#maria watches school spirits

[stonerbughead]

SCHOOL SPIRITS SEASON 2 IS IN PRODUCTION THANK GAWD

[satoshi-mochida]

Corpse Party II: Darkness Distortion launches this fall worldwide for PS4, Switch, and PC

From Gematsu

Corpse Party II: Darkness Distortion will launch for PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC via Steam, GOG, and Humble Store this fall worldwide, publishers XSEED Games, Marvelous Europe, and Marvelous, and developer Team GrisGris announced.

In North America, physical $49.99 standard and $79.99 “Ayame’s Mercy” editions will be available for PlayStation 4 and Switch. The latter includes a copy of Corpse Party II: Darkness Distortion with a reversible cover, a “Save Yourself” LED blue candle styled after the in-game save points, a 64-page artbook filled with behind-the-scenes content, a “Ayame’s Mercy” lenticular art card, an “evidence kit” containing items from the game, and an Amare Est Vivere “Medical Kit” metal outer case. This limited edition will be available shortly for pre-order through the XSEED Games Store and at participating retailers.

Here is an overview of the game, via XSEED Games:

Corpse Party II: Darkness Distortion follows three high school friends; Haruka Nanami, Nemu Takanashi, and Maria Hitsugi, as they explore the Amare Epatoentst Vivere Hospital, testing a local urban legend as the streamer Nemu seeks to boost her subscriber count. Unfortunately for the three girls, the legend of “Ayame’s Mercy” is true, and they trigger a decades-old curse that sends them into a dark realm. Together they must avoid the vengeful spirit of Ayame Kirishima and other horrors from the hospital’s dark past as they search for a way to dispel Ayame’s curse once and for all. The cult-classic Japanese horror franchise returns with new characters, a new setting, a terrifying new curse, and a brand-new look allowing for more thrills and chills! Players can freely explore the fully 3D rendered halls of the Amare Est Vivere Hospital in both third- and, for those brave enough to take a closer look, first-person viewpoints as they try to keep the girls alive. This new perspective complements the series’ visual novel-style storytelling, pairing updated visuals with gruesome descriptions and spine-tingling binaural audio accompanied by the original Japanese voiceovers. Featuring six chapters, with eight additional scenarios and plenty of Wrong Ends for players to discover as they uncover the truth behind “Ayame’s Mercy” and escape with their lives, Corpse Party II: Darkness Distortion is the perfect entry point for new horror buffs while keeping longtime fans on the edge of their seats.

Watch the announcement trailer below. View the first screenshots at the gallery. Visit the official website here: English / Japanese.

Announce Trailer

English

Japanese

Announce Trailer: Ayame's Spell

Live Action Trailer

[anteroom-of-death]

Teacher's Pet part 6

Synopsis: The game is set, and the players are playing. The Doctor and the Reader...what will go on?

A/n: I'm laughing evily. Also, I'm in good spirits, had a phenomenal day. This one is a bit longer. Turns out if you have little responsibility, besides yourself, you can bang out a banger. Also, listen to Maria by Justin Bieber.

You saw the Gmail alert go off on your phone as you changed into a suitable cute outfit and did your first layer of work make up. You were out of luck, there was a new girl in and she was getting the VIP treatment with the largest suite offered. You were moisturizing yourself before you dared to look. You really couldn’t be arsed if it was a personal email on your private account. And you didn’t need the anxiety if it was on your school account. You were angry that you didn’t have enough room to stretch out or put emotional distance between a man and you, if the situation provided required it.

You got yourself perfect, as there were already some cars in the car park. Probably a bit of stress relief before these men went home to their wives and kids. They’d blame traffic. Probably.

You didn’t know or care. Their lives seemed like parallel universes. Hypothetical. Unproven. Just a theory.

You decided to give yourself another dusting of antiperspirant before checking your phone.

It was fucking him…

You opened it,

“Dear (y/n),

It’s a shame that you’re not well. I’ll see you at the same time as last week. Secure the notes from someone.

Cordially yours,

Professor Smith.”

And that’s the name of that tune, you bitterly scoffed. You tossed your phone onto the table you had it rest on with the rest of your needs for work.

Seemed up his alley to wreck your focus! With his stupid face and stupid lust for life!

Plus, being on your phone was not focused on your bag.

Out of sight, out of mind..

You said “Hello” to the security guy again on your way to the bar. A few men were there and you had hours to go before your first appointment. One of the other girls working was talking to two at once. One was in deep discussion with the bartender and the phone girl.

One man was nursing a beer and was watching something on his phone. A target.

Good.

You walked over and put in the work. He was easily satisfied and went back to the bar and nursed another beer before getting up and leaving.

You actually had a good day and napped easily before you went on your second shift. You had plenty of money and dropped a fat, crisp twenty note in front of the homeless person outside the shops.

You bought a pack of cigarettes and smoked one on your way back to the cloister of your “office”. You let out a shaky cough. It had been over a week since your last one, so obviously, the smoke hit your lungs harshly.

Damn that man!

You napped some more before returning to work. Fresh outfit, even more make up. A spritz of perfume to hide the scent of smoke in the hair…

A whole routine.

Friday night was lucrative to the point of pain. You had to tell your manager and booking girl that you were going on a walk and needed a break.

You took your phone, bundled up, and your headphones.

It was after midnight, dangerous, but whatever. Keep to the area.

You had a wonderful time, the few cigarettes you consumed and the Fanta you drank restored you. The music was a good thing.

Suddenly the air felt heavy. And you felt observed. Something on the back of your neck. The hairs. It felt perverse. You paused your music and took out your headphones long enough to hear a weird, distinctive “vwrorrp-vworrp” followed by what sounded like a car wheezing.

Whatever the hell it was-it freaked you out enough to go back in the safety of the car park.

You finished up and went back. Had a quick shower and started preparing for the next chapter of your work shift.

You hated the stupid schedule system, but shifts like this made it all worth it.

Saturday was just a bit slower and Sunday, outside some bookings that were already scheduled was glacial and dry. Bad fishing.

Thank heavens for Thursday and Friday! You thought. You made bank, and had some fun. Always a good thing. And the manager got you all some fancy pizza in celebration of the new girl surviving her first rotation. And her deciding that all this was worth some more time to sell.

The manager really must have taken a shine to her. That never happened.

All in all? Good work. You could rest easy for the rest of the week. And pay off bills. And afford to shop at a fancy health food store instead of probably junk, loaded with shit, that’ll kill you quicker.

Yippee!

You had barely thought of your little distraction all weekend, until Monday.

Your alarm went off. And you remembered you hadn’t responded to him.

“Thanks! Sorry for the late reply! I was busy! I’ll be there!” It was quick, apologetic and mostly-honest.

Him.

You cursed yourself out. The minute he came into focus, you were a bigger mess than you were ever before!

You messaged someone who you knew had probably had the notes from Thursday. No such luck. And your little meeting was looming large.

You’d have to tell him the truth, you fucked up. No notes.

Deciding to revel in the mundane, before leaving, you made yourself a nice cup of mint tea with honey. You sat in a corner wrapped in your blanket and luxuriate in the warmth of the tea and the rest of the blanket pile. You wasted a few minutes on social media. Drowning your brain cells seemed like a good idea. A distraction for you from the returned knot in your stomach and hole in your heart that your stupid crush on Professor Smith had caused. A very welcome one.

After all, you did have couple thousand pound weekend! A freak occurrence! Rare! So why not indulge in some mindless self care?

After a while, you made the smart choice and readied yourself for school and the war zone that being locked in the office with him would be.

The class you had in the morning slipped by with your focus becoming increasingly erratic. You didn’t want to go, but you trudged into the bathroom to psych yourself up. Not out..

Finally stable, you trudged your way to your new Hell. A concept that, up until this semester, was comical to you.

You felt like a clown.

Booboo the Fool.

You had to laugh at yourself. Buy yourself a clown nose and ship yourself off to the circus!

Pathetic!

You knocked raptly. Maybe you’d just go into a manic state or overdrive and the time would fly away and you’d go back to life. And he would potentially be scared of you enough to back off and not encourage any more meetings besides what your schedule permitted…

He welcomed you in, offered to take your jacket and pulled out the chair for you.

