#but alas cinderella it fits

[ushikage-luvr]

Kageyama at 21 is slightly smaller than Ushijima in high school and I just… I can't

#The clothes sharing… ushijima pulling out his old stzw wind breaker when Kageyama stays over unexpectedly #and Kageyama thinking “there's no way that's gonna fit me_ I'm a grown man” #but alas cinderella it fits #ハイキュー！！ #ushikage #ushikage crumbs #haikyuu #haikyuu ships #ushikage daily #ushijima wakatoshi #kageyama tobio #haikyuu time skip #haikyuu adlers #haikyuu!!

[justalildumpling]

chapter 36: if the shoe fits

wc: 1.1k

You weren’t exactly sure what you were doing.

It had only been a few seconds ago when your best friend dragged you by the hand upstairs, essentially locking you inside some guy’s room. You remembered him spluttering a bunch of incoherent sentences, something along the usual lines of beating the living daylights out of the asshole in question before disappearing back downstairs.

You sighed, sipping on the leftover punch in your red solo cup. 

It sucked, really. Attending a long-awaited house party with your friends only to be ruined by the presence of a gaslighter. You ‌put more effort into your look that day, attempting to change up your usual makeup routine to add more glitter and colour ⎯ because well‌, glitter fixes anything (Ok, maybe everything except for your unfortunate position in the dingy room).

You kicked off your tattered running shoes, looking into the full-body mirror with a frown. 

What was the point of dressing up if the person you wanted to dress up for wasn’t even here to see it? 

You had attended the party relatively earlier than you usually would have that day, pestering your friends to book the Uber way too early for their tastes a few hours ago. But much to your dismay, your prince charming was nowhere to be found. You had circled Sunwoo’s house a few too many times than the average person, unsubtly asking for his whereabouts from the already intoxicated guests ⎯ but alas, no information was found.

A series of knocks sounded at the door, shaking you from your thoughts. 

“Hoon?” You called, standing up to unlock the door.

The other side of the door remained eerily silent, making you doubt if it was your loudmouth best friend. But brushing it off, you turned the knob and with a click, it swung open to reveal the initial inviter and the missing boy, Lee Jeno.

Your mouth sat slightly ajar, taken aback by his sudden appearance. Jeno greeted you with his recognisable smile, eyes crinkled into little crescents and his nose scrunched up in the cutest of ways. He held a paper bag in his hands, hanging its straps on the knob as he shut the two of you back inside. 

“Sorry I was late,” Jeno started, scratching the back of his neck guilty, “I had to pick up something along the way.”

“That’s okay, as long as you’re here with me now,” You softly spoke, taking note of the way he awkwardly placed some distance between the pair of you.

A suffocating silence blanketed the room, with Jeno fiddling with the hem of his leather jacket as he avoided your eyes.

You could feel your heart plummet in your chest, a series of concerns racing inside your head. Was he taking back his feelings for you? Were you ‌not worth the wait? Did he find someone else that night?

Jeno took a deep breath in, gesturing you to sit back down on the end of the bed.

“I know I’ve apologised already but I am sorry about everything that’s happened in the last few months. I should’ve confirmed everything with you before acting upon my feelings and you didn’t deserve the hurt that I caused you. But I⎯” 

Jeno paused, finally looking up to meet your eyes. You could see his fingers trembling on the white sheets, mouth wavering as you sat in anticipation for what he had to say next.

“I really like you, I know I’ve said this a bit too many times the past week but I genuinely do. And this time I hope I’m not acting upon my feelings a bit too soon.”

Jeno shuffled over to reach for the paper bag, pulling out a red Nike shoe box. He opened the box, tearing away the excessive tissue paper for you to see a pair of pale blue Nike Jordans resting against the brown interior of the box, its fresh white finish blinding your vision.

“I figured Cinderella needed her runners,” He mumbled shyly, cautiously inspecting your reaction.

You blinked, mouth now hanging fully open at the unexpected gift. Your eyes shifted to the same blue shoes on Jeno’s feet, recalling the day you had gushed about his shoes, joking about owning matching pairs. You didn’t expect him to remember your passing tease, nor did you expect to receive any gift as extravagant as this at all.

“Is this really for me?” You mustered out, words barely audible against the throbbing music from downstairs.

He nodded, taking out the sneakers to slip on your feet. You could feel your heart swelling by the minute as he began tying up your laces without a word. 

“It’s beautiful,” You observed the shoes from above, angling your feet from left to right with a smile pulling your lips, “Thank you so much Jeno, I really love it.”

A relieving grin broke out on his face, bringing you into a warm embrace. You took in his woody cologne as you snuggled against his neck before he faced you once again.

“You know⎯ after finding out the owner of the shoe, the prince and Cinderella live happily ever after right?” 

You giggled, cupping his cheeks, “Are you proposing to me right now Lee Jeno?”

A flush of pink crowded his cheeks, “N-No! Well, not yet at least.”

You amusingly hummed, eyes darting from his loving orbs to his heart-shaped lips.

“Will you be my girlfriend Y/N?” He uttered, slowly closing the gaps between your lips.

“Will this give you the answer?”

As your lips pressed against his, the memories of the first time you met came fluttering to your senses. It made sense, the way he randomly blurted out to take you on a date in the quad, the weird feeling of deja vu that overcame you whenever he played beer pong and the familiar movement of his lips.

Pulling away, you grasped the collar of his leather jacket, taking in the small metal studs which lined the edges of the zipper. It was the exact same one as that night. 

“It was you.” You whispered in awe, thumbing the bottom of his lips, “You found me.”

Jeno chuckled, caressing the top of your head.

“I did. I found my Cinderella.”

masterlist || previous | next

pairing: jeno x fem! reader

synopsis: it wasn’t often jeno showed emotions of love and affection, let alone kissing a stranger at a party that he doesn’t even remember?! determined to find his nameless cinderella, he began searching the campus far and wide but as hidden secrets started surfacing, he started to wonder whether the midnight spark was meant to be pursued after all.

genre: social media au, college au, strangers to lovers, fluff, angst, crack

warnings: swearing, mentions of alcohol

taglist: open! feel free to send an ask or comment to be added :))) ~ @vellitac @ddeonuism @heavenly-seraphic @matchahyuck @pckeia @rinrinslovebot @dior-15 @raikea10 @justsayk @btssf9nct @ismileeprnc-responder @moonchele @mothmork @dandelionxgal @cheyehc @luvenshiti @friseealamode @pastelsicheng @silvsie @kpopshithead @ifyournameischoisanpleaseloveme @pewpewpwe00 @kindawack @mrkleelvr @shxnz @woneulz @kyuupidwrites @yunho-1999 @loveleejn @000rpheus @sehunniepot @kpopwh0r3 @sunflowerbebe07 @ahnneyong @minkyuncutie @xuimhao

permanent taglist: ~  @xxxx-23nct @maeumiluv @produmads @shwizhies @polarisjisung @dearlyminhyung @wooyoung-a @w3bqrl @daincty @deehyuck @ficrecnctskz @rv7hsua @n0hyuck @neosdaisy @baekhyunstruly @barbkh8450t @cupid-yuno @rum-gone-why @liliansun @mxnhoeuwu @dinonuguaegi

#jeno social media au #jeno smau #jeno x reader #nct x reader #nct jeno x reader #jeno fluff #jeno crack #lee jeno fluff #nct dream smau #nct dream social media au #nct smau #nct social media au #nct dream #nct #nct jeno #jeno imagines #lee jeno imagines #jeno scenarios #lee jeno crack #lee jeno smau #lee jeno scenarios #jeno x you #lee jeno x you #student jeno #nct dream x reader #nct dream x you #nct dream imagines #nct dream scenarios #nct x you

[traumendesmadchen]

After many years of troubled development, health issues and general bad luck, we are happy to announce that 

✨ Chronotopia: Second Skin will be released on October 13th. Friday the 13th. ✨

Isn’t it fitting for a cursed game to be released on an unlucky day? We thought it would be a good way to close this chapter of our misfortunes. An updated demo will also be made available a few days prior so you can refresh your memory!

Excited to finally be able to read the full story? Please consider sharing the announcement around you~

💜 Wishlist us on Steam 💜

Chronotopia: Second Skin is a unique rewriting of the Donkeyskin fairytale, a darker variation of Cinderella. Follow Kionna into a painful but ultimately rewarding search for her true self.

The plan was supposed to be simple, almost ridiculously so. When her father, driven mad by years of grief, suddenly decided to force her into marrying him, Princess Kionna enlisted the help of her childhood friend. Together, they managed to contact her long-lost fairy godmother. Surely, her powers would save her from this hellish fate. Kionna would be able to escape the castle, a prince charming would find her, and they would live happily ever after. Alas, magic can only do so much. Things keep spinning out of control. Trapped in an endless nightmare, the princess ceaselessly rewinds time in a race with death itself. Is a happy ending truly waiting for her at the end of the tunnel?

A captivating plot full of unexpected twists and existential dread

Over 200 000 words of content with multiple endings

3 romances can be chosen at the end of Kionna’s journey

Fun secondary things like gameplay phases and collectibles

Available in both English and French!

#visual novel #traumendes madchen #chronotopia #english visual novel #yuri #otome game #otome #amare game

[maluceh]

That painel was AMAZING, thank you thank you thank you! ❤️

Sorry for missing a few references, could you share a list of all the universes?

damn ok… ummm (from top left to right and so on with every row)

brooklyn nine nine (amy and jake)

morticia and gomez

modern family (claire and phil)

tangled

they’re just drinking chescos in this one

band au

i got lazy so kissy time

dinosaurs

the last of us au

game of thrones au

10 things i hate about you

celebrity au but i tried to do the cinderella concept art cause 50s

old people

slasher

sapphic jily victorian era

mexican folklore dancers

i got lazy again and i just sketched them as spooky cartoons

deleted scene from dead poets society but it’s not them as dps characters, i just wanted a snowy scene

barbie

pirates of the caribbean

anne with an e

legos

elevator love song by BeeDaily (it’s a fic)

cowboy au

how to train your dragon (astrid and hiccup)

percy jackson (them as percabeth)

sapphic jily in the 14th? 15th? century with princess jamie and her loyal guard lily

this is just a kids drawing so you can interpret it as you want (harry drew it or little james or little lily)

vampire au

couple selfie!

sapphic jily with a reference to glee (the cheerleader uniform). so this one is kind of like cheerleader x outcast type of thing

pride and prejudice au (bingley and jane)

set it up (it’s a movie on netflix)

rocks

greys anatomy au (them as mark and lexi)

role swap (quidditch player lily/muggleborn james)

ice skater couple au

juno (reference to the intro credits from the movie where there’s like drawings and stuff, i thought it would be cool idk)

the office (them as jim and pam)

haikyuu (tanaka and kiyoko are literally jily in another font)

patronuses

genderswap jily

romeo and juliet (2013)

before sunrise (1995)

titanic movie

ferris bullers day off (i think they fit sloane and ferris A LOT)

friends (chandler and monica)

maurice (1987)

detectives au (i tried to emulate 1940s drawings but alas i’m only a girl)

mermaid au

mlm jily as Pedro Infante and Jorge Negrete I BELIEVE this is Dos tipos de cuidado (1953) i wanted to draw them as homoerotic mexican actors from the golden age of mexican cinema

canon jily

sapphic jily in bly manor (as dani and jamie)

animal crossing jily

big fish (2003)

sapphic jily as pirates who got caught

idk i took it from a pinterest pic

shadowhunters jily

fantasy jily (?

sapphic jily kissing at sunset

worms

idk what movie this is, i wanted to draw them as silent actors from the 1930s i also tried to use the same art style they used in that era but alas i’m just a girl

widow victorian lily and ghost james (this is a direct reference to Anders Zorn the widow 1883 i believe)

how to lose a guy in 10 days au

shadow and bone au (them as nina and matthias)

ballet dancers au

romeo and juliet AGAIN (1996 tho)

anastasia (1997)

the princess diaries 2 (them as Mia and nicholas)

them with a cat (it’s algernon, the cat is algernon by the way)

spiderman (itsv spider-man to be exact)

i got lazy again and i just doodled them listening to music together

ants

genderswaped jily as emma and mr. knightley (2020)

mamma mia (2008) (love that movie, sophie and sky made me the bisexual i am with that one beach scene)

the hunger games mockingjay part 2 (them as katniss and peeta)

hogwarts professors

coworker rivals

mlm jily but at hogwarts

sapphic jily just vibing (heartstopper vibes??? idk i put the leaves)

shelf awarness by GhostofBambi on ao3 (one of my favorite jily fics)

and that’s it

[callmemana]

Broken Glass Slipper

Pairing: Leonard “Wolfman” Wolfe (Henry “Wolfman” Ruth) x Cinderella!reader

Characters: Leonard “Wolfman” Wolfe (Henry “Wolfman” Ruth), Cinderella!reader, stepmother, stepsisters, Margaret (fairy godmother), Adam (carriage driver), Lucifer (the cat), Rick “Hollywood” Neven, Sam “Merlin” Wells

Warnings: Cinderella AU, this is crack, a sort of Cinderella retelling, friends to lovers, evil stepsisters and stepmother, Hollywood the royal servant, Wolfman is an adorable dumbass, reader and Leonard have been friends for years, stepmother is a greedy and cruel woman, reader and Leonard are friends.

Word Count: 2375

A/N: Iceman and Slider are hidden in the crowd (not mentioned but I imagined them in the ballroom). Maverick and Goose were not invited because of some pranks they played on the king in the past (also not mentioned).

Top Gun: Disney AU

As the door clicked shut and the lock sounded, Ella knew she was trapped in the attic until her step-mother felt fit enough to let her out.

Her Step-mother had found her shoe in her Hope Chest and smashed it on the ground, the memory of her perfect night shattered like her slipper.

She pounded on the door to try and get another’s attention to free her but after a while she gave up and laid on her bed, head in her arms as she sobbed.

She could hear muffled voices downstairs, the front door opening, people coming in, and sounds of objects moving. Unknown to her, her little mice friends were trying to help.

Jac Jac and Gus Gus were on a mission to retrieve the key to Cinderella’s door, but had some fallbacks. For one, the mistress of the house kept it in her pocket and hand around it, as if it could disappear into thin air.

After many failed attempts at retrieving the key, they gave up and tried another way. They had to get Ella out of the attic, this was her chance at a happily ever after, a chance to get out of this horrible house and away from these dreadful people.

It would be the least they could do for her after everything she did for them!  

As the eldest sister sat down upon the chair, a servant tried to put it on her foot, but alas, the foot was too wide for the slim glass.

