#the role of prince stands in contrast to their personalities

[xiaowhore]

lights, camera, action!

premise. in which you get yourself involved in a lot of unscripted drama. (genshin celebrity au.)

includes. xiao, childe, albedo, ayato, scaramouche, thoma & kazuha.

previous episode. watch here.

note. the long-awaited sequel nobody actually waited for lmao. please read part 1 if you still haven't! this entire fic would be incomprehensible otherwise :'D

四 ; ayato, the cannon fodder

although xiao is, with absolute certainty, regarded as your definite favorite celebrity in your heart, ayato comes a close second.

he's a modern day prince; if anyone were asked to say which male lead they liked best, you can guarantee their answer would be among one of his roles.

he played a lot of characters—a school heartthrob, a ceo, a bar owner, and even an actual prince for a snow white retelling. each one with stellar execution, as you'd expect from an actor of his caliber.

so it is to your absolute horror to find him casted in this production as a minor villain. the one that happens to (futilely) seduce the journalist to bed, no less!

is he asking to get his image destroyed?! which... actually does make sense. he's already been typecasted as the “prince” type of male lead, and you can guess how frustrating that can be. it must suck to play one persona over and over, mindlessly spouting recycled lines; not much room for creativity there.

but he's had different roles too, of course. one that stuck to your mind is another murder mystery, a film focusing on the death of a family head. the power struggle for the place of successor isn't a secret even to the public, and the prime suspects are primarily composed of the victim's relatives who stand to benefit from the family head's death.

ayato played the role of the first son, believed to be the one most likely to inherit the riches. which means the sooner the family head dies, he gets to have all the assets. he's suspicious due to his probable motive, but overly so that it's too obvious; ironically enough, this leads the audience to think he definitely couldn't be the killer.

except he is exactly that, but for a reason nobody would expect. rather than greed, the first son murdered his father for driving his biological mother to madness due to abuse and then sent her to a psychiatric ward, where she eventually died. he took in a second wife, a woman only after his money, who kept on pressuring her husband to make her daughter his successor.

contrary to popular belief, ayato's character didn't loathe his step-sister. in fact, he cared about her quite a bit, and his hate for his father grew whenever he scorned her for being “lacking” or “good for nothing.” his scummy personality led to his demise.

in the end, the step-mother was wrongly arrested, and the true murderer wasn't revealed until after the credits, where ayato was shown sitting at his father's desk and laughing to himself, followed by a scene detailing how the actual murder took place and how he tricked the investigators successfully.

the contrast between his acting as a shallow young master and a cunning mastermind had been praised by many. to tell the truth, you don't know how he was typecasted as a prince when he's clearly more suited for “villain” roles.

...even so, his current role isn't anything like the previous one! a cannon fodder and a genius murderer are nowhere near alike! he's only there to make the protagonist jealous and his character is fated to die one week after the scene with the journalist!

you suppose your disbelief must've shown on your face when each actor's respective role was announced because he couldn't help but chuckle when he looked at you.

“...by any chance, did you audition for the murderer role? because- it's hard to believe that-” you struggle to piece together words, rambling while ayato is busy signing his autograph on your phone case. (as luck would have it, you don't have paper on you. you said he could sign the back of your shirt but he politely declined, insisting the shirt would get dirty like you aren't planning to get it framed on your bedroom wall and declare it your heirloom.)

you don't even feel shy talking to him from the sheer incredulity of the situation. ayato only laughs as he hands you your phone case. “i did. but it turned out getting a minor role is a good thing since i'm planning to be on vacation soon.”

“oh. that's understandable, then...” barely. you still have complaints about it. as an actor, you respect the director's decisions, but as a loyal fan, you oughta give him a talking to and demand to give your idol the role he deserves.

“do you dislike it?”

your brows knit together, eyes momentarily leaving your now prized phone case to glance at him. “dislike what?” dislike that you're treated like this? that you have to act as a brainless villain? that you don't get much screentime? then fuck yeah.

“dislike that you're going to do that scene with me.” almost bashful, he leans closer to whisper to your ear. “you know. the one in the hotel.”

all the blood in your body rushes to your cheeks. impishly, ayato's lips curl into a smile of mischievous nature, a far cry from the elegant simper he usually holds. “i... that isn't what i... no, i mean it's not that i don't like you as my partner, but- but-!”

sufficiently entertained by your fumbling, he stops being mean and lightly pats the top of your head. “let's both do our best. truthfully, i'm not the most adept with bedroom scenes, but if you need help, you can always rely on me.”

rely how exactly?!

...

“is it too tight?”

“um... a little.”

“okay. is this better?”

“yes. am i too stiff?”

“mhm, a bit. you don't have to be nervous. it's just me.”

ah yes. it's just THE kamisato ayato pinning you down your bed, breathing down your neck, moments away from stealing your lips. nothing to worry about, clearly.

he adjusts his grip on your wrists, loosening it to your liking. his character is meant to push you down forcibly, but of course he doesn't want to actually harm you during filming—to prepare before the shoot, practice is of utmost importance. you have to give the illusion of an aggressive assault when in reality he's handling you like a piece of glass.

but you're doing this right after a day's work, and you have to blame your stupid mouth for running off without command and casually asking him if he could visit your apartment to go over the scene. in late hours of the night. in what can be interpreted as a much more scandalous suggestion.

thankfully, you're not dealing with childe so you're spared from wiggling eyebrows or phrases with flirty implications.

but him being ayato doesn't make it any easier.

“don't you feel embarrassed making out on screen...?” you laugh awkwardly in an attempt to ignore the weird tension in the air, slightly overwhelmed by his intense gaze. “i know you've done this several times, but i imagine the awkwardness never wears off.”

“not quite,” he agrees. “but a job is a job... i say that, but i'd like to make it comfortable for you, if possible. how are you faring? do you need a break?” he sits up, allowing more distance in the space between you. you shake your head.

“i'm fine. just... nervous. it's my first time doing a bedroom scene...” you look off to the side, staring at the lights beyond your window. though you're in the comfort of your own room, having an unfamiliar man on your bed makes it all feel so strange.

...as you thought, it really was weird to invite a co-actor to your bed! eh? would booking a hotel be better? but isn't it overboard to go to a hotel for practice? inviting him to your apartment is equally as bad, though?!

“all the cameramen watching can be pressuring,” he adds in afterthought, releasing one of your wrists only to pin them with a single hand. you flinch a little when his fingers skim over your cheek, but you slowly relax into the heat. “it's best if you try to forget about them.”

“i'm afraid that's easier said than done,” you murmur, voice growing weaker as he leans down once more.

“really? i consider myself a decent kisser.” he grins, sly and confident. “i'm certain i can keep other things off your mind for a while.”

“wh- i'm not supposed to enjoy it, remember?!” you squawk indignantly with flushed cheeks.

“oh? my bad.” he relishes in your reaction, chuckling lowly. “you'll have to work hard acting like you don't like it, then.”

his lips hover above yours, breaths mingling with each other. the proximity catches you off guard but his hand is a steady weight holding you in place, urging you to look at him.

“don't think about anyone else. just focus on me.”

五 ; scaramouche, the best friend

“fantastic. i was also looking forward to a drama adaption but you've already ruined it for me.”

“that's not nice! you're supposed to congratulate me for passing the audition!”

“my courtesy towards you has already expired 5 years ago.”

“yes. you've made that very apparent.”

“have i also made my ire apparent? it's like the universe is telling me seeing you everyday isn't enough, i have to see you on television too. frankly, we see too much of each other.”

“you say that but you're the one coming over my apartment uninvited.”

“this is where i store my beer.”

scaramouche has a perfectly functional fridge so you know he's only doing that as an excuse. he's been this way for 8 years. (of course, he'd only been storing milk at your house when you were both still underage.)

(the milk didn't do any favors for his height, unfortunately.)

his words are as harsh as ever but believe it or not, he's your closest friend. not that he'd ever admit it, even at gunpoint. it's a feat you should add to your resume, honestly, because as far as you know, you're one of the few people he doesn't hate.

he tolerates you enough that he can practice your lines with you (with enough pressure), though he delivers his part of the script with such dispassion it makes it difficult for you to get into the mood. but in his own brand of patience, he lets you reiterate your lines an endless amount of times until you feel like you get it right.

he helps you with expressions too, albeit in a manner you find hard to appreciate.

“you look like you're constipated, not about to cry.”

“your jaw is hanging open. want to catch a fly with your tongue? act like you caught your husband cheating, not like you're about to eat half my burger when you said you'd only take a bite.”

(personal grudges were involved.)

he's not interested in the film industry at all, but he was the one who pushed you to pursue your dreams when everyone else was discouraging you from taking an unstable career. he's your pillar of support; even if he's glaring at you scathingly or giving cutting words matter-of-factly, he's all bark and no bite. the moment you shed tears, he's already pulling you to his chest, remaining silent as he rubs comforting circles on your back. he doesn't even complain when you bury your face to hide in his neck, soaking his shirt with tears.

underneath all that layers, he's pretty nice.

(admittedly, you have to dig real deep.)

when you're smiling and happy, however, he takes the chance to complain. sneering, he blurts, “what's up with you taking roles in romance dramas all the time? besides, you're way too old to be in high school.”

“i still look fresh.” you batted your eyelashes at him, celebrating inwardly when he made a scandalized noise. “but i'm auditioning for a different role soon. if i get it, you'll see me as a murder victim instead of a high schooler.”

two weeks later, you get the e-mail confirming the love interest role. scaramouche goes so pale you consider taking him to the hospital.

“i know the journalist is your favorite character, but aren't you overreacting? do you hate me acting as them that much?”

he rolls his eyes so hard you almost think they're going to be permanently pointed heavenward. “are you stupid? that's not what i'm worried about. wouldn't you have to- you know- do that scene-”

“which one?”

“...the hotel scene...”

ah. well that certainly is a cause for concern. it's steamier than what you're used to; so far, you've only done light pecks or kisses that don't last too long. bedroom scenes are definitely foreign territory.

“i can only hope my partner is good-looking, then. i wouldn't mind it, if that's the case.” you laugh sheepishly, missing the way his eyes narrow in disapproval.

“...whatever. suit yourself.”

“don't tell me you still feel weird about kissing scenes?”

“i don't have issues with kissing scenes. i just don't want to see you sucking face on tv.”

“don't use that word! it's too vulgar!”

as part of work, it's inevitable you have to do a kissing scene here and there. scaramouche has never been fond of seeing them, turning away from the television or excusing himself to the bathroom whenever they come up. it's a reaction you can sympathize with; it is rather awkward to see your friend making out with someone on screen.

but he especially detests the old recording of your high school play.

long, long ago, you were part of the drama club. by association, scaramouche became a member as well—the pair of you were considered as a package deal. he was your practice partner so often that he got forced into joining.

he'd die before he ever tells anyone, but he had a knack for playing villains back then, specialized in wicked cackling and bone-chilling monologues reeking of depravity.

but in your final year, he got roped into playing the prince when the original actor sprained his ankle. incidentally, you happened to be playing the damsel in distress in your (pretty much unrecognizable) rendition of sleeping beauty.

“why is the prince shorter than-” before you could end your statement, he already slammed your face with the script.

the play was a hot mess. scaramouche couldn't play a decent prince for the life of him, so your club made the play a comedy and reworked the entire script to fit him better. the valiant and heroic character became satirical, forced into saving you not for love but to fulfill a prophecy that definitely wasn't in the original sleeping beauty.

the audience was taking the change well, intrigued by the bizarre twists and turns. the huffing-puffing prince was hilarious to watch, too.

it wasn't long before you laid in the casket, blinded by stage lights even with your eyes closed. the cardboard dragon had already been defeated, and the prince was fast approaching.

to your utter distaste, it was decided the prince would slap you awake. so you prepared for it when the last lines were being said, bracing for the stinging pain.

but then there was a rise in pitch, nearing to a yelp, then a loud thud, then the weight of two hands pressing on either side of your head, and-

your lips were touching something soft and warm.

the squeals and yells reverberated in the whole theater, the narrator stammering awkwardly and improvising ad libs last minute. your eyes snapped open and you'd gotten a front row seat to see scaramouche's blushing face, an explosion of pink dancing across his features.

after the play wrapped up and he peeled off the ridiculously frilly prince costume, he'd been set on destroying every record—alas, your friends weren't so keen on deleting such good footage. to this day, he still bristled at the thought of it; his and your first kiss showcased to hundreds of people.

it's harder to endure when he sees you kissing someone else, however. he never gets used to it, no matter how many times he tells himself to.

