#i was a theatre person long LONG before i was into Marvel so I just wanna know how many people were first exposed to her through A³

[buckys-arm-and-rios-dagger]

I have a question, and I am presenting it with 0 judgment, I'm just curious as someone who was a theatre person before I got interested in Marvel:

Again, ZERO judgement, I'm just very curious about her pre-Marvel reach.

[l0vergirlwrites]

superstar ; steve harrington

synopsis: how steve treats his girlfriend after watching her perform on stage in her college musical.

warnings: just steve being a bit cheeky & fluff!!

note: i’m desperately trying to get out of my writing funk, so send some sweet requests for me!!!

“oooo, guess who’s boyfriend is waiting outside…”

the girls in the green room erupted in laughter & teasing glances towards you, causing your face to grow hot.

“stoppppp” you dragged out with a wide smile, knowing they meant well.

keeping your focus on unpinning your hair so you could brush through the strands, some of your friends rushed to your side in front of the bulbed vanity mirror.

“sooo,” hannah grinned. “what do you think lover boy thought of the show?”

“i hoped he liked it—h-he’s not a musical kind of guy, so i hoped it was fine” you said while dropping a couple bobby pins on the counter, sighing when the tension on your head started to subside.

“personally, he better of loved it—especially hearing your solo—ohmygod!!! it gave me goosebumps” lainey chimed in as she reapplied her lipgloss. “plus, your ass looked really good in that skirt”

the other girls quickly agreed with her, causing you to nudge their elbows in laughter. “what?? i’m just speaking the truth” lainey defended, making eye contact with you in the mirror as you gave her a knowing look.

as the other girls switched the conversation to something about some cast drama while the green room emptied out, you carefully removed your mic tape & mic pack from your bra so you could change into something more comfortable—sweat shorts & a cropped t-shirt with sneakers; the prime after show outfit.

“ready to see lover boy?” the girls asked once you lifted your duffel bag onto your shoulder, ready to head into the chaos outside.

rolling your eyes jokingly, you walked over to the door with a sigh “you’re never gonna stop calling him that huh? all because i said it one time”

“you know it!”

the green room door made a loud creak as it opened, but the bustling environment in the large theatre lobby over powered it. as your friends bid you goodbye as they spotted their respective family & friends, your eyes scanned the crowd for steve.

it didn’t take to long to find him—leaning against a nearby wall with a bouquet of your favourite flowers in hand.

“stevie!” you called out & his head immediately turned in your direction, giving him his cue to rush towards you with the proudest grin you’ve ever seen on his lips.

within seconds, steve’s freehand held your cheek & he was kissing you hard—almost breathlessly—as his hand with the bouquet pressed into your lower back. laughing against his lips, you pulled back & wiped the red lipstick that smeared onto his skin.

“baby, you were amazing out there! absolutely amazing—the most beautiful girl ever“ he marvelled before kissing you again, his excitement for you not wearing off.

brushing your hands through his brown locks, you relished in this feeling of love before pulling away again. “so, you liked it?”

“of course i did! why? you didn’t think i would?” he looked at you incredulously, shocked at such a question.

“i dunno. wasn’t sure musicals were your thing is all”

you wiped off lipstick that lingered on his bottom lip again as he blinked—wondering how you couldn’t tell he loved it. “honey, anything you do is my thing” he smoothly replied, causing you to bite your lip.

you were so lucky.

“oh!” he lit up like a lightbulb. “these are for you” he pulled the bouquet in front of you, giving you the classic steve smile as he did so. “i’m really proud of you honey”

twisting a piece of steve’s hair between your fingers as your hand drifted to the nape of his neck, you pouted slightly at the sight. “steve… they’re gorgeous—thank you baby” you held the bouquet in your hand now, moving it so you could properly hug him.

he hoped you knew that didn’t care if your makeup smeared into his clothes.

“i love you” he said into your hair, kissing your head as he relished in your touch. he felt like his heart was beating out of his chest.

“i love you too” you sighed contently into the material of his striped polo shirt, pressing a kiss to it (& secretly hoping the lipstick kiss would leave a stain).

“what did you think of my costume?” you asked him, remembering what lainey cheekily mentioned prior.

pulling back to look at you, steve brushed some of your hair behind your ear. “you looked phenomenal—like a princess up there” he gushed.

“what about the skirt?”

furrowing his brows, he wasn’t sure why you were making a point of it. “it was pretty, plus… your ass looked real good it—“ he smirked a bit, the hand on your waist sliding down to give a quick tap to your ass.

“steve!” you squeaked, laughing as your hand grabbed his wrist. “you’re such a boy!” you joked.

“i’m sorry—i’m sorry! couldn’t help it, you know. it’s impossible not to notice it when you’re all mine” he leaned his head closer to yours, the look in his eyes telling you he was completely whipped.

“you’re lucky i like you”

“oh baby, trust me—i know” he said before dipping forward to kiss you again, not caring about anyone else around you both.

you just hoped your friends didn’t notice so they wouldn’t tease you about it later, even though you knew they would at the wrap party.

[justsomerandomfanfic]

hi!! im absolutely in love with ur work!! i would love a platonic and romantuc marvel + dc matchup :)) guy/girl/anything in between for either platonic or romantic, i am 18 y/o and i use they/them pronouns!

physical appearance: midsize body type, lots of softer features, shaggy blonde hair, hazel eyes and big ol round glasses

personality: very confident (way too much for my own good) friendly, outgoing, humorous, stubborn, ambitious, and emotional

hobbies: drawing, reading, writing, watching movies/tv, playing video games, and acting/singing in local theatre productions!

aesthetic: typically cluttered and colorful, lots of patterns and bright colors!! i have an androgynous clothing style and i usually wear v colorful makeup

fave movies/tv shows: funny n gory fast-paced action (ex: bullet train the suicide squad, the boys), silly horror comedies (ex: tucker and dale vs evil, freaky) or goofy teen comedies (ex: sex education, mean girls, pitch perfect). also ANYTHING ZOMBIE RELATED I LOVE ZOMBIES!!

fave music: amped up alternative pop/rock!! think mindless self indulgence and will wood type beat w lots of weird sounds and earwormy tunes (some more artists i enjoy are poor mans poison, twenty one pilots, set it off, the lumineers, and hozier)

sorry if this is a lil long!!

Hey, I'm sorry this is so late! <3333333333 And you gave great info, (I also love zombies) :)

But I hope you like your matchups!

Romantic and Platonic Matchups; Marvel and DC

~~~

Romantic;

~~~

Marvel;

Pietro Maximoff -

You met Pietro after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Yes, he is alive and well.

So speedy, bullets didn't even graze him.

Anyway, you met Pietro during a benefit event he was forced to go to since he was an Avenger now... Oof.

He was there begrudgingly, rolling his eyes and lounging in a corner while trying not to look completely bored.

He tried having fun and talking to a few people, but they were all the same. Like Tony, rich and just... Ugh...

You were invited since you were part of the press, and when you spotted him - the speeder that helped save New York from robots - you walked over.

You couldn’t resist joking about how out of place he looked, making a quip about his fancy suit - the tie loosened, and hair a slight mess - and not to mention that casual slouch.

He smirked, surprised by your boldness. Your confidence intrigued him immediately, and he stuck around to chat.

You both introduced yourselves, despite you knowing him already from the news, and you being a part of the press.

It wasn't long until you got him laughing out loud from how funny you were.

After the event, you continued hanging out.

You quickly bonded over your shared love of fast-paced action movies, bantering about which stunts were the coolest or most unrealistic.

You both love to have movie nights where you watch movies such as Bullet Train and for some reason, Pietro really likes Mean Girls.

