#love my conall boi

[oidheadh-con-culainn]

im currently obsessed w Láeg Ulstercycle and i would love you forever if you gave me your favorite facts/anecdotes/??? about him

oh boy how long have you got

descriptions of láeg vary but the most common description of him is that he's redheaded, freckled, and tall

he always wears a cloak that's open at the elbows (makes it easier to hold the reins of the horses but also. stylish)

his origins are super obscure, but he might be from the otherworld. in one text there's an association of his parents with síd truimm. in another text, he has an otherworld connection because his parents live on a seemingly magical island, which they rule. in a super late text he's explicitly said to come from the "territory of gabra" in "the land under the wave", aka the otherworld.

but in the text that links him to síd truimm, his parents are the foster parents of cet mac mágach, who is one of the preeminent connacht warriors, so he might also have a connacht background ?? which would frankly be heartbreaking in the context of the táin

the "mac riangabra" of his name is explained as a patronymic deriving from his parents "rían" or "srían" and "gabur". rían means path and srían means bridle; gabur is a poetic word for a horse. so this might mean bridle-of-a-horse, or path-of-a-horse. if so this probably just meant "charioteer" originally and is later interpreted as a patronymic

supporting this, he has a bunch of brothers who are also charioteers: idh, who is conall's charioteer in fled bricrenn and fer diad's charioteer in the stowe version of the táin, and sedlang, who is lóegaire buadach's charioteer in fled bricrenn. conchobar's charioteer ibar, who drives cú chulainn in the "boyhood deeds" section of the táin, is also sometimes identified as "mac riangabra". there are a few other brothers floating around in various texts but idh and sedlang are the most common

so they might not have originally actually been considered brothers. it might just be a description of their job, i.e. mac riangabra = charioteer. but by the time of any of our surviving texts, they seem to be considered brothers and this gets more explicit in later material

sometimes he also has sisters. in one late text, his sister marries one of naoise mac uisneach's brothers. i can't tell you any more about that yet tho bc i haven't read that text. waiting for a friend to translate it for me

he talks to the horses a lot, especially in late texts. sometimes he recites entire poems to them

he can navigate by the stars, play strategy games, and give legal advice, so he's probably got a good brain on him

in the táin bó cúailnge there is a scene where cú chulainn sleeps for three days while his otherworldly father lug heals his wounds. láeg is present. láeg is not stated as being asleep. presumably then láeg and lug made awkward small talk for three full days. this is one of my favourite scenes to imagine

one time enemies attack while cú chulainn is asleep and láeg doesn't want to wake him up bc cú chulainn is a bitch when he's woken up, so he just fights them all for him. he kills over 100 guys over the course of two attacks. after that the enemies send a giant instead lol

sometimes he uses a sword called the "corpse-hewer" to cut the gae bolga out of people cú chulainn killed with it. this is a very laborious and messy process and can take several days

emer says that she, cú chulainn and láeg live together "in one dwelling place"

cú chulainn calls him "a phopa" (a term of respect and endearment derived from "father", usually used for an elder). láeg calls cú chulainn "a chúcúc", "a chúcán", and other diminutives – literally "little Hound"

this has been: a random assortment of facts about láeg mac riangabra, you're welcome

[conallblackbar]

conall blackbar - the inspirations

haymitch abernathy (the hunger games)

"embrace the probability of your imminent death, and know in your heart that there's nothing i can do to save you."

bojack horseman (bojack horseman)

"i need- i need you to tell me that i'm a good person. i know that i can be selfish and narcissistic and self-destructive but underneath all that, deep down, i'm a good person and- and i need you to tell me that i'm good, Diane, tell me, please, Diane, tell me that i'm good..."

jim hopper (stranger things)

"feelings. jesus. the truth is, for so long, i'd forgotten what those even were. i've been stuck in one place - in a cave, you might say. a deep dark cave."

robert dudley (historical figure)

"if i am exiled they will see it as proof of my guilt, i'm done for!"

boromir (lord of the rings)

"i am weary, but i still have some strength left, and aragorn too. we will bear the little folk."

harrier du bois (disco elysium)

"real darkness has love for a face. the first death is in the heart, harry."

james norrington (pirates of the carribbean)

"james norrington. what has the world done to you?"

sirius black (harry potter)

"times like that bring the best in some people and the worst in others."

[ardenssolis]

Let’s talk about romance! Muse questions; accepting || @caemthe

💟 asking specifically for the fantasy au spinoff :^)

💟 - Was there ever a time when they had fallen out of love? What was their reaction to it? How did they handle it?

