#so formality-wise we canceled each other out

[witchestower]

I. Huh. Maybe because I've always liked learning about systems of rules for the systems' sake, I followed a different flow of coming to terms with Why Is Math Like That. Or maybe I'm just going to re-state what OP said in a different way, but hopefully I can add something interesting.

Because I do agree - it is a core fact that a lot of the math that's taught in school is that way because when it's set up in this way, it does very closely line up with the way we experience things in the world. Two apples next to two apples is four apples, sharing those four apples among 2 people evenly unit-wise gives each person 2 apples. But already, look at that, see how many caveats I had to tack onto that statement - evenly, unit-wise. And so we can make up new rules about numbers, inventing behaviors about rational numbers so that we can weight out portions on a scale using little fractional weights in a way that's consistent and always gets results that we expect when we use it in the ways that we need to. Or we start reasoning about negative values to create something that can be cancelled out to zero when combined with a number of actual "natural" things to create an idea of debt that could let you buy the apples now, and then the next time you give the person actual coins or something, it cancels that negative but doesn't mean that you've given them new "positive" value.

And so that's the reiteration of like, yeah! The math rules and the math-y objects (numbers, sets, curves, matrices oh my) that you can fuss with while following those rules were explicitly created in order to have particular behaviors when manipulated under those specific rules. Or at least - and this is very, very, veryvery important - those objects or rules were found to be a direct consequence of other rules, and they were both kept because they were found to still be useful. Mathematics is both created and discovered.

Now, here's the divergence - I want to emphasize that (a) THERE IS NOT JUST ONE SET OF RULES FOR MATH and (b) PEOPLE WILL OFTEN MAKE USE OF SETS OF RULES THAT DIRECTLY CONTRADICT PHYSICAL REALITY.

Let's get the first part out of the way: there is not just one system of arithmetic. (Note to number theory people: I will lie some in the following paragraph for terminology's sake, please forgive me) The most common one, the one taught in grade schools that is The Way You Deal With Natural Numbers (0,1,2,3, etc [by the way, Peano only started the rules with 0 in 1894 in a revision of his original rules - prior to that, he'd only bothered setting the rules up to handle 1 and above!]), was only formalized as recently as 1889 by Richard Dedekind and Guiseppe Peano (Dedekind-Peano axioms - an axiom is just a different word for a rule). People are big fans of this system - it seems intuitively consistent, which is wonderful, and it handles the counting or real-world objects absolutely great.

But notice the caveat- this only deals with Natural Numbers! Suppose we want to add, say, the idea of some value that is more than any other number. Well, that's not a thing in standard Peano arithmetic - by the rules, if you come up with a number, there always exists a successor that's greater. (And yes, I was traumatized as a very autistic child trying desperately to explain the pointlessness of a system where you could claim "infinity" as the largest value you know coexisting with the inanity of "infinity plus one" and begging for consistency).

However, there's a way out: Robinson arithmetic! Formulated in 1950 by R.M. Robinson, it very simply takes all of the rules of Peano arithmetic, and just tosses aside the requirement that if a statement is true for a value as well as always being true for the successor of a value for which it is true, then it is true for all values everywhere. This allows us to invent fancy special values that lie outside of the "main chain" without worrying about them having to be bound by the strictures that bind the simple hoi polloi. Now, we can add in our special "infinity" and give it all sorts of properties, such as its successor only being itself and infinity still being zero when multiplied by zero, and any other property your heart should desire, as long as your new additions don't conflict with each other.

Now, for the second part, about systems of rules directly running up against physical reality. Trivially, with allowing the idea of an infinity, that's broken: there's a finite number of particles in the universe and a finite amount of energy among all of these particles. However, going the other direction, there's always going to be things that exist in the real world that just can't be captured by the system you're working with: my favorite is that "infinite chocolate bar" video that was going around a few years ago. If you don't know and don't want to click, it shows a way to cut and break a segmented bar of chocolate such that the final chocolate bar retains the original shape, but with a "bonus square" set to one side. If you start with Peano arithmetic, you count the number of squares before and after and go "wow, a whole extra square came out of nowhere!". Of course, it didn't- but to explain why to someone, you suddenly need to start getting into fractions and decimals and like - now you need some new rules!

So, I wanna wrap this all together. Fundamentally, no set of rules is or is ever gonna be the end-all be-all. If you want to define a new operation or special entity that there's no way to define using previous rules, and that's the easiest way to consistently describe the thing you want to, that's an option! Of course, when a teacher is telling you "that's the way it is" it means that they're giving you a set of behaviors that are true and directly follow in some way at some extension from the originals but they do not know or desire to walk the derivation back from the fact that they are contractually obligated to tell you. Which sucks. Math pedagogy is hard and I have like so many opinions. This post should have been like 4 separate blog posts and there are still blatant lies all over it. And also, secondly, idk, I just get sad when math is solely relegated to the role of supporting physical notions and behaviors. Because with all this freedom to make up rules and all of the opportunities for play in figuring out the consequences of those rules and building up complex behavior from there, math for math's sake is just so incredibly fun.

Addendum about FOIL because I cannot help myself: it's literally just the addition of all possible unique multiplications where one element is selected from each grouping. Stating it like this lets us expand: we can now do that same selection operation for any number of parenthetical groups, each with any number of contained additive members! And this behavior itself comes from just a few basic properties of the natural numbers: distributive law (which is itself derivable from the axioms induction and the axioms defining multiplication and addition and identity) and the axioms of commutativity and associativity of multiplication and addition over the natural numbers. Putting them together is left as an exercise for the reader ^^ (I somewhat lie, feel free to look here for a less generalized result). Which is really cool! It's fantastic that this just so closely follows from basic definitions of operations. But teachers don't wanna teach the derivations of things because they're an extra thing to remember. IMO they're at least worth sketching out to give an idea of the path but like. Like I said. Lots of ways to go with pedagogy.

what i wish i had been told about math in school

i have to know something well enough to be able to explain it to another person before i feel like i understand it.

I had a great math teacher in grade school, and we used an abacus to help conceptualize what was happening in multiplication and division which was super helpful for me i could feel like i really understood why and how.

but in later classes i began to be told things like

"we do it that way because that's the way it's done" and

"because if you do it any other way you get the wrong answer"

and, like, okay but if you do FOIL out of order you do get an answer, like you can do the math that way and you do get an answer, why is that answer wrong? What makes this answer right?

Clearly it IS the right answer, everyone seems to agree on that, but can you please for the love of all that is holy tell me how do we know that?

but nobody would tell me, and i stopped feeling like i understood what was going on, because i didn't know why we were doing the things we were doing

and that made math really hard for me.

So here's what i wish i could go back and tell myself

the answer is that a lot of math, maybe even almost all of it, is used to describe or prove observable phenomena.

so we see observable behavior number one, let's call it Snowballs Flying

and we see observable behavior number two, let's call that one Kids Walking By

and we do Bonkers Level Math that describes those behaviors, measurements for position, math that describes a changing rate of speed, math that describes the way gravity effects the snowballs, maybe even throw some wind force and air flow dynamics in there, all kinds of math

and that math lets us make predictions. Predictions like Snowball 37a and Kid-JS4 will be in the same place at the same time. And when JS4 goes down with an ear full of 37a, it proves all our math was right! (or at least that it was only off minutely)

So the reason you have to do FOIL (or whatever) when you encounter that kind of equation is because when you're doing Bonkers Level Math you have to do it that way to be able to accurately describe the things we can see happening around us

if someone had just fucking told me that, istg

[random2908]

Oh the other funny thing that happened at the interview yesterday was there was another woman* there and we were wearing the same outfit.

*actually I saw three women total but I think the other two were desk people

[xoruffitup]

Annette: The AD Devotee Review

So I saw Annette on its premiere night in Cannes and I’m still trying to process and make sense of those 2.5 hours of utter insanity. I have no idea where to begin and this is likely going to become an unholy length by the time I’m finished, so I apologize in advance. But BOY I’ve got a lot to parse through!!

Let’s start here: Adam’s made plenty of weird movies. The Dead Don’t Die? The Man Who Killed Don Quixote? There are definitely Terry Gilliam-esque elements of the unapologetically absurd and fantastical in Annette, but NOTHING comes close to this film. To put it bluntly, nothing I write in this post can prepare you for the eccentric phantasmagoria you’re about to sit through.

While the melodies conveying the story – at times lovely and haunting, at times whimsical, occasionally blunt and simple – add a unique sense of the surreal, the fact that it’s all presented in song somehow supplies the medium for this bizarre concoction of disparate elements and outlandish storytelling to all coalesce into a single genre-defying, disbelief-suspending whole. That’s certainly not to say there weren’t a few times when I quietly chortled to myself and mouthed “what the fuck” from behind my mask when things took an exceeding turn to the outrageous. This movie needs to be permitted a bit of leeway in terms of quality judgments, and traditional indicators certainly won’t apply. I would say part of its appeal (and ultimately its success) stems from its lack of interest in appealing to traditional arbiters of film structure and viewing experience. The movie lingers in studies of discomfiture (I’ll return to this theme); it presents all its absurdities with brazen pride rather than temperance; and its end is abrupt and utterly jarring. Yet somehow, at the end of it, I realized I’d been white-knuckling that rollercoaster ride the whole way through and loved every last twist and turn.

A note on the structure of this post before I dive in: I’ve written out a synopsis of the whole film (for those spoiler-hungry people) and stashed it down at the bottom of this post, so no one trying to avoid spoilers has to scroll through. If you want to read, go ahead and skip down to that before reading the discussion/analysis. If I have to reference a specific plot point, I’ll label it “Spoiler #___” and those who don’t mind being spoiled can check the correlating numbers in my synopsis to see which part I’m referencing. Otherwise, my discussion will be spoiler-free! I do detail certain individual scenes, but hid anything that would give away key developments and/or the ending.

To start, I’ll cut to what I’m sure many of you are here for: THE MUSICAL SEX SCENES. You want detailed descriptions? Well let’s fucking go because these scenes have been living in my head rent-free!!

The first (yes, there are two. Idk whether to thank Mr. Carax or suggest he get his sanity checked??) happens towards the end of “We Love Each Other So Much.” Henry carries Ann to the bed with her feet dangling several inches off the floor while she has her arms wrapped around his shoulders. (I maybe whimpered a tiny bit.) As they continue to sing, you first see Ann spread on her back on the bed, panting a little BUT STILL SINGING while Henry’s head is down between her thighs. The camera angle is from above Ann’s head, so you can clearly see down her body and exactly what’s going on. He lifts his head to croon a line, then puts his mouth right back to work. 

And THEN they fuck – still fucking singing! They’re on their sides with Henry behind her, and yes there is visible thrusting. Yes, the thrusting definitely picks up speed and force as the song reaches its crescendo. Yes, it was indeed EXTREMELY sensual once you got over the initial shock of what you’re watching. Ann kept her breasts covered with her own hands while Henry went down on her, but now his hands are covering them and kneading while they’re fucking and just….. It’s a hard, blazing hot R rating. I also remember his giant hand coming up to turn her head so he can kiss her and ladkjfaskfjlskfj. Bring your smelling salts. I don’t recommend sitting between two older ladies while you’re watching – KINDA RUINED THE BLATANT, SMOKING HOT ADAM PORN FOR ME. Good god, choose your viewing buddy wisely!

The second scene comes sort of out of nowhere – I can’t actually recall which song it was during, but it pops up while Ann is pregnant. Henry is again eating her out and there’s not as much overt singing this time, but he has his giant hands splayed over her pregnant belly while he’s going to town and whew, WHEW TURN ON THE AIR CONDITIONING PLEASE. DID THE THEATER INCREASE IN TEMPERATURE BY 10 DEGREES, YOU’RE DAMN RIGHT IT DID.

Whew. I think you’ll be better primed to ~enjoy~ those scenes when you know they’re coming, otherwise it’s just so shocking that by the time you’ve processed “Look at Adam eating pussy with reckless abandon” it’s halfway over already. God speed, my fellow rats, it’s truly something to witness!!

Okay. Right. Ahem. Moving right on along….

I’ll kick off this discussion with the formal structure of the film. It’s honestly impossible to classify. I have the questionable fortune of having been taken to many a strange avant-garde operas and art exhibitions by my parents when I was younger, and the strongest parallel I found to this movie was melodramatic opera stagings full of flamboyant flourishes, austere set pieces, and prolonged numbers where the characters wallow at length in their respective miseries. This movie has all the elevated drama, spectacle, and self-aggrandizement belonging to any self-professed rock opera. Think psychedelic rock opera films a la The Who’s Tommy, Hair, Phantom of the Paradise, and hell, even Rocky Horror. Yes, this film really is THAT weird.

But Annette is also in large part a vibrant, absurdist performance piece. The film is intriguingly book-ended by two scenes where the lines blur between actor and character; and your own role blurs between passive viewer and interactive audience. The first scene has the cast walking through the streets of LA (I think?), singing “So May We Start?” directly to the camera in a self-aware prologue, smashing the fourth wall from the beginning and setting up the audience to play a direct role in the viewing experience. Though the cast then disburse and take up their respective roles, the sense of being directly performed to is reinforced throughout the film. This continues most concretely through Henry’s multiple stand-up comedy performances.

Though he performs to an audience in the film rather than directly to live viewers, these scenes are so lengthy, vulgar, and excessive that his solo performance act becomes an integral part of defining his character and conveying his arc as the film progresses. These scenes start to make the film itself feel like a one-man show. The whole shtick of Henry McHenry’s “Ape of God” show is its perverse irreverence and swaggering machismo. Over the span of what must be a five minute plus scene, Henry hacks up phlegm, pretends to choke himself with his microphone cord, prances across the stage with his bathrobe flapping about, simulates being shot, sprinkles many a misanthropic, charmless monologues in between, and ends by throwing off his robe and mooning the audience before he leaves the stage. (Yes, you see Adam’s ass within the film’s first twenty minutes, and we’re just warming up from there.) His one-man performances demonstrate his egocentrism, penchant for lowbrow and often offensive humor, and the fact that this character has thus far profited from indulging in and acting out his base vulgarities.

While never demonstrating any abundance of good taste, his shows teeter firmly towards the grotesque and unsanctionable as his marriage and mental health deteriorate. This is what I’m referring to when I described the film as a study in discomfiture. As he deteriorates, the later iterations of his stand-up show become utterly unsettling and at times revolting. The film could show mercy and stop at one to two minutes of his more deranged antics, but instead subjects you to a protracted display of just how insane this man might possibly be. In Adam’s hands, these excessive, indulgent performance scenes take on disturbing but intriguing ambiguity, as you again wonder where the performance ends and the real man begins. When Henry confesses to a crime during his show and launces into an elaborate, passionate reenactment on stage, you shift uncomfortably in your seat wondering how much of it might just be true. Wondering just how much of an animal this man truly is.

Watching this film as an Adam fan, these scenes are unparalleled displays of his range and prowess. He’s in turns amusing and revolting; intolerable and pathetic; but always, always riveting. I couldn’t help thinking to myself that for the casual, non Adam-obsessed viewer, the effect of these scenes might stop at crass and unappealing. But in terms of the sheer range and power of acting on display? These scenes are a damn marvel. Through these scenes alone, his performance largely imbues the film with its wild, primal, and vaguely menacing atmosphere.

His stand-up scenes were, to me, some of the most intense of the film – sometimes downright difficult to endure. But they’re only a microcosm of the R A N G E he exhibits throughout the film’s entirety. Let’s talk about how he’s animalistic, menacing, and genuinely unsettling to watch (Leos Carax described him as “feline” at some point, and I 100% see it); and then with a mere subtle twitch of his expression, sheen of his eyes, or slump of his shoulders, he’s suddenly a lost, broken thing.  

Henry McHenry is truly to be reviled. Twitter might as well spare their breath and announce he’s already cancelled. He towers above the rest of the cast with intimidating, predatory physicality; he is prone to indulgence in his vices; and he constantly seems at risk of releasing some wild, uncontrollable madness lingering just beneath his surface. But as we all well know, Adam has an unerring talent for lending pathos to even the most objectively condemnable characters.

In a repeated refrain during his first comedy show, the audience keeps asking him, “Why did you become a comedian?” He dodges the question or gives sarcastic answers, until finally circling back to the true answer later in the film. It was something to the effect of: “To disarm people. It’s the only way I can tell the truth without it killing me.” Even for all their sick spectacle, there are also moments in his stand-up shows of disarming vulnerability and (seeming) honesty. In a similar moment of personal exposition, he confesses his temptation and “sympathy for the abyss.” (This phrase is hands down my favorite of the film.) He repeatedly refers to his struggle against “the abyss” and, at the same time, his perceived helplessness against it. “There’s so little I can do, there’s so little I can do,” he sings repeatedly throughout the film - usually just after doing something horrific.

Had he been played by anyone else, the first full look of him warming up before his show - hopping in place and punching the air like some wannabe boxer, interspersing puffs of his cigarette with chowing down on a banana – would have been enough for me to swear him off. His archetype is something of a cliché at this point – a brusque, boorish man who can’t stomach or preserve the love of others due to his own self-loathing. There were multiple points when it was only Adam’s face beneath the character that kept my heart cracked open to him. But sure enough, he wedged his fingers into that tiny crack and pried it wide open. The film’s final few scenes show him at his chin-wobbling best as he crumbles apart in small, mournful subtleties.

