#in many beautiful ways villanelle inspired us to

[blueberry-pride]

The Vulture Of Pomefiore

Introducing Blueberry Pride's main TWST OC!

Berry: Been planning this for quite a while now and I'm finally satisfied with the lore and look of my darling Rhea of Pomefiore!

Expanding my edits using my own art and I thought what better way to debut my stuff than to draw my TWST OC. Can't really be using the official groovy/art forever so this is me showing you guys what kind of style you can expect from time to time.

Brief Lore Explanation

Rhea comes from a world that's the least magical and as mundane in comparison to Twisted Wonderland. Things started to take a turn from the original path when the dark mirror sorted the unsuspecting grubby girl into the dorm of The Beautiful Queen.

Unbeknownst to Rhea, her features, her habits and to her very purpose in NRC has changed. Taking up the role of the vultures, the very same that were a part of the untimely demise of The Beautiful Queen in the original story.

Grade/Class Predicament

Since our girl is 18 yrs old but still as fresh and as helpless as a newborn in this strange world, she is what Crowley likes to call a 'Floating Student'. She is still originally placed within the first years due to the curriculum and all but she is required to participate in a few classes as well as events that are part of the 2nd and 3rd years. One of the reasons being is to catchup, relearn and 'socialize amongst her age group' (Headmage's words). So all in all, more assignments, make-up classes after school. Rhea's fine...so far.

Her Surname

The last name 'Villanelle' comes from poetry. Originally centered around pastoral scenes and many themes about the countryside. Recently, poets and writers use to talk about all sorts of things like celebration, sadness, love and loss.

I wanted to give her this name to appeal to her artistic and literature side, pretty much giving cottage-core vibes. Mostly her romanticizing certain aspects of her old mundane life before she got isekai'd into TWST. Another reason being is that it sounds like 'villain' and TWST IS based on Disney Villains so I thought it could be funny-

Rhea Trivia

Likes to look for 'junk' and upcycle it into something beautiful and useful. (This was inspired by vultures who are like scavengers and scavengers break down the corpses or leftovers so that it could recycle into the ecosystem and shi-)

Because of this nature, she's good buddies with our hyena boi Ruggie, who helps her find cool stuff around campus and in turn, she would give these crafts for him to sell.

Has a habit of picking stuff up from the ground or in random places that she presumes are unwanted. Especially pretty, peculiar or shiny things. (Inspired by birds' habit and as a part of Rhea's overall curious nature)

With her habit of gathering stuff, her eyes are very keen into finding such items even when they're in the corner of her eye. (Vultures having keen sense like good eyesight and sense of smell)

Whenever she does find something or even someone interesting, she has this weird ass habit of circling around them until she's certain that they're approachable.

Speaking of and ironically, this girl unfortunately wears glasses almost everyday due to astigmatism. However, there were occasions that she could still find things even without them due to her intuition.

With her sense of smell being more sensitive, she gets light headed whenever she's in alchemy/potions class and then gets excused to the nurse's office quite often. (Professor Crewel gives the nurse a heads up every time at this point)

Often gets messy be it intentional or unintentional. often times there's a twig somewhere in her hair for god knows what reason. Tis a good thing she has her trusty hygiene kit with her at all times.

Like the vultures in Snow White, she is always accompanied by someone wherever and whenever she goes out. You'd always find her in a duo or more.

Speaking of, her closest friends are Epel and Jack (her classmates~) Ruggie, Light Music Club (who originally wanted her in their club) and Rook (Whom she looks up to and see as an older brother figure)

With clubs, Crowley thought it would be a fun idea to draw lots of what Rhea's club is going to be (not even telling her beforehand smh). Low and behold the Headmage got Magical Shif/Spelldrive.

Rhea really got into broom flying class as she gets to see the view from up above, she also likes the wind in her but most importantly the rush she gets while up in the air.

[poemshubs]

Are There Any Villanelle Poems About Nature?

The villanelle is a complex and evocative poetic form renowned for its strict structure and lyrical beauty. Originating in the 16th century, the villanelle consists of 19 lines with a specific pattern of repetition and rhyme, creating a musical and contemplative quality. This article explores how the villanelle form has been used to capture the essence of nature, providing a detailed analysis of its characteristics and examining notable examples that highlight the relationship between nature and this poetic form.

Understanding the Villanelle Form

Structure and Characteristics

The villanelle is distinguished by its rigid structure and thematic repetition. Key features include:

Repetition: The villanelle is characterized by the repeated use of two refrains. The first refrain (A1) is repeated in the 6th, 12th, and 18th lines, while the second refrain (A2) appears in the 9th, 15th, and 19th lines. This repetition creates a sense of emphasis and resonance.

Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme of a villanelle is ABA ABA ABA ABA ABA ABAA. The alternating rhymes in the first and third lines of each stanza (quatrain) create a pattern that contributes to the poem‘s musicality.

Meter: Villanelles are typically written in iambic pentameter, which consists of ten syllables per line with a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables.

Theme: The thematic focus of a villanelle often revolves around cyclical or reflective subjects, with the repetitive structure enhancing the poem’s contemplative quality.

Historical Context

The villanelle emerged during the Renaissance as a form of lyrical and pastoral poetry. It gained prominence in French literature before being adopted and adapted by English poets. Its structured repetition and rhythmic qualities make it particularly well-suited for exploring themes of nature, emotion, and reflection.

Villanelle Poems About Nature

Nature has long been a muse for poets, inspiring reflections on beauty, impermanence, and the human connection to the natural world. The villanelle’s structured form provides a unique way to explore these themes. This section examines several notable villanelle poems that engage with nature, highlighting their use of the form to capture the essence of the natural world.

1. “Do not go gentle into that good night” by Dylan Thomas

Although not exclusively about nature, Dylan Thomas’s famous villanelle touches on themes of resistance and defiance against the inevitable approach of death. The natural imagery in the poem, such as the reference to “good night,” evokes a sense of the natural cycle of life and death.

Excerpt:

Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

The natural imagery of light and darkness in this poem can be interpreted as a reflection on the broader cycles of nature, emphasizing the universal struggle against the end of life.

2. “The Waking” by Theodore Roethke

Theodore Roethke’s “The Waking” is a classic example of a villanelle that delves deeply into nature. Roethke, known for his appreciation of the natural world, uses the villanelle form to explore themes of self-discovery and the human relationship with nature.

Excerpt:

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow. I feel my fate in what I cannot fear. I learn by going where I have to go.

Roethke’s use of natural imagery, such as references to sleep and waking, reflects a deep connection with the rhythms of nature and the inner self. The poem’s cyclical structure mirrors the natural cycles of day and night.

3. “One Art” by Elizabeth Bishop

Elizabeth Bishop’s “One Art” is another villanelle that incorporates elements of nature. Although the poem primarily addresses the theme of loss and impermanence, its imagery often draws on natural elements to convey a sense of the transitory nature of human experience.

Excerpt:

The art of losing isn’t hard to master; So many things seem filled with the intent To be lost that their loss is no disaster.

Bishop’s exploration of loss and the natural world is intertwined with her reflections on the inevitability of change. The use of natural imagery enhances the poem’s contemplative tone and reinforces its central themes.

4. “The Way I Am” by Robert Bly

Robert Bly’s “The Way I Am” is a villanelle that reflects on nature’s influence on the human psyche. Bly’s work often explores the relationship between individuals and the natural world, using the villanelle form to emphasize the cyclical nature of human experience.

Excerpt:

I am not here to see what I can find, But rather to see what I can leave behind. I am not here to love you or to hate.

Bly’s poem captures the essence of nature’s impact on personal identity and reflection. The use of repetition in the villanelle form highlights the cyclical nature of self-discovery and growth.

5. “The Peace of Wild Things” by Wendell Berry

Wendell Berry’s “The Peace of Wild Things” is a contemporary villanelle that directly engages with nature. Berry, a poet and environmentalist, uses the form to explore themes of solace and renewal found in the natural world.

Excerpt:

I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought. I come into the presence of still water.

Berry’s villanelle emphasizes the restorative power of nature and the sense of peace it can provide. The repetition in the poem underscores the calming and rejuvenating effects of connecting with the natural world.

6. “A Villanelle for a Desert Island” by Thomas Lux

Thomas Lux’s “A Villanelle for a Desert Island” uses the villanelle form to explore the themes of isolation and self-discovery in a natural setting. The poem reflects on the idea of being alone in nature and the insights it can provide.

Excerpt:

If I were stranded on a desert isle, I’d be alone, but I’d be free to roam. I’d listen to the waves and see the stars.

Lux’s poem captures the sense of isolation and freedom that can come from being alone in nature. The villanelle’s repetitive structure emphasizes the cyclical nature of solitude and self-reflection.

7. “The Garden” by William H. Auden

William H. Auden’s “The Garden” is a villanelle that explores themes of nature and human existence. Auden’s use of natural imagery reflects his contemplation of the relationship between humans and the natural world.

Excerpt:

In the garden, where the flowers are pale, The shadows fall in a haunting grace. The sun sets slowly, leaving a trail.

Auden’s villanelle captures the serene and haunting qualities of nature, using the repetitive form to emphasize the cyclical and reflective aspects of the natural world.