“oh, finally. it took so long for them to get together,” his co-worker groans as he watches the tv at the break room, airing the latest episode of the drama you star in. scaramouche glances at the screen, turning away when the camera flits to the boy with ashy brown hair. he's touching your face for the millionth time, bright teal eyes staring into yours so deeply scaramouche almost thinks he's actually besotted with you.

“you're not watching? i thought you liked this series?”

“i don't.”

for his own sake, he doesn't give the tv another glance, stepping out of the room.

this is fine. it's not the first time he's felt like this.

(it doesn't feel any less terrible.)

六 ; thoma, the former male lead

there are as many aspiring actors as there are stars in the sky; it's unfortunate only some of them shine brightly enough to be noticeable, and the rest twinkling weakly in miniscule dots.

for your case, and for your friend thoma's, you belong to the latter.

thoma is handsome, that much you can see with your own eyes, but a pretty face can be found anywhere in the industry—he lacks that special something that makes him stand out. that being said, you don't have it either, so you're on the same boat.

you're best pals, comrades in arms, partners in crime.

actual partners. once. for a romance drama.

(but not the main characters. just an obligatory side pairing, of course. you're the rebound for the second male lead.)

it was your first work, and you'd rather delete your existence than watch it again. hopefully, that also erases your dark history.

your... amateurish acting had been unsightly. the innocence you portrayed wasn't lovely, just a ghastly display of incoherent mumbling and lack of comedic timing. you wanted to tear apart each clip and toss it in some imaginary ditch where nobody can find it again.

thoma's performance wasn't as severe as yours. it wasn't half-bad, almost decent if not for the scant instances of awkwardness in scenes that required more emotional acting.

alas, the end product was just about what you expected; a series no one paid attention to. both a relief and a disappointment, because even if you hated it with every inch of your being, the effort you poured into practice and filming was real.

but after the drama ended, you kept in close contact with thoma, chugging down beer at dinners as you complained to each other about work. failed auditions, mistakes in filming, inability to get roles—you shared everything, and he did the same. each moment of embarrassment and each moment of breakthrough that called for a celebration, you told each other. through thick and thin, you had the other's back.

naturally, he was one of the first few people you called (second only to your manager) when you received the e-mail confirming your role as the love interest for arguably one of the most anticipated series to date.

he'd been overjoyed, above all, his elation overruling his surprise; it was a far cry from other violent reactions. (“are you sure it's not a prank?” scaramouche had said in disbelief.)

“you're finally going to be acknowledged!” gleefully, thoma chattered on, “that's the best news i've heard all year!”

and that was good. it was nice having his support. he'd been the one to give you a pep talk before you had to start rehearsals, soothing your fretful worries.

when you don't understand the essence of a particular scene, he's more than happy to help—“i'm just one call away!”

when you fumble your lines on camera, he laughs but not with mockery (a stark contrast to that little gremlin scaramouche)—“it's no big deal. you only have to do your best tomorrow.”

when you recount your experiences working with famous actors, he listens attentively—“you're starting to get along, huh?”

and then you would hesitate. it sounds like you're... bragging.

he says he's only one call away, but he's busy with his own work; still, he makes time for you. he listens whenever you complain, but he has bigger problems, ones that he doesn't say because he knows it'll dampen your mood. he has to hear about you acquainting with celebrities he can't even dream of meeting, like you're showing him the things he can't have.

you got lucky. what about him?

slowly, your face bleeds to commercials, advertisement banners, even huge outdoor LED displays on shopping malls featuring the drama cast—yet he remains as a blurry, nameless figure in the sea of aspiring actors.

he doesn't show it, doesn't even hint at it, but he must be... envious, right?

it's not hard to be. you've been in the industry for the same amount of time, began at the same starting line, yet only one of you found success, the other one left behind in the dust.

still. still. he never shows it. never stops being your biggest fan. never lets you think otherwise. he watches every episode, every interview. babbles how amazing your performance was in this scene. rambles how you did so well in this drama and he's so proud of you. smiles at how you have to wear a disguise now whenever you go out together so nobody can recognize you.

“it must be hard,” he comments as you hide in a secluded park, nearly getting found out by someone you noticed following you around. “you can't get around as freely anymore. are you okay? nobody follows you home or anything?”

always the worrier, you think. “of course not. my manager drives me around everywhere these days. you don't have to worry.”

thoma grins, plopping down at a bench. “that's a relief.”

for a moment, you just sit in silence, basking in the slight chilly air. the orange and pinks of sunset darken to streaks of blue, streetlights flickering to life.

“...did you know there are rumors of you dating xiao?”

you choke on air, coughing to your fist. “what?!” not that you feel flattered. not at all. (you've badgered xiao to come with you to the carnival last week, and then the waterpark a week before that with the rest of the cast, and- well. you suppose there's reason for people to speculate. you also wore matching animal headbands—how on earth you got xiao to do that, you're not sure either.)“why did that- how did it come to that?!”

“it's surprising for me, too,” thoma says. “if anything, i'd expect dating rumors with the actual male lead. or childe. he seems... particularly clingy.”

“albedo? there's no way he'd like someone like me.” you furrow your brows. if anything, it's only gotten awkward between the two of you ever since the confession scene. “ajax... well. i never know with him.” you honestly can't tell if he's flirting or not.

thoma laughs, eyes crinkling with mirth. “you look close with all of them. if i didn't know any better, i'd think you were acting a romance film outside of the project.”

you shudder. “if, and only if, i end up dating one of them, i'll attract all kinds of bad attention. it's not even good PR. i'd hate to think of all the fan girls who'll start cursing me, stealing their man and all that. hell, i'm not even dating anybody and i'm already being cursed.”

“i'll reply to every single mean comment and defend your honor.”

you snort. “do you even have the time for that?”

“...unfortunately, yes. i'm not receiving much work at the moment.”

oh.

fuck.

“i can... i can recommend you to the director. i heard he's starting a new project soon, so maybe-”

thoma frowns and you ground to a halt. “it's fine. i don't want you to do that for me.”

it sounds like you're pitying him. like you don't trust him to rise on his own.

but you want to help.

“is this why you look sad around me every so often?” he realizes, astonished.

“i... can't help but feel guilty,” you admit, unable to maintain eye contact. “every time i say a silly story about xiao, or ajax, or albedo, i feel like i'm showing off. every time i complain, you never try to compare, you only comfort me and never tell me about your problems. i want to do something for you, but i don't know what. i care about you, and i want you to do well because i know how talented you are. except everyone else doesn't, and i want them to see you.”

it's not fair. he's putting in the effort. the same as you are. but it's still not working out for him, and it's not fair.

“you... want to help me?”

you manage a weak nod. you hear an intake of breath, feel him shuffling closer. then he places his hand on top of your clenched fist.

“[name]. can you look at me?”

slowly, you raise your head. his green eyes are shining so brilliantly, bright emeralds gleaming in the moonlight.

yet they also seem... resigned.

“you're really nice, [name]. but you don't have to feel guilty. it's not your fault i'm still like this, and i'm already thankful you're worrying about me. i can't say that i was entirely... not jealous of what you have now, but that's just my problem. so you don't have to make that face, okay?”

he smiles, just like always. you open your mouth to respond, but then you feel that sensation again—that prickle at the back of your neck, the feeling that makes your hair stand on end.

“you're kind.” his hand cradles your cheek ever so softly, tenderly. your lashes tremble, like the flutter of a butterfly's wings. “that's why... i hope you can forgive me.”

this position is familiar. you know this, because you've experienced this before.

long long ago, just when you started your career, you'd practiced this scene with him in the dressing room—hearts pounding, hands awkwardly finding their places;

your lips brushing together in a shy kiss.

now, his fingers are carding through your hair, the closest he's ever been to you in years. you flinch, gripping his shirt, uncomprehending, and-

you hear it.

the shutter of a camera.

七 ; kazuha, the murderer

the first time you heard a complete newbie would act the murderer role, you were in disbelief.

alright, you were an unremarkable actor before your current role, but at the very least, you had experience. not only is this person entirely new to the industry, having nothing to show for himself, he's an amateur. it sounds like a recipe for disaster.

it's even more baffling when you discover ayato, THE kamisato ayato, tried for the role and didn't get it. who the hell is this newbie? someone who got in through nepotism? preposterous! the murderer is an incredibly important character to the plot, the whole series would be ruined if he turned out to be awful!

and then you see who he actually is, and oh boy, he does not look like a murderer.

he's more like a harmless bunny. fluffy white hair, round red eyes, a polite disposition—did you arrive at the wrong set, kid? maybe you were aiming for the high school romance drama and came here by mistake?

the webtoon murderer was no pretty boy. just an average-looking dude working at a convenience store nobody suspected to be the killer because of his unassuming looks, and that was the point. yet this eye-catching hottie is the complete opposite.

but everyone else in the cast is hot as hell, so maybe the murderer needs to be hot too so he can blend in??? director, what exactly did you have in mind?

“[name]!” just as you were staring at him, he turns and notices your gaze, expression immediately brightening. like an innocent baby chick, he walks up to you. “good morning.”

it's another day of rehearsals for the upcoming episode. so far, you haven't gotten to see his true skills yet—the most he's done is act like an ordinary extra part of the background and out of the limelight. it's understandable, since his character doesn't appear much until halfway through the series.

“kazuha,” you acknowledge him, still a little unused to his... general stickiness. you don't know what he found so appealing about you but he's taken to sticking by your side most of the time. childe has teased you more than once that perhaps the little chick has a crush on you.

“do you want to eat lunch together? i know a good fried chicken place.” so it's cannibalism now?

you agree to go anyway because fried chicken sounds great. plus, as much as you came to find that even celebrities are just regular people and you managed to befriend a lot of them, there's a sense of comfort in kazuha—he's the one you felt least intimidated by.

even if you text xiao for hours now, or come over to childe's house frequently, or go on food trips with albedo, or go clothes shopping with ayato and his sister, they're still people you can't get close to without boundaries. there's still a sense of distance separating you, one that you can't cross, but can happily do so with kazuha.

being with kazuha is just comfortable. there's never a need for formalities, and rather than co-workers, you feel closer to being friends.

sometimes, you feel as if you're babysitting though. he just... screams youth. holds the freshness of an amateur, clutching to naive hopes and wishes in the path of stardom. it's endearing to see, and it's like seeing a younger version of yourself.

it's a shame you've buried those naive wishes long ago, but you hope kazuha's career goes well for him. this drama will undoubtedly be a big boost for his popularity, but will also backlash on him if he performs horribly.

“this is my treat.” kazuha pushes the plate of chicken fingers to your side of the table, eyes shaped in smiling crescents.

you shake your head but take one nonetheless. “what kind of senior would i be to make you pay? order all you want, it's on me.”

kazuha doesn't pout but comes close to it, sulking as he bites on a piece of korean bburinkle chicken. “i can't tell if you're doing this on purpose.”

“doing what?”

“letting me off easy.”

...? this kid says some pretty strange things sometimes.

“i'll order some drinks. what do you want?” he offers, standing up.

“iced tea is fine.”

“got it.”

as he moves, his wallet drops on the floor. you're about to tell him so but you think better of it, already considering the possibility of kazuha sneakily paying for your meal on the counter and ordering drinks as an excuse.

you sigh, bending down to pick it up from the ground, but the wallet faces up, revealing the contents.

the first thing you see is your face.

you nearly jolt and hit your head on the table in shock, but you manage to suppress your surprise in a garbled mess of choking. this photo is... from that modeling gig you did a year ago. but why is it in kazuha's wallet-?!

you quickly put it back on the table, just in time for kazuha to arrive. he raises an eyebrow at your flustered expression but doesn't mention anything.

he makes a face seeing the wallet he forgot on the table. you were right after all.

later, as you return to set and practice ends after a few more hours, you recount the order of events to xiao, who could not be anymore uninterested at your entire spiel. perhaps childe would've made a more engaging conversation partner, but you'd rather not deal with his teasing right now.

“-and my face was right there! as his wallet photo! what the hell does that mean?!” years ago, you never could've guessed you'd ever be able to rant to xiao's face like this. yet here you are, unashamed in front of your idol.

“isn't it obvious?” xiao isn't even pretending like he's giving you his full attention anymore, preoccupied with the game console in his hands. “he likes you.”

“???”

xiao sighs, dead fish eyes looking straight at your clueless expression. “don't you have a photo of me in your wallet? that's the same thing.”