COMING FOR MY THROAT, I SEE. In that particular spinoff verse, yes, but also...it's complicated. Does he hate Conall? Yeah. A lot. A murderous lot...at least right now. That may change in time. Who knows? Maybe he'll hate him just a little less. Even so, he also really loves him still too and it distresses him a great deal that he does. He could have killed him many a time, and hell, Conall would probably even present his neck for him to do it, but he knows he would hesitate. He knows his hand will shake and that just makes him so infuriated and sad and just a plethora of really intense emotions. You don't always just magically fall out of love with someone -- sometimes it takes time even with all the anger, and Ozy has had feelings for him since they were just boys. Sure it took him forever to really acknowledge that like, 'yeah...yeah I've got it bad,' but that was brewing for a good long while. It would take years upon years, and even then, that might not be enough.

[subterranean-heartsick-blues]

Fox of Fox Hall by by R. Cooper book review

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You been a good old wagon, you got me there in style / Oh, but you left me here to walk a ragged mile (The New SF Blues – Hurray for the Riff Raff).

This is probably obvious by now, but I’m actually not all that great at expressing my emotions. I kind of try to make up for it by using an exuberant amount of exclamation points, but I sometimes wonder if that’s enough, you know? This is why I’d be a terrible BookTok or YouTube book reviewer, because I’d be on there saying shit like “Ahhhhh this was the best book I’ve ever read in my life!!!!!!” with zero inflection in my voice, sitting there with my “:|” face, all neutral-like. When I finished this book a little bit ago, all you really need to know is that I kind of just stood up from my chair and then sat back down in repeated succession like some kind of Sim. This book was good though. Really good! And I’m not even lying when I say that it’s probably going to win my own personal award of “Best Fantasy of 2024!” It’s a highly esteemed honor, if you didn’t know. This novel reads like a folk song, as pretty as can be. Which felt like a breath of fresh air in my endless and continuous reading journey, because the fact is, I kind of dipped on the fantasy genre a little bit ago. I abandoned my boy! I don't know, I guess things were getting a little too samey for my taste. I mean, all these books with the same overindulgence on world building, the same weird worship of royalty and “man’s divine right to rule,” and the same cookie-cutter, doe-eyed main character starring opposite the resident “bad boy” in order to satisfy some kind of algorithmic “enemies-to-lovers” formula, I can see in perfect hindsight why I dropped off. But hey, no worries! I can solely put the blame on Fox of Fox Hall for pulling my ass back into the fold. And I’m glad I’m saying all this in writing, because now you can just imagine the all of the vast excitement in my voice rather than me having to act it out. “Yoo~oou’ve got me feeling emotions” and all that. Anyway, we follow Fox, a beautiful and clever bard who also happened to be the king’s favorite until recently falling out of favor, as he tactfully maneuvers, with knots in his stomach, through the complicated machinations of court-life. At court, he’s constantly being subjected to subtle and not so subtle mockery from the high-class nobles who think lowly of him and feel threatened by his presence due to his “commoner” status and the fact that he was able to move up in the world despite that fact. Being justifiably afraid that his new precarious standing with the king will lead straight back to him living on the streets, Fox has to find some kind of lifeline. The only problem being that he’s utterly alone… that is, until during one particularly public humiliation from these rich jerks too many, a knight in shining armor by the name and title of Byr Conall comes to the rescue and defends him. This catches Fox’s attention immediately and he spends the rest of the story wondering what the shape of his cock is like. That’s what they call a learning curve! Badum tssss.

Okay, but really, I was captivated by this book. A lot of “Cinderella” type stories get so caught up in the extravagance, the flash, and the excess of the whole new world and lifestyle that Cinderella finds herself in, that they don’t really take the time to properly explore what such an upheaval would actually do to someone. What I think this book does masterfully in this respect is closely examine that journey and more realistically depicts what would actually happen when a kind man with a predilection for justice tries to romance a strong, but wounded person who believes that their only purpose in life is being useful. They’d take a while to get used to the idea that they can be happy, no? How can a person with severe (and justified) trust issues learn to love and trust wholly and completely? That’s what this book is; a patient and caring love letter to those who need a little more time than most. That’s why Fox of Fox Hall affected me so much, because it’s nice when a story takes the time to take care of the characters, and doesn’t just try to move past the natural conflict too quickly by stamping a big old “happily-ever-after” at the end and calling it a day. But you know, Fox and Conall aren’t the only main characters of this book, the third most important dude here is the King, Domvoda. And yeah, he sucks, but the way he’s written doesn’t suck, that’s for sure. I’m a little ashamed to admit it, but I think the scenes with just him and Fox conversing, meaning when they were verbally sparring, ended up being some of my favorite chapters in the whole book. It’s not the easiest thing to write awkward and tense stand offs without the writer eventually bailing on the scene and writing in some kind of physical altercation, but R. Cooper let the tension lie. Every. Single. Time. They made casual dinner conversations into nail-biting thrillers. The simmering rage, the quiet judgments, the pearl-clutching. It’s great stuff! Seriously, I literally leaned forward from my very comfortable reading position several times whenever they were going at it. It was like I was watching [enter sport name here]! And I liked the way that none of the conflict in the story was directly life-threatening, because the “uncomfortable dinner party” vibes actually helped to highlight the king and his court’s petty and childish nature. I may have hated Domvoda, but I was always happy to see him show up. Really though, fuck him. Well, maybe not, because he was totally going to win my own personal award of “Least Fuckable Man on the Planet – 2024," but El*n Musk’s already won the top spot in that category from now going on until forever. Anyway, it turns out that the ingredients of a beautiful love story combined with beautiful prose will concoct a beautiful potion that’s sole purpose is to enrapture me. I don’t recommend books often (because I’m terrified of somehow doing it wrong haha), but I don’t think it’s too tall an order to ask everyone to read Fox of Fox Hall. Come join me in feeling all the feels! I don’t say it enough, but I do so love it when a book manages to gut-punch me. Oof.