Upset at the outcome, she took the shoe from the servant and jammed her foot into it, “There, it fits!'' As she finished her exclamation, the shoe showed her toes squished against the glass uncomfortable, her eyebrows furrowed in pain, and jaw clenched.

“Well, ma’am, the prince did say every available maiden must try on the shoe.'' He said carefully, as if not to hurt her feelings, took off the slipper and motioned for the other sister to sit.

The other sat gracefully, holding her foot out delicately to the servant and smiled. The servant gently placed the shoe on her foot and gasped, it actually fit her, perfectly to be exact!

“Sire, we have the girl!”

“Yes, Yes. Now go, get her things we must leave at once!” The servants ran off towards the staircase as the three women smiled and planned.

Once the sister left, soon her mother and other daughter departed too.

Ella, seemed to be forgotten, spent several days locked in her room before someone found the spare key and let her out.

By that time, her sister had taken her happily ever after.

Leonard could see that this was not the woman he danced with, but he was vague with instructions, for he only said to ‘find the girl who fits into the slipper’ not ‘find a girl with golden hair and eyes blue as the ocean who’s foot fit into the slipper’’ for that mistake he is forever unhappily married to the wrong girl.

He was just too frazzled to give more information than just find the girl with the missing shoe. He missed the maiden whose name he knows not, but am undoubtedly in love with.

Leonard stood with his new bride at his side at a court meeting his father held with a blank gaze and clenched jaw.

His friends could see that he wasn’t happy, the only time Rick had seen him truly happy was when he danced with the mystery maiden at the ball. His friends didn’t like to see him this way, constantly angry and upset.

Before the marriage, Leonard was a little adventurous and mischievous, always getting in trouble with his friends, now, he was silent and always brushing their fun away.

They also didn’t like the maiden he did marry, for she was rude as was her sister, a learned trait from their mother no doubt. So, after the meeting the Prince’s friends held a meeting of their own and discussed what to do.

“Well?”

“We could find her, convince her he’s not happy with his wife?”

“Do you even know what she looks like?”

“No, but Rick does. I overheard him and Leonard talking in the hall one afternoon.”

They all pan towards Rick, “I have seen her, but there is a problem. We don’t even know if she’s from this kingdom.”

“Then we send word to other Kingdoms close by, maybe one of them has seen her!”

“Unlikely, there could be thousands, millions of maidens that match the description of her!”

“Do you suggest we just let our friend be miserable?”

“No, but we have to find a special characteristic about her that only she could have, something that couldn’t be duplicated!”

“Then we must talk to Leonard, maybe he could tell us something useful in finding his true love!”

Leonard was in his study, reading a book as the doors slam open and his friends are coming in.

“What’s this about?”

“You being a dumbass.”

“I’m not following, Nicholas.”

“You were so memorized by the maiden that you danced with the night of the ball that you only gave a brief description on how to find her. Well, we have come up with a way to do just that!”

“And, pray tell, what is it? How do you plan to do that? I’ve already lost her and I am married to another woman.”

“Did you see any identifying features? Anything special characteristically about her?”

“Yes. She had a scar on her right, inside upper arm. I saw it while we were dancing, it looked like it was from a burn. Does that help?”

“Yes, Leonard, it does. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, just promise me you’ll find her.”

“I’ll do everything in my power to.”

For weeks the friends tried to find the maiden, went to every house and asked questions to every villager.

When they spotted an older woman, they all exchanged looks before running towards her. If anyone was to know the maiden, it would be someone who’s been here for quite some time and knows everyone.

“Excuse me ma’am,”

“Yes my dear?”

“Do you happen to know a maiden with golden hair, blue eyes, and a burn scar on her right upper arm?” her eyes widen and she gasps, she didn’t pay much attention to their clothes at first, but now that she sees their royalty, she quickly excuses herself and leaves, leaving the men suspicious and worried.

They tried to follow the older woman to find out where she’s hiding, but the woman was quick and used passage ways unknown to them to escape.

During the week, they tried to corner her and ask questions, but every time they got close something would happen to gain their attention and look away enough for her to bolt.

After a month with no success and their friend wallowing in self-pity,  they tried a different approach.

They had convinced Leonard to get out of the castle in villager clothes and talk to the woman, and when they found her with a basket full of foods, they pushed Leonard towards her and hid.

“Hello ma’am, may I talk to you for a moment?”

She looked at him and smiled, “Why of course, dearie.”

“I was wondering if you’ve seen a young woman with blonde hair and blue eyes and a burn scar on her upper right arm? I’m looking for her.”  

“Well, yes, I do know her. You’re talking about Ella, she lives up on Hickory Lane, in the big white house with the black accents, but if you ask me, its too big for just one person. Be careful dearie, she isn’t the same after her step-mother and step-sisters left to go live in the castle. Oh no, she’s been sad and rude since then.”

He thanked her and started his path to find his one true love, Ella, as it seems her name is. His friends following behind him closely, for he is a Prince and might need protection.

When they had made it to the house, they saw it had its windows boarded up and lights off, as if no one lived there for years.

Gathering his courage, Leonard knocked on the door in three swift hits. The group waited for a minute or two after hearing no response or footsteps coming closer and knocked again, this time more firm and loud.

Perhaps the lady of the house was too far away and couldn’t hear? More time passed and still no acknowledgement was given to the knocks.

Growing tired of being ignored, Leonard knocked again, and accompanied it with a shout, “Ella, are you in there? If so, would you please come out to chat?” as they waited for a response this time, Leonard bounced on his heels with a winning smile plastered on his face.

“Go away, I’m not taking any visitors today sir!”

“Please, I think it is very important that we meet!”

“I said not today sir! Good bye!”

The smile slowly made its way into a frown as he said, “Alright then, good bye Ella.” the others patted his back in condolences and reassured him that maybe tomorrow he’d have better luck.

The next couple of weeks were spent with Leonard and his friends coming to the house and trying to convince Ella to talk to him, and each day, ended much like the first.

When Leonard had had quite enough of this childish behavior, and coming from him, is a big statement, had travelled behind the gate and went into the house using the back entrance.

He quietly surveyed the area, being careful and silent in his approach to find the woman he sought after.

As he rounded the corner to the kitchen, he saw a young woman that fits the description of the maiden he danced with sulking as she cleaned the floors.

“You’re too beautiful to be this sad, please talk to me.”

She wiped her tears quickly despite him already seeing them fall, “How did you get in here? Who are you?” she questioned.

He puts his hands up as if to not startle her even more, “I went in the back entrance, I’ve tried the front for weeks with no answer. As for who I am, well darling, I am Prince Leonard. I believe you to be the maiden I danced with until midnight when you ran away.”

She clutched her broom as he spoke, unwilling to let go of this incase he was just here to rob her.

“I did no such thing, and you couldn’t possibly be the Prince, he is a married man.”

“Darling, I am the Prince, and as for my marriage, it is an unhappy one for I have married the wrong woman.” he gently grabs her hands in his.

“You have married the love of your life, sire, and for that I am very happy, but if you believe that I am even in the same social status as you, or the princess, you are mistaken. I am a maid, the Tramaine’s maid for decades and always have been. I hold no torch to the beauty of the Princess nor do I want to. Sire, please go home to her, love her for eternity, as she does you. You should forget about me, Your Highness. For I am nobody compared to her.”

She turns around and slips from his grip, “No! No, you are wrong, Ella, you are so much more than beauty to me. You are kind, and generous, as for my wife, she is the opposite. Her and her family will undoubtably run this kingdom to the ground with the coin they spend daily, and the rudeness they show to those under them in status. You, You my dear Ella, have a gentle heart, and would never do the awful things they do to the servants and staff alike. Please, consider this proposal?”

“I will think it over My Liege,” he nodded his head once, then twice, as if to reassure himself that he had gotten through to her.

As the days turn into weeks with still no reply to the proposal, Leonard started to get worried about Ella.

He decided to take a day off from his Kingly duties and ride the carriage down to the abandoned house.

He knocks once, twice, three times and waits for a few seconds before starting the knock pattern again.

This time after the wait he just opens the door and sees the dust and grime floating in the air.

And there’s a certain smell that permeates the air, somewhat of decay.

He finds the woman from before sitting in a big soft looking chair and a fire almost out.

Soon he realizes that she’s the cause of the pungent smell as he gets closer.

Leonard shouts, “Rick, please call the guards! We need to give the news to the Princess and her family.”

He knows that he has so reason to cry over the lost of this beautiful woman, not while he was married and had no claim on her to begin with.

Her face had sunken cheeks and tired bags under her unopened eyes.

It looks as if she passed in her sleep, he hopes it was at least a nice dream before the Grim Reaper took her from this plane of existence.

A week later was her funeral and as a noble’s daughter, she was given the honor of having the funeral she deserved.

He was one of the only people to show up as a large amount of nobles around the district and continent forgot about her.

When is was his turn to show his respects to her coffin he whispered, “I will carry my undying love for you until the day I am no longer walking the earth.”

Leonard takes a deep breath as the tears start to slowly stream down his face.

“I am beyond sorry for my late proposal and wished it was you who I would spend the rest of my life with and not your terrible sister. You are the only true love I’ve ever had.”

One tear lands on her hands as he says her last goodbye to her, his Ella.

Forever 🏷️: @crazyk-imagine

🏷️ list: -

#callmemana #disney au #writer: crazyk imagines #top gun #disney princess au #top gun 1986 #collaboration #leonard wolfe #leonard wolfman wolfe x reader

[amaribelt]

oc intro

*taps yui* this bad boy has been though so many Fandoms

Name- Yui （ユイ）Akiyama （アキヤマ）yui writen with the kanji for "friend" 友 and "live" or "exist" 生 . akiyama written with the kanji for "bright" "clear" and "oblivious" 明 and "mountain" 山

CV-Risa Taneda (specifically kaori from your lie in april)

Age-16

Birthday- October 3rd (libra)

Height- 162 cm

Dominant Hand-right

Homeland-good question

Club-home economics

Best Subject-art

Hobbies- scrapbooking

Pet Peeves- getting unsolicited advice

Favorite Food- French toast

Least Favorite Food-anything with cooked mushrooms

Talent- multitasking

°due to her avid scrapbooking and Mara imput alot of her recent memories and critical moments are clearer than others, older memories are more than hazy and seem to blur together like a really bad vision board

lore?? bullet points?? just thought ig about her lol

°as a kid she was raised on grimm fairytales and folklore witch heavily impacted her world view and will straight up refuse to acknowledge things that conflict with her sugar-coated view of the world

°this sometimes conflicts with her moral compass as doing the "right" thing will often mean having to acknowledge certain things around the world

°one of these major choices was the bullying of a classmate Mara, and though not a typical fairy tale reward a friend was gained

°although her friend was odd to say the least they enjoyed each other's company and introduced her to the wonderful world of folklore

°though she enjoyed her time in the spotlight as a 'night in glittery Armour' Mara was more fit for the role and happily reclaimed the role of the 'curious and naive protagonist'

°their was comfort in not only the roles they each played but the way they played them even if it ment watching some things from the sidelines

°although not a very good writer she chronicles these new found adventures in a scrapbook, from photos Maras to quotes from grimm tales anything and everything is kept in their all decorated with glittery gel pens and stickers

design notes~~~~~~

°so yui has been though like 3 or 4 Fandom and redesigns she's actually reverted a decent amount getting back her original outfit

°although in all of her previous art she's just been blonde I actually gave her bleach blonde hair, alot of her inspiration are from European and Slavic mythology so theirs a lot of blonde depictions of characters. (Cinderella Alice Aroura ect ect...)

°so hair bleached!! it also can give a "delinquent" feel and their are times where fairytale protagonists carve their own destiny and don't follow the rules, also kinda fits with her earlier designs gyaru inspo

°she's one of those girls who has like those really neat and color coordated notes with like stars and hearts and stuff

°in every concept shes had some sort of impractical bag with keychains and though not depicted it would probably be a funky fairytale bag because she's just extra

end~~~~~~

omg thanks for reading it feels so wrong to post yui without her partner in crime but alas Maras ref is only half finished :// pushing everything onto the sidelines tho for my beloved Mara

#twst oc #twst yuu #my pride and joy #original character #character concept #she's so stupid #“damn bro that sucks have you tried pocket glitter” #she's a gremlin #twisted wonderland #disney twst #amari draws silly stuff yet again

[thecattoclub]

Cendrillon ou La petite pantoufle de verre.

The Cast

Sasya will embody the role of Cinderella with grace and charm, while Gabriel will captivate the audience as Prince Charming. Kairi will portray the wicked Lady Tremaine with a perfect balance of malice and sophistication, and Elle will shine as the comically inept Drizella. Adric will bring depth to the character of Anastasia, and Louise will command attention as the regal King.

Act I, Scene I

In a distant land, there resided a young girl named Sasya who possessed a kind and gentle heart, yet faced a life filled with hardship and sadness. Despite being mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters, who lived a life of luxury while she toiled away at household chores, Sasya never lost hope and held onto dreams of a brighter future.

“Sasya, would you not be glad to go to the ball?"

"Young ladies," she said, "you only jeer at me; it is not for such as I am to go there."

"You are right," Kairi, Elle and Adric replied; "people would laugh to see a Cinderwench at a ball."

Anyone but Sasya would have dressed their hair awry, but she was good-natured, and arranged it perfectly well. They were almost two days without eating, so much were they transported with joy. They broke above a dozen laces in trying to lace themselves tight, that they might have a fine, slender shape, and they were continually at their looking-glass.

At last the happy day came; they went to Court, and Sasya followed them with her eyes as long as she could, and when she had lost sight of them, she fell a-crying.

Her godmother, who saw her all in tears, asked her what was the matter.

"I wish I could--I wish I could--" but she could not finish for sobbing.

Her godmother, who was a fairy, said to her, "You wish you could go to the ball; is it not so?"

"Alas, yes," said Sasya, sighing.

"Well," said her godmother, "be but a good girl, and I will see that you go." Then she took her into her chamber, and said to her, "Run into the garden, and bring me a pumpkin."

At the ball, Sasya captivated all with her elegance and beauty, catching the eye of the prince who was enchanted by her presence. They danced the night away, but as the clock struck midnight, Sasya remembered her fairy godmother's warning and hurriedly departed, leaving behind a glass slipper. Determined to find his mysterious love, the prince scoured the kingdom for the girl whose foot fit the slipper.

Eventually, the prince {Gabriel} arrived at Sasya’s home, where her stepsisters {Elle and Adric} attempted to force their feet into the glass slipper to no avail. It was Sasya who finally tried on the slipper, fitting it perfectly. Delighted, the prince recognized her as the enchanting girl from the ball. Sasya's stepmother {Kairi} and stepsisters {Elle and Adric} were left stunned as she was whisked away to the palace, where she wed the prince and lived happily ever after.

