#julian swann

[throuple-tournament]

Description provided by @nadeen-the-spore.

Description provided by Anon.

[the-football-chick]

Only 8 wide receivers have ever won Super Bowl MVP

IG: snfonnbc

[pupsmailbox]

NEUTRAL LEANING MASC NAMES ⌇　abner.　 abram.　 adam.　 adrian.　 alex.　 alistair.　 andreas.　 ariel.　 arlen.　 arley.　 arlo.　 ash.　 atlas.　 auden.　 august.　 austin.　 avery.　 bailey.　 baron.　 barrett.　 baylor.　 beauden.　 bee.　 bellamy.　 bennett.　 blair.　 blaise.　 bowen.　 brayden.　 brendan.　 bronson.　 bryce.　 byron.　 caius.　 caleb.　 callahan.　 callan.　 calloway.　 callum.　 camden.　 cameron.　 carlin.　 carson.　 casey.　 cassian.　 chandler.　 chase.　 cody.　 cole.　 connolly.　 corban.　 corwin.　 cyrus.　 dallas.　 damion.　 damon.　 daniel.　 darius.　 davis.　 dawson.　 daylon.　 denver.　 desmond.　 devin.　 doran.　 dorian.　 drew.　 elian.　 elias.　 ellery.　 ellison.　 emery.　 ethan.　 evan.　 ezra.　 fallen.　 farren.　 finley.　 ford.　 foster.　 gabriel.　 gannon.　 garner.　 gavin.　 gentry.　 graham.　 greer.　 griffin.　 guthrie.　 harley.　 harlow.　 hartley.　 hayden.　 henley.　 henry.　 heron.　 hollis.　 hunter.　 ian.　 irving.　 isaiah.　 jace.　 james.　 jameson.　 jared.　 jeremiah.　 joel.　 jonah.　 joran.　 jordan.　 jory.　 josiah.　 jovian.　 jude.　 julian.　 juno.　 justus.　 kalen.　 kamden.　 kay.　 kayden.　 keaton.　 kellan.　 keller.　 kelly.　 kendon.　 kieran.　 kit.　 kylan.　 landry.　 lane.　 lennon.　 leslie.　 levi.　 leyton.　 liam.　 linden.　 lowell.　 luca.　 madden.　 marley.　 marlow.　 marshall.　 martin.　 mason.　 mathias.　 mercer.　 merritt.　 micah.　 miles.　 miller.　 milo.　 morgan.　 morrie.　 morrison.　 nate.　 nevin.　 nick.　 nicky.　 nico.　 nicolas.　 noah.　 noel.　 nolan.　 oren.　 orion.　 owen.　 parker.　 percy.　 perrin.　 peyton.　 pierce.　 porter.　 preston.　 quincy.　 quinn.　 reece.　 reid.　 reign.　 rein.　 remi.　 remington.　 renley.　 riley.　 river.　 robin.　 rollins.　 ronan.　 rory.　 rowan.　 russell.　 ryan.　 rylan.　 sam.　 samuel.　 sawyer.　 saylor.　 seth.　 shiloh.　 soren.　 spencer.　 stellan.　 sterling.　 talon.　 taylor.　 thaddeus.　 thane.　 theo.　 toni.　 tracy.　 tristan.　 tyrus.　 valor.　 warner.　 wells.　 wesley.　 whitten.　 william.　 willis.　 wylie.　

NEUTRAL LEANING FEM NAMES ⌇　abigaël.　 abilene.　 addison.　 adrian.　 ainsley.　 alexis.　 and.　 andrea.　 arden.　 aria.　 ashley.　 aspen.　 aubrey.　 autumn.　 avery.　 avian.　 ayla.　 bailey.　 beryl.　 blair.　 blaire.　 blake.　 briar.　 brooklyn.　 brooks.　 bryce.　 cameron.　 camille.　 casey.　 celeste.　 channing.　 charlie.　 chase.　 collins.　 cordelia.　 courtney.　 daisy.　 dakota.　 dana.　 darby.　 darcy.　 delaney.　 delilah.　 devin.　 dylan.　 eden.　 eisley.　 elia.　 ellerie.　 ellery.　 ellie.　 elliot.　 elliott.　 ellis.　 ellory.　 ember.　 emelin.　 emerson.　 emery.　 evelyn.　 ezra.　 fallon.　 finley.　 fiore.　 florence.　 floris.　 frances.　 greer.　 gwenaël.　 hadley.　 harley.　 harper.　 haven.　 hayden.　 heike.　 hollis.　 hunter.　 ivy.　 jade.　 jamie.　 jocelyn.　 jordan.　 jude.　 juno.　 kelly.　 kelsey.　 kendall.　 kennedy.　 koda.　 kyrie.　 lacey.　 lane.　 leighton.　 lennon.　 lennox.　 lesley.　 leslie.　 lilian.　 lindsay.　 loden.　 logan.　 lou.　 lyric.　 madison.　 mallory.　 marinell.　 marley.　 mckenzie.　 melody.　 mercede.　 meredith.　 mio.　 misha.　 monroe.　 montana.　 morgan.　 nico.　 nova.　 oakley.　 olympia.　 owen.　 page.　 palmer.　 parker.　 pat.　 paulie.　 perri.　 petyon.　 peyton.　 phoenix.　 piper.　 priscilla.　 quinn.　 raven.　 ray.　 reagan.　 reece.　 reese.　 remi.　 remy.　 riley.　 rio.　 river.　 robin.　 rory.　 rosario.　 rowan.　 ryan.　 rylie.　 sacha.　 sage.　 sam.　 sammy.　 santana.　 sasha.　 sawyer.　 saylor.　 severin.　 shannon.　 shelby.　 shiloh.　 skye.　 skylar.　 sloane.　 sol.　 soleil.　 sterling.　 stevie.　 sutton.　 swan.　 swann.　 sydney.　 tatum.　 taylo.　 taylor.　 tracey.　 valentine.　 vanya.　 vivendel.　 vivian.　 vivien.　 wren.　 wynn.　 yael.

[femmehysteria]

Best Character Named X Poll

FOLLOW @best-character-named-x-poll

I'm doing a series of "Best Character Named X" polls where all the characters have the same first name but are from completely different media, feel free to send in name/charcacter suggestions, I'm posting one poll a day. New polls scheduled for 1:30PM GMT everyday.

ask box closed for now

WILL BE POSTING POLLS ON @best-character-named-x-poll FROM FEB 1ST

If your favourite character is not included in the poll very sorry i have either never heard of them or actively chose not to include them as theres only 6 characters per poll. Characters will only count of that is their first name, surnames do not count.