8. “Summer Song” by Richard Wilbur

Richard Wilbur’s “Summer Song” is a villanelle that celebrates the beauty and tranquility of nature. Wilbur’s use of vivid imagery and lyrical repetition highlights the joy and serenity found in the natural world.

Excerpt:

The summer’s end is a beautiful sight, With fields of gold and skies so blue. The warmth of the day turns to soft twilight.

Wilbur’s poem captures the essence of summer and the natural changes that occur with the seasons. The villanelle form enhances the poem’s musicality and reflection on the beauty of nature.

9. “Nature’s Way” by Louise McNeill

Louise McNeill’s “Nature’s Way” is a villanelle that explores the interplay between humans and the natural world. McNeill’s use of natural imagery reflects her deep connection to the environment and its impact on human experience.

Excerpt:

The way of nature is a gentle guide, Through forests deep and valleys wide, Where rivers flow and mountains bide.

McNeill’s villanelle emphasizes the harmonious relationship between humans and nature, using repetition to underscore the natural rhythms and cycles that influence our lives.

10. “The Last Rose of Summer” by Thomas Moore

Thomas Moore’s “The Last Rose of Summer” is a villanelle that reflects on the fleeting beauty of nature. Moore’s use of floral imagery captures the transitory nature of life and the natural world.

Excerpt:

The last rose of summer is fading fast, Its petals fall in a gentle breeze. The beauty of autumn comes at last.

Moore’s poem captures the melancholy beauty of nature’s transition from summer to autumn. The villanelle’s structure enhances the poem’s reflection on the impermanence of natural beauty.

Conclusion

The villanelle, with its structured repetition and lyrical quality, offers a powerful means of exploring themes related to nature. Through its strict form, the villanelle allows poets to delve deeply into the natural world, capturing its beauty, impermanence, and impact on human experience.

The ten villanelles discussed in this article illustrate the diverse ways in which nature can be depicted through this poetic form. From reflections on the cycles of day and night to celebrations of seasonal changes, these poems showcase the villanelle’s ability to convey complex emotions and ideas related to the natural world.

As poets continue to engage with nature through the villanelle, the form remains a testament to the enduring connection between language, structure, and the beauty of the natural world. The repetitive and contemplative nature of the villanelle ensures that it will continue to be a powerful vehicle for exploring and expressing our relationship with nature.

[yeahlenas]

yelena belova | best fanfic recommendation list

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

welcome to my masterlist of yelena (and natasha) centric fanfiction - there’s not too many out there, but i suspect the tag will explode after the movie finally comes out. but until then i thought i’d share with you the works i’ve found and that i enjoyed immensely!!

this list includes fics with yelena as the main character (not too many), and others where yelenat is the main pairing (romantically/platonically), or yelena is not the main character but still is important and featured.

hopefully this list will give you some new epic content and inspiration for your own works! (cause let’s be honest the internet needs more of these incredible characters)

my own works:

starting this off with some shameless selfpromo hehe ≧◡≦. i never really wrote fanfiction before the character of yelena came and gave me so much inspiration and motivation!! 

if i had to perish twice (edge of tomorrow au) 

status: completed 1/1 words: 19,549 

a loooong and good one (unbiased) to get you started!! this is by far the longest piece of writing i’ve ever done and i’m super proud of it! this is an au of the movie edge of tomorrow, and yelena is the main protagonist. there is also implied stucky and a lot of the avengers show up throughout. yelenat is the main pairing! you don’t have to watch the movie to understand it (i hope), i’ve tried to explain it in the fic to the best of my ability! (that being said, watching the trailer helps and ofc the movie is the very best option, it’s on netflix!)

read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26082565

i tend not to weep

status: completed 1/1 words: 3,166

natasha and yelena’s cover is blown, and when they escape their plane is shot down - injured yelenat, hurt & comfort and angst.

read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27334447

i’ll be the actress (starring in your bad dreams)

status: completed 1/1 words: 2,610 

two russian assassins walk into a bar. it doesn't go how either of them had planned. 

a crossover with killing eve, in which yelena meets the mysterious character of villanelle during a mission.

read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/29617044

you’ll have a good time with all of these amazing fics:

drip (that’s the sound of your ledger) | LOVE THIS ONE

“ There were whispers, after S.H.I.E.L.D.'s fall. They followed Natasha wherever she went, until she could ignore them no longer. 

Welcome back to the Red Room.”

status: completed 13/13 words: 86,222 author: songofdefiance

THIS. this fic came out of nowhere and hit me until i was down (and then some more) with the pairing of nat and sharon which i didn’t know i needed!!! great twists, fun adventure, and yelena is giving me all the feels in this one. high re-readability!! the entire fic is incredible and 10000% worth your time - it is also the first in an incredible series, and yelena features more heavily as we go along. i wish i could read it for the first time again!!

read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/4156134

part one of the this won’t end with a whimper series: https://archiveofourown.org/works/4156134

black widow: from brooklyn with love

“Rosa Diaz thought her past was dead and buried somewhere out in the Siberian tundra. But when Natasha Romanoff shows up at the 99 with a smile and a bundle of secrets, she knows she has no choice but to finish what Red Room started.”

status: completed 12/12 words: 37,573 author: wonderlander090

i love brooklyn99. i love yelena and natasha. the genius of wonderlander090 wrote a fic of everyone together and it’s SO MUCH FUN! features badass ladies, red room feels and overall epicness.

read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/13387431

black widow

“After she released every piece of her secrecy to the world, Natasha Romanoff flees to get back her feeling of being a competent spy. Unfortunately, her old enemies have resurfaced, and have plans that force Natasha to meet old partners and old horrors. “

completed 17/17 words: 58,155 author: clarkesjade

the author’s wonderful take on the black widow movie. personal stakes, dark enemies and espionage with the great trio of nat, yelena and bucky against the world.

read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/17284406

taipei

“Yelena is nowhere to be seen, and considering the circumstances, Natalia knows far better than to presume that means she made it out.”

status: completed 1/1 words: 1,518 author: novoaa1 (@ultralightdumbass)

yelenat banter, the best banter there is!! in which yelena and natasha’s paths crosses on a mission. 

read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/24994090

part of the chance encounter series: https://archiveofourown.org/series/1809355

remember when we used to play?

“Natalia loves Yelena as fire loves innocence. It destroys and ruins and is doomed.”

status: completed 1/1 words: 2,315 author: hellotomyoldheart (@hellotomyoldheart)

a couple thousand words to step on my heart a couple thousand times :)) a yelenat with red room feels, and just a shit ton of feels in general lol help

read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/21664936

youth (makes fools of us all)

“In 1994, a young Widow is assigned an important mission playing the wife of the Red Guardian. In 1994, two students are selected to accompany them.In 1994, against all machinations of the Red Room, a family is made.“

status: completed 1/1 words: 4,871 author: sanctuaria (@aleksandrachaev)

no words for this beautiful piece!! with the release of the new trailer something like this is canon now, and the entire idea of pretending to be a family and then natasha and yelena becoming one in their hearts is just OWWW, run me over instead, it’d hurt less

read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/23954776

what a wicked game to play (to make me feel this way)

“after you win the games, you lose.” hunger games au.

status: complete 1/1 words: 60,545 author: taylorswift (not THAT ts haha (at least i dont think so??))

this is a clintasha au, so don’t expect tooo much yelena. i love the relationship between yelena and nat in this one though, so here it is!!

read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/24957505

you made it this far (just a little bit more)

“I'm dead, Yelena says, I killed myself in that room, Natasha didn't need to shoot me for that, and isn't sure it translates.”

status: completed 1/1 series 3/3 words: 35,939 author: notcaycepollard (@notcaycepollard)

yelena is the main character in part 3 of this time travel fix it series. feels a bit au because (obviously) a lot of things were changed and their lives end up being very different. very happy take on everything and if you want some good old serotonin and good times for our characters, this one is so good!!

read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27913387

part 3 of the a flame in two cupped hands series: https://archiveofourown.org/series/1538677

the end (for now) (◕︵◕)

as you can see i get all my yelena fics from ao3, i think that site is just so wonderful and easy to navigate!! i’m updating the yelena tag often, and i’m constantly looking for new good fics to share - so if you’re interested, bookmark this/follow me for future updates! if you have any personal favorites from ao3 that i’ve missed, or from other sites, do not hesitate to share them with me so i can update the list!!

(also i tried to tag the authors i could find on tumblr but idk if it worked?)