[imagidreaming]

Dark Kingdom

I know most if not all of these would never happen but this one is the blank check pulled from deep inside the NEVER GONNA HAPPEN FILES.

Disney, the powerhouse it is, the monolith with 6 domestic parks that are booming on any given day should do something next level and open a park that is...EXCLUSIVELY OPEN AT NIGHT!

Hey, man, I work 3rd shift so sue me. I used to work at a movie theater and we'd put on movies after close and i used to go to an all night Halloween movie marathon and there's just something so thrilling about being in a place in the middle of the night. And talk about exclusivity, huh!? The faux accomplishment that only theme parks can provide. "I did it, I did a night at Dark Kingdom!"

So, yeah, it's a spooky, villain-laden mirror-universe of Magic Kingdom. It's where the likes of The Other Side, Ursula's Unfathomable Uprising & Ichabod's Midnight Ride would be. The energy of a Villains After Hours Party but every night, all night.

BUT ALSO NOT JUST VILLAINY, it's also where the Land of the Dead could be! A Coco themed land! And this park's version of Fantasmic, the grand finale, closing show, would be Ernesto de la Cruz's Sunrise Serenade! How cool! And yeah, Halloweentown from Nightmare Before Christmas as a land, too!

Another thing? Since it's only open at night and people are gonna need to stay up, that good ol' Coca-Cola product, MONSTER ENERGY DRINK is readily available everywhere and yeah sure coffee too. Hmm, who's a good theme for coffee. I wanna say Maurice from Beauty and the Beast but he doesn't really fit in at the park. Hades! He's got cappuccino energy and then you can have some big dumb instagramable drink that comes in the vile the poison he gave Hercules was in. Yup!

Yeah, ok, fuck! You know how Disney made MGM Studio simply to try and undercut Universal? This is their swipe at HHN. Integrate the ingenuity that comes with the booths at Epcot into a revolving cast creepy characters selling novelty food and drink, more thrilling attractions than found elsewhere on property and yeah SCAREZONES! Not tooooo intense but themed little stretches with characters and fog that are less about jumping out to getchya and more about facilitating a VIBE! And then sure around Halloween time they get turned up to 11 and are full blown scarezones.

And listen this isn't adults only or anything, it's just gonna skew that way naturally just based on what it is, ala HHN, right? But it's also still a Disney park, so, it's goal isn't to scare kids but it'll get up to that line. Heck, maybe bring back Snow White's Scary Adventures and Alien Encounter! A park for the Breck Eisner's of the world! A park for ME!

Yeah, shit, this is for me so the icon, the weenie of the park is THE HORNED KING'S CASTLE FROM BLACK CAULDRON! No one knows that movie, I know but how many kids can identify Cinderella or Sleepy Beauty's castle? If ya don't know the pre-existing IP it becomes original IP!

And, yeah, it'd really mess with the passes, like, you can't park hop to it but, again, exclusivity! And more money to the company! You do a 5 day ticket with park hopper AND a one night pass to Dark Kingdom! It becomes a rite of passage for kids, it rules, it rocks! FUCK!

Ok, if we lean into the mirror-universe thing, what if, for the psychos like me who would do Magic Kingdom and then head over to Dark Kingdom, there were a Harry Potter train-esque transit/ride that exclusively takes you from MK to DK...I wanna say a River Styx boat ride but that might just be in the park.

Anyway, this will be an ongoing project.

[redheadjustin]

The Best day

Carlos could not believe the sight in front of him. What he was staring at shouldn't have been possible. Right where Carlos’ newly eighteen year old boyfriend should be was an eight year old boy with your H/L H/C hair and E/C eyes. The boy was standing in a pile of clothes that once fit your body. The only piece of clothing still on your body was a Mickey Mouse T-shirt. Even then, It barely clung to your right shoulder.

“Y-Y/N?” Carlos asked, praying that he was wrong and this was all a dream. Alas, it wasn’t. you looked at Carlos at the sound of your name. “Carlos!!” You shouted as you ran to hug the only pearson who wasn’t a stanger besides Ben FGM. As you ran towards him Carlos got a better look at you. Your S/C skin while not having as many scars as before still had a lot of bruises and cuts. It was times like this Carlos wondered how the son of the big bad wolf could be as happy and loving as you were.

When you got close enough Carlos bent down and picked you up. You had a dazzling smile on your face. “H-Hi buddy. Are you okay?” Carlos asked as you laid your head on his shoulder. “Yeah…was scared though.” You replied once you were sure Carlos wasn’t going to leave you alone with the scary dude with big muscles and The pretty ladies with the purple and blue hair.

“Oh? Why was that buddy?” Carlos asked as he sat down in an armchair while shifting you to his lap. He sent FGM a quick look and mouthed ‘cloeths’ she nodded and ran from the room. “Cause I diddn recognize anyone but you, Ben and Fairy Godmother and I had those weird clothes on.” You said, pointing to the pile of clothes that belonged to the eighteen year old you.

“I’m here now buddy and I’ll make sure that you’ll have the best birthday ever.” Carlos said as Fairy Godmother Brought you a Peter Pan outfit. Your face broke out into a grin. And that’s what happened. Carlos took you all over the kingdom. To Tiana’s for lunch, to Ariales for a swim, to Cinderella's for a new pair of pajamas. Dinner With Beast and Belle and a movie marathon with Carlos. You were so preoccupied that you didn’t question where your dad was or why Carlos looked years older than yesterday. Carlos took pride in the fact that even for just one day you got to be a real kid.

The next morning You were back to normal. Thankfully your Peter Pan pajamas had grown with you. You awoke to see Carlos smiling at you. You stretched and pulled Carlos to your chest and put your chin on the top of your Dalmation’s head. “I had the best day with you yesterday, Carlos.” you said and unknown to Carlos you had tears streaming down your face. For one day you experience the best birthday of your life. And for that you would be forever grateful              

#male!reader #male reader #male reader insert #x male reader #carlos devil #deaged #deaged reader #deaged male reader #carlos-de-vil-x-male!reader #carlos de vill x male reader #descendants x male reader

[stargazer-balladeer]

Setting: Kingdom AU

[King! Zhongli x Female! Reader]

Notes: At first, I didn’t know what to write for the Valentine’s Gift in Discord. I was about to just write a Diluc fic when I came across the Cendrillon video. I rewatch it and loved the idea. Zhongli fits the prince (im making him a king here-) perfectly, this is going to follow the Vocaloid Cendrillon version (because the actual Cendrillon is basically the Cinderella movie-), but I’m gonna tweak it a bit. I hope I manage to capture Zhongli’s personality, atleast a little- 😅. Hope ya’ll like this!

Warning: small mentions of being blackmailed, abandonment and blood.

Word Count: 4.7k

» A valentine gift for @zhonglisemptywallet,, I hope you like this- hshshs

“Say, Zhongli, do you know the story of “Cendrillon”?” “Hm… it doesn’t ring a bell, I’m afraid. May I ask why you ask of that?” “I used to read it when I was young. Since you don’t know of it, would you like to read it together? Or are you currently busy?” “I was about to ask you if you want to have tea with me, but since you suggested that, of course I would read it together with you.” 

The warm hue of the light that illuminated the room and the chatter of the people within greeted you immediately when you stepped foot inside. Your eyes darted from person to person, not familiar with any of them. The target isn’t anywhere in the vicinity it seems, perhaps later. The warm atmosphere made you sigh in relief, it was a great contrast to the coldness of night outside. Not wanting to be of disturbance to those entering, you quickly went away from the entrance. You were overwhelmed by the grand interior of the room, walls decorated with golden brown and amber designs, one you usually find in an antique item, waves, vines, flowers, all sort of design. Golden-colored chandeliers hanging in the ceiling in a row, making the room brighter. The golden curtain being tied to the side, revealing the full moon in its finest glory. 

The palace king really likes golden-colored stuff, you noted. Everything looks so ancient, like there’s a history in every design and every item inside. Glancing around, you adjusted your dress, making sure your dagger isn’t visible underneath your skirt. An assassin tasked to kill the king of the Liyue nation. A joke, you thought at first, a child’s play. This task is usually seen in a fairytale, but you suppose it’s inevitable when you have 7 kingdoms, each with their respective king and queens. Breathing out a sigh, you take a glance at the moon. Your task is due at midnight, when the moon is high above the skies. Precise exact hour, no seconds shall pass. If failed, execution shall be your punishment. 

Then a ring rang through the room, gaining many’s attention including yours. You gaze at the balcony-like booths on the second floor, seeing familiar faces of the members of the Qixing. Them being here isn’t gonna make your mission any easier, well, it wasn’t easy to begin with. Quickly switching your attention to the butler, making sure your actions aren’t suspicious. “We thank you for attending this royal ball, hosted by our beloved King. I shall now introduce you to the special guests tonight.” The butler’s voice rang, sounding young yet stern. He nodded to the area of the Qixing members. “Please allow me to introduce Lady Ningguang of the Qixing, miss Keqing of the Qixing and Miss Ganyu of the Qixing.” 

Many people started clapping for them, you decided to join in them in order to not appear suspicious. Ningguang, in her fullest glory, stood up and waved elegantly to the people below her. Her eyes, which reminded you of Rubies, scanned the crowd before befalling on you. You stiffened at the coldness within, was her eyes always this harsh? You thought she was about to call you out but she simply turned around and sat on the throne-like chair. You breathe out a sigh of relief, closing your eyes when you feel the tension on your shoulder being released. But you knew that her gaze on you was a warning. She knew your intention, she could’ve called you out right there but she didn’t. Why? Was she amused that there was an assassin in the ball, wanting to kill the king? It doesn’t make sense.

You tuned out the butler, who was introducing the four Adepti, the counsel of the king. You couldn’t care less about them, but you were still on guard. Although they all respect their king and would kill anyone who dares to threaten his life, the young-looking guy is the one you’re watching out for. The young adepti, Xiao was his name, Conqueror of Demons, swift like the wind. “Now..” Your ears pick up as you look at the butler once more. “The moment you all have been waiting for. May I introduce the host of this evening, please applaud to the king of Liyue, Rex Lapis!” 

And just like that, an applaud of cheers erupted into the room when the king was announced. You joined in with the claps, feeling nervousness rising within you. Now’s not the time to get nervous. This is an important mission. You shall not fail this one. The light in your eyes darkened when the king made an appearance, there in his crowning light was Rex Lapis. With eyes like the Cor Lapis, hair like the soil of the land, and clothes fitting for a ruler. He has a small smile present on his face, as he nodded to the crowd. “Thank you for coming to my ball on this humble night. Please enjoy yourselves to the fullest with the prepared banquet and dance.” His voice is so soothing…

He reached out his hand, snapping his index and thumb. “Let the feast begin.” 

“What?” You breathed out, staring at the man before you with eyes wide and face in disbelief. Not knowing whether to laugh or what. The mission you’re given, to kill the king of Liyue, Rex Lapis. How absurd. “You expect me to kill that wanna-be king?” You scoffed, letting out a few chuckles. You thought it was a prank, a funny joke, and that your superior was made to do by one of his subordinates. You bet your money that it was that “Childe”. You tried searching his face, any sign of him lying or joking, but there wasn’t. He was serious. 

Coughing lightly, you straightened yourself up again, staring at the eyes of your superior. He sighed before placing a document on his desk, facing you, with a dagger on top. “You should be grateful that the Tsaritsa decided to give you this task, if I were to choose, I’d choose someone else. But alas, she chose you. How unfortunate.” He scoffed, shaking his head in disapproval. You paid his indirect insult no mind as you stared at the dagger, which you noticed was laced with poison. The dagger was silver in color, with the hilt decorated with light blue and white snowflakes. The end contains a Cor Lapis gem. 

Hesitantly, your hand rose to reach the dagger. You can feel the sharp eyes of your superior on you, taking note of your shaky hands and hesitated moves. When you finally grasp the well-designed dagger, your superior’s voice rang through the room once more.

“Do not fail this mission.”

How are you going to approach this exactly? You felt your sweat drop when you realized you didn’t prepare a plan on how to kill the king. Which is pretty dumb, now that your thinking about it. Like, what did you expect to happen? You going up to him and just stab him? Before your dagger could hit the king, your head is already on the ground. You groaned in frustration, leaning back on the white-colored pillar. Great, now you're stuck. You sighed, rubbing the nape of your neck, as you gaze at the scenery before you. 

Gazing at the people dancing, you couldn’t help but feel the green of envy rising within you. Unlike you, they have the best life. Once living in the slums of Snezhnaya, many times almost freezing to death. One of those times is when you met the queen of the frozen land, the Tsaritsa. Many wondered why she took you in, a girl abandoned in the streets. From her patience and pitied love for you, she took you in and made you a member of the organization known as the “Fatui”. Trained under a strict teacher, you grew up to be an assassin. An assassin whose hands are stained with the blood of the victims you killed for the Tsaritsa herself. 

“Excuse me.” A voice so silk, maturity evident in it, one that you heard earlier. You look up from your gaze at the ground to meet the eyes like the sun. From the distance, you didn’t notice how his white iris looks sharp, but now upon closer inspection, you can see it clearly. He gave you a soft smile, moving his hand from behind his back and extended it to you. You stared at it, confusion dancing in your eyes before gazing at the man you were destined to kill. “Would you care for a dance with me?” He said, amusement clear in his eyes. You felt your cheeks warmed up at your obliviousness. “Uhm… sure.” You said in a low voice, placing your hand on his. Despite the gloves you two are wearing, you can feel the warmth radiating from within. 

Feeling albeit awkward, obvious tension in the air, he guided you to the dance floor, hand firmly yet gently grasping yours. You weren’t sure if he noticed the air of tension surrounding you two or if he was simply ignoring it. Twirling you around a little bit, he stops your mini twirl by placing his large hand on your waist. You, knowing the dance steps ever since you had to undercover in a masquerade party, placed your hand on his shoulder and took a step back, him following suit by stepping forward. A dance with the king of Liyue, what a cliche moment. You can feel his eyes on you, feeling embarrassed about his obvious staring at you (and the stares you were getting around you), you continued staring at the amulet on his chest. 

“You know, when dancing, one must look at the eyes of their partner. Not at their chest.” The king said in a low voice, chuckling a little. How is he amused at this situation? The king is really a strange person. Flushing in embarrassment for getting called out, you look up to meet his expectant gaze. Seeing his lips quirking up as your gaze met his, he tilted his head slightly as he spun you around in tune with the others and held you close when you faced him once more. “Tell me, where do you hail from? I don’t think I’ve ever seen your face before.” You knew that this was coming, so you rehearsed your answer while going here. “I came from Inazuma, being sent here by my father, Chief Haruki. I came as a replacement for him, he humbly apologizes that he cannot be here at the ball tonight.” It wasn’t technically a lie, chief Haruki was indeed a real person living in Inazuma and was secretly working for the Fatui. 

