#jeans broadway trip

[sondheim-girly]

Wow I really really really like Broadway

[made-my-peace-with-all-the-bad]

@sondheim-girly you planted the thoughts of Marcia with the inability to hate in my brain and then I yapped so please know that this is your fault <3

Thinking about Marcia who can’t bring herself to hate her old friends because she knew they had good parts of them.

She couldn’t bring herself to hate Trip, because while he may have been a shitty boyfriend, he was a pretty loyal friend. He cared about his friends and would do anything for them. And he cares about his family. He acts annoyed when Melvin follows him, but Marcia knows that he loves Melvin. He loves his little brother and wants to protect him. She remembers the Trip that would pick up their friends and dust them off and tell them to “get their shit together” in a way that they knew meant he cared. She remembers the Trip that helped Brill plan out something for his and Bev’s anniversary. She knows how much he cares, so she can’t bring herself to hate him.

She can’t hate Brill either. Because she knows he has the potential to be a kind and incredible person. But, like the rest of them, he’s a product of his environment. She knows that he would do anything to reassure his friends and tell them it’ll be ok. He’s a comfort person and she knows that. She knows that his door is unlocked in anyone needs a place to stay. She knows that he sets aside extra blankets for friends who need it. She knows that he’d stand up for any of them. She knows that he’s an amazing boyfriend and loves Bev like it’s the best thing he’ll ever get to do. So, despite him jumping innocent greasers, and hurting Two Bit, she can’t bring herself to hate him. Because she’ll always see the boy who stood up for her when they were younger.

She couldn’t hate Bev either. Because she thinks of the girl that taught her how to do eyeliner when they were in middle school. She knows that Bev, even in her most bitter moments, loves her friends. She knows that Bev would do anything to gain her parents approval. She knows the amount of pressure Bev is under from her overbearing mother. She knows that Bev goes along with the socs in order to be validated by them. She knows that there are some nights that Bev will cry herself to sleep in Brill’s arms because it’s the only time she feels truly accepted. She remembers the Bev that said green looked good on her. She can’t bring herself to hate Bev.

She tried really hard to hate Paul. Because Paul launched this. It was his anger and grief that prompted the rumble and the jumping of Two Bit. But then she remembers the boy who’d answer his phone and listen to her cry and vent about her parents fighting again. She thinks back on the boy that would tell her it would be ok and would offer to pick her up and take her somewhere while it was happening. And suddenly her potential hatred faded. Because Paul was the oldest, so he took care of all of them. He made sure that they had someone they could go to when they needed advice, or just an older hand on their shoulder to tell them growing up was scary, but they’d be ok. She thinks about Paul, who still wears the sweater Bob got him for his fifteenth birthday. She thinks about how much he loved them and how much he cares. And she remembers the boy who’d offer to take all of them out for ice cream when they couldn’t stand to go home. And she can’t bring herself to hate Paul.

And Marcia couldn’t hate Chet. Because she knows how much he longs for love. She knows that he’d do anything to impress the socs. She knows because she remembers the little boy who was constantly asked about his older siblings. The siblings he never knew because ever since he was six years old, they’d made it clear they didn’t want a relationship with him. And his parents were older, they were done being parents. So Marcia knew Chet was constantly reminded that he wasn’t wanted, that he wasn’t planned, and they didn’t care about him. And Marcia knows that this impacts every way Chet acts. She knows that he goes along with Bob with the hope that Bob will say he’s glad to have Chet. Or that maybe one day he’ll do something so impressive that Cherry will like him. She knows that he craves the love he’s been deprived of and that makes him act out. She remembers the little boy who called her and asked if she knew how to work a stove so he could make himself dinner when he was seven. So she can’t bring herself to hate Chet.

Thinking about Marcia who wants so desperately to hate the people she used to be friends with, but can’t because she knows about the goodness and fear inside of them. She wants to badly to hate the people that hurt innocent people, but she understands that they’re a product of their environment. She knows it doesn’t excuse their behavior, but she also knows that she can’t despise them.

[emsprovisions]

❄️ Day 2 - The Passengers ❄️

🎁 Today's fic is dedicated to @reyesstrand!

Summary: UT college students, TK and Carlos, meet when they are both passengers on a plane bound for New York for the winter break.

Word count: 592

TK’s foot anxiously taps the ground as he stares out the window. He’s impatient and fidgety at best of times, but somehow the time between boarding a plane and waiting for takeoff is always extra torturous. He has his AirPods in and his hood drawn up, his hands tucked into the pocket, and his seatbelt already in place. This damn plane just needs to go.

He doesn’t notice the guy that takes a seat beside him until there’s a tap on his shoulder. With an irritated sigh, TK yanks out an AirPod and turns, expecting to see some middle aged man telling him his tray isn’t locked correctly or some shit, when instead TK is faced with the most gorgeous pair of brown eyes he’s ever seen. The guy gets impossibly prettier, with a mop of dark curls, tan skin, and plump lips TK has half a mind about kissing. 

“Hi, sorry,” the gorgeous guy says. “I was just wondering if you would mind opening the shade all the way. I like being able to see out when the plane takes off.”

“Oh,” TK says dumbly, “yeah, sure.”

As TK lifts the flap over the window, he thinks he doesn’t want this conversation to be over, but he doesn’t exactly know what else to say either. Thoughts race through his mind of things he could ask the handsome stranger, but then the guy pipes up first. 

“So, where are you headed?”

TK puts his AirPods away in their case and tucks it back into his front jeans pocket. “New York. You?”

“Also New York,” the man smiles. “Are you visiting?”

“I’m visiting my mom for the winter break,” TK offers him a tiny smile. “Have you ever been?”

“It’s my first time,” the guy shakes his head. “Three weeks in NYC. It’s part of this study abroad program I’m in. My mom was kind of pissed I’ll be missing Christmas, but I thought, hey, there’ll be other family Christmasses.”

TK cracks a small smile at that, “Oh, I wouldn’t tempt fate too loudly, you can never say never.”

“Ah, now you really sound like my Mamá. I didn’t expect you to be superstitious.”

“You don’t know anything about me,” TK retorts. 

“You’re right, I don’t. Why don’t we start with your name? I’m Carlos.”

TK raises an eyebrow at that smooth line that he supposes he walked right into. 

“TK,” TK responds. 

Carlos nods at learning TK’s name. “That’s a nice name! You said you’re on winter break, so I can only assume you’re in college too?”

TK doesn’t know how he’s found himself in easy conversation with such a handsome stranger, but he finds he doesn’t want it to end. 

The plane finally takes off while TK’s explaining he’s a pre-law student at UT and that he’s not superstitious, his dad is just a first responder. He finds out that Carlos is a criminal justice major, also at UT, but he’s part of this organization for artists and this semester there's a trip to NYC. He’ll get to take a few classes at NYU, go to Broadway plays, and check out museums, on top of spending Christmas in the city. He’s with a group and the whole thing is planned out. He’s excited. He’s adorable. 

“I can’t believe we’ve been going to UT for the same amount of time and never crossed paths,” Carlos laughs. 

TK just shrugs. “UT’s an awfully big school, and we’re in two different majors.”

“Still,” Carlos shakes his head. “This feels like fate.”

Maybe it is.

[camisoledadparis]

THIS DAY IN GAY HISTORY

based on: The White Crane Institute's 'Gay Wisdom', Gay Birthdays, Gay For Today, Famous GLBT, glbt-Gay Encylopedia, Today in Gay History, Wikipedia, and more … January 18

1726 – Frederick Heinrich Louis, more commonly known as Prince Henry of Prussia was born in Berlin (d.1802). He also served as a general and statesman, and, in 1786, was suggested as a candidate for a monarch for the United States, but before he could make up his mind on the offer, the U.S. had opted to be a Republic.

The younger brother of King Frederick II of Prussia, Henry's conflicts with "Frederick the Great" are almost legendary.

In 1752 Henry married Princess Wilhelmina of Hesse-Kassel in Charlottenburg, but they had no children. Henry lived in Rheinsberg after receiving it as a gift from his brother. Despite the marriage, he scarcely concealed his passion for other men and developed intimate friendships with the actor Blainville and the French emigre Count La Roche-Aymon. One favourite, Major Kaphengst, exploited the prince's interest in him to lead a dissipated, wasteful life on an estate not far from Rheinsberg.

