Tumgik
#give me credit this is definitely victor
bihanspookies · 18 days
Note
Can you please write NSFW headcanons with our gilf Victor Chevalier?
I SURE CAN
Gif credit @eurodynamic
Tumblr media
• This guy??? This GILF??? Treats you like absolute royalty. I know these are supposed to be nsfw hc’s but this must be said. Treats you to the fanciest dinners, the most expensive clothes, beautiful jewelry (even if you don’t wear he’d get you a pricey watch or brooch).
• Victor has money, we all know this. Which means he’s going to buy you the fanciest and most expensive toys to keep you occupied when he’s not around.
• He’s very confident in his skills in the bedroom don’t get me wrong, but for the times he’s not with you he wants to make sure you’re being satisfied.
• When he IS with you, he won’t use toys bc again…. He knows what he’s doing lmao. He’d only use them if you specifically asked.
• Personally I feel like he’d be open to using toys on himself, but again only if you brought it up. Use that vibrator on him! Put those nipple clamps! Bc I know Victors freaky ass is into a little pain!
• I think he’d like very minor masochism. Yes he can be dominating but he loves when you take control every now and then. ESP if you’re sitting on his chest, raking your nails down his torso and leaving bright red lines and denying him any sort of touch on his cock? He lives for it.
• He’d have that charming yet smug smirk as he looks up at you with those pretty blue eyes, challenging and almost daring you to go a little harder. Not too hard though, he wants that perfect mix of pain and pleasure.
• Yes he will say the most sinful shit in French and even if you don’t speak it at all you WILL understand what he’s saying bc he does it as he talks.
• He’s got the perfect tone for dirty talk bc it’s kinda raspy and will shiver your timbers yfm.
• Likes to choke but just enough to feel pressure around your neck. He likes to keep his thumb on your pulse so he can feel how it speeds up as he fucks you.
• Missionary man, doggy man, against the wall man, shower man. His favorite is when he puts on of your legs over his shoulder so he can hit deeper.
• Hair long enough to grab/fist? He’s yanking to keep you from looking away.
• No hair/not long enough? He’s gripping your jaw or neck instead.
• He will slap your ass hard enough to make it red.
• He wouldn’t be into public public sex but he likes to have in open places if that makes sense. Aka on top of his building on the helicopter pad after he set up a nice romantic dinner for y’all two, on his yacht, on his private beach, the balcony of your hotel room that’s on the top floor.
• He makes sure you cum at least twice before he even thinks about himself finishing. He wants to satisfy you and make sure you’re being taken care of.
• I think he’d like finishing on your stomach and chest, but his second fav is cumming all over your cunt/cock.
• He’s not opposed to finishing inside you but after making sure it’s okay with you like 5 times.
• Oral oral oral, he loves making you fall apart with his tongue. He is a SERVICE DOM‼️
• He could spend hours between your legs and be there for so long that you get fucking chaffed from his beard 💀
• Aftercare KING. Makes sure you’re okay after finishing, gives you some comforting touches and gets up to start a bath with the nicest oils and bath salts.
• He’ll carry you if you need it and will wash you but more than likely you’ll go one more round while bathing.
• Victor Chevalier may be old but he definitely 100% still has the stamina and endurance to fuck you silly.
BONUS:
• Victor would get off on watching his subordinates fuck you and commanding them on how to touch you and treat you. He’s not a jealous man so he’d be all for watching the way you come apart on his soldiers cocks.
• Strokes himself as he watches and keeps a watchful eye to make sure you’re okay.
• He secretly loves when they cum all over you but will cause a scene if anyone finishes inside you.
• In the end he knows you’ll always come back to him 💕
41 notes · View notes
muddyorbsblr · 2 years
Text
relinquish the crown part 1: terms of surrender
Masterlist
Summary: Loki will relinquish his claim to the throne to avoid bloodshed, but only if his conditions are met.
Pairing: Loki x Reader
Warnings (trust me you need these): themes of incest (he's adopted but still), arranged/forced marriage, mentions of death, Loki's definitely kinda dark in this one [let me know if i missed anything and i will update immediately]
Tumblr media
"Brother, are you certain of your decision?" Thor sat across the table from his brother in the palace's war room, in utter disbelief of the topic under discussion. Ever since their father ascended the throne, archaic tradition was set aside for new, undeniably more brutal one: In the event that there are two heirs to the throne, a duel would commence. 
How would the victor be determined? By death. Or by surrender.
Odin had decided that it was finally time to determine his heir, to definitively decide who would succeed him once he succumbs to his Asgardian mortality. Hela had not been an option since she'd been banished eons ago, leaving his two sons, Thor and Loki. 
Only now the two brothers were in a room with the Allfather himself to discuss Loki's surrender. Before a duel had even begun to be planned. 
"Loki, this is not a decision to be made lightly. You cannot rescind your offer once I've accepted it. Do you understand, my son?" 
"I understand perfectly, Father. I will hereby relinquish my claim to the throne of Asgard if my terms are accepted."
"I will agree to whatever terms you state, Brother, if it means I do not have to face losing you in battle," Thor proclaimed. "No price is too steep. Name your terms." 
"I wish to return our family's reign to its former glory. I've traversed the Nine Realms and the consensus is definite: They think our power weak ever since Father rose to the throne. At least those generations that had been around to witness its former glory for themselves. The people not only feared us, but they respected us. Now they question your leadership since you were so willing to break an age old practice, they question my claim as legitimate due to my Jotun blood. I wish to dispel any qualms about future generations." 
"Loki, what are you implying?" Odin's voice had slightly raised. It was always a sore spot for him for anyone to mention the whispers of the royal family's integrity faltering ever since he'd chosen to break tradition and wed Frigga instead. "Surely you do not mean to say that--"
"Y/N." Thor's heart plummeted to the ground when he heard his brother speak your name. "Wed her to me, so that we may restore our family's reign's integrity and show the people that we know when to break, and when to keep, tradition. That we have the wisdom to do so." 
"Brother there was a reason for that tradition to be abolished. So that Father and future generations may choose to who wed out of love." 
"Isn't that exactly what I am doing?" Loki's face remained stoic. "I am choosing who to wed. Out of love." He looked his brother in the eye. "You said to name my terms. That no price is too steep. I will relinquish my claim to ascend Father's throne after he passes, in exchange for Y/N as my wife."
"So that you may ascend the throne with her and become King when I die?"
"I will not be King. I will be her consort. She will rule when you pass, unchallenged and with my unconditional support. As her husband."
"I did not want to lose you in battle, Brother. I still do not wish to. But Y/N will not understand any of this, that this was once our ancestry's tradition." 
"She's more brilliant than you give her credit for, dear Brother." A wistful smile graced his features as he thought of you. "She's quite intelligent. I can guarantee you that our children will be a beautiful mix of your strength, Sif's ferocity, and our combined wits and wisdom. You've said it many times before: No man will ever be good enough for her. And you've also said that I am the best man you know in all the Nine Realms. I…I am not good enough for Y/N, on that we can both agree. But wouldn't you also agree that among all the men in the realms, I'll come closest?" 
With a deep sigh, Thor called for the palace guards stationed outside the war room to enter. "Fetch Lady Y/N. Fetch my daughter." 
Tumblr media
A/N: If you feel uncomfortable with this story, please tell me so and I will take you off the taglist for parts 2-4, and return you to the list when I am back to writing your regular scheduled fluff.
Taglist: @lokisgoodgirl @lokischambermaid @imalovernotahater @redbluekjw @lucylaufeyson3 @thomase1 @springdandelixn @ficitve-sl0th @mochie85 @laliceee @xorpsbane @gigglingtigger @silverfire475 @cabingrlandrandomcrap @vickie5446 @salempoe @lokixryss @sinsandguilt @lokidbadguy
304 notes · View notes
incorrect-pipravi · 8 months
Text
More PipRavi headcanons cuz why not!
I imagine their first kiss was intiated by Pip because I think Ravi didn’t want to ruin his friendship with her.
I think it was at one of their houses. They were just sitting on the bed talking about Sal and The Andie Bell case.
“I can’t express how grateful I’m, Sarge. You gave my brother the justice he deserved and I’m forever in debt to you.”
Pip would reply “Give yourself some credit, Agent Ravi! After all, you were my partner.” there would be this moment of silence and Pip would pull Ravi and press their mouths together.
He would start kissing her back and she’d pull back and be like “I thought you’d never do it!”
“I wasn’t sure you liked me back, Sarge.”
Pip would laugh and be like “You’re way too smart to be that dense.”
He’d laugh and be like “I guess I am.”
And then they’d kiss again and they get walked on by one of their parents (probably Victor) who would definitely be like “Oh, finally! I’m glad you guys figured it out because everyone could see it but you two!”
Pip is a demisexual queen and Ravi is a bisexual/pansexual king and don’t ask me why they just give me those vibes!
Ravi’s first crush was SRK (a famous Indian actor) and he was so confused because in all of the movies he’d seen the guy is supposed to love the girl so he tells Sal and Sal tells him that sometimes people love someone of the same gender and there’s nothing wrong with him.
He comes out to Pip a few months into their relationship while watching a movie (the movie is Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge btw trust me I was with them).
“You know, he was my first crush!”
At first, Ravi is nervous because what if Pip does not want to date a guy who is attracted to other guys too, but Pip’s answer would be a faux pouty “That’s not fair! How am I supposed to compete with Bolloywood’s biggest romance star?!”
And then Pip would actually get serious and tell him that it’s totally okay he needn’t to worry at all.
“Before you, I’ve never been attracted to anyone. I thought there was something wrong with me, too. And then I told Cara and after a very deep internet scroll, I settled on the term demisexual.”
Ravi would definitely smirk/grin and reply something like “So what I’m hearing is that I’m so sexy, I awakened something in you?” and Pip would roll her eyes and be like “I knew it’d get to your head.”
Ravi loves rainy weather because it reminds him of the first time Pip said “I love you.”
Ravi is definitely the cook between the two and he loves making Pip meals.
Especially breakfast in the bed.
Pip loves cradling her fingers in Ravi’s hair whenever they’re cuddling.
Ravi teases Pip about her height by putting her things on the top shelves (in honor of me going crazy over Zain’s and Emma’s height difference pt.2).
He would eventually give them to her, but of course it’s after a little cute angry Pip scolding!
Ravi has a scar on his chest due to a clumsy childhood accident that Pip jokes is hot!
“Yes, Pip. I know how very sexy and hot I am.”
Ravi knows how to play violin. I’d like to believe Sal taught him when they were young.
Pip loves writing poetry, but she keeps it a secret because it’s embarrassing (she has written many poems about Ravi).
Ravi finds them one day and he is brought to tears by how beautiful they’re.
“They’re actually inspired by you.” and here comes more tears and laughter and hugs.