Round 85: David

Round 86: Tiffany

Round 87: Charlie

Round 88: Sandy

Round 89: Cody

Round 90: Amanda

Round 91: Jeremy

Past Polls and Poll Ideas under the cut

Names that I have a complete list for*

Caroline, Tyler, Louis, Leonard, Rebecca, Steve, Nicole, Isabelle, Victoria, Katherine, Jade, Alex, Sophie, Greg, Jake, Ellie, Isaac, Robin, Tony, Annie, Lisa, Margaret, Oliver, Clark, Kara, Phoebe, Emma, Ruby, Bart, Alfie, Beth, Julian, Nancy, Penny, Margaret, Tessa, Erica, Theresa, George, Kevin, Sebastian, Felix, Martin, Michael, Erin, Caleb, Helen, Charlotte, Kyle, Martha, Diana, Elsa, Gary, Zoe, Connor, Colin, Daisy, Eric, Maya, Adam, Andy, Magnus, Alma, Nora, Alice, Spike, Leon, Marcel, Kim, Juno, Sue, Chris, Otto, Donald, Daphne, Kate, Todd, Ned, Ken, Angel, Judy, Jo, Hazel, Naomi, Diego, Miranda, Joel, Lila, Duncan, Dexter, Meredith, Pearl, Lily, Malcolm, Napolean, Joan, Nico, Jamie, Nadia, Velma, Jill, Kiera, Rory, Evan, Tam, Klaus, Neil, Derek, Michelle, Luna, Laila, Cordelia, Zack, Imogen, Felicity, Cindy, Alicia, Kelly, Alan, April, Astrid, Delilah, Jodie, Claudia, Juliet, Karen, Jonas, Milo, Celia, Hannah, Joy, Ethan, Katya, Aria, Atticus, Ian, Cynthia, Faye, Frank, Boo, River, Corey, Gabrielle, Minerva, Ebony, Zia, Beverly, Rudy, Georgina

Names I have an incomplete list for (welcome to send character suggestions)

Richter, Sean, Troy, Cain, Agatha, Warren, Percy, Reggie, Mina, Ryan, Felicia, Dylan, Josh, Shirley, Debbie, Jared, June, Mabel, Ray, Chad, Moe, Hugh, Fearne, Christine, Joe, August, May, Scarlet, Alana, Leela, Manny, Dean, Francis, Mason, Oscar, Quinn, Guy, Ulrich, Wally, Yasmin, Tobias, Woody, Sabrina, Quentin, Margot, Alina, Matilda, Freya, Kendra, Angus, Ophelia, Leisel, Zelda, Adora, Piper, Scarlet, Sheila, Valentine, Laurie, Laurel, Fitz, Violet, Gabriel, Ford, Artemis, Owen, Bianca, Newton, Summer, Darcy, Noah, Taylor, Miriam, Hugh, Aurora, Hank, Henry, Dawn, Delia, Cosmo, Wanda, Zeke, Cecil, Aiden, Calvin, Ayesha, Beatrice, Parker, Chase, Hunter, Tina, Misty, Amaya, Amara, Harvey, Talia, Tatiana, Tanya, Orion, Eugene, Kit, Bo, Duke, Blue, Cameron, Rudolf, Mara, Marianne, Carl

Feel free to send more suggestions

*subject to change, you can still submit a character if there is no strikethrough if you think theres a character that its an absolute crime i dont add. Please don't suggest anything for the names with a strikethrough as they are polls that are already in my queue waiting to be published.

Past Polls

Round 1: Peter : WINNER: Peter Parker (Spider-Man)

Round 2: Elizabeth : WINNER: Elizabeth Swann (Pirates of the Caribbean)

Round 3: Jason : WINNER: Jason Mendoza (The Good Place)

Round 4: Eve : WINNER: EVE (WALL-E)

Round 5: Fred : WINNER: Fred Jones (Scooby-Doo)

Round 6: Rachel : WINNER: Rachel (Animorphs)

Round 7: Arthur : WINNER: Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)

Round 8: Amy : WINNER: Amy Pond (Doctor Who)

Round 9: Tom : WINNER: Tom (Tom and Jerry)

Round 10: Claire : WINNER: Clare Devlin (Derry Girls)

Round 11: James : WINNER: James (Pokemon)

Round 12: Max : WINNER: Max (Black Sails)

Round 13: Simon : WINNER: Simon Belmont (Castlevania)

Round 14: Jane : WINNER: Jane Crocker (Homestuck)

Round 15: Victor : WINNER: Victor Nikiforov (Yuri On Ice)

Round 16: Mary : WINNER: Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins)

Round 17: Will : WINNER: Will Graham (Hannibal)

Round 18: Laura : WINNER: Laura Palmer (Twin Peaks)

Round 19: Ben : WINNER: Ben "Obi-Wan" Kenobi (Star Wars)

Round 20: Chloe : WINNER: Chloe Price (Life Is Strange)

Round 21: John : WINNER: Jonathan Sims (The Magnus Archives)

Round 22: Lydia : WINNER: Lydia Deetz (Beetlejuice)

Round 23: Mark : WINNER: Marc Spector (Moon Knight)

Round 24: Jess : WINNER: Jesse Pinkman (Breaking Bad)

Round 25: Theo : WINNER: Theobald Gumbar (Dimension 20: A Crown Of Candy)

Round 26: Sarah: WINNER: Sarah Jane Smith (Doctor Who)

Round 27: Richard : WINNER: Richard Gansey III (The Raven Cycle)

Round 28: Cass : WINNER: Cassandra Cain (Batman)

Round 29: Edward : WINNER: Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Round 30: Carm : WINNER: Carmen Sandiego (Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?)

Round 31: Hal : WINNER: HAL9000 (2001: A Space Odyssey)

Round 32: Sid : WINNER: Sydney Adamu (The Bear)

Round 33: Jack : WINNER: Captain Jack Harkness (Doctor Who)

Round 34: Stephanie : WINNER: Stephanie Brown (Batman)

Round 35: Ash : WINNER: Ash Ketchum (Pokemon)

Round 36: Veronica : WINNER: Veronica Sawyer (Heathers)

Round 37: Kurt : WINNER: Kurt Wagner aka Nightcrawler (X-Men)

Round 38: Eleanor : WINNER: Eleanor Shellstrop (The Good Place)

Round 39: Nathan : WINNER: Nathan Young (Misfits)

Round 40: Fiona : WINNER: Princess Fiona (Shrek)

Round 41: Gale : WINNER: Gayle Waters-Waters (Chris Fleming)

Round 42: Barbara : WINNER: Barbara Millicent Roberts aka Barbie (Barbie)

Round 43: Sam : WINNER: Samwise Gamgee (Lord of the Rings)

Round 44: Grace : WINNER: Grace Chastity (Nerdy Prudes Must Die)

Round 45: Barry : WINNER: Barry Bluejeans (The Adventure Zone)

Round 46: Raven : WINNER: Raven (Teen Titans)

Round 47: Dan : WINNER: Danny Fenton (Danny Phantom)

Round 48: Mia : WINNER: Mia Fey (Ace Attorney)

Round 49: Matt : WINNER: Matt Murdock (Daredevil)

Round 50: Rose : WINNER: Rose Tyler (Doctor Who)

Round 51: Robert : WINNER: Robbie Rotten (LazyTown)

Round 52: Lola : WINNER: Lola Bunny (Space Jam)

Round 53: Scott : WINNER: Scott Summers aka Cyclops (X-Men)

Round 54: Olivia : WINNER: Olivia Octavious (Spiderverse)

Round 55: Finn : WINNER: Finn the Human (Adventure Time)

Round 56: Emily : WINNER: Emily Charlton (The Devil Wears Prada)

Round 57: Elliot : WINNER: Eliot Spencer (Leverage)

Round 58: Sonia : WINNER: Sonia (Pokemon)

Round 59: Gideon : WINNER: Gideon Nav (The Locked Tomb)

Round 60: Jen : WINNER: Jennifer Check (Jennifer's Body)

Round 61: Miles : WINNER: Miles Morales (Spider-Man)

Round 62: Lana : WINNER: Lana Skye (Ace Attorney)

Round 63: Spencer : WINNER: Spencer Shay (iCarly)

Round 64: Tracy : WINNER: Tracy Turnbald (Hairspray!)

