#the country’s beloved dictators <3< /div> Explore tagged Tumblr posts

[shippersonfire]

lucy gray and coriolanus would both be the princess diana of panem and that’s why they’d be the most salient political power couple in north american history

[russetfoxfur]

mcyt is NOT beating the criminal allegations

- mumbo did season eight which. ah. produced the wonderful quote: "My parents are still alive... but that can be changed."

- cub eats people

- bad is a cannibal. this is different from eating people, according to my irl. do i want to know

- fit was on 2b2t

- wilbur blew up a country and killed a buncha people

- phil blew up that country too (apparently)

- scar. ah. scar did monopoly mountain and things went downhill from there

- dont even get me started on gem. she started the whole secret life apocalypse. she killed etho at least sixteen times. she is on tumblr which means tango is scared of her AS HE SHOULD BE

- sausage had that whole esmp s1 evil thing. classifying this as sausage because i watched an episode of gem's where he appeared and nothing else and don't actually watch esmp except through osmosis

- didnt joe hills kill a bunch of dogs in s7

- etho ALSO kills people but BADLY (scar boogie kill)

- dream

- *eyeing zedaph's chamber suspiciously* this violates AT LEAST one scientific law or something

- grian. grian my beloved. why are you like this

- jaiden decimated the environment of teyvat

- see lizzie is like her husband. unhinged. shes just bad at surviving so no one gets to see it

- jimmy is like lizzie but more popular for it

- tango is a war criminal but he also makes funny sounds while he commits crimes so i think that negates the whole crimes thing

- while we're at it. all the lifers are criminals EXCEPT SKIZZ EXCEPT SKIZZ EXCEPT SKIZZ

- xisuma boils chicken and eats kiwi skin. worst offense on this list by far

- gem gets a second place on this list because why not. she deserves it

- bdubs bites ankles. probably

- martyn brought the watchers to the life smp which is bad in and of itself. also the Assigned Criminal At Life Series thing

- cherrifire gets an honorary spot on this list mostly because she SHOULD be able to bite ankles. due to aforementioned martyn

anyways please tag w other crimes our blorbos have commited. cheers <3

EDIT: I will be adding more crimes now

- keralis was a capitalist in s7 who bought. rotten flesh. for 128 diamonds. truly exemplifying a billionaire there. dont worry dont worry. hes not a capitalist anymore....but he was once

- pearl poisons people and then has her dogs bite you. reasonable

- cleo does arson. she also kills people. but she does this a lot so it also negates the crimes

- don't mess with forgelabs

- ren has become a dictator at least twice. likes bloodshed. also treebark counts for all the anguish it causes everyone. also also ACALS (assigned criminal at life series)

ALSO if anyone is going to yell at me for fit being on 2b2t. i do not watch him. he is only here because my mcyt irls go insane about him. like all the time. in fact i don't watch qsmp or dsmp but theyre popular enough i know a bit about them. <3

[homoeroticbetrayal]

Iconic Homoerotic Betrayal: Round 3

Poll Directory

Context:

Judas/Jesus

Summary by Clock

Judas sold Jesus to the Romans for 13 pieces of silver. He signaled the Romans and marked out Jesus amongst the disciples with a kiss. (He could have just pointed and said "that's Jesus" but he decided to kiss Jesus one last time.) He later hung himself, the 13 pieces of silver laid unspent by his feet.

Lelouch/Suzaku

Summary by Anonymous Contributor

szll is already iconic but I'm just going to list all their betrayals (and perceived betrayals) as a refresher:

(first, for context, one thing you gotta understand is lelouch, leader of the rebellion who believes ends justify the means, is also the discarded prince of the empire he's fighting against. suzaku, rising knight of the empire who believes means have to justify the ends, is the son and killer of the prime minister of the country being oppressed. this is PEAK narrative foils and enemies-to-lovers recipe right there.)

- lelouch and nunnally were sent to japan as political hostages. britannia takes over japan quickly after and lelouch, knowing how much japan means to suzaku, promises to destroy britannia. suzaku should be angry at britannia! lelouch will free them!! except years later he learns that suzaku is now WORKING for the empire? he's becoming a KNIGHT for the empire, betraying his own country and their shared hatred for britannia. what the fuck, what happened to principles, suzaku? this is lelouch's first (perceived) betrayal.

- lelouch (accidentally) kills euphemia, the only princess who's trying to make peace with the japanese, the princess that suzaku is knight of, the princess suzaku LOVES and lelouch adores. now yes, this was an accident, but lelouch ROLLS WITH IT and lets suzaku and the rest of the world believe that it was intentional, thus fully driving that knife deep. he never tells suzaku this was an accident. this is suzaku's most painful betrayal.

- suzaku finds out lelouch is zero, leader of the rebellion, and turns him in to his evil dad, emperor of the empire, in exchange for becoming a knight of round (the highest military status). now if you count akito the exiled as canon, this also means sending lelouch to be BRAINWASHED into serving the empire as a master tactician before R2 happens. suzaku monitors him all throughout, watching lelouch destroy nations and praise the empire against his own principles.

this is just season one of code geass. this doesn't even touch how suzaku is also forced to betray his own loyalties/principles sometimes whenever the "live" geass that lelouch condemns him with acts up. how suzaku would monitor lelouch and keep deceiving him that rolo is his beloved sibling, not nunnally. etc etc.

AND YET despite all of this, code geass culminates with them SWEARING LOYALTY to each other, with lelouch becoming the demon emperor and suzaku becoming his right-hand man, the knight of zero. lelouch becomes a tyrant that suzaku is destined to kill. lelouch brings peace to the world but will never be able to live in it. he will always be remembered as the dictator, the scourge of the world. suzaku atones for all his sins by being reduced to a heroic symbol, by being punished to kill his best friend and never becoming suzaku the person ever again. with the "live" geass, he is cursed to never die, never to escape, always bearing both of their sins -- the eternal punishment he has been seeking. and by killing lelouch, he is able to avenge euphemia in the end, and bring the peace all three of them desired.

code geass is a hot mess but there is poetry in their betrayals. they are thematically bound to live this tragedy, and that is why they are iconic. the ending of code geass is well-known and highly regarded as one of the most iconic endings ever, and it can only ever be so because it stands on the love and loss and betrayals of suzaku and lelouch.

See other descriptions of Suzalulu

[fallenrocket]

La Máquina does such an interesting job exploring the nature of celebrity. There have been so many movies and shows about famous people, but not many hit me as hard as Esteban’s story does.

There’s the very fact that he’s a boxer, of course. Beloved throughout his country for 20 years, valued for how much pain and punishment he’s put his body through. As Irasema sees up-close when she goes to interview Chiquita Morales, that fame comes with a heavy, heavy price to a boxer’s body and brain, and Esteban is just starting to deal with the ramifications of that.