Henry successfully led Prussian armies as a general during the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), in which he never lost a battle. After the Prussian Army's initial success against one wing of the joint Russian and Austrian Armies in the Battle of Kunersdorf, Henry urged his brother Frederick to stop attacking. The king, who had already sent a message of victory to Berlin, pressed the attack. The day ended with a virtually destroyed Prussian army, a virtually defenseless Kingdom of Prussia, and a complete victory by the Russo-Austrian force. Afterwards, Henry reorganized the routed Prussian forces. Frederick came to rely on his brother as commander of the Prussian forces in the east, Frederick's strategic flank. Henry later won his most famous victory at Freiberg in 1762.

After the Seven Years' War, Henry worked as a shrewd diplomat who helped plan the First Partition of Poland through trips to Stockholm and St. Petersburg. In the 1780s he made two diplomatic trips to France. He was a friend of Jean-Louis Favier.

Henry attempted to secure a principality for himself and twice tried to become King of Poland, but was opposed by a displeased Frederick. The king frustrated Henry's attempt to become ruler of a kingdom Catherine II of Russia planned to create in Wallachia.

In 1786 either Nathaniel Gorham, then President of the Continental Congress, or Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, the Prussian general who served in the Continental Army, suggested to Alexander Hamilton that Henry should become President or King of the United States, but the offer was revoked before the prince could make a reply.

1904 – Cary Grant, born Archibald Alexander Leach, (d.1986), was an English actor who later took U.S. citizenship. Known for his transatlantic accent, debonair demeanor and "dashing good looks", Grant is considered one of classic Hollywood's definitive leading men. His good looks, charisma, and ambiguous sexuality enchanted women and men alike. As the star-struck comedian Steve Lawrence once said, "When Cary Grant walked into a room, not only did the women primp, the men straightened their ties."

Born Archibald Alexander Leach on January 18, 1904, near Bristol, England, Grant began his career in vaudeville. In 1932 he signed with Paramount and moved to Hollywood, where he developed the debonair persona that made him famous. After appearing in half a dozen films, his big break came when the sultry Mae West handpicked him to star with her in She Done Him Wrong (1933). Based on West's Broadway hit Diamond Lil, the film made Grant a bankable star.

Grant's best-known films include The Awful Truth (1937), Bringing Up Baby (1938), Gunga Din (1939), The Philadelphia Story (1940), His Girl Friday (1940), Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), Notorious (1946), To Catch A Thief (1955), An Affair to Remember (1957), North by Northwest (1959) and Charade (1963).

Grant was married five times. But there were well-founded rumours that he was bisexual or gay. Homosexual screenwriter Arthur Laurents wrote that Grant "told me he threw pebbles at my window one night but was luckless". Grant allegedly was involved with costume designer Orry-Kelly when he first moved to Manhattan, and lived with Randolph Scott off and on for twelve years.

Richard Blackwell wrote that Grant and Scott were "deeply, madly in love", and alleged eyewitness accounts of their physical affection have been published. Alexander D'Arcy, who appeared with Grant in The Awful Truth, said he knew that Grant and Scott "lived together as a gay couple", adding: "I think Cary knew that people were saying things about him. I don't think he tried to hide it." The two men frequently accompanied each other to parties and premieres and were unconcerned when photographs of them cozily preparing dinner together at home were published in fan magazines. Biographer Roy Moseley claims that Grant and Scott were seen kissing in a public carpark outside a social function both attended in the 1960s. William J. Mann's book Behind the Screen: How Gays and Lesbians Shaped Hollywood, 1910-1969 recounts how photographer Jerome Zerbe spent "three Gay months" in the movie colony taking many photographs of Grant and Scott, "attesting to their involvement in the Gay scene." Zerbe says that he often stayed with the two actors, "finding them both warm, charming, and happy."

Cary Grant (R) with Randolph Scott

For more pictures and backround of this 1930s 'bromance' see Cary Grant and Randolph Scott: A Love Story.

Barbara Harris, Grant's widow, has disputed that there was a relationship with Scott. When Chevy Chase joked about Grant being gay in a television interview Grant sued him for slander; they settled out of court. However, Grant did admit in an interview that his first two wives had accused him of being homosexual. Betsy Drake commented: "Why would I believe that Cary was homosexual when we were busy fucking? He lived 43 years before he met me. I don't know what he did. Maybe he was bisexual."

Although most of his career was spent playing a static archetype, Grant was unafraid to take risks, professionally or privately. He is credited with using the word "gay" for the first time in a homosexual context on screen. In Bringing Up Baby (1938), Grant plays a shy paleontologist against Katharine Hepburn's spoiled New York heiress. During one scene, Grant appears in a frilly pink dressing gown and to incredulous observers delivers his famous line "because I just went gay all of a sudden."

Knowing his audience did not want to see him age, Grant retired from films in the 1960s, secure as one of Hollywood's brightest stars. He died on November 29, 1986.

1913 – Danny Kaye, born David Daniel Kaminsky, (d.1987) was a celebrated American actor, singer, dancer, and comedian. His best known performances featured physical comedy, idiosyncratic pantomimes, and rapid-fire nonsense songs.

Kaye starred in 17 movies, notably The Kid from Brooklyn (1946), The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947), The Inspector General (1949), Hans Christian Andersen (1952), and — perhaps his most accomplished performance — The Court Jester (1956). His films were extremely popular, especially his bravura performances of patter songs and children's favorites such as The Inch Worm and The Ugly Duckling. He was the first ambassador-at-large of UNICEF and received the French Legion of Honor in 1986 for his many years of work with the organization.

Kaye and his wife, Sylvia Fine, both grew up in Brooklyn, living only a few blocks apart, but they did not meet until they were both working on an off-Broadway show in 1939. They were married on January 3, 1940.

During World War II, the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated rumors that Kaye dodged the draft by manufacturing a medical condition to gain 4-F status and exemption from military service. FBI files show he was also under investigation for supposed links with Communist groups. The allegations were never substantiated, and he was never charged with any associated crime.

After Kaye and his wife became estranged, he was allegedly involved with a succession of women, though he and Fine never divorced. The best-known of these women was actress Eve Arden.

There are persistent rumors that Kaye was either homosexual or bisexual, and some sources claim that Kaye and Laurence Olivier had a ten-year relationship in the 1950s while Olivier was still married to Vivien Leigh. A biography of Leigh states that the alleged relationship caused her to have a breakdown. The alleged relationship has been denied by Olivier's official biographer, Terry Coleman. Joan Plowright, Olivier's widow, has dealt with the matter in different ways on different occasions: she deflected the question (but alluded to Olivier's "demons") in a BBC interview. However, in her memoirs Plowright denies that there had been an affair between the two men. Producer Perry Lafferty reported: "People would ask me, 'Is he gay? Is he gay?' I never saw anything to substantiate that in all the time I was with him." Kaye's final girlfriend, Marlene Sorosky, reported that he told her, "I've never had a homosexual experience in my life. I've never had any kind of gay relationship. I've had opportunities, but I never did anything about them."

1955 – Francis Warren Nicholls, Jr., better known by his stage name Frankie Knuckles (d. 2014), was an American DJ and record producer.

Knuckles was born in The Bronx, New York; he later moved to Chicago. He played an important role in developing and popularizing house music in Chicago during the 1980s, when the genre was in its infancy. Due to his importance in the development of the genre, Knuckles was often known as "The Godfather of House Music." Chicago named a stretch of street and a day after Knuckles in 2004 for this role. His accomplishments earned him a Grammy Award in 1997. Knuckles was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame in 2005 as recognition for his achievements.

While studying textile design at the FIT in New York, Knuckles began working as a DJ, playing soul, disco, and R&B at two of the most important early discos, The Continental Baths and The Gallery, with childhood friend and fellow DJ Larry Levan.

In the late 1970s, Knuckles moved from New York City to Chicago, where Robert Williams, an old friend was opening what became the Warehouse. When the Warehouse club opened in Chicago in 1977, he was invited to play on a regular basis, which enabled him to hone his skills and style. This style was a mixture of disco classics, unusual indie-label soul, the occasional rock track, European synth-disco and all manner of rarities, which would all eventually codify as "House Music." The style of music now known as house was of course named after a shortened version of the Warehouse.

Knuckles was so popular that the Warehouse, initially a members-only club for largely black gay men, began attracting straighter, whiter crowds. He continued DJing at the Warehouse until November 1982, when he started his own club in Chicago, The Power Plant.

