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thepradapariah · 2 years

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Your Rising Sign ✨. The Male Gaze 👀. & Female Character Movie/TV Tropes 📺.

Are you the manic pixie dream girl or the femme fatale?!

Astro Observations 🪐

Using Movies & TV shows, I’ll be talking about observations I’ve made about rising signs! This is just my opinion! You are more than welcome to share your thoughts in the comment section!

(If you know your sidereal Rising Sign Naksaktra EVEN BETTER!)

Disclaimer:

BARE WITH ME HERE!!! This post is written in a VERY generalized way. I am not trying to be exclusionary at all! I want this to be a fun post about movies & astrology. Please be creative with your pronouns if needed! This post is for anyone who wants to read it, no matter your gender or preference, but it will be written in traditional cis-gender fashion, BUT!!!!! I have tried to incorporate all female identifying communities within the examples! I hope there is something for everyone :)

Before we begin:

Definitions:

✨What is the Male Gaze?

“In feminist theory, the male gaze is the act of depicting women and the world, in the visual arts and in literature, from a masculine, heterosexual perspective that presents and represents women as sexual objects for the pleasure of the heterosexual male viewer. In the visual and aesthetic presentations of narrative cinema, the male gaze has three perspectives: (i) that of the man behind the camera, (ii) that of the male characters within the film's cinematic representations; and (iii) that of the spectator gazing at the image.” — Wikipedia

✨What is a Character trope?

“A trope is an idea, pattern or motif that appears often enough in a particular art form that consumers of that art form begin to form particular associations with that idea.” - The Novel Factory

Introduction:

Men tend to be VERY simple creatures. Yes, they may present themselves as the broody artist w a checkered past or a sci-fi-nerdy-glasses-wearing-type fellow who LOVES Star Wars & Comic-Con. But believe it not, both these men have something in common…Their simplicity. Most men see life in black & white. They tend to take things at face value & rarely feel the need to dig deeper into something unless they are called to. This is not to over generalize (or perhaps that’s exactly what this is) but to draw attention to the straight forward attitude men usually have towards life. (I blame this on their primal hunter/gathering nature, but that’s another topic for another day). Men tend to prefer life & communication to be clear & concise, whereas woman tend to be far more “colorful” in our approach. We don’t spare any details when talking w our girlfriends about the latest gossip as if it’s our life’s duty, where men can sit in silence, playing video games & be perfectly content. In fact, I learned in sociology, that men can actually have ZERO brain activity happening at times (besides the automatic stuff, like breathing lol). Meaning— men can actually sit & think about nothing. Women, not so much, we are constantly stimulated, thinking & planning ahead. Because of this cosmically cerebral mis-match, the way men & woman tend to view each other can be a point of contention. Woman tend to over complicate men & men tend to over simplify woman. Thus giving us the ongoing battle of real complex female characters VS. the over simplified version of them through the Male Gaze. Do men think woman just sit around playing in make-up & fashion, bursting out into random tears & having pillow fights all day? If you ask Hollywood— probably. In this post, we will be specifically looking at how men over simplify woman using Movie/TV tropes & comparing them to the display of our rising sign, &/or if you know it, your rising Nakshatra.

You should know, that before I got into tarot & astrology, I graduated from the film school at New York University. So I am WELL AWARE of the film/tv writing process & thought this would be a cool way to combine my education of films & my love for astrology to teach & critique how woman tend to be represented in Cinema & Television— and in return, real life. (Art meets Life, amiright?)

There has been a discourse in the film & tv world about how woman are represented through the male gaze. I’m sure you’ve heard of the “manic pixie dream girl” trope over saturating the market right now. (Don’t worry, we will get into this later). Woman feel as if these are shallow representations of the feminine experience. While I agree with this statement, usually we don’t see very fleshed out, complex & interesting woman from male writers. (*cough cough* Euphoria Season 2.) I’m arguing here that until we form deep & intimate connections with men, they tend to see us, woman, as these movie tropes, IRL (in real life). If you don’t understand what I’m saying, hang in there w me.

Because men tend to be simple & take things at face value, they can miss out on the nuances of the woman they are with. How many times have we seen in movies a wife gets a haircut & the husband doesn’t notice? See, no eye for detail, or subtlety. Those small details that make us unique from other woman tends to go over their heads from time to time. And in a day in age where woman are generalized more on a mass scale through social media, it’s easy for men to get carried away thinking woman are all the same or simply, just not that complicated. This isn’t a bad thing, per say, this is just the default until we are able to build a lasting, deep connection between masculine & feminine energy.

In this post, we are going to be breaking down this “conundrum” by RISING SIGNS/1H/Nakshatras. Why? Because the rising sign is how you are seen in the world. The first house rules the body, & what people project on to you as well as what you project onto other people. (The beauty of the 1H/7H axis…more about this later) As a sidereal astrology girly, I think the first house/Rising Sign Nakshatra rules the personality more so than the sun & moon sign. After all, it is called “person”-ality, & the 1H is the house of person, whereas the 7H is the house of partner.

✨Why Does this Matter?

Well first off, it matters how much you want it to matter. This post is for inspiring self expression. By seeing how you effortlessly come across through the male gaze, you may be able to craft your own unique persona or perfect one of these tropes. I am not writing this post because you have to see yourself the way men see you or over simplify yourself while getting to know someone, I’m writing this to give you some indication of HOW men see you so you can put on a SHOW! I’m hoping this gives you the encouragement to take your narrative into your own hands & present your femininity in a way that’s true & authentic to you. I am an absolute FAN of these female tropes. Movies & tv shows have helped me curate the kind of woman I want to come across as. Nothing like seeing a great character on TV that you want to emulate. We all have the ability to play pretend. Look at using the male gaze as a game of dress-up. You can ALWAYS play the part in the ever going Hollywood Film— Your Life.

✨What is the First House?

The first house is the house of first impressions— the cover of the book men are judging.

Because your first house is home to your rising sign, to put it simply, the first house is how you come off to others at first glance. Even though I’m sure you’re a beautiful, complex & intriguing creature, for the sake of this article, we are looking at the first house through a “shallow” perspective. You may feel as if these descriptions don’t fit you at all, in fact, you may feel like this is the total opposite of who you actually are! (Blame the contradiction of 1H/7H axis for this one) However it’s not about how you feel, it’s about how you come across…

Read this article as if you are your crush meeting you for the first time. (Read that again, very meta, I know). The Male Gaze in movies/tv has been argued to be lazy & uninspired writing. I personally think that’s just the male gaze in general. I kid, I kid. Lol. But seriously…they are very simple minded, so we can use this to our advantage to give some of the best performances of our lives!

***If you are reading for your Sidereal Vedic Rising (which is HIGHLY suggest), please look up the degree, so you can read for the specific Nakshatra)

(If you are a man reading this, I don’t mean to drag you. We all know the childhood fact, Men are from Mars & Woman are from Venus. Lol.)

Through the Male Gaze, we will be breaking down how you come off through your rising sign & placements as Classic Movie & TV Character Tropes.

How to Read:

✨IF YOU KNOW YOUR SIDEREAL VEDIC RISING NAKSHATRA: Read that first! That will be the most specific to the trope. (I didn’t double dip, each nakshatra is only used ONCE)

______________

✨If you DON’T know your Sidereal Rising Nakshatra & your reading as a Western/Tropical Girlie———>

✨You can read for the sign in your first house (your rising sign) &/or planets placed in your FIRST OR SEVENTH HOUSE!

✨7H placements cast a direct aspect on your 1H, so if your rising sign doesn’t resonate, check your 7H placements! They have a major influence as well!

✨If you have multiple planets in your 1H &/or 7H, the planet with the LOWEST degree is the dominant planet. Ex: If you have Saturn at 26 degrees and Venus at 2 degrees, you would read the Venus tropes.

✨Unlike men, I’m giving you some flexibility (Lol) Your placements may overlap. For example, if you’re a Pisces Rising— read the blurbs for Manic Pixie Dream Girl & Girl Next Door. One description will probably fit better than the others, but you got options! If you know your sidereal chart for your rising Nakshatra, you’ll get

***There is NO direct correlation between the signs & Naks picked, this is a matter of opinion, so I put what I felt worked!***

Please please please keep in mind, movies & tv characters are larger than life, so please have fun with this post!!! This is over the top!! If you can imagine that you were an old Hollywood glamour queen or a modern cinema starlit, this would be your starring role!!!

⚠️ I do not want to offend ANYONE by using traditional gender pronouns. I am a cis-gender heterosexual female, so I am writing from the perspective I know best. I am NOT trying to say this is the only perspective that matters. I have included cis-woman, trans women & lesbians as examples in this post. Please feel free to share any insights you have, no matter the gender, non-gender or perspective! I’m truly open & supportive. This is not an exclusionary post.

⚠️ SPOILER ALERT!!!! I am using Movies & Television shows as examples, so be prepared!

⚠️ Of course, special shout-out to my little sister! Without her, none of this would be possible!!

On with the Show! 🌹

💋 Manic Pixie Dream Girl

Nakshatras: Ardra, Punarvasu, Swati, Vishika, Mula

Zodiac: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces (All Mutable Rising Signs) & Aquarius

Planets: Neptune, Mercury, Jupiter (1st or 7th House, lowest degree)

Tarot Card: Princess of Cups (Earth & Water)

✨Definition

“[The Manic Pixie Dream Girl] exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures… [The MPDG] seems to exist only to provide spiritual or mystical help to the protagonist. The MPDG has no discernible inner life. Instead, her central purpose is to provide the protagonist with important life lessons. “

-Wikipedia (Manic Pixie Dream Girl was coined by Nathan Rabin)

✨The Manic Pixie Dream Girl is arguably THEE female movie trope of the last 40 years in pop culture. As movies moved away from the Bombshell aesthetic of the 1950’s, most notably, Marilyn Monroe; Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s introduced a new kind of woman. (Even her last name, go-lighly is a play on her attitude towards the world) A woman who throws caution to the wind & isn’t afraid to take risk. In fact, this woman LIVES to take risk! She flutters in & flutters out of the Male gaze, usually chasing some wild dream of being a fashion designer, writer, actress ect, OR is a notch above (or under, depending on how you look at it) an aimless sexy hobo. Regardless of her career ambitions, she’s always as creative as she is elusive— yet somehow, is always able to drop into the male’s life right in the knick of time, whisking the male away on some fever-dream like adventures. Encountering the Manic Pixie Dream Girl almost ALWAYS accompanies a spiritual Awakening for our male protagonist. Upon meeting this woman, usually in some weird, “only happens once in a life-time” way, his world gets thrown into a chaotic flurry. Everything he thought he knew he now knows he never knew anything about it at all. He questions life, he questions reason, he question society, capitalism, the “American Dream”, etc. This is BEST demonstrated by Marla (Helena Bonham Carter) in Fight Club, directed by David Fincher. (If you haven’t seen this movie, you MUST (18+), Brad Pitt is at PEAK sexiness…s/o to the Female Gaze lol) Fight Club is a wicked tale of a man fighting himself, society & his own psyche after meeting a woman who mirrored him so closely, it triggered a masculinity awakening. This is the function of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. She is so free, so unbound, so fluid, & feminine, she helps to bring to life the masculine side of a man by reflecting his own inner chaos back to him.

As a Ardra, Punarvasu, Swati, Vishika, Mula Rising or Mutable Rising Sign: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, or Pisces, this could be one of the ways you appear through the male gaze. Because your temperament & view of life can be so changeable, you can come across as a free-spirit, a loss soul, or a wonderer. Perhaps you are, & perhaps you aren’t, but as quickly as you change a hairstyle, you change your goals in life. The male feels as if he needs to tame you, give you structure, security or direction OR he feels like he wants to join you! Break away from the daily grind of life, break societies expectations of him & rendezvous w you, eating cereal, painting & watching cartoons all day. You can represent a child-like wonder and be the embodiment of the “wild-side” of life! As the mutable rising signs of the Zodiac, you tend to be moody & unpredictable. Through the Male Gaze, men may find it hard to connect with you because you always seem “elsewhere”. You always seem a little dazed, perhaps a little confused, but certainly “pixie” like in your approach to life. To the right male, you are fascinating, like a Jackson Pollock painting (the splatter paint dude) in the works— each stroke improvised, never knowing where the paint is going to land, but intrigued more by your process than the final product.

✨Music:

Female Gaze: Like a Bird- Nelly Furtado

Male Gaze: Sex And Candy- Marcy Playground

✨Examples

Holly Golightly- Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Jules- Euphoria

Summer- 500 Days of summer

Robyn Brooks- High Fidelity

Helena- Fight Club

Cat- Victorious

Issa- Insecure

Raven- That’s So Raven

Bubbles- Powerpuff Girls

Emily- Emily in Paris

Sally Bowles- Cabaret

💋Ice Queen

Nakshatras: Jyestha, Dhanishta, Uttara Bhadrapada

Zodiacs: Aquarius, Libra, Cancer, Scorpio

Planets: Saturn, Uranus, Moon, Venus

Tarot Card: Queen of Swords (Water & Air)

✨Defintion:

“…Cool, reserved, and giving nothing away. She may want love as ardently as anyone, but she masks her soft heart behind a wall of ice. It is up to someone else, typically her Love Interest, to soften her cold demeanor and win her love.

The Ice Queen is considered dangerous to love because she will not (or cannot) love back. She's not much for friendship either, preferring to be alone.” tvtropes .org

✨The Ice Queen is cold & unforgiving. She IS the resting bitch face personified, unimpressed & unfazed by those around her. Seemingly aloof, the male in the story is always trying to breakthrough her tough and unbothered exterior. Her coldness posses a real challenge to anyone who is interested in her romantically. She’s just a bitch. And a bad one at that! The Ice Queen is stern in her appearance & her approach to life. Usually divorced, or widowed, but doesn’t have to be, she walks as if she carries the weight on the world of her shoulder. She’s been abandoned by happiness in life, but she’s so regal, no one knows how deep her scars cut. She can resemble the Boss Bitch/Diva trope, because she normally holds a lot of power, but she carries a certain detachedness that is unique to this trope. She is NOTHING nice. The Ice Queen is hard to please & has no issues letting people know she’s unsatisfied. The Male wants to “warm her up”, breakthrough her cold exterior & get to know why she is so damn mean! In some cases he succeeds, in others he realized she’s just a mean & shallow as he originally thought. Elvira Hancock in Scarface is the prototype for this feminine character trope. Not only is her nose typically buried nose deep in snow (if you get it, you get it), she’s. a. straight. cold-hearted. biotch. She’s unbelievably gorgeous & unapproachable, & this is exactly what draws the male protagonist in to her. But even after the male “wins her over”, she was never satisfied. An Ice Queen to her CORE, she was never one to be defrosted. Defamed? Maybe…Defrosted…never.

It’s worth noting that the Ice Queen is usually HIGHLY fashionable. Not the cheap stuff either— the Ice Queen is a Queen none the less. She’s not the T-shirt & jeans girl next door, or the purple hairdo manic pixie…she’s class & sophistication. First rule, you gotta be hot to be so cold.

If you are a Jyestha, Dhanishta, Uttara Bhadrapada Rising or an Aquarius, Libra or Cancer Rising, or have Saturn, Uranus, the Moon, or Venus aspecting your first house, you may find that you come across as the Ice Queen through the male gaze. You carry a certain reserved & detached aura upon first meeting someone. Rarely would you put all your cards on the table. There is also a certain maturity that you carry with you when you walk into a room. Men will assume “oh, this girl, she’s been through some stuff”. You may find that you are somewhat withdrawn in social situations, although people may be very drawn to you. You don’t necessarily care about being liked, but you certainly care about being respected. You come off as if you don’t tolerate any kind of messiness. Men may think you play hard to get or that you just think you’re better than the average. Whatever! You don’t care what they think. You’re too busy reading or being an intellectual (whatever that means lol…this is the male gaze we are talking about). Again, to the right egotistical man who believes he can “warm you up”, you are a welcomed and ongoing challenge. The Ice Queen is the female trope of male dissatisfaction. When a Male encounters the Ice Queen in cinema, she tend to represent a part of the male that will NEVER be pleased, content or accepted. Normally the man after this cold woman’s stone-cold heart is trying to prove his worth to the world around him, & the Ice Queen serves as the perfect trophy. If he can impress her/have her, he can impress anyone & have the World! The Ice Queen is the ultimate prize for the male protagonist w ego/self-esteem issues. Nothing humbles a man quite like a cold-hearted bitch. You may find in your dating life, Male’s feel the need to impress you for no good reason..or maybe you enjoy watching men walk on their heads for a date w you! Either way, as the Ice Queen female trope you carry a certain air about you that commands attention & respect. You carry authority over yourself & those around you. The male gaze says although your intimidating, your worth a try to shut down all the haters, even if you’re hater number 1!