I like the detail about how maintaining his sobriety can be difficult and lonely for Esteban. As a celebrity, it’s tough to go to meetings—how can you open up when everyone in the room knows who you are and wants selfies? How can you go back to that same group when even more people show up to meet you the next time? Of course, the press speculates on his sobriety and takes cheap shots about his weight, and everything he struggles with plays out under the microscope of the public eye. At the same time, though, his celebrity gives him leeway when he relapses. During the flashbacks of his bender in episode 3, we see him drunkenly crash a wedding, punch somebody, and then get asked for a selfie when they realize it’s La Máquina. 

Everyone calls Esteban “champ,” even the cops who arrest him during his bender. For his entire adult life, this career has been his identity. It’s how everyone knows him, and it’s understandable that he’s scared to face the prospect of losing all that. Not that that identity will stop following him—Irasema calls Morales “champ” during her interview too—but no doubt it will hit very differently once he’s not boxing anymore. No wonder he longs to end his career on his own terms, showing everyone what he’s made of. 

And within his close circle, I find it really interesting to watch how the people around Esteban dismiss and baby him a little. He’s the cash cow that’s been making everybody money for 20 years, but Andy thinks his pre-fight superstitions are silly and Sixto won’t tell him he’s doing well in training because then “he’ll get lazy.” When Andy and Irasema are arguing back-and-forth about his relapse, Esteban remarks, “I hate it when you talk like I’m not here.” His celebrity status has given him less accountability for his screwups, but it’s also given him less autonomy in his life. It’s painful to hear him admit to Andy that he never really gets to be the one making choices in his own life, to the point where he fantasizes about dying in the ring. Even before the Otras Personas try to dictate the terms of his final match, Esteban feels like he’s spent his whole career doing what Andy, Sixto, and others have told him to.

And I dunno, maybe “woe is me, the poor celebrity” is cliche, but I think it’s examined so well here. Gael García Bernal is just so damn good playing Esteban’s struggles, fears, and frustrations.

[imperiuswrecked]

How do you think Doom's dictatorship should be portrayed? I'm personally always very uncomfortable when writers try to go the "benevolent autocrat" route, and after making online friends with an F4 fan whose parents and extended family actually suffered under such a regime (and who is imo rightfully furious whenever writers try to depict Doom's rule as being actually good or "worth it"), in addition to everything going on in Eastern Europe right now and the alarming rise in nationalist and authoritarian-leaning politics/politicians/ parties/voters all over the world, I'm admittedly even more critical of that depiction. It just seems incredibly irresponsible, disingenuous to how real-life human hierarchies/economies/politics/psychology actually work, and disrespectful to the past, present, and future victims of these regimes. (Not to mention the fact that Lee/Kirby, two Jewish WWII vets, were pretty explicitly satirizing the very concept of "benevolent dictatorship" with Doom in their original F4 run, and being Doom's two daddies, they'd probably know best.)

But that's just my opinion, and I'm curious to what extent (if any) that you agree with me, as a fellow Doom connoisseur. Thanks, and I hope you and your loved ones have a safe and blessed rest of your week. <3

Thanks and I hope you and yours are healthy and safe as well ❤️

While I don't personally know the other F4 fans you speak of, or what the full context is around their feelings for Doom, I do understand why they and you might be uncomfortable with characters like this and that's fine since you don't have to like characters, and if they want to be mad at writers for portraying Doom that way then that's their right but I don't agree with them. I'd personally rather Doom be a benevolent autocrat than the writers try to inject hilter dictatorship into Doom's character/imagery. I find that very disturbing for a character like Victor to be subjected to, because Nazism isn't something I take lightly and definitely feel it's inappropriate for a character with Victor's background to ever be linked with.

I'm gonna put this really simply; it's fiction. Doom can be a benevolent autrocrat, be beloved by his people, have little children throwing flowers in his path, and be a villain to the Fantastic Four at the same time and be depicted as a good thing for the Latverian people because it's fiction.

There's a time and place for discussion when it comes to how fiction affects real life, but it doesn't work in Doom's case because showing Doom in this light does not mean any writer endorses an autocratic ruler nor will have an impact in Real Life because there is no such thing as a real life benevolent dictator who gives his country and people free healthcare, education, safety, security, prosperity, and the freedom to worship whom they please/live their lives in return for their complete obedience and being unable to critize Doom's rule. It's literally never happened in real life. There is no such thing as a good government in the entire world, because there will always be a time or government or leader who has harmed their people or other people in all manner of ways. There is not one single country in the whole world that gives equal rights to every citizen, doesn't harm people either physically or through their laws/government system, and provides everything every single person needs with justice and fairness.

You say it's disrespectful for writers to portray Victor in this way but disrespectful to whom? Disrespectful to people who suffered under real life dictatorships? They don't have to like the character or agree with the writer, but I've already established that a fictional character/story doesn't take precedence over real life suffering and I hope people understand there is a line of separation between enjoying fiction that has flaws/isn't good/has darker elements vs real life. As readers it's our responsibility to determine what we can and cannot handle in fiction.

Disrespectful to the characters? Latveria is fictional, the characters are all fictional, if we take into context the history of Latveria in the 616 and look at Victor through the eyes of the citizens of Latveria, both Romani and non Romani citzens, then to them Victor is a hero, he led a rebellion and resistance against the rich and powerful ruling royal class of Latveria who were absolutely horrible to their citizens.

If we are continuing in the context of the 616 universe, "how could Doom's people love him/look up to him even though he's set on world domination" then you have to acknowledge first that world domination isn't feasible in the real world at all, that's a non issue, and second that Doom wasn't created out of thin air, he didn't wake up one day and go "well I'm gonna take over my country and then the world" He was built from the oppression and crimes against himself and his people by the ruling class of Latveria. Kirby and Lee's origin for Victor isn't one of a tyrannical overlord deciding he's in charge, it's the story of a boy outcast from the main society because of his background, oppressed by the government/ruling class, orphaned as a child, and hellbent on gaining power because of his circumstances.

If you feel Victor is satire then that's your interpretation but I personally feel that silver age villainy is an era comic readers have outgrown and shouldn't apply to today's character, because by that logic then Magneto would still be seen as an allegory for mutant supremacy because that's how Kirby and Lee portrayed him, but instead over time he was transformed into a character who's past suffering had a righteous (if flawed at times) cause. Both Doom and Magneto were made in the same era but while Victor's past was laid out from day one, Erik's past was created so much later.

Just like the Mafia Boss with the Heart of Gold, who is a totally bad guy but he protects his people/loved ones is a fictional and very popular trope, it's unrealistic in the real world because Mafia/Mob/Crime bosses make their living doing things/crimes that hurt others.

