only this time, instead of being betrayed,his sense of loyalty and commitment will be returned because this time it is Chase.

[movingmusically]

hiii, how are you? :) I keep thinking about austin talking about how he used to go to Disneyland with his mom and how cherished those memories are so I was wondering if you could write something about austin taking his girlfriend to Disney for the first time (like, her first time but also his bc he hadn't been there since ages) and making new memories <3 thank you

Word Count: 2k

Masterlist

The Happiest Place on Earth

The morning air was crisp, the kind of rare, perfect California day where the sky stretched endlessly in a soft blue haze—warm but not stifling, with just enough of a breeze to make it comfortable. You stood at the entrance of Disneyland, fingers laced tightly with Austin’s, your excitement barely contained.

It had been years since he’d been back—not since a past relationship, long enough that the memory felt distant but not so long that the nostalgia wasn’t there. And for you? It was your first time. You’d never had the chance to go as a kid, never known the giddy anticipation of waiting in line for your favourite ride, or the magic of seeing the castle light up at night. But today, that was changing.

“You ready?” Austin asked, squeezing your hand, his blue eyes alight with something that looked an awful lot like boyish excitement.

You grinned up at him, your stomach fluttering. “More than ready.”

The moment you stepped inside, it was overwhelming in the best way. The music, the scents of churros and popcorn drifting through the air, the cheerful buzz of families and couples moving through Main Street—it was everything you’d imagined and more. But the best part was Austin.

You watched as his gaze flickered over the familiar sights, his features softening, a quiet sort of nostalgia settling into his expression. He didn’t say it outright, but you could tell—being here meant something to him.

He caught you watching and huffed a small laugh, shaking his head. “Man, this is weird.”

“In a good way?” you asked, brushing your thumb along the side of his hand.

He nodded, glancing around. “Yeah. It’s just been so long. I used to come here all the time with my mom and sister when I was homeschooled. Some days, my mom would just wake us up and say, ‘Let’s go to Disneyland,’ like it was no big deal.”

You smiled at the thought. “That sounds amazing.”

“It was,” he said, his voice a little softer now. “We’d come on random weekdays when it wasn’t too crowded. My mom would let us pick one thing each that we had to do—my sister always wanted the teacups, I wanted Pirates of the Caribbean.” His lips curved slightly. “I remember being obsessed with the ride as a kid. I used to close my eyes and pretend I was actually on a ship.”

You bit back a smile. “So you were a pirate kid?”

“Oh, one hundred percent,” he said without hesitation. “Had the little sword and everything.”

The mental image made you laugh. “I need photographic evidence.”

“You’ll have to ask my grandma,” he teased. “She probably still has a stack of pictures somewhere.”

Your heart swelled a little at the thought—his childhood memories, his grandma saving old photos, the way Disneyland still felt like a piece of home to him, even after all these years.

You leaned in, nudging his shoulder. “Then we have to go on Pirates at least twice. Make little Austin proud.”

He chuckled, but there was something tender in the way he looked at you. “You’re gonna love it.”

And you did.

You weren’t sure what was more fun—the ride itself or seeing Austin slip into full tour guide mode, pointing out little details along the way, sharing trivia he’d clearly known since childhood. He was grinning before the boat had even left the dock, and when you hit the first drop, he turned to you immediately, watching your reaction more than the ride itself.

“I can’t believe I’ve never been here,” you said breathlessly as you floated past the animatronic pirates, taking in every detail. “This is incredible.”

Austin beamed. “Told you.”

By the time you stumbled off the ride, your excitement was still buzzing through you, but Austin had something else in mind.

“Okay,” he said, his grip tightening around your hand. “I have something important to show you.”

“Another childhood favourite?” you guessed, letting him lead you through the crowds.

“More important than that,” he said, stopping abruptly in front of a cart.

Your eyes flickered over the stand’s display, and your lips parted with understanding. “Mickey ears.”

Austin nodded solemnly. “It’s a requirement.”

You laughed. “I knew this was coming.”

“I was gonna give you a choice, but now I’m thinking I should just pick for you,” he teased, eyeing the selection.

You beat him to it, grabbing a pair of classic rose gold sequined ears and settling them onto your head. “There,” you said, striking a dramatic pose. “How do I look?”

His lips twitched, eyes scanning you with exaggerated scrutiny. “Like a walking Instagram post.”

“Perfect.” You grinned, then grabbed a plain black pair and handed them to him. “Your turn.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Just classic black? Not even the Sorcerer Mickey hat? No light-up ones?”

“These suit you. Classic, understated, effortlessly cool.”

He squinted at you. “Are you describing me or the ears?”

“Both.”

Shaking his head, he took the ears and placed them on his head.

You stepped back and tilted your head, pretending to inspect him. “You know, I think they really bring out your eyes.”

He laughed, the sound rich and full, and you knew you’d remember that sound long after today.

“I have to admit,” he said, nudging you as he pulled out his phone. “We look pretty damn good.”

You leaned in as he snapped a quick selfie, one arm wrapped around your shoulder as he angled the phone. The screen reflected the two of you—his Mickey ears slightly askew, your rose gold ones glittering obnoxiously in the sunlight, matching grins on your faces. He looked at the picture and smirked. “Alright, we’ve officially reached peak Disney couple.”

“Speaking of peak Disney,” you said, slipping your hand back into his. “I believe I was promised a churro.”

Austin’s expression turned serious. “A fair request.”

You barely made it three steps before he spotted the nearest churro stand and led you straight to it. The line moved quickly, and soon, he was handing you a warm, cinnamon-dusted churro. He watched as you took your first bite, eyes scanning your face for a reaction.

You closed your eyes for effect, humming dramatically. “Oh my god. This is life-changing.”

Austin chuckled. “That good, huh?”

You nodded solemnly. “I might need three more.”

“Noted,” he said, already taking his own bite. His eyes closed briefly, and you could practically see the nostalgia washing over him.

When he opened them again, his voice had softened. “Man, I forgot how good these were.”

You swallowed your bite, nudging him lightly. “What’s your favourite memory here?”

He exhaled, eyes flicking around the park before settling back on you. “Honestly?” He paused. “Probably watching the fireworks with my mom and sister. I remember she’d hold me on her hip so I could see better, and she’d whisper stuff like, ‘Make a wish, baby.’” He smiled a little, lost in the memory. “And I always did.”

You felt something ache in your chest. “What did you wish for?”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “I don’t even remember. Probably something dumb, like unlimited ice cream.”

“Solid wish.”

“Right?” He grinned, bumping your shoulder. Then, a little softer, “I think she knew, though. That I wasn’t really wishing for things. I think she just wanted me to believe in something.”

