#sometimes mel fits in. sometimes shes in something from the 60s

[fat-fem-and-asian]

schmicago is a 1920/1780/1960's fusion and every single one of those characters will happily run from a happiness bus to a meat pie shop to a cabaret without questioning anything

[letmychaosexplode]

Melinoe - The Witcher Alter Ego

Please note that my alter egos are more self inserts and how I imagine myself into my favourite fandoms, sometimes they may come across as very Mary-Sue but it’s all about self indulgence. Creating an alter ego, not an original character, for me has become a form of escapism and a way for me to cope with what is going on around me. 

So this is the first in many posts I may make as I create and share my alter ego Melinoe from ‘The Witcher’ and pretend that I am powerful and cool like Melinoe is. 

I have some fan fiction planned featuring Melinoe if anyone is interested in reading those. 

This version of Melinoe is more based off the Netflix series. I will likely adept her to fit the books, comics and games in the future. 

“They might call me, mad, but their opinions mean nothing to me. I know I am just more brilliant then they could ever hope to be.”

Name: Melinoe of Temeria. 

Nicknames: Mel, I also like the idea of her being called Melz but it doesn’t really fit the time period. 

Name significance: This is more an writer thing then something that’s significant in the universe. Melinoe is also the name of an Greek Goddess, Melinoe is Goddess of Nightmares and Madness - I named her after such a negative goddess because the idea I have of Melinoe she does suffer night terrors regularly as well as being regarded by many around her as “mad”. Melinoe was actually fired from her post for being “mad” but in realty is just very innovative and imaginative with what she has around her. 

Gender: Cisgender female, Melinoe will be using traditional pronouns of she/her. 

Age: At the start she is fifteen, but as time progresses Melinoe is late 60s. You have how the show’s timeline is - but she appears in her early twenties to those around her. 

Birth date: I don’t think dates were tracked during this time period but I picture her born in the spring and in 1192. I did work this out with Yen being roughly fifteen-sixteen-seventeen when she’s brought to Aretuza and I picture them being fairly the same age. 

Zodiac: I’ll only give the short version, but despite the zodiac not being invented my personal headcanon is that Melinoe is an Aries, with a moon in Taurus, and her ascendant in Capricorn. 

Location: She starts off in Aretuza before eventually meeting with Yennefer at several points in time. Melinoe is present at the final battle also. 

Birthplace: Temeria 

Ethnicity: Ellanderan

Nationality: Temerian 

Race: Human, white (on a side note I did consider making an elf character but they don’t play large parts in the Netflix series and my favourite character is Yennefer so I made an human sorceress instead.)

[bravebones-archived]

TASK 003.

BASIC INFORMATION

Full Name: Amelia Susan Bones. 

Nickname(s): Am, Amy, Mel, Lia. 

Age: 20. 

Date of Birth: 12 April 1958. 

Hometown: London, England. 

Current Location: London, England. 

Gender: Female. 

Blood Status: Half-Blood. 

Pronouns: She/Her. 

Orientation: Bisexual. 

Religion: Agnostic. 

Affiliation(s): Order of the Phoenix. 

Occupation: Auror Trainee, Ministry of Magic. 

Living Arrangements: Shares a two-story with other aurors-to-be, as is required of all trainees. Once her training is completed, she’ll be moving back in with Edgar until she settles into a flat of her own (although he is currently unaware of these plans). 

Language(s) Spoken: English, French (semi-fluent). 

Accent: British/Cockney. 

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Face Claim: Zoey Deutch. 

Hair Colour: Brunette, with auburn highlights. 

Eye Colour: Hazel. 

Height: 5′4″. 

Weight: 49 kg. 

Build: Petite, with slight muscular tone in her arms and legs. 

Tattoos: A butterfly on her right wrist, and a bumblebee on her left one. She also has a tattoo that reads ‘Veritas Aequitas’ (Truth and Justice), which spreads across her lower ribcage. 

Piercings: None. She’s just never been particular inclined to piercings, particularly now that she’s about to be an Auror. 

Clothing Style: Amelia has always preferred comfort over couture. The contents of her wardrobe consist of oversized shirts, an abundance of jeans and pant suits, for the rare occasion that more formal attire is required. 

Usual Expression: Having always believed that a day without laughter is a day wasted, Amelia is found with a beaming smile on her face, more often than not. Animated and authentic in her expressions, her facial features are reflective of whatever emotions are brewing just beneath the surface. 

Distinguishing Characteristics: While there is much about Amelia that distinguishes herself from others of her likeness, the most common is the colour of her hair. The latter is something that she changes with considerable regularity, whereas there is little than can be done to change the former, apart from wearing high heels (and she’d sooner be caught dead than wear those). 

HEALTH

Physical Ailments: N/A. 

Neurological Conditions: N/A. 

Allergies: Dust, pollen, and anything that comes with the changing of the seasons. She also is allergic to dairy, although it only really bothers her if she consumes products where it is highly concentrated. 

Sleeping Habits: It is all or nothing, when it comes to Amelia’s sleep patterns. She will go for days sleeping for maybe 5 hours a night, and then crashes for an upwards of 12 hours (usually on the weekends or after a night of pub-crawling with Edgar). She is also known to fall asleep just about anywhere, and does so quite frequently. 

Eating Habits: Having to maintain some degree of mindfulness about her diet because of her job, she tries to fuel her body the way it needs to be. She’s also got a massive sweet tooth and a killer metabolism, both of which don’t particularly lend themselves to making the most nutritious of choices. 

Exercise Habits:  Since she was a small child, Amelia has never been able to stay in the same place for very long. It is rare and entirely uncommon for Amelia to go a day without exercising, whether that is through her training drills with Alastor or early-morning races with Edgar. Part of her consistent fitness routine is due to professional obligation, but a bigger part of it has to do with the fact that she truly enjoys being active.