(General, semi-spoiler ahead as to the tone of the film’s ending – skip this paragraph if you’d rather avoid.) For a film that professes not to take itself very seriously (how else am I supposed to interpret the freaky puppet baby?), it delivers a harsh, unforgiving ending to its main character. And sure enough, despite how much I might have wanted to distance myself and believe it was only what he deserved, I found myself right there with him, sharing his pain. It is solely testament to Adam’s tireless dedication to breathing both gritty realism and stubborn beauty into his characters that Henry sank a hook into some piece of my sympathy.

Not only does Adam have to be the only actor capable of imbuing Henry with humanity despite his manifold wrongs, he also has to be the only actor capable of the wide-ranging transformations demanded of the role. He starts the movie with long hair and his full refrigerator brick house physique. His physicality and size are actively leveraged to engender a sense of disquiet and unpredictability through his presence. He appears in turns tormented and tormentor. There were moments when I found myself thinking of Conan the Barbarian, simply because his physical presence radiates such wild, primal energy (especially next to tiny, dainty Marion and especially with that long hair). Cannot emphasize enough: The raw sex appeal is off the goddamn charts and had me – a veteran fangirl of 3+ years - shook to my damn core.

The film’s progression then ages him – his hair cut shorter and his face and physique gradually becoming more gaunt. By the film’s end, he has facial prosthetics to make him seem even more stark and borderline sickly – a mirror of his growing internal torment. From a muscular, swaggering powerhouse, he pales and shrinks to a shell of a man, unraveling as his face becomes nearly deformed by time and guilt. He is in turns beautiful and grotesque; sensual and repulsive. I know of no other actor whose face (and its accompanying capacity for expressiveness) could lend itself to such stunning versatility.

Quick note here that he was given a reddish-brown birthmark on the right side of his face for this film?? It becomes more prominent once his hair is shorter in the film’s second half. I’m guessing it was Leos’ idea to make his face even more distinctive and riveting? If so, joke’s on you, Mr. Carax, because we’re always riveted. ☺

I mentioned way up at the beginning that the film is bookended by two scenes where the lines blur between actor and character, and between reality and performance. This comes full circle at the film’s end, with Henry’s final spoken words (this doesn’t give any plot away but skip to the next paragraph if you would rather avoid!) being “Stop watching me.” That’s it. The show is over. He has told his last joke, played out his final act, and now he’s done living his life as a source of cheap, unprincipled laughs and thrills for spectators. The curtain closes with a resounding silence.

Now, I definitely won’t have a section where I talk (of course) about the Ben Solo parallels. He’s haunted by an “abyss” aka darkness inside of him? Bad things happened when he finally gave in and stared into that darkness he knew lived within him? As a result of those tragedies, (SPOILER – Skip to next paragraph to avoid) he then finds himself alone and with no one to love or be loved by? NO I’M DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT AT ALL, I’M JUST FINE HERE UNDER MY MOUNTAINS OF TISSUES.

Let’s talk about the music! The film definitely clocks in closer to a rock opera than musical, because almost the entire thing is conveyed through ongoing song, rather than self-contained musical numbers appearing here and there. This actually helps the film’s continuity and pacing, by keeping the characters perpetually in this suspended state of absurdity, always propelled along by some beat or melody. Whenever the film seems on the precipice of tipping all the way into the bleak and dark, the next whimsical tune kicks in to reel us all blessedly back. For example, after (SPOILER #1) happens, there’s a hard cut to the bright police station where several officers gather around Henry, bopping about and chattering on the beat “Questions! We have a few questions!”

Adam integrates his singing into his performance in such a way that it seems organic. I realized after the film that I never consciously considered the quality of his singing along the way. For all that I talked about the film maintaining the atmosphere of a fourth wall-defying performance piece, Adam’s singing is so fully immersed in the embodiment of his character that you almost forget he’s singing. Rather, this is simply how Henry McHenry exists. His stand-up scenes are the only ones in the film that do frequently transition back and forth between speaking and singing, but it’s seamlessly par for the course in Henry’s bizarre, dour show. He breaks into his standard “Now laugh!” number with uninterrupted sarcasm and contempt. There were certainly a few soft, poignant moments when his voice warbled in a tender vibrato you couldn’t help noticing – but otherwise, the singing was simply an extension of that full-body persona he manages to convey with such apparent ease and naturalism.

On the music itself: I’ll admit that the brief clip of “We Love Each Other So Much” we got a few weeks ago made me a tad nervous. It seemed so cheesy and ridiculous? But okay, you really can’t take anything from this movie out of context. Otherwise it is, indeed, utterly ridiculous. Not that none of it is ever ridiculous in context either, but I’m giving you assurances right now that it WORKS. Once you’re in the flow of constant singing and weirdness abound, the songs sweep you right along. Some of the songs lack a distinctive hook or melody and are moreso rhythmic vehicles for storytelling, but it’s now a day later and I still have three of the songs circulating pleasantly in my head. “We Love Each Other So Much” was actually the stand out for me and is now my favorite of the soundtrack. It’s reprised a few times later in the film, growing increasingly melancholy each time it is echoed, and it hits your heart a bit harder each time. The final song sung during (SPOILER #2), though without a distinctive melody to lodge in my head, undoubtedly left me far more moved than a spoken version of this scene would have. Adam’s singing is so painfully desperate and earnest here, and he takes the medium fully under his command.

Finally, it does have to be said that parts of this film veer fully towards the ridiculous and laughable. The initial baby version of the Annette puppet-doll was nothing short of horrifying to me. Annette gets more center-stage screen time in the film’s second half, which gives itself over to a few special effects sequences which look to be flying out at you straight from 2000 Windows Movie Maker. The scariest part is that it all seems intentional. The quality special effects appear when necessary (along with some unusual and captivating time lapse shots), which means the film’s most outrageous moments are fully in line with its guiding spirit. Its extravagant self-indulgence nearly borders on camp.

...And with that, I’ve covered the majority of the frantic notes I took for further reflection immediately after viewing. It’s now been a few days, and I’m looking forward to rewatching this movie when I can hopefully take it in a bit more fully. This time, I won’t just be struggling to keep up with the madness on screen. My concluding thoughts at this point: Is it my favorite Adam movie? Certainly not. Is it the most unforgettable? Aside from my holy text, The Last Jedi, likely yes. It really is the sort of thing you have to see twice to even believe it. And all in all, I say again that Adam truly carried this movie, and he fully inhabits even its highest, most ludicrous aspirations. He’s downright abhorrent in this film, and that’s exactly what makes him such a fucking legend.

I plan to make a separate post in the coming days about my experience at Cannes and the Annette red carpet, since a few people have asked! I can’t even express how damn good it feels to be globetrotting for Adam-related experiences again. <3

Thanks so much for reading! Feel free to ask me any further questions at all here or on Twitter! :)

*SYNOPSIS INCLUDED BELOW. DO NOT READ FURTHER IF AVOIDING SPOILERS!*

Synopsis: Comedian Henry McHenry and opera singer Ann Defrasnoux are both at the pinnacle of their respective success when they fall in love and marry. The marriage is happy and passionate for a time, leading to the birth of their (puppet) daughter, Annette. But tabloids and much of the world believe the crude, brutish Henry is a poor match for refined, idolized Ann. Ann and Henry themselves both begin to feel that something is amiss – Henry gradually losing his touch for his comedy craft, claiming that being in love is making him ill. He repeatedly and sardonically references how Ann’s opera career involves her “singing and dying” every night, to the point that he sees visions of her “dead” body on the stage. Meanwhile, Ann has a nightmare of multiple women accusing Henry of abusive and violent behavior towards them, and she begins growing wary in his presence. (He never acts abusively towards her, unless you count that scene when he tickles her feet and licks her toes while she’s telling him to stop??? Yeah I know, WILD.)

The growing sense of unease, that they’re both teetering on the brink of disaster, culminates in the most deranged of Henry’s stand-up comedy performances, when he gives a vivid reenactment of killing his wife by “tickling her to death.” The performance is so maudlin and unsettling that you wonder whether he’s not making it up at all, and the audience strongly rebukes him. (This is the “What is your problem?!” scene with tiddies out. The full version includes Adam storming across the stage, furiously singing/yelling, “What the FUCK is your problem?!”) But when Henry arrives home that night, drunk and raucous, Ann and Annette are both unharmed.

The couple take a trip on their boat, bringing Annette with them. The boat gets caught in a storm, and Henry drunkenly insists that he and Ann waltz in the storm. She protests that it’s too dangerous and begs him to see sense. (SPOILER #1) The boat lurches when Henry spins her, and Ann falls overboard to her death. Henry rescues Annette from the sinking boat and rows them both to shore. He promptly falls unconscious, and a ghost of Ann appears, proclaiming her intention to haunt Henry through Annette. Annette (still a toddler at this point and yes, still a wooden puppet) then develops a miraculous gift for singing, and Henry decides to take her on tour with performances around the world. He enlists the help of his “conductor friend,” who had been Ann’s accompanist and secretly had an affair with her before she met Henry.

Henry slides further into drunken debauchery as the tour progresses, while the Conductor looks after Annette and the two grow close. Once the tour concludes, the Conductor suggests to Henry that Annette might be his own daughter – revealing his prior affair with Ann. Terrified by the idea of anyone finding out and the possibility of losing his daughter, Henry drowns the Conductor in the pool behind his and Ann’s house. Annette sees the whole thing happen from her bedroom window.

Henry plans one last show for Annette, to be held in a massive stadium at the equivalent of the Super Bowl. But when Annette takes the stage, she refuses to sing. Instead, she speaks and accuses Henry of murder. (“Daddy kills people,” are the actual words – not that that was creepy to hear as this puppet’s first spoken words or anything.)

Henry stands trial, during which he sees an apparition of Ann from when they first met. They sing their regret that they can’t return to the happiness they once shared, until the apparition is replaced by Ann’s vengeful spirit, who promises to haunt Henry in prison. After his sentencing (it’s not clear what the sentence was, but Henry definitely isn’t going free), Annette is brought to see him once in prison. Speaking fully for the first time, she declares she can’t forgive her parents for using her: Henry for exploiting her voice for profit and Ann for presumably using her to take vengeance on Henry. (Yes, this is why she was an inanimate doll moving on strings up to this point – there was some meaning in that strange, strange artistic choice. She was the puppet of her parents’ respective egotisms.) The puppet of Annette is abruptly replaced by a real girl in this scene, finally enabling two-sided interaction and a long-missed genuine connection between her and Henry, which made this quite the emotional catharsis. (SPOILER #2) It concludes with Annette still unwilling to forgive or forget what her parents have done, and swearing never to sing again. She says Henry now has “no one to love.” He appeals, “Can’t I love you, Annette?” She replies, “No, not really.” Henry embraces her one last time before a guard takes her away and Henry is left alone.

…..Yes, that is the end. It left me with major emotional whiplash, after the whole film up to this point kept pulling itself back from the total bleak and dark by starting up a new toe-tapping, mildly silly tune every few minutes. But this last scene instead ends on a brutal note of harsh, unforgiving silence.

BUT! Make sure you stick around through the credits, when you see the cast walking through a forest together. (This is counterpart to the film’s opening, when you see the cast walking through LA singing “So May We Start?” directly to the audience) Definitely pay attention to catch Adam chasing/playing with the little girl actress who plays Annette! That imparts a much nicer feeling to leave the theater with. :’)

[raevenlywrites]

A bit of the Twins

Felt really inspired on this scene, so I thought I'd share. If you remember Lawrence Crane (Bird) and his sarcastic demon, then happy day for you cause here it is again, bothering Bird's sons. Well, "happy" is maybe a bit generous :/

1.6k, angst/trauma memories, dark magic, inherited problems

--

“The cliff is called Lovers’ Last Kiss.”

"How romantic."

A shivering voice came from the darkness, or more specifically, from a patch of darkness that was deeper than the rest, more solid. And vaguely human shaped.

It stepped from the trees but became no less clear, just a shadow extending farther than the tree should be able to cast it. It reminded Orai instantly of how his father's shadow had been Wrong.

"Love has nothing to do with it, my little duckies. Kissing, maybe, but it's the joining that matters, not the emotions or lack thereof."

A wave of revulsion struck Orai and Iaro both, different ends of the same awful moment of their father's history. A girl, chained and struggling, blood and bruises the only things covering her skin. A boy, equally bound and beaten, if that would be more to his taste. And the sour/metallic rage/horror that burned up his throat as the first prickles of magic kissed his skin. He knew that magic, the heady sweet whispering of Cretia's promises of love and devotion--twisted. He had never experienced something so hideous in his life, and he was meant to wield it?

No one said against who, boy.

The voice echoed with the same shivery duality of the too dark shadow's, and both boys broke from the vision/memory with a gasp.

"What the fuck," Orai panted, doubled over on his hands and knees. Spit dribbled from his open mouth, the sickly tang herald of bile yet to come. Beside him, Iaro had not been so lucky. Every bit of dinner came back up and then some.

Damira knelt at Iaro's side, though she kept the shadow in view. She stroked a cool hand over his forehead, brushing away the sick sweat and chasing his hair back.

Khat had instantly put herself between the shadow and the group, a wall of fire hovering midair between them. The flames did nothing to give detail to the dark form.

"Are you alright, Orai?" She called behind her, unwilling to take her eyes from the thing in front of her.

Damira cupped her hands, calling cool water to them as she offered it to Iaro to drink.

"No need to hold onto those nasty memories, my lovelies. Call of your guard mara and I'll eat them back up for you."

If a formless shadow could hold up its hands in a gesture of harmlessness, the one before them did now. It was less seeing and more seeming, and it seemed to be contrite, and a little wistful.

"If I had a prettier way to show you, I would have. But we all have things that Bind us to this world-- well, maybe not this world."

It looked around the dreamscape, shimmering and shifting as it did. The darkness tried to take on a shape, but the two shapes were so opposed they seemed to cancel each other out.

"Its a nice place you've got here. A nice antithesis to its birth. Lovers' First Kiss Island. Cute."

Khat's eyes narrowed, and she called back, "Orai?"

It was Damira who answered. "Draw down the fire, but stand ready."

Clenching her teeth, Khat did so, pulling the fire back into herself, but not fully extinguishing it there.

Orai watched the shadow approach, knowing he knew this spectre from somewhere. It felt like staring into the void, like brushing uncle Naj's power, but different.

"That'd be the Dai bindings, sweets. We all feel a little bit the same, those of us brushed by their evil. Now, may I eat those nasty memories again?"

Orai's eyes widened, as if dilating would make more light bounce off the nothing. But that’s what it was. Not a shadow. An absence of light.

"You're dad's demon."

The being seemed to smile.

"He likes to think so. May I?"

It offered the idea of a hand, and trembling Orai looked to Iaro.

Iaro desperately did not want to scan anymore of the thoughts around him. Not Damira's, not his brother's, and most definitely not the nothing's. But his brother was reaching out. And he would not let his brother down.

He sat up, leaning back into Damira's touch, shielding tighter than he ever had before.

"I don’t want to feel like that ever again."

His voice was low but firm, betraying none of the horror he’d felt.

"I can arrange that," the nothing said.

"I wasn’t talking to you!" Iaro snapped. To Orai, he asked, "Do you trust it?"

Orai was surprised to find the answer was yes.

"Its been with dad for a long time. That's a stupidly long con, if its goal is to harm us now."

Iaro frowned, still not quite ready to unclench.

"Damira? Khat? Any insight?"

Damira smoothed his hair back, feeling her spine straighten as she looked at the darkness.

Her voice low and even, she told Iaro, "If it intended harm to any of us, it would be stupid to intend it on a literal island of our power."

The shadow radiated pleasure and pride.

"Very good, little fish. You should hold onto this one, son of my tether. She's very wise--and very hot."

Iaro grit his teeth so hard they cracked.

"If you speak out of turn one more time I will blast you back into the oblivion from which you first crawled."

Dominion was definitely his brother's gift rather than his own, but Iaro knew his words were not empty. "Son of my tether" was weird, and formal. In it's own way, the nothing was... what? Offering fealty? Trying to sink new tethers? He didn’t care. He would banish this thing and not feel at all bad. He did not like this thing.

Orai reached out, brushing Iaro's arm. Iaro flinched, scales bursting out at the touch. But that action helped soothe him, helped balance out his uncharacteristic display of temper.

"Ia, please. What about dad?"

What about dad indeed. He was mythically old, supposedly. Looking at this darkness, he could believe it. But he also knew if this wretched thing was the only thing keeping his father alive, then better he fall than be sustained by such wrongness.

But it would break Ruby’s heart, and destroy Orai's trust in him. For that, he would let the shadow remain.

But the shadow didn’t need to know that.

"Dad's got plenty of tricks that have nothing to do with this thing." He shot a glare towards the shadow. "Isn’t that right?"

"Exactly so, eijye."

Iaro growled. "Don’t mock me. But thank you for holding your peace. Show us your good faith by taking the memories and nothing more."

"As his father's heir commands."

Orai waited for Iaro to move first. But apparently his suddenly commanding brother was going to watch the shadow for any tricks. Fine then. The sooner Orai was free of this Seeing, the better.