“Come here.” Fox affected a shocked look. “With me like this?” “With you however you please.”

[gittessimsadventuresog]

Pistache family prehistory Part 3

Part 2

Chaos erupts (part 20: Chaos) as Bree immediately can tell that Bianca is feeling off after the bad news. Bianca will go home, take care of her little girl, clean up her chaotic homelife - and they will most likely never see each other again. There can't be any space for her, Bianca has it hard enough.

Yet, she doesn't want to be forgotten - or at most remembered as merely a friend from university. On a good exam results high, she decides to kiss Bianca - what Bianca has been waiting for for months at this point.

But Bianca needs to get home, and does. Awkwardly saying goodbye to Bree, who feels bad about having done anything with Bianca when she was in such a sad state.

There the expected awaits her; a furious Alice. First she kept from her that Conall is a werewolf - Bianca wanted to tell, but Alex forbade her - then she goes to bed with her husband, lies for months that the child she is pregnant with is "some guy's at uni" (even though the math does not add up), and even after giving birth to a child that suspiciously takes after her brother in law, joyfully going back to university - leaving Alice to unknowingly take care of what is her stephdaughter, while she has her own second son Eric and a young werewolf to take care of. (Nvm that Jaeda also took care of the little ones a lot). While all that is true, she leaves her husband out of it, putting all the blame on Bianca; which is, considering their age difference and the context, unfair.

Jaeda tells Bianca the truth about what happened - a pure accident, the uncontrolled first ever transformation of a young werewolf and a young girl being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Yet, Alice (lowkey terrified of her own 6yo son) wants Conall to take the elixers even more so, locking him up in his room when not wanting to do so. Conall might have a rough outside, but is just a sweet, young boy, her child, who needs her love and support - something Alice all to easily forgets.

It has been dawning on her for a while, but it's hard - she is a unemployed single mother with a young child, with the only one for support being her 71 year old mother. But Bianca wants to leave. Permanently, which she can't just do.

After yet another unreasonable harsh command from Alice for Conall to take the elixers, Bianca lashes out at her sister - who also kept on going about how she is a terrible human being. She is going to leave, not permanently - leaving Demi in Jaeda's care for now - but to find Bree. Who lives in Bridgeport.

But Bianca is Bianca - intelligent when it comes down to it, but taken away with emotion and impulsiveness in the moment. She is completely starstruck by the many celebrities, who claim she also has a chance of fame with her creative and musical talent, charisma and good looks (having maxed out painting so she couldn't paint for university performance through skilling, I let her play the piano a ton)

Even more so when she comes across famous actor Matthew Hamming - the hot guy superstar of a popular space film series, and notorious womanizer. He, too, takes a liking to the well-endowed sky blue eyed goldenskinned honey blonde.

Naïve and impressed, Bianca decides to go out with him, not expecting anything of it. After all, she's here for Bree (who is unfortunately unfindable)

But Matthew gives his young date (18 years his junior) a Kyoto my heart. Bianca basically dr*gged, the duo starts flirting, dancing, kissing. Bianca knows that what she's doing is wrong; but Matthew's plan is working. She is too tipsy, confused and influenced. Yet, she wishes he wasn't the one she's dancing with.

Matthew - how dare he - takes the confused & drunk Bianca home, and they share the night.

They were seen, and rumour quickly spreads. Overnight, Bianca goes from someone who is infamous in her hometown & collegecampus to a 3-star celebrity, wrongly known as Matthew's brand new girlfriend. Hopefully this doesn't reach the wrong ears.

Which it did, she realized as she finally reaches Bree - who hastily runs away in tears.