When the Power Plant closed in 1987, Knuckles played for four months at Delirium in the United Kingdom. Chicago house artists were in high demand and having major success in the UK with this new genre of music. Knuckles also had a stint in New York, where he continued to immerse himself in producing, remixing, and recording. 1988 saw the release of Pet Shop Boys' third album, Introspective, which featured Knuckles as a co-producer of the song "I Want a Dog."

Openly gay, Knuckles was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 1996

1973 – The Chilean journalist Juan Manuel Astorga was born today. Astorga is a major media personality having hosted radio, television and cable shows in his long and storied career. In 2008, Astorga gave an interview to Caras magazine, in which he discussed his homosexuality .

He chose to disclose his sexuality before he was outed by an attorney who was a member of the Fascist-connected Catholic order Opus Dei. The attorney attempted to extort money from Astorga by threatening to out him. Astorga beat him to the punch. The Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation of Chile supported Astorga and condemned this kind of blackmail.

1974 – Maulik Pancholy is an American actor of Indian heritage known for his recurring role as Sanjay Patel on Weeds, his role as Jonathan on 30 Rock, voice acting as Baljeet Tjinder in Phineas and Ferb, and as Neal during the first season of Whitney. He also voices a different character also named Sanjay Patel in the Nickelodeon animated series Sanjay and Craig.

Pancholy's television work includes guest roles on Tracey Takes On..., The Sopranos, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and The Comeback. He also has several stage acting credits in New York City including the Culture Project's production of Guantanamo: Honor Bound to Defend Freedom in 2004, a workshop of the play Morbidity & Mortality at the historic Cherry Lane Theatre in 2005, and the lead role in India Awaiting at the Samuel Beckett Theatre.

Pancholy came out as gay in a November 2013 interview with Out magazine in which he discussed his partner of nine years. He announced his engagement to caterer Ryan Corvaia on January 9, 2014.

1984 – (Benjamin) Benji Schwimmer is an American professional dancer, choreographer and actor. On August 16, 2006 he was announced as the winner of the second season of So You Think You Can Dance and has choreographed for both the U.S. and the international versions of the show. He co-starred in the 2010 film Leading Ladies.

Schwimmer is known for his versatility in mixing the arts of solo dance and partnering. He works for the non-profit group, Dancers Everywhere Making a Needed Difference (D.E.M.A.N.D), and is the songwriter, producer, and vocalist for pop-rock band The Weekend Forecast.

Schwimmer grew up in a Latter-day Saint (Mormon) household in Moreno Valley, California. He is the son of choreographer and West Coast Swing dancer Buddy Schwimmer. His mother, Laurie Schwimmer, and sister, Lacey Schwimmer, are also west-coast swing dancers.

He started competing when he was five years old. Some of his early experiences included singing and dancing in "Sunshine Magic", a children's troupe.

Schwimmer put dancing on hold to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. He returned afterwards to the dance circuit. He founded D.E.M.A.N.D., a non-profit organization that helps the less fortunate and provides health care for dancers with HIV/AIDS and other illness.

Schwimmer is openly gay. He left the LDS church in 2011 due in part to the church's position on not allowing homosexuals to work with youth. He came out publicly in 2012, after struggling with his homosexuality for a number of years. The catalyst for his decision was the death by suicide of three gay friends.

1986 – Eugene Lee Yang is an American filmmaker, actor, and internet celebrity, best known for his work with BuzzFeed (2013–2018) and The Try Guys (2014–present). Yang is also known for his work with various human rights and LGBT advocacy charities such as The Trevor Project.

Yang, the only son of Korean immigrants Min-Young and Jae Yang, was born and raised in Pflugerville, Texas. He is the middle child of two sisters. Growing up in Pflugerville, Yang's family was one of the few Asian Americans in their community. He struggled with body image issues and low self-esteem as, in his own words, no one looked like him, and suffered bullying due to his appearance.

At school, he engaged in artistic activities including visual arts, illustration, theater, choir, and dance. However, a seventh-grade teacher recommended that he should consider studying filmmaking. He later went to the University of Southern California and, during his studies, had written and directed six short films discussing wide-ranging social and political topics, including mental health care, gay marriage, and school shootings. He graduated with a B.A. in cinema production degree in 2008. On June 15, 2019, Yang came out as gay in a video titled "I'm Gay" which he wrote, directed, and choreographed with the song "A Moment Apart" by Odesza.

In 2013, he started working for the video branch of the internet media company, BuzzFeed, at the recommendation of a colleague who saw his potential in creating short format videos. He was given free control on experimental video productions and exploring new modes of storytelling.Reaction to some of his early works was positive particularly on their distinct candor and reliability, which led to more provocative sketches such as

The Try Guys, which was established in Buzzfeed in 2014, together with co-stars Ned Fulmer, Keith Habersberger, and Zach Kornfeld. The show is a mix of social commentary and humor depicting scenarios such as men going through labor pains and prostate cancer check at a doctor's office. The cast initially were hesitant about stepping out from behind the camera as they had limited acting experience, but they continued producing videos for the show after receiving positive feedback.

Yang is the only openly gay member among the cast of The Try Guys, which also produced LGBTQ-themed videos such as season 1 episode 3 The Try Guys Try Drag for the First Time. On October 31, 2018, he published the video, My Dad’s First Drag Show (Featuring Kim Chi), where he adopted a similar approach into exploring drag culture by inviting his father and stepmother to a drag show.

He also executively produced and hosted Buzzfeed's Queer Prom five-part video series that documented the journey of eight high school seniors who attended the company's first LGBTQ-themed prom together with other students.

On October 11, 2018, commemorated as the 30th year of National Coming Out Day, he took over the website of the advocacy group Human Rights Campaign, publicly sharing his experience growing up as a young queer man and advocating for LGBTQ representation in the media. Furthermore, he collaborated with The Trevor Project, a non-profit LGBTQ suicide prevention organization, to raise awareness on the incidence of suicide among LGBTQ youth and in inviting volunteers in the video Eugene Volunteers at the Trevor Project, which was posted on December 3, 2018.

He referred to himself as queer and LGBT, however, on June 15, 2019, Yang explicitly came out as gay in a music video. Two days later, Yang released an accompanying video documenting the creation of the video, his feelings, and his thoughts surrounding his coming out process.

In 2019, he announced that he is in a relationship with Matthew McLean.

2009 – On this date the Right Reverend Gene Robinson, the bishop of New Hampshire, and the first openly gay bishop of any denomination opened the inaugural festivities of Barack Obama's presidency when he gave the opening prayer at the Lincoln Monument. HBO, which had paid for exclusive rights to the event did not broadcast Bishop Robinson's prayer. So those watching the event live or later in replay would never have known it had occurred.

Curiously, National Public Radio chose not to air the prayer live either. There was no record of Bishop Robinson or his prayer in images placed on the sites of Getty Images, the New York Times and the Washington Post.

Very curious indeed. After some lame excuses HBO later aired a complete version of the afternoon's proceedings with Bishop Robinson's prayer included. No good excuse was ever given by the inaugural committee.

On an added note the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington also performed at the event but there was no announcement or caption of any sort to identify the group performing (perhaps to not upset any viewers out there).

2010 – Undercover cops are working Dubai's chat rooms to bust gay men for trying to hookup online. The National reports that one 22 year old man is charged with prostitution, consensual homosexual sex, producing pornographic material, cross-dressing and insulting religion, while the second, an 18-year-old student, is facing prostitution charges. Homosexuality is illegal in the United Arab Emirates, and if found guilty both face a minimum of three and a maximum of 15 years in prison.

[booksrbetterthanpeople]

Can we see more of the total drama au? It sounds fun!

Alec: *As the contestants drag themselves out of the water* Welcome, all! I can tell by your eager faces, that you’re all thrilled to be here!

Nathaniel: This is my resting bitch face, you psycho!

[Confessional]

Nathaniel: No one told me I had to jump out of a HELICOPTER! Why did I sign up for this thing?! WHY?!

[End confessional]

Alec: Well, if we can get the tantrums out of the way, it’s time to assemble teams! For team Glamazon, we have Marc, Reshma, Denise, Simon, Ivan, Juleka, Kim, Zoé, Chloé, Alya, Nino, Adrien, and Aurore!

Nino: Alright! I got my best bro and my girlfriend on a team!