✨Music:

Female Gaze: Needed Me- Rihanna

Male Gaze: Roses- OutKast, Cooler than Me- Mike Posner

✨Examples

Elvira Hancock-Scarface

Camille- The Sapranos

Lady Mae Greenleaf- Greenleaf

Elsa- Frozen

Jade- Victorious

Elekta Evangelista- Pose

Claire- House of Cards

Molly- Insecure

Lucille- Arrested Development

Betty Draper- Mad Men

Mother Shannon, House of Balenciaga- Legendary

Cersei Lannister- Game of Thrones

Dominique La Rue- Harlem Nights

Gru’s Mom- Despicable Me

💋Femme Fatale

Nakshatras: Ashwini, Bharani, Ashlesha, Purva Bhadrapada, Shatabisha

Zodiacs: Aries, Scorpio, Cancer

Planets: Mars, Pluto

Tarot Card: Queen of Wands (Fire & Water)

✨Definition

“A femme fatale,sometimes called a maneater or vamp, is a stock character of a mysterious, beautiful, and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers, often leading them into compromising, deadly traps. She is an archetype of literature and art. Her ability to enchant, entice and hypnotize her victim with a spell was in the earliest stories seen as verging on supernatural; hence, the femme fatale today is still often described as having a power akin to an enchantress, seductress, witch, having power over men. Femmes fatales are typically villainous, or at least morally ambiguous, and always associated with a sense of mystification, and unease.”

-Wikipedia

✨The Femme Fatale is arguably the most ICONIC of the female movie tropes. A popular trope of Film Noir “movement” in the late 1940s, early 1950s, the Femme Fatale is a sexual seductress with a naughty side. Enchanting as she is dangerous, the male gaze ogles her, even though it may cost him his life— or at least his job & social standing. Medusa is one of the best representations of this trope. If a man locks eyes w her, he’s as good as dead— yet, time & time again, men tried to defeat her, only to meet a tragic end. As time progressed, the story of the woman who turns men to stone (definitely a sexual innuendo if you ask me) found new life in television & film. The Femme Fatale is a beautiful disaster just waiting to happen. She’s wild, like the Manic Pixie Dream Girl, but she has a certain knack for danger and crime. She lures the male in & traps him like a spider in her web. The male is usually a little weary of the woman, but is overcome w her grace & charm, or he’s truly an unsuspecting victim who gets completely taken advantage of an entangled in whatever mess she’s made for herself. One way or the other, the male often ends up in a position of life & death after lusting after this dark & intriguing beauty. The film, Carmen Jones, starring Dorthy Dandridge, is a classic tale of a woman w loose morals who ends up (spoiler alert) dead. Unlike most of the other female tropes, the femme fatale almost always suffers consequences for her actions. She either ends up in jail, or dead, or kills her lover, or he ends up in jail, or her lover ends up dead. Tragic, I know. Again, think of Medusa…she killed everything she laid her eye on, & then ultimately had to be killed. (RIP Medusa, you were a baddie). No one gets out scotch free when dealing w this character. The femme fatale is mysterious, almost like a mythical creature or an enchantress, & the male is instantly drawn into her, whether they exchange words in a bar, or she simply flicks her cigarette & he rushes to relight it. One thing is for sure, she lives by her own rules & is bound by nothing…not the law or death itself. She’s usually a criminal minded free-spirit, manipulating her way through life to survive.

If you are an Ashwini, Bharani, Ashlesha, Purva Bhadrapada Rising Or an Aries, Scorpio, or Cancer Rising, or you have Pluto or Mars aspecting your 1H, you may come off as the femme fatale through the male gaze. Your dark, broody & secretive nature is fascinating to them, and they want to join you on a passionate journey through time & space or save you from whatever sticky situation you may have put yourself in. They want to play detective & you are the perfect case to crack. When the femme fatale enters the male’s life, she instantly posses a threat to his usually naive understanding of the world. She’s not your typical housewife— far from it. She challenges the traditional social construct of beauty & submission. Normally from a troubled/difficult past past, the femme fatale will only submit to law & death, she’s been forced to learn the ugly sides of life & uses them to her advantage. You may find that male’s tend to want to dominate you or control your direction in life in relationships, but you are REPULSED by this notion. This trope teaches men (and woman sadly), that freedom comes w a cost. Hopefully it’s not your life, but if it is, you sure make a sexy corpse!

✨Music:

Female Gaze: Wild side- Normani

Male Gaze: Dirty Diana -Michael Jackson

✨Examples

Filomena (Sophia Lauren)- Marriage Italian Style

Cat Woman- Batman

Carmen- Carmen Jones

Dr. Frank-N-Furter (played by the wonderful Lavern Cox)- The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Jennifer- Jennifer’s Body

Gilda (Rita Hayworth)- Gilda

Amy Dunne- Gone Girl

Laura Biel- 365 Days

Alex Vause- Orange Is the New Black

💋Queen Bee/Mean Girl

Nakshatras: Krittika, Purva Phalguni, Chitra, Purva Ashadha

Zodiacs: Libra, Capricorn, Aries, Leo, Taurus & Gemini

Planets: Venus, Mars, Sun, Mercury

Tarot Card: Princess of Swords (Earth & Fire)

“The Mean Girl trope had us all believe that the dark side to womanhood is catty, conniving competitiveness.”

The swaddle.com

“Mean girls are often overly concerned with appearance. They may place a high priority on their clothing, their make-up, and even their weight. Likewise, they may zero in on these things in others, pointing out everything from acne and weight gain to clothing choices and hairstyles.”

-theteenmagazine.com

✨Somewhere between The Ice Queen and The Diva, there lies a sweet sour sweet CLASSIC female trope that always leaves the girls GAGGING in disbelief, like “did she just say that?!!” The Queen Bee/Mean Girl trope has her fair share of representation in film & TV, particularly in teen dramas, but she is NOT limited to high school. The Queen Bee is in charge, she knows what she wants, she knows how she likes it & she has ZERO problem letting her loyal subject know. Sometimes, she is portrayed w a deep deep deep DEEP down heart of hold, but most of the time, she’s just a straight biotch from beginning to end. You DON’T want to cross her, or you just might end-up on her ever growing hit-list. If there is one thing Ms. Mean Girl can do..it’s hold a grudge. As stated above, the Queen Bee/Mean girl trope serves the stereotype of the cattiness & competitiveness of femininity. And it is a fact that in the wild, the female animals are usually far more aggressive than their male counterparts. (Think Lion, or a Mama Bear). Boys may have their sports, but lady’s have their looks & they will secure that W come hell or high water all the way to Prom Queen.

If you are a Krittika, Purva Phalguni, Chitra, Purva Ashadha Rising or Libra, Taurus, Aries, Leo or Gemini Rising, OR if you have Venus, Mars or the Sun aspecting your 1H/7H, you may come off as the typical Mean Girl Trope through the Male Gaze. You’re aloof, yet decisive about the things you truly care about— like— “Wednesdays, we wear pink”. You keep people on the tip of their toes with witty banter & effortless conversation. If they don’t know the latest trends, the current celebrity gossip or who dumped whom…well, you’re just not interested in what they have to say, so why bother? You can play the villain easily & have no problem being unliked as long as you are respected. You are a social butterfly, a socialite, if you will. You know how to make the streets talk with admiration & envy. People may be afraid that they can’t meet your standards, but good, they probably can’t. NO UGLY FRIENDS is the motto— people may think you actually hold try-outs for who is allowed to sit with you at the table. Through it all, you know how to take control & lead— this energy oozes from you as people seem to just step aside as you sashay down the halls. Always up on the latest fashion, you always come w your A-game and your enemies will NEVER catch you slipping. There is a beautiful confidence that you exude because you know you are the one and only. People may be extremely intimidated by you, but the real ones will bow at your feet.

The shadow side of this trope is the shadiness. Queen Bees/Mean girls are known for being just that—MEAN. People may assume that you are quite backstabby & mischievous. YOU, of all the movie tropes, don’t mind playing

d-i-r-t-y! People perceive you as never wanting to let go of that crown & you’ll do whatever it takes to keep the social order in tact. Think “Status-Quo” High School Musical w Sharpay, the ULTIMATE representation of this trope, screaming from the top of the cafeteria! (THIS IS NOT WHAT SHE WANTS! THIS IS NOT WHAT SHE PLANNED!!!!!) She didn’t care who she had to cut, scheme, lie, trick, plot & sabotage to make SURE Ms. Gabriella did not get the spotlight w her man, Troy. Think of the lengths you’ll go to to get what you want. You come off as spicy, cunt-y (in the best way), & beautiful. You are a glamour girl & never afraid to throw some shade here & there, making you the ultimate reigning Queen Bee!

✨Music

Female Gaze: Feeling Myself- Nicki Minaj

Male Gaze: Mad at myself- Issues

✨Examples

Maddie- Euphoria

Regina George- Mean Girls

CoCo- Dear White People

Lulu- Pose

Toni- Girlfriends

Emma Roberts in Coven & Scream Queens

Blair- Gossip Girl

Cheryl Blossom- Riverdale

Santana- Glee (Rest in Peace)

Buttercup- Powerpuff Girls

Alison DiLaurentis- Pretty Little Liars

Sharpay- High School Musical

The Heathers

Penelope- My Dog (LOVE HER, but she’s such a Bitch—a bad one though lol)

💋Ingenue/Damsel in Distress

Nakshatras: Mrigashirsa, Rohini, Hasta, Revati

Zodiacs: Cancer, Capricorn, Libra, Aries (All Cardinal Rising Signs) & Pisces, Taurus

Planets: Moon, Venus, Saturn

Tarot Card: Queen of Cups (Water) Libra, Aries

“The ingénue usually has the fawn-eyed innocence of a child but subtle sexual appeal as well.”

“The damsel in distress is a recurring narrative device (or trope) in which one or more men must rescue a woman who has either been kidnapped or placed in general peril. Kinship, love, or lust (or a combination of those) gives the male protagonist the motivation or compulsion to initiate the narrative. The female character herself may be competent, but still finds herself in this type of situation.”

Wikipedia

✨The Ingenue/Damsel in Distress is one of the most recognizable female movie tropes to date. From the tales of The Greeks, to King-Kong, to Broomhilda from Djengo— there is always some damsel…somewhere…that is…in fact…in…distress. The Ingenue is a naive babe, just learning the ins & outs of life. She’s pretty, she’s unassuming & adorably doe-eyed, full of wonder for the life ahead of her— just waiting for a strong man to show her the way! The ingenue is common, but in the best way. She’s not an ice-cold bitch like the Ice Queen or the Queen Bee, but she sits more in her femininity that the Tomboy or the Diva. She’s divine & subtle and a man is always lurking around the corner, waiting to whisk her away from all the evils in the world. If this sounds like a Disney Princess, it’s because it is. Most Disney Princesses would fit into the Ingenue/Damsel in Distress character trope, but just like most of the Princesses, no matter how young & impressionable, the Ingenue is usually the one who makes a way for herself in the end.

If you are a Mrigashirsa, Rohini, Hasta, Revati Rising or a Cardinal rising (Aries, Cancer, Libra Capricorn) or Pisces, the male gaze may perceive you as the Ingenue/Damsel in Distress trope. Your beauty & grace exceed you, & your youth is ever-present. When the male sees you, they just want to protect you & hold you dear. You spark masculinity in those who are attracted to you because you come across so soft & gentle. But don’t get it twisted, you can be a little spicy! You certainly have a little sass to you, but you try not to wear it on your sleeve. You are a true darling to those who are deserving. You serve ultimate demure womanliness & you seem to glide through any room you’re in. Although your impulsiveness & naiveté may land you in some sticky situations, there’s always a lovely leading man just beyond the pines to lead you out of the darkness and into their arms (Awwwwwwwwwww). You may be the type to need help opening the pickle jar, or clumsily fall into some big strong arms— you don’t mind being on the receiving end of affection & people just swoon over you. Unlike the Door Next Door, there can still be an “unapproachability” factor to you. You’re not the girl from down the street, you’re the new girl in town; a little lost, a little curious, but always cute! You may find that men tend to underestimate you & you’re constantly trying to prove yourself. OR you can find yourself in situations where your voice tends to be over powered as you get lost in a sea of toxic masculinity! Either way, you know how to leave a room in awe. You carry just enough mystique & intrigue that male’s fight to know more about you, but yet they just feel as if you’re a naturally good person. You’re coy, but not too coy. You’re shy, but not too shy. You are the perfect “woman”. You may have a past, but your future is always bright! A hero waits around the corner for the perfect time to catch you when you fall or introduce you to a world you didn’t know existed.

As the Ingenue/Damsel in Distress, your energy is POWERFUL, almost as if you’re sexily yelling “Fire! Fire! Save me! Help me!” when you walk into the room. You know how to keep the male gaze & they will break their necks to see you eloquently walk by. Before the reign of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl, you were the trope on top— the beautiful default representation of hyper-femininty in the 20s/30s/40s. You set the standards for the early starlets, they were nothing if they weren’t the lovely ingenue!

✨Music

Female Gaze: Bring Me to Life- Evanessance, Pretty When I Cry- Lana Del Ray

Male Gaze: Let Me Love You- Mario

✨Examples

Betty Draper- Mad Men

Celie- The Color Purple

Neytiri- Avatar

Autumn- P-Valley

Daisy- The Great Gatsby

Persephone- The [Abduction] of Persephone

Irene- Drive

Angel Evangelista- Pose

Disney Princesses

Broomhilda- Django Unchained

Piper Chapman- Orange Is the New Black

Mississippi- P-Valley

Penelope- The Odyssey

Satine- Mulan Rouge

💋Girl Next Door/Tomboy

Nakshatras: Anuradha, Uttara Ashadha, Shravana

Planets:Jupiter, Venus, Neptune

Zodiacs: Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces, Taurus, Libra

Tarot Card: Princess of Pentacles (Earth)

“The girl next door is usually from a small town or an un-flashy neighborhood. Her personality tends to be down-to-earth, supportive, and approachable. For both her main boy and her culture at large, the girl next door embodies an idealized, wholesome femininity.”

-the-take.com

✨The Girl Next Door/Tomboy Trope is by far the most realistic & relatable female trope of all. She’s not flashy. She’s not mean. She’s kind & sometimes even “one of the guys”. She gives off an innocence that makes her irresistible to the male gaze because she’s just so darn cool. She’s “not like the other girls”. Although she may prefer a comfy t-shirt & jeans, she’s comfortable in her femininity. She doesn’t try to compete with other woman— even though other woman my try & compete with her. Why? Because she’s usually the girl surrounded by all the guys— not because she flaunts her beauty, but rather because she’s not stuck on herself. She challenges the status quo demonstrating that sexy can be fun, sexy can be sweet & sexy can be “normal”. Zendaya is arguably the IT girl of a generation & she usually plays this type of character. She comes across as someone you can sip cool-aid with after she beats you in a round of basketball! For some, that’s sexier than Marilyn Monroe herself! This is the All-American (no matter the race) beauty that only lives a few doors down. This trope is most likely to be in the “friend-zone”, until one day the male realizes…”OH MY GOSH! SHE HAS BOOBS!”

If you are an Anuradha, Uttara Ashadha, Shravana Rising OR a Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces, Taurus, Libra Rising, you could come off as the Girl Next Door/Tomboy female trope. You’re approachable & not stuck on yourself & that makes you highly desirable through the male gaze. You’re simple & non-demanding like some of your other female counterparts and this makes you a breath of fresh air in a Kardashian fueled instagram dystopia. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure you know how to clean up nicely! When it’s times for you to put on a skirt & heels, you knock ‘em dead. You’re stunning! But you’d much rather lead with personality than looks. You have an effortlessness about you that can’t be obtained by just anyone. At times you may feel a bit awkward about your sexuality, but again, through the right male’s gaze, this is SUCH a turn on. This is an extremely powerful trope because you are realistic. You may have big dreams, but you feel like you come from humble beginnings. You’re authentic to yourself, not to Chanel & Gucci. Sometimes, you may feel overlooked & one-up’d by the “popular girl”, but there is ALWAYS someone who thinks you are the most beautiful girl in the room because you light up the room like no body else & don’t get me started on the way you flip your hair & how it gets the boys overwhelmed. You don’t know you’re beautiful…and that’s….that’s what makes you so beautiful. How lovely!

If you are the Girl Next Door Trope, you don’t have to worry about putting on a show to impress the boysies around you. Just continue to be you’re cool & down to Earth self. Even though it seems like we live in Shallow Land, where everything is based on superficial looks & flawless instagram selfies, you’re super special because you don’t give in. Don’t conform & don’t rush to be the “it” girl. You don’t need the BBL & the thick lashes. (NOTHING IS WRONG W THIS!!! NOTHING~~~) Your natural beauty is more than enough through the Male Gaze!

✨Music

Female Gaze: All You Wanted- Michelle branch

Male Gaze: Hey There Delilah- The Plain White Tees

*sorry I couldn’t link it! Ran out of space!

✨Examples

MJ (Zendaya)- Spider-Man

Zoe- Grownish

Victoria-Victorious

Monica- Love & Basketball

Bella- Twilight

Justice-Poetic Justice

Peggy- Mad Men

Moeisha- Moeisha

Betty Cooper- Riverdale

Blanca Rodriguez- Pose

Apollonia- Purple Reign

Danielle- The Girl Next Door

💋Diva/Boss Bitch

Nakshatras: Pushya, Magha, Uttara Phalguni

Planets: Sun, Saturn, Mars

Zodiacs: Leo, Scorpio, Taurus, Aquarius (All Fixed Rising Signs) & Sagittarius, Capricorn

Tarot Card: Queen of Pentacles (Earth & Water)

“The strong, dark, beautiful woman. She's often a go-getter, chasing stardom, wealth, or just recognition for her talents. If she becomes an Idol, she's not constrained by the pressures of always appearing youthful, innocent, and approachable.

Part of her allure is instead her maturity, either in personality or in sexuality. When she walks in the room she not only turns heads, but she demands respect and won't hesitate to set you straight if she doesn't get it.”

