#actors get to; possibly are encouraged to; do it differently from one show to the next | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

templetogavage · 2 months

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Weekly Weighing (03/31/2024 to 04/06/2024)

Here are (more than) seven posts from gaining and encouraging Tumblr I enjoyed this week.

1. https://www.tumblr.com/vinnyeats/746507054171226112/gotta-love-krispy-kremes

Starting off with @vinnyeats in a classic fat boy pose, looking like a hog with an apple in his mouth.

2. https://www.tumblr.com/suitedbeef/746512630474309632/easter-pig

With Easter passed, it only seemed right to honor @suitedbeef and his themed outfit. Pleasingly snug, as always.

3. https://www.tumblr.com/sumbellies/746645036774604800

This week's first obligatory before and after picture. Congrats to @chubbxo for the 80 pound gain! And thanks to @sumbellies for getting this on my dash.

4. https://www.tumblr.com/gainingbellyboy3/746807659353817088

@bellychaser57 collected some excellent pictures of ratthew413, a chubby singer who I'd recommend following. Click through for more.

5. https://www.tumblr.com/glennk56/746685719971610624/cliff-emmich-in-the-1980s

@glennk56 posts quite a few delightful collections of chubby actors, but when this one crossed my dashboard, I knew I needed to include it. There's a variety of different looks here, for the handsome Cliff Emmich. Check out this blog if you're looking for other posts like this, too, they're a regular feature.

6. https://www.tumblr.com/quiet-admirer/746768984476647424/i-love-this-its-simple-elegant-inclusive

@yourfattestcow responds to @quiet-admirer's call for a BDSM-esque umbrella acronym for fat fetish, gaining & encouraging/weight gain kink, and feedism. I'm fond enough of it that I thought I'd share it- although I do think EFAB and FABE are also worth considering.

7. https://www.tumblr.com/joshcroissant/746814285781614592/ready-for-a-meeting-with-me

This post by @joshcroissant was actually one of the ones that convinced me to go for more than my minimum seven posts. When I saw this, I knew that I would have to include it. What's better than the slightest hint of belly peeking through, the slightest clinging of the shirt fabric to the fat underneath, the slightest rounding of the jawline, hidden by beard...sometimes fat men are just hot, and that's how it is.

8. https://www.tumblr.com/littleandlard/746826870079832064/come-cuddle

Love a pose like this- sometimes it's not about looking as hot as possible. If you're a good-looking guy, like @littleandlard, a bit of charm and sense of humor turns an ordinary, mundane image into something greater. This expression is just perfect.

9. https://www.tumblr.com/ryanporker/746851749427593216/my-patrons-know-to-ask-for-what-they-like-anyone

@ryanporker is out here producing some of the best roleplay/fantasy content in this space, apparently. I've been sleeping on his content. Highly recommend checking out this preview if you're looking for new content and want a solid pitch.

10. https://www.tumblr.com/zangtang/746917658799259648

There are always a few videos I find, and I have to be judicious about which to include- in a big text post like this, you only get one. So I convert one to a GIF whenever I can, and where I think it preserves the appeal. This short and sweet post by @gluttonbeefy is just good fun. Watching a belly flop and jiggle is a core part of what most of enjoy here, I think. Thanks to @zangtang for providing me with this and the next post.

11. https://www.tumblr.com/zangtang/746920967349125120

Belly on a countertop. It's just great to see the way bellies are shaped, to watch them move- even in a still image, seeing the way it hangs...@bearbellied knows exactly how to show off his belly at its best.

12. https://www.tumblr.com/mattyhalled1/746940178372968448/you-did-this-to-me-i-blame-yall

The second and final of this week's obligatory comparison pictures! @ilikeeverythicc has a great shape for this particular angle, I think- it really highlights every inch of fat there. And the contrast on display- there's a reason I try to include one of these types of photos every week.

13. https://www.tumblr.com/feeder86/746901149259546624/tommys-two-hundred

Finally, a snippet of a @feeder86 story. I quite enjoyed the overall trajectory of this one, and highly recommend giving it a read if you're looking for more gainer stories that focus on someone discovering a desire to gain with a partner.

And that's this week's Weekly Weighing!

#rotund roundup #weekly weighing

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kitkatt0430 · 17 days

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Hollywood comes to Central City, interviewing meta humans to try and make the powers for a super hero movie more realistic.

Barry arguing over how his powers work because everything they want to do with their speedy character is not how being a speedster works, it is wrong and bad, especially if they're just going to pretend there's no such thing as the Speed Force because then what the hell is protecting their speedster from the consequences of friction????

Cisco trolling his interviewer over how his powers work for the fun of it, when he isn't being distracted explaining how other meta powers work.

Mark Mardon wants to know if he could get a work release from prison to make the weather for the outdoor scenes more authentic. Who needs fake rain when their weather guy can make a real storm, right????

Frost keeps freezing their cameras and running away.

Leonard Snart convinces six different interviewers that he is six different types of meta. He's still not a meta.

Mick sets someone on fire. He somehow gets a date out of it because she's a stunt woman.

Lisa keeps stealing things from her interviewer and insisting it's very definitely her (non-existent) meta power and not her picking his pockets because he's a super easy mark.

Hartley keeps asking about how the studio treats it's minority workers and encouraging unionization of the non-unionized workers. They're listening.

Ralph attempts to get a job as a stunt man but can't seem to find the right person to talk to about auditioning. Teaches someone how to make balloon animals with his arm. Somehow no one realizes he's a meta despite this.

Top somehow gets cast and fired as the lead actress all in one day. Doesn't want to talk about it, just wants to ice her hand because breaking someone else's nose really hurts. No charges filed, everyone is suspicious.

Mirror Master leaves someone with a suspiciously broken nose trapped in a mirror. Team Flash unusually reticent about removing this guy from the mirror.

Eobard somehow manages to show up for an interview. Throws a fit when asked if the homoerotic undertones to his rivalry with the Flash are mutual or something he's bringing to the table alone.

Rainbow Raider offers to help actors be more authentic with their emotions. At least one actor takes him up on the offer, gives best performance of career.

Shawna takes her interviewer on a teleportation trip around Central City. Ends in a bar where they commiserate about shitty ex boyfriends.

Jitters sends Jaco to run a coffee booth for the interviews. Somehow he winds up with a bio-pic movie deal. No one knows how this happened, least of all him.

Goldface's interview devolves when his interviewer asks his second in command how long he's been in love with Keith. Though stunned, Goldface is receptive to the romantic possibilities, leaves his third in command in charge of the operation to whisk the second in command of to Coast City for the weekend. Interviewer possibly taking notes for a fanfic later on.

Amunet gets arrested for human trafficking after her interviewer turns out to be an undercover police officer that she 'spontaneously' confessed to.

#the flash #fanfiction #fic ideas

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thatfragilecapricorn30 · 3 months

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Is 'Will They or Won't They' about David and Gillian?

I finally got around to reading Will They or Won't They by Ava Wilder, which is a novel about two Hollywood actors (Lilah and Shane) that star in a hit TV show in which their characters are a fan-favorite ship, but the actors famously hate each other. The author is annoyingly coy about who the book is about (if anyone) and in The X-Files fandom, fans have speculated that it's about David and Gillian. So what did I think? (mild spoilers below)

Yes, the book is definitely about Gillovny!

The show Lilah and Shane star in (Intangible) is filmed in Vancouver and is extremely popular. It's also a paranormal show: "Walt's main innovation had been to bring in every mythological creature under the sun, as well as open the show up to the world of larger supernatural conspiracies (government or otherwise)." (pg 34)

Lilah, like Gillian, has short, chin-length red hair.

Shane is described as "beautiful" with "long legs, long lashes, dark hair that fell over his forehead without reaching his eyes. Not just beautiful, but attractive, too." (pg 4)

Lilah and Shane meet before their audition, in a room with all the other candidates. They chat while waiting and then are both hired due to their intense chemistry with each other, which is pretty much how The X-Files audition went.

Both actors are unknowns when they are hired and the show propels them to mega-stardom: "He was the only person who understood what she was going through, because he was going through it, too: the surreal, thrilling, terrifying, one-in-a-million experience of going from nobody to capital-S Somebody practically overnight." (pg 80) This sounds a lot like how David and Gillian describe their relationship.

They famously do not get along on set, meanwhile their on-screen chemistry is ever-present and their characters' slow-burn romance is what hooks the fans: "No matter how the two of them felt about each other when the cameras were off, it was the chemistry between their characters, Kate and Harrison, that made the show worth watching." (pg 16)

The showrunner suggests that Lilah and Shane go to couples counseling, which Chris Carter recommended to David and Gillian.