Part 4

[saltirebookreviews]

Book: My Highland Protector

By Miriam Minger

Series: Warriors of the Highlands, Book #2

Publisher: Oliver-Heber Books

Release Date: 5/25/2021

Overall Rating: 5 Gold Stars

Overall Blog Rating: 5 Saltire Flags

Campbell Castle, Argyllshire

Scotland, 1307

For Saving Robert the Bruce’s life warrior, Cameron Campbell, is given the title of Baron and Lairdship and also gifted him with the Seora MacDougall’s castle. Now everyone is pestering him because of his position as Laird that he must pick a bride due to his new status. Except Cameron is not comfortable around women as he is very shy and introverted. Only his younger brother Conall, is aware of his condition, which brings back the horrible memory and the only time he tried to approach a lass he fancied, as he was totally humiliated! So he was not going to marry any lass until he was good and ready! In reality he doubted that would ever happen!

What Cameron didn’t understand is why the King, Robert the Bruce, hadn’t picked his brother instead since him? As he was quite the lady’s man, he was surprised Conall didn’t have a child in every village in Scotland! Perhaps he knew of a secret of not allowing pregnancy to happen, again another area Cameron had no knowledge of! The Bruce did mention his brother would be rewarded too but he had to think it. Of course Connell was not interested in any type of marriage as he was quite happy going from one lass to another!

Now it is brought to Cameron’s attention he had Irish captives in a pit below! The horrible MacDougall’s had imprisoned them and he wasn’t even aware of! Well they were in a hidden cell that was actually more or less just a hole. This filled Cameron with so much guilt though they had only been in residence for a few days and it was the odor that caused his men to investigate. Most of the Irish had died. They realize they were Irish captives and one teenage lad in trousers, red hair cut short that looks so young and ill. He also heard he was someone special as they were giving this lad their food and water rations to survive. They called for their clans healer, soon realizing this lad was not a boy, but a lass who was hiding her true identity. She was warrior he soon realizes coming to help the Scottish King fight. Most likely so she could be with her family, they knew the Irish has been coming to help fight for the Bruce’s wife was also Irish. Now Cameron moved the lass away from the men in a private room. He stayed with her the entire time praying she would live.

He finds out she is related to the Bruce’s wife as her name is Aislinn De Burgh and also her father and brother were also taken but taken captive who was the leader of this Irish clan. Cameron realized Aislinn is a warrior unlike any Lass has ever met, As she recovers and finds out Cameron’s troubles with women but she wants to find her father and brother. Also Cameron feels they were most likely executed or a ransom notice would have been sent. Cameron agrees to go on this journey and during this time they both fall in love.

Cameron realizes love must be the answer as he soon finds Aislinn is the only woman he is comfortable around. Aislinn also finds this powerful Laird with the kindest heart is the most handsome she has ever met. Cameron also realizes,Aislinn has kept a secret from him. This secret might destroy them both! Will Aislinn be forced to return to Ireland or stay in Scotland and fight for love? Read and find out

Miriam Minger pens another riveting, action packed, page turning ,highland adventure that had me both captivated and mesmerized, yet swept me away in such a delightful, endearing, story! This is the second book in her “Warriors of the Highlands” series as I have absolutely loved both books and looking forward to Conall’s story next! It is filled with all the elements Scottish historical readers love, like a true iconic hero in true history. Robert the Bruce is one of my most favorite heroes in Scottish history. So I loved that true history is weaved with this fictional romance. It is a brilliant read and a book I highly recommend.

Warriors of the Highlands

By Miriam Minger

1)My Highland Warrior

2)My Highland Protector

3)My Highland Captor - TBR - 11/30/2021

4)My Highland Raidcr: TBR 5/24/2022

Disclaimer: I received an advance reader’s bcopy from Oliver-Heber Books I voluntarily agreed to do an honest, fair review and blog through Netgalley and Booksprout. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.

[wubwubnparmaham]

Your favourite character from the book and why?

Answer below:

Hands down zero contest my favorite character is Cináed. My monster of a family man, emphasis on both traits.

Auron and Harlock are close seconds (in fact I frequently refer to Auron as my fav), and Agnes as well as Conall are worthy contenders, but they barely count because they're in Cináed's direct circle anyway. But yeah it's been him for a long time; after all these years Cináed still takes the ultimate cake.

Why?

*shrugs

I think there's probably so many reasons, it doesn't even make sense to try and list them all. I essentially wrote him to embody two things I will never have: 1) a good husband (don't want one); and 2) a good father (never had one of those). Thus in my eyes Cináed became the perfect man. The Perfect Man. Delicate where he needs to be, an absolute tornado of violence where he needs to be (tho never truly against anyone he cares about), and fucking OBSESSED with his woman. Hoo boi. He absolutely worships her, and we love to see it.