Anyways I think it's a non-issue that Victor is portrayed as a benevolent autocrat. I think it's interesting to have him be portrayed as such because it fits into his characterization of him believing that all people who don't have his level of intelligence are beneath him and he must treated as children or sheep he must herd and care for. It fits with his ego being so large that he believes that him being in charge is the only path forward. It's a great way to study the character too because Victor is very fascinating to me.

[raz-writes-the-thing]

extremely late to the pair up thingy but in case you'll feel like doing it again sometime:

1. the first time I tried to write a book I was six and couldn't reliably write readable letters yet, so I dictated it to my mother. the whole thing quickly failed because she criticised the "book" content in ways that offended me lol

2. I treat the coffee maker I got for my eighteenth birthday like a beloved family pet (I do also have a dog)

3. I have always been oddly chill about both my sexuality and gender despite growing up in a pretty homophobic country and environment. the first time I got a crush on anyone was a male fictional character and then my first irl crush was a girl when I was like 11 and I was like oh so I'm into both girls and boys!! cool!! I wasn't worried or confused at all despite the fact that I didn't even know the word bisexual existed, had never seen any gay rep and the only time I'd heard about homosexuality was in the same breath with pedophilia, zoophilia and necrophilia. When the cleric in my church said being gay is wrong I just stopped going to church. My reaction to finding out nonbinary people existed went: "omg that's so cool and relatable I wish that was me but unfortunately it's impossible to have two different types of queer :(((" -> "oh wait great news!!!" and now I'm fully out to all my irl friends and my mother (she was homophobic abt it but is mostly used to me now) + out as pan to my father and grandma. I permanently have both a pan and an enby pin on my school backpack. I have "crossdressed" in very public places on uncountable occasions. this level of idgaf is especially baffling to me because I am a coward when it comes to literally everything else

- 🌒

okay, first up- look at us twins go (i also figured out i was bi bc one day i was watching orange is the new black and then saw Nicki- my wife- w Lorna and i was like "would i date a girl? yes? oh okay im bi" and that was the end of it. same w my gender i was like "do i like being referred to as a he? yes? oh okay im gf nice") but anyway onto your pairing...

i would pair you with... River from DW

River is a ray of sunshine. She knows just what to say to keep you in high spirits, and she knows when to let you feel. She claims to be a cat person but the way she treats your dog has you a little unsure. She's non-judging and happy to refer to you however you please whenever you please. When you introduce her as your partner she always melts for you.

(She will also refer to your coffee machine as her adopted child and treat it as such).

[garland-on-thy-brow]

The Death of Caesar (La morte di Cesare) - Gaetano Sertor 1788, translated by me.

Previous scene.

ACT I.

SCENE 3.

Porcia, Albinus, and Cassius; then Brutus.

Porcia. Did you hear that felonious reasoning?

Albinus. What a vile Roman!

Cassius. What a worthless citizen!

Porcia. Cassius, our liberty is in your hands. Rome is sold to Caesar, and all he needs to become her tyrant is one single step.

Cassius. But he is not yet where he aspires to be. Within these walls, there still remain some true Romans, and one great strike can accomplish a thousand things; but I cannot venture without Brutus. He, with his reason, his austere authority, with that unknown light that shines in his face and makes him the master of other souls, must inspire strength and resolve in all.

Albinus. Here he is.

Cassius. Brutus, are you a Roman?

Brutus. Am I!

Cassius. Do you love your country?

Brutus. More than myself.

Cassius. Then your duty commands you to save it. One single day can determine its fate. There is no other recourse than to slay the dictator: He imposes the servile yoke on us, the liberty is extinguished.

Brutus. For liberty, I am ready to give all my blood. But our case requires more mature consideration. I cannot imagine Caesar a villain to such a degree, and perhaps his life is more useful to Rome than his death.

Cassius. How?

Albinus. Why?

Cassius. What good can be expected from him?

Brutus. Rome is torn and exhausted by civil wars. The populace and the Fathers are eternally at war: one wants to preserve its rights unharmed; the others desire to enjoy their honours and comfort without disturbance. If he who skillfully governs the common people and the Senate, holding them in balance, is slain, to what tempests would Rome not be exposed?

Albinus. What do I hear!

Porcia. My husband, and this is the pledge of love you give me! Is this how you avenge Cato? No, you love me not, if my suffering moves you so little.

Cassius. Brutus, you are a Roman, Junius' descendant, and you are defending a tyrant?

Brutus. Until now I see in Julius none else but a citizen, a hero, a friend, a Father, and my benefactor. Him I defend, and I am not ashamed of it; but do not fear, for I keep guard, I observe everything, and it is not so easy to deceive me. If his heart changes even a little; if I discover even a shadow of tyrannical spirit in him, I shall have no need for your wrath to inspire me. You shall see whether I have in my breast the heart of Brutus the avenger of old, whether, severe defender of our country and its laws, I can… But such an event is far from us, at least I hope so. (aria) Ah my beloved wife, do not say that I do not love you: being faithful to your beautiful heart is my happiness! If there is a soul so guilty that it aspires to betray its country, I will know, and not even Heaven can steal it away from my wrath. (exit)

Original text under the read more.

[Link to the original on archive.org.]

[powerpolyculeshowdown]

Seeing the cheating/bot comments and I NEED everyone to know that in the Season 3 finale of Leverage, the team literally steals the presidential election of a small European country. I mean, they stole it from a dictator who funds criminal organizations to give to someone who will uphold democracy, but it is very much a thing they did. Also that is one of the most emotionially backstory-ing arcs (Eliot and his SUPER SECRET PAST HE NEVER TALKS ABOUT MY BELOVED).

(also just because we the fans would not steal this poll does NOT mean the OT3 wouldn't. Hardison would hack Tumblr HQ itself to make his preferred sci-fi media win)

i can excuse stealing from the rich but i draw the line at cheating at tumblr polls wtf hardison???? /j

[mistycwavess]

FUCK IM BRAZILIAN AND I HAVE A SAY IN THIS YAYY

Anyways, dont make Elon the villain here okay?

The STF have been acting like dictators and shit when the "beloved president" Lula (ew) won the elections, also, THE "FAKE NEWS" ARENT FAKE :3 (some of them, I mean, even politicians from the left-wing also spread fake news, that's a disease that affect all places/gen)

Really, the Supreme Court just want to sweep their crimes under the rug, recently we can't even say our distaste for the decisions the president is making without being censored

And yes, Lula is on Maduro's side, cry about it (because I am crying)

The STF literally said to Elon "we'll oof your workers if you keep trying to defend something that's in our constitution <3" (in this case, free speech)

Elon had to flee brazilian Twitter workers out of their own country, he got so fed up with the STF shit that he had no other choice.