Lilah and Shane participate in a photoshoot that sounds just like the Rolling Stone shoot, in which they are in bed in minimal clothing, while the photographer takes pictures from above.

Lilah and Shane's characters are known for gazing at each other: "...staring longingly at each other when they thought the other one wasn't looking." (pg 19)

No, it's probably about some other couple or no couple at all.

There's no height difference between the two. In fact, it's specifically stated that Lilah and Shane are almost the same height (and Lilah is taller if she wears heels).

Shane was not interested in being an actor, but was scouted and encouraged to audition for the role of Harrison. He had zero acting experience before the show.

The book opens with Lilah returning to Intangible after leaving the show for four seasons. Which I guess is similar to The X-Files but is a much larger gap than David's absence.

Most of the similarities between this book and The X-Files occur in the first half. Once past that point, the characters are pretty fleshed out and don't seem like they are necessarily based on anyone in particular.

Parting thoughts:

There are so many similarities between Lilah/Shane and David/Gillian and their experience on The X-Files that it almost feels like it has to be about them. I've seen speculation that it's about Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev on The Vampire Diaries, which is also a possibility.

Whether or not it was about David and Gillian, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it if you're into romance novels.

If you read this book, what do you think? What famous Hollywood couple was Ava Wilder basing her story on?

#my.txf #the x-files #ddga #gillovny #txf

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ace-and-the-rpg-horrors · 5 months

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infodump about my unit swap AU!! mainly how the units formed :>

the idol group: Shizuku (leader), Ena, Tsukasa, Minori

Ena's photos on social media led to her being scouted by the same modelling agency that Shizuku worked for. they become good friends and both end up as idols at Cheerful Days. Shizuku quits earlier though, because Ena saw how the other members were treating her and almost immediately was like "err no, i'm not having that" and they both left, believing that their idol days were over

meanwhile, Tsukasa has decided to take a different path to stardom, aspiring to be a world-famous idol instead of an actor, somewhat inspired by his childhood friend. however, he isn't as successful, and similarly to Minori, many of his applications have been rejected. after Shizuku left Cheerful Days, learning of his bad luck, she tries to cheer him up by suggesting he join an unofficial group with herself and Ena. he accepts reluctantly, though insists it is temporary and that he will make it to a "real" idol group one day

Shizuku begins her second year of high school like Haruka in canon, going as a normal student. one day, she finds Minori on the rooftop practicing and is reminded of the most fun parts of being an idol. she offers to help Minori improve, and- having been missing Ena and Tsukasa since the two, while still friends, weren't able to talk as much once school started- contacts them to see if they'd like to help Minori out. Minori and Tsukasa, with their similar ambition and upbeat personalities, get along instantly and Minori is now the fourth member of their group

the online indie group: Kanade (leader), Saki, Ichika, Nene

the same circumstances led to Kanade starting to compose. one day, while bored and surfing the internet in hospital, Saki came across her music and started to write lyrics for it since it has resonated with her. she eventually decided to send her lyrics to this K person, who, to her surprise, responded, and even offered that Saki join her as a lyricist

once well enough to start high school, Saki excitedly tells Ichika all about her new hobby. Ichika still longs to bring their band from their childhood back together, but with little luck talking to Honami and Shiho, eventually joins Saki and Kanade's little group. she uses her guitar to add to Kanade's music and sometimes sings Saki's lyrics

Nene was still very much affected by what had happened in her middle school performance. yet, her desire to sing remained, even though she felt she could never face an audience again. one day, as she was listening to random music while gaming, a piece from K's group turned up. she stopped what she was doing and tried singing along to it- it fit her voice perfectly, as if it was made for her. with some encouragement from Rui, she made up her mind and asked if she could be a singer for their group. the other three, impressed by her clear skill, accepted

the theatre troupe: Emu (leader), Rui, Mizuki, Airi

Emu and Rui's meeting goes similarly to canon. desperately searching for cast members, Emu catches one of his illegal shows at PXL. she sees the park security before he does as he's distracted with his performance and whisks him away to the Wonder Stage, where she asks him to join her troupe. of course, he has no reason to refuse- and in addition, he has another possible member in mind. his old friend Mizuki, who would be great help with costumes, making the stage "cuter"- and something tells Rui that they'd make for a good actress too

the next rare occasion he sees them at school, he asks them to join. hearing of the state of the stage, as well as wanting to repay Rui for his company back then, Mizuki instantly agrees

meanwhile, Emu is on the hunt for more members at her own school. Airi, having quit her old work at this point, runs into Emu at one point. Emu recognises her from TV and excitedly tells the older girl that if she joins her troupe, she'll get the chance to make many people smile and spread hope. although it isn't exactly the idol future she wished for, Airi is convinced by Emu and becomes the main singer of the troupe whenever they do musicals

the street musicians: An, Akito, Haruka, Shiho

once An and Akito found out they had the same goal, they teamed up from the start and became a duo, so An didn't try to find a singing partner and Akito never ran into Toya singing, though i think they would still be decent friends through school, but not as close as canon

Haruka went through the same situation with Mai that led to her quitting as an idol. one day, wanting a change of scenery, she decided to meet up with An at Weekend Garage and when she arrived, she was greeted with her and Akito bickering over how they should sing lines in song. Haruka stepped in with her suggestions and the pair took a liking to her singing voice and asked if she wanted to join them. for a few days, Haruka was reluctant, but eventually gave into An's pleas and started singing with them on Vivid Street

while headed to the Miyajou music room to practice her bass, Shiho walked in on Haruka practicing her singing and was impressed by her work ethic. for a few weeks, they would practice songs together, Haruka singing along to the music Shiho played on the bass. eventually, after talking to An and Akito, Haruka invited Shiho to their group

Shiho was sceptical at first, and a bit put off by An and Akito's personalities when she first met them, but once she saw how serious they were about their goal, she felt she could relate to them a little with how driven they all were. Akito, inspired by Shiho's ability to both sing and play an instrument, decided to start learning the guitar

the band: Honami, Mafuyu, Kohane, Toya

Honami, even though she feels like it's a bit pointless since Saki, Ichika and Shiho have found different music groups, as well as not having the confidence to reach out to them all again, still continues to practice her drumming, even though she doesn't really know what her aim is

Mafuyu, not having ever come across K's music, hears Honami play one day as she walks past the school's music room. she senses a fellow person who doesn't really know what they're doing with their life and wordlessly enters and begins playing the piano in the room along with the drumming. Honami is surprised but doesn't stop. that is their routine for a while, simply playing the same song together without exchanging many words, but there's a silent understanding between them

Kohane did run into An's group practicing at Weekend Garage, but didn't return after running away the first time. however, her newfound interest in music remained and she visited the music room one day as Honami and Mafuyu were playing. she recognised the song and absentmindedly started to sing it as she stood by the doorway, accidentally catching their attention. however, Honami quickly stopped her from walking away and asked her if she'd like to continue singing along to their music

the three of them eventually became a band, but it did feel like something was missing. i'm going to say that in this AU, Mafuyu and Toya's parents are friends, so they know of each other. although Toya didn't particularly want to continue with classical music, he figured playing with people he could potentially befriend was much better than complete strangers, so when Mafuyu offers him a place in their group, he accepts. he becomes best friends with Kohane and agrees to become the violinist for their band. they often play at the Aoyagi house since it's got the most space

cross unit relationships

Rui and Nene: as childhood friends and neighbours, they are still extremely close despite not being in the same group. Rui is often in the background when Nene's on Nightcord calls. they share ideas with each other- though Nene does feel slightly down when she hears about everything Rui gets up to in his new theatre troupe as she somewhat wishes she was still able to join one

An and Kohane: never fear, Anhane will still occur despite them being in different units. Toya and Kohane head to Weekend Garage one day because Toya heard that their coffee was good and Kohane gets the opportunity to actually speak to An. they agree to stay in touch

Shizuku and Airi: they briefly met while they were both in the idol industry and remained good friends. Shizuku takes Airi's advice regarding being an idol and Airi is often inviting Shizuku to come see their shows. however, Shizuku always ends up lost, especially with the Wonder Stage in such an obscure location, so Airi has to send Rui to go looking for her- since he often plays the villain, he tends not to appear in performances until a bit later, giving him the time to go searching even when the show's due to begin

there are others but i am soooooooooo tired. this ended up well longer than expected

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squgs · 1 year

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HOTD and Ambiguity

So given that House of the dragon covers nearly 20 years of history (30 if you count the prologue), and a shit ton of characters in ten hours of television there's a lot of events that we don't see and ambiguities around characters. Characters rarely state their motivations and there are reasons to doubt them when they do. It is very easy to make wildly different claims about characters which, while incompatible with each other, can't really be disproved by the show so far. For example Daemon can be a pedo groomer abuser who just wants the throne, or a feminist malewife who will do anything for his queen. Neither of those are explicitly disproven by what we see on screen, though that is not to say that they're equally reasonable readings (I think that the 2nd is pretty ridiculous to be honest).