You squeezed his hand, the moment stretching between you.

“She sounds incredible.”

“She was,” he said, his voice full but steady.

You both took a few quiet steps, the noise of the park filling the space between you. Then, in an effort to lift the mood, you bumped his hip gently.

“Okay, new tradition. We have to watch the fireworks together tonight.”

His lips curved. “Oh, is that the rule?”

“Absolutely. You have to make a wish, too.”

He considered it for a second. “Only if you do.”

You pretended to think it over, then nodded. “Deal.”

His grip on your hand tightened for just a second before he turned to you with a smile. “Come on,” he said, tugging you forward. “You’ve got a lot to experience.”

The next stop was Space Mountain. Your stomach twisted as you looked up at the sleek white dome, the distant screams of riders echoing from inside. You weren’t scared, exactly, but there was something about the unknown that made you grip Austin’s arm a little tighter.

“Don’t tell me you’re nervous,” he teased.

“Not nervous,” you lied.

He chuckled, leaning down to press a quick kiss to your temple. “You’ll love it. Trust me.”

And, of course, he was right. The rush of the ride, the sharp twists and sudden drops, the way the darkness swallowed you whole before the stars blinked around you—it was exhilarating. When you stumbled off at the end, breathless and grinning, Austin was already looking at you with a satisfied smirk.

“Told you,” he said smugly.

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t stop smiling. “Fine. You were right.”

The day blurred into a perfect whirlwind of colour and movement. Austin took the lead, guiding you from ride to ride. Thunder Mountain, Indiana Jones, the Matterhorn—each one had you laughing, screaming, gripping onto him for dear life. And each time, he held onto you just as tightly.

You screamed your way through and laughed until your stomach hurt when he dramatically recounted his childhood “trauma” from Splash Mountain’s drop.

The afternoon stretched on, a golden haze settling over the park. He bought you a Dole Whip, and you sat together in the shade, sharing spoonfuls as people bustled past.

The moment that settled deepest in your chest came when you wandered through Fantasyland. It was slower here, quieter, a step away from the high-energy thrills of the day. Austin slowed his pace, his fingers lacing more gently with yours as he glanced around.

“This was my mom’s favourite part,” he said softly. “She loved the little details. The window displays, the music. She always said this was where the magic really was.”

You squeezed his hand. “Do you miss it?”

He nodded. “Yeah. But… it’s nice being here with you. Making new memories.”

You rose onto your toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Then let’s make some more.”

And so you did. You pulled him onto the carousel, despite his mock protests that it was “for kids.” You convinced him to ride It’s a Small World, and despite his complaints, you caught him humming the tune under his breath afterward.

By the time the sky darkened and the fireworks began, you found yourselves standing in front of the castle. Austin stood behind you, his arms wrapped around your waist, his chin resting on your head. When the first burst of light exploded in the sky, you felt his breath catch slightly, just for a second.

Neither of you spoke. You just watched, letting the moment wrap around you. It felt big—like something was shifting, settling.

You turned in his arms, tilting your face up to his. Austin was already looking at you.

“Best day ever?” he asked, voice teasing, fingers tracing gentle patterns along your back.

You smiled, looping your arms around his neck. “Best day ever.”

You looked at him, the fireworks reflecting in his eyes. It wasn’t just fun or nostalgic or sweet. It was important.

You weren’t just making memories. You were stepping into ones he’d carried with him his whole life. And now, you were part of them.

He grinned, but before he could speak, you tugged him down into a kiss. It was slow, unhurried, the kind that made everything else fade away. When you pulled back, his eyes stayed closed for a beat longer.

“Thank you,” you whispered.

“For what?”

“For sharing this with me.”

He kissed you again. “Always.”

You leaned in. “Making a wish?”

His lips quirked. “Maybe.”

You smiled, looking back up at the sky.

And made one too.

Neither of you said it out loud.

But you had a feeling they were the same.

And somehow, under that glowing sky with your hand in his, it didn’t feel like your first visit anymore.

It felt like coming home.

[sugar-petals]

Hi caro 🌹, following what you said in your previous post , you mentioned that Tom hardy is a soft type which I agree on and I get a feeling that he might be a soft natural too cause suits look like they're floating and they don't sit right on his body like what u said for Aaron taylor-johnson is . Emily browning is another case , I strongly believe she's a romantic or at the very least soft gamine . I like seeing them stand next to eachother in this movie ( the softness in their features and them being rahuvians in astrology make them complement eachother pretty well ! ) ( I want to add them to your list of couples so bad lol) thanks and have a swell day ☀️

emily browning is so yin! apple cheeks, full lips, rounded eyes, wavy wispy hair, soft jawline... naturals really do seem to come cast/coupled/teamed/shipped with romantic types frequently.

in a modern plot, the Natural is often painted as the active, Romantic as the passive part, until the roles switch; N is the facilitator for R to live their life how they please. "everything everything" in a nutshell: amandla stenberg = pure R, nick robinson = SN.

"love, simon" had picture-perfect N type clothing for nick, as if the costume department knew his kibbe ID. i think that's one of the reasons it blew up. jeans fabric, fleece, regular shirts, slightly longer but less sleek hair, casual > overstyling.

very subtly done, with soft lighting. which suits R, C, and N very well (DC is the exception, they are film noir). harsh lighting benefits sharp yang types on the other hand, so the G and D categories (SG as the exception, they are too yin), think eva green in sin city, the shadows of the blinds mimic her angular bones, creating harmony. she's been typed as D, SD, and TR, but in any case, she has yang bones. what do y'all think her type is? she is 5´7.

FN -TR with swapped expectations seems to be THE popular couple trope, btw. TR the strong, dominant, loveless, and hardened one, and FN the naively helpless romantic who's clumsy, shy, and often the sexualized part, even if we suspected it would be the TR! and they still have a hilarious height and size difference. FN is tall and burly, TR narrow and curvy. so, disney's hercules.

the D - G pairing axis tends to be a little edgier. especially as D is frequently a villain, contrarian, or antihero role, and G is the toiling protagonist on the hero's journey or the comedic relief. as soon as the "N with R, D with G" formula is broken, as "N with G, D with R", the couple is bittersweet, like katniss and peeta.

bonus: tom hardy has the typical "sharp shoulder sitting on top of nothing" menswear syndrome there: angled suits are for angled, pointy bones. naturals are too blunt-edged. that's why all of his well-known roles have character designs that sew the shoulders rounded, no pads, no classic construction.