Cináed is also just such a huge point of reliability that is inherently a comfort. He's so bloody powerful and capable, who wouldn't want someone like that in your corner? If I had to choose a fictional character to be my champion and represent me in a fight against God, I'd pick Cináed. Or his son pft.

There's me answer. Who's YOUR favorite character? This question is for anyone who sees it. Give me the whos and the whys.

[inkwell-and-dagger]

🔨 🌐 🪄 🩹 for the whumpy music ask game!!

THANKS FOR THE ASK MATE :DDD!!!!!!!!!

🔨 — a song with your whumper's vibes?

ooh that's quite difficult. I'm just gonna pick from foster's oc playlist (I haven't touched it in so long but I'm gonna find one that fits with my current music taste. hopefully)

okay! so I've decided on Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want by Deftones, Mama's Boy by Dominic Flake and Take Me To War by The Crane Wives!!! they all fit them so well out-of-canon. little meow meow <3 (there is a man in their basement)

🌐 — a song with the vibes of your whumpy story?

hmm! I might have to go witthhhh Bang Bang Bang Bang by Sohodolls for HTKAI? idk! it just reminds me of future chapters n stuff :3

🪄 — a song you love imagining something whumpy to?

PARTNER IN CRIME BY MADILYN MEI PARTNER IN CRIME BY MADILYN MEI PARTNER IN CRIME BY MADILYN MEI PARTNER IN CRIME BY MADILYN MEI PARTNER IN CRIME BY MADILYN MEI PARTNER IN CRIME BY MADILYN MEI PARTNER IN CRIME BY MADILYN MEI PARTNER IN CRIME BY MADILYN MEI PA

🩹 — a song with your whumpee's vibes?

Curses by The Crane Wives for like. Most Of Them I Think™!!! Ailean-Conall because he is cursed, Rayan because in his personal opinion he's cursed with Immortality, Zuriel because it believes its cursed with being a fallen angel because of Kore, Aarin because being an angel is now like a curse to them because some particularly cruel people in the Underworld sought after them for their beauty. idk what Ruaridh's doing though. eating bugs perhaps. they are full of whimsy and joy

[fangedprinx]

Just wanted to say that I absolutely adore the recent chapter and it's so good ! Conall's slow mental change, mwah ! Beautiful. ( Eon being seemingly -and I have a strong feeling somewhat literal in a way - in Conall's head calling him a good boy ! AAAH - I have a hunch it's due to the *'half n half' thing mentioned on your blog somewhere, the point is I love it. )

So many thoughts! Well many of the same thoughts I suppose, point is very cool!

[ p.s are we allowed to make art of your characters? ]

*referring to thier alignment/group thing that the metahumans got going on

Thank youuuu 😊 Thanks for sticking with the story thus far!! I'm getting into the really fun stuff now where the build-up of Conall's change in mentality starts paying off.

You're right that Eon is a hybrid metahuman - they're demonic + another group/faction/alignment. It's probably obvious which! I'm sorry to say that they're not actually in his head talking to him, although it's a fun thought! Conall's loosened up enough to begin exploring his own wants. His imagination ran away with him, then he ended up combining his burgeoning praise and petplay kinks with his feelings/lust towards Eon. He's kicking his own ass without any help this time. (Next time they meet Eon will pick up on Conall desiring those things and use them to tease him.) Sorry for sinking your theory, but if you want to imagine otherwise or come up with what-ifs I won't stop you! Have fun. Either way I am delighted you've got space in your thoughts for my story.

And I would LOVE art of my characters, I would lose my mind over it honestly!!

[audaciiaearchive]

❛ what i found when i arrived here was a web of deceit & lies. ❜ richard & conall, manyfunerals. victorian au 8)

Royal assassin || Accepting

"Mm, and what were you expecting, exactly?"

Conall sips at his wine, looking out the window. What did Richard expect from him? It's been 400 years. The empire has grown and expanded beyond anything anyone could've ever expected. Conall has settled into himself, no longer that young boy so unsure of what he was, telling Richard that he thinks something is wrong with him as they lay in bed together. No, that boy would've been eaten alive. He's done what he's had to do to survive.

So he sighs, looking back over at Richard, his expression unreadable. "I don't know what you want me to say. That's the kind of thing that it takes to survive these days, even moreso than when you were king, my love. It is what it is. If you don't like it, then.." He trails off, shrugging. "Then I suppose that's that."

@manyfunerals

[sleepingfancies]

🍓🍦🍉🌤 <3

🍓 Worst thing you've done to your characters: HOO BOY AKSDJGSDG. I think physically the worst thing I've done is have Teresa (from WIP Godsbane) ship of Theseus her own body to survive radioactive magic poisoning. Mentally the worst thing I've done is destroy Kadija's entire worldview in such a way that she doubts her own identity. Emotionally the worst thing I've done is make a home that Conall loves and misses somewhere he can never go back to.