“I had my assistant get me some hot chocolate for us.” He gestured over to some disposable cups lodged into one of those cardboard cup holder things.

The fuck was he doing? Had you passed out and entered dream world? Was he tormenting you? Did he know that you were just head over heels for him?

“Thanks…” You said and took it. You off-handedly wished you had those strips that you could test if a drink had been fucked with. Not that you’d accuse him of it. Or rather that you leapt to the conclusion that he was trying to. Life had taught you that free drinks from men sometimes came with consequences.

You reassured yourself that he was still besotted with his dead wife. The total badass.

You envied her. She got what you clearly desired.

You swallowed a sip.

He seemed casual. Had a simple jumper on over his body and a pair of dark jeans. You noticed he wore Doc Martens. Very ageing punk rocker. The jumper hung on his chest quite well. He was skinny, but you could see his chest was sturdy.

“So, did you get your notes?” He smiled, all of his teeth showing. He seemed to know something. There was a bizarre glint in his eye. It was as freaky as it was mesmerizing.

“No, didn’t get a chance. I’m going to the school tutoring soon. I’ll talk to them about it. My fault. The weekend got away from me. I was swamped at work. And then I forgot. I’m sorry.” You blabbered on, deeply apologetic.

You prayed in your mind that if Gd was listening, for him to open a hole up in the planet, swallow you whole, and that you were sorry for that one time you accidentally ate a cheeseburger drunk.

Among other sins…

“Then I have to educate you from scratch. You remember on Tuesday we were talking about the nature of the universe and what it owes us? If it owes us?”

“Yes.” You added a keen head-shake. Remembering how you fled the room and had a mental breakdown.

“What if you put in the work? For years. Centuries even. Battled with the darkness in yourself and others. Saved all you could save. Then what? Would the universe grant you a favor? What would you do to garner that favor?”

You were losing the plot. Clearly.

“What if you were timid and didn’t mean to tread on things? Just survived. Suffered a bit, nothing to write home about, but still enough to Mar your soul? Did what you had to. Would the universe grant you mercy in form of a favor?”

Seemed like this was bordering on less of philosophy and more of theology. Something a small child would pester their rabbi or priest or imam or whatever about. But that was first glance.

Secondary seemed like it was flying too close to the sun.

Self-descriptive much?

God complex?

You slung an arm on your chair and settled back. A game? Is that was he was getting at?

“If the universe owed someone something, that would be antithetical. If you’re bargaining with a God, which is what it seems that you are proposing…Gods usually don’t answer you unless you give them a good offer first.” Your tongue clicked forward, you could feel your eyes making a push forward, widening.

You could play along.

“Are you making an offering to a deity? Dear professor…” You crossed your arms and leaned forward.

You saw something pass over his face. A trillion different micro-calculations. Several amused and several dark looks.

He swallowed.

What was his deal? You mused before trying a new string of words.

“Or are you the God here?” You blasphemed…pursing your lips. Biting the skin under them.

More emotions shot through his painfully attractive face. The lines on his face seemed to glimmer deeper.

He swallowed harder. A singular eyebrow arched up.

Seriously, those things were weapons.

“What if I am?” He breathed out.

“Does that make your students your devotees?” You pushed a bit further…

He slinked over to the chair and leaned forward. Fully turning his eyes unto your soul. “Oh, maybe you’d enjoy that.” He smoothed out his voice, directly into your mind. It seemed to echo into the corners of your skull. Vibrating.

You would enjoy it. Too much.

Your body and mind felt flushed and overheated. The office seemed to get as hot as a midsummer day on the beach.

“So, does the universe get what it’s owed, (y/n)?”

Your breathing quickened and your throat got dry. You reached (well more like flailed…) for your beverage. A big gulp, not breaking eye contact.

“Are you a devotee? To come worship at the altar?” He questioned further. Placing both of those incredible hands at the sides of the chair. Leaning further forward. His cool breath hitting your face. It smelled fresh. Not like good oral hygienic skills, but something foreign and strong. Striking, and a little addictive. You could spend the rest of your life trying to find a word to describe it further, or something to compare the scent to. It’s was…incredible. And maybe edible.

Barely two inches stayed between your noses. If you were a computer, you would have blue screened.

Your were human, and could afford no such luxury, sadly.

The pit of your stomach closed up.

An increasingly rare, but familiar throb coursed through you as warmth accelerated its way through your body. Rocking your core. Your heart was rocketing for the moon. You started to sweat. Literally.

You clenched yourself. Literally squeezed your legs together. To stop yourself from coming undone. From going deeper under this spell he cast on you.

But too late!

Far too late!

You already were becoming quite undone. Wet in more ways than just the sweat now forming on your brow and your back.

You knew what he was getting at. But didn’t want to conceded the victory to him…

Why did he make you buckle?

And more importantly, why did he seem to want you to buckle?

The trap was set, it was elaborate and elegant. He even provided drink and ambiance! How could you be so blind?

Especially you!

A shoe on the other foot…

You felt in a verbal checkmate.

“Maybe.” You choked out finally after a short eternity. Your heart raced faster still, threatening to break through it’s cage.

“Maybe isn’t good enough.” Another breath washed over your face. The gap between your noses closed to barely an inch.

You buckled…

[tenelese]

GirlMia.jpeg

GirlMia.jpeg (or just GirlMia for short) is vengeful and restless soul/spirit of a woman who use to go by the name Maria (or her nickname, Mia, for short). Mia was a new girl in high school and soon ends up meeting Franklin, the two end up dating each other and are soon tormented and bullied by Selene and alot of classmates. It got so bad and toxic that the two end up dropping out of school and sadly going their separate ways but promises to meet each other again someday. The day came and they soon get engage and move away for work purposes, but much to their horror Selene slaughters their families and drugs them before taking them away to her hideout. She is killed in a very brutal manner forcing her lover to watch in horror, however her soul/spirit refuses to pass on and spent her days trying to find ways to communicate to her broken fiance. One day she successfully manages to communicate with Franklin through Selene's laptop and the two come up with plan to not only escape, but to get revenge on Selene for ruining their lives for no reason. So behind Selene's back, Franklin and Maria together creates an fnf mod with a sadisted twist. On the wedding day, Franklin successfully transfer his soul/spirit into the fnf mod with Maria following in behind. There the two wait for Selene to find Franklin's body, diary, and computer because they know that Selene will follow in behind no matter what.

[esimsterlookbook]

High School Reunion - Kelsey

Meet Kelsey, the head cheerleader in high school who took her talents professional and now is looking at becoming a coach for a national cheerleading team. She is ready to come back to her old stomping grounds looking stunning and looking out for her old best friend and ex-girlfriend, Marjorie.

Base Sim Info

Serawis Noir Whisper Face Overlay / Faaeish SD-Eyelids / Pyxis Stuck On You Skintone / Sammi_xox Nose + Lip Masks / Twisted Cat Lara Skin Freckles / Peachyfaerie's Lily Contour / Ok ruee misc face details / Anonimux Moles 04 / Northern Siberia Winds Eyes N19 / Oito Pores / Remus Siron Eyebrows 31 / Twisted Cat Lashes N04  / Obscurus skin 28 Overlay / Praline Sims Cleavage Pack 01

Teen Outfit

Diversed King Shayla Hair / Rose Coffee Sims School Spirit Cheerleader Top / Blue Craving Brandy Skirt / Mysterious Dane Adidas Gazelle / All Harlows Eve Pom Pom Recolor / Praline Sims Malice Piercings / Anonimux Mavuika Eyeliner / GoppoIsMe Gold Makeup Set C75 / Lady Simmer Starpop Shadows / Veve Bisou Highlighter

Young Adult Outfit

Kie Gross Maria Lace Weave / Rimings Spaghetti Strap Maxi Dress / Mermalade Strappy Wide Heels / Simpliciaty Aubrey rings / S-Club WM ts4 bracelet 202006 / Simpliciaty Anya Necklace / Praline Sims Malice Piercings / S-Club Watch 202003 / Northern Siberia Winds Eyeliner N5 / Praline Sims Frappe (N90) Eyeshadow / Seleng Lipstick N149 / Sims3melancholic highlight #9 / Giulietta Sims Rounded Square Medium Glossy Nails