Emotional Stability: 8/10. While not without her struggles in this area (particularly in light of the challenges of adulthood and the growing war), Amelia has always been adaptable and well-adjusted, and her emotional well-being is reflective of that. 

Sociability: Coming from a relatively big family and an equally large social circle, Amelia can count on her right hand the number she has actually been alone, and she much prefers it that way. The very definition,

Body Temperature: Cold, cold, cold. Definitely sleeps with three comforters in the middle of August. 

Addictions: Caffeine. She has also started to develop a slight dependency on calming draughts, although her need is far cry from an addiction. 

Drug Use: Pot, and nothing more. Her usage is strictly recreational, and the instances where she does light up are few and far between. 

Alcohol Use: Amelia drinks with some regularly (about 2-3 nights a week), although her indulging is mostly a social matter. She has acquired a taste for hard liquor since her training started and has a relatively generous stock of whiskey and bourbon at the flat.  

PERSONALITY

Label: The Audacious, The Recruit, The Truth-Seeker

Positive Traits: Audacious | Strong-Willed | Virtuous

Negative Traits: Competitive | Impatient | Stubborn

Goals/Desires: A free-spirit to her core, she is too preoccupied with what is in front of her to consider what will be in front of her one, two or five years down the road. But if she had to name one, it would be to play a part in helping win the war, and to secure a future worth living for her friends and family.  

Fears: Being alone, dark and confined spaces, spiders and thunderstorms. 

Hobbies: Quidditch, Exploding Snap, weekly visits to the pub and spending time doors (especially running, swimming and playing football). 

Habits: Cursing, hitting people when she gets excited, tapping her right foot and smoothing her hair, in the odd event its not in some form of an updo. 

FAVOURITES

Season: Summer. 

Colour: Purple. 

Music: Queen, or ABBA when she and Edgar go out for karaoke. 

Movies: The Aristocats. Edgar and Amelia still bond over this film regularly. 

Quidditch Team: Puddlemere United, despite Edgar’s constant attempts to persuade her that the Chudley Cannons are the far superior team. 

Beverage: A woman of varied tastes, it all depends on her mood. Sometimes she fancies a shot of Dragon Barrel Brandy, whereas others she prefers a glass of elderflower wine. 

Food: Literally anything from Mum’s kitchen. On any given day, the leftovers from her weekly visits home comprise about 90% of the contents of her fridge. 

Person: Edgar Bones.

FAMILY

Father: Jacob Bones, 60. The apple of his eye,  There is just something about the relationship between a father and his daughter, particularly when she is the only one of his children who is female. 

Mother: Amira Bones (nee Proudmore), 59. While they are the spitting image of one another, there isn’t much else they have in common. Their relationship was a bit tumultuous during Amelia’s teenage years, but their dynamic has since 

Sibling(s): 

Nicholas Bones, 24. They have never gotten on - not as kids, and definitely not now. Out of all the Bones siblings, their relationship is the most contemptuous, and she can’t stand the sight of him. 

Jeremiah Bones, 23. Their relationship is indifferent at best. She doesn’t dislike him, but she’s not going out of her way to spend time with him, either. For whatever reason, they just never seemed to click. 

Edgar Bones, 22. Best friend, closest confidante and favourite sibling, all rolled into one. Amelia could never contemplate the idea of an existence without Edgar, and their relationship is the most important one in her life. 

Children: None. 

Pet(s): 

Othello, an Eagle Owl. A gift from her father when she turned 11. 

Toulouse, a Munchkin cat. Warm and affectionate, he really lives up to the name of his breed. 

Family’s Financial Status: Her family is more financially set than most, but Amelia has always been conservatively modest when it comes to the matter of money. She could rely on their financial support with no issue, but instead chooses to support herself on her own income/resources. 

EXTRA

Zodiac Sign: Brave | Independent | Impulsive 

MBTI: ENTP (The Debater). 

Enneagram: The Opportunist (7, W8). 

Temperament: Sanguine.

Camp Half-blood: Themis Cabin (34). 

Moral Alignment: Chaotic Good.

Primary Vice: Pride.

Primary Virtue: Diligence.

Element: Fire.

[elizascharlesdanceblog]

CD - A Remarkable Man

Charles Dance on making Godzilla: 'The catering was sensational!'

Ryan Gilbey

Freed from Game of Thrones and waging eco-terror in the new monster flick, cinema’s go-to bad aristo talks about turning down 007 and paparazzi ambushes.

Charles Dance is 15 minutes late. “London, yer know?” says the 72-year-old actor through a mouthful of pastry. His friends call him “Charlie” and Americans call him “Chuck”, though for his mother there was never any ambiguity. “‘His name’s Charles,’ she’d say. She ’ad a few ideas above ’er station.” The voice is rougher and more gor-blimey than the one to which audiences are accustomed, as well as friendlier and less imposing. His thinning hair, formerly red and now sand-coloured, is swept back, and he is wearing a blue short-sleeved shirt over a white T-shirt. The silver bracelet halfway up his forearm could pass for memorabilia from Game of Thrones, in which he played Tywin Lannister, shot by his own son with a crossbow while on the loo.

Any confusion between the upper-class roles in which Dance has specialised throughout his 35-year film and television career, and the man he really is – the working-class son of a mother who was in service from the age of 13 – was cleared up long ago. But that hasn’t stopped him playing commanders and archbishops, monsignors and monarchs. He will soon be seen in the third series of The Crown as Lord Mountbatten, while in the new blockbuster Godzilla: King of the Monsters he reprises the aristocratic menace routine that has kept him in fancy silver clasps since the days of starring opposite Eddie Murphy in The Golden Child and Arnold Schwarzenegger in Last Action Hero.