Pietro adored your bright, colorful aesthetic; he loves gifting you clothing that matches your aesthetic and vibe; sometimes after hanging out with Pietro, he'd wink, speed away, and you'd find a pair of socks that you absolutely love.

You guys love playing video games together. He’d win the racing games but get frustrated when you beat him in strategy games. But, it is all in good fun.

He always forgives you ;)

Pietro realized that he had feelings for you when he speeded his way to your apartment - you gave him a key - and he found you singing and dancing without a care in the kitchen.

He stood there, shocked, before that soft smile of his appeared, his eyes half-lidded - he leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, and eyes softening - the sight of you being so carefree, and the sound of your voice, made him feel warm inside.

Yep, he had fallen for you. In that moment. Even more so when you noticed his presence and turned. The bright smile on your face was contagious and made his already fast-beating heart race.

He would then begin subtly showing off more than usual around you, zipping through your tasks and chores to impress you - and help you not have to do those said chores - like dishes or vacuuming.

Another thing you begin to notice is that he stands closer to you during conversations.

Pietro finally confesses on day when he takes you to the country you have always wanted to visit; something you didn't even think Pietro would remember you telling him.

There, at sunset, after a full day of exploring, Pietro confessed his feelings for you.

"You know, I've never wanted to slow down before, but I think I could for you."

You understood what he was saying.

He loves to sneak backstage after your performances to surprise you with chocolate and your favorite flowers.

You balance his impulsiveness with your thoughtfulness, often bringing snacks or water when you know he’s been running around too much.

He constantly finds excuses to pick you up or carry you places. "Why walk when you have me?"

You and Pietro like exploring vintage shops and hunting for accessories for both of your wardrobes.

He loves saying, "Didn't see that coming?"

Visiting theme parks together, with Pietro insisting on riding every rollercoaster twice because it’s the 'only thing fast enough for him.'

Competitive video game nights that end in playfully over-the-top arguments.

Pietro loves just dancing with you to your music, like Twenty One Pilots, and The Lumineers.

At night, if you have trouble sleeping or just want to cuddle, he'd hold you close, petting your hair, humming old Sokovian songs his mom used to sing to him.

~~~

DC;

Richard 'Dick' Grayson -

You met Dick at the community theater where you were performing.

He was there with his father, Bruce, and his brothers, as a part of a Wayne Foundation charity; to help preserve the theater.

He was immediately struck by you, not only by your beauty but your beautiful voice and the way you stood on the stage; he swore you were one for Broadway or something.

Watching you perform, Dick was mesmerized. He leaned over to Tim mid-show to whisper, “Do you think she’s famous? Because she should be.”

Tim rolled his eyes, but even Bruce smirked slightly at his son’s obvious admiration.

After the performance, Bruce encouraged his sons to mingle with the performers and other guests as part of the charity event. Dick made a beeline for you, heart pounding, rehearsing a casual greeting in his head.

(“Hi, I’m Dick. No, wait- that sounds weird. Richard sounds too formal. Just smile- wait, don’t smile too much!”).

When he finally approached, his first words were a rambling compliment about your performance.

“Hey! I just wanted to say you were… Incredible out there. Seriously, I’ve seen Broadway shows, and this was better. Way better. Not that I’m, like, a theater critic or anything…”

You laughed, finding his nervous energy endearing, and thanked him.

You clicked right away, finding his humor and charm impossible to resist.

Dick started showing up at the theater regularly, always claiming he was there to help but spending most of the time talking to you. He’d bring coffee or snacks, using them as an excuse to hang out.

Oh, yeah, he was just in the neighborhood. Totally.

During your conversations, you realized you both loved action-packed stories, albeit in different forms - you loved movies and theater, and he loved acrobatics and comics.

You both also bonded over your shared love for anything zombie.

He quickly became your go-to person for venting.

Dick realized his feelings after one of your performances. Watching you light up the stage with confidence and talent made his heart skip a beat.

But, let's be honest here, you had him since he first saw you.

He’s a sucker for your colorful aesthetic, often complimenting you - sometimes complimenting you multiple times a day.

He’s incredibly supportive of your hobbies, showing up to every performance and cheering the loudest at your shows.

You surprise him with little doodles or notes in his gear bag, and he secretly treasures each one.

Dick loves to treat you by taking you shopping, either at malls or thrift stores, where you end up with bags of new colorful clothes.

When he is not Nightwinging around in the night, Dick will bring you into a waltz, holding you close as you hum a tune. Sometimes, you both dance and just have fun, playing Poor Man's Poison or Set It Off from Bluetooth speakers.

You both have cozy nights in, also when Dick is free for the night, where you both watch The Boys, popcorn with you, and Dick's arm around you.

~~~

Platonic;

~~~

Marvel;

Tony Stark -

Being a part of the Avengers meant you were forced to know Tony Stark since he was Iron Man.

You joined the Avengers after Nick Fury asked you to join. Yeah, pretty simple.

You were actually staying at the X-Mansion in the countryside of New York when you got the call.

How did he get your number?

But, Nick had heard of your mutation and asked you to come over to the Avenger Tower for a meeting.

They would pick you up and everything.

You were quite curious, and cautious, but you went.

You never thought that you were going to be asked to join the Avengers.

But, hell yeah, you knew that you could do it!

After agreeing to join, another meeting was held in which you got to meet the other Avengers and get a tour - along with seeing your new room.

Tony freaking Stark was very interesting in getting to know you more, and so, like Tony Stark do, he decided to hold a party for you.

Beforehand, he asked you about your favorite bands and made sure to play them during the party.

You were really boppin' to Hozier and Twenty One Pilots that night.

During that party, Tony got to know you.

Your humor caught him off guard, and he was instantly hooked on your witty remarks and unshakable confidence.

Oh, he knew you both were going to be good friends.

You became his unofficial creative consultant, offering feedback on everything from suit designs to marketing slogans.

He loved teasing you about your colorful aesthetic, but secretly thought it was awesome.

Like he does for everyone, he gives you the nickname 'Rainbow Brite.'

Refereeence.

Tony would take you on spontaneous shopping sprees, insisting on buying you over-the-top outfits or gadgets.

He likes buying things for you and loves it when you just buy things for yourself on his card.

He doesn't care, he's rich.

You are the only Avenger that actually allows him to buy things for you all the time. The others kind of reject his gifts at this point.

He lets you drive any of his cars.

Don't be surprised as well if you find his credit card in your wallet.

Tony loves spoiling his friends.

Endless banter and sarcastic back-and-forths that make everyone around you groan.

Tony will watch movies with you, just be warned, he will make fun of them most of the time.

~~~

DC;

Harley Quinn -

You met Harley at an underground art exhibit where you were showcasing some of your drawings and art.

Your colorful style caught her attention, and she immediately complimented your vibe.

On top of that, she called you a 'walking masterpiece.'

You struck up a conversation about art and horror movies, and Harley decided then and there that you were her new best friend.

Have fun.

Harley adored your outgoing and confident personality, and the two of you quickly became partners in chaos.

Stealing carts full of food from stores, setting off colorful smoke bombs, and petting Bruce the hyena.

She loves how you can match her energy, and is endlessly impressed by you and your talents.

You became her go-to person for any advice she may ever need or just someone to rant to when things get sad or overwhelming.

And the same goes for you, she will always be that shoulder to cry on if need be.

Watching zombie movies while Harley cheers for the zombies and throws popcorn at the screen.

Singing and dancing together to loud, upbeat music.

Shopping trips where Harley encourages you to go even bolder with your style.

Matching outfits!

Will go ham on watching Pitch Perfect and Suicide Squad.

Totally not meta.