🍦 What is your current word count: 50k I believe all told for deathbringers, which definitely has the most physically written out of any WIP. It ain't much, but it's honest work.

🍉 Favorite WIP: Deathbringers at the moment KSJDHGSG both because it's my most planned, most coherent, most ready-to-be-written, and also bc I'm very attached to the little guys in it =) all four of the mains feel like their own people beyond my influence in a way, it's really exciting. Like watching my chicks leave the nest KSJGDH

🌤 Name the hardest thing you've had to do for writing: TBH the combination of figuring out 'okay how do I WANT to write, not just what people are saying I should do' and also getting over my fear that I'll accidentally steal anything I read and enjoy was REALLY hard for me. I was obsessed with "writing advice" for the longest time and it really stagnated my writing bc I was so caught up in "should" and "shouldn't" and "right" and "wrong" ways of writing that I literally did not have a voice in my work anymore. It was just flat and boring and had no identity. It didn't sound like ME, yknow? I've done a lot to repair that but it's taken a really long time.

[thetalentedmrkashyap]

B-4 : Oscars 2023 Predictions - A Film fan's perspective (Part - 2)

The 95th Academy Awards, a.k.a. The Oscars®, will take place on March 13 at 5:30 AM IST. The celebrations of the Oscar season are at their peak. Amid the fun and excitement, here's a look at the movies categories and our predictions of the winners:-

Best Animated Film

Nominees:

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio – Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson, Gary Ungar, and Alex Bulkley

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On – Dean Fleischer Camp, Elisabeth Holm, Andrew Goldman, Caroline Kaplan, and Paul Mezey

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish – Joel Crawford and Mark Swift

The Sea Beast – Chris Williams and Jed Schlanger

Turning Red – Domee Shi and Lindsey Collins

Prediction: Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio

del Toro's first attempt at stop-motion animation to present the classic tale of the wooden boy in a different style has received several accolades this year. An Oscar is gonna be another such honor.

Best International Feature Film

Nominees:

All Quiet on the Western Front (Germany) – directed by Edward Berger

Argentina, 1985 (Argentina) – directed by Santiago Mitre

Close (Belgium) – directed by Lukas Dhont

EO (Poland) – directed by Jerzy Skolimowski

The Quiet Girl (Ireland) – directed by Colm Bairéad

Prediction(s): All Quiet on The Western Front/Argentina, 1985

While the former is an anti-war film appreciated by critics & audiences, the latter was the Golden Globe winner in the same category this year. Hence, the two are gonna be strong contenders.

Best Documentary Feature

Nominees:

All That Breathes – Shaunak Sen, Aman Mann, and Teddy Leifer

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed – Laura Poitras, Howard Gertler, John Lyons, Nan Goldin, and Yoni Golijov

Fire of Love – Sara Dosa, Shane Boris, and Ina Fichman

A House Made of Splinters – Simon Lereng Wilmont and Monica Hellström

Navalny – Daniel Roher, Odessa Rae, Diane Becker, Melanie Miller, and Shane Boris

Prediction(s): All the Beauty and the Bloodshed/A House Made of Splinters

The former is about the life of photographer and activist Nan Goldin and her efforts to hold Purdue Pharma, owned by the Sackler family, accountable for the opioid epidemic. On the other hand, the latter is about an orphanage with children dealing with the Russia-Ukraine war. Both themes have been a crucial topic of discussion among cinephiles and filmmakers - and the Academy might be a part of it as well.

Best Documentary Short Subject

Nominees:

The Elephant Whisperers – Kartiki Gonsalves and Guneet Monga

Haulout – Evgenia Arbugaeva and Maxim Arbugaev

How Do You Measure a Year? – Jay Rosenblatt

The Martha Mitchell Effect – Anne Alvergue and Beth Levison

Stranger at the Gate – Joshua Seftel and Conall Jones

Prediction(s): The Elephant Whispers/The Martha Mitchell Effect

The Academy can have a split decision between a human-elephant relationship and the whistleblower of the biggest political scandals of the world - Watergate!

Best Live Action Short Film

Nominees:

An Irish Goodbye – Tom Berkely and Ross White

Ivalu – Anders Walter and Rebecca Pruzan

Le Pupille – Alice Rohrwacher and Alfonso Cuarón

Night Ride – Eirik Tveiten and Gaute Lid Larssen

The Red Suitcase – Cyrus Neshvad

Prediction: An Irish Goodbye

The story of two siblings reuniting after their mother's death - filled with humor & drama would be the ultimate contender.

