#tiny broadway god

[astroboots]

Omg please continue with the Miguel fang prompt!!! It’s too cruel to stop there!!!!!

HIDE AND SEEK

Summary: Miguel and you plays hide and seek.

Pairing: Miguel O'Hara x reader

Word Count: 1.6k

Content: Hunter predator kink (I think that's what we're calling it?) anyway explicit. Miguel is a bit rough.

Astroboot’s Masterlist | Spiderverse Masterlist

It's all too easy to get lost in the crowd in a city as crowded as New York. You slip in among a throng of tourist standing around like a flock of pecking hens, their faces dipped down at their phones, huddled over google maps as they try to figure out how to get to Broadway as if it's not within goddamn walking distance, right down the street.

In a nervous habit, you fiddle with the watch on your wrist. Your eyes flick over the bright light that tells you it's 11:28pm.

Which means, there's still 32 minutes left.

God this is the slowest hour you've ever lived through in your life.

You squeeze yourself in the back, behind a woman with a large hat and larger sunglasses, even though it's evening and the sky is near black. The only things left illuminating the sky now is glaring shop signs, aggressive LED lights, and the mega-spectacular ads display that is brighter than the goddamn sun.

Peering over the madness of the crowd, you try to spot the familiar sight of his all too recognizable build looming over everyone else.

But there's nothing.

He's not here. You let out a long held in breath, your chest sagging with relief. Of course he wouldn't be here.

Times Square has over 300,000 visitors passing through every day. 300,000 sweaty, exhausted individuals drenched in perfume and deodorant that would make it impossible to pick up your scent. Thousands of people speaking all at once, over the angry noise of honking traffic that would make it impossible, even for him, to pick up the sound of your distinct footfall.

No, He won't be able to catch you here. That's why you came here after all.

You glance down at your watch again. 11:31.

Shit! How has only three minutes gone by?

Shaking your head, you look up at the sea of people.

You'd better get moving. Even in a crowd, if you stay still for too long, it won't be safe.

Walking briskly down the wide street, it's a struggle to squeeze through the ever moving crowd as the glaring lights change from makeup ads to theater marquees. You're peering over your shoulder with every three steps you take, constantly expecting the familiar sight of his messy curls to peek out a foot above the crowd.

He's so damn tall there's no fucking way you'll miss him if he's found you. You'll get plenty of advance warning, you reassure yourself as you continue to move forward.

Your eyes settle over your watch again.

11:46. Fuck you sideways.

You know you shouldn't keep checking it every two seconds like this, because all it serves to do, is to ratchet up your blood pressure so high you're going to need to start taking medication for it.

How is time moving so slow. You shake your head in exasperation, and for a fraction of a second you swear you see it.

A flash of unmissable dark navy glowing with red.

You freeze. Your back feels like ice, cold damp sweat breaking out along your spine. You snap your eyes back but there's nothing there now. Nothing but an anonymous crowd.

What the-- How could he have just disappeared into thin air?

He's 6 feet and fucking 9 inches. Taller than your refrigerator back in your tiny studio apartment. The top of his head beats out your fucking Christmas tree. If he was here, he'd be impossible to miss. You don't fucking miss a giraffe when you visit the Brooklyn Zoo, so why are you having such a fucking hard time spotting him? How the fuck does he move so inconspicuously?

Was it just your imagination?

You glance at your watch: 11:46. Gotta be kidding. Is time standing still now? Has it just decided to stop moving altogether?

You force yourself to step forward and ignore how your knees seems to cave at your own weight as you sink into the pavement with every step.

In the corner of your eyes you spot him. Clearly this time. Real. Not a figment of your imagination. He's only a few steps away from you. The familiar pair of glowing scarlet eyes fixed on you.

Oh fuck, shit. Shit! Your heart races at the sight, beating so hard you think you feel it in your lungs. You're already sprinting in the opposite direction without thought and the only thing guiding you is the pure impulse to escape.

You push through the crowd, sprinting forward without taking in your surroundings. All you care about is to get away as your gaze is fixed on your watch.

11:52. Eight more minutes. You just need to stay away for eight more minutes.

You keep running as the crowd seems to thin, and the colorful lights and noise of traffic fades away. Then you finally stop, catching your breath to look up at your surroundings.

It's empty and void of people. A large empty van is blocking the narrow alley from view of the main street, and there's an unlocked gate that you've come through.

On the other side from where you've come from there's a tall bricked up wall as far as the eye can see-- a dead end.

How the fuck did you manage to find the only deserted dead end alleyway in central New York?

Shit you need to get out of here, you won't be able to run away if you're trapped here.

You glance one more time at your watch.

11:57. Three minutes. 180 seconds. It's all you need and then you'll win.

You turn your heel back towards the gate. But it's too late.

The dim light of the alley is eaten up by a large and imposing shadow.

He's already here.

The familiar navy blue and the menacing red sprawled across his chest fills your vision, blocking your only path to escape. All you see is red eyes glowing so bright it lights up the dark alley with it.

"Time's up," he says, mouth curled into a mocking smile so wide that you can see his fangs peek out from his upper lip.

That's when you realize you are well and fully trapped like the helpless prey you are in his spider's web. You're right where he wants you.

God you're so damn stupid. You were safe in the crowd. But one sight of him had you spooked and running into the only alley to be found in all of New York.

Shit.

He'd planned this all along. The bastard's must've been the one who opened the gate. And you had ran in here like some scared witless rabbit straight into his trap.

You could try to escape him. Some vain, silly leftover pride in you, is adamant that you still have at least two whole minutes to get away.

He steps closer, and you can't help but instinctively step back as he does.

You know it's a game. Know that he would never hurt you, but that hungry and predatory red glow in his eyes has fear spiking along your spine all the same.

"Miguel, wai--"

The rest of your futile plea dies in your throat. His broad palm covers your mouth and jaw, and even your startled squeak is muffled into silence as he presses you up against the wall.

You whimper into his hand, but he doesn't relent. Doesn't ease up, even as he leans down and hushes you. Despite the soothing tone he uses with you, it isn't comforting at all. It drips with condescension as he press his lips to your bare throat.

"I'm gonna take my prize now, nena," he murmurs into your skin and because your brain is broken, with no sense for survival instincts, every part of you tingles at the amused threat in his voice.

"You promised remembered?" He reminds you.

And of course you do. It's hard not to, when the bastard's got you pinned against a brick wall in an abandoned alley like something out of a horror movie.

Fuck. He's taken this way too seriously. You don't know why you had suggested the world's dumbest hide and seek with this competitive and unreasonable man.

He presses you into the hard brick behind you, like there's anywhere left for you to go. And you can feel it. The proof of his excitement pressing up against your stomach, pinning you against the wall. He's hard.

Any residual resentment at your loss gives way for excitement when you feel his cock twitch and jerk against you.

The edge of his teeth rests on your bare shoulder as goosebumps breaks across your skin, and you feel dizzy. Anticipation swirls in your stomach with an intoxicating warmth.

You can't fucking breathe.

His hand snakes up your dress, wedging your panties to the side, until you can hear the fabric rip and tear. Shit, you're going to kill him for that.

The thick head of his cock presses in and stretches you open, as he forces his way inside of you, in time with his sharp and whetted fangs sinking into your flesh. Electricity pings across your nerves, sweet and euphoric and you feel drunk with it.

He's filling you, inch by hard and relentless inch, until you swear you can feel him lodged in your stomach. You feel so fucking full. Full of Miguel until nothing else fits anymore, but he doesn't stop.

His cock nudges along an impossibly deep spot inside you that has you losing orientation and makes the space around you spin, and he's still not fully inside.

White blinding pleasure streaks through your every nerve and crowds your vision, as he sinks you down further on him, until your vision goes blank. He's so fucking big. Always is no matter how many times you take him like this.

Pleasure pool with heat in your stomach as he holds you in place, impaled on the thickness of him.

Your limbs go boneless, unable to hold up your own weight, and for a moment you're not sure if that's the venom released to your bloodstream or just the effect he has on you. You only remain upright because he's propping you up with his body.

His mouth skims along your throat, dragging his teeth up until his fangs tease along the shell of your ear, with the threat of sharpness. The edge of them barely graze your skin, completely unlike the feral impatience he'd sunk into you with, as he whispers into your ear.

"Found you, Nena."

Dedication and credits: This piece is dedicated to @foxilayde for her completely deranged (and amazing) post that had me SALIVATING. Thank you for putting this brainworm into my head. I am shooketh.

[hl-obsessed]

✨💎 a yuzu grows in brooklyn by @stylinsoncity

(M, 67k) harry is a recent implant in new york and a young chef opening a restaurant called yuzu. louis, a music teacher and broadway lover, has been around the block for a while. in a city that's so fast-paced, they're slow to catch on to each other.