Round 65: Luke : WINNER: Luke Skywalker (Star Wars)

Round 66: Natalie : WINNER: Natalie Scatorccio (Yellowjackets)

Round 67: Harry : WINNER: Harry Du Bois (Disco Elysium)

Round 68: Lucy : WINNER: Lucy van Pelt (Peanuts)

Round 69: Damian : WINNER: Damian Wayne (Batman)

Round 70: Tabitha : WINNER: Tabitha Casper (Dan and Phil Games: Sims 4)

Round 71: Nick : WINNER: Nicholas D. Wolfwood (Trigun)

Round 72: Gwen : WINNER: Guinevere (Merlin)

Round 73: Paul : WINNER: Paulette Bonafonte (Legally Blonde)

Round 74: Abigail : WINNER: Abigail Hobbs (Hannibal)

Round 75: Jordan : WINNER: Jordan Baker (The Great Gatsby)

Round 76: Donna : WINNER: Donna Noble (Doctor Who)

Round 77: Morgan : WINNER: Morgana (Merlin)

Round 78: Allison : WINNER: Alison Cooper (BBC Ghosts)

Round 79: Patrick : WINNER: Patrick Star (Spongebob Squarepants)

Round 80: Linda : WINNER: Linda Belcher (Bob's Burgers)

Round 81: Philip : WINNER: Philip J. Fry (Futurama)

Round 82: Clarisse : WINNER: Clarisse La Rue (Percy Jackson)

Round 83: Jeff

Round 84: Maria

[jor-elsemissary]

Okay now that you established Lionel personally bought Martha her ring.

[Because of course he did.]

Does the real begins telling their inner circle?

Clark: Lionel

Lionel: I bought your mother a Dimond-

Clark: Careful there

Lionel: Ring!

Lionel: No way in hell I'm letting that angel go...

Lois: woah nick rock

Lionel: It's worth it. SHE is worth it.

Chloe: So....did you tell Lex yet?

Lex.

He hadn’t considered telling his estranged son. Then again was it his son at all? From what Clark had told him, the man that wore his son’s face was an amalgamation of all his clones with no memory of who he was or that he was even rebuilt like a Theseus ship.

The original Lex Luthor would technically be dead.

In his desperate need for answers; he had murdered Patricia Swann, had tried to murder his father, and was going to kill Clark Kent with the very device Veritas had sequestered away, only to get himself supposedly killed in the end. To him, son had died in the crystal fortress. Alone and believing he had killed his father.

And yet he had no qualms in accepting Julian’s clone when Grant Gabriel had confronted him with paternity papers. So why was he reluctant with this… aberration of Lex?

“I…” Lionel hesitated with his answer and quickly temporized by shutting the ring case with a loud snap and shoving it into his coat pocket. “No. I don’t think I should.”

“Is it because of what he did?” Clark pressed carefully.

Lionel pursed his lips. It would be so much easier to say that it was. It would be easier to hate his son for trying to murder him than it would be on whether it was his son or not. The former was understandable, the latter was cold and cruel. It would be one more reason to Lex why his father refused to love him.

Except he did love his son. Both versions of him did. He had tried to warn his son off the path of darkness and the other had sacrificed himself to give Lex life. But Lex could not remember any of it and he was certain the young man’s personal journals did not paint his father in a good light.

Lionel sighed and cast his gaze down, “If only it were that easy. I am not sure if he is my son anymore.”

“It’s still him, Lionel,” Clark unsurprisingly defended. “He may not remember anything, but it’s still him and… it’s a chance to fix things with him.”

“Is he though? How much of him is Lex Luthor, Clark?” Lionel turned away and found himself meeting the gaze of Lois Kent. It’s clear she did not approve of his reasoning and he found himself wishing he was anywhere but here right now.

He had spent years avoiding the question as to who or what Lex was and did not want to face it right now. This was suppose to have been a memorable moment, one where Clark and Lois were suppose to be approving his choice in engagement ring.

“Does it matter?”

Did it matter?

Julian being a clone hadn’t mattered one bit. So why is Lex being not his whole self so important? Was it really about one saving him and the other murdering him? Why was he really so reluctant to accept Lex?

“I… don’t know,” he answered both Clark and his own thoughts.

“It’s obvious you still have issues with him and a good father and son talk might help clear things up,” Lois suggested, ever perceptive of the tension building in the room. “Then let him know.”

“Perhaps.” Martha had suggested the same thing to him the other week. He needed to talk to Lex and find out where they stood with each other.

“You will regret not mending things with him, Lionel,” Martha had told him one morning over breakfast. He had been reading the paper, the stock market section specifically, and made a negative comment about LuthorCorp’s shares dropping ten percent.

“Talk to him,” Clark insisted.

“Later,” he promised more out of wanting to steer away from this topic than to actually wanting to. “After I propose to your mother.”

“So you’re actually going to pop the question?” Lois said, clearly pleased that they’re back on the better topic. Luthor drama was only interesting to her if it won the pulitzer or some illegal activity the public needed to know about.

“Yes,” he patted the pocket the ring was in, “That was the whole point of buying the ring myself.”

“Going to do the whole, down on one knee with roses in one hand, the ring in the other and a violinist playing at your favorite restaurant?” Lionel just stared at Lois. He came to the conclusion that she was also a gossip hag who loved to hear about juicy drama and romance too.

“No,” he lifted his chin indignantly. “I was planning on something a little more private and romantic.”

“Do tell.”

“And have you spoil the surprise? Bad enough you know I’m going to propose.” Lionel shook his head. “Clark knows though. He will be helping me.”

Clark rested his chin against his chest. “Thanks. Now she’s going to bug me until I spill.”

“I trust you not to.”

“Come on! Can’t I have a teensy clue?” Lois begged, arms crossed.

“No,” and with that said, Lionel walked away. He can hear Lois trying to wheedle the plans out of her husband as Lionel stepped out of the farmhouse and headed for his limo.

“Clark Kent, if you know what’s good for you,” Lois playfully threatened just before Lionel’s driver closed the door.

Lionel reached into his coat for the ring and opened it. He would propose to Martha and then do what she and Lois both suggested, talk to his son and try and fix things between them. If Lex was willing, then he’d tell him about the engagement.

If not?

Well his son can learn about it in the paper like the rest of the world.

[reasoningdaily]

The First Self-Proclaimed Drag Queen Was a Formerly Enslaved Man

In the late 19th century, William Dorsey Swann’s private balls attracted unwelcome attention from authorities and the press

In the late 1880s, a formerly enslaved man named William Dorsey Swann started hosting private balls known as drags, a name possibly derived from “grand rag,” an antiquated term for masquerade balls. Held in secret in Washington, D.C., these parties soon caught authorities’ attention.

As the Washington Criticreported in January 1887, police officers who raided one such gathering were surprised to encounter six Black men “dressed in elegant female attire,” including “corsets, bustles, long hose and slippers.” The following April, the Evening Starreported on a raid that targeted men in “female attire of many colors,” as well as “gaudy costumes of silk and satin.” On both occasions, authorities arrested the party guests and charged them with “being suspicious characters.”

Joseph’s chance find marked the beginning of a yearslong quest to uncover Swann’s story—and, with it, the history of drag in the United States. He chronicles the results of this research in an upcoming book titled House of Swann: Where Slaves Became Queens—and Changed the World. Drawing on extensive archival research, Joseph presents a compelling portrait of the nation’s first self-proclaimed drag queen. The historian proudly positions Swann as the “first queer American hero.”

The identification of Swann as the first reported drag queen in the U.S. is a “major event,” says Jen Manion, a historian at Amherst College. “LGTBQ history is hampered by the lack of diaries and personal letters and family papers, because you just don’t put [those feelings] in writing.” For much of recorded history, Manion adds, being gay or bisexual was considered “a sin; it’s illegal.”

Joseph says his research resurfaces the “experiences of queer people, … historical experiences, not fictionalized experiences, documenting them rather than speculating.” These findings, in turn, helped him pinpoint the birth of “the drag queen.”