Orai reached for the nothing, and felt a distinct Something, but nothing his mortal mind could name. Still, he was utterly and acutely aware of the thing taking, of a real and quantifiable quality leaving his being. And he was all the better for it. His breath came easier, his body felt lighter, and the air tasted sweeter, almost a tingling quality of delicate starlight kissing his skin. He looked up and saw the stars dancing above him, winking and singing in their endless joy.

"Much better," the shadow murmured. "Such wonderment is more fit this place. I quite approve of your solution for the waste magic, by the way."

"You've said as much," Iaro spit out. More tenderly, he asked his brother, "Rai? You good?"

Orai nodded, feeling the coolness of open tears streaming down his face. He hadn't realized how awful he felt until it was gone. How awful he’d been feeling, for a very, very long time.

He looked to the shadow.

"How far back did you go?"

Iaro's head snapped to the thing, but Orai held out an arm to stop him. The shadow seemed to nod.

"Very shrewd, brother of the heir. I could make the effort to speak plainly, but I have thought in riddles for so long, and it takes much of my attention simply to be here while the father is yet awake."

"Answer the question," Iaro insisted. He didn’t like the nuance of this things phrasing at all.

"Of course. Memory it was named but not memory of the sort called by yellow scales. I lifted the memory of your father's taint, o brother of the heir. And if you so wish it of me, he who speaks with the air of his fathers, I will lift if from you as well."

Iaro was about to order it to speak plainly, but again, Orai bid him hold.

"You mean like a lingering effect, something that ties us to you or the Dai or whatever, inherited from our father's half of the magic."

The shadow nodded. "Just so, my tether's son. It is the greatest thing that connects us, so it has the loudest pull. By your leave, I took the stain of it back into myself, from whence it came. Your magic and person is now free of it."

Iaro gave a soft gasp of understanding.

"That's what drew Damira to me, to us. We shared the magic of Dreaming, and Orai and I shared magic to command the stain."

The shadow clapped in delight. Orai thought he almost saw it do it. Almost.

"Very good, heir of my tether. Well sussed. You have an eye for threads."

Iaro frowned but didn't say anything.

“So what do we do?” Orai asked. Though whether he was asking it of the shadow or his brother, he wasn’t sure.

Iaro’s frown deepened. “What do you mean?”

“Well, I mean…” There was no delicate way to put this. “If that’s what made this all work, what happens when it’s gone?”

[popculturebuffet]

Shadow Into Light (Lena Retrospective): Magica’s Shadow War

Hello all you happy people! And welcome back to Shadow Into Light, my look at the life and times of Lena Sabrewing. We’re in the end stretch, just two more installments after this: one covering what may be my favorite episode, and the other covering Lena’s season 3 appearances, as unlike Seasons 1 and 2 she shows up outside her own episodes fairly often and most of those apperances touch on how far she’s come or her life in some way shape or form, so I really can’t skip over them. 

But before we can get to the end of Lena’s arc, we have to once again go back where she came from. Previously I covered the one and only apperance of Minima DeSpell, a character Lena took some inspiration from. But Lena is a combination of Minima and another Ducktales 87 character but this time one from the show itself, in the same episode we meet Magica no less. Given how much frank loved the original, it’s not a huge shock one of the most vital and intresting new characters from the reboot was partially taken from an episode he probably watched 80 dozen times. So how does the original shadow stack up with her rebooted counterpart? Is the episode any good? And should I watch invincible. The answers to this question are under the cut!

To answer your question on invincible.. Yeah you should. It’s gorgeously animated, has a MASSIVELY talented and diverse cast, and perfectly adapts the original source: Adding in great new stuff and shuffling things around to work better for the pacing of a tv show. And after loosing The Tick to Amazon’s greasy clutches, not to mention Danger and Eggs and Alpha House before that with no formal cancelation so they coudln’t move elsewhere, i’m not taking any chances despite the odds being far more in invincibles favor. Check it out, just mind that it has a shocking amount of gore, if you like superheroes.  Or even if you don’t, it’s pretty much guaranteed to have someone you like doing a voice. 

Enough shilling for an unrelated show though, let’s get to this one. We open with our introduction to the De Spells. Magica is hovering over a caludron with a diabolical new plan to steal Scrooge’s #1 dime. Why? 

Or at least I didn’t. I knew why she wanted the dime itself mind you: The Dime has picked up some powerful emotoinal energy from being around Scrooge all his life as he built his fortune, made his way square and fought Teddy Roosevelt. All that good stuff. So naturally if used in a spell, that spell is going to be massively powerful. I just didn’t know what the spell was.. and now I do.. i’mmm underwhelmed. She wants it to gain the midas touch, i.e. the ablility to turn things she touches into gain, using the dime as a power source for an amulet. 

 Magica, via her potions and spells has the powers to do just about ANYTHING. And her goal is.. make some things into gold. She has a giant volcano laier, whatever resources she needs to go after Scrooge, and in this series at least can buy a haunted house on a whim. She HAS money.. why would she need this. And second... the midas touch is a bad thing. You cant’ USE or enjoy anything because it turns to gold> That was the whole fucking point of the myth. If it removes the weakness than fine.. but again it seems like a lot of effort for something with a short range and heavy possible drawbacks. I tfits her personalty to a point but even then she has better spells. I’m going more with it simply allowing her to supercharge.. is it more simplisti? yes. Does it make more sense than “Give myself a power that can easily be turned back on me by just making me touch myself “ yes, yes it is. 

Meanwhile the boys dick around playing Candid Camera with a new camera Gyro gave them that is no more advanced than your average instant camera. You’d expect this new invention to come in handy against Shadow Magica. And you’d be right. You’d expect the boys to at least suggest hte idea before the climax. You’d be wrong. This big is just.. irrtating. It’s just the boys being dicks to everyone by taking embarssing photos and really adds nothing to the episode of any remote subtsnace.

Conversley Magica continues to be the highlight, as her check in with airport security gets her through as she has no fruit. Ah the days before they throughly scanned us and most tsa jokes were about shoving hands up someone’s ass. Seriously.. why. .why is that a common joke. I’ve never had it done but unless you fully consent to it it’s not fun to get your hand up there but it was an oddly common gag for a long time.I.. really don’t get it. 

She arrives in america and buys a haunted house, to the realtor’s shock but eh it’s a sale. The black mold just makes it more sinister. Magica sicks Shadow Magica on the bin, with an elaborate plan but giving the Shadow one hour to do it because otherwise it will disapate.. given it dosen’t it’s likely more Magica trying to keep her double in line, having ran into trouble earlier with shadow her trying to steal the wallet of what I can only assume to be gus goose. So he was on vacation tha’ts where he was.. from what I don’t know he dosen’t actually do work and the house of mouse hadn’t been established yet. Maybe Gramma Duck just gives him vacation days. 

So the shadow ALMOST gets away with the dime.. but accidnetly knocks over a pedestal and warns Scrooge and the Boys, who manage to chase her off. Scrooge having only one magical nemisis in his Rogues gallery, that we know of, knows who did this and prepares for an attack.  Magica.. berates her doppleganger and while she considers a spell to power her up, decides against it since what would stop the Shadow from betraying her. The shadow agrees.. and locks Magica and Poe in a closet and makes the potion herself, taking on a creepy new form and planning to raise an ARMY of shadows. 

And here... is where the split between Lena and The Shadow is very deefinite. While Frank and Matt kept the shadow and Magica really not getting along and only working together out of necisity on both ends.. the shadow here REALLY is just magica. Just as evil and ambitious, and just as sneaky. The only diffrence between the two is the shadow’s logical weaknesses of being a shadow, i.e. light weakens her and she can only hide in darkness or other shadows, and how they were born. Shadow magica is every bit as evil and devious as the main one. I do get why she stuck in Frank’s brain though: the idea is simple but ingenious, someone’s shadow gaining sentience, and the cool tricks you get with that as she ducks and darts between shadows. It’s really good stuff and frank expertly expanded it with lena, making her basically humanoid duck other than where she came from, but still using the neat tricks with the shadow itself for Magica’s imprisoned form and later the shadow army. It’s a good example of taking a really good idea.. and making it even better, by having said shadow being deal with not being considered a person by the person who spawned her and really ramping up the idea of a shadow army, which Shadow Magica eventually summons, from about ten guys to an entire cities worth. The shadows also you know come from people instead of just thin air but semantics. Point is it’s a very good concept and done really well esepcially for the 87 cartoon, and while Frank’s take was unique and very well done, it dosen’t make the original any less good. 

And it’s shown off with a cool sequence of the shadow infiltrating the manor and nearly getting to the dime with Scrooge having rigged the place to all hell with lights as a percaution. It nearly wins but louie uses a shadow puppet to scare it off. While Scrooge ponders this latest attack Poe shows up, and offers Magica’s help.. but Scrooge rightly dosen’t want it, as he can’t trust her and only agrees when the boys bring up the power bill from keeping the lights on. 

Now getting Magica on board is not an idea: The shadow’s a threat to both of them and they need each other. The next part though.. is a bit stupid and drags the episode down a bit. Magica asks for the dime to beat the thing. Now Scrooge wisely is hesitant to do so.. but everyone else treats it like his usual greedy antics. Thing is.. it’s not. We don’t, at least in this adaptation, know what Magica wants with the thing or the full extent of what she can do with it or if she even actually needs it. While getting her help is one thing, giving her the DIME well...] ]’ii98[[

Why would you give someone you KNOW wants to use the dime to conquer the world or whatever the thing she wants? It’d be like handing Thanos the Infnity Gauntlet to take out Galactus. Yes, your handling a big problem.. but your burning the world to do it. It’s just so frustratlingly dumb. There’s a good idea in there, Scrooge being forced to lend Magica the dime, but it’s buried under Mt. Contrivance! 

So Scrooge reluctantly goes along with operation:seemed like a good idea at the time, and cleverly puts the dime in an empty stadium. Unfortuantley the lights malfunction and Shadow Magica summons MORE Shadows, and now has an army. Launchpad ends up being helpful, also he’s in this episode for some reason, by pointing out shadows need light.. and thus another logical weakness as killing the rest of the lights renders them weak and allows our heroes to lure them to the vault where Magica waits> Magica is able to weaken it with the spell.. but even with that the Shadow SITLL is too powerful.. 

Enter the cameras, which take out Shadow Magica, saving the day. We get a lesson about trusting Gyro’s gadgets for.. some reason and Scrooge stops Magica from fleeing with the dime with a shadow puppet. Smiles and cheese sandwitches all around

Final Thoughts on Magica’s Shadow War: This episode is not half bad. While the Dime Thing is mindblowingly moronic, and the camera thing is REALLY poorly set up, I have not had a more apt use for that Scott Pilgrim Panel yet, the sheer concept and June Foray’s sheer force of personality as both magica’s makes it work. It’s a fun, engaging adventure and a solid chonk of classic ducktales. As for how it relates to Lena it does so decently. But with this our side trips are at an end. Only two episodes left! And then onward to the lilo and stitch crossover arc! Yes really. Kev wanted a buffer before getting to the Season 2 arcs and I loved tha tshow as a kid so why the fuck not. 

Next Time on Shadow Into Light: Lena gets welcomed to prime time bitch as Magica pulls a freddy and stalks her through her dreams. Sadly she did indeed forgot about the power glove. Can the rest of the kids break away from dreams of high school musicals, becoming a garfild, giant legs and libraries long enough to save Lena? Will we have a very queer in the best way possible musical number about Lena and Webby’s anniversary? Will I talk about Huelet? In order, yes, yes, and probably. But join me anyways won’t you. 

If you liked this reviews, subscribe for more. If you have a ducktales episode from seasons 1 and 2 of the reboot or the whole of the 87 series, drop me a line through my ask box, my dm’s or my discord, technicolormuk#6550. Reviews or only 5 bucks an episode for tv. Other prices on the blog. Or if you can’t spare that much, join my patreon. Even a buck or two a month helps reach my stretch goals and the more of those I hit the more disney content you get a month. The current one is only 5 bucks away. I’m 15 and if I hit 20 that guarantees a darkwing duck review every month AND reviews of the super ducktales mini series. But if you can’t that’s cool and I get it times are hard, it’s why I have to shill so hard. But until the next rainbow, it’s been a pleasure. 

[nightswithkookmin]

BIGHIT vs BTS SHIPS The Difference Between Jikook and Taekook

I think I have explained the commercial value of ships when it comes to content marketing in one of my previous posts. But allow me to use this opportunity to address it in depth.

Bighit did not invent shipping. Shipping predates Kpop and plays a vital role in spiking interest, relevancy and longevity of that interest in a piece of marketed content. It sustains Audience Retention rates and improves engagement rates significantly. It is a powerful marketing tool when used right but I'm not going to get into all that in this post.

Fact is BigHit does benefit from shipping culture because it is one way they keep the audience engaged with BTS content even when they aren't putting out new content for the market to consume. BTS ships serve the same purpose as all the Run, Soop, Bon voyage and myriads of sub content they put out. You may not watch Run every day, but if you are a shipper you will like a ship post at least once a day.

Shipping is organic and costs nothing unlike most other marketing strategies available to the marketer. TV programs such as Harry Potter (Dont lie. I know you shipped Hermoine and Harry. I did too. *tears) Star wars, Friends, Supernatural, Vampire Diaries, Shadow Hunter to name a few have all benefited from shipping culture significantly.

Can BigHit do without ships? Absolutely. They would be a fool to though. Shipping is just one of the many resource options available to a marketer. It bridges the gap in between formal contents and keep interest in a brand going.

I smirk when some people dismiss shipping, look down on shippers or make ignorant and ill informed comments about shipping culture in general. Audience retention and engagement is king in today's economy and BigHit taps into this resource very well.

All BTS ships are thus relevant and valid. All of them. Unfortunately, this is a numbers games. Numbers play a key role in the commercial value of a ship. And it is a fact universally acknowledged that Taekook and Jikook are ships with the most number of fans and as such provides higher engagement rates within a marketing context.

Taekook is the biggest ship not just in BTS but in Kpop. It is followed closely by Jikook. Does that mean all the ships are nothing but shallow interactions engineered to keep us tethered to BTS for as and when they are ready to sell a product to us? NO.

I don't see BigHit actively curating these ships and masterminding them.

What I mean is, I don't think BigHit is asking the members to interact or even forcing them to interact- except in recent moments but that is another topic for another day.

BTS interact with eachother from their own free will. Of course no two interactions are going to be the same as no two relationships are the same. We cannot compare Taegi to Jikook or Taekook to Jikook or even to VMin because the friendship between Jimin and V is not the same as between V and Jin etc.

No one is forcing Jungkook to interact with Jimin. No one is forcing Tae not to interact with JK. It's absurd to think in such a way.

They all interact with eachother and provide that content for BigHit's use. All BigHit does is decide when to show us that content as and if they want to show it to us at all. They are a business and all these ships are just marketing resources and so they will show us a ship's content in a way that advances their business marketing strategy.

However, if two people within a ship barely interact or do not interact at all with eachother then there wouldn't be any content on them for BigHit to promote or use in their marketing campaigns to begin with.

What I'm saying is, if Taekook sells- as in if there are a lot of people interested in seeing their content(which there are) and those two individuals actually have moments together on or off camera, then in their estimation BigHit will market that content to us. If Jikook sells they will sell it to us; as long as none of these ships are damaging to the reputation and business of BigHit.

[CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC BELOW- Proceed with caution.]

A ships value to BigHit, in my opinion, is contingent on its commercial value as discussed above but if that ship causes BigHit to lose money rather than gain, if a ship negatively affects the business or reputation of BigHit then that ship is as good as dead. They will kick that ship off the spotlight real fast.

Taekook and Jikook have both had moments like this where they are temporarily taken off the spotlight or even asked to tone things down. We've all seen it don't argue with me.

Not everything BigHit does is about these ships. BigHit is a brand in of its own. They have several other brands under their brand and they can't afford to ruin their brand image or any of their artists.

They will not hesitate to shut down a ship if it is doing more harm than good. They did it to Taekook when that ship was in it's hay days. As soon as they started recieving a ton of negative press that is when they started getting 'seperated' -on stage anyway. I don't think they were seperated or asked not to interact off camera. Clearly they do. They are friends after all.

BigHit does the same thing to Jikook whenever they start recieving negative attention. But we see them interacting backstage nevertheless and usually this happens at the same event they get 'separated at.'

It's nothing personal, just business.

[Controversial content ahead. Proceed with caution]

At this point, I know you would be asking why Taekook seemed to have dimmed as a ship where BigHit is concerned but Jikook recieve the same negative press and yet they still market Jikook and shine more light on it....

A Taekooker friend whom I had this discussion with pointed out to me that it seems whenever Jikook receives a ton of negative press BigHit claps back with more Jikook content and in an aggressive way yet has it being Taekook we wouldn't get any content outside official content for a whole year.

To be fair, BigHit treats all ships equally in my opinion. Jikook gets penalized for certain moments just as much as Taekook or any ship gets punished. Example, after the New Jersey VLive Jikook were banned(allegedly) from doing a Vlive on their own for a whole year and after the ban was lifted their VLive was monitored the same way Taekook's Vlive was monitored.

Secondly, perhaps they keep pushing Jikook content because that is all they have? Perhaps, they have more Jikook content than Taekook?

