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swiftieblyth · 1 month

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Hey,

Can you do one with dad!George who takes care of his and y/n's daughter?

Thanks a lit! X

Daddy’s little princess

warnings- fluff, nightmare, being sick

“Daddy!” You’re three year old daughter yelled, running to your husband when he apperated back from work.

“Hey, princess!” Your husband smiled, picking your daughter up and spinning her in the air before holding her to his hip. “How was your day with Mummy?” He asked, kissing her head.

“It was gweat!” She yelled, making you and George smile. “Mummy and I went down to the pawk, and fed the ducks!”

“Oh yeah?” He smiled, walking over to you.

“We did, you smiled, pecking his lips.

“Ew,” your daughter, Molly, let out.

“What?” You asked looking at her. “Are Mummy and Daddy not allowed to kiss?”

“I’m hungwey!” Molly called, ignoring your question.

“I know baby,” you smiled. “Dinner’s almost ready, how about Daddy helps you wash up.”

“Okay. Come on Daddy!”

“Okay, princess.” George smiled.

❤️❤️❤️

“How was work today?” You asked, laying in bed with George that night, head on his chest.

“It was good.” He explained, twirling your hair in his fingers. “It was pretty slow now that all the kids are back at Hogwarts. How was your day?”

“It was great. I just love our sweet little girl. I’ll miss her tomorrow when I have to go to work. Are you sure she’ll be fine in the shop with you? She is very much your daughter.”

“I know,” he chuckled. “She’ll be fine. I’ll do my best to keep her out of trouble.”

“I’m not worried about you, I’m worried about Fred.”

“What? They two love eachother.”

“exactly.”

“don’t worry, I’ll make sure no one gets hurt, and nothing brakes. Including Fred.”

“Thank you my love.” You smiled. You went to kiss him, but were stopped by your door creeping open and little but rushed footsteps came in.

“Princess?” George asked, confused as to why she was in there and not asleep.

“Daddy?” She sniffled, alerting both of you.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” You asked, fear in your voice as you and George both bolted up and looked down at her.

Her red hair was messy and all over, her eyes were puffy, and her face red and tear stained, as she held her stuffed monkey.

“Uppy?” She asked, as more tears came down her face.

“What’s wrong princess?” George asked, scoping her up in his arms, laying her in between you both.

“I had a nightmewa.” She cried, I to George’s chest, as he held her in his arms.

“Oh, baby,” you let out, wrapping your arms around her too.

“Do you want to tell me and Mummy what it was about?”

“It was about you,” she cried pulling away, and looking up at her daddy.

“What do you mean, princess?”

“You… you wewe with Uncle Fwed, but you had two eaws.” She cried, you looked at George who was already looking at you. You both had a feeling as to where this was going. “And then, a beaw came out of nowhere and bit youw eaw off. And thewe was so much blood, Daddy,” she sobbed.

“Oh, princess,” he sighed looking at her. “Don’t let that bother you. That’s not how I lost my ear. Your uncle Fred wasn’t even with me when I got my injury.”

“Was Mummy?” Molly cried.

“I was darling, but that’s nothing you need to be worried about. We can tell you when you’re a lot older my love.” You sighed, putting a hand to her head, feeling heat radiating from her. “Baby, you’re burning up.”

“What?” She asked.

“Oh, poor princess.” George cooed, pulling away a little, kissing her head. “Muma’s right princess. You’re burning up.”

❤️❤️❤️

“Are you sure you can stay home?” You asked quietly, getting ready as you looked at your sleeping daughter.

“I can. I promise. Our little Princess needs lots of rest. She won’t get that at the shop.”

“I know, but I can see if I can stay home, or even work from home-“

“Darling,” George interrupted, holding your hands. “I got it, okay? You go to work. Have a good day. I’ll write to Fred, and take care of our princess. Fred will understand.”

❤️❤️❤️

“Daddy!” Molly called from the master bed room.

“What’s wrong princess,” George asked, walking in from the kitchen.

“I don’t feew good,” she cried as a cough find its way out of her lungs.

“I know my sweet princess,” George cooed, stroking her head. “But I’m making you some chicken noddle soup okay?”

Molly coughed again as more tears came to her eyes.

“My poor princess,” George breathed, carefully wrapping her up in his arms. “It’ll be okay. Mummy’s going to get you a potion after work to help you get better.”

“I downt wanna be sick,” Molly pouted.

“I know my princess,” George let out, scooping her up in his arms. “Let’s go get you some soup.”

George kissed her head and walked to the kitchen putting her down on the counter and pouring her a small bowl of soup.

He got a spoon and got some soup, softly blowing on it to cool it before he looked at Molly.

“Okay, open up Princess.” George let out, spoon feeding her sick little girl.

“Great job Princess,” George smiled, when Molly finished her soup.

“I’m tiwed, Daddy.”

“Okay, princess. Let’s get you back to bed,” he smiled picking her up, walking back to the master bedroom. “Do you want to watch a movie with Daddy?”

Molly nodded her head as she leaned on George’s chest, drifting off to sleep.

George sat her down on the bed and put her favorite movie in, then got in the bed next to her. Molly climbed up on his chest and laid down, George’s arms wrapped protectively around her as she drifted off to sleep.

“Good night my princess.” He whispered, kissing her head. “I love you.”

#george weasley x reader #george wealsey imagine #george weasley imagine #george weasley fanfiction #george weasley #dad!george Weasley

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avatarloverfrfr · 2 months

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Fem! Omatikaya x Tuk(PLATONIC)

Where the reader is tuks bestie, she is Poppiti. And how the reader reacts when they have to leave.

Time skip to when Tuk and her are older, the Sully’s finally come back. And she sees how she’s changed how she’s like a lone wolf and stuff, or how she’s gotten new friends and forgot about her. But the matching thing they wear is something Y/n always wears.🫧

DOES THIS MAKE SENSE?!

PROMISE ANKLET

Tuktirey x Child!reader (platonic)

Masterlist

Warning: Crying. Separation. Angst WITH comfort. I cannot stress this enough children at that age do not really understand that it isn’t their friend’s choices to leave them so the reader will be angry at Tuk but will grow to understand!

