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anncanta · 4 years ago

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The imagery of BBC ‘Dracula’: mythology, alchemy, literature. Part 2

Part 1 is here.

Mirror

One of the cross-cutting images of the entire work, which underlies the very narrative structure on which it is built, the image of the mirror is one of the most ancient in European culture. Which is not surprising – a reflective surface capable of showing a person himself was probably initially perceived as magical – not by chance, as in the situation with photography, the earliest myths and fears associated with mirrors speak of soul abduction.

In Dracula, the image of the mirror is presented at the same time as a literal object that the protagonist fears, his main phobia, a metaphor for his ability/inability to look at himself, and the resulting all this motive of duality that unfolds the story as a drama of reflections.

Let's start with a literal mirror. I don't know if you noticed, but in the first episode, with the exception of the scene in Jonathan's room in Dracula's castle, there are no mirrors at all. And even that only thing of Harker Dracula instantly breaks. It is interesting how he does it – not as a negative character, grimacing angrily at the sight of a hated object, or an unforgettable queen in various versions of the story about Snow White, destroying a mirror showing her not what she wants. Dracula breaks the mirror instinctively, doing it in one movement as if delaying or trying to think about it could be almost more dangerous than the object itself is. It is possible that this is so. He then tells Jonathan that he cannot provide him with another mirror in return, as he does not keep such things in his house. From that moment on, not once during the two episodes did he look at his reflection, including the scene with Dorabella, where the Count shows a young woman what could have been in her life, reflected in the water, but does not look into it himself.

The third episode looks in huge contrast to the first two. Now Dracula, who woke up in the twenty-first century, looks at himself constantly. In fact, if you peer closely, he does just that throughout the episode. And not only literally, but also metaphorically. Which, in general, is logical: given the events that took place in the castle, and then on Demeter, we can assume that for the first time in many years Dracula plucked up the courage to see himself, to meet with himself and think about what he was.

Judging by what the Count sees in the mirror, the answer is not very inspiring.

It turns out that there is nothing majestic, bright, and attractive either in himself or in his life. His spectacular charming appearance is a mask, an illusion, and an old man with gray hair and sunken eyes looks to him from the window glass, his house is a pompous empty room, trying to replace the unattainable sun with an excess of artificial light, his woman is a silly girl who is not afraid of death because she is unable to appreciate life.

The ruthlessness and brightness of the reflections leave no chance for false interpretations. In this sense, the relationship between Dracula and his new lawyer is especially eloquent. You need to understand that the reflection of Jonathan Harker in modern reality is not Jack Seward, but Renfield. Obsequious, stupid, pitiful, ready to do anything for the sake of influence and power. It is the worst mirror the Count has ever seen, and, as he begins to conjecture, perhaps just the one he deserves.

The reflection in Renfield and in Lucy leads Dracula in the end to what he fled from for so many years.

To the needle and the sun.

Needle

When you talk about images in works of art, you always have to keep in mind that images are inseparable from motives and plots with which they travel through time and that every time you discover a particular object and symbol in a text, you, like a fisherman in an old fairy tale, can bring the whole world to the surface. And it doesn't matter at all whether the image is large or small, is it constantly mentioned in the text or is the central one in a single short episode.

In Dracula, the needle occurs only once, but its appearance can serve as an example of how a single image, arising, ‘gathers’ an archetypal story around itself.

Globally, in Dracula, there are two central archetypal plots: the plot of the beauty and the beast and the plot of the sleeping beauty. I suggest looking at how one of them works at the image level.

I'm talking about the plot of the sleeping beauty.

Let`s recall the episode in the isolation ward. What does Dracula do before making an incision in his arm and filling a test tube with blood? That's right, he gives Zoe a needle. The same spindle, which in a fairy tale makes a sleeping beauty fall asleep (symbolically, like a caterpillar, plunge into a transformative state, from which it will emerge as a butterfly).

In the film, Dracula plays both the role of a witch taking revenge for the fact that she was not invited to the party, and a prince called to wake up the beauty. This is literally shown in the scene when, in a vision of Zoe, who drank the Count's blood, Agatha and Zoe look into each other's eyes, connected by Dracula and standing on opposite sides of him. Moreover, pay attention – Zoe stands behind the Count's back, symbolizing the past, while Agatha is right in front of him, metaphorically meaning the future.

Well, and if this is not enough for someone, a little later they will show us Zoe, lying in bed, and Agatha, entering the door.

And what comes after her?

Sun

Author`s note

This part of the article contains thoughts that I unexpectedly discovered a few days ago in a beautiful text The Petruvian Man by @devoursjohnlock. I highly recommend this article to those who are interested in the topic of images and the structural construction of Dracula.

In the first episode, the sun rarely appears, in the second it is hidden almost all the time behind clouds or fog, and in the third it crosses the hero's path several times in a row – first in Bob's house, where Zoe threatens to collapse the roof if Dracula does not surrender, then – in the form of golden light, hugging the building of the Jonathan Harker foundation, where the Count is brought in a box, until it finally bursts into the window of Dracula's own house, categorically and victoriously, putting an end to all the vague games.

We will not talk here about the meaning of the sun as reason, consciousness, openness, new life, clarity, and realization of an integral personality. This is understandable, and we talked about this earlier. Let's look at it as an image that is used in this text a little unusual, but that's why it is no less interesting, creating depth and additional context where you don't expect it.

We are talking about the scene at the very beginning, in the first episode, which at first glance seems to be nothing more than a joke, an attempt by the writers to ‘dilute’ the drama, so to speak. But it's not that simple.

Remember how Dracula leads Jonathan Harker to his room and walks past the portraits of Petruvio and the architect’s wife? Remember what he says to Jonathan?

‘This castle was the Widower`s final work. A monument to his lost love and the sunlight, to which he could never return.’ And then Dracula adds: ‘...he died here in the arms of his wife,’ – in response to Jonathan's remark how this could be possible, as Petruvio was a widower, saying: ‘It must have been a cold embrace.’

Reflecting later on this gloomy joke, Johnny concludes that Petruvio considered his wife his sun: ‘What else is sunlight, but the face of one`s beloved?’, and guesses that behind her portrait is hidden a plan of the castle. And then words follow, which, in combination with what was said earlier, create an image that becomes a kind of symbolic prologue to the entire text and at the same time a brief description of the plot.

Finding the plan, Johnny deciphers it and discovers a way out behind Petruvio's portrait. Then he says: ‘Petruvio’s wife was the sunlight, and he stood guard at the door.’

Does it remind you of anything?

What happens in the last scene in the third episode?

The catharsis of the uniting of the two, which became possible only because both realized and accepted their – as we could see from the very beginning – natural roles in this play. Agatha took the role of the sunlight and the liberating power of love and mind, and Dracula – the role of the door.