✨ You Took My Heart By Surprise by @loveislarryislove

(T, 39k) There is reason to believe Prince Harry’s life is in danger. After a failed kidnapping attempt, Louis is assigned to guard Harry around the clock. He is the best at what he does, but he has a tendency to not get along with clients. Louis and Harry start off on the wrong foot, but it soon becomes clear that neither is at all what the other expected.

~*~*~

Queen Anne met Louis’ eyes. “While your file documents many remarkable accomplishments, it also contains a number of early terminations. Why is that?”

“It all depends on what your priorities are,” he said slowly. “If your primary concern is protection, I’m your guy. If you’re looking for someone polite…” He shrugged. “I don’t generally try to be rude, but social graces aren’t what I’m being paid for. If someone values being sucked up to over being protected, that’s their problem.”

“You seem quite well-mannered,” Anne said, frowning.

Both Nick and Louis snorted at that. “You’ve only known me for ten minutes,” Louis said. “Give it time.”

✨ Put It On Me by @stylinsoncity

(M, 15k) Harry's bachelor party doesn't go as planned.

✨ so many birthdays (that I missed) by @tofiveohfive

(NR, 11k) Louis doesn’t know nearly enough about science and the cosmos to explain how every atom in his being stands to attention; how his body immediately knows who he’s bumped into.

It’s somewhat underwhelming when the first word he hears out of Harry’s mouth after twelve months is, “Oh.”

AU inspired by Julia Michaels’ Into You

✨ No Place I'd Rather Be by @iamasphodelknox

(E, 39k) Harry's had a crush on his stepfather's friend for six years. A small crush. A tiny crush.

Honestly, if you don't look at Harry's dozens of poems about Louis Tomlinson, the crush is practically infinitesimal. They haven't even had a conversation.

But then a car wreck prompts them to finally have a conversation.

Christmas works its magic, Harry pines, Louis fonds, and they just might make it.

✨ The Places I Share With You by @iamasphodelknox

(M, 7k) Five times Louis comes home to Harry and one time he's ready to welcome Harry home.

The process of Louis and Harry finding home in each other.

Sequel/Coda/Epilogue to No Place I'd Rather Be.

Primal and Divine by WordsInBloom28

(E, 33k) Embarking on a mission to save his pack, Louis is pushed to the brink after his friend is killed in a dangerous forest. Awaiting the graces of death, Louis is saved by a peculiar healer who lives alone in the woods.

Throughout his healing process, Louis forms an unlikely bond with the healer and, with it, a life of serenity. His body grows stronger and his heart grows fonder, allowing love to take root.

In order to protect his new found peace, Louis and his companion work together to fight against the evil that threatens to take it all away.

It was always you by @defences-down

(T, 1,3k) It's their first Christmas living together, and Harry has been trying to figure out how to talk to Louis about his feelings for weeks.

He could never have expected what would happen next.

Ideal: An Advent Fic by @iamasphodelknox

(M, 40k) All Louis wanted was some god-damned time to write his novel. He didn’t expect to move his and Liam’s entire production of a Christmas variety show to a small inn in Vermont just before the holidays. He didn’t expect to save Niall’s inn. He didn’t expect Liam to fall in love. He definitely didn’t expect to fall in love himself. And he certainly didn’t expect it all to feel so much like a Christmas movie.

Oh hell. There’s a lot of things Louis didn’t expect.

A White Christmas au, complete with drama, fluff, choreographed dance numbers, and idiotic boys falling in love. Just your typical Christmas fun.

Frankincense-ational by @londonfoginacup

(T, 31k) Harry Styles works at the Hillsyde Library with his friend Zayn and best mate Niall. It’s December, which means Christmas, which should be the happiest month of the year…

Except Niall just broke up with his boyfriend, Zayn needs to let up on the rules a little, and the library is getting their fire alarm system replaced, which means that for the next few weeks there are going to be firemen patrolling the library ‘looking for fires’ while the system is down.

Harry almost hits one of them with his car right off the bat - and of course he’s the hot one.

Happy Christmas, here’s to many more.

Is that a candy cane in your pocket? by @kingsofeverything

(E, 4,8k) Louis accuses Harry of shoplifting. Harry was definitely not shoplifting.

They work it out.

Close To You by yourgorgeouscolors

(E, 5,7k) “You’re lovely,” Louis rasps out. He feels so close to Harry in a way that's different from the other intimate sex positions they’ve tried. He can see Harry, feel him all over. Feel the way he’s clenching down on his cock as he adjusts. He can feel Harry’s hot breath prickling his skin, and can feel his body everywhere. Each point of contact feels like a zap of electricity.'

Or, Harry and Louis try a new sex position.

Listen To Your Heart by @chloehl10

(E, 35k) Are you kidding me right now?

I… No? Louis frowned, feeling angry now. It wasn’t fair, he knew that, but at the same time, he couldn’t help his feelings. It felt like this had been brewing for weeks, and this was it. Give it a rest, Harry.

Why are you such a brat? Why can’t you just be happy for me for once?

You think I want to hear about you kissing James? Really, H? There’s things I just don’t need to know, okay? I’m your best mate, not your fucking relationship advisor…

***

Louis has always been comfortable being Harry’s one and only. When Harry starts to branch out, Louis has a hard time letting him go.

Harry is very lucky to have someone who listens to what he has to say, despite the fact that he’s deaf. He’s finally feeling like he’s coming into himself, but Louis seems bothered by his newfound confidence.

(do you think it's easy) being of the jealous kind by @the-larry-way

(T, 0,8k) Harry is mad and Louis isn't exactly sure why.

(or Louis comes home smelling of another omega and Harry is near heat and jealous)

Make a Dime Go One Hundred by screwstyles

(E, 18k) “Hey, Haz,” he says, encouraged in equal parts by the weed and the cocoon they seem to have created around themselves. “Do you think you could trust anyone enough to have full control over you?” he asks into the night, hoping his sentence won’t break their bubble. It doesn’t, if the way Harry’s eyes meet his is any indication.

“What do you mean?” Harry’s voice is barely above a whisper, rough from the singing they had done earlier. Louis wants to keep this memory forever.

“You know, if someone wanted to, uhm,” he coughs, “to tie you up, or blindfold you.”

-

Friends to Lovers AU: Harry volunteers to help Louis experiment with bondage. Things don’t go exactly to plan.

✨ Chestnuts Roasting... And All That by @elsi-bee

(M, 47k) Louis is apparently the only person at his new job who is single as can be. It’s not a big deal to just tell his new colleagues that he has a boyfriend, right? Until he has to make this imaginary boyfriend magically appear at the office holiday party. Cue fake relationship antics with a certain someone who is more than willing to play along.

Linger by @yourpricelessadvice

(E, 136k) Louis has a truckload of painful memories and a custody arrangement where a family could’ve been. The last thing he’s looking for is a new relationship.

Harry has accepted that he’s not made for relationships and isn’t interested in getting burnt again.

It’s a good job they’ve both got meddling friends.

° ✨ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ✨ °

more recs | recs masterpost

° ✨ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ✨ °

[bitchinbarzal]

Elodie’s First School Play | Just Fine AU

Kaia isn’t sure who’s more nervous—Elodie or Clayton.

Elodie, because she’s four years old and about to perform in front of a whole audience.

Clayton, because his daughter is about to perform in front of a whole audience.

“It’s a big deal, Kaia,” he insists as they get ready to leave. “She’s got lines. What if she forgets them? What if she panics? What if—”

Kaia smirks, adjusting her earrings as she turns to face him. “She has one and a half lines, Clay.”

Clayton huffs, straightening his shirt. “And she nailed them in practice.”

Kaia shakes her head, trying not to laugh at how serious he is. “She’s going to do great. You, however, need to breathe.”

Clayton grumbles something under his breath but doesn’t argue.

Because really?

Kaia’s right.

Elodie is going to be amazing.

And Clayton?

Clayton is going to be the proudest dad in the world.

The second they step into the school’s multipurpose room, Clayton scans the seating, looking for the best possible spot.

“Front row,” he decides immediately.

Kaia laughs, tugging him toward the chairs. “Clay, it’s preschool theatre, not Broadway.”

But Clayton is unfazed. “Doesn’t matter. I need good angles for pictures.”

Kaia rolls her eyes but lets him drag her to the very front.

And then The lights dim.

The little kid chaos behind the curtain settles.

And the teacher steps up to introduce the performance.

“Welcome, families, to our production of The Little Red Hen! Our students have worked very hard to put this together, and I know you’re all going to love it.”

Clayton grips Kaia’s hand tightly.

Kaia bites her lip, amused. “You good, babe?”

Clayton exhales sharply. “I’m so nervous.”