Jikook spend so much time around each other and they don't mind their interactions being filmed as content. Not because they are doing fan service but more so because they are lowkey exhibitionists or exhibit exhibitionist tendencies. Lol. More on that later.

When it comes to Taekook; Tae have said once that JK avoids him off camera which I assume by that he meant Jk doesn't interact with him much off camera. Now it could also be that Jk was not on good terms with him during that particular period which is normal because friends fight.

Jk have also said him and Tae's relationship is not for the cameras and I assume by that he meant they are both are not comfortable providing content for Bighit to use as marketing because as I said all these ship interactions are by their own free will. Bighit can't force Taekook to interact and if Taekook hasn't given them permission to air certain moments they just can't.

Or... or....

The reason BigHit pushes back with more Jikook content even after negative press is because Jikook is real. DEADASS.

Hear me out. Calling Taekook out for promoting Homosexuality in S.K will be deemed negative press if Taekook are not gay or in an actual romantic relationship. Calling Jikook out for promoting homosexuality will not be deemed as negative press but an abuse if Jikook are in fact gay and in a gay relationship with eachother.

BigHit is not homophobic. Bang PD is known for his openly support for members of the LGBTQ plus community. If people hate on Jikook because of their moment he will sympathize with them and shove that in your face.

While Taekook negative press will be a nuance, Jikook negative press will be revolution and BigHit will make a statement: a statement that says they stand with LGBTQ plus community PERIOD.

They will do this not for money but for the boys so they feel loved and supported. So Jikook knows they are not in this fight alone especially coming from a highly homophobic society as S.K.

The thing about Jikook is, Jikook is real. That alone gives BigHit a competitive advantage in the Industry. It means Jikook produce more content for BigHit over any other pair and that content is juicy. It's similar to how companies want exclusive access to certain power couples in the industry. If Jikook are real and BigHit have access to them, exclusive access mind you, then that places BigHit above the competition business wise.

Think of Jikook and BigHit as the Kardashians and Entertainment company behind them. Jikook has given BigHit partial access to their private lives extending beyond the access they have over BTS.

If Taekook or any ship give similar access to them we will see more of them. If they give BigHit content we will see more of them. It's as simple as that.

Jikook is a brand and BigHit is their brand manager. This means BigHit gets more content from Jikook and is at liberty to use that content any how they want and milk the shit out of it. In return, BigHit has a duty to protect Jikook and so no. When Jikook gets negative press due to homophobia BigHit is not going to cancel them.

May be chill on them for a while, because that exposure they give Jikook can be traumatizing for Jikook especially if the feedback is negative.

What I'm saying is, where Taekook would be asked to chill and lay low from public scrutiny it will be because BigHit wants to protect their business interest whereas in Jikook's case it would be to protect Jikook themselves. If Taekook are both gay and in a relationship with each other BigHit would do same for them.

I don't think BigHits marketing tactics however affects the status of Jikook, Taekook or any other ship's relationship in any way. Jikook is real whether it is made the center of attention or not. Taekook could be real regardless of whether they are marketed or not. Just because a certain ship is put under the spotlight doesn't mean that ship is 'real' neither does that negate the genuine friendship that exists between members of other ships.

It is weird to me when people associate BigHits business tactics to the validity of their ship. There is no correlation. BigHit is a business, BTS are their artists that make them money- all BTS not just two members from a ship. BTS is one of the most powerful brands in the world right now.

BigHit will explore and exploit all the relationships within the group, platonic or otherwise, if that will help them sell more albums or even Icecream.

Jikook gives BigHit a competitive advantage more so than any other ship in BTS not just because they are the second largest ship in South Korea but because Jikook are shaping out to be a power couple and Icons for the LGBTQ community. There is a reason why companies rush to support Pride month parades. I'll leave it there.

So no, I don't see it as BigHit highlighting the ship of the era as you put it or alternating between Jikook and Taekook as and when. BigHit has a business to run, shipping plays a vital role in its business marketing strategy but not everything is about these ships.

The members have a role to play in creating content for these ships and Bighit won't hesitate to market it if the content is quality entertainment, consensual and plays to their overall marketing scheme.

This means if Jikook ship content are boring they will choose to show a much entertaining ship content over them. Nothing personal.

I just think they treat Jikook differently because as much as they want to pander to our delusional shipping interests, they owe Jikook a duty to protect them from homophobic people. When you hate on any ship in BTS, BigHit assumes you are nuts but when you hate on Jikook BigHit will immediately assume you are both nuts and homophobic.

Promoting Jikook is business but it is also validation and acceptance and support. Bighit has a proclivity for sensitizing us to Jikook and normalizing their relationship.

If Taekook are also in a gay relationship they will be treated the same and I will support them the same. But to me, I believe Jikook are real and therefore Taekook and Jikook are mutually exclusive. Both cannot be real at the same time.

Ship whatever you want but support Jikook and stan all seven.

Signed,

GOLDY

[lightneverfades]

Cupcake Shop AU / Frostiron (Tony/Loki)

Frostiron Holiday Wishes Challenge ❆ 🎅🎄 Prompt by @brianadoesart​​ Fic written by @worstloki Note: AH! So sorry this is another late post, tumblr messed up and I didn’t receive this on Xmas day! Ah! Thank you @worstloki for resending! TwT <3333 Edited post earlier! Sorry again!

Wish (Prompt/Idea): Requester: Cupcake shop au!!!  One of our boys owns a cupcake shop and the other one is a FREQUENT visitor to said coffee shop. Lots of people think its because they have a sweet tooth, but they're just hopelessly in love with whichever one owns the shop.

Stark Confectionaries is a thriving business that has various venues across the country, and four stores in New York alone.

As the name would suggest, the business, although branching out into various other baked goods, specialises first, and foremost, in sweets.

This branch, especially, deals it’s dough in cupcakes.

Tiny ones, giant ones, chocolate, fruity and all else, chances are that if the store doesn’t have what you want in the window then pre-ordering a day in advance will get you your custom cupcake.

At a price.

Because whatever little the ingredients may cost, Stark Confectionaries is a brand, and capitalism is a b*tch.

But, in the wise words of Howard Stark, it’s our b*tch.

Or, at least, that’s what Anthony has been told.

You see, Anthony Edward Stark doesn’t own the business. Nope. He only owns this branch.

And he only runs it because no matter how much Tony hates having to supervise the bakers every morning as they handle the secret family batter, having ownership over an outlet half a city away from his father is worth it. It even gives him the excuse of ‘learning how to manage the place for the day he takes over the family business’ (a distressing day for Howard for sure) which is great shorthand for I’m staying as far away from this abusive dumpster fire of a house as I can.

A lack of interest in the baking and selling aspects, does, however, mean the only part he enjoys contributing to is decorating the cupcakes each morning. Tony simply loves the designing aspect. He spends his free time freelancing as a website designer and someone who puts his coding skills and eye for colours to use.

Unfortunately, only helping design cupcakes means he gets maybe an hours-worth of actual things to do before the store opens, and then he has to spend the rest of the day monitoring the workers.

And monitoring the workers is sooooooo booorrinnggggg.

Tony sits at a table in the corner of the bakery all day, occasionally looking away up from his laptop to make sure the cashier is doing fine, sometimes walking to the displays and picking out a snack, every now and then heading to the store bathroom, but that’s about it.

Plenty of time alone at a table covered in fancy satin cloth because this is a highly esteemed establishment and there are literal waiters that go to tables to ask what cupcake customers want.

Stark Confectionaries does not slack.

Tony sighs and lowers his laptop screen.

There is literally no reason this place needs to be so dialed up and formal all the time. It’s a bakery. People come here to eat baked stuff! Not sit at tables arranged perfectly and for cupcakes to be brought on small plates by waiters.

Tony steps behind the counter and walks into the kitchen where an array of baked goods (the ones not on display in the windows) are arranged. He nods to an employee, but they typically know he doesn’t particularly find it fun to mingle with the riff raff. Do I feel like coffee-caramel or a strawberry-chocolate? He thinks, hovering a hand between both sections.

Trick question.

He’s taking both; he can never decide on just one of them, and besides, the flavours work to cancel each other out. Or something like that.

He walks out of the kitchen and is about to make his way out from behind the counter area when, cupcake in each hand, he stops in his tracks.

Not in a weirdo-cashier kind of way, he just wasn’t expecting to see someone like this (‘this’ being cute in a disarrayed way) here right now in the store.

He’s got black hair pulled up in a beanie and is wearing a comfy-looking green sweater and seems to be holding a conversation with the cashier which is good because it means he misses the way Tony turns around and walks back into the kitchen.

What the f*ck! Why did you turn around?! Yeah, the customer is hot, what about it?!

“Hey, Jeremy,” Tony says, tapping a shoulder.

“It’s Jeremiah.”

“Yeah, whatever,” Tony waves a hand dismissively, “I’m sorry, but, who’s the guy at the counter?”

Jeremiah looks out the kitchen and turns back to him. “Ah, that’s Loki, he’s a regular here.” A regular?! How did I not notice him before?!

“Wait,” Jeremiah says, “have you guys never talked?” “Why would I talk to random customers?” Tony asks, because that’s a bizarre concept.

“He always complains to us about the corner table being taken, and thinks he’s being covert when he takes the table opposite you, and usually comments on the disarrayed state of your hair, and we assumed it was a running joke or something…”

“Ah.”

“Yeah, sorry man, shouldn’t have assumed.”

“Any idea what his usual order is? I owe someone an apology.” Jeremiah raises an eyebrow and smirks, clearly unimpressed with this excuse, but he acquiesces: “Doesn’t stick with any one order, tends to try something different each time he visits.”

Tony looks to the cupcakes in his hands. “Please excuse me.”

Tony walks back out and shoves aside the counter-lady (Madeline? Maddy? Madecity? Something with an M…)

“Hi, I’m Tony,” he introduces himself, noting that Loki hasn’t received his order yet with glee. He holds out both cupcakes, “Pick one?”

“Uh, sure,” Loki says, hesitantly looking over to M-lady. He gingerly takes the strawberry-chocolate. He’s got great choice in cupcakes too! He’s perfect!

“I was under the impression that you only eat these in pairs yourself,” Loki explains.

Awww he noticed, he’s totally interested...

“I’ve heard you like corner tables? You can have mine for a while,” Tony blurts, before realizing how bad that came out. “If you want, I mean, I wouldn’t mind if you wanted to use the same table, it’s got two seats anyway…”

Loki smiles, “I’d love to.”

[myhearthealing]

( Adrian and Atticus )

A completed thread between Atticus Anastas and Adrian Kim @adrian-kim​

May 15, 2020, the day after the Carnival, and post-sex.

Adrian Kim

Adrian might have dozed off for a few minutes there. There was a thing about Atticus just being there with him that brought him a sense of peace, and he always seemed to have a restful night's sleep when he stayed the night. Usually, he was a pretty light sleeper--all those nights of waking up to his father just coming in home from a night drinking with his friends have long taught him to be very vigilant even when he was most vulnerable. He hummed as he stroked Atticus' hair, lightly planting a kiss on his forehead as he checked the time on his phone. "Hey, do you want to go get dinner now?" he asked softly.

Atticus Anastas

Atticus was absolutely knocked out. He might have also been snoring; he wasn't sure. But Adrian seemed to have that effect on him that he didn't have with anyone else. A calming feeling. Finally, he woke up from his sleep to a humming sound and what felt like a gentle kiss on his head. That couldn't be right, he must have just been imagining that part. Atticus stirred a bit, opening his eyes to see Adrian looking over at him, then at his phone. "What time is it-" Atticus asked him, his voice failing at the end. Now that Adrian mentioned it, he was hungry. "Yes, please. What did you have in mind?"

Adrian Kim

"It's 6:35pm," he said as he leaned his head on Atticus' while reading through his messages and emails. He had a paper that he needed to do tonight, so he added it to his to-do list before turning off his phone to look at Atticus. He couldn't help but smile at how adorable he looked, having just woken up. It was odd, but he kind of wanted them to stay in this moment, if only for a little while longer, just basking in each other's presence, in this embrace. "I was thinking I could call Little Icaria and change my reservation to two people, instead of just one? Or should I cancel it all together, and we can find somewhere else to eat?"

Atticus Anastas

“Mmm” was his reply to that. He shut his eyes, trying not to fall asleep again as Adrian rested his head in the crook of his arm. It was weird, but he’d never felt as peaceful with him as he did right now. Atticus found his smell becoming more comforting to him. He hoped that wasn’t dangerous, because he didn’t want it to stop. He peaked his eyes open again as Adrian talked to him. “No, that sounds good to me,” Atticus replied. He could always go for Greek food. “We might have to stop by my apartment first, though, unless you’re okay with me wearing shorts and a t-shirt,” he smiled.

Adrian Kim

Adrian chuckled as the son of Hermes drifted in and out of sleep. He craned his neck to kiss him on the cheek before he pushed himself up to a sitting position and rubbed at his eyes, letting out a yawn. "You can borrow my clothes, if you don't mind my style," he said, getting up without anything on and rummaging through his drawers. "I can fold the ends inwards so they look hemmed since your legs are a little shorter than mine," he said teasingly. "I do have a pair of joggers that could pass for semi-formal, and they have anklebands, so the length won't be an issue."

Atticus Anastas

He felt a kiss on his cheek, and then suddenly the warmth from his body was gone. “Okay,” Atticus responded, thinking his style was ‘scrubs’ and ‘naked.’ Heaving himself up to sit on the edge of the bed, he watched Adrian rifle through his dresser. “Are you calling me short?” He teased. He was 5’10, perfectly average height. “I think whatever pants are fine,” Atticus said, “It might be your long torso that’s the problem.” He stuck his tongue out at him.

Adrian Kim

"Yes I am," he teased before he took out a pair of jeans and another pair of straight cut slacks. "We can cuff the ankles on these jeans or you could try these pants since these just end right above my ankles," he said with a chuckle as he handed them to him. "My legs are a lot longer than my torso, so I figured it might pose a problem with you," he said with a laugh. "Just try them on. This way we'll save them. We probably have the same waistline anyway," he said with a raise of an eyebrow.

Atticus Anastas

"Mhm mhm...gimme these pants," he took the shorter pants from Adrian and slipped them on. They were a little long admittedly, but not to the floor at least. They did wear the same size waist-wise. They would work. "How does my ass look?" Atticus posed for him, winking. "That's the important part." The t-shirt he brought with him was clean enough so he reached over to grab it and pulled it over his head gingerly, protecting his stitched-up arm, and calling it good. "So, what are you wearing on our...eating together?" He did a botched job not calling it a date, but it definitely was. They did a lot of calling in food, and sometimes Atticus would grab a sandwich on the way out...but they didn't really go out to eat. Oh no, their first date.

Adrian Kim

Adrian chuckled as he put them on. He admired his form before grazing his ass and giving it a squeeze. "Appetizing," he said mischievously before he turned to his closet and began picking out what he was going to wear. He settled for a button-down, long sleeved shirt and a pair of slacks. He figured semi-formal would be appropriate for a dinner. "Just these," he said nonchalantly, the idea that this might actually be a date going over his head. Going out for meals with his clients wasn't really anything new to him. Then again, Atticus was just someone he met at a bar. He didn't actually pay him to have sex. Neither did he really ask for anything else in return, which was fine by him.

Atticus Anastas

He smirked at his reply, and at Adrian grabbing his ass. “Great,” he said. As he pulled away to find clothes, Atticus still felt a hot imprint where his hand was. This man’s touch was becoming too much for him. That was dangerous. “Oh,” he said, looking at what he picked out. “Very sexy of you.” Knowing very well Adrian was already completely naked, Atticus closed his eyes. “Promise I won’t look,” but lifted a finger to peek. It was becoming more fun to tease him, knowing he would just tease him right back. “So,” he started while Adrian was in the bathroom, fixing his hair, “are we walking? Or are we taking your motorcycle?”

Adrian Kim

He laughed as he wrapped an arm around Atticus waist and drew him closer, planting a light kiss on his fingertips while they covered his eyes. "You know I don't mind. Besides, you've already done all sorts of things to me, naked. What difference does it make watching me get dressed?" he asked in a deep voice, trailing his fingertips around his waist before he began putting on his shirt. The immaturity of this man was honestly so adorable. "It's a little far from here to go on foot, don't you think?" He asked with a raise of an eyebrow. "Or did you plan to teleport us there?"

Atticus Anastas

This whole scene got a laugh out of Adrian, which was all he wanted. He had a great laugh that was infectious, as Atticus was laughing along as he felt kisses on his hands. “True,” he responded before taking his hands off of his eyes to put them around Adrian’s head, giving him a kiss on the forehead before pulling away. “It is,” he said, thinking. “We can for sure teleport there, saves gas and time. I don’t know, thought you might want to show off your motorcycle to me, though.” Atticus have a wry smile, thinking about it.

Adrian Kim

His eyes widened in surprise as Atticus cupped his head to give him a kiss on the forehead. He smiled at the gesture as he walked to his table to grab his keys, wallet and phone. "I'm fine with either of those options, actually. If you'd prefer a romantic stroll, it is a nice night out, but we might be late for the reservation. Or would you prefer holding on to my waist on my motorcycle?" he asked with a suggestive smirk. "You decide."