Ravi would be like “I’m just so lucky to have you.”
Ravi has a good singing voice and he sometimes sings to Pip to soothe her back to sleep whenever she has nightmares.
I mentioned that Ravi is a swiftie but I forgot to mention that Pip starts liking Taylor’s music because of him.
And yes they go to the eras tour together. They’d even dress up in outfits inspired by their favorite albums/eras.
Pip would probably wear a simple dress with the cardigan because her favorite album is folklore/evermore and it’s not up to debate!
Ravi would probably put rhinestones around his eyes to imitate the lover album cover and wear some pastel colored outfit (most likely some knitted sweater and cargo pants).
Pip would so love the song “sweet nothing” because it reminds her of Ravi.
Forehead kisses from Ravi are Pip’s favorite while Ravi prefers the kisses Pip presses to the corner of his mouth and his cheeks.
They’re not the ones for big PDA but they do subtle ones like hand holding or a hand on each other’s thigh under the table or some such thing.
Ravi loves playing footsies with Pip when they’re having dinner with either of their parents because her blush is so cute.
Pip loves listening to audio books while Ravi prefers reading.
Pip claims that she is not the jealous type of gf but she definitely is! Like she trusts Ravi and she’s secure about their love but she just hates it when someone is friendly/flirty with him.
I think her jealousy stims from her insecurity that she doesn’t deserve him.
He always assures her that he feels like the luckiest person alive to have her and that she’s literally perfect to him.
I think Ravi is more protective than jealous, but he knows that his girl can protect herself after all she is Pippa freaking Fitz-Amobi.
He still tries to protect her despite that (like the time he yelled at Max).
Ravi’s biggest insecurity is probably his body because he’s not very muscular or strong.
Pip always assures him that he’s perfect by leaving kisses on his chest.
“Brains beat brawn any day of the week!” (Actual quote from the book btw)
The first time Ravi visits Pip in Cambridge, she takes him on a tour around campus and all of her classmates are very shocked because they didn’t think THE Pippa Fitz-Amobi is capable of being chatty and bubbly!
“Who are you and what have you done with my classmate Pippa??”
37 notes · View notes
otomefiend · 7 months
Note
Hello! Thank you so much for your translations! I hope you're doing well.
Please, if you know by chance, can you explain me Alfons's behaviour in Elbert's route?XD The certains phrases made me to write you because I just really can't understand this person.
In chapter 24, there was a moment when Elbert was asking Alfons to give him a key from warehouse (where mc was). And Al was just like "If you hadn't come, I would have been a prince" and "she is mine". OMG Maybe he is Elbert's love rival or just provoking him?? But why? I really don't get him.
I don't speak Japanese and I'm using google/deepl translators))
Hello dear Anon!
Thank you for your kind words. 💙
Al is very cryptic on the best of days but let's have a little gander at that scene.
Spoilers below the cut (a short summary of that scene with a few thoughts of my own). Lots of words, so apologies in advance. 😅
~~~
Elbert is desperate to know what happened to Kate, to which Al answers in his own humorous way that he locked her in a dark warehouse where she's waiting for her prince to come and save her. El first questions the choice of venue but pretty quickly concludes that Al did it to protect her. Al, of course, is pretty miffed with the amount of trust those two baka kiddos have in him and obviously would never be caught red- handed saying such a thing. He's the type of guy who would never admit to being your bestie, even though he'd kill for you without thinking twice.
What does he do next then? He holds the key to the warehouse without handing it to El. He clarifies that he locked Kate up cause she was in the way (yeah yeah, this is the closest we'll get Al to admit he did it to keep her out of harms way) and he'd leave her behind if not for Jeffrey. Elbert tells Al he's a stinky liar and thanks him for protecting Kate. Then, he asks Al for the key, wanting to go straight to Kate. Al stays silent and withholds the key (measuring El's intentions? Going with his own whim, as he likes to say?). El seems puzzled to which Al says that one wrong move would have led to Kate's heart being taken by Jeffrey. Might be a little nod to the fairytale where the Queen asked for the Snow White's heart as the proof of her demise. Might be Al's humorous way of speaking since he likes to make light of serious things. Kate's heart is a motif that was brought up earlier during her deal with Elbert. It definitely speaks to El's curse. I thought this line was very apt. It's clearly a warning directed at Elbert. Al smiles and El answers that "he knows/ understands it".
Then Al brings up Elbert's nightmare and states that the latter clearly hasn't dealt with it yet. (Moments earlier he had a conversation with Kate where he revealed the purpose behind El's trip, that El himself was withholding from her. He also stated to El/thought to himself the day before that Kate is stronger than El gives her credit for and that he should come clean with her about his darker urges. I'm making an educated guess that he wants both El and Kate be on the same page when they're making decisions about their relationship).
Al then follows with the challenge "As you're hesitating, scared you'll hurt her yourself... are you okay with someone else snatching her heart?" and he clearly elicits a reaction from El with that statement. (I love how this scene depicts their complex but close relationship.) "If you hadn't come, I would be the prince", "Even now, if (as long as) I don't give you this key... she belongs to me." Again, he seems to appeal to Elbert's greed since he refers to snatching the heart and possessing it.
Al then steals Victor's schtick by saying that "It was all a joke" (which always makes everything seem more sus, lol), then gives El directions to the warehouse. When finally alone, he concludes "Just as I thought, you wanted to give up on your desires." "Don't you think this is enough push/encouragement?" Followed by a lonely sounding laugh. 🤧 (the woes of your bestie getting a gf)
So to answer your question, Al seems to be provoking El. Why? So El finally stops hesitating and comes clean about his hidden desires and his darker deeds. Al cares about him and wants to help in his own way. Even if it'll lead to something painful in the end. We will never know what exactly lies in Al's heart (in this route). He's very cynical about love yet seems to love El in his own way. He also seems to have a soft spot for Kate (love their scenes but I pretty much love anything Al related so it's a given), partly because of Elbert and maybe because she reminds him of El? Or maybe because of her outlook and determination? Who knows.
~~~
15 notes · View notes
Text
Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (NBC 2018) Breakdown and Review
Quick disclaimer: This is the second version of JCS that I've seen in full. I was introduced to the rock opera through the 1973 movie, and I'm not afraid to say that that is where my bias will always be, especially considering I'm more of a film buff than a theater nerd. However, I am aware that putting a feature-length film and a live recording of a performance on the same level for criticism is unfair, so I'll try to keep the comparisons to a minimum.
With that out of the way, here are my (slightly deranged) thoughts on NBC's JCS Live!
Tumblr media
~Overture~
I can only imagine how hyped JCS enjoyers got while watching this live back in 2018. Not only is the live orchestra doing an amazing job, but the guitar players get their own time to shine on stage! This is so damn cool to see, because the guitar riffs are really what makes the song. When the "Heaven on Their Minds" riff began and we got to see one of the guitarists on stage just going at it, I knew I'd be in for a treat.
I'd like to take a moment to talk about the set design as well. One thing I know to be true about most JCS productions is that the set is almost always bare-bones - but in a meaningful way. The story relies more on the actions and emotions of its characters than the environment, which makes sense as Jesus and his compatriots were not necessarily wealthy. This remains true for this particular production. The staging is really impressive; you're never short of something or someone to look at.
Also... the outfits! I'm a sucker for leather, and this production has no shortage of it. The costumes, while aesthetically pleasing, show how much the ensemble in this play favor rebellion.
I love when casts are as diverse as possible - in ethnicity, skin color, body types, gender presentation, etc. This cast fits the bill, and everyone does a fantastic job in the overture. In fact, the ensemble this cast provides are just amazing in general. You can tell each and every one of them has oodles of experience under their belt. I have no complaints about any of their performances.
I will say, the flashing lights during the more chaotic bits were a bit much for me, but that's more due to my propensity to get overstimulated. Overall, the choices made in this section were top-notch, and I really can't be mad at any of it.
Enter: John Legend.
You know how I was really digging the costuming? Well...
Tumblr media
Look, I understand that most productions have Jesus just looking like a normal ass dude with normal ass clothing, but was the grey shawl really necessary? Whatever, I'm not too put out by it. At least we get to see some John Legend tiddy.
It occurred to me during this part of the play that I am not a fan of live audiences. Once again, my easily overstimulated brain may be to blame, but I found myself wishing for most of the play that the audience would just quiet down. Nevertheless, I'm sure the cast was happy to be so outwardly appreciated.
~Heaven on Their Minds~
youtube
I'm gonna say this once and I won't say it again. THE MARKETING TEAM LEFT BRANDON VICTOR DIXON IN THE GODDAMN DUST. Seriously, every time I came across a video of this production on Youtube, his name was either not in the title, not in the thumbnail, or he was labeled as Tim Minchin. The poor guy is the main fucking character and nobody could be bothered to give him the credit he deserves. I understand that Legend is more famous, but seriously. That just rubs me the wrong way.
Tumblr media
Anyway...
I'm back to loving the costuming. Judas' vest is so cool, and I love the symbolism of his tank being red. Honestly, any Judas in red has my heart immediately.
His performance here is good, but nothing I'm overly impressed by. I can understand wanting to save energy for later performances, though, and I'm definitely not offended by Dixon's singing. He's a bit stilted in his delivery, a little nasally in his vocals, and I sometimes have a hard time believing his performance. Though, I can imagine it's kind of hard to stay in character when you're struggling to be heard above the audience. I mean seriously! When Jesus did the bit where he reached out to the audience, the crowd got so loud that if I didn't know the lyrics to this song by heart I wouldn't know what Dixon was saying. It made me a bit mad, to be honest. I don't know, maybe that in itself is symbolic or some shit.
I do like Dixon's phrasing in some parts, especially when he sing-speaks the line "do you care for your race?" as well his sassy delivery of the titular line. I did not care for the way he sang "how put down we are," but he later totally nailed the original riff on "sour," which is one of my favorite vocal runs of all time. The way he interspersed the bits where he wasn't singing with spoken complaints was cute. He also did a really nice break at the "puh-LEASE" bit.
He really made the song his own. The last twenty seconds gave me chills. Dixon is clearly a very skilled performer, and though there were parts of his performance I didn't love, I overall really enjoyed watching him sing one of my favorite musical numbers.
One last thing about this part: I don't really like how Judas is singing directly to Jesus. A big part of Judas' characterization is that he is a sort of outcast-loner type, and his relationship with Jesus fails mainly because both men fail to communicate effectively. When Judas is literally expressing his concerns directly to Jesus, and Jesus outright ignores him, it makes Jesus come across as an unresponsive dick. Again, this is the first theater JCS I've seen, so I'm not sure how much of this is written in stone as part of the Broadway production. Instead of doing the right thing and researching that, I'm just going to judge the play based on how I initially responded to it.