-tvtropes.org

✨The Diva/Boss Bitch Female trope is THEE BADDEST BITCH. She’s worked hard to get where she is & she isn’t going to let some MAN come along and knock her off her thrown. This female trope demands a certain level of respect when she walks into the room— all heads turn because they know she’s the boss, just waiting to give quick & sharp directions. Usually fashionable, because she can AFFORD it (hello!), she knows how to command in any setting while looks good. A trend setter! She may be one of the most intimidating of the female tropes through the Male Gaze, on par with the Ice Queen, because the Diva carries a certain masculine energy. She usually is running things & bossing men around herself. She doesn’t let her sex get in the way of her ambition & talent. This character trope is not afraid to speak her mind because she knows she has just as much right to a seat at the table as anyone. She’s hard to impress & won’t settle for anything less than perfect. Mediocrity will NOT FLY with the Diva. She expects & she will have the best.

If you are a Pushya, Magha, Uttara Phalguni Rising or a Leo, Scorpio, Taurus, Aquarius, Sagittarius, or Capricorn Rising, you may come off as the Diva/Boss Bitch female character trope. You seem to prioritize work, success & your ambition over friendships & relationships. You force the males who gaze upon you to reevaluate their own status & merit in the world. They know you can’t be easily swayed & have to step to you with their best foot forward. Usually depicted as an insatiable boss, men may feel you’re an insatiable lover— demanding & hard to please…whatever, this doesn’t stop you! You know what you want & if they don’t get it for you, you’ll get it your damn self. You come off as self-assured & somewhat egotistical. You’re proud of your work & you expect to be treated like the BOSS that you are. If someone has a problem with that, well then, they can just get in line! Olivia Pope in Scandal is a great example of this trope in action. First, she has a J.O.B. & she’s DAMN good at it. The best, even. Her sex appeal through the male gaze is due to her wits & her competence. Like you, as soon as she walks into the room, people know it’s business time.

If you are the Diva/Boss Bitch Trope, don’t let ANYONE discredit your hustle—not another woman, not a man…NO ONE! You’ve worked hard to get where you are, and it shows because of the way you carry yourself. You can be one of the classiest tropes of all & that’s more impressive than you could ever know. Your beauty lies in the fact that you are sophistication personified. Your intrigue lies in the fact of your rarity! Not every woman is as ambitious or as capable as you are. You make men shiver when they lay eyes on you because you have an aura that screams “STEP YOUR GAME UP OR GET TO STEPPING!” Never try to dim who you are. You’re bossy & you’re the bitch they all LOVE to hate! Let them! You’d probably hate you too if you weren’t you because you are just too fly to handle! Confidence oozes from your pores because you know your stuff. Although it’s lonely at the top, you enjoy the view of downtown from your corner office! It’s hard to compete where others don’t compare Ms. Diva! Own it!

✨Music

Female Gaze: Flawless- Beyoncé

Male Gaze: Ms. Independent- Ne-yo

*sorry I couldn’t link it! Ran out of space!

✨Examples

Olivia Pope- Scandal

Blossom- Powerpuff Girls

Miranda Priestly— Devil Wears

Annalise Keeting- How To Get Away With Murder

Sylvie- Emily in Paris

Jaqueline- Boomerang

Shug Avery- The Color Purple

Cookie- Empire

Mercedes- P-Valley

Matron “Mama” Morton- Chicago

#astrology #vedic astrology #astro notes #astrology observations #sidereal astrology #astrology notes #astro observations #music #rising sign #movie tropes #Spotify

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Text

Shoot: Interview Magazine, 18th September 2014

Photographer: Anthony Batista

Interviewer: Sarah Paulson

Stylist: Julia Ragolia

Full interview, behind the scenes, outtakes & shoot photographs below. 👇🏻

Jett's Pedro's Shoots Masterlist

• Original images & outtakes.

• Behind the scenes images.

• Full Interview

As Oberyn Martell, the foreign Prince on Season Four of Game of Thrones, Pedro Pascal is cocky and clever; smooth and seductive.

Though he only appeared in seven episodes, Pascal’s Red Viper stole the season. His demise - unexpected and ultraviolent - is permanently seared into the memories of fans, which, on a show as perilous as Game of Thrones, is quite a feat.

Pascal didn’t come out of nowhere; the Chilean-American actor and NYU grad began acting in films, theater, and television since the late ’90s. His role on HBO’s most cinematic series, however, made him famous and sought after.

He is currently living in Colombia filming Narcos, the new Netflix original series about the Medellín drug trade co-starring Boyd Holdbrook. Here, he talks to one of his oldest and dearest friends, American Horror Story actress Sarah Paulson.

PP: Do you have at least two questions? Have you done your research?

SP: I’ve known you since I was 18, is that enough research? I think that’s enough research.

PP: [laughs]

SP: I do have questions. They’re all written down. Are you ready for this? Where are you sitting right now?

PP: I’ve just come up to my room to the exact same spot where we were Skyping about 12 hours ago. I have a beautiful view of Medellín, Colombia. The sun is shining.

SP: I think people are very curious - and by people I mean, like, one person in the entire world - about how we met. Do you remember your first impression of me and do I remember my first impression of you? Was there a particular bonding moment? Did we ever go through a period of estrangement? These are the questions I have.

PP: [laughs] I have answers to all those questions, I just don’t know if you want to hear them. I met you, Sarah Paulson, in September of 1993, my first month in New York City. I was really lucky because my first friend at NYU lived in Brooklyn, Kristen, and went to high school with you, so your guys’ posse kind of adopted me.

SP: And do you remember the names of the people in that posse besides Kristen?

PP: I remember everybody! There are a couple of things that I probably shouldn’t say about all of us - we were 18-year-olds in New York City in 1993. But I remember all of us going to the Upper East Side. I insisted that we all go see that movie Fearless.

SP: Yeah, Fearless. I’ll never forget it as long as I live.

PP: There were eight of us sitting next to each other and, as I remember, we were all sobbing by the end of it.

SP: Then we walked into the park and saw Woody Harrelson. Remember that?

PP: Yeah, that’s right. We were the two people who knew exactly who he was and fanned out a little bit. Nobody else cared. We had our little celebrity sighting moment and that, in retrospect, was our first step towards bonding, which cut to, I’m pretty sure that night, drinking 40s, me being on Romi’s shoulders running down Fifth Avenue, and getting knocked down by a cabbie. [laughs] I think you were on somebody’s shoulders too.

SP: I sure was. I remember that so clearly. It’s a wonder we survived. When I think about the debauchery, the things that we did, the kind of shit we were pulling and the way we were behaving, I don’t even know how we made it to the next morning, much less 20 years later.

PP: Do you remember your perfect Wednesday Addams costume on Halloween that you added fangs to? I bet you don’t remember that.

SP: I don’t really remember it. What did I do? I wore a button down? What did I do?

PP: You had the perfect braids. You had the perfect Wednesday Adams outfit. But then your added element was fangs - the cool kind that attached to the teeth.

SP: That’s so boring; you’re an idiot.

PP: I liked it.

SP: Did we go through a period of estrangement? I think we went through a period where we didn’t talk as much, but it was never because we were fighting.

PP: You were the first of all of us that started working and never stopped. You went to Los Angeles, and we didn’t reconnect until a few years later.

SP: Until you came to Los Angeles.

PP: I came to L.A. for a bit and then went back to New York. Even after going back to New York, we somehow went into chapter two of our friendship that we attached to each other and haven’t been able to let go.

SP: That is for damn sure. I think when you get knocked off by a cabbie and you see Woody Harrelson and you see Fearless all in one day, you’re either bonded for life or you’ll never see each other again.

PP: It’s a very powerful seed. Think of everything that we’re actively editing in our minds. [laughs]

SP: Oh yeah. That’s just not ready for consumption by masses of people - or the one person that will read this, no offense. [laughs] Here’s my question. I didn’t know this about you, or if I did, I forgot it. Apparently you acted out scenes from Poltergeist (1982) as a child. Is that true?

PP: Yes, it’s 100% true. I tricked my parents, my poor parents. Back when Poltergeist came out in movie theaters, PG-13 did not exist. PG-13 didn’t come into form until after Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Doom (1984).

SP: Ladies and gentlemen, Pedro Pascal the film buff and the MPAA all-star.

PP: [laughs]

SP: Nerd alert!

PP: Steven Spielberg’s name was all over Poltergeist and E.T. was out the same year, which every single parent took their child to. So despite Poltergeist being a horror movie, I convinced my parents to let me see it. It was terrifying. I guess this says a lot about me as a six-year-old, because I loved it. [laughs]

SP: The number of horror movies that you’ve taken me to is copious. You have a problem. No matter how bad they are, you drag me to them.

PP: I don’t take you to the super gory ones!

SP: On the nights when I’m like, “Ugh, what do you want to do?” And you’re like, “Let’s go see a movie,” and there are 17 movies I will not see, you want to take me to all 17 of the ones that I don’t want to see. I’m not going to say the titles because I don’t want to offend people, but you know exactly the two that I’m speaking of specifically.

PP: But those two were super gory.

SP: It’s not even that. It’s just the idea that you thought it might be good. You really tried to convince me that it would be good.

PP: [laughs] I’m going to take you to a scary movie one of these days.

SP: You were like a master manipulator since the time you were six and it still happens. “It’ll be fun, I promise!” And it just cuts to me throwing popcorn at you.

PP: What about all the horrible movies you’ve made me see?

SP: No! Nuh-uh! I don’t think so! I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re going to have text me and explain what you’re talking about. But I have a question about the Poltegeist thing. Was that the moment, or was there a moment that preceded that, where you thought, “I want to do what they’re doing?” I know that happened to me with a movie I saw when I was young.

PP: I think ’80s-era Steven Spielberg definitely shaped a lot of my fantasies. I particularly focused on Poltergeist. I just found it so fascinating; it got inside my imagination. Even if you watch it now, it really holds up. There’s not another horror movie that is actually a family drama. But it was definitely around that time. I would go to the movies very often with my father, because he just loved to go to the movies. He wouldn’t really play by the rules - my parents were so young and they were Chilean immigrants in San Antonio, Texas. It was all about going to movies, rock concerts, and Spurs games. And the primary influence in my life was movies. It was an interest that never went away. The first fucking thing that we did when we met was go to the movies.

SP: Yeah, exactly. Was there anything else in your childhood that you thought about doing besides acting?

PP: No. Can you believe it?

SP: I can believe it. I wanted to be a veterinarian or a marine biologist. Then I realized that I’d have to a, be a doctor or a scientist and I’d have to cut animals open and euthanize them. It ended pretty quickly.

PP: When we realized that we would actually have to be smart…

SP: [laughs] Exactly! I’d have to use my brain other than the creative part. Do you remember any moment when everything kind of clicked and it became clear that you would pursue acting as a profession?

PP: When I was in middle school, we had moved from Texas to Orange County. I didn’t fit in and it was pretty lonely. The way that I was occupying my time, I started reading plays and renting the classics. I was 13 or 14 - before I could get a driver’s license and drive to somebody’s house or to a party. My parents had to have been worried because that was all I did. That’s how I ended up seeing Mike Nichols’s movies - Who‘s Afraid of Virginia Woolf and The Graduate.

SP: How funny. I had a Mike Nichols thing too. That was one of my early entrances into film. I don’t know how we’ve never discussed this.

PP: Do you remember seeing Who‘s Afraid of Virginia Woolf and just having your face melted off?

SP: Yes! I do. I just watched it again because I’m absolutely obsessed with Sandy Dennis. One of my first jobs ever, someone told me that I reminded him of her. I didn’t know who she was and I was so embarrassed that I didn’t know who she was. But that’s not why I’m obsessed with her. She’s genius. Her performance in Virginia Woolf is beyond. Did you have an imaginary friend ever?

PP: I never had an imaginary friend, just imaginary circumstances. I was so into the Indiana Jones movies and I would constantly reenact circumstances. I broke my left arm three times, two of which were me trying to be Indiana Jones. The first time, I tied sheets together and tried to climb the side of my house after I saw Raiders of the Lost Ark. The second time, I was riding a horse and trying to gallop as fast as I could, like Indiana Jones, and got thrown from the horse. The third time I was bit older and it didn’t have anything to do with trying to be Indiana Jones.

SP: Do you remember your first audition?

PP: I remember perfectly. It’s going to date me in such a hardcore way.

SP: Everyone knows how old you are anyway so go ahead. There’s no hiding from that.

PP: I know. My first audition was for Primal Fear (1996). Do you remember that movie? With Edward Norton.

SP: I remember you auditioning for it. I remember you telling me all about it.

PP: I was totally in over my head. I auditioned for that in New York and then I went to L.A. for it. I didn’t get it and was unemployed for about 10 years.

SP: [laughs] That’s not true. You did Buffy the Vampire Slayer early on. What were the other TV shows? Didn’t you do more than one?

PP: Didn’t we both do a Touched by an Angel within a year of one another?

SP: I sure did! [laughs] That was back when Touched by an Angel was almost a version of Law and Order, it was a rite of passage; everybody was on Touched by an Angel. I remember also they paid well. But do you remember, when you were on Buffy, feeling some kind of excitement that you were on this show that was so watched?

PP: Buffy was one of the first jobs that I got. I was so excited to be on it, mostly because people in my life that I respected so much, my best friends and my sister, were obsessed with the show. Obsessed with it. I wasn’t watching it at the time. I have [since] introduced myself to the whole Buffy experience. It was cool because it was the fourth season premiere; Joss Whedon directed the episode. I always die. In everything. Even to this day, all these years later, I still die.

SP: The way you die in Game of Thrones is really memorable. I don’t remember how you died in Buffy, I’m sad to say.

PP: Buffy fans remember.

SP: I know the answer to this, but I imagine that people are interested on some level: How were you cast in Game of Thrones? Was it a long audition process?

PP: I found out about the role and I taped an audition with my iPhone. I told you that the fourth season was absolutely ruined for me because I had just taped the 17 pages audition for this amazing new part. You said, “Send that to me immediately.” You showed it to Amanda Peet, who is one of your best friends. The two of you watched it, liked it -

SP: No, we more than liked it. We flipped out.

PP: Why don’t you tell the story then?

SP: [laughs] You can’t say this about yourself because it would make you a total asshole, and I don’t think you believe this about yourself anyway, but it was so fucking brilliant. I sent it to Amanda and she showed it to David [Benioff; Peet’s husband] right then. The rest of it has to do with casting directors and auditions and other things that happen.

PP: They had to see a ton of other people.

SP: We watched “The Red Wedding” at my house - I had seen it and you hadn’t seen it, and I made you watch it with me.

PP: I don’t know how you watched it a second time. I could not have watched it alone.

SP: I almost threw up. I remember what a rabid fan you were of the show. When you found yourself on the set for the first time, when you had watched the show the way you watched it, what was that like? What does that do to your brain? Besides make your head pop off. [laughs]

PP: [laughs] It was so surreal it made my head explode! I’m not expecting to have something be as weird as that anytime soon. It was the strangest of circumstances where all of a sudden I am stepping onto the set and talking to Charles Dance while he’s sitting on the throne.

SP: That is so crazy.

PP: My first day we shot one of Oberyn’s final scenes, which was this long scene with Peter Dinklage.

SP: That’s just so insane.

PP: It was all downhill from there.

SP: Besides Oberyn, who is your favorite Game of Thrones character and who do you think should rule?

PP: This is Interview making you ask me these questions right?

SP: Yeah.

PP: [laughs]

SP: People want to know about it.

PP: Can I ask you who your favorite character is on Game of Thrones?

SP: It’s Arya. Do you have a problem answering the question because of your personal feelings for the actors playing the parts - how much you love them and you don’t want anyone to feel bad?

PP: That does sort of distract me, but also there are so many goddamn characters and I like so many of them.

SP: Okay, then let me change the question then. Who would you like to play on that show? Male or female.

PP: Arya.

SP: Yeah, me too. Do you think she should rule the throne?

PP: There are obvious answers. I love Arya. I think Arya and Tyrion are brilliant characters. I think Daenerys is a brilliant character. I think Cersei is a brilliant character.

SP: Those are predominantly women. I like it.

PP: Isn’t it interesting that so many of our favorite characters are female characters and Game of Thrones gets a lot of criticism.

SP: I think some of the most powerful women on television are on that show. And by powerful, I mean they are three-dimensional female characters. Who do you think should rule?

PP: Tyrion would be the greatest ruler of Westeros. That’s a no-brainer.

SP: [laughs] What was the day of your death scene like? Was it somber?

PP: There wasn’t any part of it that was somber. Everyone thought it was hilarious that my head was being smushed like a watermelon. Everyone was so fascinated by the special effects of it. We had a lot of fun. It was me clowning around with a guy who was seven feet tall and 200 pounds in this beautiful location in Dubrovnik.

SP: How has your life changed since the show? What can you feel acutely and what can you feel in a more general way?

PP: There’s a side of it - like leaving the apartment and running into someone who wants to take a selfie with you where they’re crushing your head.

SP: [laughs] And shaking it where you can feel them shaking.

PP: [laughs] You’ve obviously been exposed to that sort of attention much earlier than I have.

SP: It wasn’t until American Horror Story.

PP: I would hold the camera so often for people - I would be taking the picture for you guys. I got a more intimate impression of that type of attention through you. But it’s been nothing but positive. It’s opened doors for me that had been closed for many years.

SP: Can you talk to me a little bit about Narcos? How long have you been shooting?