[mariacallous]

Following a sold-out run at the Almeida theatre, this month The Years – a stage adaptation of Annie Ernaux’s choral novel of 21st-century womanhood – transfers to the West End. The play became somewhat notorious because of the impact that its abortion scene was having on audience members. In the scene, a bloodied Romola Garai recounts passing a dead foetus after an illegal backstreet abortion, a performance our theatre critic described as “devastating”. A preview last summer had to be stopped as several audience members requested medical assistance, while another shouted at the cast that the scene had been “a disgrace” and protested that “there was no warning” (content notes were, in fact, provided).

As I wrote in the autumn, I had assumed these fainters were women, triggered by the trauma of past experiences, but that was sexist of me. It was in fact mostly men who were passing out, and a man who yelled at the cast. No one fainted when I saw the play, but someone did leave, and another audience member, head in hands, looked distinctly green about the gills. As the play opens to even larger audiences and more exposure, it will be interesting to see if the faintings – and the headlines – continue, or if staging the play in a less intimate theatre changes the scene’s impact.

Personally, I have a feeling we’ll see more swooning men before the run is out. I think the reaction goes beyond simple haemophobia. In the scene, Garai’s character says of the procedure: “This thing has no place in language”, making explicit Ernaux’s artistic endeavour to create precisely that: a language of abortion. She set out to bring light to a subject that for so long had been considered a hidden, private “women’s problem” cloaked in silence and shame. It is in her short work Happening, her account of her own backstreet abortion, that she approached this linguistic and artistic vacuum, and it is from this short, autobiographical piece of writing, rather than from The Years, that the scene has been taken. In Happening, Ernaux writes: “I don’t believe there is a single museum in the world whose collections feature a work called The Abortionist’s Studio.”

Is it because of this vacuum, this absence of depiction and therefore exposure, that men are fainting in their seats? Historically, artistically, they have not been encouraged to put themselves in our shoes, to conceptualise and empathise with living in a female body – or the work that has attempted to do so has been marginalised and mocked. Throughout the 20th century, pioneering female artists have attempted to translate their bodily experience into art, from Frida Kahlo – who wanted to draw her baby’s body after her miscarriage but had to make do with medical drawings – to Paula Rego and Tracey Emin, whose film How it Feels recounts her own traumatic abortion. Getting to the point we are at now has been the work of decades. That an experience that is the lived reality of millions of women should still, in 2024, have such a visceral effect on some men speaks volumes.

But then I have long suspected that not all men have theory of mind when the subject is female. Watching Killers of the Flower Moon recently, I found myself marvelling at how one of the leading figures, Mollie, has a child (and eventually more than one) who seemingly appears from nowhere. “Wait, what?” I said. “When did she give birth?” I love Scorsese as much as anyone else, but this film is three hours and 26 minutes long, and yet this highly significant bodily event barely registers. Why? I’m left wondering if it’s because Scorsese, like so many male creators, simply just didn’t think about childbirth, or how it must have felt for a Native American woman in the 1920s, in any real depth.

Perhaps this is what is so shocking about The Years: could this be the first time that some audience members have actually really confronted what the reality of an abortion involves? There are of course many men who will have accompanied their partners to and supported them through abortions, and who have needed support themselves. Yet one wonders how many others, in that moment Garai stands on stage, are imagining the experience in detail for the very first time in their lives. Such is the powerful quality of the writing and the performance.

In this current moment, such work is explicitly political. Moreover, in decrying this absence, Ernaux has created something of a chain reaction. Céline Sciamma’s film Portrait of a Lady on Fire has a scene that is a direct response to Ernaux’s statement about painting, the film Saint Frances was another nuanced depiction and Happening was turned into a film. Across poetry, prose and visual art there is also more and more exploration of the theme of abortion, and of the experience of living in a female body more generally. That’s already far more light being let in than when those in my generation were teenagers. Girls I knew were having abortions – and describing them to each other. I was 13 when I first heard a girl talk about what Garai talks about on stage – but on television there was little beyond Vera Drake. Sex education was rudimentary and came far too late, and period blood in advertisements was still blue. As one comment piece in response to the play argued, women play a part, too, in hiding their blood from their partners and sons.

It’s not just about seeing it, though, it’s about being made to feel it. If that feels shocking, or even disgraceful, then it’s probably high time it happened.

[graciegoeskrazy]

About me!

we are so close to 400 followers (YAY) so that means I gained a little over 200 in the span of a year (WHAT?) so I feel like an (re)introduction is necessary.

sooooooo......

Hi! You can call me Graci, Gracie, or GG.

Fun fact: Gracie is NOT my real name. It WAS a part of a stage name that I used when I worked professionally, but more on that later...

I'm 19 years old and I was born in October so I'm a Libra but idk what signs mean or what a rising or moon or sun is so I just say I'm a libra and hope people like me.

I was originally born in San Antonio, Texas, but I moved to New Orleans, Louisiana when I was 3. I am a NOLA girl through and through! I love my home and my city so much and I will eat a shrimp po boy or a plate of crawfish any day!

I just moved to NYC not long ago for college. I am a BFA Music Technology student! I play piano, guitar, drums, bass, ukulele, and I sing and produce! (I can't stand still)

I have been a swiftie since debut. I was babbling along to picture to burn before I could really speak. My favorite album is speak now, but favorite ERA is midnights, my favorite era on the TOUR is ttpd, and my top five favorite songs are...

Betty

Getaway Car

Better Man

The Bolter

The Other Side Of The Door

I wrote about Betty in my college essays and I got me 2 full ride offers soooo not bad! I love that song more than the waking world! and then the bolter she wrote about me no questions asked (thats where the Matilda Inspo came from lol)

I went to an arts conservatory and got my certificate with a Musical Theatre concentration! I have been dancing for 16 years and started working professionally in regional theatre, tour productions, film, and TV when I was about 12.

I started writing in 2022. (about to hit 3 years!) I've never taken it seriously, and I don't think I will become an actually author. I will admit, I think I am (although not as good as I used to be but) a pretty good writer. Definitely not the best, but for someone who has never had any experience or taken a single writing class in their life??? Pretty good right? I definitely didn't start out good (don't look at my old marvel work) but progress had definitely run it's course.

No one. not a single soul. (okay just one person) knows I write fan fiction. Idk why it's just no one around me like the fandoms or things I like so I just never brought it up and now I'm scared to admit it to anyone. I have this reoccurring dream that I'll die and my mom will open up my google drive and have a heart attack.

Tw: The last 5 years of my life have been rough as hell. I have struggled with anxiety, depression, self harm, ocd, adhd, and an eating disorder, but I am a happy healthier and a much stronger person because of it. I just hit 1,800 days clean from my ed! I'm grateful for who I am and the opportunities I have today.

That's me in a nutshell. It'll take a couple of glasses of wine to get everything else out of me but that's good for now.

v grateful for my little community on here <3

lots of love, Gracie <3

[artemesianerdmom]

Me in 40 years telling my grandchildren about the Force of Nature Tour:

It’s been a month and I’m still thinking about this concert.

Read more for the memories that continue to live rent free in my head.

Saturday October 5, 2024

The Bluestone

Columbus, OH

I previously wrote another post about the most memeable moment of the evening.

And yes, my husband and I are still memeing on it.

Shortly after we paid for parking, as I was trying to pull up the tickets on my phone, my husband said that he was fairly certain he’d seen Josh Ramsay go by on one of those electric rental scooters like a lot of big cities have at the end of the alley.

“At least I think it was Josh. I think he’s got a Mohawk,” my husband said.

“Oh, no that would be Mike. Mike’s the Mohawk guy,” I clarified.

I was skeptical that he’d actually seen one of the band members for about 10 seconds, thinking that he’d probably just seen some fan who also happened to have a Mohawk. But then I watched a guy who looked suspiciously like Matt Webb ride by on another scooter before Ian Casselman, who I recognized when he looked directly at us, brought up the rear. We later had a confirmed Mike Ayley sighting by the tour bus when we walked from the lot to get in the line for entry, but I personally didn’t see Josh until they took the stage.