~What's the Buzz / Strange Thing Mystifying~
I'm not sure if this is a constant in most JCS productions, but "What's the Buzz" feels too slow to me. It's a bit jumpier in the '73 version, but that may be because they were recording it in a studio rather than in front of a live audience. I will say, there's not much room for breathing in this song. Once again, though, the ensemble is doing a banger job.
I came into this not really having a strong opinion on John Legend. I really only know the one song from him ("All of Me," obviously). I've heard people criticize his performance in this, and while I'd much prefer a rock singer or seasoned Broadway performer in this role, I can't say I'm too offended by his casting. He's more focused on his voice than his acting. When it comes to musical theater, each line should be treated as its own and should portray a slightly different emotional tone. With Legend, all his lines kind of sound the same and seem to hold the same level of importance. He's also not very good at the kind of talk-singing that is usually present in this role. But, I can't deny that he sounds pretty damn good. I especially liked how he sang "Mary, oooh, that is good." Very sexy indeed.
Speaking of Mary! Who doesn't love Sara Bareilles? (No seriously, who? I just wanna talk...) I really really really love her dress, and her voice is just lovely. Very soothing and unassuming.
When Judas comes in for "Strange Thing Mystifying," he is once again portraying the perfect amount of sass and shade. I really missed the "hey cool it man :(" line from Simon, though. It's so adorable in the '73 JCS.
I really liked Legend's staccato "Who. Are. You." parts! Whoever made the decision to direct him like that knew what they were doing.
All around, there was more singing than acting going on from the main cast. In my opinion, this makes the characterization kind of weak, but it doesn't make the songs unenjoyable.
Also, I love the choreography here! Especially when they sing "when do we ride into Jerusalem?" Still can't top the '73 choreo for me, but that's a very high bar.
~Everything's Alright~
While I absolutely adore Sara Bareilles' voice, I wish she enunciated a bit more for this song, but that's just a personal preference. Her singing and her entire vibe is just so calming and gorgeous, and her runs are spot-on. Then we get to the little Judas and Jesus interaction.
In the original movie, this is the scene that made me realize, "Wow. These men really love each other." Every scene with Carl Anderson and Ted Neely is just so emotionally intense that it's impossible to look away. That is not really the case with Legend and Dixon.
Tumblr media
Though they both sound good (for the most part), the desperation and emotional overflow is just not there. And I say for the most part because both Dixon and Legend struggle a bit with the higher notes. Dixon went for the belt, but was a bit flat. Legend opted to sing "when I'm gone" with a poorly sung falsetto, and it just. Does not fit. Whatsoever. It was a weak performance of a line that is meant to be fraught with emotion.
Also, by the end of the song, I'm pretty sure the point is supposed to be that despite Mary's careful ministrations, Jesus is still stressed and upset. But here? Nah, Jesus is just snoozin'.
Despite J and J's subpar deliveries, I enjoyed this song even if just for how Mary was presented.
~This Jesus Must Die~
Norm Lewis! I! Don't really... have a pre-formed opinion on him. So many people seem to, but I just haven't been involved in theater for so long that I'm a bit out of the loop.
Nonetheless, he is a wonderful performer. His vibrato is liquid gold. However, I was under the impression that Caiaphas is a role usually played by bass singers. Lewis is very clearly a baritone. I'm not sure I'm too happy with this choice, especially since he seems to struggle a bit with the lower notes. It's not nearly as noticeable as Legend's struggle with high notes, but I really wish we got to have a beautiful, gravelly bass voice in this role. Even without the inhumanly low tones, Lewis manages to make this role just as intimidating as it should be.
Jin Ha does a good job as Annas. I don't have much to say about his performance.
What I find particularly funny about this part is that you can tell who the stage performers are. Legend is a singer. He sings. These priests that have like, two lines each? They're PERFORMERS. They are taking their fifteen seconds of fame and milking them as much as possible, and I respect the hell out of it because it makes for some very enjoyable performances. The "What then to do about this Jesusmania?" guy killed it.
I love the costuming here as well - very cool geometric designs on the jackets.
Tumblr media
Though I would love to say I fancied this version of the song, they didn't include the "Jesus is cool" line. And for that, this is my least favorite song in the production. (/j)
~Hosanna~
I don't have a whole lot to say about this one. It was good! Just a few little tidbits:
-Legend starting a crowd clap was cute
-This song works really well for Legend cause it's right in his register and he doesn't have to reach for any super high notes
-The key change is super cool! I LOVE Legend's runs during this part as well
-The last part where they all sing "SUPERSTAAAAR" was awesome and I can imagine them using that for a lot of cable advertisements
~Simon Zealotes / Poor Jerusalem~
First of all: Simon's cute as hell! Look at his lil' hair!
Tumblr media
I just love when this role is played as the most energetic, chaotic, batshit insane guy you've ever seen. And I cannot express how delighted I am to see a role in this play being done by a rock singer! Erik Grönwell's performance here is my favorite out of anyone in this play so far. His belts are out of this world.
The ensemble can't be discounted here either, 'cause they sound freaking amazing. But I've already expressed my love for them.
Surprisingly, Legend's falsetto actually works well for "Poor Jerusalem." It makes sense, though, as this part is meant to be a bit gentler and more downtrodden. He sounds really nice.
Side note: when did they change the "but you close your eyes" line to "but you live a lie?" Is that just for this version or was it changed previously? I feel like it doesn't really add anything.
~Pilate's Dream~
Not much to say here either, it's a pretty short song. I will say I really like Pilate's outfit. The colors are reminiscent of '73 version, which is an immediate like from me. I also like how Pilate looked straight into the camera at the end of the song. Pretty impactful even if I know for a fact they went to commercial break right after that.
Tumblr media
~The Temple~
Okay. I'd die for these guitarists. I love whenever they're on stage! They're killing it!
Anyway, I found it pretty funny that the temple-goers just started dumping glitter on the ground. I wrote in my notes "Slay ig," so, slay ig.
It's pretty cool too how the "temple" is literally just a huge cross on the ground. The slow movement of the camera makes this a languid realization, which is neat.
Speaking of which, I forgot to mention that the camerawork so far has been really good. I never feel like I'm watching something stagnant, yet I still feel like a part of the audience. Good job, NBC crew.
"My temple should be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves" is my favorite part of the original movie. It's so undeniably powerful, and Neely's rock-belt is just heavenly to listen to. (He performs it live, too, so I know it isn't just a trick of the recording studio).
Legend's version of this line? Eh, it was alright. It was honestly better than I was expecting. I was really worried he was just gonna sing it the way it was written and go for the falsetto, but he instead chose to stay in his range. He also has an intentional voice break, indicating a bit of emotion, which is nice to see. I don't know why he sings the "get outs" in lowercase; it's just kind of funny.
The lepers sound really good, but when Legend is trying to sing his part over them, I can hardly hear him. What I did hear, though, was like? Really good? Super rock-sounding. Hopefully we hear more of that later...
~I Don't Know How to Love Him~
No notes. She slayed.
Yvonne Elliman supremacy, but Sara Bareilles Mary Magdalene now has a place in my heart. I'm glad I watched this production if just for her, honestly.
~Damned for all Time / Blood Money~
What can I say? The priests are spooky, the lighting is badass, and Norm Lewis is the best singer here.
As far as Judas goes, Dixon is doing exceedingly well for how ridiculously hard this song is to sing. Carl Anderson owns this song in my heart, but Dixon is not disappointing. He makes up for the lack of insane belting by adding his own runs, and it works well. I wrote in my notes that "Brandon actually looks like emotions are happening," so, yeah. Also, the BICEPS! Needless to say, I was enjoying it.
Tumblr media
~The Last Supper~
I forgot why I wrote "Aw, gay apostles" in my notes, but going back to it, I noticed how much hugging kissing was going on between these guys. Can't complain, love a good smooch.
Tumblr media
Mary is also in this scene, which differs from the movie. And she shows her hospitality towards Judas, which is cute. I always wished they had Judas and Mary interact more in the movie.
Legend sounds good at the beginning. Once again, this song is well within his range, and his falsettos don't feel too out of place. However, they didn't put a pause between the "when you eat and drink" line and the "I must be mad" line, which I thought was odd.
When the accusations start flying, Jesus just. Doesn't seem mad. Judas does, and Dixon completely upstages Legend in this scene.
After the apostles sing a second time, and Judas starts dishing out the insults to Jesus, I feel like it should have been more one-on-one and personal. I would've had the apostles move further away or even leave the stage for this part.
Oof. Legend singing "Get out!" in falsetto was just... not good. When the audience clapped for it I cringed so hard.
Let's see if Legend can redeem himself with the next song...
~Gethsemane~
With how bad everyone made it out to be, I was expecting Legend to completely biff it here. But to my surprise, he really stepped it up here, in both terms of singing and acting. Obviously, it was nowhere near as impactful as Gillan or Neely's versions, but I could at least see that Legend was trying. This part made me recognize that he isn't necessarily a bad actor, he just isn't consistent enough in his performance for it to be believable that he is in character.
He displayed some really impressive rock-belting midway through the song, right around where most people usually go for the g5 note. It sounds so gravelly and crisp, and I really wish he used it more during this performance. Additionally, I am very happy that he didn't go for the g5. That part usually makes or breaks the performance, and with Legend I think we know which way the egg was gonna fall.
There were some good choices made here as well as some bad ones. He still did some nasty falsettos in the latter half of the song, which actually made me laugh. Seriously, who convinced him that was okay? I feel like this would have been a well-regarded performance without that.
Overall, I'm impressed. The weak points were weak, but few, and the strong points were really strong. It wasn't nearly as poor as people made it out to be.
~The Arrest~
The kiss was nice and tender. I like the way Jesus hugs Judas afterwards too, that was very sweet. For some reason it sounded like Legend said "Judas, must you betray me with a gay?" which I thought was pretty funny.
Tumblr media Tumblr media
I like how the arrest was framed as a news stint, with reporters and mics and all that. It was also pretty neat how they interspersed the solo lines with ensemble lines.
~Peter's Denial~
Peter was good, but the real standout here was that guy with the phone that sang "But I saw him too, he looked just like you." God DAMN! They went OFF!! Can he play Judas next please?
Tumblr media
~Pilate and Christ~
Pilate is really the one bringing the camp here. He ate this up.
Tumblr media
~King Herod's Song~
Well. What do you want me to say here? It's Alice Cooper. Do you really think I am physically, mentally, or legally capable of criticizing Alice Cooper?
Tumblr media
I'll spare you the fangirling I did in my notes app; just know I, as well as the audience, was very happy to see this man doing his thing.
Also, as a rocker, he actually made this song fit with the rest of the play, which is truly a feat.
(Still not as good as his episode on The Muppets).
