#if oscar wilde can do it so can i because i am better than oscar wilde

[cupidsncheerios]

love how in human radiostatic fics everyone describes alastor's life like

"alastor had long since become accustomed to new orleans' sweltering days, and early into his adulthood he had gained an affinity for the comfort provided by the humid air and the scent of blood, bayou water and beignets that he could always trick himself into sensing, even during his worst moments."

whereas vox's life is always just

"vox turned the corner and saw the hollywood sign. he kept walking."

[atinylittlepain]

ok so given that the oscars just happened, imagine a joel x actress!reader. before everything went to shit joel was a normal human being who loved watching movies and like any basic person had a celebrity crush. fast forward and the world has gone to shit and joel and ellie (and maybe tommy too) go on a patrol that goes wrong and get saved by miss “i just smashed a guys head in with my oscar” or something like that, just a fluff and fun imagine that isnt gonna break my heart in a million pieces like last nights episode

oh my god, your mindddddd - I love this idea :)

Big Fan

Joel Miller x actress!reader

Joel Miller masterlist

Joel recognizes her right away. After all, she starred in his favorite movie of all time.

warnings | 18+ a little angst, nothing wild, this is fluff through and through

Read part two!

.......................

“Are you–”

“I am.”

“You were in–”

“I was.”

“Well I’ll be damned.” 

“Alright, somebody better start speaking in full sentences, because I have no clue what the hell is going on.” Joel huffs, glancing at Ellie who's looking at him like he’s gone crazy, her gun still cocked at the woman in front of them.

“What? You don’t recognize her, kid? I just showed you Curtis and Viper.” Ellie’s brow furrows, but then she looks back at the woman and her eyes finally widen in recognition.

“Holy shit.” The woman laughs, eyes still focused on the barrel of Ellie’s gun.

“That’s not usually the movie people recognize me from. But I suppose it was my big break.” Joel nudges Ellie, muttering for her to put her “damn gun away, jesus christ,” and she quickly tucks it back in her belt.

He’s trying to not be weird right now, they did just kill five clickers together, but he’s finding it hard not to lose his cool over the woman who had been a silly crush of his since he first saw that cheap action movie as a teenager. He knows she did much better films afterward, remembers hovering behind the couch one night while Sarah was watching one of those awards shows, lingering just a bit longer when he saw her giving an acceptance speech with a blinding smile in a dress that probably cost more than his house. She’s certainly less elegant-looking now, but even after twenty years in a world like this, he can’t help the quick kick of his heart at actually meeting this woman in the flesh.

He clears his throat, also trying to clear his mind.

“Are you alone?” She sighs, wiping the blade of her knife on her jeans before sliding it back into its sheath.

“I wasn’t, and then I was. We were headed toward a settlement we heard about, I think a bit further north from here?” Joel keeps his expression steady, but can feel Ellie glancing at him. Movie star or not, he knows they have to be careful about who finds out about Jackson. But apparently, this woman isn’t just pretty, and she seems to pick up on the heavy pause after what she said.

“Do you two know about the place I’m talking about? Are we close?” Joel, sighs, looking at Ellie before making a decision that Tommy is probably going to smack him for later.

“We, um– we’re from there, actually. If you’re talking about where I think you’re talking about.” She huffs out a laugh, and offers them that megawatt smile Joel remembers seeing on his TV screen. Ellie, meanwhile, scoffs, crossing her arms over her chest as she glares at Joel.

“No shit. Do you think you have room for one more?” Joel’s eyes dart once more to Ellie, just seeing the subtle shake of her head, but he chooses to ignore it. How could he say no to the woman who had, embarrassingly, been one of his first wet dreams?

��You’ll have to talk with my brother, but I’m sure you’ll be welcome to stay on.” Megawatt, megawatt, megawatt. He reckons that smile could melt steel beams.

…

“Joel, what the fuck–”

“Ellie–”

“No, what are you thinking? If not Tommy, Maria’s gonna be so pissed she’ll probably cut your balls off.” He shushes the girl, glancing ahead at the woman hiking further in front of them.

“Look, she’s all alone– hardly a threat– and she’s looking for somewhere to stay–” She scoffs.

“Oh, so this has nothing to do with the way your eyeballs practically popped out of your head just looking at her?” He grumbles, hand tightening around the strap of his rifle.

“You just mind your own business, alright? I’ll take care of it.” Ellie huffs, starting to trudge further ahead of him, but not before muttering out “whatever you say, fanboy.” Joel is stunned still by her words.

“Where the hell did you get that word from?” She turns on her heel, walking backwards for a beat as she smirks at him.

“One of those old magazines. Pretty sure she was on the front page if you wanna borrow it.” Before he can get a word in edgewise, she’s already turning back around and continuing their hike back to Jackson.

…

“Holy shit. Joel, look who it is!” Joel grunts, nudging Tommy out of his starstruck stupor.

“Yeah, I know. Just hiked five miles with her.” Tommy laughs, slapping him on the back before grinning at her.

“It’s real nice to meet you. You know, Joel here had your poster on his bedroom wall–” The nudge he gives his brother this time is a little less friendly, causing Tommy to grumble and rub his arm. She, however, takes it in stride, laughing lightly as she shifts in her boots.

“I’m flattered, really. It’s, um, it’s nice to meet you, Tommy.” Tommy’s eyes go wide.

“I can’t believe you just said my name. This is crazy–”

“Tommy.” Joel cuts his brother off with a hard look before he embarrasses himself anymore. He clears his throat, seeming to get a hold of himself as Joel continues.

“She had been traveling with a group, looking for this place. She’s the only one left though. Was hoping to join the town.” Tommy grins again, glancing between her and Joel.

“Well, I’m sure we can make that happen. I think Joel would kill me if I didn’t let–” He squeezes Tommy’s shoulder hard, willing him to shut his mouth. 

“That little house next to ours is still empty. Why don’t we set her up there?” Tommy’s smile at his brother’s words is all too smug for Joel’s taste, but he still nods, turning his attention back to her.

“If that’s alright with you, ma’am. I’ll let the folks know to turn the gas and electric back on for that place.” She smiles brightly at that.

“That would be amazing. Thank you so much. I owe you all big time.” Tommy snorts.

“I’m pretty sure you can pay Joel back with an autograph, he’d probably cre—“ Joel’s heard enough, resorting to kicking Tommy in the ankle to shut him up. Ellie huffs from where she’s watching their pathetic display.

“Alright, well if you two freaks are done making fools of yourselves, I’ll show her over to that house.” 

…

When Joel gets home, the first thing he does is look at that DVD. He had found it a week or two ago on a patrol shift, left in a hollowed-out RV. Ellie was less than impressed and Maria refused to show it at movie night because it’s so gory, but he held onto it anyways. He can still remember going to see it in the theater with Tommy, both of them too young to get in if not for their friend working the ticket booth. He flips the case over in his hands, and sure enough, there she is on the back cover, looking impossibly beautiful while firing a machine gun. What’s not to like, right?

He’s broken out of his revelry by the sound of the front door opening, and soon enough, Ellie is stomping up the stairs to come looking for him. When she finds him in his bedroom, sitting on the end of his bed, she glances at the DVD he’s holding, a grin spreading over her face.

“Just like you remember, huh, old man?” He grumbles, getting up to set the movie back on the bookshelf before turning back to Ellie.

“She settling in alright?” She hums, nodding lightly.

“Yep, made a beeline for a shower. Told me to thank you. I told her you’d be coming around for your autograph later.” His face crumples in indignation while Ellie lets out a cackle.

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding. But in all seriousness, I think she’s interested– in you– which pains me to even say, but, I figure you deserve to know that the woman of your pubescent dreams was asking questions about you.” Joel’s jaw goes slack, his eyebrows shooting up his forehead.