[Confessional]

Nino: I’m weirdly excited for this! And the best part? Alec put all the tall people on a team together! And with Denise and Kim, we can’t lose any physical challenges!

[Confessional]

Alec: For team Shorties, we have Nathaniel, Cosette, Ismael, Lacey, Jean, Mireille, Rose, Alix, Myléne, Max, Sabrina, Vivica, and Marinette!

Alix: We’re gonna kill them all!

Cosette: BITE THEIR ANKLES!

[Confessional]

Lacey: Never underestimate the power of short people.

***

Max: I can become quite feral when the situation calls for it… HEAR THAT, TALL PEOPLE?!

[End confessional]

Alec: Your first challenge will be a test of brains, brawn, and how well you can wrangle animals!

Glamazons/Shorties: …

Reshma: … What did he say?

Alec: Your first challenge is called… Critter Catch! The object of this challenge is to mark the most animals my underpaid and underfed interns have released into the wild before five hours are up! To mark said animals, you will use these brightly-colored, super adhesive stickers with your team’s logos! *Tosses rolls of stickers at the teams* Designed those myself, by the way. Now, once an animal is marked, an opposing team member cannot mark them! And trust me, I’ll know. The team who has the most animals marked by the end of the challenge wins immunity and will not be getting sent home via voting system by the loser team. The loser who does get sent home via voting system by the loser team? They’ll have a little surprise waiting for them. Are we ready?!

Ismael: NO!

Alec: Great! Release the beasts!

*A few of Alec’s underpaid interns open metal cages, releasing some feral and unnatural looking animals*

Kim: Ew! What’s wrong with them?!

Simon: That ferret has a third eye!

Juleka: That gopher is giving me the middle finger.

Alec: Hehe, yeah… Here’s the thing. The island is sort of… Littered with toxic waste.

Max: I beg your pardon?!

Myléne: WHAT?!

Chloé: Where’s my phone?!

Alec: So, watch out for glowing barrels, and don’t let them smell your fear!

Zoé: What happens if- *A squirrel pounces on her* AAAAHHH!! IT’S TRYING TO EAT MY EAR! *Denise punches the squirrel off of her*

Alec: Well, don’t just stand around! Get those mutant animals!

Myléne: This is highly- *Alec blows an airhorn in her face*

[Confessional]

Myléne: I signed up so that I could use the million euros for good. But tormenting poor animals for the cause just seems… I-I don’t even know what.

[End confessional]

*Team Shortie is walking through the woods, trying to come up with a plan*

Max: Okay, we should cover more ground if we split up. Alix, Lacey, you two take to the trees. The rest of us will stick to the ground.

Kim: *Walking by* As always.

Alix: Shut up, Kim! Max, you were saying?

Max: If you have to, trip a memeber of Team Glamazon. Trust me, they won’t see it coming.

Jean: That, I can do- RABBIT! *Grabs the rabbit by its ears and slaps a sticker on its fur* Gotcha!

Myléne: Jean!

Jean: Honey, I need that ten million! I intend to buy tickets to every Broadway show… Or, you know, my University fund. Both are important.

*Meanwhile with Team Glamazon, Zoé, and Kim come across a crocodile resting on the ground*

Kim: Alright, I’ll sneak up behind it an cause a distraction. Then, I’ll climb a tree. While it’s trying to eat me, Zoé, you slap a sticker on its tail, and then-

Zoé: Marc’s wrestling it.

Kim: … WHAT?!

Marc: SAY UNCLE! SAY IT!

Kim: Whoa.

[Confessional]

Kim: So, I was not expecting a crocodile wrestler from someone so… Lanky. Don’t get me wrong, Marc’s cool, but I just wasn’t expecting… That.

[End confessional]

Marc: *Hog ties the crocodile with his hoodie and slaps a sticker on its snout*

Kim: Marc! Where’d you learn how to do that?!

Marc: I’ve got family out on the countryside. I learned how to do that with my cousins when they get on my nerves. Now, let’s go! *Runs off*

[Confessional]

Zoé: It must be the thrill of the competition. It happens; one minute, you’re all meek and shy, but when a competition with a big prize at the end comes along, you’ll do whatever it takes. Including wrestling with a killer reptile. I gotta say, though, I’m hoping to see Marc take down a bear, or something.

[End confessional]

*Lacey inches along a branch, ever so slowly… Then slaps a sticker on a vulture*

Lacey: YEAH! I OWN YOU! *The vulture pecks at her* OW! Hey! Little help?!

*Alix throws a stick at the vulture, making it fly off*

Lacey: Thanks.

Alix: Hey, no problem. Never liked those things. Now, come on. Between you and me, we’ve got nine animals. Who knows how far ahead The Glamazons are?

*Meanwhile*

Aurore: Oh, hell no, Bourgeois!

Chloé: It’s not like anyone will notice! Just put your sticker exactly where the other team put theirs, and make sure it’s not an inch off! How hard can that be?

Aurore: Very, when the animal is moving!

Alix: *Points to the ground where Aurore and Chloé are arguing* Trouble in paradise.

Lacey: *Snickers* This should be good.

Chloé: Ugh! It’s not that hard! *Notices a snake with the Shortie sticker on its tail, and places a Glamazons sticker on the exact same spot* There! And look at that. Nothing happened.

Alec’s Voice: Team Glamazon loses five points! Bringing their total down to eight!

Aurore: WHAT?!

Simon: Okay! Which fucker did what?!

*Lacey and Alix, meanwhile, are giggling from the treetops*

Alec’s Voice: Did I forget to mention? You cheat, you lose points. And that deduction puts team Shortie ahead! Good luck, Glamazons! You’ll need it!

*While walking, Ismael comes across a cave*

Ismael: Let’s see. Million… Or possibly get mauled by a mutant bear… I’ll find some tall-ass to help me out. *Notices Alya walking by* Hey, Alya! If the Shorties win, I’ll talk to Reshma and convince her to not vote you off.

Alya: … What do you want?

Ismael: Just be a distraction. A loud one.

Alya: … I’m in. *Follows Ismael into the cave and starts screaming. Seconds later, she runs out while being chased by a bear with a sticker on its hide, courtesy of Ismael*

Ismael: You’re a trooper, Alya! I owe you.

*In another part of the forest, Nathaniel is hiding behind a bush as a group of mutant rabbits go past him. With a bated breath, he runs out and slaps stickers on three of them*

Nathaniel: YES! *They start snarling at him* Fuck.

*Meanwhile, Nino is trying to coax Adrien into putting a sticker on a sleeping fox*

Adrien: What if it wakes up and tries to attack me?

Nino: It won’t while I’ve got my stick. Just do it quick and-

Nathaniel: *Runs past them screaming* RUN! THEY’RE GONNA KILL US ALL!

*His screaming wakes the Fox up, and it snarls at Adrien and Nino*

Nino: N-nice, fox. Let’s just-

Adrien: *Points ahead* RABBITS! *He grabs Nino’s hand and drags him away from the massive group of rabbits coming after them. Once they swarm over the fox and leave, all that’s left of the fox is a pile of bones*

[Confessional]

Nino: *Rocking back and forth; shudders* S-so… So many rabbits.

[End Confessional]

Alec: *Reclining in a lounge chair and watching the events on a flat screen* The Shorties take the lead thanks to Chloé deciding to cheat! This won’t do well for here during voting! Let’s see how Denise is doing. *Changes the channel, showing Denise wrestling with a bear* This! This is why I do these things!

Denise: SOMEONE SLAP A STICKER ON THIS THING!

Kim: *Runs by screaming a slaps a sticker on the bear’s arm* RUN AWAY NOW! FERRETS ARE COMING!

Denise: What are you- MIERDA! *Pushes the bear off of them and runs after Kim as a hoard of ferrets give chase*

*Meanwhile, Marinette and Vivica are fending off against several animals using tree branches. Jean slaps several stickers on the animals getting hit toward him*

Jean: Keep ‘em coming!

Marinette: You could help us!

Jean: Then who will put the stickers on these weirdly deformed animals?!

[Confessional]

Jean: Plus, I just got a manicure.

[End confessional]

Myléne: Where does that man get off? *Places a sticker on a squirrel, only for it to hiss and try to bite her* Hey! I’m on your side!

Cosette: *Kicks the squirrel away* It doesn’t know that!