These different readings of scenes and characters and lines have contributed to the pretty ugly fandom discourse since there is enough evidence for mutually exclusive claims to argue extensively. Whoever your favorite character is you can twist the shown events in order to make them seem like a hero and for everyone who opposes them to be terrible. However I don't have anything worthwhile to say on that, so I want to talk about the writing on its own instead.

Now having uncertain motives can be interesting writing wise (show don't tell and all that), but I think that as House of the Dragon's first season continued it ran into more and more problems around this, especially with the time jumps and actor changes. When character's motives and wants are unclear after the time jumps first impressions are what will decide how most people view them. So when we first see Rhaenyra giving birth, and we first see Alicent trying to separate a newborn from her mother, and we first see Criston calling Rhaenyra a slur and we first see Harwin being a protective father and we first see Aegon bullying his brother, it adds up. Those first impressions are then applied forward and backwards leading to the idea that Alicent and Criston have been abusing Rhaenyra for ten years, and that in the training yard Criston the incel fucked around with Harwin and then found out (my read is that Criston the step-dad took advantage of Harwin being an entitled ass to get him fired).

(Side note about Criston: While the exact thinking behind his downward spiral in episode 5 is ambiguous, the scene between him and Rhaenyra in episode 4 is unambiguously rape given that he tells her to stop and she doesn't.)

In that way the show encourages very one sided readings of complicated and ambiguous scenes, leading to people either being annoyed that the show ignores all the terrible things that the greens are doing, or that it's unfairly biased against them. That's a problem, but things don't completely fall apart until episodes 9 and 10 when people start going to war. For all of the characters we still have no idea what they are fighting for. If we ask why Alicent crowns Aegon we have a bunch of possible answers:

Because she thinks Viserys told her to. This is stupid and I hate it.

Because she fears for her children's lives. This is a good reason, but it has not been brought up since episode 6 despite episodes 7 and 8 both featuring moments that would certainly validate that fear.

Internalized misogyny. This one makes no sense to me, and I haven't seen any convincing evidence for Alicent specifically having more internalized misogyny than any of the other women on the show. However it could be interesting if it was actually seen beforehand.

Ambition and pride. This isn't really seen in the show, but it certainly seems like an understandable feeling for Alicent to have after suffering through an abusive marriage for 20 years and being denied the two things that women are promised through marriage (her husband's protection of her and her children, and the inheritance of her son)

Now if we ask why Rhaenyra wants the crown enough to go to war for it (she agrees to lay siege to king's landing before Luke dies so I'm ignoring that) we have a similarly confusing list of possibilities:

Her dad told her to. This is the reason that I think fits best, but it isn't really delved into. I think there would be a lot of rich interesting stuff with Rhaenyra evaluating her father's legacy and whether she wants to continue it, but Rhaenyra never seems to acknowledge how much bad shit her father has done.

So she can fulfill the prophecy. This is stupid.

Ambition and pride. Also aren't really seen, but certainly understandable and believable.

She fears for her children. This also isn't really shown at all, but you could argue that she fears her children will be killed either to protect Aegon's claim or to put an actual Valeryon on the throne of Driftmark. However we don't really know Rhaenyra's view of the political situation.

To destroy the patriarchy. This would be interesting, but we don't really see her wanting to do that. We do see her usurp Baela's claim to Driftmark in episode 8 though.

These issues get even worse with the more minor characters, the worst example being Rhaenys for whom all her possible motivations contradict her previous actions and opinions:

To protect/honor her grand daughters: if this is what she wants why doesn't she take Alicent's offer of Driftmark, giving her granddaughters an inheritance and keeping them out of the war?

To protect Luke and Jace: she never shows them any affection except maybe in the background of the eye gouging aftermath.

Feminism: if she is willing to go to war in order to have a queen on the iron throne why didn't she fight for her own claim?

Because she wants peace: then why didn't she accept Alicent's offer which was made in the name of peace? Literally as soon as she and Corlys put their support behind Rhaenyra, Rhaenyra stops considering making peace.

Because she trusts Rhaenyra more than the greens: Why? She thinks that Rhaenyra and Daemon killed at least one of her children, she saw Daemon murder her brother in law and we have no reason to think she knows of any misdeeds done by the greens.

All these unclear motivations make the themes of the stories non-existent. The dance could have all sorts of different thematic meanings, all built around what is being fought for and against. It would be fascinating if Alicent and Rhaenyra were both fighting for ambition, making the show about how women are pitted against each other by patriarchy or if they were both fighting for their children and the show is about the cruelty of the system that doesn't allow power to be shared and forces branches of families to fight until one side is wiped out. However, for any meaning to be clear the writers have to know what it is and they have to write their characters with that meaning in mind. Hopefully the show can be more clear going forward, but I don't exactly expect that, and I think that without a coherent set up it's not going to mean much when bodies start dropping next season.

#house of the dragon #alicent hightower #rhaenyra targaryen #criston cole #rhaenys targaryen #hotd critical #pro team green

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sassylegshayne · 1 year

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support your local caffeine dealer: chapter 3

okay, okay I really feel like this is where the story starts to pick up, I hope y'all like it 💗 message me any thoughts about it!! this one is finally 2k words long!!

series masterlist🫶

texts will be bold and italicized like this

Shayne kept his word, even taking a different route home as to avoid passing by the shop. He almost couldn't bring himself to do it, but let's not dwel on that too much. He caught himself setting his alarms a bit earlier, hopefully giving himself the time to see you.

He's got a smile on his face as the familiar bell rings above his head at the start of the next morning, his eyes already searching for you behind the counte.

"Hey, getting the usual?"

He felt bad that he wasn't indulging in the lives of the employees, as he usually does, not wanting to put forth the effort for his small friendships today.

The man nods, relatively quiet as he pays and waits.

A small laugh from behind him catches his attention, turning to glance over his shoulder. You sat a few tables away, tugging your headphones off as you grin at him. Bite the bullet, you thought to yourself, you should enjoy these small moments with your favorite, pretty stranger.

"Come here often?" You chirp, chuckling as Shayne grabs his drink, shaking his head. You nod, motioning him over to you. You couldn't help but take in his outfit, his dark green shirt looks soft, fitting him well. Very well. As did his blue jeans, the small rips showing peeks of skin from beneath.

Shayne checks his watch, noting he could probably make it to work on time, he should take a few minutes to talk with you. He feels his heart racing in the best way possible, his palms begin to sweat again. The ability you held, making him more nervous than he thought anyone could, was something he hoped would never change.

"Ya know, I came here yesterday and the service was terrible, I don't know why I came back." Shayne chuckles, sipping his drink as he seats himself in the chair across from you, eyeing you over the edge of his cup.

You scoff, placing a hand to your chest as you shake your head softly.

"What a shame, you should talk to the manager about it," you shrug, leaning your arms onto the table.

"Not to pry into your life or anything but, what do you do for a living, Shayne? You seem to have quite a bit of free time to spend here."

Shayne nods, chuckling, it's only fair to share that information, obviously he knows where you work. Maybe this could be fun, sharing small parts of your lives with each other. This felt safe to him, this felt like a budding friendship, and he should allow it to happen.

"I'm an actor," he answers, waiting for any sort of eye roll or comment he's used to, but all he gets is an expectant look, you were encouraging him to continue. You wanted to hear mnore.

He allows himself to indulge, explaining that Damien works with him too, the both acting and staring as personalities on the internet. You thought it was cute, but didnt quite grasp the scale of how large their company was, and Shayne enjoyed that.

Itd been quite sometime since he'd met anyone who didn't have the same job as him, or didn't know him for his career. The two of you continued on for a while, lost in the small talk of getting to know each other. Small questions, where you were from, what brought you here; Shayne felt much more comfortable than he expected to when he satwith you.

He managed to speak to you, have a full conversation, he was proud of himself. And you were proud of yourself; you shared little, yes, but this was a beginning, this was a start for you two. Less strangers now, and that's what you wanted.

Shayne trailed off as his phone buzzes repeatedly, drawing his attention to the time. Forty-five minutes past the call time.

"Fuck.." The man muttered under his breath, running a hand through his hair and chuckling. "I'm sorry, I.. I really enjoyed this, Y/N, but am pretty late for a shoot.."

You looked to him with wide eyes, shaking your head.

"I'm so sorry, I really didn't mean to keep you here, butI had fun, this was nice." You offer, smiling brightly as he stands.

You chew your lip, grabbing a pen before taking his hand, quickly sprawling your number across his palm before you had the time to second-guess yourself.

