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sheadre · 4 years ago

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When Stars Collide (Jackson Wang x Reader) Part 1/2

Summary: Your girlband was disbanded but your dream of singing and dancing was too important to you to just give up after that. However, another company sees potential in you and signs you as their solo artist. One day, during recording your new song, a familiar face shows up.

Warnings: none, maybe a little bit of angst but totally fluffy especially at the end

Word count: 2816

That morning, you got up happily, finally you managed to sleep more than four hours now that the shooting of the new drama finished. You finally debuted as an actress however, you weren’t sure if that was a calling for you. The company made you audition for the role out of financial interests. Then you got a call from your manager telling you to go to the company for a meeting with the CEO.

It didn’t sound good with how your manager’s voice was nervous and shaking through the phone. Your girl-band, N3XUS debuted five years ago and you were the only one left who haven’t turned to acting and other options. You were always passionate about music and to be inspiration for others. You weren’t really appreciated in your group and the girls left you out from their group chat. When you arrived at the company, you spotted Lola, the only other foreigner girl in the band. She arrived from Japan and was spending most of her time there after debuting at her home as a solo artist. She was the only one who you were on friendly terms.

So when the CEO told everyone about his decision and slid the paper towards everyone which ended all of your contracts with the company, Lola was the only one who tried to comfort you a little bit before she had to catch her flight back to Japan. You weren’t really shocked to see the band reach an end. It was long due with how everyone only cared about themselves and their money. The other girls were only here for the shine and money while you assigned to be a trainee for the music. Dak-Ho, the manager pulled you to the side on the corridor after you left the meeting room, his expression showing how bad he felt for you to end up in this situation.

“(Name)… it will be hard but you were always more talented than any of the others” he sighed heavily. “So I decided to try at a few places and call a few people. Give a call to Ha-Neul, she’s a manager at XxxxxX Entertainment. I hope that she can help you in the future.”

With that, he said his goodbyes and left. You sighed and decided to return home, there was nothing much you could do at the moment. You stood in your kitchen, your phone on the counter and stared at it while gripping the edge of the counter top.

“You can do this…” you whispered to yourself. Your heart was beating so fast in your chest and chills ran down your spine. What should you say? ‘Hi, I’m (Name) from N3XUS and our company decided to fire us. Can I go over to your company and be your idol?’

“Arghhh!” you groaned and bumped your head against the counter. Your phone then started buzzing making you jump and shriek in surprise. Rolling your eyes at yourself you picked it up.

“(Name)? Are you there?” your mom spoke up making you jump again. You weren’t sure how you would tell her that you lost this time. She sacrificed so much just so you can chase after your dreams. It was especially hard after your dad died but she pushed on and earned the money to let you attend dance classes.

“Yeah, yeah…” you sighed. “How are you?”

“I’m okay but I really miss you” she replied making you smile. “When you can, please come home, sweetie.”

“I’ll try though I have this new project but I will try to take time off as soon as possible” you said with tears in your eyes. You couldn’t tell her. She deserved better from you, you needed to succeed after how much she gave up for you. You had to fight.

“Oh, sweetie, I understand but once you can come home I will make sure to make your favorite” your mom replied and you could hear the sadness in her voice. You made sure to tell her you loved her before you hung up and stared at your phone’s screen. Your lips pulled into a smile and your heart seemed to calm down as you tapped on the number of the manager Dak-Ho gave you.

Time skip ~

You sat on the corridor waiting for Ha-Neul with the news after your audition. You forgot how stressful an audition was but here you were trying all over again. You were used to your old company treating you badly, always choosing you only because they deemed your performance “okay” and because they had no one else who was good. Your heard the door open and close but you didn’t dare look up until Ha-Neul reached you.

“To be honest, the boss was quite surprised that you came here even if you already debuted a while ago” she sighed while she sat down next to you. She had a shoulder length cut hairstyle and a heart shaped face. Ha-Neul was about ten years older than you and had this kind mom vibe. “He was satisfied with your performance and would like to welcome you at the company as a solo artist…”

Your eyes widened in shock and a large grin broke out on your face splitting it in two. Then Ha-Neul put her hand up, her face staying serious as she looked you in the eyes.

“However, he has his conditions, (Name)… The company spent all the money on the newly debuted boyband and so we cannot afford to send you right away on stage. He said that he would have an easier job if you worked on a full album with your own songs so once you debut we can start selling your albums right away. You have about three months until everything will be arranged and you will be working with Sue.” Ha-Neul said calmly before she looked behind you and motioned for someone to come over to her.

“Hi, nice to meet you, I’m Sue, I will be your assistant” a girl around your age approached you with a shy smile on her face. You got up from your seat and grabbed her hand before bowing.

“Nice to meet you, Sue. I’m (Name).” you grinned at her. “Please take care of me.”

“I’ll let you talk things out” Ha-Neul smiled at you both before she left.

“I’ll show you around and introduce you to everyone, alright?” Sue spoke up again and you nodded before following her to the elevator.

However, the media quickly learnt about N3XUS’ end. You found yourself trying to avoid paparazzi while you tried your best to produce new songs. Fortunately, during your years as a member of N3XUS you quietly composed songs in the background and you had a lot to choose from. They needed adjustments and instrumentation but you were confident about them.

Sue was a fantastic help and she managed a lot of things on her own. Days passed by and you were still stuck with one last song you needed on the album. None of the songs you wrote and haven’t yet made their way on the album were good enough but you had only one week till your debut. You were singing the refrain in the recording room still thinking about what was missing but then you reached the part where you always got stuck and groaned disappointed.

“Why did you stop?” someone asked from behind the controls making you jump with a shriek.

After calming down, you looked up and tried to not blush seeing who the intruder was. Jackson Wang was looking back at you with a friendly smile while waving at you. He wore a yellow beanie and some comfy baggy T-shirt with sweatpants. You always had a crush on him and really hoped that you would meet him after you debuted with N3XUS. You quickly hurried out and greeted him.

“Nice to meet you too” he replied as he shook your hand, then he pointed at the microphone. “So? Why did you stop? It sounded great.”

“I… I think the song is missing something” you shrugged. “I just don’t really know what that is.”

“Can I see the lyrics?” Jackson asked pointing at the papers in your hand. You quickly gave it to him and pursed your lips in anticipation and nervousness. Jackson was a talented “veteran” in the field compared to you and his songs were all so good. To say you were shy was an understatement. You watched his handsome features for any indication of his opinions then Jackson’s lips pulled up into a half-smile and averted his gaze. “Please don’t stare at me like that.”

Your eyes widened at that but somehow your eyes were glued to his person. Was he being shy? What…? You forced yourself to look away from him by going to your bag and taking out your water bottle. Drinking some cool water helped you calm down a bit. When you turned back, Jackson was already sitting by the controls, pushing and pulling the small buttons as he started playing the song. Your song.

You watched him getting into the song, bobbing his head up and down and his left foot tapping the floor. Never in a million years would’ve you imagined to be in the same room as him. Then he started rapping right where you always got stuck and felt like there was missing something. Though Jackson got stuck too and leaned back in the chair while crossing his arms in front of his chest.

“A rap part would fit here quite well…” he mumbled then turned to you. “You know… I need a song on my new album and I was about to record something today but… it would be great to collab. What do you think?”

“That sounds great” you nodded with a bright smile. “Do you want me to leave the studio to you? I can come back later to finish my other two songs.”

“No, no, we could work on this one” Jackson jumped up abruptly his hands shooting out from his sides like he wanted to grab you so he could stop you from leaving. Then he quickly put his arms down with a sheepish smile and rubbed the back of his neck. “I was hoping that I could put your song on my album too if we collab… and maybe get something to eat later?”

You blinked surprised but nodded while chuckling. By the time you finished the song, you felt exhausted and wanted to sleep for the next two days. Getting to know each other better and making friends relieved the tension from you and maybe from Jackson too. You had no idea why he at certain moments seemed like he was shy around you. You remembered how big of a scandal it was a few years ago when his fiancée, the heiress of some large company cheated on him with an American rich guy who was the heir of some IT company. Jackson learnt about it from the magazines and the paparazzi who asked him about it. For months, he disappeared from any TV shows and only released music. You remembered how much in love he seemed to be back then.

You couldn’t understand why would someone cheat on this man, like he was almost perfect. He was funny and kind, had a large heart and cared about others around him much. Maybe that woman left him because she felt undeserving of him. You’ve heard about that feeling from other women and even some love songs were about that reason for cheating. You sipped on your green tea that was cooled by the many ice cubes you asked for at the little shop across the building. Jackson was an absolute gentleman, pulling out your seat for you and taking off your jacket for you when you arrived. The people in the shop seemed to be chill about Jackson’s presence which let you feel a little relieved.

“So, tell me something about you” you spoke up between two bites of your meal. He kept asking about you in the studio but he revealed little about himself. “I’m curious what the great Jackson Wang is doing after becoming world famous.”

You winked at him and laughed at his ‘deer-in-the-headlights’ look. He was a CEO at the age of twenty-eight it was pretty impressive, but he seemed like he didn’t care about it at all.

“That is a little bit exaggerated, I might have some international fans but K-pop and C-pop is not that known to people outside of Eastern Asia.” he shook his head after swallowing his bite. “Well… what do you want to know? Other than the fact that I’m fabulous and a great person.”

“And the humblest of them all” you poked his shoulder while laughing. It was a long time since you had something so laid back, something so nice like this. Ever since you entered the entertainment industry it felt lonely as hell. You hummed then. “Maybe tell me about your family. I saw an interview piece a long time ago where you were gushing about you mom. She must be really proud of you.”

“Yeah… she’s the best” he said with a fond expression on his face making you smile warmly at him. Jackson was easy to talk to and was really funny. You loved to listen to him talk and before you realized, it was quite late in the studio. So late that there was no bus you could catch to go home.

“Ah… How am I gonna get home?” you groaned when you looked up at the clock. “I’m afraid to call an Uber…”

“I can take you home” Jackson shrugged. “I have my car in the parking lot.”

“I wouldn’t want to impose” you shook your head to which he just rolled his eyes and grabbed your bag for you along with your hand pulling you towards the elevator. In the elevator, he kept holding your hand without realizing it and only let go when he took his car keys out of his pocket. His car was shiny and cool but wasn’t the most expensive one out there.

“I thought you owned the newest Porsche or Lamborgini…” you frowned confused once you were sitting inside making him laugh.

“Some people choose by the efficiency not by the look” Jackson replied. “Besides, I prefer this brand. Never let me down before.”

“It makes sense” you nodded. You quickly gave him your address and he pulled out of the parking lot. You leaned against the window and closed your eyes. His car smelled so good, clean and fresh… just like Jackson. Before you could really fall asleep, you arrived to your apartment complex. You yawned tiredly as you grabbed your bag meanwhile feeling Jackson’s eyes follow your every movement. Your hand was on the lock when you turned back and leaned over to him, kissing his cheek before whispering a ‘thank you’ to him. You left quietly and waved back from door with a bright smile.

Time skip ~

After your debut, the company wanted the two of you to make a videoclip from your collab. Quickly after that you were asked to perform it on stage in the new Idol Producer TV show. The two of you kept in touch through texts and funny Instagram posts which the internet quickly grew fond of and many people started shipping the two of you. The hype was big and when you appeared in the live stage of Idol Producer, people were screaming so loud you barely heard the music.

Then things quickly turned sour. Magazines released photos of Jackson hugging and cozying up with some Chinese actress in Shanghai. You had no idea how you should react or if you are supposed to react. Jackson had his life, he was a free man, he was free to date whoever he wanted to. Netizens though had a different idea. Many people turned against him and the actress, but Jackson was quickly forgiven by them a while later. Sue tried to make you watch the live stream he spoke about the issue but you refused to and kept on working hard.

Life a solo artist was everything you hoped for. You were free to do whatever music you wanted and the company only asked you to keep the dating down especially after the scandal you got dragged into. Jackson in the meantime kept messaging you even called you a few times but you never replied. You had to close him out of your life before you got dragged into the whole thing more. Your career was the first. Or at least that’s what you told yourself.

You felt stupid for hoping for something more. You never stood a chance against a shiny, super model looking actress like that Chinese woman.

To be continued…

#jackson wang #王嘉尔 #jackson x reader #jackson wang x reader #reader-insert #romance #fluff #falling in love #idol #fanfiction

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timeless-hollywood-classics · 4 years ago

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June Haver (born June Stovenour, June 10, 1926 – July 4, 2005) was an American film actress, singer, and dancer. Once groomed by 20th Century Fox to be "the next Betty Grable", Haver appeared in a string of musicals, but she never achieved Grable's popularity. Haver's second husband was the actor Fred MacMurray, whom she married after she retired from show business.

Born June Stovenour, June Haver was born in Rock Island, Illinois. She later took the last name of her stepfather Bert Haver. After the family moved to Ohio, seven-year-old Haver entered and won a contest of the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. At age 10, she moved back to Rock Island, where she began performing for Rudy Vallée. Her mother being an actress and her father being a musician, Haver often doubted who she (careerwise) wanted to follow. At age eight, she won a film test by imitating famous actresses including Greta Garbo, Katharine Hepburn, and Helen Hayes. Haver's mother, however, prohibited her daughter from becoming a child actress in the film industry, feeling she was too young.

Working regularly as a band singer by her teens, she performed with the Ted Fio Rito Orchestra for $75 a week. Other bandleaders for whom she worked were Dick Jurgens and Freddy Martin. Furthermore, she became a well-known child star on the radio.

In the summer of 1942, Haver moved to Hollywood, where she finished high school. She acted in plays in her spare time, and during a performance as a southern belle, she was discovered by a scout from 20th Century Fox. In 1943, Haver signed a $3,500-a-week contract with the studio and made her film debut playing an uncredited role as a hat-check girl in The Gang's All Here. She was dropped shortly after, because the studio executives felt that she looked too young, but was later resigned, after her costume and hairstyle were changed.

20th Century Fox had plans to mold Haver as a glamour girl stand-in for the studio's two biggest stars, Alice Faye and Betty Grable. She debuted on screen in a supporting role as Cri-Cri in Home in Indiana (1944). According to the actress, she had just turned 17 years old when her scenes were filmed. Even before Home in Indiana was released, she was assigned to replace Alice Faye in the Technicolor-musical, Irish Eyes Are Smiling. Later that year, she co-starred with her future husband, Fred MacMurray, in Where Do We Go From Here?, which was the only time the pair appeared together in a film.

During her career at Fox, Haver was originally groomed to be the next Betty Grable (standing a diminutive 5'2", 1.57 metres, she was known as "Pocket Grable"). She even co-starred with Grable in the 1945 film, The Dolly Sisters, for which she had to put on weight. While filming, rumors about a possible clash between the two actresses arose, mostly because of their frequent comparison, but Haver refuted this with: "Betty is a big star and I'm just starting. I try to be nice to her, and she reciprocated by being just as nice to me. It's silly to think two girls can't work together without quarreling. You see, I've two sisters. I'm the ham between the bread and butter — the middle sister — and I understand girls pretty well. Betty likes to talk about her baby, so we talk about her baby."

In 1946, she starred and received first-billing in Wake Up and Dream and Three Little Girls in Blue, both of which were well received and brought moderate success. The following year, the role of Katie was written into the film I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now just for Haver.

Possibly best known for her roles in optimistic musicals, Haver's comedy star-turn in 1948's Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! was a major success. The same year, she starred as Marilyn Miller in the musical Look for the Silver Lining (1949). To resemble the actress as much as possible, Haver had to drive to the studio an hour earlier for make-up.

The following year, she starred in The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady and I'll Get By. In 1951, Haver was teamed with Fox's newest asset, Marilyn Monroe, and previous co-star William Lundigan (her co-star from I'll Get By), in the low-budget comedy, Love Nest. Though Haver was the lead and received top billing, most of the film's publicity centered on Monroe, who had a minor role and garnered under-the-title billing. Love Nest was June Haver's only full-length film in black and white. Her other 15 releases between 1943 and 1953 were shot in three-strip Technicolor, something of a record for a Hollywood Golden Age actress.

Following her marriage to Fred MacMurray in 1954, Haver remained largely retired from acting (her last appearances were as herself on The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour in 1958 and Disneyland '59). June Haver's final film appearance was in 1953's The Girl Next Door. Haver and MacMurray adopted two daughters and remained together until MacMurray's death in 1991.

At the urging of friends Ann Miller and Ann Rutherford, Haver finally joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the age of 75. For her contribution to the motion picture industry, June Haver has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1777 Vine Street.

Haver insisted she had always been very close with her family. Her sisters followed her to Hollywood and served as her stand-ins, while her mother was Haver's personal secretary.

On March 9, 1947, Haver married trumpet player James Zito. She met him at age 15, while touring with Ted Fio Rito's orchestra. They initially lost contact after Haver moved from Illinois to Beverly Hills, but started dating when Haver made a short visit to her home town when she was already a film actress. Haver filed for divorce less than a year after eloping with Zito, winning interlocutory decree on March 25, 1948. She admitted to the press the marriage was a failure from the beginning, saying: "I want to forget as soon as possible. We hadn't been married hours before I realized I had never really known Jimmy. He was a stranger. He was either down in the dumps or up high. I never knew from one moment to the next how he would be." Because she was a devout Catholic, Haver tried to make the marriage work, turning to the church to forget her unhappiness.