I'm really sorry if i offended anyone in this/gen

(Im crying and trembling rn, I revealed my side in politics and im going to receive so much hate omg I'm so sorry, sorry, sorry😭😭😭 I'm so sorry everyone)

Twitter is about to be banned in Brazil, why?

Have you seen the news about Twitter (now X, but I refuse to call it that) being banned in Brazil? Have you been wondering why that is? I’m Brazilian, and here I am to explain things to you.

You’ve likely noticed that since Elon Musk took over the social media network, hate speech on the platform has skyrocketed. White supremacist and Neo-Nazi groups have been using Twitter to disseminate racist propaganda and hate speech. And although the United States might not be doing anything about this, other countries are not so indulgent. Brazil being one of them.

Racism and incitement of hate (including speech) are crimes in Brazil. So is political disinformation, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and ableism. Hate speech of any kind is a CRIME in Brazil.

The Brazilian Supreme Court ordered Elon Musk to do something about the political fake news and hate speech on his platform, and Elon responded by shutting down all offices in Brazil.

The Brazilian Supreme Court (STF) then ordered Elon Musk to appoint a legal representative in Brazil, as NO BUSINESS can operate in the country without a legal representative that can be held responsible to crimes and answer to them in a court of law. The STF gave Elon 24 hours to appoint this legal representative, and now that the deadline has passed and Elon has not complied, it seems that Twitter will be shut down in Brazil.

TL;DR: Elon is salty that he’s not above Brazilian law.

[oppvenuz4456]

Fashion Designers in Mumbai: The Pulse of Indian Fashion

Mumbai, often referred to as the fashion capital of India, is home to some of the country's most celebrated fashion designers With its dynamic blend of traditional Indian culture and cosmopolitan modernity, the city has become a breeding ground for creative minds that set trends not just nationally but globally From luxury couture to street fashion, Mumbai's designers have carved a niche for themselves, making the city a hotspot for fashion enthusiasts

For Details Info Check Now https://wwwoppvenuzcom/vendors/fashion-designer-and-cloth-store/?city=mumbai 

The Fashion Culture of Mumbai

Mumbai’s fashion culture is unique, largely due to its status as the center of Bollywood, India’s massive film industry Many of the top fashion designers in Mumbai have established themselves by working closely with Bollywood celebrities, creating outfits that grace red carpets and screen appearances As a result, the city's fashion is highly influential, dictating trends for the rest of the country

But it’s not just the glamour of Bollywood that fuels Mumbai's fashion industry The city has a deep connection to its diverse cultural heritage The traditional crafts of India, such as intricate embroidery, weaving, and dyeing techniques, continue to inspire designers to blend the old with the new, creating a distinctive fusion of contemporary and traditional fashion

Top 5 Fashion Designers in Mumbai

Mumbai has birthed some of the most renowned names in the fashion industry These designers not only dominate the Indian fashion landscape but are also recognized on international platforms Here’s a look at some of the top fashion designers in Mumbai:

1 Manish Malhotra

Perhaps the most famous name in Bollywood fashion, Manish Malhotra is synonymous with glamour and grandeur His designs have been worn by almost every major Bollywood star, and his bridal collections are especially popular Malhotra’s work is known for its luxurious fabrics, intricate embroidery, and an ability to combine traditional Indian designs with a modern sensibility He has also made a significant mark in the international market, dressing global icons

2 Tarun Tahiliani

Tarun Tahiliani is another big name in Mumbai’s fashion scene, especially known for his bridal and couture collections He is celebrated for his ability to seamlessly blend Indian aesthetics with Western cuts and silhouettes His use of opulent fabrics, elaborate draping, and fine craftsmanship has made him a go-to designer for brides seeking both elegance and extravagance

3 Anita Dongre

Anita Dongre is one of Mumbai’s most successful designers, known for her commitment to sustainable fashion Her label emphasizes eco-friendly practices while still delivering stylish, contemporary designs Dongre’s creations often feature beautiful traditional prints, handloom fabrics, and hand embroidery She is particularly well-known for her prêt (ready-to-wear) collections, bridal couture, and accessories Dongre’s designs have been worn by prominent figures, including international celebrities like the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton

4 Neeta Lulla

A pioneer in costume design, Neeta Lulla has over three decades of experience in the fashion industry and is known for her spectacular work in Bollywood films From period dramas like Jodhaa Akbar to contemporary hits, her designs have become iconic Lulla is also a celebrated bridal designer, creating collections that emphasize femininity, elegance, and tradition Her mastery of Indian textiles and her ability to bring out the essence of Indian heritage in her designs have made her a beloved name among Indian brides

5 Masaba Gupta

Masaba Gupta, one of Mumbai’s youngest and most innovative designers, is known for her bold, quirky, and colorful prints Her label, House of Masaba, has carved a niche for itself by offering a refreshing take on Indian fashion, blending traditional silhouettes with a contemporary twist Masaba is particularly famous for her use of abstract motifs and vibrant colors, appealing to a younger, more experimental audience

Why Mumbai Is the Fashion Hub of India

There are several reasons why Mumbai is such a fashion hub As the capital of Bollywood, the city is always replete with film functions, award ceremonies, and celebrities. This makes it the perfect destination for designers to show off their products The kind of exposure that Mumbai fashion designers receive through their tie-ups with the greats of Bollywood can be compared to none Manish Malhotra and Neeta Lulla are names that roll off everyone's tongues, and it is precisely their Bollywood connection that has made that happen.

Mumbai also host some of India's most important fashion events, such as Lakmé Fashion Week This bi-annual event offers platforms for established designers to showcase their collections while offering a stage for new talent to show off their creativity For cosmopolitan Mumbai, designers can rest assured that both traditional and avant-garde styles have an immediate audience

The coming of age process in India is further helped by the fashion schools here, just as NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology) or SNDT University. In fact, most of the city's top designers are a product of these institutions, well-equipped to take on the ever-competitive fashion industry with the technical skills combined with the creative vision.

Conclusion

Fashion in Mumbai is more than just a business; it's a way of life The city’s designers are not only shaping the way people dress but are also pushing the boundaries of Indian fashion on the global stage Whether you're looking for the perfect bridal ensemble, a red-carpet-worthy gown, or an eco-friendly collection, Mumbai's fashion designers offer something for everyone From traditional saris with a modern twist to bold, innovative cuts, Mumbai remains at the heart of India's fashion revolution

[steveezekiel]

GOD'S DISCIPLINE AND THE REASONS FOR IT 2

5 WITH my great strength and powerful arm I made the earth and all its people and every animal. I CAN GIVE THESE THINGS OF MINE TO ANYONE I CHOOSE. 6 Now I will give your countries to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who is my servant. I have put everything, even the wild animals, under his control." Jeremiah 27:5,6 (NLT)

When God said put your neck under the yoke of someone or something, He has a plan of changing or transforming your life through the process.