~Could we Start Again Please~
Even though I love Sara as Mary, and Peter did a good job as well, I wish they included more ensemble in this song. I feel like it's more impactful that way as it shows that there were still people who believed in Jesus. Still, I'm so glad they decided to keep this song in most JCS productions because it's one of my favorites.
~Judas's Death~
Oh no, he lost the leather vest! I'm not complaining though... 😏
Tumblr media
This is the part where I praise Dixon for his showmanship, 'cause this man just got THROWN and he KEPT SINGING! I found that to be very impressive. Though I will say, the increase in his emotional performance seems to cause his singing to suffer a bit. To be fair, it's an incredibly hard part to sing.
Aside from Jesus going bonkers in the Temple, Judas' reprise of "I Don't Know How to Love Him" is my favorite scene in the original movie. Did Dixon live up to my expectations? Well, considering my expectations were pretty low to begin with, he exceeded them.
This is seriously the best acting I've seen in the whole play. Dixon completely sells his performance. Consider me a proud and satisfied viewer.
Although, quick PSA to the audience. You don't actually have to clap every time a man sings in falsetto, mkay? Thanks <3
~Trial Before Pilate~
This song is notorious for its difficult timing considering it's just talksingtalksingtalk *BUM* talksingtalksingtalk *BUM* for a bit. This Pilate though? Yeah, he nails it. I was really impressed by his performance. Also, when he said "talk to me Jesus Christ," that was the most sexual tension I've seen in a stage play, wow.
Tumblr media
I don't really understand what was going on in the flogging scene, because the ensemble members were just running past him individually, but Legend was selling it. It definitely looked like he was in pain, and the lashes on his back didn't look sloppy or rushed.
Another emotional crux of the play is when Pilate basically yells "DON'T LET ME STOP YOUR GREAT SELF DESTRUCTION!!" I was a little let down by this guy's performance of these lines honestly. However, he was virtually perfect the rest of the time so I can't really be mad.
~Superstar~
THIS. THIS IS IT.
For whatever reason, Dixon just decided to turn the iconic scale up to 1000. The diamond laced fit. The dancing. The footwork. Everything about this performance was absolutely incredible, and I am just ecstatic about it. I mean, the man was full on spinning on the ground while singing. Every run he did now has a permanent residence in my brain. If you decide not to watch this version of JCS, I understand. I don't blame you. But if nothing else, please please PLEASE watch this part on Youtube. You won't regret it.
Tumblr media
In the words of a close friend of mine, he slayed, ate it up, left no crumbs, licked it clean, you could eat off that plate again.
~The Crucifixion~
There were some lines in here that definitely weren't in the movie, and again, I'm not super familiar with the broadway play so I'm not sure how much of this was changed for this version alone. Nonetheless, Legend did a good job here. I mean, attempting to portray Jesus dying on a cross is a task to be sure, and he accomplished it.
Tumblr media
~John Nineteen: Forty One~
There seemed to be some resurrection imagery here, so, congratulations Christians. He did the rising. (I am not religious, can you tell)?
I love me a good curtain call. They're just so joyous.
So! Was this production worth two hours of me composing my thoughts on it into a Tumblr post approximately five people will read? You tell me. I certainly enjoyed my time with it, and I hope to do this with more productions. I'm looking forward to watching both the 2012 revival and broadway productions, the 2014 Swedish one, and the 2000 movie. Please let me know if you have any suggestions for others I might enjoy or that you would like to see a breakdown of.
26 notes · View notes
Text
[CN] Victor’s Investment Date (Eng Translation)
⌚Warning⌚ This post contains detailed spoilers for a date, 投资之约, that is yet to be released in the global server! ♡
Tumblr media
[Translation Under The Cut]
┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈
✧ [PART 1] ✧
Tumblr media
In contrast to the bustling daytime, Paris is embellished with a different appearance as the night descends. A short distance from the French window, we can also see the Eiffel Tower outside, adorned with its flowing lights.
I sit on the large cozy bed in the hotel and browse through the contract in my hands.
The purpose of this business trip was to enter into a long-term partnership with Prisme Inc., the first giant of French audio-visual companies.
As the largest shareholder of [MC’s Company Name], Victor also participated in the meetings.
Victor: This is already the third time you’ve giggled looking at this file tonight.
The mattress next to me sinks as that familiar temperature leans over.
Tumblr media
MC: This is, after all, the most significant affirmation of my and the entire team’s hard work.
Tumblr media
Victor glances at the official seals of [MC’s Company Name] and Prisme Inc.,  laid side-by-side, a smile stealing across the corners of his lips.
The number of Film and TV companies that have been able to collaborate with Prisme Inc. back in China can be counted on one’s fingers.
However, I also know that one of the key reasons they chose [MC’s Company Name] is because we have the strong backing of LFG.
MC: Thank you, CEO Victor, for coming to support me.
Tumblr media
Victor: There’s no need to thank me. You are the one who worked night and day to perfect the proposal; the credit is all yours.
He looks into my eyes, his gaze exuding completely undisguised praise.
Tumblr media
MC: It’s a pity, though. I heard that the famous investor Mr. Moyes is also one of Prisme’s shareholders.
MC: I thought I would have the opportunity to see him today.
This elderly gentleman is at the top of the list of the world’s wealthiest people.
While the financial crisis broke down many companies a few decades ago, he purchased and held his shares, acquired and merged companies at a steady pace. Within a few years, he became a prominent, influential entrepreneur.
Victor: Since the long-term collaboration has already been agreed upon, perhaps there will be opportunities to see him in the future.
Tumblr media
MC: You’re right~
I carefully put away the contract files and lean in closer to his face, grinning.
MC: Now, CEO Victor, can you tell me what you have in store for us next?
MC: You asked me to prepare for a seven-day itinerary, and it’s only been three days.
Tumblr media
Victor: Doesn’t a certain someone like surprises and mysticisms the most? The rest of the itinerary will be disclosed tomorrow.
This statement immediately sparks my curiosity.
MC: Let me make some deductions –– yesterday I saw you browsing on your phone for train tickets to Lyon.
MC: On this business trip, you’ve also brought a set of formal attires…
Tumblr media
I can’t make out any clues from Victor’s placid, unperturbed face. Just at this moment, the screen of his phone suddenly lights up.
I instantly catch a glimpse of the word “Lyon” in the email notification bar. Eagle-eyed and agile-handed, I fling him into the soft bedding and seize his phone.
He doesn’t get annoyed and simply raises his eyebrows slightly.
Victor: So this is your style of “deduction.”
Tumblr media
MC: As long as it gives the result!
Proud of myself, I smile at him and swipe open the email smoothly.
MC: “Dear Mr. Victor, we welcome you and your companion to participate in the four-day Moyes’ Economics Lecture Series starting tomorrow… ”
Tumblr media
MC: Mr. Moyes’ lecture series?!
I nearly hop up and down with joy when he sighs and jerks away the phone in my hand. With his other hand wrapped around my waist, he rolls over, making me sink beneath the coverlet as well.
Tumblr media
Victor: I knew you’d definitely make a din when you see it.
Victor: Sleep. I don’t want to catch the train tomorrow morning with a dummy still latching on to me to catch up on sleep.
┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈
✧ [PART 2] ✧
Tumblr media
The next day we take an early train to Lyon.
The lecture series is being held in a hotel. After putting our luggage away, Victor and I walk into the conference room that the hotel has prepared for the lecture.
After sitting down in my seat side-by-side with Victor, I survey the doorway, my back straight as a ramrod.
Tumblr media
Victor: Don’t be so nervous.
Victor: I have listened to Mr. Moyes’ lectures before. The atmosphere was very relaxed.
Before I can ask anything in detail, the din of conversation gradually quietens down–– an elderly gentleman walks up to the front of the stage at a steady pace.
Even though time has left subtle ravines on his face, his smile filled with vigor makes him appear much younger.
Moyes: I’m very delighted to meet all of you here. I hope you all enjoy the rest of the time.
Moyes: Before we officially start discussing investments, I’d like to talk to everyone about something first that can easily influence investments –– “emotions.”
Moyes: If, at this very moment, you think of an existence that stirs up your emotions, that’s very good. Please write it down.
The ballpoint pen at my fingertips twirls as those fragments of everyday happiness and frustration naturally stream into my mind in a torrent.
When I return to my senses, the six letters “Victor” have already been written on the blank paper.
Tumblr media
Reminiscent of a drop of dew falling into the lake of my heart, it sends out ripples in circles. I turn my head, trying to peep at what the owner of this name has written.
But the notebook in front of him seems to have already been turned over, and what greets me is a brand new blank page.
Tumblr media
Victor turns his head slightly to the side, pressing his bent fingers against my head that is halfway there in an attempt for a peek.
I point to the big six letters “Victor” in my notebook and raise my eyebrows as a hint for him to “share intelligence.”
Tumblr media
His gaze hangs low as he looks at those six letters, the wisp of a smile flowing through his eyes.
Moyes, on the podium, claps his hands at this moment.
Moyes: So next, everyone, please bear in mind the answer you have written down––
Moyes: And be sure to stay away from it when you’re thinking about investment-related issues.
Tumblr media
MC: Eh?
Seeing the fraction of uncomprehending gazes, Moyes smiles.
Moyes: Some people may feel that a good frame of mind will make the decision-making smoother and more accurate.
Moyes: But, regardless of what kind of emotion it is, it will influence your judgment to a greater or lesser extent when thinking about investments.
Hearing this, I rub my nose and close my notebook with a bit of embarrassment.
Tumblr media
A faintly discernible soft chuckle drifts from the side. I pout and poke him gently under the tabletop.
The person I poked doesn’t even arch an eyebrow. He turns his hand over and gently clasps my troublesome hand. His finger pad strokes along the seams between my fingers, and the slightly tickling sensation makes me unable to resist shrinking.
Though my eyes are still on the podium, my train of thoughts briefly wanders to our tightly interlaced hands.
But the expression on the instigating culprit’s face remains utterly rock steady as he looks intently at the PPT screen on the podium, as though the little foul plays underneath the table have nothing to do with him whatsoever.
Tumblr media
Moyes: There is only one particular type of investment that requires a significant amount of emotional impact; because it has the potential to become the longest and the most important “investment” in your life.
Moyes changes the direction of the topic under discussion, looking over at Victor and me here with a smear of friendly teasing on his face.
Moyes: It’s the “love relationship.”
The temperature on my face ascends at a galloping speed as though I’ve been caught by the teacher doing little tricks in class.
Some chuckles of approval resound in the conference room, and some people shrug their shoulders indifferently.
Moyes: Those of you who wish to participate in this “investment,” I hope you guys will consider it carefully.
Moyes: The risks are very high. But of course, the returns will also be beyond the reach of any other investments.