You noticed how his eyes narrowed slightly, yet his entire face still remains unchanged. Closing his eyes while sighing softly. “I see.” You stared at him a couple of minutes before opening your mouth. “The people around us.. They’re not all nobles, are they?” Asking softly, only reserved to the two of you. His eyes scanning the people around you two before leaning in your ear, his hot breath near your ear made shivers run down your spine. “Quite an eye you have, my dear. But nevertheless, you are correct. Some of them are the orphans I’ve taken in under my wing.” You let out a chuckle. “How noble of you, your highness.” “Call me Morax instead.” Leaning back, he lets go of your waist as he clasps his gloved-hands on yours, dragging you gently. 

You raised a brow at this. “And where do you think you are taking me, Mr. Morax? I have no intention of doing any frisky rendezvous with you.” You can hear him laughing in front of you, turning his head to the side to glance at you. “Rest assured, my dear. I have no intention to take you to bed. I just thought a fresh air is what we need.” He explained, chuckling at the end before facing forward again. Flushing a bit at his laughter, you pouted while glaring at him. “You could’ve just told me that.” You mumbled angrily. He simply ignored your complaints, using his free hand to push open a door leading to a garden. 

You marveled at the sight of it, it was beautifully decorated with glaze lilies and silk flowers. Adding to the beauty were neon-orange-colored butterflies flying around. While you were in awe at your surroundings, you didn’t notice the fond look that the king was giving to you. He lets go of your hand as he steps forward into the enchanting garden. Missing already his large hand against yours, you followed suit, resisting the urge to hold his hand once more. “What a beautiful garden.” “Thank you for your kind words.” He slightly leaned forward to hold a glaze lily in his hand. “Did you know that glaze lilies only reveal their beauty at the sound of music? A pure song, one that used to belong to someone who loved this flower more than any other.” He said, on his face is a gentle smile, yet you noted how sad it seems. 

His eyes and smile so captivating and warm, yet hiding so many secrets. It made you want to know more about the man in front of you, not as the ruler Rex Lapis but as Morax. You stayed silent as you gaze at the flower in his hand. “They used to be everywhere in Liyue, but now… there are hardly any of them left. They are now rare and almost to the brink of being extinct.” He said, not hiding or masking the sadness in his voice as he lets go of the flower. Straightening his back again, turning to look at you, smiling apologetically at you. “Apologies. It seems like I went into my infamous rants.” Morax said, bowing his head slightly. 

You shake your head, smiling in return. “It’s fine. Your voice is oddly.. soothing.” He chuckles at your comment. “Indeed. I have gotten comments about my voice being soothing to hear.” “That’s why I shall suggest that you continue your rant. I can see it in your eyes that you have much more you want to share.” You chuckled. His eyes widened a bit, surprised that you manage to see through him before shaking his head slightly while huffing in amusement. “You are an interesting girl, my dear.”

“Why should I have a ball to begin with?” The question left Rex Lapis’ lips before he could stop them, making every head within the room turn their heads to the king. He doesn’t need to host a ball when there is no special occasion to celebrate as. “Rex Lapis, you must understand that the nation needs two rulers. A king and a queen. It would not only be beneficial for the people, but for you as well.” Ningguang explained, spinning her smoking pipe around her fingers, her gaze sharp as ever. Her red eyes staring at Rex Lapis’ face, curious at what his reaction would be. Rex Lapis only sighed. “I see..”

Closing his eyes as he stands up from his chair, opening his eyes to look at his fellow Adepti and the people in the Qixing. “I think this meeting is over. I shall take my leave now. Good day to you all.” Without any wait for a reply, he quickly left the room. When the door closed behind him, he sighed deeply as he started walking to his sanctuary, the garden. The garden that used to belong to his previous wife, the previous queen of Liyue. Opening the doors, he smiled at the beauty of the garden. It was as if she never left. 

He sat down on a nearby bench, gazing fondly at the geo-Crystalfly, only landing beside him. He gazes at it before sighing once more, running a hand through his hair, messing up his front hair slightly. “‘A new queen’ they said. ‘Beneficial for both the people of Liyue and me’ she said. I don’t understand mortals at all.” Rex Lapis tried to understand the minds of his people, but he still can’t grasp how extreme their minds can be sometimes. And this makes Rex Lapis more intrigued with them even more. The growing desire inside him continues to grow each passing day. Since when did this desire to be one of the mortals began? Was it when his late wife used to speak so fondly of them? He’s not sure but a thought kept lingering at the back of his mind, his attention shifting from the butterfly to the silhouette of Liyue Harbor in the distance. 

Should he leave the crown for good now?

He gazes at the blue-colored sky above, silver linings around the clouds as they form various shapes. “... not yet.” He whispers to himself. “It’s not yet the right time.”

Your laughter breaking the silence of the night as Rex Lapis finished telling a tale. It seemed like his knowledge about many things concerning Liyue is unending, you didn’t mind listening to him ranting about how the Guhua Plains came to be, how the rocks formed in various places in Liyue, and so on. A blush dust your cheeks as you stared at Rex Lapis who was about to tell a story yet again. Suddenly a sudden gush of cold wind blew your way, making you visibly shiver, cursing in your head for not wearing something suitable for the cold. You blink when you felt something placed on your shoulder, looking up, you noticed that Rex Lapis wasn’t anymore wearing his coat. Connecting the dots, and looking at your shoulders, you felt your face become more warm when you realized he noticed you shivering and gave you his fancy coat. “T-Thanks..” You mumbled, clutching his coat tightly while giving him a shy smile. “It is only right for me to share my coat when I was the one who dragged you out in this freezing evening, no?” He chuckles as he picks up where he left off in his tale. 

You stared at his back, now noticing how well-built he is from behind. You tried your hardest to not stare at his lower area, it is sacrilegious afterall. You let out a loving sigh, but that made your eyes widened in horror. Deep inside you, you felt something unknown yet so familiar. It was welcoming and warm. Heart thumping widely in your chest, the warm feeling spreading, the warm smile and that sigh just now. Realization struck you hard, making you even more scared than before. The horrifying truth you’ve concluded when adding all of your symptoms. You were falling in love with him. 

Rex Lapis noticed that you stopped walking judging from the lack of footsteps behind him, his words trailing off as he turned around to see what was wrong only to be surprised at tears falling from your wide eyes. “Are you alright, love? Why are you crying? Did I say something that made you cry? If I did so, I apologize sincerely.” He was panicking. It was evident in his voice that he’s panicking as he walks to you and wipe away the tears flowing with his thumb. Worry etched his face as he gazed at your [E/C] eyes. You continued to sob, not anymore needing to hide the tears. Why? Why did you have to fall in love with someone you were meant to kill?

What made you even more surprised, and made your poor heart jump, is when Rex Lapis leaned in and kissed your eyes. “Shh.. Don’t cry. Tears don't suit your beauty afterall.” You felt your face heat up at his action, wanting to shy away from him but at the same time, wanting more of his gentle touch and lips. You sniffed as his hands wiped away your leftover tears. Looking at him, you were met with his gentle and reassuring gaze. A smile that says everything would be alright. Lies. You inhaled sharply as your eyes travelled from his face to the clock, conveniently placed, behind him. It was almost midnight. His death is almost due. 

Please don’t let the bells sound for midnight. Please no. 

But you knew you needed to. Despite the limited time you two have, he was able to give you unforgettable memories that you’ll forever cherish with all your heart. Who knew you were into this kind of cheesiness? Childe would always tease you about being secretly cheesy, it seems like he’s right about this one. “... Are you alright, love? Is there something still wrong?” Your gaze shifted back to Morax, who was looking at you with great concern. You take a deep breath. It’s now or never.

You gave him a smile, a smile holding regret and love for the king. Even if your feelings were mutual, it would still remain unrequited as you take his life. “Thank you for this night, my king. This has been a wonderful evening indeed.” Rex Lapis stared at you with a blank face, his smile that you were used to seeing isn’t anymore visible in his face. It was replaced by a hard and stoic face. Deafening silence surrounds you both in this chilly evening, the silence making you shift slightly. After what seems like forever, he opens his mouth to speak. “You sound like you’re saying farewell. The ball hasn’t reached its conclusion yet.” You can feel tears starting to build in your eyes again as you forced them back. “I’m really sorry.”

Before he could make a comment about your apology, you grab your dagger and try to stab him through the chest but thanks to his fast reflexes, he was able to dodge at the last minute. Your dagger grazing at his clothes slightly. His eyes wide, maybe he was surprised at your betrayal? Was he furious? Would he call for the guards now? You cannot hesitate, not now. Not when you’re so close in fulfilling your mission. You went for the kill again, and without missing a beat, he dodge, catching your hand in the process. “Stop this, my love.” He whispered in your ear. You inhaled sharply, feeling your heart fluttering from the closeness, but you shouldn’t let this feeling of yours get in the way of finishing the king. 

Summoning a dagger made out of water, using your ‘delusion’, on your other hand, you strike him with it. Rex Lapis eyes widened as he tried to dodge your incoming second dagger by jumping back, but he wasn’t fast enough as it stabbed him in the side. He groans, placing his hand on the wound. The blood was staining his shirt as he clicked his tongue. You huffed, breathing in and out before opening your eyes, clouded with bloodlust and nothingness. It was glowing beneath your bangs. “Target spotted. Killing target now.” Your voice resembles a robot, a mindless slave. 

His eyes saddened at the thought of what you have been through to be like this. He knew you were after his life, Xiao and his fellow Adepti warned him about this. But he was intrigued by you the moment he laid his eyes on your lonesome figure. Even though you tried to hide it, he noticed how your eyes shone with awe as you gaze at the ornaments decorated the room. Cute, that was his thought. A childish girl behind the cold facade. Interesting. He knew you were part of the ‘Fatui’. He knew that you were ordered to kill him before midnight. He knew and yet he didn’t care. The possibility of dying in your hands still lingers at the back of his mind, yet he can’t help but get drawn to you. You were special in his eyes. A glaze lily, so rare and beautiful. 

You could even say he was falling in love with you with each passing second he spent with you.

Rex Lapis lets out a chuckle at the thought of his fellow Adepti reprimanding him for falling for you, but he can’t do anything about it. A heart wants what a heart wants, he knew that perfectly. And from his foolish love for you, he allowed you to strike him in the chest, piercing the amulet in the process. Your eyes widened at what you did, not believing what you had just seen. Why didn’t he move? He could perfectly dodge it like he did earlier so why? While your mind is in a frenzy, he allowed himself to hug you in his chest as he bled out. 

“W-Why-? Why didn’t.. you dodge?” You whispered in pure disbelief. He chuckles, running his hand through your hair, destroying its style earlier. “Who knows..? Even I am wondering that.” Feeling himself weakening, he pulls himself away from you as he gaze tenderly in your wide, frightened eyes. He smiles gently, moving closer to kiss your forehead. “You should probably get going, my love.. You wouldn’t want to get caught by the Millelith now.” He whispered. You didn’t say anything as you pulled away from his hold. Looking at his eyes as he nodded his head, urging you to go. Without saying anything, you run away. Stumbling a bit with your heels, you felt it slipping from your feet but you could care less about it as you continued to run, leaving the shoe behind. 

Watching as your figure disappeared from view, he placed a hand over his wound, feeling himself healing from his wounds. He knew he wouldn’t just die from a simple stab. What he didn’t account for is that the dagger you used is laced with poison, making him weak, to the point he has to sit on the ground. Huffing and puffing his eyes landed on the forgotten glass slipper, chuckling a bit. “Maybe.. It is truly time to depart.” 

“Eh? What do you mean Rex Lapis disappeared?!” 

“Calm yourself, Keqing. There must be an explanation for this, I presume?”

“We don’t know, lady Ningguang. We tried searching for his highness everywhere but he can’t be found. But there was blood in the garden along with a glass slipper.”

“Hm… I see.”

“What should we do then? We can’t just tell the people that Rex Lapis just mysteriously disappeared.”

“I speculate it was an attempt of assassination. But the question is, where is he? Where is his body?”

“An assassination for the king?! Who would dare to do such a thing?!”

“Hm… let us think this thoroughly with the Adepti. Now that Rex Lapis is gone, we must take over as the Qixing of Liyue.”

“... alright.”

“You. Call the Adepti. An important meeting is about to happen.”

“Yes, lady Ningguang.”

“.. Your highness?” Appearing before you like the wind was the king himself, but you noted his appearance changed. Despite still appearing all regal, he seems more lax than the last time you appeared before him. Guilt consumed you when memories of that night came rushing to you, but it made you wonder. Why was he here before you? Why was he still alive? Weeks passed since you ‘killed’ Rex Lapis. But it appears you failed your mission since his highness is before you, looking healthy and alive. Questions filled your mind, making you more confused than ever. The Qixing and the Adepti have already announced his passing, his Rite of Passing was due a few days from now. So what exactly happened-?

“It seems my appearance has confused you, my dear.” He chuckled, calm as ever with the same amused glint in his eyes. You tried searching for anger or resentment in them, for ‘killing’ him but you couldn’t find any. All you saw was amusement and affection. “Why are you still alive..? Did the Qixing and the Adepti lie about your death..?” You asked, your voice barely a whisper. “.. may I at least come inside? I’ll explain it to you once we’re out of the public eye.” He said. You numbly nodded, still couldn’t wrap your head around Rex Lapis still being alive. Did the poison not work? Did I fail my mission-?

“By the way… you mustn’t call me Rex Lapis or Morax anymore.” He said, entering your humble home. Staring at you with the eyes you fell in love with, the same one glinting beneath the moonlight and under the light of the dozen chandeliers. “Call me Zhongli.”

[x] Main Page || [x] Liyue Page

#hope ya’ll like this XP #valentines fic #genshin impact #genshin impact x reader #zhongli #zhongli x reader #genshin impact zhongli #genshin impact zhongli x reader #zhongli fic

[fedonciadale]

I have seen some discourse on Arya recently that got me thinking. I think if I had been a younger woman when I read asoiaf I might have been more drawn to Dany and Arya. They fit the common "not like others girls" tropes in YA books and in low fantasy. But as I was on the cusp of 30 when I read the books, I found them & their journeys less intriguing than Sansa, Cat, Arianne, & Brienne who have no "magic" and better parallel the experiences of real women which made them so relatable & human.

Hi there!

I was in my twenties when I started the books and I took to Arya right along. But I also immediately liked Cat, because I had never read a book where a middle aged mother (well she is not that old, late thirties only after all) was a heroine.