“that is certainly not the same thing! you're- xiao, and i'm just me. you're popular.”

xiao almost rolls his eyes. you're way too humble for someone who gets recognized by people on the street daily. “congrats, then. you met one of your rare fans.”

that was an unbelievable thought, before. you? having a fan? whenever you searched up your name, you couldn't find anyone talking about you. your character is different; you're looking for people who's interested in you as a person, not just your role.

now, though. you've accumulated enough fame for a fan club. several maybe, even.

... but even then. that modeling gig hadn't been successful. only someone who knew about it a year ago would know about it now, since it faded from the internet pretty fast.

as far as you know, you didn't have fans a year ago.

xiao makes a realization. “...isn't this the fourth time he invited you to lunch this week?”

“yeah?”

“.....isn't he just hitting on you then?”

now that's just not in the realm of possibility. xiao is so funny.

“he literally baked you cookies the other day.”

“friends give each other cookies, xiao. i can even make some for you if you want.”

“they were heart-shaped, [name].”

(you end up making him cookies to prove a point.)

days pass by, xiao giving you increasingly odd looks, and kazuha finally proves his worth in filming.

his performance rivals that of albedo's—the soft edges of his eyes sharpening into something menacing, gaze cold and apathetic, his lips downturned to an unfamiliar sneer. you're watching the birth of a star, and it's only a matter of time before his talent will be acknowledged.

he's different from ayato as a villain. ayato is cunning, the perfect example of a mastermind. malicious and dripping with spite. but kazuha looks innocent, a cute little bun you'd never guess can make those kind of facial expressions—twisted, vicious, malevolent.

it's part of the act, but you flinch when his character turns violent; kicking down doors, smashing glass windows with a bat. holding the extras acting as murder victims by grabbing them by the hair, throwing down cops like they weighed nothing.

and then right after that scene concludes with the director's “cut!”, with (fake) blood still splattered on his face, kazuha runs up to you grinning innocently, fishing for compliments. “did i do good?”

nevertheless, you give him headpats. “you're terrifying.”

he flushes, not too pleased giving that impression to you. the next day, he acts all sweet to you again, giving you a batch of cream puffs this time. xiao snorts somewhere in the background.

eventually, your manager notices the snacks you receive regularly. “oh, it's from that kid?”

“kazuha? mhm.” you nibble happily on the pastries.

your manager chuckles. “never thought i'd see him again here.”

“...what do you mean?” blinking owlishly, you pause from chowing down. “you know him?”

“he used to work at the bakery you went to often before, didn't he? the kid you kept telling to watch your first drama. you forced him to watch the episodes on your phone during his break.”

...............FUCK.

you do remember doing something that stupid. during the filming of your first drama, you frequently stopped by at a nearby bakery to buy snacks, and you remember there was a cute kid working there. you often pinched his cheeks and cajoled him into watching the series.

but when filming ended, you couldn't go to the bakery anymore. the filming location was far from your house, and the bakery was simply out of the way.

did that kid... kazuha... support you all this time? from that early on?

you curse your manager for telling you this right before filming. your mind is a mess, having trouble connecting that cute, precious child (why are you always calling him a kid, he's barely 2 years younger than you) to the smooth and flirty man today.

it's an important scene today too! the confrontation between the detective, his partner, and the murderer. it needs your complete concentration, and you just don't have it right now. you've never seen the director lose his temper, but you can probably manage to do it today.

albedo is performing well in front of the cameras as always, so much like a protagonist that you feel like you're watching from a television screen already. but you have a job to do too, so you do your best in the spotlight, pretending to be unaffected.

kazuha looks even scarier up close, so unhinged and unreadable. you know what his next move will be, written on the script, but that doesn't make you any less uneasy.

“you're bold,” kazuha drawls, playing with the knife in his hand, “coming to see me by yourselves.”

you can hear what he's saying, but it feels like your head is full of cotton. why are you so distracted? “so it really is you,” you speak, praising yourself for acting normally.

the other two exchange lines, and you thank the heavens you're mostly silent for the time being. for the meantime, you have a few moments to collect yourself; there's a chase right after this, and you'd rather not do something stupid like trip over yourself in the middle of something so serious.

...

sometimes, you're gifted with foresight.

but! to be fair! you did not trip over yourself! the staff forgot to fix the cables in one part of the set, and you tripped over those. so no. not entirely your fault.

albedo is too far away—he's on the side trying to unlock the doors with his brain powers somehow, and you're the bait distracting the murderer before he does. he can't catch you with his male lead in a romance drama reflexes now.

ordinarily, you would not trip over the cables. you have able eyes, and you could easily step over them. but you're at the stairs where darkness falls with each lower step, and wire cables don't exactly glow in the dark.

...you're at the flight of stairs. and you're about to fall over. FUCK. WHY DID THE DIRECTOR WANT A CHASE SCENE IN THE STAIRS.

you brace for the impact, hands outstretched, praying to at least save your face, but then in a complete break of character, kazuha reaches for you.

you're leaning too far to the edge now. there's no way to pull you back to even ground. kazuha grits his teeth, pulling you to his chest, and in an immense show of strength, twists around so he'd be beneath you.

you descend in a disgraceful tangle of limbs. you're enveloped in a warm embrace, cheek resting on a firm chest. a chin is tucked into the crook of your neck, heavy breaths tickling the skin of your shoulder.

heart pounding in adrenaline, you jolt back to action when the relief fades away and the panic settles back in. “your head-!” you scramble to touch kazuha's head, feeling for any bumps or even worse, blood. kazuha hisses, so you soften the touch, tracing over his body to check for other injuries. he became a literal mattress for you, and you crushed him under your weight. he looks so so frail, what if you permanently crippled him or somethi- what the hell is all this muscle?“what about your back? did you get sprained anywhere?”

“i'm fine,” kazuha wheezes under your caressing.

“you don't sound fine! who are you trying to fool? you didn't have to do that!” you grab his cheeks as you admonish him, frowning severely. they're as soft as ever, just as pinch-able as you remember—but you won't let that distract you now! that was very reckless of him!

bashfully, he averts his gaze, the cheeks beneath your palm growning warm and flushing with a pretty pink. “i'm not hurt. it's because you're... on top of me...”

you blink, glancing down at your position. at a proximity entirely inappropriate, you're hovering above him, straddling his hips and making no move to get away.

you scramble to scurry to the side, but his hands maintain their tight grip on your waist.

this kazuha is too different from two minutes ago! wasn't he just chasing you down the corridor in murderous intent?! now he's blushing underneath you, like a pure maiden you defiled!

what's with this soft, sugary atmosphere?! last time you remembered, this was a murder mystery drama!

(when the drama ends, you're casted for a romance college series with kazuha as the male lead. figures.)

#genshin impact #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact imagines #genshin impact headcanons #genshin x reader #genshin impact scenarios #genshin scenarios #xiao x reader #childe x reader #albedo x reader #ayato x reader #kamisato ayato x reader #ayato kamisato x reader #scaramouche x reader #thoma x reader #kazuha x reader #to make it clear for thoma's part #he set you up #remember that person following you around #yeah thoma brought that paparazzi #he was hesitating but he's desperate for success #then you said you wanted to help so he went through with the planned dating scandal

[uncomfortably-bowing]

there's so much utena discourse around certain aesthetic signatures of the show (in particular, scenes and shots like the sword pulls, the transformations and outfits, etc.) and, like, surface-level discussions over whether these things are "Actually Beautiful" or "Actually Bad."

and i totally get it, especially with regards to some scenes---like the ways in which people have taken the ending scene of episode 33 and turned into weird pastel-pretty aesthetic boards lmao----but i do feel like a lot of the discussion is over-simplistic, and disconnected from the actual framing and themes of the series

utena and anthy's world is full of beauty. it is also full of horror and pain. there is often no clear delineation between the two, and we are forced (quite generously!) to recognize both sides of this.

the sword pulls oftentimes carry feelings of manipulation, hurt, subservience. anthy summoning the sword drives in the repetitive, obedient actions she is forced to repeat time and time again for others as the rose bride. in the black rose arc, they're violent and terrifying. in the third arc, they're stand-ins of the dysfunctions the characters have with the person drawing them, the ways in which their emotions are being twisted and ignored.

and yet! they're beautiful.

they're incredibly intimate moments, in which the two characters---who, generally speaking, are either emotionally or physically estranged from one another---cradle or hold one another, pull out a culmination of that person's essence, as a heavenly light frames the two of them together. the first time anthy does it to utena, it is out of genuine fear for her, her voice quivering with fear as she tries to do anything to help her! it's love! it's an act of beautiful love!

when pressed on how it felt to have their sword drawn, the duelists are flustered---they can't say it was just painful, because it was more than just painful. the screams of the black rose arc turn into something more quiet, ethereal, pretty---and yet still uneasy, unsettling.

a similar conversation can be had about utena and anthy's outfits. they're symbols of their roles as duelist and rose bride, and for anthy in particular it's an outfit emblematic of her status as a static, never-moving prize to be won. the outfits are as ugly as the entire dueling system, and yet---while recognizing this---the show doesn't stray away from associating the dress and the duels with delightful, beautiful imagery. the rose imagery in general is very beautiful and striking, even at some of the more dark moments!

there is an aesthetically pleasing contrast between anthy's dress and utena's uniform---one that goes back ages in terms of our understandings of gender and social status. why is that beauty there? well, for a lot of reasons! one is definitely making us question what we think of as beautiful, particularly in the contexts of gender roles and society (why did we have that gut impulse to see anthy in that dress as beautiful to begin with?) but, for the sake of this post, i think the most satisfying answer is because horror and beauty are usually intertwined in our actual lives.

so much of the show is dedicated to both finding beauty in horrifying situations and seeing how beautiful things are oftentimes pretty horrifying. anthy and utena's relationship is beautiful, but grows out of abuse, sexism, queerphobia, and hurt.

when utena and anthy dance in front of everyone at the ball, how do we interpret that? well, our first instinct is as a beautiful scene of budding love and care between the two of them; our second instinct (especially after watching the show) is that it's another example of the way in which they've both been boxed into these roles of prince and bride---and all as hundreds of eyes are staring at them. when does the line between gender as choice and performance begin, and when does it become oppressive gender roles? when does anthy's performance as the meek rose bride become her real self? when do the two's relationship become loving, and when do they stop hurting each other? when do the ugly things at ohtori become beautiful, and when do all of the beautiful things become ugly?

and there's not really one point, always, although sometimes there are---and sometimes there's multiple points, and sometimes there was no transformation at all, and sometimes things never stopped oscillating between good and bad, ugly and beautiful, scary and hopeful.

and like, even beyond the really radical ways this impacts the queer and feminist readings of the show, i just think that's also very nice. so much of utena is built on recognizing the beauty in the world. the main characters live in a shitty world while leading shitty lives. and they find beauty in it still.

(i will here also add here at the end that when the show wants to make a very clear definitive statement on one of its aesthetics being basically entirely bad with no beauty behind it, it's very frank in its framing. see: any shot with utena in a dress or her girl's uniform)

#rgu #revolutionary girl utena #anthy himemiya #utena tenjou #also i just want to add that like #beauty and ugliness are ultimately very broad concepts and a work can use them in different ways to different themes #ranging from literally just intending the audience to go “oh that's pretty!” to actual commentary #so i also dont think the question of “are we supposed to find the things in utena beautiful” is necessarily the most cohesive #in the first place haha

[nightsofreylo]

foreshadowing rhaenyra’s loss of virginity and rise to power (house of the dragon 1x03)

I’ve tried to keep this meta short, but if you don’t want to read all of it, the key point is that the killing of the boar in 1x03 foreshadows Rhaenyra’s loss of virginity (which I would expect to occur in the next few episodes) and her rise to power.

When she leaves camp, she is clean and riding a white horse (a symbol of her “purity”), and is pursued by a man who is a potential romantic interest for her, even if he would not be considered a suitable match for someone of her standing. Ser Criston acts as her confidant in this episode -- they are bonded by the station she gave to him, and he reminds her of her own power several times when she feels like she is being supplanted by her younger brother.

Notably, she has spent the episode resenting the prospect of motherhood and spurning the advances of suitors. She clings desperately to her girlhood while simultaneously wishing others would accept her as their queen. 

She is sharply contrasted with the dutiful and heavily pregnant Alicent Hightower, who has accepted her womanhood and the traditional roles it entails. In the godswood, Alicent’s orders as Queen are given more weight by the bard than Rhaenyra’s, implying that Rhaenyra could gain power and standing -- if she would only give up her independence.

The boar that attacks Rhaenyra in the woods is a distinctly masculine symbol (hair, tusks, ferocity), mounting her while she is lying on the ground. This is a moment of vulnerability for Rhaenyra. She is too weak to fight off the boar, though she does attempt to resist -- and her resistance here is consistent with her earlier attitudes towards men in this episode. She is still very young and has expressed no desire for a husband or children, she rejects the potential Lannister match, and now she resists the masculine symbol of the boar. 