[seyaryminamoto]

My latest completed commission may have been a bit ambitious... because I went wild with it. But I certainly relished in doing so :') Combining my favorite ship with my favorite-ever Disney movie is, uh... a dangerous concoction :'D

The commissioner specifically requested for Azula as Mulan, Sokka as Shang, and Xin Long (my OC dragon from Gladiator) as Mushu. The rest of the cast was up to me to choose, and I pretty much went wild rewatching this movie and picking out some of my favorite moments to recreate them in my style, with these characters. I came up with a lot of correlating characters between both ATLA and 1998's Mulan, but I couldn't hope to draw EVERYTHING, unfortunately. Still, if you want my reasoning for the cast correlation... check out the Read More! Beyond that, feel free to reach out to me if you'd like to commission me, or if you want to join my Patreon!

The Herbalist as Mulan's grandmother might feel arbitrary but she honestly felt like the ATLA elderly lady with the most similar personality to Grandma Fa. Fickle, with a unique connection with a seemingly perfectly ordinary animal, old and sassy? Figured it fit! So for once, the Herbalist is Azula's grandma! xD strange notion, I know, Azulon/Herbalist is not a ship I ever thought I'd accidentally put out in the world but there have been wilder ships than that in this fandom...

Momo became Cri-Kee, I wasn't 100% sold on it but when I considered that Avatar features soooo many hybrid animals... I figured he could be a hybrid cricket-lemur. Weird, I know, but eh? Better than nothing xD

Aang as Chien-Po was a no-brainer. He's the only character I settled on instantly, never even considered anyone else for the role. Their personalities line up really well, and Chien-Po's tendency to be OP and resolve things that are outside of other people's reach sounded like he was prime Avatar material! So, while their dietary preferences are an obvious difference between them, I decided to go for it nonetheless considering all their other similarities!

Kino (another Gladiator OC) is Ling, and he actually did give me a ton of trouble to choose. I considered many characters for the role right up until I realized that Kino's personality actually lines up fairly well with Ling's, down to being a class clown type (who ABSOLUTELY would have cut gym class!) and breaking out in song about the hypothetical woman he'd like to fight for? Yeeeeah that's right up his alley xD but there's another reason why I picked Kino...

... And that is my likely unexpected choice for Yao:

ZUKO.

ZUKO IS YAO.

YES.

I'M NOT EVEN SORRY.

(For the uninitiated, Aang, Zuko and Kino are best friends in Gladiator, very often together, and they make a really good team, so that's the extra reason why Kino became the obvious choice for Ling aside from having really similar personalities, definitely closer personalities than, say, Jet, for instance.)

People have likened Zuko to Shang a LOT since ATLA aired. This is the main reason why I'm even making this huge note! I suspect it's primarily because of the aesthetic, let's be real here, and because he becomes Aang's teacher, but people have exaggerated Zuko's alleged similarities with Shang, or taken them out of proportion, in many ways. I actually remember an AMV ages ago with "Be a Man" and it was Zuko "training the Gaang"?? It... didn't feel right to me. Obviously, someone might rebuff with "well, how does Sokka make MORE sense than that, though?" And believe it or not, I have arguments for that... (when do I not...?)

Not only is this what the commissioner specifically requested (and it obviously lines up with the ship we love!), but let's examine the actual reasons why Sokka as Shang adds up:

Sokka actually had to train a bunch of toddlers who weren't paying any attention to him. You know. Kind of how Shang had to train the unruly soldiers who weren't getting anything right. Sokka has a positive relationship with his dad (Zuko, ofc, does not). Shang also has a positive relationship with his dad! And not only this, but there's a military component to both relationships, specifically with Shang wanting to follow on his father's footsteps and aid him in the war... so much like someone else I know, who jumped at every opportunity to rejoin his father in the war, even wishing to join him as a child until Hakoda tasked him with protecting their Tribe instead (kinda like Shang is tasked with training soldiers rather than joining a battlefield).

And the final cherry-on-top that I'd loooove to hear Zuko fans try to argue against... is sexism :') didn't Sokka get characterized as a sexist guy for four episodes, which made people decide that this was his main character trait even if it went away that quickly? Um, yes, that happened. Shang literally sings the memorable song that's a crazy ode to masculinity, including the rather sexist line of "did they send me daughters when I asked for sons". Shang outright abandons Mulan once they discover that she was a woman all along (while, admittedly, choosing to abandon her rather than KILL HER, which as we saw from Chi-Fu, he was NOT supposed to spare her!)...

So, is this REALLY what Zuko fans, who willfully believe their boy is a feminist king (... why? beats me...) are trying to compare their unproblematic blorbo to? :'D Me? I have no problem linking Sokka with Shang due to Sokka's beginnings and due to the fact that both Shang and Sokka have similar growth when it comes to accepting femininity is as valid as masculinity, and as they both learn to respect women as fighters and potential heroes! (I simply do not believe Sokka's ENTIRE tenure in ATLA was about that, though, and that's what I continue to clash with the fandom over...) So... all this is why I've reasoned that Sokka is a VERY solid choice for Shang, in fact, better than Zuko could hope to be.

... but this isn't all.

Maybe some might accept my arguments for Sokka-Shang. And then, they might ask:

WHY ZUKO AS YAO, THO??

... And the truth is it took me long to see it, myself, but HOLY SHIT, DOES IT FIT!

What is the primary thing we remember about Yao in Mulan? This guy is constantly itching for a fight, to prove himself, surely riddled with insecurities that he exteriorizes through overcompensation of masculinity. He's funny as fuck, but he's taking himself 100% seriously as a manly man all the time, and he's always ready for violence. But there's one more thing...

He treats Mulan as his RIVAL.

And more often than not? SHE SCREWS HIM OVER. Intentionally or not.

What does that sound like? Why, yes, it sounds a LOT like Azula and Zuko's sibling relationship!

The fact that Yao is a temperamental dude who lashes out easily at things (oh, something he has in common with Zuko!), that he specifically resents Mulan (in this case, Azula, just as Zuko does!) and is either constantly looking to defeat her and prove his superiority over her (... wait, just as Zuko with Azula??), that he has a black eye perpetually across the movie, and it's his LEFT EYE (just as Zuko's scar is on his left eye! :'D), that he's friends with a pacifist he has basically nothing in common with, personality-wise (just like Zuko and Aang!), and that he pretty much has a REDEMPTION ARC in which he goes from a bitter, asshole rival to Mulan to treating her as a friend and ally, to the point where he was disappointed to leave her behind and THEN joined her at once when she says she has a plan? :') I have always been critical of Zuko's redemption arc, goes without saying. But if ANY of these characters redeemed himself in any significant way, it certainly seems to be Yao to me, and with people gushing NON-STOP about Zuko's redemption? Why, he ought to be the character who goes from bitter rival to loyal friend, right?