God must have seen that the path you are toeing would lead you no where and would be contrary to His plans for your life, before giving such an instruction.

Your mistake or foolish act would be seen or discovered when you obeyed such an instruction of putting your neck under a particular yoke.

In most cases, God might not tell a believer what or where he or she has gone wrong but only give the person a yoke to put his or her neck under. WHEN such a thing is done by God, asking you to put your neck under a yoke, It means you had missed it somewhere. He may not tell you that you had missed it, but asking you to put your neck under a particular yoke means you had missed it—He is not happy or agree with some things you are doing.

There are two sides or ways to It: a. If you submissively obeyed, put your neck under the said yoke, He would cause your eyes open to see where you have missed it; and guide you how to right your wrong. b. If you disagreed to put your neck under the yoke, that is when you would see the other side of Him; His Anger or annoyance and severe punishment. As it did happen to the Israelites.

A genuine Believer who has a good relationship with God would not be left rotten, to himself or herself, to live according to the dictates of the flesh.

God wants a person or people that would be a model, or a pattern, or a sample to the whole world, of how He wanted those who are His to be: 2 YOU are our EPISTLE written in our hearts, KNOWN AND READ BY ALL MEN; 3 CLEARLY YOU ARE AN EPISTLE OF CHRIST, MINISTERED BY US, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, NOT ON TABLETS OF STONE BUT [written] ON TABLETS OF FLESH, that is, OF THE HEART" (2 Corinthians 3:2,3 NKJV).

If someone had given his or her life to Christ Jesus, God wanted such to live according to the principles of the Kingdom—the Bible. IT means a Believer's life is a written epistle through which the people of the world could learn about God.

As God adopted the Israelites as His (Romans 9:4), He likewise had adopted everyone who comes to Him through Jesus Christ as His (Romans 8:23; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5).

God is preparing us, the Believers, for a place (John 14:2,3); New Jerusalem, a future Kingdom of His, where Jesus Christ would rule and reign (1 Corinthians 15:27,28; Philippians 3:20,21; Revelation 21:1-4).

If you would want to reign with God in His eternal Kingdom, you have to abide by the principles given through His Word, the Bible, to live with by those who are His, whilst on the earth.

The future Kingdom being talked about is for those who's names are written or found in the Book of life: "NOTHING EVIL WILL BE ALLOWED TO ENTER [the new Jerusalem], NOR ANYONE WHO PRACTICES SHAMEFUL IDOLATRY AND DISHONESTY—BUT ONLY THOSE WHOSE NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN THE LAMB'S BOOK OF LIFE" (Revelation 21:27 NKJV).

There is a place for those who accepted Jesus as their Saviour and Lord and live their lives on earth according to His Word (John 14:2,3; 15:14; 17:24).

You cannot afford to live like the people of the world If you claimed that you belong to Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 1 Peter 2:11).

You should always remember that you, as a Believer, are a sojourner, a resident alien, on the Earth; thus, abstain from the evil system and practices of the world: 11 BELOVED, I beg you as SOJOURNERS AND PILGRIMS, ABSTAIN FROM FLESHLY LUSTS WHICH WAR AGAINST THE SOUL, 12 HAVING your CONDUCT HONOURABLE among the GENTILES, that when they speak against you as evildoers, THEY MAY, BY YOUR GOOD WORKS which they OBSERVE, GLORIFY GOD IN THE DAY OF VISITATION" (1 Peter 2:11,12 NKJV).

If you forget who you are, that you are a candidate of the heavenly Kingdom, the Eternal Kingdom of God; you would begin to soil your garment with Sins.

Let heaven be your focus. Cooperate with God and let Him work on you to be the person He wanted you to be (Colossians 3:1,2).

Let God discipline and correct you, and do whatever the needful in your life to be a good representative of His Kingdom on Earth: 1 IF then you WERE RAISED with CHRIST, SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE, where Christ is, SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. 2 SET your MIND on THINGS ABOVE, NOT on THINGS on THE EARTH. 3 FOR you died, And YOUR LIFE IS HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD. 4 WHEN CHRIST WHO IS OUR LIFE APPEARS, THEN YOU ALSO WILL APPEAR WITH HIM IN GLORY" (Colossians 3:1-4 (NKJV)

You will not fail in Jesus' name.

Should there be any ailment in your body, I declare your healing now in Jesus' name.

Whatever in your body, working against your health and wellness, such is rebuked and rooted up in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Peace!

[lindajenni]

aug 22

prime the pump if you must

"he who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." john 7:38

i know in our modern times most of us are unfamiliar with pumping water and how wells work. you would have to have a little water saved and use it to pour into the pump to "prime" it and then pump like crazy to get the water flowing. if you stopped pumping the water would quit flowing.

that's the standard type of well, the one that needs priming and pumping. there is another kind of well called an artesian well. it is dug deep and locates a source of water surrounded by non-permeable rock. this forces pressure and ensures the water has no where to go but up.

there are too many followers of Christ like that first well. they are pretty shallow, and to get them to serve God, you have to prime the pump and then continue to pump and pump and pump. then there are those who have dug their well deep and tapped into the "river of life." their lives overflow with His fullness.

the surrounding rock - Jesus, will pressure us to keep the "upward flow" continuous, but it will also serve as a protection surrounding us and keep the impurities from seeping in. "beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you." 1 pet 4:12

some want to be served, while those filled with His fullness want to serve. i know many aren't old enough to remember president john f. kennedy who was assassinated, but he was famous for the following statement. "ask not what your country can do for you. ask what you can do for your country."

our Lord Jesus has already done everything He needed to do for us. now is our time to do what we may for Him and His glory. we can only do that if we have dug deep and tapped into that "river of living waters." only then will it be Christ working in us, constantly flowing in that upward direction.

"God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." rom 12:3 He has given all enough water to prime the pump and get it flowing. we need to keep pumping for it to continue. this is a must for those shallow diggers. then there are those thirsty enough to dig deeper still.

none of us can "work" for our salvation. "it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." eph 2:8-9 the work we do is for His glory and can only be done by getting the "me" out of the way and being willing and obedient.

this is the spending of our talents. this is the harvest our Master is seeking on His return. if we have tapped into the sweet spot, the flow upward will become as natural as breathing. "abide in Me, and I in you. as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me." john 15:4 the fruit, the harvest is determined by the root. "even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit" matt 7:17

prime the pump if you must, but keep digging and you will find yourself in that well of fullness. you know what the laws of the universe dictate then - there's no where to go but up. that's exactly where we're headed and there's not a power on earth that can keep us down. even so, make it soon Lord Jesus!

[arcgayne]

my reasoning:

(these rankings are based on multiple criteria, such as relatability, hotness, relevance, how interesting they are as a character, and so on and so forth).