Translations: pänu- promise; uniltìrantokx- dreamwalkers; tsamsä'o- weapons of war; kelku- home; pawk- horn; Mawey- calm

Word count: 612

Note: I literally love this, we need more tuk x readers (PLATONIC) out there. Also this background Omatikaya is so CUTE OMG

Four years have slipped by like a dream since I last laid eyes Tuk, my dearest friend. Leaving me longing for the familiar comfort of her presence every day for the last four years.

Then, today the sound of the pawk echoed through the while village, signaling a return. No hunting party had ventured out, yet there was an unmistakable call of homecoming.

As the Olo'eytkan, Tarsem, emerges from his kuru, "Mawey, my people, mawey." he announces, drawing the attention of the gathering crowd near the ikrans.

Drawing closer, my heart pounds with anticipation, then I see them– the Sullys. A surge of emotion washes over me as I realise that among those returning, is Tuk.

As we reached the top of the tree, Tuk's voice trembled as she spoke, "Taw, I heard my mom and dad fighting. They said we need to leave this clan. To seek uturu from another."

Confusion swirled inside me. "Uturu? Why? There's no war," I said, searching her eyes for answers.

Tuk leaned close, her voice barely a whisper, as if what she was about to tell me was a forbidden secret, "Yesterday, Lo'ak, Spider, Kiri and I saw uniltìrantokx, out there in the forest with tsamsä'o."

Reality crashed on me like a falling tree. "So now you have to leave..?" I asked, my heart sinking with each word.

Tears welled up as I leaped down from the tree, sprinting toward my kelku. Tuks footsteps echoing behind me.

Rushing into the kelku, tears streaming down my cheeks. I ran up to my sa'nok who was peacefully weaving a basket before Tuk and I barged in. "What happened to our pänu, Tuk? That we'd never leave each other!" I choked out between sobs.

"You have the audacity to wear a pänutìng you can't even keep!" I accused, pointing at her ankle and then at mine.

"It is final, my dad said." Tuk sobbed, reaching out to me.

"You said we'd always be best friends," I stammered, tears burning my vision as I looked at Tuk.

"We are. We always will be. As long as you and I both have these anklets." Tuk reassured pulling me into a hug.

"You promise you wont–" before I could finish my question, one of Tuks siblings called her away to pack.

As Tuk rushed over to Kiri, I felt a hand on my shoulder turning around I was met with the soft gaze of my kneeling sa'nok.

"Come Taw, she might be leaving. But your memories will stay for life." she said as I cried into her neck.

The next day was the day the Sully's had left, the day Tuk left me behind.

Watching as the family walks past everyone and onto their ikrans, my gaze meets Tuks.

I watched as Neytiri's hand went to push to toward me, encouraging a goodbye. I raised my hands up toward my mother and got carried by her, nestling my face into her neck breaking eye contact. A sign I did not wish to speak to her.

My eyes lock onto Tuk's, my childhood best friend, and it's like she's been waiting for me too. Quickly I glance at her foot, searching for the familiar anklet, a symbol of our bond.

There it is, still clinging onto her ankle, just like mine. Relief flood through me as I meet her gaze again, and she's smiling, knowing exactly what I'm thinking.

"You kept our promise." we say together, rushing into each others arms. Wrapping in each others embrace.

Little did we know there were two people watching us, happy to see both their children reunited, knowing this friendship would last a life time.

#avatar x reader #avatar 2009 #avatar #avatar2022 #awotw #omatikaya #angst #avatar angst #jake sully #neytiri #tuktirey #tuk x reader #tuk x sister!reader #tuk x child!reader #kiri sully #tarsem

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heaven-is-in-your-arms-series · 7 months

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Costume Break Down

aka more than you ever wanted to know about Thai dance costume details but I think they are gorgeous and require so much effort to create and wear that they are worth celebrating.

Let's take a look at Khem's beautiful red costume.

Here the presence of the dagger and the colour choice quite firmly indicate that he is performing the role of the hero Prince Inao from the Lakhon Nai dance drama 'The Romance of Inao.'

His costume is based on the traditional costumes worn by heroes in both Khon and Lakhon Nai. There are some historical differences between the two types but they have very much influenced each other from the 19th Century onwards.

There are some elements of his costume that read as modern influences which I suspect are to reflect both current tastes and also the fact that the costume was intended to be seen on screen rather than a stage.

Here we see Khem's ornate headdress, known as a chada, he has a flower garland on the right side of his crown, which is the side that male characters always wear these flower pendants with heroines displaying them on the left.(Historically Lakhon Nai was only performed by women and was only for the eyes of the royal court although rules did relax in the 19th Century.)

It's hard to see in these pictures but he would usually be wearing the ornate wing shaped ear kaffa as well, which sit around the ears.

We can also see his very fine inthorn-tanu, which are those high pointed shoulder pads, worn by male characters to exaggerate their body shape.

We can see him wearing the ornate wide collar around his neck, known as a krong-kaw and a large pendant pinned to the end of the collar against his chest.

A body chain known as sangwan is then crossed around the pendant and is usually attached to an ornamental belt or just below it, at the front and back of the costume.

Khem's sangwan is a relatively simple looking version of what can be a very intricate piece of jewellery but I suspect it is because the camera will be getting a much closer look at him than an audience looking at a stage could do.

In general I think his costume is not quite as ornate and covered with detail as a stage costume often is but there is just enough there to show the luxurious nature of dance outfits without looking too much on screen.

The above picture also gives us a great look at both his hoy-na, a silk panel that hangs at the front of the costume, (here it is red and gold with gold fringe) and his hoy-kang, the silk panels that sit either side of the central hoy-na.

We also see one very modern addition - the shiny gold buttons!

Traditionally dancers are sewn into their costumes with no visible seams, a lengthy process which does run the risk of damaging the costumes every time they are stitched and unstitched.

I suspect that Apo is still partly sewn into this outfit but I imagine they wanted to give him a top that he could get in and out of more easily as he would need to be able to change constantly for filming.

I really like the design of the top, it gives both a hint of Western influence with the shape but also has a Chinese feel with the high collar and then those beautiful very Indian looking fabrics, which feels appropriate for the era and for Man Suang itself. We see it sits over the pha-nung and hoy-na etc which would not typically be the case and is why I suspect he is not also wearing a cloth belt under it as well (mentioned below.)