So. I'm not even sorry. Zuko is Yao. And I'd dare say that he should be flattered by the comparison, even, because Yao ends up being cool as FUCK!

I don't really talk about this much nowadays, but Mulan was my favorite Disney movie growing up, it ABSOLUTELY had a formative influence on me as a little girl, and Mulan was my favorite female character for a looooong time. Thus, any excuse to rewatch this movie makes me happy as heck. With the wisdom of age I know, of course, that it's not perfect, it's not what China wants, it's not the most thoughtful depiction of Chinese culture or the most faithful adaptation of Mulan's poem (... but I'd also dare bring up that the 2009 Chinese adaptation ISN'T all that faithful either...), but it has a kind of magic in it, a solid storytelling flow, so many memorable moments one after the next, that I could hardly choose which scenes to depict... Disney has never again seen the storytelling heights it reached with Mulan in 1998. I don't even care if that's a controversial opinion in any way... this is their best animated feature for me, and nobody can change my mind.

So... depicting Azula, my beloved, in all these scenarios as this character I adored and idolized as a child, was so damn fulfilling for me. While some might think that, personality-wise, these two ladies don't have much in common, the fact that Mulan is sent to a matchmaker who basically tells her she looks good but is going to be the worst wife ever...? Our girl Azula, with all those insecurities about being unloveable and a monster, probably would relate big time to that.

Mulan is also an INTELLIGENT soldier rather than a brawny one, which is how she starts to make progress in the army, it's how she manages to overcome the huns with that avalanche... and Azula's primary difference with most other antagonists in ATLA is that she's smart as fuck. She is very strong, no doubt, but a LOT of that strength comes from her intelligence, from assessing situations in unique ways, from planning and strategizing. The way Mulan finds the most unexpected solutions that still pay off reminds me a lot of how Azula achieves unexpected feats through rather unorthodox means, capable of taking over a city with basically no bloodshed while her nation has spent 100 years trying and failing to do so through major army incursions and who knows how much senseless violence. Obviously, I'm not saying what Azula did is GOOD and it's kind of dumb that we always have to point that out... I'm merely comparing the magnitude of the feats, and the fact that they both come from ladies who use strategy and intelligence to achieve their goals rather than muscle and physical power.

And while anyone would rage at me for the comparison between Fa Zhou (her dad) and Ozai, the truth is the dynamic between them CAN be compared, if loosely: Mulan literally goes to war to keep her father safe. Azula goes to war under her father's orders. Hell, she makes herself BAIT in the Eclipse to make sure the Gaang won't get to her dad?? While it's very much possible to say that both characters have different personalities and attitudes in life... I'd also bring up that their contexts are evidently completely different. I wouldn't say for certain that Azula, had she been raised outside a Royal Family, would be EXACTLY like Mulan... but they might have more similar traits than one might expect. Ultimately, though... I love them both. And this opportunity to swap their places was pretty much a dream come true!

Alright, that was plenty of rambling xD ultimately, I had a blast doing this commission, as I'm sure is obvious by now. So! If anyone wants to commission me, feel free to check out my prices right here and hit me up if you're interested!

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

I feel like Unparalleled Aeons and Far Out songs stands out to me is how both members were given equal screen time (Given they are two). Because I guess the issues with the songs is how they have small amount of time for some. Well I don't blame some not just the number of members but also how some of them aren't professional singers like

Notice how the rest of the songs, the way housewarden sings like being the main singer (make sense on who is twisted version they are) the rest being like back-singers but still have some good solos. Meanwhile, the way Idia and Kalim sings doesn't feel like Jamil and Ortho are back-up singers nor them being main singers but like partners with equal parts. When I listened to the other songs, I can't tell who's who while the Ignihyde and Scarabia I can tell.

I don't hate the songs, but you can't help but notice that makes it interesting. Overall, I love all songs that have their motifs, themes, and lyrics. It's kinda sad these songs couldn't be use in modern Disney that much.

[My personal ranking(s) of the dorm songs here!]

I definitely feel like Far-Out and Unparalleled Aeons had the most evenly distributed lyrics of all the songs. As you said, maybe it was more challenging for the composer to balance larger groups, or maybe the composer was limited in how he could write the songs due to some VAs being less skilled with singing. However, I also have to wonder how much of this was intentional??

These are dorm songs, right? And the VAs are singing in character. So to me, it feels like the songs are storytelling too, telling us about the dynamics of the group through their performances.

Looking back on it, the two most balanced songs belong to the dorms where its members are the most deeply intertwined with one another. Kalim and Jamil are locked into a toxic codependent relationship due to their families' history. Kalim relies on Jamil to do practically everything for him, while Jamil is stuck in a servant position he wants to break free from and always forced to play second-fiddle to Kalim. Idia is constantly haunted by Ortho's death, and Ortho plays a huge role in providing support for his older brother's mental faculties (encouraging him to get out of his room and mingle with peers). Ortho is very reliant on Idia for much of his own identity and presence at NRC (prior to book 6), only allowed to be there because he was registered as Idia's + Idia provided tech support for the school. Idia also designed many new forms (gears) for Ortho.

Many of the songs are structured to feature the dorm leader--which I'd argue is thematically appropriate, as I will soon get into. I have a pretty bad ear too, but I was surprised at how many of the voices I could distinguish. The card soldiers, Silver and Sebek, and Epel and Vil were the only ones I couldn't quite make out. There was enough variation for me to tell the others apart, especially Savanaclaw (no way would I mistake Ruggie for Jack or even Leona for Jack).

Every song not only has its own genre, but also its own vibes. I like that Twst can be its own thing and not necessarily kowtow to Disney's more traditional musical roots. I personally wouldn't want these to be incorporated into modern Disney film or TV productions. When Disney tries to do this, it ends up sounding so tonally dissonant or mismatched with the rest of their OST(s). ... Anyway, here's a very brief analysis of each song's arrangement + some lyrics and how they're divided up-- (MVs not taken into consideration; I unfortunately don't have the time to analyze every frame and how it lines up with the lyrics.)

