#it's also about a cute dog named Mr. Bingley. he is just here.

[jean-wei]

Posting a whole comic! Mending a Rift, 2022. 34 pages. Sort of sci-fi, sort of fantasy, maybe a little grim, very much slice-of-life.

A digital PDF of this comic is available in my web shop.

[go-events]

GO Rom Com Spotlight: @sparkle-in-the-stars​

The amazing @sparkle-in-the-stars​​ (also sparkleofastar on Twitter and SparkleInTheStars on AO3) has claimed Legally Blonde to adapt for Good Omens in the Good Omens Rom Com Event.

For reference, here’s a little background about the source material!

About Legally Blonde: Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) has it all. She wants nothing more than to be Mrs. Warner Huntington III. But there is one thing stopping him (Matthew Davis) from proposing: She is too blond. Elle rallies all of her resources and gets into Harvard, determined to win him back.

We spent some time chatting about how the adaptation is coming so far, as well as future plans for it! Now, get to know @sparkle-in-the-stars​ a little better!

* * *

goromcom: Let’s begin with a little something about what Tumblr knows about you. Tumblr tells me that you post "about #crowley and #good omens". Ah! I get to ask the question I love to ask when someone has one of the GO main characters as a favorite tag--is Crowley secretly your favorite?

sparkle-in-the-stars​: Good Omens lured me back into fanfiction after a hiatus of many years.  Crowley and Aziraphale, with their amazing personalities and their love for the ages is what drew me in.  There’s such a depth to them both as individuals and a duo.  As a book aficionado that’s soft, has a hedonistic streak, and that is alternately very confident and unsure of themselves, I can readily relate to Aziraphale.  So I suppose I perhaps read up more on the Crowley headcanons and theories people share to better understand his character and do justice to him when writing about him.

goromcom: You chose to adapt Legally Blonde as your rom com. Has this movie been a favorite of yours, or is there some other reason you chose it?

sparkle-in-the-stars​: The film is one of my favorite rom-coms of all time.  What I love about the movie is that Elle becomes stronger and more empowered over the course of the film.  She doesn’t give up who she is, but rather makes her perceived deficiencies into strengths.  People underestimate her and she proves them wrong on her own terms.

Too often in films, a woman changes who she is to win the guy.  Her dreams get put on hold, pushed to the side, and she makes a sacrifice. In this case, Elle realizes she deserves better, is capable of more, and finds love with someone worthy of her.  There’s no compromise of who she is, rather she becomes her best self.

My choosing it was a strange and serendipitous event.  The day before the Rom-Com sign-ups ended, I’d had an idea for a Legally Ineffable fic and was feeling really inspired.  Somehow I hadn’t seen about the Omens Rom-Com and that night I stumbled across it, so I reached out and a few hours later I was committed to the Rom-Com!

goromcom: What's your favorite moment of your movie, and are you looking forward to presenting it in your adaptation? Any loose plans for that scene that you can share?

sparkle-in-the-stars​: There are so many amazing moments in the film.  One of my favorite moments is when Delta Nu helps her get ready for her LSATS.  It’s a lovely moment of sisterhood without jealous, pettiness, or an agenda - this is someone they care about and are pulling for.  This is being represented when a group of friends help Aziraphale prepare for a big formal where he’ll be staring down Gabriel. Another is the moment when Elle is in the bookstore in her playboy bunny outfit and she’s angry.  It’s a turning point for her, because you see her determination to succeed blossom.  Werner is no longer her goal.  Also, Emmett is there and while I’m certain he admires the view, I feel like he admires her moxie and it’s a point where his feelings about and for her start to evolve.  There’s some really cute art with Aziraphale in a playboy bunny outfit and I absolutely had to incorporate it into my story.  It’s cute, ridiculous, and a turning point for him and for his relationship with Crowley.

goromcom: Do you plan to stick very closely to the beats of the original story, or make bigger changes?

sparkle-in-the-stars​: In terms of the overall plot, I’m hitting a number of the key beats.  Aziraphale decides to attend law school, struggling to fit in, and finding his way while keeping true to himself.  But there are definitely some changes and additions because I’m keeping this as angels and demons and picking up after the apocanot.  One big change is that the college has sororities and fraternities (Gabriel saw a few too many college films and insisted). Delta Nu was one of my favorite parts of Legally Blonde, so instead of something that is left behind after the beginning, a male presenting Aziraphale joins a sorority on campus and makes friends with Michael who serves as a prim and wise version of Paulette that Aziraphale introduces to the joys of food.

goromcom: What's an interesting decision you've made in your planning so far--a notable casting decision, a changing of venue, or some other plan you have to paint Good Omens all over your rom com?

sparkle-in-the-stars​: Heaven and Hell have negotiated a treaty where they’ll settle their matters in the court room rather than battle.  But this means a lot more angels and demons need to know how ethereal and occult law work. So Archangels and Archdemons are teaching at a newly miracled law school located in Tadfield as a neutral ground.  Crowley is teaching a course in legal loopholes of both systems because in a sense that's his specialty in Omens - loopholes. One casting choice I’m excited about is Bruiser!  Instead of Bruiser, his name is Kevin and...  let’s just say he’s fun, unexpected, and I don’t want to spoil the surprise!

goromcom: I am blatantly stealing this last question from The Good Place: The Podcast, but here goes: Tell me something "good". It can be something big or small. It can be a charity you think is doing good work, or you can talk about how great your pet is.

sparkle-in-the-stars​: My wife who is also my beta!  I met her when she reviewed a fic of mine clear back in 2004.  And my beloved pug mix rescue, Mr. Bingley! He’s ten and still very much my baby.  The two of them are what I love best in the world!

goromcom: What a lovely story about your wife, and a really great doggo. And when everyone else is done gazing at your sweet little dog, make sure to make a note to catch the GO adaptation of Legally Blonde, coming soon.