There had been no lack of enthusiasm for either of their openers, but following an extended break for the crew to rearrange the stage and the lead-in song of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck,” the whole audience absolutely exploded at the first sounds of the rain in the opening of “A Normal Life.” I don’t recall the order in which they appeared, but Josh was the last as he approached the microphone, which lit up neon blue with a little MT visible at its base when he took to it to belt out “IIIIIIIDDDDLLLEEEE HANDS THAT LONG TO SPILLLLLL—“

My husband and I were lucky to get a good spot on the balcony after discovering once we got out of the merch line that the entire bottom floor was jam-packed. The balcony, too, was almost at capacity. There must have been at least a couple hundred people stuffed into the former sanctuary.

Josh marveled at how they managed to cram so many people into the venue, observing with a chuckle that we looked “cozy.”

“Cozy” was the mild way of putting it. At the next break he remarked that it was “hot as fuck” on stage and couldn’t imagine what it must have been like in the audience.

With that being said, it came as all that much more of a surprise when, during “Haven’t Had Enough,” Josh climbed down off the stage and wound his way through the crowd on the main floor.

Before proceeding to dedicate the band’s performance of “Cross My Heart/Celebrity Status” to all of the fans who’d been with them since Masterpiece Theatre, Josh asked for a show of hands for how many there were in the audience. We weren’t close to the stage, but I watched his face light up at the sight of all the people who raised their hands and cheered.

“Where the hell have you been?” he asked with an indignant huff. But then he laughed, “just kidding, I know it took us long enough to get here.”

At one point the rest of the band left the stage, leaving Josh there picking out tunes on his guitar. He admitted that they were trying to figure out what song to do next before he asked the audience, “do you want to sing with me?”

I didn’t go in expecting it to be live karaoke, but that’s kind of how I would describe my experience. I’m not complaining in any way, though; the energy in that room was absolutely electric the entire time, and singing the duet part of “Good to You” back to Josh was nothing short of magical.

There was a woman somewhere on the main level who yelled “I love you Josh Ramsay!” after that song. Not missing a beat, Josh looked up and said, with a laugh, “well thank you, voice in the darkness!”

As I memed in the beginning, hearing “Haven” performed live was genuinely the closest thing I’ve ever had to a religious experience. I can’t estimate how many times I’ve listened to the entire album, but I was almost in tears by the end. Part of it may have been that I knew the show would soon come to a close, but most of it, I think, was feeling all the emotions in the room. I could sense all the love that every person in the audience had for the band—my favorite band, who no one I’ve ever talked to knew about before I introduced them—and that made me so happy. Not just to be there, but also for the guys in MT and everyone else who made the show possible.

I left the Bluestone that night sweaty and winded from singing along with every song, but also with an unfaltering smile plastered across my face. I don’t know how I got to sleep after all that excitement, and a month later I’m still thinking about it.

[wanderingmind867]

I'll admit, I found Barry Allen a boring character before I read his solo stories of the 60s (honestly, I found a lot of 60s DC characters boring, like The Atom, for example). But in reading the comics, i've found he isn't nearly as boring as i assumed. Sure, he's not the most three dimensional character sometimes (and i think i still prefer quicksilver at marvel), but he's got at least one relatable trait: he can't stand roller coasters (I can't either).

Mike Frederich wrote a whole story about that, and it shockingly goes a long way towards humanizing him and fleshing him out to me. So Flash isn't a character I hate, and he does seem like a good person. Probably the most normal guy out of the whole founding JLA team (well, besides Snapper Carr, who is just a civilian). He's a man who hates roller coasters, apparently once did theatre stuff in college, likes dogs, etc. Most of those details came from Robert Kanigher or Mike Frederich, and I think they go a long ways towards making him seem like a well rounded character.

[sillyname30]

Darren Criss returns to Broadway alongside newcomer Helen J Shen in the futurist new musical Maybe Happy Ending, and PEOPLE has a first look at the pair in action.

The two actors — he an Emmy winner for his role in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, and she/they making her Broadway debut in the production — lead the four-person show that takes place on the outskirts of Seoul in 2060 and follows two humanoid-looking Helperbot robots near the end of their warranty who make a powerful new connection with one another after they're abandoned after their owners and traded in for newer models.

On paper, it's an offbeat concept for a story, but a romantic one that surprisingly shows the humanity in the small things that make any life worth living.

The internationally acclaimed duo of Will Aronson and Hue Park created the magical musical, penning its music (Aronson), lyrics (Park) and book (both Aronson and Park). Their work is also a technical marvel to watch, thanks to a stunning visual design developed by Tony Award nominee Dane Laffrey.

Direction comes from Tony Award winner and visionary artist Michael Arden (Parade, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Once on this Island), who is one of the industry's biggest talents and most sought-after directors.

In fact, it was Arden that drove Criss to the show, the actor told PEOPLE last month at his theatre-themed music festival ElseFest.

"He's been a longtime friend, and if you stick around long enough, you see your friends do cool things and you wonder, 'Oh, I hope one day I get to work with them.' And then that day finally came and he called me and here we are now," Criss said. "and I'm truly beside myself with gratitude and excitement. And I know that's a cliché thing for artists to say when they're promoting something, but I don't know any other way to express that. There's something special here and I can't believe I get to be a part of it."

Criss isn't just a part of it; he's also in a role he's never been in before: a veteran of the boards, leading Shen through her first show. The Glee breakout was made his debut on Broadway in 2012 as a replacement in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and has since starred in Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2015) and American Buffalo (2022).

"This is now my fourth Broadway show — which I can't believe I'm saying that, this is crazy. But Father Time is undefeated in the ring and he continues to throw his punches, so I am now in the senior position here. And that is one of the new experiences for me," he says.

"The great thing about youth is that it's always going to be there to remind you what is exciting about the next thing," Criss continues. "So it's a joy for me to be able to be present for Helen and the other members of our company as they make their ascents. It's a big moment; it can power cities, that excitement and that raw energy, and it's an exciting and invigorating thing to be around. So on top of the show being something that we genuinely love and are excited to be a part of it, it's this sort of unbelievably delightful cocktail that I'm just going to guzzle every day until it's time to go."

Preview performances for Maybe Happy Ending began on Oct. 16 at the Belasco Theatre in New York City. An opening date is officially scheduled for Nov. 12.

A Korean-language version was first performed at the DaeMyung Culture Factory in Seoul South Korea in 2016. That production subsequently won six Korean Musical Awards including best musical. It's been revived in Korea multiple times since, and has also been performed in Japan and China.

Arden directed the English-language, American premiere of the show at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia in 2020. It won the 2017 Richard Rodgers Production Award.

In addition to Criss and Shen, Maybe Happy Ending stars Dez Duron (NBC’s The Voice) and Marcus Choi (Wicked, Flower Drum Song).

Rounding out the production as understudies are Steven Huynh (Blue Bloods), Hannah Kevitt (Back to the Future: The Musical), Daniel May (Flower Drum Song) and Christopher James Tamayo (Les Miserables).

[watchmenanon]

A chat with Noah Schnapp, the 11-year-old Montrealer who voices Charlie Brown in The Peanuts Movie

'I listened to as much as I could find online to get the voice right. Winning the role took a lot of hard work'

Special to National Post

Published Nov 06, 2015

Noah Schnapp, the 11-year-old actor, son of former Montrealers Karine and Mitchell Schnapp, was selected to provide the pipes for the ever-flappable Charlie Brown in The Peanuts Movie after an extensive hunt. For good reason: his take is dead-on. It turns out that wasn’t accidental.