Reunion Outfit

Kie Gross Alanna Bun / Rimings New Gift Box 7 Dress V1 / Giulietta Sims Mutliple Bangles / S-Club WM ts4 bracelet 202006 / Glitterberry Sims Black Heart Earrings / Gorilla x3 Basic Coin Necklace / Northern Siberia Winds Eyeliner N5 / Lady Simmer Creamy Shadows / Praline Sims Blush 78 Mocha / Praline Sims Lip N232 Paradise / Giulietta Sims Rounded Square Medium Glossy Nails 

[weeb-polls-with-pip]

Morally Questionable Anime Milfs Side B Round 1 Match 3

Propaganda:

Echidna -

"(spoilers) Echidna is the Witch of Greed (her Greed of knowledge being the biggest part of that) and around 400 years before the protagonist of the series is relevant to the plot line, Echidna created an artificial spirit named Beatrice (she refers to Echidna as "mother"). At some point after Beatrice's "birth," she's instructed to watch over a room that sits in a separate dimension in a mansion the protagonist goes to that's called the Forbidden Library (it's full of Echidna's book collection).

Beatrice was instructed by Echidna—Mother—to wait and guard the Library from anyone until someone she was simply told was "Them" would come to the Library.

Beatrice waited for 400 years by herself practically for that "Them" to show up and take over.

When the protagonist eventually speaks to Echidna and asks her about Beatrice and who this "Them" is, she admits that she never had anyone in mind and that it was a scientific exparament (more or less) to see what Beatrice would chose eventually do or who she'd hand the Library over to.

Tl;Dr local scientist-witch creates artificial daughter, tells her to wait in a room for someone to come say the magic word and she ends up waiting for more than 400 years because there was never a magic word. Her mom's mentality boils down to "lol I wanted to see what she'd do".

Very morally questionable thing to do to your daughter who you created to never disobey you and a great way to give your adorable daughter CENTURIES of trauma."

Maria -

"Mother who gets revenge on her son's school bullies after they kill him with no remorse. She's equally fucked violence-wise, but she's killing kids who killed her kid, so it's maybe fine? She's like extremely gorgeous so I forgive her."

[themculibrary]

Bucky/M'Baku Masterlist

A Contrast of Flavors (ao3) - lionessvalenti E, 691

Summary: M'Baku reminds Bucky that he's a person.

Attraction Leads to Trouble, Trouble Like You (ao3) - Marv_with_a_v E, 11k (WIP)

Summary: It's taken years, but Bucky is finally starting to feel like himself again. He finally remembers what it's like to actually enjoy himself. And the thing that gives him the most enjoyment is driving M'Baku out of his mind...

A Very Marvel Thanksgiving (ao3) - stececilia scott/sam, tony/stephen, clint/pietro, maria/natasha, bruce/thor, bucky/m'baku, everett/t'challa, carol/maria T, 38k

Summary: Scott Fury and Sam Wilson have been friends since middle school and now as adults room together. When Scott's latest relationship fails, he and Sam decide to go home early for Thanksgiving. Upon arrival they find out that his adopted father, Nick Fury, has another alpha for him to meet. Assuring his son there is no pressure to date again so soon, Scott falls for the alpha much to Scott's siblings dismay. They all love Sam. They all want Sam to be part of the clan, not Steve. They will stop at nothing to let their brother and Sam recognize that they truly belong together.

Do you Realize (ao3) - stececilia sam/scott, bucky/m’baku M, 6k

Summary: Scott returns from Wakanda with some major news that will change the dynamics of the avengers pack.

in cayenne and honey, in vinegar and lime (ao3) - alby_mangroves, Nonymos bucky/m’baku, steve/bucky, m’baku/okoye E, 27k

Summary: M’Baku fought for T’Challa. But should he keep fighting for T’Challa’s vision? The king is professing change, such deep change, while the Jabari are supposed to be the guardians of tradition.

It’s a complex problem, which demands a cool head. So M’Baku could really do without an old love coming back to haunt him, an obnoxious royal teenager, and T’Challa’s secret one-armed guest.

Just as Stubborn and Strong Willed as Ever (ao3) - Marv_with_a_v T, 3k

Summary: When M'Baku is housebound after suffering an injury, Bucky discovers something he should have known all along: the Great Gorilla of the Jabari Tribe is the world's worst patient.

More From Every Moment (ao3) - BurdenedWithPointlessPurpose E, 3k

Summary: Just like all of M’Baku’s other short trips to visit T’Challa, the Alpha stays at his new apartment the night before so they can visit with each other before he leaves once more for Jabari Land. Visiting meaning fucking each other silly every moment they can manage to satisfy them while they are apart. Bucky appreciates every single second, secretly hoping they never come to an end despite how unorthodox their “not a relationship” relationship is.

my spirit swims right to the hook (ao3) - napricot bucky/m’baku E, 20k

Summary: “What’s this one?” asked Oson, poking at one of the kimoyo beads. M’Baku frowned down at it. He didn’t think the princess had offered an explanation of this one, at least, not beyond it offering a connection to the internet. Was this one for Wakanda’s internet, or the rest of the world’s? He toggled it on, and squinted as the unnecessarily bright hologram beamed up, proclaiming it to be Hathor’s List. A little message offered an explanation: let Hathor guide your search for a partner, not your elders’ matchmaking! Find a perfect match, or a night of pleasure!

Oh, that little brat, thought M’Baku.

The Boy is Mine (ao3) - stececilia maria/natasha, bucky/m'baku, everett/t'challa E, 9k

Summary: T'Challa and Everett have been dating in secret ever since the fight for Wakanda with Killmonger. Everett Ross is now stationed in Wakanda as the US-Wakanda Ambassador/Liaison which does help keep their relationship under wraps. Unfortunately, all that will be challenged when T'Challa is invited to join a gala at the White House for all new members of UN.

The challenge? Everett watching T'Challa with Nakia as his plus one when Everett wishes it was him. With the help of Maria Hill and her girlfriend they try and get Everett through the night but of course nothing goes smoothly.

Under the Guise of Friendship (ao3) - Marv_with_a_v T, 2k

Summary: Bucky gives M'Baku a present. Just because.

What did I do? (ao3) - Magicalmanda bucky/sam, bucky/m'baku T, 1k

Summary: Bucky learns new things about the 21st century. Sam and Steve learn about the after-effects of Bucky's torture.

Set in the unshown spaces of canon from civil war to tfatws

What Happens in Wakanda Stays in Wakanda (ao3) - Marv_with_a_v M, 98k

Summary: …or: that time Bucky and M'Baku gave friends with benefits a fair shot and discovered everything they needed in each other.

[andromedas-pearl]

She's a little more of Spider-Man 2004 oc, she has PLENTY of me sprinkled in. But here's Ingrid!!

Ingrid's Backstory 🦋

Dr. Ingrid Mariposa Marshall was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. But raised in Houston, Texas, with her veteran father, Lieutenant Terrence Marshall, and her wealthy, socialite mother Maria.

Ingrid constantly moved around the country since her father was in the military and eventually moved to New York to settle down and give her a stable life. But she was always a Texas girl at heart and retained her Southern accent and mannerisms.

Her parents instilled a sense of perfectionism due to her strict upbringing, and it conflicted with her free spirit and bug-loving nature. Hence, her middle name, Mariposa.

She eventually went on to become a cheerleader in high school and doubled as a ballerina outside of class because of her parents pushing her to be a competitive athlete and social climber. Causing her to have a bit of a mean streak, looking down on others, she perceived as beneath her, especially when it came to nerds.

Deep down, Ingrid's arrogance and ambitious nature gave her a bad case of impostor syndrome despite all her awards and popularity. She always felt guilty for hurting others and she also was insecure about her own body. Her efforts never seemed to appease her parents even decades into adulthood.

She met Otto in her physics class back in the day. Even though she had a shallow appearance and prom queen reputation, she was gifted in biology and had a secret love for insects. But she usually played dumb to fit in with her athlete peers. All other sciences seemed to come easy to her except physics. After failing her physics midterm, her teacher suggested him to tutor her and they became close friends.