After her divorce from Zito, Haver started dating Dr. John L. Duzik, whom she had dated before her marriage to Zito; they planned on marrying, but Duzik died on October 31, 1949, following surgery complications. While taking care of him in his final days, she started attending church more often. According to friends, she was inspired to become a nun during this period. Following Duzik's death, Haver reportedly became tired of Hollywood, and never was really in love with the men she dated afterward. In February 1953, Haver became a postulant nun with the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, an organization based in Leavenworth, Kansas, and she stayed until October, saying she left because of "poor health".

Around this time, Haver met Fred MacMurray, one of the wealthier and more conservative men in Hollywood, and a romantic relationship developed. (When she was 18, she had worked on a film with him, but he was married at the time.) On June 28, 1954, they were married. She told the press: "When I married Fred, he was terribly set in his ways. He was a fuss-budget. He hadn't quite progressed to being a lint picker, but he was already an ash-tray emptier, and that's just about as set in his ways as a man can get." Haver insisted on adopting a girl, but MacMurray, 18 years her senior, initially refused, explaining he already had been a father. Shortly after, he agreed on adopting a child, and with the help of a doctor, they were able to take in twin daughters. He died in 1991.

Haver died from respiratory failure on July 4, 2005 in Brentwood, California at the age of 79.[9] She was buried with MacMurray at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Haver was a Republican and supported Dwight Eisenhower during the 1952 presidential election.

#june haver #1940s hollywood #classic hollywood #classic movie stars

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ktent · 5 years ago

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The day after the grand Halloween event, the girls have gathered once again inside a typical practice room. With their comeback already planned, they should all be kept in check.

“I hope you all had a lot of fun yesterday,” Kim Geonwook, their dance coach, starts things off, “because from today on we’ll work on getting everything right, which shouldn’t be as fun.” He starts by staring at the newest member. “What we worked on the most was getting Joohyun to learn all the songs she needed to. She did her job, but the struggle now is to get you all in sync. This isn’t like changing a tire where you just it into a new one and the car starts to move. Each screw needs to be properly fixed and, right now, she isn’t the only problem. Because you aren’t used to her as well, you can’t anticipate her movements, which leads to people not matching each other.”

He claps his hands together once. “But, Joohyun, you’re a good dancer. At the start of this, we had to push each of the members to work on their dance to make this teamwork. Now, I believe you can all do well together. My diagnosis to you is a lot of hard work and maybe some bonding time.” And so their month starts. To help with bonding, the coach prepared some trust exercises such as trust falls, but since that’s not really his style, they quickly moved over to just practicing their moves. With that the coming months have prepared, the group needs to go through the same routines over and over again not to screw up on the most viewed live shows of the year.

Two weeks after her audition, Minji receives the news on November 10th right from her manager about how the producers got interested in her for the role. However, how this will be a big-scale project, things can’t be confirmed with one simple audition. Between all the people who tried for the part on the month before, five of them remain, including Minji. She’s told to return for a second round of auditions on November 24th. This time, more information was given on the project in hopes that it’ll inspire the candidates on doing the best job. The drama will follow a group of rich, privileged high school students as they are about to take over their families' business empires, overcoming difficulties and growing every step of the way. The role they’re auditioning for, however, is of Cha Eunsang, a down-to-earth and somewhat cynical woman who diligently works part-time jobs to support herself and her mother. When they arrive on the scheduled day, the five finals actresses looking for the role will receive a scene on the spot to study for in a set of minutes before performing it. They’ll also receive an impromptu prompt to act on-the-spot in a group scene. The final results will come out the following month.

Since Eclipse were invited to some end-of-the-year shows, that means that Joohyun will have to perform with them live for the first time. Before that can happen, the girls will be taken out to record a reveal video for their new member. They’ll go on November 11th to record the video outside. It’ll follow the essence of this video, but the content will be different. Following Joohyun’s reveal video for the KTROOKIES project, all five girls will be recorded on the busy streets of Seoul while the cars zoom past the streets. They’ll be moving as if they’re looking for something with their faces never being completely visible. That’s until another car crosses the screen and Joohyun is revealed standing on the other side. They’ll also be recording a video like this one next to the Han River. These will be uploaded later in the month. The girls will be using the outfits as seen in this image (without the skates).

Anna — Umji

Blue — Sowon

Haseul — Yerin

Jennie — Yuju

Joohyun — Eunha

Minji — Sinb

In order to avoid the harsh cold of December, the group will be recording the music video of their title song still in November. Their comeback will happen in early January. On November 12th, the girls will go out to their usual hair salon to make needed changes, or just to make sure their hair is in good condition.

Anna — Brown ( reference )

Blue — Red ( reference )

Haseul — Black ( reference )

Jennie — Black ( reference )

Joohyun — Brown ( reference )

Minji — Blonde ( reference )

Members who changed their hairstyles are told not to reveal them to the public.

On November 16th, the group will go out for their album photoshoot. This will consist of two different sets, one inspired by these images ( 1, 2, 3, 4 ) and another by these ( 1, 2, 3, 4 ). The day after, their music video recordings will start.

DAY ONE — NOVEMBER 17TH

8AM: Get hair and makeup done

9AM: Go to filming location

10AM: Change into outfits

10:30PM: Shooting of bridge scenes ( 0:08 [Sinb: Anna; Yuju: Blue] ; 1:33 [Yerin: Minji; Eunha: Joohyun]; 1:41 [Yerin: Minji; Eunha: Joohyun]; 3:06 )

12PM: Filming of bridge dance scenes ( 1:30 )

1PM: Lunch break

1:30PM: Recording of grass & street scenes ( 0:31 [Yerin: Haseul]; 1:22 [Yuju: Anna; Sinb: Jennie]; 1:45; 2:55; 3:03 )

3:30PM: Head to second filming location; Change outfits

4:30PM: Recording of house dance scenes ( 2:58; 3:12; 3:15 )

6PM: Change outfits

6:30PM: Recording of pool scenes ( 1:59; 2:04 [Yuju: Anna]; 3:13 )

8:30PM: Recording of pool dance scenes ( 2:00; 3:10; 3:17 )

10:30PM: Thank staff for hard work; prepare to leave

11PM: Head back to dorms; eat, shower, rest

DAY TWO — NOVEMBER 18TH

8AM: Get hair and makeup done

9AM: Go to filming location

9:30AM: Change into outfits

10AM: Recording of gym dance scenes ( 0:51; 0:56; 1:37; 2:26; 3:27 )

11:30PM: Change outfits

12PM: Filming of gym scenes ( 0:19; 0:36 [Yuju: Jennie]; 0:53 [Yerin: Blue; Eunha: Haseul]; 1:01 [Yuju: Haseul; Yerin: Blue]; 2:24 [Eunha: Joohyun; Yerin: Minji]; 2:33; 2:43; 2:47; 3:21 )

2PM: Lunch break

2:30PM: Recording of room dance scenes ( 1:06; 1:36; 2:39; 3:29 )

3:30PM: Recording of room scenes ( 0:00; 1:01 [Sinb: Jennie]; 1:39; 1:55; 2:44; 2:53 [Yuju: Haseul]; 3:00 )

5:50PM: Thank staff for hard work; prepare to leave

6PM: Head back to dorms; eat, shower, rest

The first award in line is on November 30th, it’ll be the Melon Music Awards which will take place at the Gocheok Sky Dome. ‘Me Gustas Tu’ will be the only track they’ll perform. They’ll enter the stage while an intro audio plays before breaking into the song. For this event, they’ll all be wearing wigs to hide their new hair colors. This will be their first public group performance with Joohyun on the team.

December 4th is the date of the Mnet Asian Music Awards. This will be their first stage after their comeback. Their stage will be slightly based on this video and this video. This means that Eclipse’s stage will be highly linked to Convex’s, however, the two groups will not practice together until the day before the show for the final stage check. Since the event will take place in Japan, they’ll fly over there on the day before and return soon after the end of the event. Their roommates were separated as Anna&Haseul&Joohyun and Blue&Jennie&Minji. For the pairs, Minji will be Sinb; Anna will be Yerin; Blue will be Eunha. On the dance duet, Haseul will be Yuju. The stage will start with Haseul singing one of her lines from ‘Me Gustas Tu’ (2:20-2:25). Blue will do Eunha’s part from behind the stairs, also from ‘Me Gustas Tu’ (0:26-0:35), leading into the song’s performance. For the duo dance and onwards, the girls will put a robe on top of their previous outfits as seen here. Haseul will sing one of her lines from ‘Chase Me’ this time (1:02-1:07) before they head into this song’s performance.

You will gain +5 POINTS TO DISTRIBUTE AS YOU WISH, +3 DEBUT POINTS and +2 ACHIEVEMENTS for completing the written requirements as explained on the idol tier page. As this is not a promotional month, you may choose any two achievements for the month’s points. There is a capped maximum of five solos, sets of starters and/or partnered threads you may write for to collect this month’s points.

* For clarification, old threads from previous months will count towards points so long as they fulfill the requirements as explained on the idol tier page. However, at least one of this month’s requirements must be written about the schedule to gain any points for November.

The only form that needs to be submitted at the end of the month is a verification form for your debut points and achievements. Any SP points earned can be collected as soon as you finish the requirement for them. At the end of the month, you will submit the following form to the Points Verification blog:

IDOL’S NAME - KT ENT - NOVEMBER SCHEDULE (for the December 4 verification form)

PROOF OF ACTIVITY: [ x ]

POINTS: +00 SP [ distribute these however you like ]

TOTAL POINTS EARNED: +00 SP +00 DBT

+1 WK ACHIEVEMENT #1 [ NUMBER OF TIMES TAKEN + CURRENT LEVEL ]

+1 WK ACHIEVEMENT #2 [ NUMBER OF TIMES TAKEN + CURRENT LEVEL ]

DEBUT POINTS SPENT ON THE IDOL SHOP THIS MONTH:

NEW DEBUT POINTS TOTAL:

**** Their performances in 3 end-of-the-year awards gives them 3 EXP. For more information regarding GROUP EXP, refer to the idol tier page.

#rkeclipse #eclipse:nov19

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itsmissstageplay · 5 years ago

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Costume Culling

Sally looked through her closet, cycling through her dresses as she glanced at them. Most of these were just costumes from a past production, and while some of them could fit the bill, she felt as though they were fairly iconic to her. Being a famous actress had its drawbacks. As her outfit changed to the wedding dress she used for the matrimony scene in a play a few years back, she glanced back at Sam to see what he’d chosen. Since they’d be playing the part of a couple at the Devil’s Ball and going in as dates, she had to make sure that her outfit wouldn’t clash with his.

Samuel happened to be wearing the groom's outfit from the same scene two years ago, only instead of the matching top hat, he’d style his hair, and for the mask, it was just plain white and covered a little over half of his face. “Sam,” Sally spoke only to get his attention, and the moment he turned his head to look at her, she could tell he was thinking. The kind of face that Samuel makes when critiquing someone, something that Sally was always thankful for. “I... wouldn’t wear the wedding dress. Mostly just because I’m wearing the groom outfit, people might think it’s our wedding night.” “That crosses my mind as well...I just don’t have much of anything elegant. Well, none that would be easy to move around in.” “Well... the minute you start fighting is the minute you blow cover anyway, and you can make any costume change you need at the drop of a hat. So mobility isn’t going to be all that important if all you’re worried about is brawling.” “Good point...” Sally mused with a finger on her chin.

She glanced back at her closet and her eyes locked onto a long pencil dress that was a deep pink with a black underside that folded out over the collar and down the v-shaped back. “Golly!” Sam gasped. “I’ve never seen you wear that dress, Sally!” “I bought it for the cast party of that fateful performance two years ago, but after the battle with Cuphead and Mugman, we didn’t have it.”

Sally then turned to the mirror on her vanity and cycled through several different hairstyles. Up-dos, braided crowns, and of course, her go-to unique style, but eventually, she decided on tight curls and hair down, her golden locks resting weightlessly between her shoulder blades.

Finally, it was time to select the accessories. Pearls were a must, and given the setting, Sally figured the more extravagant, the better. Therefore, she chose a few smaller necklaces as well as a knotted necklace that came down past her chest before taking some time to think about what mask to wear. Her first choice was a more traditional mask on a stick that needed to be held up, but she quickly realized that she should go with something much more hands-free, and swapped to a black mask with white and black feathers that only covered her eyes. “Hmm...” Something wasn’t quite right about this one, though she couldn’t quite think of what. Then it was changed to a pearly white mask with floral accents and black feathers that arched outwards. This time, the mask was long enough to completely conceal her nose, seemingly flattening it against her face, yet didn’t cover her mouth. “Perfect!” Sally swooned, suddenly holding a matching black fan with floral patterns.

#Costume Culling #Sally Stageplay #Samuel #Drabble #Tickets for the Show! {Rebloggable Content}#The Devil's Ball (2019)

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okimargarvez · 6 years ago

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SHE IS PERFECT FOR HIM

Original title: Lei è perfetta per lui.

Prompt: Spencer and Lila are getting married; handbook for shippers.

Warning: mention of various kind of TV-series.

Genre: comedy, humor, romantic, friendship.

Characters: Penelope Garcia, Luke Alvez, O.C.

Pairing: Garvez.

Note: oneshot 33 in Garvez collection.

Legend: 💏😘🎈.

Song mentioned: L’amore e basta, Tiziano Ferro.

GARVEZ STORIES

I mentioned many of my ships from various series: jelinda (Jim Clancy and Melinda Gordon, Ghost whisperer) ; Elliot and JD (Scrubs) ; Ted Mosby and Robin Scherbatsky (How I met your mother); Tate (Caitlin Todd and Anthony Dinozzo, NCIS) ; Jack and Amanda (Diagnosis Murderer) ; Danny Messer and Lindsay Monroe (CSI New York) ; Semir Gerkhan and Andrea Gerkhan (Alarm für Cobra 11 – Die Autobahnpolizei).

This story is dedicated to @thinitta cause it's just one way to say something I think I don't say to her yet: I love you, we are like a sisters even if we live so far... And I love our crazy conversations XD

SHE IS PERFECT FOR HIM

Luke Alvez didn’t know he was so sentimental before he saw Penelope, sitting in the church next to him, crying during a colleague's wedding. Yet, a song doesn’t stop turning in the head, even after, during the reception, especially when, with great joy, he ends up again next to the blonde IT, sitting right in front of him.

I change, perhaps, always nice, no, nice for me, that I see you always nice that I feel like dying. Even if you close the doors in front of me, sometimes, even if I’m alone and far away, sometimes, and when I am in the hotel, I’m less mine and more of the fate, and write it in a terrible letter, but if you carry a cross, don’t keep it in silence in the soul, love, shout it out loud!

He has eyes just for her, the whole table realizes it. He already feels lucky like that, a whole day without unsub to chase, so long time to admire her. But she, as always, ignores him, talks to JJ about the marriage of the latter and a missed one, hers. And while he feels jealousy rise, towards a stranger who has had the ardor of asking Penelope's hand, something falls on his shoulder. He raises his head and understands instantly.

-Well, they say: wet bride is a lucky bride!- someone exclaims, while some women scream, complaining about the hairstyle cost hours and money. Luke has always loved the rain and today his level of worship goes up considerably. The hotel where the reception is held obviously had foreseen this eventuality, in fact the tables are ready inside, in a decidedly less suggestive, but dry environment. Even these with the seats assigned and not exchangeable. He and Penelope, jubilation, end up with a group of strangers, or rather unknown. The bride's friends and bridesmaids.

-Excuse me.- Penelope draws the attention of a waiter. -There must be a mistake. We... I should be with the groom's friends.- the young man looks displeased.

-I'm desolate, miss, but these are the procedures. Take this opportunity to make new friends.- and he goes away. He never thought that Garcia had these problems, indeed, the opposite, but today she seems so lost in her thoughts. In the end she surrenders, sits down next to him and sighs.

-Well, it seems that fate wants to keep us close.- Luke says, not very loud, pouring himself a drink. Then he asks her if she wants the same, and she shrugs, holding out her glass. Their fingers touch each other.

-Yeah, Newbie, I bet you did it raining, on purpose.- he chuckles, glad that she wants to play in this way. It is definitely a beautiful day.

-Yes, uh, it happens that I have a friend in the meteorological institute...- it's not even a complete lie. He approaches slightly, winking at her and the blonde can’t help but smile, shaking her head.

-Hey, it looks like you've impressed someone.- she whispers softly, causing shivers down his back with her hot breath. They look at each other, he with a confused expression. -Do you see that beautiful brunette, on the other side of the table? Since we've arrived, she's just staring you.- Luke raises his head to check and she stops him. -Stupid, she could see you!- their mouths are only a few centimeters apart and for a moment he loses control. Then Penelope lets him go and returns to a normal position.

-Too bad that I prefer blondes.- he comments shamelessly flirtatious.