[csx452]

How to Write Poetry: 11 Rules for Poetry Writing Beginners

Here are the 11 guidelines you can use to start on your poetry as a beginner. For number 1, the first thing to do read lots of poetry,  since if you want to begin poetry, at least read it a simple way, by not looking into a grander meaning and let the words of your favorite poem flow out of your voice. Then, you can analyze, ponder, do a line-by-line analysis or retrieve the symbolism from any poetry works such as a Robert Frost verse, an Edward Hirsch poem, an Emily Dickinson’s work, or even a William Shakespeare sonnet. The number 2 rule for poetry writing is to listen to live poetry recitations. Since listening to poetry can fun like a musical, such as the first time you go to a poetry slam and hear the catchy consonants of the poem out loud or being at a bookstore to see the fun and instructive poetry readings. By listening to the sound of great poetry, you will find the hidden beauty in the making of them. From stressed and unstressed syllables to alliteration and clever line breaks, the moment you hear good poetry out is when you never look at this art form the way ever again. For rule number 3, it is best to start small because overwhelming yourself is not good. So, starting with a short poem like a haiku or small rhyming poem rather than an epic. For the haiku or small rhyming poem can be the start that is needed to being poetry. Let’s not be mistaken for Quantity over quality, as it is better to read a seven-line free verse spotless poem than a sloppy rambling epic empty section iambic pentameter. In rule number 4, don’t obsess over the first line, since if the words don’t feel right, then keep writing and come back to the first line when you’re ready to try again. The opening line is just the start of the overall piece of art. So please don’t give it too much importance.

In rule number 5, you have to embrace the tools you have been given, such as a thesaurus or a rhyming dictionary, to complete your poem. Many people can be surprised that tons of professional poets use these tools to their advantage. But you have to be sure to understand the meanings of the specific words you decide to put into your poem. Some of the synonyms listed in a thesaurus will not mean the words you are trying to express. For rule number 6, you have to enhance the poetic form with literary devices such as metaphors, imagery, allegory, synecdoche, and even metonymy. This can be easy or challenging depending on the poem, such as in unrhymed free verse poems or poetic forms with strict rules about meter and rhyme scheme. Finally, in rule number 7, you must tell a story with your poem since ideas such as a novel, short stories, or essays can come out of poetry. A narrating poem such as The Waste Land by T.S Eliot can be as long a book, while a poem such as The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe can you feel as much fright and danger as a horror movie. Communication is an essential part of poetry, so embracing that instinct is needed to tell short stories in your poems.

For rule number 8, you must express big ideas, such in a lyric poem like “Banish Air from Air” by Emily Dickinson, as that poem can express philosophical ideas or political concepts used in an essay or poem. You can be precise or detailed in language and express philosophy in a few words that you carefully choose to use for great poetry. Especially in nursery rhymes or silly rhyming limericks, they can also express big, bold ideas if you choose the best words for the job. For rule number 9, you have to paint with your words or use words to paint a picture of the ideas you want to write about with your word choice. In creative writing, you have to paint a picture of what you are describing in your own words, from people to objects to scenes and so much more, as the artist’s method is the written word. For rule number 10, you must familiarize yourself with myriad forms of poetry since every poem or type of poetry has its own requirements, from the rhyme scheme and the number of lines to meter and subject matter, which makes them unique from other poems as the structures are the poetic twin to the grammar rules that are used in prose writing. It is important to succeed in the boundaries of poetry you have chosen whether you are writing a villanelle or a free verse poem. You will have to combine all of your work into one kind of poem while also keeping flexibility in it. And finally, in rule number 11, you must connect with other poets, whether in poetry readings or writing classes, to reciting them out loud to each other as poets can grow and learn from each other to perfect their own craft, as they read from each other and even take notes from their partner’s feedback. Listening to many forms of poetry created by others can inspire you to do better at your poetry work. Since being in a community of poets will help you grow a larger state of mind as an artist and even influence other members to become poets themselves.

[wearevillaneve]

A Little Respect Please For the Power of O.

There was a thread on Facebook about an article with the unwieldy headline,  “Almost All of Sandra Oh's Past Roles Were Originally Written for White Actors; She Wants to Switch up Her Choices in the Future.”

The title is begging for an editor, but the story isn’t bad and you really should read it.   Coming off of Sandra Oh’s third, and most unexpected Best Actress in a Drama Emmy nomination for playing Eve Polastri, it wasn’t surprising the subject pivoted from how Sandra has made a habit of slipping effortlessly into roles not specifically written for an Asian actress to whether she has the right stuff to supplant last year’s winner and repeat nominee, Jodie Comer, her Killing Eve co-star.

Scrolling past the now-expected raving over how Jodie is a once-in-a-lifetime shooting star who dazzles us all with her brilliant performance as the lovely, but lethal Villanelle, I was stopped by as remark about Jodie and Sandra being paired up again in a category only one of them can win.

Some dude actually said this:  “I love her (Sandra) too but she gets overshadowed in the show sometimes because she just doesn’t have the same level of talent.”

Now what makes someone who says they “love” an actress like Sandra Oh say something so fucking stupid?   That’s what you say about someone you don’t like. 

“She just doesn’t have the same level of talent.” 

The due was right.  Sandra Oh doesn't have the same level of talent.

She was the woman who was cast before her co-star and chosen by Phoebe Waller-Bridge to be the center of the show.  She was nominated for an Emmy three consecutive years for Best Outstanding Actress in a Drama and was the first Asian woman to do so at all.  

She has won a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild award for playing Eve Polastri.  The list of her award wins and nominations is RIDICULOUS.

She is well aware she is neither young nor blonde and doesn't check off any of the boxes of conventional "beauty."  She knows she doesn't get called for roles because she is Asian and not Caucasian.   She has reflected upon the lack of diversity both in England in general and the Killing Eve set specifically.    

She is STILL the star of the show  and PWB knew it was important to have an established actress like Sandra who has no ego,   She was the best thing about Grey's Anatomy but not the star.  Being a team player is important to her and she hasn't fought Jodie for the spotlight she enjoys in the flashier role.

She keeps her private life private.  Nobody knows if she’s straight, bi, gay or something else, and she probably likes it that way.   It’s nobody’s business anyway, but she’s not going to share what she wants to keep private with her social media following.

She does the work and she deserves the awards. Every bit as much as Jodie does.  Sandra and Jodie are a team and theirs is a collaborative effort.  Both of these wonder women have benefited and Jodie has emerged as the rising star.  Good for her.  She's earned it.

Just as Sandra has earned her respect.  Why so many KE fans find it so easy to put a qualifier to their praise for her is irritating.  Had that first read with Sandra gone differently, there would be another young and pretty actress playing Villanelle, as Eve’s role was already cast and set.  

Because the truth is, there are no shortage of Jodie Comers in movies and television, but there is no abundance of Sandra Ohs.  Asians remain criminally underrepresented in film, television and entertainment. There are no shortage of role models who look like Jodie to draw inspiration from but who are the role models Sandra goes to find someone who looks like her?  

So I agree with the guy who proclaims Sandra doesn't have the same level of talent as Jodie. He wasn't wrong. It's not the same and honestly how could it?

Because despite her astonishing range and skills and talent a pretty White woman like J.C. possees her journey to stardom was ALWAYS going to be faster, smoother and sooner than her equally pretty Asian colleague.

Prove me wrong.

Sandra Oh’s talent is on a level all by her bad self.

[notttherea]

Killing Eve is messing with my mind, can't talk about it with people around me, and I'm so excited for what's next even though I'm scared.

A few theories I have for what's to come (brace yourselves some are farfetched):

-the dancing scene could be their reunion, and if they team up I think V will let Eve lead both in dance and in the organisation of their next move. She is so fragile right now, Eve will be the strength and grounding she needs. Even if it's not their reunion per say I am so excited for that scene. Because that kind of physical contact and interaction we haven't seen yet.

-I think V trying to move up was one way to distance herself from murdering people, but at the same time I'm wondering if she's aiming to kill all of them as she climbs.

-Eve is on her way to become her own agent of chaos. I think she is going to kill again by the end of the season, maybe even several times. I mean she should kill Dasha for everything she did and how much she is still using and harming Villanelle. Can you imagine if in the end she offed Carolyn as well? I mean I wish the three of them would team up tbh but we all know Carolyn is connected to the Twelve, even if she doesn't work for them directly. Her connection to Konstantin is problematic in itself so if he did steal the cash they might be in too deep.

-i was so sure K was Geraldine's father... I am perplexed now. But she is so weird. We all know he is going to die of a heart attack soon.

-Do you think Carolyn is capable of killing her daughter? Cause I think if Geraldine gets involved with K (or dies trying), either the 12 will have her killed, or Carolyn will off her. Their common connection to Konstantin is going to fxck them over.

-this one is cray, but I think they might kill Villanelle by the end of season 4... with what the writers have said, Jodie's new projects on the way, and the entire plotline, it makes me think that Villanelle will have been the catalyst for Eve's killing of her old self, showing that Eve is actually the psychopath in their relationship, and also giving way for more adventures on her part. I want them to end together and set off in the sunset, but this popped in my mind last night and damn it would be intense. I sincerely hope she will not die, but I can't get this out of my head.

I want Eve, Villanelle and Irina to live together in a beautiful beach house in Cuba.. I think Villanelle will become protective of Irina in the future in new ways, particularly with the role model reference and the path Irina is starting to take. I don't think V realised how much she wanted out when she suggested the kill. Then I saw someone saying V might have staged the whole thing to keep K occupied and THAT is why I love this fandom!

The more I think about it the more I realise Konstantin is the reason for SO MANY OF THE MESSES HAPPENING OMFG.

I have not read the books yet to be honest so I have no idea where the plot could go if it took inspiration there.

I love this show beyond words, and I want to thank all the tumblr fandom for the live commentary, all the beautiful theories, artworks, gif making, the general respect we all have for the actors and characters.