PP: We literally just started. It’s a series directed by José Padilha - really great guy. It’s partly this story of the U.S. mission to capture or kill Pablo Escobar, played by Wagner Moura, who’s amazing.

SP: I really have one more specific question: is there anything a person must possess in order to be a good actor? Do you think you can learn to be a good actor or is it something that you’re born with?

PP: This is something you and I talk about every few years. Generosity is key, in my experience, to fulfilling the potential of a part or a story.

SP: Do you think you can learn to be good?

PP: I think a person can learn. Basically, I think anything is possible.

SP: So the more present you are in your life, the more it can inform your ability to do a good job in your work?

PP: Yes. What you are re-enforcing to me, all the time.

SP: What are you talking about, you nut bag?

PP: [laughs]

SP: You do the same for me, dodo.

PP: Alright, birdbrain.

SP: Okay, listen, ass-munch.

PP: Snake penis.

SP: A big penis? I’ll take it.

PP: No, an actual penis that belongs to a snake.

SP: Oh a snake’s penis! There’s nothing weirder than trying to wrap up an interview with someone who’s your best friend.

PP: Goodbye, I love you. Goodbye Interview. Goodbye, Sarah Paulson.

Jett's Pedro's Shoots Masterlist

#pedro pascal #jose pedro balmaceda pascal #pedro pascal interview #pedro pascal shoot #pedro pascal photos #pedro pascal magazine #pedro pascal words #pedro pascal photo shoot

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correlance · 2 months

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Theory: Valentino was the famous 1920s actor Rudolph Valentino, the "Latin Lover".

Who was Rudolph Valentino?

Rodolfo Pietro Filiberto Raffaello Guglielmi di Valentina d'Antonguella (May 6, 1895 – August 23, 1926), known professionally as Rudolph Valentino and nicknamed the "Latin Lover", was an Italian actor based in the United States who starred in several well-known silent films from 1921 to 1926, including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle, and The Son of the Sheik.

Valentino was a sex symbol of the 1920s, known in Hollywood as the "Latin Lover" (a title invented for him by Hollywood moguls), the "Great Lover", or simply "Valentino". His early death at the age of 31 caused mass hysteria among his fans, further cementing his place in early cinematic history as a cultural film icon.

Valentino was born in Castellaneta, Apulia, Italy…unable to secure employment in Italy, he departed for the United States in 1913. He was processed at Ellis Island at age 18 on December 23, 1913. Valentino never applied for American citizenship, and retained his Italian citizenship.

Arriving in New York City, he supported himself with odd jobs such as busing tables in restaurants and gardening. Around 1914, restaurateur Joe Pani who owned Castles-by-the-Sea, the Colony, and the Woodmansten Inn was the first to hire Rudolph to dance the tango with Joan Sawyer for $50 per week.

Eventually, he found work as a taxi dancer at Maxim's Restaurant-Cabaret. Among the other dancers at Maxim's were several displaced members of European nobility, for whom a premium demand existed…Valentino left town [in 1917], and joined a traveling musical that led him to the West Coast.

[…] With his dancing success, Valentino found a room of his own on Sunset Boulevard, and began actively seeking screen roles. His first part was as an extra in the film Alimony, moving on to small parts in several films. Despite his best efforts, he was typically cast as a "heavy" (villain) or gangster. At the time, the archetypal major male star was Wallace Reid, with a fair complexion, light eyes, and an All-American look, with Valentino the opposite; he eventually supplanted Sessue Hayakawa as Hollywood's most popular "exotic" male lead.

[…] With the Douglas Fairbanks type being the supposed epitome of manhood, Valentino was sometimes portrayed as a threat to the "All American" man. One man, asked in a street interview in 1922 what he thought of Valentino, replied, "Many other men [say they] desire to be another Douglas Fairbanks. But Valentino? I wonder…"

Women in the same interview found Valentino, quote, "Triumphantly seductive. He puts the love-making of the average husband or sweetheart into discard as tame, flat, and unimpassioned."

Some journalists were still calling [Valentino's] "masculinity" into question, going on at length about his pomaded hair, his dandyish clothing, his treatment of women, his views on women, and whether he was "effeminate" or not. Valentino hated these stories, and was known to carry clippings of the newspaper articles around with him and criticize them.

In July 1926, the Chicago Tribune reported that a vending machine dispensing pink talcum powder (face powder) had appeared in an upscale hotel's men's washroom. An editorial that followed used the story to protest the supposed feminization of American men, and blamed the talcum powder on Valentino and his films. The piece infuriated Valentino, and he challenged the writer to his choice of a boxing or wrestling match, since dueling was illegal. Neither challenge was answered.

Shortly afterward, Valentino met with journalist H. L. Mencken for advice on how best to deal with the incident. Mencken advised Valentino to "let the dreadful farce roll along to exhaustion" (i.e. "do nothing"), but Valentino insisted the editorial was "infamous", [and must be answered for in a one-on-one fight].

After Valentino challenged the Tribune's anonymous writer to a boxing match, the New York Evening Journal boxing writer, Frank O'Neill, volunteered to fight in his place. Valentino won the bout, which took place on the roof of New York's Ambassador Hotel.

Heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey, who trained Valentino and other Hollywood notables of the era in boxing, said of him: "He was the most virile and masculine of men. The women were like flies to a honeypot. He could never shake them off, anywhere he went. What a lovely, lucky guy."

Mencken found Valentino to be likable and gentlemanly, and wrote sympathetically of him in an article published in The Baltimore Sun a week after Valentino's death:

"It was not that trifling Chicago episode that was riding him; it was the whole grotesque futility of his life. Had he achieved, out of nothing, a vast and dizzy success? Then that success was hollow as well as vast—a colossal and preposterous nothing. Was he acclaimed by yelling multitudes? Then every time the multitudes yelled, he felt himself blushing inside…the thing, at the start, must have only bewildered him, but in those last days, unless I am a worse psychologist than even the professors of psychology, it was revolting him. Worse, it was making him afraid…here was a young man who was living daily the dream of millions of other men. Here was one who was catnip to women. Here was one who had wealth and fame, and here was one who was very unhappy [in spite of that wealth and fame]."

[…] Valentino was also the "sex symbol" of his time in the 1920s. The sheet music cover for "Rodolph Valentino Blues" written in 1922, to quote the lyrics, "Oh Mister Rodolph Valentino / I know I've got the Valentino blues / And when you come up on the screen / Oh! You're so romantic, I go frantic at the views!

[…] [Prior to his death], Valentino was fascinated with every part of movie-making. During production on a Mae Murray film, he spent time studying the director's plans. He craved authenticity and wished to shoot on location, finally forming his own production company, Rudolph Valentino Productions, in 1925. Valentino, George Ullman, and Beatrice Ullman were the incorporators.

[…] Valentino once told gossip columnist Louella Parsons that: "The women I love don't love me. The others don't matter." He claims that despite his success as a sex symbol, in his personal love life, he never achieved happiness.

[…] In 1919—just before the rise of his career—Valentino impulsively married actress Jean Acker, who was also [romantically] involved with actresses Grace Darmond and Alla Nazimova.

Acker became involved with Valentino in part to remove herself from the lesbian love triangle, quickly regretted the marriage, and locked Valentino out of their room on their wedding night. The couple separated soon after, and the marriage was never consummated [on account of Acker being a lesbian].

The couple remained legally married until 1921, when Acker sued Valentino for divorce, citing desertion. The divorce was granted, with Acker receiving alimony. She and Valentino eventually renewed their friendship, and remained friends until his death.

[His second marriage to actress Winifred Shaughnessy, known by her stage name, Natacha Rambova—an American silent film costume and set designer, art director, and protégée of Alla Nazimova, his ex-wife's lesbian lover—ended far more poorly.

The two married in 1922, remarried in 1923, and divorced in 1925. Towards the end of their marriage, Rambova was banned from his sets by contract. The end of the marriage was bitter, with Valentino bequeathing Rambova one dollar in his will.]

[…] From the time he died in 1926 until the 1960s, Valentino's sexuality was not generally questioned in print. At least four books, including the notoriously libelous Hollywood Babylon, suggested that [Valentino] may have been gay, despite his marriage to Rambova. For some, the marriages to Acker and Rambova, as well as the relationship with Pola Negri, added to the suspicion that Valentino was gay, and that these were "lavender marriages".

Some claim that Valentino had a relationship with Ramón Novarro, despite Novarro stating they barely knew each other. Hollywood Babylon recounts a story that Valentino had given Novarro an art deco dildo as a gift, which was found stuffed in his throat at the time of his murder. It is believed that no such gift existed.

There were also claims that he may have had relationships with both roommates Paul Ivano and Douglas Gerrad, as well as Norman Kerry, and openly gay French theatre director and poet Jacques Hébertot. However, Ivano maintained that it was untrue, and both he and Valentino were heterosexual. Biographers Emily Leider and Allan Ellenberger generally agree that [Valentino] was most likely straight, [though others have disputed this].

There was further supposed evidence that Valentino was gay; documents in the estate of the late author Samuel Steward indicated that Valentino and Steward were sexual partners. However, evidence found in Steward's claim was subsequently found to be false, as Valentino was in New York on the date Steward claimed a sexual encounter occurred in Ohio.

[Valentino died on 23 August 1926, at the age of 31, due to complications from perforated ulcer surgery, resulting in sepsis (bacterial poisoning), a collapsed lung, and other fatal conditions.]

#hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel theory #hazbin hotel headcanon #hazbin hotel fan thory #valentino #hazbin valentino #hazbin hotel valentino #the vees #the vs

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jackiequick · 3 months

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That’s Would Be Enough | Marvel Fanfic 🖋

Summary: Elizabeth wants to be the best inventor and aunt. She’s overworked herself late into the night, but what she needs a break. And to be reminded that she is enough. And who other to do it than her own favorite blonde, aside from Captain America.

Pairing: Jason Grey Underwood & Elizabeth Stark

Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe—> Agent Carter, Iron Man 1-2, The Avengers

Marvel timeline: Pre/During—Avengers 2012 (Phase 1)

Characters mentioned: Tony Stark, The Young Avengers, Howard Stark and Jarvis

Song inspired fic: That Would Be Enough from Hamilton

A/N: I know it’s a simple fic but I was listening to this song and just had to write it.

Ship Name: JALIZZY

Sidenote: Jason’s nickname is JJ meanwhile Elizabeth is Liz

Click here to see the latest fanfic featuring this family

——

It’s been a few short weeks, Stark Tower was running high and low with noise.

New York City lights in contacts to the skyline views that the home brought to the world. Voices from the young heroes were softly heard. You could hear Liane and her friends screaming over the sound of the tv wired up in the living room and the hallways were being used as a reminder of how huge the building truly was.

But underneath the main lounge floor, past the elevator doors and across the narrow halls stood the tapping of nails against a keyboard humming a soft tune, that was played earlier from the afternoon radio. Files surrounding her desk as she spun in the chair for a while, as it reminded her of older memories at The Mansion’s lab.

The laughs and the louder bickering over bullshit that didn’t matter but it did at the time. Trinkets and posters surrounded the lab back then, it still does now but as many as Stark Tower.

She missed it, weather she liked to admit it or not.

And she wasn’t the only one.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knocking that belonged to a tall blonde with fluffy hair, sweatpants and a baby blue t-shirt, carrying two mugs of warm hot chocolate. She nodded, inviting him into the room as he took a seat near the empty chair, gently placing the mug into her palms as she took a peek noticing a few tiny marshmallows.

She hummed as she took a delightful sip of the warm drink.

He noticed she wasn’t upstairs for a while now. Something that never bothered him, he’s used to his creative minds spending longer than expected in the lab tinkering. However having seen what he would assume the worse of it from Tony in 2010, noticing his eyes bloodshot and the lights making his body appear weak, he made it a promise to watch the time to bring whoever was in the lab to bed.

Tonight it was Elizabeth.

She’s a Stark. So he can’t stop her being in a lab to invent something, since that’s one of places she shined. Aside from the stage of course. He have noticed her getting a new scope of the world, having been gone under the ice for a while now. He knew she had her own ways of doing things, as she handled the transition better than expected but it had him worried.

Does she believe that she’s not doing enough?

He has been there himself plenty of times, where he feels useless and annoyed around everyone but he never showed it. Everything phases him, just not exactly his face. With one swift look at her vulnerable face, the tired eyes and gentle smile that could light up the stars, he knew.

He has been around theses people long enough to not know. Especially since JARVIS tend to be the house’s eyes and ears, it all added up to this point and he wasn’t upset about it

Elizabeth’s eyes analyzed his facial expressions, noticing the small bags under his eyes and the way his shoulders dropped ever so slightly. He smiled softly at her, placing the mug of hot chocolate that was in his hand onto the desk. All she wanted was to rest her head on his shoulder and hear his smooth southern drawl as he hummed a old song while she drifted to sleep.

But she wonder, if she left asleep and let herself take a breath, then that would mean her inventions would be unfinished. Her work would’ve not been done and the studies she has been doing lately would have left aside. It was silly to think she was putting all this unnecessary work onto herself when she doesn’t need it but it made her feel like she was doing something.

Then it clicked.

“How long have you know?” She asked, running her fingers crossed the side of the mug

“A month or so.” He replied, playing with the fabric of his sweatpants.

“I never told you.”

“Jarvis told me a less than month ago.”

“No…”

“We all just wanted you home.”

She sighed, “You should have told me.”

“I’m not sorry.” He added, with a honest smile.

He smiled placing a hand on her knee and said, “I knew you’ll work until the idea was done.”

“The idea’s not done.” She replied, placing a hand over his and sighed.

“But you’re tired and deserve a chance to be with our son.”

“He’s Howard’s son, I’m just his overprotective aunt.”

“We both know your more than that to him. You don’t need to prove anything, you said it yourself years ago.”

“I know…um but still my work, my life. I just want to make sure I’m worth all of it and I’m leaving a legacy behind..”

He sighs and smiled, “Just look around and you’ll see the difference you made.”

“We made.” She corrected him with a smile.

The two chuckled soft at that.

Nonetheless, Jason continued, “Look around at how lucky we are, just to be alive right now is a miracle. And that’s saying a lot knowing what we’ve been through.”

“Will you relish being a silly inventor’s spouse?” She added, as it sounded like a question, “Somewhat dependent, not about to provide for our life? It’s stupid I know, we’re in a good place but it feels like the roles are reversed and i don’t know why..I don’t feel as independent yet. I mean, we used to have Jarvis and Ana to help us. Peggy too! And now we’re sorta alone at this..”

“It’s not easy, it never was but we can handle it. And that not true, you’re more than confident and independent. Give it time.”

“How much time? How did you do it? Let’s face it, I’m here now, I have been awaken from the ice for a considerable period of time, but it still feels odd. We both has been working for a long time and sometimes it felt like we can’t breath again because of it. The world is changing a lot more than expected…so do you still relish all of this?”

“Your just tired and a little vulnerable right now, honey. It’s okay, no rush here. But to answer your question, yes, I do. I also relish you someday being my wife. Just look around, look at where you are. Look at where you started..the fact that you’re alive is a miracle. Just stay alive, that would be enough.”

She smiled hearing those words, “Yeah. I guess I am tired…and a little worried, I just want to be the best version I can be.”

“You already you.” He added with a chuckle, “Our child shares a fraction of your smile and dare I say, a fragment of your mind just as much as he does Howard!”

“Oh good god he’s smarter than I thought!”

“And his ego too. I love him but damn, it’s wild.”

“Oh yeah, he’s more than enough to make a difference in the world. We’re safe then.”

They both smiled and laughed harder than expected knowing how many godchildren Tony gave them. So look out world, that would be enough.

He looped a finger underneath her chin, “Look, I don’t pretend to know the challenges you’re facing. The worlds you keep erasing and creating in your mind. Your reading more than i do when it comes to understand everything we can.”

“Mhmm! It’s hard moving from one era to another.” She admits with a light chuckle, “..sometimes I don’t know how we’ve done it for so long and haven’t driven ourselves mad.”

“I know...but I’m not as afraid as I should. I know who I married. So long as we all come home at the end of the day..”

“That would be enough. Uh, about our legacy and the money?”

“Liz.”

“Jason. I’m serious.”

“We already are creating one and we already have money. If I could grant you peace of mind, let us inside your heart…”

Those words shut her up, as her eyes watered a bit understanding everything he meant. That they are supposed to be made of steel but it takes the people you love to make it a strong material.

And truth be told, she told him those same words years ago. It wasn’t as gentle, heartfelt and darling as she said in her own way, but it was a similar format as theses line meant the same thing. She remembers telling him in a charming yet sweet manner.

“Just let us be apart of that narrative, in the story we are watching today.” He continued, with a gentle grin, “Let this be a new chapter where I hope we stay..”

“And I could be more than enough.” She finished for him with a gentle grin, “We could be enough…since that would be enough.”

“Took you long enough to get it.”

“I should’ve known by now, I just need the reminder...I’m sorry for worrying you.”

“It’s alright, you didn’t mean it. Now, can we please go to bed?”

She smiled breathlessly and softly replied, “Yes please!”

He stood up, and walked away to the doorway thinking he was following her. But she wasn’t. He looked over his shoulder to to find her holding out her hands at arms length with a cheeky little smile that resulted him to snicker.

“Carry me?” She asked with a soft chuckle, tiredness laced in her voice.

“You’re so dramatic.” He replied with a similar tone as he walked over and picked her up bridal style.

“Shhhhhh babe, there are people trying to sleep here.”