And on a figurative level, this was laid down from the first minutes of the film. Spoken in words for those who do not read visual messages. Down to the smallest details, like the architect who died in the arms of his wife, who by that time was already dead. As well as Agatha, who was physically dead for one hundred and twenty-three years by the end of the third episode.

Rather, as in the case of the needle, and in many others, here words only confirm and express directly what is said at the symbolic level, and it is impossible to separate one level from other. Reading them at the same time, moving between them, and looking at them together, you can see the whole story, and even guess what is it about.

But more on that later.

Part 3.

#dracula 2020 #bbc dracula #dragatha #meta

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nctzendreamz · 5 years ago

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HOMECOMING • PROLOGUE

Prologue / Part l / Part ll / Part lll

Summary: The year is 3030, and the divide between the rich and poor couldn’t be greater. Wildwood University is the most prestigious school in the entire world, but it isn’t only because of the impeccable flying cars that can be seen best during the fuchsia lit nights, or the dexterous education everyone receives. It has secrets. A lot of secrets.

Genre: Gang!AU, Futuristic!AU

Warnings: Vivid descriptions of violence, foul language, drug use, and murder.

Author’s Note: I love you all. I hope you will love this rollercoaster of emotions as much as I do.

Once upon a time, there was a boy. This boy was gentle, and loved to explore. Sometimes, he’d even allow his imagination to posses his body, pretending he was something he knew he’d never be, such as a racecar driver, a superhero, or his favorite—loved.

Now, as that boy travels down the dark corridor that lead to his instructor, he can’t help but to smile. His left hand caresses the mangled brick wall, reminding him of every waste of space that had been dismembered in his sanctuary. Even the two men who were unnecessarily escorting him down the dimly lit space seemed frightened at the way he lightly chuckles to himself, but they know if they look at him wrong, he’ll simply kill them too.

As they approach what was known as the “black door”, he knocks a familiar tune, informing the man on the other side it was one of his own.

With an almost cinematic effect, all of the locks audibly unravel, and a flashing light blinks onto his face, silently giving him permission to step in. He looks around, trying to see if any new souvenirs had been added to the otherwise plain walls, but he sees nothing fresh. The picture of all of the boys of NEO rests in the center of the large room, and as always, he spots himself first.

“Lee Taeyong.” A deep voice addresses, obviously coming from the leather chair which was turned the opposing way.

“Mr. Sooman.” He bows, although the man couldn't see him. They didn’t have the technology for such a myth, but there was always a fear he had eyes in the back of his head.

The chair slowly begins to turn, revealing the only person in this world that brought fear into Taeyong. His current sadistic smile was a testament to that, as well as the sweat that began to form under the arms of the boy.

“Why so stiff? It’s just me, your father?” He teases.

“My apologies.” Was all Taeyong could muster, now wanting nothing more than to get straight to the point. He wanted his mission.

“Did you take your pill today?”

“Of course I did.” He lied.

“Then why are you so jittery? He eyes the slim boy suspiciously, standing up now.

Taeyong decides on silence, as he doesn’t want to speak his truth to his father figure. His eyes once again fall on the photo hanging, and he tries to relax himself by focusing on his hair color. He can now vaguely see it’s raging orange print, probably the most color he’d ever see in his lifetime.

His meditation is interrupted with the sound of two precise claps, and a tiny robot now at his feet projecting light onto the blank wall. What seemed like millions of photos appear one by one, and so much color. Even though it was faded, he was still incredibly fascinated.

His eyebrows are raised ever so slightly, and his mouth waters, yet, he can still sense his elder approaching him. It ran through his blood to do so. He always had to be on guard. If anyone was able to run up on you, and hurt you even slightly, you’d most likely be murdered by the others because—how can you be so dumb? How can you sleep at night without the feeling of someone watching you? Your hairs stand up, a chill stretches against you. It’s very simple, actually.

“I’m sure you’ve heard of Wildwood?”

Taeyong snaps his focus back on the man who’s eyes were watching him intently. “Yes. Founded in 2002 by Lobos Smith. Known as the most prestigious, and honorable university in the world. They specialize in futuristic science, and were the first school to perfect the seemingly impossible flying car. In short, rich motherfuckers.” He spat, feeling his blood pressure heighten at the mention of wealthy.

“Very good, boy.” Mr. Sooman continues to circle his apprentice, as the wood floor creaks with his every step. “As you know, we’ve always had buisness with the Smith’s.”

Taeyong nods confidently, showing with his body language that he was genuinely aware of this fact.

“Well, I want you to kill them.”

The screen zooms into four faces, none of them familiar to him. A man, a woman, a girl, and a boy.

“This is the Smith family. Maleen Smith, President of Wildwood. His wife, Bianca, his son Johnny, and your most important target, Y/N.”

“Why is she the most important?” Taeyong questions, finally getting comfortable in his element. You could say what you wanted about him, but you couldn’t deny his manipulative talents, and serious approach for his job. He was always thirsty for blood.

“Because she is their pride and joy.” Mr. Sooman responds with a devilish grin, clearly knowing more than he was revealing. “Sweet girl, smart girl, naive girl.”

“So what? You want me and the guys to meet them for dinner or something? Blast their heads off?”

The team of NEO was a dangerous one, and everyone who lived in this hell knew it. Their kills were always vicious, but the handmade masks they wore during their greatest hits hid their identity. All of them were specifically designed to the personalities of the boys, and their set skills. Taeyong, for example, always spotted a bedazzled fox, labeled red although he had yet to test that to be true. It was a metaphor to his sly nature, always able to easily grab the attention of clueless street-walkers. They were so awful at selling, and making deals for drugs that made people go off the charts. So easy to take advantage of.

They were essentially target practice. Something to play with. A pure rush; giving them their fix of killing and feeling superior because in any of situation, they were powerless. They were poor, and every fucking day did they have to watch projections of news from the other side. So many new inventions. More ways to protect the earth from falling back to its horrid ways. The way NEO looked. Dirty—dull.

Taeyong’s hand naturally reaches for his weapon that was always stashed in his pants, and quite a few scenarios run through his brain; different approaches that could be taken. “Call the meeting and consider it done, sir.”

“While I do appreciate your hungry nature, boy; I’m sure you’ve noticed that you’re the only person in this room right now, haven’t you?” The undertone of his voice reads nothing but menace, and Taeyong is truly trying his hardest to prevent his eyes from squeezing shut, or letting a mere drip of sweat dazzle from his forehead onto the ground. It would reveal he did indeed lie about taking his pill, and that would mean he’d have to double up.