1) Jinx: she’s literally me. so silly and mentally unstable. needs therapy so bad and it shows. i fucking love her. please get help queen

2) Ekko: literally has never done anything wrong ever. moral compass strong as fuck. bonus points for looking cool. he’s also literally me but jinx wins over him bc she’s more unhinged.

3) Viktor: my fucking beloved. Do I want to be him? Do I want to be with him? Realistically I want neither of these things but unrealistically I need this man in ways even the hexcore couldn’t comprehend.

4) Mel: God I fucking love a powerful smart beautiful woman. AND she has mommy issues? she’s literally perfect. i’m rotating her in my head as we speak

5) Vi: hot tragic lesbian. almost lost points for becoming a cop but then she quit so it’s all good. for now. I have knowledge about what she ends up doing bc of the video game and I am currently choosing to ignore it in favor of the show timeline. Let me dream.

6) Sevika: hot. muscles. vodka aunt. hot. emotionally unavailable. hot. did i mention hot

7) grayson: i think it’s hilarious that she ranks higher than everyone else below her on this list. she literally only gets points for being attractive. especially her voice like ugghhh. what else can i say.

8) sky: perfect angel. so fucking smart and cool. deserves better. i need to know more about her or i will actually explode. hearing her voice made me so happy y’all have no idea

9) powder: baby. deserves the world. only ranks lower bc she doesn’t exactly “exist” anymore or whatever. justice for powder AND jinx 2025

10) caitlyn: hot. but ew cop moment. the fact that her sympathy for zaunites was crushed so easily really annoys me. like girl do you even have principles. ur revenge era would be cool if it wasn’t police brutality like noooo caitlyn pls don’t let a dictator use you to further destabilize your country for her own gain you’re so sexyyy ahaha… idk man it’s complicated. she should quit her job and get a new one. and then get therapy.

11) Jayce: he’s interesting in that he is a good example of a privileged person attempting to make things better by utilizing the system, only to get sucked into said system, becoming part of it and therefore part of the problem. the road to hell is paved with good intentions. his intentions are so good and yet. he is idiot. I hope Ekko and heimydingy are able to lessen his idiocy.

12) ambessa: hooottttttttttt. so fucking hot. goddamn. have y’all SEEN the music video for blood sweat and tears. i’m fucking FERAL. unfortunately for her, looks aren’t everything and she’s the fucking worst so here we are.

13) elora: beautiful powerful wonderful woman. need more of her. what is her life like. have she and mel ever kissed. much to think about here.

14) heimerdinger: he’s annoying and he doesn’t take the much needed time to explain why he makes the decisions he’s making... but he’s also right. which i hate because he’s annoying. but i also like that he’s annoying because it shows the very true fact that ppl who are annoying can in fact be right about things. also his heist with ekko was funny and endearing so he has that going for him. ekko carried tho ngl

15) vander: he’s cool cuz he’s a swag dad. a kind man and a protective guy. all around a great dude tbh. ranks lower because he doesn’t have any particularly interesting character traits to me.

16) finn: he looks cool as fuck but isn’t relevant and is also kind of an annoying brat. which is funny but like also bro. stop.

17) ximena: literally lost some of her fingers to frostbite to protect her baby child kid son. based. i love her.

18) cassandra: milf. the scene with the her and the gun? cool as fuck. ranks lower bc, again, not very relevant. and also dead lol

19) tobias: imma be honest idrc abt tobias at all i just didn’t want to separate him from his wife. he has enough of that in the show LOL

20) claggor: sweet boy. deserved better. i wonder what he would be like now if he’d been able to grow up.

21) silco: morally i hate this guy but he’s also a fascinating character. he’s cool as fuck and a bitch. plus he does eyeball drugs. there are so many fucked up things about this dude i can’t list them all. overall he’s a very well done character and an absolutely fantastic villain. what a piece of work.

22) benzo: just an all around good dude. ranks low bc he’s extremely irrelevant. sorry dude. if this was a morals contest he’d obv be ranked higher, but it’s not, so here we are.

23) jericho: had to look him up LOLLLL thanks for making food for vi i guess. people who make food for other people are the best. that being said he ranks low because, again, irrelevant.

24) mylo: cringe fail asshole. not ranked last bc he was a kid, so i can give him the benefit of the doubt, cuz maybe he would’ve been a better person as an adult… but also he never got to be one so oops lol get ranked low loser

25) singed: brother euughhh. i like drugs too but not THAT much. maybe give this man some backstory and i’ll care about him. as it stands rn idgaf about this guy. i rebuke thee, get AWAY

26) marcus: fucking piece of shit rat. fuck this guy. selfish coward and i hate him forever. die

Here's a fun little sorter I put together for Arcane characters! Reblog with your list!

Let the sorting commence!

[dreamauri]

♪ — 𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦 max verstappen x fem! reader (fluff) “. . . time goes by. days come and go. but your love will always be there.”

☆★ ty guys for all the support <3 inspired by the movie: kimi no na wa // also but like . . . medieval Max Verstappen *bite lip* ━━━━

( main master list | more of max verstappen ) ( requests )

"I love her with my soul, in case my mind forgets or my heart stops."

★ ☆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

1456

"Do you believe we could ever find a way, Y/N?" Max inquired, his eyes filled with longing and uncertainty. In the grand estate of Duke Verstappen, your heart was entangled in a forbidden love with his son, Max Verstappen. As the sun set upon the lavish gardens, you found solace in the shadows, seeking stolen moments with Max.

You sighed softly, your fingers lightly touching his hand. "I cannot foresee the future, my lord. But as long as we remain devoted, we shall face it together."

Your love blossomed in fleeting glances shared during formal gatherings. One evening, during a summer ball, Max managed to escape the crowd and found you alone, tending to the garden. "May I have the honour of a dance?" he asked with a charming smile.

Your cheeks flushed, cautious of prying eyes. "But, my lord, we mustn't risk exposure."

Max drew you close, whispering gently, "Let them speculate, I care not for the judgment of others. My heart belongs to you, and I shall not allow convention to dictate my feelings."

As the seasons changed, rumours swirled, and the Duke's suspicions grew. One fateful night, you were summoned to the Duke's study, where he stood sternly before you. "What is the nature of your relationship with my son?" he demanded.

Your heart raced, knowing you could not deceive the Duke. "We love each other deeply, Your Grace. But our hearts know the divide of social standing." The Duke's eyes glinted with anger. "You dare defy the order of this household?" "I beg your pardon, Your Grace," you whispered, tears welling in your eyes.

The Duke's judgment was swift and unyielding. "You are dismissed from this estate. Leave at once, and never return."

As you departed, Max arrived, desperate to reach you, but it was too late. He fell to his knees, heartbroken and lost. "Y/N, forgive me," he cried out into the cold night.