-Ha ha, very funny. Instead you look exactly the kind of man who likes brunette, Latin, slender, tiny, in short...- she gets stuck, because she ended up on rough terrain. He laughs openly.

-Brunette, Latin...? That is a feminine version of me. So boring.- the waiters pass to collect the dishes with the leftovers of the appetizer. It will be a long day. -No, I repeat, I’m attracted more to blondes. Light hair, fair skin...- he passes the tongue on the lips. -Better yet, if she wears glasses.- he dared too much and in response receives a weak fist on the arm.

-The more time passes and the more you become stupid, Alvez.- but at the same time Penelope keeps an eye on the brunette who keeps looking at them.

-It's the effect you're doing to me.- she seems to be back in time and there's Morgan beside her, not Luke. She misses to flirting with a man, but she doesn’t flirt with him, never, it's too... dangerous. She looks up at the sky. Without stopping to stare her, the man tries to grab the glass, but he clashes right with... that brunette. Penelope doubts that she took the opportunity to find an excuse to start talking. -Oh, sorry .- Luke is forced to turn around.

-Don’t worry, it was my fault, I'm so clumsy...- yes, she's definitely right, the woman did it on purpose. Penelope finds herself annoyed, but believes it is due to her feminine pride. She would never falling in down to impress a man. Luke smiles politely at the chick. -You're a federal, are not you? I think I saw you on TV.- he nods, shrugging his shoulders modestly.

-I could say the same thing. I'm Luke, nice to meet you. And she is Penelope, the best computer technician in the world.- uh, definitely exaggerated. The blonde is stunned by this presentation, especially because the last time he had said to her a compliment like that, it was a mockery. She merely smiles and shakes her hand.

-But sure, you both work for the unit of behavioral analysis with Spencer!- apparently they are more famous than they thought. -And... if I can ask, sorry but I work for a tabloid newspaper... professional deformation... how long have you been together, you two? There would be perfect to write an article on the changes in recent years within the federal regulation against fraternization at work.- Penelope, who was drinking, almost chokes, while a smile on the face of Luke is painted. However, she talks first.

-No, we're not engaged, we're just colleagues. Just colleagues.- any psychologist could tell him that repetition is certainly a sign of nervousness, present when trying to tell a lie. And Garcia has never been good at lying, as far as he knows. In addition, she seems decidedly blushing.

-Ah, weird. I could have sworn that...- even the brunette who, according to Penelope was interested in him, remains confused. Before she can restrain him, Luke decides to say his own.

-Well, it's actually she who thinks so, but I'm not satisfied to be just his "colleague".- he says the last word in a strange way. -And I don’t give up. She's about to go down, I feel it.- the blonde's protest is slowed by the arrival of the first plate. Spencer have been very attentive and warned all staff that she was a vegetarian. What she doesn’t understand is why the waiter served the same dish also to Alvez. He understands where her gaze fell. -I didn’t want you to feel alone...- he whispers softly, and the tone seems very serious. Penelope swallows and chooses to ignore it.

-Wow, guys, you'd be perfect for a TV series. There is so much feeling between you two. One shot and we would already have a million shippers, I'm sure.- the IT decides to change the subject.

-Do you know who is the best ship ever? Melinda and Jim. Ghost whisperer. Fabulous. They have shown that there is no need for the typical tension of the "before they get together" phase to drive fans all over the world crazy. When he dies, he refuses to leave her and enters that body and forgets her, but he is still pushed towards her... and then when he finally remembers... I have consumed a box of tissues, and if I accidentally turn on the TV and there is that scene, it's the same thing, always.- Penelope talks in one of her passionate monologues. He loves to listen to her, because every time he discovers something new that concerns her. In this case, the thought of her that looks at such shows and is moved doesn’t surprise him. He had imagined it exactly like that.

-You are right, it's one of the best ships that exist. Then Jennifer Love Hewitt is a great actress, very beautiful, without falling into the vulgar, intense... however, I'm so stupid, I realized I hadn’t introduce myself yet. I'm Clara, one of the bride's bridesmaids.- Penelope has definitely changed her mind about the brunette and now they're both immersed in sharing ships, one of the quickest methods in the current millennium to make friends instantly. If you share my ship, then I could even fall in love with you.

-And in your opinion? What is the couple that made you suffer more and that was successful?- Luke has been transformed from an object of desire to an uncomfortable third wheel, and is not sure that it displeases him.

-Elliot and JD, definitely.- seeing the confused expression of Penelope, she opens her mouth. -Don’t tell me you never watching Scrubs!- the other hurries to deny. -Oh, you scared me. It was a continuous back and forth, but even when they were separated... it was as if they were together anyway. And in the end, they got married. Better than that, it could not have ended.- both women utter dreamy sighs. -Now it's your turn.- of them three, Luke is the only one who is eating.

-Ok, I'm a bit ashamed, but... Ted and Robin.- no need to specify which series it is, he even understood it. -I think that producers and screenwriters have found a good idea, that of a father who tells his children how he met their mother and ends up putting in everything about the period of his youth... I do it for anything, talk nonsense, I mean, as at this moment.- they laugh in an accomplice way. -But in the meantime they needed something to move it all, and although the ship between Lily and Marshall is great...- spoiler alarm. -...it is still the canonical ship and it needed a more... messed up. But they have definitely exaggerated, creating the story of Ted and Robin. The French horn was the pinnacle, but there is so much to tell you...- Clara nods, but doesn’t seem entirely agree.

-I have a confession to make, that I fear will break your heart.- even if she is a journalist, it could very well be an actress like Lila. She takes Penelope's hand in hers. -I went on the dark side...- the blonde opens her eyes and nods her head. -Yes, I'm sorry... but I prefer Robin and Barney.- it can be true friendship only if you are able to overcome the diversity of opinions on one of your favorite couples. Penelope nods, not letting go.

-Yes, well, I find them nice too. It is difficult to choose, I think the producers have just done a bullshit, with this double possibility. But after all, their goal is only to have ratings, that people look at it so as to continue to obtain financing.- the sad reality behind every alleged work of art. Sad and resigned sighs.

-But let's move on to really important things. Do you love more the couples who are already canon, engaged, married, like Jim and Melinda, or those of which we see the slow development?- oh yes, it is these, the fundamental things of life. But he is curious to discover Penelope's answer.

The woman seems to think about it. -It's a difficult question, I love both possibilities. Perhaps, but... more the second. I believe that, even in real life, the phase in which everything is in the balance, in short, it is clear that two people are going in one direction but there is still uncertainty, every moment is full of possibilities... is the best. Like the moments before the first kiss...- Luke manages to attract his attention brushing her arm. -What's there?- for a thousandth of a second they look into each other's eyes and only they exist, as pure spirit.

-Nothing, I wanted to know if the ladies liked to drink.- he also winks at Clara, who is quick to hand over her glass. Penelope nods her head. But is it just a casual gesture, or should he read more behind it?

-Anyway I agree, those are among the best moments, even if I always find myself shouting at the television as it is possible that someone is so naive as to not understand when the person he is in love with, feels the same.- the blonde doesn’t notices it, but Clara launches a decidedly explicit look at Luke, and certainly not to flirting with him. The man tightens his lips and raises his eyebrows, as if to say that he no longer knows what to do. -And how kind of dynamic? Friends or enemies? Or, let's not forget, there is also the "first in bed and then exchange of names" version. Usually these are the couples that last longer.- she laughs, while Penelope blushes.

-Uh, I'm a bit bad, but I love when the man is clearly the more taken and she, although not fully aware of it, for some reason decides to keep him at a distance and treat him a bit bad... I don’t know, I think it is guilt of my feminism.- Luke chokes with a mouthful and is forced to drink again. He swaps another look with Clara.

-Give me an example.. it is now clear that the journalist has decided to give him a hand, even if she doesn’t know why. Perhaps she got slightly carried way by this story of the ship.

-Well, Kate and Tony. Although there the situation was fairly balanced, but between the two, in the end, he was the more taken. When Kate died, I stopped looking at NCSI.- a thoughtful pause. -Jack and Amanda. Diagnosis Murder. It's an old series, but, hell, I rewatched an episode by mistake last week and... I realized I was shipping them even more than in the past. Unfortunately, between them there was been only a kiss...- Penelope hasn’t quite understood that she is ending in a trap. As the protagonist of any self-respecting fanfiction, she is naive and unaware.

-Yes, I remember, when Jack saves her life, one of many times.- the blonde nods with emphasis. -But don’t you think that their relational dynamics could be described as that between brother and sister? I don’t know about you, but I grew up with two older brothers and they treated me that way, but they weren’t in love with me, I assure you.- Clara has launched the supreme challenge. She has to demonstrate that her ship contains the motivations to become canon.

And the IT certainly doesn’t hold back. She positions herself better on the chair, waits for the waiters to pass with the second plate, and starts to talking, as a lawyer who exposes his plea in court. -I have three brothers, no, it's not their case. These are imperceptible things, because after all it is not a comedy, but an old-fashioned crime, so relationships develop in the margins, as a boundary and are often used to create hilarious situations. But if we go to see the nuances well, Jack is clearly jealous of Amanda, like in that episode with the doctor who finally flirt with her friend in front of her and it turns out that he was also the killer...- Clara nods, looks a second to Luke, almost winks and then returns to focus on Penelope.

-Yes, that Jack is interested in Amanda is also clear to me. But to be together, they must both be involved. And you say that from the way she behaves with him, that is, because she treats him badly, it's clear that Amanda also feels something for him. I say wrong?- well, Phil will not be offended to share the rule of his best man with Clara. If this is successful, it is the least he can do to thank her.

Luke turns directly to look at her, but Penelope doesn’t notice, so taken by the defense of her ship. -No, that's right. Because... after all, to treat badly, to keep at a distance, they are all defense techniques. The same thing happens between Danny and Linsday. At the beginning they can’t stand each other, they have to argue on any occasion, they prick each other and then... they even end up having two children. I think it's the crime couple with the most consistent dynamic, as Andrea and Semir of Cobra 11 Special Team for the action series.- Clara nods, then, after a few seconds, she stands up.

-Sorry, I... I'm going to the toilet for a moment.- she winks at Luke, who returns her.

Penelope turns to him. -Well, I was right. It seems that something is being born on this table. You'll have to thank your meteorologist friend...- the man smiles, but then realizes that she has clearly misunderstood.

-What are you saying?- meanwhile the time continues to flow, inexorable.

-You and Clara! Hey, I saw that you looked at each other all the time. When she comes back, I'll go to the bathroom, so that you can...- he silences her with three moves at the same time. Leaning forward, bring his face close to that of the woman; he puts a finger on her lips; with his other hand he grabs her arm.

-But what…? No, Garcia, you didn’t understand anything. I don’t care Clara, I told you, she's not my type. You see too many TV series and you can’t help shipping, even in the real world.- it sounds a bit too much as a reproach. She looks at the amber fingers around her arm. -Really, don’t you get it, Penelope? Even Clara noticed it, that’s the reason why we looked at each other while you are talking about couples and relationship dynamics and those things. Why can’t you apply the same parameters to yourself?- he lets her go and she starts breathing again. She can’t think, is confused.

-To myself?- she asks, with a little voice as a child.

-Yes, to yourself. Why the way Amanda treats Jack should be symptomatic of her interest, and the same behavior, yours with me, is not it?- again, she's out of breath, swallows, turns her head. Her body implements every possible defense to prevent that thought from making its way into her mind. -Why did you keep me at a distance before you even met me? And you call me Newbie?- too many questions, she feels like she's being accused, on the stand.

-I... you know. I told you, you took Morgan place, who was my best friend. I promised myself that I would hate anyone who replaced Derek, so it has nothing to do with you. You're not special.- she at least manages to convince herself.

-No, it's not just this. You were jealous of Roxy, when you thought she was my girlfriend. And you can’t hate people, Penelope.- damned all the profilers of the universe. -Do you say that you really don’t feel anything for me? That you don’t even like me a little?- he looks straight into her eyes, as he asks her, he doesn’t even know with what courage. Despair, of course. Clara will be take time on purpose to give them time to conclude.

-Uh, Luke...- signs of surrender: she has used his name; dilated pupils. -No, you're not my type. Surely many women think differently, that you're an attractive man, and there's nothing strange, because it's true.- she got messed up by herself. This time nobody will come to the rescue. -I mean, it's an objective fact, like... like... something that I can’t remember of right now.- she blushes to the tips of the ears and he swears that she's also sweating. -But the physical aspect is not enough, you know?- why she persists to treat him as if he were a superficial playboy?

-I know.- he blames the blow well, after all. -I told you, in fact, that as well as blonde, with clear skin, glasses, the girl I like also has a huge heart, is sweet, playful, and an absolute genius?- maybe white wine that Luke is sipping it was been altered by some substance or he doesn’t hold alcohol at all. It is the only explanation.

-Listen, Luke, I also love flirting and play this game, but sometimes less is more.- she makes clear, while in the distance sees Clara come.

-But it was never a game for me.- he tries to take her hand and sees her wavering.

-No?- before he can answer, the brunette sits, apologizing with her eyes.

-I couldn’t really miss the dessert.-

And... and I’m the only one who knows every answer, and I will not change with the passing time, and while I lose myself thinking about just love... and you remember that this is what I’m, and I challenge life always with my head down, because I care about just love... and I’m the only one who knows every memory, and for me you're not the first thing to come along, because for me you're just love... and I’m the only one who know my mistakes, even if there is still a trace left, in front of everyone for you I’m just your love...

The wedding is over, the couple have flown off for their honeymoon and everyone is slowly moving towards their respective destinations. Penelope doesn’t understand why Luke is still following her. -Hey, Newbie, the party is over, you can stop playing the part of the seducer, now.- if he was another type of man, would take her by the wrist and making her a turn that would catapult her in his arms. But, unfortunately, he is part of those who struggle to expose themselves with gestures of that kind, the opposite of macho.

-Play the part? Do you seriously think that I am like that? No, but you would like it. It would make things easier. But no. I'm the opposite of a seducer, and I'm not ashamed to tell you. I always thought it was better to be alone, don’t bind me, especially while I was at war. I'm not good with women, I don’t go to a romantic date since high school. I'm a complete landslide.- his words had the strength to stop her and force her to turn around. Luke performs in a sad smile.

-Why are you telling me all these things, Luke? Do you want to pity me? Do you need someone to vent your masculine instincts?- damn it, this woman would put a strain on anyone. -Because, I'm sorry, it's a tempting offer, I don’t deny, but...- he reaches her, shaking his head and sighing.

-Fuck, Garcia, do you think I just want to fuck with someone? Getting that would definitely be easier than a hug from you. We've known each other for two years, and the only kind words you've addressed to me have actually been directed to my dog. You don’t want to give me even a miserable chance.- she has never seen him so much altered, not with her, over all. Penelope trembles, but the fear of getting hurt is stronger than everything else.

-Chance for what, make me believe you're crazy in love with me and then make fun of me? You're not the only one who's been dry for quite a while. I'm better alone.- finally the truth. -It's just because I treated you badly, if you're so attached to me, don’t you realize? If only I...- Luke shakes his head and slowly lays his hands on her shoulders, then down the arms.

-No, it's not just for the chase, it's that I'm fine when I'm with you. I can’t hold back the smiles. And I feel like one of the protagonists of your TV series. And if you want to know, we already have a fan club. And a ship name.- Penelope opens her eyes and mouth. -All the team, but not only.- he answers to her mute questions. -People from O'Keef, Phil, even your Morgan. And Clara.- she doesn’t reply anything. -Garvez, the name is Garvez. Garcia and Alvez. It's not bad, what do you think? It’s by JJ.- of whom others, she had been the founding partner of the ship.

To get out of the quagmire, Penelope finds herself saying the first bullshit that goes through her head. -Lila is perfect for Spencer, because she will never ask him to stop loving Maeve.- Luke is so surprised to let her go. The mouth bent in his typical crooked grimace.

-You are right, she is perfect for him because she can understand and make him happy, even if they are completely different or maybe because of this. But what does it really mean what you said? That your first love is dead, or that you will never look at me in the way you look at Morgan?- the woman understands that he has no intention of surrendering. She sighs, bites her lips and returns to look at him.

-Of course, I'll never look at you as Morgan, you're not him. You're another person.- a calm, resigned tone. In the air around them it is possible to see the formation of the written canon in the sky, in cloud’s shape.

-And this is good or bad, for you?- it can’t just be a fixation, it can’t be just for the thrill of hunting, it can’t be just to take her to bed, it can’t be a sophisticated revenge. Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.

-I don't know.- she shrugs and he takes her face in his hands. -I can’t risk, do you understand? Because it was so damn taken for granted that I would have a crush on the new one, everyone was expecting it and I hate the obvious things, I hate them to death...- maybe when the man's soft lips press on hers, she changes her mind. A delicate kiss, trembling, at the same time intense. And in those few minutes a real process takes place in Penelope's mind. The defense attorney is herself, the only one to say no, she's not feeling anything because Luke is indifferent to her. Luke is the lawyer, that is the banality. The witnesses at the stand are all their friends and even some strangers. The jury is the heart of Penelope and the judge, who issues the sentence, the one who has the last word... is her head.