My gaze involuntarily lands again on that name I’ve written down.
The hand under the table squeezes my palm – gently and solemnly.
┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈
✧ [PART 3] ✧
Tumblr media
After the lecture, Mr. Moyes leaves us with a little “game.”
He’s asked us to either work alone or in teams to complete a simulation project depending on the circumstances of our own company.
Carrying the late-night takeout snacks in my arms –– black truffle cheese fries and creamy egg crêpes –– Victor and I weave our way into the public lounge of the hotel.
A number of  “classmates” who listened to the lecture have already gathered here. We find ourselves a seat by the window and put down the computer and takeout.
The instant I open the paper boxes, the tantalizing aroma of deep-fried food interweaving with the fragrant sweetness of the crêpes assaults my nostrils, making me unable to refrain from swallowing a mouthful of saliva.
Tumblr media
Victor: It seems that the morning lecture on “staying away from the elements that influence one’s emotions” wasn’t all that efficacious for a certain someone.
MC: Creative thinking and thinking about investments are not the same! And good emotions and carbohydrates are just as important!
MC: Moreover, how can you stay up all night to “catch up on homework” without fine food?
I twirl a french fry between my fingers and hold it up to him with a smile.
Tumblr media
MC: So, let’s “Cheers” to the task of our forthcoming partnership…
Halfway through my sentence, it suddenly occurs to me that perhaps someone here might have noticed Victor. This kind of childish behavior will affect his image, right?
Embarrassed, just as I’m about to retract my hand, the french fry in Victor’s hand has already gently touched mine.
Tumblr media
Victor: To our happy partnership.
While enjoying the delicious food, we begin to make a mind map of the overall concept based on the direction of our investigation. At this moment, two of the “classmates” from the lecture come over.
Entrepreneur A: Aren’t you Mr. Victor of LFG?
Seeing Victor nodding his head, they look really delighted.
Entrepreneur B: We have a few small questions related to financing that we would like to share with you guys. I wonder if it’d be convenient for the two of you?
Tumblr media
I look at Victor engrossingly, and when I see him returning my gaze, I gently close my eyes.
We encircle around a table and discuss the case regarding equity financing.
Entrepreneur A: One problem in my reasoning is that according to the national provisions, existing companies can only liquidate their equity in the secondary market after three years of being listed.
Tumblr media
Victor: In that case, it may be worthwhile to include the existing company as a subsidiary of the new company in the listing.
Victor draws circles on the paper. Now he doesn’t have that oppressive aura he has around him when he sits in the conference room and listens to the reports, the comfortable casual wears adding a few extra layers of nonchalance to him.
Most of the late-night snacks I bought have been wiped out by the end of this enriching and intense discussion. I can’t help but yawn three times in a row with the feeling of a satisfied stomach.
Tumblr media
Victor: How do you get tired after having your fill?
MC: All the blood heads towards the stomach for digestion…
Tumblr media
The curves of the tip of Victor’s brows turn a little helpless as he snaps his laptop shut, then stands up.
MC: Where are you going?
Victor: To prepare something refreshing for a sleepy dummy.
Tumblr media
Curious, I follow him all the way to the small bar outside the lounge before realizing that he is going to prepare coffee.
The mellow and rich fragrance evokes a thread of memories from not too long ago. A similar scenario seemed to have materialized back then too.
MC: Victor, do you still remember that competition you organized back then to analyze the failed acquisition of SE?
Tumblr media
Victor: How can I forget? The fact that a certain someone used to work against the clock till night and liked to eat fried food – none of it has changed at all.
[Tidbits]: They are talking about their “Evening Party Date” (already released in EN)~ :>
MC: You were my “examiner” at that time. In comparison, have I improved since then?
The answer to me is –– a cup of finely made latte.
Tumblr media
Victor: If you want to hear praise, just say it directly.
I take a light sip. The creamy notes laced with the faint fragrance of coffee nourish my taste buds.
MC: Thank you for the treat.
Tumblr media
Each with a cup of coffee in our hands, Victor and I walk into the small terrace of the lounge.
The fragrance of leaves weaves into the night air, clearing my head quite a bit.
MC: Listening to the lecture with so many people and discussing the topics makes me feel like I’m truly back on campus.
Tumblr media
Victor: And does that include being caught in the act by the teacher in class?
I give a wry grin.
MC: A few twists and turns on the way are what make the student life so vibrant. CEO Victor, haven’t you experienced the 20 must-do-things in your university life?
Victor: Such as?
Tumblr media
MC: Such as – binge-watching a drama with your dormitory roommate after the lights are turned off, sneakily sitting in on a lecture you didn’t sign up for…
I tilt my head, recalling the things that were popular on university campus.
MC: And then there’s also the nights of nervousness and heart palpitations of going on a date with the person you like in a deserted part of the campus.
Before I’ve even finished speaking, I suddenly feel an intense gaze on me.
Victor: A certain someone’s school life was “rich” indeed.
Victor tosses me a rather indifferent glance. I realize that he’s misunderstood me and hasten to explain.
Tumblr media
MC: I haven’t experienced the one I mentioned just now either!
Tumblr media
Victor: [STILL SULKY LOL]  Oh yeah?
I can’t discern either delight or anger from Victor’s voice. He simply rests one arm on the balcony in front of me. Though his action seems casual, it blocks all the ways of exit for me.
His body leans forward slightly, adding a layer of fervently scorching warmth to the coolness of the night.
Before I can muster the strength to say another word, the sound of laughter passes through the other end of the floor-to-ceiling curtains behind me.
Entrepreneur A: I think I saw CEO Victor here just now. How come he disappeared?
Entrepreneur B: Probably took advantage of the break and went out on a date?
When they are far away, I find that I’ve been holding my breath at some point. The man in front of me lowers his gaze as he looks at me, the bright moonlight haloing him with a silvery frosting.
Tumblr media
Victor: [feigning sulkiness haha]  What are you so nervous about?
Tumblr media
MC: [sulking biiig time]  I’m not like the Great CEO who doesn’t blush, or his heart doesn’t pound wildly no matter what happens.
A soft laugh disperses into the dim lights of the night, and my ears grow even hotter.
MC: …are we going back?
He slowly lowers his head, reducing the already nose-to-nose distance between us to zero. Our intertwined breathing dyes this unique night with an ambiguous hue.
Tumblr media
Victor: [HIS VOOICEEE]  There’s no rush. We still have time for a cup of coffee.
┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈
✧ [PART 4] ✧
Tumblr media
Four days have flown by in a flash. On the last day of the lecture series, we share the projects we’ve been working on over the past few days.
Amidst the applause, Moyes steps up on the stage to deliver the final summary.
Moyes: Thank you all for bringing your marvelous participation. I’ve benefitted from this too.
Moyes: I hope everyone will keep in mind – don’t fight for money as though your life depends on it, instead let money “work” for you.
Tumblr media
A special cocktail party has been arranged at the end of the lecture for everyone to make friends and create networks.
After I’ve added quite a few people’s contact details, I sit on a stool on the side to rest and look at Victor, who is surrounded by people.
The black tuxedo outlines the body posture of his tall and straight figure in utter perfection, giving an elegant gentlemanly temperament to each one of his movements and gestures.
As half a glass of red wine travels down my throat, I feel my entire being warming up.
I watch as Victor grows larger and larger in my field of view and finally stops in front of me, my brain somewhat sluggish.
Tumblr media
Victor: Tired?
I nod indolently, seeing him draw the wine glass out of my hand and take my hand in his in one smooth motion.
Victor: Let’s go out and get you sobered up.
Tumblr media
Misty fine rain is drizzling outside. Victor borrows a long-handled umbrella from the hotel and gathers me to him under it.
I lean on Victor as we slowly walk on the white-stone ground that exudes the smell of history.
The grey sky stretches out infinitely into the distance, the world quiet and gentle.
MC: By the way, you mentioned that you came to listen to the lecture series last time. When was that?
Tumblr media
Victor: Just shortly after founding LFG.
MC: So that’s... you still hadn’t graduated from university then?
Seeing his tacit green light, I imagine the Victor who had just receded from his childlike appearance and nature, and my eyes can’t help but crinkle into a smile.
MC: Did you all do projects after the lectures back then too?
MC: Did you also use to drink coffee in the middle of the night and watch the night scenery?
Tumblr media
Victor: So many questions.
He tilts the umbrella a little more towards my side, patiently answering every question.
Tumblr media
Victor: Laying out mini-games is a usual practice of Mr. Moyes’ lectures, though it was another topic the last time.
Victor: Drinking coffee and watching the night scenery was simply a way to rest, just like a certain someone likes to eat late-night snacks in the middle of the night while catching up on homework.
The delicious, deep fried late-night snacks and the hand-ground coffee seem to have surmounted the reaches of time, slowly entangling us together before we met.
Tumblr media
I don’t know what suddenly has come to his mind, but a smile fixes itself on his lips.
Victor: There is one question which he asked the last time as well. It’s about the emotional elements that can influence your investment.
I tilt my head, locking eyes with Victor.
Tumblr media
Victor: But last time, I didn’t write anything.
Victor: Several years have passed, and now many answers have been poured out on my blank paper.
In that pair of deep, incandescent eyes, I’m the one and only reflection. It causes me to be incapable of helping myself from taking another step closer to him.
Tumblr media
MC: And, is that answer right in front of your eyes?
His soft gaze lands on the corners of my lips that I’m unable to stop from turning up to their ends. Victor doesn’t reply and just looks at me deeply.
Tumblr media
Victor: I see the smile at the corners of your lips is about to fly.
Tumblr media
MC: There is nothing more indomitable in this world than “being able to influence Victor.”
MC: But I’ll have to stay away from you when you’re thinking about investment-related matters in the future, lest CEO Victor makes a mistake in his work.
He tightens his arm around me as he draws me to himself, the glint of a certainty flashing in his eyes.
Tumblr media
Victor: [the tease and the confidence asksdksdk]  You can give it a try for yourself and see if you have that ability.
We walk up to an old-fashioned small train station. The sound of a train passing over the tracks drifts from not afar, accompanied by the sound of bells ringing coming from the Dome Bell Tower.
It’s as though this is a sign that the day is coming to an end.
As the feather-like drizzle gradually stops, the horizon reveals the color of a warm, deep rose-tinted sky.
I can’t help but slow down in my footsteps, wanting to make this time go even a little bit slower.
Victor turns his head and seems to sense my emotions.
Victor: Just wait here, and don’t run around.
The black view of his back soon disappears around the corner of the street. When he returns, he has a double train ticket clutched in his hand.
Tumblr media
Victor: This train station has a sightseeing ride around the city, and this just happens to be the last one left right now.
Victor’s back is faced against the glow of sunset, the twilight increasing the tenderness around him a little more.