Godzilla takes place mostly in darkened rooms or during inclement weather. Major characters drift through the film, their storylines petering out arbitrarily. I couldn’t make head nor scaly tail of it. And Dance? “I had difficulty staying awake,” he jokes, as though imitating an old duffer who’s wandered into a multiplex by mistake. Then he reverts to normal volume: “No, I didn’t say that! I mean, it’s spectacular.” He plays a former British colonel turned eco-terrorist who has a vested interest in facilitating Godzilla’s reign. Before he says a word in the film, he has already shot someone in the head and is thereafter restricted to the odd line and the occasional scowl. Was his performance cut? His laugh is booming and good-natured. “I keep hearing that! ‘I wish there was more of you.’ It’s what was offered. I just like working. Unless it’s complete and utter crap. I’ve got somepride.” There were clear compensations in this case. “The catering was sensational,” he says.

And, as he points out, it has been a while since he did a mega-budget movie. After all, Godzilla couldn’t be more different from Happy New Year, Colin Burstead, Ben Wheatley’s family-get-together film for the BBC in which he played the cross-dressing widower Uncle Bertie without a hint of camp. “Ten days we shot that in. Handheld cameras, communal green room. SAS film-making.” The character’s sartorial preferences were Dance’s idea. “I told Ben: ‘Ever since his wife died, I think Bertie’s worn women’s clothes. He’s been doing it so long, the family accept it.’ He turns up in his modestly heeled shoes and a bit of cashmere, his twin set and pearls.”

I remind him that the role marked his third foray into women’s fashion. “Riiiight,” he says suspiciously. Well, there was Ali G Indahouse, in which he writhed around at Sacha Baron Cohen’s behest in a red rubber micro skirt, thigh-high leather boots, leopardskin crop-top and drop earrings. He rolls his eyes. “Ah yes. The director said: ‘We’ve had an idea for the ending.’ I was kind of forced into that.

”And for one scene in White Mischief, the 1987 drama about the amoral British upper-class in Kenya during the second world war, the toffs interrupt their routine of polo and wife-swapping for a cross-dressing party. “Joss Ackland was there in bombazine and a tiara. I had on a mid-blue chiffon affair. Then Greta Scacchi comes out looking gob-smackingly gorgeous in this jacket with nothing underneath. Joss said, ‘This is all wrong. We should be going to each other’s wardrobe and just putting on whatever fits.’ He stormed off to complain to the director and I went with him. There’s Joss with his handbag on his arm, me standing there in me gear. I thought, ‘Here we are, expecting to be taken seriously …’

”White Mischief was pivotal for him, cementing his image as a sexy but faintly cold-blooded member of the ruling class. The ITV end-of-the-Raj drama The Jewel in the Crown had already made him a sensation three years earlier. The Sun called him “Dishy Dance” and the People claimed he had given up jogging because of the women flinging themselves under his running shoes on Hampstead Heath. Not that he was in danger of having his head turned – he had been “shlepping around the provinces” in theatre for nearly a decade before that big break, which didn’t happen until his late 30s.

And he was married with two children, so the tabloids weren’t interested in his love life until he split from his wife in 2004 and began dating much younger women. (He had a daughter with one of them, Eleanor Boorman, seven years ago.) Getting tailed by photographers in his 50s and 60s was no fun. “I was going to a shrink for a while and I got papped coming out of there. Pain in the arse. Lowest of the low.”

He was more prepared for the fuss over Jewel than he would have been if he had played James Bond, a part he was invited to test for – and refused – in 1986. “I think I’d have fucked it up. It might’ve gone to my head a bit. When Jewel happened, you couldn’t open a paper without reading about me. I was ‘the thinking woman’s crumpet’. But Bond would’ve been much bigger. I might’ve blown it.” He’s been eyeing the names currently in the frame. “Young Richard Madden is pretty good. Or James Norton. I think Daniel’s been fantastic. What he lacks in the wit of Roger Moore he makes up for in a sense of danger.”

Walking on set on his first day, he wore a T-shirt that read: 'I’m Cheaper Than Alan Rickman'

Without the slightest prompting, he identifies White Mischief as the fork in the road: the moment when he could have pushed his career to the next level, but didn’t. It was in 1988 that Michael Caine said: “Charles Dance is the one. Why? Because he wants it.” Caine approached him in a restaurant: “He told me, ‘I’ve got money on you. Don’t let me down.’ I thought: ‘Fucking hell, that’s nice.’” But Dance himself isn’t sure he ever really did want it – whatever “it” was. “Maybe if I’d had more cardinal ambition. I mean, I’m ambitious, but I don’t tread over people. And sometimes I just don’t feel like it. I thought: ‘No, I don’t want to go off to LA and sit in endless bloody meetings. If it’s meant to be, it’ll be.’ I’m a bit like that.

”Then there was the competition. “Jeremy Irons was, and still is, a few feet ahead of me. Who else? Alan Rickman, bless him.” The shallowness of the casting pool was vividly brought home when he received the script for Last Action Hero. “I get to my character’s entrance and it says: ‘The door opens and there stands Alan Rickman.’” Still, he was a good sport about it. Walking on set on his first day, Dance wore a T-shirt that read: “I’m Cheaper Than Alan Rickman.”

It has been a career with obvious highlights: he was the only person to sleep with Ripley in the Alien series (in David Fincher’s Alien 3), played the director DW Griffith for the Taviani brothers in Good Morning, Babylon, and was part of the flawless ensemble in Gosford Park. On the other hand, he was in the medieval stoner romp Your Highness and was recently seen licking Luke Evans with a long, leathery grey tongue in Dracula Untold. He has done Celebrity Antiques Road Trip and Who Do You Think You Are?, where he met the South African great-niece and the three great-great-nephews he never knew he had. He read solemnly from Fifty Shades of Grey and Mel B’s autobiography on The Big Fat Quiz of the Year to much comic effect, and is in the forthcoming Kingsman prequel.