[Confessional]

Cosette: I’m sure we’ll see a more feral side to Myléne as the show progresses.

***

Myléne: There is no way in hell I would ever harm an animal!

[End Confessional]

Nino: *Checks his watch* There’s only two hours left, and the shorties are ahead! No thanks to you, Chloé!

Chloé: Do you HAVE to keep saying that?!

Glamazons: YES!

Zoé: *Slaps a sticker on a bird as it flies by* Here’s what I’m thinking. Don’t think! Just tag! Do not be afraid of the mutant animals!

Reshma: But-

Zoé: NO FEAR! *Grabs a possum by its tail and slaps a sticker on its back, making it try to scratch her* See?! Easy!

Kim: I’m liking this plan! *Runs into a bear cave, screaming*

Alya: … He’s gonna die.

*Meanwhile*

Alec: There’s only an hour and forty minutes left until the end of the first trial! Will the Shorties come out on top for once? Will Kim get mauled by a bear? Will I stop asking questions? Find out right here! Right now! On Total! Drama! Paris!

*Commercial Break*

Alec’s Voice: With only thirty minutes left, The Shorties are still ahead!

Aurore: *Groans* Why are we so bad at this?!

Kim: *Covering up his arm wound* Maybe the fact it takes some of us three minutes to touch the floor when we bend over?

Marc: Was that necessary?

Kim: There’s no shorties nearby to poke fun at, so yes!… Tall-Ass.

[Confessional]

Marc: I just might vote him off for saying that to me… *Sighs* No, I won’t.

[End confessional]

*Mireille, Sabrina, and Ismael are hiding behind some bushes, watching a mutant platypus sleeping*

Ismael: Okay, who’s got a plan?

Mireille: Maybe I can make a distraction?

Ismael: That’s good. Alright, maybe-

Nino: DON’T THINK! JUST TAG! *Slaps a sticker on the platypus’ hide, and runs off. However, the platypus spots the other three and hisses*

Sabrina: Oh, shit.

*Meanwhile*

Cosette: Come on out, you freaky-looking animals! I just wanna put a sticker on your furry selves!

Nathaniel: Hey, maybe let’s no provoke the mutant animals.

Cosette: We’re still alive, aren’t we? *Hears someone screaming and turns around to see Mireille, Sabrina, and Ismael running toward, and then past them* What the?

Sabrina: RUN! AND DON’T LET IT KICK YOU!

Cosette: What’s she-

Nathaniel: PLATYPUS! *He and Cosette run from the platypus as it gives chase* I HATE NATURE!

Alec’s Voice: *Laughing* Fifteen more minutes! Who wants immunity the most?!

Simon: I want it! *Slaps a sticker on a deer’s face and runs away* I regret auditioning!

Myléne: On his face?!

Simon: *From a distance* Yes!

*Meanwhile*

Kim: We’re too far behind! We need to find a bunch of animals, and fast!

Adrien: But, the Shorties already got lost of them-

Aurore: Wait, wait, wait. Shut yo our mouth. Look. *Points to a bunny poking it’s head out of a burrow* When there’s one. There’s more…

Ivan: At this point, I’ll risk anything. I did not jump out of a plane for nothing.

Zoé: GET ‘EM!

*The Glamazons run toward the burrow*

*Fifteen minute skater, the airhorn goes off*

Alec’s voice: So ends Critter Catch! Glamazons and Shorties, return to the start!

*The Shorties make their way back*

Rose: I feel good about this.

Marinette: Yeah, we- What happened to you all?!

*The Glamazons are covered in bite marks and scratches, and some patches of hair are missing*

Nino: … Bunnies, Nettie.

*Both teams return to the start*

Alec: Whoa! You all look like hell!

Aurore: Thanks for noticing, jerk!

[Confessional]

Aurore: I will hurt him one day. I will.

[End confessional]

Alec: Let’s all turn our attention to the screen to see who won, and therefore, gains immunity!

*The screen shows that the Glamazons have 67, making the team cheer, only for it to die down when they see that the Shorties beat them by one point*

[Confessional]

Nathaniel: … I actually won something sports related! I’m somewhat an athlete!

***

Ismael: YEEEEAAAHH! SUCK IT, MOM!

***

Alya: I blame Chloé.

[End confessional]

*Later that night, the Glamazons are gathered around a bonfire, sitting on logs, while the Shorties stand off to the side*

Alec: This is truly the saddest part of the day… Because I can no longer torture one of you. You all voted for who you want to see go, and here are the results. If I toss you a marshmallow, you get to stay… Denise. Marc, Simon, Reshma. *Tosses them marshmallows* … Ivan, Juleka, Kim, Zoé. *Tosses them marshmallows* Alya, Adrien, and… Aurore. *Tosses them marshmallows* Nino and Chloé? That just leaves you. The person who will be getting sent home tonight… Will be…

…

…

…

Alec: … Chloé. *Tosses Nino a marshmallow*

Chloé: WHAT?! No! I deserve to be on tv!

Alya: And we deserve a teammate who doesn’t cost us points.

Ivan: Nice.

Alec: Follow me to the docks!

*The contestants are gathered on the docks, where Chef restrains a struggle Chloé, and stands next to some sort of tube that goes into the lake*

Alec: This is the Loser Chute! I’ve had my interns test it a few times and it… Somewhat works. It’ll take you back to the mainland and hopefully not rearrange your organs. Chef, if you please?

Chloé: *Kicking and screaming* You can’t do this!

Alec: If those are your final words, then all I have to say is, goodbye!

Chloé: You’ll hear from my lawyers! *Chef drops her down the Loser Chute feet first* AAAAAAAHHHH!!

Alec: Head to your cabins and get some rest, campers! Tomorrow’s a new day, where you’ll face more insane challenges, come across more mutant animals, and probably become exposed to toxic waste!

Sabrina: Excuse me?!

Adrien: What?!

Max: This is why I suggested we read the contracts.

Kim: Who reads contracts anymore?

Alec: Well said! And viewers! Tune in tomorrow! Watch as I put these campers through the wringer! Only right here! On total! Drama! Paris!

Glamazon: Marc, Reshma, Denise, Simon, Ivan, Juleka, Kim, Zoé, Chloé, Alya, Nino, Adrien, and Aurore!

Shorties: Nathaniel, Cosette, Ismael, Lacey, Jean, Mireille, Rose, Alix, Myléne, Max, Sabrina, Vivica, and Marinette

[sonoftartessos]

Get to Know the Mun

What's your phone wallpaper? A drawing of a wizard frog and rogue cat on their way to the gas station to get snacks

Last song listened to: Wait for Me, Hadestown Original Broadway Cast

Currently reading: Leonardo Da Vinci, The Biography, Walter Isaacson

Last movie: Stardust (2007)

Last show: Leonardo (2021 - )

What are you wearing right now? Jeans and a T-shirt. Standard.

Piercings/Tattoos: Two lobe piercing in each ear (ignore my accidental hole from a botched uni attempt) and a very fresh industrial/scaffold. My three tats are fun little doodles I did. There's a triquetra with stag antlers, a bee with heather and a lil something in enochian.

Glasses/Contacts? Both. Glasses when I need to focus on stuff and contacts when I'm out and about.

Last thing you ate? KFC Twisted Wrap meal

Favorite Color: Blue, because I'll eternally be in my blue phase lol

Current obsession: Well, I was fixated on my trip to Florence (if you haven't noticed by my book and show choices). Now that it's over, I have yet to find a new fixation.

Do you have a crush right now? Nope

Favorite fictional character: Arthur Morgan is the only one who stays stuck. But there are some very compelling characters I'd love to see more of.

Last place you traveled: Just came back from a week in Florence but yesterday hung around Hampton Court Palace. Pick which one counts more XD

Tagged by: @ayakoito

Tagging: Everyone who sees this and fancies it! (Even if we've never interacted)

[my-chaos-radio]

Release: March 24, 2008

Lyrics:

Just another one champion sound

Yeah, Estelle, we 'bout to get down (get down)

Who the hottest in the world right now

Just touched down in London town

Bet they give me a pound

Tell them put the money in my hand right now

Tell the promoter we need more seats

We just sold out all the floor seats

Take me on a trip, I'd like to go someday

Take me to New York, I'd love to see L.A.