“I have noticed, but I figured that I was in here because I’m the most superior.”

In reality, he wasn’t such a cocky bastard. At least, when he wasn’t high off of Indigo. That was the drug Sooman kept pestering him about, and it was what seperared NEO from the rest of the poor souls who lived in this baseless city. That’s what they were told.

Indigo made them strong, and it made them unstoppable. The more they took, the greater their kills felt, and the more their talents shined. Some were more addicted than others, and didn’t care about the black and white scenery that covered their headspace. Others, like Taeyong, planned to sneak up to the rooftop of the building tonight and see the sky, even if it would be half colored, half gray. At least that was the plan, before now.

They were always told that if they didn’t take their pill, the side effects would be deadly. Taeyong now knows this to be true, as his anxiety couldn’t be more intense in an environment where he was usually light and easy, and his mind is spinning. Random spurts of color can be seen everytime he moves his eyes in another direction, and even the colors on the projector are incredibly detailed.

“So you did take your pill today.” The man laughs, patting him on the back. “You’re right, you know.” His voice is light now, almost like a switch removing his dark demeanor. The sound of the floor creaking was practically making Taeyong lose his mind, but he can’t show it. “You are the best. And that is why this mission isn’t going to just be a ‘get the job done’ kind of mission.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying,” He reaches for his back pocket, pulling out a sheet of paper. It was folded into three, and Taeyong can feel his eyebrows basically touching, and his petite nose scrunching as he opened up his mail.

“Congratulations on being excepted into Wildwood University! Founded in 2002, it’s always been Wildwood’s mission to accept the best, so the future can be bright! Lee Taeyong, we cannot wait for you to transfer to our school of futuristic science, and see all you have to offer the brightest side of the world!”

That was all he had to see before he looks up in shock, clearly unable to believe in such an opportunity.

“I’m going—

“Yes. You, a poor boy, going to their world.”

“And I’m going to invade.” He seemingly finished.

“You’re not just going to invade. You’re going to make that girl fall in love with you, and you’re going to make those wealthy pieces of shit trust you, and then—when they finally accept you as their son, and that girl would die for you, you will bring them to me.”

“Like a parasite.”

“No. You, my boy, were born to eliminate the parasites. They don’t deserve to multiply, or reproduce.”

Maybe it was because of the lack of intoxication, but Taeyong feels himself getting too excited about this. The manipulation was excellent, and the plan couldn’t fail. He was charming in all aspects of the word.

“What did they do to you?” Was his final question. He once again is in a stare down with the older man infront of him, who had returned to his seat now.

“They took something from us, and they have to pay. No mistake goes unseen in NEO. You know that.”

“I won’t let you down, sir.” Taeyong bows, just as he did when he originally walked in. The respect was clear, even if the roots of the plan seemed eerie. He trusted his leader with his life, and if he said someone needed to die, it was the truth. He was going to bring their heads back on a silver fucking platter.

#nct #nct 127 #nct taeyong #taeyong #nct series #nct imagine #nct imagines #nct scenarios #nct scenario #taeyong nct #homecoming #kpop #gang au #nct gang au #kpop gang au #kpop imagine

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insanityclause · 5 years ago

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When coronavirus closed the theaters on March 12, there were still 16 shows left to open in the Broadway season. Audiences will get to see some of them later, others probably not — but what of the more than 20 plays, musicals and miscellaneous offerings that had already faced the press? It seemed unfair not to celebrate them, so on Friday, just after it was announced that the Tony Awards will not go on as usual this year, we sat down (in cyberspace) to devise a Tonys of our own. Naturally, we made our own rules.

BEN BRANTLEY Well, Jesse, even in a season that’s 16 plays short, there’s still a fat if imbalanced roster of intriguing shows. Have we ever before had such a preponderance of jukebox musicals that might qualify for Best Musical? The good news is that some enterprising minds managed to inventively retool the genre you once described as the “cockroach” of Broadway.

JESSE GREEN The cockroach has evolved! “Jagged Little Pill,” “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical,” “Girl From the North Country,” “Moulin Rouge!” and — since we’re playing by our own rules here — even “American Utopia,” the David Byrne show that was deemed ineligible for the real Tonys, are all jukeboxes, all worthy and all eligible for ours. Maybe not quite all worthy.

BRANTLEY Perhaps it’s appropriate then that the last show to open on Broadway was the most unorthodox of the “jukebox” shows. I use quotation marks here because that label seems too confining for “Girl From the North Country,” the Irish playwright and director Conor McPherson’s work that uses the songs of Bob Dylan to imagine life during the Great Depression in Duluth, Minn. The more I think about “Girl,” the more innovative and haunting it seems to me.

GREEN For me it took some time, and the show’s move from the Public Theater to Broadway, to appreciate how McPherson was deploying the music in this musical. The songs do not function the way songs normally do; they never address the situation at hand, and sometimes even contradict it. Yet in that gap, poetry grew.

BRANTLEY For me, “Girl” deals with the ineffable and unsayable through song in a way that makes it the most religious, or at least spiritual, show on Broadway. I have found this aspect of the show stays with me, as an oddly comforting reminder of the hunger for communion in this time of isolation. But moving on to matters closer to profane than sacred, what about another mold-breaker in a very different sense: “Moulin Rouge!,” based on the Baz Luhrmann movie about la vie bohème in gaslight-era Paris.

GREEN Here was a case where the gap between the story, such as it is, and the musical materials — found pop from Offenbach to Rihanna — did not produce poetry. For me it produced a headache.

BRANTLEY Ah, I had a swell time at “Moulin Rouge,” and I thought the far-reaching songbook became a kind of commentary on how such songs form the wallpaper of our minds. And then there was “Tina,” which was more business-as-usual bio-musical fare, although illuminated by a radiant, cliché-transcending performance by Adrienne Warren as Turner.

GREEN The creators of musicals really offered a sampler of ways to respond to the jukebox problem. “Jagged Little Pill,” built on the Alanis Morissette catalog, made the smart choice of abjuring biography and instead attaching her songs to a new plot (by Diablo Cody) that grew out of the same concerns and vocabulary. Or perhaps I should say “new plots,” because it is not shy with them. There are at least eight story lines.

BRANTLEY To be honest, this was the show that gave me a headache, because it was so insistently earnest in its topicality and, even when it was trying to be funny, humorless. So, of the new musicals (and we haven’t touched on “The Lightning Thief,” your personal favorite) what would you give the premature Tony to?

GREEN The one that wouldn’t be eligible: “American Utopia.” Joy and sadness bound to each other through David Byrne’s music and Annie-B Parson’s movement: What else do you want from a musical, even if it’s just a concert?