Heartslabyul's Obedience is interesting in that it is very symmetrical with its vocal pairings. Cater and Trey sing with one another while Ace and Deuce sing with one another. The third years are deliberately paired with each other, while the first years are deliberately paired with each other. Trey and Cater, the original loyalists, have lines about "[playing] your cards right" and how their ruler is looking righteous and smug. Meanwhile Ace and Deuce, the rebels, sing about not being "caught" by their dorm leader's gaze. It's not until the second half of the song where they mix things up (Deuce with Trey, Ace with Cater), but it's still very predictable with the blends (always a third year with a first year). Trey and Deuce, the more level-headed duo, bring up setting the table, while Cater and Deuce, being more of the "hide your true feelings"/"avoid responsibilities" duo, "[hide] behind a smile" and warn to not "get caught with your tongue sticking out". This goes along with the song's theme of following the rules to a T; all the card soldiers are in place! You can even say that the song starting off with the rhythm of a military band indicates the song coming up will be regimented and structured. The only part I would say outright "breaks" this rule is when Adeuce sing with Riddle (around the middle of the song?) but in a way, that also makes sense given that those first years rebelled against Riddle in book 1, but eventually come around in book 7 to become his supporters. Then they of course all chant together for the English portions ("Yes, your Majesty!", "My pleasure, my Queen!", "As you wish, my Queen!") where they express their devotion to the Queen, indicating that these phrases are something "[the Queen wants] to hear". (Riddle chants with them too, to show respect for the rules.)

I think the true chaos of the song comes in the second half. Trey and Cater mention running through a maze and how the Queen's righteousness breaks at that moment, then Adeuce elaborate it scatters like cards. Riddle remarks how this--the twisting maze--"[hides] the true colors of [his] heart". This parallels how there was an elaborate chase through the rose maze in the depths of Riddle's book 7 dream, obscuring his loneliness.

You definitely get the vibes that although everyone has their little solo, Adeuce, Cater, and Trey are there to support their dorm leader. Riddle gets about the same amount of lyrics as the others, but his parts are more embellished and have more vocal flair to them. The lines specifically assigned to Riddle also feel like he's the Queen welcoming you to his territory full of his followers ("This is the path to the Queen's rose garden", "The cards are lined up and awaiting their (next) orders", etc.). The lines assigned to the card soldiers seem intentionally designed--as if the cards are reminding you of the rules so you don't upset the Queen.

DIADEM is reflective of the relationships between its dorm members too, but the relationships are very different than Heartslabyul's. The song begins with Jack singing, followed by a line in which he and Leona sing together. Then Ruggie has a solo line, which is also followed by a line in which Leona joins him. It's only AFTER Leona has already shared lines with Jack and Ruggie that he belts out his own solo, which stresses that they will continue to roar, no matter how many times it takes for their message to be heard. This gives the impression that he swooped in to support Jack and Ruggie with their own parts, just like a benevolent king or mentor figure/senpai might do for his people or mentees/juniors. This is also what Leona essentially does for his dorm in book 2. Then once Leona makes his own declaration, they're all able to sing together, united as one. It's like he uplifted Jack and Ruggie to join his rebellion.

There's an interesting part in the chorus where Ruggie and Jack break away to sing (without Leona) about fate and laughing through the hard times which. Has some heartbreaking implications when you consider that Leona expressed as late as book 6 (and is strongly implied in his book 7 dream as well) that he sees hope in others, but not himself. So??? Him NOT joining Jack and Ruggie in singing about laughing through difficult times seems pessimistic. Around the middle of DIADEM, Leona shouts out commands ("howl" and "roar", respectively), each of which is punctuated by Ruggie and Jack joining him with the English phrases "BEAT DOWN" and "DO MORE". These come off like a leader rallying his allies, and those allies responding with chants for their cause. This is especially the case because right after we get Ruggie declaring that his blood is boiling (ie he's pumped now) and he's eager to destroy a future that has already been decided for him. Then Jack enters, saying that he, too, wants to tear down an unjust world. There is NO Leona in this part, it's ONLY Jack and Ruggie, who have been newly emboldened by his words. The song really highlights how much the juniors are motivated by their strong leader.

In Heartslabyul's song, you get the sense that everyone else exists to prop up the Queen/Riddle and try to keep each other out of trouble by reciting the rules. In Savanaclaw's song, you can see how Leona encourages his dorm members and they react by taking to the words that lift their spirits. Both dorms' members are showing deference to their dorm leaders, but in different ways.

Entanglement opens with Jade imploring the listener to spill their secrets to him. Then Floyd comes in, continuing the charade. Azul takes over from there. This framing makes me think of Octavinelle's usual schemes--that is to say, the twins advertising Azul's "services" and then finally introducing us to him, this supposed "wish granter" (a procedure described to us in book 2). The order of the characters' presentation slots in nicely with this: we start with the more polite and unassuming twin luring us in. Once Jade has set the bait, Floyd, the more conspicuous brother, feels safe to step in and really talk up what Jade laid out in the beginning. Only after both twins are pitched Azul does Azul actually show up to make his offer. Jade and Floyd make up the majority of the chorus, singing together to coerce the listener into making a decision, even framing it like the decision is being made exclusively based on YOUR free will ("It's all up to you"), when really, it's not. Azul shockingly says very little solo in the chorus, only "Now, go on, we're all ears", before the twins join him and they urge you to share your wish with them.

The latter half of the song gives Poor Unfortunate Souls energy; it features Azul telling the listener they won't find a better bargain than this, then Jade saying they're drowning in their own desires and finally Floyd putting on the pressure to close this deal. Azul then mentions paying a price and how his rules are reasonable, which is very similar to how Ursula demands her a toll be paid (how it isn't "asking for much", etc.). The twins also very characteristically warn you what will happen if the contract is broken ("punishment", "squeezing", "no escape"), like the potential consequences if Ariel cannot get the kiss of true love from Eric. Overall, Entanglement reads as the extended experience of you being roped into a Bad Deal.

Far-Out opens with Kalim (the dorm leader), with Jamil (the vice) following. This pattern of Kalim first, Jamil second (which reflects their dynamic in general) also occurs when they speak English in the song; Kalim gets his verse about the magic carpet first, Jamil gets his verse about treasure later. The dual nature of Kalim and Jamil is also made apparent here: Kalim is allowed to fly "whenever [he] wants", while Jamil is only allowed to "dream" about "treasure whenever [he] wants". When the two sing together, this duality persists: "good and evil intertwine", "[falling] into a sea of ecstasy", the part where they list several people of different social standing, etc. The one time when Jamil sings before Kalim is at the beginning of the second verse, before Kalim mentions a scarab flying in front of him. This comes off as if Jamil is leading the way for his dorm leader, like some puppetmaster dangling his puppet and tugging it along by the strings. I think it's very telling that Kalim's opening line is about describing the scorching heat of their homeland but Jamil's opening line is about... TEMPTATION??? Hilariously on-the-nose, seeing as how Jamil is the one with the literal mind control UM and he describes a serpent in the night with sharp eyes in the lyrics to Far-Out (literally describing himself). Meanwhile, Kalim's UM chant seems to be referenced, as he talks about singing and dancing. Both Scarabia boys sing about "giving in" together, but as the song goes on, the framing of the lyrics makes it clear they're "giving in" to different things. For Kalim, it's "the heat" (a stand-in for Jamil's mind control), which is made apparent by Jamil immediately saying "indulge in this feeling until it takes over" and Kalim later says he is "captivated by the heat". For Jamil, it's "treasure", something he repeatedly indicates as wanting to take throughout the song. For example, Kalim sings about endless riches, and then Jamil has a solo line where he says "if you desire it, take as much as you want"--and his dream in book 7 shows him taking all that was once the Asims'. They're both venturing to a metaphorical oasis to seek relief, but seem to be distracted by things along the way ("heat", "treasure", etc.).