At this point, Ser Criston Cole pierces the boar with his sword (so obviously a phallic symbol that I doubt it requires further explanation), which bloodies her (a stand-in for the breaking of a hymen, though I’ll spare everyone the speech about how not all virgins bleed). Rhaenyra throws the boar off of her, breathing heavily in the aftermath of the attack.

This is where we would expect her attention to turn towards Ser Criston, her handsome “savior” knight, and to show him some manner of affection or gratitude. Instead, she subverts this expectation and focuses only on the boar, drawing a knife (another masculine symbol, but this time she is the wielder) to ferociously attack the boar until it is dead, and she is drenched in blood. 

There are a few noteworthy elements here. First, she is actively participating in the killing of the boar (or by parallel, the loss of her virginity), suggesting that we will see her begin to pursue men more directly and with a fuller understanding of her own sexual empowerment. 

Second, she wields a small, simple knife to kill the boar, a surprising display of violence and strength after her previous vulnerability. Meanwhile, in this same episode, her father struggles to kill a bound stag with a massive, highly decorated spear. All of this indicates that she will no longer be a passive player in this game -- she is coming into her own power and is fit to rule.

Perhaps an even more interesting component of this episode is that Ser Criston Cole leaves the encounter with the boar completely unscathed. The next morning, when the stag appears, Rhaenyra’s face, hair, and clothing are all drenched in blood -- but Ser Criston is pristine, suggesting that even though he was the white knight in this episode foreshadowing the loss of her virginity, he is only a stand-in for the person who will actually take her virginity in episodes soon to come.

And who else ends the episode drenched in blood? Our rogue prince, Daemon Targaryen.

#house of the dragon #rhaenyra targaryen #daemon targaryen #daemon x rhaenyra #daemyra

[king-wille]

I love how this season both Simon and Wilhelm lean more towards who they're "supposed" to be and what is expected from them and I think that is clearly shown in two instances. For Wilhelm it's more obvious and it is the moment he tells Simon that being part of the royal family is a privilege and not a punishment, something that Kristina had told him in the previous season. Although I don't think that this means 100% that Wille is becoming Kristina, I do think it represents a part of his dilemma this season and how he's leaning towards his role as prince more than ever.

On the other hand, we have Simon who's always been someone with a very clear moral stand and is not afraid to voice it. However, this season we see that slowly disappear and he's become more compliant to what people want of him. I think this is reflected in the moment when he too repeats his mother's words: "love shouldn't be this hard". I think the mere act of repeating word for word things that have been said to them by their mothers shows the polar opposites of their worlds and it's one more hint of the contrast of their personal and moral conflicts this season

#young royals #omar rudberg #wilmon #edvin ryding #young royals season 3 #young royals s3 #young royals spoilers #young royals analysis

[lesbianfakir]

I could write a three hour video essay on tutu and gender but I really love how a show in a genre that’s primarily targeted towards girls explores how expectations of masculinity can traumatize young boys.

This is shown with Fakir especially. While the text never explicitly attributes his behavior to his gender, his arc over the course of the show is quintessentially informed by toxic gender roles. This got long and I have a lot of thoughts so I'm gonna put it under a readmore:

Fakir has one unchanging goal for the duration of the show: he wants to keep the people he loves safe. But outside elements twist this motivation into an identity. He is suffocating under the weight of a person he has never been and can never be no matter how hard he tries to mold himself.

Much of his personality is likely a direct result of circumstance. We are shown multiple times that when he feels in his element he’s inclined to a gentle disposition (ie how he acts with Duck as a duck or with Raetsel). As a young child especially he appears earnest and naive, his already innate desire to protect blinding him to the cruelty of the world. However, this sweeter side is near overwritten by the cold, domineering personality that characterizes his early appearances in the show.

We can infer that without the trauma inflicted on him by the story Fakir would have retained much more of this gentler personality as he grew up. Instead, his desire to protect others is twisted and warped by fear, becoming a desire to control.

Even before having his life upended, Fakir wanted to to take the weight of protecting the entire town all upon himself. He sees a true hero as someone who stands on his own without help.

So how does this tie into gender? Fakir deliberately crushes his "weaker" side--the earnest, sensitive young boy in the favor of a tough persona. He particularly views emotions as a weakness. It's notable that in one of the most iconic scenes in the show, Fakir has a breakdown over someone seeing him crying. This simple display of human emotion is enough to completely shatter the image he has constructed for himself. Fakir's harsh, impossible standards for himself are rooted in toxic masculinity, in the idea that men--real men--are never visibly sad or scared.

Immediately after losing everything as a child, Fakir was given a new source of hope and pride: the role of the Knight. He, of course, built his whole identity around this role. The Knight, like the Prince is expected to protect others without fear. This can be read as analogous to how men struggle under the expectation to be the protectors and the breadwinners, expected to take pain and hardship upon themselves so those under their care may live a comfortable life. However, the story's knight is doomed from the start: a failed protector. Fakir is growing up under literal impossible standards. He's meant to give everything and crumble under that weight without achieving anything.

It's worth noting that the Princesses' roles are meant to revolve seeking affection from men while the men's roles are colored by violence. Contrast the Knight and Princess Tutu who are both destined to accomplish nothing and be forgotten: while Tutu gracefully dissolves into a speck of light, the Knight is gruesomely torn apart. Here, masculinity becomes inextricably linked to violence in Drosselmeyer's world.

For as long as Fakir tries to be a knight worthy of the story he is confined by a toxic gender role. A protector relies on the idea of a weaker subset of person--the protected. Even without malicious intent, this strips agency. Fakir ignores Mytho's wishes all for the sake of "keeping him safe." Likewise Duck doesn't' want Fakir's protection. In several episodes she begs him to give up on fighting and search for peaceable solutions.

Even though neither Duck nor Mytho ask for Fakir to fight for them he feels personally responsible for their safety to the point his entire self esteem rests on his ability to protect them. Despite his guarded exterior, two of the three times he breaks down crying are because Duck got hurt --due to his own incompetence in his eyes.

Fakir can only grow as a person when he stops placing everything on his own shoulders. For all he clings to the sword his real strengths are found outside of battle. He only saves Duck by opening up to her in his first display of willing vulnerability.

By the end of the series he has entered a genuine partnership with Duck. Rather than a one-sided relationship where he sees himself as her protector, he writes her story and trusts her to guide herself through it. This is in direct opposition to the masculine ideals he clung so hard to. The knight and the prince --his role models--are both meant to be self-sufficient in the original fairytale. Instead, Fakir is able to be a vulnerable boy who gets scared and hurt--and doesn't need to hide it--but has friends he can rely on when times are tough.

Fakir's arc doesn't involve him becoming more feminine, necessarily, but it does show him breaking free of the standards placed on his shoulders by toxic masculinity. He was never meant to be a fighter; that was an unfair role he was forced into. At the end of the show Fakir was achieved his freedom. He isn't a knight. He isn't a protector. He isn't personally responsible for the lives of those he loves. He's just Fakir.

#princess tutu #i wrote this long before the barbie movie came out and 'he's just fakir' has me giggling so bad #hes kenough guys #i dont know how much this is genuine analysis and how much is me stating the obvious but ah well #fakir hater gang dni this isnt for you /lh #tho i want to be clear im not saying hes not responsible for the shitty things he did because wah wah hes under pressure #im saying he sucks BECAUSE man has got a deeply unhealthy relationship with gender #anyways if you read this far ily #now for the most important part of this post: #i raise you trans girl fakir #im fuckin sleeby if anything doesnt make sense im sorry #lea talks

[queengiuliettafirstlady]

Portrait of a Gentleman 

Portrait of a Gentleman 

Fandom: Ikemen Prince

Pairing: Clavis x MC

Part of One suitor One prompt challenge hosted by @violettduchess

Prompt: Water

Tag: Established relationship Introspective Insecurity Reassurance Kiss Fluff

Word Count  1918

Author’s Note: The uniform referred in the story are these.

A portrait may hide more things than one can imagine, a certain prince knows it well as he gazed intensely at it reflecting upon his brothers' talents and his lack of thereof, finding his worth only through the help of a girl who changed his world upside down with the mighty spell of love. 🥰

Tag list

@kitwicekissmedeadly @lordsisterxotome @aquagirl1978 @violettduchess @atelieredux @klutzyroses @randonauticrap @thewitchofbooks @princess-pray-a @itsjudesfault

You can find me on AO3 as QueenJuliet 😊

Thank you for everyone who will like, reblog, or comment please be gentle with me english is not my first language so please do not leave rude comments I apologise for eventual errors I hope you will like it 😊

The sun was shining through the windows casting its light on the vivid colors of the painting glimmering under its rays, suffusing the whole room in warm hues of yellow and orange except for a corner of shadow, hiding a peculiar visitor whose eyes were locked to the portrait hanged on the wall, his step slow, measured, as he approached it feeling their gazes staring at him. 

They were his brothers, all of them related to him by blood … and yet the more he spent time with them all the more he felt like an outsider they looked down at with a benevolent, if not slightly complacent, attitude for his odd antics, to judge, to chastise, to punish, to order around but not even one to understand him. 

He caressed them one by one, a glowing constellation of stars shining with talent as he stood on the side yearning to shine, waiting for the right time that never seems to arrive for him, seeing all their accomplishment bragged out and about in all the palace, sometimes reaching even behind the castle walls spreading all through the Kingdom as he gazed from the backscene hidden from the view, engulfed in the darkness, destined to the role of a secondary character, his servant and nothing more destined to live in his shadow as he shone bright in the world, waiting to be conquered at his hand and molded at his liking, making his blood boil at the injustice of it all, he was no less than him … then why he was always treated as such ? 

Mayhap he hated to admit but it was true, even though a part of himself refuse to believe so as he stared defiantly at him, gazing down at him, belittling him even from the painting,hate welled in his chest, for himself, for him, for every time he was looked from head to toe from someone, forcing to believe in his own value despite what everyone said, worthy in no one's eyes included his own.

 A longing gaze in his eyes his fingers brushed on his figure standing tall and proud next to Chevalier, smiling as ever but he could see clear as day the fakeness of it, how he hated that moment a self deprecative chuckle escaped his lips as he recalled the shrilling voice of the painter, who constantly told him to keep quiet to avoid making laugh all his brothers, but him staring down at him with his cold piercing eyes, disdain in his gaze at his antics impatient to waste time in such useless way. 

They were his brothers, a glowing constellation he did not feel part of.

Leon bigger than life, shining like the sun at the center of the crowd ready to accept and listen to everyone, a leader for them all, his smile so bewitching to befriend and conquer the most aloof and distant among the nobles, convincing effortlessly even the most sceptical person of the Kingdom, radiating warmth in stark contrast with

Chevalier haughty and proud as he looked down at everyone like the moon, far away and detached, his cold gaze harbor of justice to do what was best for the Kingdom, a true born genius praised and feared alike among the palace and the townsfolk, almighty and ever powerful destined to never see a defeat in every matter he decided to put his mind on. 

Jin a wistful gaze in his eyes as he stared at the painter, catching a glimpse of the deep distress in Luke’s eyes as he angrily loosened the collar of his shirt, not bothering to hide his ever hate for formal clothes, a light smile accommodating and polite curling his lips, impartial and fair in treating with everyone, his expression talked of pain and duty he took upon himself to keep his little brothers safe, doing his best to avoid any fight, master at de escalate any situation he was involved in with a wisdom beyond his age, covered by a mask he crafted to put a lid on his feelings focused entirely on his Kingdom.

Luke smiling as ever unaware of the darkness of the world, or so he thought, but he could see how devoid of emotions it was, a glimpse of discomfort in his green eyes as he stared listless at the painter not caring to seem interested in what he was not, his adaptability skills would have made him a great leader if he ever was interested in becoming it that is, but he wasn't, his indifference showed even through his official clothes he wore like an armor, a cage he broke free as soon as the painter proclaimed a break, swift to switch in his more comfortable clothes and to escape away from the palace until late at night.

Nokto and Licht two peas in a pod doing their best to smile yet he could see how empty and forceful it was, staring at the painter without really seeing him, similarities easiest to be noticed than the differences they did everything to underline to a world who decided to judge them since birth as nothing but an issue for the Kingdom they did their best to protect, the good instinct of Licht lead him to save and protect his people all the while pushing them away from the source of bad luck he believed to be, isolating from any crowd while Nokto embraced it, using everyone for his goals, negotiating his way through the palace gaining friends and enemies alike but doing it all to make his country prosper.