BRANTLEY I loved “American Utopia.” I think, though, I’d have to go with “Girl From the North Country,” but I wouldn’t have predicted that after seeing it in London two years ago. I find more in it every time I revisit it.

GREEN Despite all the Best Musical possibilities this truncated season, only one, “The Lightning Thief,” had a new score. Yet most of the offerings sounded new anyway, the result of terrific arrangements and orchestrations. I’m thinking especially of Justin Levine’s magpie-on-Ecstasy song collages for “Moulin Rouge!,” Tom Kitt’s theatricalization of post-grunge pop for “Jagged Little Pill” and Simon Hale’s excavation of the deeply layered Americana in Dylan’s catalog for “Girl.”

BRANTLEY Here, I’d have to say it’s a tie between “Girl” and “Moulin Rouge!,” each a remarkable accomplishment in a very different way. As for best revival, the undisputed winner is Ivo van Hove’s divisive revival of “West Side Story,” but that’s because it is, remarkably, the only musical revival so far.

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GREEN I liked “West Side Story” better than you did, Ben, perhaps because I wasn’t reviewing it. I lapped up the new things it wanted to show me (while also hunting for the old things it wanted to hide from me) and didn’t worry about the elements that laid an egg. (“Gee, Officer Krupke.”) Its evocation of innocence and hopelessness felt more like real life now than I’ve experienced in previous revivals.

BRANTLEY I concede the point intellectually. But the acid test for me with theater — and musicals in particular — is how much it makes you feel. And to borrow a lyric from “A Chorus Line,” for the most part “I felt nothing.”

GREEN I admit it was odd that there were no obvious breakout performances in “West Side Story” — which brings us to our first lightning round. Who wins our Tonys for leading actor and actress in a musical?

BRANTLEY Best Actress: Adrienne Warren, for “Tina” (though Karen Olivo in “Moulin Rouge!” is pretty fab, too). Best Actor: Jay O. Sanders in, perversely, a non-singing role in “Girl From the North Country.” You?

GREEN Same. I think we are having a socially distanced mindmeld. Will that also be the case with the nine new plays and four revivals that opened before March 12? With one exception, the revivals were not as thrilling as the full slate promised to be.

BRANTLEY For me, the winner is Jamie Lloyd’s spartan, merciless revival of Harold Pinter’s “Betrayal,” which brought harsh clarity to the work’s emotional ambiguity.

GREEN And ambiguity to the play’s harsh formality — its semi-backward construction. It was certainly the best “Betrayal” I’ve seen, yet I hold out some love for the revival of “Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune,” which in retrospect turned out to be a farewell to Terrence McNally, its author, who died last week. I felt that Michael Shannon and Audra McDonald did it, and him, justice.

BRANTLEY It was certainly a reminder of his shrewdness and compassion. I was perhaps a little too conscious of the Acting, with a capital A. But it was a welcome addition to the season. For Best Play, we have a far more varied field, no? I suspect we’ll agree on the winner here, the season’s great iconoclast.

GREEN Yes, “Slave Play,” by Jeremy O. Harris, wins on sheer disruptive energy, even before considering its intelligence as playwriting, its knockout production (directed by Robert O’Hara) and its fearsome challenge to renegotiate race in America.

BRANTLEY But for all its shock value, what made it a wonderful play — as opposed to just a bracing exploration of dangerous ground — was its heart. By the end, you felt so completely the pain of its characters, all trying to navigate the perhaps insuperable hurdles of interracial relationships.

GREEN I think “The Inheritance” wanted to be that kind of play, too: a story of intimate relationships yet also a gay manifesto with the multipart heft of “Angels in America.” It got the heft, anyway; “Slave Play” ran 120 minutes; “The Inheritance,” 385.

BRANTLEY “The Inheritance” certainly gets points for ambition — and for the fluidity of Stephen Daldry’s production. And might I put in a word for the prickly comic abrasiveness of Tracy Letts’s “Linda Vista,” a lacerating anatomy of toxic masculinity disguised as brooding charm?

GREEN I liked what “Linda Vista” wanted to do but found it flabby. Perhaps straitened times demand slender plays. Certainly, the other new drama I greatly admired was whippetlike: Adam Rapp’s “The Sound Inside,” an existential mystery wrapped in a literary one, or vice versa. Among other things, it allowed Mary-Louise Parker, as a Yale writing instructor, to deliver a Tony-worthy performance. And now that “How I Learned to Drive,” the other play in which she was set to star this season, has been postponed, she doesn’t have to compete against herself. Is she our winner?

BRANTLEY I am going to declare a tie between her and Laura Linney, who gave a very subtle, and emotionally transparent, performance as the title character of “My Name Is Lucy Barton,” adapted by Rona Munro from Elizabeth Strout’s novel.

GREEN I buy that. But let’s not forget Joaquina Kalukango in “Slave Play,” Eileen Atkins in “The Height of the Storm,” Zawe Ashton in “Betrayal” and Jane Alexander in “Grand Horizons.” It was a very strong semi-season for Best Actress in a Leading Role.

BRANTLEY And for Best Actor?

GREEN The real Tonys decreed that Paul Alexander Nolan was eligible for his “supporting” role in “Slave Play,” but in my Tonys he’s a strong candidate for “leading.” Still, I’ll go with Tom Hiddleston, in “Betrayal.” Or at least he wins in my newly invented category of Best Use of the Lack of a Tissue. His facial leakage was Vesuvian.

BRANTLEY He was superb — and a reminder of the cathartic value of the tears of others in theater. Of course, there’s so much to cry about now in terms of opportunities lost this season. But I’m not writing an elegy for, or even a definitive summary of, this season yet. It will be fascinating to see how it reincarnates itself, won’t it?

#tom hiddleston #zawe ashton #betrayal #tonys #postponed

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ugyeoms · 7 years ago

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Enmity (Jaehyun Ending)

Pairing: Reader x Jaehyun

Word Count: 1.8k+

Summary: The Jaehyun x Reader ending branching off of the main post of Enmity

A/N: The first member ending is up!!! I figured I’d go with Jaehyun first since he was such a main part of the main scenario. His is a bit shorter than the other members only because he got so much story in the main part, but I still hope you guys love it a lot! Leave me feedback on who you’d like to see the ending for next!

Character Introduction

Main Scenario

Alternate Endings: Jaehyun Johnny

The vibrating of your phone tears you away from your slumber. Sunlight peaks in through the curtains of your room and you squint in order to let your eyes adjust. Stretching over to your nightstand to grab you phone, you see that you have two unread text messages.

Jaehyun: Hey y/n! Wanna hang out with the clan and I today?

Johnny: Hey y/n! Wanna hang out with pack and I today?