Kaia shakes her head, squeezing his hand. “You’re a mess.”

But then The curtain opens, and there’s Elodie.

She’s standing right in the middle of the stage, wearing her tiny little farmer costume, her curls bouncing as she waves excitedly the second she sees them.

Clayton melts.

Because she’s so cute.

Kaia waves back, smiling softly.

And then the play begins.

It’s absolute chaos.

One of the kids is picking their nose. Another one forgets their line entirely and just stands there, staring at the audience. The “dog” character barks randomly throughout the play, even when it’s not his turn.

It’s hilarious.

But Elodie?

Elodie is focused.

She delivers her one and a half lines perfectly, loud and clear, with all the confidence in the world.

And Clayton?

Clayton almost cries.

“She’s so talented,” he whispers, his grip on Kaia’s hand tightening.

Kaia grins, pressing a kiss to his shoulder. “She had one line, babe.”

“And she crushed it.”

Kaia shakes her head, laughing silently as Elodie continues, her little face beaming as she proudly participates in the grand finale.

Then, finally, the curtain closes, and the entire room erupts into applause.

Clayton immediately stands up, cheering louder than anyone else.

Kaia laughs, tugging him back down. “Clay, oh my God.”

“She deserves a standing ovation, Kaia.”

Kaia snorts, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “You’re ridiculous.”

Clayton just grins, already pulling out his phone to text Elodie’s performance stats to the team.

Because their daughter?

She’s a star.

And he’s going to make sure everyone knows it.

[where-fading-princesses-live]

Thoughts on WICKED (2024)

So I finally saw WICKED after procrastinating after its opening weekend. I wanted to wait a bit longer (as excited as I was to see it) because I knew the theaters were going to be packed (they were) and my friend and I got tickets at the last minute before they sold out for that day’s showing. I’ve been a fan of the musical since childhood and I loved the books as a teen and I knew they were making a movie (or talking about it) since I was in middle school. Well it was worth the wait.

I admit the first teaser trailer did not impress me (it looked too much like a spectacle and some of the CGI effects looked over the top and corny). I was going to see it anyway but my initial expectations were low. but the later trailers were better and I was getting more excited to see it. Well the movie did not disappoint. Though I’m a big fan of WICKED, the movie was better than I expected. I definitely want to see it again (preferably at home with less people even tho the movie was made for the big screen, especially with all the tiny details I didn’t notice before when viewing TV spots and clips on my phone and laptop… ) I’d rather watch it on the big screen BUT.

My enjoyment of the movie was almost completely ruined because of the people… no one sang along, thank God, but there were so many distractions and now I remember why I haven’t been to a movie theatre in years. not only did so many people come in late and have to climb over you to get to their seats, but the person sitting next to me whipped out their phone in the middle of the movie and started texting, plus their bright ass screen was so distracting (rude much?). Worst of all, one person thought it was a good idea to drag along their noisy toddlers who kept asking over and over ‘’when’s the movie going to start’’ during the previews, and even when the movie DID start, the kids could not sit still throughout the movie and kept loudly asking their parents for ‘’skittles’’ like I wanted to turn around and tell them to keep their kids quiet or leave. FINALLY they got up and left for good before the Emerald city part, like goddamn if your kids aren’t mature enough to sit through a 2 ½ movie, don’t ruin it for the rest of us. >_<

That being said, I still enjoyed the movie, and you bet your sweet Oz there was a round of applause after it was over, I mean it was THAT good. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been to a movie where the audience clapped at the end. I think maybe ‘’The Artist’’ back in 2011… which won Best Picture at the Oscars that year. That was a damn good movie, prolly the last one I saw in theaters. I knew WICKED was going to be a big; it’s one of the longest-running shows on Broadway with almost daily record box office sales; its fan base is like Harry Potter-levels huge, so I guess it’s impact was long overdue. Better late than never.

here’s some quick thoughts (I literally have not stopped thinking about it and I saw it about a week ago… suffice to say, I’m obsessed):

The Costumes!!!

So at first I hated Glinda’s bubble dress. I thought it looked cheap compared to the Broadway costume (my dream dress btw) but overtime the design grew on me…

I have no issues with the dress being pink (after all, the non-replica Brazil production did a pink gown).

I still think the Broadway bubble dress is prettier (esp. the way it sparkles and glitters in the stage lighting and I love the blue color… Susan Hilferty was very original with her designs) but I do like the movie costume being a slight nod to the 1939 Wizard of Oz, plus it looks like a quinceañera dress.

I would’ve preferred the dress with puff sleeves, or off the shoulder cap sleeves for modesty, but one detail I really love that is not noticeable unless you’re watching on the big screen is that Glinda has butterfly gems on her shoulders (literally the first time I noticed it was in the movie theatre).

It’s such a nice detail because butterflies seem to be her theme, as a nod to the butterfly choker necklace Billie Burke wears as Glinda.

I actually do like Paul Tazewell as a costume designer. He also did the costumes for ‘’Death Becomes Her’’ on Broadway; his designs are very unusual and elaborate and I loved his visions for Oz.

That being said, I pretty much love Galinda’s whole wardrobe at Shiz (some people complained that they ‘’Barbie-fied Galinda’’ because her style lacks variety esp. when she wears the same color scheme throughout the whole movie) and tho it’s true I’d like to see her in different colors (we will in PART 2), I do think the pink was a nice symbolism. Her Ozdust ballroom dress is esp. unique. (I do like how the dress in the stage show was originally blue to hint at her becoming Glinda the Good Witch; basically she and Elphaba looked like mini versions of their future Witches counterparts… then they changed the dress to pink, so the symbolism was lost).

and it was nice the movie went back to that. So now it makes sense that the bubble dress is pink.

My only complaint is Elphaba’s costumes. Don’t get me wrong—they’re gorgeous—but I’m not sure the designs really reflect her character arc. Costumes aren’t just meant to be pretty… they are literally telling a story, and illustrating the growth of a character. Sometimes characters have to be dressed in something more appropriate for the purpose of the setting and where they’re at in the narrative even if it isn’t the prettiest garment off the rack… it’s not just about looking their best, and I think Paul Tazwell missed this mark. He clearly wanted Elphaba to be a fashion queen—but that’s not her character.

In the musical, Elphaba appears semi-frumpy on purpose. She’s beautiful but insecure due to her skin color and so she covers up in a bulky blazer, she braids her long hair, and wears a cap over her head, as though she is attempting to draw the least bit of attention to herself.

No one recognizes her inner beauty because she lacks the self-confidence to be herself. In the movie, she first appears to us in a beautiful black corset dress with puff sleeves and buttons (Cynthia is absolutely stunning and kills this look) but I’m not sure if Elphaba should look so drop-dead gorgeous when we first meet her (plus she’s fixing her hair in the first shot and it seems so OOC for her… I know Cynthia’s version is softer and more vulnerable than the Broadway version, who’s a bit bold and sarcastic and self-defensive… but Elphie fixing her braid? Not that it’s vain but her hair is the least of her worries in the stage show). And the dress… like I said… much too pretty. I do love her glasses tho.. and I do like the Gothic fashion... it reminds me of A Series of Unfortunate Events... the first dress is just too pretty for a character introduction. I'd like to see her wear this later in the film...

Maybe it wasn’t the intent… the dress is old-fashioned and could be ‘’spinsterish’’ to some, but she looks far from frumpy. Elphaba is already naturally beautiful, but in the stage version she doesn’t undergo an outward physical transformation until after the Ozdust ballroom scene. In the movie, she’s dressed fashionably all the time… and looks beautiful outside and inside. her Shiz uniforms are not Galinda, oh, sure, but she looks incredible in these form-fitting pinstripe suits with these flamboyant shoulder pads, and I feel it doesn’t match Elphaba’s story at all… she’s supposed to be hiding at the beginning of the story (I don’t think you’d catch Broadway Elphaba dead in pinstripes and shoulder pads). Galinda in the show helps bring her out of her shell. But even her Ozdust dress in the movie is a knock out… with the black lace and everything. In the musical, she just wears her plain uniform frock to the dance because she has nothing else.

The movie doesn’t have to copy the stage show exactly, but yeah… I wanted to see Elphaba go through a transformation in her fashions. I wanted to see her start dressing prettier towards the end of the movie, after ‘’Popular’’… like, see, her inner beauty was always there, and it makes her beautiful on the outside too! but she was already dressing pretty and fashionable before that, so it lessens the impact it’s supposed to have as the other students slowly begin to accept her. and after ‘’Popular’’, Elphaba is seen wearing this outfit she wears earlier in the film. Only difference being her hair is not braided, so she really doesn’t look ‘’Galinda-fied’’ to me as the line suggests (she was already ''Galinda-fied'').