I really want to come kick it with you

You'll be my American boy

He said "Hey, sister, it's really, really nice to meet you"

I just met this 5 foot 7 guy who's just my type

I like the way he's speaking, his confidence is peaking

Don't like his baggy jeans

But I'mma like what's underneath them

And no I ain't been to M.I.A

I heard that Cali never rains and New York's heart awaits

First let's see the west end, I'll show you to my brethren

I'm liking this American boy, American boy

Would you be my American boy, American boy

Take me on a trip, I'd like to go someday

Take me to New York, I'd love to see L.A.

I really want to come kick it with you

You'll be my American boy, American boy

Can we get away this weekend? Take me to Broadway

Let's go shopping, baby, then we'll go to a café

Let's go on the subway, take me to your hood

I never been to Brooklyn and I'd like to see what's good

Dress in all your fancy clothes

Sneakers looking fresh to death, I'm loving those Shell Toes

Walking that walk, talk that slick talk

I'm liking this American boy, American boy

Take me on a trip, I'd like to go someday

Take me to New York, I'd love to see L.A.

I really want to come kick it with you

You'll be my American boy

Tell 'em kno wagwan blud

Who killing 'em in the U.K.

Everybody gonna say, "You, K"

Reluctantly 'cause most of this press don't fuck with me

Estelle once said to me, "Cool down, down

Don't act a fool now, now"

I always act a fool, oww, oww, ain't nothing new now, now

He crazy, I know what ya thinking

Ribena I know what you're drinking

Rap singer, Chain Blinger

Holla at the next chick soon as you're blinking

What's your persona?

About this Americana Brama

Am I shallow 'cause all my clothes designer

Dressed smart like a London Bloke

Before he speak his suit bespoke

And you thought he was cute before

Look at this peacoat, tell me he's broke

And I know you ain't into all that

I heard your lyrics, I feel your spirit

But I still talk that ca-ah-ash

'Cause a lot wags wanna hear it

And I'm feeling like Mike at his Baddest

Like The Pips at they Gladys

And I know they love it

So to hell with all that rubbish

Would you be my love, my love? (Would you be mine?)

Would you be my love, my love? (Would you be mine?)

Could you be my love, my love?

Ooh, would you be my American boy? American boy

Take me on a trip, I'd like to go someday

Take me to Chicago, San Francisco Bay

I really want to come kick it with you

You'll be my American boy, American boy

Songwriter:

Take me on a trip, I'd like to go someday

Take me to New York, I'd love to see L.A.

I really want to come kick it with you

You'll be my American boy, American boy

Kanye West / Will Adams / John Stephens / Joshua Lopez / Estelle Swaray / Keith Harris / Caleb Speir / Kweli Washington

SongFacts:

👉📖

[thatrickmcginnis]

JEAN-JACQUES BEINEIX, PAUL COX, HORTON FOOTE 1989 Toronto International Film Festival

The 1986 film festival was the first I covered as both a writer and photographer, and was the beginning of a quarter century of regular portrait work every September in the rooms of whatever hotels were hosting the guests and publicity suites that year. It was so much easier in 1986, before the big movie PR professionals showed up en masse, and you could still book nearly every shoot and interview through the festival's own press office. Besides David Lynch - my big score that year - I photographed people like Dutch-born Australian director Paul Cox.

I was a fan of Cox after his films Lonely Hearts and Man of Flowers, and he was here promoting Cactus, starring Isabelle Huppert. I wish I'd known at the time that Cox had started his career as a photographer - Google was decades in the future - but it explains why he was so comfortable posing for my camera, despite my inexperience (I had only bought my Pentax barely a year and a half before). Cox was passionate and adamant - he had no patience for the big studios and the mainstream filmmaking that he considered the enemy of small, independent pictures like his. I remember leaving the interview chastened and inspired - practically a convert to his worldview. Cox would continue to make films for nearly three more decades, but this period probably marked the peak of his profile as a festival director. Paul Cox died in 2016.

Another director I photographed at the 1986 film festival was Jean-Jacques Beineix, who I'd first heard about when his film Diva was a huge hit at the festival five years previous. He'd hit a rough patch with his next film, Moon in the Gutter, but made a comeback with Betty Blue, the film he brought to the Toronto festival that year. Films like Diva and Betty Blue, as well as directors like Beineix, Leos Carax and Luc Besson, were dubbed cinéma du look by French critics, and I remember how exciting they seemed at the time. It was, looking back, very much the sort of thing that would appeal to a young man - romantic and stylish and full of angst - and while I think Betty Blue is still worth seeing (though it would never be made today), I'm not sure that Diva has held up well.

Beineix had been through a lot in the last few years and I suppose it showed in these photos. I considered one of these frames unprintable back then, very far beyond my meagre darkroom skills, but I have managed to rescue it today thanks to superior scanning skills and the assistance of neural AI filters in Photoshop. The result looks like a still from an old nouvelle vague film, with Beineix in the role of Belmondo or Delon. Jean-Jacques Beineix died of leukaemia in Paris in 2022.

Horton Foote and his daughter Hallie were at the 1986 film festival promoting On Valentine's Day, the second film in a trilogy of pictures based on his plays set in the Texas of Foote's childhood, which starred his daughter in a role based on Foote's mother. Today everyone probably knows Foote for his Oscar-winning screenplay for To Kill a Mockingbird. He reccommended Robert Duvall for the role of Boo Radley in the film, and years later Duvall would play the lead role in Tender Mercies, which would get Foote another Oscar nomination and win Duvall one for Best Actor.

Foote also wrote scripts for pictures like Baby the Rain Must Fall, Of Mice and Men and The Trip to Bountiful - the latter based on his own 1953 teleplay, which went on to Broadway. Foote was the cousin of historian Shelby Foote, who wrote the 3-volume history that was the basis for Ken Burns' documentary series The Civil War, for which Foote provided the voice of Jefferson Davis. I photographed Horton and Hallie Foote simply, in a chair by the window of a room in the Park Plaza (now the Park Hyatt) hotel; the similarity of the poses and lighting ended up underscoring the family resemblance. Hallie Foote still works, mostly in theatre; Horton Foote died in 2009.

(From top: Beineix, Cox, Horton & Hallie Foote)

[newsies-united]

i fear i've been rather negative lately and i'm definitely yapping to myself here but here's a list of stuff i like/am looking forward to/went well for me because it's good to focus on those too!!

music

cows

starburst jellybeans

friends

family

talking to people

tech theatre class (love my teacher so much and class is so fun!! i got to work with lights a few days ago and it was so awesome i love lighting)

flannel shirts from target

baggy jeans w/ big pockets

nyc trip is coming up soon!!

crochet

cameras/photography

art/drawing specifically

trolli gummy worms

soc saturday lives

lighting design (i was watching shady (the great gatsby) again earlier i love love love how that whole scene looks)

writing

singing in the car with my parents (kpop with my dad (we pretend we know the words) and broadway with my mom)

watching my brother play baseball/listening to him talk about it and get excited about it

broadway of course!! newsies

clue (tim curry wadsworth omg)

the blair witch project

newsies

the outsiders

stranger things

beach weather (the actual weather and the band)

my ego loves you

justice for tulsa

collecting pop tabs off of soda cans

dr pepper

sweetfrog

another nyc trip in april w/ my mom

my dog and cat (vader and moo) (vader is a doberman and moo is a tuxedo cat)

writing this actually made me think about how much i do have going for me right now and how much i have to be happy about and be positive about

it's so easy to be negative and this might be a little cheesy but i don't really care because it was nice to think about and it made me pretty happy

[lucygraysboy]

“hey, do you know some scientists believe that dinosaurs might have had feathers, too? let me tickle you back with my feathers,” he playfully muses, tapping her nose with his own fingertip. “oh, wow… no wonder you fell in love with me at the tender age of six. i have the most unforgettable expression when something surprises me.” laughing as she mimics the look of sheer shock that overtook his features a moment ago, he slowly shakes his head and adds, “with this kind of talent? you should be on broadway, lucy gray.” or at juilliard with him. now that he’s thinking about it, what an experience that would be — the two of them at the same university. “i’m one lucky guy.” just because he can be that person for her. it means the world to him, but he can’t stay serious for long, not when his heart’s about to burst and his nose is already tingling with emotion. he needs a distraction, and so he finds himself one. “and since we’re quoting bon jovi,” he dramatically clears his throat and belts out, “i’d live and i’d die for you! i’d steal the sun from the sky for you! words can’t say what love can do! i’ll be there for you!” if his teachers or classmates could see him now, if the parking lot was actually crowded, he’d be blushing and running away, moving to mexico and changing his name to juan, but because it’s mostly just the two of them here, he lets himself be the giant, obnoxious goof that he is. after all, it’s nothing lucy gray hasn’t seen before.