★ ☆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

1915

"I'll come back to you, Y/N," he whispered, his voice filled with determination. "I promise, we'll be together again, no matter what."

You stood on the bustling platform of the train station, the soft rumble of the approaching train making your heart race. Your hands trembled as you clutched the letter Max had written to you, his words etched in ink and love.

Max, your beloved, was about to board the train to join the battlefront. His duty to his country weighed heavily on his shoulders, and though he tried to remain stoic, you could see the flicker of fear in his eyes. He held you close, his strong arms enveloping you in a warm embrace.

Your heart ached, the uncertainty of war gnawing at your soul. "Please, Max, be safe," you pleaded, your voice barely above a whisper.

He cupped your face gently, wiping away the tears that spilled from your eyes. "I'll carry you in my heart every step of the way," he said, his voice unwavering. "Just know that I love you, and nothing can change that."

As the train's whistle sounded, signalling its impending departure, Max leaned in and kissed you. The world around you blurred as tears streamed down your cheeks. "I love you, Y/N," he said softly before boarding the train.

You watched helplessly as the train pulled away, carrying your heart and soul with it. The ache in your chest intensified, and you knew that from this moment on, every day would be a battle of its own – a battle against distance, fear, and the uncertainty of war.

"Max!" You called running after the train. "Ik houd van je!" [i love you] You called reaching your hand to him. The blond held your hand tightly, leaning out and giving you one last kiss. "Ik houd van je." [i love you] You repeated, feeling his hands slip from yours as you watched him disappear.

★ ☆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

2023

"Did you see? Max's on pole again!" You heard distant chatter as you leaned against the moving trains window, dragging your pencil to create shapes in your sketch book. Looking out the window you sighed you saw another train on a parallel track go the opposite way.

As you continued to sketch the view in front of you, your eyes caught a certain blew ones. Holding deep eye contact, you felt familiar tug in your heart. Leaning your hand on the glass with furrowed eye brows, the man copied your actions, a hint of desperation on his face.

When you got the chance, you were bolting, running in your uncomfortable shoes to where the train the certain stranger would arrive at. Pulling yourself up the stairs, you looked around deck uncertain.

Why were you running? Why did your body move on it's own? Who was he? What is this feeling?

Your hopes died down once you realized the train had left before you arrived. A deep sigh emitting from your mouth as you felt your chest empty and ache. The loud noise of the opposite side train muffled your ears as you pulled out your sketch book, flipping to the page of where you'd seen the man before and etched the dream into your book.

"Back to the real world." You mumbled to yourself watching as the other train leave. What you did not expected was to see the ma you were searching for standing on the other side. Your breath stuck in your throat you looked at him, taking a step forward.

"What's your name?" You could hear him ask.

[motziedapul]

#KulayRosasAngBukas

If you've seen this hashtag around, feel free to support it! It's the beginning of Campaign Season in the Philippines and everyone is hopeful for the future. Here's why.

In the Philippines, we've been under horrific, anti-human rights, murderous leadership for the past 6 years.

You all know Rodrigo "I will be Hitler and Drug Addicts will be Jews" Duterte. You know he ran a drug war that killed over 30,000 people in Extra Judicial Killings. That we know of.

That was what we had for the longest time. And he mishandled the pandemic as badly as you'd think for someone who hates human rights.

But then there's Leni Robredo.

She's our Vice President. The admin has been trying to push her out for 6 years because she's an actual good leader.

She's a grassroots lawyer, she's ALWAYS there in person during calamities, she's been running independent pandemic relief, she has 0 record of corruption, the Commission of Audit has been marking her office one of the most reliable in the entire government for the entirety of her Vice Presidency.

She. Is. Amazing. And she's running for President!

"Kulay Rosas Ang Bukas" stands for "The colour pink is the future", because pink is her campaign colour. Many people, including perhaps artists you follow on social media, have been showing their support for her campaign.

Now Motzie, you ask, if she's so beloved, why is everyone going so hard on campaigning for her?

Excellent question.

Enter, BBM or Bongbong Marcos.

SON OF A DICTATOR, LITERALLY HAS A "COURT CASES" SECTION ON WIKIPEDIA, IS USING THE BILLIONS OF PESOS HIS FATHER STOLE FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO FUND HIS CAMPAIGN AND AN ARMY OF INTERNET TROLLS

He also consistently denies, alongside his family, the egregiousness of the long dictatorship and Martial Law his father (and unofficially, his mother) ran for years.

And he's running for President. The absolute clown is paying big money to erase the crimes of his family and his own harmful actions. His mother is pushing it possibly because she was CONVICTED in 2018 and still hasn't been imprisoned, and having a President for a son could keep her out of jail.

I won't stay too long on this criminal idiot. He doesn't deserve attention. The point is that he's paid, with the people's money, to run campaigns to LIE to the people.

And the reason everyone pushes so hard for Leni to win is so that the Marcoses, the family of dictators who stole billions from the Philippines, will lose.

And the reason we want Leni to win is because she's actually a good leader.

I can't list EVERYTHING she's done, but here's a summary:

Was on the ground for multiple calamities in the Philippines to aid people

Was running pandemic aid consistently better than the actual Philippine government under Duterte, which tried on multiple occasions to push her out

BBM has been holding a grudge on her for years for "stealing" the Vice Presidency from him when he tried this back in 2016

Even if it's not healthy to place ALL your hopes and dreams onto one person, she's very clearly interested in making the country better, in contrast with Marcos.

If you see all the love for our Pink Presidential Candidate floating around, feel free to support it for the hope of a better future for the Philippines.

And if you want to do your own research, feel free to!

But here's a quick glossary of additional terms for context:

1) Rosas = Pink (Filipino), also Rose (Filipino)

2) Kakampink = a play on the word Kakampi (Ally) but with "pink" in the word

3) LeniKiko2022 = I can't speak much on Kiko Pangilinan, the VP candidate campaigning with Leni. All I can say is that in the Philippines you can vote for Presidents and VPs separately. Kiko was her candidate pick. I need to do more research before I can safely say anything about Kiko, but they're definitely campaigning together!

Let me know if you have any questions or want to add anything!

[lesmislettersdaily]

Four And Four

Volume 1: Fantine; Book 3: In The Year 1817; Chapter 3: Four And Four

It is hard nowadays to picture to one’s self what a pleasure-trip of students and grisettes to the country was like, forty-five years ago. The suburbs of Paris are no longer the same; the physiognomy of what may be called circumparisian life has changed completely in the last half-century; where there was the cuckoo, there is the railway car; where there was a tender-boat, there is now the steamboat; people speak of Fécamp nowadays as they spoke of Saint-Cloud in those days. The Paris of 1862 is a city which has France for its outskirts.