“In preparing for my recording audition, my mom told me to YouTube the old Peanuts Thanksgiving and Christmas specials to hear how Charlie Brown speaks,” the articulate Schnapp says in a phone interview from his family’s New York City base. “So I listened to as much as I could find online to get the voice right. Winning the role took a lot of hard work, but good fortune as well. There were a lot of other talented kids up for the part, too.”

After studying the character, Schnapp says, he can relate to Charlie Brown in a lot of ways. “Charlie never gives up, and I try never to give up either. And my dog Spaghetti is a bit like Snoopy — a real wise guy.”

Schnapp already has an impressive resumé — moviegoers can catch him in Steven Spielberg’s new Bridge of Spies, and will soon be able to see him in the indie feature, We Only Know So Much, based on the book of the same title.

He is commuting between New York and Atlanta, where he is in the midst of shooting Stranger Things, a supernatural thriller series for Netflix.

And he spent a portion of last spring in Park City, Utah, where he took part in the Sundance Directors Lab and played the lead in director Brent Green’s Untitled Loveless Fable. No surprise, Schnapp was the youngest person invited to the event, which was also attended by such heavies as Robert Redford and Ed Harris.

To top it all off, he was just listed in Variety’s Youth Impact Report as a rising star under 21 to watch out for.

Pretty heady stuff for a kid who only started acting in community theatre three years ago.

Schnapp plays the son of Tom Hanks’s negotiator character in Bridge of Spies, and is most convincing as a kid who’s concerned about a Soviet nuclear retaliation at the height of the Cold War. He dutifully learns the ludicrous duck-and-cover technique should a missile strike while he’s at school, and keeps his bathtub full of water should it strike while he’s at home.

“I have to be honest and admit that before I started working on that project, I actually didn’t know much about that period or who they (Hanks and Spielberg), were,” Schnapp says. “But you have to understand that I was only nine at the time.

“However, when we started pre-production, I watched most of their movies. Then I went: ‘Wow!’ I hadn’t realized how big and how important they were.”

He was particularly struck by Hanks’s manner.

“He’s just such a selfless, generous actor,” Schnapp marvels. “In most of his movies, he’s usually playing the hero and good guy, which is what he really is. He would always be holding on to my shoulder (during shooting), and putting me into the spotlight. And not just me — he was always trying to make everyone else shine, too. It was really such a great experience working with him and Steven Spielberg.”

Schnapp is nothing if not determined. Because of his lack of experience, he figured he was a long shot to land the roles in The Peanuts Movie and Bridge of Spies.

“It was kind of crazy — those were some of my first auditions,” he recalls. “I was very excited, but I didn’t really think I could get the work in Peanuts. Still, I really, really wanted it, because I knew I could do it. And I got it.

“It was the same thing for Bridge of Spies. It was crazy, too. Then I just started getting more and more roles.”

Apart from Hanks, he’s had some solid parental figures watching his back when he’s on the job. In We Only Know So Much, Jeanne Tripplehorn plays his mom, while Winona Ryder takes on that role in Stranger Things.

The Sundance Directors Lab was a great learning experience. “There were about 200 directors, actors and screenwriters. I learned that it was OK to experiment with scenes and improvise new lines. We were like a big family — everyone became my friend.”

Though he didn’t start acting until he was eight, Schnapp says he caught the bug two years earlier.

“After I saw Annie on Broadway, I came out of the show crying, because I wanted to be on that stage. Then when I watched TV, I just knew I wanted to be that person in the TV, too.”

[castlebyersafterdark]

It’s so intriguing how Joseph Quinn entered ST for one season and already has a burgeoning career way stronger than any of the actors who’ve been here for a decade (he’s in a quiet place, the fantastic four, gladiator II, a major alex garland A24 war film, a major elevated horror film, and more to come). It’s like damn, where’s this energy for any of the other cast members? agents, please step up 😤

especially noah’s agent. noah should’ve landed roles post ST2 just like finn did early on

Oh gosh I forgot about that man but yeah, he seems to be popping OFF with big roles. Marvel lead???? Wild. I never could have predicted that one but good for him. I know that Stranger Things has really long filming demands but others have managed to do big roles as well. Not gonna pretend I know that much about the intricacies of all their filming decisions, but it's certainly interesting. I really don't know why Noah wasn't in more (better) stuff in conjunction with ST but maybe it's what his family decided?

now this is all interesting because i agree with vinny about noah's post-ST career. ST is something of a bubble; did you see that parody where it was called 'the worlds favourite TV show every three years' ? basically, most people - the industry peeps who make things happen and the viewing public - forget about the show until a new season comes out. its a cultural phenomenon rather than a stalwart, and i think it's going to continue to generate a loyal fanbase for decades to come, much like nerd classics like star trek. i can totally see this cast coming back again and again for reunion cons but not necessarily having varied, successful careers.

i think they are great actors in ST, but something about the ensemble cast and the magic of the show is what works for me. everything i've seen anyone do outside of ST has been disappointing tbh. i thought finn had quiet beauty in Saving the World, but if I saw that and didnt know who he was, I probably wouldnt think he was a giant star or follow his career. The youngest actors especially, in s1 and s2 they threw so much of themselves into the roles that I believe these characters now belong to them, are part of them. (Imagine: it's 2050, and Stranger Things is being rebooted. I can see Finn and Noah coming back for cameo roles, Mr Clarke or something, and old fans going wild.)

But I don't feel that way with B characters like Eddie/Joe Quinn. You have to consider that he was hella charismatic and is considered a good actor, period, not just within the show: he's a seasoned british theatre actor with roots in the biz. he's sort of like what jonathan bailey is to bridgerton, getting all the roles despite his castmates being super talented too. it speaks volumes about the kind of characters that the general public want to see + that the industry is willing to write. we've seen the steddie fandom here: joe has one hell of a demographic lapping up his stuff, and he's riding a fame wave of hot white twenty-something male, similar to Paul Mescal... and considering how fast pop culture/hollywood moves these days, I wouldnt be surprised if he too fades away after a few years of great success (like J. Law). He could also fuck it up with one wrong comment and get cancelled within the year lol. It's just so hard to predict.

but vinny was probably right on with noah being young - child stars rarely expand beyond one franchise/film while theyre that small due to legal filming limits and school commitments etc, and because theres so few child roles in hollywood. so comparing a young noah's talent and career with joe quinn's, who was an adult when he joined ST, doesnt really make sense.

+ this isnt really on topic but i personally would prefer them to fade and be happy and healthy than grind away and become jaded by the industry or have many flops. i already think finn worked too hard as a teen and has basically developmentally lived his twenties before his teen years, and is now sort of going back to that teen mindset and experimenting with music and chilling and doing things a teen should. when he said he had abandoned his career goals to focus on personal ones like 'being comfortable in my own skin', i rejoiced and also cursed the whole fame thing for just being so fucked up. his goal is to be 'a happy and healthy older person' - i mean, that made me cry dude. the implications and subtext of that statement! and people are out here thinking they should all be happy and fine cos theyre rich and have fancy cars and all these fans. like, tell me you don't know anything about what it means to be human. 🙄

Excellent points and discussions, all very real. Agreed. Thank you !! ❤️❤️

[htlbellamuerte]

intro post!!