“She– she was asking about me?” Ellie nods around a smirk.

“Mmhmm. And I told her you’re a grumpy old bum who doesn’t take kindly to strangers.” He huffs, but she laughs again.

“Sorry, kidding again. I didn’t tell her much. Just that you’ll be around. But if I were you, I’d “be around” sooner rather than later, before the rest of Jackson gets a piece of her. Snatch her up before there’s sweeter bait to bite down on, you know?” He thinks briefly that he needs to see just what sort of magazines this kid is reading, because he can’t quite believe what’s coming out of her mouth. He grumbles, shaking his head at her antics.

“There ain’t gonna be any snatching going on. Just mind your–” She huffs, already walking out of his room.

“Mind my business, yeah, yeah, I know. But think about what I said, old man. Better cast your line quick for this one. My guess is you weren’t the only one who had her poster in your bedroom back before.” 

He’s not letting that kid read magazines anymore.

…

When he steps out on his porch later in the afternoon, fully intent on what Ellie has affectionately started calling his “adult nap time,” he’s interrupted by someone calling his name. He catches sight of her sitting on the porch of the little house next door, waving and smiling at him like it’s the most normal thing in the world.

“Hey, neighbor.” He tentatively waves back, but that doesn’t seem to satisfy her as she motions for him to join her. He sighs, rather stiffly walking over to her porch and joining her on the bench seat, keeping a very respectable distance between them. Clickers, raiders, general imminent danger, he can handle. Pretty lady? That’s touchy. Pretty lady who he imagined marrying as a teenager? Just put him out of his misery already. He knows it’s ridiculous, that none of that matters now. She’s just as worn and weathered as the rest of them by this crumbled world. But that smile she keeps flashing him might just bring him to his knees.

“I wanted to thank you– for bringing me along. I was, uh, starting to lose hope back there a little bit.” He nods, glancing at her.

“No need for thanks. Just the right thing to do in this world. I’m sorry– about your group. I don’t know what happened, but that couldn’t have been easy being out there on your own.” She shrugs, waving off his sentiment.

“It was barely a group to begin with. Just some folks who happened to get out of the San Francisco QZ together.” His brain is quickly trying to knit together the movie star he remembers from the past and this woman who sits before him now, an obvious edge to her.

“Were you in California? Back when everything…” She nods, her face set in a grim look.

“LA, where else? Now that was a nightmare. I bet the only worse place to be when everything went down was New York. Bodies everywhere. Don’t think I’ll ever forget it.” She lets out a humorless laugh before glancing at him.

“That movie you like so much? I remember when I got the role, I had no idea how I was gonna pull it off. Grizzled heroine with a dark past and a penchant for violence. I was nothing like her. But now, I feel a whole lot more like her and a whole lot less like me.” She sighs, shaking her head.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know why I dumped that on you.” Joel is quick to shake his head, leaning over his thighs to catch her gaze.

“No, no. I get it– in my own way, I guess. The world changed and– we had to change with it.” That coaxes a crooked smile out of her as she looks at him. A simple silence descends between them as they share quiet smiles. She finally giggles, scrunching her nose at him.

“That girl– Ellie? I think she said something about you wanting an autograph?” Joel can feel the hot blush creeping up his neck as his face goes slack. She just splits out in a laugh, tipping her head back in delight.

“I’m sorry, I’m kidding. But, you know, what I went by, what people still call me, that isn’t my real name.” Joel’s eyebrows quirk up and she sighs, shaking her head.

“Just a stage name. I don’t really mind people calling me that, but can I tell you my real name?” He can feel the smile tugging at his mouth as he nods. Before he knows what she’s doing, she’s taking his hand into her lap, slowly tracing out her name with her finger across his palm. An autograph, of sorts. He’s pretty sure his brain short-circuits, just barely stringing together her name as she finishes. He murmurs it lowly and she offers him her brightest smile yet, still holding his hand lightly in her own.

“And you’re Joel, right?” He’s only a little embarrassed by how quickly he nods.

“Mmhmm. Miller– Joel Miller, yep.” She lets out a breathy laugh, now clasping his hand in a firm shake.

“It’s nice to really meet you, Joel Miller.” 

[shoutosbaeby]

This is my first post ever and I’m pretty new on this so bear with me here 😭😭

I’m not exactly the biggest bnha fan but I’ve always really liked Shoto, Monoma and Hawks. Especially Shoto. But whenever I see fanfics or smau’s or one shots, (you name it), in my opinion he’s 99% of the time VERY mischaracterized.

Call me crazy (I am) but I kinda sorta psychoanalyzed his character and here are A FEW of my head canons :))

Feel free to disagree ofc and I mean absolutely no hate to anyone these are just my opinions !!

★ - He’s not morally good, per se, but morally complex. He’s a good person for sure but doesn’t exactly always do what is “heroic.” For example, if there was a battle going on and Shoto had to choose between saving 10 civilians or a loved one, (e.g Rei) he would definitely choose to save Rei.

★- He’s not as dense as people think he is. Shoto is usually portrayed as dense when it comes to girls flirting with him or sarcasm. But I don’t think he’s always like that. Especially because he’s quite sarcastic himself. I think over time he’d start understanding things like that a lot more. I also think he’s secretly really funny lmao. He’d have peak dark humor.

★- Sleep deprived but not exactly an insomniac. It’s canon that Shoto can sleep at anytime in any environment, but we all know he has PTSD. I feel like he’d have nightmares really often and would avoid sleeping because of that. It’s not that he can’t sleep, he just doesn’t want to.

★- The way he got over his trauma so quickly in anime was kind of unrealistic in my opinion. I feel like he’d only JUST processed some of it and hadn’t exactly gotten over it. It would definitely take more time than just a few months.

Okay so here are some cute/funny ones !!

★- DEFINITELY plays piano and guitar. I feel like he was forced to learn piano as a kid and learnt guitar and got better at it to be petty.

★- A lot of people headcanon that he’d be a Mitski fan but I think that’s more of a Deku thing. Shoto would be a Nirvana, Deftones and Radiohead kind of guy. Maybe he’d even listen to the neighborhood or Lana Del Rey. (Off topic but I DEEPLY believe that Bakugo listens to Ayesha Erotica religiously.)

★- LOVES to rile Bakugo up. Shoto just enjoys the way Bakugo gets mad lol. He definitely provokes the guy a lot when they’re hanging out. (They’re best friends, Bakugo is just in denial)

★- He’d either be straight or bi. (imo)

★- Has watched mean girls (Karen is his fav)

★- Shoto would read books by Osamu Dazai, Oscar Wilde, Charlotte Brönte, Kazuo Ishiguro, Haruki Murakami and is a deathnote fan.

★- He’s pretty cold, quiet and reserved but has a kind heart. But he’s also quite rude lol. Shoto is the type of person to say it how it is and be as blunt as anyone could be.

★- He loves cats and cats love him.

★- Unlike a lot of people say, I don’t think his texts would have good grammar and he wouldn’t send long texts. I feel like he’d try to keep his texts as short as possible because he just can’t be bothered. And I also think the only emojis he uses are “💀🖕😒”

★- Definitely doesn’t speak formally or properly. It’s canon that he’s really blunt and rude. Basically a quieter and more sarcastic version of Bakugo. Shoto is probably very rude but not always on purpose lol. (On purpose a lot of the time, though)

Anyway these are just some of my headcanons for Shoto ^3^

Please keep in mind this is just my opinion !!

[the-bi-space-ace]

“Send me a character” ask but I want to ask for both Arthur and John from Malevolent if possible. 💜

Of course you can ask for both 🩶

Arthur:

Favorite Thing: he gives off my favorite traits in a character: sad, traumatized, angry, and genuinely caring. He is The Character. Also I love horror.