She got over her past distaste for him, and Otto realized his former high school bully was a biology genius behind her vain exterior. He was never one for the life sciences, but he loved it when she showed her authentic, albeit nerdy self when no one was watching.

He was drawn to her compassion for insects and the environment.

She doesn't admit it, but he inspired her to become an entomologist and embrace her intelligence as much as her beauty.

Ingrid got back with Osborn in college, becoming known as the "partners in crime," as they partied the first few years of college away. But Otto's interventions and talks with Ingrid in college made her get serious, and she went on to become a biology teacher.

Eventually, becoming Peter's biology teacher. Years passed, and she became a doctor in entomology and got out of the classroom to work at Oscorp (Not like Osborn had any residual feelings, lol).

She became a lead insect geneticist and experimented on bugs to become more intelligent and resilient against humanity. She called it "Project Insectiva," hoping it would be used to keep pollinators like bees and butterflies around New York.

For a while, Ingrid was married to her work and entomology was her first love. But running into another familiar face at Oscorp shifted her focus 💜

[cerinelle-stellarium]

The Quinssential Shoujo Beginner's Guide

General

Aishiteruze Baby

Baby and Me

Chibi Maruko-chan

Claudine

Dennou Coil

The Fox and Little Tanuki

Gakuen Babysitters

Haikara-san ga Tooru

Happy Happy Clover

Kageki Shoujo!!

Laughing Under the Clouds

My Roommate is a Cat

Nana

Natsume's Book of Friends

Not Your Idol (Perfect Blue but shoujo)

Nukoduke!

Paradise Kiss

Psychic Detective Yakumo

Raven of the Inner Palace

Shounen Maid

Spirited Away

Sukeban Deka

Unico (+ the reboot manga; Awakening)

Romance

Ame Nochi Hare

Ao Haru Ride

Beauty Pop

Boys Over Flowers

The Cherry Project

A Condition Called Love

La Corda d'Oro

Dawn of the Arcana

Dengeki Daisy

Dreamin' Sun

Earl and Fairy

Faster Than a Kiss

Hakuoki

Hana-Kimi

Hana no Kishi

Here is Greenwood

Hibi Chouchou

High School Debut

Hiiro no Kakera

His and Her Circumstances

HoukagoXPonytail

I Am Here!

Itazura na Kiss

Kamisama Kiss

Kimi ni Todoke

Kitchen Princess

Lovely Complex

Maria Watchess Over Us

My Happy Marriage

My Love Story!!

Only Yesterday

Orange

Ore-sama Teacher

Otomen

Ouran High School Host Club

Pochamani

QQ Sweeper (and its' sequel Queen's Quality)

Red River (1995)

The Rose of Versailles

Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts

Skip Beat

Snow White With the Red Hair6

Special A

Sugar Apple Fairy Tale

UFO Baby

The Wallflower

Whisper of the Heart

Yona of the Dawn

Yumeiro Patisserie

Introduction to the Magical Girl Genre

Aikatsu franchise

Akazukin Chacha

Artiswitch

Bee and Puppycat (Just be aware that tthe story isn't really up to snuff)

Bishoujo Kamen Poitrine

Corrector Yui (Just be aware that the transformations in the anime are full of fanservice)

Creamy Mami, The Magic Angel (and her fellow 80’s and 90's Studio Pierrot magical girls)

Full Moon

Girls x Heroine franchise

Hime-chan's Ribbon

Himitsu no Akko-chan

Jewelpet franchise

Kaitou Saint Tail

Kiki's Delivery Service

Magic Knight Rayearth

Magical Angel Sweet Mint

Mewkledreamy

Nurse Angel Ririka SOS

Ojamajo Doremi

Phantom Thief Jeanne

Pretty Cure (Just avoid tthe 2 seasons between Splash Star and Fresh plus the 15th anniversary season if you don't want to get jumpscared by p*dophillia showing up in a kids' cartoon)

Pretty Series

Princess Knight

Princess Tutu

Revolutionary Girl Utena

Sailor Moon (Manga and reboot anime series)

Sally the Witch (The capstone of all magical girl media to exist)

Sugar Sugar Rune

Super Pig

Tokyo Mew Mew (Personally rec reading the manga first, then watching New then the first anime)

Tweeny Witches

Ultra Maniac

Umi Monogatari

Urahara

[shoujo-josei-anime-poll]

Tournament Bracket

Hey shoujosei fans, I've just completed the 1v1 match ups. Here is what the upcoming polls will look like for round 1 of voting:

My Love Story With Yamada Kun at Lvl 9999 VS I Love You Baby

Kiss Him, Not Me VS Ore Monogatari

Natsume's Book of Friends VS Monthly Girls Nozaki-kun

Requiem of the Rose King VS Vampire Knight

Given VS Snow White With The Red Hair

Kids on the Slope VS Nana

Princess Tutu VS My Happy Marriage

Amnesia VS Kakuriyo Bed and Breakfast For Spirits

ItaKiss VS Kageki Shoujo

Hakkenden: Eight Dogs of the East VS Paradise Kiss

Nijiro Days VS Hotarubi no Mori e

Peach Girl VS Princess Jellyfish

Loveless VS Pretty Cure

Magical Doremi VS Revolutionary Girl Utena

The Wallflower VS Life Lessons With Uramichi Niisan

Yona of the Dawn VS Blue Spring Ride

07-Ghost VS Karneval

Usagi Drop VS Honey and Clover

Maria Watches Over Us VS Uta no Prince Sama

My Next Life as a Villainess VS Skull Face Bookseller Honda-san

Special A VS Maid Sama

Ghost Hunt VS Gakuen Alice

Love of Kill VS Cardcaptor Sakura

The World is Still Beautiful VS The Yuzuki Family's 4 Sons

Forest of Piano VS Shugo Chara

Fushigi Yuugi VS Boys Over Flowers

3D Kanojo: Real Girl VS Kimi Ni Todoke

The Ice Guy & His Cool Female Colleague VS My Senpai Is Annoying

Whisper of the Heart VS Gakuen Babysitters

Kase-san & Morning Glories VS Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion

A Girl & Her Guard Dog VS Diabolik Lovers

Play It Cool Guys VS First Love Monster

Full Moon VS Anonymous Noise

Banana Fish VS Dear Brother…

Madoka Magica VS Skip Beat!

Lovely Complex VS Earl and Fairy

Wolf Girl & Black Prince VS Sugar Sugar Rune

Sailor Moon VS My Roommate is a Cat

Orange VS Tokyo Mew Mew

Kamisama Kiss VS Ouran High School Host Club

Children of the Whales VS Only Yesterday

Fruits Basket VS Say I Love You

My Little Monster VS Servamp

Rose of Versailles VS Marmalade Boy

Chihayafuru VS Bokura Ga Ita

Sasaki and Miyano VS Sugar Apple Fairy Tale

His and Her Circumstances VS D.N.Angel

Glass Mask VS 7 Seeds

Wotakoi VS Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju

[stonerbughead]

The usage of I Know The End toward the end of the School Spirits pilot is *chefs kiss*

[woosh-floosh]

Oh shoot! It’s the end of the year already!

~ ☆ MY FAVORITE THINGS 2023 ☆ ~

I don’t keep a journal of everything, for lack of a better term, ‘consume’ during the year so there is probably a chance that I might have missed something important. Possible new years resolution idea….

MOVIES

PUSS IN THE BOOTS: THE LAST WISH

An epic little movie about a cat accepting his own mortality.

SPIRITED AWAY

Excluding the fuzzy memories I have of watching Ponyo as a child, I have never watched a Ghibli movie before this year. Maybe I made a mistake watching what is viewed as Studio Ghibli’s magnum opus first. Every Ghibli movie I have watched after had me walking away thinking “this is good, but it’s no Spirited Away!”

PARASITE

It’s as good as everyone says it is, yeah.

ONE CUT OF THE DEAD

The “it gets good after 100 episodes” of movies. Recommending it to someone has the chance of ruining their trust in your taste forever.