The red tights are also a modern addition, usually we would see bare legs and feet but they do give a very theatrical look which feels fitting for Man Suang.

From this angle we can see his pha-nung, which is a long rectangular cloth that is usually pre stitched and pleated and is wrapped around the waist and drawn through the legs to be tied in a knot at the back.

Underneath that he will be wearing a pair of sanab-plao, short trousers with deep embroidered hems that sit just below the knee.

He may also be wearing pha-pawk, which is a fabric that basically functions like hip pads to assist the pha-nung in exaggerating the body shape to create an image that mimics statues and murals depicting dancers.

Usually he would be wearing a radsa-aew, a cloth belt which is stitched into place and secures the pha-nung. I can't tell just by looking at this but I suspect he may not be given the way his clothes are lying.

We can see he is wearing a lovely cloak here that appears to be silk lined velvet.

Here we can see his embroidered sleeves, these are usually sewn on to an undershirt which also has padding sewn into it to exaggerate the shape of their chests. The decorative outer shirt is then usually sewn onto that undershirt.

Now in this picture, we see the fancy sleeves taper off to a plain red fabric at the shoulders which could indicate the presence of an undershirt but there is that clip in the trailer where Khem tugs his costume open and we see his bare chest so I don't know whether he is or isn't. Perhaps it depends on the necessity for him to be able to strip in any given scene which is totally fine by me!

We can also see his decorative golden vambraces and he is likely also wearing beads or a bracelet of rings as well. Usually more is more when it comes to dance jewellery but once again, I think they have been more restrained here.

Rings worn on the fingers are common and of course, anklets are essential.

At least they are to me ❤️

#thai dance #thai dance drama #thai dance costumes #khon #lakhon nai #thai culture #man suang #man suang fic inspiration #khem #apo nattawin #i love this costume #i want to know who designed it #give them a medal please #its perfect #does this count as #man suang meta #?#man suang costumes

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jqhotchner · 1 month

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love of my life

five

you smile as you felt arms wrap around your waist. harry kisses right below your ear as you take a small sip of your tea. you grab his hand and kiss the back of it as you both silently enjoy the birds tweeting outside before hearing tiny little feet puttering towards you.

your middle child coming into view as she wraps her arms around her fathers legs before he picks her up and kisses her cheek gently. you had already started on breakfast, waiting for your husband and kids to come downstairs so you can eat as a family.

you always loved morning with your family. your kids are your lifeline. they bring joy and peace in your life! you don’t know how you survived without them. harry gave you the perfect family and greatest life. meeting him is still one of the best days of your entire life and no one can convince you otherwise! whenever you get depressed or overwhelmed, you turned to your husband and kids and everything just seemed alright in the world.

recently it had been hectic. since harry had officially told the world about your marriage and kids, you had so many cameras following you around. it has became a bit much for you to handle, especially with you being pregnant with your twins. knowing this made harry feel like maybe he should have kept your lives private, kept you and the kids away from the limelight. harry’s scared something would happen to you or the children. you assured him that you’re all fine. no matter when or how you told the world, you’d always have people intrigued and follow you around. this is just part of the territory. he hates that you have to get use to all this. it wasn’t fair to you.

but you’re fine, happy even! you can finally hold your husbands hand in public without the fear of being caught or looking over your shoulder. it felt good to be able to show the world how happy you are with your life. if anything, this took a lot more stress off your shoulders. sure, the paps could be a bit much and you’ll never get use to being stopped by fans who adore your husband, but its so much better than watching him hold and kiss someone else. so much better!

you had your concerns in the past. of course you were frightened! you’ve seen the way harry’s fans treated the people he’s been rumored of dating, you didn’t want that to be you. but the older you got, the more you realized, people are gonna believe what they want. its nothing you can truly do to change someone’s mind. you’ll just have to accept that not everyone will like you or care for your family. as long as you have harry, may, lilah, nova, and the two babies you’re carrying, you’re set for life.

“what’s for breakfast, mamma?” delilah asked as harry sets her down in her high chair.

“mamma made blueberry pancakes!”

delilah hums in delight. blue berries are her favorite. she’d eat them nonstop if she had a choice. you gently set the plate in front of delilah after cutting it up for her. you hand her a sippy cup of orange juice and ruffle her hair before kissing the top of her head.

once you served the rest of your family, you sit right across from your husband. harry moans as he takes the first bite. you playfully roll your eyes. “that good, baby?” you smirked.

harry hums. “best blueberry pancakes ever! isn’t that right may?” maybelle hums at her father as she kicks her feet under the table and dances as she chews on her pancakes.

“see!”

“mamma’s cookin’ bestest, daddy!” delilah states. out of all your kids so far, delilah has got more of an english accent. harry said it’s because you craved a lot of english dishes while pregnant with delilah.

“i agree baby! mamma makes the best food ever!”

“better than frozen nuggies!” may buts in. you smile at your family. thanking whoever, rather that be a god or not! they meant the absolute world to you.

“thanks, my loves!”

harry reached his hand out for you to grab. he gently caresses your hand as he smiles at you lovingly.

“may we go to the park, daddy?!”

“pawk?!” nova head lifts up at the mention of park. you and harry laugh. “i don’t know! what do you think, babe? should we take our little nuggets to the park today?” he was mostly asking so you could check the weather.

you opened your phone as you find the weather channel app before clicking on it. seeing it was gonna be a sunny day you hummed. “i think we can manage that!”

“yay! wanna wear my new polka dress, mamma!” delilah states.

sure, things were different now, but all this was definitely worth it!

if you wanna be added/unadded to taglist, please let me know

taglist:

@harryspirate @sleutherclaw

#harry styles x black!reader #harry styles x you #harry styles x reader #harry smut #harry styles fake ig #jqhotchner #jqhotchner masterlist #love of my life jqhotchner #harry styles x fem!reader #harry styles x y/n #harry styles imagine

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snappingthewalls · 1 year

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#graffiti #mycelium studios #brunswick #pawk

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ammonitetestpatterns · 2 months

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effervescent bubblegum, rubbing fluid air by its concave expansion, sugar embossed embouchure.

