#we haven't met a lot of upper-class figures yet

[dolphin1812]

“the reader will permit us one other little digression, utterly foreign to this book”

I can’t tell if Hugo is completely lacking in self-awareness here, or if he’s gently mocking himself. Either way, I’m entertained.

A note from the Donougher translation: when the centenarian renews her vows, she uses the verb “bailler” (translated as “give” in this translation, and meaning either “to give” or “to pledge”). The verb “has a chivalric resonance,” but with her “colloquial” phrasing, it seems to suggest deception (which might be why the girls find it funny). (Donougher 455)

Notes like these suggest that the centenarian is supposed to be funny, but her position - she was “in society before the Revolution” and thus remembers the ancien régime as experienced by the rich - is also significant. Her stories are indicative of her prior status. Although it’s possible she exaggerates when she describes the Abbey of Fontevrault as a city, as she isn’t taken entirely seriously by those around her and seems to put on airs, what she “puts on airs” about does imply some level of nostalgia for the days of Louis XVI. For instance, she constantly references his Keeper of the Seals and Presidentess Duplat, in part to emphasize the status of those she was (supposedly) familiar with. 

It’s also interesting that she speaks a lot and that, when she speaks: “It was a century which spoke through her, but it was the eighteenth century.” The “eighteenth century” here seems to be the stereotypical image of that time: the aristocratic splendor (rather than the lives of regular people). For example, the custom of bringing four silver gondolas of wine for the visit of important figures in certain parts of France is, to her, something worth retelling. And it is interesting and fun to know! But the idea of wine being used to intoxicate just as a form of over-indulgence or ceremony - rather than as a rarity or a way of coping - has largely been foreign to us (in this novel, as readers) so far. The only exception is Tholomyès (and possibly some of the patrons at Thénardier’s inn, but Montfermeil is poor, so it’s unlikely that they’re drinking luxuriously and are probably drinking socially instead). Otherwise, characters have had some wine as part of hospitality (the bishop serving Jean Valjean his best wine) or wine has intentionally been used to intoxicate in tragic ways (this is how Mme Victurnien got the information about Fantine’s situation; Thénardier also did this to Boulatruelle). There’s overlap in the idea of wine being part of a good welcome, but most of the characters we’ve encountered don’t have the money to get drunk happily; the most information on intoxication we’ve had was for Boulatruelle, where it seemed like a desperate way to cope with having been in prison. This isn’t to say that the novel takes a stance on wine, but rather that the contrast between this type of drinking and what we’ve seen is stark. A man at the inn might have, for example, gotten drunk drinking a bottle or more, but he would have consumed each bottle (not sampled various wines). That quantity and variety of wine, presented in such a form, isn’t accessible to characters who specify every time they drink a bottle, and that highlights the cultural and material gap between this centenarian’s old life and the reality of France’s poor, both before and after the Revolution. The “century” she remembers is completely disconnected from what most of these characters’ families lived through just because of class.

I do feel bad that her plate caused so much gossip, though. The rush to look at it after her death isn’t actively harmful like earlier instances of gossip (Fantine), but it’s still unpleasant. And again, even the nuns aren’t immune to this behavior.

[agentsquirrelsgotrobots]

As a trans man that still goes by his mildly femme birth name (because I absolutely adore it and no other name compares), I absolutely get giddy whenever I meet another transfemme in the wild that shares my name.

I met a young Trans girl yesterday who also went by my name, and she was a blast to hang out with.

When I was just starting out figuring out my own identity, my name was a HUGE insecurity. I got it into my head that being "stealth" was everything, and I got super paranoid about being safe at all costs, even at the expense of my own comfort, delaying coming out to people in my life who were vocal allies and refusing to believe that there were people around me that were willing to go out of their way to protect me.

My sense of caution wasn't unfounded unfortunately, a commuity group near and dear to my heart allowed and tolerated new transphobic and misogynistic members for far too long, causing me to have to get the owner of the space involved to lay down the law. It got better, but it's heartbreaking knowing that even though the space is accepting, these people will only ever tolerate me.

However, the owner has my back, and he's kicked out more than one bad actor over my time going there.

Anyway, back to my name.

My name has, mostly because of tiktok, morphed into a stereotypical "nonbinary" name.

Honestly, I hate how this community has the tendency to categorize itself and go to war over the littlest things. We are all a part of the same umbrella, and by infighting over things that really don't matter (masc/femme vs. male presenting/female presenting, neopronouns, is-queer-a-slur), we weaken our sense of community and make it easier for bad actors to take root.

Seriously, it doesn't matter. I will use what name you want me to use and make a good faith attempt at any requested pronouns, and laugh as a small portion of the community tries to assign boxes to a community that literally is ostracized for not fitting into them in the first place.

Really, if you are the type to try and assign a social dress code to a group that is infamous for breaking them, you might need to lurk in our spaces a little more before hitting post. It's ok to admit that this community is a LOT at times because it is. We have been organized for such a short time, and we really don't have too many elders (people older then the age of 35) active in the same spaces that a lot of younger people start in. It's weird to think that at 17, I am edging on the older part of the community. (No, really, that's bonkers. The fact that I remember a time before smart boards and going to computer labs should not make me feel old.)

There is SO MUCH to learn, and as someone who has a VERY practical view on identity and relationships, I am used to the feeling of culture shock in some areas. I wish I had some good recommendations on some good people to follow for interacting with older community members/BIPOC perspectives/diverse economic and social backgrounds, but I am new to Tumblr and haven't found many yet. If you fall into the above, please reblog and @ yourself.

My follow list for people who talk almost exclusively about being in the community on here is mostly white and upper middle class, and I would like to break out of that. You learn nothing by never stepping out of your own demographic, and I would like to see the difference between here and tiktok, especially how there's a lot more people in their twenties on here.