rolling the cart back to its place, he nearly trips over his own feet upon hearing that she’s already came up with the name for their first baby. it doesn’t surprise him, not when they’ve been secretly crushing on one another since they were little kids, not when he has his own list of future baby names prepared in one of those old journals. he’s unsure if it’s a joke or not, but the name still speaks to him. “star is such a pretty name and the meanin’ is even more beautiful,” he muses with a sweet smile, letting go of the cart now that it’s been secured and curling his arm around lucy gray’s shoulders with the intention to keep her warm as they walk toward the waffle house. “but you’ll have to say more to convince me ‘cause what ‘bout ruby jean? or lily gray?” the names that little billy chose for his future children. “scared? you’re the most courageous person in the universe, lucy gray. that’s why i thought you were rejectin’ me after the prom, in that driveway… i didn’t think someone like you could be afraid of…” what exactly? commitment? love? “taking our friendship to the next level.” he doesn’t know if he should go there and talk about the night that tore them apart, but figures there’s nothing wrong with bringing it up in a gentle manner. “pft, you can’t just repeat my words back to me. be more creative than this.” he pinches her shoulder, a silent i loved you first and fell harder. end of story. “nothin’ dirty ‘bout how you liked my curls ‘cause you had somethin’ to hang onto while you was ridin’? babe…” he shakes his head, snorting a laugh even as his cheeks grown warmer and eyes struggle to meet hers. he flinches when the blanket hits him, but continues to snicker, finding it beyond adorable how innocent she is. “mhm, i wonder what dirty birdies get. any ideas?” 

“oh yeah, i did. that’s that birdie’s love language. tickling noses with their feathers.” lucy gray giggles, finding it cute how he responds. “okay, you looked like…” jaw dropped, eyes wide in shock, making sure to get the bewilderment just right trapped inside her hues before face softened again and there’s a moment of funny laughter sounding from her before calming down again. “you’ll always be that safe person to me. like that bon jovi song.” more reasons she loves him, how she can confide in him and find safety in. especially in a world where there wasn’t many safe people. she just couldn’t get it out of her head… the way billy taupe and men like him didn’t hesitate to raise their hands up at women. how she’d roll off those steps and he wasn’t an ounce sorry. it made her stomach sour and want to hug billy a little longer, knowing that’s what he had to see with his stepdad and mom. really, it could put tears in her eyes if she thought about it longer than she lets herself so not to spiral in emotional heartbreak for her best friend.

“it’s written in the stars, that’s right darlin’. it’s written so deeply in the stars that’s what our first child will be named after. star.” lucy gray playfully smiles, eyes twinkling like stars beaming up at him. “just cause i always have been more scared of things, doesn’t mean you fell harder.” she gently prods her finger into his arm, after sitting her bags in. “i never had a crush on any other boy and i have stayed awake my whole life thinkin’ about you, too.” the songbird playfully argues, battling him in this love war before brows lift then furrow, “shut up, you’re the only one findin’ it that way. dirty. there’s nothin’ dirty about what i said.” she scolds, playfully hitting him with the big blanket folded in the bag it came in, “that’s what dirty dinosaurs get.” she tosses the blanket in and shuts the door back. eyes find his offered hand and she takes it, gently smiling as she follows him over to put the cart up.

[privilege-rpg]

JESSE ST. JAMES

☆ FULL NAME: Jesse Christopher St. James ☆ GENDER: Cisman ☆ PRONOUNS: He/Him ☆ AGE: 33 (August 14th, 1991) ☆ BIRTH ORDER: First ☆ TYPE: Adopted sibling, solo (open to twin) ☆ HOMETOWN: Los Angeles, CA ☆ JOB: Artist in Residence, Voice Studio Professor, Musical Theatre Seminar Professor ☆ SEXUALITY: Bisexual ☆ FACECLAIM: Regé-Jean Page

ABOUT JESSE

Jesse St. James is and has been a plethora of things. As a chameleon, he has spent his entire life learning how to camouflage himself to be whatever someone else needed. For the majority of his life, it was as his father's puppet, ensuring that the "bloodline" of the St. James legacy continued and with the knowledge that failure was not an option. So when he was adopted by the St. James family, as a baby, Jesse was plucked from the unobscure nursery and placed into a family that expected-- no, demanded musical talent. It simply wouldn't be enough for Jesse to be a normal child-- no. He had to eat, sleep, and breathe musical theatre like he was a fish and it was the oxygen that resided in the water. Belting passed through his gills with minimum effort and maxiumum impact. He was doing the choreography of "The Press Conference Rag" with a correct triple time step at the age of five.

Jesse, like Maggie in A Chorus Line, was adopted to save his parents' marriage. Lance was desperate for a child to carry on the family name and to be his mini-me in ways that were beyond toxic, but it never fazed him. Jesse simply knew that he had a job to do and to be the best was in his DNA, even if he didn't share that DNA with his parents. He was enrolled as a child actor in several productions mounted in LA, including the Lion King, Billy Elliott, and Les Miserables.

As a good-looking man (read: what the fuck levels of hot) in musical theatre who also happened to be interested in women, Jesse is used to getting whatever he wants, whenever he wants. It wasn't enough that when he attended Stage Door Manor as a kid that he was the cause of showmances being banned for the 2004-2005 summer stock season, but his high school theatre casting rounds were literally a bloodbath. Not only did Jesse indirectly beocome the cause of several students opting to transfer, but his parents paid off the director to select shows that would feature him as a star vehicle-- because of course they did. Broadway-bound, Jesse didn't even bother going to college and getting the BFA life because he knew it would be a waste of his time, which was the precious experience needed On Broadway in order to stay there.

Throughout his career, Jesse has been fortunate enough to play several major roles, but he is very far from a household hand outside the Broadway community. He's been compared to a young Leslie Odom, Jr. and he loves it that way. Jesse is a trailblazer in the Broadway community as a young Black actor taking on roles that have traditionally been played by non-Black folk. Some of his Leading Man credits include: Fiyero in Wicked (Broadway), Billy Bigelow in Carousel (Broadway), Harold Hill in the Music Man (regional tour), Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera (Broadway), Aaron Burr in Hamilton (regional tour), Judas in Godspell (regional tour) as well as the ensembles of Bring it On, the Wiz, Ragtime, and Into the Woods (all regional tours).

At PSU, Jesse was scouted by the university to serve as an Artist-in-Residence to help bulk up the musical theatre program. Between jobs, Jesse ultimately decided it would be a decent enough career move for him and moved back to LA to be with his siblings. He's in rehearsals for a production of Waitress at the Hollywood Bowl as Earl, but is hoping that he can trip the guy playing Dr. Pommater and steal the role for himself.

FAMILY BACKGROUND

The St. James family is well regarded among Hollywood circles for their undeniable talent and incredible work ethic. The St. James men have been acting in movies since the time of silent pictures and eventually the talkies. Marlon St. James, current great-grandfather of the St. James kids in game, was a Hollywood heartthrob actor and won several Oscars for his roles. Lance St. James has been known in the superhero universe for years in his role as Gambit. Recently, he took on a part as Walt Disney in a movie musical version of his life, showing the world that he could be fearsome in his Louisiana accent and throwing playing cards, but also sing the pants off of any Pasek and Paul harmony. His relationship with his wife, Genevieve, has been rocky since his fame skyrocketed and the rumor mill states that they're on the outs. Genevieve keeps popping out kids and adopting them in hopes of keeping Lance.

[sondheim-girly]

still thinking about the line “because we love you ponyboy! Did you hear what I said? I said I love you”

[unpredictablestuff]

story: I mostly did janitorial work when I was in college and for a while I worked cleaning the dorms. One summer I was able to work full time while the students were home. I washed the windows in Sean Bradley's dorm room. The doorway had been cut extra tall and he had an extra-long bed. Fell in love with the student assigned as our supervisor, but it ended unhappily.

In the meantime I earned a few extra dollars and spent them on a trip to New York City. My step-sister was working as a nanny in Long Island. I stayed in her old apartment in Queens for free with her old roommate because it wasn't rented out yet. My step-sister was my tour guide. The day she had to work she got someone to babysit me and take me around.