Kalim mentions a golden scarab crossing his eyes in one line, and while this is an obvious Aladdin reference, it also makes me think of Jade's one golden eye interrogating him in book 4; this would be another time in which Kalim is taken advantage of by others. First by Jamil, then by Jade. At the very end, Kalim sings about undoing shackles (most likely referring to Jamil's) while Jamil sings about a party (of which Kalim throws many of) that will eventually exhaust. The other Scarabia character is at the forefront of each boy's mind, and it is also where their respective desires (friendship for Kalim, freedom for Jamil) derive.

La Volonté is French for "will" or "willpower", which is a huge theme in the song. Unlike the other songs so far (which open with a solo or duet), La Volonté begins with all members of Pomefiore singing about their "one and only wish", and how they intend to immortalize their beauty. This is fascinating in that all three of them have very different personal goals (Epel wants to be strong, Vil wants to be seen as a "hero", Rook wants to pursue beauty), but they sing in unison anyway, because this validates all of their goals as being "beautiful".

Rook, the most secretive of the trio, mentions a heart locked away in a box, then Vil joins him in speaking of a truth entering his ear--like in book 5, when Rook convinces Vil to go with the more unconventional picks for the VDC/SDC auditions. In one of Epel's solos, he tells of sweet poison dyed in crimson, which is wording that is very close to his UM name. When Vil joins him, they sing, "A little more, a little more...", which makes me think of how Vil intends to "perfect" Epel into a weapon to use against Neige in book 5. The fact that Rook sings about their goal "[being] within reach" is ironic, given that it's ultimately his vote that decides NRC's loss.

Though this song starts off with the Pomefiore boys together, this is definitely one of those songs that centers the dorm leader over the others. There are many parts where it's just Rook and Epel singing ("Let all freeze", "[...] grant eternal slumber", etc.) and Vil joining in later or getting a solo after them. The first "waltz upon white snow" invokes the image of Vil standing over the cold body of his fallen rival Neige, but later on Rook and Epel join in singing about this. I wonder if that's an intentional callback to book 7, when they delved into Vil's dream and found Neige... dying. It's Vil singing somberly about all the hands that seek to pull him down (all his haters, all the people who assume he is as evil as the villains he plays), not knowing "the worth of a true star" (ie himself). It's Vil issuing the order for your breath to still (as if your breath has been stolen away by him; this is also the beginning to Epel's UM chant). And, most importantly, it's Vil vocalizing to end the song--a song which, need I remind you, started off with ALL of Pomefiore singing. Now Epel and Rook have stepped back, allowing Vil, the "true star", to command the stage.

Oftentimes fans—and even the Twst characters themselves—will compare Riddle and Vil on the basis of strictness. This also holds true for the compositions of Obedience and La Volonté. Both songs have their respective queens front and center, but La Volonté is definitely moreso than Obedience. Maybe it’s Vil’s celebrity status that has him commanding the spotlight? It could also be that Rook and Epel are simply more inited under a common front (“beauty”) whereas the card soldiers are more selfish and follow Riddle’s rules as a means to avoid punishment for themselves rather than truly subscribing to his strictness.

Unparalleled Aeons has Ortho starting us off, and it's framed kind of like the middle of an argument between the Shroud brothers?? He seems to be addressing Idia, asking if he will shut himself away again, only for Idia to respond that "[he's] just one soul" and that "[he's] the problem". The fact that the song begins with Ortho and not Idia--the dorm leader--makes me think it's symbolic of many of Idia's social problems "originating" with the original Ortho's death. This would go well with the theme of persisting despair in the early verse. In any case, they continue to have this back-and-forth, with Idia stating that he has known dreams are hollow for a long time (likely a reference to his backstory and how he's destined to be Director of S.T.Y.X. one day, whether he wants to be or not). The two later on talk about sulking in the Underworld, which is something Idia notes is a common trait between him, his father, and his grandmother--previous or current heads of S.T.Y.X., and what awaits him too.

The chorus has both Shrouds singing, and it is very much structured around the book 6 disaster in which they attempt to open the gate to the Underworld, unleash Phantoms upon the world. They reference their "happy end" and Cerberus's engine revving up--perhaps to call attention to Phantom!Ortho, the third "head" and sibling to the Shroud brothers. Idia sings about how his loneliness spawned into genius (could he mean how his grief led him to invent a new Ortho?) too. In another verse, the Shrouds declare they will "rearrange the cosmos" and Ortho jeers about heroes that arrive too late to stop them. They're almost gleeful in the "whirlpool of {swirling) souls", full of despair and chaos as they finally realize their shared dream. Hilariously, Idia and Ortho shout "FEVER TIME", a special state that grants temporary advantages in games--indicating that, at least to the Shroud brothers, they see this all as one big game.

At one point, Ortho has a solo line about how a happy ending with tears is crueler than being forever alone. Is he talking about bittersweet endings here? Does this not describe book 6's conclusion--an ending in which Idia is forced to say good-bye to one brother, while also embracing another brother? Idia gets his own line about having all of the cheats and going at full throttle, which paints the image in my head of him putting together that cheat tool and delivering the weapons + armor to Silver and Sebek via magiwheel in book 7. Ortho's solo line in the chorus mentions entertaining trials and tribulations, which I think calls back to book 6, when he tested each of our little groups with mini games. Unparalleled Aeons is simply packed full of internet lingo and gaming slang, all being weaponized to taunt the listener.

The Shrouds lament about how they've been "forsaken by [...] Fate", then make reference to the Fates cutting a Thread of Life, sending them crashing towards "The End". They also later call to attention knowledge of past, present, and future, which are concepts associated with the Fates too. The cut life might be the original Ortho's death, or it could be Phantom!Ortho finally moving on, and thus Idia pushing past his grief. The chorus wraps up with Idia whispering "Welcome to the Underworld"--very fitting, seeing as I recall him uttering a similar line when welcoming the OB boys to S.T.Y.X. HQ (the domain he will rule in the future) for the first time.