So, hi, my online name is Squirrel. My pronouns are he/him, and I already have a pinned post with my boundaries on here.

[tinatribeca]

Life Update 11/10/24

11:42am.

School is kicking my ass right now. I don't even want to talk about this program I'm in. I feel a bit distracted. I'm questioning my decision to enroll. Was it too soon for me to go back to school knowing I'm still grieving? The work, school, social life balance is kicking my ass as well. Often I'm figuring out what I should be doing versus what I want to be doing.

Haha, I wish I was recording.

The program is short I'll delve into that during a time where I feel like really delving into that - it's easier to avoid the thought of my future. Ever feel like you want to talk about everything and nothing at all?

I'll still be thinking about that dream I have.

Of being a musician. Adulting they said. It'll be easy yet complicated.

Is it easy? more so, just complicated.

So why did I enroll? Well, my job will reimburse me. Well, maybe I've been a bit bored with what I'm doing. Maybe the idea of being upper middle class sounds nice. Maybe more money will make things easier.

I cried my first few exams. My thought process was literally what the fuck did I just do.

I passed both exams. I'm just anxious naturally.

What I'm studying I won't discuss cause ugh maybe if I write it down then that leads to acceptance: the acceptance of me being an adult and making adult decisions and adults go back to school? don't they?

Accept it girl, welcome to the big leagues of:

Adulting. Writing it down makes it real? Doesn't it?

Anyway.

I met someone. In person.

I hosted a few events within the last few months. One of them being at a bar in the lower east side. Mixers for people to meet new people. Word of mouth, reddit and boom. 60+ people my first event.

Did it again and changed the date because of food poisoning and second time around it was a lot less people.

I met a guy. He walked in like a comfortable breeze.

You ever meet someone and instantly need to know that person? I felt that gravitational pull instantly. I just want to speak to that guy, I'm not sure why but I need to talk to him- my exact thoughts the moment he left.

Attractive? Yes. My type? Absolutely not. To be the most honest I've ever been, he is the furthest from what I usually go for. He's all brains, like a whole lot smarter than me. White. Hazel eyes. Dark hair. Tan skin and not at all from here.

He's from San Diego and just moved here a year ago.

Has his PHD in neuroscience.

I've always had a thing for smart guys but I never usually go for them. I'm not sure why. I guess with age comes more confidence. Why not?

Somehow I found him online and messaged him. I shot my shot and surprisingly did not get turned down.

My friend hosted an event shortly after. He showed up and we made out the entire night drunkenly.

Before we kissed he said something that really made me think.

He told me I was intimidating and compared talking to me to talking to a celebrity. Then he was all "well not a celebrity because I don't care to meet celebrities..." and staggered along to explain how I was too cool for him. He said it was something about my aura or whatever, how I operate in a room. He stumbled over the words and said something along those lines. Well, it bothered me. May be a compliment to some but not to me. It made me feel like maybe I'm single because I have to be smaller. Less than I am now.

He saw my reaction to what he said and was all "It's a compliment. Its not a bad thing." But I couldn't help but feel otherwise.

We have been texting ever since but guess what:

He's not looking for anything serious. So, here I am once again. Falling but not falling at all. He's a psych professor. He's smart as fuck. I've never been more attracted to someones mind but I've been having the feeling I may need to let him go soon.

Here we go again.

I think not. I learned my lesson the hard way last time. But our lips intertwine like sand and water.

A perfect fit.

Isn't it funny how we text every day but I haven't seen him since.

Isn't it funny how I'm one foot in and one foot out.

[keelee-doodles]

Kai "suggested" that he take a picture of them both, y'know, for the memories.

I decided that I'm gonna make a list of some of the details and ideas I've had for this au, so here we go.

Jay, Cole, Kai, and Zane are 17, and Nya and Lloyd are 16

As of rn, Jay has the Ladybug miraculous and goes by Lightning Bug, Cole has the Cat miraculous and goes by Mau Kem, Kai gets to use the Fox miraculous and I'm thinking about calling him Revontulet (Finnish word for the Aurora borealis, literally means fox fire according to google), Zane I'm thinking would use the Turtle, Lloyd is going to be the Snake but I haven't thought of a name yet, and I dont know what to do for Nya but I kind of want to do Dragon

Jay lives on the outskirts of Ninjago City, where it borders the desert, with his parents in their scrapyard

He goes to a slightly upper class school, through scholarships (like for inventions and stuff), so he lives in the dorms and no one knows he grew up in a junkyard

Kai and Nya do know though, and have been friends with him since elementary school (I think I'm not going to have Ray and Maya dissapear, it'd just be to complicated)

They still have their elemental powers and they all discovered them about the same time, about a year before Jay and Cole get the miraculous

They all pretty much kept their powers secret, except Lloyd told Garmadon (oni are too complicated as well, so we get Good Dad) and Wu, and Kai and Nya told each other

Lou was very successful w his dancing and singing, and he became famous and rich and whatnot

Lou made Cole do vocals and dance as he grew up, he still does but he also allows Cole more freedom since he does so well, and since Lou is very busy with things

Jay didn't really like Cole when he first met him because he thought he was just another entitled rich kid, but he figured out that Cole is really kind and thoughtful and now he has a huge crush on him

Cole has a scar going from above his left eye to beside his eye from an accident when he was younger, but he doesn't like people asking about it so he hides it with makeup

Cole was pretty sheltered as a child

He was never really close with his father, but he was very close with his mother until she died when he was about 10 ("died" ;) )

Cole feels like he can really joke around some and have fun when he's Mau Kem, because no one is holding him to high standards as Lou's son, so he goes out on patrol as often as he can

Theres definitely more but I've already written a lot.