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

hello! i’m bella!! i’m a big nerd and love engaging in fandom content. i literally made this account for more general posts because i run two fandom-specific blogs and wanted to post about more stuff. about that…

riordanverse blog: @amazing-jason-grace

supernatural blog: @samwinchesterdefender

also tiktok: @htlbellamuerte

fandoms i’m in: supernatural, riordanverse (ESP heroes of olympus), teen wolf, fnaf, buffy, miraculous, marvel, anime (i’m an animetok 2020 survivor…), theatre (fav shows are sweeney todd and putnam county), and more!!

music i’m into: my chemical romance, panic! at the disco (until like pftw + certified b*endon disliker), ricky montgomery, lady gaga, abba, chappell roan + like a ton of other stuff because i am just a lover of music. i am also a fan of choral music and am a choir nerd :D

i don’t have a long ass dni list or anything but i DO request that you’re not a proshipper or like any of the -phobics. just don’t be weird please :))

i’ve never really done one of these before but like if any of that sounds interesting to you please feel free to follow because i would love to have fandom mutuals!! i swear i’m nice and i’m also like the funniest person ever so you should def follow me

[leseigneurdufeu]

Can you please when you have time ofc, write a list of the books any French high-school graduate should have read? Like the baccalaureate curriculum for example. I'm seeking to catch up my general knowledge of universal literature + attempt to read directly in French

Sure!

Now curriculum may vary and there was a reform of education since I left high school so it might have changed but what any french graduate should have read: (authors in bold, titles in italics)

Poetry (middle ages and early Renaissance):

Any three poems from Joachim du Bellay or other poets from the Pleiade. Most important is Heureux qui comme Ulysse.

Also look up who the Pleiade were.

16th and 17th centuries novels:

La Princesse de Montpensier, by Madame de Lafayette. 90 pages but very, very antiquated language.

Gargantua, by Rabelais. It's NOT cheating to take the modern-french translation. Native speakers do it. It's not cheating either to just dump it half-way through because you don't understand half of it. Native speakers do it too.

La Belle et la Bête, by Madame Leprince de Beaumont.

Any fairy tale by Perrault.

Les Liaisons Dangereuses, by Choderlos de Laclos. Please. Do. Not. Read. It. It's awful, the protagonist rapes a 15yo girl but it's ok because him loving her is making him into a better person (Yikes), the whole thing is about the protagonist and his long-time on-and-off girlfriend (who's married to someone else) teaming up to dirty/perverse two (maybe three?) innocent young ladies. It's studied because it's a classics, not because it's good. Please. Don't subject yourself to it.

Les Lettres Persannes, by Montesquieu. letters from a bunch of fictional characters to the others, two iranians (but at the time Iran was called Perse) visit France and criticize everything (way for Montesquieu to criticize but be able to say "nah it's my characters saying that not me"). TW of suicide and incest iirc. Not something too graphic either, since it's always second-hand testimonies or third-hand.

Theatre of the 17th and 18th centuries:

Le Cid, by Pierre Corneille.

At least one play by Molière. Can't recommand because I don't remember much of it. Do read summaries for a few of his plays though because some characters names have passed into common language to mean the type of characters they were (a Harpagon is going to be a greedy man, a Tartuffe a guy pretending to be devoted but being a hypocrite...)

Le Mariage de Figaro, by Beaumarchais. It's a political satire but also people are jumping from the window so that the husband doesn't find them in the lady's room. Basically.

If you fell in love with theatre at that point, you can look up Racine but fair warning, all of those have old language but Racine (along with Corneille) have very old language.

19th century novel:

Short version of Les Misérables, by Victor Hugo. I'd recommand the long one but only the short one is required and also the long one has 40 pages of description of the parisian sewers system with no relevance at all to the story and that's not the only long digression so... Do what you want.

A book by Honoré de Balzac, whichever you'd want. If you want to read the whole series, it might be best to look up the order on wikipedia, they'll know better than me. Basically him and the next author on the list had a bibliographic universe before Marvel made it cool. 60-or-so books with common characters but not the same protagonists. I'd recommand you simply go with Le Lys de la Vallée, slightly royalist and apparently the easiest to read? (so i've been told but i didn't read it myself so...)

Any book by Emile Zola. I'd recommand Au bonheur des dames because it has to be the only one with a happy ending and a cute romance out of the 40-and-more books by Zola.

Bel-Ami, by Guy de Maupassant. The protagonist has no morals but it's funny. Kinda.

Madame Bovary, by Gustave Flaubert. A tad bit depressing. Not the most interesting either. But it's one of the few that have been studied more than once in my schooling so I know it's an important one.

19th century theatre:

Hernani, a play by Victor Hugo. Tragedy, so a bit sad. But do look up the Battle of Hernani (sorry there's not a big choice of languages for this one on wikipedia). Basically founded the french romantic genre. Quite a scandal.

If per chance Hernani was love at first reading for you, you might also like Ruy Blas, still Hugo, although i found it a bit less good. If you want a ridiculously overdramatic, over-the-top movie freely inspired by Ruy Blas but in which no one dies, you've got La Folie des Grandeurs, a comedy with Louis de Funès.

Cyrano de Bergerac, by Edmond Rostand, and if the style of the author makes you want to read more, go for l'Aiglon, which is about Napoleon's son but is a bit sadder.

19th century poetry:

Les fleurs du mal by Baudelaire. Awful. Simply awful. I mean you can try a few. I hated them all. Not necessary to have read all of them by any mean.

20th century:

A Ionesco play, either La Cantatrice Chauve or Rhinoceros, for the Theatre de l'Absurde. La Cantatrice Chauve is funnier I think.

Actually I won't give you any novels from that century because most of the ones studied suck and also it's for post-bac (after graduation) studies so it doesn't fall under the ask.

Now if I had to give you a few classics to read, what I'd recommand:

Les Trois Mousquetaires, by Alexandre Dumas.

Le Comte de Monte-Cristo, (ibidem). Luckily this one is on substack format at the cristo account.

Notre-Dame de Paris, by Victor Hugo.

I think that's all. If you've got any more questions, about books or about whether or not it's worth reading That Book instead of watching an adaptation or reading a summary, or which adaptation of, for example, Les Miserables, is the best, I'm here to answer them.

[therossgarden]

Hi, I’m Ross! <3

(I will link my Ao3 account here when I’ll start posting there.)

A little more about me

I’m 19

I’m Italian

I’m a straight demisexual

I dream of being a published fantasy author

My tags

Ross rants — my tag for rants of all sorts

Ross writes — my little drabbles of writing

Ross writing — all the author memes/considerations I’ve ever reposted and commented on

Asks — asks of all sorts

Ross reading — book recs or reviews, fic recs or “advertisement” (I don’t like to call that, but I don’t know how else to say it😭)

Ross’ personal life ig — the tag where things end up in when I’m over sharing about my life

​tgfgwtw4palestine — stands for TheGirlFromGoneWithTheWind4Palestine. Every request for aid by Palestinian families in need of money and all fundraisers are there, if you wish to donate or spread the posts and boost them. I try to always verify if the accounts are shams or not, but if you want to be sure before donating or sharing, it’s at your own discretion. If you find out any of the accounts I’ve shared is a fake, contact me immediately and I will remove it.

Some fandoms I’m part of (I mostly post about IWTV and Marvel tho)

Interview with the vampire

Marvel

ATLA

Bridgerton

Percy Jackson

Disney classics

Brooklyn 99

Jane Austen verse (mostly Pride and Prejudice)

Mamma Mia, Hamilton, Heathers (yes I’m a theatre kid)

Taylor Swift

Barbie

And more!