I felt for Dany in AGOT, but by the end I side-eyed her because of the Lamb people and I was not sure if I was supposed to side-eye her. lol

I felt sympathy for Sansa by the end of AGOT, but I only fell in love with her character by ACOK.

So, your age when you first read the books might be a contributing factor, that is true, but I actually think that readers’ expectations are more important. And people expect women like Arya to be the hero.

I am not sure, if Dany is a ‘not like other girls’. She does not fight herself, and at the beginning she is a timid teenage girl. Of course she has dragons, but she also uses her feminity to get what she wants. I do not really think she is a “not like other girls” girl. She is however the very embodiment of a power fantasy. I always wonder what would have happened if GRRM had started her journey later, like just after the birth of the dragons? Would people even think of her arc as being an arc of “getting agency” or would they see her for the power hungry selfish person she is?

I actually think that the tropes GRRM used in AGOT really shaped the audience’s and the readers expectations up to a point that they fail to see that their arcs do not go where GRRM insinuated they would go to.

Many still think Arya is “Cinderella”. Many still think “Dany is a hero” and alas many still think Sansa is a “spoiled brat” that will get her comeuppance.

I met some people who are as old as I am and they should know better but here we are, still defending Sansa. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Thanks for the ask!

#anon ask #Ary@ #Sansa Stark #DarkDany #Catelyn Stark #Women in ASOIAF

[spicyfoodboi]

a royal swap

Genre: random

A keiji akaashi and tetsuro kuroo x reader

A disney prince swap AU!

Synopsis: if our fellow haikyuu boys are people in fairy tales, how will their stories unfold?

a/n: hey guys! You guys probably are confused with the AU. My writer friends (I wuv you guys❤💖💕) and I brainstormed about the haikyuu boys being princes and we came out with this. I thank them for their wonderful support, I'm always here for you guys! Requests are open for haikyuu and enstars so please leave your wonderful ideas in my inbox! Without further ado, let's get on with it!

 Keiji akaashi

As prince charming from cinderella

He was a kind and silent prince.

And that gentleness attracts maidens near and far for the annual masquerade ball that happens at the palace.

This time, the ball was taking place because the king and queen want him a queen to marry, a new heir to the throne.

He was less than enthusiastic about it but his right-hand bokuto, convinced him that it would be fun.

Alas, the night of the masquerade ball arrives, he was standing in front of his throne, looking over the maybe hundreds masked men and women wining and dining, looking for a fair maiden to dance with.

He finally spots a fair lady, dressed in light blue, (h/c) locks flowing behind you, your matching blue butterfly mask obscuring your face, making you anonymous to the prince.

That said prince walks over to you and bowed offering his hand.

"may I have this dance maiden o' fair?" he asked, his voice ever so charming.

You flushed, taking his hand and letting him pull you to the middle of the ballroom as the both of you danced together the whole night.

By the last hour, he brought you to the courtyard so the both of you could look at the wonderful, glittering stars.

After talking about constellations, he was leaning over your figure, about to press a lingering kiss on your lips when the clocktower rung, signifying midnight.

You gasped, pulling away, muttering multiple apologies before dashing out.

He was confused, running after you, only a few steps behind.

You ran down the stairs, leaving your glass slipper on the step. You didn't have time to go back for it. You need to leave.

You did a quick farewell to the running prince and let the carriage drown your apologies to him.

Akaashi took the glass heel from the stairs and examined it, going up in the palace, letting bokuto examine it while the prince thinks of his next action.

The next day, an announcement came that the prince would travel across the kingdom and will ask every maiden to try on the slipper.

With bokuto, the men went house to house, trying out the slipper to no avail.

The prince was starting to lose hope, he sat on his horse, fiddling with its mane with a pout.

They reach the last house at the far end of the town. 2 sisters and their mother came out, trying out the slipper in hopes that it would fit.

When the heel doesn’t fit though, akaashi let out a sad sigh, saying his thank yous to the sisters, he was about to leave the house when a maiden called out.

You were wearing a dress patched up with different rags, your hair tied up with a bandana.

Bokuto lit up when he sees the hope shine in akaashi's eyes.

You try on the slipper and it was a perfect fit.

He took your hand and kissed it.

He didn't let go of your hand on the way back to the palace.

He found his maiden o' fair and he wouldn't let you go again.

 Tetsuro kuroo

As flynn rider from tangled

He was on the run from the royal guards after taking the lost princess' crown in a heist.

He lets his 2 accomplices get taken while he hides inside a cave.

He looks back and sees that it opens to space with a tall tower.

He gaped at the height but took out some small daggers from his satchel and climbed up.

When he reached the top, he only saw a round, fully furnished area before getting hit in the head by something hard.

He woke up, tied to a chair with… (h/c) hair??

he looked around and followed the big lump of hair into the darkness.

"show yourself."

You walk into the light holding a frying pan.

You started talking about the lights that show up every night of your birthday.

And that that date was coming closer and closer.

"where's my satchel?!" he shouted, now struggling under his restraints.

"take me to the lights and I'll give you your satchel back."

He had to agree before getting hit by frying pan again.

He woke up, tied to the chair again.

"untie me so I can help you then."

You hesitantly untied him.

You get down the tower and finally see the real world from the ground.

You were switching back and forth from excitement and nervousness.

Kuroo started to get annoyed so he brought you to the ugly crows and both of you met the delinquents of karasuno and sung about dreams.

The guard, lead by kenma their commander.

I didn't have the heart to make kenma to maximus-

Found the secret passage the duo went into and followed them.

A flood was triggered, trapped in a blocked off cave, kuroo took, what he thought his last breath before plunging.

You got to sing a bit of the lyrics and your hair glowed, lighting the way to freedom.

They got out, and let me tell you, kuroo was shocked.

Does your hair glow?? You wrapped a part of your hair around his bleeding palm and sung once again.

He was even more shocked.

HIS PALM WAS HEALED??

He took you to corona, the kingdom, and showed you around, even renting a boat so you could light up your lantern.

He took you to the nearby shore and set up camp there.

Little did he know, his accomplices were there, he was about to talk to them when he was hit in the head with a hard branch.

He woke up, he was being taken into a cell.

With the help of the delinquents of karasuno and commander kenma, they run back to the tower.

When your hair dropped, he felt so relieved.

Well, not for long.

He got up and felt something sharp stab him.

A knife.

He fell to the ground with a groan.

You tried to run over but it was no use against the restraints.

He tried to refuse but you already made your deal.

That if you heal him, you would join your mother anywhere.

She was about to sing when kuroo took a shard of glass and cut your hair in half, seeing a figure fall off the tall tower, he smiled, fully losing consciousness.

You started to cry, your tears dripping onto his figure, light erupted and the wound was healing itself.

Kuroo woke up to your teary-eyed face.

You brought him into a tight embrace and made sure to keep you close.

You almost lost him but he's back. You promised that you'll always be at his side too.

 Omg this is so long- I'm sorry- ik that some parts with kuroo's aren't accurate to the film but meh, I did pretty well in my opinion! I might do a part 2 with oikawa and a few others! Requests are open for haikyuu and enstars so please leave some in my ask box! Love you guys❤😊😘

this is a reupload!

#Haikyuu x reader #kuroo x reader #akaashi x reader #Haikyu x reader #Haikyu!! X reader #haikyuu!! #haikyuu #keiji akaashi #keiji #akaashi #keiji akaashi x reader #keiji x reader #keiji akaashi fanfiction #tetsuro kuroo #tetsuro #kuroo #tetsuro kuroo x reader #tetsuro x reader #tetsuro kuroo fanfiction

[lady-divine-writes]

Good Omens - Starmaker (Rated PG)

Summary: Crowley rushes into Aziraphale's shoe shop right at closing with a ballet emergency. She's in dire need of a new pair of pointe shoes, which she can only get at Aziraphale's shop.

Made by a craftsman who identifies themselves with only a star ... (1451 words)

Notes: I thought I would put a new twist on the whole 'Starmaker' trope XD

Read on AO3.

“Help me help me help me help me!” Crowley begs, racing through the door of Aziraphale’s shop a minute before closing, as is her custom. Crowley doesn’t leave the theater too often unless she absolutely has to, and that’s usually to go home. She can't get away with sneaking down back alleys dressed in a hoodie and a pair of sweats the way other dancers do. At over six feet tall without her pointe shoes, an absolutely unheard of height for a principal dancer in any company, not to mention the Royal Ballet, and with her flame-red locks, she’s far too recognizable despite any of the disguises she tries to employ. 

Crowley loves her fans. She wouldn’t be where she is without them. But she’s not a people person. She appreciates her privacy. She despises being bothered outside the theater, away from the shield of the curtain and the stage.

Besides, she’d rather have her favorite shoe fitter all to herself.

“My goodness,” Aziraphale mutters, fussing with drawers of satin ribbons, pretending to be unaffected by the goddess flying down the aisle towards her in desperate yet glamorous despair. “Whatever could be the matter, my dear?”

“Whatever could be the matter?" Crowley mimics. "I’ll tell you what could be the matter! I am set to dance Sleeping Beauty in just under a week, as you well know …”

“As I well know …”

“... and my pointe shoes died! Out of the blue died!” Crowley pulls her broken shoes from out her pockets as proof of her grief.

“Don’t you keep about eight pairs in rotation?” Aziraphale asks, moving on to a basket of elastics with practiced nonchalance.

“Yes, but they’re all scuffed and creased. I don’t want to wear those on stage." Crowley smirks like the brat she is. "I can’t help it if my feet look their best in a new pair of shoes.”

“Doesn’t the theater have another pair for you?" Aziraphale stalls, being of no help on purpose. She has missed Crowley way too much to simply let her jete into her shop and act as if she visits weekly for tea when, in reality, they haven't seen one another in a dog's age. "I thought they must, seeing as you haven’t set foot in my shop for around three months.”

“Oh, they have another pair all right,” Crowley moans, not catching the bitter tang in Aziraphale’s words, “but not my favorite! I need my favorite, Aziraphale! I cannot be expected to dance a part as grueling as Aurora without my …” 

Aziraphale gives in. She turns, four brand new pairs of pink satin shoes cradled side by side in her hands like a beloved set of quadruplets. “Are these what you need?” 

“My shoes!” Crowley cheers with an exhalation of relief, scooping the shoes out of Aziraphale’s hands and hugging them tightly to her bosom. “How ever do you manage to get a hold of them when no one else can? And four pairs!? You're a miracle-worker! No! You're an angel! That's what you are!”

“Every fitter stocks certain shoes," Aziraphale says, fighting the rush of red to her cheeks. "Supply and demand and all that. You’re the only dancer I know who buys these, and since you're local, for now, I keep them in stock.”

“But they're literally impossible to get a hold of!” Crowley lights gracefully onto Aziraphale’s fitting chair. It's actually an elaborate, gold-scrolled throne - a chair of significant opulence that Aziraphale keeps on hand to make her clients feel appreciated. But with its high back and red velvet cushions, it suits Crowley most of all. “I’ve been looking online everywhere for a pair!”

“You wound me!” Aziraphale gasps, pulling up a pillow and taking to her knees to fit the ballerina. Not that it’s necessary. Crowley has been coming to Aziraphale’s for these same shoes since they showed up in her shop over a year ago. From that moment on, they were the only shoe Crowley would wear. They’re her Cinderella slipper. She barely has to put in any effort, and they do exactly what she needs, each brand new pair responding as if she’s been wearing them for a day of classes. 

If Crowley didn’t know better, she’d say they were made to fit her feet perfectly and her feet alone. But that's ridiculous. Each make of pointe shoe suits a variety of dancers. Still, Crowley has never met another dancer who wears them. 

“You should have come to me first!”

“Don’t take it personally, Aziraphale. It’s always good to have a backup supplier, what with the state of the world today. You understand, don’t you?” 

“Alas, I do," Aziraphale admits sadly, slipping off Crowley's flats and sliding her feet into the satin slippers. "There. How do those feel?”

“Oh, they’re heaven! Simply heaven!" Crowley stands from her seat and rises to her toes, admiring the way her feet look in brand new shoes, even with her legs hidden by baggy practice pants. "So incredibly soft! Like dancing on a cloud! And to think, each pair will last me two, three weeks at least! I don’t know what kind of magic this maker wields that he can create a shoe that lasts me more than a day, especially with all the partnering I’m doing. Why, I’ve been known to break other shoes in around two hours!” Crowley lifts one foot up and peeks at the virgin sole. She reaches down, fingertips tracing the indented star on the center above the brand name. “Star," she says reverently. "Did you know they’re the only maker that doesn’t have their picture on the Freed website?”

“So you keep telling me,” Aziraphale says dryly.

“Do you know who he is?”

“Not at all.”

“Oh come on! All of you fitters know the shoemakers, don’t you?”

“Yes. But not this time, I’m afraid.”

“I’m dying to know what he looks like. To put a face to the shoes, so to speak."

"Does what he looks like matter so much, my dear?" Aziraphale gazes up at the statuesque ballerina looking down in Aziraphale's direction to admire her shoes. She only has eyes for them. Aziraphale sighs. 

Same planet, but two completely different worlds.

"Well, no ..." Crowley says, a tad unconvincingly. "Still, you don’t think he’s like one of those scruffy, beer-drinking, pot-bellied Minotaurs that make the other Freed pointe shoes, do you?”

“I’m not sure.” Aziraphale stands and puts her pillow away. This part of the fitting process always ends the same, with Crowley gushing over the skill and artistry of some unseen craftsman.

“Maybe he doesn’t put his picture up because he’s devastatingly handsome, and he can't stand the attention," Crowley says dreamily, extending an arm over her head, which makes her look twice her height. "I know what that's like." Her pouty red lips pull down at the corners, her love-soaked expression turning sour. "Or maybe because he’s worse than the others: three-feet tall, pot marked cheeks, and only four teeth.”

“Who’s to say it’s even a man, my dear?” Aziraphale gestures for Crowley to retake her seat so that she can sew on her ribbons. Ballerinas normally do the work themselves, but Crowley claims Aziraphale has a special knack for it. Crowley will sew her own ribbons and elastics on in a pinch, but she much prefers the way Aziraphale does it.

And Aziraphale only does it for Crowley.

“Oh, if only." Crowley slides back into the chair and pulls her pant legs up to her knees, exposing her legs all the way to her calves. Aziraphale catches a glimpse of Crowley's toned legs, her shapely calves, and her heart skips a beat. Aziraphale sees gorgeous legs and feet all day long, but Crowley's are exceptional. They're a masterpiece, sculpted through hours of practice and performance, but also luck and phenomenal genes. "But odds are slim," Crowley continues, rolling her ankles to see just how beautiful her feet look in her shoes at all angles. "There are so few female shoemakers in the ballet world. But it would be amazing." Crowley sighs. "Well, whoever he … or she … is, they’d better not think of retiring any time soon. When they make their last shoe, I’ll dance my last dance. I can't even think of dancing in anything but star shoes.”