In the musical it’s more apparent when she goes to looking like this (something she’s never worn before and doesn’t fit her typical style):

Again, it’s just a minor gripe I had. They probably wanted Elphie’s ‘’make over’’ to be more subtle which is fine… like Elphaba is ALWAYS beautiful… but still.

Nessarose’s Ozdust dress was actually one of my faves in the whole movie. She truly looked like the Belle of the Ball. I love that she’s wearing a poppy necklace…

And those big doe eye of hers... I'M DEAD

If Galinda is butterflies, Nessa’s whole theme seems to be poppies. AND THESE SHOES ARE FIRE I want them and I want the dress. There I said it.

Also her dance with Boq is my favorite scene in the whole movie. It was always my favorite part in ''Dancing Through Life'' and it's so wholesome... knowing how tragic this ends for them both (the rehearsal footage was admittedly better but they both ate and left no crumbs)... give the choreographer all the awards.

As for the other characters, I like the Shiz uniforms and that they maintained the variety and individualisms from the stage show. I kind of wish Fiyero was dressed in something that stood out more. He doesn’t wear his Shiz uniform until after ‘’Popular’’ in the stage version. We first meet him in a riding outfit (he kind of wears a riding outfit when he runs into Elphaba in the movie… but not a bold red one… and red seems to be Fiyero’s color… it fits him better than blue but that's just my opinion).

If it was my choice, I would’ve dressed all the main characters in different outfits and/or colors that stand out from the rest. In the stage version, Galinda and Elphie are technically still dressed in uniforms, but they wear a solid color—Galinda in all cream/ white and Elphie in all navy blue—so they stand out.

I like that they kept this in the movie (only Galinda being in pastel pink tones and Elphie in all black).

Fiyero, Boq, and Nessa should’ve been color coded too. Yes, Boq and Nessa in the stage show wear similar uniforms to everyone else, but they have little details that make them stand out (for instance, Nessa has this headband, and Boq has this little red hat that later productions added… it didn’t exist in the original production, but the costumes kind of evolved over time). I still like Boq’s uniform in the movie (esp. the shoes). I do kind of miss his white boots from the stage show, tho (RIP Boq’s cute white boots).

Unfortunately in the movie they had so many people dressed like Boq that he disappeared into the background, but maybe that was for a reason? Boq is a wallflower; we're not supposed to notice him. I get it. He still should've had something to signify him... a hat, maybe. These sweater vests are sick tho... where can I get one?

The Cast!!!

Ariana and Cynthia of course nailed it. I was skeptical of the casting when it was first announced but they proved me wrong and they were the perfect choices. No one could have played Galinda and Elphaba better. I usually don’t like pop stars in musical movies… I prefer classically trained theatre actors, but since Ari does have a musical theatre background, she ended up surprising me more than anyone else in the cast (esp. where it concerns her operatic notes. I say that because tho I’m familiar with her on 13! the musical, she was terribly miscast as Penny in Hairspray Live! She did not disappear into the role… she was basically playing herself) and I was deathly afraid she would popify the hell out of Galinda. Well, she understood the assignment, she really became Galinda. So props to her.

Not gonna lie. The whole cast was phenomenal but Dr. Dillamond (voiced by Peter Dinklage) was my favorite part in the whole movie. I love the scene where Elphaba takes him by the hoof. She was so compassionate and you really feel her heartbreak when he's arrested. Yeah the CGI goat was the best actor I just loved him.

😭😭😭

Fiyero is the Arjiki prince (who was a very minor character in the book and, in my humble opinion, is the least interesting character in the book and the musical), made that much worse when he's traditionally whitewashed… because he was a dark-skinned black man in the book… sure some black actors have played him on stage but I had a feeling they’d cast a white actor in the movie… part of me wished they casted a black actor... well, at least he gets a cool song. HOWEVER I really did love Jonathan Bailey’s portrayal. He wasn’t bland like some of the other actors who’ve played him, and though he’s prince charming good looking, he’s also incredibly funny. I was not expecting to laugh so much at his entrance. Yeah, I liked Fiyero more in the movie. He’s still not my favorite character but hopefully he gets a big meaty part in PART 2. Is it wrong I never shipped Fiyero/ Elphaba? I always thought their chemistry was so boring and forced. Wicked was always a love story between two women anyway. I totally ship Elphaba and Galinda (it’s canon in the book anyway). I loved the scene where Galinda and Elphaba run out of the ozdust ballroom together hand-in-hand and literally leave Fiyero biting the dust.

----

(SPOILER ALERT: That’s how the story should have ended. Who needs a man right? Let the witches be lesbians… a house falls on Nessa, so Boq could end up with Fiyero (since the women they love are in love with each other) let Fiyero be bisexual (Jonathan’s Fiyero already radiates bisexual energy because all the women AND men were falling in love with him). Let him be bi and hit on Boq (Tincrow fans come get your food… you can’t convince me they’re straight). Elphie and Glinda get their happy ending. Problem solved. Everyone’s happy.)

--

Nessa was awesome. She’s a character everyone loves to hate, but yeah, I wish she was in the movie more. Marissa Bode ATE

---

(SPOILER ALERT: In Part 2, she will becomes more Wicked when she assumes the position of the tyrannical Eminence of Munchkinland. Owing to her brutal religious persecution, we'll do well to remember her as the infamous ''Wicked Witch of the East.'' I love me a badass female villain).

---

Speaking of badass female villains, Michelle Yeoh absolutely COOKED as Madame Morrible, and her costumes were more beautiful on the big screen. Part of me wanted Kristin Chenoweth to play Madame Morrible… she slayed as Velma Von Tussle in Hairspray Live! Her rendition of ‘’(The Legend Of) Miss Baltimore Crabs’’ was seriously gas. She plays a very convincing villain, but then they’d have to write her a villain song (not that I’m complaining). Michelle may not be a singer, but she was so quietly sinister as Madame Morrible… I loved her.

I personally wanted more Bowen Yang in the supporting cast (specifically flirting with Fiyero).

Despite the haters (and say what you will), but Ethan Slater was perfectly cast as Boq Woodsman aka the Munchkin Boy. Despite unpopular opinion, I wish he was in the movie more. When I read the book, he looks almost exactly like how I pictured him (mop of curly hair, freckles…). Boq was blonde in the book if I remember correctly, and he wore glasses… so my vision of him was a blonde Daniel Radcliffe… but honestly, the red hair works so well (even better than blonde). And I love that they ended up basing the Munchkins’ look off of Ethan. They all had red curly hair. That was a cool detail.

Boq the Munchkin Boy was actually a major character in the book but the musical shifts Boq's prominence to Fiyero for some reason and this always bothered me. Yeah, Fiyero unapologetically steals Boq's thunder (and I will never forgive the musical for that unnecessary change...) and apparently the movie was going to flesh him out more and make him friends with Elphaba like in the book… they were really close friends and Boq actually played a bigger role than Galinda... in fact, Galinda was very minor in the book compared to her role in the musical.

You wish your squad was this dope.

It seemed like they were going to add more things from the book. Unfortunately, a lot of his scenes got axed (I would watch a full five hours with all the deleted scenes). But Ethan Slater was still good with what he had to work with. Okay, maybe they had to delete his scenes with Elphaba. But I personally wanted more scenes with him and Fiyero… it seems like something was going on between them in ‘’Dancing Through Life’’ (not in that way; Ethan explained in interviews his Boq looked up to Fiyero and tried to emulate him and that makes sense) like a parallel storyline to Elphie and Galinda’s budding friendship. Boq seemed to come out of his shell more around Fiyero, kind of like Elphie gaining confidence around Galinda. I would’ve have minded a scene with Fiyero rooming with Boq and seeing the boys get ready for the dance.

In fact, we just needed more scenes with the Charmed Circle hanging out together in general. They teased us with these scenes for months leading up to the film’s release… only to delete them!!! WE WERE ROBBED

A two-part movie and they still had to sacrifice so much for time constraints.

That was my only other gripe with the film. The lack of development in the friendships of the characters…

This is why the movie really needed to be a TV series spanning multiple seasons, and they could have added so much from the books. Everyone would watch the living crap out of it, and we could have had more character development and world building. Someday I’d love to see an animated tv series based on the books (minus the smex). With all the lovely fanart coming out of this fanbase, think of the cool possibilities for character designs. Yeah a tv series based on the books are in order. (Probably couldn’t get the movie cast but I think Ethan Slater should reprise his role as Boq because he just sounded so much like how I pictured him from the book… he probably fits my vision the most out of everyone who was casted.)

A funny thing happened after the movie… my friend said, ''Why is Boq taller than Glinda?'' And I was like, ''out of the whole 2 1/2 hour movie THAT'S what you got out of it???'' (Anyway most of the actors who played Boq on stage were taller than Glinda by a head or two. He's a ''tall munchkin'' and they should've kept this line in the movie so people wouldn't be confusified.)