Yves looking as much uncomfortable as the twins but hiding it, a creature of perfection showed through every last detail of his shining clothes, standing still like a statue imposing his right to be there like everyone else, staring almost definitely at the painter daring him to tell otherwise, thing he was long accustomed to deal with.

A dry chuckle escaped his lips as his fingers lingered on his reflection looking back at him derisively, mocking all he ever was, all he pretended to be, something else than a sore loser, a mediocre fool with no talents, unlike his brothers everyone excelling in something he could not contemplate to be even remotely good enough at.

The not special prince of Rhodolite Clavis Lelouch nothing more than a troublesome hellcat no one feel the need for, the ever be servant of Chevalier overshadowed by him every step he take, his inventiveness brushed aside as craziness and maybe it was but not for him.

He brushed his digit on his face, his amber eyes shining with pride for a trap he had finished building, a low chuckle erupted from his chest before he could stop it, the screams of the waiter who ended up covered in floor and feathers made up for all the boredom he get that day alike the anger flashing in the butler’s eyes as he slip on the way too smooth floor of the hall.

His smile graced his face but he could see how tight he was, standing among his brothers and next to him, in his shadow in the painting like he was all in all his life, souring all the fun he had thereafter with his traps as the memory resurfaced in his mind.

It was the breaking of dawn and he was already up taking care of his uniform, the rays of the sun shining on the golden embroidery and buttons he spent so much time polishing one by one, it looked wonderful on him he straightened his posture as his heart swelled with pride for once he saw a King staring back at him from the mirror, but it lasted only a second, a blink and it was gone like the fleeting wishful dreams of a lunatic carried over by the wind away from him, destined to yearn for a thing he never was made to dream of.

It was when he saw him in the throne room that his heart sank heavy in his chest, he swallowed his wounded pride, masking his distress with a smile even if forceful, not in all the world he would have given him the satisfaction to see him crumbling in front of him to see his weakness in plain sight even though he already know of that shameful side of him way too much for his liking.

He looked radiating in his impeccable uniform walking tall and proud in the place he was destined to take on the throne, stopping only to sit in the armchair brought there for the occasion, a glimpse of hope flickered in his heart as a delicate sultry voice whispered in his ear that the game was far from over and there was plenty of time to overturn the cards, he only had to work harder to beat him, like he had all his life, craving to be noticed just once, to see his values recognised despite all he thought of himself, to feel, be even for once in all his life, to be special for someone and loved more than anyone else, to win his place in someone heart despite all his flaws, to be seen through his mask and accepted with everything he was and could not change.

He did not know he was crying until he felt something wet soak the upper hem of his shirt, he lashed his fingers away scared to taint that painting indelibly with the proof of his weakness, swift to slide his trembling fingers on his cheeks rushing in drying his tears, a look of terror glimmered in his misty eyes as he heard the door opening his heart clamoring loudly  in his chest in time with the soft yet heavy footsteps approaching him, nearer at each passing minute … he closed his eyes managing to keep at bay his emotions, reopening them only when a pair of arms circled around him closing on his back.

That contact, strangely so, moved him even more as a single lonely tear rolled slowly on his cheeks, he was to dry it off when he was caught off guard by her, her smile radiating acceptance and love as she looked at him melting her lips slowly on his. 

It was far from being the first time they kissed and yet that time felt more intimate as kissed her with all his passion, reluctantly pulling away only to melt his lips over hers again and again until they were breathless, overwhelmed by his love he leaned his forehead to hers taking her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing softly over her cheeks, looking straight into her eyes, his voice husky and needy as he murmured few inches from her lips.

“I love you so much, my little rabbit.” 

Her smile shining with the smoldering warmth of thousand suns melting his heat completely, making of him but a pup ready to obey her every order 

“I love you too, my leopard.” he kissed her once more feeling her fingers grip his shirt enough to steady herself amidst the untamable passion enrapturing them both in its spires staying like this enveloped in their own little world until noon, when he decided to bring her to his room ready to shower her in all the affection he held deep in his heart for her alone, with only the aster as audience for their peculiar spectacle enriched by the spell of the almighty power of love.

#one suitor one prompt ccc #ikemen prince #ikemen prince clavis #ikepri clavis #my writing #ikepri

[redrikki]

There’s a trend in fandom to write Theon bullying Jon and even other Stark kids on occasion. How accurate is that in terms of book canon? Where does this portrayal come from and what role does it tend to play in stories?

Book Canon

Because Jon leaves for the Wall so soon into the books, there isn’t much in the way of interaction between Jon and Theon, but there’s enough. In GoT Bran 1, Jon calls Theon an ass behind his back after he kicks a severed head. A little while later, the two of them have a perfectly civil exchange about the mother wolf. After the adults insist the wolf pups are likely to die, Theon quips how the albino is likely to die fastest. Jon responds by glaring and insisting it won’t because it belongs to him. In Jon 1, Theon ignores Jon on his bench as he walks by on the way to the high table, something Jon says is nothing new. And that’s it in terms of their on-page interactions.

After they leave Winterfell, they think of each other only occasionally. In SoS Jon 5 when Jon learns about his brother’s deaths and the sack of Winterfell he thinks that he never liked Theon, but he wouldn’t do that. In the next Jon chapter, he draws comfort during the battle for Castle Black from a quip Theon once made and admits that Theon was the better hunter.

Theon, meanwhile, describes Jon as sullen boy, quick to sense a slight, jealous of Theon’s status yet accorded more honor by the household in CoK Theon 1. In Theon 6, he considers joining the Night’s Watch, recalling that it was honorable enough for Jon Snow. In DwD Prince of Winterfell, he reminisces about sparring with Jon and Robb in the yard and soaking in the godswood pools after. In A Ghost in Winterfell, he thinks about how Jon will take his head in a heartbeat in an amused, suicidal ideation sort of way.

All told, Theon and Jon don’t like each other (Jon actually says it out right), and they both express jealousy over what they see is the other’s better treatment. Jon thinks Theon’s an ass (accurate) and Theon thinks Jon’s a sullen, prickly bastard (also accurate), yet they both respect each other and have fond memories. Neither one has any memories of Theon bullying Jon. By contrast, Jeyne bullying Arya is portrayed on the page and recalled later by both parties.

So, if there is no canonical evidence for Theon bullying Jon, where did the idea come from and why does it keep cropping up?

Where Did It Come From

Show-verse Theon is absolutely a bully. The show runners wrote brand new scenes and modified ones from the book to showcase Theon being a bully who is antagonistic to the Starks in general and Jon in particular. Take, for example, the wolf adoption scene which is altered so that Theon snaps at Robb for daring to give him an order and then insists that Jon take the runt of the litter. There’s a later scene where Theon goes out of his way to taunt Osha after she’s been taken prisoner. Show-verse Theon is a far bigger asshole than book-verse Theon and way more comfortable mouthing off to the Starks.

As it stands, book-verse Theon is a complicated and uncomfortable character. He’s an ass, the type of guy to kick a severed head at an execution. His sense of humor is dark and irreverent, even if only a fraction of it actually leaves his mouth. In his memories, he admits to deliberately trying to wind up Benfred Tallhart and Roose Bolton at various points. Where most POV characters are either monogamous or chaste, Theon is a horny as heck and treats women as disposable sex-objects. He tells himself it’s better to be seen as cruel than weak and repeatedly advices Robb towards violence. And all of that is before all the terrible things he does after taking Winterfell. For a certain segment of fans, it makes sense to project this awful behavior backwards so he was always a bad person who did bad things, like bullying.

The fanon echo chamber is also a contributing factor. There is a lot of canon to read through and, if you read enough fic, it’s easy enough to confuse it with other people’s head canons.

Where It Crops Up

Theon is rarely the focus of those stories which feature him as a bully. There are a large number of stories where Theon bullying Jon or, indeed, any of the Stark kids, and otherwise being generally unpleasant is just background radiation in a story about life in Winterfell or the Starks being awesome. Often times, bully Theon will serve as device for making other characters not normally in Winterfell like ward OCs or canon Stark antagonists more likable by contrast. In stories where the Starks are somehow winning at the game of thrones, Theon’s earlier bullying will serve as justification for a rather nasty comeuppance even though the taking of Winterfell never occurred.

In stories where Theon being a bully is the focus, the bullying is usually in the service of Jon’s character. A character being bullied builds automatic sympathy points with readers. Theon bullying Jon thus make Jon a more sympathetic character and justifies his angst. This is especially important in stories where his canonical excuses for angst, namely his bastard underdog status and Catelyn’s emotional abuse, are downplayed or removed entirely. In a modern high school AU or similar, Jon needs a bully like Theon or his character just doesn’t work.

And then there’s the undeniable spice of enemies to lovers tropes. Bully, or at least asshole rival, Theon will crop up quite a bit in Jon/Theon fic. Sometimes the plot will be Theon bullying Jon to get his attention and burn off some sexual tension. In other cases, it will be about Jon learning to see through Theon’s bravado bullshit to his tender heart bellow. Either way, the story must start with Jon hating Theon so the ending emotional payoff is that much better. Then there’s the darker fic where Theon’s bullying is a prelude to either a bdsm thing or an outright abusive romance.

There is nothing inherently wrong about writing Theon as a bully. Fanfiction is all about taking a story and making it your own, actual canon be damned. They way fandom has seemingly collectively chosen to interpret Jon and Theon’s relationship is an interesting trend.

Comment on AO3

#a song of ice and fire #greysnowweek #asoiaf #theon greyjoy #jon snow #meta

[itsatissueofanissue]

I kind of realised something about the number of characters for each of the twst dorm - if someone else already did, nvm, mb, t'is but a thought.

Indulge my thoughts here. Maybe I am overthinking it, but especially after seeing all the Tsumsted wonderland Groovy cards so far, the number of characters for each dorm seems to hold significance as to the dynamics of the characters themselves.

For Heartslabyul, Savanaclaw, Octanivelle and Pomefiore, it is all in odd numbers, contrasting Scarabia, Ignihyde and Diasomnia. Now, this might not actually matter, but I think it actually works with each of the characters' dynamic and standing, especially when interacting with one another.

Heartslabyul, Savanaclaw, Octanivelle and Pomefiore, despite their differences, unanimously establish that their dorm leader are usually positioned smack dab in the middle for a number of the dorm groovies.

And while that doesnt mean that the other dorms dont value their leaders, the personalities of the mentioned dorms very much match the physical positions in these examples.

Riddle in Heartslaybyul sees himself as a supreme authority that upholds and enforces the rules of the Queen of Hearts. That is clearly presented so when he interacts with the other dorm students, acting as a leader. [Plus having Ace, Deuce, Cater and Trey act as the 4 types of cards work with the aesthetic of the dorm too.]

Leona sees himself as the King or Savanaclaw like the King of Beasts, for his intelligence, wit and strength [and also desires to be so for his kingdom despite the realities of his social standing]. Despite his more lazier moments, there is clear respect for him in the dorm anyways, especially when he does show up and act more like a leader when the situation calls for it.

Azul sees himself as calculative in managing his dorm and businesses, and knows when and how to use others for his own benefit while maintaining his authority - to some extent. Yes, the Leech brothers do indeed listen and help carry out his plans, but that is largely to their discretion and for their own amusement in some ways. Regardless, this is clearly shown in handling the Monstro Lounge, during the Octanivelle arc and the Scarabia arc.

Vil leads Pomefiore like the Beautiful Queen, and sees himself as the top, never stopping to reach perfection. This is prevalent in how he interacts with his dorm, like in the Dorm SSR story.

These personalities perfectly would suit people who would want to be in the middle as the focal attention.

Contrastingly, for Scarabia, Ignihyde and Diasomnia, that is not really the case.

Kalim as the easiest example, doesn't seem to show himself as authoritarian, or superior to anyone. Rather, he sees other dorm members like he would with other students, simply fellow classmates. This extends to Jamil, despite the nature of their relationship as master and servant, and this shows in the tsumsted groovy, where they both appear on both sides rather than the middle.

[ALSO SIDE NOTE:in this tsumsted groovy, Jamil is at the front, possibly wanting to covet the attention of the viewer in this shot, much like how he wanted to covet the dorm leader position. NOT REALLY RELEVANT TO MY POST, BUT I LIKED THIS DETAIL].

For Idia, while I cannot really think of any examples of Ignihyde SSRs, he also doesn't really seem to be showing himself to be superior to the other students, [aside from taking on the role of dorm leader], let alone to his brother Ortho. We don't see him being in the focal position because his personality does not seem to mirror this attitude, except for the Ignihyde arc when he is acting as a director de facto while his parents were away.