#nang nang #audio #pop in whistle resinburn

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droughtofapathy · 25 days

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Cabaret's Shifting Lead Placement

Welcome to another rambling theatre history lesson with DroughtofApathy. Today we're going to examining the fascinating history of Cabaret's ever-changing lead roles.

Ground rule: Tony eligibility for Lead Actor/Actress is first determined by "above-the-title" billing in the show's opening night Playbill. It was a far stricter guideline in the past, as you'll see. These days, many lead roles aren't put above the title (ex. Hadestown, Kimberly Akimbo, etc.) but will be placed in lead categories either because it's obviously a lead, or because producers lobby for it. Conversely, actors can have "above-the-title" billing and be in featured roles, usually because they're major names like Angela Lansbury and Elaine Stritch, who were both Madame Armfeldt in the 2009/2011 revival of A Little Night Music. In which case, producers will usually submit them as featured.

When Cabaret opened on Broadway in 1966, Jill Haworth (Sally), Jack Gilford (Herr Schultz), and Bert Convey (Cliff) got top billing with Lotte Lenya (Fraulein Schneider) in the coveted "and" slot just below. Note who's missing. That's right. When the show premiered, Joel Grey (Emcee) was just a regular old featured role.

Left: opening night playbill billing. Right: post-Tony rebilling with Joel Grey's ascension.

At the 1967 Tonys, Jack Gilford (Herr Schultz) and Lotte Lenya (Fraulein Schneider) were nominated as Leading Actor/Actress, respectively, while Joel Grey and Edward Winter (Ernst Ludwig) were both in Featured. Jill Haworth (Sally) was not nominated, but would have been eligible for Lead as she had "above-the-title" billing. At the time, Joel Grey was just another working actor. Not so after Cabaret. His performance elevated both the role and his billing, thus transforming the Emcee into a Leading Role from then on.

Subsequent productions would focus more on Sally and the Emcee, while Schultz and Schneider (and the non-singing Cliff) would become featured roles. However, the "above the title" Tony ruling was far stricter back in the day, leading Sally (this time Alyson Reed) to once more be featured in the 1987 revival.

Left: opening night Playbill billing. Right: poster billing

In 1987, Joel Grey was given the sole "above-the-title" billing with Alyson Reed in the next featured spot. Though Sally was, like 1966, technically a lead role, she was nominated in featured at the Tonys that season. (Grey was not eligible as he was reprising his role.) In this production, Regina Resnik (Schneider) and Werner Klemperer (Schultz) both got fancy featured billing and nominations in their respective categories. As Cliff, Gregg Edelman got the "and" billing, but in this case it was less elevated than either Resnik or Klemperer (note the boxes). Edelman was still early-career at this point, and not yet a "name" but Cliff was still considered an elevated role in the company.

By 1998, however, the roles as we currently think of them had finally slotted into place. Alan Cumming (Emcee) won for Best Actor, Natasha Richardson (Sally) for Best Actress and Ron Rifkin (Schultz) for Featured Actor. Mary Louise Wilson (Schneider) was nominated in Featured Actress. Richardson also received left-side billing, as she was a larger name (arguably) than Cumming at the time.

Left: opening night Playbill billing. Right: lobby poster billing

But though nominations seemed to make sense, it still didn't jive with billing placement. In the 1998 production, Richardson, Cumming, and Rifkin all had "above-the-title" with Wilson in the featured "and" slot. Despite this placement, Rifkin went in for Featured. Producers can lobby the Tony committee for actor placement if they think it fitting, and these days we're a lot more fast-and-loose with the definitions. Note however, how Wilson has "above-the-title" billing in the lobby board. This was presumably a contractual renegotiation that happened post-Tonys. Note how Denis O'Hare (Ernst) and Michele Pawk (Kost) have their own line below John Benjamin Hickey (Cliff). All three were/are modest, but known, names in the theatre world, about equal to one another, at least at the time.

By 2014, the old couple (Schultz and Schneider) no longer would get top billing. Alan Cumming only built upon Joel Grey's foundation to fully elevate the Emcee role into the undisputed leading man, with Sally the star-vehicle leading lady. Between the 1998 and up until the recent revival, the older couple's story--and Cliff's importance--had taken a backseat.

Left: opening night Playbill billing. Right: poster billing.

In 2014, the revival won no Tonys, but was nominated for both Featured Actor and Actress (Danny Burstein and Linda Emond, respectively). Cumming was not eligible as, like Joel Grey before him, he was reprising his role. This time, with a Tony in his pocket, and a much bigger name than 16 years prior, he got left-side billing. Emond and Burstein received equal line billing below the title, with Emond getting the left. Though they were roughly equal in the theatre world, and Burstein had a slight edge in terms of Tony noms, I'd guess Emond got the left owing to her larger screen presence/notoriety. In the poster, Bill Heck (Cliff) is left out of featured billing entirely, as are Aaron Krohn (Ernst) and Gayle Rankin (Kost).

Now we come to our latest revival, number four. Though it's still too early for nominations, we can assume Eddie Redmayne (Emcee) and Gayle Rankin (Sally) will be leads with all others featured. Historically, Schultz and Schneider are roles that receive nominations, and the Emcee a role that wins. Will that hold in a wildly over-crowded season?

Left: first preview Playbill insert. Right: billing poster outside the theater.

Once more deviating from past productions, the roles of Cliff (Ato Blankson-Wood), Ernst (Henry Gottfried), and Kost (Natascia Diaz) are plucked back out of the company to be given featured billing. This time, Steven Skybell (Schultz) is on even footing with Cliff, even slightly under with his right-side billing. This would be the least "elevated" billing any Schultz has ever gotten. Skybell is a respected theatre veteran but not quite a household name, even in theatre circles. Blankson-Wood, meanwhile, is a recent Tony nominee. It's all politics when it comes to billing.

Here, Bebe Neuwirth (Schneider) is given the coveted "and" poster billing, no surprise. Of the featured roles, she's inarguably the biggest name. A few decades ago, that might have been enough to get her above the title, but these days it's less common that a solidly featured role would get that (unless you're Patti LuPone in Company, and Bebe doesn't have quite the same sway or ego).