“Oh my god.”

“Hey.”

“Hm?”

“I think I love you.”

“I know.”

The pair smiled as he carried her to bed, as she nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck. She hummed a few words and cracking a couple of jokes while he rolled his eyes dropping her onto the bed. She swiftly crawled under the warm covers and laying her head on the pillow, smiling at the blonde who treated her well.

Sometimes she wonders how exactly did she deserve such a man? Guess she will never actually get that solid answer.

She reached for his hand, giving it a small squeeze as if to know she was real and not at all in that icey cold apartment she once placed into. He smiled in return and winked, as there was an unspoken feeling of love in the air.

He left her side and stepped over to the doorframe. He looked over his shoulder and whispered, “Night Liz.”

She yawned, about to ask, more like suggest something but choice against it. Save it for another night as she replied, “Night Jason.”

Just as Jason turned off the lights and leading himself towards the hallway, Elizabeth bite the bullet with a soft grin. She decided to go for it and muttered, “Grey?”

She wondered if he heard it but he did. It cause Jason to pause and turn around to face Elizabeth, because it was a rare but somewhat made common sense that he would hear his middle name being used. Not everyone called him that unless necessary and he secretly preferred it being used among certain people.

Usually it was a way to get his attention in an endearing manner, when it came to his plenty of nicknames over the years.

His mind was fighting off a nerve of worry, as he met her eyesight, and hummed, “Yeah?”

“C-can you stay with me tonight? In bed like old times…” She replied almost shyly, pushing away her curls. It was a rare moment for a woman as bold as she might be. Yet, there was gentle tired smile that tugged her lips.

“Y-you sure?”

“I wouldn’t be sure if I didn’t ask, would I?”

“Fair point. Uh, left side of the bed?”

“A-and you on right.”

“You’re positive about this?”

“Mhm, I am. If not, I can always buy a dog to keep me company instead. I heard Sal’s shelter is open this time and hour.”

“Elizabeth.”

“I’m kidding! But not about the dog thing.”

“Liz.”

“Come on, I know you can’t resist waking up the next morning to a nice view.”

“You talking about yourself or the city’s morning skyline?”

“Both. We’re such amazing views, just sayin’.”

With a chuckle and a little eye roll, Jason climbed into bed and nuzzled himself underneath the covers next to her. Elizabeth’s giggles could be softly heard from her own cocky comments from earlier, as she rested against his shoulder blade humming gently.