💙

[pwpoetry]

Q&A with Kiki Petrosino

M: Can you talk a bit about the research that went into writing White Blood? K: I used a combination of research methods, including visiting archival collections held in places like the Library of Virginia (Richmond, VA); touring historical sites like Thomas Jefferson's Monticello; and road tripping through landscapes relevant to my ancestral story, such as the historic downtown & countryside landscapes of Louisa County, Virginia. I opened an account on Ancestry.com to track my family tree as it unfolded. And I read several books of history, biography, and social criticism to help me contextualize what I was reading in the primary source documents--I needed to know more about what happened to the African American communities of rural Virginia during the antebellum & Reconstruction periods. Because I approached this topic as a poet, and not as a trained historian, I actively sought insights from friendly archivists & librarians in Virginia; a few e-mail exchanges helped me confirm or refute my hunches, & even led to my receiving additional documents to study.

M: That all sounds fascinating! What are some of the most important considerations in your mind as you weave ancestral/familial history and historical records? K: Because many of my African American ancestors were barred from literacy, & therefore, could not author written records of their lives, I have to piece together their histories from the scant documents that do exist. In my genealogical searches, ancestors would appear in one county, disappear, & resurface in another place. Why did the family move? How did they feel about what was happening around them? Who helped them, where did they shelter, & what kind of home did they make in the new place? As a poet, I read these gaps in the historical record as silence. It is tempting, in a project like this, to fill this kind of silence with poetry that attempts to "complete" the ancestral story, but I very much wanted to resist that in my own writing. In practical terms, no poem of mine can speak for ancestors whose historical voices are lost. What my poems can do is open a door of inquiry, to invite readers to explore & imagine our way into mystery. This is a process of vision-seeking. The more I contemplated the relative "lack" of information about my ancestors' lives during enslavement & emancipation, I started to gain another sort of literacy that had nothing to do with academic knowledge. I realized that my ancestors had left plenty for me to read: the land they owned as free people, the burial grounds they consecrated to their loved ones, the names they gave to their children, repeating in complicated & beautiful patterns across generations. I wanted White Blood to tell the story of how I am learning to listen & to read in new ways.      

M: Do you have any writing habits, practices, or idiosyncrasies as you shape a book? K: Every project feels very different to me, mostly because I find myself deeply engaged with form at the individual poem level. For each of my books, I developed a suite of forms that served my writing at that time. My last book, Witch Wife, explored villanelles in depth. White Blood moves through several attempts at erasure poetry, a form I'd never tried before. I love formulating my own takes on traditional or fixed forms, hearing what a sonnet sounds like in my voice, etc. I always read my poems aloud as I'm composing them, & a poem never feels fully finished to me until I've shared it with a live audience. I can't wait to read White Blood aloud, once it's safe to gather again.      

M: And we can’t wait to hear you read from it! Are there any other particular texts or works of art with which you feel the book in conversation? K: Tracy K. Smith's Wade in the Water and Layli Long Soldier's Whereas each have been inspirational to me for their unique interventions in documentary poetics. Ronald Johnson's seminal erasure of Milton, Radi Os, is a vibrant reminder of the luminous possibilities afforded by that mode. Susan Howe's treatise, Spontaneous Particulars, has helped me put into words some of the permissions & challenges I've experienced as a poet entering the archive.

[norafinds]

Chinese Goddesses

In the last few years, I have started amassing Asian and Asian-inspired vintage. Initially, I started with some accessories to not attract attention to myself and my heritage. I've discussed this in a previous post before, but nowadays I am less nervous about wearing Asian pieces. Heck, I might even say that I'm proud of flaunting my heritage. It's rather silly, but it's obvious that I am Asian so why try to hide it? When a non-Asian wear Asian pieces it seems exotic and cool (think Villanelle with her Asian brocade jackets in season 2 of Killing Eve), but how does an Asian look wearing Asian pieces? Do they look overly traditional or out of place? Do they amaze you? I invite you all to tell me what you think!

Top - Vintage 1970s Peony Shanghai - Retrouve Vintage

Skirt - Part of a vintage 1940s set - Dethrose Vintage

Turban - Vintage-style - Tanith Rowan

Hair flower - Alternate Normality

Shoes - 1940s-style suede low heels - c/o so dMemery Shoes

Earrings - Vintage bakelite - Dear Golden

I popped by into Retrouve Vintage last week to say hello to Ginny the owner. This shop has been my favourite in the past year. With its reasonable price and great friendly service, I love to drop by to see the girls there and to check out the new stuff. I go there often enough that I can just ask them to show what's new or what they think I'd like. This last visit, as usual, I went straight to the separates section. I saw this beautiful embroidery top and thought it looks rather unusual and decided to try it on.

As I was undressing to try it on I had the top hanging in front of me. As if I was looking at one of those magic eye pictures, the embroidery started revealing two Chinese goddesses. I yelped. I have seen many similar tops before but none that bears such beautiful images - the Chinese goddesses make me think of the 90s dramas I used to watch growing up. My parents watched a lot of Taiwanese and Hong-Kong dramas back in the day as they speak perfect Mandarin (and a little bit of Cantonese) and they probably thought we would learn a little bit of the language through watching dramas.

It was the perfect top to wear on the day I went to see The Allusionist live. The Allusionist is one of my favourite podcasts. I listen to a lot of true crime podcasts but it's nice to change the pace every now and then so I listen to my other favourite topic — language! If you haven't listened to it before I very much recommend it! The live show was held around King's Cross area so we went for a walk along the canal afterwards as it was a lovely day and we weren't about to waste a sunny opportunity.

That weekend everyone seems to be at the Goodwood event, but I had realised early on that those vintage events weren't really for me. I find vintage events rather overwhelming, and often the travel anxiety on its own is already too much. I like seeing other vintage girls, but mostly at a social gathering where there are less than 25 people. That way we get to catch up properly and discuss things other than what each other wear. I want more substance in these interactions, and I genuinely would rather see them over coffees or dinner. Anyway, this post seems to be getting a bit too long! I guess I'm in a chatty mood and maybe I miss you guys too much. I hope you are all doing well - the end of summer has gifted me a cough and I have really been a bit of a hermit. I'll talk to you guys later!!

[mellarisofficial]

BLOG POST: Fashion In Film And TV

Today's Topic?

In the office we often talk about the TV shows, films or books that we have been reading recently or can’t wait to start. We also enjoy recommending each other different things to start watching or reading. From all the conversations that we’ve had about these topics, we’ve found out that we’ve watched a lot of the same things and enjoy the same kinds of genres. The topic of this week’s discussion is fashion in TV and film.

Killing Eve:

When I think of Killing Eve, Jodie Comer wearing the big, beautiful pink Tulle dress by Molly Goddard is the first thing that immediately comes to my mind. I remember first seeing the pictures and loving them because of how the photos showed her walking around and she’s wearing a beautiful and elegant outfit as if it’s the most normal thing.

Comer plays a Russian assassin called Villanelle and along with all the discussion about how amazing the show is, Comer’s fashion in the role is also the talk of the town. I have found that a lot of people have even taken the iconic Goddard dress and used it to create their own Villanelle Halloween costumes. I really love the outfits that she wears in the show because of cool they are and she has such a variety in what she chooses to wear.

Game of thrones:

Game of Thrones is quite possible one of the most talked about TV shows since it was first aired back in 2011. As we have been watching the 8th season, we often come into the office to talk about what has been happening in the episodes and what we would’ve liked to see. The show was developed from a series of books (A song of Ice and Fire) written by George R. R. Martin. I love this show because of all the unexpected things that happen and when I first watched the show, I was always on the edge of my seat. I have even already rewatched it a few times since it’s started because I love it that much! It’s incredible to be able to watch so many characters developing over the years.

One of the great things about the show is the fashion; you can see the development and changes in the stories of the characters in the show being subtly hinted at through the clothes. For example, Cersei at the very beginning of GOT used to dress in quite a feminine way, but after her troubles during the fifth season and having her hair cut extremely short, her fashion changed to one that was considerably more masculine. You can tell that the fashion in the show has definitely had an impact on some designer’s collections.

Some of my favourite aspects about the costume design from the show is the amount of details that are in the clothing when it comes to things like embroidery and I also loved seeing the garments that were a combination of a feminine silhouette mixed with masculine, more structured details too. The more structured garments are some of my favourite from the show.

Outlander:

Outlander is another historical show that Anjelica and Amy have both watched. The show was developed from a series of books by the author Diana Gabaldon and is set in 1743 and 1945. Each of the different seasons are inspired by the different book adaptations. As the show is set in two different periods of time, it’s important that the fashions of the two different times are portrayed correctly.

Even though I myself haven’t watched the show properly, Anjelica showed me a clip from one of the episodes in the first season where the main character Claire is travelling and she ends up spending some time with a group of women who are dyeing fabric.  Anjelica told me about how plaid fabrics that were made for the show weren’t as bright as Plaid fabrics are today because in the 18th Century fabric could only be dyed with natural materials such as vegetables.