"Text me or call me, if you want to." Your heart was pounding, a blush evident on your cheeks. What did you have to lose? If he texts you, that's great, if not, then you will continue on like it never even happened. Just two strangers whơve talked a time or two, nothing more.

Shayne looked from his hand, admiring your name scribbled beneath your number, back to you with a bright grin. He felt lighter, like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. You liked this, you enjoyed this enough to want to continue it. You wanted to text, to call, to give him more of your time, more of yourself.

"I will, I promise. I-I hope you have a good day, and, hey, maybe I'll see you tomorrow." He punctuates with a wink, spurring a small giggle from you, pink tinging your cheeks once more.

"Maybe I'll see you tomorrow, Shayne."

The man quickly exits the shop, stealing a look over his shoulder to find you meeting his eyes already, both of your faces plastered with small, shy smiles.

He makes quick work of texting lan that he'd overslept, he'd make it in a few minutes. He pocketed his phone as he entered the building, after adding you to his contacts.

"y/n☕" his screen read as he looked to the empty text thread.

His mind races with what to say, nothing seeming quite good enough, so he settles for sipping his drink. He'll figure it out later.

As he enters the set, his eyes meet Damien's, a smirk on his friends lips. Shayne shoots the man a confused look as he settles into his seat beside him.

"Late because you overslept but you still took the time to get coffee, hm."

Damien teased, prompting Shayne to tuck his drink beside his chair, under the table. He shrugged, wringing his hands together a bit nervously.

"I was already late, a few minutes wasn't gonna make it much worse."

Damien's eyes dart to Shayne's hand, his mouth agape as he breathlessly chuckles.

"ls that a phone number?"

Shayne shifts in his seat, hoping Damien hadn't caught your name inked into his skin as well. "Yeah, need to call about a casting for something, didn't wanna forget the number."

His chest burned as he spoke. He knew he didn't have to lie, he could've told his best friend the truth, and he wouldn't keep lying forever. He just wanted this to be his for now; wanted you to be his.

He knew his friends would love you, he knew you'd fit in, but for now, he was allowed to be selfish; keeping you to himself. You were special, he didn't want to rush anything. Shayne wanted you to be his, to share your light with his friends. But for now, you'd remain in his mind constantly.

You didn't want to admit it to yourself, but you were definitely waiting for a text from Shayne.

He's at work, he's probably just busy, he's probably with his friends, probably.. at lunch.

It sucked that you couldn't help your anxiety from putting you on edge, your mind running with every terrible possibility to explain why you hadn't heard from him.

As if Shayne knew, he finally got a free minute in his busy shooting schedule.

"hi"

He was already beating himself up, don't worry. He'd spent all this time dwelling on what he should say; maybe something funny, something flirty. But no, he settled for a simple hello.

"it took you that long to type two letters? very underwhelming"

Fuck, why would she say that? What has possessed her to immediately message him so rudely.

"Imfao, okay, that's fair. should start over? we can act like that never even happened"

He audibly chuckled, a bit surprised that she was so quick to poke fun at him. He liked a little bit of push and pull like that, the ability to bounce off of someone else.

"no, no, I'll take it, just try better next time"

She unknowingly brought another smile to his face.

"I gotta run back to a shoot, but talk to you later"

"maybe"

She was a bit giddy seeing him give her back a bit of the attitude she was giving him.

"ttyl maybe x"

His heart fluttered just a smidge when he reads the x. A hug? Cute.

Was he seriously overthinking a single letter in a text message from his favorite barista? He never thought he'd have a favorite barista, but here he stood, grinning at his phone.

Damien coughed a bit as he slid on to the couch beside his friend.

"You ready to tell me about it yet?"

Shayne mulled over his options yet again, still not certain what he should say, if anything at all.

"Well, I got her number this morning."

The brunette broke into a grin, eyebrows raised. Damien wouldn't have thought that he'd get that far, at least not yet. Shayne had been single for quite a bit now, unless you count a few unsuccessful dates. He'd seen Shayne do some shameless flirting with a stranger before, but something about this time felt different.

Damien nudges his shoulder into his friend's, nodding his head.

"I'm proud of you."

"She gave it to me."

This made him shrug,

"You still got it, you put forth the effort for it, didn't you?"

Shayne shrugged back, unsure of what exactly convinced you to give him your number, but he must've done something right.

Damien nodded, knowing exactly how Shayne's mind works, pretty much spot on for guessing his friends thoughts.

As you finish up your shift, your phone buzzes oftly in your pocket.

"no espresso now I'm depresso"

You coughed, caught off guard by the message, a bit of laughter spilling from you.

"that was terrible, I'm sorry about your lack of caffeine, but that was very, very bad"

She chewed her lip again, humming in thought before deciding she liked these small changes to see him much more than she thought she did.

"i can bring you some coffee if you want? can grab it before my shift ends"

Is he having a heart attack? Heart palpitations? All of the above? He tried to calm his breaths, his mind racing before he quickly moved through the office, heading straight for the games room.

He burst in as quietly as he could before heading toward Damien, who sat with headphones on, humming softly as he loaded into a game.

Shayne set his phone on the desk, the text thread lighting up his screen, allowing Damien to read over them.

As soon as the last message was read, Damien took off his headphones, spinning spinning his seat to face Shayne.

"Say yes, this is another opportunity to see her, and she'll learn some more about you." Damien encouraged, Shayne nodding his head softly.

Shayne didn't think he could speak, he might throw up. Why was he so nervous? She's just bringing coffee to his office, that's a very normal, very friendly thing to do.

"i'd love that, actually, but you don't have to, I can survive"

Shayne sat at his desk, his leg shaking in anticipation of a response.

"😇 send me the address, be there asap to help cure your depresso"

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thermodynamic-comedian · 1 year

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markiplier lore is queer: an essay by me.

dedicated to @system32-cleanmgr <2

so, to start things off, i wanna talk about the gender of it all. because of the gender ambiguity of the viewer insert in almost every markiplier lore video, the universe now has at least three canonical non-binary characters who go by they/them pronouns (wether these characters are all the same character, different characters, or kind of the same character is unknown).

but that's not where the gender fuckery of the better mcu ends. you see, there's also the (subtextual and mostly ignored, yes, but still relevant) overall gender fuckery of darkiplier's character. because, while they present male, they are still in some ways a combination of celine and damien, two people of opposite genders (not to mention the fact that they exist inside the body of the viewer from who killed markiplier, who's one of the formerly mentioned non-binary characters). so, while not explicit representation, i personally like to think of darkiplier as some flavor of genderfluid.

i also feel like damien and celine's specific gender expressions themselves affect darkiplier in some ways: while they're both (presumably) cis, the two still have very distinct ways of performing their respective gender identities. damien portrays a softer version of masculinity, whereas celine shows a slightly harsher femininity than what we're used to seeing in media. he's a bit clueless and sees things from an emotional, human perspective, and she's clearly used to being the rational, fast-paced one, always trying to find solutions. this dynamic might have something to do with them being siblings (and i'm assuming celine's the older of the two, purely because of all the talk of 'keeping damien safe'), and it's not inherently queer, but it is interesting to me that these characters have such specific ways of acting out their genders.

now, this one's not as important, but i would also like to mention the casual usage of they/them pronouns for other characters as well. in in space with markiplier: part 2, mark explicitly refers to the character of lady by they/them pronouns multiple times (this could also be either because they're an alien and mark doesn't know how they identify, or because their actor, lio tipton, is non-binary, but to me, that reads as somewhat solid confirmation that the character goes by they/them pronouns), and mark himself is referred to as "they" by the narrator at least once.

this isn't really a gender identity thing, but rather a gender expression thing, but i do also wanna talk about wilford warfstache and his gender non-conformativity. i do think he identifies as male, all things considered, but he doesn't seem the least bit interested in masculinity as a concept, favouring traditionally (i say traditionally, but i do mean societally, since pink used to be considered a boy color) feminine colors like pink and yellow, and being more than open to expressing his feelings and encouraging other characters to do the same.

now i'm gonna get into the sexualities. how are queer sexualities portrayed in markiplier lore?

well, that's a hard question to answer; no character has ever been (as far as i know) specifically stated to be of any sexual orientation. although there is a high possibility that wilford is pansexual, since he was clearly in love with celine, but it's implied he doesn't really care about the gender of whomever he happens to be romantically or sexually involved with at the time (i.e. him casually asking abe if they used to date, because that really is a possibility).

aside from wilford, because of the ambiguous gender of the viewer insert, a lot of characters end up being inadvertedly queer because of their attraction to them, most of them most likely falling on the m-spec.

there's also something to be said about abe the detective. is he gay or not? well, again, nothing's canon, but i think it's safe to assume he isn't straight. the "accidental" homoerotic innuendos he makes constantly seem less like a joke about being gay, and more like a joke about having repressed, sexual thoughts about someone, and having those thoughts emerge as those kinds of comments.

the "would anyone like to join me?" comment might just be will making fun of him, but i can't find it in myself to think actor mark is straight either. i guess it's just a headcanon, but let's be honest, he's every 'subtly' queer-coded old cartoon villain ever. he's rich, dramatic, petty, and vain, and frankly sometimes being evil and queer is just a fact of life.

but i'm not gonna go further into my headcanons on here, lest this post turn into a list instead of an essay, so i'll just wrap it up here. thanks for listening to my ramble.