THE DIRTIES

I could start a whole academic career focused solely around analyzing this movie.

OPERATION AVALANCHE

Like The Dirties if it was about faking the moon landing instead of planning a school shooting. The less depressing subject matter means more people will be willing to watch with you.

TV SHOWS

HOW TO WITH JOHN WILSON SEASON 3

The most honest depiction of humanity ever caught on film. There is an episode about vintage vacuum cleaner collectors that might make you cry.

NIRVANNA THE BAND THE SHOW

It’s funny.

TASKMASTER UK/NEW ZELAND/MINNESOTA

I <3 TASKMASTER!!!!!!!

GAME CHANGER

What do you do when you’re all caught up on Taskmaster? You watch Game Changer on Dropout.tv.

VIDEOS GAMES

PIZZA TOWER

I <3 PIZZA TOWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TEARS OF THE KINGDOM

Despite some qualms I may have with the story and gameplay, I cannot deny that I logged 160 hours in this game in the span of like, a month.

SPLATOON 3

yeah

MUSIC

THE GO! TEAM - GET UP SEQUENCES PART 2

I don’t know why The Go! Team always releases their music in the dead of winter but it ends up being a wonderful little blip in my memory of an otherwise suffocating season.

FAVORITE TRACK: WHAMMY-O

LOVEJOY - WAKE ME UP WHEN IT’S OVER

Every new EP they sound different but it’s still good and it’s still Lovejoy!

FAVORITE TRACK: IT’S GOLDEN HOUR SOMEWHERE

HAMMER NO MORE THE FINGERS - SILVER ZEBRA

Sometimes when I am sad I remember that I live in the year that Hammer No More the Fingers released a new album after a twelve year hiatus and I am happy again.

FAVORITE TRACK: UNDERWATER PARTY MUSEUM and CRITTERS (TREASURE TIME)

PIZZA TOWER SOUNDTRACK - MR. SAUCEMAN, CLASCYJITTO, AND POST ELVIS

Finally, the spiritual successor to the Sonic CD (JPN/EU) soundtrack we’ve all been waiting for. Please release the halloween tracks for download soon!

FAVORITE TRACK: THERE’S A BONE IN MY SPAGHETTI!

THE WRENS

This band is awusome

PLEASE NOTE: These numbers are incomplete and do not account for the tracks not available on Spotify.

FAVORITE TRACK: YOU COULD NOT POSSIBLY MAKE ME CHOOSE

SINGLE TRACK LIGHTNING ROUND

BLACK BALLOONS - THE RARE OCCASIONS

PURE BLOOD - DAREHARU

BRAND NEW COLONY - THE BETHS AND PICKLE DARLING

SEVEN DAYS A WEEK/AH, MARIA - GODDAMN WOLVES

FROM THE START - GOOD KID

ELECTRICAL FORECAST - INABAKUMORI

25 OR 6 TO 4 - CHICAGO

THOUSANDS OF YEARS - LAST DINOSAURS

DONE DONE DONE - JEFF ROSENSTOCK

PSEUDUMBRA PHAUXTASM - MARCY NABORS AND JAMIE PAIGE

BEWARE THE FOREST’S MUSHROOMS (PIKMIN EDITION) - YOKO SHIMOMURA, SEASLUX, AND CAPRICEFRENATA

MISCELLANEOUS 

STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER - FERN BRADY

I think this was the only book I read this year. It’s crazy to read a book about an upbringing that was very different from mine but still have the feeling deep down that we are made of the same stuff (autism).

MAINTENANCE PHASE

A podcast that will make you view fatness, health, and academic research differently forever. I listened to the whole backlog of episodes while playing minecraft.

Thank you for reading! I hope you have a wonderful new year! 🎉🎆🎇🎉

[aestheticvoyage2023]

Day 201: Thursday July 20, 2023 - "Last Days of School"

William's last week of school for the school year closed out this week with a fun set for Spirit Week. We've been so blessed with his Montessori school experience; its made such a positive impact on all of us. We love watching the facebook group for pictures of our shy boy who likes to hang back, or close to the teachers. He enjoyed wearing his special lucky No Wake Zone Pajojos for Pajama Day, let Mama painstaking bob his hair as a Dino for crazy hair day, and enjoyed the focused activities on Arts and Crafts Day. What a fun way to end the year - he'll now have three full weeks off for Summer. And we have the important job of keeping his learning and playing going and maybe even coming back here for his new class, more fully potty trained.

Song: Ryan Bingham - Where My Wild Things Are

Quote: “We cannot know the consequences of suppressing a child's spontaneity when he is just beginning to be active. We may even suffocate life itself. That humanity which is revealed in all its intellectual splendor during the sweet and tender age of childhood should be respected with a kind of religious veneration. It is like the sun which appears at dawn or a flower just beginning to bloom. Education cannot be effective unless it helps a child to open up himself to life.” ― Maria Montessori

[saintgoths]

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴡᴇɴᴛʏ

CHAPTER TWENTY - NYMPHALID.

WORDS - 2,069.

RATING -G+.

SUMMARY - old people from the past come surprise isabella in jackson, one a face she thought she’d never see again and another she’d never wanted to see once more.

if you want to join a the last of us discord/joel miller discord here you go! 𓆩♡𓆪

Naked and stuffed, gathered against each other, Isabella and Joel had cultivated their romantic sessions in his bedroom, but as captivated and consumed they were of each other, they resumed their caressing sessions, their lips sore in relations to the passionate petting they drove each other with.

“You make me moan so weird,” Isabella giggled while Joel had slipped his strong right arm under her back, pleased of the sex crazed condition he had her in.

“That means I’m doing my job,” he effortlessly teased just as he brought her naked figure closer to his competent chest.

Isabella openly snickered at his confident spirit fore he pulled the woman into one last kiss. “Does Jackson do anything for Christmas?” Isabella inquired the moment they were precisely finished with their tender affair; Joel had pulled himself off the bed and supplied Isabella with her clothes.

“Maria and Tommy usually hold a dinner party for Christmas,” Joel surely replied during the time he put on his attire, Isabella watched his once nude and divested body be capped and masked with fabric.

“Well, that’s exciting,” Isabella admittedly replied, “I cannot wait to start looking for presents for my children.”

Optimistic about her cheerfulness, Joel alerted to gaze at the woman who finished dressing up in her clothing. “Well, one of these days we should leave Jackson and look for presents,” he hospitably suggested, merry and assured of Joel’s proposal, Isabella defined firm to his suggestion.

Greeted by Venus and Robin during the moment she enrolled into her lodge, she closed the door behind her, she pondered to her children of the whereabouts of Ivy and was informed that she was with Ellie and the matriarch had hoped and contemplated of inviting Ellie to dinner one day.

Wordlessly, Isabella had reminded herself that she was yet to inform Venus that she has been taken out of her piano lessons.

“Venus,” she called, the young girl twisted to look at her, inquisitive to what her mother had to say, “a couple of days ago, I had a conversation with Kaylee and now you’ve been taken out of your piano lessons—”

“What?! Why?!” Venus audibly exclaimed confused and dismayed by the objectless information that was passed onto her.

“I’m only doing it for your protection,” Isabella competently contested, “the Lorde family are weird and I don’t want them near you.”

Without a doubt, defeated, Venus hunched and inclined her shoulders in dismay. “Well, where am I going to practice now?” Venus had thought her mother to be right, she could not dispute about the odd qualities the Lorde twins shared.

“How about the school’s piano?” Robin helpfully suggested in attempt to bring her hopes up.

Nevertheless, Venus didn’t seem too happy about his attempt, hushed and reticent, Venus turned her the front of her physique away from the two kin and abruptly hurried to her room so she could sulk solely alone. Convicted and damned, Isabella placed her hand on her hip, remorseful for what she has done. Robin shortly examined his mother’s face and observed the apologetic facial appearance and stepped closer to her with an understanding stance, “I know you did it for her own good.”

“I know but playing the piano was what made Venus happy and I took it from her,” Isabella regretfully pouted, abruptly, Isabella had wished she didn’t become intimate with Adam on account of the dispute between Kaylee and her wouldn’t have happened and Isabella wouldn’t have had to take her youngest out of her passion.