Least Favorite Thing: he tends to judge people based on his own biases really quick. Very human of him so I love it from a writing and character perspective but it is one of his least desirable traits.

Favorite Line: “Daddy should’ve taught you to tie a better knot.” ARTHUR LESTER WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!? I cannot believe that came out of his mouth I am SHOCKED say it again Arthur. That was the coolest he’s ever been.

brOTP: genuinely it’s him and Peter, his partner who is dead. I wish we got to see more of them because Peter sounds like the BEST MAN.

OTP: I’m gonna say something wild. I want Arthur, Oscar, and John to be a weird mind bendy throuple and I’m not sorry about it. Any relationship Arthur is in is always between Arthur&John and someone else so I would gladly take that relationship any day of the week.

nOTP: ya know what I’ve not seen much in the Malevolent fandom that I can’t get behind. My nOTP is Arthur and Sleep.

Random headcanon: he really loves his hair played with. Like. Realllly loves it. He will fall asleep if someone does it to him. It hasn’t happened in so long he just wants to be loved 😭

Unpopular opinion: I actually really vibe with his ‘fuck around and find out’ attitude and I think more characters should be his level of gremlin energy. I love that he’s angry and vicious and he puts out this ‘don’t fuck with me’ vibe into the world. I love how intense he can be. How he’s so raw and real and has this amazing humanity to him that gets twisted and betrayed and I love it. I love how complicated he is. That he’s done bad things. That he’s hurt people. That sometimes he straight up doesn’t feel bad about it. I wish more characters had that kind of effort put into them. Podcasts do something that visual media rarely ever pulls off: perfecting the character work with the plot.

Song I associate with them: Fear & Delight by The Correspondents

Favorite picture of them: this art is excellent

John

Favorite thing: he’s a terrifying god trapped in a man’s head and he’s the equivalent of a cat. I love this energy he has. He’s a clingy, loud, ball of fury. The perfect killing machine in an itty bitty package.

Least favorite: he can be incredibly selfish and very manipulative and it hurts not only Arthur but also himself and the people around them.

Favorite Line: This Too Shall Pass. Classic.

OTP: same answer 🩶🩶🩶 although I ship him more with Arthur than Oscar but still. Weird other worldly throuple where he once tried to have Arthur kill Oscar and now they're all just like kinda chill about it.

brOTP: John & the movies. Besties 🩶

nOTP: John & the axe. Put it DOWN JOHN.

Unpopular opinion: 99% of the time podcasts are better than other forms of media. Genuinely could not think of an unpopular John opinion lol

Song I associate with them: Fire by Barns Courtney

Favorite picture of them: I love this art the best <3

[nothingelsematterswrites]

omg new chapter so im back at it again hi :) the only way I can describe ch 11 is satisfying!! payoff for all of oscar’s conflict over control by finding and accepting love in spite of the circumstances! i am such a sucker for the trope of loved ones knowing someone better than they know themselves so the david & oscar scene was reread many, many times. kicking squealing fainting giggling unwell about oscar immediately going to logan and being all happy n stuff. Very cute. 11/10 no critiques! if you need an excuse to drop some lore about the background characters that we won’t get to see in the fic, i am always so incredibly interested in this au

hi!!!! :D i am so glad you liked ch11 and found itt so satisfying! hopefulyl ch12 will be equally satisfying since it is The Chapter.

lore? let's do lore!

Sir Carlos and Lord Lando

They are a love match! Lando, of course, came out the season before the current one, and it just so happened that Sir Carlos was visiting from Spain. Everyone had always warned Lando that if he did not mind his manners and behave properly he'd never catch a mate during the Season - but for Sir Carlos, it was love at first sight! Carlos' family is not very wealthy, so there was a long battle over marriage settlements that nearly nixed the marriage altogether, but Lando insisted to his parents that he would not take anyone else.

At the time of Ch11 Lando is carrying their first child.

Duke Mick and Marquess Jack

This one was arranged, and while happy enough, Mick and Jack are still learning a lot about each other, as they were married pretty much the second Jack hit marriageable age. The mating was planned by Archduke Michael and Marquess Mick from Jack's birth (had Jack been an omega, he would have been mated to Duchess Gina, instead) as a means of uniting the families of these two longstanding friends. Michael and Marquess Mick met on the battlefield and were renowned as two of the greatest generals of their time; however, in a fall from a horse while Mick was young, Michael was wounded, and no-one has seen him since.

Mick is very insecure about being older than Jack, though Jack assures him it doesn't matter, and Mick had plenty of offers. Mick is carrying their first child, but is also insecure about the fact that it took him some time to get pregnant.

Duke Lewis and Lord George

I won't drop all the juiciness of their story here - that's for the prequel! But they are a love match, and while it is not uncommon for an older single alpha to arrange a marriage with a much younger omega, it is very unusual for their marriage to come about from love.

George and Oscar have been friends for a number of years, and their love has been something Oscar has aspired to have in his own life.

Prince Daniel and Master Max Verstappen (and King Christian)

I won't drop the full story here - that's for the sequel! (Yes, lord help me, I'm planning both). Lord Webber is one of King Christian's favourites largely because in Mark and Oscar he sees a reflection of his own relationship with Daniel. Daniel is a wild free spirit who didn't much fancy the idea of marriage and was indulged by his father - until he met Max...

Duke Hamilton and Lord Webber

They met fighting in France, and became firm friends after saving each others' lives several times. Lewis is one of the very few people who knows the truth about why Mark never married.

When Lewis' family started to get on his back about marrying, he and Mark considered marrying Oscar to him, to serve multiple purposes: to meet Oscar's marriage requirement, to provide heirs for Lewis, for Oscar to be mated to an alpha Mark could trust, and to combine their political power and wealth. Both felt weird about it, but thought it the best option. Then Lewis met George...

Oscar's birth family

This was asked in one of the comments, and no, Oscar's birth family won't be showing up. Why? They don't know he exists!

(CW: abuse, scoundrels, death)

Oscar's birth father is a wool merchant who deals with the great estate, and unfortunately, had a reputation as a scoundrel. He seduced one of the maids of his house and took her to his bed, lying to her with promises of marriage and a happy life. When she confronted him after her heat, however, he threw her out, not knowing she was expecting. Later, he left Greenleigh to work at another estate up north.

She went to family at first, in London, but no-one would take in an omega pregnant out of wedlock, and she wound up giving birth in a poorhouse. She was very ill after the birth and, in the hope of giving her son a better life, decided to abandon him at Greenleigh - she had heard the staff were kind there and hoped that perhaps he would be taken in by them, and maybe grow up as a footman or a stablehand.

She never knew that Oscar was adopted by Mark himself, because she sadly died not long after.

While society knows that Oscar is adopted, they don't know his origins, and indeed, he looks enough like Mark that more than a few people believe that Oscar is Mark's bastard son. (There are also rumours he is a bastard of the King, given to Mark to raise to cover up his existence. Christian, Daniel, Mark and Oscar all find this very funny.)

Oscar and Lily

Lily is the daughter of a former chambermaid in Shell House and the head gardener there. (Their love story was so romantic that even Mark got involved to bring them together.) She was born only a few months before Oscar was found, and she was often allowed to be taken into the nursery to play with him.

When she was old enough to start in service herself as the scullery maid, Mark asked the housekeeper and David to keep an eye on her and ensure she was taught everything needed to be a lady's maid, as he planned for her to be Oscar's friend and advisor. Lily was put into Oscar's service when they were sixteen, and they are fast friends, as close as society and their roles will allow.

Oscar, Mark and their instincts

A lot of people viewed Mark suspiciously when he adopted an omega pup, because they believed that an alpha could never properly raise or love an omega pup he hadn't sired, without it being weird...