This, to me, seems like the most obvious case of industry politics and agent negotiation at play, and usually actors (and egos) aren't even involved in the conversation. Skybell and Neuwirth aren't on the same level, though their characters are. My guess here is that producers want to bill their sole two-time Tony winner separately, and Skybell's agents know he isn't big enough to dispute that.

Now, let's take a look at this marketing design. Redmayne's name is left-billed despite being above Rankin's head. While annoying for those of us audience members who might just see this as a design flaw, this is all contractual, negotiated to death. Redmayne also gets front-and-center positioning, while Rankin is in the background, off-center, but she gets left-side position, which isn't as minimizing as right-side would. Left-billing is given to the bigger name because English reads left to right. These are the kinds of things I think about when I see marketing ads and playbills.

#cabaret #cabaret broadway #history lessons with doa #ask me about the sweeney todd teaser key art please it's an even better example of contracts at play #yeah i *did* stalk the ebay pages until someone put a playbill picture up for listing i'm just that dedicated to the craft #bebe neuwirth #joel grey #alan cumming #it's 9:30 a.m. but we're going live with this because why the fuck not?

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go-river-flows · 1 year

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Sweet Visions of a flower

Summary: Syulang (OC), an orphaned girl after the destruction of Hometree. She is constanly reminded of this by her amputated left leg and constantly dreams of her deep trauma. Even when she gets adopted by Toruk Makto and his wife, who she resented for over six years before forgiving him.

Part 4 or ?

I found myself lying alone on a mat facing the tent wall. I remembered the night before, I closed my eyes wanting it to be a bad dream. I remained there as the sounds of the clan doing their chores, speaking to others and trading belongings woke me. The sound of small footsteps behind me caught my ear. Suddenly I felt a small poke in the back of my hip, then another on my shoulder blade.

“Lo’ak!” Neteyam whisper-shouted, “Kiri! Don't wake her.”

I turned onto my back, pretending to still be asleep. Two small bodies climbed onto mine when a pair of footsteps entered the tent.

“Loak, Kiri, it is not nice to do that to our guest,” Jake spoke out, I slightly opened my right eye taking a quick peek at the two before sitting up, cuddling the two of them in my arms. The two loudly squealed loudly, laughing out in shock. Jake was startled by the sudden action before laughing out loud. It wasn't long before Neteyam jumped in on the action, adding to the pile.

“I'm an angry thanator and I am going to eat you! Uhm, uhm, uhm,” I playfully mimicked eating sounds. The kids screamed playfully in tandem. Jake laughed out at the sight.

For the next few days, Neytiri, Jake and Uncle Pawk showed me around, bringing me to meet certain clan members to learn from them. Though I already knew how to do most things like weaving, picking herbal flora, hunting and tracking. Pawk even told me I was mature and ambitious for my age, much like my father. Though the looks from the other na’vi looked at me pitifully. I hated it. They think that just because of my disability I am weak and timid. I ate my dinner with the Sully family every night, and quietly watched as they chatted about their day.

One one night, Uncle Pawk invited me to eat with him and he cooked my favourite meal from when I was younger. It tasted just like my mother’s stew. I cried into my bowl as my Uncle Pawk wiped tears from my eyes. He still called me ‘little flower’ as my parents did, as Rumut did. That night I stayed in his tent, he told me stories of my parents and his adventures with my father, his best friend. I fell asleep in comfort as I cuddled with him.

The following day I went down to the forest floor with Lo’a’s cubs. Calling for Lo’a, whistling out she approached as we found ourselves at a clearing. We spent a few hours in each other's presence as I lay on Lo’a’s back, petting her head and back. Then we went hunting, managing to hunt a lone sturmbeest, thanking Eywa for it's life and our food. When Lo’a and I managed to drag the sturmbeest carcass to the bottom of High Camp, the people who were on the rainforest ground were scared out of their tails. With me riding Lo’a, I smiled and waved to them. Their nervous expressions and hesitancy made word to Toruk Makto and Neytiri, who stood with proud smiles, though I was made to apologise to the people for scaring them. But that night they celebrated with full stomachs and cheerful chatter.

Uncle Pawk and I sat with the Sully family. As they discussed plans to keep the clan safe, I was playing with the children. Kiri braided my hair with the beads she had made that day, as I listened to Neteyam and Lo’ak, excitedly asking about Lo’a asking if they could visit her. I looked at Jake and Neytiri who simply nodded.

The next day, I took them down to the rainforest ground, where Lo’a was already waiting with her cubs. We played with her for hours as I allowed the children to bond with the cubs. I rested on Lo’a side as we both watched the children play with the cubs, falling asleep to her warmth.

Four years have passed.

I was now twenty. Growing to my full height of nine feet five, just a bit shorter than Neytiri. Accepted back into the clan, had tamed my first ikran, and nearing the end of my Warrior and Healer training. Completing my Thanator Rider rite of passage at the ripe age of seventeen, my Iknimaya at eighteen and Ikranä Maktoyu the same day. Then the Dream Hunt a month later. Jake and Neytiri, now called me ‘maite’, which means my daughter. I was overjoyed when they called me this, and I too called them Sempul and Sa’nu, which made them cry. I had a family again. I also accepted Spider as part of my family, though I never thought I would. Neteyam and Loak were like younger brothers to me. And Kiri and little Tuktirey, like younger sisters. I learnt English from Jake and some scientists that stayed with the clan. One of them, a dreamwalker called Norm, was the most interesting, speaking too formally and making bad jokes. I grew close with him too, often calling him Uncle Norm, who was completely in awe of my woven prosthetic leg. He even began to build a metal one for me using metal scraps from scavenging, though he says ‘not yet’ whenever I ask about it.

I returned to my old tented canopy on my twentieth birthday, it hadn't been touched since I left it. Nor was it burnt down by the scorching embers. Even my preservatives remained in the hole I dug for them. Though they have basically become alcohol, I smelt them and took a small sip, laughing at the taste. My sixteen year old self was wild. I found an empty basket and retrieved everything from the hole. Even dumping out rotten food, I collected old baskets used for washing cleaning cloths, or collecting fruits or storage, I took it all with me. I even took some time collecting some puffballs and some other fruits that grew nearby for my family. Tying everything onto the carrier, I hopped onto my ikran, Azui, an almost black coloured ikran with light blue patterns. And we returned back to High Camp. I ended up trading the baskets with the rest of the clan who were grateful for them. Entering the Sully tent with fruits for them. I opened the old preservatives, taking a sip of the sludge as Jake and Neytiri watched in confusion and curiosity. I handed it to them as they smelt it, their expressions changing into shock.