Thinking for a moment, you go to reply to….

_______________

The ringing of your doorbell startles you slightly, not expecting Jaehyun to show up so quickly. Nonetheless, you throw all of the stuff in your bag and head out of your house.

“Hi Jae!” You say enthusiastically when opening the door to his car.

“Hi y/n! I’m so glad you were able to hang out today. I really wanted to see you after everything that went down yesterday...” Jaehhyun says, making your heart race.

“Jaehyun, it’s really ok.” You say, placing your hand on top of his and shooting him a supportive smile.

“Yeah you say that, but I was only first telling you about the existence of my kind, and then the werewolves show up out of nowhere, threaten my clan and whisk you away, it was just such a stressful day.” He says sighing.

“Well, that stressful day it over now!” You say, moving his hand back and forth in yours. “And get this! Now you don’t have to be secretive with all of your vampy stuff when you’re with me!”

“Vampy stuff?!” Jaehyun questions, cringing.

“Yes vampy stuff! You know, the hunger, the smells, the danger, the abilites.... Oh wait, can you run super fast?” You ask, getting excited.

“Yes bu-”

“Can you read minds?”

“No we’re not-”

“Can you inflict pain onto people with your minds?”

“Y/n, i’m not from Twilight ok!” Jaehyun says, cutting you off before you can ask anymore questions.

“I didn’t even get to ask if you sparkle.” You say, crossing your arms and pouting. No matter how offended, Jaehyun can’t resist sending you a look of adoration. You’re truly the person he treasures most in life, and all he wants is for you to always be happy like in moments like this. The same goes for you towards him. Your feelings for Jaehyun have been growing ever since you first found them a few years ago. There’s something about the way Jaehyun is, his kind and caring nature, his personality, his interests, all of it just appeals to you, and not in the way a best friend should. Johnny takes the spot of your best friend. Jaehyun takes the spot of your longterm crush. Driving alongside him in the car has always been one of your favorite things. The random conversations, the deep revelations, the screaming songs at the top of your lungs, it’s what you love most.

Finally, Jaehyun pulls up to an open area of the forest that you’ve never seen before. Trees of various heights and colors surround every inch of the field. The music of animals is the primary sound with the occasional gust of wind battering through the leaves, while the sunlight paints the area with a peaceful afternoon glow.

“So, I lied.” Jaehyun says while getting out of the car. “We’re not hanging out with my clan today.”

“Awe, I wanted to spend more time with them.” You say feigning disappointment. As much as you desire to meet his clan members, you were really hoping to get some alone time with Jaehyun after yesterdays events.

“You can spend as much time with them as you want, but I wanted to be alone with you today after what happened.” He says, thinking for a moment, and then grabbing your hand.

“You’re not taking me out here to kill me are you?” You ask, humorously. In the blink of an eye, Jaehyun has your body pressed against a tree. The rough bark digs into your skin because of your startled heavy breathing. The coldness of his body surrounds your person, making you shiver in both anxiety and fear.

“H-how?” You ask, completely winded from the sudden change of place.

“Oh y/n...” Jaehyun hums, leaning in slowly towards the crevice of your neck. “It amuses me how quick you are to joke about such a dire situation.” He says, his breath tickling your neck. “All it takes is one bite y/n. One bite, and your life could be over.” He smirks cinically and continues to get closer to your neck.

“Jaehyun...” You whisper, actually starting to get scared now; until Jaehyun starts laughing.

“I’m kidding y/n, you’re insane if you think i’d ever hurt you!” Jaehyun says, speaking in his normal tone of voice and baking away from you.

“Jaehyun, you really scared me!” You yell, hitting his chest, annoyed.

“Awe, i’m sorry y/n, I promise I won’t do it again!!” He says wrapping his arm around your shoulders and roughly pulling you into an unnecessarily tight hug.

“Jae, I can’t breathe.” You manage to stutter out while hitting his shoulders. He squeezes you for a few more seconds before finally releasing you and then leading you over to a gorgeous spot in the middle of the field.

“Make yourself comfortable, I brought food!” Jaehyun exclaims excitedly, his eyes lighting up like a little kid. He pulls out a large blanket for the two of you to sit on and starts setting up the food.

“Did you get together all of this stuff just to have a picnic with me?” You ask Jaehyun, floored by the array of food he’s brought for solely the two of you. Also touched by the sweet gesture.

“Well Sicheng actually made all of the food for us, but I came up with the idea.” Jaehyun says proudly.

“Remind me to tell Sicheng that I love him.” You say, reaching out for one of the bowls of fruit that catches your eye.

Jaehyun pouts, but nods at your request. The two of you thoroughly enjoy Sicheng’s food while basking in the warm sunlight from the afternoon sky. The breeze keeps the area the perfect temperature and it truly is the perfect place to unwind. The food finishes pretty quickly because of you and Jaehyun’s love of anything edible, so the two of you decide to remove everything from the blanket and lay down for a bit.

Building up the courage, you ask “So, why did you want to bring me here?”

“I can’t bring my best friend here just because?” Jaehyun questions.

“Come on Jae, I know you.” You say. You’ve known Jaehyun your entire life and you know he doesn’t just randomly plan stuff like this.

“Well it was a lot of stuff for you to take in yesterday and I just want to make up for getting you involved in all of this... I know you’re best friends with Johnny and I don’t want to separate you from your friendship with him because of what we are behind the scenes... I don’t know. I’m just worried about you, that’s all.” Jaehyun rambles.

“Jaehyun, you have no reason to be worried, I promise. Do you not understand that I trust you with my life? Yeah, I was scared at first, but I know you’ll always be there to protect me no matter what the circumstance.” You say. You lift up your head slightly so that you can lay on top of Jaehyun’s arm, and he pulls you closer into his embrace.

“I’m just so thankful that you’re not afraid of me, because I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you... You don’t know how scared I was to tell you what I really am. I wanted to, really. But every time I tried, I just came up with more reasons why I shouldn’t tell you. Now that you know though, I feel sort of relieved.”

“I’m happy you trusted me enough to tell me.” You respond.

“Of course I trust you. You’re the person I trust most in the world.” Jaehyun says, propping up one elbow to look at you. His eyes bore into your face, studying your features intently. You glance up to meet his eyes expecting him to look away like usual, but this time he doesn’t.

“What?” You ask quietly, trying to keep the serene atmosphere while still answering to your curiosity. The vampire opens his mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. His mind is racing, trying to find the right thing to say in such a moment.

“Can- I uh, I wanna, you know, never mind.” He stutters quickly.

“What happened to Mr. Confident who pushes people against trees?” You giggle. You’re right. He could do this.