The concept of drag “existed for some period of time unknown,” says Joseph. But the term only came into use in 19th-century Great Britain, where Joseph says it referred to “a gathering of people, particularly men, who were dressing as women.” In 1871, two members of the British aristocracy were put on trial after they were caught dressing as women in public. Authorities charged Ernest “Stella” Boulton and Frederick “Fanny” Park with “conspiring and inciting persons to commit an unnatural offense.” A jury found the defendants not guilty but handed down a minor indictment to the men for wearing women’s clothing.

Cross-dressing, which is often a component of drag, has a lengthy history on both the stage and the screen, from Elizabethan-era performances in which men played women to Japanese Kabuki theater. In the early 20th century, performers like Julian Eltinge became stars by impersonating women during the vaudeville craze. In the 1950s, Milton Berle dressed as a woman on his variety TV show, as did comedian Flip Wilson in the early 1970s. In the early 1980s, the sitcom “Bosom Buddies” starred Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari as two young men who disguise themselves as women so they can live in an inexpensive, women-only apartment building.

Historian Kathleen Casey, author of The Prettiest Girl on Stage Is a Man: Race and Gender Benders in American Vaudeville, takes a much wider view of drag. While she includes all manner of cross-dressing performances in her definition, she doesn’t think there will ever be “a stable meaning of the term ‘drag.’” Casey adds, “Drag is about race, class and sexuality as much as it is about gender. If we focus exclusively on only one of these intersections, we fail to see how drag performances are layered across time and space and can have multiple meanings for different audiences.” Drag, she says, is really about a performer’s own perspective of their work, as well as audiences’ understanding of this work.

Many of the “contemporary categories and terms that we use in modern life to describe LGBTQ people or sexual and gender minorities” date to the late 19th century, says Manion. “Lesbian,” for instance, was first used in a medical journal in 1883. The historian adds, “We debate amongst ourselves as scholars when it seems appropriate to use contemporary terms to describe things [in] the past, but in this case, these were terms used by … the people at the time as well.”

Swann was born into slavery in Washington County, Maryland, around 1858. According to a 2021 entry by Joseph in the African American National Biography, Swann was the fifth of 13 children born to enslaved housekeeper Mary Jane Younker and enslaved wheat farmer and musician Andrew Jackson “Jack” Swann. (His biological father may have been a white man, but Joseph hasn’t found definitive evidence confirming this theory.) After the Civil War ended in 1865, Swann’s parents bought a plot of land and started a farm. Encouraged to work as soon as he was old enough, the young Swann found employment as a hotel waiter. In 1880, he relocated to Washington, where he worked as a janitor and sent money back home to his family.

Like Washington more broadly, the capital’s underground queer networks were divided into white and Black communities that rarely intersected. As a 2019 report prepared for the city’s Historic Preservation Office notes, “It was a hushed fact that Lafayette Square in D.C., which is adjacent to the White House, was a known cruising spot for gay men, both Black and white,” but the majority of these individuals were only interested in liaisons with partners of the same race. An exception to this trend was Washington’s drag scene, which often attracted mixed-race audiences.

Forging a place for himself in the city’s queer Black community, Swann held parties that Joseph deems the first documented “drag balls” in American history. Held in secret, they provided a safe space for gender expression but were risky to attend. “A large but undetermined number managed to flee during the police raids, but the names of those arrested and jailed were printed in the papers, where the men became targets of public scorn,” wrote Joseph for the Nation in 2020. “In post-Civil War America, there was very little patience for men who subverted gender norms.” Sentences for those charged with attending drag balls ranged from around three to ten months.

Around this same time, Swann became enthralled by the “queens of freedom” crowned at Washington’s Emancipation Day parades—annual celebrations first held in April 1866. Historically, each neighborhood was represented by a woman who “personified freedom for Black people,” according to Joseph. Inspired by these queens, Swann started crowning the winners of his dance competitions the “queen of the ball,” says Joseph.

Swann also adopted the title for himself. As the Washington Critic noted on April 13, 1888, “William Dorsey, who, by the way, was the ‘queen,’” was one of 13 people arrested during a raid on a “drag party” the previous night.

“There’s this concept of drag, which is separate, and there’s the concept of queens of freedom, and in D.C. in this particular time, post-slavery, post-Reconstruction, these two concepts collide,” says Joseph. “To identify as a drag queen, which is what William Dorsey Swann did, is combining these two strains, these two cultural traditions.”

The 1880s saw a “wave of laws passed in cities all across the country explicitly banning cross-dressing,” says Manion, who adds that the rules were “applied very selectively” and were riddled with inconsistencies and contradictions. The arrests of Swann and his friends were “even more sensationalized in the press and probably drew the attention of authorities because most of the participants were Black,” Manion explains. “And this is in Jim Crow America. For queer … Black Americans to just see so much joy and freedom in their gender expression at this time was definitely seen as a threat.”

The court sentenced Swann to 300 days in prison. After serving three months of his sentence, Swann, who had pled not guilty, filed a petition for a pardon from President Grover Cleveland, says Netisha Currie, an archives specialist at the National Archives, which houses a copy of the petition. In a show of support, 30 of Swann’s friends signed the document. But U.S. Attorney A.A. Birney argued vehemently against the pardon, stating,“The prisoner was in fact convicted of the most horrible and disgusting offenses known to the law; an offense so disgusting that it is unnamed. … His evil example in the community must have been most corrupting.”

Ultimately, Cleveland denied the petition. Still, wrote Joseph for the Nation, Swann’s unsuccessful attempt to clear his name represents the earliest documented example of an American activist taking “specific legal and political steps to defend the queer community’s right to gather without the threat of criminalization, suppression or police violence.”

As Manion says, “What’s unique about [Joseph’s] work is that it captures a collective community. When we have been able to identify queer and trans figures in this era and earlier, we find them in isolation. And we can seldom connect the dots to say, ‘Oh, these two couples were friends. They always hung out.’ … We have very little evidence of collective socializing.”

No known pictures of Swann survive. But his contributions to queer activism in Washington will soon be recognized with the redesignation of a stretch of Swann Street Northwest in his honor. The street was originally named for Thomas Swann, a former Maryland governor and Baltimore mayor who bore no relation to the drag queen.

“We have seen so much anti-trans and anti-drag legislation and rhetoric around the country in a very problematic way,” says Brooke Pinto, a D.C. Council member who introduced the bill. “In Washington, D.C., where we are proud to have so many trans residents, we [need to] speak up and recognize, sometimes through symbolism, sometimes through legislation, how important these issues are.”

The bill also calls for a historic plaque to be posted in Dupont Circle, a Washington neighborhood with a rich LGBTQ history. The plaque will sit at the corner of New Hampshire Avenue, Swann Street Northwest and 17th Street Northwest.

“One of the things that’s so exciting about this case is that it is an African American man who was formerly enslaved,” says Manion. Such individuals “just don’t get … recognition in our histories of LGBTQ people, in part because we usually can’t find them in the archives. But … Swann was hiding in plain sight.”

[mysticstarlightduck]

Happy STS! 💕

Sorry for the late ask, I've actually been writing all day and I genuinely thought it was still Friday until I checked my inbox!!

If you could have one of your own characters meet another fictional character of a writer of your choice (this can include mutuals!), who would you choose and how do you imagine their interaction would go?

Hello! Thank you so much for the Ask!

I am terribly sorry for the very late answer, I have been catching up on a lot of my writing in the last few days, as it is a local holiday here in my country, and only now was I able to answer your ask, as I wanted to answer it properly.

It is a very interesting question!

I will choose some of my favorite characters from my favorite books and movies that I think my own characters would love to meet in person, but I might mention some of my mutual's characters too.