But because baby Oscar had never scented anyone before - his mother had never done so - Mark's was the first scent he smelled, stored indelibly in his brain as father. His instincts recognise Mark as his father, regardless of blood, which is why he can still chirp to him like a pup, and is unaffected by Mark's cycles. (The second person Mark handed the baby to was, of course, David.)

Logan, Kyle, and Dalton

Kyle is the under-valet of the Sargeants' house, and assisted both Logan and Dalton as needed from the time Dalton turned eighteen. With Logan often overlooked or ignored by his parents, not being the one who will inherit their fortune and business, Kyle became his best friend and confidante.

Logan has a modest fortune settled on him, but Dalton will be the wealthy one. Mark's concern was not with Logan's fortune during the settlements, but to make sure that Oscar would be properly protected; nevertheless he has promised that Logan will be looked after if the marriage goes sour.

Dalton married the daughter of a wealthy steel family as was required of him, but only agreed on the condition that his parents let Logan find a love match. To say he is angry that his parents went back on their word is an understatement. He has already decided that whatever the gender of the child his wife is carrying, they will not have an arranged marriage.

[wingeddisasterpuppy]

Good Omens and Oscar Wilde's “The Nightingale and the Rose”

‘The Nightingale and the Rose’ is a tragic fairy tale / short story by Oscar Wilde. The story is about romantic love and the sacrifice of a nightingale. The nightingale is a romantic soul, pure in its decisions and acts but also naïve in its conclusion that true love is at hand and that its sacrifice will be valued.

It is a slow paced, romantic and sweet story with a very bitter ending. A bit like Good Omens Season 2.

The Nightingale listens to a lovelorn student lamenting his hopeless love and feels sorry for him. Because the student claims that all it takes to be together with his “love” is a red rose, the nightingale gives her own life in exchange for said red rose. But when the student presents the girl the rose, she rejects him anyway (talking about superficialities like it wouldn’t go with her dress) stating that everyone knows that flowers cost far less than jewels (when we as the reader know that the cost of this flower is basically immeasurable, it literally cost everything).

The lovesick protagonist is referred to as a student who, in the end after being rejected by the girl he claimed to love is saying that love is a silly and unpractical thing anyway and that it is not useful as logic. And that “in this age to be practical is everything”. The story ends with him returning to his room to read a big and dusty book.

Just for the fun of it (“fun” as in it’s probably going to hurt) let’s read Aziraphale as the student because he loves book and also because behind his very soft and romantic ways, there is a rational heart who thinks love is something that is “always telling one of things that are not going to happen”. Someone who says “nothing lasts forever”.

And let’s read Crowley as the nightingale herself, shall we? Because behind the “I’m not nice, Nice is a four-letter word” exterior lies a very soft and romantic heart. I mean think of how he looks at the newly created universe. Think of how he looks at Nina and Maggie under the awning. So soft and full of love. Such a romantic, this one. Like he believes in love without hesitation. When he gives his heart, he gives it fully. And he does give it his all in this season, doesn’t he? And also, “because, underneath it all, Crowley (is) an optimist.” (Good Omens, 1990) Whose natural inclination is to believe that everything is going to be okay even if his experience could have made him an absolute cynic.

And don’t get me wrong. I don’t read any of this as foreshadowing for season 3 (even I am not that masochistic). I just saw some parallels of the fairytale and season 2 of Good Omens. How the hope that Crowley’s heartfelt and vulnerable confession would bring them together shattered to the ground. It gives a bitter ending for all the optimists, the romantic hearts. Aziraphale chooses duty in heaven over his love for Crowley. Does he do it to protect Crowley or because he genuinely thinks he can change heaven for the better? Does he have a secret masterplan? Only season 3 can tell. But for now, we are left with the bitter ending of someone ready to give anything for love and being disappointed.

Anyway, here’s the ending to the short story (go (re-)read it, it's really good):

“What a silly thing Love is,' said the Student as he walked away. 'It is not half as useful as Logic, for it does not prove anything, and it is always telling one of things that are not going to happen, and making one believe things that are not true. In fact, it is quite unpractical, and, as in this age to be practical is everything, I shall go back to Philosophy and study Metaphysics.'  So he returned to his room and pulled out a great dusty book, and began to read.

[purlturtle]

Soft prompts: 30 is all I really want in this world but 17 makes me sigh because so soft. Bering and Wells obviously. They deserve it.

Let's see if we can't do both! (Here's the prompt list, if anyone else wants to!)

17. fixing the other persons clothes absentmindedly or like tucking their hair behind their ear U KNOW WHAT I MEAN THAT SOFT STUFF

30. ‘this is my husband/wife/girlfriend/boyfriend/partner etc.’

---

"Myka, are you absolutely sure of this?"

Myka caught a pair of hands that were fiddling with a starched shirt collar, and smiled at their owner. "Ten years, and I've never seen you this flustered. You look stunning, you told me that I look stunning, let's go and stun them, yeah?"

Helena bit her lip and looked aside, not moving a muscle to get out of the car.

"Hey," Myka said softly. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Helena protested, not very convincingly in Myka's point of view. "I just..."

"Nervous what they're gonna think?" When Helena simply pursed her lips, Myka shifted in her seat to look at her more squarely. "Helena, they're just old classmates of mine. Who cares what they think?"

"You said you wanted to blow them out of the water!" Helena protested. "They obviously mean something to you, otherwise why bother?"

A hand came up to weave through perfect hair; Myka caught it and squeezed it, feeling the slender band around one finger digging into her palm as she did so. "You mean something to me," she said intently. "So yeah, maybe I want to show you off to everyone who thought that Bering the Bookworm would die alone and unloved, but that's because you are an amazing catch more than because I want them to eat their hearts out." She hesitated, then added, "I mean I do want them to eat their hearts out, but that's secondary. And if it makes you this anxious-" Then it hit her. "Is this about how public this is?"

Helena looked down at their now-entwined hands, running her forefinger over Myka's wedding band. "It was unheard of," she said quietly. "In my day. Behind closed doors, certainly; everyone was getting up to all kinds of things dans le boudoir." She bit her lip and looked out of the car's passenger window to the brightly lit hotel entrance. "But to come right out and say it? Certain social death. Worse than that, for some," she added darkly.

"Oscar Wilde," Myka nodded.

"And plenty of others." Helena sighed. "I am sorry, Myka - I truly thought I would be able to approach this with more fortitude."

"Hey, don't worry. We don't have to do this. We can turn this car around and go right back to our hotel."

She could see Helena's jaw jut forward sharply, then Helena turned back to look at her with steely eyes. "No. No, I am too... too proud of you, of us, of the fact that we are finally allowed to marry. I just have to overcome my-" Suddenly, she laughed - only the once, and still very tense, but it was laughter. "Jitters," she explained, "more than even on our wedding day." The smile she gave Myka was fond.

When she tugged a hand free, Myka let her; it came up to adjust the shoulder seam of Myka's vest, then brushed some lint (present or imaginary, Myka didn't care) off her shoulder. Eyes glinting mischievously, she leaned forward; Myka leaned in too, certain that a little bit of kissing would lift their spirits.

Helena swerved at the last moment, though, and Myka had no time to protest before a perfect imprint of two lipsticked lips adorned the perfect white of her shirt.

Helena looked up at her and smirked. "Let's slay them."

---

Okay, I'm gonna stop it here and leave the "And this is Helena, my wife" implied. But you better believe that that is what Myka is gonna say, every chance she gets, a dozen times at least that night. And yes, they're both wearing collared shirts and vests - sharp and stylish as all get-out, of course.

