#lauren really outdid herself

[abrieenthusiast]

i don’t think ive headbanged so hard my entire life

HIGHSCHOOLISKILLINGMEITSALLOUTTARYTHYMINALDNQLXNWJJSSJ

[teamcurtflake]

Cinderella's Castle Review

At long last, what everyone (no one) has been waiting for - my review of Cinderella's Castle! Fair warning, there may be spoilers ahead! Mkay you've been warned. 💚

First, my general thoughts. Overall, I thought this was a fantastic addition to the long list of excellent musicals from Team StarKid. The story was familiar yet innovative, the characters were immersive, and the combination of the music and choreo was incredible. I may have laughed more during this show than any other StarKid show, but there were also some absolutely devastating and emotional moments. Also, everyone is so hot in this show it's unfair.

The choreo? PERFECTION. Lauren really outdid herself with the dance choreo. It was so different from that of other StarKid shows, but it absolutely matched each song immaculately. In addition to this, every cast member executed the choreo excellently. Special shout-out to Curt for slaying the fight choreo.

Speaking of the songs though - Jeff Blim the man that you are. All of the songs are so cool and catchy and, again, different from what we've been used to with Hatchetfield. Shout-out to the band aka the Whippoorwills for CRUSHING it! Everyone's voices sounded fantastic, 10/10, and I don't think I'll ever be able to pick a favorite song.

Nick and Matt Lang are geniuses, and this just confirms that. They created a story around something that is well-known and potentially overdone BUT made it their own with some special StarKid magic. The story is dark, hilarious, and touching all at the same time. They've come up with these brilliant characters that you can't help but fall in love with (which is obviously a combination of the writing AND the brilliant portrayal by the cast).

Sidenote - the wardrobe is STUNNING.

Now I could keep rambling, but instead I'll leave y'all with my summary of each cast member's performance in five words or less:

Angela - regal yet evil

Bryce - haunting and powerful

Curt - dadius (but also MOOD)

James - side-splittingly hilarious

Jeff - the realest

Joey - I wanna squeeze him

Jon - so so noble

Kim - ETHEREAL

Lauren - sweetie pie

Mariah - gross in a good way

[weltato]

Ok, here's my PERSONAL ranking of the songs from Nerdy Prudes Must Die - meaning that it's MY OPINION, mkay? (I know the fanbase is really cool and everyone is chill about opinions and that NPMD has the most diverse song opinions, but I just wanted to make it clear)

QUICK DISCLAIMER: the top three keep flip-flopping around in order so much in my head, but they're pretty much always at the top of my list. ALSO, all these songs are amazing, I don't think any of them are bad AT ALL.

Hatchet Town [my beloved]

The Summoning [Lauren OUTDID HERSELF with the choreo man]

Highschool Is Killing Me [Jon & Lauren's voices together are ✨magnificent✨]

Literal Monster [actually so good tho, omg, Kim's vocals? WILL'S VOCALS?? HELLO??]

Bully the Bully [sometimes swaps to 6]

Bury the Bully [sometimes swaps to 5]

If I Loved You [you see how they keep getting close then turning away? d'you see?]

Dirty Girl [genuinely didn't expect to get this one stuck in my head, they sound so good together- BUT PLS DON'T BE THIS GUY HE'S A CREEP EW]

Cool As I Think I Am (Reprise) [I'M NOT CRYING, YOU ARE😭]

Go Go Nighthawks [FUCK YOU CLIVESDALE! N-I-G-H-T *caw caw* -KS! Lauren killing the choreo again!]

Dirty Dudes Must Die [that last line gave me CHILLS- it scratches my brain so nicely and is the ONLY REASON it pips 'NPMD']

Nerdy Prudes Must Die [at first, wasn't a fan because the way the 'NPMD' line was sung was odd to me, same with 'DDMD' tbh, but the rest of the song SLAPS- poor Richie, he sounds so much more confident in the soundtrack when he says he's not a loser :((]

The Best of You [It's so peppy and upbeat and gives MASSIVE Disney pop vibes like this is Victorious or smth, definitely a finale song and SUCH a good fakeout! I actually love this song sm]

Just for Once [Poor Ruth :((( she used to dance y'all- THIS ISN'T A BAD SONG IT'S SO HEARTWARMINGLY HEARTBREAKING AND LAUREN SMASHES IT I JUST HAVE TO HAVE SOME SONGS NEAR THE BOTTOM I'M SORRY T^T]

Cool As I Think I am [the first time we hear that running motif- who's cutting onions in here?]

Putting these in some sort of order is 'ehhh' to me bc they're all on a sliding scale between "this is good!" to "HOLY FUCK THIS IS GOD TIER WTF IS THIS BROADWAY!?"

I saw a comment on quirrelmorts' ranking video that said "Jeff put his whole Blimussy" into this soundtrack and honestly I agree, he absolutely smashed it. Everyone did so well. The acting, the singing, the EVERYTHING was spectacular. Would have loved to have seen it in person, but that would have been a trip across the pond that I can't afford :(

[lonelyraddish]

Full offense, but New Year’s Day is the best song off of Reputation, y’all can fight me about this

[ohgoddard]

Fist of Fire.4.