The four couples conscientiously went through with all the country follies possible at that time. The vacation was beginning, and it was a warm, bright, summer day. On the preceding day, Favourite, the only one who knew how to write, had written the following to Tholomyès in the name of the four: “It is a good hour to emerge from happiness.” That is why they rose at five o’clock in the morning. Then they went to Saint-Cloud by the coach, looked at the dry cascade and exclaimed, “This must be very beautiful when there is water!” They breakfasted at the Tête-Noir, where Castaing had not yet been; they treated themselves to a game of ring-throwing under the quincunx of trees of the grand fountain; they ascended Diogenes’ lantern, they gambled for macaroons at the roulette establishment of the Pont de Sèvres, picked bouquets at Pateaux, bought reed-pipes at Neuilly, ate apple tarts everywhere, and were perfectly happy.

The young girls rustled and chatted like warblers escaped from their cage. It was a perfect delirium. From time to time they bestowed little taps on the young men. Matutinal intoxication of life! adorable years! the wings of the dragonfly quiver. Oh, whoever you may be, do you not remember? Have you rambled through the brushwood, holding aside the branches, on account of the charming head which is coming on behind you? Have you slid, laughing, down a slope all wet with rain, with a beloved woman holding your hand, and crying, “Ah, my new boots! what a state they are in!”

Let us say at once that that merry obstacle, a shower, was lacking in the case of this good-humored party, although Favourite had said as they set out, with a magisterial and maternal tone, “The slugs are crawling in the paths,—a sign of rain, children.”

All four were madly pretty. A good old classic poet, then famous, a good fellow who had an Éléonore, M. le Chevalier de Labouisse, as he strolled that day beneath the chestnut-trees of Saint-Cloud, saw them pass about ten o’clock in the morning, and exclaimed, “There is one too many of them,” as he thought of the Graces. Favourite, Blachevelle’s friend, the one aged three and twenty, the old one, ran on in front under the great green boughs, jumped the ditches, stalked distractedly over bushes, and presided over this merry-making with the spirit of a young female faun. Zéphine and Dahlia, whom chance had made beautiful in such a way that they set each off when they were together, and completed each other, never left each other, more from an instinct of coquetry than from friendship, and clinging to each other, they assumed English poses; the first keepsakes had just made their appearance, melancholy was dawning for women, as later on, Byronism dawned for men; and the hair of the tender sex began to droop dolefully. Zéphine and Dahlia had their hair dressed in rolls. Listolier and Fameuil, who were engaged in discussing their professors, explained to Fantine the difference that existed between M. Delvincourt and M. Blondeau.

Blachevelle seemed to have been created expressly to carry Favourite’s single-bordered, imitation India shawl of Ternaux’s manufacture, on his arm on Sundays.

Tholomyès followed, dominating the group. He was very gay, but one felt the force of government in him; there was dictation in his joviality; his principal ornament was a pair of trousers of elephant-leg pattern of nankeen, with straps of braided copper wire; he carried a stout rattan worth two hundred francs in his hand, and, as he treated himself to everything, a strange thing called a cigar in his mouth. Nothing was sacred to him; he smoked.

“That Tholomyès is astounding!” said the others, with veneration. “What trousers! What energy!”

As for Fantine, she was a joy to behold. Her splendid teeth had evidently received an office from God,—laughter. She preferred to carry her little hat of sewed straw, with its long white strings, in her hand rather than on her head. Her thick blond hair, which was inclined to wave, and which easily uncoiled, and which it was necessary to fasten up incessantly, seemed made for the flight of Galatea under the willows. Her rosy lips babbled enchantingly. The corners of her mouth voluptuously turned up, as in the antique masks of Erigone, had an air of encouraging the audacious; but her long, shadowy lashes drooped discreetly over the jollity of the lower part of the face as though to call a halt. There was something indescribably harmonious and striking about her entire dress. She wore a gown of mauve barège, little reddish brown buskins, whose ribbons traced an X on her fine, white, open-worked stockings, and that sort of muslin spencer, a Marseilles invention, whose name, canezou, a corruption of the words quinze août, pronounced after the fashion of the Canebière, signifies fine weather, heat, and midday. The three others, less timid, as we have already said, wore low-necked dresses without disguise, which in summer, beneath flower-adorned hats, are very graceful and enticing; but by the side of these audacious outfits, blond Fantine’s canezou, with its transparencies, its indiscretion, and its reticence, concealing and displaying at one and the same time, seemed an alluring godsend of decency, and the famous Court of Love, presided over by the Vicomtesse de Cette, with the sea-green eyes, would, perhaps, have awarded the prize for coquetry to this canezou, in the contest for the prize of modesty. The most ingenious is, at times, the wisest. This does happen.

Brilliant of face, delicate of profile, with eyes of a deep blue, heavy lids, feet arched and small, wrists and ankles admirably formed, a white skin which, here and there allowed the azure branching of the veins to be seen, joy, a cheek that was young and fresh, the robust throat of the Juno of Ægina, a strong and supple nape of the neck, shoulders modelled as though by Coustou, with a voluptuous dimple in the middle, visible through the muslin; a gayety cooled by dreaminess; sculptural and exquisite—such was Fantine; and beneath these feminine adornments and these ribbons one could divine a statue, and in that statue a soul.

Fantine was beautiful, without being too conscious of it. Those rare dreamers, mysterious priests of the beautiful who silently confront everything with perfection, would have caught a glimpse in this little working-woman, through the transparency of her Parisian grace, of the ancient sacred euphony. This daughter of the shadows was thoroughbred. She was beautiful in the two ways—style and rhythm. Style is the form of the ideal; rhythm is its movement.

We have said that Fantine was joy; she was also modesty.

To an observer who studied her attentively, that which breathed from her athwart all the intoxication of her age, the season, and her love affair, was an invincible expression of reserve and modesty. She remained a little astonished. This chaste astonishment is the shade of difference which separates Psyche from Venus. Fantine had the long, white, fine fingers of the vestal virgin who stirs the ashes of the sacred fire with a golden pin. Although she would have refused nothing to Tholomyès, as we shall have more than ample opportunity to see, her face in repose was supremely virginal; a sort of serious and almost austere dignity suddenly overwhelmed her at certain times, and there was nothing more singular and disturbing than to see gayety become so suddenly extinct there, and meditation succeed to cheerfulness without any transition state. This sudden and sometimes severely accentuated gravity resembled the disdain of a goddess. Her brow, her nose, her chin, presented that equilibrium of outline which is quite distinct from equilibrium of proportion, and from which harmony of countenance results; in the very characteristic interval which separates the base of the nose from the upper lip, she had that imperceptible and charming fold, a mysterious sign of chastity, which makes Barberousse fall in love with a Diana found in the treasures of Iconia.

Love is a fault; so be it. Fantine was innocence floating high over fault.