Thanks for the prompt! I hope you like the result! 💜

[mcl38]

going off his post from when he announced his extension as ceo, most people who dislike him seem to claim it's either because he's american and shouldn't be involved in european motorsport (which is already wild considering f1 is an international competition and not a european one), like this is an exact word-for-word critism that i saw more than one person use. or they're australian and feel that zak/the team unfairly favor lando at the expense of aussie drivers. just look at any mclaren affiliated social media after the australian gp. i personally think both are pretty irrational excuses and like don't get me wrong, i am all for people hating for the purpose of being a hater but if you're going to try to justify your hatred with reasons at least find one based in some sort of logic. or even reality.

anon a person after my own heart i too love hating for the purpose of being a hater but this isnt that, its a more widespread and vitriolic fandom phenomenon that clearly different from, say, me hating on clement novalak bc his eyebrows freak me out, ykwim?

i do think his obnoxious americanism is kind of hard to swallow and thats fair if u find him annoying but it rly doesnt explain to me y ppl immediately label him a villain? maybe bc he has that rich man in a black and white hollywood movie vibe abt him or smth but like surely its smth more serious than that. idk i think its just the american salesman core of it all... he's slimy and slippery and persuasive and he does it VERY well

also like i do think the idea that he mistreats oscar is frankly silly - mostly bc oscar keeps yapping on and on abt how much he likes having a team where hes finally wanted and appreciated, but also bc its clear zak loves the guy. i think ur right in that i do think some ppl think that: i keep seeing ppl on twitter saying that the fact that lando has done a couple factory debriefs that oscar wasnt there for means they clearly favour lando. but like.... if i were renowned introvert oscar piastri i would WAY prefer not having to fly 12h to speak in front of a crowd and instead be allowed to spend another couple days w my family in melbourne. like bffr please

also also can i just say re: team orders bc i think thats the other reason ppl think oscar is mistreated - do ppl not realise that last week oscar literally got the priority strategy? they helped cover him against russell instead of helping lando cover against leclerc, which is how lando ended up losing second place - he wouldve kept it if he'd pit on lap 9 with charles or even maybe lap 10 just after him (if the oscar pitstop was unplanned). and also, in general, lando and oscar often end up on diff strategies where lando shows up behind oscar with fresher tyres (and hence has to b let by w team orders) because lando is better at managing tyre wear. thats y he often gets the stay long - overcut strat (germany situation beloved), whereas oscar is often on the undercut - defend strat, and they'll often meet in the middle. the fact that we get these kinds of strategy team orders is GOOD. it means the team has enough faith in both drivers' skills to give them diff strategies and trust them both to execute them well. it also means the drivers r next to each other on track - id take lando team-order-passing oscar any day over lando blue-flag-passing daniel.... oof.

sorry a defense of zak brown turned into a defense of randy singh but like im just saying that the idea that the entirety of mclaren hates and mistreats oscar is rly quite laughable if ur actually engaged in the strategy game or like if u have eyes idk. im very very glad that oscar has become kind of a people's princess character and ppl rly do seem to universally love him but i find it so infuriating that they have to do so at the expense of mclaren. if u wanna find an enemy to hate on behalf of oscar carlos sainz is literally right there

[smalltownfae]

For the book bait ask game: 22-24, 27-32📚📖

I don't know if the dash means you want me to answer all the questions in between but I am gonna suppose you don't (?) haha but then why the comma... well, I will answer them all then.

22. would you want your favorite book to be a movie?

My favourite book is unfortunately a movie. More than one even. I am talking about The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. Do I want a better and more accurate adaptation of that? Yes, yes I do. It isn't even that hard, come on. You need to go all out on the visuals for that work about art. You need exuberance in every setting and every piece of clothing. It needs to look glorious and you need at least 3 amazing actors for the main roles.

If I consider the entire Realm of the Elderlings series I would like to see a tv show of the Liveship Traders and the Rain Wild Chronicles. The stories are too long for a movie series, but I think those would look amazing as a show. The Fitz books would be harder to adapt and I fear the white washing even though it seems we are getting better about that in casting nowadays.

23. I answered this one here.

24. what book to movie adaptation to you dislike?

I don't remember watching many adaptations of the books I read tbh and I am less picky with movies. I need to go check the movies I watched haha. I don't like Eragon, but I didn't like the book either so... that is the popular answer people give to this question and I can't even use it. I think the first Narnia movie was an improvement on the book, but I don't really like the Chronicles of Narnia either way. I didn't mind the His Dark Materials movie or the Percy Jackson movie.... I'll say The Cat in the Hat! Omg that movie is terrifying and my sister loved it as a kid. Do you know tha trauma of having to see the face of that human cat hybrid almost everyday on your tv??? And hear that voice??? Burn it! Kick it to hell where it belongs. The kids' book is ok.

27. I also answered it here.

28. is there a book that made you cry?

You know there is. I cried in almost every book in the Realm of the Elderlings series by Robin Hobb. I think only City of Dragons didn't make me cry on my first read through. Now I don't cry as much, but I still do (especially in the Fitz books). I remember crying reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid too and at the end of As Meat Loves Salt by Maria McCan. I know there are way more books that made me cry because I used to cry a lot with books and movies. I don't cry as much anymore though. Unfortunately, because I like when books cause a big emotional impact on me.

29. is there a book that made you laugh out loud?

Yes, the Realm of the Elderlings series again. People keep talking about how sad these books are and ignore how funny Hobb can be. Maybe that kind of humour only works for me, but I laughed out loud with many of the character interactions in these books.

Oscar Wilde makes me laugh a lot too. Recently I reread The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest and both those works made me laugh. Most Discworld books by Terry Pratchett also make me laugh a lot and so does Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. I believe I also laughed out loud reading some of the First Law books by Joe Abercrombie. If an author is from the UK I will probably laugh haha there is a specific kind of humour there that really works for me. It's the irony and silliness that they do so well. I also laughed out loud reading Heartbreak Boys by Simon James Green and Glitterland by Alexis Hall, UK authors again. Maybe there is something in the water of that place that makes people really funny.

Every Heart a Doorway also made me laugh, but I don't think I was supposed to. I was laughing at how ridiculous it was in a laughing at it instead of with it kind of way and I don't think that was the purpose of certain scenes.

30. is there a book that changed your life?

Realm of the Elderlings, maybe. It did help me a lot to get through a very depressing time in my life (ironically enough). Maybe I did look at Fitz and think "you know what? I am not doing so bad after all. At least I am not this guy". I don't know. I know it helped me forget my problems by immersing myself in a fictional world in a way I never experienced before. One of my friends made me talk about the series at my father's funeral and it helped for a bit so that is the kind of thing. Knowing that someone came up with the character of the Fool also made me feel less alone because it showed that somewhere existed someone with values similar to my own. Solanin by Asano Inio was also a big comfort in a time of my life when I needed it and pretty motivational.

31. how many books are on your current tbr?

Physical? I have no idea but probably less than 200. In my tbr on storygraph is 478 and that only includes the first volumes of mangas. So, a lot that I will probably not read in my lifetime tbh.

32. what is the first book you remember reading?

The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse. I think I gave it to one of my small cousins so I don't own it anymore nor can I find a picture of my exact copy... it was one of those kids' books with hard pages and full illustrations. Others were random fairy tales that were in a box set, including Snow White and the Ugly Duckling among others.

Thank you for the ask :)

[adamsvanrhijn]

So what do you think it is that John actually loves about Oscar? What made their relationship work for as long as it did? We never really see Oscar treating him all that well in the show, but I'm sure there have been occassions when Oscar has been fully on John's side too or otherwise he wouldn't have stayed so invested in him especially post breakup.