Found at fault, Isabella chased after her daughter in hopes to make her feel better.

“There’s going to be people who will pass by that will also be open to exchange stuff today,” Ellie conveyed with conviction to Ivy who prepared herself for the day.

“I don’t have anything interesting or good enough to exchange right now,” Ivy candidly replied as they inclined themselves to leave Ivy’s lodge.

“Well, I can get something for you,” Ellie attentively suggested as she closed the cabin door behind her.

Ivy turned to look at Ellie with a jocular and witty heartfelt look. “You would do that for me?” She comedically gasped during the moment she pressed her hand against her chest, Ellie lightly scoffed at her playful spirit.

“There’s also new comers moving in, some of the people moving in are our age.”

“Well, I hope we can become friends with them,” Ivy kindly suggested as the distinct physique of Isabella and Joel came into view, Isabella in high spirits to see the two girls, Ivy neared to her mother with Ellie beside her, aloof in the presence of Joel who awkwardly gestured his head towards her as a sign of greeting.

“Ellie, I’m so glad to see you,” Isabella mirthfully greeted, “I want to invite you to dinner,”

Ellie opened her mouth dubious of the invitation, she briskly looked at Ivy who had a pleasant and fervent smile on her face, hopeful for Ellie to come, the auburn-haired girl then looked at Joel who had a small glower, “I’ll be busy today, so you won’t have to worry,” Joel said with a sullen attitude.

Significantly upset about the one-sided exchange Joel and Ellie shared, Isabella kept her churlish thought to herself as she didn’t know of the root of their dull dispute. Ivy and Ellie left the two adults to themselves. Isabella could identify that Joel was still blue and spilled due to his interaction, as Isabella was ignorant of his status and position, all she could do was put a hand on his shoulder and comfort him.

“So, you’re Isabella?”

The Rosalind woman fitted around to view the possessor of the voice, during her alter, Isabella had quite slightly identified the voice, but the profile was far back in her mind, yet, it was the distinct curly air that framed her face and the way she smiled that reminded Isabella of who she was.

“Mariposa?”

Mariposa was just as stunned as Isabella, both women shocked that they would come into contact once again in such a dismal era of time. Isabella was in truth glad to see Mariposa stand before her, she had much to thank Mariposa as without her, Isabella wouldn’t have realised her romantic bond with Alexander was wrong in numerous of ways.

“Are you still with that dickwad Alexander?”

Mariposa must’ve not gotten the news that Alexander had been deceased for a sustained moment, still dazed of Mariposa’s appearance, Isabella hesitated but compelled herself to have the confidence to speak. “No,” she shortly replied astounded how word of Alexander’s death didn’t go back to her after all these years, besides from her stupefied reaction, the woman had recognised the relieved expression Mariposa has expressed once she heard that Isabella wasn’t with Alexander anymore.

“How do you two know each other?”

Joel had noticed the two women were taken by surprise by each other’s arrival and had wondered about the base of their bond hence he had barely known anything about Isabella, he had thought this period was a good time to slowly get to know his lover more.

“Our first interaction was so crazy, I wanted to make moves on Isabella at a party because I hated her boyfriend during the time, just to find out that the girl was seventeen---”

Isabella apprehensively giggled in hopes to change the subject, not ready for Joel to be familiar with her root. “It’s been such a long time Mariposa.”

“Aside from a specific drastic change,” Mariposa presently said, implied about her first and last name change she hoped she would hear the background about, “you barely look different, barely aged, you need to tell me all your secrets.”

“She’s also managed to woo the entire town,” Joel lightly joked which caused Isabella to laugh, timid and flattered by his statement. The three adults uninterrupted, continued to joke around with each other as Mariposa had thrown around hints about their past Isabella shortly avoided, aside from the awkward moments, the three were able to enjoy each other’s presence till Mariposa had to leave and continue travelling by the town, left the pair to dwell and lodge in their former and precedent conversation.

It hadn’t been long since it started to rain in Jackson, Robin had found the light tapping sound relaxing as he etched his pencil on the private piece he had been working on. Nevertheless, shortly, he had been interrupted by a loud handful of knocks against his door, as he hid his piece, he urgently answered the door to find Scarlett, drenched by the rain, with no coat to cover her, her curly hair stuck against her skin and her wet clothes being damp and adhesive onto her body.

She had been crying, it was evident with how red her face looked, along with how swelled she seemed. “I’m sorry if I’m annoying you,” she quickly apologised.

Empathetic and compassionate to her state, Robin had attempted to reassure her only to trigger her into a state of panic, quick to move, Robin had pulled Scarlett into his lodge within a great hug, benevolent and charitable, he allowed Scarlett to cry into his hoody, carefree and inattentive about her tears that doused his upper outfit.

Howbeit, she had allowed the boy to close the door to his cabin, and he had endorsed the blonde girl to speak about her situation the moment the duo had sat down on his bed. Nervous and uneasy, Scarlett had played with the ends of her shirt, volatile and anxious of her current situation.

“My mother’s always been so violent, but today was just worse than usual,” Scarlett uneasily explained, told and interpreted the vicious and enraged episodes her mother would usually have. All the brutal and mad words she would throw at Scarlett and decimate and defile her confidence, Scarlett didn’t understand why she had brought such a negative trait out of her mother, the last time she remembered, Scarlett hadn’t done anything dreadful to her mother, but she always treated Scarlett as if she were her worst enemy.

No matter how much Scarlett would apologise for God knows what she has done to her mother, it would never work on her side.

“Would you like to stay for the night?”

Unsure to Robin’s compassionate suggestion, Scarlett had remained silent, but keen and eager to have Scarlett stay under a safe roof, Robin had pulled a warm and encouraging smile to make Scarlett confident to his approach. “My mum’s making dinner and I would like it if you came.”

Convinced and sanguine on his request, Scarlett had timidly smiled, opened to the dinner invitation. “Of course.”

“If I were stupid, I would have not realised that Mariposa was flirting with you,” Joel and Isabella had moved to the closest bar the moment it had started to pour, the essence and basis of the bar was comfortable and it was barely packed hence people decided to move back into their homes the second they felt rain.

Isabella had smirked at Joel’s keen account which had prompt her teasing mode, “do you have a problem with it?”

Surprised by her question, Joel stood back at her, muddled, “why wouldn’t I?” He had asked, flustered.

“It would make sense if I were your lady, but I’m not, so anyone can come and take me as theirs.”

Evidently, against the idea, Joel knitted his eyebrows, nonplussed and gone. “Well, I wouldn’t allow that to happen because I will take you on a date to claim you as mine next Monday.”

Isabella laughed, entertained by his serious demeanour. “Well, if the date is good enough then maybe I’ll allow myself to be yours.”

“There’s been numerous of times where you had allowed yourself to be mine,” Joel sneakily joked.

“Oh?” Isabella innocently questioned, “like when?” She gingerly tilted her head.

In a faux thinking mode, Joel positioned himself. “Hm, let me think, on your bed, on my bed, on my couch---”

“Izzy!” An apparent and definite voice rang through both of their ears, the voice had interrupted their coarse and obscene conversation, there entered Tora, with that permanent simper he would have on his face that always used to annoy Isabella, his eyes traced over the woman ere it etched over the man who stood confused next to Isabella, “and you must be Joel.”

thank you so much for the support!

if you want to join a the last of us discord/joel miller discord here you go! 𓆩♡𓆪

masterlist

♆

[jadelotusflower]

Obscure Christmas Movie Rewatch: Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

This was my absolute favourite Christmas movie when I was a kid (behind Muppet's Christmas Carol), and it is so veiled in nostalgia I'm not sure I can be objective (or snark too much), but here we go.

Purporting to tell the story behind the 1897 Editorial Is There a Santa Claus? by Francis Pharcellus Chruch, the events and characters have been heavily fictionalised (as the text and v/o at the end helpfully reminds us). I'm therefore going to do some fact checking as to historical accuracy, but only out of interest, and certainly not intended as a criticism. I genuinely love this movie!