Unlike Far-Out, which has an insidious vibe due to the clashing nature of Kalim and Jamil’s parts, Unparalleled Aeons allows Idia and Ortho to be on the same page. It really feels like a Final Boss and his top-ranked henchman scheming together to destroy the heroes.

Capricious Calamity is technically another song which centers the dorm leader, but not in the same way that La Volonté does. In La Volonté, Vil has many solos, whereas in Capricious Calamity, Malleus is the subject of the song, the one being praised and worshipped (using archaic terminology). Given that Diasomnia seems to be a cult of personality around Malleus, this direction makes sense--and the choice to open with Sebek, THE Malleus fanboy, singing about his master's radiance shining brightly in the night, also makes sense. Sebek also closes off the second verse, declaring "unending tribute" to Malleus.

The first verse slowly evolves with a new character added per line. First there's only Sebek, but then it becomes Sebek and Silver together. It gives the vibes of wandering into an old castle and running into the ruler's guards who are evaluating you before you may be graced with their lord's presence. Lilia (the eldest and most experienced of them all) then gets a brief solo before making way for Malleus. It feels like Lilia showed up to announce their prince's arrival, and how all should make way for him. And of course the first thing Malleus says is that he "knows not of celebration"... This is followed up by Silver mentioning that Malleus "wishes for a miracle" (to be invited/included). Then Silver, Sebek, and Lilia speak of this as a transgression which warrants judgment. Again, Lilia concludes this verse with the line about judgment, which harkens back to earlier, when he seemingly "announced" Malleus.

Malleus leads the chorus once Lilia has summoned him. He calls himself an omen that comes with the lightning (his signature), then his dorm members chant that all shall kneel before his green light. Disembodied voices join in, echoing that the listener should give their entire being to the thorns. It paints the image of loyal knights kneeling before their king and beckoning others to do the same in order to quell his rage. This is also the note that Capricious Calamity concludes on, which just further drives the message home.

Silver starts the second verse, noting Malleus reflected in the dark skies. (Sebek begins the first verse, and Silver he second; the two youngest in Diasomnia are also the "start"--the start of, perhaps, a future where fae and humans can live in peace together.) When Sebek joins Silver, they sing about how Malleus, even at his lowest, burns brightly. These phrases paired together, said by the first two of Diasomnia to "awaken" in book 7, make me think of them staring up in horror as Malleus's draconic form takes to the skies. They're terrified and in awe of his might. There's a part where Malleus and Lilia share a line, commenting on a commotion and the cries of the weak ringing out. These two, the strongest in Diasomnia, remarking on this... It calls to mind their battle within Lilia's dream, or even Lilia intervening when Malleus (as a dragon) intends to strike Silver and Sebek down.

At the very end, Malleus announced another omen, this time harkened by spreading thorns rather than lightning... thorns, like the very ones he summons to drag us all into a deep, deep slumber--the trap he sprung in book 7. I think it's telling that it's Silver that joins Malleus in song before the entire dorm sings together. This duo sings about an aurora that is overtaken by the abyss. Is this meant to be a reference to Silver and Malleus's final confrontation, and how Silver refused to slay Malleus at the crucial moment?

It’s really interesting to compare this song to DIADEM, the two performances featuring a prince. In Capricious Calamity, Malleus is propped up by his dorm members—but in DIADEM, Leona is the one propping up his dorm members. This really speaks to (and feeds into) the idea that Malleus and Leona are opposites of one another. A prince worshipped by his people and promised the throne. but still left lonely and emotionally unfulfilled… versus a prince scorned by his people and forbidden from having the crown for himself, yet he’s surrounded by people who look up to him and trust him to lead them… OTL

[frograts]

win or loose and The Trans Character™️

So i just finished watching pixars new series, win or loose, and i wanted to yap a lil bit about Kai and the reports that her storyline was cut. I assume that her being trans was more outright originally and that they just dialed it back a little bit, because to me, the episode was very clearly about being transgender along with the main message of pressure from your parents to be the best. The episode starts one year before everything else in the series takes place. (btw, the show is about the same week from different perspectives, its really cool.) Kai is moving to a new town and on the way, she spots a co-ed softball team where other kids are laughing and having fun. After settling in at her grandma's place, she decides to explore the town and join them. I am assuming that Kai had very recently just came out to her dad. She says she wants to quit baseball and join the softball team, and one of her points is that its co-ed. I like how she has her hoodie on in the beginning to hide her shorter hair. when we jump back to the present, her hair is longer and she finds herself so confident with the team!!! this show has a great visual feature where every character has this sort of projection of their persona. For Kai, she starts to float and the background turns to sort of pink hues when she feels accepted. It also happens when other girls include her as one of them or when they compliment her outfit. One moment i really liked is when she looks down at her glove and traces over the letters of her name with her finger with pride. i totally feel that as a trans man!! i love seeing my name on my name tag at work. it makes me feel like my company actually cares about me, the way it makes kai feel her team cares about her. Its so refreshing to see a trans storyline where the main struggle the character is facing isnt being trans. yes, she has alot of pressure from it and one of the things her dad says that makes her feel worse is that shes not only representing herself, but the entire trans community (not outright of course, he cuts himself off). but still! the episode is more about the pressure she feels to be the best when all she wants to do is play softball and i really appreciate that!! i like the subtilty of it. shes never ostracized or heckled for being trans. she never feels left out because of it, and i love the perspective being portrayed. now of course i cant talk about this without talking about Moon Girl. Marvels Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is one of my favorite shows. Disneys approach to their trans episode was to cut it entirely. and allegedly, if i had watched it, i would say its a fantastic episode and i also love the hands on approach to trans kids in sports. at least win or loose still HAS the episode, and i love it!!!! ty for reading my yapping <3

[not-wholly-unheroic]

I recently found a copy of the graphic novel version of Straight on Til Morning at my local used bookstore and got a great deal so I wanted to share a few of my likes, dislikes, and general observations. I’d been meaning to write up a proper review of the book for awhile now but have been SUPER behind. Anyway, the graphic novel follows the book pretty closely and I’ll be sharing some images from it, so this WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS for those of you who haven’t read it.

First off, the artwork for the graphic novel is beautiful and some scenes are illustrated in a really creative way. For example, I love the depiction of this particular scene where Wendy is writing her stories and Hook sort of…comes to life off the page.

I also really love that while (most of) the characters are still recognizably Disney’s version…they also look a tad more realistic and have some of the illustrator’s own personal interpretation mixed in.