RAELEN ASHIREN: I think that Raelen would love to meet Arya Stark (Game of Thrones), Hiccup Haddock (How to Train Your Dragon), Toph Beifong (Avatar The Last Airbender), Alucard (Castlevania), Merida (Brave), Sam Winchester (Supernatural), Esmeralda (The Hunchback Of Notre Dame) and Tulio (Road to El Dorado)

AZRA MOORSWORTH: I think that Azra would love to meet, and would likely become good friends with: Lo'ak (Avatar 2: The Way of Water), Richard Grayson/Nightwing (Titans from DC Comics), Kili (The Hobbit), Jim Hawkings (Treasure Planet) and Apollo (The Trials of Apollo). Another character that I think reminds me of him is Palem from one of my Mutual's works (head to @lassiesandiego to check this character out!).

JULYAN ASHIREN: I think that Julyan would love to meet Dean Winchester (Supernatural), Hector (Castlevania), Prince Caspian (Chronicles of Narnia), Mako (Legend of Korra), Robb Stark (Game of Thrones), Runaan (The Dragon Prince), Shiro (Voltron: Legendary Defender) and Violet (Arcane).

BRYN SEPERI: In my opinion, Bryn would like to meet (even if that interaction would probably end with someone getting stabbed): Kaz Brekker (Shadow and Bone), Theon Greyjoy (Game of Thrones), Trevor Belmont (Castlevania), Murtagh (Eragon: The Inheritance Cycle), Nico Di Angelo (Percy Jackson Books), Nanashi (Sword of The Stranger), Morgana Pendragon (Merlin) and Geralt of Rivia (The Witcher).

NYX FAESTORM: I think Nyx would like to meet Legolas (Lord of The Rings), Jaskier (The Witcher), Vax'ildan (Legend of Vox Machina), Jesper Fahey (Shadow and Bone), Vignette (Carnival Row), Julian Devorak (The Arcana), and Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean)

VALLERIUS ZYNDROSAR: Vall would definitely like to meet and talk to characters like: Edmund Pevensie (Chronicles of Narnia), Jayce Tallis (Arcane), Aleksander Morosova/The Darkling (Shadow and Bone), Will Turner (Pirates of The Caribbean), Callum (The Dragon Prince), James Kirk (Star Trek), and Enjolras (Les Miserables).

TANWIN LYRANDETH: I think the characters he would like to meet would be Lotor (Voltron), Bucky Barnes (Captain America: Winter Soldier), Tauriel (The Hobbit), Loki (Thor and Avenger Movies), Tim Drake (DC Comics), and Odysseus (Epic The Musical and the original Odyssey).

(and last but not least for this ask)

ELLINOR DALLANTES: She would like to meet Ciri (The Wicher), King Ezran (The Dragon Prince), Fa Mulan (Mulan), Percy De Rolo (Legend of Vox Machina), Susan Pevensie (Chronicles of Narnia), Jaqen H'ghar (Game of Thrones), Elizabeth Swann (Pirates of The Caribbean), and, Lancelot (King Arthur, especially the 2004 movie) Leia Organa (Star Wars).

I choose these characters because I think that their personalities would match enough for them to have an interesting interaction, as they could discuss similar worldviews and struggles, though they would quite possibly generate far too much chaos together lol.

[ncisfranchise-source]

NCIS shows have covered the U.S. from coast to coast and even ventured beyond the Lower 48 with NCIS: Hawai’i. Now the franchise is going international with NCIS: Sydney, scheduled to premiere on��CBS on Tuesday, November 14, and streaming on Paramount+ the same day.

Filmed on location in the Australian harbor city, the fifth NCIS series is set amid international tensions in the Indo-Pacific, with American NCIS agents joining Australian Federal Police (AFP) in a multinational task force “to keep naval crimes in check in the most contested patch of ocean on the planet,” CBS touts.

“NCIS exists in Australia, but when it exists in Australia, it does so under Australian law, so there has to be a kind of jurisdictional power-sharing that goes on,” showrunner Morgan O’Neill told TV Insider earlier this month. “NCIS: Sydney was built around that exact concept, which is that NCIS Sydney comes to town, and they instantly have to work with and under the authority of the Australian Federal Police. … That’s a lot of fun, obviously, because sometimes it does come together easily and sometimes it doesn’t. There’s obviously culture clashes.”

Olivia Swann (NCIS Special Agent Captain Michelle Mackey)

Arrowverse fans know Swann as Astra Logue from DC’s Legends of Tomorrow on The CW. She also starred in this year’s film River Wild alongside Leighton Meester and Adam Brody.

Todd Lasance (AFP Liaison Officer Sergeant Jim “JD” Dempsey)

On television, you’ve seen Lasance play Julius Caesar in Spartacus, Julian in The Vampire Diaries, and Edward Clariss/The Rival in The Flash. In film, he joined Michael B. Jordan in the 2021 Prime Video film Without Remorse.

Sean Sagar (NCIS Special Agent DeShawn Jackson)

Sagar has recurred in the TV series Fate: The Winx Saga, Buffering, and Sistas and starred as Monk in the BBC One series Our Girl. He has also appeared in the Guy Ritchie films The Gentlemen and The Covenant.

Tuuli Narkle (AFP Liaison Officer Constable Evie Cooper)

In her native Australia, Narkle starred in the TV shows All My Friends Are Racist, Mystery Road: Origin, and Bad Behaviour. Her theater credits include Sydney Theatre Company productions of Black Is the New White and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

Mavournee Hazel (AFP Forensic Scientist Bluebird “Blue” Gleeson)

Hazel spent three and a half years playing Piper Willis on the Aussie soap Neighbours and headlined the spinoff webseries Neighbours: Pipe Up. Her television résumé also includes parts in the TV shows Halifax: Retribution and Shantaram.

William McInnes (AFP Forensic Pathologist Dr. Roy Penrose)

Winner of two Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards and two Logie Award, McInnes starred in the Australian TV programs SeaChange, Blue Heelers, and The Newsreader, the last of which streamed stateside on The Roku Channel. He also hosted the reality show Auction Room.

[daydreaming-optimist]

I posted 2,035 times in 2022

56 posts created (3%)

1,979 posts reblogged (97%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@just-a-cup-of-anxietea

@permanentreverie

@theskittlemuffin

@thiscolorfulmess

@daisysjones

I tagged 1,683 of my posts in 2022

Only 17% of my posts had no tags

#dracula daily - 99 posts

#taylor swift - 87 posts

#disney - 83 posts

#mutuals - 82 posts

#leigh bardugo - 80 posts

#uquiz - 62 posts

#six of crows - 57 posts

#answered asks - 42 posts

#pjo - 42 posts

#lotr - 37 posts

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#❤️ bc it's ~classic~ and 💕 bc it's pink and there's two of them!! and 💛 bc it's cheerful and makes me smile hope that clears things up :)

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

getting to know you tag!

i was tagged by: @daisysjones (thank you lovely!)

favorite color: light pink!

currently reading: well I was rereading Little Women but I just realized I left it at home and I moved back to college today (oops). also The Burning Maze by Rick Riordan (ToA 3) and rereading Heartless by Marissa Meyer

last song: A Story of My Own (Christine Allado in The Clockmaker’s Daughter)

last series: uhhhh I’m not rewatching the whole series but I just rewatched an episode of Heartstopper

last movie: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

currently working on: unpacking and setting up my dorm/apartment and another embroidery kit :)

tagging: @just-a-cup-of-anxietea, @courageisneverforgotten, @willowstea, @theskittlemuffin, @scatterbrained-daydreamer, @morai-the-swann-king, and anybody else who would like to join!