She pressed a tiny kiss onto his cheek, as her eyes slowly dropped muttering a few words as she did. He wouldn’t admit it but he missed this, as he pressed a light kiss onto the top of head. With a swig of his arm, he reached forward and turned off the lamp that rested on the nightstand as the soft night sky peeked through the windowsill.

~~~

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoy the fic

Please like, comment and share. Also let me know what you think in the comments below. Like suggestions for future content.

Tags: @gaminggirlsstuff @gcthvile @missstrawbs2001 @rooster-84 @djs8891 @halesfavoriteharlot @starkleila @mallowbee4 @mandylove1000 @yetanotherwells @topgun-imagines @hardballoonlove @buckysteveloki-me @sherloquestea @nakiaswg @carellmcu @ximehs and etc

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yssa3002 · 2 months

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Roundtable Presentation: The Musical Will Be Televised - Schmigadoon!

Schmigadoon! (Cinco Paul & Ken Duario) is a rom-com musical about two New York doctors attempting to strengthen their relationship, and get swept into a magical land (Schmigadoon) where everyday is a musical. The only way out of this magical land is to find true love.

How does the series use dual-focus narrative as a strategic storytelling tool beyond heteronormative romantic pairings?

Though the show is about a heteronormative romantic pairing (Melissa (Cecily Strong) and Josh (Keegan Micheal-Key)) who have been dating for four years, the show takes a bit of a turn that could possibly challenge this idea. In the first episode, they realize there must not be true love if they can't leave Schmigadoon, so they decide to breakup and find true love elsewhere. In this way, Melissa and Josh aren't portrayed as a romantic pairing, but as two people trying to learn about what it means to love separately.

The two embark on their journeys to find love while they're trapped in Schmigadoon, their experiences parallel to one another in many ways. This part of the show made me think of Robynn Stilwell's article, “Dual-Focus Strategy in a Serial Narrative: Smash, Nashville, and the Television Musical Series", when they wrote, "The dramatic expositions are based on an alternation of male and female, complementary actions that make the characters’ meeting and eventual pairing seem “inevitable" (Stilwell 384). As the show is a musical we can expect, as the audience, that it will be a happy ending for Josh and Melissa. Their separation creates a time where they can learn about their true feelings for one another only after enduring the necessary events that will lead to their "eventual pairing".

What are the “inevitable” couplings within the series and how are they accentuated through “cinematic” similarities and contrasts?

In the first two episodes, there are two clear couples, Josh and Betsy (Dove Cameron), and Melissa and Danny (Aaron Tveit). These couples are "inevitable" in respect to the short term, as of course the long term inevitable is the reunion of Josh and Melissa.

In the first episode, Danny makes a comment upon Josh and Melissa's arrival in town about letting Melissa ride free in the Love Tunnel (a carnival ride), foreshadowing their eventual attraction to one another. This is furthered in the musical number, "You Can't Tame Me" sung by Danny that implies that she will in fact "tame" him. Later on in episode two, Melissa sings "Enjoy the Ride (Part I)" where she talks about having always played it safe with love, which contrasts with Danny's character being described as a bit of a "bad boy".

Josh and Betsy's coupling is first hinted at in the first episode when she laughs at something Josh says--that wasn't funny-- and strokes his arm while he and Melissa are ordering breakfast. In the second episode, after he and Melissa have broken up, Josh bids on Betsy's basket after she, quite seductively, insists that he do. Betsy's almost "temptress-like" character is heightened by the red color palette of her costume (bows, dress, lips, and nails). This is furthered in the musical number, "Enjoy the Ride (Part II)", where she sends mixed messages concerning her desires while on a picnic with Josh.

youtube

How does the series use musical numbers within and beyond the narrative world to replicate fairy tale, backstage, or folk musicals?

This series reminded me of fairy tale musicals and folk musicals. In fairy tale musicals we see common tropes such as the passive female waiting for her prince, and similarity we see this sort of manifest in Schmigadoon as well. The town of Schmigadoon is one that abides by the laws of God, and employs more traditional views on marriage and gender roles. For example, "Where a man can dream dreams so big and wide/And a gal can be ever by his side" are lyrics in the musical number "Schmigadoon!". From this song, we can get a better idea of the town's social structure.

However, the musical number "Somewhere Love is Waiting For You" sung by Mayor Menlove (Alan Cumming) challenges the fairy tale trope of female passivity. The songs talks about finding love, and pursuing it rather than waiting for it to happen to you.

youtube

As far as the show's similarity to folk tales, I thought it was especially reminiscent of white musicals. Not only is the plot focused on love and happiness outside of the workspace, but it also utilizes utopianism/escapism. At the beginning of the show, Josh and Melissa are shown at work, which is filmed with greyed and more dull colors and tones. They then leave the workspace, and enter a magical land very detached from the real world where they must find true love. In the song "Schmigadoon" shown below describes the town and how it is "the most beautiful, wonderful, magical place of all" where their motto "We always strive for peace and happiness". This follows the expectations of the white musical, as the two leads will eventually get their happy ending where something (true love) has been accomplished.

youtube

#@theuncannyprofessoro #oxyfilmmusical #televisionmusical #Youtube

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cecilereads · 10 months

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25 sapphic books + summary <3

1. She Gets the Girl - Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick

Alex and Molly don’t belong on the same planet, let alone the same college campus. But when Alex, fresh off a bad (but hopefully not permanent) breakup, discovers Molly’s hidden crush as their paths cross the night before classes start, they realize they might have a common interest after all.

2. Last Night at the Telegraph Club - Malinda Lo

Lily comes across an ad for the titular Telegraph Club in the newspaper and then discovers that one of her classmates, Kath, has been to the nightclub

3. The Priory of the Orange Tree - Samantha Shannon

Queen Sabran the Ninth's power in Inys is tenuous; she has yet to produce an heir to the throne and the Nameless One threatens to awaken again. Ead Duryan is an outsider from the South who acts as a lady-in-waiting and protector to Sabran, but is loyal to the secret mage society of the Priory, which has its own view of the history of Cleolind, the Mother, and Sir Galian, the Deceiver. Meanwhile, Lord Arteloth Beck, close friend of Sabran, is banished from Inys on a futile quest by those who seek to weaken the queen.

4. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid

An old Hollywood actor Evelyn Hugo is determined to secure an A-List spot in the industry by doing whatever it takes to get there. While attempting to complete her rise to stardom, she marries seven husbands and outlives them all.

5. This is How You Lose The Time War - Max Gladstone

Red and Blue are change agents who work for rival time traveling agencies–Blue for the Garden, a vast organic consciousness. Red works for the Agency, a Technotopia. While traveling to different “strands” of history and time to change history, they start to write each other letters…

6. I Kissed Shara Wheeler - Casey McQuiston

High school senior Chloe Green seeks to uncover why Shara Wheeler, the most popular girl in school, vanished on prom night soon after kissing Chloe.

7. We Are Okay - Nina Lacour

Marin lost her mother when she was 3 in a surfing accident. Her grandfather raised her and she grew up near that same beach in San Francisco. After her grandfather dies, Marin leaves for New York without talking to anyone or retrieving any of their possessions from their house. For months, she refuses to respond to or contact anyone from California. When Mabel comes for a visit after 4 months of silence, it’s time for them to reconnect with each other again.

8. One Last Stop - Casey McQuiston

For cynical twenty-three-year-old August, moving to New York City is supposed to prove her right: that things like magic and cinematic love stories don’t exist, and the only smart way to go through life is alone. She can’t imagine how waiting tables at a 24-hour pancake diner and moving in with too many weird roommates could possibly change that. And there’s certainly no chance of her subway commute being anything more than a daily trudge through boredom and electrical failures. But then, there’s this gorgeous girl on the train.

9. The Falling in Love Montage - Ciara Smyth

A chance encounter at an end-of-term house party will change Saoirse's life in more ways than she could have ever imagined.

10. She Who Became the Sun - Shelley Parker-Chan

Desperate to escape her own fated death, the girl uses her brother's identity to enter a monastery as a young male novice. There, propelled by her burning desire to survive, Zhu learns she is capable of doing whatever it takes, no matter how callous, to stay hidden from her fate.

11. Cinderella is Dead - Kalynn Bayron

Set in the town Mersailles, where every girl lives in fear of the day she is chosen by the King to attend the ball, it follows a girl who is determined to destroy the cruel rules she's been forced to follow called Sophia.

12. This Poison Heart - Kalynn Bayron

A teenager explores her magical connections to greenery and gods. Briseis Greene is a Black high schooler with magical powers that she hides from most people save her adoptive mothers, Thandie and Angie. She has an innate connection to plants and is even able to grow them from seeds using just her mind and hands.

13. Everything Leads to You - Nina Lacour

Finding an old letter written by a recently deceased movie star, Emi and Charlotte become swept up in the mystery of his life. The letter leads them to Ava, who lives in a shelter for teens. Emi is drawn to this talented and beautiful girl who could help Emi get over her ex-girlfriend and first true love.

14. Late to the Party - Kelly Quindlen

A girl who can capture someone's essence in a painting struggles with finding her own. Atlanta senior Codi and her friends, Maritza and JaKory, are restless and feel like they've missed out on the full teenage experience—living boldly and taking risks.

15. She Drives Me Crazy - Kelly Quindlen

After an embarrassing loss to her ex-girlfriend in their first basketball game of the season, seventeen-year-old Scottie Zajac gets into a fender bender with the worst possible person: her nemesis, Irene Abraham, head cheerleader for the Fighting Reindeer.

16. Something To Talk About - Meryl Wilsner

A showrunner and her assistant give the world something to talk about when they accidentally fuel a ridiculous rumor in this debut romance. Hollywood powerhouse Jo is photographed making her assistant Emma laugh on the red carpet, and just like that, the tabloids declare them a couple.

17. Who I Was With Her - Nita Tynda

17-year old Corinne her girlfriend, Maggie, suddenly dies in a car accident. But because both girls were still in the closet, nobody knew that they were in a relationship. We follow Corinne as she tries to deal with this loss while nobody knows what Maggie meant to her.

18. Sweet and Bitter Magic - Adrienne Tooley

A witch cursed to never love meets a girl hiding her own dangerous magic, and the two strike a dangerous bargain to save their queendom.

19. Crier’s War - Nina Varela

Ayla is a human servant of the Automae—a race of artificial humans that have become the ruling class. After her family is murdered by Automae, Ayla plans to kill the sovereign's daughter, Lady Crier.

20. Malice - Heather Walter

Alyce is a Grace, a group of magical girls who create potions and charms for all paying customers of the kingdom. But she is not like the other Graces. They call her the Dark Grace and she is feared for her dark magic. Princess Aurora is kind, gracious, and pure, and she is destined to be the future queen of Briar. When Alyce and Aurora meet, the unlikeliest of relationships begins to flourish.

21. Written in The Stars - Alexandria Bellefleur

After a disastrous blind date, Darcy Lowell is desperate to stop her well-meaning brother from playing matchmaker ever again. Love—and the inevitable heartbreak—is the last thing she wants. So she fibs and says her latest set up was a success. Darcy doesn’t expect her lie to bite her in the ass…

22. Mistakes Were Made - Meryl Wilsner

Cassie Klein and Erin Bennett meet at a bar and have a casual one-night stand. It's fine until the next morning when Cassie goes to breakfast with her best friend, Parker, only to realize they're meeting Parker's mom, Erin, the same Erin from the previous night.

23. Just Might Work - Katia Rose

As a self-proclaimed ‘cosmically guided matchmaker,’ she’s played every card in the deck trying to set Dane up with the perfect match she’s found. The problem? The ‘perfect’ match is Evangeline Hudson. Dane and Evangeline rent rooms in Dane’s eccentric aunt’s house, but that’s where their similarities end. Dane is a drifter who freewheels from one odd job to the next, and Evangeline is an overachieving undergrad with a ten year plan so detailed it reads like an autobiography.

24. Some Girls Do - Jennifer Dugan

Morgan, an elite track athlete, is forced to transfer high schools late in her senior year after it turns out being queer is against her private Catholic school's code of conduct. There, she meets Ruby, who has two hobbies: tinkering with her baby blue 1970 Ford Torino and competing in local beauty pageants, the latter to live out the dreams of her overbearing mother.

25. Read Between The Lines - Rachel Lacey

Rosie Taft is living her best life. She owns and operates her late mother’s independent bookstore in New York. Books are her life, and one of her true joys is finding just the right book for each of her patrons. She’s created quite a little community revolving around book clubs and author signings. The only thing missing from her life is a partner who will sweep her off her feet like the ones in the romance novels she loves reading.

#pride month 🌈#books #sapphic #sapphic books #wlw community #wlw pride #lgbt pride #pride

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fandomdaydreamer · 8 months

Text

Of a Sun and Flower

Pt. 1 Yesteryear

Pairing: Pedro Pascal/OFC, alternating perspectives

Another Disclaimer: I mean no disrespect to Pedro Pascal and I hope I'm not offending anybody. Believe me, I grow very uncomfortable from time to time but this fanfiction is supposed to be a real book someday and giving Pedro "the role" keeps me motivated haha, it's really just that (a fictional character) Yes, I'm very selfish and painfully self-aware.

Summary: It is a normal day back in New York. Pedro just tries to be a good boyfriend to a depressed trash gremlin but a fight in trying times makes them doubt they're not toxic for each other after all.

Warnings: some fluff, periods, grief over a pet (No more pets will die in this story, Edgar lives forever), mentions of over-medication, serotonin syndrome, mentions of plastic surgery, domestic fights (resolved in the next chapter) Well, ain’t that a doozy?

Notes: Also find this fic on Ao3 -here- or the series' Masterlist -here-

Length: 11.6k

Yesteryear

Pedro had always found the rain above the bustle of a metropolis to contain the essence of something irrevocably beautiful and mellow.

After living in LA for a year, he discovered he had missed his rainy, melancholy New York; the beauty of grey streets and the disturbance of the puddles beneath your feet as a reflection of one's own sense of solitude. The sight of these strangers' umbrellas and raincoats outside the window was evidence of the stubborn continuation of their necessary errands. Blessed were those currently in the comfort of their home with their loved ones and plenty of time for leisure and tranquillity.

The chair lightly creaked when Pedro swung it in and out the light of an oriental lampshade that shone softly against the impending darkness. He was sitting at the desk in Nini’s office that hoarded many of his unpacked moving boxes for a lack of time and better storage options. His feet were kicked up on a stool while he focused on figuring out the priority deadlines for his upcoming production. Finally, it had arrived, the fulfilment of his dream, his vision of the film he would direct this year and had spend the last in preparation for. The sheer focus was evident by the frown between his brows as he sighed and busied himself with answering an email and brooded over a level of Spanish business tone he wasn't used to and doubted his language skills over. How did he manage to solve the financing on such short notice?

Pedro's mind began to drift again as the distraction of his eyes centred on the thick droplets racing against the colourfully stained glass. He watched them drip, drip down the leaves of a front yard that had been ready for spring. Holding this view to the undesirable outside, he romanticised the moody grey skies above an equally grey city in a cinematic image he yearned to capture with a lazy camera frame. It was quiet, so peaceful.

If it weren't for this darkened presence he could sense in the living room, he might have said it was all perfect. He tried to reach out but attempting to fix this dreary silence would be too harsh on her, too strict. Slowly, like pulling at a loose thread, he held onto the tiniest opportunity to unravel what should be left in peace. Her mood had changed again. Yesterday seemed a whole year ago.

He had become tuned in to his girlfriend's subtle mood swings these days, detected it in the faint creaks of the floorboards where he listened to her weight shift from one side to the other. It was a telepathic link that thickened the air and made him feel powerless.

But what else was there but to look for your constant source of love when you felt like an anxious wreck and on top of that, like you'll never find a friend again such as the one you've lost? He leaned to the side to peek past the paper slide doors and saw her standing there, looking lost and hugging her slim frame. She flashed him a sad smile before going back to staring at the painting on the wall, seeming to simply listen to the silence and the rain tapping onto the giant window panes. Pedro felt overpowered by his inability to contribute any help, yet he was so hungry for her love. Moving back into Nini's house reawakened memories she had tried to initially escape. Fuelled by a surge of compassion, a deep yearning to hold her overflowed him when he saw her clutch an abandoned cat toy in her hand.

Poor thing. The death of her soulmate cat left a void inside her heart. Now the ashes of the cat that used to like making biscuits in his lap rested on the cupboard. A photograph had captured the pitch-black ragdoll in her prime days with its soulful yellow eyes in the arms of a girl who smiled cheekily into the camera. Nothing compared to the love a girl held in her heart for her first cat. After seventeen years of companionship, no treatment could have cured Poentje. Holding onto her former strength that would never return was then, unkind.

The strings of his heart pulled tight at the memory of this darkest of days; when he had stood by her, listening to Nini sing her cat her favourite song when the vet put the animal out of misery and finally, to eternal sleep.

Eventually, life continued, they had moved into his house in LA and for a while everything had been right again. The couple had been in love and happy, Nini had started improving her mental health and both their creativity had bloomed like never before. While he started directing the pre-production of his very first movie, based on the screenplay he had written, Nini’s magnificent music was praised around the entire world and contributed greatly to her sense of self-worth and artistic fulfilment. Entire stadiums had sung her songs, he had witnessed it himself. Pedro would try to see every future concert as well and cry when she closed her shows with his song, ‘The Lighthouse And The Ocean‘ and sang it only for him.

He wished they could have thrived in a constant state of bliss forever but then Nini had become too overwhelmed between gigs, interviews and recordings and the superficial glam of the city of angels. One wrong prescription and dubious therapy method was all it took to destroy all her progress in learning to live with a past life of trauma. He wasn't sure if uprooting Nini while she was in a bad place had been beneficial to her wellbeing but he never regretted his decision. Going home had certainly been necessary and right on time before something worse could happen than a song titled 'A Lethal Dose of Ketamine'.

For a while, she had hated him for taking her away from her studio and her band. In the hight of her withdrawal symptoms, she had accused him of wanting to undermine her with mismanagement. Once back in New York he had rented a new studio for her, flew in her band and made everything right again when she was reunited with her former agent. Olivia had finally relieved Nini of the burden of managing herself, Pedro could give over the reigns he had taken with so much brashness and sigh in relief that their relationship had survived yet another crisis. After all, they loved each other more than life itself and one would have to put him under ground before he'd ever stop prioritising the love of his life. Maybe he had enough real-life inspiration to write another screenplay after this eventful year.

Perhaps it was the faint clacking of fingers typing away at his laptop that brought her back to the present. Pedro couldn't immediately tear his eyes away from his work to acknowledge her when she came creeping into the room on silent polka dot socks but he was hyper-aware of the wave of sadness bustling over the threshold. Their distance never made a difference to him but her absence when she was just an arm's reach away pained him.

Unfortunately but not unexpected, the feeling of relief at the return to the quietness of her house in Pierrepont Street met a black pit of serotonin drop depression. Less potent medication just didn't do the same for a patient with addictive tendencies. Not one single attempt later in finding a new therapist, the only thing Pedro could do was keep a watchful eye on her while simultaneously making the biggest leap of his career.

Looking up to find her standing lost in the doorway, his frown deepened. "You okay?" He finally inquired, his lips forming a hesitant smile.

"Yeah." Nini lied and he waited patiently until she admitted her true condition with a shrug of her shoulders. Truth was she couldn't get used to her late pet not being around anymore but running away from her home and grief had not been a long-term solution.

"Come here." He opened his arm and let her walk into his sitting frame, leaning into her when her hands roamed into his hair and her cheek dropped onto the crown of his head. Her fingers twirled his unruly hair into neater waves, reminding Pedro he hadn't gotten a haircut in months. A multiplied amount of grey streaks adorned the mess of brown curls and a beard he hadn't trimmed in weeks. With his glasses a bit askew and his too long hair perhaps in critical need of a wash, he looked every part like the writer who had locked himself away for a creative period. "Did you take your meds?" He always tried to take care of her first.

She seemed nearly too tired to answer. "I did." "Magnesium and your vitamins too?" "You worry so much." She smiled as she bumped her temple into his.

"You're my girl. It's my job to worry." He stated as a matter of fact, like it was the only thing that made sense to him. He received a pleased hum in return.

"I 'am' your girl." Nini pouted then, grimacing when she lowered herself into his lap. "Ow." She held her tummy before his hand could join and enveloped hers completely. Pedro had great sympathy with her during this time of the month while she still thought of it second. "And you? How's your head?" She asked.

He chuckled and groaned. At least the lampshade was dim enough to soothe his eyes. "Better,“ he answered. “Lux just parties too hard for her old-old brother and hangovers only get worse with age, let me tell you." She pitied him over his miserable tone but he received a satisfactory amount of attention from her for now. Suffering together made the pain half as bad.

She stole a caramel candy from their desk. "Did you know saliva contains opiorphin, a self-produced painkiller?" Nini mentioned, struggling through the chewy sugar. "It's also linked to having an anti-depressing effect associated with comfort eating."

Pedro couldn't keep his tongue in check, pinching her love handles that were coming in nicely. "If you want me to spit into your mouth, just say so..." She let out a loud scoff but she had served him the joke on a silver platter. "Do you want me to get you something?"

She shook her head. "I'm fine, thank you, angel." "A heat pad, some tea?" He tried further, resting his broad palm against her lower belly and applying soothing, gentle pressure.

She let him pity the nature of a woman's body for a minute. "I feel a little lost. Can you tell me what to do?" She whined, leaning the entire weight of her body and mind on his shoulders.

"Be kind to yourself, you're hurting." He advised her, hoping that once she realised her body was her own abuser, the feeling of being down got better because... hormones. Normally, once she reflected upon the misfortune that she was just menstruating, her whole perspective changed and the view out of the window seemed to change for the better.

"Remember last year when we were so carefree and only love existed? This feels more like it. I'm glad to be back." The loss of her cat was still an open wound in need of healing and life back in New York was still difficult to adjust to but Pedro hoped day after day that Nini‘s condition would eventually improve and time would leave fewer struggles. Baby steps.

Pedro frowned, remembering realising too late what was happening due to his busy schedule. He hated himself for not reacting sooner. "Yeah, thank you for your cooperation."

“What cooperation?“ She let out a snort but then started to worry again. "Do you think I'm toxic? For you? You're one of the most beloved individuals in the country and I still get hate from two years ago."

He clicked his tongue in objection. "You're not toxic." "-Think I've got you on a short leash." She watched him take a sip of his cold and forgotten tea.

"I wish." Pedro injected dryly and for a moment he thought she didn't get the innuendo.

"Maybe they- oh my g-" Nini chortled, just catching up to where his thoughts had plummeted into the gutter. Her shoulders shook while he maintained a pleasantly oblivious expression.

Their moment of lightheartedness was interrupted by a cramp taking hold of her body. While she whimpered in anger, he tried to soothe her, cradle her and massage the pain away. He only sought to replace the tension with warmth. "I know it sucks, poor baby." He muttered with a kiss to her forehead as she leaned onto his shoulder, saddened at nature and content in finding solace in the comfort in his arm winding around her frame.

"Sometimes Poentje would come and sit on my belly when it hurt." She whined and cuddled further into him.

He searched her eyes. "Maybe you'll find a lost kitten someday and give it a loving home, hm? We'll check every shelter, alley or dumpster in the city."

"No-" Nini sighed. "I never want a cat ever again. She was the only one for me and besides, you're highly allergic, remember?" She stroked his greasy hair against the side of his head.

Pedro grumbled, thinking he'd do anything for her, including suppressing his allergies for another fifteen to twenty years. "I'm sure Poentje wouldn't have wanted you to never take in another pet to love like she received it, a gentle human like you who treats her pet with good care, gives them a lap to sleep in, cuddles and warmth. There are plenty of strays who deserve a home like that. Poentje's bowl, her bed." Tears threatened to spill over the waterline of her eyes at his words but Pedro continued speaking, stroking her cheek to catch a drop before it could stain her freckled skin. "Don't close off your love for someone who doesn't need it any longer. Give it to someone else." He suggested gently, looking down at the scruffy little dog that was currently sleeping on a pillow by his side. "Or give it to Edgar."

The pooch's ears moved at the sound of his name and they smiled down at him. "Yes, he's a sweet thing." She sighed. "I get it. You're a writer, my darling, you're optimistic to a fault." She drew her knees together.

He scoffed out a noise of amusement. "Why would you think that?" Pedro asked with a glance at his laptop, perching his glasses further up his nose with reawakened confusion written on his face.

She tipped her chin at his original script with countless changes scribbled onto the margins, proud of seeing him in the final stages of putting it on screen. She read one of the lines back to the writer himself when she had turned the pages to her favourite scene. "Art will always draw inspiration from life and every aspect of it. It's like all the negative shit becomes manageable simply by translating hurt into a magnitude of kindness. Something we should all strive for." A character she claimed reminded her of himself said in a moment of vulnerability. "Such beautiful words, such eloquent writing, my love."

Pedro clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "How do you know I'm not one of these hopelessly drunk writers who resent reality?"

"Because you're you." Nini gave back in a romantic tone as she gently caught his chin and stirred his face in her direction. Nearly recognising her old self again, he felt himself choke up a bit. She gave him an affectionate little eye-roll at the sappy face he must have been making at her. "I love this story about... the art of noticing. I can't wait to see it on screen. It will be vulnerable, poetic and it will speak so much of your soft side." "I am very proud of my soft side." He claimed with raised eyebrows and a firm grip around her ankle.

Nini chirped out a laugh at him. "Soft eyes." She placed a kiss on his eyelid, which he hummed at. "Soft hands." She kissed the palm of his hand above the green sea glass bracelet and Pedro's gaze melted. "Soft lips." They finally kissed, foreheads still touching as they were serenaded by the rain still pouring outside. Her cheek was soft against the touch of his hand and she tasted of caramel.

His eyes were still closed as he basked in her tender whispers against his lips. "I'm proud of you. And you have a great thing here, I know it." She placed another small kiss there.

"You're sweet." He hummed, still feeling insecure about what the world would think of his movie but never doubting he could disappoint her.

"You know I'll gladly help-" She told him again, but he interrupted with soft tutting and a finger pressed to her cupid bow lips.

"Baby, we talked about this." He dismissed it but she aggressively squished his cheeks between her palms and chose not to listen.

"And I keep saying you can shut up and take my money," Nini replied sternly.

He was overwhelmed at her offer, her faith and generosity striking him yet again. Gently, he took her hands back into his. "I couldn't possibly, querida. We have producers-" She gave him a sceptical look because she knew of their indecisiveness. "I'm willing to bet that Paramount is one stamp away from expanding our budget significantly and most of all, that's 'your' hard-earned money we're talking about." She would practically be giving up what was left of her earnings from her tour. Her generosity knew no limits, no wonder some of her previous boyfriends were able to take advantage of her. He could never, Pedro wasn't planning on using her as a resource. He cringed inwardly at the realisation that he wasn't even paying rent here.

At least they had already agreed to split the costs fifty-fifty once they had bought the new house.

"It's an investment in a promising talent." Nini tried again and now it was his turn to roll his eyes, maybe even blush a little. "I believe in you, we're a team, we're building a future together and I support your career too, you know. This isn't a one-way street." They giggled together but he was shaking his head. "Please just think of it as a joker or a last resort." She begged him again and he bit his lip in hesitation.

He stared at her, long and hard, willing his expression to remain stone while she made cute faces at him. God, he couldn't stand to hold her pleading eyes for even five seconds. "Okay." He drew out, able to deal with this unlikely compromise and her face lit up. "But only as a last option. I'd rather give my right arm than not make it worth your investment, you know that?" She nodded quietly at that, the corner of her mouth twitching in an effort to control her triumph.

He sighed. "What if nobody likes the movie and it's a flop?" "So you'll make another one. But I'm sure this will be phenomenal. I trust your vision and I'm gonna be so proud of you no matter what you do." She smiled softly and booped his nose. Pedro could have started crying. She believed so much in him and he was sure they both thought the other was the cutest person in the entire world. He would always be adjusting to this sense of worthiness she gave him.

Pedro grinned widely and pressed a kiss onto her cheek and neck, rubbing her thigh before she relaxed back into his chest. "What did I do to deserve you?" She squirmed when his rough beard tickled her skin at his whisper.

"You exist, that's enough," Nini replied kindly.

Hearing her say and mean it must have provoked the biggest sense of relief and peace felt by any human being. He was enough. "Well then, let me make it up to you by bringing you that heat pad and ice cream now. No argument." He prompted strictly when he was met with a timid look on her face.

She sniffled, a little overwhelmed and priorities in the wrong place when she directed her feet behind the kitchen counter instead. "Aren't you hungry?" She asked, looking around in a whirlwind on the hunt for condiments that would fit together somehow.

He stirred her into the direction of the couch with a gentle pat on the butt. "No, ma'am, get out of here. I'm calling delivery. C'mon, you can get even away with Chicago pie without my complaints today."

She threw an insulted look back at him. "Would it hurt to call it pizza?" While she settled into the couch with a confused grumble and a content Edgar, he was putting the kettle on but when he saw that she was still in pain, he tried to cheer her up by being goofy and it almost worked. She chuckled at the sight of him dancing in the kitchen to no music, banging random pots with wooden spoons in a wholesome replacement to a set of drumsticks. He pretended he had to quickly go 'downstairs' behind the counter, into the imaginary cellar to get some ice cream. Her giggles came muffled into the couch pillow. "Help." He could make out her words. "No more. Have mercy."

The dog barked at his antics. "Edgar, get him!" She ordered and the little white dog shot from the couch to join him in the kitchen and yip up at him. "Tranquilo." He reminded him and allowed Edgar a treat but failed when his age betrayed him and his back made him fail to come up smoothly. God, he would turn forty-nine this April and he didn't nearly take it as graceful as Nini having turned thirty. Which wasn't graceful to begin with.

He glanced under the lid of the pint in his hand. "We're out of ice cream." He didn't have it in him to ask her why she put only the spoon back into the freezer. Before making his way over to the couch with a tray, he replaced the desired dessert with a few biscuits.

Her bottom lip trembled. "Thank you so much anyway." He tutted at her nonsense and quickly returned with a hot water bottle for her belly to tuck her in properly. "Poor thing. Least I can do. Here you go, baby. Anything else?" She shook her head quietly. "You wanna watch The Mummy?" He tried again in a knowing voice and he smirked at his foresight when she gave him a tearful nod. "Part two," Nini admitted as she settled with a blanket. While she sighed at the warmth, he turned on the TV for her. "Are you gonna watch with me?" She pouted at him.

He would do anything for her but he had watched it twice this year already and it was only February. "Eh, it stopped raining, maybe we got a clear sky for a minute. I should take Edgar out for a walk, will you be okay?" The pooch's large ears shot into the air at the sound of the magic word. "You wanna go for a walk, boy?" He repeated more excitedly and Edgar was already up and barking as he ran to the door, back and forth.

"Of course, take your time, angel. Thank you for everything." "Call me if you need me, okay?" Pedro grabbed his jacket.

Edgar's impatient antics made him snap his fingers at his feet. "Sit." He muttered kind words of affirmation while slipping a warm little sweater on his dog.

"Angel?" He heard her shout from the living room, making him peak through the corridor. "Yeah?" "Can you please get me more ice cream?" "With these pretty big eyes, how could I not? Chocolate Fudge, right?" She nodded with a happy smile before it dropped back into a pout. "And can you buy more tampons?" She seemed apprehensive to ask when he reacted with a stunned set of blinks at her. "The organic ones. I'm almost out. Please?"

"Of course." He acted chill and competent despite the thrill this mission provoked in him. He got her.

"I can call an assistant if that's uncomfortable for you." She suggested, cringing but Pedro felt nothing but insulted at that.

His lips parted with a smack. "Are you kidding me? I'm a man. I'll get all the tampons my girlfriend needs." Nini swooned at him and stroked his ego. He flexed his triceps unnecessarily and while she giggled, he did a cocky pimp walk towards the door before he ran back to lean down as his goofy self again and smush a loud kiss into her hair. "Okay, see you in a bit."

With her hands folded between the sofa and her chin, she looked after him and blew him a kiss. He caught it and put it to his lips. "Love you." He called out before closing the door.