But a significant part of his acting range is currently being neglected. When I asked earlier why he hadn’t yet written an autobiography, his response was humorously gruff: “Who wants to read another book by an actor?” The question of what is missing from the scripts he gets offered prompts an altogether gentler, more ruminative answer. “I’d like to properly front something,” he says softly, his hearty manner replaced by a note of introspection. “If anyone was brave enough to do a remake of Death in Venice, that would be ideal. I notice I tend to be brought in to give a bit of weight to something, you know? Maybe I should be more choosy. I’d just like to be fronting things a bit more than I am.”

source: TheGuardian

[venus-says]

Kiratto Prichan Episodes 59-64

Welcome back, Meltic StAr!

I bet you thought I forgot about Prichan right? This gonna sound like a lie but I didn’t, for real. XD

The problem Prichan has is basically the same one as AiFure, the subs come out late and things just pile up. Last year I used to watch Prichan without the subs as normal because I wasn’t as invested in the story and if I felt like I was missing out on something I could check on tumblr and see what actually happened. But this time around I actually wanna know what's going on with these characters, especially for this batch of episodes that give major focus to my favorite members of this cast.

But anyway, I got a lot to cover so let's get right into it.

Episodes 59 and 60 are pretty boring. 59 is one to try to promote the new rarity in the game while 60 is to promote the new toy, and I didn't really care for neither of them.

59 had some cute moments on it, specially Daia she was pretty adorable on this one. The owners of that bookstore were also fun sometimes, and I do like the idea they came up to save their business. But the rest of the episode I just couldn’t care less, boring stuff from left to right.

Episode 60 I had quite a lot of problems with it. First I don’t like how they made Mirai so over-obsessed about the palette thing, as far as I know, she never showed signs of being crazy over something at this level before and is just awkward. Second, I don’t like how they make the design palette be such a big deal when we probably won’t see it again after maybe one or two months, also if it’s such an important and rare thing why would Aira give it to Mirai? It makes no sense to me. And in overall it’s just not an interesting episode at all. IF only IF, the new Prism Stone uniform was good I think I could give it a pass and say at least something good came out of it, but these new ones are nowhere near the ones from S1 so...

I think I would've liked 59 more if instead of a repeat performance of Rinka we got one in that Snow White coord. If they still wanted to use Yumeiro Energy it'd be fine for me, I've come to accept this song more from the last time I did one of these, but still I don't think that Miracle Idol coord fits neither the song or the stage and is just a generic group coord because they were lazy to make new performance coords for each new song. But nothing could save 60 for me, not even Super Cutie Super Girl.

Episode 61 is when things get interesting again because MELTIC STAR!!!!!!!!!

The first episode of this mini ark is great, I was surprised by how much I liked this one since it was very focused on Emo and Oshama Tricks was a big part of it as well, and these are normally two elements that if put together could make me go crazy and bored because I don’t like neither of them. But in this one, it worked very well and I enjoyed this episode a lot.

They’ve made a very good job showing how important Anna is for Emo even though they drive each other crazy, and because it was so well done that you can really feel both Emo sadness for thinking that everything was just a lie and her happiness right after as soon as the girls introduce themselves on stage.

If there’s only one thing to complain about this episode is that Meltic StAr’s new unit coords are weird as hell, I really dislike them and I don’t get why they would go with this aesthetic for them. Maybe if these were introduced with a new group song that had this Circus vibe to it I wouldn’t dislike it as much, but since that’s not the case I can’t like them, at least not yet.

I also don’t understand why they would have to announce they’re taking part in the Jewel Auditions since I though everyone doing prichan was eligible for it, but this is honestly just a minor nitpick and not a problem per se.

The next two episodes are used to finally cement Meltic StAr as active parts in this season this gets evident by looking at the opening that features them on it.

I think that, to me, the best that episodes 62 and 63 do is creating bonds between Meltic and Ring Marry, and I’m not saying this just because the 5 of them are my favorites and I love to see their interactions. I promise. I think it is just natural having the two groups together when you consider that Kiratts and Daia have a strong relationship and this has left Maria and Suzu behind for a little.

And honestly, both groups work really well together. Even though both episodes are mainly focused on Mel and Suzu, they still add some other nice little touches to it like for example, saying Sara knows Maria’s channel. Sara loves cute things so is just natural that she’s aware of Maria’s channel. Are small details like this that make me appreciate and enjoy these episodes a little more.

These episodes are so well constructed that they alone made me raise Suzu in my faves list, I really enjoyed seeing her with Mel and seeing how they’re very different from each other which makes possible for both of them to learn a lot from their time together. Given that in both episodes Suzu basically was the one in charge of learning rather than teaching, I believe Mel was able to extract some good this from this experience as well.

Talking about 63 more specifically, I have two problems with it. First is Mel getting jewel chance in the first episode she performs alone in this season, I already mentioned that I don’t like this but since it seems this is the trend for all idols who were already a part of the original cast I can let it pass, also Universe Queen jewel coord is gorgeous and probably my favorite of all we’ve seen so far so this makes me even less mad about the whole situation.

The second is that part where Mel insists for Suzu to sing, I know it’s a minor moment, it goes very quickly, and it’s there just to consolidate even more the fact that Suzu doesn’t want to sing yet. I also know that Mel had good intentions there, but I still don’t like it. As someone who constantly has people trying to force me into doing things I don’t like/want, I can’t stress enough how bad this is.

Thankfully this episode does so many other great things that in the end they overcome these bad points and results in a good episode. My favorite bits being all the moments where Mel was the most hyperactive kid on the planet. Gosh, I love her so much. ALSO, Mel promoting education and saying that learning is fun is very valid.