The blonde suddenly pulls off and looks at him. Luke thinks he messed things up, but it would still be worth it. Both the mind and the heart are repeating the same thing: you are perfect for him and he is perfect for you. Nothing else matters.

The bang of the gavel. The verdict is: guilty.

TAGS: @theshamelessmanatee @arses21434 @kathy5654 @martinab26 @reidskitty13 @jenf42 @gracieeelizabeth27 @silviajajaja @smalliemichelle99 @charchampagne14 @thinitta @myhollyhanna23 @garvezz @mercedes-maldonado @shyladystudentfan @cosmicmelaninflower

#garvez #criminal minds #cm #penelope garcia #luke alvez #luke x penelope #penelope x luke #garcia x alvez #alvez x garcia #tiziano ferro #l'amore e basta

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shiningamongdarkness · 6 years ago

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Chapter 06. Orphan

Shining among Darkness

By WingzemonX

Chapter 06. Orphan

The long black limo, just washed and waxed, was moving at careful step through that low neighborhood of southern Los Angeles. Since they left the main avenue to enter those streets, the appearance of the buildings and sidewalks seemed to be degrading gradually. The driver, with the stereotypical black, suit, pants and tie, and a matching driver's hat, was visibly nervous. Traces of sweat made his forehead and nose shine. His hands were clinging to the steering wheel, and steadily looked in the rear-view mirrors to make sure no one was following them, or there was no one nearby suspicious.

On the contrary, his passenger in the back seat not only looked calm: he seemed fascinated. The young man, perhaps sixteen or seventeen years old, was looking out the window at his right hand, admiring the dirty sidewalks, the graffiti on the walls, and the people with unique appearances. It was already close to sunset, and slowly everything became darker. It seemed as if the atmosphere of the place adjusted and modified accordingly.

From the neck of the young man, was hanging a professional camera, black, clean and shiny, almost like new. When he saw something interesting enough on the way, without any hesitation, he raised the camera, placed it in front of his face, and took a picture from the moving car. He portrayed without problem some boys playing basketball on a public court. A beefy man, tall enough to perhaps double his height, with a dark sweatshirt, and his hands hidden in its pockets; he was standing on the stool, with his headphones on, and doing nothing more than waiting. The boy took another picture of a young girl in a white nurse's suit, although somewhat opaque in parts, who walked hastily down the sidewalk with her eyes downcast as if she didn't want to look at anyone on her way to the bus stop.

But what was most abundant, and what he managed most to capture with his camera, were women. But not women like the young nurse: women in small outfits, high heels, extravagant makeup, and flashy hairstyles. Not everyone had all of these at the same time, but at least two. All of them standing at some point on the sidewalk, doing nothing but wait, like the man in the black sweatshirt, but surely not expecting the same.

He noticed that several of those girls turned to see his beautiful vehicle sideways. That was not weird. The weird thing was in fact, that none seemed surprised, scared or surprised by his presence.

Sure, that was supposed to be the kind of place that "good" people did not visit. The type of locale where honorable and respectable people of society, never put a foot. But that was just a bad joke, wasn't it? More than one of those supposed good people, put more than their feet in those parts, and he knew that. For the same reason, more than surprised, those girls were waiting for it. They were waiting for that elegant limousine to edge right next to them, for the rear window to open and for a man to stick his head out of it, shaking a wad of bills in his fingers.

That was, in fact, the kind of place where people with indiscreet vehicles like that went in search of discreet fun for those hours. A funny discrepancy, he thought.

"Is not it fascinating, Billy?" Asked the boy, a moment after having taken a picture.

"Sir?" The driver murmured, turning to look him confused in the mirror. The young man moved away from the window and settled into his seat, but did not withdraw his eyes from the outside.

"How long did it take us to get here?"

"Forty minutes, sir; because of the traffic."

"Forty minutes, because of the traffic," he repeated it slowly as if saying it out loud made it more meaningful. "That's what separates the most luxurious and luminous place in this city... from this. For many, it would be enough. But if you put it in perspective with the distances that separate entire countries, is not it, in fact, quite a bit?"

The driver didn't answer anything, and he didn't expect him to do either.

They continued for about another minute. After turning a corner, the number of those women on the street appeared to be relatively higher. That should be the right place.

"Stop here," the boy said to the driver in a commanding tone, leaning his body slightly forward. The man obeyed, bringing the vehicle to the sidewalk.

Once edged, the young man did not waste time and immediately got out, with his camera in his neck, in addition to a black sports bag that was hung over his shoulder.

"Are you sure it's here, Mr. Thorn?" The driver said worriedly, leaning out the window.

"Completely," he replied in turn, with a wide and candid smile, while adjusting the lens of his camera. "Thanks, Billy. I'll call you when I want you to pick me up."

"Do not you want me to...?"

"No, I don't want you to come with me," he interrupted abruptly, finishing easily the sentence he was about to utter. "Go, now."

The boy started walking along the sidewalk at a calm pace, so the driver had no choice but to obey and leave. Not far away, but enough so that his order was considered fulfilled.

The vehicle that transported the boy perhaps did n0t stand out as much among the people. Or his black suit jacket and trousers perfectly ironed and trimmed, his Armani shirt without a tie, or his shoes polished and shiny. But what could draw the attention of several of the individuals who crossed with him by the stick, or saw him from the other side of the street, was his apparent age: quite young, at least for the average of men who used to walk in those parts. And besides, he was alone, with such expensive clothes, a much more expensive watch on his wrist, and a camera even more than this on his neck.

He realized without the slightest problem that several individuals looked at him from afar and whispered to each other. What were they saying? He supposed it, and no need to dig deeper than necessary. People like them were always the clearest, especially their evil intentions. But he was not worried, because as well as his intentions, his cowardice was also apparent. If they knew what was in the bag, would that give them more brave? He would love it that way; with one of them being encouraged to try, it would be quite fun. But none did; they all let him go his way, without bothering him beyond his prying eyes.

The boy continued walking, taking some photos in his advance, of everything he saw interesting.

He could have gone with the one closest to him when he got out of the car, but it would not have helped him. He was busy finding the right one, the one who could tell him exactly what he needed to know, without causing more problems than necessary.

After turning around that block, he found two women in a corner facing each other; one blonde and the other brunette and dark skin, and both with small and tight clothes, and a lot of makeup. Both smoked a cigarette. He felt it almost immediately after putting his eyes on them: they were the right ones, or at least one of them was.

He approached them with naturalness, and when they noticed him, both looked at him with slight confusion in their eyes.

"Aren't you too young to be around these parts, kid?" Questioned the blond girl, letting out a puff of smoke.

The boy looked at her, and a half smile emerged on his lips. He stopped a meter and a half from them, adjusted the lens of his camera with his fingers, lifted it, and pointed it directly at the blond girl.

"What about you, Kelly?" He suddenly released while he held the camera in front of his face. "Aren't you too young?"

His finger pressed the camera button just when that girl's face was filled with stupefaction, and was just that expression what was captured in the photograph.

"What did you say?" She murmured nervously, barely a trace of her voice.

The boy took a step towards them and activated the camera's trigger again.

"Tell me, was going against the wishes and warnings of your parents worth it?" He said with a mocking tone, approaching her carefully, still taking pictures. The young blonde started to back scared, staggering in her high red heels. "Get away from your house and come alone up here, with nothing more than a childish desire to be an actress? Was your life really that bad in that little town in Iowa? How things turned out, was it better to have stayed with the buried dagger of what would have happened if...? This at least I tried allows you to sleep at night, while you have at your side the hot and sweaty body of a man more disgusting than the previous one?"

The blonde stepped back more and more nervous, panicked by every word that came from that boy's mouth. Irremediably she fell to the floor, but even then she didn't stop. She crawled back along the sidewalk with her miniskirt getting completely dirty until her back was against a wall. And when she was having nowhere else to run, she only had the option of raising her arms in front, and cover herself. Her entire body began to tremble uncontrollably, and the boy seemed more than happy to photograph that deplorable state in which she had fallen just by hearing the truth; her truth.

The other woman was slow to react because she did not understand what all that was about. However, seeing her friend on the ground trembling was enough to make her step forward to help.

"What's your problem, brat?! Leave her alone!" She shouted angrily, quickly approaching to the stranger. "And get that damn thing down...!"

She took him by his arm with the firm determination to knock his camera down, smash it into the pavement, stomps on it, and then do the same with his head if necessary. But she was unable to do any of those things because when her fingers pressed against the dark fabric of his sleeve, she stopped short; No, she was instead paralyzed, unable to move even a single muscle. Her throat closed, her fingers began to tremble, her eyes bulged, and some sweat began to cross her face. There was no word coming from her lips; just some nervous gasps.

The boy slowly pulled the camera away from his face and turning his head towards her. She only took a small look at those cold, penetrating blue eyes, only occupied that he looked at her for a moment, to make her retreat in fear as if she had seen the most horrible of the beasts face to face. That was not an ordinary fear: it was the worst sense of terror she had ever felt in her life, a terror she was not aware she could sense. Her back was stuck against a poster, and her hands clung to it as a support, because otherwise, she would have fallen.

The boy smiled, quite satisfied by her reaction, and still took the audacity to make a quick picture of her in that position.

"Wonderful," he murmured happily, and then began to review all the photographs he had taken, on the small digital screen of the camera. "Besides good models, you look like smart girls. Maybe you can help me with something. I am looking for a person who is supposed to live in this neighborhood." He paused, placed the lens cover, and looked at both of them, something more severe than before. "I think you know her in the streets as the Orphan."

— — — —

She had read some time ago about people who looked at themselves in the mirror and felt that the face they were looking at was not theirs. It was a concept hard to understand unless one came to live it in the flesh. Most likely, those sensations that invaded her suddenly were not something as serious as that, but they allowed her to get an idea.

In recent years, she felt less and less than the person in that mirror was her. But, who else could it be? That eternal face was her. She understood that well. But it was precisely that perpetuity that made her feel that she was looking at a photograph, a drawing, a caricature ... something that did not really represent her. Especially when she put on make-up, and she did it frequently.

And she did not really need much: a little dust here and there, hide a couple of wrinkles and Voilà! It was the adorable, innocent, white and soft face of a ten-year-old girl, adorned with flirtatious freckles. Because that's what her customers expected. They didn´t go to that corner forgotten by God of the city to feel that they fuck a fortyish woman of short stature, that was what she really was. No, nothing like that. They wanted to imagine that they did it with their daughter, their little sister, their niece, their student, the girl who lives across the street... or let them know in whom that people thought exactly while they did it. But that didn't matter to her.

The only thing that really mattered was their money, the money she used to pay the rent for that small and nauseating hole in which she had ended, in addition to food, water... And of course, makeup and accessories; those definitely nobody gave them away.

After finishing with the first of them, who had decided to appear much earlier than usual because he had an important appointment more night, she sat in the chair in front of her dressing table, to smoke a cigarette. Her black hair, slightly curly, was loose, falling on her shoulders. She pulled on only a thin white nightgown, which, due to her short stature, reached too far below her knees.

The subject was finishing arranging on the other side of the bed. The woman could see him through the reflection of the mirror, but she tried not to do that. In fact, she had her eyes crouched down on the surface of the dresser. That was precisely one of those days when she was disgusted to see that face in the mirror.

"How much is it going to be?" She heard the sturdy, gray-haired man in a two-piece gray suit, ask her. When she glanced at his reflection, she noticed that his tie was poorly arranged, but she was not interested in even pointing it out.

"The same as always," she replied indifferently, just after releasing a thick puff of smoke from her pink lips. "Leave it at the desk."

The woman looked at him through the mirror, noticing how he pulled a wad of bills from his bag, separated several and left them on the bureau as she said. What had he told her he worked for? Something in the government, surely. Or was she confusing him with another?

She hoped that was all and next he left without saying anything else. But, instead, he came up behind her, bouncing proudly.

"I've told you before, but I'll tell you again," he said with a lewd tone that was quite direct and not very subtle. He stopped then just behind the chair; she continued without looking directly at him. "A beautiful girl as you, shouldn't be doing these things." The man suddenly placed his thick and hairy hands on her bony shoulders, squeezing them a little between his fat fingers like sausages. "I could get you out of this place, you know? Give you a house... hot food... be your daddy full-time."

The caresses of that man became more and more suggestive as he spoke, moving from her shoulders to her arms, and then daring to venture towards her torso.

She looked at him in the mirror in silence. He looked like a stupid dog, euphoric to see his own face while he touched her that way. Another day she would have endured and let him continue; but that day, even though she was just beginning his busy day... she was not in the mood for that in the least.

In fact, she felt disgusted by his mere closeness, by his only smell.

She lowered her gaze, now contemplating a pair of scissors that landed just above the dressing table. How easy it would be to take them and stick them in one of those thick hands. She imagined for a moment that it burst like a balloon, although she knew that was not how it worked; but what a funny image that would be. For sure he would scream learned by pain and confusion. She would go back, and then she would throw herself at him. She would knock him to the bed, put herself on top of him, and begin to repeatedly nail the sharp tip of the scissors to his neck. First ten or fifteen times on one side, and when it became boring or felt that the metal no longer had opposition on that side, she would start doing it on the other.

Seeing his eyes wide open, looking at her pleadingly, would surely be enough to really turn her on properly, although at that point those eyes were just shuttered windows because behind them there would be nothing. And then, and only then, could she finally do with pleasure all the disgust things that he liked so much.

Yes, that would be fine... but she would not do that. Instead, with the hand that did not hold her cigarette, she took one of his little fingers and folded it back, also bringing it dangerously close to the breaking point, to force him to release her.

"I've had enough daddies," she said bitterly, and then pulled his hand to one side violently. "Now go away."

"Ok, ok, don't be angry," the man grumbled, rushing back to the door, rubbing his finger. She did not take her eyes off his reflection until she saw him go out the door of the room.

She remained seated, finishing her cigarette, and plunged a little while longer into the same thoughts of a while ago. Again, she no longer looked at the mirror, but at the surface of the dressing table. To her hair comb, to her makeup, her powder box, her lipstick, and her scissors... those scissors that she wanted so much to nail in the neck of that man, and so many more. Sometimes, they left it too easy. Some liked to be tied up and cover their eyes; they would not even see it coming. No, but it was better than if they saw, to contemplate their eyes... those eyes of despair and horror...

"Good place," she heard a strange voice behind her suddenly. "Very adorable."

She did not even turn around or look in the mirror; just listening to that voice put her entirely on alert. Without even thinking about it, she opened the left drawer of the dressing table, took from it a long dark revolver, considerably more prominent than her hand, stood up and turned so violently that her chair fell in motion. She raised both hands to the front, holding the gun without letting go of the cigarette, and pointed firmly at the intruder: a boy, with straight black hair, combed to the side, in a black suit, blue shirt, a camera to the neck and a sports bag on the shoulder. He was standing right in the doorway of the room, looking around with a curious look and a calm smile.

"How did you get in here?!" She shouted angrily, without any trace of false sweetness in her voice.

The boy seemed to downplay her demand or the fact that she was pointing a gun at him. He continued looking at the rest of the room while allowing himself to enter a couple more steps inside.

"If I told you that your friend who has just left kept the door open, would you believe me?" He replied with a mocking tone, whose only response was the sound of the hammer of the weapon, getting into position. "I suppose not."

"Who the fuck are you?" The woman questioned again, a little calmer, but not without demand. "What are you doing here? What do you want?!"

"I understand the type of environment in which you work, dear; but that is not an excuse to use that vocabulary."

With a normal attitude, he approached the bed and allowed himself to leave his nag on it.

"Are you not listening to me, blunder head?!" The owner of the place yelled with even more force than before. "I'll give you ten seconds to get your ass out of here, or else..."

"Is this the way you treat a potential client?"

"Fuck you. I choose my clients, and I don't get into brats with more milk on their lips than hairs between their legs."

Although indeed, except for his age, he was the most handsome boy she had ever seen put a foot in that apartment. He, for his part, gave a loud laugh in response to her comment.

"That's good, I like it. You are ingenious, as well as beautiful."

The face of the girl did not lighten a bit. He could feel and read without a problem that the only reason why she had not shot him already, was because she was still thinking about all the implications of doing so. Beginning with the noise it would make, the attention it would cause, the cleanliness she would have to do; well, if she wouldn't have to flee from there right away. And that idea did not exactly convince him; in spite of everything, she liked where she lived.

Although perhaps there was another factor, perhaps unconscious and more hidden, which forced her not to do such a thing. The same fear that inspired all those on the street not to approach that guy, not to dare to take his camera or take his bag. A feeling that was saying her if she did, the gun might explode in her hands, or the bullet would end up not hitting him, bouncing off the wall, and piercing her forehead right through the middle. It was something that could, in fact, happen.

But whatever it was, the reasons that had led him there forced him to try to take this situation a little calmer. So, instead of remaining defensive and pedantic, the guy made a couple of steps back, and raised his hands in submission, to try to calm her down a bit. His face, however, remained peaceful.

"Let's start again, ok? My name is Damien, Damien Thorn."

That name created a slight, barely noticeable, intrigue reaction in his forced hostess.