~~~

"Are you serious? Noooo. When did you hear that? I can't- with these companies." Pedro gritted his teeth as stood in front of the feminine hygiene section, phone pressed to his ear while he simultaneously tried to guess what flow he should get. He was in a hurry, for Edgar was waiting on a leash for him outside the shop. "They said they won't finance anything because the script is 'too woke'?"

Two girls, who had sneakily taken a picture giggled at him and he granted them a fleeting smile before focusing back on the selection of tampons, as well as the conversation at hand.

"We'll find a way to let you keep the final cut, Pedro. We have an offer from Studio Strigoi. They're willing to give you ten million with no involvement in the creative pro-"

"No. No, no, no." He interrupted. His gaze darkened at the sound of the movie production company being named, like its name alone could summon the evil. "Literally anyone else. Not Studio Strigoi." It did leave a weird taste in his mouth.

"We don't have anyone else. Yes, the CEO is an asshole but which one isn't? I get that you're loyal but-"

"Not them." He said decisively and Sarah sighed in understanding. Both knew he wouldn't accept a dime of the company whose producer had a horrible reputation, was quite literally the devil and his girlfriend's and many other women's past or current tormenter. It was pretty much an open secret.

"Well then, fuck it, we‘ll go independent," Sarah said in absolute sobriety.

Pedro rubbed his forehead, realising his next words were easier said than done. "It's simple. That just means more self-financing. I'll have to tell our partners, everyone, then... I'll have to tell Nini we can't afford something in the South Hamptons and then I can contribute the amount myself.”

There was one of Sarah's typical overwhelmed sighs on the other end of the phone. "P, I know you and Nini were set on that gorgeous house but it was 'so' unlike you anyway." She complained to him in a compassionate tone. "But were you able to imagine living in the South Hamptons? That's like placing a fish in the desert. Or like... a twinky on a Ceasar Salad. Maybe this is a good twist of fate."

He choked on a sound of protest. "What are you saying? Am I a twinky?" "I mean, you belong with the Bohème, where the little cinemas are, where you can get away and have a smoke on a rooftop. I've known you since we were eighteen. Come on."

He couldn't deny she had a point and he saw, now more clearly than ever, that he'd agreed to the house to appease Nini. "Fuck that, you're right. I wasn't feeling it. Screw rich asshole neighbourhoods. One mention of charade and charcuterie board nights and I'd spontaneously combust!" He hissed, secretly pleased he had evaded this version of the future. He pinched the bridge of his nose when he calculated the financial risk of producing this movie himself. "We'll have to see at which end we can cut some of the costs." He mourned this possible loss of quality already but would continue to pour more love, blood, sweat, tears and money into his movie to make up for it. A twenty million dollar budget would have to be enough. Finally, he admitted to himself that he was starting to give in to Nini's offer. Partly because she was the least complicated sponsor and he'd very much like to let her profit from the movie's possible success as well. Plus, this project was his baby and he'd also rather cut his foot off than cut scenes out unless it suited the narrative.

"Do you even need to move? Her house is lovely."

"Nini fell in love with the mansion. I'm not sure how she'll take the news. I mean... I feel at home with her but her fully complete and lived-in house kinda makes me act like more of a permanent guest. I'd keep living there forever but she's a collector, she owns too much stuff. I mean, we can play 'The floor is lava' on easy mode." Sarah chuckled. "Oh, invite me next time."

Pedro made a pause to laugh and store this piece of information away. "She said she would donate a lot and only keep her most precious collections. But dude, let me tell you. Sorting through it is a pain in the ass, I tried once, never again. There was this match box with a single grain of rice in it and she protected it with her life, Sarah. Her life." He made an annoyed face at the tampons.

"You'll find something bigger soon where everything will find its place, maybe after her tour and after you got this film up and running." Nini would go on another tour through the US, twelve shows in twelve cities and he would start overseeing the urban locations for his movie.

"How is she?" Sarah asked in a tone of deep compassion, probably still remembering the condition Nini was in when she had visited them in LA a couple of weeks ago. Everything became too much of a challenge when she nearly funnelled back into old substance-abusing habits. He had been working too much and the day he hadn't paid enough attention he found her high on tranquilizers, entirely overworked and unresponsive. Heavily triggering Pedro's own fears of losing another important person in his life, he cut the breaks and got her away from this toxic environment as soon as possible.

”Doing better, thanks.” Pedro didn't know how else to respond, for his tongue was tied in discretion but Sarah was nothing if not kind and resourceful. "People mismatch with their therapist all the time, it happens. She will find a new one." She said in good faith.

A wave of shame and helplessness clawed at him and he chose his words careful in fear of a lack of decorum in a public space. "I don't know what to do. I try to breach the topic, she doesn't want to talk about it and I can't just make an appointment for her, that's pushing her. I can't make a list of possible contacts and let her do it in her own time, that's patronising... and she won't do it on her own."

Seems his prayers for an epiphany came in the shape of a friend and words as liberating as a slap to the face. "Seems to me the only thing lacking with option number three is your faith in her."

He blinked rapidly, stupified by the simplicity of pointing out his entirely wrong approach. Was it really that he was doubtful while Nini did the opposite with him? "You're... you're right, Sarah." "I know." "I feel like an asshole." It felt like the comfort one might have known and now yearned for the moment after being dunked in ice-cold water. "Of course I have faith in her. If I ever stopped having faith in her, there would be nothing left for me to do." He released a deep breath of air. "Thank you for knocking some sense into me." He gulped and he could hear the kind smile in Sarah's voice when she told him he was welcome. In a moment of tender silence in which he tried desperately not to cry, he changed the topic and tried to sound more cheerful. "Can I ask you a question real quick?" He could focus on less immediate problems later.

"Sure." "The organic tampons with regular flow are out. Should I buy the inorganic ones with the regular flow or the organic ones with either heavy or light?" They laughed away the tension before Pedro rambled on. "Is flow more important than the fact that they're organic? Why even organic? Because it's fair trade or what?" He made a distressed face at nobody.

"Um-" Sarah took a second to gather herself at the tsunami of questions. "I suggest if Nini insists on the organic ones, then definitely go with those, toxins and whatnot. Are diva cups an option?" "They are now but I... I dunno, I guess they're good for the environment and stuff but if I were in the position of a menstruating woman and I'd pull this out, filled to the brim my monkey brain would just tell me... hard to pretend it's not port wine. Cheers, now shot it." Pedro rambled and heard a gargled laugh at the other end, followed by an outcry of disgust.

"What if I just... did a Jackson Pollock with it?" He narrated his fantasy and made Sarah howl with laughter. "Would it even work in a public bathroom? Where do I rinse the cup out? I'd bleed all over the place until I'm back inside the stall."

"Your intrusive thoughts win."

"What can I say, I'm a 'cup half full' kind of guy." He joked drily and had her stuck somewhere between crying and gagging.

He slowly caught up with his words and pulled a face afterwards, apologising to Sarah for his unhingedness and throwing a purple cup into the basket and a smaller pink one for good measure. "I'll buy all of it. Just to be sure."

"What a good boyfriend you are. Look at you. Should I reconsider being a lesbian just to get myself a man who's not afraid to buy tampons for me?"

"Okay, thank you, Ms. Paulson, whose bar is also, embarrassingly low. I'm more embarrassed that I'm leaving with a pack of cigarettes than going home with the ingredients for my girlfriend's monthly blood sacrifice ritual."

"Any time, Mr Pascal. Do give Nini my love."