#markiplier #markiplier cinematic universe #darkiplier #markiplier lore #iswm #ahwm #adwm #wkm #in space with markiplier #a heist with markiplier #a date with markiplier #who killed markiplier #fritz rambles too much

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jmflowers · 2 months

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Pls talk abt the diffs between st19 and GA. Would love to read your TV production nerd language!

Well, only took me 10 days to finally find time to get to this… my apologies, anon! I hope you're still interested.

I took notes during episodes 20x02 and 7x02 of Grey's Anatomy and Station 19 respectively to formulate my answer to this, but I should disclose that I have not been an avid watcher of Grey's Anatomy in about a decade. Despite my education in technical film and television production, anything stated here is my own opinion. Art is subjective and I absolutely do not have all the answers.

Let's start with Grey's…

So, from when Grey's first premiered in 2005 until the 10th season, the show was shot on film. That fact lends a lot to the stylistic formula of the show, which is not something you ever really want to change. (Fans arrive for a certain feel, thus a production bible is created that is adhered to for - hopefully - the entirety of a piece of work.)

I think it's most obvious in the coverage of scenes; shots are long and flowing, often moving around subjects as they converse with each other. By shooting this way, they would've protected themselves from needing to reset as frequently and it makes the editing process a lot more seamless. Also, in my experience, it just makes it easier to translate a director’s vision from set into the editing room.

(In film school, a lot of people will take a million different angles of a scene, all in little snippets, because it guarantees you'll have what you need for an interesting edit. However, if you work a bunch of continuous shots of the scene, actors get the opportunity to really immerse themselves in it - resulting in better performance - and the final edit has fewer possible iterations of what it could look like. Why don't students do this? Firstly, it's harder - more risk of having something in the background that will screw things up, more challenging to cut together if you have to remove a singular moment, harder to keep steady if you're not comfortable with stabilizing equipment or don't have any. Secondly, professors don't often encourage it because a lot of people are really terrible at camera operation if they're not trained properly.)

Anyways, all that to stay is Grey’s has this really fluid style to how they shoot. Nearly every shot is moving in some way, whether it’s a dolly, a pan, a tilt, etc. Let it be said that they are really, really good at this formula.

Another component of this is wider angle shots so that the characters can be continuously moving – think of those classic hallway walking scenes as a prime example. Allowing the actors to really move in a space helps to build tension without needing a bunch of little cuts and camera angles. This means there are some scenes in the show that only have one camera angle present before it moves onto the next scene, which isn’t super common in my experience.

Not to say that they don’t utilize closeups – Grey’s is a drama so it’d be kind of weird to not make use of closeup shots for the showing of emotion. However, the closeups seem to predominantly occur in the OR. My guess as to why that is would be in helping the audience differentiate who is who (as well as what they’re feeling), since part of their faces have to be covered during operations, but that’s pure speculation on my part.

And beyond all of that, Grey’s is visually still a drama. A lot of moments occur at night. Scenes are often darker, with more focus on backlighting than clear illumination of character faces. I find their blacks a lot stronger, which is probably something to do with their colouring.

There’s also just fewer action-packed moments, since the story often takes place with people just talking, so there doesn’t appear to be as much of an editing technique called “cutting on the action”. Which, honestly, makes sense if they’re filming longer takes. (Shoutout to my prof who constantly gave triple-take homework and made me completely ridiculous about cutting. on. action. You broke me, my dude.)

Conversely, Station 19 has a very different formula…

As an action drama, that was never shot on film, S19 adheres to a completely different bible. One that they rewrote after season 2 (I think? When did the voiceover intros stop?), you’ll probably notice, when they decided to veer a little further away from their identity as a Grey’s Anatomy spinoff.

The first thing I always notice is that a lot more of S19 scenes happen during the day, since the unspoken law of most episodes is that they begin as the team is coming onto their shift first thing in the morning and then stretches through their 24-hour. Scenes are just brighter and more illuminated – more of the sunlight streaming in windows and less of the visible nighttime cityscape you’ll notice in Grey’s. I also really love that they usually begin this time period with the characters at home, whereas Grey’s seems to have episodes finish with that.

Light is also obvious in how things are coloured on S19. Their blacks don’t seem as dark in the final colouring, which may have something to do with the navy blue of their uniforms. It also just feels like there’s more white present on their sets? But that can’t possibly be true because Grey’s literally takes place in a hospital.

Anyways, S19 fully subscribes to the shooting and editing style of an action production. Scenes have lots of coverage (they utilize over-the-shoulder shots which don’t happen as often in Grey’s), there are lots of quick cuts in the edit, and their shots are overall steadier or static with less of the flowy movement that Grey’s has. They also use a lot more closeup and tighter framing, focusing on cowboy and up – unlike the Grey’s formula of a full-body shot. (A cowboy shot covers from the middle of the thigh to the top of the head, ie. you would be able to see the cowboy’s gun in its holster… anything above that is a tighter framing.)

And S19 loves a montage. I can’t say for certain whether Grey’s still uses those, or if they ever really did, but S19 leans into a zero-dialogue montage edit for storytelling. Which I don’t find super common, as I think some people believe it’s a little too artsy or stylistic, but I think is a really effective way to get a plot point across sometimes. Do we really need to know exactly what they said or is it enough to see that they were smiling when it happened? Film and television are visual medias and fanfic writers everywhere are grateful for the gaps in the story that they get to fill in with their own headcanons. (I said what I said.)

I’m sure there’s lots more things I could probably point out on why Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19 complement each other while looking like they could be from completely different universes, but that’s all I wrote down while watching them both live. Hopefully my film theory professor and my screenwriting professor are proud of me for this analysis.

Thanks for the question, anon! Always here to answer and talk nerdy if anyone ever has any more.

#film and television production #janelle's asks #anonymous #grey's anatomy #station 19 #visual media #analysis #what else do I tag?#fuck if i know #talk nerdy to me

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fawnfictions · 8 months

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Could you do platonic headcanons for Mei with a female reader? I love the monkie kid team but Mei deserves to have girl friends!!

dragon girl besties

— mei & fem!reader

u are actually so right!!! mei deserves more love from ALL of us, and away from those stinky boys /j

serious for a moment tho—it makes me sad to see quite a lot of the fanbase don't like her? which, i sort of get to some degree, but c'mon!! its silly dragon girl!! shes so cool!!!

;; platonic, just besties being besties, girl moment with no warnings.

MEI

- she would be SO EXCITED to have another gal in the group.

- as much as she loves her friends, hang outs with only girls hit different, and she's never really gotten the chance to experience those 'girl only' sleepovers or (platonic) dates.

- so, she's deciding a time and place the MOMENT you're free to hang out.

- would definitely take you to the arcade, and doesn't let MK come despite his complaints.

- eventually, though, you and Mei would be besties with MK and Red Son.

- just.... let Mei make up for lost time, first, yeah?

- she'd be dragging you around, showing you all of the best arcade machines, encouraging you to play them with her, whilst getting your ass handed to you every time.

- very determined to make you her friend, so she's pulling out ALL the stops.

- taking you to the coolest hangout spots, buying you snacks, showing you her favourite songs.

- and sleepovers? ARGH

- she is doing ALL the classic 'mean girls' sleepover tropes.

- painting nails? check, watching cheesy romcoms? of course, gossiping? ABSOLUTELY.

- at one point, MK tries to sneak in when the two of you were gossiping while painting each others nails.

- when noticed, he got a face full of pillow-attacks. it was safe to say, he wouldn't try to join in the 'super secret girls-only sleepover' ever again.

- then you go back to giggling, whilst pointing out attractive actors in the movie playing on screen.

- i feel as if her parents would be glad that she's got a girl friend, too—like, hanging out with men constantly is fine, but the friendship between two girls can be more healing and relaxing.

- plus, she's able to be less boyish around you, able to let her inner teenage-self out.

- i feel like shes actually really good at styling your hair,, she'll happily sit behind you and braid it, or put it in cute buns, whatever you want!!

- she becomes lowkey protective of you?