Vegetable dyes

Forsythia, Honeysuckle and Horseradish would produce the colour green

Walnuts produce a rich brown

Ragwort and Saffron produce yellow      

Madder would produce the colour red

and Indigo the colour blue

I read an interview with the costume designer for the show and found out that they started making garments a year before they started filming for the second season and they made about 10,000 garments which is incredible. I also found out that they didn’t use clothes that were from runways and edit them but that they had to do a lot of research about the clothing from the time and make absolutely everything themselves, including things like buttons and corsets and shoes. All of this was done to make sure that everything was authentic as possible.

To Be Continued....

[divisibleby12]

My take-aways from Killing Eve

-all the playing around in the gray-area between the black and white (’good’ and ‘bad’). that, over-all, i don’t feel like we’re trying to told a ‘lesson’ but instead giving us the freedom to fall in love with the characters and let us find our own answers from the questions raised. there is just something so very freeing in “killing eve’ on so many different levels (the freedom from the male gaze, of the freedom given to our female leads to be, the ‘freedom’ of villanelle, the unraveling of eve....) 

-of how V uses and analyzes and manipulate social construct... of using and manipulating her appearance and clothes ..... and in foil of eve just wearing what is comfortable. i love this because both are so relatable. V is.. yeah... a psychopath, but... of being on the spectrum... i can understand, in my own ways, of not understanding emotions in a ‘normal’ way but of learning and analyzing social construct.... from watching and just.... having to gain experience... of being conscious of how i dress and present myself because understanding that it can affect how people see you and trying to use that to help cover for my ‘weaknesses.’ but also personally liking nice, beautiful design (lines and stuff and because it flows.. and hey.... yeah i like pretty things!). V’s... manipulating... of almost like an acknowledgement of how women must be aware of everything.. of having to try so hard to look like you’re not trying at all... but how v use that instead to fuck with people... that’s inspiring (inspiring in the way, that i am privileged in certain ways in terms of looks and etc, but i can turn that on it’s head and use that privilege). 

-that little girls and women get to be “annoying” but amazing (to ask questions and explore... to not be confined... to not be quiet... to BE)... in such contrast of how woman and little girls are expected to be quiet and not ask questions and not complain and just... be used and just compile. that... i don’t have to be scared of asking questions... of seen as “annoying.” and that, actually, being “annoying” isn’t necessarily a bad thing to be. 

-that women can be older and still absolutely gorgeous and praised as such. it gives me the space to... fall in love with my body for all that it is, in it’s fullness and in it’s being. to appreciate me, even as i get older... that even as i “lose,” i gain. of embracing my sexuality, that i am sexual being (and not just as defined into a ‘thing’ and ‘young’ and all that shit as toxic masculinity and society likes to box woman into for consumption) and embrace myself and me.. and my body, all of me.... and be confident in my body for that it’s MY body.... to understand it and respect myself and love myself.... not based on some level of attractiveness but because this is my body and i am here and that is reason enough. 

-there is something freeing watching the dance between eve and v... that... i want to be like v... but ... with kindness and love. of.. how she uses social construct... of understanding how people perceive her and using that as a tool (something i could sense from a young age... but instead being confident and learning how to use it as a ‘weapon... i instead became fearful of it.. that i became fearful of myself and mistakes)... of being fearless and not feeling shame... of not feeling guilt about enjoying all aspects of her life..... all of this... but i want to take all of this (this fullness)... and give kindness and gentleness and love. of... something that can give life (for me and around me).. instead of taking it. of taking that boldness and applying to myself in ways that are kind... that are kind to others as well. for nourishment. for energy that flow and grows. of not being so scared (of failing... of being rejected... of being scared... ultimately of myself and ‘what i am’.... of... just... never being ‘normal’). of... craving out a place for myself, demanding it. of using social construct instead of... just being so scared of it. a sort of play. confidence! of... finding a balance between v and eve. ... of life that is full and that gives.  

i don’t know. there are lot of feelings that i am still trying to find the words for. this is the beginning of that. i’m just so grateful that this shows exists. stories like this... that remind me, that it’s okay for me to exist as well. that... it’s more than okay for me to exist in this world. i can find my own way. 

[mhevarujta]

In the penultimate episode of Killing Eve’s riveting first season, a Russian double-agent known as Konstantin (Kim Bodnia) comes home to find a highly trained assassin waiting to kill him. Ironically, he was the one to train Villanelle (Jodie Comer). As they sit across from each other, her gun pointed at him, he waxes poetic about what makes his protégé so special. “You are more powerful than any other person because of what you have in here,” he tells her, gesturing to his heart. Though Villanelle keeps her weapon trained on him, her eyes shine with tears as she listens. He continues: “You’re so different. You have something strong. You should be proud.” Despite his attempt to appeal to their paternal bond, she orders Konstantin to take more of pills—her way of granting her former handler a dignified death. Moments later, he chucks a whiskey glass at her face, hits her upside the head with a nearby log, and successfully finagles his escape. Turns out his sentimental monologue was just a ploy to distract Villanelle, so she would let her guard down. Nevertheless, his words transfix his audience because of how true they ring. Villanelle is different from any kind of assassin we’ve seen before, and not only because she’s a woman.

The series, based on the novellas by Luke Jennings, centers around a cat-and-mouse game between Villanelle and MI5 agent Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh). Crime dramas led by capable female investigators recently saw an uptick in popularity with shows like The Fall and Top of the Lake. We’ve also seen plenty of women playing killers, usually painted as femme fatales, in the past. Yet, having two women anchor a spy thriller offers an entirely new kind of dynamic. “They give each other life in a way that’s more complex than a romantic relationship,” series creator and showrunner Phoebe Waller-Bridge explained in an interviewwith The New York Times. “It’s sexual, it’s intellectual, it’s aspirational.” It’s also refreshingly free from the male gaze.

That’s not to say that Villanelle isn’t a fantasy of sorts. For starters, she can pull off murdering someone by weaponizing a hairpin and while wearing a diaphanous, periwinkle Burberry dress with white lace trim. Indeed, it’s her style that catches Eve’s attention in the first place. Her colleagues initially assume they’re looking for a male suspect in the death of a Russian politician, but Eve suggests that only a woman could have gotten close enough to slice the victim’s femoral artery without him noticing. Indeed, to get to her many victims, Villanelle disguises herself in a variety of stereotypically feminine roles—such as a nurse, waitress, or sex worker—which allow her to appear less threatening to her targets. Gender bias also helps explain why she’s able to operate under the radar for so long. All of Eve’s male superiors fail to connect the dots between a spate of killings across Europe. Only women, M16 officer Carolyn Martens (Fiona Shaw) and Eve herself, correctly identify the handiwork as belonging to an individual female assassin.

Eve admiringly describes Villanelle’s ability to outsmart even the best among the intelligence community, even going so far as to describe herself as “a fan.” Through Eve’s eyes, Villanelle transforms from an object of male desire to a female one. On the surface, she personifies qualities of traditional femininity: beauty, glamour, sex appeal. She covets designer clothing and perfume. Other times, she comes off as childlike, eager for Konstantin’s approval and delighting in practical jokes. But Villanelle equally subverts gender expectations by demonstrating that she’s as physically dominant and in control as any man—if not more so. Likewise, her sexual fluidity flaunts the burdensome heteronormativity prescribed by a patriarchal society. It is precisely this mobility, this freedom to move between different feminine models, that Eve appears to envy.

Within the genre, Villanelle represents an alternative to the femme fatale archetype. Though her sexuality remains an integral part of her character, she is not defined by it. Nor do the writers attempt to rationalize her behavior with any past trauma or sexual assault. The series altogether avoids relying on the misogynistic trope of using rape to “empower” a female character or fuel a revenge narrative. Instead of an encounter with a man serving as the catalyst, Villanelle’s liaison with an older woman inspires her first act of homicide, which includes the symbolically loaded castration of her lover’s husband.

If Villanelle embodies a woman’s fantasy to be fully in possession of herself, then Eve’s character grounds us in reality. Despite the appearances of having a fulfilling job and loving marriage, her restless spirit betrays a resistance to the institutions and systems she must work under, as exemplified by the bureaucratic trappings of her job or the monotony of monogamy. At one point, she jokes with her husband about a hypothetical yet methodically thought-out plan to do away with him. She would never actually go through with this, but someone completely uninhibited like Villanelle could. In this way, the female assassin represents what Eve cannot do and the life she doesn’t have.

On the other hand, Eve reminds us not infrequently, in case we risk becoming too enamored with the fantasy, that Villanelle is a psychopath. She likely commits horrific acts of violence for violence’s sake. She does not seem to care why her employer, a mysterious organization known as The Twelve, contracts her to do their bidding. “I want to do my job really well,” she simply says, reflecting her task-oriented sensibilities. Her indifference to the bigger picture and absence of real purpose may be her greatest foibles. Whereas Eve never seems to lose sight of what’s at stake in her mission to stop Villanelle from hurting more people, even at significant cost to her own career and marriage. It is precisely this dichotomy—the way these two characters play off each other’s conflicting desires and principles—that makes the show so compelling to watch.

When Eve and Villanelle come face-to-face in the finale, they openly admit to their mutual feelings for each other. “I think about you all the time,” Eve confesses. She leaves it ambiguous as to whether the other woman represents anything beyond a psychological obsession. Meanwhile, Villanelle expresses an explicitly sexual attraction to her pursuer. Although the season-ending cliffhanger deprives us of a conclusive reckoning (or consummation) of their relationship, what continues to drive the story is how the two women see each other. In this way, Killing Eve truly liberates itself from the male gaze.