We open with Francis P Church (the late great Charles Bronson) in a cemetery, brushing the snow off the grave of his wife Elizabeth and baby Eleanor who died a year earlier. He opens up a gold watch with her picture inside, and it plays a gentle tune. He then takes out a bottle of whiskey, but turns away from the grave before he takes a swig.

In real life Church was indeed married to Elizabeth Wickham, but they had no children and I can't find any information about when she died (Francis passed in 1906). However in terms of framing a character, this is pretty effective.

We see The Sun newspaper being delivered, giving us the date of 17 December 1897.

Then we're at the docks, where James O'Hanlan (Richard Thomas) and Dominic Donelli (Massimo Bonetti) are fired after getting into a fight with another worker who levies several ethnic slurs and anti-immigrant rhetoric at them. Thomas was apparently one of the Walton kids (which I've never seen), and is one of those working actors who has seemingly been in every procedural known to man - he was also in The Americans and Ozark (but I haven't seen those either).

Their eight year old daughters Virginia (Katherine Isabelle) and Maria (Virginia Bagnata) meanwhile, are being mocked by her classmates for believing in Santa Claus. Look, the child performances in this movie are...what you would expect. But I'm not here to criticise kids, they do their best.

James can't find another job, reduced to reading The Sun a day late once it's put out in the trash, and the family is struggling. His wife Evie (Tasmin Kelsey, who I remember as Gairwyn from Stargate SG-1) is an optimist and tells him to keep up his spirits. James: "The trouble is there's too much damn spirit and not enough damn jobs."

In actuality, Philip O'Hanlan was a surgeon and coroner and they were a middle class family who lived on the Upper West Side. Virginia went on to achieve a doctorate in childhood education and was a teacher for over 40 years - her childhood home is now a school.

Frank stumbles into the offices of The Sun to pick up another bottle of whiskey from his desk, and then to the local bar to brood. Local pompous aristocratic jerk Cornelius Barrington (John Novak - who has apparently been in every Canadian-filmed production ever, including Smallville and Stargate) arrives to goad Frank about his affinity for those filthy poors. In doing so, he makes Frank sound legitimately badass: "The great egalitarian editorializer, friend and champion of the common man, would-be slayer of the capitalist dragons!"

The newsroom is populated by editor Edward Page Mitchell (the late great Ed Asner), copyboy Teddy (Shawn Macdonald), and sole female reporter Andrea Borland (Colleen Winton - apparently she was also in two episodes of Stargate but I can't place her). She's ambitious and frustrated that Mitchell will only let her report on society matters. Not gonna lie, there's a whiff of Perry White, Lois Lane, and Jimmy Olsen about them (or maybe it's just that I rewatched the 1978 Superman recently). There's a bit of snappy dialogue:

Andrea: Did you like my society piece on the Vanderbilt ball?

Mitchell: I printed it, didn't I?

Andrea: Well...half of it

Mitchell: That was the half I liked.

Andrea heads to the bar and hesitates only for a moment at the "men only" sign before going in to find Frank and try and retrieve the article Mitchell was looking for - "The Shame of Greatness".

Frank hands her a page of a few ideas and a lot of gibberish, while Corenlius watches literally eating popcorn. There's just a big bowl of popcorn sitting out in this men's bar and grill!

If gifs were a thing in the 90's this would have been a meme.

Andrea rewrites the article and gives it to Mitchell in Frank's name. It's a great success, with Teddy walking around reciting lines and calling it "a real humdinger!" Frank confronts Andrea, and she confides in him that it was his lecture at her university that inspired her to keep going when she was only one of three women in the class (and the other two ended up getting married).

We get the dramatic irony in Frank's refusal to be impressed: "Tomorrow it will be yesterday's newspaper, and you can wrap a fish in it. Nothing that you, or I, or anybody else writes for a newspaper has a lifespan of more than 24 hours."

Cornelius approaches Andrea and offers her a job to work at his uncle's paper The Chronicle in order to expose Frank as a fraud (in real life Church actually once worked at The Chronicle, which was published by his father). But as a woman of principle she coldly rejects him, and honestly, I love her. Frank has been nothing but dismissive and patronising towards her, so it's clear it's not solely about protecting him (and perhaps the ideal she had of him) but more about who she is and what she believes. Underrated character in an underrated movie.

James foils a robbery, and the police arrive with accents of the diddly dee potatoes variety. When he arrives home he's greeted by his Jewish neighbor Mrs Goldstein. It's interesting that this is a very similar setting to Mrs Santa Claus - New York at the turn of the century and has some thematic similarities - the immigrant experience and the importance of community in particular.

James reads aloud The Shame of Greatness article to the family:

"We have become a great nation, but at what cost? Ask the red man, the black man, the immigrant, the elderly, the ill. We have built a railroad across the 45 states and bridges across rivers but there is no bridge of brotherhood. Why? Because there is no profit in that bridge. Ask the captains of industry, ask the robber barons, ask the politicians about that bridge."

Unfortunate racial wording aside, it's a sentiment that wouldn't be out of place now, 31 years after this film was made, and 125 years after the film is set. I like a little activism in my Christmas movies.

It's also worth noting that most of the above passage were parts written by Frank, so Andrea's suggestion that they were his ideas is given credence - we don't know what the rest of the article went on to say but it's implied Andrea is a great writer able to match Frank's voice.

James speaks to the frustration of America not being the promised land: "It's hard to believe that fifty years ago our people came to this country because they were starving in Ireland. Potato famine indeed! High rents ha! It's no different over here."

As a child watching this movie was the first time I'd heard of the potato famine, and it's only this rewatch I noticed that Virginia is reading a book about Oliver Cromwell! Yikes. I don't know if that was deliberate, but certainly an interesting touch.

Evie however, takes the other side of the argument, telling James to stop feeling sorry for himself, and to be grateful for what they have - family, a place to live, and food (and God - this is certainly the most religious movie of this rewatch). Evie: "You can be poor if you want to James O'Hanlon, but I'm rich. And I grow richer every day of my life."

Virginia asks her father if Santa Claus is real, and he is the envy of every parent in quickly thinking to deflect and encourage her to write to The Sun for an answer instead.

Frank is back at the bar, where Cornelius goads him about Andrea, implying there are other things she is taking care of for him. Finally Frank is moved to respond, and when Cornelius warns him that he was "Captain of the Yale boxing team" Frank punches him square in the face, knocking him to the floor.

"I've done some fighting myself, Captain," Frank says, "around Hell's Kitchen." When I was a kid I didn't realise this referred to a gritty part of New York and thought it was a metaphor and an allusion to his roving reporter life - I think it works either way.

At the postbox, Virginia is gifted a stamp by the kindly German postman Hans Schuller, in another example of this community of immigrants helping each other through the hard times.

At The Sun, Frank looks at his wife's picture in the watch, and Teddy remarks that one day he'll have a watch like that ("a real himdinger!" - an annoying catchphrase, but it's meant to be annoying). Frank takes the picture out and puts the watch in an envelope with Teddy's name on it, then goes home where he turns off the fire but leaves the gas on, in the grand tradition of family Christmas movies including attempted suicide!

I admit this went right over my head when I first watched this as a kid, I think subtle enough not to be too dark for younger viewers. There's also a nice bit of production design comparing Frank's warm and furnished apartment with the O'Hanlan's grey and bare abode.

Mitchell arrives to give Frank the assignment of answering Virginia's letter, and we get to the core of Frank's depression - that he was a man who lived for his work, never even spending one Christmas dinner with his wife because he was away on assignment, and the irony that he was in Panama writing about yellow fever while she was dying of pneumonia - guilt and longing and regret. It's pretty complex stuff for a family film, and something I never really appreciated until I was older.

Now, it's certainly wholesale fiction - Francis Church married Elizabeth in 1871, so not merely married for "more than three years" as in the film. In fact, her birthdate on the grave is 1860, which puts a bit of a different spin on things with Frank significantly older rather than being her contemporary as in real life. This is alluded to in their conversation as Frank says he took many more years than most men to find a wife, adding to his guilt for not being there for her and appreciating what he had.

There's also nothing I could find that indicated he was an alcoholic - allegedly he was an atheist and hated writing the famous editorial.