And lastly Diasomnia - now this oen might not make the most sense compared to the previous two I mentioned. the dorm puts Malleus on a pedestal, and for sure, he is certainly someone who will eventually take the position of a king or leader as the crown prince. But despite this, the way he interacts and presents himself in the story thus far shows otherwise. For Sebek and Silver, ofc they would see themselves as below Malleus' standing, and if it were the three of them only, the positioning would make sense. but WE HAVE LILLIA [for now lol].

Lillia acts as a parent, and often represents Malleus in meetings due to his absence, but doesn't assert power over the dorm like Riddle or Leona for instance. Additionally, Malleus does not really enforce his authority that much to the dorm, it is more like he observes their shenanigans and lets it be, sometimes causing some shenanigans himself like in his Dorm SSR story.

Again, I am 99% probably overthinking it, but I love that in some ways, these dynamics are reflected well in the groovy arts and number of characters in the dorms.

#twst #twisted wonderland #octanivelle #diasomnia #savanaclaw #heartslaybyul #pomefiore #ignihyde #scarabia #twst analysis #i could be wrong #just a rant bro #analysis??

[glitteraffe-art]

VINYL BRC MY BELOVED...

Vinyl is very much one of my favorite characters in BRC and she does not get enough love.

Though I originally wanted this to be more of a straightforward list of headcanons, it ended up being paragraphs of me rambling while trying explain my reasoning/analysis(?), so I can get a good grade in headcanons, which is normal to want and possible to achieve.

(Under the cut for length and for spoilers for the the story of BRC)

Overview

Vinyl’s roles early in the game tend toward covertly gathering information (observation of the Bomb Rush Crew during the first two chapters, with cutscenes showing just her shoes as she stands on rooftops, only fully showing up to hold back Red at Versum Hill) or bargaining using information (in her conversations in Millenium Mall, she mentions she knew Faux personally and hints she knows about Red’s dreams to motivate the Bomb Rush Crew to defeat DOT EXE).

She’s shown as knowing more than the Bomb Rush Crew about the whole Red situation, and intentionally keeping some of that information under wraps, though that’s specifically for Red’s safety (such as, when Red’s face is revealed, she lets the Bomb Rush Crew know that his true identity would be dangerous if others learned of it, but does not reveal who Red really is).

Later in the game, when DJ Cyber attacks her on top of Pyramid Island, he accuses her of being a double agent—which is true both ways, as she’s both acting like she’s betrayed DJ Cyber to join the Bomb Rush Crew while also actually still working with DJ Cyber, since it’s all part of his plan to get Red to remember his identity.

So, to me at least, Vinyl is a character who primarily deals in information, and leans toward being a “spy” type character.

Let’s get deeper into headcanon territory:

Prior to the Big 3 Era

Vinyl mentions she works for herself (and that this sometimes means working for others) at Millennium Mall. Plus, Tryce addresses her as “Vinyl the freelancer” after defeating DOT EXE. Because of this, I think prior to the events of the game she may have been an independent writer who occasionally worked with other crews if there was some benefit in it for her.

This also gives her a reason to know Felix, if both of them were independent writers prior to the formation of the Big 3.

Vinyl and Felix

To me, Vinyl and Felix really contrast. I’m not sure it quite reaches the levels of being foils, but their base similarities but completely different outlooks are intriguing.

I think that Vinyl and Felix have known each other for a pretty long time, of the characters who knew Felix prior to the events of the game. For one, she knows what Felix’s face looks like (which few know about, implying that 1. only close friends or people he trusts see him without it, and 2. he rarely, if ever, took off that mask). Plus, she’s comfortable enough to casually insult him (she mentions to Red that he’s just as slow as Felix in the opening of the Mataan chapter) despite the fact that other characters see him as a legend, so I feel she must have known him prior to him being put on a pedestal as a legendary writer.

Despite both being pretty independent and appearing kind of cold to others, Vinyl and Felix seem to have different opinions on trust and giving people another chance. In the dream memories shown after the Pyramid Island dream, Vinyl says she has a bad feeling about Faux, while Felix says a guy like Faux can change.

Felix chose to give Faux a chance to change, but it doesn’t seem Vinyl would have done the same in his place. Vinyl ultimately ends up accepting Felix’s assessment of Faux (i.e., to ignore that bad feeling about Faux), as she is the only one of the characters who personally knew Felix (the others being Faux, DJ Cyber, and Solace; Flesh Prince is also present but it’s unclear if he knew Felix personally) who is not present when he is murdered by Faux.

Despite being such an information-focused character, there was one piece of information she did not know—that Faux was, in fact, trouble (due to the whole framing other writers and cop dad situation thing), and that Felix knew this about Faux. If she had known this, if she had chosen not to accept Felix’s opinion on Faux, investigated further, observed more, would the whole situation have turned out differently? I think this is something that haunts her during the game, something that she regrets, and it probably makes up at least some of her motivation in being involved in DJ Cyber’s plan to bring Felix back.

On a sillier note, I think Felix and Vinyl are specifically the kind of friends who hang out by doing completely different things 10 feet away from each other. If someone asks if one of them is free, they’ll say they are busy hanging out with the other person. And they genuinely are hanging out with each other, it just doesn’t look like it from anyone else’s perspective.

Vinyl and DJ Cyber

It’s not clear how well Vinyl and DJ Cyber knew each other prior to or during the Big 3 era. But, despite Vinyl seeming pretty practical, she was totally on board with DJ Cyber’s absolutely wild plan to resurrect Felix.

I think they at least were acquaintances-turned-friends, since she must’ve trusted DJ Cyber a lot to go along with his plan.

Since DJ Cyber features a lot of vinyls on his person and just, generally, in his job as a DJ, you’d think that he and Vinyl would be more connected. In Versum Hill, Vinyl gives off the impression of being something like DJ Cyber’s right hand man (since she has a different design from the Futurism girls). In Millennium Mall, she addresses him with a sense of distance as her employer/boss, and DJ Cyber addresses her as one of his personnel on top of Pyramid Island. However, once their ruse is up, they seem to be on more equal footing than the arrangement they were pretending to have.

Since it takes a lot of dedication to keeping up a days-to-weeks-long ruse like that, I feel like the two of them are both dedicated theater kids. I think Vinyl was absolutely having a great time acting all mysterious and peppering in ellipses at Millennium Mall.

Also, since her name is Vinyl, she’s probably just as much of a vinyl collector/enthusiast as DJ Cyber probably is. They probably talk about record releases or rare finds or that one band they’ve been listening too recently in their spare time.

On a slightly related note, I think that Vinyl pays attention what bands/singers that people she’s close to tend to like, or their favorite songs. If she sees a record from that band/singer, she’d think “oh that’s the one that so-and-so likes, right?” and then buy it, with the end result being a collection of vinyls that vaguely represents her friends. Not that she was intentionally making it happen, it just did.

Vinyl and Faux

Vinyl mentions she used to know Faux personally at Millennium Mall, and she mentions that she has a bad feeling about him to Felix in the memory shown after the Pyramid Island dream. It seems that she knew him—it would be inevitable for them to meet at some point, after all, if she was hanging around Felix (and theoretically hanging out with DJ Cyber). She didn’t know about Faux’s secrets, but it looks like she was able to correctly guess he was trouble by vibes alone.

Faux is described as being quiet in Tryce’s description of the Big 3 (which is, I assume, how Faux acted when around other writers that he wasn’t close with), so I imagine that Faux and Vinyl didn’t have direct conversations with each other very much. Neither of them seem to be the type to carelessly share things about themselves, so...The situation was probably like “You’re friends with someone I’m friends with (...rivals with???), but I’m barely even acquaintances with you”, and probably resulted in some awkward non-conversations. I guess Faux probably dropped enough red flags when talking with either Felix or DJ Cyber for Vinyl to notice, though.

To me, Faux also seems to be a person who says things he thinks people want to hear, if he can get something out of them, and that he tends to be right in those assumptions (due to his interactions with Tryce at the beginning of the game). If he was Wrong about what he thought Vinyl wanted to hear, or if she at any point got the hint that he was just saying things to get something out of her with no real intent of being friendly, that’d be a pretty big red flag to her to think “oh, this guy’s Trouble” without her actually knowing his secrets.

Vinyl and Red

Vinyl is the only one of the people who knew Felix who really gets to interact with Red as Red, and not as Felix, if that makes any sense. Solace doesn’t know Red is Felix, and Faux doesn’t directly meet Red until Mataan. DJ Cyber only really interacts with Red as an antagonizing villain who shows up intermittently, and though DJ Cyber sides with BRC after he drops the ruse, it’s only after Red has remembered being Felix, and plus, he doesn’t actually join BRC until postgame.

Vinyl, though, joins BRC midway through the game. She gets enough time to get to know Red as a separate entity from Felix.

It must be weird to her, seeing Red. He looks like Faux with a helmet on and sounds like Felix with a voice filter, but isn’t quite either of those people. He asks questions a lot and gives off the impression of being quite naive. He’s technically Felix, but Felix minus however many years of experiences and successes and failures and memories is like, just some weird kid. But, a weird kid who works with a crew, which is something the Felix she knew only ever kept at arm’s length. Still set on being All City King, though.

Vinyl can be a little mean to Red sometimes, though. (like when she called him as slow as Felix post Pyramid Island). Admittedly, Red (as the Designated Player Viewpoint Character for Explaining Things To. And also the amnesia) can be pretty clueless.

Interestingly, Vinyl addresses Red as “kid”. More specifically, she says “Call me Vinyl… if anything, kid” when they meet at Millennium Mall. It seems he gives off the feeling of being pretty young to Vinyl. I don’t feel like she would address Felix as “kid”, since he’s got a beard, so maybe even from the beginning, she felt that Red was someone totally different from Felix? (As a side note, just how old is everyone, anyways?), Or, I guess it was just her part to play in her and DJ Cyber’s ruse. In order to ensure Felix comes back correctly, Red is Red, a totally different guy (until he’s not) and she doesn’t need to worry about it before then.

I think that to Vinyl, the differences between Red and Felix’s tendencies would be more noticeable than it is to, say, DJ Cyber, who doesn’t get much time to observe Red in action. Like, one difference could be that Red has a completely different center of gravity (due to the length of his cyberhead and different body) so maybe the way he does some tricks and some dance moves is a little different from Felix. I don’t think Vinyl would say anything about it during the game, but in the post-game, after Felix is “revived”, she might bring it up to Felix.

Vinyl and Tryce

As seen in Tryce’s dialogue in Millennium Mall, Tryce isn’t very trusting of Vinyl at first (due to her association with FUTURISM and DJ Cyber), but he accepts her pretty fast, especially after she smacked Escher over the head with a skateboard. Tryce seems to be pretty practical, and appears to value reliability. Vinyl genuinely helping BRC seemed to help change his mind on her.

Vinyl seems pretty focused on her and DJ Cyber’s mission (to get Red to remember) throughout the game, so I think she’d only really relax enough to become better friends with Tryce during the post-game. Since Tryce has an interest in music and mixtapes (he made the Hideout mixtape, and is a huge DJ Cyber fan), they’d probably be able to talk about the latest releases or albums. I think it’d be funny if she offhandedly mentioned to him that she got to listen to one of DJ Cyber’s upcoming mixtapes prior to release (since she and Cyber still hang out sometimes), and he’s just simultaneously Mildly Jealous and struck with the realization that he’s got friends who Casually Hang Out with the DJ Cyber, something that was totally unthinkable a short while ago. Vinyl doesn’t seem to be the type to get starstruck by anyone, and definitely not the legendary Big 3, so her lack of reaction about it would probably be baffling to Tryce.

Vinyl and Bel

Bel is a lot more willing to trust Vinyl than Tryce is during the game when Vinyl first introduces herself to BRC at Millennium Mall. I think they’d get along fine during the game, but just like for Tryce, I think that Vinyl would only really relax enough to become better friends with Bel during the post-game.

In the celebration cutscene that plays after beating the game, Vinyl and Bel are laughing while Bel takes silly pictures of Solace. I think it would be cute if they surprisingly had the same sense of humor. Bel is described as being on her phone constantly, so I think she’s the kind of person to text silly photos and memes to Vinyl. Of course, Bel probably sends silly photos and memes to everyone in BRC, but if something made Bel laugh, it gets automatically sent to Vinyl. Going by the in-game text messages, Vinyl probably responds with a text that is slightly like an email, which is funny in itself.