The highlight of this episode is definitely Mel’s performance!!!!! What a great song it is!!! I have the same problem as before where the Circus Ringmaster Coord doesn’t fit the song and the stage, but I still enjoyed every single bit of it. Even using the repeated stage was good, I think the Amusement Park stage works better here than the palace stage and the sweet shop stag does for Mirai and Rinka’s song. I must say, I didn’t expect Mel’s song to be like this, I expected it to be more like Cometic Shilouette, but I really like it and it fits Mel PERFECTLY. I also think the Meltic StAr generic Yattemita for this season is better than the Kiratts generic one so that’s another plus for this performance.

Closing up this batch the show goes down again in Episode 64. I really don’t like this episode, I really don’t see the point of it and the execution of the thing was kinda wonky.

This Daia Fest was very confusing. First, I don’t get the concept of going through a competition to win a single piece of a coord. I know this is something they do since the Pretty Rhythm days but still, I don’t get it.

Second, I don’t understand why the only two participants are Mirai and Mel, I’d think that more idols would get jewel coords as well, it’d be a good way to showcase in the show that the jewel coords come in various colors in the game. Making the two of them the only competitors make the competion even more pointless.

Third, I don’t get how someone could come out victorious of this thing, they’ve done the exact same thing with nothing different being added to spice things out. Yeah they performed in their Jewel Coords, but in general they share the same value so, is not like they’ve done anything special.

Fourth, Mirai’s victory feels empty. They tried to set up a conflict with Mirai not knowing what her dream was but they don’t do anything with it. If they made Mirai lose they could give her an ark about finding herself, and finding a dream for her and make the culmination of all that be really amazing. But no, she’s the main character so we have to give everything to her very easily.

But to not say I dislike everything this episode has done, I liked the excuse they came up with to why Rinka didn’t got in, I think this thing she has with her mom is very funny and probably the only thing I REALLY like about her.

Oh there’s also Naru who’s in the middle of love and hate. I do like her character here but since I never watched the PR season she’s from I have this sensation in the back of my head that i’m already loosing lots of information about this character, even though like Aira she’s not the same naru from Pretty Rhythm and technically all we’re seeing here is new.

And this is it for now! It took me way longer than I wanted to write this down but I’m finally done.

A FEW SIDE NOTES:

Maria is very relatable.

IS THIS A MOTHERFUCKING BRAZIL REFERENCE?

Despite all the bad things I had to say about these episodes, I can’t deny that we got some very adorable shots from them. LOOK AT IT, THEY’RE SO CUTE.

Now that’s everything I had to say.

I’ve already watched Episode 65, but I’m leaving it for its own post because I have lots of things to talk about and this post is already long enough as it is. I’ll probably post it later today by itself or tomorrow with Episode 66, it will depend if Aikatsu subs will be coming out today or not. Regardless, the symphoger review will be out very soon, I’m finishing up some things here and I’ll be watching the episode in no time.

See yall soon (very soon this time, I promise).

[babimochi]

My Top 7 Black Style Icons in Music: 60s-Today

For as long as I can remember, my style has been something I have always taken seriously. From my favorite Dora tees to my Barbie dolls, I always made fashion my main priority. As I’ve gotten older and have begun to study different eras of fashion, I found many people that stood out to me in ways I’ve never seen. However, growing up black you tend to find people who look like you as the people you grow inspiration from, and I will be sharing who those people are. 

1. Diana Ross (1960s): 

(Photo:  Frank Carroll/NBCU Photo Bank)

Diana Ross has always been one of my biggest fashion inspirations due to her beauty, poise, and indescribable style. Dressed in designer costumes, Ross was always the center of attention whenever she entered the room. From her hair to her shoes, Diana never missed a thing to top off her extravagant outfits. She has been sure to make it known that her style is one of a kind and that she’ll forever be a trendsetter.

2. Donna Summer (1970s):

(Photo:  Richie Aaron/Redferns/Retna)

My dear Donna Summer, the true definition of “hot stuff”! Every outfit, makeup look, stage costume, everything! It was all flawless. The disco queen loved to dress as boldly as her attitude, wearing bright colors and large furs and feathers that would beautifully drape over her tall, slim, 5′ 7′’ silhouette. Just like her music, she and her style are truly unforgettable. 

3. Prince (1980s):

(Photo: Paul Natkin/WireImage/GettyImages)

Prince, a man who truly lived up to his royal title. Known for his feminine and sexually expressive style, the singer was always dressed in his most stunning and pristine fabrics, not a single thread out of place. Prince’s style was unlike any other artist, then, now, or ever. He was always daring and risque with his looks, so much as to have his butt showing through a yellow jumpsuit at the MTV VMAs in 1991. Talk about legendary! The ever-so-talented risk taker will greatly be missed, along with his style and grace.

4. Mel B/Scary Spice (1990s):

(Photo: REX)

Ahh, Scary Spice - everyone’s favorite spice girl. Was she everyone’s favorite, or is it just me? Nope, everyone’s favorite is confirmed to be Mel B. As the standout star in the 90′s pop girl group, The Spice Girls, Mel was usually styled in outrageously cute outfits that I’m sure we all wish we could’ve worn. Golds, browns, reds, and oranges were the standard colors for her fierce fits. She was usually styled in a matching two-piece set and a pair of 5′’ platform boots (don’t we just miss the 90s?) Mel was often criticised in the media for her “revealing, over-the-top outfits”, which every girl in the group wore (but we know why the media only spoke about her.) She truly was an it-girl and had a style that every girl wanted to snatch.

5. Lil’ Kim (1990s/2000s):

(Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage)

Lil’ Kim is the personification of a bad bitch. Look after look was a brand new trend that the explicit rapper would begin. From bright furs to designer logo wigs, Kim was never afraid to turn up the heat with her fierce and sexy style. Her wigs and furs would usually match, with a tight, sometimes see-through, bodysuit or two-piece underneath. To top it off, she would wear high boots and a sleek pair of shades to pull together her infamous looks. Hands down, Lil’ Kim has the most influential style in the female rap game, matter of fact, the entire music industry. People today still pay homage to Kim’s bold costumes, but as we all know- no one does it better than the queen bee herself.