Anyway, yeah, despite the minor things, the movie is a solid 11/ 10 stars for me.

They had ONE job. And they nailed it.

[otabekisautistic]

junior year of high school my choir went to nyc. i dragged my friends to the broadway bookstore in like this tiny alley off of times square HOPING to god that they would be selling the next to normal libretto (it was 2014, the show had been closed for several years). they were and i bought it. flash forward to the plain ride home, im sitting next to my high school best friend. i get out my ipod, open the n2n OBC recording and hand her the libretto. one headphone in my ear one in hers. and during the majority of the flight home from new york, i sat there and i made my friend read through the show and listen to it at the same time. yes this was her very first introduction to the show. yes i had a problem.

[doobledabbadoo]

Since you like Mr. Grumpy, Mr. Happy, Mr. Bump, and Mr. Tickle, I’ll share you my headcanons on these four.

Mr. Grumpy 💙🐟

He attends to ballroom dancing class with Mr. Fussy as Mr. Fussy was the one to introduce him to this.

Even though he loves fishing and aquariums, he CAN’T eat crabs or lobsters as he’s allergic to them!

He secretly likes to bake macadamia cookies.

He’s a cat person.

He secretly needs reading glasses with tiny words.

Mr. Happy 💛☀️

He suffers from depression in his teen years and is slowly recovering.

His favourite genre of movies is action movies.

He has participated broadways in his younger years as he loves performing.

Mr. Happy’s biggest fear is the dark.

His biggest pet peeve is been asked the same question.

Mr. Bump 💙🚑

He love rats since he was a kid and his parents allow him to have pet rats.

His favourite hobby is sewing, despite he keeps pricking his finger by accident.

He and Miss Whoops both love to play hide b seek since they were kids.

He at one point dated Miss Calamity, but he’s now with Mr. Tickle.

Even though he gets hurt a lot, his immune system is VERY strong.

Mr. Tickle 🧡🪶

He’s allergic to bee and wasp stings.

His favourite colour is blue because he believes it’s his lucky colour.

Miss Hug is his twin sister and they both got adopted by two dads.

He gets very sick easily on roller coasters.

He actually finds tarantulas adorable.

OH MY GOD I LOVE THESE <333 brb incorporating some of this into my belief system /lh /hj

[glindalesbian]

U KNEW THIS WAS COMING… she’s all sparkles 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 pretty please

@sapphire-to-the-rain HAD TO BE!

she's all sparkles is my drag race s17 she's all that au <3 and oh boy if i felt good about a fic where everyone around suzie toot wants to clown on her before last night's episode i feel GREAT about it now! I need to give a tiny bit of context for this excerpt - basically, they have to do a mock trial for The Great Gatsby in English class, which Suzie of course takes more seriously than anybody else, complete with a costume. Enjoy!

“You were not messing around,” Jewels says. Suzie glances up at her as she slides her papers into her folder. 

“I was just doing the assignment. It’s not my fault you didn’t read the book.” 

Jewels frowns at her. 

“I read some of it! And I watched the movie.”

Suzie shakes her head.

“You had to know she's smart enough to know that trick. You didn’t think she’d put details in here that the movie left out on purpose?” 

Jewels has to admit it makes a lot of sense when Suzie lays it out like that. Still, she doesn’t have to be a know-it-all about it. 

“Did I miss the part in the book that said lawyers dress like they’re hopping boxcar trains in the Great Depression?” she fires back, and Suzie bursts out laughing. 

“Touché,” she says. “I raided the costume closet in the theater, but this was one of the only suits that fit me and felt appropriately 20s enough. Not that anyone else really cared about historical accuracy in their costumes, but how could I not?” Suzie glances at her outfit, and Jewels is not about to let this girl judge her like that. 

“This might not be the most authentic 1920s dress in the world, but I knew to wear white, because Daisy wears white, because Daisy is a rich white girl that everybody thinks is so perfect and pure, and her name is literally Daisy.“ Jewels doesn’t know why she’s defending herself to Suzie Toot of all fucking people. It’s not like anybody else at school would care about Suzie’s opinion over Jewels’. Still, she finds herself actually pissed about this meaningless English class argument, her face hot as she throws the ball back in Suzie’s court. 

And to her surprise, Suzie actually looks a little impressed. 

“Fair enough,” Suzie says. “I guess it’s not a realistic expectation for everyone to be costumed like this was a performance. You know your character, at least, which is better than I can say for some people here.”  

“Oh my god, if Jojo forgot Myrtle’s name one more time I was gonna lose it,” Jewels giggles. 

“Right!” Suzie closes up her briefcase, which she seems to be using instead of a backpack today. God have mercy. Jewels doesn’t have a chance in hell of winning this stupid bet. “Well, for what it’s worth, even if I won, you were a good scene partner.” She smiles at Jewels. 

“Thanks,” she says, rolling her eyes but pleased all the same. It’s second period English, not Broadway, but of course Suzie Toot thinks all the world’s a stage. Jewels has seen the button on her backpack that says so.

[rose-of-oz]

𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐆… 𝐌𝐘 𝐌*𝐀*𝐒*𝐇 𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑, 𝐒𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐀 𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐎𝐒

❝ When Sophia had first signed up to be part of the USO, one of the many pretty girls singing and dancing on tiny stages to give the brave boys fighting in Korea some much-needed cheering up, she couldn't have imagined wanting to do anything else. After all, she'd been trying to get in as a chorus girl on Broadway for years, intent on pursuing her childhood dreams of dancing and singing under the blinding lights of the Great White Way, but as a poor kid from Washington Heights who was more often than not deemed too “exotic” for your average Broadway ensemble, she figured working in the USO would be the closest she could get. Besides, volunteering for her own kind of service overseas was also a perfect excuse to escape the recent breaking-off of her engagement and the whispers of her social circle surrounding her and her ex-fiancé, so she really couldn’t have imagined a better opportunity to have presented itself at that particular time.

But when, only a few months into Sophia’s USO tenure, the Army sends out a call for more nurses for their M*A*S*H units, she decides to do some good that doesn't involve singing the same old tired standards, putting the hours she'd spent watching her tía work as a nurse to good use by volunteering to become one herself. Granted, she doesn’t have one lick of actual practical experience beyond occasionally helping her tía with a home birth in tiny Washington Heights apartments, but Sophia likes to think that the same good memory that has allowed her to remember hundreds of song lyrics and dance steps has also allowed her to retain proper first aid techniques and which surgical instruments are the correct ones to hand to the surgeons when they ask for them. And either way, the Army is low on nurses and surprisingly willing to overlook a lack of an actual degree to get them - and so, after only a few months as a USO girl, newly minted Lieutenant Sophia Ramos breezes into the M*A*S*H encampment serving as her new home armed with her trademark collection of brightly-coloured dresses, red lipstick, and charming wit combined with a sharp tongue, feeling prepared to take on any challenge that this new profession might throw her way.

But nothing in the world could prepare her for what she experiences when she's assigned to the 4077th - two chaotic doctors who love nothing more than getting a rise out of their stuck-up bunkmate (whom Sophia befriends almost immediately), a bumbling commanding officer who usually leaves his psychic clerk to run the camp, a corpsman whose taste in dresses is almost as good as hers... and a sweet chaplain with cute glasses and a sweet smile, who brightens up Sophia's world in ways she'd never imagined could be done. Father Mulcahy is gentle, compassionate, and the perfect dose of calm to Sophia’s usual bright tornado, and despite the way Sophia has settled into the 4077th since arriving, becoming liked by everyone (except for one Frank Burns, but really, who cared what he thought) and even striking up an unlikely friendship with the camp’s strict-minded head nurse, all it ever takes is one late-night conversation or shy smile from the chaplain to unsettle her in a way she isn’t entirely sure she doesn’t like.

The Father - or Francis, as he eventually insists Sophia call him - is Sophia’s perfect man in so many ways: understanding, attentive, and unlike so many men she has met, sharing a disinterest in the kind of intimacy Sophia has never been willing to give. Yet due to their respective positions and the vows he made years ago, actually confessing how she feels to him feels all but impossible, especially when Sophia is convinced that the God she has also been raised to believe in will ever forgive her for the love she feels for a man He has already claimed.

Little does she know, Francis feels the exact same way about her, and has been having similar worries about what the Holy Father might think about these feelings. But eventually, attractions are confessed and the two enter into a secret, deeply loving and caring relationship… and eventually, they both have to wonder whether the two of them meeting and falling in love with each other, two stars passing in orbit at exactly the right time, was not part of God’s divine plan after all. ❞

General Taglist: @hiddenqveendom, @auxiliarydetective, @foxesandmagic,

@artemisocs, @reyofluke-ocs, @endless-oc-creations, @stanshollaand,

@ginnystilinski-reblogs, @luucypevensie, @ginger-grimm, @oneirataxia-girl,

@arrthurpendragon, @fakedatings, @gabbysdawsons, @dancingsunflowers-ocs,

@eddysocs, @lucys-chen, @manyfandomocs, @ocappreciationtag.