Atticus Anastas

Atticus didn’t think it would turn out to be a romantic stroll. He didn’t take well to humidity and he knew there would be some sweat going on. Teleporting was fine, and they could be there now if they wanted...but something told him Adrian might want to enjoy the moment. “Let’s take your motorcycle. Do I have to wear a helmet?” He asked Adrian, reaching down to grab his shoes.

Adrian Kim

Adrian didn't really think about the humidity or sweating being an issue as he didn't really sweat all that much. And if he did, he had been working on elemental magic lately with Jasmine to practice wicking his sweat away to start off. He grinned. He had been hoping Atticus would choose the motorcycle. He had just gotten it about almost a year ago, and it had been really helpful to get to and from his clients' places. It was an added plus that who ever rode with him on it had to hold on to his waist. "I'd much prefer you did. I wouldn't want anything happening to that lovely head of yours," he said, stroking Atticus' cheek with his thumb before he dropped his hand and handed him the spare helmet he kept under his bed.

Atticus Anastas

With his other hand pulling on his shoe, he reached over and took the spare helmet from Adrian. Since he had a spare helmet, he wondered just how many other riders he got on this thing, since it was so easily accessible to pull out. Of course they weren’t monogamous, they weren’t even anything. Shaking his head to get rid of the negative thought running through his head, he set the helmet on the bed and put on his other shoe. “I’m ready to go when you are,” Atticus told him. “I’d brush my hair but there’s really no point.”

Adrian Kim

He smiled as he held open the door for him. "After you," he said before following him out the door. He led him to the dormitory's parking lot and pulled off the bike cover and tucked it in a small pouch to put in the trunk as he pulled out his helmet and put it on. It was around this time that he started feeling a little nervous. He didn't know why, exactly, but the prospect of having dinner with him was definitely new. He'll just have to figure out his feelings eventually. He swung a leg over and ran the ignition before turning towards him. "Please put that on before getting on."

Atticus Anastas

“Yes, boss,” he called to him as the engine started roaring, smiling a little before fitting it over his head. Atticus immediately felt claustrophobic,   The thick padding making it hard to see and hear, and then nervous as he became aware of the fact that he’d never actually ridden on a motorcycle before. He gingerly swung his leg over the bike, getting close to Adrian’s body. Now that he was here, he thought too much about where he should put his arms. On Adrian’s shoulders would be too weird, but around his chest felt too...close. His heart was pounding considering, but then he felt the bike move forward and immediately wrapped his good arm around Adrian.

Adrian Kim

He was hyperaware that his palms were getting quite sweaty, so he put on his gloves on and grinned at Atticus, noticing that he looked a little worried. "Hey, are you alright?" He asked, watching as he sort of hesitated to get on the bike. He smiled reassuringly as he stroked the Greek's hand softly before giving it a squeeze. It didn't really occur to him that Atticus hadn't ever gotten on a motorcycle before until he seemed to jump when he started to back out of his parking space and quickly wrap his arms around his middle. He chuckled deeply as he stroked his arm before revving forward.

Atticus Anastas

"I'm all right," Atticus replied to him, cursing himself as his voice broke a bit. He hoped Adrian didn't notice. Feeling the other's hand on him gave him a little bit of reassurance, and he pushed all his nerves down. It was just to the restaurant, and Adrian knew what he was doing. Of course, he probably had passengers all the time, he thought with an edge of bitterness that surprised himself. Since when do I care if Adrian is with other people? But he knew the answer to that one. Adrian was...different. The ride to the restaurant was of course without incident. It felt overwhelming, and riding on a motorcycle was a completely different experience to riding a bike or even a car with the top down. When he got off, his adrenaline started falling, and he noticed he was shaking a bit. Not wanting to make Adrian worry or anything, Atticus reassured him. "I'm good, just give me a sec."

Adrian Kim

Adrian chuckled as his voice broke. Clearly, the motorcycle ride was something he just wasn't used to. He unlatched his own helmet and hung it by the handles before he turned off the engine. He kicked off the stand and slowly lowered the bike, so as not to startle his passenger,  before he got off first. He gave the Greek's hand a gentle squeeze before he reached over and helped him with his helmet and took it off for him. He stroked Atticus' cheek with the back of his hand before he trailed his finger tips through the hair above his ear, resting them just at the nape of his neck to stroke the hair there. "You're alright. You've got about 10 minutes until we really have to be inside," he said with a reassuring smile.

Atticus Anastas

Atticus was regretting his decision. Now he was all flustered and jittery, and Adrian was as suave and cool as ever. He let the man take off his helmet, his hair flying every which way. Adrian's absentminded touches gave him a soothing element he wasn't expecting. He wondered if it meant anything more to him, or if he was only trying to make Atticus feel better, nothing more. "Yeah," he said in response. Then, "Sorry." He felt embarrassed about his reaction to the motorcycle, and about the fuss over it, not liking it when people were so worried about him. Atticus straightened up and smoothed his hair back from his face. "We don't have to wait the ten-nine-minutes to go in. I'm ready."

Adrian Kim

Adrian grazed the hair at the nape of the Greek's neck, absent-mindedly stroking it before he trailed his fingers down his spine and rested a hand on the small of his back. "Don't worry about it," he said with a mischievous grin as he leaned in closer to whisper against his ear. "You know I don't bite unless you want me to," he said in a deep voice as he straightened his back and held out his other hand for the brunet. "Come on, I'll help you down," he said with a reassuring smile. He could tell that Atticus was a little nervous, but he couldn't for the life of him understand why. They were just having dinner together, nothing outrageous.

[chaoticgremlinwholikescheese]

Perfect Moments

CORA’S POV:

Yes, it’s eight in the morning. And yes, I should probably get up. But Davey is fast asleep next to me and it’s adorable. His arms are wrapped around my waist as he snores into my hair. He’s a cuddle bug for sure. Not that I mind. I’ve been up for an hour at least. Can’t bring myself to move. I’ve just been scrolling on my phone, enjoying his silent company.

I feel him shift against my back. He mumbles something. “Good morning, sleepyhead.” I flip over to face him. His hair is all over the place, like he just got electrocuted. He rubs the sleep from his eyes and gently stretches. “What time is it?” He groans. “Eight. You slept in for once.” I move to get out of bed, but he holds me down with his arm. 

“Noooooo. Don’t leave. Y’warm.” I laugh and lay down next to him. “How can I refuse?” He places his chin on my head. My face is laying against his chest. I can hear his heart beat. “We really should get up though. We have to meet Race at the dance studio at ten.” 

“He’ll understand if we cancel. I’ll say I got sick. Or I’m turning into a vampire and can no longer go outside. And then we can just stay here all day.” I wish we could. I live for moments like these. The little, perfect moments. I want to freeze time. Like a photograph. Just this moment for a little while longer.

“I want waffles.” I can feel the vibration of Davey’s voice. “Alright. But you have to help me make them.” He hums in agreement. Neither of us move. “We’re gonna have to get up to make them.” He wisely observes. “On the count of three. One, two, three.” Both of us sit up. I clamber out of bed and pull on my bathrobe.

We follow our typical morning routine. We take turns in the bathroom, brushing teeth and hair. When he comes out, his hair is even fluffier. He looks like a poodle. Once all that is done, we migrate to the kitchen. We pull out all the ingredients and pile them on the counter.

“Can you do the eggs, sweetheart? I always get shells in ‘em.” Davey nods and grabs the eggs. He deftly cracks one. It misses the bowl and ends up on the counter. There’s not a shell in it, though. He wipes it up and tries again, this time making it inside. We work in tandem to make the batter.

We chat the whole time about this and that. We’re just enjoying each other’s company. When the batter is finally made, Davey pulls out the bag of chocolate chips. He gives me puppy dog eyes. There’s no way I can resist. “Fine, but only a little bit.” He cheers and proceeds to dump half the bag into the bowl. “This is going to be more chocolate than waffle,” I chuckle.

I get to work cooking the waffles. Davey sets the table. I switch on some music and sing along. He joins in. He’s very off key, but then again, so am I. We make a good pair. Davey grabs my hand. “May I have this dance?” He asks. “Of course.” He pulls me towards him. We slowly waltz around the kitchen.

Our dancing isn’t very formal. It’s mainly just the two of us giggling our way through steps and twirls. It’s another perfect moment. Sunlight is streaming through the window, hitting Davey’s face just right. His smile is beautiful. It makes me fall in love with him all over again.

All these perfect moments. They’re what make life worth living.

[wallymcflubberfins]

OK HERE WE GO, LONG ASS POST

So, I don’t really post my art that often, but lately I’ve been a lil more persistent than usual. And I felt that, considering the current circumstances we’re under, might as well start using my time to try posting more, especially an OC. So, here we go.

This here, is Lukas. My Treasure Planet OC. (excuse the rather large photos. couldn’t figure out how to arrange them to be side to side)

His story still needs a lot more fleshing out to do, so to keep it short, he was somewhat a test tube baby, made for rather unfortunate reasons, was abandoned at a very young age, then found and raised by one of the Academy’s staff. He spent most of his childhood helping joining his guardian at work, often observing the young spacers in training. When he became 13 or so, he started helping his guardian with some of their work, primarily sweeping/mopping the enclosed sparring arena. 

Now, the part I’m currently trying to flesh out is how it is he got into the academy as a student, and am trying to find a reason for Captain Blake (Kate’s father) to recommend he join. 

At some point, in his childhood, he met a young girl during the night of a formal event for her Majesty’s Royal Navy, held at the Academy’s Ballroom (assuming they’d have some sort of an event hall). At the time he just had a bit of a confrontation with some of the event attendees’ children. He was off somewhere quietly sniffling when a young Kate Blake happened to hear him on her way to check out the sparring hall. Ever since then (well okay, more specifically ever since they both got to join the academy together) they’ve been the best of friends.

a long boi

Because, they spend so much time together, some other students began to assume they were both dating, which was just hilarious to the two of them, since they see each other as siblings and they’re both massive homos (yet neither of them have come out to the other yet, not sure how’d the other would react) so they’ve just been playing along since it kept questions from either parents about their love lives at bay. And hey! They’re best friends! They wouldn’t need to act any different around each other.

So now we’re at the part where Jimborino shows up! I like to assume that both Jim and Lukas happened to have joined the Academy rather out of nowhere and about several weeks into the new semester (not sure if that’s the right term to use) so they ended up as roommates. And it was the first time Lukas found out he really liked boys (like before this he had the sense that maybe girls just weren’t his thing, but because most of the guys he’d met before Jim were all assholes so he never even considered boys but then this cute ass bastard shows up and he’s just “OH SHIT AIGHT THIS MIGHT AS WELL HAPPEN”)

Sadly, I don’t Lukas would ever get the guts to tell Jim, and I’m sure Jim doesn’t feel the same. Why would I decide that, you might be asking? (you prolly aren’t asking) Well because I like to make my characters and myself suffer  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Ok! So some things to know about the lad!

He loves music (he loves to sing and play the lute/guitar/whatever sort of string instruments they have, he’s a strummer)

His voice headcanon would be Harry Styles! (as outrageous as that sounds, I think it suits him well, shout out to my sister for that idea @intensive-mew​)

Ever since he was a lil kid, he’s always wanted to become a spacer just so he can see what’s out there. He’d watch the young spacers train with complete admiration and wonder.  

Physically, he’s a lil weak, and not very agile, he’s got more smarts than brawn.

Speaking of, his smarts are only street wise: book wise, he’s a bit slow.

Speaking of speaking of, he’s a pretty sly lil shit, he’s got a way around anything, need help on anything, he’s the guy to go to (for the small price of just not being mean, literally just don’t be an asshole)

He’s a sweetheart but a bit of a pushover (hence, he gets bullied pretty easily and often)

He’s a big parent’s boy! Loves his parent more than anything. (I’ve planned their appearance, but just like the rest of Lukas’ story, that needs some fleshing out too)

Captain Blake is quite fond of him and treats him like a nephew since he spends so much time with Kate, and is quite fine if they are dating (which couldn’t be farther from the truth)

Besides Kate, Jim soon too becomes Lukas’ best (and only) friend. Spending a lot of their time together, cracking jokes, pulling off ‘harmless’ pranks when they get too bored, sneaking onto the hostel’s roof, gazing out into the galaxy, sharing dreams and cracking more jokes. (amidst all that slacking off, Kate would smack their heads back in place and get them to actually focus on their schoolwork, which surprisingly they do)(mom friend #1)

He feels like he doesn’t belong where he is currently, not not with his guardian or Kate but not there at the academy, surrounded by all those people who only ever see him as extra weight, which he supposes is fair, they’ve all worked hard to get there, except him, and he doesn’t even want to be there, not anymore at least

So this one’s a bit of a stretch into the future, and based a bit (ok, a lot) on the cancelled sequel, but I’ve headcanoned that the three of them would end up in some curfuffle involving some pirates and that along the way, Lukas realises what he’d rather do with his life which is becoming a pirate. (I’d get into that, but maybe another time) 

Well, I think that’s it, for now. If anyone’s interested at all about him, just ask! Anyway, I hope y’all like him! Do tel me what y’all think! 🌠

[nevergiveupneverrun]

Bodyguard - Chapter Fifty-three “Dead end”

Hello everybody, how are you? Here is chapter Fifty-three of my Story Bodyguard, yay!! I hope you will like this chapter.

I’m sorry in advance for the mistakes… English isn’t my first language and I do my best. Here is the link to the previous chapter: Click Here.

I hope you will enjoy this chapter :) 💛

                   –––––––––––––––––––––––

- I hope that it will work, Mer… I have no other way anyway… hurry up… I have to find a source of funding, otherwise, I will have to delay or cancel the construction of the home…

.

Amelia has been in the corner of the living room on the phone with her manager for a few minutes.

I wait wisely letting my gaze stop on the elements near me in the room.

I came back to this apartment with a strange feeling: I didn’t feel like I was in my place yet. To belong to this place.

I was trying to find my markers and my automatisms alongside Amelia.

Her attitude was, however, a little more distant than before: she often avoided my gaze, isolated herself as soon as possible. As if she had a course of action in mind that she set out to apply. Maybe I was having ideas, or I was just more sensitive to the least of her reactions… the fact remains that a host of contrasting sensations mingled when I return as Amelia Shepherd’s bodyguard.

.

My eyes get lost around me when I suddenly make out o CD cover that calls out to me, placed near the player.

How could it be there?

I approach it automatically and my fingers slide on it.

I caress this piece of plastic with my fingertips and I recognize my handwriting on the sheet of paper that is used for cover.

I open the case, but no CD inside… would she have listened to it?

This disc was so special to me… which allowed me to not be overwhelmed at certain moments of my life… but by what miracle did I then have it in my hand?

- Ok, I got a text from Jackson, he’s going to spend the afternoon at the hospital with April, we will be able to go, I am reassured to know that April is surrounded, Amelia informs me, approaching me. I hope he will boost her, for her physiotherapy exercises…

I turn my back on her, still focused on my discovery.

I can see her presence on the side, her shadow growing near me.

- You can enlighten me… this CD… how come it is here?

- It was a surprise that I discovered when I finished unpacking the boxes from the chalet two days ago, she replies.

In her voice, a soft and calm tone calls out of me. Like a veil of tenderness.

And a suddenly more relaxed attitude which takes hold of her at the mention of the CD.

Almost an Amelia who metamorphoses before me.

- There was an envelope in one of them that I hadn’t paid attention to and that slipped to the bottom when I removed the clothes. There was a little post on it that said: "to keep some of this haven of peace"… signed by Rosie.

I smile while listening to Amelia’s explanation.

It looked like spitting Rosie.

She knew what this cd meant to me… she thought having it with me would be more useful than being locked in a closet.

- I think that she had to undo one of the packages to add this disc before sending them… Amelia concludes.

- Yes, Rosie is full of resources, I add, keeping my smile. You… did you listen to it? I asked a little feverish. 

Amelia stares the plastic case, hesitates for a few seconds, then decides to answer me with a smile on her lips. Frank and spontaneous. 

One of the first I observe since our reunion.

A show that fascinates me.

- With a title like "Hunt’s symphony" how did you want me to resist… it’s a wonder this cd, I never tire of it for two days…

I remain silent listening to her answer. 

This cd indeed contained a series of titles sung by my parents, some songs that I had recorded myself with my father when I was still a teenager… and a song that I had written especially for him… a bit later…

- Your mother’s voice is overwhelming… I guess it’s your father accompanying her…

I nod while the echoes of the melodies of the cd echo in my head.

I am surprised that Amelia develops her impressions and does not immediately end this exchange, but I welcome her words carefully.

- You have a great voice too, but I already told you… I truly like the title "goodbye"… which seems to stand the test of your father’s death… but my favorite is the duo of your parents… it made me dream…

This song that she evokes, it allowed me to keep my head above the water.

To defeat my demons.

It was sacred to me… a song that we don’t touch and that I was unable to sing or even hum… this title has been repeated thousands of times, by many different artists, but for me, it was only my parents who were legitimate to sing it: two beings madly in love with each other… forever.

I would never know that for my part.

- Their cover is magnificent, we perceive all the love that emerges from both… I understand better when you told me about little things that allow us to keep in ourselves the people we love, to make them live and resonate inside us. Is it that song for you?