"Thorn? Like Thorn Industries?"

"Yes, it is written the same way," he replied with a shrug. "And you are... Leena, right?"

The girl's eyes widened and her face, more than surprised, became furious; even her milky white face turned reddish in a second.

"How do you know that name?!" She screamed at him entirely heated, and quickly circled the bed and approached him threateningly, gun still in hand. "Who you are?! Who you are?!"

The distance between them was shortened so much that the tip of his cannon and his chest separated them only about half a meter.

"As I said, I'm a potential client," he repeated, without losing a single molecule of his almost disturbing tranquility, "but not the kind you think. No offense; I'm sure you're very good at what you do, but it's not those skills that made me look for you."

He put his hands in his pockets, and put all his weight on one foot, taking a much more relaxed posture.

"I need you to find two people for me."

"Do I have the face of help to missing persons?"

"No," he replied with a mocking tone." I think you have the face of someone who throughout her life has cultivated many special skills, which have allowed her to survive and hide. The face of someone who knows very well the dark side of many cities and corners of this country; and that even better, she knows how to move around them. And most important of all," he leaned toward her then, making his penetrating eyes stare at her, "the face of someone who when she stares into the abyss, holds its gaze..."

There was silence, absolute silence, the seconds after. They did not even blink.

Incoherent as it sounded, something in him made her feel... confidence, something she had not felt in the presence of anyone, much less of a man.

After a while, she cautiously lowered her gun.

"What exactly do you want?"

"I said it, I want you to find two people, and bring them to me. Two little girls, in fact."

The woman snorted in annoyance and headed towards her dresser again.

"So, you are another degenerate after all. They are becoming younger."

She left the handgun on the table and extinguished her cigarette in the ashtray, only to relight another almost immediately.

"It's not what you think," he said, accompanied by a small chuckle. With a confident step, he approached her. "They are two extraordinary people, just like you. You know what kind of extraordinary I mean, right?"

"Not even the most little idea."

She lifted the chair and sat down on it again. After that, she extended her arm to throw some ashes in the ashtray. But, just then, the stranger guy rushed his hand forward, took the same scissors that had fascinated her a few moments ago, and in the blink of an eye, he stuck them in her hand, making it pass through his palm and fit into the table's wood.

"Ah!!" The woman cried, full of pain and confusion.

Bursts of blood came from the wound when he immediately after removed the improvised weapon from her skin, staining the entire dressing table. Before she could take her gun back, or at least hold her injured hand to press it, the boy grabbed her first from her wrist, and pushed the palm of her hand against the mirror, causing her blood to stain it, and begin to drip through it. With his other hand, the boy held her chin tightly, forcing her to stare straight ahead, toward her own reflection, the very one she had no desire to look at.

"Of course you know, Leena," he murmured in her ear gravely. "You know very well that you should be dead right now. Your body should be rotting under the frozen water of that lake where you were thrown, and where you were considered finished. But instead, you are here, satisfying the low and forbidden desires of the old, sick and horrible men, in exchange for a few dollars. How is this possible? I bet you've asked yourself often."

While both were contemplating together in the same direction, they could see how that vertical wound that was drawn on her hand, began to close slowly. The blood stopped flowing, and in the blink of an eye her skin was again intact, as white and smooth as an instant before the stabbing ... or even more.

Damien smiled, amazed by such a show.

"It's funny how any wound you get now is cured right away." He then turned her head to the side, leaving the right side of her neck exposed; or, more specifically, the scars of past wounds that ran all around his neck. "But these scars that you got escaping from that Mental Asylum will forever mark your skin, as a horrible reminder. I bet that not all your clients find them so attractive."

Any trace of fear or anger that arose in the woman after that treacherous attack had vanished as the strange visitor spoke. All this had been far outweighed by the enormous confusion that caused her to hear everything he said, and the incredible accuracy of the data.

He not only knew her name: he knew absolutely everything about her. And for the first time in a long, long time, she felt entirely weak, naked, and under the mercy of another person. Impotent, unable to do anything beyond listening and let him do what he wanted. And the worst thing is that he was a simple teenager, one who was barely about to become an adult.

It was a feeling that overwhelmed her and twisted her stomach. However, at the same time, and although it seemed impossible to understand... it caused her arousal as intense as she had not felt in years; so much that she felt that her whole body was tingling, and not because of the pain of his recent wound, already cured at that moment.

Who was that guy really? And more importantly...

"How do you know all that?" She moaned with some weakness, because of the immense amount of emotions that ran through her body. She felt her nose impregnated with the sweet scent of his cologne; nothing to do with the rotten and unpleasant smell of the other bastard who had just left. "How did you find me? Are you a cop?"

"Of course not," he whispered softly in her ear. He still held her, both his wrist and his chin. "I'm not even old enough to enlist. But I know a lot more about you than you think; much more. For example, I know that night someone, or something, took you out of those cold waters, made the air return to your lungs, and your wounds were closed. And, do you think he did it so that you would spend the rest of your life opening leg and mouth to sick perverts in a dirty apartment like this? Do you think this is the only thing for which you are still alive? You are much better than that, I know it. But, do you know?

Only then he released her completely, and he slowly moved away from her. The girl still left her hand against the mirror for a few moments, and then let it slip through it, leaving a trail with the blood still left in her palm.

Shy, she turned to see him over her shoulder. He was already relatively far from her, leaning against one of the bunk beds, with his arms crossed; he was staring at her with enough intensity.

Yes, he was definitely the most handsome man who had gone to that place in the almost eight years she had been living there... pity he was an impertinent child.

"Do you know what happened that night?" She murmured, little by little more recovered. "Do you know why I'm still alive?"

Damien smiled once more.

"Make this assignment for me, and I assure you that you will answer that question and more."

He nodded toward the bag he had placed on the bed. The woman looked at it, and then stood up and approached with the same caution she would have if she were approaching an active bomb.

"There you will find all the information I've gathered from both girls I told you about," the boy informed a moment before she opened the bag. "It's not much, but I think it will be enough. In addition to a little advance payment for your expenses."

When she opened the bag, inside it were two files, one with a brown folder, and another with a blue folder; both full of papers. But more importantly, under both, there were bundles and bundles of bills; of twenty, fifty and one hundred. The bag was practically full, and it was impossible to guess how much money there was really there. But, reaching a certain amount, of which she was sure that it exceeded, it hardly mattered a few dollars less or a few dollars more.

Was that a little advance payment?

She put the money aside for a few moments and concentrated on the files. First, she checked the brown one. When she opened it, the first thing she found was a newspaper clipping, apparently from Portland. It was the front-page, and it read in big black letters:

MAD PARENTS COUPLE TRIES TO COOK HER OWN DAUGHTER IN THE OVEN

She arched her eyebrow, intrigued. A pretty yellow press title. But, if in fact, they did what it said there, it would be difficult not to sound yellowish whatever the title was.

"Nice," she exclaimed sarcastically. "I guess it was not because she failed algebra."

She suspected that the daughter was one of the two little girls he wanted her to find. She lowered the file, and her attention focused on the boy on the other side of the bed.

"And what is special about her?"

"You will know when you find her, and the other one."

"And, what should I do if I find them?"

"Bring me to both. Healthy and safe, please."

"If you have so much money and interest, why don't you do it yourself? This newspaper is from Portland, so at least you know where one is. If you don't want to do it yourself, you could hire any private detective, mercenary, or whatever. Why are you asking me?"

Damien laughed in a somewhat exaggerated way, which seemed to try to demonstrate more the absurdity of the question, than the humor that caused him.

"You haven't understood anything yet, right? Do not worry, you'll find out." He started at that moment to walk to the door, with the same calmness with which he had entered. "As I promised, find both girls, and you'll discover more about yourself than you think."

He kept advancing and was practically at the exit when he heard her speak again.

"Esther," she murmured slowly, but hard enough for him to hear. "Call me Esther. Leena Klammer died a long, long time ago."

Damien looked at her, shrugged and continued on his way.

"Esther, then."

He left, and she stayed.

Esther sat on the bed, trying to digest what had happened, or at least what she understood of what had happened. She looked again at the contents of the bag; she had never seen so much money gathered at one point. She imagined everything she could do with it. Buy a false identity, pay someone to take her out of the country, maybe go to a southern country. Perhaps she could get another family to adopt her as their daughter, and do things right that time... at least as long as possible.

But there was another side to that plan. If that guy had left her such a large amount of money, it was surely nothing for him compared to all he had. And with resources like those, it would not take much time to find her; in fact, she did not understand how he had found her in the first place. And her name? And her story? How had he found out about all this?

She did not like games like that, especially when she felt she had all the disadvantages and someone else was controlling the game.

She took out the other file, the blue one, to review it. There were also newspaper clippings on it, but they were talking about an incident on an island in Washington, about horses that had jumped into the sea for no reason. The name of the ranch was "Morgan."

After digging a little deeper among all the papers in the file, she came up with a name, possibly the name of the second girl she supposed to look for: Samara Morgan.

END OF CHAPTER 06

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

—Damien Thorn is based mainly on the same character as the movie: The Omen (2006), which is, in turn, a remake of the film of the same title from 1976. Although in terms of continuity I will take more the facts and times from 2006 film, for his story, and some additional details of the character, will also be taken from the other movies Damien: Omen II (1978) and Omen III: The Final Conflict (1981), and the television series Damien (2016). Concerning his personality and powers, they will be based in part on those mentioned above, but also on a more personal interpretation.

—Leena Klammer, aka Esther, is based entirely on the antagonistic character of the film Orphan (2009), standing eight years after the events of that film. What happened in this will be fully respected, but some adjustments will be made to its end that will be explained more clearly later.

I must admit that this chapter took me a bit out of my comfort zone, because of the themes touched and the language. It is not the style of things that I usually write, but the characters that I have decided to use so deserve it, I think. It is likely that this will be repeated often from now on so I will give everything to do it well.

#Damien Thorn #Damien #the omen #Esther Coleman #Leena Klammer #orphan #resplandor entre tinieblas #shining among darkness

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beatricebidelaire · 7 years ago

Text

all the yesterdays i never forgot

pairing: R, The Duchess of Winnipeg / Esmé Squalor (or, Jacquelyn Scieszka / Esmé Squalor, since I headcanon Jacquelyn as R)

word count: ~1.1K

summary: There were many things that Esmé remembered about R.

alt: ao3

Here’s what Esme remembered: acting class on a Saturday afternoon, a light scoff behind her following Olaf’s ridiculous speech, the pair of pretty lips the scoff came from, and the moment some dramatic entrance music started playing as Esme turned around to study the face with the soft, pretty lips – figuratively started playing, anyway.

Wait, no – literally started playing. Because apparently Olaf, for whatever reason, decided to accompany his speech with music to showcase his point, whatever it was. As Esme met the eyes of the girl with blonde curls, all about what Olaf said seemed unimportant.

She was wearing a white summer dress, not super in but with a certain kind of unforgettable elegance. On her finger was a ring Esme had never seen before, but she’d heard of it and knew which family it belonged to.

“R,” Esme acknowledged, and the Duchess of Winnipeg’s lips curved into an approving smile.

“E,” R replied easily with a nod. Esme was pleased to know that she had enough of a reputation for people to easily recognize her. “The new student Olaf mentioned, I take it.”

The comment washed away her previous pleasure surprisingly fast, and for the first time, she wished that wouldn’t be what she’d be recognized, be remembered as. “Perhaps by the end of tonight,” she ventured slyly, “you might know me as something other than that.”

This was what Esme remembered: a high-profile shop for women’s suits in the city, eager kisses in the fitting room, R looking sharp in a suit.

“We look fabulous. Like an important financial advisor and her competent secretary.”

“Neither of us are a financial advisor or a secretary.”

“We might be, one day,” a challenging eyebrow raised, a delightful smirk playing across the lips.

“In that case,” a sparkle in the eye, a smooth drawl across two rows of sharp teeth, “perhaps we should roleplay for practice.”

Esme remembered this: cosmetics spread across a desk, the crimson orange of the setting sun shining through the window, R’s frown.

“If you really don’t want to go, I’d love to go own this blind date for you. I’ll order the innest, most expensive dishes and let the man pay,” Esme offered. “And then dump him afterwards. That would be fun.”

“I’d take you up on the offer, but I think my mother gave the man my picture.”

“Well, then isn’t it just lucky that I’m an excellent actress with superb disguise skills? Let’s get me dressed.” Esme paused. “Of course, we’d have to do the undressing part first.”

“Ah,” R’s frown faded away as a grin replaced it, “one of my favorite parts.”

And then there’s this: getting used to wearing the blonde wig to the dates R’s parents set her up with, and dumping the date after an extravagant dinner. It worked well, for quite a long time. And then Jerome happened.

Also: it turned out wigs were just like masks – you wear them for too long, you start to think they’re part of you.

This was what Esme remembered:

“You’ve met rich men before, and you never wanted to marry them!”

“Maybe I’ve changed, have you thought about that? Or maybe he’s even richer than all those other men combined.”

“Or maybe,” R said shrewdly, her eyes furious, almost like fire, Esme thought absentmindedly. Esme liked fire. “Maybe this is about Beatrice and the sugar bowl.”

Esme laughed, sharp and dark. “You’ve always been clever. That’s what I like about you.”

The thing about accusations was, they don’t always lead to denial, but they certainly do tend to lead to angry sex.

And Esme remembered this: they met again, because of course. Even after the breakup, they did tend to run in the same circle. A circle with an eye insignia hiding three letters. This time, they were on different sides now.

Or perhaps they’d been on different sides a long time ago, but just never talked about it.

Ironically, now they were actually a financial advisor and a secretary.

“Well, hello, the city’s sixth most important financial advisor,” R greeted her, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Esme stole a glance at the name plate on her desk. It read Jacquelyn.

“Hi, secretary for the city’s cough-the-most banker,” Esme shot back.

R –Jacquelyn’s face twisted into a familiar grimace, showing her distaste for her boss. For a moment, it seemed like nothing ever changed between them, that they were still who they’d been all those years ago.

The moment was gone as quickly as it came.

“How many places have you set on fire recently?” R asked coldly.

Esme took a moment to study her new hairstyle before refocusing back on their conversation. “Buy me a drink and I’ll tell you all about it,” she leant onto the secretary’s desk, half-threateningly, half-invitingly.

R’s lips thinned. Esme noticed they still looked as pretty as it’d been when they’d first met.

Perhaps some things never really changed.

“Fine,” R said coolly. “But just so you know, I’m only doing this for information, and not for anything else.”

“Of course,” Esme simpered, falsely sweet. She sat onto the desk, crossing her legs with the exact precision designed to catch attention. “Isn’t it what our organization is all about?”

R’s expression didn’t change. “Just one drink,” she reminded Esme simply.

Here’s what Esme remembered: It wasn’t just one drink. Of course it wasn’t.

She remembered this: lettuce bikini, breaking up with Olaf, Carmelita holding a harpoon gun. She remembered this: a cocktail party that never took place, a court with three orphans on trial, all those rumors about the sugar bowl flying around. She remembered this: the chaos that followed as blindfolded people trampled around everywhere. People crashing into each other everywhere. Someone shouting about the hotel being on fire. Someone shouting about how the fire was a lie.

And while life in V.F.D was oftentimes filled with an abundance of lies, it was also filled with an abundance of fire.

She remembered this: trying to move towards the exit when there were too many people going in the same direction, threatening people with her stiletto heels if they didn’t move out of her way, the fire catching up with all of them –

She remembered this: a strong pair of arms pulling her out of the crowds and hooked something onto her, a drop from the fifth floor to the ground, and absolute darkness after that.

Esme opened her eyes to an overly pale-white room that could only be a hospital.

“You’re awake,” said a very, very familiar voice. She turned slightly, and saw the blonde curls and the soft lips she always remembered.

And she found herself slowly starting to smile.

#asoue #esme squalor #r duchess of winnipeg #jacquelyn scieszka #stuff i write #mine #oneshot #asoue femslash #jacquelyn x esme #esme x r

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jeremys-blogs · 4 years ago

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Eizouken: Great Character Design

For as long as I can remember, I have had an utter love of animation. Not just watching the final product play out in theatres or on TV, but finding out about the process of it all. How animation works, what techniques exist, looking at differing styles and understanding the ideas behind why certain appearances and looks were chosen. As such, it should comes as no surprise that a particular recent anime crossed my radar some time ago, since it existed as a love letter to the field of animation; Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! This show, centered around three girls who share a passion for creating their own anime, has been an utter delight to watch, and what fascinates me most about it is that it is effectively an anime about how anime gets made. The practical decisions behind it, the thought process, all that good stuff. Sometimes entire scenes will involve the three girls focusing on what they need to do to set a scene or just to get a character to move, and in those moments I am utterly enraptured. That, plus the fact that it's funny as Hell, makes it an absolute must for anyone who wants an anime that's just different from anything they've likely seen before from the medium, as cliché as that may be to say.