He gently clasps his black hat to his chest, like a gentleman walking out of an old silent film, and inviting his beloved woman to dance with the tender sentiments harbored in the depths of his heart.
Victor: [SCREEEAMSSS AND DIES]  May I invite you to ride with me? Mademoiselle.
I lift the hem of my skirt slightly in response to the invitation, smiling as I take his hand.
Tumblr media
MC: Of course.
His five fingers pass through the seams of mine, with a gentle yet irresistible strength.
MC: This doesn’t seem like a gentleman’s way of holding hands, does it?
Victor: [HIS VOICE. DIES 2.0]  Before being a gentleman, I am a businessman.
Victor: [HIS VOICE. DIES 3.0]  This is, after all, the one and only “investment” I want to invest in forever. I must hold on tight.
He lowers his head slightly. The glow of sunset ignites a blaze in those deep eyes, and it streams down our ten interlocked fingers, flowing into my heart that he has set on fire.
I gently sway our interlaced hands and wink at him.
MC: In that case, I’ll have to work harder to become your most worthwhile “investment.”
Tumblr media
MC: However, Mr. Moyes also said that the return of this investment would be significant, and so risks would be just as high.
MC: Is CEO Victor not afraid of suffering loss? After all, I’m certain I will get a steady return and won’t suffer any loss from my investment.
Victor: [DIES 5.0]  When have I ever been afraid of risk?
His raspy, deep and low voice is even more intoxicating than the red wine at the party. I stand lightly on my tiptoes, meeting the breath that is slowly approaching me.
Our elongated shadows gently overlap, blending together and immersing in the soft dusk.
Tumblr media
Victor: [BLESS YOU WU LEI]  I’ve been ready with all my patience and energy to carry it out since a long time ago.
140 notes · View notes
boyfrillish · 9 months
Note
your works have me curious, what else do ya headcanon for our boy victor? :o (and other chars too! i'm just esp interested in how you filled out his blank slate)
Ohh this is a good one. Since I only played Sword for the first time starting in January, I'm still very much in my formative phase for headcanons and stuff. For most of the characters I can't even say I consciously headcanoned yet, even with all my thinking about everyone and saying "the whole of swsh is my blorbo" (admittedly with most of my focus on Victor and Hop because they're my number one favourites and OTP lol so there are definitely also ship headcanons in here, hope you don't mind! ^^"). I'll put it under a readmore since it kinda got a bit long ^^"
So here's my personal "fixed"/"core" headcanons for Victor when it comes to my own stuff:
he's transmasc and gay (this one was probably obvious since I've made on-text trans references in all but like, two fanfics haha)
he's the one who becomes Champion and is chosen by Zacian
Corviknight, Sylveon, Obstagoon and Toxtricity (evolved from the babby Toxel you get as a gift at the daycare) on the team
Fairy type association
He and Hop won the inaugural Galarian Star Tournament together and are the dream team everyone wants to battle but knows will be tough to beat (Hop calling them "Postwick dream team" is a canon thing, so!)
a short king
Now for personality and other random things? I'm open for so many things lol I did start out (even before I played) with the timid/soft-spoken/shy headcanon and I'm still so very fond of him being timid initially (and that's why Sobble as a starter + the Isle of Armor Kubfu are a perfect fit lol) — whether it's only when he's younger or still at the start of the game but growing confident once he gets his starter from Leon and finds he's pretty good at battling (the fact that he got it as a gift from Leon aka the Champion he admires + big bro of his best friend when Leon met him for the first time combined with Leon just being such a sweet and encouraging dude probably helped with that)
But yeah I'm open for many other headcanons/portrayals in that regard lol cool and confident? bless all the fanart. Easily flustered? sweet. On the oblivious side? heck yes. Sunshine boy? Absolutely, he is a whole sunshine boy 10000000000000%! Just give me all the positive Victor content and I'll probably soak it up happily and cry and have it fuel me lmao thank you for my life.
As for his starter, god I simply cannot decide. I picked Grookey in my game (I really wanted Sobble but joked I was obligated to pick Scorbunny because I like football and then GMax Rillaboom came and said "hi" lol) but as mentioned above I'm so fond of Victor with Sobble. But Scorbunny is also a perfect fit so I've just been rotating around for a bit between my fics (though I think I've yet to actually write him with Scorbunny???). Maybe one of these days I can make up my mind for both him and Hop which starter they choose ^^" in any case: I also live for the whole "they gift each other eggs of their starters and some of their 'mons are partners" thing so there's that (in fact it might've been easy to guess that in my world of things their Corviknight are a partners for sure)
Speaking of Hop, it's my headcanon that Victor has a crush on him pretty much since they're kids/since they first met, and is very much aware of it being a crush that just never leaves and his feelings grow stronger as they grow up. Meanwhile Hop also has a crush all along but is a bit oblivious about how to interpret his own feelings until along on the main story (Leon, meanwhile, guesses pretty easily that his little bro has a giant crush on that friend he keeps talking about all the time and lightly teases him for it, cue denial lol). So much potential for both fluff and a dash of angst... mmmm. By the post-credits story lines Hop definitely had that "Oh." moment and then is even more loud about his crush.
Based on me associating Victor with the fairy type, I have the silly little headcanon that at first he just thinks Bede is kinda funny, then it gets personal when Bede very largely contributes to Hop's mid-story crisis, and then Opal rejects him as a successor candidate only to later scout/adopt Bede in front of him. Cue him solo-ing battles against him with just his Corviknight (ok I admit this last part is also based on how it goes in my game lmao Bede is far too easy to beat... both as an opponent and if I team up with him)
Recently I've really been into the idea that Victor is asked to take over the Flying type Gym a couple of years after becoming Champion and then he's both Champion and also becomes strongest ranked Gym Leader (this is me guessing that since Gym Leaders can win the Championship, it's possible to be a parallel thing/Champions in general have a side thing they're doing rather than just being fulltime Champ, idk lol also, he totally beats Mustard's record for a reigning streak). His ace as a Gym Leader is Corviknight! (because what else would you expect from me, I adore Corviknight hahaha)
Now for "where's his family from" I am not sure if I have a "proper" headcanon yet. I've seen the headcanon that the protagonist's family is from Sinnoh and I like that hc, so I adopted that for the meet-cute drabble I wrote earlier this week but with a spin where I kinda combined it with some inspo from Elio|Selene (i.e. Dad's still working in Sinnoh/often away for work + combined with the headcanon I've seen for Elio|Selene's mom that she does have an Alolan background. unrelated sidenote, I'm really fond of the Alola protags' mom lol she's sweet). So basically like with all these other things I'm just having fun playing around with different possibilities at this point!
I'm also so very fond of flower boi Victor and it's one of my headcanons that he loves exploring and really loved the Crown Tundra adventures (and didn't mind that Sonia asked him to do all the work finding the Swords of Justice + was happy about the praise). He really enjoys tagging along with Hop and/or Sonia for fieldwork, and the two make it a habit to invite him along since they value his input and also want to make sure he gets breaks to destress from everything that comes along with being the reigning Champion, especially as the one who caught Eternatus + gained the title when he beat Leon. Especially Hop invites him along since that also doubles as more time together when they're both often busy with their career paths. Also on that note, Leon and Sonia being Victor and Hop's mentor figures just makes me so soft 🥺 the Leon being Victor's mentor doubly so with the headcanon that Leon is transmasc too (which unlike transmasc Victor I can't say is a "fixed" hc yet but I'm very fond of the idea)
(also, while I'm now all on the "Victor is a total career Champ/Gym Leader and thriving" train at this point, I still live for the type of angst where he gets a little bit of selfdoubt crisis — in the early years somewhat more subtle and like a case of stagefright like in my drabble "Believe", then a bit more into the future it's like "oh god what do I even do when I inevitably lose the Championship, can I even continue as a Gym Leader if I lose my title, this is kind of all I have going for me what do I do" but he gets through it since he has such a supportive network of loved ones and friends. Also another tangent here, I also love the idea of Victor as a (part-time) model so lol he definitely has a lot more than just a fulltime battle career)
He likes hanging out in Spikemuth with Marnie, Piers, and Team Yell, and especially Obstagoon and Toxtricity really have fun when they do. On a related note, I like the idea that Team Yell kind of become Victor stans too because Marnie thinks highly of him, so they cheer for him together with her (whenever she's not the one battling him in a match, obviously lol)
I've already rambled so much about various aspects I could think of ahaha so now since I've already talked about Hop + this is a trainshipping zone, I'll add some of my "core" headcanons for him!
is gay (or not clearly labeled but definitely likes boys. this is coming from someone who's very "???" about labels re: my own orientation but definitely is a boy-liker lol so please excuse the bit of vaguess here despite listing it in my core hcs hahaha)
chosen by Zamazenta (easy to guess when Vic is chosen by Zacian)
he's so supportive of Victor's transition, regardless of whether or not Leon is also trans, but it's a bonus when he already grew up with a trans big bro and then his best friend/crush is trans too and that's his two most favourite people in the world so of course he'll do anything to be supportive
fighting type association
he grows tall like Leon
He'd often ramble to Victor about what he's studying and Victor is always happy to listen and loves when he's so excited, so it basically turns into Victor helping him study. Also, they both make sure the other gets enough rest and destresses, already through their teens but especially when they're both grown up and Victor is still Champion (+ a Gym Leader) while Hop is now a fully fledged Professor. Even way into the future it remains a Thing that Hop excitedly rambles about his research or rants when he's stuck on something, and Victor is happy to listen and try to help him get unstuck (and Hop gives him a big smooch in thanks even if all Vic did was just listen and ask questions to hear more).
Most random thing but I so love the idea of either (or both) of them having freckles and same for glasses... bless all the fanarts with glasses for either of them. And while I also love fanart of Prof Hop wearing a more formal look, it's my wholehearted believe that he'll still wear the signature trackies look just with a labcoat now (and — you guessed it — Vic hogs his jackets. Nevermind that he has all the hoodies and fancy jackets and everything, the boyfriend jacket is so much comfier than anything else).
And I'm going to end this looooong ramble to mention that I've been developing fankids for them too! I already talked about them over on twitter and I'll probably talk about them here eventually too haha
Thank you so much for sending this ask, I was "!!!" when I saw it last night and couldn't help myself from rambling on forever lol. I kept the focus exclusively on Victor featuring Hop & them as a couple since they're my main focus so I have a lot more concrete thoughts about them than for any of the other characters (or ships bc I don't quite actively have side ships). But maybe I'll talk a little about others at another opportunity haha.
11 notes · View notes
bowl-of-shortness · 8 months
Note
What are the sibling dynamics like, RE Pandora? How do they feel about her, how do they feel about each other?
Pandora: ah… I’m not super close with my siblings.