- not in the possessive or too-far sorta way, but in the girls-gotta-stick-together sorta way.

- just always looks out for you, and is probably to first to come to your aid, or realise if you're missing/something is wrong with you.

- and, of course, you'd do the same for her!

- if you had become friends BEFORE the Samadhi Fire events, you definitely would've had a helping hand in calming Mei down, and getting her to control the fire within.

- she definitely seeks comfort from you if MK isn't around, or if it's specifically not for his ears.

- she'd tell you a lot that she wouldn't feel comfortable confiding in MK for, which tends to strengthen the bond between you two quite a lot.

- ABSOLUTELY becomes your wingman wingwoman if she finds out about any possible crushes/love interests.

- she is, surprisingly, really good at keeping secrets sometimes.

- but, if you want to be really good friends with her, you've gotta get along with MK, too.

- she'll be so happy if the two of you get along REALLY well—now, she has two bestfriends!! (not including Red Son, but hes there too ;)) )

- overall, Mei as a bestie would be so fun!! and it'd make her so happy!! to have a good female friend—even if she is a tad overwhelming with it, at first; she's just excited at the opportunity :(

#lego monkie kid #— fawns fics #lmk #fluff #headcanons #mei #mei & reader #platonic

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rabbiitte · 8 months

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I don't understand Mew haters, I really, honestly don't. 😭

I get you Anon. I felt the same way a couple of weeks ago, but I already rationalized it. Actually, I think it makes sense that Mew is one of the most hated characters on the show (next to Boston and Top). Allow me to elaborate, I've identified three main reasons contributing to Mew's widespread unpopularity:

1 | Mew is a threat to Sand and Ray's relationship.

As we know, most people who watch Only Friends do so for their ships (in fact, this is something that the Thai industry encourages a lot in BLs). First and Khao are a very adored duo, this is related to the fact that they have more trajectory than the rest of the actors (many of whom are relatively new faces to those not deeply immersed in the Thai BL scene). As someone pointed out here on tumblr, people want a different story with the same ending, in which First a Khao (in their respective roles) stay together. Well, In this context, Mew emerges as a potential disruptor to the envisioned blissful resolution. A word from Mew is enough to jeopardize everything the Ray and Sand built.

2 | Mew isn't a transparent character.

Mew's enigmatic nature adds to the discomfort expressed by viewers throughout the series. Since the beginning of the series I've seen a lot of comments from people saying they feel uncomfortable because they can't read Mew. Basically, that which is unknown is uncomfortable. Mew is what I call "a character to interpret." In contrast to counterparts who lay bare their motivations, Mew shrouds his intentions in secrecy. He acts and, based on the clues offered by the narrative/visual storytelling, you must interpret his actions. The receptive audience, attuned to these cues, can discern subtle hints, such as those suggesting Mew's romantic sentiments for Top. Conversely, those less receptive might try to make Mew fit into the narrative they themselves have created, proposing interpretations grounded in personal perspectives and experiences. That's why there are so many people who say they dislike Mew because they know someone similar in real life. In essence, those who overlook narrative cues may attempt to fit Mew into personalized narratives, offering alternative explanations, such as positing that Mew's actions regarding Top are not fueled by love but by a desire for revenge due to a perceived superiority complex, divorcing it from heartbreak.

I think most people try to fit Mew into a negative narrative because he doesn't generate too much empathy. Typically, beloved characters resonate deeply with the audience, fostering a sense of identification and emotional connection (like Ray, Sand, or Nick). However, Mew's development has gone the opposite route to the route that would elicit empathy. Yes, we support Mew's revenge but, in real life, to get revenge on an ex is an uncommon choice. Despite outward declarations of support for revenge, societal moral education remains influential. In Mew's case, the chances of feeling empathy for him in his revenge era are constrained and contingent on specific conditions:

the revenge must be inventive yet not excessive, calculated without veering into obsession, causing harm without irreparable ruin. Mew is expected to mirror Boston but without becoming someone worse.

As I say, the possibility of the audience feeling an emotional connection to Mew at this point in the story, if they haven't already, is quite unlikely and diminished.

3 | Mew is the main character.

Undoubtedly, all the characters in Only Friends are protagonists but Mew is the main character. Don't know what the difference is between a main character and a protagonist? Don't worry!

Main Character: This term refers to the central character in terms of importance or relevance to the story. The development of the story revolves around this character, and often, his actions or changes are fundamental to the plot. He may or may not face the main conflicts, but their presence has a significant impact on the narrative.

Protagonist: This term refers to the character who drives the plot, the one who faces the central conflicts. The protagonist is not always the main character, although in many stories they are. The story's perspective is often presented from the protagonist's point of view.

In short, the main character is central in importance, while the protagonist is central in action, facing the crucial challenges of the story. Often these two roles overlap, but may be different in some stories.

In this case, Mew shapes the story's development and the protagonists' development, without him we wouldn't have any story (just think about it) because he's the center of the story. One of the side effects of this is increased screen time, something that people seem to be annoyed at (especially those who initially thought First and Khao were the main characters). I don't know what the order of publication of the promotional images was (although the most renowned actors always appear first, as in the case of the intro), but Mew occupies a central place in the official poster and takes the lead role in the trailer (so I don't know where that idea really came from). From the beginning, it was clear that Mew would assume a central role in the story. Do you see what I mean about how people don't get the clues that the narrative offers (the visual narrative is created even before the broadcast of a visual material, in promotional images)?

Although, even without any preconceived ideas, Book is a relatively new actor and some find it controversial to cast lesser-known actors in major roles.

#only friends the series #only friends series #only friends #ofts #mew #book #thai bl #gmmtv #only friends meta #only friends analysis #ofts meta #sandray #firstkhao #topmew #forcebook

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howstrangethingshappen · 2 years

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My Thoughts Since the Volume 2 Interview

So, I finally watched the volume 2 unlocked [I say, as it was premiered 12hrs ago], and after hearing one specific quote from one specific actor... let's just say it got me thinking.

Finn said this: "...And I think they were really excited about just the idea of me having like… professing my love finally kind of to Eleven," when he was asked about The Monologue.

Key words here: kind of.

Finn himself said that Mike only kind of professed his love for Eleven. But what does this mean?

We know earlier in the episode, Will used El as a buffer to profess his love for Mike with the painting (as I made clear in my previous post written by me where I swapped out El's pronouns for Will's). And I'm pretty sure we all saw the way Mike was looking at Will as he said those words: heart eyes, glancing at his lips, the smile he gave just before Will started crying (poor bby he really thinks Mike doesn't love him back).

What if... Mike did the same thing?

What if Mike used El as a buffer to profess his love for Will?

To be fair, this is a stretch, as the actors (including Finn himself) have said that Mike is fairly oblivious to Will's feelings. But perhaps, some part of Mike, deep down inside him, caught on to what Will was trying to do. Even if he didn't consciously realise it, maybe Will's encouragement and love for him, even if Mike may have seen it as platonic, could still have encouraged him to use El as a buffer, too.

What does this mean for the monologue, though?

A few lines in Mike's monologue don't apply to Will, the same way that a few lines in Will's don't apply to Mike. Yes, I know, none of us want to read it... but for the purposes of my theorising, I'll put it in:

"I want you to know I’m here; I’m right here. And… I love you. Do you hear me? I love you. I’m sorry I don’t say it more... but I am scared that you’ll realise that one day, you won’t need me anymore. And I thought that if I said how I felt, it would somehow make that day… hurt more. But the truth is… I don’t know how to live without you. I feel like my life started the day we found you in the woods… and I knew right then and there, in that moment, that I loved you. And I’ve loved you every day since. I love you on your good days, I love you on your bad days… I love you for exactly who you are… and… I can’t lose you. Okay? Do you hear me? I can’t lose you."

Those two lines in bold... sound familiar?

Will, to Mike in the van [pronouns changed for accuracy on what Will was actually saying]: "If I was mean to you or I seemed like I was pushing you away, it's because I'm scared of losing you, just like you're scared of losing me. And if I was going to lose you, I... I think I'd rather just get it over with quick. Like ripping off a Band-Aid.

So yeah, I need you, Mike. And I always will."

Pay attention to specifically this:

Mike: I am scared that you'll realise that... you won't need me anymore.

Will: I need you, Mike. And I always will.

Mike: I can't lose you.

Will: I'm scared of losing you, just like you're scared of losing me.

These lines directly parallel each other. It's almost like... Will and Mike are talking to each other through Eleven. Why do they do this? We all know being gay wasn't exactly accepted in the 80s. Sure, some progress was probably made from the 60s [Stonewall Riots], but it was still very taboo. Will and Mike both know they can't just profess their love for each other out in the open, they have to be careful about it. That is why Will used El as a buffer, and why Mike maybe did the same. Their confessions may have been different in that Will used El's name & pronouns, and Mike used memories him & El shared to help encourage her [also to possibly throw the others off his trail], but ultimately, the subtext is there. The subtext is there.