“I don’t think you have anything to worry about.” Aziraphale reaches into her basket of ribbons for the matte ones Crowley favors, carefully hiding a special leather stamp, one she’d carelessly left out on her work table where anyone could see.

One in the shape of a star.

“I'm sure that if they ever heard that, they'd make your shoes till the end of time.”

#good omens #good omens fanfiction #ineffable wives #ineffable lovers #crowley x aziraphale #aziraphale x crowley

[my-plastic-life]

Behind the Scenes: Making Thumbelina

When I decided I wanted to do a fairy scene, this idea was bouncing around in my brain and I decided to take the plunge and attempt to make Thumbelina. She was a huge part of my childhood (along with Crysta, who is also in the scene - more on that later) and I’d seen some other people make their own version of her, so I wanted to give it a try.

Originally a Fox movie released in 1994, Thumbelina is now technically a Disney Princess since Disney now owns Fox. :D

For that reason, I knew I wanted this doll to have a Disney Princess face. So after checking out the bargain dolls on the Disney Store, I found two potential candidates: Ariel and Snow White. Ariel would have been a funny coincidence because Jodi Benson voiced both characters!

The Disney Princess dolls seem to have the same rounded eyes, though some are different sizes. Cinderella and Aurora could have also worked, but upon looking at pictures of Thumbelina from the movie, I made the decision to use Snow White. She has the same smaller round eyes, a soft smile, simple makeup, and a subtle hint of blush in her cheeks. Plus, if I wasn’t able to salvage her Disney Princess body (those things are very hard to decapitate without breaking!), I knew I could use a Barbie body that would match the skin tone. Here are the source photos:

Snow’s lips are more pink in person, which makes them even closer of a match. She also has the same black outline and eyelashes at the top of the eyes. I could just picture the beauty she’d become!

Before I bought the doll, I had to confirm that someone would be able to reroot the doll for me and make the dress since I’m terrible at both of those things. :D I first contacted a very talented seamstress who’s made a few outfits for me, including the outfit Crysta is wearing in the same diorama that Thumbelina is in:

Not bad considering I had to take the measurements for her, since she didn’t have a Disney Fairy doll to use as a model. :D She said she’d be able to make Thumbelina’s dress, so I did a victory dance and focused on the next part.

Next up was getting the doll rerooted. That was tricky because, A), I can’t reroot so I had to pay someone else to do it. I did get to choose the color, but not being able to physically see the color made me keep questioning whether or not the shade would be right.

The pictures make Thumbelina look like she has red hair, but compared to her true love Cornelius, it’s more of a strawberry blonde since his hair is red.

I finally settled on a color. The seller kept me posted on how the hair was going, sent me pictures, and even styled the hair for me so that Thumbelina had her bangs and “wisps” on the sides of her head.

When the doll and dress arrived, I was very pleased! Everything was perfect except one part - Snow White’s eyes are brown and Thumbelina’s eyes are blue. Fortunately, that’s one thing I can do - I broke out my acrylic paint, carefully changed the eye color, then sealed the paint with Mod Podge. Since this doll is meant for display/collecting and not play, that should be just fine.

Disney Princesses usually wear heals, but the dolls do not. They all have flat feet and flat shoes. In this case, that was perfect for Thumbelina. I took the yellow shoes that Snow White came with and repainted them with a color that matched the belt on her dress. That same color was also needed for her headband. See:

Might have gotten a bit darker than the picture, but I’m still happy with it. My first idea for making the headband was finding ribbon to match. You’d think it would be easy to match that color... wrong! My Walmart, the only place in this town that carries ribbon, was picked over and based on the stock photos, the right color wasn’t there anyway. And it’s something I have to see in person to know I have the right shade. Shopping online wasn’t an option, and I wasn’t going out of town with a pandemic going on.

I’d seen videos of people using rings from milk gallon jugs or pop bottles and turning them into headbands, so I tried that. The little spikes molded into the plastic were messing up Thumbelina’s hair, plus it stuck out too far away from her head. I wasn’t liking it.

Then I saw the red headband that Snow White had come with. The bow came off easily, and I thought I’d try to paint it with the same paint I used on the shoes. Wasn’t sure how it would work on fabric, but I knew at least the headband would fit properly since it was made for that head.

But alas, I needn’t have worried. It came out perfectly! The fabric became stiff, but that’s okay with me. So all the red got covered with the teal color, then sealed with Mod Podge, and BOOM! Headband!

Last were the flowers in Thumbelina’s hair. It was tricky finding small flowers, but I managed to find a few in the many that had been picked through at Walmart. They’re white lilacs, and they were cheap, so I grabbed a bundle. I knew I’d only need three little blossoms. The leftovers went into my wolf planter. :D

I first tried to glue the flowers onto some green embroidery floss that was holding the ponytail in place. The flowers didn’t like that. They kept slipping off, even with the Gorilla Super Glue. Plus I was afraid that would hurt the doll’s hair. Then I looked closer at the flowers and saw that they had little holes in the center that allowed them to be attached to the bunch. A lightbulb went on and I decided to thread the flowers through some green thread, then tie that thread around the ponytail holder (the embroidery floss was still there). I would then be able to maneuver the flowers as needed, and they’d be safe from icky glue.

And that was it! Thumbelina was complete! I’m very happy with how she looks. And she’s a great addition to my Disney Princess collection. Like I said, since Disney owns Fox now, Thumbelina is technically a Disney Princess (she married a prince, so in Disney’s eyes, that makes her a princess lol).

Here she is!

Dress made by Mariya Bridal on Etsy (Click here!)

Eyes painted blue

Painted headband, plus flowers

Original shoes repainted

Reroot done by NenasDolls on Etsy (Click here!)

#My Plastic Life #Disney #Disney Princess #Thumbelina #Don Bluth #OOAK doll #OOAK Disney Princess #one sixth scale #doll reroot #TenderWolf

[upontheshelfreviews]

Whenever I discuss Sleeping Beauty with someone who doesn’t share my enthusiasm for Disney, they have an irksome tendency to get it muddled with Snow White; their excuse being “it has the same plot”. I’ll admit, there are some surface similarities that even the most casual viewer can pick up on: a fairytale where a princess is forced into unconsciousness and wakes up with some necking, the comic relief and villain being the most beloved characters, a little frolic in the forest with animals, the antagonist plunging off a cliff, you get the idea. In fact, Sleeping Beauty even reuses some discarded story beats from Snow White, mainly our couple dancing on a cloud and the villain capturing the prince to prevent him from waking his princess. Yet despite that, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty are two wholly different movies shaped by the era and talents of the time.

I’ve discussed how Walt Disney was never one to stick to a repeated formula, no matter how successful it was. He must have noticed the parallels between his first movie and this one, but decided to make one crucial change for Sleeping Beauty that would forever differentiate the two: the look. We all know the traditional Disney house style: round, soft shapes, big eyes; charming as it was and still is, Walt was sick of it after several decades. Meanwhile, artists like Mary Blair and Eyvind Earle were producing gorgeous concept art that rarely made a perfect translation into the Disney house style.

Walt wanted to make a feature that took the pop artistry of their designs and made the animation work for it instead of the other way around – which brings us to another animation studio that was doing well at the time, United Pictures Animation, or UPA.

UPA didn’t have the kind of budget Disney normally had for their animated projects, but what they lacked in fluidity they made up for in style. Watch The Tell-Tale Heart, Gerald McBoing-Boing and Rooty-Toot-Toot to see what I mean. UPA were pioneers of limited animation, taking their scant resources and creating some striking visuals with bold geometric designs. Through this, they defined the look of 50’s animation. Though perhaps unintentional, Sleeping Beauty comes across as Disney’s response to UPA, or what would happen if UPA had the funds they deserved. The characters’ contours are angular but effortlessly graceful, defining their inherent dignity and royalty. And the colors, ohhh the colors…

Because of the immense amount of work required to animate in this difficult new style (and in the Cinemascope ratio, no less) as well as story troubles and Walt barely supervising the animation studio now that he had his hands full with live-action films, television, and a theme park, Sleeping Beauty had a turbulent production that lasted the entirety of the 1950s. For a time, Chuck Jones of Looney Tunes fame was set to direct. Director Wilfred Jackson suffered a heart attack partway through production and Eric Larson, one of the Nine Old Men, took the mantle from there before Walt Disney replaced him Clyde Geronimi. And even after that, Wolfgang Reitherman teamed up with Geronimi as co-director to get the film finished after no less than three delays. Also, Don Bluth got his foot in the door as an assistant animator for this feature, beginning his short-lived but impactful tenure at Disney. Did all this hamper the movie, or did they succeed in what they set out to accomplish?

Well, one of the reasons why this review took so long was because I had a hard time not repeating “MOVIE PRETTY” and “MALEFICENT AWESOME” over and over. Make what you will of that.

The story begins as most fairy tales do with your typical king, Stefan, and his queen suddenly blessed with a baby girl after years of wishing for a child. They christen their daughter Aurora (middle name Borealis, localized entirely within their castle) and throw a huge celebration in her honor. People come from all over the kingdom to pay homage to the princess and OSMKFKSBFHFGILWBHBFC…

Movie pretty…

Movie pretty…

MOVIE PRETTIEEEEEE…

John Hench, Academy Award-winning special effects man and art director, turned Walt on to the idea of basing the look of Sleeping Beauty on classic medieval artwork. Thanks to him and Eyvind Earle’s insanely detailed designs and backgrounds, this is one of Disney’s most visually distinct and beautiful films. A single still from this feature wouldn’t feel out of place up in The Cloisters.

Among the party guests is King Stefan’s old friend King Hubert (Bill Thompson) bringing his young son Prince Philip. Stefan and Hubert wish to unite their two kingdoms and formally announce Philip’s betrothal to the infant Aurora.

“We were going to do it during the second trimester, but we decided to wait until she was more mature.”

By the way, your eyes are not deceiving you. That is Aurora’s mother, Queen Leah, alive and well and named. And frabjous day calloo callay, she even gets some lines! The most common joke about Disney princesses is that they don’t have moms (even Ralph Breaks The Internet went out of its way to highlight that), so as a hardcore Disney fan who often has to put up with this generalization, Leah’s existence leaves me feeling vindicated.

Once that happy revelation is out of the way, we’re introduced to our main protagonists.

Oh, you thought I was referring to Philip and Aurora? Nonononono, my friends. THESE are the true heroes of Sleeping Beauty, the Three Good Fairies.

The fairies started off as one-note side characters sharing the same personality. Think pre-Ducktales-reboot Huey, Dewey, and Louie in dresses. But the studio had a difficult time giving Aurora more depth and was having a lot more fun developing the fairies. Naturally, they became so fascinating and appealing that more screentime was given over to them. Now the story’s carried by three wonderfully fleshed out ladies who are distinct in both looks and personality: Flora’s the pragmatic tradition-adhering leader, Fauna’s the sweet scatterbrain who mediates, and Merryweather’s the feisty young upstart.

With the plot now focused on characters who held a traditionally minor role, it’s easy to read this as a perspective-flipped version of the fairytale, but there’s more to it than that. Remember in my Clash of the Titans review how I mentioned the gods literally play chess using the heroes as pieces? I tend to view the main conflict of Sleeping Beauty in the same way. The Three Fairies and Maleficent are in a constant game of good vs. evil, moving Aurora, Philip, and the rest of the royals as pawns in their plans. There’s plenty of plotting and intrigue, with both sides constantly guessing and second-guessing the other’s next maneuver, and even if you’re already familiar with the story’s trajectory you’re still left on the edge of your seat as it inches towards the fiery climax.

And dare I say it but…the fairies and their power dynamic make this Disney’s most feminist film. Yes, really. You could argue that some of the other animated movies from the Renaissance and Revival period have more notable, stronger female protagonists, and many of the live-action remakes try to be woke without really grasping the concept, but consider this: The cast of Sleeping Beauty is mostly female, the leads aren’t objectified in any manner (that is if you count Aurora as a supporting character), nor does their gender factor into their competency, each one differs in age and body type, and most of them are working together towards a common goal as opposed to against each other. Name a movie in the past decade that does the same and still manages to be entertaining (no, really, I’d love to see it). There’s even one scene that unintentionally provides great commentary on the divides in the feminist movement, but more on that later.

Flora and Fauna bless the baby with beauty and song respectively which are accompanied by a short chorus and some sumptuous graphics. I don’t think I need to reiterate that when this movie goes extra with the visuals, it GOES EXTRA with the visuals. Next comes Merryweather with her gift. To this day, no one knows what Merryweather intended to give Aurora. Flora’s the most traditionally feminine of the three so her giving Aurora beauty comes as no surprise. By comparison, Merryweather is the most forward (or unconventional, depending on your point of view). I wouldn’t put it past her to favor Aurora with intelligence, or humor, or passion, or creativity or humility or confidence or decisiveness or physical fitness or great swordsmanship or telekinesis or ice powers or one million YouTube subscribers or comfort in her female sexuality.

Me personally, I think I’ve got the best gift of all:

“O Princess, my gift shall be…getting all reviews posted on time for once!”

Alas, before Merryweather can bestow such a wondrous quality upon the child, she’s interrupted by a horny party crasher.

Maleficent. The Mistress of All Evil. Chernabog’s right-hand witch. The Disney villain all Disney villains strive to be. She has it all – the looks, the poise, the power, the laugh, the cunning, the ruthlessness! She doesn’t even need to sing a song because she’s already awesome enough without one. Marc Davis’ gothic design cuts a fine figure and Eleanor Audley’s subtle icy voicework is trés magnifique. As much as I enjoy Audley as Cinderella’s evil stepmother, Lady Tremaine was but an appetizer in comparison to the four-course banquet of pure villainy that is Maleficent.

This leads to a small point of contention some viewers have with Maleficent in spite of hitting top marks elsewhere: her motivation. Putting a hit out on a child for not getting invited to a measly party? Not exactly compelling, is it? And yes, it isn’t a deep motive…is what I would say if I wasn’t well-versed in folkloric tradition. In the original fairy tale and the movie (though it isn’t outright stated in the latter), the party for Aurora isn’t just your average royal kegger, it’s a christening. Back in ye olden days, christenings were very big deals. To not receive an invitation to one was a grave insult, so not extending an invite to your semi-omnipotent magical neighbor is just asking for trouble. In the fairy tale’s defense, no one had seen the evil fairy for years and assumed she was dead, though I can’t imagine how nobody thought Maleficent wouldn’t find about it eventually.