But Ed Asner and Charles Bronson are both great actors, and play so well off each other. I do give credit for this scene not being too overwritten - if you actually pay attention to the grave at the beginning you see that Elizabeth and Eleanor died on 24 December the previous year - which is on the nose, but it remains subtext rather than Frank giving exposition of the "They died on Christmas and that's why I hate it!" variety.

The next day at the paper we get a cameo from screenwriter Andrew J Fenady as the reporter who tells Mitchell things are "heating up" in Cuba, referring to the Cuban War of Independence and a precursor to the Spanish-America War. I do enjoy these small historical touches.

Meanwhile, James and Dominic find jobs for the day but have another run in with the dock workers and get to thoroughly beat them up in a nice bit of karma. There's really no point to this scene other than to see the bigots get punched, but hey, I'm here for that, and it also keeps James' story parallel to Frank's.

Frank wanders around the city and is inspired by what he sees - the poor being fed by a soup kitchen, a policeman helping an elderly homeless man, people donating to toy drives, and a scene in a park complete with brass band, sleigh rides, ice skating, and general seasonal joy. He finds a baby's rattle that inspires part of the editorial, and sees a young couple with their child, sending him back to visit his wife's grave. He buys flowers but decides to throw them away rather than placing them on the grave - along with his bottle of whiskey.

I actually think this is a great example of show-not-tell writing - a lesser piece would have had Frank talk to his wife at her grave, saying how sorry he was he never appreciated her enough when she was alive, asking how he was going to answer Virginia's question when he himself doesn't believe in anything anymore, and then make a breakthrough. But not a word is uttered - we have Bronson's performance, we see him start to experience life again and decide to stop wallowing in his grief and return to his passion for writing. It's actually very deftly done.

Mrs Goldstein appears again to give the O'Hanlan's some brisket because she "made too much." It's very sweet but James gets in his feelings about it because he's not the one providing for his family.

The police arrive to take James down to the station for questioning about the robbery, and while he's gone Virginia uses a penny she found on the street earlier to buy a paper - wanting to give her father the gift of The Sun on the day it's printed rather than the next.

Back at the paper, Frank puts his wife's picture back in his gold watch, and instead gives Teddy another: "it's not gold, and it doesn't play a tune, but it was my first watch and it helped me start the day for many years." He also tells Mitchell he will come to Christmas dinner after all, and Andrea asks him to follow her somewhere, repeating his earlier words back to him: "there has to be a finish to every story."

James arrives back at home with a tree and laden with gifts, including a pet kitten (that he befriended earlier on). Turns out he was given a reward for his part in the robbery, and that both he and Dominic were offered jobs on the police force. Something could be said about James and Dominic becoming cops on the basis of punching people really well, but perhaps this isn’t the place for it.

Virginia gives her father the paper, and of course sees the editorial and reads it aloud, as all our friends arrive, including Andrea and Frank. It's actually a rather moving scene, the community that has supported each other, and who all played a part in the letter being written, delivered, and finally answered.

I honestly think this movie holds up despite the nostalgia goggles - there is some cringe, but through fictionalising the story behind the editorial, it becomes it's own metaphor - the weaving together of these disparate lives and their various struggles, united by hope and faith. Bronson gives a great performance that really grounds the film (and the part must have been particularly resonant for him, as his wife Jill Ireland had died the year before the film was made). I really recommend this movie, and think it's a shame that it isn't as enduring or well known as the original editorial.

"Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. 

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. 

Not believe In Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world. 

You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. 

No Santa Claus! Thank God he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood."

[tfblovesmusic]

The Classical Side of the Mournful Morning

As tower and fortress fall, we watch with disbelieving stare and numbly hear the anguished cries that pierce the ash-filled air. Carl Daw

It is said that if all words fail, music speaks, and nothing expresses the emotions felt during and after September 11, 2001, known to me as The Mournful Morning.

Hence this Spotify playlist I crafted.

The playlist commences with an excerpt from Michael Gordon's piece from The Sad Park, written for string quartet and electronics. While Gordon personally saw the plane hit the South Tower of the former Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, millions more heard about what he witnessed via news reports or - in my case as a 6th grader - principals who relayed the news on their school intercoms.

While I was at school, my DPs and DGPs were in the waiting room of the chemo clinic. They thought the news footage of the attacks was a made-for-TV disaster film, but they realized that it was tragically anything but. They found out after my late DGF's chemo session that the Twin Towers were no more.

Taken by my DF, 1/1997.

Then, it segues into Mrs M. E. Her Funeral Tears for the Death of her Husband. This short 17th century song cycle by John Danyel evokes the disbelief and sorrow of the wives whose husbands on the planes that struck the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and a rural field in PA phoned their last words to them mid-air on their cell or GTE Airfones. The lyrics evoke the emotions the widows-to-be felt on the receiving end of those phone conversations, then on terra firma.

For great effect, I used three separate countertenors for each track of the cycle: Iestyn Davies and Michael and Alexander Chance, in that order.

Leopold Stokowski's arrangement of JS Bach's adagio from BWV 564 evokes the passengers on Flight 93 raiding the cockpit in which the hijackers steered the plane en route to the US Capitol or the White House. They succeeded in thwarting their plans, but not without crashing in the said field in PA, killing all onboard.

Taken 6/1/2019.

The arrangement segues into the alto aria of Cantata BWV 198, sung by Charles Brett. It honors the female first responders who died at Ground Zero in NYC as well as the female flight attendants (especially Betty Ong, who served passengers on AA Flight 11 and notified the AA reservations center of the hijacking) and passengers who helped thwart hijackers' plans to crash UA Flight 93 into the Capitol or the White House. Fittingly, the lyrics are translated as:

How contentedly the heroine died! How courageously her spirit struggled As death's arm overcame her, Before he conquered her breast.

And we are talking about several heroines here.

Moving onto the Classical Era, the final movement of the WA Mozart Requiem and the dirge from the Ludwig Van Beethoven Eroica Symphony honor the friar and first victim of the WTC attacks, Mychal Judge. Barbara Bonney's rendition of Franz Schubert's Ave Maria - per the German text - evokes the thoughts of the women trapped in the rubble of the former Twin Towers, struggling to live.

For those who didn't make it, the English translation of one movement of Johannes Brahms's German Requiem (upon which Barbara Buehlman masterfully arranged it for concert band), the funeral march from Frederic Chopin's second piano sonata, Edward Elgar's "Nimrod" from Enigma Variations make fitting tributes to them.

Remo Giazotto's Adagio in G minor, based on a lost manuscript of one of Tomaso Albinoni's church sonatas, makes one imagine a slew of church services that immediately followed after the attacks. Samuel Barber's Agnus Dei (performed by VOCES8) and Vladimir Vavilov's Ave Maria (sung by Libera) evoke Catholics' prayers through the intercession of the Virgin Mary in that time of of great death and anxiety as well as the happy repose of the souls.

Taken 6/1/2019.

As the playlist nears its end, mourning continues to morph into hope through Eric Ewazen's concert band work, A Hymn for the Lost and the Living. More rays of hope shine as it segues on to Howard Goodall’s choral anthem, Spared. Reeling from both his NJ friend Brian Aschinger’s death by cancer in August 2001 and the horrific sights he saw in Manhattan while en route to film a segment of his documentary, Great Dates, that next month, he wrote it in memory of the victims.

Taken 6/1/2019.

John Rutter's The Lord Bless You and Keep You has listeners evoke the 1-year-anniversary memorial services and Masses being held, resolve strengthened and victims remembered. Charles Ives's Variations on America represent the increased patriotism after that dark chapter in US history. Finally, Richard Goldman’s and Robert Leist's concert band arrangement of the Gravement from Bach's Fantasia in G Major, BWV 572, reinforces the strengthened sense of patriotism, all the while representing the ascension of innocent souls who entered eternal rest on that tragic day.

It's best to listen with a Spotify Premium account. If you have the free one, take the time to mute after each track in case an ad pops up, just to preserve the solemnity of this playlist.

May all the souls who perished on this day in 2001 rest in peace.

Taken 6/1/2019.