Best Animated Short Film

Nominees:

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse – Charlie Mackesy and Matthew Freud

The Flying Sailor – Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis

Ice Merchants – João Gonzalez and Bruno Caetano

My Year of Dicks – Sara Gunnarsdóttir and Pamela Ribon

An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It – Lachlan Pendragon

Prediction: My Year of Dicks

A teenage girl's obsession with finding the right partner for sex amid a comedic journey of disappointment and self-discovery can win the golden man for depicting female sexism.

Best Original Score

Nominees:

All Quiet on the Western Front – Volker Bertelmann

Babylon – Justin Hurwitz

The Banshees of Inisherin – Carter Burwell

Everything Everywhere All at Once – Son Lux

The Fabelmans – John Williams

Prediction: The Banshees of Inishrein/Babylon

While John Williams has become the most nominated living person (53 - winning 5), Hurwitz and Burwell would be giving The Fabelmans' score a tough competition. While the former gives the 1920s Silent Hollywood vibe, the latter's Irish folk composition is full of humor and intense tension as the film progresses.

Best Original Song

Nominees:

"Applause" from Tell It Like a Woman – Music and lyrics by Diane Warren

"Hold My Hand" from Top Gun: Maverick – Music and lyrics by Lady Gaga and BloodPop

"Lift Me Up" from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler, and Ludwig Göransson; Lyrics by Tems and Ryan Coogler

"Naatu Naatu" from RRR – Music by M. M. Keeravani; Lyrics by Chandrabose

"This Is a Life" from Everything Everywhere All at Once – Music by Ryan Lott, David Byrne, and Mitski; Lyrics by Ryan Lott and David Byrne

Prediction: Naatu Naatu

Undoubtedly, this "feel good" dance number can make the Academy members shake their legs as well. The audience's love and the Golden Globe for Keeravani are enough to ensure an Oscar for another South Indian composer (first since AR Rahman for Jai Ho).

[conallblackbar]

"i didn't know that." he gestured to the hand to take a seat, allowing him to position himself where he would be most comfortable for taking a chair of his own. a second son, guardian of these lands in the name of his brother, he was always tentative about taking the seat that had once belonged to the ruling lord, for he knew that he was not. "it would be a good place to be a boy, i think." but there were no boys of house blackbar - eight daughters, and their widowed, childless uncle.

he nodded, expression going uncharacteristically dark. it was not uncommon for him to carry an aura of melancholy, but anger was an emotion rarely felt. "i've heard tell." came the response. "and there is little to fear in that regard. i would not act without the lady's consent." if nothing else, it was because his respect for the florents themselves ran high. he was not seeking to provoke their ire, anymore than he was looking to involve himself in a run in with prince lannister.

but it was easier to speak about that then it was to speak of his wife. conall let out a heavy sigh, leaning back in his chair before speaking. "there are things you should understand before that," he warned. "and not all of it paints me in the most favourable light." and that was, ultimately, what had seen him so implicated. "have you ever met the lady willow blackwood? or known her reputation? abigail was not so dissimilar." quick and sharp of tongue, there was something about her that reminded her of the way the clover women carried themselves, and that had been why he loved her.

"the dance of the dragons was not the most nurturing of environments for a marriage. by the time she died, we'd spent a lot of time apart, and both sought comfort in other people." they'd been unfaithful to one another, taken others to their beds and made a mockery of marriage vows. "she would often grow jealous of the clover women. didn't seem to realise that they're kin. the night she died... it was at a feast. we'd argued over me sharing a dance with a young girl from my culture. more a sister than anything else, but it didn't matter. she reprimanded me in front of all, and i shouted back, then retired to bed. there are people who can attest to that. i was in bed." he spoke as though he was desperate to be believed, because he was. he was tired of trying to wash blood off his hands that he did not spill. "i'm told she stayed up, drinking and weeping. next i knew, i was being awoken because they'd found her at the bottom of the stairs. there was no telling if it was accident, suicide or murder, but i had no part in it. i would not have hurt her."

"I spent much time here as a boy." Tirius said at the invitation from the earnest cloverman, the man betrayed by those around him who called him a killer. Tirius did not know if it were true, personally, it did not matter in the grand scheme of it all. If he remembered his notes correctly then his wife wasn't of their realm, wasn't his community, and certainly wasn't someone of great importance. Who was House Wylde? Well, they were no one. A "highborn" house who gained status recently, as far as he was concerned. But, a stain was stain and it needed to be clear.

As the hand readied himself to meet with the lord, his mind was made up of what there discussion would be or where it would begin. He was not a man who did things without a plan, without solid thinking and an acknowledgment of the potential downfalls. This had a few, but, from what he'd seen they could be tempered. And this young lord seemed to need guidance and a strong hand.He would have to take the measure of him throughout his visit.