I think it’d be refreshing for Vinyl to be friends with someone as straightforward and openly trusting as Bel. Especially since dealing with the Big 3 (and the ensuing post-breakup fallout) was drama central.

Postgame

After completing her and DJ Cyber’s goal (reviving Felix), she seems a lot more relaxed. After the game, she stays with BRC, an interesting choice for someone who started off as a so-called freelancer. But it’s not like there’s any particular downsides to staying—she gets to hang out with people she trusts and is friends with, and besides, they’re All-City now.

Well, I guess she’s not being paid, but then again, I’m not sure if DJ Cyber was actually paying her when she was allied with him and Futurism, since it could’ve just have been something she just said he was doing, as part of the Role she was playing in her and DJ Cyber’s ruse. On that note...

Graffiti Won’t Pay the Bills

I wouldn’t be surprised if Vinyl had a “real job”, even if only part-time, on top of being a writer. I think she’d be the kind of person to try to keep her work and writer lives completely separate, with a completely separate group of friends and acquaintances for each sphere who don’t even know the other sphere exists. Given the fact that New Amsterdam is functionally a police state hellscape, she’d be pretty justified in keeping them separate. If word got out about her being a writer, the cops would probably crack down on anyone near her.

In Millennium Mall, she mentions she knows the mall like the back of her hand. If she hung out there as a writer, I feel like DOT EXE would be more familiar with her, but they don’t seem to make any special note of her. Maybe she works (or worked) at one of the stores there?

Respect Your Elders

I think Vinyl is friends with the Oldheads. I think it would be cool if she learned about the best shortcuts through the city (for traveling quickly and appearing and disappearing without being seen, of course) and the best places to observe the boroughs from them.

I could see her as a future leader of whatever Oldhead equivalent is set up in the far future, since their job is basically to Watch Shit Happen, and drop Ominous Information you didn’t know every once in a while...which she kind of does already!

You Can Say Hi

Not quite a headcanon per se, but since the one trailer for Bomb Rush Cyberfunk features Vinyl’s voice actress doing the voiceover narration while You Can Say Hi plays, I associate that song with her. Actually, prior to the release of BRC, I thought that she was going to be the secondary main character/female lead! I was surprised she was really only was introduced about midway through.

Bonus: Concept Art

Anyways, as a side note, here’s some concept art from Dion Koster (pinned on his Twitter, https: //twitter.com/DionKoster/status/1364838899659472903/photo/4, remove the space) featuring a Vinyl with reddish brown hair and a stylized Audio-Technica Soundburger record player on her wrist.

It has no basis in canon, but I’m partial to the idea that Vinyl knows how to fight with wheels of steel, but unlike DJ Cyber, who goes for long-range projectiles attacks, goes for close combat with a wrist-mounted weapon. She’s quick thinking and has a fast reaction time (she’s the first to act when Escher shows up unannounced) so in a close combat fight she’d be pretty tough to beat.

There’s not much use for a real weapon, though, if cops just run away if you kick them enough times or spray them with spraypaint and almost all writer conflicts are solved via crew battle. I’m not sure what situation she would need to use it in or what would lead her to learn to use it, but I still like the idea.

#bomb rush cyberfunk #brc #vinyl brc #...this ended up being longer than the fic im working on right now... #anyways vinyl is number 1 in my heart. not enough vinyl brc fans in this world. #courts talks

[dieauster-und-diegarnele]

Best hairstyles in A:tLA

Just our personal favorites.

11 because why not: Mai. Her hair silhouette relembles a Japanese hairdo, which is a nice touch. Simple shapes and graceful lines really suit the character's shut-down attitude, her role of a obedient noble girl who always knows the rules. Could've make it to the top if it wasn't for the buns - they don't match her serious personality. If you don't have hairpins to throw, why do you need them at all?

10: Toph (in her noble look). An elegant hairdo; pretty elaborate to indicate her status but not too much. Also a great contrast to usual Toph's bun, which is less complicated and goes with bangs, because she doesn't need to keep her hair from her eyes anyway. Low position because Toph with this hairstyle is not "true" Toph.

9: Aang. A shaved head! This represents his beliefs and culture, which is great. We know there's not much of hair itself, but still :) Also, shaved head accompanied with a head tattoo - the boy has some style! Not a very high place, though, because it's not fancy enough :)

8: Long Feng. Traditional chinese long braid with shaved forehead, which makes the character look smart and mature. It differs Long Feng from other Earth Kingdom nobility or generals too.

7: Katara (seasons 1 and 2). Perfect hairdo for an action girl plus it's inuit-inspired and just looks really nice. So much better than her loose hair... (which should be way longer btw)

6: Sokka (seasons 1 and 2). Simple, elegant, unique. Season 1 shaved heads aesthetic. To be fair, this guy looks great with his hair both up and down.

5: Avatar Yangchen. Almost the same as the one Long Feng has but more loose, only the tip of her hair is braided; also the tattoo makes it look slightly different. Moreover – a woman with partly shaved head! It's pretty rare. Full of grace and yet simple. She really looks like a spiritual person!

4: Princess Yue. A combination of the moon goddess and inuit-like braids. It looks exotic, regal and is decorated a lot, which suits Yue's high position. Also the hair color is just gorgeous.

3: Prince Zuko (season 1). His hair transformation during the show is great but we like this phase the most. Not only it represents his defeat in the Agni Kai and suits his sometimes childish behavior but it also looks so unique! There are not many popular characters with such hairdo. Zuko looks almost alien, it opens his face, so we can immediately fall in love with his elegant features and expressions. The best shaved head of the first season :)

2 and 2: Lo and Li's official hairdo. Gosh, this is something. They look almost scary. We can guess they are noble or very high-ranked. Yes, maybe not the most beautiful ones but it definitely stands out. The more complicated – the better!

1: Aunt Wu. What a lady! All her look is Heian inspired, including her hair. It shows us her status and her wealth. Plus the headpiece. Plus this majestic gray. Plus the braid on the back! Absolute winner.

Update: it's not a braid, it's a low ponytail, but still.

Yes, braids and shaved heads are the best :)

Bonus: Ta Min's bridal hairstyle. Doesn't add more to the character, since we already are told that she is highborn and is getting married in this scene but is still beautiful and epic.

Screenshot source

#atla top list #zuko ponytail #avatar the last airbender #atla

[chayannecraft]

hey the last drawing will probably be uploaded tomorrow!! i know you'll understand but i've been very busy today :)

anyway i'm curious about if the other eggs have any sort of role in your au??

OH and if you want to talk abt what chayanne and phil's relationship is like, i've been very curious about that lol bc it seems like phil's both very protective of him and doesn't care about him that much. not saying you haven't thought it out i'm just eager to look more into his character!

Hello!! Yeah no I understand I’ve been super busy too. Finals season and everythang. It’s a curse. Oh my god. (Which is why im so late answering this ask hello omg!!!) But anyways yes hello oh my god questions!!!! 💖💖💖!!!!! YES!!! I WILL ANSWER

The other eggs have very loose roles but they do exist!! They sort of take up the space of the descendants-of-the-champions roles that Sidon and the others fill (although I’m not sure who is who at the moment, would have to think about that a little more!!) (I have no idea what role Tallulah plays, but I think she might be traveling around with Wilbur, more info on that later) but sometimes they’re also just like, normal random kids. They are all friends I promise. I don’t have a lot on them though so this is not that coherent.

CHAYANNE AND PHIL. WOUGH BOY. THIS IS A LONG ONE

You were right in that Phil is very protective of Chayanne!! I think a part of him knew Chayanne was The Chosen Hero, but when faced with the decision to send him off to what very well could have been his sons death, if not horrific trauma he was like um. No lol. Not doing that.

A consequence of the storyline in general is Phil isn’t very mentioned a lot, so it gives off the idea that he’s uncaring towards Chayanne, but I promise you that’s not the case!! (Not to make fun of you or call you out of course). Phil is actually very loving towards his son, and was devastated when he ran away with the Master Sword.

Then (for reasons I haven’t thought up yet) he’s pretty distracted but desperately trying to get his kid back. Until the calamity happens and they fail. Then he’s under the impression his son is just dead and he’s in mourning for the next 100 years (Why is he still alive in 100 years, you ask! Well! I took everything from these kids and I think taking their parents is a little bit too cruel so everybody is blessed by some sort of god that expands their lifespan a couple hundred ok :D!!!)

And then a little bit after botw someone goes to Philza and is like hey. The hero is back. He’s hanging out with Princess Pomme. He looks a lot like the missing hero from 100 years ago. Your son. Might be your son Phil. And Phil basically takes 3 seconds to process this before clawing himself up from his depression and being like OK. WE’RE GONNA GO GET HIM!!! AND IF ANYBODY TRIES TO STOP ME IM MAULING THEM. Of course he gets to hyrule RIGHT as totk plot starts and Chayanne goes missing so kind of an L BUT THEY DO REUNITE!!!

They get their moments. They also get a really tearful reunion where Chayanne is like dad im so sorry for running off oh my god :( I forgot you for a hundred years you must be so upset with me. And Philza is hugging him like oh my god my kid is ok. Oh my god. YOU’RE GROUNDED FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WHAT THE FUCK. And then just caries him around. And probably has some sort of beef with Missa because that’s Chayanne’s Hyrule-Dad. Meanwhile Pomme stands in the back ready to kill him if he makes one wrong move.

There’s a side story kind of sequel relating to that where Pomme and Chayanne have to grapple with the fact that Chay is also a prince and his dad misses him dearly and wants him to come home but they don’t want to be separated ever for the rest of their lives. Maybe even some parent bonding. Like a little family-person drama to contrast the cursed-destiny-supernatural-calamity drama and probably some Death Family Bonding.

#qsmp botw au #asks #thank you so much medli whenever you send me asks I’m like !!!! ASK FOR ME?? PEOPLE LIKE?? WANT ME TO TALK!: #I LOVE YOUR QUESTIONS ALWAYS #I love Philza in botw au his suffering is never ending #straight up thought his kid was dead. finds put he isnt. hauls ass over there. actually your son is missing again lol #reminds me that I have a bunch of mini qsmp botw aus that branch out. like a ton. some of them are cool (the parents fight to get their #kids back in totk bc they both go missing) and others are #just batshit insane #COUGH COUGH MY PURGATORY AU WHERE CHAY AND POMME JUST. #END UP THERE AND ARE LIKE OH THAT EYE GUY IS CALAMITY? #WE CAN KILL HIM. and then they do. purgatory over everybody go home #but honestly that one is just an excuse for me to do more mini codebreakers who are ride or die for each orher #*other #and just general purgatory and badassery

[nym-dawndane]

Nym, walked through the castle gardens, her footsteps echoing against the cobblestones. It had been two short months since her humiliation at the diner, and the queen and princess that had been found dead in their guest quarters. Questions lingered from that night, but Nym did not care to question them too heavily, she imagined it would be of no use. Gaian’s father, the king, seemed to decline in his health and Nym avoided him at all close as instructions from Gaian. But she, herself, did want to avoid him he lashed out, yelled, and had a guard killed for no good reason before her. It was troublesome and Nym saw less of Gaian due to it as he stepped into the role of his father. The role that was his sole reason for returning home. The autumn afternoon cast a golden hue over the landscape, as leaves began to fall like confetti from the trees. Gaian had promised to take Nym to be his future queen, and it worried her greatly. She was not as refined, nor as educated, as the princesses he was constantly presented with. Nym was nearly coming to terms with reading and writing, let alone the concept of aiding in ruling a whole kingdom, but she wanted to try for Gaian’s sake, but she was a daughter of a whore. She feared people would loath her for it, Nym found solace in the vibrancy and serenity of the gardens, often venturing there to collect flowers. As Nym gracefully strolled along the winding paths, a gentle breeze rustled through her hair, causing some strands of hair to become loose. Clasping a basket in one hand, she plucked delicate blooms from various corners of the garden. The vibrant colors offered a striking contrast against the backdrop of the castle's weathered stones, and Nym found joy in the harmony of nature's palette. Lost in her reverie, Nym's eyes widened with astonishment as she spotted her mother and two sisters. Who had never once visited the castle since Gaian bought her from her mother, far too easily Nym remembered, but she had visited her sisters? Though maybe not as of lately. Her heart ached with a mixture of longing, regret, and apprehension. Nym had missed them dearly and secretly hoped that her mother was actually there for her. She was not so sure if she would ever return to her mother, Nym was deeply in love with Gaian, but she also wished her mother had not been so keen on selling her as she had. She was a person, after all. Summoning her courage, Nym approached her family cautiously. Her footsteps softened on the grass, blending with the symphony of distant laughter and the chirping of birds. Her mother, looked more tired and worn down, which did not make sense to Nym. No, it only made her heart ache. She should not be working anymore, her mother was adorned in a dress reminiscent of autumn foliage, turned with an emotion Nym could not place, sparkling in her eyes. "Nym, my dear!" her mother called out, her voice laced with equal parts joy, but was it sincere? Nym could not tell. Embracing her daughter with open arms, Nym tentatively stepped into her arms. Nym's sisters, on the other hand, stood at a distance, their faces lined with uncertainty. "I cannot believe my eyes," her mother murmured, her hands holding Nym's face. “You are well-clothed and fed, I see.” Her mother spoke, Nym meeting her gaze as she stepped away from the embrace of her mother, and approaching her sisters. “How did you manage to get inside?” Nym asked, but looked at her sisters, “we stated we were your only family.” Bibita answered with a lift of her shoulder, Nym smiled at her sisters before leading all three women closer. “Seeing you is not the only reason we came to visit.” Her mother spoke, which made Nym still, and turned to look at her. “I wish to speak to Prince Gaian as well, I need to speak to him about his intentions with you.” Nym looked at her for a moment, but after a moment simply gave her a nod. “I will seek him out, wait here.” She spoke. She moved through the long halls until she was standing before the thick wooden door, knocking on it, making eye contact with the guards who were posted outside.