[brilliantorinsane]

Data Gathering: The Cunningham Heritage

For an explination of this project and the various categories, see Data Gathering: The Pennsylvania Gun.

Writer: Sheldon Reynolds

Director: Jack Gage

Jack Gage directed four Howard Holmes episodes, including the first two. His final episode was ep10, The Mother Hubbard Case.

Across his career he worked as a stage manager and actor on Broadway, a dialogue director, and a TV director.

Prior to Howard Holmes, he worked with showrunner Sheldon Reynolds on the spy action series Foreign Intrigue. I don't know if that was their first time working together; I didn't do a thorough check, just happened to stumble on this connection.

Fun fact: Gage was the dialogue director on Double Indemnity, which was directed by Billy Wilder, who directed The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes.

───────────────────────────────

First Shot: Watson’s carriage as he drives through London for the first time upon return from war.

───────────────────────────────

Introductions:

11.00: Just “Dr. Watson” to Wilson.

13.12: “My friend” to Lestrade

───────────────────────────────

Private Matters: I mean they just met it’s a bit early for rituals too strange or intimate for the public eye. They won’t get that close until episode three!

───────────────────────────────

Looks: Help I've already devolved into recording every sincere smile between them. Is it better or worse that I'm doing this because of 3 or 4 hypotheses I want to test.

Holmes @ Watson smiles:

First meeting: 4.15 (unseen, poss hidden—I’m nearly sure Holmes is smiling when he walks away after shaking Watson’s hand), 4.42 (unseen, poss hidden—seems to flash this tiny smile when Watson brings up the possibility of the flatshare), 5.07, 5.11, 5.19 (hidden-ish. Watson can probably see it, but when Watson asks how Holmes knew he was in Afghanistan, Holmes really quickly looks down and away from Watson and flashes a smile—reads as ‘yessss he took the bait’).

6.43

8.42

10:38

11:02 (tiny little smile when introducing Watson to Wilson. This is the first time he’s met Wilson, he’s just happy to be showing off his new flatmate).

11.16

13.01 (tiny smile after Watson gives professional opinion about the body).

20.16

20.18

23.48

23.54

Watson @ Holmes smiles:

First meeting: 3.54, 4.04, 4.20, 4.37 (unseen), 4.52, 4.58, 5.05, 5.12, 5.57

7.14

8.42

13.12 (smiles and nods when Holmes introduces him as ‘my friend’)

15.59

20.11

20.18

23.51

24.06

Secret Glances:

16.12: Holmes has been examining the carpet and barely glancing at Watson while Watson watches him intently, then after he hands Watson the magnifying glass and Watson leans forward to focus on the carpet Holmes swings rapidly to look at Watson. Very much reads like ‘Now while you deduce it carpet, it’s my turn to deduce you!’

Assorted Looks:

5.34: Holmes: no no, keep staring into my eyes Watson!

5.22 - 5.52: Watson is paying attention so hard to Holmes’ deduction.

5.54: Holmes: ‘ah fuck did I deduce too hard and make it offputting?’

10.02: Watson’s eyes closed ‘god give me patience’ look when Holmes keeps making him ask five times for explanations to his deductions and Holmes goes ‘but when I explain they lose their “romantic aura of mystery :(‘“

14.00: Holmes' tiny nod when Watson goes to comfort the bereaved and falsely accused fiance.

15.29: They’re already communicating by exchanging glances in a crowded room.

22.43: When the murderer approaches with a drawn gun, both Holmes' frightened look at Watson, and Watson's steady 'well I did tell you you, but I'll get us out of this' look in return.

───────────────────────────────

Touches:

Initiated by Holmes:

4.15: Handshake

4.57: Handshake #2

5.32: Tap tap tap

5.49: Poke poke. Poke poke.

20.42-20.49: Grabs Watson’s arm to drag him along on their housebreaking outing.

21.04: Uh this:

21.07 - 21.13: Continues dragging/pushing to break-in.

21.59: Shoulder clap/light shove of the ‘come-oooon, help me do housebreaking!’ variety.

25.11: Grabs Watson’s wrist for fingerprinting purposes.

Initiated by Watson:

15.42: Shoulder tap

16.03: Knee tap

Intricate Rituals:

25.11: When Holmes grabs Watson's wrist for fingerprinting, as noted above. Holding Watson’s hand is necessary. For science!

Incidental:

13.04: Bump. (I know I said the shoulder to shoulder thing doesn’t count but this one made me laugh)

Not touching

I don’t expect this’ll be a regular sub-category, but I’m fascinated by 16.08 - 16.27. They’re shifting around in such cramped proximity that it’d be quite difficult not to be bumping elbows, but they do this quiet little dance where they never quite brush into each other. They’re so comfortable with each other’s space from the start that it’s hard to pinpoint any progression in it, but I do wonder if they wouldn’t have bothered with that dance in later episodes.

───────────────────────────────

Endearments/Compliments:

Holmes @ Watson:

5.49: my dear Watson (it has been 2.2 minutes since they met)

6.18: my dear Watson

10:00 my dear Watson

12.23: “That’s a good question!”

23:46: “Well done Watson!” - when Watson disarms and incapacitates an attacker.

Watson @ Holmes:

6.28: my dear Holmes

15.57: “I didn’t notice these things”—in context a rebuttal to Holmes minimizing his abilities, an implied ‘no it is extraordinary’.

Appreciation:

16.11: Watson says the softest little "thank you" when Holmes hands him his magnifying glass.

───────────────────────────────

Medical Examinations: 12.25 they enter the crime scene, and Holmes goes straight for the body. He tells Watson his own deductions, then asks Watson several questions regarding time of death.

───────────────────────────────

Crimes for Fun and Profit: Well, there's the housebreaking.

───────────────────────────────

Jealousy: Jealousy isn’t the word for it but there’s something about Holmes meeting Watson and going ‘RIGHT flat viewing this afternoon then?’ and then grabbing his jacket as if they’re going to take off at once. One reading of this is that Holmes sees Watson is at a turning point where he could choose many directions as his first next step, and Holmes is Gonna get his bid in first.

───────────────────────────────

Watson and Law Enforcement:

11.17: Holmes: “The police forces of the world seem to have an organized science of messing things about.” Watson: “Oh I wouldn’t say that Holmes.”

Very warm and pleased meeting Lestrade; however he repeatedly pushes back against Lestrade’s callousness towards the accused woman, even after Watson is convinced of her guilt.

19.32: tries to offer Lestrade a warm farewell, but when Lestrade responds with a shouted warning against Holmes, Watson turns away before he's finished.

Storms off to confront Lestrade about Holmes not getting credit in the papers.

───────────────────────────────

Want to go on a Dat—Murder Investigation?

20:01: Holmes: “Perhaps you’d like to take a little stroll with me?” Watson: “Why?” Holmes: “I’d like to investigate this afternoon’s affair a bit further.”

The ‘walk’ was always going to be for the investigation, but if I’m having fun with it we can imagine that this is Holmes’ risk-free way of testing the waters. Perhaps not for romantic reasons yet, more of a ‘Watson liked working the case, but how would he respond to just hanging out?’ But he doesn’t have to worry about letting on that he would like to just hang out with his cool new flatmate because either way he'll do the ‘it’s for a case!’ Reveal.

Note that Holmes doesn’t meet Watson’s eye when asking about the ‘little stroll’; not until he goes ‘lol I meant for the case’.

Bonus: Holmes is putting away his violin. As we will discover, he’s pretty bad at the violin <3 Which allows an addition to this imagined plot in which he was trying to butter Watson up with a bit of a serenade, while Watson wonders for the first time if he has made a Mistake.

───────────────────────────────

Showtime:

First Meeting:

In some moods I’m convinced Holmes is putting on a whole performance in their first meeting. In other moods I prefer to read him as genuinely distracted and absent-minded during it.

Housebreaking:

Holmes straight-up didn’t need to break in to the suspect’s house. The police were letting him work the case and dig through documents. He could have just asked. He did not!

My Doylist read is that they wanted to establish Holmes’ crime hobby in the first episode.

My Watsonian reads include: a). Wants to see if his new buddy who’s interested in his investigative career is also open to his crime hobby. b). Has caught on that Watson requires a degree of excitement and adrenaline, and this is part of his unconventional strategy to seduce Watson into being his work partner. c). He is annoyed at Lestrade.