She got us tickets to a Broadway show. I wanted Phantom of the Opera because that was the show my girlfriend was obsessed with, but unfortunately she could only get tickets to Les Mis. Which I would love way more than Phantom. We sat like ten rows from the stage. The woman in line in front of us found out where we were sitting and how much my step-sister had paid and complimented her for the good deal she got, looking like a proud momma praising her daughter. Oh and if that wasn't enough, the man who'd originated the character of Jean Valjean on Broadway was back for a special performance.

I didn't have to pay for a hotel. I didn't have to pay for taxis. I didn't have to figure out the subway system (which I loved). I got to see everything I wanted. Except the stupid dinosaurs. I got a name brand watch in Chinatown for cheap that stopped working a few weeks later. I bought a t-shirt for a dollar from a guy on the beach who was using it as a way to get tourists to take his Jesus Saves cards. It shrunk to unusability the first time I washed it. But I didn't mind because it was all authentic New York, just like in the movies. And I really should have known better.

But it was amazing. Everybody should go at least once. If only to piss off the New Yorkers who don't like tourists.

But fast forward a few decades and her husband (who she'd fallen in love with when he was a missionary in our home town and had moved to New York City to chase him and eventually became the only one on either side of our family to avoid divorce) lives a life with every moment of their long family vacations planned down to the minute. Probably not just vacations. I said once that for her organizing things is like breathing and he just laughed and agreed.

Some people are born to be artists. Some people are born to be activities directors on cruise ships. But somehow we all live lives we were never meant for.

If you’ve visited the Museum, you’re certainly familiar with today’s Fossil Friday feature: the Barosaurus and Allosaurus in the Rotunda! Rising 50 ft (15 m) above the ground, it’s the world’s tallest freestanding dinosaur mount. In this scene, a Barosaurus rears up to defend her young from an Allosaurus. How does the huge skeleton of Barosaurus—whose name means “heavy reptile”—stay up? The Barosaurus is built from casts of real fossil bones, while the originals are housed in the Museum’s collections. Real fossil bones would be too heavy to support this way.

Photo: D. Finnin / © AMNH

[pumpkinland]

Today I watched School of Rock for the first time and I have to say that movie will probably always be close to my heart bc my first experience of it was actually seeing the musical on Broadway when I was 18 & it made me feel very seen & the experience was just really magical for me bc I was actually on a school field trip to New York with only like 12 other kids and I was like really amazed that anyone gave enough of a shit in 2017 about rock music that there was a whole rock musical on Broadway I wore a Foo Fighters shirt & red skinny jeans & black leather biker boots & gold eyeshadow & I was very familiar with all the music references and amazed at the kids' talent and just. It was a very important experience for me I don't even remember that much about the details but I remember how I felt and it was like nothing else, honestly

[zylstra-al]

Rejoice!!! Musicals are back!!!

It has been a hot minute since I stage managed a musical. They are SOOOOO much work but, at the end of it all, I truly enjoy them. Here is my latest Stage Managing gig: Synopsis: Take a musical trip down memory lane through classic ‘50s and ‘60s tunes with this smash Off-Broadway hit jukebox musical. In Act I, we meet Springfield High School Song Leaders Cindy Lou, Missy, Betty Jean and Suzy…

[barbiewritesstuff]

Fine. 

-- This was inspired by the song ‘Fine’ from the musical Ordinary Days. Also please send me requests, as you can see I am not above begging :P -- 

The trip to New York was supposed to be nice. Jake had finally been able to book some time off to spend with her after eleven months of back-to-back missions. He had been looking forward to spending time with her, sightseeing and maybe even seeing her family. They had boarded okay, the landing had been fine and the hotel was great. They had spent two very fun days and then it had just taken a sharp nosedive. 

It had all started with the wine. 

That stupid bottle of wine her cousin had asked to bring to her diner (oh no, not dinner! It was a diner, with a french accent. She was a sous-chef at a prestigious restaurant, they didn’t serve dinner, they served diner). They had roamed the isles for hours trying to find a stupid bottle of wine. One that would impress but wouldn’t break the bank. There was choice, that wasn’t the problem. The problem was that they were bickering too much to actually make a choice. 

The problem was that Jake had grabbed his favourite bottle of cabernet.

“Darling” She said “They’re serving monkfish, the wine can’t be red. How about the Riesling instead?” 

“Honey, you know I don't like the Riesling. When have you ever seen me drink Riesling?” He had spoken through gritted teeth

“Never, but can you listen this once? Red wine and fish, you’ll look like a dunce”

“Fine! I'll bring the red, you bring the white. That way I'll still get drunk and you'll still be right”

“Fine” She spat back

And then there was the cab.

It had been stuck in traffic in the middle of Broadway for the past ten minutes. They were twelve blocks away and they were already late

“There would be no delay, if we turned that way”

“Darling, the cab was pointed squarely down Broadway. I know you’re concerned but your cousin is on Broadway, so why have we turned?”

“Darling, I know my cousin's on Broadway, but there was lots of traffic on Broadway!”

“Sure, but in my defence, we’re farther away, which doesn’t make sense”

“Fine, driver, please stop here if you would. I think walking will do us both some good”

The cabbed stopped and Jake paid the fare. 

They walked down in complete silence, feeling the distance the eleven months of barely seeing each other had put between them like a sharp stab to the heart. It felt to them both like they were walking next to a stranger. They looked at each other and instinctively gave the other the little awkward smile one gave a fellow commuter when one had to squeeze past them in a packed train compartment. 

Whether it was the wind or the ambiance, a chill went through them and they both shivered. They hurried 

And then there was the rain.

It fell hard and it fell fast, soaking through her hair, her shoes, her bag and her dress. 

Jake liked rain. It meant he couldn’t fly and he could go home. It meant he could go home to you. Everything shimmered under the raindrops. 

He looked at her getting steadily angrier as they hadn’t brought the umbrella. The rain clung to her hair like morning dew. 

Suddenly he thought of the first time he met her. Christmas almost five years ago. Jake had been dragged Christmas carolling with his sister and she was there in a big puffy red coat, a blue scarf, hat and gloves, jeans and red polka dot rain boots. Adorable. He had admired her for a few seconds before fate decided he needed to fall in love. Kids playing nearby had thrown a bucket directly at her hair. She took off her hat and shook her hair free of snowflakes. How he wished they could go back to that day.

It occurred to him just then that he wanted her to know how much he loved her. How he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He couldn’t bear the thought of spending another day without her. 

But how could she know? How could he tell her when they couldn’t stop arguing.

And then there was the shoe. 

Her stupid new shoes. Faux snakeskin heels that made her legs look amazing. 

“Shit! OW! My shoe” She had twisted her ankle on the pavement, breaking the heel at the same time. 

“Dammit! This is really fantastic” She said; ‘No, really absurd’ she thought. She looked at him with a fury she was desperately trying to quell. Eleven months apart and now they couldn’t stop arguing. They never argued. 

“And what, you just stand there. And don't say a word?” She shouted at him, in the middle of Broadway “Fine. I'm gonna go, we're late for my cousin” She limped away, pain shooting through her ankle with every step and tears wiping her makeup over her entire face. “You can stay put here out in the rain, but don't leave it up to me to explain. Give me the wine” And when he didn’t “Don't take all day”

“Fine then! Bring it yourself, your cabernet, Jesus!” She turned again. 

Jake didn’t move, sudden despair at the thought that this might be the end. Their end. Five years together broken apart by a career, a trip to New York, a bottle of wine, the weather and a shoe. 

“Shut up, Y/n, and marry me!”

“ Fine!” She shouted and continued walking. She stopped in her tracks “What?!”

“Oh right, shit” He knelt down but before he could she limped towards him 

“No! You’ll get your knee dirty”

He stared at her with mouth agape.

“I propose and this is what you are worried about?!” He shouted

“You propose to me during an argument, in the rain while we are late to my cousin’s. Do it properly and I might reply!” She shouted back

“Fine!”

They walked in silence again until they reached her cousin’s front door. Jake rung the doorbell

“Will you say yes?”

“Yes”

The door flung open. Y/n’s cousin stood there in all her glory, arms outstretched that she hugged them both with immediately. 

“Hi, how are you two?” She asked

“Fine!”

“Fine!”