Now, as tempting as it is for me to simply gush about the humour and the great backgrounds and all the rest of it, what I really want to talk about is the designs given to our three leading ladies. Because, and I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say this, but Asakusa, Kanamori and Mizusaki are probably some of the most uniquely-designed characters I've seen in anime in a long time. Now, I realise that a medium like anime has no shortage of weird and wonderful character designs out there, but the astonishing thing with this show and this cast is that it's a group of school girls. And I'm not sure if you've noticed, but anime that focus on characters like that tend not to get too adventurous when it comes to appearances. Oh, there are plenty of shows where the girls in question are likeable or funny, don't get me wrong, but you'll likely notice that they tend to be a bit uniform in their looks a lot of the time, no pun intended. Height, face types, body shapes, a lot of those things and more will be virtually identical to one another, with variation only noticeable in things like hairstyles and eye colours. Now Eizouken, on the other hand, seems to revel in breaking out of that particular mould and make these girls as distinct and varied as they can.

Of course, as with any great character design, the appearance of said characters needs to give some idea of who they are as people. A member of the audience need only glance at one of those they see on screen and, at least in part, have a grasp on what kind of character they're dealing with. Our main character Asakusa, for instance, is the shortest of the group, with big eyes and a somewhat tomboyish way of standing and moving a lot of the time, giving off the distinct impression of being, if not the youngest, then the most childlike of the three girls. Her larger-than-normal eyes give the sense of this being a literal wide-eyed idealist with a big imagination, which we see her display at numerous points of the show, as she's easily the most devout anime fan of the three. But despite her eagerness for that medium we also have moments of her looking like she wants to shrink away, showing off the shyness she has when around people outside her core group of friends, emphasised by her large hat, which would of course be good for breaking eye contact with others if you just tilted your head slightly. Overall, this is the design of a girl with lots of energy packed into a very small container, but also one you can tell straight away is awkward and at least a little bumbling, to the point of being perhaps the most cartoony of the main characters.

Up next is fan-favourite Kanamori, and with her we have the group's resident cynic and realist. Someone incredibly business-minded who acts more seriously than the rest, often exasperated by her colleague's more wacky antics. As such her design just perfectly reflects that, as her standard look is one with a smile-less, almost tired-looking appearance. As the tallest of the girls, and maybe even the tallest student at their school as a whole, she looks sort of out-of-place among virtually any crowd shot we get, but that height, much like with Asakusa's, gives the feel of age about her, even though she's the same as the other girls. But whereas Asakusa's height gave the impression of youth and perhaps innocence, Kanamori's height gives the feel of maturity, like she's the oldest and is more experiences than the rest. Out of all the girls, hers is the design that looks the most at-odds with those of other school anime, as she would, if placed in those other shows, most likely be seen as "the unappealing girl". The kind all the boys would be afraid of being paired up with at the school dance or something. So it's actually pretty great and encouraging as far as I'm concerned that she wound up being the audience's favourite when this show came out. Because if nothing else, its showed there was a want out there for schoolgirl characters in anime who could differ from the norm.

Last, but certainly not least, we have our final girl, Misusaki. And here, you might expect me to not have anything interesting to say about her, since she doesn't look anywhere near as unconventionally-designed as the other girls, but that very fact is actually what makes her design so clever. Because on the surface, she's easily the most anime-esque of our main trio, looking like she'd fit in with dozens of other school-based anime. But the thing about her character is that she's meant to be an aspiring model and actress, leading to her being "the pretty one" of the group. As such her appearance, despite probably looking ordinary in other anime, actually makes her stand out when you see her with Asakusa and Kanamori. You look at her, with no discernible quirks to her design like Kanamori's height or Asakusa's childlike face, and your mind instantly clicks that this is the character we're meant to view as more attractive in the typical sense. Average (by anime standards) being placed alongside unconventional immediately makes the average look great by comparison, as visual shorthand for beauty. But even with that main objective, there's enough to that ordinary look to give the idea of her being a largely cheerful and upbeat type, like her frequent smiles.

With this being the kind of anime that it is, there is one thing that needs discussion before I go any further, and unfortunately it's something I'm rather loathe to talk about. That being that none of the girls in this show are in any way objectified or sexualised over the course of the show. Now, that might seem obvious, since they're all underage, but as sad as it is to say that's not always a given with anime centred around schools. And yes, I realise that things like age of consent rules are different over there than they are over here in the west, but the bottom line is that anime has had a very uncomfortable relationship with this sort of thing, and it pleases me that Eizouken doesn't go anywhere near that kind of portrayal of the three girls. It's especially good considering that one of the girls is an outright model, someone whose job it is to look good for others, yet outside of those moments when we see her in modelling classes and the like, Mizusaki is never posed or framed in any way that would suggest that animators are trying to draw the eye to her. This was a character that, in many a school anime, would have been ripe for that kind of objectification, yet they refrain, which I'm hugely relieved about.

If you were to ask for further proof of just why the character designs in Eizouken are good, then there's one final thing we need to consider about them. I'm no artist, but when it comes to design there's one term I've often heard about, and that's the silhouette principal. The long and short of it is, the more easily you can identify a given character's identity from their outline or silhouette, the stronger their design is. For instance, take Mickey Mouse, Pikachu or Bugs Bunny. All clear outlines, all easily recognised. Now, if we try the same technique to our three Eizouken girls, we find we have just as much ease in identifying. Take away all but their outline and there's no debate over which one is which. Now, obviously this kind of method is best suited for animation, since we have things like exaggeration in their appearance that you wouldn't be able to get away with in live action, but even within animation, and anime specifically, we can see that effort has gone into making the girls look different from one another. Take an anime you love, perhaps another school-based one, and try to apply this principal to the cast of it. If you find you have a hard time telling one person from another, then we can probably say that the designs there aren't those shows' strong-suit.

By now I hope I've convinced anyone reading this that Eizouken is great on its visuals and character aesthetics. But thankfully, as I said at the start, it has far more than just that going for it, from its funny moments to the incredible love the creators had for the field of animation. Now, as someone who has grown up with the likes of Studio Ghibli, I'm well aware that there are better-looking and better-animated works out there, just as there are funnier comedies and so on. And I know too that Eizouken isn't going to be anyone's cup of tea, so there's a chance it's not going to be winning any "best anime ever" awards. But for me, this is one of those rare titles that just hits all of the right spots for me. If nothing else, its main cast, while small, certainly qualify for the most interesting collection I've seen in TV anime for a while, and when all else fails at least they're still around to carry the show. As of this writing I have no idea if Eizouken will be getting a second season or some OVA movie to tide me over, but even if this is the last I ever see of this world and these three great girls, then at least I can be content knowing that it was a fun ride 😊

#essay #writing #my stuff #anime #eizouken #keep your hands off eizouken!#kanamori #mizusaki #asakusa

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talesofafangirlwithadvr · 7 years ago

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CW Superheroes are Back! Part 1

The CW returned this week with all new episodes of new and old shows and I was super (no pun intended) excited to pick up with all new episodes of the legends of the superflarrow universe. Check out my reviews on Supergirl and Flash below!

Supergirl

After the emotional season finale last year, we all knew that Kara would be experiencing a lot in the 3rd season, and we were correct as the show began with a sad dream sequence involving Mon-El and Kara’s mom, Lara. [I think it’s fantastic that yet another alum of the Superman universe is on Supergirl--Erica Durance Smallville’s Lois Lane--but I like how we’re not addressing the change in actress at all.]

I don’t know if it’s because it’s been so long since the finale, but everyone looked so different. It might just be because it has been a while, but Melissa’s hair definitely got blonder. (It always looks so good. I wish I could pull off some many of her hairstyles as Kara Danvers.) I loved seeing all members of Team Supergirl again and was very happy that James Olsen even made multiple appearances. Last season, despite his new role as Guardian, there would be several episodes at a time where he was just missing and no one addressed where he was. In the boardroom I couldn’t help, but notice a little connection between him and Lena when they backed each other up on Supergirl. Could they possibly be setting up something there?? Am I reading too much into this?? (Probably.) But she did just buy CATCO, so the two can possibly have more screen time together....We shall see.

Kara’s focus on only being Supergirl this episode and leaving Kara Danvers behind was very reminiscent to some of the other superhero plots we’ve seen on other shows in the past. Oliver Queen on Arrow only being the Green Arrow. It seems like a plight that each character must undergone and I’m interested in seeing how Kara experiences it, seeing as how she has been such a positive hero in the past.

I understand why Kara was feeling the way she did, but was happy when she had some consoling by J’onn. Everyone had been pestering her about her feelings and he was the first person I thought of that she should talk to. He has experienced something extremely similar. I’m glad that conversation happened even if it was super short. J’onn had a strong father figure role, yet again, this episode. I love how Alex asked if he will walk her down the aisle. :)

While there were mixed reviews on Mon-El last season, he was always one of my personal favorites (and I was on the Team Karamel ship). So, it was great still seeing his name as a series regular, and I love how he was the one to get through to Kara to, “WAKE UP!” I can’t wait to see where he’s been all of this time later in the season.

Maggie and Alex’s talk about their wedding made me really nervous for how things are going to go. On shows we’re never allowed to have anything nice, so I’m crossing my fingers that it is smooth sailing. They deserve to be happy. I also thought I heard that Floriana (who plays Maggie) isn’t a series regular, so that worries me (but I might be wrong--Let me know.)

Talking about things going wrong, we got a first look at the new villain, Reign, who doesn’t know who she is. That is going to be an interesting character arc for sure!

Favorite quote from this episode (paraphrasing): Alex and J’onn- Don’t cry or I’ll cry and then people will know we actually can cry.

The Flash

How crazy is it that we are already in the 4TH SEASON!!! Time is racing by...(okay that pun was on purpose) :)

The beginning, when we saw Team Flash minus its lead hero, felt a lot like on Buffy the Vampire Slayer when Buffy left and the Scooby Gang were fighting the bad guys. It was interesting to see Iris step up and be the leader back at STAR Labs. Loved seeing Cisco (or should I say Vibe) getting in on some superhero action out in the field. Also really enjoyed Joe’s shades. Iris sleeping on the couch made my heart break. The team felt really small compared to where we were last season. I was kind of sad that Harry wasn’t around. I hope we see him soon.

I was happy Barry was brought back in the same episode. I thought we were going to have to wait till like the last 5 minutes or till the 2nd ep. I also like how they made him in a different state of mind, but feel like his recovery was too fast and he can’t be 100% back. It seemed too easy and I wouldn’t be surprised if something happens to Barry later in the season as a repercussion.

I’m excited this season’s big bad is actually not another speedster, but I’m going to have to do some research on who he is because I don’t know much.

Caitlin! At first I thought she was taking a drug to suppress Killer Frost and the guy who interrupted her and Cisco at the bar was her dealer. Then I thought she was a part of a gang. But I was shocked that she’s got a Jekyll and Hyde thing going on. Super intense! I’m hoping we gain some backstory in flashback form for what happened with her these past 6 months.

The parallels this episode to the pilot were FANTASTIC! I had just rewatched the first episode recently, so it was even more satisfying. Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” Cisco and the twizzlers, plus Caitlin asking him to pee in the cup. Too good!

I also really enjoyed all the new STAR Labs merch. There was a towel that Joe used when he gave Barry a shave and a white tee that Wally was sporting. Very nice.

My favorite quote this episode was a tie between: “This house is bitchin.” (So funny) and the comment Cisco made about Caitlin liking urine.

Stay posted for my CW Superhero Reviews Part 2 involving Legends of Tomorrow and Arrow!! Can’t wait to see what’s in store for them.

#cw superheroes #superheroes review #supergirl #supergirl 3x01 #kara danvers #j'onn jones #alex danvers #james x lena #Mon-El #karamel #the flash #the flash 4x01 #Caitlin Snow #team flash #cisco ramon #star labs #legends of superflarrow

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shorthaircutsmodels · 5 years ago

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Like me, you can turn off the idea of a short haircut every time because of this thought process: short hair will look wrong to me. It takes longer to grow. Kristen Stewart new haircut Kristen Stewart is one of those elusive beauty chameleons who can really do no wrong. Whether her hair is cut short, grown long, or swept aside in a combination that should be awkward (but not in a way), she looks cool and effortless. Joan jett Kristen Stewart hair Over the years, she has tried it all, brunette on a whirlwind beauty roller-coaster that refuses to return to her punky roots and a ethereal white-blonde. Here are his best hair looks. As her short platinum hair has grown out in the past few months. Kristen Stewart haircut in twilight Kristen Stewart styled her pixie with dark roots and Pomad on the tip. In June, Stewart wore her cut super short with slightly longer sideburns. Here, he designed his signature kohl-striped eyes for the Brady Center's bear Awards Gala. Kirsten Stewart's Best Hair Looks Fans won't be surprised to hear Kristen Stewart short with her hair, but they may be surprised to see how good the short edges, bleached hints of meticulous styles and Devil-grooming attitude can look.they're all packed. How to get Kristen Stewart hair Stewart debuted a new look that hairstylist Adir Abergel posted to Instagram while promoting his new film Seberg at the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada. The new look has a messy top and shorter edges, but the look does not. Kristen Stewart blonde hair Have a buzzed underside. The platinum blonde tips that come and go depending on Stewart's ever-changing looks are longer and more messy. He's also not afraid to play with all the new tissues. Abergel Instagram Stories show. Kristen Stewart hair tutorial Stewart wearing his new style unkempt and carefree rather than slipping back as he has done in the past. All these details may sound extreme, but it's clear they're coming together for Stewart. Abergel's action style has had a few. Kristen Stewart hair in twilight Snapshots, and whatever the case, the relaxed, fun style seems to work well. While most actresses have a signature beauty look, Kristen Stewart is always experimenting with bold hair and makeup. The actress worked her deep brunette tresses in every shade. Kristen Stewart hair extensions Of auburn red. Recently, Stewart debuted his most daring style yet: a stylish buzz cut. Now, she is growing out of fashion, and has added hints of an icy platinum blonde. In honor of her recent appearance sporting a press tour for. Kristen Stewart hair style Charlie's Angels, here are Stewart's most adventurous moments of beauty on the red carpet. Last night was the Los Angeles premiere of underwater, a film starring Kristen Stewart that honestly looks terrible. Kristen Stewart haircut What wasn't scary? Stewart's new pixie cut is a shorter style than we've seen from the longtime star. The ' 90s supermodel added her style to her comeback look of the night by wearing a black skirt suit and a white crop top. Kristen Stewart hairstyle name Kristen Stewart is an American actress and director who has provided great inspiration for short hairs and how to wear this short haircut. Following through Kristen Stewart can then have huge exposure on how to wear a single haircut in a different way for a different look. Kristen Stewart haircut short The underwater scientific fiction horror film and the moment our Twilight actress learned she would get plenty of wet times while filming scenes of the film, she decided it was better to cut her locks than to dry them every now and then. Kristen Stewart hairstyle When interviewing she alluded to this by stating that having large locks would add to her bulkiness. He, too, tried to show how serious his problem was by stating that he already had to invest a lot of time with the suit and that it would be a gruelling. Kristen Stewart new hairstyle Process that didn't end with the hair. As a result, he decided to let the barber do magic with his scissors. To add, she noted that this buzz cut actually adds more value to her on-screen role and helps her portray her character more safely. Kristen Stewart hair colour Stay tuned and stay updated with the latest hip and entertainment industry events and the buzz going on around you to keep picky the following morning. Kristen Stewart can probably make a paper bag look cool if she wears it as a hat, and her new lousy. Kristen Stewart red hair Blonde hair color is all the proof we need to know that she can turn any hairstyle into a true rockstar look. Stewart's hair (previously ombré brown-blond) is streaked with a rough blonde color that, after a long week, seems to have done itself on a. Kristen Stewart hair color Whim and quickly mixed with a drawer of unused hair products but that's the point. "It's for a role; Kristen had to look like herself," Stewart's colorist Amber Maynard Bolt said. "As a perfectionist, it was hard to take myself out of that mindset to create something. Kristen Stewart hair eclipse That wasn't as clean as I normally do. I even had a messy workout. If I take my own hair and burn it, I'll put myself there. Except for what I normally do, but I loved it."The look is pretty oddly great, so maybe he should want the messy look more often. Kristen Stewart hair loss Although it looks terrible, we love the unconventional style and the next time we go to the salon we might have to ask for the K Stew Grunge Look(TM). Admire Stewart's silencing, but somehow it's still incredibly stylish, it's New going on. Kristen Stewart black hair If it was short, it wouldn't be as fun as styling my hair. That last thing, I assure you, is not true. Take a look at Kristen Stewart, for example. In 2020 - 2021, the actress swapped her long, wavy hair for a chin-length product that we found shocking at the time. Kristen Stewart brown hair Since then, he has been experimenting with shorter styles with the help of hairstylist Adir Abergel, who has been with him for 14 years. If there's only one short hairstyle you can think of, Stewart has worn it a dozen times. Kristen Stewart new hair Short hair is incredibly versatile; is a great example," Abergel says of Allure. The key to keeping it is an "individual, alternative, fearless" look, she says, " all about playing with shapes, textures and color changes. Kristen Stewart hair care While the Charlie's Angels star continues to experiment with length, texture, shape and colour, we've rounded up 16 of our favourite over the past few years to prove just how versatile a few inches of hair can be. Kristen Stewart hair now Sorry, Not Sorry if you end up calling your hairdresser for a desk mid-scroll. From blonde to brunette to red to buzz cut, there's no hair colour and cut that Kristen Stewart hasn't tried. The actress is known for her experimental approach and the many hairstyles she has on Arcade charts here. Of course, it's not just the hair, it's also the way it expresses itself. Kristen Stewart natural hair color Many of us look at photos of our younger selves and cringe for a reason. It brings us back to that time when we felt a certain way, and that's probably very different from today. Now imagine doing all this in the public eye. What is Kristen Stewart's face shape? Thankfully, Stewart has always had a great glam team and there's nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to her beauty look. Even in her twilight days, she looked relaxed in her appearance-and looked as stylish as hell as she did so. Can I pull off short hair? Kristen Stewart's Short Hairstyles and Haircuts, But we saw the real Kristen Stewart show up when she cut her hair. The teenager had been waiting to make the big chops until the franchise was over and now it seemed he could play with the pixies, rock-and-roll blast, mullet and even shaved head.