“Can I try something?” He asks so softly, it could almost be considered a whisper. Nodding your head in response, you anxiously anticipate his next move.

Jaehyun carefully pulls his arm out from underneath your head and positions his body so that it’s hovering over yours. You hold your breath, waiting for what you now know is about to happen. Jaehyun slowly leans down, every second his lips getting closer and closer to yours. Eventually, his lips gently press against yours. His lips are soft, smooth, and just as you’d imagined, but you never thought you’d ever actually experience them. The kissing continues for a while, only stopping for the necesscity of air. Neither of you want to stop, but Jaehyun finally pulls away, his lips slightly swollen and his eyes dark. He lets out a content sigh and sends you his signature smile.

“I know this is sounds so cliche, but I’ve always wanted to do that.” Jaehyun says, the goofy smile never leaving his face.

“I know this sounds cliche, but me too.” You reply, just as awestruck. He intertwines his hand with yours and pulls you up to a sitting position. He leans forward to place another sweet kiss upon your forehead and rests his forehead against yours.

“You don’t know how hard it was for me to resist you when I was turned.” Jaehyun says blushing. “The heightened vampire senses made my feelings for you even stronger, but I was always too scared to act on them... but seeing your reaction to all of this... knowing that you accept me even though I’ve been turned into this creature known associated with such horrors... I just couldn’t hide my feelings any longer.”

It’s your turn to blush now. You think of all the years you and Jaehyun could’ve been together, but both of you were too scared to act on it.

“I really love you Jaehyun.” You blurt out in the heat of the moment, heat rushing to your cheeks immediately afterwards.

“I promise I love you more.” Jaehyun says, before adding, “I promise to love you every single day of my immortal life.”

“Does this mean while I grow older you’re gonna stay young and beautiful forever?” You ask, disappointment finding it’s way into your voice.

“We’ll see how things go my love. All you have to do is say the words, and I’d happily make you my mate for forever.” He says, rubbing calming circles on your hand.

“I like that.” You say. “Your mate for forever.”

“I like it too.” He says. “I hope you’re willing to deal with me.”

“I’ve never been more willing.” You reply, falling into his embrace once more.

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dulcetdelrey-blog · 8 years ago

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Sunday’s Book Girl

Summary:You, being a lover of books, go to the quaint little bookstore you have gone to most Sundays of your life. It’s a place of comfort for you as you seek refuge in the pages of a book or two.However, this time it’s different when the last thing you expect is to bump into a gorgeous guy by the name of Jeon Jeongguk

Characters: Jeongguk x Reader

Word Count: 2256

Genre: Fluff and Angst (?)

Just a quick little disclaimer that this was one of the first bts stories I ever wrote so please be kind.

How odd to think it so, that love could sprout from a pile of books…

You walked down the cobblestone street. The faint tapping sound of your combat boots filling your ears. It had just stopped raining a moment ago, the sun slowly starting to peak through the fluff of the clouds. You always thought it odd that it could come out after such dreary type of weather. That musky scent that only came after it poured was very strong in the cool air. It was a scent you had come to love. The sidewalks were still damp and so you made sure you were extra careful where you stepped, being the klutz you unfortunately were. Your spirits were bright as your father had given you a little sum of money this morning. It was just enough for a book. This was such a small gesture, but you were grateful. After he had lost his job recently, your situation wasn’t currently the nicest and money was tight. Of course, you didn’t need more books. He was just glad that you had gotten that trait from your mother so he wholeheartedly supported your addiction. The book shelves in your room are already collapsing due to the habit of you forcing as much as you could in them. You quickly get dressed in your casual clothes and make your way to the bookstore like you normally do on Sundays. Going had become a special sort of tradition that isn’t intended to be broken anytime soon.

You walk pass all of the pathways leading to those various little shops. You are convinced they could only exist in such small towns like this one. Perhaps they are the only good things here. The bookstore included. You walk and walk, enjoying the scenery when you finally stop at your destination.

In front of you is an ancient looking building. It is green and holds a certain charm. It is the town’s only bookstore and your second home. Your mother had brought you here with her since you were a little girl. A bag in hand, you fix your coat and open the French doors. The bell rings above you, signaling a new customer. The middle-aged man behind the massive counter greets you. His name is Johnny and you consider him family. He is the owner and has known your mother since she was young. “Hello, Y/N. The usual?” he asks you, stroking his small beard. “Umm…not today Johnny. Thank you. “You aren’t really in the mood for anything to drink at the moment. The perks of coming here your whole life are the unlimited, free drinks. “I’ll be up there if you need me,” you point to your usual spot on the second floor. He nods and smiles

You ascend the windy, iron staircase into your own slice of heaven. It’s crazy how you know almost every book lined up on these walls, every crevice by memory. Your fingers smoothly glide over the spines and pages of the books. If someone was to ask you what or where your happy place is, it is here without a doubt. Here you have a paradise of words to save you from a life that hasn’t seemed to be meant as a fairy tale. The gigantic oak shelves promise to keep you for hours if you let them, and you do. You are always wondering what attracts you here after all these years. It takes you some time to realize that it is because it reminds you of her. Her memories are still here even when she isn’t. If you close your eyes for a little bit, you can hear the mad giggle of a little girl as her mother chases her through the aisles with anger and amusement. The little girl is so lovely, and you. It slowly fades and then it is gone, taking the warmth with it.

You are aware that you are strange for a sixteen year-old girl in the way that you prefer your books and make believe stories to people. It will hurt less. Yes, maybe deep down you are also scared to live life to its full potential. Denying yourself, thinking that something else would go wrong. You are the type to keep to themselves and if it wasn’t for your best friend Justine, who is the opposite, you would have closed off a long time ago. While others your age are going to parties and caving into their temptations, you are here. In your mind, you think it is better to overdose over books rather than drugs or alcohol any day. Justine hates libraries so you most often go alone, not wanting to torture her. You would have dragged her here today if you knew what was going to happen next.

You are mindlessly scanning the aisles, a pile of books in your hand as you bite your lip in concentration. It is a habit you had developed not too long ago. You are about to turn around when you crash into a boy. Other people are staring. As if this can’t get any worse. The books come toppling to the ground. You mentally curse yourself as you immediately drop to your knees, trying to pick all of them up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t even see you there…” you mumble. “It’s fine. Here let me help you.” He laughs and crouches next to you helping you with the last of the fallen ones. He has beautiful hands and you immediately look up to see his face inches from yours. My oh my, what a gorgeous face it is. Time seems to stand still as he looks into your eyes with his deep, brown ones. You both stand up. “I’m Jeongguk. Jeon Jeongguk.” he states with a grin. Out of all the times, your mouth has to get dry in this very moment. You pause and try to regain your thoughts. He is obviously waiting for an answer. “I’m Y/N.” you state quietly, your earlier confidence gone. “Beautiful name,” his voice filling with sincerity. His eyes never leaving your face.