Arthur scares me, let’s just get that out of the way… one moment he’s super sweet and caring and at the drop of a pin he’s on a bloody rampage.
I’ve never seen such a temper…
Otherwise, when he isn’t like that, he’s actually pretty protective of me, especially after I died the one time.
The only two siblings I’m decently close with is Vesper and Harriet, but even they have things to do constantly. They at least go out of their way to talk to me when they have time though.
Vesper is definitely favored by the people of Morgana, she’s pretty, she’s smart, she’s strong. Basically anything anyone could want in a woman. Most people keep saying she’ll be the next Lady of Morgana. I’m not sure she’s all too happy with the idea however.
Harriet works super hard, most people are scared of her because of how strict and rule oriented she is.
She’s working to become a professor at the local magics academy, she typically doesn’t give herself a break from studying.
Theo and Ellie… where do I begin? Theo works as an adventurer, his guild is reckless and stupid and they get themselves in trouble all the time. Theo himself is kinda mean like Arthur is. He’s just as reckless as his guild.
Ellie works as a seamstress. She’s very vain, and a little shallow. She’s constantly focusing on appearances. If it’s not pretty to her taste then she doesn’t want it.
Both of them are kinda rude to me. Ellie’s first comment after I came home after, well, literally dying, was how “silly” and “outlandish” my hair looked and how I should dye it back to black. To his credit though, Arthur told her to shut it.
Theo wouldn’t stop making fun of me for calling him reckless when I’m the one who died after it happened… once again, to his credit, Arthur told him to shut it.
Henry is probably the only one who isn’t too busy to be around me and isn’t awful to me. He’s studying to be a doctor in psychiatry and psychology. He’s also a regular doctor, doesn’t specialize in anything but he’s good at patching people up.
Victor…
…Anyways, the rundown of how they feel each other goes as such:
Arthur: Henry, Ellie, and Vesper are scared of him, Theo can’t bloody stand him, and Harriet finds him reasonable sometimes.
Vesper: Arthur is protective of her, Henry and Harriet like her, Theo and Ellie thinks she’s annoying for two entirely different reasons.
Henry: Arthur is also protective of him, Vesper and Harriet like him, Theo thinks he’s weak and useless, Ellie thinks he should dress better.
Theo: Arthur can’t stand him, Neither can Vesper or Henry, Harriet ignores him, Ellie is close with him.
Ellie: Arthur can stand her slightly more than he can stand Theo, Vesper and Harriet think she’s annoying, Henry tries to avoid her.
Harriet: Arthur thinks she’s okay, Vesper likes her, Henry is very close with her, Ellie and Theo think she’s irritating.
2 notes · View notes
Note
how's your day going? i'm also here to ask your thoughts on the upcoming (OR SO THEY SAY...) Ice Adolescence movie?
Hello anon! I'm sorry it took me so long to get around to this, it is currently 3am and I have decided now is the perfect time to briefly emerge from my self-imposed media isolation for finals and answer! My day has been going alright, although I am currently very busy and a bit (a lot) stressed out right now, thanks for asking!
Ahh, the Ice Adolescence movie! The fabled movie which has been on the horizon for seemingly forever. To their credit, MAPPA did give us a teaser trailer in late 2020, but then they immediately seemed to completely forget about it in favour of their other series like Attack on Titan.
I think it's good to still keep hope that Ice Adolescence will eventually hit cinemas, considering the efforts of the animators so far and how hard and long Kubo-sensei and Yamamoto-sensei have been fighting for it, but truthfully, I am not expecting it to be released anytime soon. With what little I know about how overworked and underpaid MAPPA's employees are, that makes me expect it even less. It's been almost 2 years now since we've heard anything else from MAPPA, too, and I hate to be pessimistic but if we go through 2022 (and maybe 2023) without hearing anything further from anyone then I'll really be surprised if it does end up getting released. There might have been a shift in MAPPA's priorities, the pandemic may have affected production, perhaps it was sidelined for the time being-- who knows except MAPPA themselves and the Yuri!!! On Ice team. In the meantime, though, let's hope for the best anyway, because Kubo-sensei and Yamamoto-sensei clearly have another story to tell that they want to share with us, and I for one want to hear it.
What scant information we can glean from various summaries and the teaser trailer does make for a compelling story - one telling Victor's youth and ice skating journey as he rises to fame. If and whenever it does end up getting released, you'll definitely catch me watching it as soon as I can!
Thanks for sending me the ask anon! I hope this answered your question. Have a good day!
9 notes · View notes
wibble-wobbegong · 1 year
Note
Well, seeing Lucy having intercourse with a beast and attacking children was traumatizing for me, but I'm glad you didn't suffer my fate. Anyway, I'm very excited for your analysis of Bram Stoker's Dracula, but I'm more excited and intrigued about the "Sam Owens and Abraham Van Helsing: An Elusive History" analysis. I don't know if you noticed (I'm betting that you did, tho) but the priest at the beginning of the film is played by Anthony Hopkins who also plays Van Helsing.
oh anon. oh sweet sweet anon. no i did not see that but that actually just made it SO much better can i PLEASE give you money for how much shit you provide me with. honestly you should give me something to credit you by or something
considering you’re seeing even more than me, the stuff in the owens-helsing analysis probably won’t be too shocking to you!! i think it’s interesting but it’s not necessarily a revelation moreso than an “I WAS RIGHT!” moment, esp considering some stuff victor says
also, it might’ve been worse if i wasn’t focused on taking notes. i’ve seen more graphic stuff and definitely read worse and wasn’t in the zone of watching to watch but watching to understand. maybe if i hadn’t been pausing it every five seconds it would’ve been worse lol
2 notes · View notes
lemonluvgirl · 2 years
Note
How do you view peeta’s childhood? If he was close with his brothers, how bad his mom was, how he was with his friends…
Hmmmm this is a good question and its been sitting in my inbox for forever. And now I have a moment to answer it.
Ok so, in the trilogy Suzanne Collins writes very little in depth about the innner workings of Peeta's family, other than his mother was known around town as 'the witch'. She was seen as a mean and angry person, and Katniss herself witnessed her abusing Peeta when he burned the bread to feed her. Peeta's mom was also cruel towards Katniss when she was looking through the trash bins behind the bakery for food when Katniss was starving. Which, well, is pretty harsh when you think about it.
In Catching Fire Peeta also admits that no one else needs him, not even his father, mother, or brothers, and that statement is also very informative about the kind of family dynamic that exists in the Mellark household. It can also be noted that when Peeta and Katniss got back from winning the Hunger Games, Peeta's family remains living above the bakery and Peeta lives alone in his house in the Victor's Village.
Also when Katniss volunteers for her little sister, she notices no one volunteers for Peeta, even though he has 2 older brothers and one of them was definitely the right age to be able to volunteer to take Peeta's place.
Now, all of this leads me to believe a few things. One, that Peeta grew up without a good example of what a healthy relationship looked like, from the way Peeta talks about his parents, and the few interactions Katniss has with them, they seem to have at the very least a loveless marriage and a very dysfunctional household.
Two, Peeta grew up in most likely an abusive household. Other readers have made comments and observations about how good Peeta is at pretending for the cameras, and putting on a brave face. That kind of skill can be attributed to a young person who has spent most of their life concealing an abusive situation at home. Learning how to lie on the spot, and come up with excuses, etc., is indicative of that. Also the way Peeta romanticizes his relationship with Katniss in the first Games, even when he knows most of what they are doing is for the cameras, seems to me that he is searching for love and acceptance that he has never gotten before.
I do think Peeta had a lot of friends though, pre games. Even Katniss said he was popular and always surrounded by people before the Games, but after they got back from the arena Peeta changed. He doesn't seek out his old friends or their company. He keeps to himself for months until the victory tour begins. He most likely went through stages of depression and PTSD just like Katniss did. His experiences in the arena changed him. I think he became more introspective and more closed off to people who didn't share his trauma. Not that he was mean or rude, he was just not the same boy he was before the games.
I know some readers and THG fans explain away some of these things, and like to posit that Peeta may not have had as rough a childhood as many imagine, and while their theories may be true (only Suzanne Collins knows for sure what Peeta's home situation was like) I personally believe Peeta had a very difficult upbringing. It made him tougher than katniss initially gives him credit for, and it also helps him not give up on their friendship/relationship initially. In a way, Peeta being used to being rejected by the people he loves/cares for ends up working in katniss' favor. As messed up as that is. He keeps trying to be her friend even after she doesn't outwardly return his feelings, and they remain a team going into the 2nd hunger games.
So when Peeta tells Katniss she is his everything in Catching Fire, I think he means it. Even though she doesn't love him romantically (at least from his perspective) he knows they share a deep bond and she cares for him enough to die for him. To him I think that meant a lot, and he finally gets the moment where someone chooses him over all others. Unfortunately its short lived, and things go from bad to worse after that, but I like to think that Peeta got his happy ending post mockingjay.
He and Katniss recovered, had a real relationship, without the interference from the cameras/public this time. They fell in love and started their own family. So, he got the chance to do it right, the way he always wanted. I am sure Peeta gave his children the childhood he always wanted. Full of love, care, and most of all freedom, from the class divide, from the oppression of the Capitol, and from the Hunger Games. He built his family with Katniss and things were 'good again'.
Tumblr media
11 notes · View notes
moviemunchies · 2 years
Photo
Tumblr media
I only got into Uncharted recently. I had never been that much into the games–I don’t think I had even heard of the series until the third game came out, and I was astounded at how many awards it won in the yearly GameTrailers awards that year (shows you how old I am, that I remember GameTrailers of all things).
But then when the pandemic started the Playstation Store offered the original trilogy remastered for free! And I am ALL about free games and so I thought I’d give it a shot and they’re pretty darn good! I was vaguely interested when a movie was officially announced and once it finally came out, I thought I’d give it a go.
Uncharted is the story of Nathan Drake, a small-time thief with an interest in history. While he’s working as a bartender in New York City, a thief named Victor Sullivan asks him to help him find the treasure of Magellan, something he and Nate’s now-lost brother have wanted to find for ages. But there’s someone else after the treasure: Santiago Moncado, whose family has been after the treasure for a long time, and his hired mercenary Jo Braddock.
At some point, this movie was being billed as a prequel to the games. I’m telling you right now: it’s not. It’s an alternate continuity. There are a lot of things that don’t square up with the backstory of the games, and that’s fine–movies and games are different experiences. But if you’re expecting a faithful adaptation of the story from the games, then you’re in for a disappointment.