“You dare to deny me, foolish mortals? Very well, then! I shall have my own christening! With blackjack! And strumpets!”

Maleficent is proof that sometimes you don’t have to have an elaborate backstory, a god complex, a tragic past or the unfortunate luck to be on the wrong side of a conflict. Sometimes all you need is some magic, brains, class, and a whole lot of flair to be a perfect, intimidating, and unquestionably iconic villain.

Basically what I’m saying is these movies never happened. Got it?

Maleficent is disarmingly polite over being snubbed, even after Merryweather bluntly tells her nobody wanted her to come. She even brought her own gift for the baby – sixteen years of life cut short by the prick of a spinning wheel spindle, because why change into a dragon and destroy everyone all at once when you can draw the torture out over an agonizingly long time and deliver the coup de grace in the prime of a young woman’s life? That’s how Maleficent rolls, baby. She could dole out capital punishment when she has to without batting an eyelid, but causing human suffering is her bread and butter.

Stefan begs the fairies to undo Maleficent’s curse, but it’s too strong for them. Flora and Fauna insist, however, that Merryweather can use her gift to lessen the spell’s potency. Now instead of dying from that fatal prick, Aurora will sleep until she receives True Love’s Kiss™. Stefan’s not one to throw caution to the wind though, so he orders all of the kingdom’s spinning wheels to be burned in the meantime.

I just pray his kingdom’s economy wasn’t based on textiles otherwise they’re screwed.

As the peasantry celebrates Guy Fawkes Day several centuries early, the fairies ponder their next move. They’ve been around long enough to know that removing spinning wheels from the equation won’t put a damper on Maleficent’s scheme. This scene is incredibly effective in establishing two things:

Maleficent’s near-omniscient presence in the film

How well the fairies’ differing  personalities play off each other

Maleficent rarely miscalculates her opponents, and that guile puts her one step ahead of the heroes, making her one of the few Disney villains to nearly reach their goal. The only mistake she makes in the entire movie is trusting her henchmen to do their jobs when she isn’t directly supervising them, though that’s more on them than her. The different methods the fairies propose to deal with Maleficent fantastically illustrate what kind of people they are. Fauna believes she’s just a miserable soul who could be reasoned with if they talk things over. Merryweather would rather take the fight to Maleficent and turn her into a toad. Flora, however, is wise enough to know Maleficent’s too wicked to plead to, too clever to bargain with and too strong to face head-on, so their best course of action is to focus on protecting Aurora through any means necessary. Her initial idea is to enchant the princess into a flower (her namesake is her specialty, after all), but Merryweather reminds her that Maleficent enjoys creating bitter frosts just to kill her flowers.

“Well we could try that but stick her in a castle with a beast for a while…nah, that’ll never work.”

Yet never one to give up, Flora alters the plan so they’ll raise Aurora as a peasant girl out in the woods. This means disguising themselves as humans and giving up magic for sixteen years so as to not attract Maleficent, but that amount of time is like twenty minutes to the fair folk. Stefan and Leah reluctantly agree to the plan, and the fairies spirit little Aurora away from the castle that very night.

Sixteen years later, Maleficent is infuriated that her minions have failed to locate Aurora, even more so when one reveals that they’ve spent the whole time looking for a baby instead of a maturing woman. In an interview with the Rotoscopers podcast, Don Bluth called Maleficent a very flat antagonist because she surrounds lackeys dumber than her so she could be the smart one among them and, again, her supposed lack of motivation. But come on, let’s not entirely condemn the bad guys for having too much faith in their underlings. It’s difficult to find minions smart enough to carry out orders but dumb enough to stay unquestioningly loyal. Usually you have to register as Republican in order to get some.

Maleficent gets her anger out in the most therapeutic way – throwing lightning bolts at her orcs, awesome – then leaves the job of finding Aurora up to her trusty raven Diablo. We then finally see the grown-up Aurora herself, whom the fairies renamed Briar Rose as a nod to the Brothers Grimm version of this tale.

I know I’ve made the occasional case for the princesses from Walt’s era compared to the present day, and yet I have a hard time defending how…I don’t want to say bland. Bland would mean there’s nothing interesting about Aurora, and that’s a lie. She’s gorgeously designed and drawn, and even in her peasant dress she has an air of elegance and sophistication. She carries herself like a queen; her innate royalty reveals itself in her graceful movements. Mary Costa also gifts her with an excellent set of pipes. Hearing her song echoing through the forest is nothing short of magical. She’s a flower child who can talk to animals. She has dreams of escaping her adopted aunts’ loving but stifling care and being allowed to grow up, see the world, actually talk to people, and even find a life partner. She has some strong potential. It’s not that Aurora’s boring, she’s just not quite as developed as we’ve come to expect our animated female protagonists to be. I’m grateful for what we’ve got, but I only wish we could have more. What was her childhood like? How did she learn to communicate with animals? When did the fairies trust her enough to let her spend time out on her own? Did the fairies ever subtly teach her lessons in royalty through lessons and games? Heck, nobody bothers to keep her informed about Maleficent or her curse, and they act surprised when she’s shocked to learn she was a princess the whole time. I want to see what Aurora could have been like if she had known the truth already and what kind of steps she would take to defend herself. Blame the source material for this; it’s difficult to write a compelling main character when she’s supposed to sleep through most of her story.

The fairies send Aurora on a fetch quest so they can plan a surprise birthday party for her. Merryweather wants to bring their magic wands back out for the job, but Flora insists on taking no chances now that they’re in the home stretch. Fauna gets to live her dream of baking an elaborate cake (it’s thanks to her referring to a teaspoon as a “tsp” that I do it too), and Flora insists on making Aurora a gown fit for a princess using Merryweather as a dummy. And we also get one of the best burns in the Disney canon:

Merryweather: It looks awful! Flora: That’s because it’s on you, dear.

The fairies fall into reminiscing over raising Aurora and get teary over having to let her go soon. I see where they’re coming from, they’re the ones who raised her for sixteen years. They must have so many fond memories, not to mention they put all that work into learning to properly raise a child let alone live like normal human beings seeing how two of them still can’t sew or cook without magic. I wonder what that was like –

No, NO, you CGI abominations DO NOT exist! Go back to the fires from whence you came!!

“Ugh, I’m gonna need something strong to expunge that from my eyes.”

There we go.

Aurora wanders through the forest, drawing out the usual bevy of cute woodland critters with her singing. She also catches the attention of a grown-up Prince Philip (Billy Shirley) who’s more dashing and considerably less blonde than he was sixteen years ago.

By this point, the Disney animators were far more confident in their ability to draw realistic but expressive leading men, hence Philip’s expanded role from the story. He’s also the first Disney prince to have a personality; not a terribly deep or defined one, but it’s a step up from his nameless plot-device predecessors. There are some signs of him being a hopeless romantic, he gets a few funny lines here and there, has a sturdy friendship with his horse Samson, and is fiercely determined when it’s time to kick some ass. He does have the same problem as Aurora in he randomly decides to stop talking for the rest of the movie once he reaches the midway mark (at least Aurora has the excuse that she’s sleeping for that remainder), but I suppose you could chalk this up as to him wanting to spite Maleficent with his silence.

The animals steal some of Philip’s clothes so they can pretend to be Aurora’s dream prince. Aurora plays along as she sings the movie’s standout song, “Once Upon a Dream”. Philip and Samson watch until he smooths his way into the dance. Once Aurora discovers the switch, Philip gets a little too up in her personal space for my liking, constantly grabbing her hand so she doesn’t run off and pulling her closer to him. Not as horrible as what the prince does to the sleeping princess in the original story (a questionably consensual kiss is a trifle compared to how the scumbag of a prince treats her there), but still a bit iffy.

“It’s a good thing my aunts taught me to never go anywhere without a loaded pistol taped to my back.”

But once Philip backs off a little and joins in her song, they both dance together and OEHSGBJSGBLL…

I think I’m going to need surgery to get my jaw off the floor back into its proper place thanks to this movie.

As per Disney tradition, Aurora and Philip’s waltz means the two are head over heels in love with each other. But when it comes time to finally exchange names, Aurora panics and runs away, though she sticks around long enough to tell Philip to meet her family at the cottage that evening.

Back at home, the party preparations aren’t proceeding as planned. Flora’s dress looks as good as my attempts at dressmaking, and Fauna’s dessert wouldn’t feel out of place on Cake Wrecks.

A fed-up Merryweather reads Flora and Fauna the riot act and convinces them to finally take up their wands again. This produces more desirable results, though Merryweather still gets stuck with cleanup duty.

Enchanting a broom to come to life and do your dirty work? I don’t see this going wrong in any possible way.

Things start to go south when Flora and Merryweather argue over the dress color and it escalates into a full-blown wizard’s duel. This gag was supposedly based on the animators’ arguments over what was Aurora’s proper dress color. I think they should have compromised and combined both colors to make purple, which would go lovely with Aurora’s violet eyes, but what do I know. I’m just the illustration major writing a blog. Unfortunately, while the fairies remembered to cover every door, window, and crack that could expose their magic, they overlooked the fireplace. The sparkly residue of Flora and Merryweather’s fight fly up the chimney, alerting Diablo to their hideaway.

Going back to what I said earlier about this movie providing some commentary on feminism, consider this: Flora is obsessed with pink, a traditionally female color, and she gives Aurora an attribute that is oft preferred in a woman but not the most important quality, beauty. Merryweather, on the other hand, is all about blue, a color usually geared towards boys, and she has much more common sense and practicality about her. Though Merryweather and Flora are able to put aside their differences in personalities and approaches for a common goal, it’s when they refuse to compromise and begin prioritizing which color – ie. which ideology and extension of themselves – that they want Aurora to step into that they lose sight of what’s important, and allow everything they worked for to collapse on itself. It’s played for laughs very well, sure, but if not’s symbolic of the dichotomy between traditional femininity and modern sensibility that tears apart the feminist movement then I don’t know what is.

The fairies manage to fix their messes in time for Aurora’s return. She’s thrilled with their gifts but shocks them all when she announces her new boyfriend is coming over for dinner. They come clean about her heritage and betrothal to Prince Philip, and Aurora runs up to her room in tears over the fact that she’ll never see her one true love again. That and her entire life has been a lie and she’s being carted off to meet parents she knows nothing about to marry a man she’s never met and rule an entire kingdom with no prior experience or knowledge. But mostly the true love thing.

Meanwhile, Stefan and Hubert are making wedding plans over wine with “Skumps”, the preferred toast between me and my friends. Also adding to the humor is a minstrel who keeps stealing sips until he literally drinks himself under the table.

This was also his way of getting through the Black Plague, co-opted by the rest of the world six hundred years later.

Philip returns and Hubert goes to greet him. He thinks his son is thrilled at the prospect of marrying Aurora but is disappointed to learn that he’s fallen for an anonymous peasant.

“At least tell me if she’s royalty in disguise so you don’t elope to Sicily!”

Philip rides back into the woods for his big date, leaving Hubert with the unenviable task of breaking the bad news to Stefan. As for Aurora, the fairies smuggle her into the castle and prep her for her homecoming. She’s still blue over having to ghost her forest hubby though, so the fairies give her some time to herself.

Biiiiiiiiig mistake.

So imagine you’re me, growing up watching this movie on tape on a television set with a very standard but not spectacular sound system. Then years later you download the remastered soundtrack and give it a listen while you’re falling asleep. You’ve got the whole score memorized, the volume is nice and low, it’s all good.

And then, just as you’re drifting off, you hear a ghostly voice singing in your ear “Auroraaa…Auroraaaaa…”

That reminds me, I haven’t had a chance to talk about the music yet, haven’t I? Forgive me for waiting so long to do so but my reaction to it is equivalent to the visuals. The score is taken straight from the Sleeping Beauty ballet by Tchaikovsky, the same composer as The Nutcracker, and it is lush, sweeping, sumptuous, just…

While George Bruns was mostly faithful with how the score was represented within the context of the ballet, at certain points he took the same approach as The Nutcracker Prince and rearranged the music order to underscore totally different scenes to staggering effect. The beautifully ominous music where Maleficent appears as a ball of green flame and leads the hypnotized Aurora to her doom? It’s from one of the ballet’s divertissements where Puss in Boots dances with his girlfriend. But tell me which is more fitting for a musical composition such as this – two cats pirouetting around each other in a crowded ballroom, or eerie pitch-black spiral staircases illuminated by green fire as a cursed princess inches closer to her dark destiny against her will?

The fairies realize their error and frantically search the maze of secret passages for Aurora. Though the princess resists Maleficent’s commands for only a moment, they are still too late to save her from fulfilling the curse. Maleficent gloats and leaves the fairies to wallow in their failure. It’s made even worse as the merrymaking from the oblivious revelers below ring out while they put Aurora to bed in a tower and mourn over her. It’s heartbreaking: they raised and loved her as if she were their own daughter, and they still couldn’t protect her. Everyone talks about “Baby Mine” and Bambi’s mom as huge tearjerkers, but why is this scene constantly forgotten?

Stupid onions, stupid stupid onions…

Fauna and Merryweather can’t even begin to imagine how heartbroken Stefan and Leah will be, but Flora has a solution: put the kingdom to sleep along with Aurora until she is woken up. I understand her wanting to spare Aurora’s family some pain, but conking out an entire principality for god knows how long to cover up their failure? AND at a time when Europe was all about invading and conquering itself? Are we sure this isn’t just part of Maleficent’s overarching plan for revenge? This sounds more like something she would come up with instead of the leader of the good guys.

“So what happens if one of the neighboring kingdoms decides to attack while everyone’s sleeping?”

“Then we’ll put them and their armies to sleep, too.”

“And once Aurora is saved, both kingdoms will immediately wake up to find themselves thrust into a war they’re barely prepared for, is that correct?”

“Oh, you’re right, that’s a terrible idea.”

“Finally, thank you.”

“I’ll just turn them all into flowers.”

“THAT’S NOT AN OPTION!!!”

The fairies flitter about the castle grounds spreading their spell over the unwitting royal court, even putting the candles and sconces out. We have another reprise of the “Gifts of Beauty and Song” chorus now altered to sound like a lullaby, providing an interesting bit of symmetry between it and its earlier use in the film. Whereas it first underscored their blessings upon Aurora, now it plays as the fairies are giving the “gift” of sleep to the entire castle.

While Flora knocks out the throne room, she overhears Hubert muttering about Philip eloping with a peasant girl and she makes the connection. The fairies speed to the cottage just as Philip arrives there. But once again Maleficent beats them to the punch. Her goons ambush Philip and she watches them wrestle and bond him with fiendish glee.

You magnificent, kinky bitch.

Maleficent was only out to capture the one man who could break Aurora’s curse; the fact that he’s really the son of her nemesis’ allies is just icing on the cake. Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather resolve to rescue him from Maleficent’s fortress in the Forbidden Mountain.