6. Andre 3000 (1990s/2000s):

(Photo: Josh Brasted/FilmMagic)

Atlanta’s very own, Andre 3000! The untouchable rap god Andre has always stood out in the hip-hop industry due to his otherworldly style. Bright suits, crazy patterns, and top-dollar streetwear were staples in the musician’s wardrobe. You never knew what to expect from Andre, whether it was a simple jersey and jeans, or a wig and colorful jumpsuit. 3K is a definite source of Atlanta’s superior sense of style, and he always keeps us on the edge of our seats with his musical talents and his fashion.

7. Rihanna (2000s-Present):

(Photo: Getty Images)

Yes, I know you were waiting for her. The Carribean queen Rihanna is one of everyone’s favorite style icons. She’s always the first to have it, the first to do it, and the best to do it with any look she wears. Rihanna loves to wear many different designers and brands as she loves to switch up her look quite often. Whether she’s dressy, formal, casual, street, or runway ready, Bad Gal RiRi always has a stunner fit that we all want to get our hands on. Being that she’s such an influence on many people’s fashion tastes, she started her own fashion collaboration with Puma, FentyXPuma. The pop star's clothing line is only one part of the Fenty empire, with Fenty Beauty, SavageXFenty, and her sock collaboration with Stance. As each day goes by, Rihanna is giving us another look, completely different from any other you’ve seen before. Her hair, makeup, and outfits are always changing, so you have to keep an eye on her so you don’t miss anything!

I hope my style inspirations gave you a look into my sense of style and a view of my favorite artists. It’s not easy having such stylish idols, as I can’t snatch every killer look they wear for myself, but it does come in handy when you need some inspiration.

Who are your favorite black style icons? Should I write a part two? Let me know your thoughts as they are always appreciated!

Stay beautiful,

Bree xx

[deehollowaywrites]

in review: 2017

I don’t know about you, but I waved 2016 goodbye with a gentle torching of my wall calendar.

The final months of the year had been rough: November’s dismal election destroyed any desire to work on my National Novel Writing Month project, though I recovered slightly in December with a certain pair of bug boys. And then, suddenly, it was January--a new year--time for new projects, but I felt resistance to the idea of specific goals, fearful of setting out lists of possibilities in case the entire world burned down before I could get to them.

If I have a goal for 2017, I wrote in January, it’s to lessen the import of commercial or literary good-ness for my writing. Well, after that, what’s left?

Despite my initial lack of commitment, 2017 was a busy year--but it wasn’t until Spotify rolled out their Wrapped playlist that I realized what exactly I’ve been up to. See, Spotify is great for a lot of reasons, but I use it almost exclusively for project playlists; I rarely listen to full albums, even from my favorite artists. Thus, my ‘2017 in music’ is just a round-up of what I was writing this year, how intently I bore down on mutual-pining or rivals-to-lovers or the pain of old wounds and lived in certain atmospheres triggered by careful curation of tunes for weeks at a time. Strange to see Nadia Reid next to Rihanna and Collective Soul popping up after Bloc Party. Convenient shorthand, and--upon listening--something of a time warp.

It seems like much longer than a year ago that I spent a month revising Ben and Joel’s manuscript while murmuring if I took you home it’d be a home run under my breath on end.

How did I even decide to attempt genuine category romance, let alone churn out a first draft in ten days? Regardless, “Kiss It Better” helped.

When the chance to push Skin Dive a little closer to publication reared its head, I had a playlist ready to go, a key turning in a lock that had grown rusty.

Inhabiting that swamp again made me want to linger, plunge a little deeper, scrape at scars and see if they still oozed. They did, a pulse of blood in time with girl-grunge and dream pop.

After a point I got bold. Why the fuck not, after all? A little bit of success--a short story here and there--stretches a long way in the world of writing. I’ll write what I want, I figured. I’ll set up a Patreon with some friends and challenge myself to new stories every month. I’ll plan out three, five novels deep into this fluffy horse universe that now exists; I’ll say yes to a publisher and keep refining that novella, even if it wrings me dry. I’ll write my tales of regional mythology and send them into the world. I’ll toss my ideas like a ball and catch my collaborators’ and together we’ll invent a new game. When my heart hurts, when I miss my girlfriend and my country persists its downward spiral and I’m helpless and clumsy, I’ll pour myself into not one character but two, three, four, every one. I’ll let myself be vulnerable at last, because GDocs doesn’t come with a $60 copay every time I create a fresh file.

The music we love is personal. When we’re younger it’s often cause for mockery, especially for girls--Evanescence, One Direction--and it can be so many things, badge of coolness or camouflage. There’s even a ‘Private Session’ option on Spotify, so my friends don’t see me listening to “Silent All These Years” fifteen times in a row and get worried. Excusing myself from the necessity of coolness, ditching irony, leaving behind music that never really belonged to me, has all been a trust exercise, growth in fits and starts. Writing can be even more personal, for better or worse. Readers who know me will find me between the lines. There’s a truism I dislike, that a person can’t be loved if they don’t love themselves. But I do believe finding compassion for those characters on the page, the ones you don’t quite like to look at, can lead to fuller compassion for yourself.

My dragon’s hoard of writing grew this year. Every story pulls me onward, sometimes blind; every line fills in a little more of the sketch. I’m not Teryl and her loneliness, or Joel and his trust issues, or Mel with her inferiority complex, or Luz looking at the ashes of what she thought she wanted. But they’re all me, and I can’t wait to see who shows up in 2018.