9 notes - Posted August 21, 2022

#4

NEW TAYLOR SWIFT ALBUM IN OCTOBER, I REPEAT, NEW TAYLOR SWIFT ALBUM IN OCTOBER

22 notes - Posted August 29, 2022

#3

cosette (les misérables, victor hugo)

"it will be remembered that she was more of a lark than a dove. there was a foundation of wildness and bravery in her."

26 notes - Posted March 9, 2022

#2

the night circus (erin morgenstern)

"the circus arrives without warning. no announcements precede it. it is simply there, when yesterday it was not."

64 notes - Posted July 1, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Anneliese: *tries to cheer up Julian by comparing him to a geode*

Julian:

64 notes - Posted October 24, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[wankerwatch]

Commons Vote

On: House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill Committee: New Clause 20

Ayes: 98 (91.8% Con, 4.1% DUP, 1.0% RUK, 1.0% Ind, 1.0% UUP, 1.0% TUV) Noes: 375 (92.5% Lab, 2.7% Ind, 2.2% SNP, 1.1% PC, 1.1% Green, 0.5% SDLP) Absent: ~177

Day's business papers: 2024-11-12

Likely Referenced Bill: House of Lords (Exclusion of Hereditary Peers) Bill

Description: A Bill to amend the House of Lords Act 1999 to remove the by-election system for the election of hereditary peers; to provide for the exclusion of hereditary peers from the House of Lords over time; and for connected purposes.

Originating house: Commons Current house: Commons Bill Stage: 2nd reading

Individual Votes:

Ayes

Conservative (90 votes)

Alan Mak Alberto Costa Alex Burghart Alicia Kearns Alison Griffiths Andrew Bowie Andrew Murrison Andrew Rosindell Andrew Snowden Aphra Brandreth Ashley Fox Ben Obese-Jecty Bernard Jenkin Blake Stephenson Bob Blackman Bradley Thomas Caroline Dinenage Caroline Johnson Charlie Dewhirst Chris Philp Christopher Chope Claire Coutinho Damian Hinds Danny Kruger David Davis David Reed Desmond Swayne Edward Argar Edward Leigh Gagan Mohindra Gareth Bacon Gareth Davies Gavin Williamson George Freeman Greg Smith Gregory Stafford Harriet Cross Harriett Baldwin Helen Grant Helen Whately Jack Rankin James Cartlidge James Cleverly James Wild Jeremy Hunt Joe Robertson John Cooper John Glen John Hayes John Lamont Joy Morrissey Julian Smith Katie Lam Kit Malthouse Laura Trott Lewis Cocking Lincoln Jopp Louie French Luke Evans Mark Francois Mark Garnier Mark Pritchard Martin Vickers Matt Vickers Mel Stride Mike Wood Mims Davies Neil Hudson Neil O'Brien Neil Shastri-Hurst Nick Timothy Oliver Dowden Patrick Spencer Paul Holmes Peter Bedford Rebecca Harris Rebecca Paul Rebecca Smith Richard Fuller Richard Holden Robbie Moore Robert Jenrick Roger Gale Saqib Bhatti Sarah Bool Shivani Raja Simon Hoare Stuart Andrew Suella Braverman Tom Tugendhat

Democratic Unionist Party (4 votes)

Carla Lockhart Gavin Robinson Gregory Campbell Jim Shannon

Reform UK (1 vote)

Nigel Farage

Independent (1 vote)

Alex Easton

Ulster Unionist Party (1 vote)

Robin Swann

Traditional Unionist Voice (1 vote)

Jim Allister

Noes

Labour (344 votes)

Abtisam Mohamed Adam Jogee Adam Thompson Al Carns Alan Campbell Alan Gemmell Alan Strickland Alex Baker Alex Ballinger Alex Barros-Curtis Alex Davies-Jones Alex Mayer Alex McIntyre Alex Norris Alex Sobel Alice Macdonald Alison Hume Alison McGovern Alison Taylor Alistair Strathern Allison Gardner Amanda Martin Andrew Cooper Andrew Lewin Andrew Pakes Andrew Ranger Andrew Western Andy MacNae Andy McDonald Andy Slaughter Angela Eagle Angela Rayner Anna Dixon Anna Gelderd Anneliese Dodds Anneliese Midgley Antonia Bance Bambos Charalambous Bayo Alaba Beccy Cooper Becky Gittins Bell Ribeiro-Addy Ben Coleman Ben Goldsborough Bill Esterson Blair McDougall Brian Leishman Bridget Phillipson Callum Anderson Calvin Bailey Carolyn Harris Cat Eccles Cat Smith Catherine Fookes Catherine McKinnell Charlotte Nichols Chi Onwurah Chris Bloore Chris Curtis Chris Elmore Chris Evans Chris Hinchliff Chris Kane Chris McDonald Chris Murray Chris Vince Chris Ward Chris Webb Christian Wakeford Claire Hazelgrove Claire Hughes Clive Betts Clive Efford Clive Lewis Connor Naismith Connor Rand Damien Egan Dan Aldridge Dan Jarvis Dan Norris Dan Tomlinson Daniel Francis Daniel Zeichner Danny Beales Darren Jones Darren Paffey Dave Robertson David Baines David Burton-Sampson David Pinto-Duschinsky David Smith David Taylor David Williams Dawn Butler Deirdre Costigan Derek Twigg Diana Johnson Douglas Alexander Douglas McAllister Ellie Reeves Elsie Blundell Emily Darlington Emma Foody Emma Hardy Emma Lewell-Buck Emma Reynolds Euan Stainbank Fabian Hamilton Feryal Clark Fleur Anderson Florence Eshalomi Frank McNally Fred Thomas Gareth Snell Gen Kitchen Georgia Gould Gerald Jones Gill Furniss Gill German Gordon McKee Graeme Downie Grahame Morris Gregor Poynton Gurinder Singh Josan Harpreet Uppal Heidi Alexander Helen Hayes Helena Dollimore Henry Tufnell Imogen Walker Irene Campbell Jack Abbott Jacob Collier Jade Botterill Jake Richards James Asser James Frith James Murray James Naish Janet Daby Jas Athwal Jayne Kirkham Jeevun Sandher Jeff Smith Jen Craft Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Jess Phillips Jessica Morden Jessica Toale Jim Dickson Jim McMahon Jo Platt Jo Stevens Jo White Joani Reid Jodie Gosling Joe Morris Joe Powell Johanna Baxter John Grady John Slinger John Whitby Jon Pearce Jon Trickett Jonathan Brash Jonathan Hinder Jonathan Reynolds Josh Dean Josh Fenton-Glynn Josh MacAlister Josh Newbury Josh Simons Julia Buckley Julie Minns Juliet Campbell Justin Madders Kanishka Narayan Karin Smyth Karl Turner Kate Dearden Kate Osamor Kate Osborne Katie White Katrina Murray Keir Mather Kenneth Stevenson Kerry McCarthy Kevin Bonavia Kevin McKenna Kim Johnson Kim Leadbeater Kirith Entwistle Kirsty McNeill Laura Kyrke-Smith Lauren Edwards Lauren Sullivan Laurence Turner Lee Pitcher Leigh Ingham Lewis Atkinson Liam Byrne Liam Conlon Lilian Greenwood Linsey Farnsworth Liz Kendall Liz Twist Lloyd Hatton Lola McEvoy Lorraine Beavers Louise Haigh Louise Jones Lucy Rigby Luke Akehurst Luke Charters Luke Murphy Luke Myer Margaret Mullane Maria Eagle Marie Tidball Mark Ferguson Mark Sewards Mark Tami Markus Campbell-Savours Marsha De Cordova Martin McCluskey Martin Rhodes Mary Glindon Matt Rodda Matt Turmaine Matt Western Matthew Patrick Matthew Pennycook Maureen Burke Maya Ellis Meg Hillier Melanie Onn Melanie Ward Miatta Fahnbulleh Michael Payne Michael Shanks Michael Wheeler Michelle Scrogham Michelle Welsh Mike Reader Mike Tapp Mohammad Yasin Natalie Fleet Natasha Irons Naushabah Khan Navendu Mishra Neil Coyle Neil Duncan-Jordan Nesil Caliskan Nia Griffith Nicholas Dakin Nick Smith Nick Thomas-Symonds Noah Law Oliver Ryan Olivia Bailey Olivia Blake Pam Cox Pamela Nash Pat McFadden Patricia Ferguson Patrick Hurley Paul Davies Paul Foster Paul Waugh Paula Barker Paulette Hamilton Perran Moon Peter Kyle Peter Lamb Peter Prinsley Phil Brickell Polly Billington Preet Kaur Gill Rachael Maskell Rachel Blake Rachel Hopkins Rachel Taylor Richard Baker Richard Quigley Rosie Wrighting Rupa Huq Rushanara Ali Ruth Cadbury Ruth Jones Sadik Al-Hassan Sally Jameson Sam Carling Sam Rushworth