"I will. I think I should go, these teens are taking pictures of me." "Take care, hun." "You too, alright? See you soon." Pedro hung up, his mouth having gone so dry it was hard to swallow but this was hardly the time to respond to his rising anxiety.

~~~

"Hey, I'm back." He didn't receive a response. Shrugging off his jacket, he let Edgar off the leash and dog sweater before investigating the silence. "I'm sorry, your normal choice of tampons were out but I got every other opt-" He entered the room and found her munching on shredded cheese. "Hey songbird, what happened while I was gone?"

Her words through her crying were fast and nearly incomprehensible. "I think I'm never going to be ready to be in front of the camera ever again, I had such self-confidence but I think I should maybe disappear from the public for good, like what would they even want me for now?"

He had to catch up with the meaning of all of this. "What are you talking about?"

"I think they're done with me anyway, now that I'm thirty. I started acting at fourteen..." She gulped away cheese and tears. "Then real jobs when I was sixteen and as a sixteen-year-old you play kids, you play the daughter, the high school girl, whatever. Then you're in your twenties and they start seeing you as a woman but I was still cast as a teenager until I was like twenty six and then they start giving you a baby, just a little baby. Now, by the standards of this industry, I'm middle-aged and I might be cast as a mother now but what- in like five years? I'll be the mother of four babies who's got a drinking problem. All until I'm forty, then I'm the grandma until sixty, then I'm dead!" She made intense eye contact at that. She gestured at him, admiring his physique in a mix of good humour and envy. "While you'll always look hot. You just keep improving until you're physically incapable, that's what. You're allowed to age like fine wine and everyone will say 'Oh, look he's so scruffy, so seggsy. Look at you, Gladiator two point O. You know how hot you’re gonna be as cyborg pirate captain Silver?"

As much as Pedro was looking forward to these roles, he was apprehensive and still wasn't thinking through what these strong body transformations meant. "You're biased. I'm not going to make him hot." "I'd like to see you try."

Pedro had let her rant peacefully. "We are both seggsy, damn, do you know how gorgeous you are?" He simply commented and scrunched his face at the insulting notion that she thought she was getting old. "You don't need botox, fillers or even makeup to be beautiful. And you're not old, silly thing. What am I supposed to say, nearing my fifties." He scoffed. Outrageous.

"Thank you." She sniffled, at least a tiny bit more relieved. She sighed and stood up, digging into the shopping bag and retrieved a box of tampons he made a mental note of. "These are just fine, thank you for getting them."

Her cheeks were flushed eyes still glassy when she returned from the bathroom, her full cupid bow lips were all pink and puffy and he was so in love with her, no matter which state she was in. "Did I ever tell you how pretty you are when you cry?" He tried to console her and made her laugh and roll her eyes at him before wiping the track of her tears away with the palm of her hand.

"You’re you always so kind to me." Nini blubbered. The strings of his heart pulled tight. "Aw. I can fix you." Pedro spoke his inner thoughts out loud. He couldn't help but baby her, fingers prodding at her skin and trying to smooth out the worried frown between her brows.

She laughed at that. "Thank you for the ice cream, for everything." She sobbed and dug in. She then somehow laughed with a mouth full. "This is delicious."

"No worries, baby girl. You're welcome." Pedro at least tried to hold back but his shoulders were shaking with laughter.

She chuckled messily.

Maybe it was the stressful time she had been dealing with but she was finally letting the traces of it get to her head. "M'sorry. I guess I was just getting inside my head thinking that in this industry, most other women my age have gotten surgery by now."

"You’re not saying you’re thinking about it?" He frowned deeply, not on board with the idea at all.

"Some botox here and there, buccal fat removal-" she pinched her face and hollowed her cheeks grotesquely. Pictures of Burtonesque transformations of female celebrities flooded his memories. In their world, surgery was standard, a mandatory procedure... the next tragic step of many an actress's evolution.

"Leonie." He cut her off, raising his hand and taking a moment to collect his patience.

He stuttered out random noises to interrupt her talking points. "They cut the fat out of your cheeks and sculpt your face to have higher cheekb-"

"Yeah, I know what that horrible thing is. I've seen the before and after pictures." She shut up immediately, eyes going wide as she seemed to hold back a laugh. Pedro took a long and serious look at her. "What are you talking about?" He asked calmly.

"Surgery," Nini repeated obviously, ready to further test him.

For several heartbeats, Pedro's face was frozen in an expression of utter horror and confusion while internally, he tried to remain patient. Finally he sat down next to her and raised his hands like he needed to calm down a wild horse. "Nonono, baby, I know-" he breathed calmly, gathering his thoughts. "I know the industry has too high expectations of women conforming to beauty trends but that's just what it is, a trend. I have no say in what you do with your body but- the tragedy of it… I don't want you to get plastic surgery. Please. Please?” Pedro was truly panicked, devastated even.

"No?" There was the faintest hint of a cheeky smile playing at the corner of her lip. His face fell at her success of having messed with him.

"You little shit." His voice came out as a monotone. “You had me. You really did.”

He cracked up as well when she started giggling at him. "I have bottom lip filler. And had my ears done also." She confessed and schooled her expression like she had just told him the world's worst dad joke.

He made a noise of understanding. "Is that why you're so pouty?" "Oh, shut i-" "No, you shut it. If you cut up that cute face or gorgeous body of yours... any more, I'm gonna leave you." He threatened in a bitchy tone.

She hunched over in a decent impression of a caveman. "Husband said no." She grunted, mocking his voice.

Pedro tried to stay dignified but his voice trembled. "Husband will get a heart attack if you’re gonna be like this." She snorted out a laugh and he tried to interrupt her with a failed strict, then pathetic whine. "I mean it, baby girl. You don't know how perfect you are." Yet she only cooed while he talked over her, serious enough to have the opposite effect.

"You'd really leave me?" She repeated in a high, heartbroken mewl.

He nodded, pinching her cheeks, her round Hobbit cheeks. "I'd nurse you back to health and then leave you." He explained and the sentiment drew a chirping laugh out of her, the kind that made him crack up too. He placed a kiss on her lips that turned into two, then three, making him lose himself in her for minutes to no end.

Her eyes twinkled with mischief. "Don't worry, I wasn't seriously thinking about it. It looks horrid." "It really does." "By the way, don't you dare do anything yourself. Your doctor's name is God and we know he only uses the good stuff when he makes angels." She said up close, tracing her thumb over the deepened lines across his forehead. The crow's feet in the corners of his eyes crinkled into an adoring smile in the wakes of her tracing down the arch of his nose until she had reached his lips and lingered on his chin. Her hand cupped his beard, the bristles having gotten so long they had nearly grown soft to the touch.

Pedro smirked, catching up with her affection. "I was also not gonna leave you, I could never." He admitted.

"I know." She draped her arms over his shoulders, pecking a kiss on his cheek.

"I almost forgot what I wanted to tell you." He finally spoke up. "I still got some news." He rubbed his forehead, getting this over with.

"Sean Astin agreed to play my dad in a zombie film." She threw in her wildest guess.

"Nobody has offered that... yet." He replied compassionately and Nini let out a sad noise.

She hit him with another hopeful guess. "You said yes to the queer story with Mads Mikkelsen."

"Do not remind me of the things I'm missing out on." He told her in a strict tone before catching his bearings. "I'm afraid you will think it bad news, should I tell you later?"

Never a great fan of bad news, she groaned and let herself fall back into the sofa. "Oh no. Tell me now or I'm gonna throw up."

"It seems we can't afford the house in the South Hamptons. We lost a producer due to my film’s well… let’s call it political message but I'm not willing to sacrifice the soul of my movie. So, my ability to contribute a big budget to our housing situation is limited." He confessed.

"Oh..." She stared ahead, lip pouting but at least she didn't start crying over a house. "Well, maybe there could be worse things."

His eyebrows shot up and his jaw dropped. "I thought you loved it." "The beach was nice." "Nice' is not good enough for us to go way over budget. We almost bought a house we both don't want." There was a reason why he didn't value owning a house, let alone a mansion. Not ready to face the consequences of an ill-timed outburst, he counted to ten. "Let's be real, we can't afford and maintain a mansion right now, maybe if my movie pays off. Until then... well..."

"Damn, are we both too much of a people pleaser to communicate what we really want?" She sighed with a lopsided smile playing on her lips. Nini seemed sheepish at his insight. "I'm sorry. Hey, if you want to live here forever or move into a red brick apartment above a pizzeria, I'll still be happy as long as I'm with you." She gestured around. "I know this place has increased in worth. If I sell it, we can afford something else and use the rest for your movie."

"Oh, you sweetheart." He sighed, not annoyed but yes... annoyed that she was genuinely willing to give up so much for him. He caged her in against the cushions of the sofa. Looming over her, he revelled in her smile. "That's out of the question." He kissed her, letting himself disappear in her loving embrace, not even able to fathom how much he adored her. For a moment, he let worry pass from the flickers of his eyes. "Do you even want to move?" He asked his love.

Something between grateful- and playfulness sparkled back at him. "I do. I really do. I want a place that's both you and me. I want a separate kitchen and a library for you." Nini swore, petting the side of his face.

That sounded lovely. God, he wanted it so much but he didn't know where to go from here with his serious lack of time. "We'll find something, I promise." He rubbed his forehead, starting to feel a headache from all this stress. He yearned for a moment of quietness and walked over to the shopping bag to retrieve the pack of cigarettes like a busy, stressful time somehow excused a life-long bad habit he had been so close to quitting. "Gonna head outside for a minute." He said with the cigarette between his teeth.

"Okay." Nini paid no attention to it and went back to watching Brandon Fraser beat up some shrivelled Egyptians when he wordlessly opened the glass door into the garden, lighter cupped behind his hand before he had even passed the threshold.

He stood outside for a while, wondering if the cigarette would keep him warm as he set up a new appointment for house viewings. Phone in one hand, cigarette in the other, he looked up when he saw movement behind the wall. "I'll have to call you back, sorry. Gotta go- yeah, I appreciate it. We can do Tuesday. Riverside Drive, two p.m., got it. Okay, sounds good, bye." He hung up just when their neighbour Samir 'I am your mother now' aka Brooklyn's most beloved drag queen 'Peachy' du Maurier peaked over the wall.

"Hellooooo Habibi!" His wide figure in purple fur and leather cap appeared fully. "Just wanted to join you for a second. Making sure you're doing okay, just checking in." Sammi said sweetly with a worried frown between his brows. Pedro nearly teared up at the sentiment alone but then his friend-shaped character had to reappear with a large plate of food for them.

Pedro's hand flew to his chest. "Sammi, oh my God, you didn't have to." He gasped. He willed his face to light up despite his tiredness while he watched the cherubim trying to figure out a way to climb without nail breakage. He complained loudly while doing so. "Ya- I don't know how you guys always do it. I wasn't made for this. Oh fuck, I'm shakin' like a pole on Friday night, honey."

"Hey, whoa, careful mama." Pedro led him a hand, pulling him across and making sure he wouldn't fall. "I saw you double Dutching and doing the split in ten-inch heels, what happened?" Sammi was out of breath and breaking out in sweat unlike one of his many, way more exuberant drag shows.

"Old age, bitch." He pulled his shirt back over his belly and groaned in agony one last time. Clouds of condensation met clouds of smoke.

Pedro emitted a chuckle. "Don't I know it?" He brushed a leaf off Sammi's shoulder as he balanced the aluminium foil-wrapped dish that seemed way too much and way too generous.

"It's Börek, thought you might-" he squinted. Sammi raised his eyebrows, looking somewhere past him through the house. "Oh dear, is she okay? Is she inhaling her ice cream?" His softness betrayed him when he noticed his chosen ward inside and in distress. Nini placed a kiss into her hand and waved it at Sammi momentarily and glared at Pedro before continuing to mind her own business on her phone.

Sammi looked at Pedro in disappointment. "Did you guys have a fight?"

"No-" he sighed, unsure. "At least I hadn’t thought so." Pedro briefly looked back into the living room, confused about where this new agitation suddenly came from. "She'll be okay, especially with your burek. Thank you so much. I had to find a way to feed the hangry gremlin inside soon."

"Relationships are difficult, sometimes I just take several seats and breathe in and out for a while." Pedro snorted at the self-depreciation. Sammi was a big queen but that didn’t mean she couldn’t be gorgeous. "You look stressed though. Do you wanna talk about it?" Sammi had pointed him up and down, Pedro's fatigue speaking more than a thousand words.

"Yeah..." He met him with an apologetic expression on his face but didn't know what to say. "Is there a twenty-four-hour support hotline for husbands who are trying very hard?" He scream-whispered, fearing Nini might hear him otherwise. Somehow they had found teams. Sammi was a wholesome, teary-eyed genuine pure person while his husband and Pedro's girlfriend brought up the mean girls in each other. Sammi cackled, too familiar with the feeling after being with Hugh since the nineties. "It's called calling your sisters and talking shit." He bummed a cigarette without the need to ask but made a tutting sound at the sight of Pedro's evident fresh supply.

"I'm fine, I swear. I just had to get away for a second... but it's always nice to have a kiki with you." Pedro replied, proud of his correct use of ballroom terminology and despite the utter delight in Sammi's laugh, he suddenly looked like he was struggling to come up with words. "Actually, I also came to ask you and Nini a favour."

Pedro became flustered again. "Oh, we have been closing the blinds when we-" "Oh, no it's not that!" The shorter man pretended to gag. "No, we're in trouble," Sammi admitted.

"Oh?" "Remember when we were dog-sitting Mon Bernadette and you helped us look for her when she escaped?" Sammi couldn't inhale a bigger drag and he stared ahead like he was going through massive trauma.

"Is the dog alright?" Pedro couldn't deal with more bad news.

"Yeah, she's fine, alhamdulillah but she got herself knocked up. She's having puppies soon."

Pedro's initial reaction was a gasp that was made of pure shock and delight. "Wait, really?" They stared at each other for a moment before bursting out in laughter. "Fuuuck."

Edgar waddled his tail. "No buddy, you're not the dad. You don't have balls." The pooch quit the excitement just when Pedro remembered in clear detail finding the fancy designer poodle in her rebel phase who had then currently been mounted by a very ambitious schnauzer-like creature in a Brooklyn side alley. Pedro had suppressed a laugh then and conveniently never mentioned it to a single soul after. Now he was staring at an upset Sammi and the consequence of his silence, pondering whether to come clean or not. "Crazy." Pedro exaggerated after the awkward flashback of two copulating dogs. Coward.

"The owner wants to sue us! Can you back us up and tell her we're no damn animal abusers? It was an accident!"

"Oh, they're not saying that." Pedro countered, scandalised.

"I miss the cat. It was so much easier." Sammi cried. "That beast of a puppy-hating woman wants us to pay alimony for the ‘flea alley’ bastards-" he made quotation marks into the air. "-who are God knows what mixed." Apart from being queer, Sammi was Muslim and knew too much about experiencing mistreatment himself, especially in the early two-thousands. Apparently, the puppies weren't better off in the company of a snob. "She says she won't bother looking for homes for the pups since that's an 'us' problem now." These words caused a surge of anger rise within Pedro and he looked down at Edgar, thinking the ratty white shelter dog wasn't a fancy breed, rather skinny and his thin fur one shade away from being called 'crusty'. Edgar was, therefore, all the more lovable and tilted his little head with giant bat ears at his owner. An idea struck Pedro.

He thought for a moment, looking back at the glass front at a still, very unhappy-looking Nini. "When's Bernadette having them?" He turned back towards Sammi. "I dunno, soon. End of the month?" He guessed.

Thinking out loud, Pedro made a calculation. "One month plus eight weeks minimum before the puppies are old enough for adoption. That's when I'll be busy on location but I'm in the city. She'll be back in New York from tour by then and we'd have longer breaks together after." He muttered under his breath.

Sammi's expression became nearly emotionally devastated. "What are you saying, are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"Would it be crazy to ask if we could adopt one of the puppies? We'll work together in finding homes for every pup, of course and help you with anything you need." Pedro said hopefully, ruffling Edgar's head when he allowed him to lean his front paws up onto his leg like he was adding his approval. He pet his bony little head. "Slowly but surely I’m thinking about a playmate keeping Edgar active too, having someone younger around does make you feel younger as well." He spoke from experience. Maybe Pedro's main motivation was born out of an impulsive decision but quite frankly, he was also keen on taking care of a small living being that depended on him. Their busy schedule made it look like Nini and he wouldn't even think about starting a family any time soon or ever so, a puppy was the next best thing and the desire for it was maybe but not entirely a bit selfish. He normally would have preferred adopting a shelter dog but these special circumstances spoke to everything he could have wished for.

Sammi's jaw dropped. "Really?" He asked too loudly, tearing up.

"Yeah!" "We wanted to move but haven't found the right place yet anyway. Plenty of time before we'll open a new chapter in our lives." Pedro said and bit into a crunchy spinach cheese roll.

He was met with a pleased hum from the other man. "Are you going to get married soon, then?" Pedro had anticipated this question sooner rather than later and therefore didn't choke on his food.

Sammi smiled innocently, a romantic through and through. After all, he and Hugh got married the minute it was legal for them to do so.

He knew his explanation of 'Well, we have been for two years, just not legally,' wouldn't suffice so he consoled his friend with the answer he wanted to hear. "Someday soon," Pedro said. "Yeah, real soon. These are delicious, thank you very much. I'll tell her these were made with love." He distracted him by finishing the delicious burek. He hummed in satisfaction and Sammi seemed delighted.

"That's my cue. I'll let you know when the bad girl's having the bastard puppies. No telling Nini." He reminded him and groaned in protest while climbing the wall back to his side. "I know you want this Peach, why you gaggin'?" The glam lady bellowed her famous catchphrase and went over the wall head first, but not before blowing him a kiss. "Love you, Pedro!"

"You too." Pedro waved and smiled to himself before he went back inside.

Pedro could only worry at the sight of finding Nini face down and beside the couch on the floor while Edgar already worried over her. ”Oh no.” He set the food on the dinner table before rushing over.

She turned her face towards him, tear-streaked cheek pressed to the floor with a sob spilling from her lips. Nini broke out in tears again when she saw him kneeling beside her. "Is it because the meds killed my libido?" She cried out.

"Jesus," He tried to pluck some of her terribly askew hair away from her damp face and behind her ear until she shoved his hand away and scurried off. He didn't know if he wanted to send a curse down into hell or a prayer up above. "Please, tell me what happened. Just... calm down." He could feel his patience running thin while Nini grunted in frustration and limped through the living room, holding her tummy.

"What's going on?" She choked out a noise of upset at his question, picking up after herself which was a telltale sign of her annoyance with everything in this world including him.

Her bottom lip trembled. "I don't know. Pedro, are you happy?" Her hands gestured weakly into the air at the question. She finally looked up to witness him slightly paling and he only managed to make a confused sound.

Pedro tried to make sense of anything but failed. "You're angry with me and I don't know why but yeah, I'm happy. What's this about, honey?" He asked, standing up to approach her when she unlocked her phone.

"Well, are you happy? Because if you were, would you go out on a date with someone else and lie about it?" He could only try to form the word 'what' threatening to spill from his lips. "Tell me I'm just being silly- please." She begged.

His gaze softened when she showed him a recent online post and he finally understood. It was showing Pedro having lunch with a woman he had met yesterday. An Instagram post with the footnote 'When Pedro Pascal went on a date with me. You made my day'. Still unfamiliar with Instagram ever since they both deleted Twitter, she had scrolled through the comments, which for most parts still didn't agree to their relationship and praised him for having plenty of other options.

Even more than a year after their temporary breakup and after several of their public appearances and interviews together, she was still the one who couldn't claim her own narrative. They were cute together, yes but the toxic domain of their less-favoured fans didn't know she wasn't half as problematic as she appeared to be.

Now Pedro seemed to be in trouble. In the picture she showed him, he was wearing the same outfit and bad hair day he had gone out with yesterday before meeting Lux and he was suddenly very aware of what this looked like. Her crying fit was not unreasonable anymore. The way the woman and he looked so close and the fact that Nini had never seen him do this before with anyone who wasn't a close friend made her jealous and genuinely heartbroken. "I hate to sound cliché but this is not what it looks like." He almost laughed out.

"Well, whatever it might be, you told me the story of how you've been out all night with your sister!" She said in between a yell and a sob and through his dumbfounded moment in which he cursed his forgetfulness. "Honey-" He had been out all night, just not with her. "And she's pretty too." She said with a whine but while Nini was pouting, he couldn't help but grin at the misunderstanding.

He sighed. "Michelle was just a friendly encounter. Nini, wait-" He had to catch up with her when she repeated her name in a mocking voice and was already leaving him on the couch and stomping up the stairs. "I was too busy this morning to remember telling you the entire story and then you were being difficult-"

She looked back from the top of the stairs. "Oh, sorry I'm causing 'you' to have a bad day!" She huffed at him and shut the bathroom door in front of his nose. He hated it when she did that and chuckled in anger. "Great." "Don't laugh at me!" "I'm not!" "Fuck off!"

He huffed against the barrier between them, tapping his fingers against the unforgiving wood. "I get it, you basically caught me lying... unintentionally. I'm sorry, okay? Please at least let me explain." He sighed. "She was just really nice and of course, she posted this. I just forgot to tell you because I was fucking hungover-"

"And I was difficult!" She quoted back at him, terribly insulted and he could gnaw his arm off in frustration. A mute yell later, he had composed himself again.

Pedro needed her to listen but he'd rather do it to her face. "What are you doing?" His hands slapped onto his thighs.

"Maybe going to a club. If you can go out and have fun, so can I." She explained, stubbornly.

He let out a long exhale, tried and failed to count to ten. "While you're on your period? C'mon, don't do that."

"I've done three-hour concerts for an entire week while I was on my period!" She screamed in an outburst of emotion and Pedro dead panned at the door. Fair point.

He gathered a breath. "Come on! Just because I missed- just because it was a lunch. Yeah, but only by definition of two people sitting down and eating food. There was nothing romantic about it." "Yeah, no. Sure." "I can have a life outside this relationship, you know?" "Wh- nobody said you couldn't! Am I giving you the impression that I'm that kind of girlfriend?"

"Right now you are, asking me who this woman is. I'll tell you." He leaned forward with his hand against the door. "I was waiting for Lux at the restaurant forever and she stood me up eventually and we agreed to meet up later but while I was waiting, I noticed this couple who was clearly on their first date and Michelle was extremely uncomfortable." He told the story in a calmer voice now, leaning his shoulder against the frame but feeling like he was talking to a wall. "The guy was saying things she shouldn't put up with like... making comments on her tight dress and how fantastic her tits looked." Nini made a sound of disgust at that and he relaxed a little, feeling her rage ebbing away. "-and I couldn't watch it anymore and the moment he went to the bathroom I asked her 'Are you okay'? And she was like 'No, he's absolutely disgusting' and I took his seat then and he came back and I explained very calmly he was not supposed to be so inappropriate like 'Oh-" he imitated the man's unpleasant asshole voice. "She's fucking hot, why shouldn't I comment on her nice ass?' and I stirred drama and eventually paid for his taxi to go home and Michelle and I had lunch together instead."

"Oh." Her voice came out almost too quiet for him to have even detected it behind the door. "Well, did she?" Now it had turned heated again.

He squinted his eyes. "Did she what?"

"Have a nice pair of tits and ass?" She clarified and he cleared his throat, speechless.

"I guess? I didn't judge h- why..." Pedro at least tried to hold back but his shoulders were shaking with laughter. "You don't think I'd ever cheat on you?"

"No... not really," she admitted grumpily.

"No, seriously. If it weren't so stupid, it would be cute."

"Stupid? Who's stupid?"

Pedro let out a long exhale at her new rage. He tried not to sound condescending at her overreaction to what he thought had been out of the ordinary noble of him. Maybe Nini was down to listen to reason. "Just... dammit. You can't just... put yourself in danger because you're in the mood for getting back at me." But before he could say anything more the door swung open and she came out wearing heavy makeup that covered her freckles entirely. He was too stunned by her appearance to realise she was sticking to her plan than to even appreciate the sight of her in black lace underwear.

"This is not about getting back at you!" She hissed heatedly over her shoulder while he followed her into their bedroom. "Stop this, please. I'm not letting you go out like this." While she stomped into the walk-in closet, he suddenly realised she was dead serious when she put on the wig with long raven hair she had worn for their Morticia and Gomez Addams partner costume last Halloween. Truly, it served the purpose of making her look like a completely different person.

"Why not?" She seethed, putting on a two-piece black outfit and heeled boots. "Guess what, we've been back in New York for two weeks and I haven't been out without you in months. So, why can't I have fun too?"

"Well, for once, you're in pain, second it's dangerous for you to drink anything on medication." "I forgot to take it anyway."

Pedro wanted to throw something through three layers of walls. "You told me you did!" No wonder why she was behaving this way despite her acting like it wasn't a big deal.

"I don’t like the way it makes me feel. I thought you meant Ibuprofen."

"You are ‘supposed‘ to give yourself time to adjust to less-potend meds." He attempted to reason with her. "Wait," She snuck her way past him, batting his hands away. "Stop i- stop it, Leonie. What if something happens? They'll recognise you, then what?" He tried a different approach.

She scoffed. "People can't even tell the difference between Amber Heard and me these days, I think I'll be just fine in disguise."

He knew he was being the jerk as soon as he heard himself say it. "I don't want you to go clubbing, unstable, looking like this. Alone this late in fuck knows which part of New York and in what's basically lingerie? No. No chance." He caged her in, aggressively. "I don't want any men out there to be a danger to you."

She laughed in his face and left him in the doorway, feeling like a control freak boyfriend.

"I'm not scared!" "That’s not the point. It's dangerous and you're in a vulnerable state. Hey- we're not done talking." He tried to argue while she furiously gathered her things and skipped down the stairs quickly.

"Oh, I think we're done talking." She decided with a flick of her straight fake black hair, somehow managing to glare him down, looking fierce, full of rage and devastatingly hot in her entire dark gear. "You-" She pierced a finger into his shoulder. "-you've had way too much control over my life anyway!"

Another verbal slap to his face at this point, one he thought he'd deserved this time. "I didn't -" He choked, never meaning to hold any power over her head. Everything he'd done had been for her wellbeing, for her protection... right? The apology got stuck in his throat out of pure shame.

Nini's eyes had turned glassy. "Wait, please." Pedro tried to block her way but she ducked underneath his arm on the second try. "Fine, just go then!" His patience snapped, he had given up.

"I will!" She always had to have the last word but so did he.

"Have it your way." He sighed in frustration and went into the living room where he didn't have to see her leave. "Can you at least please send me a text so I know you're okay?" He tried one last time.

"Jaaa haaa." She called back through the echo of the corridor, annoyed and he knew that meant, 'fuck off.'

Edgar's ears were droopy and the dog whined when the door slammed shut and she was gone. Somehow, Pedro hadn't thought she'd really do this.

Slowly, his tired body sank back into the sofa. Pressing the heels of his hands to his throbbing headache, he cursed. All he could do now was go through every stage of grief, wait and hope Nini would get home safe.

Part 2

Translation notes:

(sp): querida - (eng): beloved

(sp): tranquilo - (eng): calm down

(ara): habibi - (eng): my love

(ara): alhamdulillah - (eng def): Arabic phrase meaning "praise be to God", sometimes translated as "thank God"

#pedro pascal x actress #pedro pascal x singer #pedro pascal #series #fanfiction series #of a sun and flower #pedro pascal/original female character #fluff #domestic fluff #pedro buys tampons because he would

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