“It's like…wine,” Jake looked at me in shocked awe, “Alcohol. Um…Something you drink that makes you light headed, elevates your heart rate…hung over,” he laughed out loud, trying his hardest to describe it. Neytiri smacked her husband and started berating me.

“Where did you get this?” Jake laughed harder now. The children looked at us weirdly, confused at what was going on.

“You know that hole I dug near my old canopy, yeah there! I dug it up when I went to pick up my things,” I confessed in giggles, taking it from Jake’s hand, “I have more in that basket.” Pointing to it next to the entrance. Jake snatched the small woven container from my hand, throwing it's contents back in his mouth. Oh no! I covered my mouth in shock. That night Sa’nu had to baby her husband as me and the other children watched in amusement. (Yeah he got drunk off his butt.)

When I get time alone, I’ll climb up to the top of our floating island to my usual quiet spot. Often reminiscing about my parents, but when I try to remember their faces, all I see are Jake and Neytiri’s. I do miss them, but where I lost my parents, I gained new ones. I was the only child of my birth parents, I didn't have brothers and sisters like many other families. But now I have five siblings. I wear my sa’nu, sempul and Rumut’s necklaces together as a reminder of them. When I was a kid, I was closed off, especially after my parents died, and I left the clan. I had to rely on myself to survive, and I did for six years. I didn't know what it meant to be an older sister, to be a friend, to be a daughter. But when I gained the family I have now, I had to learn all these things. I struggled a bit at first, but Neytiri, Jake and Uncle Pawk were there every step of the way. Uncle Pawk trained me for my rites of passage, taking the role of mentor and substitute father, I wouldn't be here without him. He was also like a friend to me, and for that I am grateful for him. My siblings, despite being nearly ten years older than them, treated me as one of them. I played with them when they asked, ran with them, flew with them, went on many adventures, whilst being the young adult to reel them in when they got too out of hand. Taking the responsibility when the children managed to talk you into trouble, whilst still being understanding, I too was a child once, and possibly worse. But since then I mellowed out from my angsty teenage self, making it easier for Jake and Neytiri as I was a voice of reason for Lo’ak. He got in less trouble as a result, which I think was good, but he still managed to make some trouble. Less, but still.

Another four years later

I rode Lo’a as the band of hunters ambushed the long metal train. I was on lookout when Jake called out for me to keep my eye on Neteyam and Lo’ak, but mainly Lo’ak.

The boy was troublesome, a bit of a blockhead. Making a mess he went. They were supposed to be on their ikrans keeping their eyes in the sky. But Lo’ak wanted to get closer to the action. Noticing that they were now on the ground, I urged Lo’a to move closer to them.

“Lo’ak! You should not be here,” I growled at him.

“See, I told you so,” Neteyam grabbed his brother’s shoulder.

“Get back on your ikran,” I slid off Lo’a pulling them away, taking the gun from Loak’s hands, “Go.”

Lo’a roared out looking to the sky before we could see it. The sound of a metal bird alerted us, as it started shooting flaming bullets. I pushed Neteyam and Loak away.

“Run!” Turning my attention to the metal bird. Taking the wrist of the na’vi man next to me, we ducked from the explosions, Lo’a taking off. When all of a sudden a large bullet-like object flew directly at us, I threw myself over the closest brother, Neteyam, throwing my arms around him, in front of my towering figure. The explosion that followed, was closely next to us, launching me and neteyam head first into a pile of rocks and rubble, knocking me out.

“–Tsmuke! Tsmuke!” Nete shook my shoulders, waking me up with his yells, my head felt like it was splitting. Sempul Jake quickly found us in the rubble, I looked down seeing my false leg shattered and splintering.

“Shit! Imma get you outta here,” Jake carried me as Neteyam rushed to his ikran, he took off as Jake brought me to his ikran, Bob. Quickly climbing on Bob’s back, we took off back to High Camp. Jake steadied the back of my head with his hand feeling the wetness of blood, he slowly moved his hand to check as sanguine coloured his skin. Oh shit, he cursed. I faded in and out of consciousness, as I fought to stay awake.

Jake tried keeping Bob steady but fast to quickly get us home. As soon as we landed, he carefully held me as he carried me to Mo’at, passing by Neytiri who gasped in fear.

“Ma Syulang,” was all I heard her say, fighting to keep my eyes open.

Waking up on a familiar mat, my head rang in pain. Clutching it, Kiri and Tuk’s face came to my peripheral, her worried face relaxed as she sighed.

“Oh, ma tsmuke,” she breathed out.

“Kiri,” I whispered out, suddenly sitting up noticing my brothers were not beside me, “Nete! Lo’ak! Ugh…” I clutched my side looking down and I noticed wrapping just under my chest.

“Woah woah woah, lie back down, you were badly injured,” Kiri lightly guided my back down, “They're fine. Dad’s pissed, but they're fine.”

“I’ll go get Dad,” Kiri stood up and left the tent, little Tuktirey remained by my side. She gently leaned onto my body, hugging me as I stroked her hair. She did the same to me. Not a minute later, Sempul returned with the two boys in tandem, Kiri close behind.

“Sit,” he commanded them. I slowly raised my upper body, Tuk helped guide me up as Kiri came to my right.

“Apologise to your sister,” Jake demanded. The two boys winced at his tone.

“Sorry Syulang.”

“Sorry Syulang. It was m–” Neteyam was about to take responsibility, when Jake cut him off.

“No. Lo’ak has to take responsibility, not you Neteyam.”

“It was my fault, I should have listened to you…and Neteyam. I'm sorry,” Lo’ak apologised.