A couple hours after the combat lesson, a request for a meeting was sent to the Hero combat Teacher. And very soon, Reverse had a very long meeting with the Academy dean.  He sat in front of a long oak desk, covered in papers and a very ancient computer. The room was depressing at best, and pathetic at worst. It was very apparent the funding went into the classrooms and facilities of this academy instead of the administration. Behind the desk, sitting down in a very large and ornate office chair, sat a toad. Well, he had the fat and large head of a toad, and he was not very tall. But what he lacked in physical ability and demeanor was filled with a sense of authority and power. Reverse gulped. The toadman took off his overly large pair of glasses and started cleaning them. “Mr. Ellington, yesterday you sent five children to the infirmary and several more back to their dorms bruised. Normally, I do not care for this.” Reverse had been expecting this. Even though he had brought it past the Dean, and had gotten his permission to run the ‘quirk assessment’ lesson, he knew this was going to happen. Reverse went to reply, opening his mouth and raising a finger, but a quick look from the Dean shut that down. “Normally,” the toad man replied in a rumbling voice, “this would not be an issue. But yesterday you punched the Mayor’s daughter in the gut.” He put on his glasses and leaned forward.

Reverse had fought many villains before. Monsters too. Beings of extreme power and anger, that had given him many an injury and pain. He was reminded of that power right now, as the Dean stared at him from behind the desk. If the toadman could shoot death from his eyes, there is doubt he would have in that moment. The dean straightens his tie before continuing. “Now, the Mayor knows what he signed when his daughter decided to go here. Truth be told, she should not even be here. I have strong suspicion some on the admissions staff allowed her in with false hopes and empty promises of rewards.” He takes out a stack of paper, taking a breath. “We see where that gets us now. The Mayor is very mad with us, and is threatening an investigation among a whole deal of things.” The Dean shoves the pile towards Reverse, and as he picked them up he saw that they were letters from the office of the Mayor concerning the teaching practices of the Hero Combat Teacher.“I’m going to ignore that pompous bastard and all the shit he spews.”

Reverse looked up with astonishment. His mouth agape, he tried to make a sentence but a raised hand from the Dean silenced him. “If we are to release heroes from this school, or if we fill the ranks of those private organizations we will do so with real people and success. The Mayor cannot touch us, we are beyond him. But, I am going to give you a warning.”

Reverse had been filled with too much different emotions, and was bracing himself for the next impact. “You cannot openly assault our students. Atleast, during class time. The A.H.A has spent a good deal of time out of the news, atleast a few weeks now which is not common for us. I do not want to hear about anymore poor conduct from you involving the students here. However, if you were to make an after school club, then we would be free of any issues.” The Dean pulled out a separate paper, with what looked like an already signed signature on a dotted line.

“Let's discuss the operation of the new ‘A.H.A Combat Team’ , if you will.”

After a few more hours of work, Reverse left the Dean’s office as the new sponsor of the Combat Team. There were a number of schools in the US that competed in Combat events, and the Atlanta Hero Academy had not participated since the founding years of the school ( Sometime in the 2090s). Reverse was muttering to himself, walking down the hallways down to his classroom/office, when he passed the nurse’s office. He paused, standing still outside the door. Maybe, he thought,  I should check up on the kids in there. He walked in, pushing the door and leaving it open. The nurse was at his desk, writing a report on today’s influx of visits. He turned to see the visitor and laughed. “Come to grab a trophy from your recent hunt?” The nurse was a short,stocky, old black man, with a head full of silver hair. He was wearing green scrubs,and had several scars up and down his arms. “See, usually when kids come in here they just want an excuse out of class. But this time? You really gave me a test of my abilities. I’ll be honest, it’s been a while since I got to use my quirk to its fullest.” He grabs an apple from his desk and walks over to Reverse, and gives him a look. “Nasty burn scar you got there.”

Reverse put his hand over his forehead, and winces. “Yeah,” he said with a chuckle, “one of the students got a lick on me. Gave a good sting too.” The nurse put his hand on Reverse’s arm and all of the sudden the apple in his other hand turned to dust. “Your scar should heal up soon.”

Reverse was taken aback a small amount. “That’s quite the quirk you have there.” 

“Yes, it takes the life energy from one object and gives it to another. Good thing i’m a nurse right?” He laughs. Reverse gives him a weary chuckle in reply. Going to need to keep a note of that. The nurse regained his composure then continued. “Hey can I ask something of you? My wife has been attacking me all week about getting home earlier than I usually do. Can you do me a favor? Can you stay here for just about 1 more hour?” The nurse was speaking incredibly fast, as he was putting on his coat and walking towards the door Reverse was standing at. “Really thank you for all of this, you only need to look after one kid. The rest are staying for the night. Make sure the heat fans are plugged in. Thank you so much bye!” And with that the nurse had left the room, leaving a very confused Reverse standing wondering what just happened.