Intricate Rituals:

Holmes grabbing Watson's hand for fingerprinting is a potential here.

───────────────────────────────

Watch What I Say, Not What I Do: Watson protests breaking into the murder scene mansion vociferously all the way from Baker Street. He continues protesting as he follows Holmes through the lockpicked door.

───────────────────────────────

For Watson’s Ears Only:

12.28: They’re in a full room and haven’t introduced themselves yet, but Holmes leads Watson to the body where they exchange deductions/medical assessments in quiet, intimate tones. Nothing they’re saying is a secret, they’re just in their own little world.

15.28: Holmes catches Watson’s eye and leads him aside to where the body had initially lain. Again there are no secrets being discussed, but Holmes is deliberate about including Watson (and only Watson) in this, and again they fall into that intimate register.

Asides:

11.14

19.25

17.42

24.13

───────────────────────────────

You've Gone Too Far: N/A

───────────────────────────────

Watson and Women: N/A

───────────────────────────────

Violin:

The only negative Holmes mentions about living with him.

8.30: Holmes wonders aloud where he put his violin case, and Watson (who moved it earlier) brings it to him. Holmes says ‘ah, my old friend’ towards the violin, and immediately after saying this looks up to smile at Watson, who is beaming back at him.

20.01: Not shown playing it, but Holmes has his violin out when the baker street irregular signals that the suspects’ house is empty and ripe for housebreaking, and Holmes is putting it away as he asks Watson to accompany him.

───────────────────────────────

Gender Fuckery: N/A

───────────────────────────────

Climax Precautions:

Well none, they get held at gunpoint because they were doing some light housebreaking. What's notable is that Holmes clearly hadn’t expected a violent altercation, and when the murderer shows up with a gun, Holmes’ shoots Watson an ‘oh fuck I fuuuucked up’ look.

This will not be his reaction next time!

───────────────────────────────

Final Shot: Holmes at his chemistry desk, wondering if perhaps his new companion isn’t entirely sane.

[musette22]

Oh Minnie they gotta do the play NOW! Realistically obviously not, but my lord I've been thinking about them showing up together with exactly how they both look NOW, Seb with the slightly curly hair and that green suit and Mr Professor Chris. Anything, any play, do Cinderella for all I care (although no, Anthony'd be pissed 😂)

Oh god, I KNOW 😩 They would genuinely explode Broadway though (and my tiny mind too), if they simultaneously tread the boards while looking the way they're looking right now.... But hey, it'd be worth it. Come on guyssss, do it for us 😩

LOLLL I forgot about Mackie and Cinderella, thanks for reminding me 😂 They really missed out on the opportunity to cast Anthony Mackie in the live action remake huh, smh

Credit and Redbubble link for this edit here

[ashleywool]

ramblings on the intersection of science and faith

My MRI report came in yesterday.

I'm not gonna get too deep into the medical details until I've had a chance to discuss it in-depth with the professionals (which unfortunately probably won't be until Monday at the earliest), but I do have some things I need to say about it.

First: I'm okay. My life is not in danger. Making these discoveries now has undoubtedly saved me years of struggle that may well have gone on to endanger my life. Instead, I get to address the source of many ongoing issues and most likely cure them all. Don't get me wrong, it's a pretty big deal, but not a big scary deal.

Second: yes, I will need surgery. This has not been officially confirmed and its safety signed off on by a doctor, but from reading everything I can get my eyeballs on, I don't see any reason under the sun why surgery would not be the logical and urgent (but not like, emergency urgent) next step.

Again, I'm not gonna go too deep into the details until I understand it better and we have a game plan in place. But I have to talk a little bit about the feelings that are bubbling up around all of this.

My condition, and the particular way it has manifested, is exceedingly rare. I mentioned one of the tests I took to a doctor who had to be older than my parents, and he said, "I have not heard those words in that order since medical school." Of course, I know that just because something is rarely reported doesn't necessarily mean its existence is rare. But in my case, it seems like it's both.

I'm a Broadway actress with no medical background and I somehow figured out what was going on in my body even though it was ridiculously unlikely to be true. And now the doctors have no choice but to acknowledge these discoveries.

I would not have discovered any of these things if it hadn't been for the show closing when it did, my ovarian demon babies causing trouble when they did, having that surgery when I did, and having a chance conversation with a friend who just happened to be marrying a friend I've known since high school (and wouldn't have known if it hadn't been for our one shared chorus class)...any tiny alterations to that timeline could have led to a completely new timeline.

I miss our show every minute of every day. My heart misses it. My bank account misses it. But also, if the show was still running, I'd be physically struggling even more, and I would not have had the time and freedom to pursue the solutions. If the show was still running, and I was still pushing myself to continue with it, it might have caused irreparable (or at least excruciatingly-slow-to-repair) damage.

The sheer statistical likelihood of everything that's happened, everything happening, everything that is in my life right now, is staggeringly low. Practically impossible.

And so, once again I find myself saying, I can't not believe in God. I can't not believe that my life and my purpose were by design and by a Designer.

I could dig deep into arguments about the finer points of theology all day. I could happily lose myself in Bible study--not just the literal words, but the history and cultural context for all of it. I could "academic" my Christianity to death the same way I "academic" everything else in my life to death. By that logic, some would argue, I shouldn't even be a Christian. "Walk by faith and not by sight," and what have you.

But I believe--and this tends to ruffle feathers of Christians and atheists alike--that one must walk by faith only after sight is entirely exhausted. My faith is rooted in the question of what happens when the science stops sciencing. My faith is rooted in the question of, why would humans be driven by a sense of purpose and an impulse to know the answers, unless the answers were meant to be known to us? Even if the answers change nothing, even if our sated curiosity has no practical value, we delight in it.

I think walking by sight often and inevitably leads to faith. Digging deep into science and logic brings us closer to God, not farther away.

Discovering all the things I just discovered about my brain and my body has strengthened my commitment to all the things I feel called to do. And rectifying the situation will enable me to live out those callings with more energy and effectiveness than I've ever had.

I can't conceive of a reality in which that wasn't done on purpose.

Anyway. I'm working on a list of things I'm going to do once I'm on the other side of this, and I'm planting the seeds for them right now. Maybe I'll share it later. Maybe I won't. I guess you'll just have to wait and see.

[innytoes]

25 and Willex (bonus points if the child/dog/friend is Reggie?) (If you're still taking prompts for this 😁)

Every year for Halloween, Willie went back to the group home where he'd stayed to volunteer to take the kids trick or treating. Not only was it a way of giving back - of assuaging the guilt he sometimes felt, wondering why Caleb had picked a chaotic, messy fourteen year old over any of the sweeter, smaller kids - but it was amazing fun too.

He got to dress up, run around with a bunch of kids, and also maybe keep a list of houses to come back and egg later, if they were weird or stuck up about 'those group home kids begging for candy'.

Besides, being 18 at the Hollywood Ghost Club on Halloween sucked. It wasn't even like he could use his fake ID, the bartenders all knew him. And Caleb was super strict about stuff like that during business hours. So he helped out at the group home, and then went to the staff party at the Club the day after, when they were closed and nobody cared too much about whether or not a certain son of the owner swiped a Bloodtini. Or skated off the railing. Or tried to dunk the green grilled cheeses in the chocolate fountain.

And okay, so maybe this year his costume was a little obscure, but he'd procrastinated getting anything, so he ended up raiding Caleb's old costumes from his 'I did other stuff on Broadway too you know' closet, and some of his own, and a trip to the dollar store, and he was pretty pleased with himself.

Except clearly someone recognised him.

"OH MY GOD, ZEKE ZILLIONS SPACE COWBOY?" someone across the street screamed, before dragging someone by the arm over to them.

"See, I told you he was a real character," Willie told the four nine year olds he was chaperoning. They rolled their eyes at him.

"Oh my god oh my god," A boy about his age said. He was dressed up as a zombie, though for some reason he was also carrying a wok. His friend was also a zombie, but had on a long pink wig, giant fake pearls, and a pink dress. He had great legs. "Zeke Zillions Space Cowboy was my absolute favourite cartoon as a kid. Can I please get a picture? Pretty please?"

"Sure can, Pard'ner," he said in his best Zeke Zillions impression, and the guy straight up went 'EEEEeee' like he was an early twothousands internet fangirl. After his friend took a bunch of pictures, he thanked the kids for their patience.

"By the way, number 42 is handing out full-sized candy bars," ZomBarbie said.

Throughout the night, every time they crossed paths (ZomBarbie and the Wokking Dead were accompanied by a witch, Kurt Cobain, and a tiny ghost buster), they'd wave at each other, as his fan shouted out a 'HI ZEKE!'. Eventually they ended up at the same house, waiting for the kids to get back.