“Your sister could have died, do you understand that? You’re lucky that sh–”

“Sempul, don't say that,” I interjected, not wanting the boys to feel even more guilty than they already are. I looked at the stump on my left leg. “I'm okay now,” I gave a sympathetic smile, “Come here.” I gestured to the two boys who looked like they were about to cry. Kiri took Tuk to the side, giving the boys space to come closer. I pulled them into a hug wincing a little at the pain radiating through my chest. “It's okay, I forgive you,” giving them a kiss on their cheeks.

“Okay, that's enough,” Jake slowly exhaled. The two pulled away, quietly leaving the tent. Jake waited a beat before moving closer. He knelt next to me, bringing me into a gentle embrace. “I thought I was going to lose you, babygirl.”

I chuckled lightly, “You can't get rid of me that easily,” I joked back.

“I'll never let that happen,” he gently placed his hand on my cheek, rubbing it with his calloused hand. He kissed the top of my head before lowering my back down on the mat carefully, “Get some rest.”

I closed my eyes, concentrating on my breathing. I tried to control my breathing to ease the pain from my ribs and my head. I managed to stay perfectly still like a strange comatosed mummy. But I still found it hard to fall asleep. I had been having the same nightmare for years; about waking up next to my burning Hometree, crawling alone in the ash covered surroundings, about my old Olo’eyktan, Eytukan. But in the dream he was alive and walking, he would always find me and carry me away from the burning Hometree. I was ten again, small and fragile. I spoke to Mo’at about these dreams, she always tells me the same thing, that our Olo’eyktan is always with us, she is always grateful that the memory of her husband lives on in me. I thought I was going to have that same dream again, but this one was different.

I was walking amongst the greenery, picking up herbal flora for medicine with Lo’a by my side, keeping me safe. She was disturbed by something further away and started growling after sniffing the air. I smelt it too, like a strange odour permeating the air, it smelt like a group of Na’vi, but was off. I connected my queue to Lo’a, feeling and seeing what she was seeing, a group of Na’vi wearing human clothing carrying the same slaughtering weapons from fifteen years ago. I dropped my basket, climbing onto Lo’a’s back, we took off in that direction. I asked Lo’a to slow and sneak closer, keeping quiet, observing the group's movements through Lo’a’s incredible eyesight. A small movement catching my eyes, Lo’ak and Spider. I growled silently. Thankfully I was wearing my communicator around my neck. I pressed it, quietly announcing my presence.

“Lo’ak, you are in so much trouble. I see you!” I whisper-shouted. His expression suddenly became very nervous.

“Tsmuke, where are you?” Lo’ak whispered back.

“A mile east from you, skxawng. I'm with Lo’a. There's trouble, a band of trespassers near the old shack,” I warned him, “they’re close by to you, get away quickly. I’ll call in to father.”

“I hear you, Syulang,” Jake’s voice cuts into my earpiece almost immediately, “Lo’ak, is anyone else there with you?”

When two other familiar faces popped into view, I mentally cursed. Dammit Lo’ak! Kiri and Tuk. What are you thinking?

“I'm with…Spider, and Kiri…and Tuk,” he confirmed. I growled at the moron. I was thankful I had my three knives on me.

“Okay, I'm coming to you. Syulang go back to High Camp, you’re still injured.”

“But dad, I'm the closest–”

“That's an order, I don't want you to fight.”

Deciding to listen to Dad, I ordered Lo’a to retreat, heading back to High Camp. I did pick up the basket of herbal flora as we returned. I waited in the healing tent, treating some na’vi who had accidentally cut themselves falling over a sharp rock. Later, Neteyam entered the healing tent with Lo’ak and Kiri, as they joined me at my side, I checked them over, only finding minor injuries. But Spider was not among them, Kiri started crying that they took him.

I woke up confused at the strange dream. It was different to my usual nightmares, it felt very real, almost as if Eywa gave me vision. Something that had never happened before. I think my brush with death is just having a strange effect on me. Later in the day when Mo’at made a visit, I told her about my dream and how it felt so real, and the strange lingering feeling as if something was wrong. She listened and when she helped me drink some medicine she suggested something strange. Confirming my suspicions.

“I believe Eywa has given you a vision. You should tell your family about your dream, it might dissuade their actions,” ‘their’ probably meaning Lo’ak’s, I rolled my eyes, but agreed.

That night during dinner, I was sitting between Kiri and Tuk as we ate, wondering how to tell the family as they were in the middle of conversation. When Dad noticed my wary expression. He lightly tapped my knee, grabbing my attention.

“What's wrong?” he asked.

Oh, maybe I should tell him now?

“I had a strange dream last night, but it didn't feel like a dream…” I began, he frowned his brow in confusion as I started to tell him about it. As I told him about the events and specifically where, Lo’ak’s ears perked up, suddenly tense. His older brother looked at him confused.

“Uh…” Lo’ak interrupted, “I was thinking about going down into the forest tomorrow.” Which caught me and the family off guard. Quiet fell around us.

“Maybe it's just a coincidence?” Neteyam suggested.

“I believe Syulang,” Kiri piped up, “Mo’at has visions like these, maybe that head injury triggered something. Like a trauma response.”

My ears perked up, maybe it is connected to something from my past.

“Do you remember anything else in particular about the dream?” Jake asked.

I tried thinking deeper about it, racking my brain to pick up something that I unconsciously picked up. Closing my eyes to concentrate, still holding the bowl and spoon in hand. I was back in the strange dream. My tsaheylu connected to Lo’a’s I could see the strange clothing. Concentrating harder on my enhanced hearing I could faintly hear their voices, English. I started saying what I was hearing out loud.

“Eclipse…Looking for Jake…Traitor…RDA…Kill him…” my eyes shot open, seeing my family’s shocked expressions. Their eyes wide like saucers. Jake dropped his empty bowl and suddenly got up, rushing in the direction of the science lab. Sa’nu leaned over to the boys saying something in a hushed tone. Kiri placed a hand on mine looking at me with a worried expression. Tuk climbed into my lap wrapping her little arms around my torso, her scared expression as she clutched on tightly made me feel protective over her. We finished eating and sempul had not returned. The other children went into the tent to discuss what the vision meant. While Neytiri and I cleaned up the bowls, sempul returned, asking me to follow him. Sa’nu took the bowls from my hands, gesturing to me to go with him.