God. Okay. so this is one area where i would love S3 to spell it out a little more, for all the people who are Not insane and are Not making things up in their heads about these guys nonstop and seeing all the things etc. because until then i can only hypothesize and make shit up outright.

ergo. disclaimer as always that

🚨 THIS TUMBLR USER IS NOT NORMAL ABOUT THESE GUYS!!! 🚨

now. because of the very nature of john & oscar's story, we only see them in the midst of conflict — their very first intimate scene together includes oscar hiding information from john, and that information, when it comes out between them, drastically alters their status quo... at least for john, visibly. oscar is determined not to let it do that, but to john this is contrary to everything he wants and the way he thought he and oscar were living their lives together.

i do think john is drawn to oscar in an oscar-is-john's-type way. like the other two guys we can infer john is interested in are, guy who is physically similar to oscar but taller and cleanshaven, and, literally oscar wilde. oscar van rhijn is giving off a certain vibe and also approaches the world and their culture a different way than others, which sets him apart. at first glance it would be easy to assume oscar doesn't care what others think of him: he dresses and speaks in a certain way, he disregards etiquette norms, he seems to have, if not necessarily disdain for or disillusionment with his society, then a sense that he specifically knows better than and is above it. in fact oscar cares very deeply what others think but just has certain traits he does not seem to be willing or able to compromise about himself. but i think john, who by 1882 is so totally decided in his path to live a life that feels authentic to him, would be attracted to that — even if i am sure he comes to know soon enough that it sits on a bedrock of (largely warranted!) social anxiety. it still takes some combination of courage and not giving a fuck and lack of willingness to compromise yourself to behave the way that oscar does.

john, despite his personal beliefs and intentions, does not seem to be living his life such that it conspicuously challenges any norms or mores, in a way that could only be seen as intentional, the way that oscar is. his rejection of marian could be social awkwardness. his introversion — as with all recurring characters if it happens twice it's a habit ✌🏻 — is just a personality trait. his gender expression is giving 19th century masculinity ideal such that future confirmed bachelorhood would be easily explained as plenty of things other than exclusive interest in men. to another person, he simply would not seem to have anything to live with discretion about. there is nothing About john that indicates that the way he wants to live his life and the way he sees himself as a person is deeply incongruent with his culture, and if he needs to or chooses to he can actively pretend otherwise very effectively. i think there is an element of john's attraction to oscar that is tied up in their outward expression and what it takes or doesn't take for them to express themselves the way they do. john isn't the same type of guy as oscar but i still get the impression that if he wanted to be, he wouldn't or couldn't act the way oscar does, where he is trying to be one person throughout every sphere of his life with nothing reflecting or bearing on anything else.

BUT that is all reasons to be into a guy, but not necessarily to live with him for years and be totally in love with him and design your mental future around him. which is not to say that attraction is not important! like the sex is clearly phenomenal! but also, look at john with your eyes and tell me he couldn't have anybody else he wanted you know.

which brings me to.

first of all, i totally agree with your estimation that oscar must have been there for john in some way that john appreciated in the past that we just haven't seen. i also think it's safe to assume that there are Very Many aspects of their relationship that we haven't seen — in 1.08, john says he doesn't see why they can't carry on as Before, meaning before oscar was looking for a wife, meaning 1.01 was like, the tip of the iceberg for them, for us as an audience. we have not seen Before! they have known each other long enough aurora describes them as old friends and they're clearly obsessed with each other, there's a wealth of history there the audience just doesn't get to see.

and then digging into that... i actually think john and oscar could be really compatible and complementary and Good For Each Other under the right circumstances. opposites attract in this case! john is clearly very cerebral and very sensitive, and even under the circumstances we Have seen them in, oscar has demonstrated an understanding of that and how to draw John out of it when he needs to — "I am preoccupied but nothing's the matter", the entire 1.09 interaction; despite his steadfastly not listening to what John actually wants let alone acknowledging it in this particular topic when it Is eventually made clear to him, he clearly understands what will upset John: "never mind about that now" is bad communication when it isn't followed up on but good recognition of time and place and emotional needs. i think oscar not only Gets john but for the most part knows how to actually deal with him....

BECAUSE last but not least. the thing that looking at him with your eyes two paragraphs ago was Supposed to bring us to. john adams the gilded age is like, the absolute embodiment of He's A Ten But. this man has SO many emotional problems! i do not think they have ever like, Infringed on oscar in quite the way they do in 1.08 before, but i do think they must have Manifested and oscar was perhaps what John needed if not necessarily the most straightforwardly Supportive about it. i think oscar has a lot of what John needs and is in that position where he can draw him out and keep him grounded, up to the point where the issues are between them and relationship rupturing. and i think oscar is his own little brand of weird that means he not only puts up with it but even takes satisfaction in doing so — oscar clearly likes Knowing Better and taking care of the people he is close to, and john gives him opportunities for that, and that obviously could benefit john immensely too.

[dream-meister-translations]

HARVEST FESTIVAL RICHE - VOICE COLLECTION

━

"Enjoying the food. That is the essential ingredient for a fruitful harvest festival. I must make it a banquet to remember."

"My face is tense…? You must be watching me very closely to have noticed that."

Please do not misunderstand. The only reason we can talk like this is because you are my partner in this project. Others cannot."

"I don't want to get my costume dirty."

"I want to get rid of the "me" who only admires his older brothers and become as good as them."

"It's hard to come up with good ideas when you're all alone. Thank god I have someone who will listen to me… You."

"As a gastronomy sommelier, I will do my best to make you proud."

"Finally I can tell you…No…Wait a moment…I'm so nervous, I'm having heart palpitations…"

"What do you think? We're getting pretty close, aren't we? It seems I'm getting accustomed to you."

"You really like to make my heart race, don't you? I wonder, will I ever get used to this feeling?"

"The harvest festival is about to begin. Let me guide you to an enchanting banquet of delicious wine and gourmet food."

"With this Harvest Festival's success, I have taken another step forward as a sommelier. With you by my side."

"This wine is for you. It's a fine wine that deepens with time…Just like the feelings I have for you."

"I'm no good at tricks and games, but I have something to tell you. Will you please listen to me?"

"I will not tolerate pranks."

"For a long time all I wanted was to stay away from you, but now I'd rather…"

"Why are you looking at me like that? You enjoy teasing me… You're a naughty girl, aren't you?"

"I'm still struggling to convey my feelings to you."

"We should really head back soon. It is regrettable, but I want to properly fulfill my responsibility as the organizer of the festival."

"The other day Cuit made walnut and cheese canapes. It was an exquisite dish."

"Kuchen made chocolates in the shape of skulls…"

"Since it is a harvest festival the menu is eccentric."

"Considering how much time we've been spending together, I may be becoming unknowingly influenced by you."

"Victor and I are in a similar line of work. I have a lot I could learn from him."

"I was up late preparing for the harvest festival and Victor warned me that it was bad for my skin. I have to admit, I didn't see it from that angle."

"Victor asked me to name a new cocktail, but I don't think I'm the right person for the job…It's a big responsibility."

"Typically, I have a policy of never mixing anything with wine, but my way of thinking has changed. This must be Victor's influence."

"Unthinkable, is it? Well, it is true, people do change."

"I must admit I am a woman-hating person, but now…No, nothing. I shall tell you at a later date."

"Walter says that there are poisonous plants that go well with wine. I will have to sample one next time."

"Walter listens to me a lot. He doesn't say anything. Ever. I think that helps."

"Walter is a man of few words, but he is trusted by Oscar for his reliable work."

"When I became the host of this banquet, he encouraged me, saying that I would make it even better."

"I'm shocked…I never thought I could be this close to you."

"You say we're not even that close? Well, this is more than I ever imagined…I'm not ready to be closer yet."

"If you ever feel overwhelmed, don't hesitate to rely on me. During a festival like this, many people will be going wild."