What just happened? He thought to himself. Did I just get hit with extra stuff? Man, I need to be more cautious of this place better. Reverse took a deep sigh and looked around at the students in the bed. He observed one in a giant block of ice, which made him giggle when he saw it. “Aw man, Snow-throne you outdid yourself.” He walked around, looking at the other beds. He saw the one student still conducting electricity, courtesies of BreakerX2 , and then his two students. He looked at Riley and felt something. He thinks it was respect, but he is not certain, as he had never respected a teenager before. But, he thought,  if anyone deserved it 'd be her. She was the only one to dodge one of his attacks today and at the same time was grateful to be hit. She liked to learn, and from the looks of it had gotten to this school the hard way instead of the silver spoon morons he had to deal with. He would keep a close eye on her.

That left the last bed then,the one close to the window. Laying in it, and looking quite knocked out, he saw Jade Laurens. Reverse sat down at the end of Riley’s bed, and looked on over at Jade. I cannot believe out of all the schools, she’d be in this one.  Reverse put his head in his hands and the memories came flooding back. He tried his best to forget that day and move on, as the pain it caused him still left scars, but try as he can he could never. He could not forget seeing the Washington Monument on fire and falling down, not running away from the tornado of molten magma  while holding the President’s daughter, and certainly not forget the tears he felt as he saw Victor Laurens lose his fight with that monster that dared try to pass as man.

Reverse sighed,but let a small smile creep through. “Victor Laurens, you mad man. Here I thought I would never get to repay you for taking me off the streets.” Jade’s body began to stir, before settling again. A nightmare no doubt. Reverse reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet, then slipped out a picture. It was of thirteen or so people with the caption at the bottom, “Laurens SHS.” Reverse smiled as he looked over the faces, and was happy he got to see some of them today. It was not often they got back together with each other. A group of misfits under their strong leader. His eyes strayed away from his friends and down to a face that was scribbled over. I wish I could say I missed all of us. As he was putting his picture back into his wallet, he noticed a pair of trimming scissors over on the desk of the nurse. After a few glances at it, then at Jade, Reverse retrieved the Scissors before getting to work.

“This” snip “is for” snip snip “your own” snip “good.”

Red swatches of hair began to slowly trickle down. Reverse was no hair stylist, but he was fairly good at copying. He began to look around for a reference until he saw Riley. He thought,”Good enough I supposed.”

After he was done, he sat down on the bed and waited. And when she awoke...

“Nice to see you awake.”

------------------------------------

Three days after the nurse’s office, Jade Laurens was getting dressed for her ‘extracurricular activity’. While she was trying to play it off like she didn’t want to go, and was only doing so because she wanted to gain better control of herself, she was excited. So it was when she got there that she was a bit confused. In the classroom, which would now be the clubroom once school ended, there were only five people. Turns out, not many wanted to excel at being a hero.

The desks were filled with the likes of John,a tall gangly dude she remembered is named Ricardo, Emily for some reason, and a very quiet girl she has never met before. Jade turned to also see Riley, who once she saw Jade’s new haircut gave a huge smile and a small laugh. “Didn’t know I made such an impact with my passing out next to you.” Jade’s face turned red and she quickly took a seat. Reverse was sitting on his desk, talking to the school nurse. They were talking about a bet or something it sounded like, the words “sandwich” and “you owe me”. 

The tall kid walked over to where Jade sat down, and did his best to introduce himself. “Hi, I don’t believe we’ve met before, but i’m Ricardo and I can shoot bullets from my fingers.”

Jade’s eyes shone. “THAT’S SO COOL!” Ricardo was not expecting that response. “Really? No one ever says that! Whenever I tell them what I do, they always scoff at me and say ‘don’t go around the police’ or ‘bet that's how you got past the border’. Wow, I found one of the few non-racist people in this school!”  Jade was about to respond back to him when Reverse coughed. “I believe this is all we are going to get today, so i’m going to begin. This class is going to be about getting stronger in your own abilities and growing to be 110%. I was originally going to have a cool slogan like ‘Go Beyond Plus Ultra’ but it turns out some school in Japan have copyright on that everywhere. Anyways, in order for me to teach you how to get stronger I have to do it via this ‘Combat for Sport’ kinda thing. So, the game plan is we’re going to win, we’re going to get strong, and we’re not going to sue the school or me because you all signed those waivers before coming here. Let’s begin, shall we?”

[sanhwascoups]

So I won a giveaway...

It was hosted by the lovely Katie @lee-wonhoseok 😊 I knew I won Monsta X's new album, but Katie really outdid herself with this package!

It all started from the label, "Lauren Monbebe" 😁 My sister and I spent waaaaay too long squealing about this. It's so cute!! (Also your handwriting is gorgeous!)

So first were some high quality pictures (My camera doesn't do them justice)

Followed by a beautiful MX postcard

Some super adorable stickers!!

And of course the album (I got a Wonho standee!! 😄)

Including the poster, Katie totally spoiled me with all these goodies! (Ft. World's cutest purple envelope)

Katie, thank you soo much for doing your many giveaways and sending me soo many things! I'll treasure all of them. I'm sorry I'm so bad at replying to messages and a bit awkward. 😭 But I really do enjoy talking to you, and love your blog. Especially the new daily Wonho pics 😄