"Sorry about Reggie," ZomBarbie said. "He's um, kind of a fanboy for that show. Like, writes-fanfiction-and-goes-to-obscure-fan-meet-ups kind of fan. I think you just made his year."

"That's okay, I'm glad someone remembers good old Zeke," Willie said. He was definitely going sleuthing on AO3 later. He wondered what the ships were. "The show meant a lot to me as a kid, what with the obvious queer-coding." Hopefully, a cute boy in a dress would understand that.

"Yeah," ZomBarbie said. "My parents didn't allow me to watch it. Too worried I'd turn out 'fruity'." He motioned to himself. "Clearly they succeeded," he said sarcastically.

"You do really pull off that dress, though," Willie said, waggling his eyebrows. His zombie friend went adorably flustered, from what he could tell under the zombie makeup.

Before he could flirt any more, the kids came back, complaining about how this house was handing out toothbrushes and toothpaste. "Can you put them on the list, Willie?" one of them, the girl dressed as Coraline, asked.

"Handing out toothbrushes is kind of dorky, but not an egg-able offense," Willie told her. "We reserve that for bigots and assholes."

"You have a list?" ZomBarbie asked, as they walked to the next house. His kids and the little Ghost Buster were comparing notes, it seemed, pointing at different houses.

"Yeah, lot of people in this fancy-pants neighbourhood don't take kindly to poor foster kids showing up," Willie said darkly.

"Carlos said something about that white house with the American Flag outside complaining about him going back to his own neighbourhood," the witch said darkly. "We live two blocks from here."

Willie glared, and made a note of it. "You wanna join me?" he asked, mostly to ZomBarbie, but quickly looking away at the rest of the group.

"My tía would kill me," the witch said, before smiling slyly. "But I'm sure Alex wouldn't mind going."

ZomBarbie spluttered a little, but managed to squeak out a little 'okay!'

Jackpot.

Behind him, he heard the guy's friend sigh happily. "And once again, Zeke Zillions saves the day, dispenses justice to evil doers, and captures hearts."

[bumblingest-bee]

27 and 38 for musical theater asks?

what's a musical you're looking forward to seeing? - i have high hopes for the upcoming pirates of penzance broadway revival

what's the weirdest musical theatre-related experience you've ever had? - oh god, where do i begin. ruthie ann miles's stash of pens with tiny hands on them at the sweeney stage door... all my insane high school closing night pranks... discovering while watching les mis with my mom that russell crowe once slept on my parents' couch... how do i choose

[rising-above-stars]

Random Notes From My Bullet Journal (Jan - Jun 2024)

Breaking in docs like ballet shoes

DVDs of Broadway bootlegs

Book spine shelf

Need some flat shoes -> desperately

Sunflower fields weekend trip sounds really nice

Display idea: one star reviews of popular books

CIRCE SAGA CIRCE SAGA CIRCE SAGA CIRCE SAGA

I am thoroughly confused. We ran out of cups so the kids made paper cups

Floromancy

"I wish I could see my father in the same light I did when I was small"

[screenshot of a message of a friend saying they need me to doodle an ant with a space helmet]

[Two doodles of ants with space helmets]

[a lot of lamenting over Orpheus and Eurydice]

Tattooing leather...

Erasure poems from rejection letters

yes lara, the kids will be reading to the gods

where can I get one of those gumball machines?

apparently Carly Rae Jepsen should have been my gay awakening

I'm going to forever be overthinking every bad interaction I have @ work and how I could've done it better

what's stopping me from writing fanfiction in the form of poetry for Lav. Men.?

What if I got a photo scanner -> ridiculous yours is fine

Came back to the desk after my break for a hug and was told I was someone's favourite because I'm always sometimes here

"men are more naturally mechanically minded" 🙄

"Lara! How do you write a poem?" - a child asks at 4.40pm when my brain is checking out

weeding = library gardening

go thirds in a rock tumbler

Hmmmm... Paint pigment from shells?

[a handmade kuromi sticker a child gave me]

[brainstorming an art idea]

[tiny Brazil flag]

[three ticket stubs]

[thenightling]

Wonka review Warning: This review contains spoilers.

I just got done watching the new 2023 Wonka movie and... It's good. Not the best film ever but the ending is fantastic. And the ending really sold me. It's sweet. It's a musical. And it has the whimsy Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them *should* have had. First, the superficial. Visually it's gorgeous. And I absolutely love his velvet frockcoat. And the finale, when they recreate the chocolate room of Gene Wilder's Wonka but using modern technology... Oh, my God, that put the Johnny Depp / Tim Burton version to shame! This is set at the start of Willy Wonka's career. And it's clearly Gene Wilder's Wonka. He has that manic personality. Also he has the orange faced, green haired Oompa Loompas. And his business rival is Slugworth, who only exists in the Gene Wilder version of the story. Also you see a gorgeous re-creation of Gene Wilder's Wonka's Chocolate room at the end. At the start of the story Wonka gets taken in by what I can only describe as the Thenardiers from Les Miserables who trick him into signing a contract with tiny print resulting in an indefinite indentured servitude. (Don't worry, he gets out of it by the end but it's an annoyingly drawn out thing in the story). At the start of the story Wonka is a illiterate. He was so busy teaching himself about making chocolate that he forgot to teach himself to read. And a little bookworm girl called Noodle teaches him how to read. In general this is actually very creative and original story for a prequel to an existing property. It is very refreshing to hear original songs again, and not a remake. I even teared up when they did the backstory about Wonka's mother even though I could tell from the trailers she had passed away. A lot of it was quite predictable but that's okay. It was the predictable, familiarity, of ... well, a Dahl children's book. Even the gradual fate of the corrupt chief of police felt right out of something Roald Dahl would have written. I was surprised at how sweet it was. It has some cliches and borrows elements from other musicals but it's configured in a new way and Wonka, the character, is written really well. Clever, whimsical, sneaky, and sweet. If you go to see it, be sure to stay through the end credits. There's a little bit of an epilogue where "Lofty" tells us what became of the story's antagonists. This was a decent movie. It's not as good as Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory but it was good in its own way. In fact this felt like it was originally meant to be a Broadway musical but someone decided to make it into a movie instead. This was the first good family film I'd seen all year. I hope it gets nominated for best original song for at least one of the new songs. It's better than anything Disney's done lately. It's also nice to see a musical that isn't just a remake with a shoe horned new song added.

Yes, pure imagination is in the movie but not until near the end. It's a good, sweet movie. Not perfect but good. And the ending is what really made it for me, when I saw that recreate of Gene Wilder's Chocolate room while Pure Imagination was being sung, that's when the nostalgia hit hard. This has potential to be a well-remembered movie. I think my mother would have liked it. She liked all versions of Willy Wonka. I wish she could have seen this. My only complaint about the new Wonka movie is I think "Lofty" the Oompa Loompa should have had more screen time. He only had what felt like three scenes. A lot of creativity and heart went into this script and you can tell it was written by a fan of the original film and Dahl. Despite the cliches there were some great original ideas. I liked it very much.

[janetfraiser]

What are your top 5 favorite things about Lempicka?

ps Eden Espinosa is brilliantly amazing and I love her

GODDDDD EVERYTHING???? IS THAT AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER??

Ok.

in no particular order other than the order I think of them

1 AMBER IMAN IS INCREDIBLE - I already knew I adored Eden because I have for like...15-20 years now. I was blown away by Amber's power and presence throughout the show. My GOD

2 the way Rafaela's songs are a bookend - her intro and her conclusion use the same wording, the same melodys, and fuck if that doesn't murder me every time

3 all the little tiny things that Eden does, especially if she's not the focus of the scene. There's this one part where she trails her hand down her sternum and boys I am a weak little gay. professional broadway actors know what they're doing or something. weird!

4 in one scene, my fav background guy wanders around, drunk, and does so much coke by himself and other people and it's truly hilarious. I had to watch it many many times before I noticed and I cackle so hard every time now.

5 the music gets its own mention here. I honestly thought it was going to be an 'ok' musical. I wasn't prepared to think it's a goddamn BOP. I will say a lot of the songs seem to be at 100% effort and I would be ok if some had been toned down for a quieter feel but like...that's nitpicking. I cannot wait for the cast album to drop

honorable mention for my fav guy part in 'our time' where he goes so damn hard like he's headlining for queen or something. this is the same guy as #4

honorable mention for the baroness. love her to bits and sob thru her last song. 'it's mink' 'i know'

honorable mention for suzi and literally everything she does.

honorable mention for the people in the audience of the final show that GASPED when tamara and rafaela kiss for the first time. I cackled so hard. I wonder if they had a harold they're lesbians moment. (I think they're both implied to be bi so don't fire me for the phrase).

and this is just what i could think of off the top of my head. I truly love so much about it and i'll stop now