Samantha Dixon Samantha Niblett Sarah Champion Sarah Coombes Sarah Edwards Sarah Hall Sarah Owen Sarah Russell Sarah Sackman Satvir Kaur Scott Arthur Sean Woodcock Seema Malhotra Shabana Mahmood Sharon Hodgson Shaun Davies Simon Lightwood Simon Opher Siobhain McDonagh Sojan Joseph Sonia Kumar Stephen Doughty Stephen Kinnock Stephen Morgan Stephen Timms Steve Race Steve Reed Steve Witherden Steve Yemm Sureena Brackenridge Tahir Ali Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi Terry Jermy Tim Roca Toby Perkins Tom Collins Tom Hayes Tom Rutland Tonia Antoniazzi Tony Vaughan Torcuil Crichton Torsten Bell Tracy Gilbert Tristan Osborne Uma Kumaran Valerie Vaz Vicky Foxcroft Warinder Juss Will Stone Yuan Yang Zubir Ahmed

Independent (10 votes)

Apsana Begum Ayoub Khan Ian Byrne Imran Hussain Iqbal Mohamed John McDonnell Rebecca Long Bailey Richard Burgon Rosie Duffield Shockat Adam

Scottish National Party (8 votes)

Brendan O'Hara Chris Law Dave Doogan Graham Leadbitter Kirsty Blackman Seamus Logan Stephen Flynn Stephen Gethins

Plaid Cymru (4 votes)

Ann Davies Ben Lake Liz Saville Roberts Llinos Medi

Green Party (4 votes)

Adrian Ramsay Carla Denyer Ellie Chowns Siân Berry

Social Democratic & Labour Party (2 votes)

Claire Hanna Colum Eastwood

[pigskinreports]

Top 5 Most Clutch WRs in NFL History - Rice, Edelman & More Legendary Performers | Pigskin Reports

This video counts down the top 5 most clutch wide receivers in NFL history based on their legendary playoff performances. Jerry Rice, Julian Edelman, Michael Irvin, Lynn Swann, and Hines Ward make the list for rising up in the biggest moments. Find out why Rice is considered the most clutch postseason WR ever with his insane records. 🔔Subscribe now for the freshest NFL rumors and news, right as…

[notlevi1999-blog]

Best movies of 2023 so far

In the cinematic realm of 2023, a rich array of treasures has unfurled, beckoning audiences on a captivating odyssey through diverse landscapes and immersing their hearts in the allure of compelling tales. This extraordinary year has been characterized by a spectrum of emotions, spanning from the spine-tingling depths of thrillers to the heartwarming peaks of comedies, ensuring resonant experiences for every discerning viewer. As we contemplate the best movies of 2023 so far, let's explore a curated selection of the finest films that have indelibly marked the collective imagination.

Tar

IMDb: 7.4 Synopsis: Lydia Tár, a globally acclaimed conductor at the zenith of her career, teeters on the edge of a monumental achievement. As she readies herself to record the symphony that will carve her legacy into history, the mounting pressure and escalating spotlight unearth dark secrets from her past, jeopardizing everything she has diligently constructed. Cast: Cate Blanchett, Noémie Merlant, Nina Hoss, Sophie Kauer, Julian Glover Director: Todd Field

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

IMDb: 8.2 Synopsis: Miles Morales swings back into action in the highly anticipated sequel to the Academy Award-winning “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” This time, the web-slinging hero is propelled across the expansive multiverse, encountering a team of Spider-People tasked with safeguarding its very existence. Cast: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Brian Tyree Henry, Lauren Vélez, Jake Johnson Directors: Joaquim Dos Santos, Justin K. Thompson

Oppenheimer (2023)

IMDb: 8.4 Synopsis: Amidst World War II, brilliant physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer spearheads the Manhattan Project, a covert initiative to construct the world's first atomic bomb. As the weight of responsibility and the moral implications of his creation bear down on him, Oppenheimer grapples with the consequences of unleashing such destructive power. Cast: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh Director: Christopher Nolan

John Wick: Chapter 4

IMDb: 7.4 Synopsis: John Wick pursues his freedom in this action-packed sequel. Confronting a new adversary with formidable alliances, the legendary assassin discovers a path to defeating the High Table. Brace yourself for breathtaking visuals, exhilarating action sequences, and Keanu Reeves at his most relentless. Cast: Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Laurence Fishburne, Ian McShane Director: Chad Stahelski

Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

IMDb: 8.2 Synopsis: In the 1920s, the discovery of oil beneath Osage Nation land in Oklahoma triggers a wave of violence and corruption. Wealthy Osage members become targets in a series of mysterious murders, leading the fledgling FBI to launch a complex investigation. Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal Director: Martin Scorsese

Return to Seoul (2023)

IMDb: 7 Synopsis: In "Return to Seoul," 25-year-old Freddie, an adoptee from France, embarks on an unexpected journey to her birth country. Seeking her roots, she uncovers unforeseen connections, buried secrets, and a redefined sense of belonging, exploring themes of adoption, self-discovery, and the enduring power of human connection. Cast: Park Ji-Min, Oh Kwang-Rok, Guka Han, Cho Soo-Hyang, Kim Sun-Young Director: Davy Chou

Anatomy of a Fall (2023)

IMDb: 7.9 Synopsis: Sandra, a celebrated writer, confronts murder accusations after her husband's shocking death. Their blind son, torn between truth and loyalty, holds the key. In a courtroom clash, lies unravel, love is tested, and facades crumble, delving into themes of betrayal, justice, and the blurred lines of truth in those we trust most. Cast: Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado-Graner, Antoine Reinartz, Samuel Theis Director: Baltasar Kormákur

Past Lives (2023)

IMDb: 7.9 Synopsis: Nora and Hae Sung, childhood flames in Seoul, are separated by an ocean when Nora's family emigrates. Years later, fate reunites them in a different world, rekindling lost love. "Past Lives" explores second chances, choices made, and destinies forged, questioning whether one can truly escape the past. A poignant journey of memory, longing, and enduring bonds. Cast: Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro, Christopher Abbott, Sung-Hee Lee, David Chen Director: Celine Song

[histoireettralala]

"I am at present in undeserved disgrace."