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ljones41 · 7 years ago

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"DANIEL DERONDA" (2002) Review

"DANIEL DERONDA" (2002) Review With the exception of the 1994 miniseries, "MIDDLEMARCH", I am not that familiar with any movie or television adaptations of George Eliot's works. I finally decided to overlook my earlier lack of interest in Eliot's final novel, "Daniel Deronda" and watch the television version that aired back in 2002.

This adaptation of Eliot's 1876 novel was set during the same decade of its publication, although the literary version was set a decade earlier - during the 1860s. Adapted by Andrew Davies and directed by Tom Hooper, "DANIEL DERONDA" contained two major plot arcs, united by the story's title character. In fact, Davies followed Eliot's narrative structure by starting its tale mid-way. The miniseries began in the fictional town of Leubronn, Germany with the meeting of Daniel Deronda, the ward of a wealthy landowner; and the oldest daughter of an impoverished, yet respectable family, Gwendolen Harleth. The two meet inside a casino, where Gwendolen manages to lose a good deal of money at roulette. When she learns that her family has become financially ruined, Gwendolen pawns her necklace and considers another round of gambling to make her fortune. However, Daniel, who became attracted to her, redeemed the necklace for her. The story then flashes back several months to the pair's back stories. Following the death of her stepfather, Gwendolen and her family moves to a new neighborhood, where she meets Henleigh Mallinger Grandcourt, a taciturn and calculating man who proposes marriage safter their first meeting. Although originally tempted to be courted by Grandcourt, Gwendolen eventually flees to Germany after learning about Grandcourt's mistress, Lydia Glasher and their children. Meanwhile, Daniel is in the process of wondering what to do with his life, when he prevents a beautiful Jewish singer named Milah Lapidoth from committing suicide. Kidnapped by her father as a child and forced into an acting troupe, Milah finally fled from him when she discovered his plans to sell her into prostitution. Daniel undertakes to help Milah find her mother and brother in London's Jewish community before he departs for Germany with his guardian, Sir Hugo Mallinger. Although Daniel and Gwendolen are attracted to each other, she eventually marries the emotionally abusive Grandcourt out of desperation, and he continues his search for Milah's family and becomes further acquainted with London's Jewish community. Because Grandcourt is Sir Hugo's heir presumptive, Daniel and Gwendolen's paths cross on several occasions. There are times when I find myself wondering if there is any true description of Eliot's tale. On one hand, it seemed to be an exploration of Jewish culture through the eyes of the Daniel Deronda character. On the other hand, it seemed like an exploration of an abusive marriage between a previously spoiled young woman who finds herself out of her depth and a cold and manipulative man. Most critics and viewers seemed more interested in the plotline regarding Gwendolen's marriage to Henleigh Grandcourt. At the same time, these same critics and viewers have criticized Eliot's exploration of Jewish culture through Daniel's eyes, judging it as dull and a millstone around the production's neck. When I first saw "DANIEL DERONDA", I had felt the same. But after this second viewing, I am not so sure if I would completely agree with them. Do not get me wrong. I thought Andrew Davies, Tom Hopper and the cast did an excellent job of translating Gwendolen's story arc to the screen. I was especially transfixed in watching how the arrogant and spoiled found herself drawn into a marriage with a controlling and sadistic man like Henleigh Grandcourt. However by the first half of Episode Three, I found myself growing rather weary of watching Hugh Bonneville stare icily into the camera, while Romola Garai trembled before him. Only Gwendolen's pathetic attempts to rattle her husband and Grandcourt's jealousy of Daniel provided any relief from the constant mental sadism between the pair. In contrast, Daniel's interest in Milah, her Jewish ancestry and especially his confusion over his own identity struck me as surprisingly interesting. I also found the conflict between Daniel's growing interest in Judaism and his godfather's determination to mold him into an "English gentleman" also fascinating. When I first saw "DANIEL DERONDA", I thought it could have benefited from a fourth episode. Or . . . the producers could have stretched the second and third episodes to at least 75 or 90 minutes each. But you know what? Upon my second viewing, I realized I had no problems with the production's running time. Besides, I do not think I could have endured another episode of the Grandcourts' marriage. I have to give George Eliot for creating an interesting novel about self-discovery . . . especially for the two main characters, Daniel Deronda and Gwendolen Harleth. And I want to also credit screenwriter Andrew Davies for his first-rate translation of Eliot's novel to the television screen. I would not say that Davies' work was perfect, but then neither was Eliot's novel. I have to praise both the novelist and the screenwriter for effectively conveying Daniel's confusion over his own identity and his fascination toward a new culture and how both will eventually converge as one by the end of the story. Although Gwendolen plays a part in Daniel's inner culture clash, she has her own struggles. I do not simply refer to her struggles to endure Grandcourt's emotional control over her. I also refer to Gwendolen's moral conflict - one in which she had earlier lost when she had agreed to marry Grandcourt. But a trip to Italy will eventually give her a second chance to resolve her conflict. On the other hand, I do have some quibbles about Davies' screenplay. Daniel was not the only character who had developed feelings for Milah. So did his close friend, Hans Meyrick. Unfortunately, Davies' screenplay did little to explore Hans' feelings for Milah and toward her relationship with Daniel. Speaking of Milah, I could not help but feel fascinated by her backstory regarding her relationship with her father. In many ways, it struck me as a lot more traumatic than Gwendolen's marriage to Grandcourt. A part of me wishes that Eliot had explored this part of Milah's life in her novel. Speaking of Milah, Episode Two ended on an interesting note in which she finally became aware of the emotional connection between Daniel and Gwendolen. And yet, the story never followed through on this emotional and character development. Which I feel is a damn shame. Some fans and critics have expressed regret that Daniel ends up marrying Milah, instead of Gwendolen. After all, Eliot allowed two other characters to form a mixed marriage - the Jewish musician Herr Klesmer and one of Gwendolen's friends, Catherine Arrowpoint. Surely, she could have allowed Daniel and Gwendolen to marry. I do believe that they had a point. I feel that Daniel and Gwendolen would have made emotionally satisfying partners for each other. But if I must be honest, I can say the same about Daniel and Milah. I believe the two women represented choices in lifestyles for Daniel. Gwendolen represented the lifestyle that both Sir Hugo and Daniel's mother wanted him to pursue - namely that of an upper-class English gentleman. Milah represented a lifestyle closer to his true self. In the end, Eliot wanted Daniel to choose his "true self". I cannot deny that the production values for "DANIEL DERONDA" struck me as outstanding. Don Taylor's production designs for the miniseries did a beautiful job in re-creating Victorian England and Europe during the 1870s. The crew who helped him bring this era to life also did exceptional jobs, especially art director Grant Montgomery and set decorator Nicola Barnes. However, there were technical aspects that truly stood out. Simon Starling's colorful and sharp photography of Great Britain and Malta (which served as Italy) truly took my breath away. I could also say the same for Caroline Noble, who did an excellent job of re-creating the hairstyles of the early and mid-1870s. As for Mike O'Neill's costume designs for the production . . . in some cases, pictures can speak louder than words:

Truly outstanding and beautiful. I was especially impressed by Romola Garai's wardrobe. "DANIEL DERONDA" also featured a good deal of outstanding performances. If I must be honest, I cannot find a single performance that struck me as below par or even mediocre. The miniseries featured solid performances from the likes of Celia Imrie, Anna Popplewell, Anna Steel, Jamie Bamber and Daniel Marks. "DANIEL DERONDA" also included some interested supporting performances, especially Allan Corduner's skillful portrayal of the blunt-speaking musician Herr Klesmer; David Bamber as Grandcourt's slimy sycophant, Lush; Edward Fox as Sir Hugo Mallinger, Daniel's loving benefactor; Amanda Root's interesting portrayal of Gwendolen's rather timid mother; Daniel Evan's intense performance as Miriam's long lost brother; and Greta Scacchi's very complex portrayal of Grandcourt's former mistress, Lydia Glasher. Superficially, the character of Miriam Lapidoth seemed like the type that would usually bore me - the "nice girl" with whom the hero usually ended. But actress Jodhi May projected a great deal of depth in her portrayal of Miriam, reflecting the character's haunted past in a very subtle and skillful manner. Barbara Hershey more or less made a cameo appearance in "DANIEL DERONDA"that lasted a good five to ten minutes. However, being an excellent actress, Hershey gave a superb performance as Daniel's long lost mother, a former opera singer named Contessa Maria Alcharisi, who gave him up to Sir Hugo in order to pursue a singing career. Perhaps I should have been horrified by her decision to give up motherhood for a career. But Hershey beautifully conveyed the contessa's frustration over her father's determination that she adhere to society's rules by limiting her life to being a wife and mother. And I found myself sympathizing her situation. Like Miriam Lapidoth, the Daniel Deronda character seemed like the type of character I would find boring. Superficially, he seemed too upright and not particularly complex. However, I was surprised and very pleased by how Hugh Dancy injected a great deal of complexity in his portrayal of Daniel. He did an effective job in portraying Daniel's conflict between the lifestyle both Sir Hugo and his mother had mapped out for him and the one represented by Miriam, her brother Mordecai, and their friends, the Cohens. Romola Garai was equally superb as the complex Gwendolen Harleth. She did such an excellent job in conveying Gwendolen's growth from a spoiled and ambitious young woman, to the matured and more compassionate woman who had survived an emotionally traumatic marriage that I cannot help but wonder how she failed to earn an action nomination, let alone award, for her performance. Hugh Bonneville also gave an excellent job as Gwendolen's emotionally abusive husband, Henleigh Grandcourt. I read somewhere that the role helped Bonneville break out of his usual staple of good-natured buffoons that he had portrayed in movies like 1999's "MANSFIELD PARK" and "NOTTING HILL". I can see how. I found his Grandcourt rather chilly and intimidating. "DANIEL DERONDA" may have a few flaws. But overall, it is a prime example of the British period dramas at its zenith during the fifteen-year period between 1995 and 2010. It is a superb production and adaptation of George Eliot's novel, thanks to Tom Hooper's direction, Andrew Davies' writing, the excellent work by its crew and the first-rate cast led by Hugh Dancy and Romola Garai. It is something not to be missed.

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leesungjongg · 7 years ago

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BTIMFL Review

This is long and it goes from Negative to Positive, and then to Negative... and then to Positive. I guess you’ll see if you decide to read it. Also it’s very long. warning. Also it’s disorganized and i don’t have time to spam the drama for now but i will later just a warning ok also spoilers and this is just my opinion you don’t have to agree with it. here it is:

warning: rape mention. there was an attempted rape in the drama itself and i talk a little bit about it near the end of the review. just so u know

It was an okay drama. I probably wouldn’t watch it again though, because there were a lot of things that I still had questions about and although the ending was nice, it was not that great, in my opinion. When I was reading the captions/subtitles when Jiho was talking (whether it was the background voice or just her speaking), half the time I ended up not even understanding anything she was saying and I started zoning out .-. Of course, there were cute scenes and scenes that made me smile. There were also scenes where it hurt my heart and I teared up at (like when Sooji’s mom told her that her legs were holding Sooji back from being with her boyfriend LIKE THAT SCENE UGH. MY HEART.) Cute scenes where Jiho was smiling and everything made me really happy :’))))) honestly idek why she decided to terminate the contract bc she twisted and turned with her words so much that i got lost and i was like man, i need a new GPS system. Anyways. The characters were great! The plot? the storyline...???? idk. the scenes also cut off weirdly. everything about this drama is weird. even the whole contract that Sehee and Jiho made to live together/get married and have like nothing else... that was weird. I told my friend and she was like “marriages are more like contracts of loyalty rather than contracts of businesses” and although it wasn’t a business... it wasn’t... i guess it was for loyalty? man idek what im talking about. it was weird that’s all i have to say. what really tugged my heartstrings was when Jiho came back and Sehee was like “no ur just a dream, this is so cruel. but i love this dream, please never leave” aND LIKE JIHO SAW HIM CRY LIKE BRUHHHHHH SAME HERE MAN I WAS LIKE UGHFHFHHHHH JIHO!!!!! my love :( seriously... Jiho... idk who plays Jiho but i remembered her from D Day and in this drama she looks so beautiful. ok here comes the positives im so excited. the lighting... especially the lighting when it came onto Jiho’s eyes (or anyone’s really) WAS SO. PRETTY. WTFFFFFFF honestly she’s so beautiful. I loved her hairstyle, I want to draw her. I suck at drawing but literally @Jiho ur my muse now. i loved the hair and makeup and the lighting so soooo much in the drama. I loved Jiho’s pink coat at the end of the drama, and I surprisingly liked her wedding gown at the beginning of the drama when they first got married. I love Jiho’s shy smiles, she looked like an actually bunny!!! I love everything about her! ok maybe im talking about the actress more than the character BUT STILL. she’s so pretty ;(( Sehee’s pretty cool. Everytime he made a facial expression, I found it hilarious bc he was always keeping the same face in every episode. Idk how he did it. but he’s amazing. i loved when CEO Ma came up behind him and was about to surprise him but then he said Jungmin? AND SEHEE LITERALLY SCREAMED AND ALMOST KILLED CEO MA ok maybe not that far but he almost whacked him in the face lol. the way he got surprised made me laugh. throughout most of the drama though, he had red eyes and from my experience, everytime i’ve had red eyes is when i havent slept enough... i hope the actor who plays him gets a lot more sleep :( CEO Ma. I love him so much. One of my favorite characters. He was so pure honestly and he deserved everything. I’m glad he was there for Sooji, and everything he did for her. It was weird because Sooji didnt want him to intrude on her life but he did it anyway, and in such a romantic way too? I thought he’d be somewhat annoying about it but he was sincere and such a gentleman. Love u CEO Ma. Please continue on your being nice path. Sooji. Very harsh, difficult... she scared me at times. But I loved how badass she was. i would probably be afraid to approach her but i would love to have her as a friend. she’s tough, but sometimes i think she needs a break from life ;( glad she started her own business and quit her job (even though i would’ve loved to see her quit sooner and have a flourishing business) Wonseok.... and Horang :(((((((((((( SERIOUSLY RELATIONSHIP GOALS. Despite the arguing THEY WERE SO CUTE TOGETHER. I loved them so much. It was so weird when they broke up and it felt so wrong, but they got back together in the end... it was weird. like i said, this whole drama is weird. BUT MINSEOK PLAYED IN THIS AHHHH GOOD JOB MINSEOK!!!! Horang is literally gorgeous. so so beautiful, and her smile BLINDS you, god. she’s so pretty. Overall, this drama was okay. ALSO OMG I FORGOT TO MENTION Bok Nam. he’s kinda cute. i wished Lee Hyunwoo played him. he’s adorable in my eyes. Bok Nam was really fishy at the start with him knowing everything SO I WAS SO SURPRISED WHEN HE WASNT THE KIDNAPPER WTF? dude u played that part so well, good JOB. i fell for it. we all fell for it. anyways, at the beginning the drama, Jiho was in a group where she was the assistant writer and honestly i didnt understand anything that she went through with her writing and stuff, all i know is that 1) she wasnt enjoying her position because the other writer kept crossing everything out on her story and making it her own, 2) the guy who had flirted with her for three years and got a FRICKING GIRLFRIEND ended up almost raping her while he was drunk like you deserve to eat dirt. good bye. glad Se hee kicked his ass at the end of the drama (which also made me angry because WOW. it took THIS long for him to come and apologize AND THAT HE SAID HE DIDNT MEAN TO?? WHAT?!!?! son u had every intention of doing that to her that night dont u even dare cover it up with any bs excuse, ur poop now) and to bring back the third point, 3) the writing team tried to get Jiho back WITH HER FRICKING RAPIST AND SHE DECLINED I WAS LIKE YES DONT DO THIS TO YOURSELF YOU DESERVE BETTER IM SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!!! overall. it was an okay drama. didn’t like the almost rape part. didnt like how the scenes were cut weirdly. didnt like how the contract was made and how jiho explained her way of things (even towards the end, her mom was like “i dont understand you” or smth and i was like omfg same thank goodness im not the only one), and didnt like how jiho explained the divorce. but the scenes where you could see sehee and jiho get closer together (the kimchi and the ocean and the looking forward to seeing your husband on the bus, waiting for you, saving a seat for you like son....... that’s so cuTEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!! ALSO WOOSEOK AND HORANGS RELATIONSHIP. minus the bickering and the fact that Horang tried to change Wooseok.. being together 7 years and being happy for that long is amazing. i loved when wooseok called Horang Rang. it was so pretty. i love sooji’s and CEO MA OMG HE’S SO GREAT. I WOULD GIVE HIM EVERYTHING. So glad he was there for sooji. the characters and their relationships together were so great, i really liked it a lot. but the plot was just ahhh.... it could’ve been better. that’s all. i give it a 6.8/10. maybe a 7, but not quite a 7. thank u for reading. hope this mess makes sense :/

#dramas #because this is my first life #btimfl #reviews #back to hw

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ramajmedia · 5 years ago

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5 Things Melrose Place Did Better Than 90210 (& Vice Versa)

Although Melrose Place has its own reputation for being a pretty wild show, it was actually a spin-off of Beverly Hills, 90210. The drama was meant to focus on an older crowd than the teens of the posh California address, but after some early episodes that were kind of lame, the series shifted to the nuts cliffhangers and storylines that people still talk about today.