[a-tired-bass]

A Pride and Prejudice liveblogging (with Keira Knightley). As a foreword, not having observed any P&P media for a very long time, I remember merely the gist of the story and not the specifics

Keira Knightley (KK from here on out) is, as always, immaculate

Ooooh I like the clever use of diegetic music with that piano transition

That is a good pupper. Looks like a wolfhound

The ladies are all so cute!

Some of those costumes are not accurate

GO CELLO MAN GO

KK reads queer AF

Oh boy does Darcy need a better barber

Good fun line dances those. I actually know (knew? it’s been a good long while) one of those

Brutal Darcy, brutal. It’s not like you’ve got much to offer bar money right now

Rekt Darcy, KK has your number, cynic she may be

Look. their environment reads cute giggling girls, but that shot reads fucking. Especially with KK’s queercoding earlier

Jeez youre miserable Mrs Bennett. And a miserly old sod

Again, KK dashing off to her lover. Yes, its her sister I suppose, but have you ever met someone who drops everything to walk the obviously non-trivial distance because your family got sick, especially when its a minor sickness and theyre with people already?

Darcy still looks trash. KK, you could have done something with your hair at least, the travelling clothes are excusable however.

Darcy is already smitten, what a hopeless man. But then again, KK

Mr. Bingley you are sorely lacking in the competent vocabulary department arent you. Mayhaps you should read more of those books instead of riding out all the time

Come on lassy, what did you think was going to happen when you throw something into a marching parade? They’re military at that, not gonna step an inch out of line

Whats her name is a piece of shit that really likes showing off to her ‘lessers’ doesn’t she? And yet willing to parade the girl he’s smitten for the sole purpose of antagonizing him. Now that's a nigh familial relationship

Oooh excellent framing and reading of the good v. evil and angel/devil shoulder relationship in that shot. You could easily pump out 500 words on those few seconds alone

Why is she all in dark tones? Or is she the one the mother is calling plain all the time? How rude

Brutal mumma bingley. Don’t taunt those with more money than you could ever dream of in life when you rely on them for your daughters

Ah Mary is the black sheep I see. Now the attire fits the persona

“And I shall never wash this hand again...”

Why do almost all the men use so much vocal fry? It’s such an ugly sound

So many of those words could so easily be construed as butt jokes. Well done to the writers to so instantly make Mr Collins a remarkably adjunct man

Buddy. Buddy. If you’re gonna practice, be better. Yikes. You have so little clue about women. Im not expert but even still. Buddy.

He says with such a pretty ribbon adorning his own hair. At least he knows how to fish for compliments and seek the ladies favour

Darcy you are so jealous, so so jealous

You spin a pretty web soldier man, but you are transparent as day

Your lightness of foot you say, and yet you concentrate so dearly and likely tread so very hard. Unless youre the consort and your lady patron has a foot fetish

Ah, now Mr Darcy, that is how to tread lightly whilst dancing. But he is definitely no attendant of small talk

You could smile Darcy. You’d be much more amicable

Ooh but i do like the cinematography of having them alone in the room

No KK, Bingley is absolutely a fool and you need to help him out for the sake of your sister/lover

Ah poor Mary. I share your resentment of the crowded public gala

Mr. Collins, pay your attentions to Mary, for it is clearly apparent she would be the only one who would be happy to have you

Awww Papa, you are a good man

Why do they always use white sheets? White seems terribly inconvenient for all involved, a grey of some sort would likely be far more suitable

KK you are a clever and perceptive girl. How unfortunate that most of your family do not share that trait

If the ladies are all that old (or approaching), they surely do not act it. I retain my preference to age them as younger to more suitably fit their demeanours. Whether that be a stain upon the director is another debate that I do not feel like considering at this time

...why is there a boat in the middle of your, well, what appears to be sty/stable?

Ah it seems to be representative of a portrayal of seasons

Holy shit collins is hopeless

Jesus man have some decorum and present yourself properly, you are not a dog to be whipped. Or are you? Is that your purpose to your lady patron?

Can’t sit next to your wife? What??

Gosh you have little time for social decorum KK. You and Darcy are sure to do fine once he becomes less of a twat

Awww you’re trying. But maybe try a little less hard, especially on those gloves

I’m glad there was no angry kiss there, despite the constant framing

May you be no judge of my character from hearsay until you know of the truths behind them. I admire that.

Poor Jane. Though, she’ll likely be set up with him again

Not sure how I feel about the Lydia scene.

I know you’re trying to spare her feelings, but tell the poor lass

Ah yes, the ever classic painting of women which are in fact merely men with tits. You think the artists would ever do an anatomy study, but I suppose that might have been improper then

Oh a clever re-rendition of the piece she played badly before. Coincedence? I think not!

Oh thats a pretty hairstyle

Awww she’s cute. She just wants her brother to be happy

RIP Lydia. But off goes Darcy to help find her methinks

Holy fucking shit is thier mother such a narcissist.

Bingly, boy, you need a life coach. Darcy is NOT who you need to go to for advice

But that is a good way to reintroduce yourself

KK needs a hug

I am surprised he is merely sihlouetted in fog and not on a hill crest with the sun rising behind him, but I suppose that would be a contrast to his character. Also, I want a coat like that

On the other hand, KK with a solar halo? Good cinematography

Still no kiss? I adore it

Hey smile is so cute! God I love her

Cute old man too :)

This concludes my liveblogging thoughts