Sempul Jake helped me up and guided me to see Uncle Norm, in his human form, and Doctor Patel who was up and pacing a bit. They turned their attention to me when we arrived.

Soon I was in a strange machine, it was loud and uncomfortably small (like an MRI, but small, for humans). They quickly explained to me what they were about to do.

“So this machine scans brain activity, sometimes we use it to run simulations of memories and we can see them from out here, we want to see if there is any brain trauma from your accident yesterday,” Norm explained as quickly as he could.

The loud thumping was a bit scary at first, my tail twitched in anxiety. It wasn't supposed to take long, when Norm’s voice cut through the loud machine.

“Okay, I want you to think about that dream.”

Lightly exhaling, I closed my eyes. Thinking about collecting herbal flora, about Lo’a’s reactions, making the bond and seeing the group of strangers, hearing their voices, seeing their strange clothing, Lo’ak’s voice, Jake’s voice. My head felt like it was splitting into two. Those words “Eclipse…Looking for Jake…Traitor…RDA…Kill him…” and the pain worsened. I started yelling out in agony. But the vision continued, I felt like I was much closer, seeing their attack, holding Lo’ak, Spider, Kiri and Tuk hostage. Jake, Neytiri and Neteyam arrive to rescue them. Spider falling. The faces of the trespassers, flashes of ten year old me, Hometree burning, Eytukan dead, even Tsu’tey who had died in battle, something I’ve never seen before. It was too overwhelming, too agonising. Tears furiously falling.

“Shut it down! Shut it down!” Jake yelled over my screaming. The loud machine suddenly turned silent, and I could feel a wet sensation dripping from my nose as I panted heavily. Jake pulled me out from the machine, noticing blood dripping from my nose. The horrified face of Spider came into view. Jake pulled me into a hug, cupping my face as Norm handed Jake a cloth to wipe my nose. I wept into Jake’s chest as he wiped the blood, gripping me tightly. Mo’at stormed in after hearing my screaming. Her gentle voice calmed me down a little.

“Hush, my little flower,” she patted the back of my head. Jake pulled my weeping self into his chest, his arm scooped up my legs carrying me to Mo’at’s tent, leaving me in her care. I felt like that little scared girl again, lost in the ashen wasteland of my fallen home. Spider alerted Kiri, who soon entered the tent rushing to my side.

“Tsumuke! What happened, Grandmother?” Kiri questioned in distress.

“She had another vision. Stronger and stranger. Eywa is showing these visions to her for a reason,” Mo’at held me in her arms, lightly patting my head to calm me down as the tears didn't cease. Neytiri soon entered after hearing what happened from Spider, extremely concerned for her oldest daughter. Her seeing my tear stained cheeks broke her heart. Kneeling next to Kiri she reached to hold my hand, whispering in a soothing voice.

“Sa’nu,” I called out to her.

“Oh my sweet flower,” she kissed my hand gently, reaching out to wipe my tears.

That night I hid in the back of High Camp, in a quiet area where no one went. Just wanting to be alone for once, in silence. Knowing that everyone in High Camp probably heard all the screaming, I was there in either embarrassment, pity or fear. Or maybe all of the above? I somehow managed to crawl there like a wounded animal without being seen. Curling myself into a ball, just wanting to be alone. If I had my false leg, I would have climbed to my usual spot on this floating mountain.

My ears twitched when I caught a sound. A gentle voice coaxed me to peak my head out. It was Norm, in his avatar. Holding a metal version of my false leg and a strange cloth.

“Hi,” he greeted, pausing awkwardly, “Uh…I wanted to give this to you, but I couldn't find you til now,” He sat down next to me, holding it out. It was a dark blue with light blue accents. He looked proud of it. “I designed it based on the colour of your thanator and the pattern of your ikran,” he lightly smiled, “Here, I’ll show you now to put it on.”

I slowly uncurled my body, sitting up. Norm moved closer.

“This is a protector for your leg,” He said first, sliding it on my stump, “This is where you insert your leg, and this is the cuff,” he pointed to the different parts of the artificial leg, then helped me put it on. It felt like my woven false leg but this was more robust, stronger and agile. The ankle joint moving with a light buzz, the toes wiggled a bit when I thought about moving them.

“Thank you Norm,” I said in English. His ears perked happily at the English.

“Oh no, it was my pleasure. Anything to help a friend in need, plus I loved making it! Max helped me with some parts, and the electrical impulses from your brain can actually move your ankle and feet through your leg, which is really cool,” He rambled, a proud smile spread on his face. I pulled him into a hug, eliciting an ‘Oh’ from him. He patted my shoulder in a kind gesture. He took his leave not long after as I curled back into a ball, returning to my original position facing the stone wall, now with an extra limb, I thought of wiggling my toes again and they moved. Something my woven one never did.

“Hey Norm, have you seen Syulang?” a voice asked in the distance.

“Uh…” he hesitated, “Yeah, she’s back there. But I think she wants to be left alone,” he told the other person.

“Oh,” they said, “Thanks man. See ya around.”

I could hear them walking my direction, but stopping short a few feet away, then approaching again til they were right next to me. I could hear shuffling, as the person laid down next to me, wrapping their strong arms around my curled body. I peaked my head out meeting Jake’s eyes. I turned back around, not wanting to see his face at that moment. I could feel his eye boring into the back of my head, he used his other hand to unwrap the bandage around my head, removing the gauze to check my head wound.

“It's healing well,” he muttered as he edged closer. Engulfing my body in a warm embrace, we laid in silence before he spoke again, “I've talked to Lo’ak, told him to stay in High Camp tomorrow. Kiri, Spider and Tuk are also staying. But, I'm heading out,” I turned to face him now.

“Are you going to the old shack?” I questioned, already knowing the answer. He nodded his head, pulling me into his chest. “Please don't go, those bad people want to kill you. I don't want to lose another father, another Olo’eyktan,” I told him. “I’ll bring some warriors with me, don't worry. Nothing is going to happen to me. Look after the kids, especially Lo’ak,” he reassured, though a part of me thinks he’s lying. He kissed the top of my head. I melted into his comforting voice and heart beat, relaxing my tense body, a reminder that we’re still alive. Falling asleep right there.

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