My fav characters

Lestat de Lioncourt (IWTV)

Louis de pointe du lac (IWTV)

Steve Rogers (MCU)

Bucky Barnes (MCU)

Mai (ATLA)

Zuko (ATLA)

Azula (ATLA)

Elizabeth Bennet (Pride and Prejudice)

Raymond Holt (B99)

Kate Sharma (Bridgerton)

My OTPs/ships I like

Loustat (IWTV) {number one OTP of all time, OTP of IWTV}

Stucky (MCU) {number two OTP of all time, OTP of MCU}

Maiko (ATLA) {number three OTP of all time, OTP of ATLA}

Kataang (ATLA)

Kanthony (Bridgerton) {OTP of Bridgerton}

Rapunzel x Flynn Rider (Disney)

Mulan x Li Shang (Disney)

Percabeth (PJO)

Sokkla (ATLA) {yes it is a crackship. I am a Sukka fan but Sokkla has completely taken over my brain so there it is}

Bonus: Tayvis {I like the couple itself, but I’m not actively shipping them because I do not feel comfortable with shipping real people farther than commenting on how cute they look}

Characters/ships I don’t like

Tony Stark (MCU)

Peggy Carter (MCU)

Kei lo (ATLA)

Steggy (MCU, Steve x Peggy)

Stony (MCU, Steve x Tony)

Zutara (ATLA, Zuko x Katara)

Jinko (ATLA, Jin x Zuko)

Mai Lo (ATLA, Mai x Kei lo)

Incest ships from any fandom that isn’t GoT or HoTD

Please DNI if

You are racist, homophobic, xenophobic, transphobic, a Zionist, promote animal cruelty and genocide, a pedophile, a rapist, a TERF, an Andrew Tate/Elon Musk/Donald Trump fan or a bully

You are under 18. While I do not post overly sexual stuff, I occasionally use colorful language, and advise you to not interact with me if you can’t handle it. If you still choose to visit my profile, it might be at your own risk.

You can’t ignore the difference in taste regarding characters or ships. If you like Tony or Zutara, that I do not like, or any other thing I listed above you are still welcome here, just know that I am not responsible of your contempt if you choose to stick around and end up stumbling upon a negative rant about your favs. If you are conscious to lack the needed restraint, please feel free to block me. I’d rather not have hostility under my posts.

You support genocide. I already said this, but I feel like repeating it is important.

You don’t like Multi fandom blogs

You are a troll of any kind

You don’t like rants/long posts, I tend to write a lot of those

A little warning about my boundaries

Although I try to be polite with everyone I interact with, I do not take any form of disrespect towards my posts, my time or my analysis lightly.

I will not be nice in any way if you are hostile or rude towards me unprovoked, If I don’t like your attitude, I will block you.

I am very open in regards of my takes. Im not afraid of sharing them or discuss them when it’s appropriate. But if you are arrogant in your analysis or rant, I will block you. Your argument isn’t with me just because I posted someone else’s take. It’s not that deep either.

I will NOT be kind or polite when the precise general public I am addressing is fundamentally an asshole with no morals, and the reason to address them is to criticize them. If you are a group of ignorant fat shamers (example), I will treat you with the same courtesy you gave to those you fiercely insult, because you do not deserve my respect. I AM petty and I believe in treating people how they deserve to be treated. If you don’t like my take on this, I kindly ask you to get out of my blog and block me.

If you don’t like what I say or how I say it, feel free to block me. If whatever bothers you is not directed to you, then feel free to ignore or block me. I am not willing to put up with your agendas and tantrums because you don’t like a choice of words I’ve used.

If these terms aren’t ok with you then I’m sorry to see you go, if not, stick around on this blog of crazy girlies <3

[updated: 9/11/2024]

[raphaelapproves]

RAPHAEL AND HAARLEP // MAIN // @thishouseofhope

This will be a long post largely as the other writer involved is not on tumblr and all of this has been plotted and written on discord. This is the relationship between Raphael and Haarlep, as written with my friend Bro.

This is the default when interactions are specific/isolated to this blog rather than a plotted wider verse with others, or with writers of the characters involved, such as Shadow's Haarlep at hopeteased [ with whom I have another verse and will be making another post about that relationship at some point; theirs is the main Haarlep I will write with outside of my default canon explained below ].

Though Bro and I have two different verses that depend on in-game choices, the gist of it remains the same at the start and only diverge later. In the one verse, Haarlep doesn't betray Raphael to the adventurers when they go to the House of Hope. In the other verse, he does.

|| two halves of heart and soul || { Raphael & ███ }

Raphael had always been an outcast in his father's home, from the furthest back he can remember. By nature, he was more of a bard than a wizard or a fighter or any other such useful thing. He loved reading—historical accounts, arcane knowledge, though nothing so much as poetry. He loved everything to do with drama and theatre. He was also very fond of the arts in general, and has a certain knack for drawing and painting and so on. He was an artist and a poet, and that was unacceptable to his father and fitting of mockery in the eyes of everyone else in his father's halls. All except one, a young incubus who was, comparatively, quite near to his age, and not quite yet in service. ███ was intrigued by Raphael—by the oddity of him, by his love for poetry and learning, by the fact that he was far softer than all the others within Mephistopheles' domain, perhaps even in all the hells—and befriended him, showing compassion when others of the stronghold would harass or harm him. To be accepted for exactly who he was when everyone else had made it quite clear that he was wrong, broken, lesser, weak… That meant the absolute world to Raphael. To have one person who didn't look at him with derision or scorn or hatred or disappointment… but who, instead, marveled at his difference, at his mind, at his passion for his crafts. The two became close friends. Were it not for Raphael fearing how his father might react to his interest beyond use with a 'lesser' creature, they would have been inseparable. As it was, they stole moments to sit and talk together. The incubus became his muse and his confidante and his best friend as they grew older and, though it never crossed into sexual intimacy, the two were extremely close in every other way. Raphael even swore to them that one day he would see them freed from his father and he would steal them away to remain with him. The two were deeply in love, even if the words were never said, even if it was never openly acknowledged, even if Raphael didn't realize it until only just before it was too late. Because, in the end, it was only a lovely fantasy that could never become reality. His father knew, had known for some time but allowed the absurdity to continue to play out for his own amusement, all the while mocking his son to others. He assumed Raphael had become enamored, charmed by the incubus, but that it was a passing fancy. When it became clear that it was otherwise, Mephistopheles intervened. ███ disappeared. Raphael could find them nowhere. He was utterly distraught, but had to disguise it lest his father wield it against him the same as he did every other perceived weakness or wrongness. Mephistopheles was the one who broached the topic, all saccharine condolences for the 'loss'. He refused to say more, claiming that the details would only upset his son—as though that had ever before mattered to him. Raphael knew it was only his way of torturing him further, perhaps for the embarrassment of his son having been running about with so lowly a creature. Had it merely been a physical relationship of convenience, Mephisto might well have left it alone. But the truth of it, the fact that it was actual love, was an embarrassment. Raphael never really recovered from the loss. On the one hand, it motivated him to become stronger and more powerful, made him aspire to one day be rid of his father, to prove himself enough, perhaps even better. [ Nevermind that he pushed himself so hard because he hadn't been enough then, when the person closest to him in all the realms needed him to be. ] However, it also only aggravated already existing insecurities and issues, as well as made him unwilling to get truly close to anyone again, often keeping people at arm's length, all the while making them see him as a friend, an ally, a savior.

MORE BELOW THE CUT.