George Darling is a great example. In the graphic novel he is slimmer than in the film and looks remarkably like J.M. Barrie…which I have to consider was probably intentional.

And then there’s the Lost Boys in their animal costumes…Tootles, Skipper (excuse me, this is Nibs erasure—you can add Skipper but don’t just eliminate Nibs!), Slightly, Cubby, and the Twins.

The pirates, however, are a totally different story. Who the heck are these guys???

Anyway… at least they get Hook’s personality right. I love this bit, in particular, where one of the pirates gets a little rough with Wendy and Hook is having none of it. Also, the idea of Hook capturing Wendy to be a mother to the crew is a nice nod to the book.

One big complaint I do have is that the characters are, on occasion, a little TOO self-aware. Like in this scene where one of the pirates makes a sort of on-the-nose observation about Hook’s feud with Pan.

But I will admit, I did cackle at Hook’s reaction.

He said would you please stop trying to psychoanalyze me and look for symbolism and just let the story be about a boy and a pirate? (Hook, how do you even know who Freud is??)

You may have noticed by now that I haven’t said anything about Peter… That’s because Peter barely features in the story at all and honestly when he does show up, he’s…kinda useless and clueless. Now, admittedly, Wendy is meant to be older in this (around 16) so of course, it’s reasonable to think she might not quite view him the same way she did at 12…but in having her team up with Tink to do all the heavy-lifting of the plot (because, ya know, girlpower and all that), Peter sort of ends up not really doing anything. I’d almost rather have an evil Pan, as annoying as that trope is because at least then he actually does something. In this story, it truly feels like Wendy has just…outgrown Peter altogether. And that hurts.

Speaking of which…ya know what hurts even more for me as a Hook fan? THIS.

This poor man is curled up on the deck in the fetal position, terrified of a crocodile who has been long-dead, crying out for a best friend who never even existed except inside his own mind because he was so alone that he made him up.

O W !! Why would you do this to me, Disney?!

It ends for Hook with the crew deciding to drop him off somewhere with enough gold to pay for his keep and hire a caretaker because he’s so mentally unstable they don’t trust him to live by himself.

I hate to say it, but honestly, watching him die would be less painful. At least that would be over with fairly quickly. This just hurts.

But everyone else lives happily ever after, so it’s okay, right? Right??? 😫😭 (Don’t mind me, I’ll just be over here in the corner, crying over my pirate boy.)

[doctorbunny]

A little speculation about Corpse Disposal and J-horror

But I'm a little bored so sharing a part-theory, part-headcanon on Muu and Rei

So we unfortunately don't see much of Rei in "Its not my fault" but I want to point out three key times we do

The first time we see Rei in the MV, is her wet sleeve (we know its not Muu because Muu wears a pink jumper under her blazer)

Then, after a lot of bug stuff, we're finally back in the real world, where Muu has just killed her Post-After Pain. In INMF, we don't see the surroundings as well, just the dirt track and bushes. But in AP, we see this is right next to a rushing river (Muu's undercover card also features a bridge as a landmark)

The next time we see Rei after her corpse, is a flashback to the start where she turns the hourglass over. Then it cuts just further back to before Rei stood up - as she pulls herself up off the floor She's alive and absolutely soaked after a session of intense bullying (which we saw Muu insert herself into in AP)

However, I want to now switch a little to talk about cinematography and a concept called the Kuleshov effect The video I linked is pretty concise but the gist is that if you put two shots next to each other, even if they were filmed separately, the brain interprets it as a continuous scene (so if you film a character looking off screen, then a picture of an apple on a table, we're going to assume they're looking at the apple)

Therefore while we understand chronologically that the sequence of events is Rei (wet and alive) -> Rei's murder on dry land ↺ Flashback to Rei still wet and alive Which I think everyone understood as a commentary on how this power struggle was a constant cycle of the hourglass being turned over

I think visually, it also implies a sequence like Rei was bullied -> Muu kills her -> Sopping wet, Rei crawls back to the classroom

But wait! That sequence suggests a missing step How did Rei get wet again?

Well, we know Muu killed her next to a river And if you were a scrawny teenage murderer with a body on your hands, would you leave it there where someone could see it while you grab a shovel and stand in broad daylight digging a hole in tough ground??? Or try lighting a fire in public??? Of course not!

It'd be much easier for Muu to, in a panic, just roll her body into the convenient river and let all the evidence wash away!

(Of course, if Muu was panicking, she might not have been very careful. Given she ended up in MILGRAM, there must've been something tying Muu to Rei's death and in T2 Muu seems to have finally remembered losing her left shoe...)

Fun fact: this is the same shoe Cinderella loses in the animated Disney film (and the best known version of that story came into English from France)

Shoe break over, back to the Endless Queen's Game

So, if we assume Rei's corpse was thrown in the river, what does it matter? Its just a pointless headcanon

But I speculate the meaning goes deeper!

So that image of Rei, soaking wet, crawling off the floor reminded me of something: J-horror ghost girls! Specifically the most famous of ghost girls Samara/Sadako Who became a vengeful spirit after being thrown in a well and now crawls out of TVs to kill people who watched her VHS tape

Her story too is a cyclical one (its called 'Ring' for a reason), the only way to break the curse is to copy the tape and have someone else watch it, who will then become the victim unless they can themselves copy the tape and show it to another unsuspecting patsy

The story goes back further because this movie is based on a novel, which is based on the legend of 番町皿屋敷 Banchou Sara Yashiki. There are many versions but generally a maid girl Okiku is proposed to, and when she rejects the proposal, her master breaks one of ten plates and promises to forgive her if she marries him. When she declines again, he beats her to near death then throws her into a well (sometimes it's a jealous mistress instead of a master)

Interestingly, Atrophaneura alcinous (swallowtail butterfly) larvae found in Japanese wells became known as Okikumushi お菊虫 (Okiku bugs), tying back to the whole insect thing...

It's been said a bunch now, but the name 'Rei' can be read as 霊 meaning ghost (seen in words like Yuurei 幽霊, a more common word for ghost than Rei on its own)

We know Muu is afraid of ghosts too (though I must admit she says Obake, not yuurei, but both words refer to ghosts)

Remembers the i/井 in Sakurai/櫻井 can be read as 'well' I'm sure that has nothing to do with anything

Uh, I can't think of a conclusion because its 1 am and I had to look up a bunch of spooky images

TL;DR: I think Muu may have quickly shoved Rei's body into the river next to where the murder happened (maybe forgot her shoe at the scene of the crime) and now she's scared by the cycle continuing and Rei coming back to haunt her