- You got it right… I weakly confirmed.

- It’s a great declaration of love to sing this song like this… they were really in love with each other… in love and happy…

She stares at me intensely at the end of her comment and our eyes remain connected for long seconds. At this moment, strangely, Amelia doesn’t dodge this silent exchange.

She stays focused and fixed on me.

The moment is destabilizing, I perceive electricity vibrating between us… my old reflexes are expressed again: this chemistry suddenly makes me uncomfortable and leads me to finally look away.

I clear my throat slightly to break the connection.

- Uh… are you ready… can we go?

She takes a few seconds, then sighs quickly confirming to me that she reluctantly goes to this meeting.

- Yes, let’s go, she says. Let it be behind me… I don’t like being trapped in a situation, having no choice but to ask for help… from the last person on my list…

She retrieves a leather jacket, which she quickly wears while tying a light scarf around her neck.

I imitate her and also put on a leather jacket over my suit, then grab my crash helmets and give her hers. Jackson is no longer available, I decided to take her on a motorcycle. This vehicle was also much more practical than a car to escape a possible chase.

We leave the apartment in a few minutes and find the motorbike parked a few steps down in the street.

- Can you remind me of the address, please? 

- Uh… you take the direction of Bellevue, the domain address should be indicated next…

I nod my head at her directions and help her fasten her crash helmet securely, as she struggles with the fastener.

I put my crash helmet on and put myself on the motorcycle first.

I take a hand from Amelia and help her sit behind me, stepping over the mount.

I give her a few seconds to find the ideal position, well wedged behind me, and I turn the key.

I turn my head slightly towards her to give her one last instruction before I start.

- Above all, you hold me well, in all circumstances…

She does not answer but supports my request when I feel her arms tighten tightly and her hands cross against my stomach.

.

Thirty-five-minute drive later, we arrive near Bellevue and I notice a sign effectively designating a domain.

Amelia points her finger at me and tells me in a loud voice behind me: "it’s over there!".

I then scrupulously follow the other signs and after a few minutes, we enter a large paved alley, bordered by plane trees: it thus leads to an immense wrought-iron portal, beyond which there is an imposing building… a castle…

I have to stop in front of the closed gate. 

Amelia gets off the motorcycle and removes her crash helmet while approaching a case that looks like an intercom.

- Does he know you were coming? I ask, letting my voice carry beyond the helmet and worrying that entry will be denied. 

- No… I preferred not to warn him to prevent it from lasting too long… I have no desire to get stuck here for several hours.

She presses a button unlaid in the case and a female voice eventually rises.

- Yes, hello, can you announce and indicate the subject of your visit?

The question is of a rather surprising formality which makes me smile slightly.

- Hello, I’m Amelia Shepherd, I’m coming to see Alex Karev.

- Do you have an appointment?

- Yes, he is waiting for me…

Amelia’s response is pronounced without hesitation and proves effective when we perceive the portal to open gradually.

- I didn’t know you were such a good liar.

- It’s not quite a lie, since the time he makes it easy for me… she says while putting on her crash helmet and sitting again behind me.

I restart at low speed and enter the domain.

We drive for a few meters before I cut off contact, in front of the large castle door in front of us.

We both get off the bike and take off our helmets. I rid Amelia of this accessory which I place on the motorbike and she hastens to move her head vigorously to replace her hair.

A creak awakens behind us and I turn my head: a silhouette takes shape in the doorway… a male silhouette descending the steps to meet us.

And a face that I recognize immediately.

- Amelia, what a pleasure to see you! He announces with enthusiasm.

Amelia faces him quickly and gives him a big smile… an attitude the complete opposite of what I had observed during the evening for her foundation where she had done everything to avoid him.

But I’m not fooled: I know she is playing a role right now.

She did not come here for pleasure but forced to finance her project.

- Hello Alex, excuse me, I come to see you without warning, but I wanted to speak with you on a very important… and an urgent subject…

- There is no problem, he says with a smile. I have no particular constraints and my parents are traveling… besides, I was expecting a bit of your coming, I think I know what you want to talk to me about, I had a few comments…

I perceive Amelia tense up near me, uncomfortable by understanding that Alex has a very precise idea of the purpose of her visit.

I remain surprised to hear him say that he still lives in this domain with his family: he was however at least 35 years old. But apparently in families of this stature, the blood ties are different and dissipate less quickly: an inheritance and a fortune to be managed seem to give rise to certain duties.

- By the way, I heard the sad news that your friend April had a serious accident, I hope everything is fine? He inquires in a soft and compassionate voice.

- She is recovering slowly, but she is in good hands, thank you for caring, Amelia answers weakly, looking down.

A presence is suddenly guessed behind the host of the house: a young woman, dressed in a strict suit.

- Sir, are you sure I should leave you? My service should not end in two hours, she announces shyly, a little embarrassed.

- Yes, Marie, as I just told you, take your afternoon. I don’t need you anymore… he confirms without looking at the one who turns out to be a housekeeper.

- Alright sir, see you tomorrow.

She advances a little more, nods respectfully, and joins a small car, parked a few meters away.

I feel a piercing look at me and quickly notice that Alex is watching me intensely.

- We weren’t introduced, I believe, he says, holding out a hand.

I shake his hand firmly while perceiving the voice of Amelia by our side.

- Alex, I present to you… Jackson. He’s a musician friend, he kindly wanted to drive me to your house, because my driver is sick.

I listen to Amelia’s words, a little surprised that she doesn’t reveal my true identity, but I don’t let anything show through.

She was probably afraid that Alex would recognize me…

He indeed stares at me intensely as if he was studying each feature of my face precisely. 

But he ends up turning his face and tearing his hand away from mine, addressing Amelia again.

- I suggest you come in, Amelia… Jackson, you can park your motorcycle in the garage, there are threatening clouds coming. I think it would be more prudent.

I take a look at the sky and note that it has largely darkened, raising fears of an impending storm.

- Thank you very much, my motorcycle will appreciate, I answer with a weak smile to reduce the tension that I perceived between us.

- I’m going to open it from the inside, it’s the brown door that you see 100 meters in front of you.

- Alright, thank you, I answer politely.

- Amelia, please, come in, he says placing a hand behind Amelia’s back and guiding her up the stairs.

I take a last look at Amelia who is looking for my eyes before turning around one last time: I read in this look all the weariness that already inhabits her… she was forcing herself to ask for his help.

I place my hands on the handlebars of the motorcycle, helmet in hand and the other hanging on the handlebars, and advance to the section of the domain indicated by Alex.

The door opening is engaged, I hear behind me: I can see the brown door rise and gradually reveal a car body.

I turn around towards the entrance of the castle but it is a closed-door that already faces me whereas Alex and Amelia entered inside.

I arrive at the entrance to the garage, the automatic door is completely raised from now on.

.

I take a few steps in the place that has just been revealed to me while guiding my motorbike: the surface of the room impresses me directly. It’s not just a garage, it’s almost a whole ground floor full of cars.

I go a little further and scan the different vehicles around me, lit by several neon lights installed on the ceiling: Rolls Royces, vintage cars, Porsches, legendary American cars, 4x4…

I try to find a place for my motorcycle and find the ideal place in a corner at the back of the room, facing me. I push my motorcycle carefully, sneaking between a Rolls Royce and an old Cadillac, then set it aside by operation the kickstand. 

I can’t help but quickly glance at all these cares with sparkling bodies again, giving me a quick tour of the different models almost installed here on display.

Questions are promptly asked during my contemplation.

What does life in an environment of this nature look like? 

An everyday life where you can have everything you want, where everything is accessible?

Do we still only have dreams?

Is that enough to be happy?

Experience had shown me the opposite: all the artists I had encountered, some of whom could, in the same way, afford everything they wanted, were mostly tortured, neurotic, and alone… deeply alone.

I instinctively think of my parents, of my conversation with Amelia a few hours earlier at the apartment: happiness is not just a garage full of luxury cars… happiness is as simple as sharing a song…

I didn’t know Alex and yet I was sure of one thing: this man had everything he wanted, but he lacked the most important… what it takes to be happy.

My thoughts fade when my attention suddenly stops on a vehicle.

The front bumper is damaged and spots of color intrigue me.

I kneel and distinguish shiny traces on the body… my piqued curiosity, I slide my finger there.

The sensation allows me to define more precisely the substance: it is not painting, it is more fluid than a chemical component… sliding easily on my finger and dressing it in a bright red color…

My heart suddenly accelerates by identifying this liquid on my skin…

I lean a little more, to observe the license plate as if by reflex.

But I’m going wrong: this plate is quite usual with a series of numbers and letters.

And yet… I keep this disturbing intuition in the back of my mind.

Something suddenly strikes me when the elements making up the registration number do not seem perfectly straight and aligned to me.

I touch the piece of metal, nothing abnormal… although, by scrutinizing the metal plate a little more precisely, I discern two very distinct shades of white: the one near the edges is less vivid, more beige than white.

My fingers roam the expanse of metal and I surprisingly perceive an edged revealing itself under my skin as a junction.

An edge.

My fingers grip it and so I detach with surprise the license place. It is a magnetic section that can be applied and removed just as easily.

I watch the object in my hand in disbelief: a removable license plate, this is not something common on the market…

I feel the tension increase in me and I end up looking down again at what this plate hid: what appears before my eyes, doesn’t surprise me, but confirms all the suspicions that were beginning to be expressed deep inside me. 

Because of no letters or numbers on the real plate of this car… of this matt black 4x4… just a sign, a symbol that I have long looked for in the streets of Seattle… which I recognized with horror on the evening of Amelia’s concert.

It is there in a few inches from my eyes: this mysterious Ferry Boat which has haunted me for many weeks.

.

Amelia…

A name that invades my mind… that repeats itself with the rhythm of my heartbeat and the intensity of my pulsations.

Without knowing it, I just lead her straight into the nets of our worst enemy…

I have to find her as soon as possible.

A click sounds as I sit up, ready to pounce, and the darkness suddenly surrounds me.

No more light in the room and a metallic noise echoes simultaneously.

My eyes are destabilized by the sudden darkness and I lose the space of a few seconds my bearings.

I groped my way along against the cars to head for the door.

This metallic noise… it seems familiar to me and I realize that it corresponds to the mechanism of the door. But this time, it marks the closing of the garage entrance…

An adrenaline rush spreads throughout my body and mobilizes all my senses in a fraction of a second. My vision quickly adapts to the low light and I note with fright that the door is already half-closed.

I move as fast as I can, in a fight against the mechanics.

I slide on the hood of a car to gain ground, but I watch helplessly the rapid descent from the entrance to the garage.

I’m just a few steps away, I run without paying attention to the shocks against my legs as I hit vehicles. My heart is pounding under the intense effort and tension that assail me. I finally reach this automatic door… but only a handful of free centimeters, too little for me to sneak…

.

A deaf clatter rises after a few seconds.

The entrance just closed completely in front of me.

.

I am trapped in this garage.

The fault of my lack of speed.

The fault after a few seconds of hesitation and reflection… very useless. I can only blame myself. And the tension turns into nervousness against myself… then into sharp and guilty anxiety.

Amelia is only a few meters away and yet I can’t reach her.

.

Here I am stuck… in an impossible situation…

Like the ultimate twit to a bad disaster movie.

What’s worse for a bodyguard than being away from the one he must protect…

What could be worse for me than being helpless, facing this closed door, being fully aware from now on that Amelia is in the greatest danger.

One of my fists violently hits this metal wall in front of me.

A deaf sound pierces the silence that surrounds me.

.

Behind this gate.

In the castle.

What is going on?

Does he intend to harm her?

Is she safe and sound? Injured? Sequestered?

.

Because Amelia is alone…

.

Not with Alex Karev, heir, and privileged donor of the singer’s foundation.

.

But with the man who has been harassing her for months.

.

The author of the threats, destabilizations which have marked these last months.

.

The crazy who inscribed this veil of terror and anguish that now dresses the singer’s face and eyes.

.

The monster, responsible for the dramas that clouded her life…

                  –––––––––––––––––––––––

Thank you for reading. Have a great week 💛

[heartslogos]

newfragile yellows [810]

“Listen I've only got the two brain cells. One of them is focused on being gay and the other is focused on trying to do basic math because one brain cell can’t do both. The rest have fucked off somewhere to do other things, presumably not those two things,” Sera says, punctuating her words with hand gestures. “So you can’t expect me to hear you say something like that and instantly pick up your meaning. Understanding the Adaars and the Lavellans and the Chargers and the rest of the crazy Inquisition Circus is like having to learn several new languages that just happen to cross each other multiple times. You wanna explain to me from the very beginning?”

Malika repeats, slower this time, “Ellana Lavellan is going to be maid of honor at Herah Adaar’s wedding. I’m pretty sure that’s not code? You know what a maid of honor is and you know what a wedding is.”

“That part I get. Do the next one.”

“Josephine’s best man is the Iron Bull.”

“And that’s where you lost me. Josephine. Montilyet. Is getting married. And the person she chooses to be her right hand is the Iron Bull. Adaar and Lavellan I kind of get. Because it was either that or Adaar chooses Max to be her best man and Max’s been kind of busy flying around the world so he doesn’t have the time or energy to spare to help plan a wedding. Mahanon Lavellan won’t be found a hundred miles from any kind of wedding planning event. Kaaras would just cry and say yes to everything without putting in real input.”

“There’s also the fact that I’m pretty sure they dated.”

“What? Who dated?”

“Herah and Ellana.”

“They what.” Sera gapes. “When? When did this happen? Where the fuck was I?”

“Oh, no, it was before the Inquisition,” Malika shakes her head, “They’re pretty chill about it. I guess they parted on good terms? I don’t know. They only talk about it when they want to tease the Iron Bull or Kaaras. Anyway, Ellana and Herah are pretty close all things considered. And Bull is Josephine’s best friend.”

“He’s what.”

“He’s her best friend,” Malika repeats, giving Sera a concerned look. “They have like, an almost weekly lunch date? You know if Bull’s texting someone it’s probably Josephine. Those two are pretty ride or die. I’ve heard of Josephine burying stuff for him — like. Uh. Paperwork wise. not actually burying stuff? I can’t imagine Josephine getting dirty.”

“Oh my god. How did I miss this?”

“It’s not like you and Josephine talk a lot,” Malika points out, “And Bull isn’t the kind of person to just announce his relationships with people.”

“And yet he’ll announce literally anything else. I can’t believe this. Wait — is the Iron Bull even good to plan a wedding?”

“He’s the Iron Bull,” Malika stresses, “Of course he’s good to plan a wedding. Figuring out elaborate seating arrangements to minimize contact between unfriendly guests? The balancing act of formality versus want? Budgets? Color coordination in order to best highlight and balance out the setting? Themes? Bargaining prices? Setting time tables? Finding out information regarding best deals and finding any lies?”

“Way to make a wedding sound political and suck the romance out of it. When did this get announced?”

“I’m not sure, I just found out about it today because I walked in on the four of them in Josephine’s office while they were talking about splitting up wedding planning duties. They’re thinking of asking if they can borrow Cullen’s dog to be the flower pup or ring bearer. Josephine’s got a niece who can be whichever one the dog isn’t.”

“She’s only got one niece?”

“She’s only got one niece she wants in the wedding, the rest she doesn’t trust,” Malika says. “Either too young or too old or too unpredictable in between that.  De Fer is going to be the pianist, apparently.”

“And when the fuck did that happen?”

“Well. De Fer is friends with Josephine and Bull,” Malika says. “How come you’re one of our intelligence officers and you don’t know any of this about any of us?”

“Uh, because I’m focused on getting the info on all of our enemies and not on us? Because, you know, that’s my job? Also I figured the good goss would get to me eventually through the gay grapevine? Except, apparently, I was fuckin’ wrong because I’m only getting this info now.”

“If it makes you feel any better they’re going to do an announcement later this week, they just wanted to start getting some of the details in motion and stuff. The wedding isn’t for like, another year or two?”

“That’s a long engagement.”

“I mean, we are running a huge military operation that’s constantly on the brink of intercepting world war and complete and utter collapse of society as we know it. Putting a wedding date for a year or two down the line seems a little optimistic in my opinion.” Malika shrugs. “Ellana and Bull run a lot of long-term ops, you know? Max’s stuff is general shorter but he’s running at least twelve different projects at once at any given second, so he’s busy in a different way. We’re all busy people. Squeezing in a wedding in two or three years? Oof. I hope they get some kind of insurance in case they need to cancel. Cos. You know. We might be in the middle of a world war.”

“You’re too reasonable for a college student,” Sera says. “Did you know that? Has anyone told you that? You’re like…crazy down to earth. No, that isn’t a dwarf joke.”

“Uncle Edric always says I’ve got my head in the clouds,” Malika replies. “Anyway, this isn’t what I wanted to talk about. I didn’t bring this up so we could talk about how out of touch you are. I bought it up because of the bouquet toss.”

“Yeah? What about it?”

“If Ellana or Bull catches it do you think they’ll get married?”