Upon Raphael acquiring a house for himself, Mephistopheles presented his son with a gift, a mockery aimed at his previous 'secret' relationship—an incubus named Haarlep. Mephistopheles' oh so gracious 'gift' was in poor shape when Raphael received him and brought him to the House of Hope. Whether it was simply the condition of the other, the fact that Mephistopheles had meant to mock him, the fact that this was just another broken being due to his father, or perhaps something else entirely. Regardless, Raphael set about the course of getting him cleaned up and healed, on a path to recovery. Knowing that he had little interest in keeping a lover after he had lost his dear one, yet knowing that the other would require certain things to feed, he drew up a contract to make sure he saw to what was required. During the course of this, Haarlep took up Raphael's form, originally as an ill-conceived attempt for Raphael to better invest in the other and, in a more practical sense — for most, the benefits of your personal incubus taking on your form would be rather *mindblowing*… [ A Not Safe For Work Sidenote: Raphael had no prior experience with such matters, as surprising as some might find it, and, as it turns out, he gets overstimulated very easily. Hence the commentary about him being 'bad in bed'. The fact of the matter is that it was just way too much and he wasn't able to be quite so present during. Without the experience to what the issue was, Raphael just assumed he was the problem and just had to bear with it and eventually it would get better with exposure. It didn't. The issue persisted, which only made him more convinced that he was somehow the problem, hence the insecurity over the issue and how angry and hurt he gets when the player characters says what they can say. He hates not being good enough. He hates even more being bad at anything. It was a constant source of frustration for him, as well as for Haarlep who just started to assume he just wasn't interested. ]

But, back to the topic at hand. Over the years Raphael and Haarlep did grow close, despite Raphael knowing why Mephistopheles had gifted him. What better way to keep an eye on a threat? Much like a widower, Raphael carried guilt over the feelings slowly developing for Haarlep as he never really stopped grieving his first love, which led to a lot of guilt and turmoil. Much as Raphael's mind itself is a rollercoaster of extreme highs and devastating lows, as I have mentioned in another post, the relationship was no different, several periods of the two being quite close, interspersed with periods of Raphael being distant and moody, throwing himself fully into his work to the detriment of everything else—and Haarlep being frustrated, feeling helpless to solve the problem that he knew existed when, truly, only he could. For more details as well as events leading up to the game and during it, with permission of my friend, I have copied the threads into my carrd, that they can be read like fanfictions by anyone who is curious to know more. It is broken into the two verse categories: The Devil You Know [ non-betrayal ] and A Devil of a Time [ betrayal ].

They can be found here: || two halves of heart and soul ||

[dreamgirledward]

12, 14 and 16 for the movie asks

hi!! thank u :))

12: Which movie has your favorite soundtrack?

ooohhh SUPER hard to answer but probably a tie between lotr and the holiday (i am a hoe for nancy meyers) :')

14: Who is your favorite director? Why?

to probably no one's surprise, taika waititi (sofia coppola is a close second!!!). i think i realized he was becoming my favourite when i saw wwdits in theatres back in high school. a couple years after that, boy was screening at the tiff lightbox (tiff screens theatrical releases but also will have more themed or event-based screenings of all kinds of films) and i was feeling kinda lost at that point in my life - this was before i made the change to study film, i was in university but was kinda freaking out about my future because of how unhappy i was. anyway, i knew i loved wwdits and didnt think id have a chance to see boy in theatres before since it came out years prior - id seen boy at that point but never on a big screen, i mean - so i got a ticket on a whim and i just remember crying my eyes out the whole way home (which was a mortifying hour long subway ride 💀). then hunt for the wilderpeople came out a year after that and the rest was history lol. he's described his films as stories that focus on people on the fringes, people who are different, but there's always a family dynamic to be found no matter what it may look like for these 'outsiders', which has always drawn me to his storytelling technique, but there's also the added element of playful whimsy that provides so much comfort even when the story itself can get quite dark or sobering (a perfect example of this would also be jojo rabbit). i tend to like stories with that kind of balance, and i think he excels in that regard. he was also an artist before he ever considered filmmaking, an aspect i can (kind of) share as I used to want to be an artist when i was a kid. i used to paint and draw constantly but stopped a long time ago. aside from all the typical stuff about him everyone knows, i do admire filmmakers/editors that share a similar characteristic, which is that if they could choose, they choose to work with and support people they care about (within their own community, their friends, etc) and that's how i hope to continue to be as I build on my career. he's been very transparent about taking jobs that pay the bills (re: marvel) but repeatedly chooses to work with old friends and be drawn to more indie projects that reflect his roots, which i respect as someone who wants to make my passion projects a reality, but on the side as I work towards a more stable career.

16. How do you feel about people talking during movies being watched at home?

it depends! if it's something someone hasnt seen, im always gonna be shushing other people (or THEM) to pay attention. i personally hate having to pause and explain things for someone when they arent taking the opportunity to actually listen but will ask a bunch of questions anyway. my parents are especially bad with this 🥲 so im used to getting frustrated and having to pause and explain. it's even worse if you're the one showing someone a movie that you love and they're talking throughout because you want them to enjoy it properly :') but if it's a movie we've all seen, i dont really care about talking throughout lmao

movie questions ask game!

[multiverseofimagines]

Hello lovely! Could I get a male Stranger Things, MCU and Harry Potter ship please? Thank you so much! If three is too much than just a Stranger Things ship! Much love!

APPEARANCE: I am 21 year old straight female, she/her pronouns, I’m 5’1” with somewhat long dirty blonde/brown hair, I’m curvy and I should be wearing glasses but alas I do not. I like having my nails painted either black or red or both. My style is a mix of girly and gothic, I wear lots of skirts and dresses and frilly socks but also fishnets and dark colors and cardigans or flannels. I love wearing rings and dainty earrings. I love things with lace and Peter Pan collars.

PERSONALITY: I think I’m infp and enfp? I’m mature when I need to be and quiet, but once you get to know me I’m bubbly and weird. I have pretty bad anxiety so I will get nervous over everything and anything, I’m paranoid as well at times. I love making others laugh and happy, I can be awkward at times also but I cope with humor. I try to help everyone around me, I shove my feelings to the side most of the time if someone needs help- often times putting others before myself. I guess in certain aspects I’m kinda nerdy?? ( I am also a hufflepuff )

INTERESTS/HOBBIES: I love animals, gardening, reading and writing, painting, musical theatre which I’ve done for ten years. I love to sing dance and act, help others, I enjoy raising caterpillars into butterflies. music ( Lana del rey, imagine dragons, mother mother, show tunes, poor man’s poison, fall out boy, etc ) I like collecting things like pins or random nicnacs.

You sound so much like me! We should def be friends < 3

Stranger Things

I ship you with….

Solid choice here actually! You guys are similar in your own unique ways, similar personalities, both nerdy, etc.

Loves and admires how selfless you are but will always take care of you well, and make sure that you take care of yourself for once.

Comforts you through your anxiety and uses humour to help you cope with that.

Knew you were a bit shy and quiet and would over compensate for that so you would feel less awkward about it. Would he 10x as loud, making conversation for the both of you.

Literally down for you so bad ! (sorry not sorry) your his dream girl???

Will ask you to come on tour with him and his band once they get big. You guys would definitely live on the road for a bit, and he would always give you a shoutout before every performance.

Has written a bunch of love song’s for you.

(Im at work rn and time after time started playing at the salon) literally cant help but imagine you two going to prom together and dancing to this like 😭 I’m crying anywayyy

Marvel Universe

Definitely Peter! I know that’s probably such an opposite from Eddie, but they are a little similar in a lot of ways.

You two are extremely similar personality wise! Both Hufflepuffs, both infp/enfp, both of you are awkward and use humour to deflate situational mishaps.

Best friends to lovers??? I hear wedding bells 🔔

Always there to listen about your worries and doesn’t judge your paranoia. He may not relate to all of it, but definitely will listen and ask you questions that ground you.

Harry Potter Universe

I went sort of a different route with this one ! Sirius is a bit darker of a character than the first two but I feel like he has a lot in common with Eddie as well.

You guys are complete opposites but thats why I picked him. You would definitely be his protector rather than the other way around.

He has been through so much and you are a constant in his life, always there to comfort him, and reassure him.

Really gets you out of your shell, and always makes you laugh hysterically.

You definitely help him avoid Azkaban and you two run away together to the muggle world to hide until the events involving the golden trio occur.

(this was terrible and I was depressed for months but uhh fuck it !! 🥲 hopefully my shit explanations can be overlooked and you can feel awesome for being paired with all the amazing guys lol. If your even gonna get a notif got this. Again so sorry my cat almost died and so much stuff has happened but hope you are well anon.)