RELATED: 10 Teen Shows We Want a Reboot of More Than Beverly Hills 90210

10 Melrose Place: A Cohesive Setting

Watch even one episode of Melrose Place and it becomes super clear that there's one main setting: the apartment complex where all of the characters live. It's always smart when a TV show has one major setting (like the hospital on Grey's Anatomy or Monica's place on Friends). It not only provides a hang-out spot for the characters and is often the environment where all of the drama goes on, but it's also comforting for viewers.

Although the gang hangs out at the Peach Pit on Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place wins this round. Many people would love to call 4616 Melrose Place home thanks to its pretty architecture and pool... if it wasn't for the crazy stuff always happening there, of course.

9 90210: Enduring Friendships

Although Melrose Place has a better setting, 90210 did one thing much better than its predecessor: it featured lasting friendships. The core group managed to stay close throughout all of the twists and turns of their young adult existences. Since that doesn't always happen in real life, it's really nice to see.

RELATED: Gilmore Girls: Paris Geller’s 10 Most Badass Quotes

Sure, Brenda (Shannen Doherty) left the series after only four seasons, but the rest of the characters keep hanging out at the Peach Pit, the beach, and even living together after high school was over. It was hard to buy any of the friendships on Melrose Place. Even if certain characters seem to like one another, they're always so manipulate that the friendships don't seem real.

8 Melrose Place: Truly Crazy Twists

Even the most surprising 90210 storylines (like when Dylan's new wife, Toni, dies) still make sense within the context of the show. Since the show follows friends as they handle various high school and college issues, the biggest plotlines focus on their dating lives. It's really nothing that would make you gasp at your TV set.

Melrose Place, on the other hand, is known for its truly crazy twists, and this is where the show really excels. Even just thinking about when Kimberly (Marcia Cross) destroys the apartment building, for instance, is mind-boggling to this day. The characters are always lying and scheming and it's almost too enjoyable and entertaining.

7 90210: Discussion Of Young Adult Issues

When comparing Melrose Place and 90210, it's pretty clear that the latter wins when it comes to portraying young adult issues in a way that viewers can relate to.

RELATED: 10 Best Reality TV Shows You Can Stream Right Now

The show may be full of cheese and dated hairstyles and clothing, but it does deserve respect for bringing up topics. The first season alone talks about shoplifting, wealth, jealousy, the first time, cheating, and drinking.

6 Melrose Place: An Old-Fashioned Soap Opera Vibe

Sometimes TV dramas face criticism for being too much like a soap opera if they feature confusing storylines, characters coming back from the dead, or too much plot in one episode. This isn't always a bad thing because soap operas are pure entertainment.

In the case of Melrose Place, it has that kind of soap opera vibe, and that's why it has endured after all of these years. Viewers were completely hooked (even Jerry on Seinfeld couldn't help but get into the show) and every single episode delivers. Even though 90210 is still watchable today, it's not as bingeworthy.

5 90210: A Bigger Part Of Popular Culture

Even though Melrose Place is a popular show and many people loved tuning in, it definitely seems fair to argue that 90210 has left a much more lasting impression on popular culture.

Kelly, Dylan, Brandon, and Brenda have become classic, famous characters, and many aspects of the show, from the love triangles to the focus on problems that teens go through, are often talked about today. Like Saved By The Bell and Dawson's Creek, 90210 is considered a really big deal when it comes to teen shows.

4 Melrose Place: Keeping Fans Guessing Always

Would anyone have guessed that Kimberly would do any of the things that she does, from taking Jo's (Daphne Zuniga) baby to blowing up the apartment complex to wearing a wig to hide an ugly scar? Or what about Alison (Courtney Thorne-Smith) becoming an alcoholic and Amanda (Heather Locklear) becoming the head of the advertising agency D&D and going crazy with power?

RELATED: Riverdale: 5 Characters The Show Changed For The Better (& 5 For The Worse)

If Melrose Place did one thing really, really well, it would be always keeping fans guessing. This was the joy of watching the show.

3 90210: Realistic Romance

Even though love triangles seem to exist more on teen drama than in actual life, it's still fair to say that the relationships on 90210 are more realistic than on Melrose Place.

For example, on Melrose Place, Amanda dates Billy (Andrew Shue) and he has no idea that she's actually a horrible person. And it's hard to know if Alison truly loves Billy or Jake (Grant Show) because she goes back and forth about her feelings so much. But no one ever doubts that Dylan (Luke Perry) and Kelly (Jennie Garth) really care about each other. It's even believable that she would move on with Brandon (Jason Priestley) because the emotions seem real.

2 Melrose Place: Big Names

The 90210 cast is famous now, thanks to their time on the series, but it's fair to say that Melrose Place did some big names on the show. They all played juicy characters.

RELATED: Booksmart: 6 Things It Does Better Than Superbad (& 4 Things It Does Worse)

Kristin Davis of Sex and the City fame was in 32 episodes of Melrose Place, playing Brooke Armstrong, a rich girl who marries Billy and is totally hated by Alison. Alyssa Milano played Michael's little sister Jennifer Mancini in 40 episodes. And Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star and actress Lisa Rinna was Taylor McBride in 66 episodes, a woman who gets involved with Peter (Jack Wagner) even though she has a husband and who sets off a whole chain of events.

1 90210: Two Reboots

Sure, Melrose Place got a reboot in 2009, but it only got one season and wasn't very well-received. It didn't feel like the same show and didn't give fans very much to work with.

90210 has gotten two reboots, so for that reason, it wins this round. Fans of the original might not love the CW series which aired from 2008 to 2013 because besides a few brief apperances by Kelly and Brenda, it didn't have much in common with the original. But fans have another chance with the recent reboot, BH90210, which is currently airing. Even if it's not what fans might have wished for (since it's a meta show that left some people baffled), it's still a way to hang out with the gang again.

NEXT: 5 Ways Friends Has Aged Poorly (& 5 Ways It’s Timeless)

source https://screenrant.com/things-melrose-place-did-better-beverly-hills-90210-vice-versa-tv-show/

#screenrant

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its-just-like-the-movies · 8 years ago

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Casting JonBenet (17, B+/A-)

There’s always something about true-crime documentary that feels sketchy as a prospect, the idea being that it’s going to be in the style of one of those lurid television shows that just speculates rampantly about a random case while blurrily-filmed actors carry out whatever horrific crime this week’s attraction will be. With a subject as bizarre and infamous as the murder of JonBenet Ramsay, who very recently was the subject of that kind of segmented made-for-TV documentary that seemed to completely suggest she was murdered by her brother, that potential for ickiness expands tenfold. Thankfully, as you may have heard, Casting JonBenet dodges these particular pitfalls with surprising grace, in part due to the multitude of perspectives it calls upon with the actors all playing members of the Ramsay household, of a police chief, of a confessor, of Santa Claus, in part because the film they’re purporting to make feels like a real film, and in part because it dodges all of the crass nastiness that defines so much of our true-crime media to create something remarkable and multifaceted, without demonizing anyone involved in the murder themselves. Frankly, it’s not even that much of a true crime story so much as it is a portrait of Boulder, Colorado itself, and the people who’ve been haunted by the shadow of this case for decades. We do not just get to hear their ideas, but the ideas behind their ideas, what in their lives would make them consider the things they do about the JonBenet Ramsay case, and for that it’s a much richer portrait of the dozens of people interpreting the lives and legacies of the Ramsay family instead of the family themselves.

For sure, everyone they talk to has an opinion about the case. Patsy Ramsay was considered the killer by most of the adult actors, with various levels of complicity for John Ramsay. The child actors auditioning for Burke are mainly asked about their careers, and the JonBenets only appear three times as a group and one girl completely alone in the finale, almost always as props or for evocative imagery. JonBenet is not the subject of this documentary, despite the title, but neither is anyone else in her family. A lot of the evidence is still baffling, and several odd rumors are given some kind of due by the film itself or one of the participants. Subjects are able to agree with or contradict the confessional interviews of their fellow actors, with the film finding humor in the editing together of these interviews. One woman becomes enraged at recalling a newspaper article that listed Patsy’s looming 40th birthday as a possible cause for the instability that could’ve led her to kill her daughter, and the height of that woman’s fury is then swapped for another woman who so offhandedly mentions that birthday as a plausible contributing factor you can’t help but chuckle. Later on, one of the Patsys says she doesn’t believe nine year old Burke could have the strength to mortally wound his sister with a flashlight, and the next scene is a small montage of different child actors hitting a watermelon with a flashlight with such gleeful abandon that the awfulness of the implication doesn’t immediately register. Even some of the shots during the re-enactment are so self-consciously arty it winds up deflating any somber self-seriousness that could drag the whole thing down. That tonal variance keeps the film moving at a crisp pace, not just in its spare moments of gallows humor but the moments where it highlights something so patently absurd about this case, like the sequence of casting calls for mall Santas to wonder what they’re even doing here.

Initially, the film seems to present itself primarily as an easier kind of speculative crime drama. We’re given brisk self-introductions to the women playing Patsy, one of whom immediately separates herself from the others by wearing a blue shirt and dress jacket instead of the red t-shirt all the other women are wearing, on the basis that Patsy’s pearls were what she considered her most distinguishing feature along with her earrings, and the men playing John. Most of the actors don’t look terribly alike one another, aside from a similarity in age range, and no attempt is made to make any of the actors resemble one another beyond wearing the same outfits. Personalities and faces and hairstyles distinguish themselves from each other yet blur together as the confessionals are interwoven together even tighter and the interviews become deeply personal. But it’s not until after the police chief candidates are introduced that the film really hits its stride. Many of these men are police officers from nearby towns who talk about how they’ve used this case as textbook example of how not to maintain an investigation as recently as the previous day. Many go over how strange the ransom letter is not just at face value, but that it was written using paper and pens from the Ramsay home, meaning someone took the time out to write a two-and-a-half page note evoking kidnapping on behalf of foreign powers, demanding a ransom the exact number of John’s bonus for the year ($118,000.00) after they’d killed JonBenet, and other oddities in the letter. And then one of the actors mentions that, aside from bounty hunting, his night job is in sex education, and then he demonstrates how to properly use several flogging toys in the middle of about five other men wringing their hands at this letter. We’re then treated to maybe the third filmed re-enactment, this time of the sex educator as the police chief being interviewed by a mob of press, trying to dissuade them from going into overdrive and letting the police have time to investigate before a reporter asks if the Ramsays are now suspects. And it’s here that the film truly steps into itself while further enriching its ideas about not the Ramsays, but the people playing them and orbiting them, the things in everyone’s lives that would make them think they could understand what these enigmatic parents were thinking throughout the madness of this case.

Surely a small but consequential detail of the film’s success is how believably real the film this crew is alleging to make looks. Establishing shot often have a white, wintery texture evocative of the original Fargo, with production and lighting values strong enough to make it look somewhere along the lines of, say, a TV movie from a studio like FX that has plenty of money to throw around. I’ve mentioned that some shots strategically take the piss out of the project, but Casting JonBenet manages to do this in subtler ways while letting the actors play out their scenes, letting them give earnest interpretations without letting you ever forget this is fake. As the Patsys call the police, each with their own plausible combination of anxiety and terror, a ladder is visible in the hallway. The Johns find a white blanket meant as a stand-in for JonBenet’s body, and we can see the moveable stand that the hallway light is propped up on. Actors have time to get acquainted with each other before scenes begin, and interviews are conducted at the sets that the performers have been or are about to act at. We are reminded at all times that this is a recreation, not just of a real, horrible event, but one that no one actually knows the events of, except the tragic consequences of it.

I’ve mostly hyped the tone of Casting JonBenet for its unexpected levity, but its best use is in how it handles the surprisingly poignant or unsettling moments that the actors confess to the camera. The movie is mostly a series of months-long audition tapes from the actors playing Patsy and John as they reveal more and more intimate details about their pasts, details from their own lives that make them empathize with or vilify the Ramsays. Performances of the Ramsays and theories of who killed JonBenet and why are all marked by personal histories tied up with everything we know about the family: One woman, commenting on how everyone reacts differently to tragedies, evokes the murder of her own brother as a source of her performance, and mentions that her parents had met the Ramsays repeatedly to comfort each other over the murders of the children, a rare and shocking crime even without the tabloid madness that propelled the Ramsays into cultural awareness. A man compares John waking up and finding his daughter’s corpse to his own discovery of his girlfriend of many next to him in bed, having died of liver failure in the night. A woman recalls one of two moments in her childhood when an older neighbor tried to molest her when JonBenet’s own sexual abuse is brought up, and the sex educator cop appears to tell us that the original D.A.’s belief that it was caused by riding a bicycle or some similar nonsense is physically impossible, and that JonBenet could not have got those injuries any other way but penetrative sexual assault. One man says he may have a greater understanding of Patsy’s mindset now that he too has cancer, and another woman says that her own rage at her child while they were being potty trained and shitting all over her house could’ve been exactly the straw that broke the camel’s back that night as Patsy had to deal with another night of JonBenet’s bed wetting. We later see that woman, in the film’s near-final scene, carrying a JonBenet into the bathroom and later weeping uncontrollably while sitting on the floor, in total collapse.

The film’s actual last scene, as a spookily lit JonBenet actress dances around the empty set of the Ramsay house as “Miss America” plays into the end credits, is a slightly cheap and effective cap on the film, but it’s the previous, gargantuan roulette of re-enactments that’s actually the perfect finish to what the film is really about. As each of the actors gets a turn to play out the murder of JonBenet the way they think it happened, cross-cutting between truly different takes on how, why, and where the killing took place, we get one last, sweeping shot as all of these performers are next to each other, acting out their theories as others actors perform their own interpretation. The whole set is littered with Patsys and Johns, coexisting without acknowledging each other. The woman crying in the bathroom has two other versions of herself and the husband of a different Patsy in the adjoining bedroom of JonBenet, with the other Patsys and Johns carrying on around their “house”. Because at the end of the day, every single one of these people’s interpretations of JonBenet’s death has as much and as little validity as everyone else’s. There’s so few logical or concrete facts to go off of for interpretation, nevermind the DNA evidence excluding the Ramsay family and confessor John Mark Karr from the crime, that all we’re left to go on is what we think they would do based on the parts of ourselves we think we see in these people. The tapes are not as much what the actors think the Ramsays did, but what they think they would’ve done in accordance to the events and histories in their own lives that match up with those of Patsy and John.

Boulder, Colorado is the real subject of this documentary, and it pays rich dividends to director Kitty Green, who expressed such surprise that the actors yielded such poignant and personal information during their interviews. It’s the non-judgemental attitude of her camera, her desire to film and learn about the people of Boulder instead of her titular subject’s family, her allowance of the actor’s narratives to be equally valid while letting their emotions and identifications speak for themselves, that gives Casting JonBenet all the power that it has as a documentary. Green isn’t at all interested in another grossly speculative Who Killed JonBenet documentary, but instead earnestly puts together the portraits of a city still affected by the crime over 20 years later. We don’t know what theories she personally had about the case, but she knows that she’s not the subject here, and the caring she shows and the honesty she gets from her subjects is a much more powerful realization of her project than if we had any idea who Green herself thinks did it. It’s a powerful exposure of the kinds of truths surrounding how people view true-crime cases like these, not just the harden cops who’ve interacted with the case professionally, but the citizens who had to live with the whole thing happening in their backyards, the circus from a distance. It’s not about who they think did it, but the multitudes of ways this case defines them and their lives define what they think of this case. When something this awful and profoundly inexplicable happens, not just because it’s an unsolved child murder but why it’s unsolved, and how bizarre the atmosphere surrounding it is, all we have left to put together what happened is the pieces of ourselves that fit well enough into explaining a tragedy like this. Green gets that, and in making a film precisely about that we’re left with a harrowing portrait of the people of Boulder that leaves the Ramsays as unknowable as they’ve ever been.

#my posts #my reviews #casting jonbenet #2017

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