[bliindinglights]

⧼    kathryn newton, cisfemale, she/her   /   maybe idk - jon bellion   +   cancelled plans at the last minute , forgotten about wilted, yellow tulips in a mason jar , a worn in, oversized denim jacket that gets thrown into every outfit regardless of formality     ⧽   ━━   let me tell you a thing or two about ASTRID GALE VIDARSDOTTIR. the TWENTY THREE year old daughter of VIDAR BJORK-THORSON is a POSTGRAD student at paragon academy, and has sometimes been referred to as THE PARADOX. they’ve always seemed very CURIOUS & COLORFUL, though i’ve heard that they can be pretty FLIGHTY & WEAK-WILLED, too. it’s common knowledge that they have the power / ability of WATER MANIPULATION & PARTIAL ASGARDIAN PHYSIOLOGY ; guess we shouldn’t get on their bad side, huh?  

first off, hello ! i’m lex ! i’m 24, use she/her pronouns and im located in the est timezone ! i am v excited to be here, feel free to slide into my dms to plot ! 

cute & fun headcanons : 

a lil bit of a crust of a gal !

calls herself baby

can b an asshole

vegetarian !

very sleepy gal - for no reason at all. napping is a ~hobby~

quotes tik toks and definitely went through a heelys phase in 2019

very,, flighty. queen of ‘i wasn’t going to go but i wanted to be invited’. is notorious for trying to bail out of plans so she often has to be dragged to outings

she’s aware of her flakiness - it’s not something she likes and has made small strides to combat. she joined a sorority to make new friends, but also to give her some structure that she HAD to abide by. 

has five tattoos and will contest that two of them were a good idea at the time but ultimately,,, regrets them ( s/o to the YOLO lip tattoo she got four years ago and it STILL hasn’t faded, despite being promised it would ). the other she regrets is simply because it is so cliche - it was her first, a simple wave beneath and to the side of her right breast. she’s also got a conure perched on a half moon on her back left shoulder, this on the back of her upper right arm, and ‘vis ta vie’ on her inner left leg, just above the ankle. 

she’s very smart when she puts her mind to something, it’s just the matter of staying invested in whatever she’s working on. fortunately, she does pick up on things quickly. for example, she learned how to sufficiently play piano in about three months before she ditched the hobby all together. played every sport under the sun for a year before eventually ditching it ( with the exception of swimming ). 

that being said - despite being 23 this is her first year of graduate school at paragon academy, due to the fact that she changed her major three times in undergrad.

has a blue crowned conure named paulie, yes - just like the movie. it was her favorite growing up !

is a swim instructor and lifegaurd ( during the summer ) at the local swim club! loves working with kiddos ! has travelled to a lot of really cool places in the world doing different missions with nonprofits and or/research working on tagging sharks and studying their populations ! 

some *history* :

born august 2, 1996. she’s one of five children of vidar thorson ! is the ( older ) irish twin of tova, which is cute n funky n fresh

she has. . . always been flighty. when she was younger, it was more so with her emotions - they would turn on a dime. she felt things very vibrantly. when she was happy, she was overwhelmingly so. when something even mildly set her off, you knew. very much a realist growing up. saw things for how they were, and it often upset her.

her childhood was good. she loved her parents, loved her siblings. she valued the time where they ALL were together, but she made it. . . very known she was unhappy when her dad would leave. large tantrums and screaming fits when she was younger. acting out when she got older ( she’s mellowed out though, now she’s just. dumb ).

she has a pretty good relationship with her mom. by no means is she the closest to her out of the lot, but they get on well. maybe not so much in her teens when astrid was busy acting out, but really. . . that’s ANY teen and their parents, isn’t it?

rly clung to tova after the incident at the shops. she mourned for her aunt, she did, as much as a thirteen year old girl could, but tova was her highest concern. she didn’t know how, per se, to comfort someone in tova’s situation aside from being there when needed ( even when her presence wasn’t asked for i.e sleeping on the floor beside her bed ).

she has a . . . tricky relationship with her dad and goes back and forth, often, about whether or not she wants a better relationship with him. when she was younger she just wanted his consistent, undivided attention. wanted him to be around. she knows his absence does not come with an easy answer, but that’s never changed how she felt. there’s a lot of. . . undealt with animosity, for lack of better wording, on her part. the damage was done, and being nearer to him has thrown her through a loop. it’s not uncommon for her to agree to plans to see him and then cancel on them at the last minute. also not uncommon to reach out at the last minute, too. fickle chick.

i’ll likely add onto this as i build onto astrid and work out where she fits in the grand scheme of things ! 

wanted connections ! i’ll send these to the main in a more. . . formal format, eventually, but ! :

a squad that rly b drinking,,, the stupid bitch juice ~ people she just does dumb shit with. admittedly they have probably. . . matured, a bit, since their rly dumb days considering i’d imagine most of them to be grad students or well, graduated but i think that is a good foundation, of sorts, to build off of. like any young adults finding time for each other after undergrad could always be. . . a time. these are also likely her tried and true best friends. her constants. could rly b anyone, i think this could be cool if they’re all polar opposites, but they should be around her age !i’d imagine it’s a group of four, maybe three, i’m not rly picky. 

astrid has likely had one or two exes. she floats both ways, so this would be open to anyone. it was likely her that led to their demise. she’s flighty in all things. plans. feelings. maybe she was just a straight up lousy girlfriend. didn’t allot enough time to the relationship to make it work. maybe her feelings sizzled quickly after the two became a thing. it does not HAVE to be that way, just some options, as astrid’s STILL really figuring herself out and i really doubt she was a perfect opposite in the past. but, hey ! if you have something else in mind, i’m not picky. 

mentors !!! people that have tried to help her get her shit together. professors wise, maybe they helped her freshman/sophomore year settle on selecting an actual major that worked. i imagine that sort of connection would have stuck for her, and she often would turn to them for advice or help. it could come in the form of a faux-big sibling, too. i am always a sucker for. that shit.

if your character would have ANYTHING to do with the ocean, that’s something cool to build off ! i imagine she’s done lots of educational trips and internships, apprenticeships and what not, whether it is tagging marine life, studying coastal ecosystems/shore erosion. a few summers during undergrad she often helped with rehab & release !

coworkers ! she works at the local swim club so that could be ! fun ! people she did dumb shit with while drunk ( maybe your char was there when she got one of the stupid tattoos ? and they never spoke again ? this could b funny ) ! friends that she was friends with for the hottest minute but lost interest ! or maybe they just grew apart ! i imagine she was never part of a solid friend group for a while, just kind of. . . hopped from one to the other, so if that would fit somewhere, that would be cool ! someone she always runs into at the pet store ?? who knows ! previous hook-ups ! if your character teaches something, she could have been a former student of theirs before she gave up the interest ! i’d also love for some connects where people just. . . don’t like her for whatever reason. could be enemies, doesn’t have to be. maybe just animosity. maybe its her behavior. who she hangs out with. something else we could plot out, idk. 

[applevictorianico-blog]

Bruises-Chapter 3

Summary: This series is my take on TRR if Bastien has a daughter.

Warnings: This series will have non-present parenting issues, possible triggers for combat veterans, and a few others that will be addressed when they come up.

Pixelberry owns the characters, and settings from TRR and TRH series, I own Roxy.

Tag List: @badchoicesposts

@bobasheebaby

@riseandshinelittleblossom

@stopforamoment

@sirbeepsalot

@mfackenthal

@jovialyouthmusic

@carabeth

Thank you all for being patient with me, the four year old caught a summer cold. 😢

Chapter 3 - Compromise

Five Years Ago

Roxy ran back across the base to where her car was parked. She opened her door and jumped inside. As soon as Roxy slammed her door shut, the tears spilled from her eyes like a broken dam.

Roxy sat and forced herself to go through every memory of her mother, trying to gain some memory of her father. She had nothing. Roxy brought up her father once to her mother when she was around 13 years old. Anna mumbled something about being sent away and never coming back.

‘He never came back for you momma, why is he here for me?’ Roxy thought as her tears slowed. She grabbed an extra shirt from her back seat and wiped her face. The clock read seven am, ‘Shit, too early to drink.’ Roxy threw her car into reverse, and took off out of the lot.

Bastien sat in his rental, his hands on the steering wheel, wondering why he came. ‘I’m so sorry, Anna. I don’t know what to do here.’ He watched as a lone car took off through the lot across from him. Something inside told him to follow.

About ten minutes later, Bastien watched as Roxy climbed out of her car, duffle bag in hand. The sign above the door read, “Night Stalkers Gun Shop and Range.” Bastien couldn’t help the slight smile curved his lips. He decided to give her a few minutes to warm up before he joined her.

Bastien entered the range quietly, hearing a familiar shot sequence echoing through the building. Pop-pop pop, Pop-pop pop, Pop-pop pop, a clip dropping, click, Pop-pop pop, Pop-pop pop. Bastien stood against the wall behind Roxy, each target moving towards her getting the same fate, two in the chest, one in the head.

Roxy dropped her final clip, placed the Sig on the table in front of her. She took off her safety glasses as she pressed the button to bring all the targets to her. Bastien watched as she reached up and took one of her earphones out.

“It’s not a good idea to just stand behind me, you’re lucky I didn’t turn and shoot when I felt you there.” Roxy’s voice shook a bit, never glancing at the man behind her.

Bastien’s lips turned up into a slight grin, appreciative of her natural instincts. “You left before I could answer your questions.” His voice steady, and relaxed.

“Listen, Mr.Lykel, a part of me appreciates you acknowledging my existence, but I’ve been doing just fine on my own.” Roxy slightly turned, taking in the man behind her.

“I’m not trying to change your path, I needed to know if you were my child. It took three years, because of political unrest in my own country. My current charge, keeps me,” Bastien paused, trying to find the right phrasing, “traveling. It’s not so easy to find my own time these days.”

Roxy grabbed her box of target shells, and began reloading each of her clips. “I’m not a child. A child needs someone to take care of them. I can take care of myself.”

“What did Anna tell you about your father?” Bastien asked.

“Nothing.” Roxy quipped as she slammed the clip into her pistol, and began assaulting another batch of targets.

Present Day

Bastien pulled up in front of 1 Hotel Central Park. He had spent the last 30 minutes compromising with her about the stipulations for her joining him in Cordonia. The final outcome was he would tell Prince Liam the truth, and take his council. Roxy hadn’t been happy with his final remark, but conceded.

“Roxanna Nicole Stanley, I have been doing my best to compromise with you on this for the last three years. The best you’re getting is me telling the Crown Prince and leaving it to his discretion.” Bastien’s voice was straining against flat out yelling. ‘Her stubbornness is from her Mother.’ He thought.

“Fine.” Was all Roxy replied as she climbed out of the rental.

“I’ll call you soon with your flight information.” Bastien told her as she shut the door. He rolled the window down, “And Roxy,” he began as she turned to face him, “I’m extremely proud of you. Anna would be too.”

“Thank you.” Roxy replied as she walked into her building.

Bastien handed the keys to the Valet, and walked into the hotel, unsure about how to approach Liam. The elevator dropped him off in the Penthouse suite the men were sharing for the weekend. He could hear Lord Maxwell in his room, “Tariq, this store sells those Santoni’s you like.”

‘Good, that’s two together, hopefully Liam is alone, but knowing Drake…’ Bastien’s thought fizzed out as he entered the seating area and found the two friends discussing dinner locations.

Bastien stopped and bowed to Liam. Liam looked up, as Drake looked at his watch and back at him. “Bastien, glad you’re back, the guys were getting restless.” Liam spoke with a slight laugh.

“Yeah, Bas, I had to tackle Maxwell twice. Did your meeting run late?” Drake asked, eyebrow cocked.

“About that, Your Majesty, may I have a word with you in private before we head out into the city?” Bastien asked, his tone serious, yet light.

“Of course, Drake excuse is.” Liam stood up from the couch and led Bastien into the Master suite. “What’s on your mind Bastien?”

“I need your council in a personal matter, sir.”

Liam cocked an eyebrow, his biggest smile gracing his face. “Please, have a seat Bastien. What can I help with?”

Bastien sat in the chair across from the Prince, crossing his leg over his opposite knee. “It’s about my daughter.”

Liam’s eyes grew wide, mouth slightly opening. “Your daughter?”

“Yes sir, she’s also the Duke and Lord Beaumont’s cousin, sir.”

“Oh! Is she joining the season?” Liam asked. The shock slowly passing, as his mind began to work out what he thought the issue would be.

“On the condition I formally announce her as my daughter to the court. I don’t think this is wise, but lying to the Royal family is never an option.” Bastien replied, watching Liam’s body language.

“Why have you never brought her up before? Does Drake and Savannah know?” Liam asked as he walked over to the bar cart pouring to small glasses of scotch.

“No, they do not. I only discovered her existence about eight years ago, it took another three to find her, and five to finally have the beginnings of a relationship with her. I've been worried about her safety, given my position.” Bastien took the glass that Liam offered him, taking a sip before continuing. “I originally planned my vacation for this weekend to attend her Commencement Ceremony from Columbia. I was afraid I would have to cancel on her when you brought up this getaway. That’s where I was, and who I was with this morning and afternoon. Duke Beaumont recently discovered that his mother was my older sister. He asked if I had any children the court didn’t know of, and I hesitated in the slightest. He has invited her to join the Social Season.” Bastien finished his glass and loosened his tie slightly.

“So, she is your daughter, but also a blood relative to the Beaumont’s, correct?” Liam asked, and Bastien gave a nod. “You’re concerned for the safety of her status as your daughter if our enemies were to discover her identity and existence?” Liam was trying to put his trusted guards concerns into a monarch's view.

“She also has a military record your Majesty, and a degree in International Relations. I may have suggested for her to apply for the Royal Guard after the season.” Bastien watched as the surprise returned to Liam’s face.

“Are you afraid I may choose your daughter Bastien?” Liam asked, voice serious as he watched the man’s face.

Bastien suddenly understood his daughter’s concern. Roxy could possibly be chosen by Liam at the end of the season, and she wouldn’t necessarily be able to say no to the Crown Prince. Bastien sat stunned, looking at Liam.

[hypotheticalother]

it's gonna be okay, baby

Hey, you.

I think the last time I wrote anything to you, about you, I was 19, and I thought your name was S. I didn't know yet how right I was, at least for a while - I can't figure out how to access a version of that post that shows the datestamp (oh, tumblr) but it was clearly in February, and we didn't admit we were in love and start dating until March 5th. But we managed it, somehow. For the first time ever, it worked out. That's probably why I quit posting on this blog around then.

For two years, she was you, and I was so happy. I was posting on main today how I think the best time in my life so far, mental health-wise, was when I was with her. For the time when it was working, anyway, cause of course eventually it stopped working so well, our lives went in different direction, so we went our separate ways. I don't really miss her - there's no need to. We're still friends, though we've continued to diverge and definitely wouldn't work now the way we did then. Still, it was good. I learned so much, grew so much, gained so many of those experiences I spent all that time writing to you lamenting not having had. Having sex. Being loved. Feeling at home and okay in my body, at least for a while.