"Thanks to you, I feel like I've loosened up a bit."

"As the organizer, I thought it would be best to dress a little more modestly…Surprisingly the costume has been well received."

"I wanted my brothers to wear costumes too, but it's difficult in the kitchen…So I'll have to wait to see them in costumes some other time."

"Wearing so much white makes me nervous…What if I get a red wine stain or something…?"

"In that costume, I think you are so beautiful that you cannot help but attract the attention of everyone around you."

"I looked up how to make a pumpkin lantern in a book, so if you have any questions feel free to ask."

"Can you use my face as your model? That's fine…I'll use you as my model."

"Can't cut a pumpkin properly? Then hand me the knife. I'll help."

"You want to hold hands so we don't get separated…? No… I need to be more prepared."

"You don't want to leave yet? N-No there is no problem…My chest is just getting a little tight."

"I was thinking about spending next year's harvest festival with you like this…

"I found a bag of candy in my jacket pocket…When did this happen?"

"I'm sorry, I'm just trying to regain my composure."

"If you're the one I'm holding hands with, I have no problem doing so."

"I know this isn't my place…But I would appreciate it if you didn't hold hands with anyone else."

"Oh, was my hair messy? Thank you very much. I try to be careful, but…"

"Do you by chance touch other people's hair like this…? No, nevermind, it's nothing."

"You touch is gentle. I don't want to run away anymore."

"When you touch me…It feels so good…It's hard to remember who I used to be."

"I can't stand it, yet I can't seem to stay away."

"Can I…Um…Can I touch you? I swear I won't play a prank on you."

"Not only as a guild keeper, but also as a woman, you are very important to me."

"If you have something to say, please do speak clearly."

(gift like) "Thank you. You seem to have the makings of a sommelier."

(gift like) "You are really good at making people happy. I admire that about you."

(gift normal) "If you have a gift for my brother don't leave it with me…What? A gift for me? Sorry, I misunderstood."

(gift normal) "Is this a thank you for the wine tasting the other day?

(gift dislike) "Are you drunk? This choice of gift is rather unprecedented."

(gift dislike) "As a sommelier I really try not to be picky, but…I expect more from you.

"You understand that I am not good with women, so please leave me alone."

"Can you stop touching me soon? No, I mean…It's not that I don't want to…I just…"

━

RICHE : This outfit is not terrible. But the wine is a bit difficult to pour in it, how do you manage? VICTOR : You must have fun with these things! Why don't you try pouring the wine while pretending to cast a spell like a magician?

━

RICHE : The more I attempt to be confident, the more I withdraw…I knew my brothers would be better at this than me. WALTER : Don't hold onto your insecurities, Riche. Let 'em out. We're all on your side. Let's have a drink and get ourselves together.

━

RICHE : Normally, I'd stop drinking so much, but this time I really need it. CHELL : I know what you mean, Riche. You've got a lot of work to do tonight. Let's try all the wine!

━

VICTOR : Riche, you are both strong and honorable. RICHE : That is very kind of you to say, but I am not quite there yet.

[the-celluloid-correspondent]

Beau is Afraid

Following the sudden death of his mother, a mild-mannered but anxiety-ridden man confronts his darkest fears as he embarks on an epic, Kafkaesque odyssey back home.

After over a week of contemplating Beau is Afraid, I am finally ready to put my thoughts into words. Many thoughts went through my head over the past week about this film. Was this one of the most ambitious and creative films of 2023, or was it the worst? Whatever my debating thoughts, I always respected this film. I respect its ambition, creativity, and out-of-the-box filmmaking seen here. Though the film might not succeed in all aspects of its story and pacing, I still have reverence for it.

Director Ari Aster described Beau is Afraid as a "Jewish Lord of the Rings," which it somewhat is. Moreso draws inspiration from its episodic storytelling, with the film being broken up into four parts. Each part peels back a layer of anxiety and trauma of our protagonist. It's a fascinating character study of the consequences of parental abuse. It tells this study through a comedic yet anxiety-inducing lens that no one but Aster can do. He lets his creativity run wild with him trying to induce new anxieties and fears within his audience. However, in this epic of penis-monster proportions, you feel the three-hour-long runtime. Though I personally didn't mind, the general audience will feel the drag. Because of the drag, not all the elements of the story were fully polished and dragged points. Because of this, Beau is Afraid is definitely not a movie for everyone.

Aster always knows to bring the best out of his acting ensemble, and here his directing delivers. Joaquin Phoenix gives a fantastic performance as the forever-traumatized Beau. He conveys all the layers and mannerisms of anxiety, depression, and mania perfectly. If this wasn't so far out there, he would be in Oscar contention. Patti LuPone shows up and delivers an Oscar-worthy performance. She masterfully deserves her character's abusive and psychopathic nature. She is intimidating and owns every scene she is in. Nathan Lane and Amy Ryan look like they are having so much fun with their performances. Richard Kind also gives a commanding performance even though being in the film for only a few minutes.

As with all A24 films, they know how to maximize their budget. The production design is outstanding and filled with an insane amount of detail. I could spend hours studying the vandalized street of Beau's apartment. Furthermore, the animated sequence in the middle of the film was absolutely stunning. The cinematography, again, is fantastic and masterfully showcases the stunning production and visual storytelling. The score is minimally used and, when used, masterfully elevates scenes. For $35 million, this film looks better than most blockbusters.

Overall, Beau is Afraid is definitely not for everyone. Personally, I am still conflicted and require another rewatch to fully formulate my opinion. However, I still respect this film for what it is.

I am giving Beau is Afraid, a B.

[janeeyreheresy]

Indecent Proposal

Rochester gets to the part in his sad boy emo tale where he meets Jane. As we can expect from him by now, he is very poetic about it, but also admits to watching her without her knowledge. First when she was playing with Adele, then later, when she was walking the corridors of Thornfield, deep in her thoughts. Okay, so--if this is bad when his vampire namesake of Twilight does that to Bella, then surely it's bad here, no? Observing her while she's with Adele is understandable, he wants to satisfy himself she is competent at the job he is paying her for. But the other... hmm, questionable.

I liked my name pronounced by your lips in a grateful happy accent

What name, lol? She addressed him as "sir" or "Mr Rochester". She only called him "Edward" upon his insistence on it, during that emotional abuse of a proposal. And that was later.

He goes on to spill further verbal diarrhoea. My gods, that guy can talk, it's paragraphs and paragraphs and paragraphs and paragraphs of words, interjected by a single line from Jane, which always contains a "sir". At long last, he gets to the point--he wants Jane to say she will he his. He insists there is nothing wrong with the two of them being together. Jane refuses to yield. Roch points out that she has no one, no relatives of friends, who would be offended by their relationship. 

What a shitty thing to say. Throwing it to her face that she is alone in the world, also, do I detect a touch of threat? You have nobody, therefore nobody will care what happens to you.

“I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself. I will keep the law given by God; sanctioned by man. I will hold to the principles received by me when I was sane, and not mad—as I am now. Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour; stringent are they; inviolate they shall be. If at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth? They have a worth—so I have always believed; and if I cannot believe it now, it is because I am insane—quite insane: with my veins running fire, and my heart beating faster than I can count its throbs. Preconceived opinions, foregone determinations, are all I have at this hour to stand by: there I plant my foot.”

I can get behind this. Much better than those two popular, overhyped quotes (the "no bird no net ensnares me" one and the "do you think I'm an automaton machine" one). This time around Eddie is actually listening. And she's not crying.

The Roch is furious. He seizes her arm and grabs her waist. He grits his teeth and spouts more dramatic tripe, but he does release her. 

Rochester: “Then you will not yield?”

Jane: “No.”