[aion-rsa]

Insults, World-Building, and Blind Cats: An Interview with The Blacktongue Thief’s Christopher Buehlman

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It only takes a small, insignificant moment to completely change the course of a life. It’s that premise from which The Blacktongue Thief starts. Kinch Na Shannack, working thief, is spared when a banditry gig goes south. The Spanth warrior who spares him, Galva, is on a quest—and the Taker’s Guild, for which Kinch works, assigns him to accompany her, gain her trust, and wait for further instruction. As he travels with Galva, and, soon after, a witch companion Norrigal, he begins to question just where his allegiance lies, and what he owes his newfound friends—and the world.

From the first pages of The Blacktongue Thief, this Den of Geek reviewer was hooked, in no small part because the narrative voice is quite simply a delight. Kinch welcomes readers straight into a world where humanity was nearly destroyed by goblins, and where giants are encroaching on the northern border. But besides all that, a person’s got to make a living, and Kinch has a debt to the Takers Guild he’s bound to pay off. Kinch tells the story like he’s sitting next to you at a table in the pub, sharing the worst and best moments with a lingering delight at the sheer telling of the tale. He exaggerates and lies, but lets you know he’s doing so with a wink and a nudge.

This fantasy novel invites readers to share a pint of whatever’s good, learn some colorful language from a variety of nations, and maybe even join in a song or two. If the atmosphere I just described feels a bit like a renaissance festival, it should come as no surprise. Author Christopher Buehlman, previously best known for his poetry and his horror novels (and shortly to become known as a rising star in fantasy, as well), is also Christophe the Insultor, Verbal Mercenary, a regular comedic performer at renaissance festivals.

“My career as a professional insultor on the renaissance festival circuit definitely informed Kinch’s language,” Buehlman explains. “He’s always ready to trade barbs, and he isn’t afraid to work blue.” Blue language is absolutely a highlight of the book; Kinch’s swearing is utterly inventive, and because he speaks a number of languages, the different curses reveal a lot about the cultures that created them. Kinch presents the Spanths, particularly Galva, as overly honorable and a bit uptight, something that’s not only revealed in her lack of patience for Kinch conversing with a cat he rescues, but also in the way she argues the proper conjugation of a particularly colorful swear. (You can read some dictionary-style definitions of Kinch’s curse words over at the Tor/Forge blog.)

There are linguistic connections between the curse words (and other vocabulary) in the novel and the real-world counterparts that provided inspiration. “The Galts are not unlike the Celts; I thought of them not as a direct analog to the Welsh or the Scots or the Irish, but as a lost tribe,” Buehlman shares. “There is something of the gaelic in Kinch’s poetic, artistically gifted, externally governed homeland, and his language, storytelling, and, yes, insults and doggerel, come from that. As for chodadu, it is based on Spanish jodido, and operates similarly. Jilnaedu, on the other hand, is a more original Spanth term, meaning ‘vicious idiot.’ As with Galtia and Ireland, Ispanthia is not Spain, but it and its language would snuggle in nicely between Spain, Portugal, and Catalonia. I think Spaniards will recognize Galva but also find lots of new things to discover about her and her country.”

One of the most fascinating aspects of Kinch’s world is the impact the Goblin Wars have had on the human population. The goblins came and fought in three waves; the first two were fought by men, but soon there weren’t enough men left to fight. “Women had to go under arms,” Buehlman describes. “More, they had to win. And they did. For now. The Daughters’ War wasn’t about fame or glory, or even power and wealth—it was a raw, muddy, no-holds-barred struggle for survival between two competing species, one of whom regards the other as a food source.” The win came, but at a great cost. Humans have taken a huge hit, and the majority of humans are now women, putting women in positions of power throughout all of the human territories. 

In fact, the book is populated with women who hold their own against Kinch’s narrative voice. While we get Kinch’s introspection and his assessment of his own character, we see him against a company of strong female characters. Galva is a warrior, honorable, devoted, the kind of knight Don Quixote dreamed of being. Norrigal isn’t an accomplished witch yet—this is her first assignment outside her apprenticeship—but her raw power is astonishing, and her willingness to do the dirty work as needed gives her a wonderfully practical edge. Sesta, one of Kinch’s contacts with the Taker’s Guild, is a ruthless Assassin-Adept, skilled at both magic and murder, so confident that she treats Kinch more like a pest than a tool, even when insisting he follow the terms of his assignment. While there’s a bit of romance, none of the women feel put into the narrative just for the sake of being Kinch’s love interest—in fact, they all feel as though they’d do just fine without him, if it came down to it, and he’s lucky they’ve let him stick around to tell the story.

The desire to depict so many women in control of the world and the narrative came from one of Buehlman’s world-building ideas: “I wanted to present a world that would show the reader how artificial the idea of patriarchy is,” he says, “and how it could be turned on its head with a big enough catalyst.”

Buehlman’s world is both beautiful and terrible—the consequences of the Goblin Wars are present in every aspect of the book, including in the appearance of actual goblins. That looming sense of dread, that humans might not win the next time if it came down to it, lend an intensity to the world, and may remind readers that Buehlman’s previous novels fell into the horror category. “Writing horror is a bit like writing form poetry,” he describes. “With a sonnet, a villanelle, or a pantoum, you have to respect a rhyme scheme, or a repetition pattern, and/or a syllable count. With horror, you have to establish a certain tone, and you have to check in with the reader’s amygdala every so often. This isn’t exact or formulaic, as it can be in poetry, but it needs to have its own internal rhythm. You can have a long build up, but you must bake in a sense of dread–the reader will feel betrayed, and rightly so, if your premise advertises one kind of story, and they get something else entirely for 70% of the read. Horror, like comedy, is binary. It succeeds or fails viscerally.”

Making the switch to fantasy meant making some changes. “Fantasy… is much more forgiving. The reader primarily expects a sense of wonder, a sense of going someplace new. It’s more like free verse. You can do anything you like, as long as you tell a good story and fascinate,” Buehlman shares. He also identifies a few common traits between the genres: “If I took anything with me from horror to fantasy–aside from, hopefully, the universally necessary elements of character, pacing, and clear language–it was that sense of dread. We see the goblin ship coming, and there’s no way off the island. We feel the footsteps of the approaching giants, and hear their horns, but this is a strange city and we don’t know where to run. Too late—the humans on chains that they use to flush us out of our warrens have already seen us.” 

The horror elements are well balanced by companionship (particularly in the form of one furry feline) and song. “Kinch has an inexhaustible supply of songs to sing or quote, and singing is of course quite popular in a world without electronic media,” Buehlman muses. “Songs are how people once got their  entertainment, expressed emotions, even got their news.” The prominence of music also harkens back to Buehlman’s renaissance festival roots: “Renaissance festivals put a high standard on songs, both as stage entertainment and as something patrons can participate in. And so does Kinch’s world.”

As for that furry feline: Bully Boy appears early on in the narrative and becomes increasingly important as the story goes on. (Buehlman frequently seeds world-information so nonchalantly that when they become relevant as plot elements, this reviewer was impressed at how cleverly the book was structured to hide the significance of those details until they mattered.) When Kinch first meets Bully Boy, a blind cat, the poor creature is about to be captured by some local ruffians, who will, we’re led to believe, put the cat to death. Kinch takes pity and saves the cat—getting arrested in the process—and the two soon become fast friends. But despite what readers might assume, Buehlman was not always a cat lover. The acknowledgements at the end of the book reveal that Bully Boy was inspired by a real cat.

“Bully Boy never would have been had not a blind tabby showed up on my doorstep in  2015, as I was finishing up The Suicide Motor Club,” says Buehlman. “The antagonist of that book is a sumbitch vampire named Luther, and this poor, blind, sick street cat had the biggest fangs I’d seen on a feline outside of a smilodon exhibit. So Luther he became. But you couldn’t find two more different critters than vampire Luther and cat Luther. The latter was one of the most loving, most trusting beings I ever  had the pleasure to know. I was decidedly not a cat person before he came raoing at my door—I was a dog man from way back. But when a creature delivers its life  into your hands and starts to follow you everywhere you go, clearly loving you  and wanting nothing as much as to live purring in your lap or on your chest, it  wears you down. If you’ve got feelings, I mean. And I had some. I now recognize  canines and felines as equally deserving of our love and companionship, even if  we don’t always deserve theirs.”

While The Blacktongue Thief completes a story, the ending leaves several loose threads that readers will be glad to know Buehlman is working on tying up in the sequel. “I’m still in planning and world-building, which is a massive part of  writing a fantasy novel with sufficient layers to feel credible,” he reveals. “Let’s just say we’ve got  mountains to cross, more and different giants to meet, and one very nasty book to drag  secrets out of. Also, look for a more comprehensive telling of Galva’s experiences as a young  soldier in the Daughters’ War.”