Somehow, you end up walking with him through the tiny aisles. This allows you to finally take in his appearance. Jeongguk is a good head taller than you. His raven black hair is slightly disheveled and his lips are rosy. His cream colored skin sticks out from his basic, black t-shirt. He wears skinny, leather pants that are quite snug on him. Maybe too snug because it sparks your curiosity. You blush at the thought. Every time he smiles, his little bunny teeth can be seen. It makes his smile even more dazzling. He’s wearing white, high top converse.

It is noticeable of how out of place he looks. His dark clothes are a great contrast to his surroundings. He would be a better fit at a club somewhere. He looks like a dashing character from a book. One made entirely of your own imagination. The whole situation has you tense because you aren’t used to guys like him talking to a girl like you. No, his type left your type of girls for the air headed ones who were nothing but self-centered. You prided yourself in thinking they didn’t deserve your time in return. The guy in front of you seems different though and you have no clue he is thinking the same of you. He mentions how he is only here because of his friends, Namjoon and Taehyung, who were the “bookworms.” You couldn’t have been more right when you had thought that he wasn’t here by choice.

You notice two guys walking towards you and guess that that is them. They stand in front of you with friendly smiles on their faces. You introduce yourselves. Taehyung is on the left and Namjoon is on the right, facing you. Why do he and all of his friends just have to be attractive? Is it like some unspoken rule? Because that’s how it just always seems to be. At least to you it does. “We have to go, Jeongguk. It was very nice meeting you, Y/N.” Namjoon gives you a very friendly smile that could be mistaken for something else. Jeongguk gives him a look you have seen too many times before. It screams ‘back off’. He then turns to you. Yep, this guy definitely seems like the jealous type. “Promise I’ll see you here again. I won’t take no for an answer.” You hesitate and are a little surprised at his sudden forwardness. It made the butterflies in your stomach go into a whirlwind. This time it’s Taehyung who speaks up. “Finally you have a reason to come here without complaining. Yah, leave the poor girl alone already, Kookie.” What a funny, but cute nickname. “Please shut up, Tae.” Jeongguk responds irritably. “I promise,” you quickly add before he smiles at you for the millionth time that hour or day. Who is really counting? Not you. And then they are dragging him away. Leaving you with your jumble of emotions as you watch them leave into the night air.

That night you go home on a cloud and you don’t remember ever coming off of it. That night and each one after that would be filled with thoughts of him. They make you even more excited for the weekends ahead. You aren’t dumb and you know what type of boy he really is. They are the ones who promise you pain and a broken heart as they leave you behind. Never helping you pick up the pieces in the end. He is dangerous, but you choose to not acknowledge the warning signs that pop up at every corner in your mind. You are so close to feeling nothing again and something told you he will make you feel it all, if you are willing.

Nonetheless, he comes that Sunday with a stack of books. When you notice they are the classics, you raise your eyebrow and look at him. “I didn’t think you liked to read.” “Um yeah…but if I don’t, Namjoon gets on my case for it. Of course, you can change that,” he challenges with a smirk. “And how do I do that? “You are a little scared at what he has in mind. “Well, you could read to me?” he slowly suggests. You didn’t exactly expect that, but it is no less terrifying. You hate reading in front of people, especially ones that look like him. It is a really, super weird request. Your look must say it all because then his expression too changes. “I’m sorry. It’s kind of a weird...thing to ask so-so you don’t have to if you don’t want too...” he grabs the back of his neck in nervousness. This time it is his turn to blush. “No, it’s fine. I can read this one first. It’s one of my favorites.” You pick up Pride and Prejudice and begin to read. It takes all of your courage to do so

It is hard to concentrate at first, with his strong gaze on you, but you eventually get used to it. He is utterly fascinated with you. He takes every opportunity he can get to drink in the sight of you under the dim light of the little lamp when you two stayed until it was dark outside. You look like a delicate angel, the same one who has bewitched him. Every word, every sentence you read puts him deeper under some sort of spell. This becomes a sort of routine for the both of you. You order the drinks. He likes his coffee and you your tea. It isn’t long before Jeongguk makes the effort of getting to know the real you each time you meet.

You secretly are in awe of him. It is enough to bring down the walls you have unconsciously built around yourself. No other guy has ever cared to read beyond the first chapter of your life without deciding it just isn’t for them. He did. You open up your mind for him as well as you heart, to read them freely. He reads in between the lines, never skipping, desperate for more on the girl in front of him. With the little hints given, he has learned of your mom who had passed away when you were younger and how you love animals. You hate the pizza crust and sports or how you love the smell of rain and would rather stay in on the weekends than go to a party. He learns of your insecurities and darkest thoughts. It is these that make him fall in love with you. It is how opposite you two are that attracted him. You both learn of each other’s dreams and aspirations. You talk for hours on end. He can make you laugh and make you forget the tribulations in your life, just for a little while. You ramble and he did about how he wants to become a tattoo artist and you a worker in a publishing house. You want to get out of this dead end town as much as he does. To see what this big world has to offer.

One Sunday, you are reading when you look up to see his gaze already on you. A look of curiosity crossing his features as he tilts his head in thought. “What’s wrong, Kookie?” you asked him concerned. He had recently told to call him by his nickname. It was still so foreign on your tongue. “You’re too vibrant to be stuck in a place like this, Y/N. To be surrounded old books and dust. You deserve better. Let me show you what the world out that window has to offer.” With his hands, he dramatically gestures towards the large window. You roll your eyes and try to suppress a giggle. A light seemed to flicker in the back of his eyes accompanied by his mischievous grin

It is the certainty in his voice and look that will make you remember those exact words and trust him. You repeat them like a motto, something to live by. They reassure you in times when you are scared to do something you want the most. He stands by his statement because pretty soon you will taste the first sips of beer and the adrenaline of sneaking out to look at the stars on a grassy field as Jeongguk kisses you for the time. His taste of mint and something sweet wouldn’t leave your mouth until the morning. He is always gentle, making sure not to scare you off before he gets the chance to love you properly. You need it.He leaves special little, cheesy notes in your books asking you to go on dates with him and such. This romantic side and notions of his surprise you, considering how wild and reckless he is. For the first time, you wonder how many other secrets he had. It is a mission you have given yourself to uncover them all. After all, mystery books are always your favorite….

And so the tale goes of a wild boy who had knocked down the walls of a girl who was too scared to live beyond the covers of a book. He had written his own words of love with ink on her heart. They were there for her to come back to when she had grown out of fantasy stories…because now she had her own.