Rochester: “Then you condemn me to live wretched and to die accursed?”

New insult just dropped. "Live wretched and die accursed!"

This too:

"You make me a liar by such language: you sully my honour."

The guy who's been lying ever since he entered the scene and would not know honour if it slapped him in his ugly face. 

She turns to go. 

Then he throws himself on the sofa and exclaims: 

“Oh, Jane! my hope—my love—my life!”

And he sobs.

It's almost comical.

If this was an Oscar Wilde society play, it would be funny. Rochester would fit well in that setting, what with his declamations and amazing bunburying skills. In this novel, however, it only comes across as manipulative. 

Not to mention hypocritical. He elevates Jane over all the other women he had relationships with, yet he demands she acts the same as them. He's essentially asking her to be his mistress, like Celine and Giacinta and Clara. They would agree to this offer, because they wanted to be mistresses (presumably), but Jane is not like that and HE SHOULD KNOW she's not like that BECAUSE HE KEEPS SAYING HOW SHE'S SO MUCH BETTER THAN ALL THE WOMEN IN THE WORLD. Gah. Same as with those jewels and nice clothes. He pushes these things on her, even though he praises her for not wanting them. Make it make sense, Ed.

Blanche Ingram would send him somewhere if he suggested this to her. Except she'd grab the jewels. And the clothes. And that nice new carriage. As a bonus, she'd give him a finger from the window of the carriage, as it was exiting the Thornfield driveway. And she'd make it an entertaining story to tell at parties. He wouldn't dare show his ugly face at any of their gatherings any time soon.

See why I say Blanche was not needed in the story to provide romantic tension. Edward has been married all along, which itself provides more than enough conflict!

Rochester would never, ever dare pull the bigamy stunt with Blanche. Or any other high class lady for that matter. But he knew he could get away with it with poor plain obscure Jane, two decades younger than him, Jane of no family or friends.

Except she turned out to have some family, who happened to be rich and put a stop to his plans. 

[m00sebaby]

15 Questions!

I was tagged by @zsjaywhite! I am very excited to answer questions that I likely am going to answer poorly 😌

Nickname: Liza is technically a nickname because Elizabeth is my first name but! There's that, Liz, Lizzy, and my dad has called me Bizzie since day one.

Sign: gemini!

Height: 5'5 (5'6" on a good day)

Last thing I Googled: "book where everyone has a role" because i was trying to think of anthem by ayn rand because of an episode of community

Song Stuck in My Head: "goal of the century" by gang of youths (but it was margaritaville by jimmy buffett a couple days ago and i think that is worth mentioning)

Number of followers: like 1367 but there's more than a handful of them that are porn bots i am certain

Amount of sleep: ever since i came back from ireland i have been going to bed around 10 and waking up at 5 and staying up until 7 or 8 and then sleeping until 9?

Dream job: screenwriter for literally anything that requires a script

Wearing: my grey leggings, and a christmas vacation t-shirt and my black cardigan and one (1) fuzzy sock

Films/books that can summarize me: i watched lady bird however long ago and i really identified with it and i don't know if that makes me insufferable or not

Favorite song: "goal of the century" is a really strong contender but every time "piano man" comes on at the bar my friend loses his mind and i love it so that might be a close second.

Favorite instrument: big fan of the piano. ludovico einaudi radio on spotify is the only thing that can help me focus.

Aesthetic: is maximalist an aesthetic? is that an aesthetic one can have? if so that's me.

Favorite authors: oscar wilde! i have loved him so dearly since i read portrait of dorian gray in highschool and when i went to ireland i visited his home in dublin and the statue of him in merrion square

Random fun fact: i collect rocks and minerals and gems and shit of that nature. it started because my grandma subscribed to an educational service that sent little rocks and like shit like amethysts with informational cards and that turned into my dad taking me to rock and gem shows at our local community college and that turned into me buying different crystals and now i have over a hundred different specimens (for lack of a better word)! my favorite was always the different kinds quartz (watermelon quartz!) or malachite.

Tagging: @likesummerrainn @werewolves @saltydornishman and mads if you see this mads (i am having trouble remembering urls today) if you guys want to do it! and if anyone i haven't tagged wants to do i would love to see your answers!

[aro-simp]

Hiii!!! I wanted to ask ⏰️, 🆘️, 👾, 💐, 🦋, for whoever wants to answer 👀

[...aaaand another one recovered! I think this should be the last one hmm, I think Desmond might know best how to answer these...]

⏰: If you had to very publicly profess your love for (S/l), how would you do it?

preferably in whatever way is gonna embarrass him the most, and that means another shift at the Bad Weather on a busy saturday, shouted across the room. (And... don't worry too much about the embarrassment part, he might get a little grumpy but I know for sure he enjoys it immensely when I make sure others know I'm taken)

🆘: How do you let (S/I) know that they're on your mind when you're someplace crowded?

well nature of the job has it that we're usually hooked up via comm when we're anywhere crowded, and in that case there's little I can do, with Shaun already talking at me nonstop.

when it's something casual tho, so we're just going somewhere together, I'll take his hand or lightly nudge his shoulder. Saying anything might be the worst idea since he's either already talking himself or decidedly not talking because he's trying to focus on something

👾: What are your favorite things to do with (S/I)? Who's better at them?

Together with Rebecca we've started having regular movie and game nights! Rebecca's like... scary good at games, and Shaun and I both tend to be sore losers...

But obviously also depends on the type of game, with video games it's no question that Beccs's is gonna beat our asses, and in general I am also better at them than Shaun is, he's not big in short lived competitive games.

Board games tho are a different thing, he plays like an old man and by that I mean with no mercy and an incomprehensible focus, so board games are more or less just battles between him and beccs, I participate but I might as well just watch

💐: If you saw this thing in the store, you would instantly buy it for (S/I)! What is the thing?

One of those huge dusty ancient tome looking books, like those... the ones with the fabric covers? Especially if it's an older story, anything by Oscar Wilde would do, or a Sherlock Holmes collection... Saw him stare down one of those a few times.

I mean you know those books stuff like Dracula and Frankenstein.

🦋: What's the most special moment that you and (S/I) have ever shared?

I don't think there has ever been something like a most special moment for us? We've had enough "special" (by which I mean horrifying and awful) moments as is, and enjoy the casual more domestic times most.

I think one moment I have especially good memories of was one of our first movie nights (Rebecca included obviously!), we built a pillow fort and all that, got snacks, and huddled together in a pile to watch a few childhood classics. Great evening!

[thestareyedfictionaddict]

This is my first ever post so I hope you enjoy reading it.

I'd like to talk about something that's been on my mind for a while. Exclusion.

All of us know what it is, right? And all of us know it's wrong? Well, sometimes, you do end up excluding people. Whether or not it's on purpose is up to you.

I just want to say that, if you exclude people on purpose, you better have a good reason for it! Exclusion sucks! I myself am a victim of it. The feeling of being there among your peers but no one includes you is a horrible feeling and oftentimes you feel like crying but you can't because then you'd embarrass yourself and be whispered and talked about.

I get it. I understand. I made this blog so everyone would have a place to vent out their frustrations or see that they're not alone. I know I would love to see my problems and struggles talked about so I wouldn't feel so alone, so I'm going to make a blog like that. I know it can be scary to talk to the authority figures in your life because you'll feel vulnerable and weak and you don't want to shed tears in front of people, so let's all just cry here. Together. In solidarity.

That's the first post from me, The Star-Eyed Fiction Addict.

And remember, if you ever feel ugly, just think of this Oscar Wilde quote: "A fashion is merely a form of ugliness so absolutely unbearable that we have to alter it every six months!”

And if you ever feel bad about being talked about, here's another quote from Oscar Wilde for you: “There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.”