[elevenhoursinfront-blog]

1st May 2017

The delightful Monday moring. It wasn't bank holiday here (thank God) like it was at home so Steve was up and out for work at 0600. I stayed in bed and woke up around 1000. I decided to miss breakfast. There isn't anything really that healthy and I'm starting my serious health kick today - I know, I said that 2 weeks ago, but I mean it this time. I don't fit into any of my clothes and I don't have money to buy more. I was woken up by a man checking the firealarms and windows in our room. I know it needs to be done, but why in the morning when I'm still sleeping? I got up and started to clean under the bed. It was level 10's deeper clean again so nothing can be on the floor. I went through my clothes and put all the 'summer' stuff away. I sorted my box out and then sorted Steve's. I put all the diry washing into our washing bag which is a pillow case - thanks Mum. I sorted out my locker, putting things away making it more neat. This makes my mind feel tidy which is strange but never mind. I went into the shower for a quick wash and got dressed. I went to reception to buy a wash and dry for $5 plus the $10 deposit which is hugely annoying. I went back up to level 10 to put our washing on. The majority of it was Steve's work clothes and they smell so bad. It's not ideal because we can't afford to keep on paying for washes so often, so sometimes he has to wear the same stuff. Wash on, room tidy, clothes sorted - time for breakfast. Somehow it was already 1300. I made a bacon and onion omlette. The food shop was next on the list. I sat on my own with a cup of tea. Everyone was at work except me - AKA the funemployed. I am going to work tomorrow though. I've suck it up and I'm going to the call centre job. I don't want to run out of money and worry about having a roof over my head like Meg and Dan so I have to go. Tomorrow is my first day and I don't get paid for it which is RUBBISH. I also don't get paid until the 3rd week of work which is even more RUBBISH. It'll be worth it when it's payday... I washed up and went upstairs to get the washing out of the washing machine. The wash only takes half an hour whereas the dry takes an hour. I moved them into the dryer and then got my shoes and coat on. I left the hostel and went to Aldi. It's about 5 stops on the tram so I got on - it's free afterall. I got there and walked around picking up all the bits we needed. The bag was super heavy and my hands were bright red. I paid $30 for a full shop which wasn't too bad, especially when we once paid $60 in Coles. I walked out of Aldi but realised I wanted to look at the price of something else and went back in. They had to check all my bags and receipt in case I stole something which was a right pain the behind. I walked to the tram stop hoping my wrists didn't dislocate. I didn't have to wait long - 3 minutes. It was packed so I couldn't sit down until 3 stops in. I got back and sorted our food bags out. We have one fridge bag and one dry food bag. Shopping all away, time to get the washing out. I folded our washing and put them away. 1500 and I felt like I've not stopped when really I haven't done much at all. I was quite peckish so I went downstairs and had some celery. Mel and Sophie walked in from work and sat down with me. We had a cup of tea together and Sophie had bought brownies with her. I didn't have any which was good - she saved one for Steve. It got to 1700 and I started dinner. Steve came in and went upstairs to shower. He wanted curry for dinner and I had bought a butter chicken simmer sauce a while back. I had mine with vegetables and he had his with rice. 1830 came around straight after dinner which means one thing only on a Monday... Bingo! Mel, Soph and I went in and got front row seats. Mel got bingo twice and I got balls once. So Mel won two packs of TimTams, marshmallow coconut jam things, extra large bar of dairy milk, large pack of sweet chilli sensations and I can't remember what else! I won a beer which is disgusting in taste, wooo! Hopefully next week... I went upstairs and sat on my bed. My dad FaceTimed me which was good. I managed to speak with Ange and Craig too. I went downstairs and sat with the girls until 2130. I looked at my emails and saw that Rebecca from an admin agency emailed me. She wanted me to come in for an interview on Wednesday to possibly sign me up to their recruitment company. I wanted this email for about 5 weeks now. WHY now that I'm meant to be starting work tomorrow!! Typical. I have sorted out going in tomorrow to the call centre for my induction and I'm starting on Thursday. I'll have my interview with Rebecca on Wednesday. At least if I work for the call centre until Friday it's almost $600 that I'll be getting on three weeks time... Alarm set, lunch ready, dreading tomorrow.

[dwtspd]

DWTS S24 W6: Boy Bands and Girl Groups

They should call this throwback music week because that’s what it was for me. Backstreet Boy and former contestant Nick Carter guest judged. I liked the opening montage where they posed with the covers of the bands/groups whose songs they were using but I wish DWTS gave us more long openings with actual dancing.

Simone and Sasha Destiny’s Child Samba Hmm that sandy floor projection looks familiar, but I can’t really remember where we’ve seen that before. Simone doesn’t have a lot of experience with being sexy and she starts off a bit more cutesy (maybe it’s just her smile). Once the singing started though I think she got more into it. The chorus of the song isn’t very samba-y but I think the verse part was okay. The spin looked better in the rehearsal video... I think Nick’s 8 would have been a 9 if she didn’t go first. Fair score though. 9-8-9-9 T35

Bonner and Sharna Backstreet Boy Rumba Because Nick was Sharna’s old partner whoop. I think Bonner was more comfortable with the rumba because it’s a slower dance, so he is more willing to project his dancing and movements. I thought he tried pretty hard to show hip movement when dancing on his own, but when he was with Sharna his legs sometimes looked a bit suspect. Could have also been more fluid - rumba is a very flowy dance. Decent effort though. Not the best song fit. Nick you gonna give Simone and Bonner the same score? 8-8-7-7 T30

Why does your rumba bumper have a lift...Len and CAI must be screaming internally.