In the meantime, Buehlman is also digging into the rules for the card game Kinch plays (sometimes with good luck and sometimes bad): Towers. “I wanted a game that would showcase Kinch’s luck-gift, and to occupy the same place  in this world as poker does in ours,” Buehlman says of its development. “There are definitely elements of poker in Towers; but  you’ll also find traces of Stratego, that simple kids’ card game War, chess, and Magic. I and  others have found it to be addictive, but also delightfully complex. There are lots of ways to  win, and lose, and strategy is a huge component–nearly as important as luck. And yes, I  believe lots of blood would be drawn over this game if it were played for money in rougher  parts of town.”

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

Whether sitting over a game or sitting around a table, sharing a drink and a song and exchanging insults, Kinch and Buehlman both use storytelling flare to keep readers deeply engaged in the story and the world. And the swearing, songs, and story will stick with readers long after they turn the last page.

The Blacktongue Thief hits bookshelves on May 25th, 2021. Find out more here.

The post Insults, World-Building, and Blind Cats: An Interview with The Blacktongue Thief’s Christopher Buehlman appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[finishinglinepress]

FINISHING LINE PRESS BOOK OF THE DAY: CRACKED OPEN by Thayer Cory $14.99, paper https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/cracked-open-by-thayer-cory/ Thayer Cory was raised with four siblings in New Jersey, but feels most at home on the shore of eastern Long Island and in the wilds of New England. After college (political science) and graduate school (psychology and religion) in the Boston area, she moved to Williamsburg, Virginia where she raised two children and helped raise two stepchildren. She and her husband are avid hikers and have walked through much of Europe including the Camino de Santiago in France and Spain. Her work as a psychotherapist in both public and private settings for thirty-five years continually inspires her to see the world from many perspectives, and her involvement in Williamsburg Friends Meeting (Quakers) keeps her grounded in a spiritual community. Her commitment to her four children and seven grandchildren is also a driving force in her life. All these experiences nurture and inform her poetry. Her poems search for the threads that keep us connected to human relationships, to the natural world and to the divine. “Abundance is our calling,” writes Thayer Cory in her debut collection Cracked Open, and indeed in verse after verse, we are led generously into the abundance of things. Woven from a life consciously lived, this collection is also deeply hospitable, an insistent invitation to prayerful awareness. Gratitude imbues the poems, born from the realization that every need is “a chance for light to break through.” How grateful we must be for this poet whose wisdom has found “a voice within my voice,” a voice generously shared. –Sofia M. Starnes, Poet Laureate of Virginia, 2012-2014, Author of Fully Into Ashes and other works Thayer Cory’s poems in Cracked Open examine the wounds and sorrows of our daily lives, but they repeatedly search for ways to redress them. As she says at the end of “This Still House,” “I must rise / into what life I have left / and walk jubilantly, / into our wounded world.” If she reveals painful realities, she also praises the simple beauty she finds in nature and the virtues she finds in ordinary people. An epigraph from Leonard Cohen—“There is a crack in everything. That is how the light gets in.—testifies to her ability to see both the painful cracks and the healing light at the same time. Whether she is writing sonnets, villanelles, or free-verse, she strives for an enlightened view of things that is redemptive. These poems are inspired and will inspire those who read them. –Henry Hart, English Dept., College of William and Mary, author of four poetry collections, critical studies of Seamus Heaney and Geoffrey Hill, and biographies of James Dickey and Robert Frost. His poems have appeared in Best American Poetry, 1996, The New Yorker, Kenyon Review and many other journals. PREORDER PURCHASE SHIPS FEBRUARY 9, 2018 RESERVE YOUR COPY TODAY https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/cracked-open-by-thayer-cory/ #poetry

[news-mashable-yahoopartner-blog]

35 things to inspire you during your 2019 self-love sessions

May is National Masturbation Month, and we're celebrating with Feeling Yourself, a series exploring the finer points of self-pleasure.

So far, 2019 hasn't been a particularly sexy year.

When you think about, we've all had to watch a lot of straight-up nonsense go down. Green Book won the Oscar for Best Picture, Jeff Bezos' "sexts" leaked, and Sonic the Hedgehog got a full set of human teeth, for goodness sake. Gross!

A bunch of this year's pop culture moments have been genuinely disappointing, but we're not going to let that harsh our self-love vibes. From sexy fashion statements and television characters, to memes and music, 2019 has definitely given us some glorious moments worthy of recalling during the act of self-pleasure.

If you find yourself in need of some masturbation inspiration, here are 35 ~very 2019~ things to think about.

1. Chris Evans' teal velvet pants: Christopher Robert Evans had the absolute audacity to show up to an Avengers: Endgame press event in April wearing teal velvet pants. The trousers looked as though they were hand-crafted by an angelic seamstresses in the clouds and came with the equally stunning teal velvet suit jacket Evans wore to the Oscars earlier this year. We're all blessed that his stylist, Ilaria Urbinati, firmly believes you should "never let a great pair of trousers go to waste."

Chris Evans inventing pants.

Image: ALBERTO E. RODRIGUEZ/GETTY IMAGES FOR DISNEY

2. America's ass: While we're on the topic of Chris Evans' pants, let's get another inevitable Chris-related 2019 thirst trap out of the way. Feel free to think of the real star of Avengers: Endgame — America's ass — whenever you need a dose of dayummmm. 🇺🇸🍑

3. "Old Town Road": There are many subject-appropriate songs out there to get off to, but if you're looking to switch things up a bit, consider listening to the 2019 anthems, "Old Town Road" and the remix, for inspiration.

4. The possibility of eliminating student debt: This year, Elizabeth Warren announced her plans to cancel student debt and eliminate college tuition for future students, and honestly? Just the thought of having your ridiculously high student debt forgiven is *tingles* exciting. 

5. The new Staples logo: People got seriously amped when that little staple unfolded. So... strong.

SEE ALSO: 7 ridiculously large sex toys to help you go big in the bedroom

6. The Jonas Brothers reunion AND the introduction of the Jonas Sisters: One of the world's most popular boy bands — a band of literal biological brothers — reunited in 2019, and that alone is reason enough for everyone to be "Burnin' Up." But with the reunion also came the introduction of the fierce female trio, the Jonas Sisters (aka Sophie Turner, Priyanka Chopra, and Danielle Jonas). 🔥

7. The black hole: The world saw the first recorded image of a black hole in 2019, and I guess it's kind of hot, right? It is described as "supermassive," so. Hey. 

8. The possible return of Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets: Can you think of a thought spicer than imagining the possible return of Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets? There aren't many. 

9. The thought of the L train being functional: Governor Andrew Cuomo is confident that limiting service of the extraordinarily popular L train for a year will be in the city's best interest, but in the mean time New Yorkers are living a fresh new subway hell. Stay strong, people. And if necessary, after a long-ass day of commuting, feel free to envision a beautiful, fully functioning L train in the sack.

10. Jauz's "Baby Shark" remix: I think the Coachella track really speaks for itself doo doo doo doo doo doo.

11. KFC's hot new Colonel Sanders: KFC isn't simply in the business of making people hungry for chicken anymore. Now they're interested in making people thirst for their hot new Colonel Sanders. (It's working?)

12. The thought of sexting with a robot: Mashable Staff Writer Jess Joho sexted with a bot, and you can too. Turns out it's surprisingly hot.

13. The Night King: Listen, he wasn't very nice. He's also dead now. But in his glory days the Night King could get it.

14. The Hulk's junk: Ever wonder if the Hulk can have sex? There's a lot to unpack. Consider doing so next time you get down with yourself, because, why not?

15. David's dance on Schitt's Creek: David and Patrick's relationship is one of the best on television, and while David's dance to Tina Turner's "The Best" is sweet enough to make you ugly cry, it's also sexy as hell and impossible to watch without getting chills. (The same argument can be made for the scene where Patrick sings "The Best" to David.)

16. Literally any moment from the 2 hours and 17 minutes of Beyoncé's Homecoming: The performance is the definition of flawless and we are barely worthy of such brilliance.

17. The Burn This poster: The poster for the Broadway revival of Lanford Wilson's Burn This is haaaaawt. It features Adam Driver and Keri Russell lookin' gorg, just chillin' horizontal on a couch all dreamy and idyllic and shit. See for yourself.

18. This sand art replica of Dwayne Johnson's face: You might not initially think a video of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's head being assembled from sand is the stuff to inspire hot thoughts, which is understandable, but if you never try you'll never know, right?

19. Bowsette: The fan-created character that mashes Bowser and Princess Peach together was dismissed by Nintendo this year, but that doesn't stop people from lusting over NSFW Bowsette art online.

20. This extremely long dongle: Major BDE (Big Dongle Energy) coming from this one. Who can ignore?

This is one long dongle #io19 pic.twitter.com/OtNf1fsdDK

— Raymond Wong📱💾📼 (@raywongy) May 7, 2019

21. The moment Captain America wielded Thor's hammer: Yes, we've already gave a nod to Chris Evans/Captain America twice on this list, but how could we not acknowledge the ⚡electric⚡ moment Cap summoned Mjolnir? A real shock to the heart.

22. 500 Intel drones performing a choreographed light show set to Phish: Get jammin', folks.

23. Golf balls cut in half: These artsy halved golf balls with tantalizingly scrumptious interiors are forbidden snacks, but we can still drool.