Alright, so right out the gate, I wasn’t a huge fan when they announced that the lead role would go to Tom Holland. It’s not that I think he’s a bad actor, but I was of the opinion that he was way too fresh-faced to be Nathan Drake. I revised my opinion a bit upon seeing the first trailer, but having seen the movie, I tend to think that my first impression was correct. He doesn’t do badly, but he doesn’t feel quite right as Nathan Drake. He comes across as much more innocent than the Nate of the games. And yeah, Drake is at his heart a good guy, but he’s also a thief who knows his way around firearms and dangerous situations.
I understand that they toned down the violence for the movie so a more innocent Drake was perhaps called for. And I understand that fan favorite Nathan Fillion is probably too old for the kind of story they wanted to tell. But I don’t think Tom Holland was the best choice for the role here, and I suspect he was only chosen because he made it big off the MCU. Like I said, he doesn’t do badly, just not as well as a more fitting choice might have been.
[Also, there are a surprising number of shots in which Nate is shirtless? I don’t think there are any shots of shirtless Nate in the games, so it looked like they only wanted to show off how in shape Tom Holland is. It was a bit weird.]
There’s a plot development in which Braddock does a thing and I don’t know why? It definitely felt like the kind of thing an Uncharted villain might do, but they usually get a lot more motivation to do so. Here she just does it, and I don’t get why. For the treasure, I guess, but it’s not like she was hurting for the money before. Eh. Just didn’t work for me.
I had fun with this movie though. I don’t know, I think if you saw the trailers, you’ll know exactly the kind of movie you’re getting. Most of the major beats are at least hinted at in the trailers (even the mid-credits scene, which is an odd choice). Yes, there’s treasure hunting. Yes, there’s over-the-top action sequences and chases. Yes, there is considerably less shooting than in the games (I’m not even sure how all that gunplay would be worked into a film). I think it works overall. Not as a brilliant, memorable movie that sticks out from similar treasure-hunting adventures, but it’s not a bad flick. Still, with the massive reputation that Uncharted has in gaming circles, I imagine they were hoping for something a little 
Although would it have been too much to ask for the movie soundtrack to use more of the motifs from the games’ soundtracks?
You would get a more unique story experience from watching the cutscenes of one of the games on YouTube, but this is an enjoyable enough movie.
11 notes · View notes
adamwatchesmovies · 2 years
Text
Freejack (1992)
Tumblr media
While I didn't enjoy this film, that doesn't mean you won't. No matter what I say, the people involved in this project did it: they actually made a movie. That's something to be applauded. With that established...
I was under the impression that Freejack has some sort of cult following and that a number of people consider it a film that’s “so bad it’s good”. I need to reconsider my sources. Dull, contrived and predictable, I won’t remember a thing about this movie within a week.
Just as Alex Furlong (Emilio Estevez) is about to crashnhis car, he is stolen from the year 1991 and transported to 2009 (!). In this futuristic dystopia, people from the past who were about to die - and therefore wouldn't be missed - have their minds wiped and replaced with that of clients who pay top dollars for a new body. Now on the run from mercenary Victor Vacendak (Mick Jagger), Alex searches for his girlfriend Julie (Rene Russo), but can he trust a woman who hasn’t seen him in 18 years?
You might spot a major hole in this premise but to give Freejack credit, it explains why the 1% of 2009 need to steal bodies from the past. To me, this only makes the movie worse. If there were holes in the future tech or logic of this 1992 action thriller (I think that’s what it’s supposed to be), it might stand out. Currently, the only noteworthy aspect of Freejack is the cast. Why Mick Jagger as the honor-bound mercenary? Why Anthony Hopkins as Julie’s boss (who definitely isn’t up to something)? I guess you can have fun pointing out the art direction’s obsession with jacks (not the car kind, but the metal thingies you grab after bouncing a rubber ball on the ground). Does that sound worth the time you’ll spend bored?
The film is full of missed opportunities. Alex is an ace Formula One driver. He's only goes on a single high-speed car chase. The idea of being displaced in time also doesn’t get mined as much as it should. There is merit to the concept if you put some thought into the plot. It seems neither director Geoff Murphy nor writers Steven Pressfield, Ronal Shusett or Dan Gilroy had any ambition to do so.
There’s little else to say about Freejack. It’s an unremarkable picture. The most interesting thing about it are it’s then-futuristic 2009 setting, trippy & dated special effects and seemingly random cast in a lame film. (February 9, 2018)
Tumblr media
4 notes · View notes
annes-room · 3 months
Text
✒️ Dec 23, 2023
I finished my last final for the semester yesterday! now I have a nice break until January, and I'm going to indulge in my hobbies and relaxing 😌
as this is a bit of a journal blog for me, I'm going to have a reflection on this past semester under the cut 🖋️
bio: I thought it would be easier for an intro level course 🥲 I knew it would be mostly memorization, and I have a decent memory for straight up facts, but omg there was so much material!! my favourite sections were the ones on plants and multicellular animals. being able to see and recognize the organism made it a lot easier to understand what we're learning about and remember stuff about it. (which is kinda on par with why I switched out of physics 😅 I'm not particularly motivated to study particles because I can't see them!! I need to be able to see something to understand it lol)
english: this one surprised me the most I think! I still struggled a bit with writing essays before this course, so to have the majority of our marks come from essays was a little nerve wracking. but I met up with my prof regularly for feedback on my work and to get help in my problem areas and it helped a lot!! profs are there to help you 😤 take advantage of it. for the books we read in class, I'd give Robinson Crusoe a 5/10, not fun to read for fun, but very fun to read for analysis. Frankenstein gets 8/10 because Victor Frankenstein is my least favourite character. it was also fun getting to choose our own research topics for our papers! I've never had full freedom like that in a course before so I enjoyed getting to branch out on my own. for Robinson Crusoe, I did a character analysis on his rise to power using religion as a front, and my second paper was about queer life parallels in Frankenstein, and omg I had soooo much fun writing that one!! definitely my best piece of work to date :) (and big thanks to my bf for helping proofread it 🩷)
psych: a bit boring tbh :/ mostly because my prof just read off the slides and there wasn't much that really surprised me. we had to get some research participation credits though and I got deceived in 2 of them so I guess I'm just really good at doing exactly what they want and following directions 😌
stats: my other favourite this semester, tied with english 💖 I was a little worried at the start of this course, having just switched to a stats major with no previous stats experience, but it was a breeze and the concepts all made sense and I'm very happy with how it went overall! we had to do a few group projects though, but only 1 of them was bad in terms of group members :)
extra curriculars!: I recently became more involved in one of the clubs on campus and I'm excited to help foster a welcoming space to connect people and make new friends and host events that people are interested in! I've never been on an exec team before, but I'm excited to do my part ✨
1 note · View note
parallel-selfs · 4 months
Text
Playful Land (Chapter 4)
Translation by Ekala and Gasumasuku Gamer.
Sighs.
"So, what are you in for?"
"Man, you're annoying."
I'm Mary Poppins, y'all.
I call BS on this, the rules are stupid.
Rip Leona Levi.
You have to backhand compliment him.
Celeb has illusion magic that makes it seem there's more of him.
Aw.
Have some fun while being kidnapped.
"I'm still holding onto hope." "Come on, Grim, give him some credit."
Alice is enjoying the bullying Ferro is getting.
(Ha! Jack doing his world-winning smile, ha! I love these jerks.)
"Grim... You made my son cry, you asshole!"
Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
Jade, why did you have to ruin it...
"Knowledge is power, school is a place of knowledge. A place where you learn how to not become a pathetic person like Ferro." >:3
"? Hey, are you okay, kiddo?" Pissed Ferro approaches and asks what knowledge could a school give them.
"Maybe how to keep your pride and threat your boss into silence. Or make lifelong friends who will travel from their homes to Sage's Island and through a desert to save you."
You're in NRC, you're automatically a weirdo.
Smart.
This became a stealth mission in a game.
I'm reminded that scene in Wall-E with the massaging robot going crazy.
Floyd is more of a threat than the puppets.
Rip and tear until it's done!
Ha! Bitemarks on the arm.
Victor is vibe checking them.
Well fuck.
Ortho, rude.
Kalim mentally frowned at the comment.
This is so fucked.
Kalim is refusing to remove his mask and share his actual thoughts is what I'll say.
You don't look sorry, Ortho.
✨Feral eel✨
"No reason."
"And all we can do is cope with their approaching doom."
"What happened?"
"I still remember what the teachers did what I came back from the hospital. They supported me and listened to me when my health gave me too much frustrations. Those teachers care for their students and would definitely look everywhere for us."
"I didn't have magic when I entered Night Raven College. And I have friends who are from struggling backgrounds and they were still accepted to Night Raven and Royal Sword Academy."
"Oh cry me a river."
(I love Leona's shock face)
"You carved your own path, Grim."
"More than you."
Aw. But in all seriousness, you're in a dangerous situation and your emotions are running high, you're going to lash out because of fear and not actually mean what you said.
Ortho vibe checking them.
1 note · View note
ket-fisto · 2 years
Text
so what do we think they will do in the show for Victor and Jayce in season 2+? (Spoilers for potential future events based on lore below)
We know from the lore that they have a huge falling out. I've seen a couple of versions of this and their backgrounds as to how it happens, but the most common is that Jayce takes credit for one of Victor's inventions that he created to help the Undercity. Another that they have a disagreement about ethics, something about Victor wanting to use machines in order to protect the lives of divers, idk. Sounds like a mix of the two is the most canon so far. Maybe Victor makes an invention to help, and Jayce not only doesn't use it for the undercity but also takes credit and uses it to help the elite instead.
What do you think they will do in the show? I think Jayce somehow, perhaps naively and even accidentally, takes credit over Victor's creation, and perhaps now that we've seen he sees the undercity as more 'us versus them' he could deny Victor the opportunity to help the undercity. Maybe Mel's influence and guiding hand will also have a hand in this because it would be a conflict of interest. Jayce being more against the undercity after the attack on the council we ended on in s1 could explain him being more ready to be against helping.
I can definitely see Victor proceeding with more daring experiments on his body the most he feels like Jayce is moving away from 'him' and their scientific dream, and the more desperate he becomes to stay alive. I can even see him doing the step that goes 'too far' on changing himself after feeling completely abandoned and betrayed by Jayce, and shown to be a desperate move motivated by hurt.
I see the shipping potential, and I'd also definitely believe it if they make it clear that Victor has an unrequited, now tired love for Jayce. While I didn't see much 'material' while watching the first time, I'd definitely believe it if you told me that Victor was written to be in love with Jayce, though without taking any steps to get a response for many reasons that a lot of character analysis videos on him talk about. It'd definitely be nice if they switched it around and showed that Jayce is perhaps also interested but also did not act on it and then just moved on with Mel who he was also attracted to. I'd give huge props to Arcane/Netflix if they gave us another lgbt couple. Maybe they didn't want to go ahead and have two lgbt couples that take the spotlight in season 1 to avoid too much backlash? Just thinking outloud on this part.
0 notes