"Thank you for waiting for me." Tirius spoke to the lord as he enter the office, looking around them. He didn't sit immediately. Tirius remembered how much his disliked Aemond Targaryen when he came to Goldengrove and sat in his father's chair without invitation. It was an outrage and one of the moves before the dance that led Tirius to convincing his father to hold true to his oaths. 'You have daughters, my lord. If the Targaryen prince takes your golden chair, what else shall he take?'

"First point, and perhaps your brother has mentioned it but the Lannister Prince is making waves. Petulance, bravado, and rage feed him. Lady Florent is more than capable of handling these concerns, though, do not do anything without her leave."

"Second point, and I understand if this is hard for you but I wish to clear your name regarding your wife. I need you to recount the day."

[gittessimsadventuresog]

Pistache family prehistory Part 2

Part 1

This describes the things that happen during Parts 16 - 25. Written in Dutch, but I always made sure the text translates well with automatic browser translation to English. So if you want to read the full thing, it's pretty readable.

This focuses more on Bianca. When I started writing things down, I wasn't sure who I would focus on more or my storyline - but Bianca became my favourite, especially as I made her lifepartner Bree, who I also adored.

Alice really wants to give Conall the same elixer her mother must have gotten when she was little; the potent cure elixer, and afterwards also a bottled witches' brew while she's at it. The young boy likes himself the way he is though.

There is also the issue of Demi - their relationship was never great; what will Alice's wrath be when she discovers her sister seduced her husband? Because while it is two-sided, she for sure won't blame him.

Jaeda is being the middle ground and reason, and encourages Bianca to go back to university. Weaponed with potent invigorating elixers to still be in class the next day and skillbuild all of her free time, Bianca continues her lifestyle of parties and many, many, many, many short flings (I got to the Man eater/Dona Juanita reputation with her)

But, Bianca still doesn't dare to be herself. She doesn't tell anyone she is a witch, for one - powers she has surpressed, seeing all the bad things being done with them during her childhood. And she is very unsure whether she actually really cares about any of her flings; they're just connection, warmth, contact - a endless search for love and certainty when having that for a childhood. She portrays herself as the sexy, outgoing hot honey blonde. Doesn't matter that she was bullied for being too smart for her own good for her whole childhood and that university was her first touch ever with popularity.

Going to all the parties, having amazing grades & attendance and looking like that definitely brings up suspicion of course, Bianca has a hard time convincing people she isn't some sort of seducing enchantress (not the seducing part) nor sleeps with the teachers.

One day she stumbles into the science lab for dark reasons - she's an arts major - where her sight falls on Bree. A nerdy, shy girl - but confident and in her natural environment that Bianca the popular barbiedoll trespasses. Bianca has seen Bree before; making a fool of herself & being bullied by their roommates, and since shortly her roommate as she didn't have any before, but Bree fled from girls who were teasing her study habits. Bianca impulsively invites the lonely-looking Bree to her then boyfriend's - Jeffery Dean's - party, who isn't happy about the guest. Awkwardly, Bree excuses herself, proclaiming herself stupid about thinking the most popular girl on campus could've been serious about Bree being invited to the party of the most popular guy on campus.

Bianca's relationship with Jeffery continues curiously long - two weeks! - but so does her interest in the mysterious Bree. Still the partier, she organises one at their dorm.

Bree can't help buy say or do things at the wrong time and when Jeffery is overly harsh to her for doing a stimulus test (Bree suspected him of having ahum, consumed things), Bianca breaks of the relationship. Disaster continues and an unexpected dead happens at the party. Bringing up bad memories...

Who is she lying to? She isn't a confident, hot, outgoing, perfectly normal girl. She is a traumatized slightly nerdy, arthistory obsessed young witch with a toddler daughter, but people don't allow her to be that - they want her to be their perfect example of a bimbo.

The only one who she dares to confide in is Bree. Sure, she also sees her as a simple bimbo at first sight; but Bree is cunning and sees through the façade, apologizes quickly upon learning the truth and is above all a good shoulder to cry on. The two grow closer, and feelings start to develop.

The two go back and forth: Bianca has too much pride and Bree is too insecure and afraid of commitment, having not had the easiest childhood and social life herself, and she can't stand Bianca going back to many one night stands the moment she doesn't get all the attention.

(The images below portray Bree getting back from her many lectures and Bianca - who hasn't slept in 3 days - going to yet another party)

But, all confusing feelings aside - they get very close, best friends.

A few days before graduation, Bianca gets a worrying phone call: Conall - still a werewolf in his refusal to take any potion and getting stronger now that he's a child - accidentally hurt her daughter Demi. Jaeda tells her that Alice if furious...

Might a visit to the hospital after the accident have revealed Demi's parentage?

Bianca needs to get home asap.

Part 3

[hawkogurl]

RIP Conall Cernach,,,, you would have Loved the French Revolution

[missmxrcy]

😭❤️✨