It's funny reading back my old letters to you - journal entries, basically - and seeing how much I feel like I've come full circle since then. A lot of things have changed. Half the people in those letters are getting misgendered when I read them now, including sort of me. I've spent a lot of time with my therapist talking about how mad I was at that version of myself, for a long time, for not realizing she was queer sooner - if the affection and compassion I feel for my younger self, reading back, is any indication, I think we were successful at moving me past that - so it's interesting to look back and remember it wasn't as much of a snap realization as it feels like in hindsight. It feels so obvious now, and it's honestly kind of funny to read some passages that could be straight (ha) out of an encyclopedia entry on compulsory heterosexuality.

but back then, I had thought I was straight and was slowly but surely figuring out I wasn't, even as I was lonely and longing to be loved but unable to find it or feel it yet. now I'm lonely and longing to be loved and unable to find it or feel it lately, and back at the questioning drawing board a little as I work out gender and whether I might actually like men after all, after years of firmly believing I don't, just in a gay way that it feels completely impossible to practically achieve in the body I live in. but I still love women in a gay way, in the body I have, and maybe that's enough, cause it's not like there's anything I can do to change that. not in the exact way I want. which is how I felt about everyone, when I was 19 and hadn't experienced being loved and desired while fat at all yet! maybe it's all obvious egg behavior from the outside looking in. maybe I'll read this back in another 6 years and say oh honey, how wrong you were. let's manifest that, maybe. I don't know.

there've been a lot of people in between who weren't you. no more sexual experience, frustratingly - that 20 years of pent-up sexual frustration I mentioned in one of those letters is now 25 years, minus, like, maybe 2 weeks' worth of total days (I can't remember how many times S and I had sex, I didn't keep track past that wonderful week in Michigan when I was 21 and got eaten out daily), of sexual frustration, so I look forward to figuring that out with you - but at least thanks to a different S (definitely not you, but very hot) I know there would have been if not for the pandemic. let's not talk about the pandemic. I don't want to talk about the pandemic. I kind of think I won't be able to find you, or the next version of you, anyway, until after it's over, and I also kind of think it will never end, because that's how it feels right now, so here I am again writing to you crying alone in my room instead of doing homework. at least it's a room to myself with a queen-size bed now. if I do find you, we'll have enough space.

there was K (who shared my pre-high school name, if not the formal one). we went on three dates, she was the second person I ever kissed, I was maybe going to go hang out at her apartment one night but she panicked and cancelled and at the time I didn't fully understand what was going on but now I think she assumed hanging out at someone's apartment definitely meant sex and she just wasn't ready for that commitment and you know, that's fine. she was cool. veering a little close to queer twin dating, not to mention the name thing, but she was great. she moved to New York, and as far as I know, didn't experiment with communism - but almost certainly went down on a girl, since she got into a relationship with one within months of moving there. I don't know if they're still together, but I'm happy for her. the timing just wasn't right.

there was C. I can't talk about C right now, or maybe ever. I'm so happy for her that she's so happy with the nice transmasc guy she's living with and their cats. timing is such a motherfucker. alexa play the one that got away by katy perry. I could have said anything, ever, but I didn't, because I was moving away. god I just don't know. they're moving here right as I'm leaving. that's probably for the best. fuck timing. I miss her so much.

there was N. we only made it two dates before we both bailed on each other and blamed it on being too busy, though I'll never know if that really was it. it's fine. never kissed her. she kissed my cheek. didn't really think she was probably you, but she was cool, and maybe if I hadn't been an overwhelmed mess adjusting to law school she could have been.

there was S, the second. I was never going to fall in love with her, we weren't enough alike, not on the same wavelength - I haven't found anyone since the first (well, second) S who felt like we were on the same wavelength at all, and maybe the fallout is now I know that's the problem, and it's what I'm looking for, and I'll know it when I feel it, I just can't find you. the next you. I don't know that I believe in there only being one you anymore, but I want to find the version of you that I'll be willing to put in the work to keep that way, and you'll be willing to love me like that back. point is, S was not you. but we were on the same wavelength when it came to sex for once - I wanted it, I think she wanted it too (she said she did), we just couldn't make it work out. because of the pandemic, which we're not talking about. the 20s and my 20s had better be even more roaring than the last, is all I'm saying. we're all pretty much fucked, no matter what S (the very first, one of those people getting misgendered in the old entries, sorry S, we didn't know then) says; I'm open to being pleasantly surprised, of course, but I feel like I know enough to know the broad outline of what's coming and I just want to get fucked really good by someone other than me before it all gets too fucked up. I don't know if that'll be you. wish it could've been S. we did make out in my car for like 2 hours, so at least there was that, and talked through the logistics of meeting up to spend just one night together, maybe, until we ran into too many roadblocks. again with the timing.

most recently, there was E. I'm still mad at her - she's clearly not you, because I'm old enough and tired enough now not to give someone with that many hardline opinions about mundane things that differ that deeply from mine 2 years of my life, let alone more than a month. I adore cats even though I'm allergic and someone aggressively hating them is a huge red flag to me, and my favorite food revolves around onions, and I don't actually think it's cute to joke that by the fourth date, someone should be willing to change their name for you because it reminds them of their ex. but I'm mad because I did like her, even if we aren't compatible, and I got to know her over that month - we texted almost every day, which is maybe why I let it carry on for a while, cause it was like that with S too; wonderful fun over text, then always rougher around the edges face to face - and then when I said I wasn't interested in dating but would like to be friends, she never replied. ghosted me. she's older than me, even though I guess in dating years she's kind of younger - since she didn't start dating until 22 or 23, as I recall. but for fuck's sake, if you were American you wouldn't be on your parents' health insurance anymore. you could at least have the maturity, the decency to respond to a very polite breakup text, at a stage of the relationship where it's reasonable to break up that way (especially in, again, the pandemic), from someone who goes to grad school on the same campus as you, even if we're thankfully at opposite corners. I hate her and also I keep wanting to text her Twilight memes now that she's finally watched them all and there's nothing I can do about it because she made this choice, not me, and I can take a fucking hint.

I just wish I'd found you by now. maybe picking this up again is me trying to manifest that a little, since the last time I wrote angstily in my online sadness diary here, one autumn, I had found a version of you by spring. but now I think my problem is I feel like I don't understand how. people talk about knowing right away, and I guess maybe I did too, with S, I just didn't know that was what it was yet - I remember thinking, that winter, that it was strange and confusing to have met this person and have bonded so fast but to not know how to fit her into the scheme of my life, because all my real friends were people I'd spent at least a year and mostly many bonding with before we all moved to different places, but here she was. and there you were, for a while. so maybe when I know, I will know. but I don't think I'm going to know any time soon, cause now I'm in a stage of education where most people who aren't fucking unbearable are already happily partnered.

and you know, I'd say I hope I find you again soon, but - there's that bitch timing again, because this time, by summer, the plan is I'm moving away. so I think I just need to be patient, and plan to work harder at finding you where I land. but - *little women saoirse ronan voice* I am so lonely.

I can't really relate to almost any of Katie Gavin's songs, and I think that's healthy for me, in the big picture. but I sure do read back those things I wrote to you when I was - not a kid, but definitely not as much of an adult as I am now - and the one thing I think is,

it's gonna be okay, baby. it's gonna be okay.

Love,

Me.

[supershanzykhan]

Preparation for corporate events is announced open.

It may seem strange to start talking about the New Year in the summer. To inform about the upcoming 2018 symbol according to the Eastern calendar, when the Red Rooster of Fire still reigns with power and key. Remember the signs and rules of the New Year holiday, what to wear, what hairstyle to do to please the Yellow Earth Dog. Do you think it's too early to do this when it is summer outside and there are ongoing vacation plans in your head?

And here 4BANKUET, who likes to plan everything in advance and organize it competently, does not agree with you!

"Prepare sleigh in summer" is our motto. This is why the 2018 New Year corporate holiday preparation season has been announced open. And here are some important tips for this result.

10 TIPS: HOW TO ORGANIZE A CORPORATE NEW YEAR PARTY 2018

Tip # 1: Start earlier, prepare better

Serious firms approach every business fully. And the corporate New Year party is no exception. It is best to start preparing a few months before the date. We suggest starting in June. We rely on experience in this type of business - the sooner you start looking for a suitable event agency, restaurant, the better - the wider the choice of options, among which there will certainly be a good one. And prices for banquet halls while wine. Closer to the New Year, they will dance, but you will not worry about it.

Tip # 2: The goal justifies the means

What comes to the fore New Year corporate party: let it evaporate and relax? Summarize the results for the year? Celebrate the best? To gather the team and increase its team spirit towards new work achievements?

The chosen goal will dictate the format of the corporate party: banquet, buffet, team building.

On a note: The format of the event also depends on the age composition of the team. If most of it is people of retirement age and pre-retirement, then sports competitions around the New Year tree are unlikely to please anyone.

Banquet is the most versatile corporate format. Licking is suitable for large groups.

Tip # 3: so finances do not sing romance

To start preparing a corporate New Year party in the summer is a step dictated by economic considerations. Advance bookings by contractors and artists will give you a financial start and the opportunity to negotiate.

Tips & Warnings It is important to be interested in the option found according to all the rules - document the booking and make an advance. A verbal agreement offers no guarantee.

Everything must be calculated carefully. A well-designed vacation budget is an important part of his success. The company's accounting department is able to assist in this matter. Some things - invitations, hall decoration, New Year decorations - can be entrusted to craft workers and creators.

Tip # 4: Collective participation brings happiness

A corporate party is a collective celebration. Everyone should be fun, interesting and comfortable in it.

To make this happen, experts advise choosing the format and concept of the holiday for employees, not directors.

It is also important to include in the preparation of the corporate New Year party the maximum number of employees from colleagues. This not only unites the team already in the preparation phase, but also helps some to open up from a previously unknown side. Yes, and where there is a portion of your personal involvement it is always valued more.

Tip # 5: Recreation areas

At a corporate event, people get together, united by a common workplace, but not by their character, temperament, personal hobby.

How do you make sure both the choleric and the phlegmatic find a place for themselves at the corporate New Year party and enjoy it?

Experts advise to zone the holiday space: in the dance area, recreation, drinking. Allow your dancing friends to enjoy, the culinary connoisseur and sociable colleague to have a field for activities.

Tip # 6: Eat more, drink less

This rule works and provides for overworked employees. It is clear that such a cheerful holiday as New Year cannot be imagined without champagne and other alcoholic beverages, but the measure must be observed. The results of the excesses recorded by a photographer and videographer are unlikely to be able to enter the company archives and become its property, a cause for pride.

Tip # 7: Attention - New Years

For corporate goals and objectives, one should not forget the main occasion of the calendar - New Year 2018.

The New Year theme should be present not only in the decoration of the hall and the table, but also in the accessories, decorations for the employees, competitions - fun and festive, as well as in speeches and toasts. Let them not be boring and long, pretentious and boring. Let them mention the successful events and achievements of the year of the Fire Rooster escape and dreams, plans for the coming year - Earth Dog .

Tip # 8: Predicting the holiday is a good progression for its success

Festive humor does not seem by itself. It arises in joint participation in the preparation of a corporate party, in the intrigue of the forthcoming event, which is kept secret.

Professional organizers advise to excite with the party, to constantly arouse interest in it and to form in advance a positive attitude of the collective - to "warm up" the audience.

Tip # 9: The highlight of the holiday is the highlight of the program

Every celebration should have a key moment, a bright accent that will be remembered by all present. Choosing such a fun nail in the evening depends on the financial capabilities of the enterprise. But not only! If there is no funding to invite an expensive star or celebrity artist, you can limit yourself to fireworks or prepare gastronomic surprises - a fountain or pyramid of champagne, a large cake with the symbols of the outgoing year.

Tip number 10: save your strength!

A common occurrence is the active staff closely involved in training the corporate New Year holidays are so exhausted that they approach the last moment, the key - the holiday itself - completely destroyed.

Our top tip: save your strength! Spend wisely and plan your organizational reserves.And you have to meet him full of strength and bright hopes.

New Year is near the corner, which means that preparations for it should start now. Despite the fact that New Year is considered to be a family holiday, the New Gol corporate celebration has not yet been canceled. We spend most of our lives at work, therefore, the work collective becomes a second family to us, so celebrating the New Year among colleagues is an integral part of our lives.

How to properly prepare a corporate New Year party? What entertainment program to host? What New Year's table to prepare? How to decide on gifts for colleagues? All about this in this article. Ingredients of the corporate New Year holiday

As a rule, most corporate New Year holidays are held on December 20th. All the preparations start with defining the place, the New Year scenario, the New Year decoration of the meeting place for the New Year and the purchase of corporate gifts.

Office decoration

If a joint event is planned in your office, then office decoration should be taken seriously. Let it be a beautiful Christmas tree (colorful or artificial, if you wish) and New Year trinket. Just do not overdo it. New Year's office decoration still needs to be done in a certain business style. You can also offer your colleagues a contest for the most original office model. Good champagne can be presented as a gift.

Budgeting

Perhaps, with what is needed to start preparing for the corporate New Year party, it is with preparing a holiday cost estimate. If the company pays for the New Year corporate party, then the formally drafted rating must be approved by management. If the New Year will be at the expense of employees, as is usually the case in small firms, in this case, you need to decide on the amount that each employee can allocate.

The evaluation should include the costs of:

New Year's Table;

New Year gifts for colleagues;

Christmas tree and office decorations;

other expenses

In general, in the estimate, you should indicate all the expenses that will be associated with the corporate New Year party.

Compiling the menu

The New Year table is probably the most beloved part of the New Year holiday. If the holiday is planned in the office, then identify those responsible for preparing the New Year menu. You can order festive dishes for the New Year table in a cafe or prepare yourself by buying food and bringing ready-made dishes. A New Year's table can consist of:

Cold appetizers;

Canapes of various kinds;

Salad;

 Hot foods;

Fruit cakes;

Drinks

Prepare plastic plates, New Year napkinsWe buy gifts

Corporate gifts for colleagues should follow strict guidelines. Corporate gifts should be versatile, not too expensive or too cheap. For example, you can give souvenirs with the symbols of 2010, decorative candles and candlesticks, New Year toys, notebooks.

Congratulations to the employees

Congratulations to the employees should be thought out in advance. Will it be solemn on the eve of the New Year holiday or during the New Year holiday? It all depends on a well thought out New Year's program. As congratulations, you can use: live New Year toast, poetic congratulations, song congratulations. You can think of your New Year corporate cards or specially decorated New Year rolls with which you congratulate your colleagues. In general, there is a place where fantasies work.

New Year program To make corporate New Year interesting for everyone, think of an interesting New Year program. Different scenarios for corporate events can now be downloaded from the Internet, or you can go out on your own. To do this, conduct a survey with colleagues in what style they would like to see the New Year.

The New Year program can consist of:

New Year competitions;

New Year Drawings;

New Year Scenes;

Song performances;

New Year Dances.

New Year celebration in each company is held in different ways, but it is still worth remembering that the corporate New Year celebration should be 2 - 2.5 hours long. This time is enough for a holiday, entertainment program, congratulations and gifts.

Happy corporate holiday and a happy new year!

In the circle of our achievements, there are already two corporate parties dedicated to the New Year and the holiday "Business Birthday - we are two years old". Our logistics company employs both workers (in warehouses) and managers, so when organizing and holding events, we try to take into account the interests of both groups of employees. Well, it is clear that without setting a goal it is pointless to hold an event - it is simply not clear how, in this case, to evaluate its success ... Therefore, even before starting to prepare for the corporate party, I ask myself the question: "For whom and why will we organize the event?" Here are the answer options:

For what? - Team building, communication in an informal atmosphere, opportunity to meet colleagues, interesting break.

For who? - In logistics, the ratio of men to women is 9/1, while 70% of employees are representatives of work specialties. This means that the format of a corporate event must be appropriate:

active games (bowling, billiards, football, sports, paintball, karting) plus

Festive table: high-calorie "male" menu (lots of meat or fish dishes) - of course, within budget; what is important - we order alcoholic beverages in the minimum quantity.

Even before we start preparing for the event, we will surely ask employees which corporate party format would be interesting to them, and we should consider the opinion of the majority. We choose a place - a restaurant, a bowling alley and the like in order to be convenient for all employees to get there, most often we "connect" to any subway station. And we choose the date taking into account the working hours of different departments. If budget allows, we order the services of a presenter; if funds are limited, we allocate one or two employees who will play the role of "toaster".

Then, to avoid overlaps and drilling, we carefully plan the event. For example, I will give our vacation program:

After the event, we will definitely publish a newspaper on the wall where we post the most interesting photos. HR work at a corporate party is ending with a survey of employees about what they liked / disliked about the event.

Based on our experience, we can give our colleagues the following recommendations:

It is desirable that the total duration of the event does not exceed five hours.

The program should include two or three types of games, taking into account the potential interests of all employees.

The official part of the event should not last more than half an hour (including speeches by leaders and evaluation of the best).

The place for the holidays should be chosen so that it is convenient for everyone to get there.

The date of the event is coordinated taking into account the working hours of different departments.

It is desirable that the requirements for the dress code (very formal, or, conversely, mascara) do not scare people away from the event.

Employees of the human resources department should follow the regulations, check all organizational matters (for us, human resources specialists, corporate leave is a job).

Things to avoid:

The format of the event is a festive table and a disco (simple and boring).

A large number of alcoholic beverages.

Place and menu for VIP visitors.

A good corporate New Year is, first and foremost, an opportunity to communicate in an informal setting with colleagues and partners. On New Year's Eve, everyone wants to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of a holiday, with high spirits. This means that our task is to create this atmosphere.

To do this, you need to carefully prepare the concept of the event, think about everything in the smallest detail. In our company, it is customary to invite specialists to organize celebrations - we believe that professionals do their job best, so we invite an event agency. In summary, we describe in detail everything we would like to see at this event and then carefully consider the proposals of the agency specialists - make sure the script is "personalized" for our concept, all the details meet our wishes and criteria. Quality.

We do not have any "obligation" to attend a corporate party, usually people are waiting for any such event, intrigued by what will be offered to them this time. The most active employees gladly participate in competitions, and those who just want to relax at the festive table enjoy the fun atmosphere of the New Year.

In our corporate culture, celebrating the New Year is an expression of executives appreciating employees for a great job, so a sufficient budget has been set for this event. We are proud that our company makes every effort to make every New Year event easy, fun and memorable.

In our experience, the most important thing in organizing a good corporate event is to get all the preparatory work done on time. It is desirable for employees to be involved in the training process themselves: people "by definition" rate what they are personally involved in as "good and accurate". However, the principle of volunteering must be respected here: we must not impose "forced joys" on colleagues. In each team there are interested creative HR assistants you can count on (while preparing for the holidays should not distract them from the work processes).

At least half of the success of the event depends on the choice of venue. Everything is important here:

place: location and size of the room, its design, kitchen, table setting and small things thought (greeting cards / invitations, mini-souvenirs, music);

The organization of the party itself: mastery of the host, strict observance of the rules, pre-prepared games, prizes, etc.

People are happy with gifts, opportunities for recreation, a variety of activities...

What else is worth considering: not all teams can hold a corporate event on a weekend - this is the time when many people would like to be with their families and loved ones? Therefore, if the corporate culture of the enterprise does not imply an "almost family" atmosphere of the holiday and the opportunity to invite relatives to the party, management should not "force" people to "force". In the event that, for some reason, a corporate party can only be held on a weekend, you cannot force people to attend it! This "concern" may even offend employees.

But if you manage to get people interested with the idea, involve them in organizing the event, the party will turn out great!

Courtesy:Corporate Event Venue in Lahore