Nancy and Artem En Vogue Paso Doble Nancy got herself extra stressed out because this same song was Mel B’s iconic paso doble. Nancy had a bobble around the start and she looked a bit thrown off from then on. But she eventually crawled back - the part in the middle with the extra guys was pretty cool. Nick made a pretty bad pun. It was nice seeing Nancy being fierce instead of sweet and happy. I thought the cage thing could have worked better if the cage was wider so the camera angle could be a bit less awkward. I agree with Bruno - shaping was not consistent. 9-8-8-8 T33

Nick and Peta Beach Boys Jive “I feel like having a coffee makes me relatable.” Haha Nick you basic Tumblr female. I think that was my favourite part of his package - Nick holding his coffee cup LOL. Then - “I like the jive. I’ve been looking forward to it. It seems...fun.” “Yeah but it’s REALLY HARD and there are a LOT OF STEPS and it’s REALLY FAST.” That instant change in Nick’s reaction should be a reaction meme. “I’m already nervous.” Hahaha. Later: “The competition is about personality and the journey.” Peta says facts only. I definitely like their rehearsal reel better than the dance. The song was a bit slow for the style and Nick’s feet were floppy. His timing was fine though - but he might have struggled with a song with actual jive tempo. He has a decent carlton though - where’s Alfonso this week? Their costumes remind me of those pastel sorbet marble nail stick-ons. 7-7-7-7 T28 I thought he was better than Bonner though.

Normani and Val Pussycat Dolls Salsa I wish Val would stop putting so many leg kick into Normani’s routines because her technique when doing them is totally wrong - her supporting leg always bends or shifts when she does that. I knew Len wasn’t gonna like the hip hop section in the middle - plus it was longer than Heather’s in the jive. Like yeah Normani looked great doing it but if you guys wanna put hip hop into dance at least try to INTEGRATE it with the content steps instead of having a whole section specifically for it. That makes it really obvious that you’re deviating from your assigned style. The steam coming out of the potholes was nice though. I thought the actual salsa parts was pretty good. Normani had better turns this week than last week. The somersault lift looked better in the rehearsal video though - Normani’s body was kinda twisted when she was landing so it wasn’t as smooth. I thought this was definitely better than her paso, but it’s not 39-worthy yet. 10-10-9-10 T39

David and Lindsay NSYNC Argentine Tango Argentine tango is the least boy bandy dance there could ever be honestly. David is definitely no Calvin Johnson when it comes to lifts. I feel like he got quite shaken after nearly dropping Lindsay. There were moments where both David and Lindsay looked unbalanced. There was waaaay more AT than I thought could be put into this song. Nick asking “NSYNC or Backstreet Boys” and saying “I promise it won’t affect your score” LOL. This, like Nick’s dance, I feel should have gotten better scores than Bonner. 7-8-7-7 T29

Rashad and Emma Four Tops Tango I LOOOOVEEEE THIS SONG. Probably my favourite of the songs used tonight. The beginning section with the other guys was perfect 60s choreography! My only complain is that Rashad could have been a bit sharper when they first got into hold and get his frame right immediately. I would have given this a 9.5 so I think he should have gotten one more 10. 9-10-9-9 T37

Heather and Maks TLC Rumba Maks: Rumba is very adult. Heather: this dance makes me feel young. Maks: adult stuff going on. So which is the lie? Anyway, I kind of laughed in embarrassment every time Maks said “adult” because it just sounded like such a weird way to describe a dance. This dance definitely had one of the better song matches but it could have been better still if they could have found an acoustic version. Some of the movements were too sharp for a rumba but it suited the song. Maks finally gave Heather GOOD CHOREOGRAPHY that shows what she can do with her professional dance background. There was an accidental lift. Also, Heather’s dress is really nice! 10-10-10-10 T40

And now for the team dances!

But first, did anyoen notice when the show came back after commercials before the team dances the little advertisement pop up that said ‘Coming this June: Boy Band’? LOL I see what you’re doing ABC.

As with tradition, they announce one team safe. It’s.....Team Boy Band?! Everyone shrieks.

Team Boy Band Hilarious rehearsals. I think Bonner was the most into the dance he was this whole season. Bruno told them to dance on their own - all guys, 20 seconds, shirtless. They looked really excited for that section but they were pretty out of sync. It wasn’t just Bonner. I thought the first section was the best. I saw Backstreet’s Back moves! The last section looked a bit kiddy - maybe it’s the pop-y 1D song. I’m not the biggest 1D fan, and Best Song Ever is one of my least favourite 1D songs. And the audience crowd made it hard to see what they were doing. Funny how their initials say ‘RNB/D’. 8-9-8-8 T33

Team Girl Group Okay, I wouldn’t say 5H is as iconic as the other two groups, but sure, let Normani dance to her own group’s song. Not as if she’s already being pimped enough already. I rather they throw in a Beyonce song and obligate Heather to get it down and bust her moves but I guess they used Beyonce the last time the did the girls vs boys thing. Sigh. LOL at Simone’s “How do make it not uncomfortable when he’s on you?” whisper then her and Normani turning to look at Sasha like they are a meme. Also Maks’ casual “Don’t call me Mary and I’m not wearing a tutu but that’s the inner me I’m feeling right now.” - say what Maks???? Anyone notice how Heather and Normani were always in the front of the group arrangements? Also, think the girls were definitely more in sync with each other but I agree with CAI - it was underwhelming. They were not WAAAY better than the guys than they should be. Also I feel like the actual dancing only started during ‘No Scrubs’ - before that they were just running around doing girly shimmies. Also the camera crew messed up towards the end. The lighting they could have passed it off as “It was supposed to dim for dramatic effect!” but the camera work was really messy. 8-9-8-9 T34

So with Girl Group in jeopardy: Simone is safe, Normani is safe. And DWTS is not pressed for time for the first time this season so they drag the announcement. Between Nancy and Heather, going home is...Heather. It’s a shame because she finally had a breakout dance. Maks was only here for like two weeks LOL but at least he can focus his energy on his kid now.

Next week is movies night - I heard Tom say something about genres, so I think there might be a bit of an eras thing too? I think we will see some pretty interesting concepts though.