And Finn's comment on Mike only kind of professing his love for El shows that maybe, this theory is right. Mike also stated to Will that he & El 'hadn't talked much' since his profession of love. Logically, Mike and El should be even more in love than before, spending all of their time together like in s3 [you go heteronormativity], but this is not the case. They haven't talked much since. Why would they not? Maybe because El knows Mike's confession wasn't genuine, in that it wasn't to her. She picked up on the fact that even though she signed all of her letters, Love, El, he always signed his From, Mike and never Love, Mike. And when El mentioned that he said he loved her in season 3, Mike had no idea what she was talking about. Surely you'd remember something like that if you meant it, right, Michael?

If Mike is 'completely oblivious' to Will's romantic feelings, then you would have to cancel out Mike almost immediately knowing when something was wrong with Will in previous seasons; being so in tune with him that he just knew what he was feeling. Sure, Mike and Will may have drifted apart in the year since Will moved to California, but judging by the lines in their confessions, distance may have made the heart grow fonder, and that fear of losing each other because of their queerness may have sprung up [you're the heart kill me now]. If Mike was completely oblivious, why parallel Mike and Will's lines in their monologues to the point that, when put together with subtext included, almost seems like a heart-to-heart conversation? Almost like it's Mike and Will confessing their feelings for each other? And combined with Finn's comment I've reiterated, it seems pretty clear that that is the case; that it was actually Mike confessing his love for Will using El as a buffer, the same way Will did in the van.

Key Points:

Mike only kind of professed his love for El

Mike and Will's monologues parallel to the point where it seems like they're having a heart-to-heart with each other

Mike possibly used El as a buffer, the same way Will did, to confess his true feelings for Will

This is the longest post I've made so far and ngl I'm excited! Let me know y'all's thoughts! & lmk what else you'd want me to analyse, if anything ♡♡♡

#byler #mike wheeler #will byers #stranger things

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arewedoneyet · 10 months

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Check out my story from "Here's to the Dreamers" campaign and Jeff Satur's Essentials Playlist on AppleMusic!

Playlist Link: https://music.apple.com/playlist/jeff-satur-essentials/ pl.7722c40a507a4309676225594450075

via jeffsaturthailandofficial @ facebook | 04082024

Disruptors, change-makers and boundary-pushers excite us with their diverse perspectives on art and life. Jeff Satur is one trailblazing storyteller whose unique story fascinates and inspires. Since picking up the guitar at the age of nine, the Bangkok-born singer-songwriter, producer and actor has lent his soulful voice to gorgeous ballads whose joy and heartbreak resonate with listeners—assisted by a consummate musicality that draws on a rich, varied vein of experience. Below, Satur shares with Apple Music some insights into his career as an artist from Southeast Asia on the world stage.

What challenges have you faced while pursuing a career in music?

“I think music is the only thing that can bring people together as one unit, creating a shared energy that inspires happiness and a sense of release in their lives. It’s almost like a form of medicine, unlike anything else in the world. Music helps you through difficult times and can alleviate sadness, especially when experiencing live concerts. For me, writing music is a chance to fulfil my purpose, as if I was born to do it—and it places me in the right environment. I have also learned that there is no definitive ‘right’ choice when it comes to music. You won’t know if it’s the best choice until you genuinely enjoy it. It’s like a challenge to stay dedicated and not drift away from your passion. So you just keep going for it.”

Can you share a moment when you felt like giving up on your dreams and what ultimately motivated you to keep going?

“I remember getting older, around 25 years old, and experiencing a wrong feeling that led me to consider quitting music due to the pressures of growing up. I had to get a job to earn money, and at that point, I didn’t believe that releasing a song would improve anything. Live shows and concerts had come to a halt, but despite those challenges, I remained determined to focus on my music. It was my primary source of motivation. I pushed myself to continue, even if the results weren’t perfect. To keep my inspiration alive, I attended movies and concerts, seeking more motivation to write—and seizing any opportunity that came my way.”

As a Southeast Asian artist, what unique cultural influences do you incorporate into your music?

“For me, there are no boundaries when it comes to creating music. In my song ‘Dum Dum’, I use traditional instruments that resonate with my identity and feel authentic. These instruments evoke the sounds I remember from my childhood, tapping into instincts that seem inherent, like an innate drawing that you’ve had since birth. Incorporating these instruments into my music is a way of expressing what I truly desire and wish to explore.”

Have you faced any specific challenges or opportunities as a Southeast Asian artist in the global music scene?

“I used to follow a certain pattern but I’ve learned how to distinguish myself from others because everyone’s style is unique. Why is it different? It’s because I’ve learned from series I’ve watched, songs I’ve been into, and books I’ve read. I try to be as authentic to myself as possible because I believe I’ve already internalised those influences and now want to share my true self with others without fearing judgment.”

Can you share any advice or encouragement for aspiring artists who may face similar challenges?

“As an artist in the global music scene, it’s crucial to leverage your unique background to set yourself apart. There are no boundaries between languages or challenges I’ve faced so far. While Thai may not be as familiar to many when writing music, I remain true to myself. I’ve explored both Western and Asian music and they have intermingled within me, allowing me to create something original that resonates with people—and the melodies flow naturally. The impact these melodies have on people is what inspires me even more.

“To reach a broader global audience, I enjoy surprising myself—for instance, by releasing two versions of my songs. This continuous effort breaks down the boundaries, making them thinner and thinner. My advice? The world’s market is expanding and there’s a lot to discover in Asian music. I immerse myself in Thai music and music from other countries, drawing inspiration and making the music my own. It’s essential to ensure it sounds authentic to myself, as differentiation from others is vital. In the past, I used to fear my music wasn’t good enough, so I didn’t write or produce my own songs. However, I realised the importance of being myself and changed my attitude towards my career, writing my music and embracing my true identity.”

#kinnporsche #kinnporsche cast #jeff satur

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captainlordauditor · 1 year

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Enough about in-universe superhero RPF. I wanna talk about how fanfic and the stuff it’s of is different in universe

in the DCU, the MCU is not as popular as it is in ours. It probably holds a similar place as Fast & Furious does for us - there’s a dozen movies, and everyone’s probably seen one or two, but it’s not as omnipresent as our MCU because it’s not as escapist or fantastical

Powerpuff Girls, American Dragon, Kim Possible, etc don’t exist. They fall under the “this would encourage kids to do way too much dangerous shit” provision.

Henry Danger on the other hand, DOES exist, because it’s the 12 year old equivalent of a workplace comedy

DCU Star Trek TOS couldn’t get a Martian on deck due to budget constraints, but in TNG, instead of being Betazoid, Deanna Troi is Martian

Very Special Episode where they meet a Betazoid and we learn that Not All Telepaths Are The Same. This is a heavy handed metaphor for race vs culture

"Mulder, if the government isn’t trying to cover up the existence of Martian Manhunter, why would they be trying to cover up the existence of Reticulians?”

Marvel universe Law & Order’s 50+ Very Special Ripped From The Headlines Episodes about mutant discrimination

Assorted controversies about hiring actual alien/mutant actors to play alien/mutant characters

Magneto biopic. Nuff said

Vampires are real so an awful lot of Buffy The Vampire Slayer is identity porn and not, like, the broader urban fantasy masquerade

Occasionally Sam and Dean team up with local (made up for the show, of course) superheroes who try to get them to have secret identities

potential Doctor Who episodes:

DCU: the Doctor meets the All Star Squadron. The current Ray gave them permission to use his dad, the first Ray, but only if Donna gets to punch the first Ray in the face

Marvel universe: the Doctor meets the Howling Commandos. Ends with a heart touching moment where they meet present day Cap.

“My headcanon is that Sherlock is actually a mutant with memory powers but since they didn’t have DNA testing in the 1880s nobody knows that”

hundreds of fics where omegaverse dynamics are just a common meta/mutant power

“....and they were ALL MUTANTS ALL ALONG” being the equivalent of “IT WAS ALL A DREAM” but for urban fantasy instead of secondary world fantasy

#marvel #dc comics #detective comics comics

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after-perfect · 1 year

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Something crossed my mind earlier about der Tod's relationship with Rudolf in Elisabeth, and why der Tod tosses him aside in Mayerling, but later lays Elisabeth down quite gently or even carries her offstage. I'm not sure I agree with this idea, but I'd be interested to hear other people's thoughts on it.

Under the cut, because I'm going to talk about suicide, and it's possibly even darker than most discussions of the Mayerling scene. So - warning for that.