24. Demon Beto O'Rourke: When the skateboarding, burger-loving, Beyoncé-endorsed musician Beto O'Rourke ran for Texas Senator against Ted Cruz, he was one of the most crush-worthy men on the planet. Now, O'Rourke is running for president, though, and the American people can't afford to let their thirst distract them from focusing on policy issues. Rather than thinking of Beto to get yourself all hot and bothered consider, focusing on this comedian's parody version, Demon Beto.

25. Animations of a baguette on the move: We are not suggesting you think about just any old loaf of bread while masturbating. Animated baguettes are special.

26. Villanelle and Eve: The relationship between the two Killing Eve characters may be complicated, but their chemistry is clear as day. Scenes like this are simply too intense to just watch.

27. Crocs and shaving cream: In case you haven't seen, putting large dollops of shaving cream in Crocs and then inserting feet forces the shaving cream to escape out of the signature shoe holes. It's quite the satisfying sight.

28. Basically every Met Gala outfit: The 2019 Met Gala theme was "Camp" — inspired by Susan Sontag's 1964 essay — and everyone's outfits were S T U N N I N G. Here is a list of some greats. 

29. The Rihanna birthday outfit challenge: Everyone knows Rihanna slays the Met Gala when she attends, but since the singer didn't make it this year we have to get our fix another way. Try searching "Rihanna" and your birthday on Google and see one of her iconic outfits will appear. You're welcome.

30. Balenciaga Crocs: Speaking of Crocs and the Met... I like those Balenciagas. The ones that look like Crocs. 😏

of course the balenciaga crocs are here pic.twitter.com/34ZWXYXAKD

— rachel syme (@rachsyme) May 6, 2019

31. Jake Gyllenhaal in Spider-Man Far From Home trailer: HeLLO, Mysterio. We see that beard and shaggy Jim Halpert hair, boy.

32. What if we kissed memes: A perfect meme for those who want to imagine kissing people in super bizarre places — like near a high voltage box — but are in need of inspiration.

33. The gray streak in Richard Madden's hair: 50 strands of gray = bae.

34. The Senate Intelligence Committee subpoenaing Donald Trump Jr. to testify over the Russia Investigation: Perhaps some people will take pleasure from imagining Trump's son testifying in hopes it will shed some light on this long, national, election hacking nightmare. IDK! 

35. Samsung's foldable phone: The wide, glossy screen folds in half for goodness sake. 

Digital hot dog bun.

Image: RAYMOND WONG / MASHABLE

Have fun, everyone!

WATCH: Gaga and Bradley set the meme-osphere and our loins ablaze this week with their Oscar's performance — All the Memes

[gyrlversion]

Fleabag, the new fashion icon who gets it so wrong, its right!

Phoebe Waller- Bridge’s emotionally bruised, sexually confused, did-she-really-say-that Fleabag, is not only the love-object of the moment but also the current style pin-up.

If it’s good enough for Fleabag, it’s good enough for a great many of us, looking at the sales figures of products that featured in the BBC show.

Waller-Bridge both wrote and starred in the comedy series about a young middle-class woman and her family. 

It’s a sell-out: Fleabag’s jump suit worn in the series two premiere has flown off the racks

It was an unexpected success when it hit screens in 2016 and had an audience of millions for the second, and final series, which concluded last week.

From episode one, Fleabag confirmed a taking-no-hostages approach to her wardrobe. An appealing mixture of out-there sexy combined with a plain Jane girlishness. 

Confusing – but in a good way. Just like her character. Fleabag’s appeal is that she is so wrong she is right. She says and does the things we might all consider – and would usually discard.

Flirting with (and bedding) a priest, tormenting her freakishly uptight sister, waging war with her ghastly stepmother-to-be. If there’s a dodgy place to put your foot, she finds it.

Waller-Bridge is a classic English beauty; tall, slender, swan-necked, porcelain-skinned – a Mitford Girl with millennial attitude.

Fleabag, who is less patrician in style than her creator, nonetheless benefits from Waller-Bridge’s inescapable good looks. 

She carries off 24/7 red lipstick, manages a gorgeous wavy bob, and what about those gleaming white teeth?

 So it was a shrewd move by costume designer Ray Holman (also responsible for Jodie Whittaker’s original style in Doctor Who and the clothes in domestic chiller Apple Tree Yard) to keep Fleabag relatable with a wardrobe we can all identify with.

The sexy sell-out jumpsuit 

Her jumpsuit, worn in the series two premiere, is from family-run label Love.

Stocked in Topshop, Asos and SilkFred – and a steal at just £38 – it proved such a hit with viewers that it has completely sold out (500 new jumpsuits have since been ordered and can be reserved online now).

But – like so many of Waller-Bridge’s outfits – it’s the styling that feels so relatable. Instead of pairing it with heels, like on the SilkFred website, Holman chose Fleabag’s trusty Superga trainers.

A book could be written on That Black Jumpsuit of the first episode alone. Halter-necked and plunging to the waist, it was a masterpiece of silent positioning. It announced Fleabag as the self-obsessed, scene-stealing character she is, by wearing something so inappropriate and over-the-top for a family dinner to celebrate her father’s engagement.

But at the same time she looks bold, captivating and irresistible, even more so by wearing it with a pair of grubby sneakers.

Despite backless jumpsuits being a tricky look to carry off, the £38 item by small London-based brand Love sold out immediately.

Holman also makes a feature of Waller-Bridge’s endless legs, giving her hemlines like that of the red ruffle Reformation dress she wears for the last episode’s wedding party. Or her denim and leather mini skirts which are always a smidgeon too short for her height, permanently risking up-skirting (a dominant feature of her many appearances waiting at the bus stop) but simultaneously giving her a coltish carelessness.

She wears sheer black tights with her knicker-grazing minis. Is that referencing the Saint Laurent catwalk staple – or just weird? It’s up to us to decide.

She has a penchant for dungaree straps that are decidedly unglamorous but on Fleabag have a naughty schoolgirl touch.

That jumpsuit aside, Fleabag is a trend-free zone. Unlike Waller-Bridge’s other screen-heroine Villanelle, the designer clothes obsessive from Killing Eve, who wears outfits straight off the catwalk.

Not for Fleabag the wafting dresses and handkerchief hems of Instagram influencers or the saggy paper bag trousers, brightly coloured trouser suits and knife-pleat midi skirts currently flooding the shops.

Instead, because we love the woman – even the mismatched mundanity of her clothes has become as aspirational as a Balenciaga trainer.

Flaunting her legs: Her tea dress shows off her shapely legs in the series 

Tea dresses to show off her legs 

There was a 38 per cent spike in online searches for red dresses after Fleabag wore this floral mini in the series two finale.

There are three reasons Holman got this so right. First, the shape, which showcases Waller-Bridge’s enviable legs. 

Then the tea-dress style, which – thanks to brands such as Rixo – has shaken off its frumpy reputation to become a spring must-have. 

Third, Holman chose sustainable label Reformation (inset), which has the Duchess of Sussex among its fans. 

She even pulls off a denim mini 

From micro hemlines to cut-away jumpsuits, we’ve seen how Holman expertly mixes daring items into Fleabag’s mundane, everyday style.

The back-of-the-wardrobe item here is undoubtedly the denim mini. It’s something many women own, but are never brave enough to wear, thanks to its unflattering length and bulk.

However, Fleabag – with her simple knit, quirky tights and popular Superga trainers (£50, superga.co.uk, top) – makes it look laid-back and stylish.       

Denim twist: She even has made the denim mini a fashion hit 

Strange combo – but it works 

Unlike Jodie Comer’s fashion-forward wardrobe for Villanelle in Killing Eve, which was made up of mostly high-end labels, the pillars of Fleabag’s outfits feel far more wearable (and affordable).

But it’s the subtle styling tweaks that seem to resonate most with viewers and fashion fans alike.

Here Holman has taken a short printed floral dress — another item found in almost every hard-working wardrobe — and paired it with a classic £45 Levi’s denim jacket and those on-trend Saint Laurent-inspired sheer black tights.

Strange combo: But the TV star makes it work leading viewers to follow in her footsteps 

Breton top worn with a stylish twist 

While some might team a basic jersey Breton top with jeans, Holman chose to layer a black pinafore-style jumpsuit over the top instead.

It’s an off-duty styling move which will undoubtedly be picked up by Fleabag fans in the not-so distant future.

Holman headed to high street hero Benetton for the striped top, which comes in at just under £20. 

Comfy but chic, like most of Waller-Bridge’s looks, this is the ideal outfit to recreate for the weekend.  

Breton top: Fleabag’s style twist has proved to be a hit

Her trademark classic trench 

There is no denying the appeal of a trench coat, and over the show’s two series, this has become a staple item in Fleabag’s wardrobe.

For Waller-Bridge’s character, the trench-of-choice is chic, black and classic in both shape and fit, which – unlike those printed floral mini dresses and well-worn trainers – feels timeless and classic.

It looks every bit as stylish buttoned-up and belted, or worn loose over her striped tops, jeans and knits.

More importantly, it’s something that we can all work easily into our wardrobes. 

Classic trench: It is a firm favourite of the character as it can match everything 

The post Fleabag, the new fashion icon who gets it so wrong, its right! appeared first on Gyrlversion.

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