As the examples of, among others, Marie de Medici, the duchesse de Longueville and the Grande Mademoiselle had demonstrated, the king's relationships with his closest female relatives was potentially as troublesome as that with any prince. After 1661, Louis XIV's principal concern was to uphold his own authority and to prevent the almost inevitable household disputes from threatening the tranquillity of his court. With so many men on active military service, Versailles during the later years of the reign was very much a feminine sphere, and disgrace was a no less constant preoccupation for aristocratic women who were determined to preserve their own personal and dynastic interests. Madame, duchesse d'Orléans, frequently returned to the theme. As a woman of trenchant and forthright views, she had struggled to remain in the king's good graces. In January 1691, she noted with pleasure that the king had paid some of her gambling debts, which she interpreted as a sign "that I am not so deeply in disgrace this year at last." Her good fortune proved short-lived, and many of her problems stemmed from her unguarded correspondence and her almost legendary hostility to the marquise de Maintenon. By September 1696, she could write venomously that:

"I am at present in undeserved disgrace. Whenever I come in the king's apartment the dirty old slut [Maintenon] withdraws and when I beg her to remain, she makes no reply but goes out with a sneer on her face. I am being treated in a very rude fashion. Every day I am forced to wait half-an-hour at the king's door before I am allowed to enter, and sometimes I am even sent away, although at the same time all the king's bastards and even Monsieur himself are in the room."

Some of her discomfiture on this and other occasions may have arisen from impatience with the dictates of protocol, but even if that was the case her sensitivity to every personal or ceremonial slight was typical of court society as a whole.

Julian Swann- Exile, inprisonment or death- The Politics of Disgrace in Bourbon France

[awriterpretendingtowrite]

I

Definitely

Don’t

Have

A

Type

[musically-magic]

More of what I took on TS4.

Yeah I spend way too much time doing this. I HAVE OVER 2000 CC PLEASE HELP.

[magicianapprenticelyra]

Actor AU: Season 5 [Portia Devorak]

Credit for the basis of the AU goes to both @lightvsdark18 and @lynmay-arcana.

[Original Link] | [Additional Link]

O*O*O

[Season 1: Nadia Satrinava] | [Season 2: Asra Alnazar] | [Season 3: Julian Devorak] | [Season 4: Muriel] | [Season 5: Portia Devorak]

Portia Devorak—Behind the Scenes & On Set Happenings/Shenanigans

[Six months after Season 4′s wrap-up, it was Portia’s time to shine. This would be the first time she’d be co-stars with her brother on a project like this. She knew of Lyra prior to The Arcana, thanks to Julian working with her in the past. Still, she didn’t expect the unforeseen challenges that would come to this season of the show].

[More under the cut!]

Portia tended to be cast as either the tank of an action/sci-fi flick—she’s got the sturdiness and the strength, C’MON—or the hacker in that genre/heist films, and the bubbly friend/girlfriend/ex of the main protagonist.

She’s done several Historical/Period Dramas and everyone’s always moved by her acting.

Her crying scenes are legendary.

One of Portia’s most famous roles is as a Pirate Queen that was, according to many, their Bisexual Awakening.

Think something like Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann in Pirates of the Caribbean.

Portia actually can carry Nadia with no sweat.

Though in Julian’s route it was Nadia that swung with Portia in her arms in the Arcana realms, there was an alternate version where Portia swung with Nadia in her arms.

In order to make it mirror what MC and Julian were doing though, Portia was to be carried by Nadia.

Portia did a majority of her stunts in the show.

Climbing the vines into MC’s room.

Using the ‘magical’ rope to swing with MC when they were going through the catacombs.

The wirework when MC and Portia were floating through the ballroom was an absolute joy to them both.

The giant Magically-Induced Anxiety Crow Monster from Julian was part puppetry and part CGI effects.

There were many false-starts, especially with the popping packet of fake blood in Portia’s dress.

It took about five takes to get that scene right.

Pepi was Portia’s favorite costar.

Pepi adored her the most in turn, which was just fine with Portia.

Pepi got along with most of the cast and crew, the exceptions being Lucio and at times, Julian.

The actors for Tasya and Lishka are actually aunt and niece in real life.

The resemblance between Lishka and Portia was so startling that it was written into the plot of Portia’s route.

In promos for Portia’s season, she wore both the mask and her masquerade dress together. When it didn’t happen in the aired episodes, there were questions as to why it didn’t happen.

No one could give any clear or consistent answer.

Mazelinka reprised her role.

She talks in interviews that it was fun to tease Portia and MC about their relationship because, “What old coots wouldn’t want to relive the days of young love, you know?”

On days off, Portia and Lyra spent time together playing games and driving a few towns over to just be ‘normal’ people.

In interviews, it’s brought up time and time again that Lyra is not exactly used to being the center of attention with anything she’s in.

Lyra: “At times I feel like I have a secondary role in my own life. I know it’s not true, but . . . imposter syndrome sucks.”

Portia, by her own estimate, has signed over one thousand things that relate to her character on The Arcana.

Interviewer: What was the most memorable thing you have ever signed?

Portia: A fan’s fan art.

Interviewer: What was on it.

Portia: [smiles enigmatically].

The actress who plays Tasya Devorak is a former opera star. One of her favorite fancy hats made it into the final costume of the character.

Portia had the honor of trying it on for a few moments before returning it to the woman.

Portia has posted some on-set and off-set prank shenanigans committed between the Devoraks and other cast members of the Arcana crew.

The scene where Portia, disguised as Lishka, stabs a transformed Tasya toward the conclusion of the Reversed ending.

This made poor Lishka cry a number of times.

While getting interviewed about how Portia and Lyra felt about the season, they had slightly differing views about how it went.

Both agreed that it felt like Tasya had a lot of the spotlight on her rather than Portia’s arc.

Portia herself felt that MC could possibly perish within a few years after the end of the season. Lyra herself thought MC might’ve lasted a decade or so before fully expiring.

Lyra seeing the Diplomatic vs Warring endings of the season was something new for her.

Lyra: I don’t usually like shows that dabble in a lot of politicking, but I like seeing it in this season because in Nadia’s, it’s more localized—

Portia: And then this is a greater expansion of that! It’s, it’s certainly exciting!

A number of the Palace Staff were actually members of the behind the scenes crew.

Portia made sure they were compensated fairly.

In a promotion of the season, Portia was wearing her Masquerade mask along with a sneak peek of her dress. Fans were outraged that they didn’t get to see this happen within the show.

There is a deleted scene, however, where Portia and MC had their own little private dance before it all went to hell thanks to Tasya.

The Devil’s tiny form is a mix of practical effects and CGI.

Portia got to keep the little puppet, and he sits on the mantle in her home in a glass case.

Lyra complimenting Portia’s Ambassador outfit in the Upright Ending was unscripted, and Portia actually gotten flustered in turn.

Julian: It was a d o r a b l e!!!

Muriel and Portia didn’t really get to interact outside of his featured season and her own.

Online, they have been seen hanging out together with Muriel’s real-life partner. Portia and said partner are often being mischievous and Muriel seems to be long-suffering, but he admits he enjoys these hangouts.

Mercedes and Melchior actually are rather well-behaved on set. Around Lucio and Portia, however, the dogs acted so goofy that shooting scenes with them together are difficult to do with straight faces.

After The Arcana, Portia had gone on to dabble in various other careers, including a short while of producing her own music.

A number of tracks were inspired by the events of various timelines of The Arcana, though Portia leaves it open for interpretation on what those could be influenced by.

A few scenes that hit the cutting room floor are as follows:

An extended cut of Portia and MC torturing Tiny!Devil to a hilarious extent. It’s made it into various the Top 10s list of funniest not-exactly-bloopers of both The Arcana and other shows.

A more graphic version of Portia and MC breaking through Tasya’s force-field in the Reversed Ending was filmed and edited, though removed ultimately to maintain the PG-13 rating.

Portia reading longer passages of The Firent Affair.

A/N: This took MUCH longer than I had anticipated. Still, thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed reading this as I had with writing it!

Next: Count Lucio [TBA].