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junker-town · 8 years ago

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The 5 stages of a surprise contender

The Brewers, Twins, and Rockies are all in first place. Here’s how things will progress from here.

It’s almost June. The Brewers and Cubs are playing a series that people care about. It’s almost June. The Brewers and Cubs are playing a series that people care about. It’s almost ...

Sorry. Got stuck. As one does when the topic of a high-octane Brewers offense is brought up. But it’s okay to be a little discombooberated when thinking about the surprise contenders around baseball. The Twins are in first. The Rockies are already 10 games over .500. And the Brewers are going into Wrigley Field, trying to stay atop the division. It’s almost June, in case you haven’t noticed.

This series is an important one for the Brewers, not just for the obvious reasons, but because it could mark the metamorphosis of their status as a surprise contender. The journey from surprise contender to completely normal postseason team is a long one, and it’s fraught with danger. It’s still early for the Brewers, Twins, and Rockies, and you can tell because people are incapable of writing about them without including the words “it’s still early.” That can change soon. That should change soon if they’re for real.

Here, then, are the five stages of a surprise contender:

1. Spring optimism

This is a gentle stage that everyone can enjoy. Do you remember the desert zephyrs blowing through your hair, whispering things like, “Ryan Schmipf is going to hit 40 homers?” No. No, you don’t. But it happened to Padres fans. The period was brief, but the spell was real. Everyone gets to daydream about being a surprise contenders, except for the people following expected contenders, who get to dream about that.

When it comes to the Brewers, I’ll confess to getting their hopes up in February.

Of all the lineups in baseball, this is the one that seems like it would be the easiest to justify retroactively in August if the Brewers are doing better than expected. Of course they’re a strong lineup, we’ll think. It was so obvious the whole time.

It’s hard to believe that’s the only prediction or prognostication that I’ve made all year, don’t bother looking for any others, but sometimes you get lucky. And the Brewers can hit. We’re all pretty comfortable with this idea. Just wait until Jonathan Villar or Orlando Arcia starts hitting, too.

Last year the Rockies’ ability to find a mostly homegrown rotation was one of the better overlooked stories of the season. What if they were effective in 2017, with the lineup staying just as potent? Well, buddy, take a few moments in March to think about it.

It all made so much sense in the spring.

2. “It’s still early”

On the one hand, this is the correct position. Let’s check in with a headline from a year ago:

Dreaming of a Cubs-White Sox World Series? You should be

This might be the perfect headline for the it’s-still-early faction. Last year at this time, people cared about the White Sox. The team sure fixed that for them.

On the other hand, do you know what it would look like if the team in question was really better than expected? Kind of like the Brewers right now. Lots of wins. Surprising improvements. Picking which surprise contenders are real reminds me of picking out which hitters are legitimately better in clutch situations: They exist, but you can’t tell with the naked eye and anecdotal evidence.

The worst part is that while you’re bleating about sample sizes, you’re also waiting for evidence that everything is a mirage. A five-game losing streak is more than enough evidence, even if a five-game stretch is ... a small sample. Doesn’t matter. The first time the team suffers through a losing jag, it’ll be because they shouldn’t have been there in the first place. It was still early, after all.

Except some teams never have that losing jag. They just keep winning and move on to the next stage.

3. The deadline deal

The Brewers are rolling now, sure, but can you name two of their starters? If you can, there’s a chance that some of them are the bad starters. And pay special attention to their bullpen, which has seven relievers with a BB/9 over 4. They’re just as likely to walk the bases loaded as strike out the side, and that doesn’t seem like something that’s sustainable on a contending team.

If the Brewers make it through this gauntlet, though, they’ll have the opportunity to speed up their rebuilding timetable and exchange young players or prospects for starting pitchers and relievers. Would Johnny Cueto look good and irritate the rest of the NL Central? Oh, and how. What about Jose Quintana? What about both, with Joakim Soria and Alex Colome mixed in somewhere? They could burn through all of it, or they could add R.A. Dickey and cross their fingers.

Either way, there’s a chance that the surprise contender will be a deeper, stronger team in a couple months, even if the trade that helped them get there was short-sighted and ill-advised.

You’re reading this because of the 1997 Giants, who featured Barry Bonds and 24 other guys who were supposed to finish in last place. A little luck and unexpected success later, and they were willing to trade some of their best prospects in a monster deadline deal. Suddenly, they weren’t the same team that was supposed to win 70 games. They were that team plus an improved Jeff Kent plus an improved leadoff situation plus a frontline starter plus a reliever who threw 100 mph back when that was a rarity. They were a better team than the surprise contender because you got to take the new data (Jeff Kent is good?) and slap them together with the new players to form new expectations.

4. The surge or fade

Baseball is a long season, everyone. And of the Brewers, Twins, or Rockies, at least one of them will tumble down the same hill as the White Sox. Maybe two of them. Maybe all three. Unless they all start winning. Oh, the permutations!

Note that we’re talking about a post-deadline surge or fade. Anything before then would fall under the “it’s-still-early” category.

The fading will make young children feel sad. I hope you’re happy.

5. Everything is normal, nothing to see here

When I started writing about baseball nationally in 2011, the Orioles, Royals, and Pirates had combined to finish twice since the millennium started. That was 30 combined seasons, with just two of them winning more games than they lost (and never making the postseason, of course.)

Then the Orioles were good. Surprise! And the Royals. Surprise! Then they were suddenly playing in the ALCS against each other, and it was completely normal. The Pirates are perhaps the saddest team in baseball (for multiple reasons), but not because of their inherent Piratesitude, but because expectations were so high in the first place. Everyone just expects these teams to contend, to the point where if they struggle, that’s the bigger news.

For the extreme example, check out the Astros, who had one of the worst stretches in baseball history. People freaked out when they saw this Sports Illustrated cover:

This Week's Cover: @astros Your 2017 World Series Champshttp://t.co/ikbbeb2Cxh by @SI_BenReiter http://pic.twitter.com/OY1v0Yei8S

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 25, 2014

To the point where it seemed like it was something a contrarian writer had to justify. Now we’re pretty danged used to the idea of the Astros contending. They might win 100 games. It’s completely normal, and it’s weird that people back in 2014 thought it was weird that the 2017 Astros might contend. It’s a real weird-off.

The stage the Brewers, Twins, and Rockies are in right now? It’s still early, of course. They have several road trips, several series against tough teams between them and the next stage. There are cautionary tales everywhere you look; there are examples of sustained success, too. Occasionally, though, the surprise contenders become the contenders, and everyone will stop qualifying their descriptions. They’ll be accepted as one of the normal teams.

All you want in baseball is to be one of the normal teams. These three might be on their way.

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