Most of my Elisabeth interpretations depend on the actors involved, and I tend to stick to analyzing my 3 favourite Tods (Uwe, Máté, and Mark). For this one, I'm mostly talking about Uwe's and Máté's Tods, whom I generally read as actual beings or gods of death. Mark plays it quite differently and I don't think this interpretation fits him, though I may make a separate post at some point.

There's plenty of debate about how der Tod feels about Rudolf - is he mostly using him as a means to get to Elisabeth, or does he care about him for his own sake?

What if it's both? Or rather, what if it's one, then the other?

I definitely believe that der Tod feels some kind of obsession/desire/whatever for Elisabeth that he considers to be love, whether or not most humans would call it that. And because he's Death and not used to feeling this way about anyone, the ways he goes about expressing his feelings are - well, not what most humans would want a lover to do (e.g. interrupting her wedding dance to manhandle her; killing little Sophie).

Maybe der Tod's initial interest in Rudolf is purely because he's Elisabeth's son, and he shows up for Mama, wo bist du? just to get the ball rolling for his future manipulations. But then he actually talks to Rudolf for a minute and discovers that the kid's kind of interesting (is this mostly because of the cat? Or does he see a lonely little boy and feel something like sympathy?). First of all, that would suggest that der Tod has the potential to be interested in and to care about many other humans, but that Elisabeth and now Rudolf are the first people he's paid much attention to. And there's a whole lot to build on with that possibility, but that's not my main point. Second, the result is that he really does stay close to Rudolf and become increasingly attached to him, in his own strange way.

If that's the case, what's going on in Die Schatten werden länger? Some form of seduction, certainly. Is he trying to induce Rudolf to kill himself then and there? Is he encouraging him to do things he knows will lead Rudolf to despair and desperation (greif nach der Macht, etc.)? Is he giving him a very twisted sort of pep talk for what he thinks is Rudolf's own good because he actually kind of likes the guy?

After that, their next onstage interaction is Mayerling, and what happens with the gun is interesting. For most of the scene, the Todesengel are basically playing keep-away with it, passing it back and forth between themselves while Rudolf frantically chases after it. And the thing is, at any point in this scene, Rudolf could stop chasing the gun. He could walk away; he still has a way out. But he doesn't. He chases that gun right into der Tod's arms. Even then, he still has a chance to change his mind. Elisabeth has turned away from der Tod when she was inches from that final kiss, and Rudolf could too. Der Tod may put the gun in Rudolf's hand and (in some productions) even push it towards his head, but it's Rudolf's finger that pulls the trigger. In other productions, Rudolf has even more agency as der Tod simply holds up the gun; it's Rudolf who reaches for it and puts it to his own head.

Even though he spends the Mayerling Waltz either flailing after the Todesengel or being jerked around like a rag doll by der Tod - which makes him look as helpless as he probably feels at this point - Rudolf is actually being given one big long opt-out. And if that doesn't perfectly express what it's like to be on the brink of suicide, I don't know what does. The feeling of being powerless to fight whatever's brought you here, the feeling that you've passed the point of no return. You may not even be aware at this point that you still have other options or that you're the one making this choice, but you are.

(Note: I don't mean to blame or disparage those who attempt or complete suicide. That feeling of powerlessness is very real and very overwhelming, and it's incredibly difficult to see any way out when you're in the middle of it. Not to get too personal, but - firsthand experience on this one.)

Rudolf, consciously or not, makes that choice all through Mayerling. He chases the gun, in some cases he puts it to his head, and he pulls the trigger. It looks to the audience - and probably feels to Rudolf - as though der Tod is the one forcibly kissing him, but in a less literal sense, it's the opposite.

So assuming that der Tod does in fact care for Rudolf, and gives him the best part of a full dance sequence to change his mind, why does he then just drop him on the floor? And why is he more gentle with Elisabeth later?

It's kind of awful to think about, but what if it's disappointment? Disappointment that Rudolf didn't resist his seduction, or take the opportunity he was offered to turn away. It says something pretty dark about what he calls love. This is - not a nice way to love someone, to say the least. It's a very egocentric-god view of people; once they've disappointed him, he's done. He either doesn't understand that if he keeps pushing and testing them they're eventually going to break, or just has no sympathy for what he sees as human weakness. In der Tod's eyes, Rudolf gave in, or was weak, or whatever you want to call it. And so he tosses him aside and moves on to Elisabeth, who has so far resisted.

And are times when she's tempted to give in - Elisabeth, mach auf; Die Maladie, Totenklage (The near-kiss in Wenn ich tanzen will is different, but that's for another post) - but she never quite does. Even when she begs for death during Totenklage, she asks him to come and take her; she doesn't try to go to him - though he still treats her with scorn for it. She may welcome her eventual death and run happily into der Tod's arms, but she doesn't cause it. He wants her to come to him willingly, but not by her own hand. Again, it's not exactly a reasonable demand from a human point of view, but der Tod isn't looking at it from a human point of view. And that's why he's more gentle with Elisabeth than he was with Rudolf.

Whew, so that was a ride. As I said at the beginning, I'm not sure I actually believe this interpretation. In a way, I don't want to - obviously, both Rudolf's and Elisabeth's relationships with der Tod are going to be dark, but I don't think I want them to be this dark. It's something that occurred to me, though, and what's tumblr for if not for sharing random disturbing thoughts about media?

#i'm not sure this makes total sense #and some parts of it may contradict each other?#things got darker as they went along #also #i completely understand if people's reaction to this is good lord why would you think that what is wrong with you #tw: suicide #elisabeth das musical #german musicals #musical theatre #discussion: elisabeth

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mejcinta · 6 months

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The stuff that happened with TCG is why I don't take this fandom serious anymore ...

For some reason we went from joking about our favorite War Criminals in the darkest humor possible to emotional weirdoes harassing actors on panels.

I blame the fucking marketing for taking a regular ass show and turning it into a goddamn litmus test of morality.

Yet, on the other hand, across the board, people are taking fiction way too serious.

Even in the Downton Abbey fandom super emotional female fans - yeah, I'll say it, fan girls - are basically holding the entire franchise hostage and not allowing any adult or darker storyline to take place because they view the characters as not just real people, but their friends. And no one can do anything but really cheesy fluff plots in the movies, because, the overly emotional wine moms will rip their shit if Lady Mary is shown in a bad light or something bad happens to one character or the other. They don't want any lasting consequences.

It's gotten so bad that even in fanfiction they black list writers if they write too dark or adult storylines with the character ... I mean actively go out of their way to try and hound them off of Reddit.

And this is Downton Abbey for fucks sake!

The level of completely out of control hate messages I still have from the HOTD fans over me defending Jaehaera as the rightful queen is insane. Over me supporting a little girl ... WHO IS A FICTIONAL CHARACTER!

I know you're younger than me (I'm 33) but what the fuck happened where these people can't seem to tell the difference between fact or fiction.

It's even bleeding into actors and actresses personal lives. The TCG incident is tame compared to one actress I know who played a character on a tv show who another female character was in love with in the show ... just once - ten years ago. Now, in her personal life, she can't actually date men openly because her fans will tear her apart if she's not dating a woman. Like their entire career is based on her fangirls believing she's a real life lesbian rather than Bi-Sexual. Even now she gets shit for being a 'fake lesbian' when she never said she was in the first place.

How the fuck did we get to this place?

You were right to say it. The Fan Girl ™ phenomena has become a sweeping and overpowering threat to modern entertainment and actors' personal lives.

Yikes! I can't imagine being forced to put up a front just because fans will lose it if I don't act like the character I play in real life. Wow!

I blame this on this growing desire in the West to tolerate and placate weak minded people, instead of encouraging mental and emotional development. The studios are no better because they pressure actors to play along with the loud and entitled audiences. Actors can't even be douchebags anymore because this obsession with image has taken over, instead of encouraging diverse views, and it's even worse when you factor in superficial feminism in stories, which has melted many fans' minds into goo!!! Literally, people stop using their brains when they see a female lead and don't allow anyone to do a fair analysis of said character because apparently "Woman can do no wrong", "Woman always right", "Woman strong". It feels redundant and cultish.

I don't know about y'all but urgent help in the West is needed. 😂😂😂 Seriously. The mental deterioration going unaddressed is leaking into entertainment and driving people into extremes as well as bankruptcy (Marvel and Disney)!! When the whole point of entertainment is to enjoy ourselves in whatever corner we choose to be and to view characters objectively and to treat them and judge them equally and humanly!

Instead we have morality Olympics on the daily, about how only one character is always wrong and another is automatically right for having a vagina. Weird behavior if you ask me. I'm sick of it.

#thephantomcasebook #fandom bs

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