Some movies reach the brink of greatness only to falter when it comes to the final act. Sleeping Beauty is not one of them. Everything that happens from the moment we slowly zoom in through the purple mist on to the Forbidden Mountain itself up until the storybook closes is perfection. The perfectly paced action, the animation, the music, Maleficent’s hideaway in all its decaying glory (I swear it’s like Jean Cocteau meets Frank Frazetta meets Giotto) all make for the climax of climaxes.

The fairies shrink to insect size and silently sneak through Maleficent’s creepy domain, narrowly running into guards and gargoyles at every turn. They traverse the stronghold until they find her overseeing a hellish bacchanalia in honor of her supposed victory.

“My old gaffer would have a thing or two to say if he could see us now.”

Soon Maleficent gets bored and goes to “cheer up” her captive. Then we have it: The Moment.

I’ve talked about this before, that one small, devious step further the villain takes to make themselves more heinous in our eyes. It’s the Wicked Witch taunting Dorothy with visions of Aunt Em. It’s the Beldam hanging Other Wybie’s remains. It’s virtually everything Heath Ledger’s Joker does. And it is this simple scene where Maleficent details what she plans to do with Philip. She spins “a charming fairy tale come true” of Aurora sleeping without aging, waiting for her prince to come to wake her. And Philip will escape the dungeon, ride to her rescue and prove true love conquers all – in one hundred years, when he’s a broken old husk of a man on the brink of death. DAMN. If you want to know why Maleficent is considered the best of all the Disney villains, it’s not just all her previously praised qualities, it’s her sheer sadism and the pleasure she takes in it.

The fairies enter and free Philip once Maleficent departs. The course of true love never runs smoothly though, so they arm him with the Shield of Virtue (licensed by Carefree Maxi-Pads), and the Sword of Truth to aid in his escape.

“So, why’s it called the Sword of Truth?”

“Anyone who’s subjected to it speaks only the truth…as they bleed out and die, of course.”

“Cool, cool. On an unrelated note, I think I’m gonna go to DC for my honeymoon.”

Diablo sounds the alarm and the Battle With the Forces of Evil kicks off with Philip slashing his Sword of Truth through Maleficent’s goons.

“I steal lunches from the break room fridge!” “I broke wind last Tuesday and blamed it on the dog!” “I cried like a little girl during The Good Place finale!” “I only wash my hands for NINETEEN seconds at a time!”

Philip makes his getaway on Samson and the music reaches truly operatic levels as Maleficent does everything in her power to end him. Yet Philip soldiers through it like a boss. Crumbling mountainsides, Maleficent hurling lightning from the sky and summoning a forest of thorns to block the way? Fuck that shit, he’s gotta go save his girl.

Then, as Philip cuts his way through the briars, Maleficent looks at her watch, realizes it’s No More Fucking Around O’Clock, zooms over to the castle, throws down the most intimidating challenge ever  –

“Now you shall deal with me, O Prince, and all the powers of HELL!!”

– and with that, she takes her final form: a massive fire-breathing dragon.

Every Disney villain who’s gone kaiju in the final act owes everything to this gorgeous terrifying beast. The dragon is an awe-inspiring unholy fusion of style, power and darkness. There’s a reason why she’s the final boss in Fantasmic; the chance to watch a live dragon battle is too cool to pass up.

Speaking of battles, Maleficent’s dragon form was animated by Woolie Reitherman, who previously brought us such gargantuan monster clashes as the T-rex brawl in Fantasia and the escape from Monstro The Whale in Pinocchio. And when you have a dragon confronting a fairytale prince, well, you know what’s coming.

Maleficent backs Philip on to a cliff surrounded by flames, leaving him only one desperate shot. With a little extra magic from the fairies, he throws his Sword of Truth at Maleficent and it plunges right into her heart.

“I liked…Frozen 2…more than the first one…”

Maleficent’s spells die with her, clearing the way for Philip. He gives Aurora that wake-up smooch and everyone in the castle slowly rouses, owing their inexplicable simultaneous twenty-minute blackout to the unusually strong wine.

He can attest to that fact.

The royal families are happily reunited, and the film ends on Flora and Merryweather fighting over Aurora’s dress color yet again as she and Philip waltz together on the clouds using animation Beauty and the Beast would borrow thirty-two years later.

Sleeping Beauty is a movie I can never have on in the background because the moment I look up from my work I am spellbound by it. Do I need to elaborate on how this is one of the most beautiful looking and sounding movies Disney’s ever produced? Sleeping Beauty is the swan song of Disney’s first golden age of animation. For better or for worse, their animation process would switch to the rough, cost-cutting Xerox process starting with their next feature, 101 Dalmatians, and few films would reach Sleeping Beauty’s level of gorgeousness ever since.

Though a massive financial and critical hit on release, it wasn’t enough to make up for the monstrous production costs, not unlike Fantasia. Thankfully, home video sales revived interest and made it Sleeping Beauty of the top-selling VHS tapes of the decade, cementing it as a bonafide classic. It’s one of my favorites from Disney for its stunning visuals, gorgeous music, phenomenal villain and overlooked but great cast characters. Revisit it if you haven’t already.

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this review, please consider supporting this misfit on Patreon. Patreon supporters receive great perks such as extra votes for movie reviews, movie requests, early sneak-peeks and more! Special thanks to Amelia Jones, Gordhan Rajani and Sam Minden for their contributions!

Artwork by Charles Moss.

Screencaps from animationscreencaps.com

March Review: Sleeping Beauty (1959) Whenever I discuss Sleeping Beauty with someone who doesn't share my enthusiasm for Disney, they have an irksome tendency to get it muddled with Snow White; their excuse being "it has the same plot".

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[meieuys]

And from I, to You

[Summary: It’s the day after the ball—the one where the Prince Charming picks his cinder-bride by her shoe size. Absolute insanity, yes, and Anastasia Tremaine knows of it. But she also knows a lot more other things, such as her gone-mad mother and the thoughts of oh-so-silent Drizella, her older sister. Holding the only slipper in existence, Anastasia also knows who the shoe fits exactly, but since when was she a good girl?]

It would not fit.

The glass slipper just wasn’t right.

It didn’t seem like it’d be a matter—at the time.

Now, Ana had chosen to help Mother slice Drizella’s heels off to fit.

“It’s only a little, Anastasia. Help your sister. Now.”

She was always helping. Surprised no one when she gave a curt nod, soon retreating to her room. The silent walls welcomed no one when she entered. Hadn’t this been Cinderella’s room before Mother took over? Even now, the room rejected her, as the slipper did.

The glass slipper was fortunately larger than her foot, so  she hadn’t had to slice her heel to fit.

Perhaps Drizella’s heel would be the finishing touch, and she would go live with the prince after all; abandoning her mother and her duties, helping no one no more. Well perhaps she could help the prince, after all, she had a many ideas of how to be the perfect princess. Balls, curtsies, you could name whatever it was, and Ana would be there. She was the helper—the only helper around these parts. Even then, as it was, rejected her too.

The happy memories with little Drizella and sane mother seemed to coerce her back into the depths of her both internal and external cocoon. She let out a short, deprecative chuckle. Ana was out of it, that or more. Thinking about it, she reached a conclusion. If Drizella had just let her be oh-so-nice to Cinderella at least once more, she thought, maybe she would spare a thought of whisking them away from Mother once and for all.

Alas, Drizella would never allow that, with her enormous pride, and so-so, ruling out fleeing to another continent. Plus—if it was possible to reach heights of peak intoxication before dropping dead, it would not hinder Mother before she walked up and bashed both Ana’s and Drizella’s skulls with her leather slipper. The poets speak about it, but experience is never the best teacher.

And if you’d ask her how she knew the slipper would fit on Cinderella’s dainty feet, she would’ve mumbled an incorrigible set of words and slumped on her prep-table, as she did now. Occurrences fit of insanity always seemed to happen to Cinderella. Drizella had joked of it being some kind of curse following the time Cinderella’s cursed birds had bit her nose, but Ana knew it was more.

Ana considered shattering the glass slipper—watching the pieces break into completely immeasurable shards of her glass and glass, thorough. She hoped it might help her, but it wouldn’t, really. She stared at the slipper in her grip, the familiar sound of glass cracking.

Mother often got violent with Cinderella, and sometimes, Ana would pause outside Cinderella’s door, hoping she was alright and well. It was just her inner desire—to make sure that even with the chaos and their desire not to let any of it change, they would at the least be alive to relish it.

She remembered the time Cinderella caught her, her face bruised and tired. In Ana’s hands were several bandages, and she placed them down. They stared at each other for a long time before resuming to their duties, fractures of both their words hesitant to make the step. Cinderella had signalled to speak first.

Ana remembered a short conversation they had, where Cinderella relayed her fears and wants. It seemed like they weren’t from separate worlds, just two girls, having a chat despite their differences.

Cinderella had talked and talked, oh-so-long, desperate for Ana to listen. It seemed like she was concerned with her own significance in the eye of it all. Mother’s violent tendencies would definitely impact any sane person’s health, but it had completely pushed Cinderella to a conclusion where she felt like she didn’t understand why she was there, then and why. Her father was dead, her mother was dead, and her stepsisters treated her as close to horse-dung as possible. And horse-dung just... stank.

But one of her stepsisters was there, listening intently, so she had toned the abrasiveness of her words. Still, it stung. Under normal circumstances, Ana wouldn’t have condoned her actions toward Cinderella, but she had no excuse. She could speak days of what Cinderella really meant under her subtle glances and rushed words, but Cinderella had tried to be acceptable towards her. Cinderella had isolated her identity from the world under the pain, and she really did not seem to attempt speak of herself as in the ways of any normal person.

To her, she was lowly and confused, and it was integrated oh-so-deep. She had lost everything. She blamed herself for everything. For... every single of the things. Ana could see how withdrawn she was from both the world, and her true self, and it disgusted her so much she felt direly uncomfortable in her own skin. Why had she let this happen? She ached and ached to reach out to Cinderella and help her realise that she just understood, to tell her how much she cared for her wellbeing and safety, and how much she resented and realised how much her actions hurt Cinderella. But ultimately, she could not. She didn’t know why, but she knew how much it felt—and she hated it.

Anastasia hated every fibre in her being. It was not pleasant. She had the flesh, but her body would not call it hers. She despised herself, and even Mother and Drizella were not to be free from her seemingly endless refusal-to-blame.

Years of Mother’s and Drizella’s repression could not be erased by one simple girl. Ana knew that, oh-so. She tried. Cinderella got more dependent on Ana as the times went and passed, aching for the instability that Ana seemed to emanate. Ana’s complex feelings and the overwhelming betrayal she could’ve caused her sense of morality to fluctuate wildly, and along with her muddled blame, continuing to bring out the absolute worst in her.Cinderella should not have wanted that discord so strongly that she did. It was the only thing she had, but it wasn’t... right. It wasn’t just, and to that, it wasn’t right. Cinderella deserved better. She did.

Weeks of mood swings and migraines had, of course, alerted Mother and Drizella, and one evening, while strolling through the garden, Mother had noticed the two girls chatting. It had been the last straw. For some reason unknown to man, she exploded. There was to be a ball to display eligible girls for the prince, and even though Ana found it quite distasteful, she agreed to go. If she was some kind of runner-up, at least it would be bountiful news. It upset Cinderella when Mother ordered her not to go, among other things, and Ana was pleasantly surprised to see that she wasn’t the slightest bit bothered by it after.

Nevertheless, it wasn’t a competition.

Ana sighed, stepping out from her room. It seemed like everything wasn’t going right. The prince had been with a seemingly ghost throughout the ball, never pausing to entertain another noble lady. Her thin, small frame glided through the corridors, stopping at the stairs. Mother had already shattered the other shoe. Who was to say they had another replica at their disposal? She closed her eyes and pursed her lips.

Cinderella’s calloused fingers shook her out of her thoughts, her hand resting on Ana’s bare shoulders. She didn’t say a word. Cinderella didn’t have to. Ana... knew. Her eyes had inevitably found hers at the ball. Poets would argue it was because of their common insanities. Ana didn’t know of any poets. Still, Ana forced herself to turn away from the inevitable. Now, it faced her on all sides.

Ana handed her the slipper, but Cinderella’s hands didn’t leave her shoulder. Her mind drifted. Sometimes, she didn’t think. Her mind was blank, and her eyes only focused on the girl before her.

“And from I, to you,” Ana smiled, her words hazy. “Be alright, cinder-girl.” 

“Am I fine in thinking you would not want to come with me?” Cinderella inquired. There was no malice, no silently laced words. There was only Cinderella.

And she knew that by leaving everything Ana ever wanted—someone to truly love her as her, and not by obligation—there was no second “Oh, have you been faring well?” This was the end.

“Yes. I’ve realised some things,” she sighed, a sad smile on her face. “Half of those, I have no idea what are. But I understand the thoughts behind those things. Mother—Drizella—I can’t leave them.” 

“I know. Will you stay?” The word hanged in the air, but Cinderella refused to say them. Ana smiled, the edges of her eyes crinkling.

“Forever...? I need to, Cinder. I’m not so sure it’s a question. They’ll run themselves mad. Mother probably would, at least.”

They shared a chuckle. Setting the slipper down, Cinderella hugged Ana, squeezing her tight. She attempted one, but the air felt too heavy for any goodbyes. Instead, she waved awkwardly and set downstairs for her prince.

She deserved him, after all. Ana wasn’t so sure if he did, though. She laughed at the thought. Clutching the banister, Cinderella turned one last time.

“Thank you.” 

Turning to their duties, they both returned to their worlds. As different or similar they might’ve been, none mattered now. It was the end, and that was true and true. 

• i wanted to integrate some character personality stuff i learned of recently,, but... i was too lazy to do anything since i wanted to focus on the characters, and not the setting, so i... did something.

• it is rushed, yes, and in the—as some published writers like to call it 😔—the horrible rough draft phase. there is no plot, as many as my works are going to be. i do not confine myself to pains of plot elements till the third date draft :D

• i really really love character psych!! that’s it!! (disclaimer: if the writing does not meet up to your standards i’m an amateur writer, so you can go ahead and tell me  “oh iu, this stuff is really good omfg!! you should publish it!!!”) ;D

• not all of this is actually right. since i barely focused on some other aspects i choose to focus on one part of my characters, and not everything, so there will obviously be some lack. i also loooove minimalistic writing and will shorten sentences like crazy and have many people weirded out because of it but i just like to play around (there’s not a lot of it since my auto correct kept being trash) also it’s not spell checked

• don’t own any of these characters, they belong to disney. i just wrote the wrote! ty for reading

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