Stepping inside the council room where Gaian sat surrounded by men, Nym approached, feeling that perhaps it was a bad time. She walked over to him and gently leaned over, “My mother is here to speak with you. We will be in the throne room when you finish.” She whispered, excusing herself and apologizing before she took her leave, heading to the throne room where Nym had left her sisters and mother.

[erisluna35ocblog]

Every time I read a romfan manhwa and think, "ah, this character reminds me of Shizuke," it's always the prince's aide or secretary or bestie. He just radiates side character energy. Even the looks have a 5050 chance of resembling Shizuke - he is meant to be plain and not stand out compared to the more vibrant leads (Kaji with his tanned skin and dark red eyes and that twisted personality behind his smiles... or fuyu with her pink hair and distinct edgy badass style). It comes with the archetype. They're supposed to make the leads shine brighter as their contrasting foil.

Funny enough, this was the role he started with. Prince Keagan's bestie. Vice captain to Fiona as they're both the prince's guards. Put upon guy running after his reckless friends. Who knew after book 1 he will be one of the bigger threats against them? This is why OG!Shizuke being an antagonist is funny to me.

#shizuke midorikawa #og story

[tritoch]

argggh i can't stop it. It's happening. having forbidden FFXIV classpect thoughts. Hydaelyn and Zodiark as our cherub equivalents. Meanwhile, events in Elpis result in a Mobius Double Reach-Around pair of interlinked sessions between the Scions and the Unsundered, which are largely asynchronous and separate and link up only around the time of ARR through EW. spoilers through 6.0.

THE BIG TWO:

Hydaelyn: Muse of Time

Zodiark: Lord of Space

---

SOURCE SESSION:

WoL: Knight of Hope (one who wields hope as a weapon. Hope is canonically an extremely powerful aspect and linked to elemental light and the power of belief. Brilliant Conviction, the canonical warrior of light buff, is extremely Hope energy. Also, since light is juxtaposed against despair in the Big Answers Monologue, the Warrior of Light represents not the aspect Light, which is luck and knowledge, but Hope)

Minfilia (& Ryne): Heir of Light (literally everything about Minfilia and Ryne points to this it is almost impossible to ignore. Also again, Homestuck Light represents luck and foresight and this ties to both Minfilia's time as Word of the Mother and Ryne's role as the Oracle)

Alphinaud: Prince of Blood (one who destroys relationships and alliances, see the Crystal Braves, but also one who destroys through or using alliances, see everything after that. Also, all the Princes destroy their aspect in themselves at some point, and ARR Alphinaud is absolutely a bloodless technocrat in all senses)

Alisaie: Rogue of Breath (an outlaw Rogue in contrast to Alphinaud's noble Prince but also because the Rogues are generally affable, unpretentious, and natural adepts of their aspects. Breath stands for freedom, flight, and change. The curing of tempering not only figuratively steals back the breath of Halric and all the tempered (and the porxie animation is even sort of a symbolic transfer of breath), but also restores their freedom and marks perhaps the greatest change to the setting's status quo)

Thancred: Bard of Mind (mind deals with thought, possible futures, the paralysis of choice. The bard allows destruction of their aspect and invites destruction through their aspect. It is difficult to sum up how I think this applies but consider both Thancred, paralyzed by his failure to save Warburton, and also the image of the Fatebreaker. Also he's literally a bard)

Y'shtola: Witch of Void (witch is obvious. Void stands in for forbidden knowledge, obscured things, darkness. Connects to both her personal drive to uncover the hidden things of the world and her time as spiritual leader to the Night's Blessed. Also on a meta level we know the least about her because she is underdeveloped lmao)

Urianger: Seer of Doom (lay-up)

Estinien: Maid of Rage (both the HS Maids are naturals of their aspects, and also go sorta corrupted or weird in relation to it. also the idea of Estinien as Nidhogg's handmaiden (as well as Handmaid) makes a lot of sense to me)

G'raha: Page of Time (again, a lay-up, but note that Pages have the potential to be among the most powerful given time and development. Also as the Exarch has many parallels to Hydaelyn thematically)

---

UNSUNDERED:

Elidibus: Sylph of Heart (Heart deals with identity, the soul, motivation, but also self-knowledge through others. Also Elidibus is a little bit damsel-coded imo)

Emet-Selch: Mage of Space (BEHOLD, A SORCERER OF ELD and also the close narrative link to Zodiark)

Lahabrea: Thief of Life (steals life, as Hephaestus made life. Also life has thematic links to the march of progress and the exertion of will, and through the Condesce and Betty Crocker, power and its abuse (impeach Lahabrea))

#ffxiv #classpect #as with classpects in homestuck proper this is a blend of video game mechanics and narrative tropes

[moorheadthanyoucanhandle]

DOES A BEAR SNORT IN THE WOODS?

Now playing in the multiplexes:

Cocaine Bear--This shocker has at least as much right to claim "true story" status for itself as Fargo or The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. There really was a Cocaine Bear: back in 1985, an American black bear was found dead in the Chattahoochee National Forest in northern Georgia, just south of the Tennessee line. The poor creature had OD'd, having ingested more than 30 kilos of cocaine, valued at tens of millions of dollars.

The stuff had been dropped from an airplane by a smuggler who then died himself in a parachuting mishap. The unfortunate ursine, dubbed "Pablo Eskobear," was stuffed by a taxidermist and ended up on display in a shopping mall in Kentucky, where it reportedly still stands.

The movie, directed by Elizabeth Banks from a script by Jimmy Warden, is set in 1985 and uses some real place names and at least one real person's name (the smuggler's). But it's still a load of gleeful b.s., a highly entertaining sick joke. Unlike the real animal, the movie's bear--arguably the newest addition to the stable of Universal Monsters--turns into a drug-crazed spree killer, mauling and dismembering hikers and park personnel, as well as the drug traffickers that enter the forest in search of the lost product.

Cocaine Bear is as violent and gory as any big-studio movie you're likely to see. But it isn't scary, and isn't meant to be; the splatter is played entirely for gruesomely slapstick laughs. Indeed, the exuberance with which the blood and brains and guts fly is the central recurring and escalating gag.

Except for a single mom (Keri Russell), searching the woods for her daughter and the daughter's friend, most of the major characters are scoundrels or cretins or both, though not necessarily unlikable scoundrels and cretins. All of them are broadly played caricatures, so Banks invites us to leave our empathy at the door, take a cathartic break from compassion and hoot at the horrors which befall them. I indulged, and so did the audience with which I saw the film.

The title character, generated through some reasonably seamless combination of virtual and practical effects, has a guileless personality that contrasts with the bloody mayhem. Indeed, you're more likely to feel for the blameless beast than for most of the humans.

The cast is nonetheless excellent, even if most of them are not employing ten percent of their talent. I've long thought that Russell is one of the more underrated and underutilized lead actresses now in movies. I also don't understand why Alden Ehrenreich hasn't become a bigger deal; he's comically muddled yet sympathetic as an elaborately bereaved drug operative. So is O'Shea Jackson as his weary partner, Aaron Holliday as a dimwit would-be mugger they encounter, and Isiah Whitlock, Jr. as a cranky detective.

The film was one of the last in which the late Ray Liotta appeared. He's in his usual strong form as Ehrenreich's father, the heartless local boss of the drug dealers. It's not a rich enough role to be a worthy swansong, but it's a good performance, and the film is dedicated to him. The great Margo Martindale nails every line and facial expression as a hard-up park ranger trying to get the attention of a naturalist (Jesse Tyler Ferguson). Maybe the best of all are Brooklyn Prince and Christian Convery as the two kids, who get across a genuine affection behind their mild, familiar ragging and posing and their dares of each other. They, along with Russell, offer us somebody to unambiguously root for.

Banks has a lot of fun evoking '80s-movie atmosphere, not only with the costumes and cars and posters and overheard pop songs but with her direction. From the full opening credit sequence to the leisurely camera movement to the driving synthesizer score by Mark Mothersbaugh, the film is as much a throwback to the decade in which it's set as last year's Top Gun: Maverick, and the response to both of those films suggests that maybe today's audiences wouldn't object to a return to that style.

#cocaine bear #elizabeth banks #kerri russell #alden ehrenreich #o'shea jackson jr #jesse tyler ferguson #ray liotta #mark mothersbaugh #isiah whitlock jr. #aaron holliday #universal monsters

[wanderingchild]

Phantom’s 35th. My thoughts.

I haven’t seen this show in almost 10 years. Tonight was my…54th time? 55th? I honestly have lost count. I know it was once on a National Tour (2006 with Gary Mauer), once in London (2013 with Marcus Lovett), and the rest on Broadway (2005, 2010-2014, & 2023 -many Phantoms, but mostly Hugh Panaro).

I loved this show. For several years, it was my life, it consumed everything about me. I was there for her 10,000th show, for her 25th Anniversary, Peter Jöback’s Broadway debut…so many small milestones and unique shows too with fun understudy & swing combinations. I knew this show inside & out, who covered what role, the timing of the choreography for every role, every single person onstage & behind the scenes. It was strange not knowing all the lyrics, the new choreography choices, who was at the stage door. A lot of these choreography changes, particularly for Christine & Raoul…10-years-ago me probably would’ve had a fit!

It shouldn’t surprise me that things changed over the last 10 years, particularly after Hal Prince & Gillian Lynne’s deaths - Hal was the last thing keeping the show from being any less than the “Brilliant Original”. Tonight showed me while the show is far from a shadow of what it used to be, it certainly is a phantom of the show I used to love. sorry i had to

There’s no getting around it: It’s old. It’s tired. It’s a well-oiled machine, but it’s rusty & showing its age. It probably has for a long time, but in the 10 years since I put aside my rose-tinted glasses, I can see it now. Even my mom commented on it. Perhaps they were just tired, and I know it was a 2-show day, but a lot of the acting felt lackluster. Or maybe they just don’t care as much anymore since they know she’s closing. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Ben had some fantastic, but brief, moments - his softer sections were definitely his strong points for me (“I gave you my music”, “lead me save me…”, “Christine I love you”). His word pronunciation was inconsistent, and his character in the Final Lair confused me. Is he meant to be drunk? It was odd.

Emilie was lovely, if a bit too subdued - her vibrato was a bit strong for my taste, but I’ve never cared for strong vibrato. The PONR choreography makes ZERO sense to me now - I was in the front of Rear Mezz, and it was not remotely clear at all 1. when Christine knew it was the Phantom and 2. if she, like, cared.

Sidenote: it was very cool to see & hear all the changes made to wigs, props, and lyrics to accommodate & acknowledge Christine no longer only being played by white/white-passing actresses.

Paul was Raoul tonight. He was always a better Raoul than Phantom, but neither were ever anything special to talk about. He seemed to just be…standing there, a lot of the time. Mom said he was her favorite of the trio though, so that counts for something.

And for the record, I still hate the Wandering Child trio. It just sounds like vibratic chaos.

The managers were funny - the contrast of the younger, more frantic Andre & the more humbug “this shit is ridiculous” Firmin has never been more stark, which both amused and annoyed me. Nehal Joshi has many more comedic roles in his future, for certain.

I did record the show tonight, but I don’t think the audio will be very good. The people next to me kept making stupid comments and ruined MOTN. When they arrived back late in Masquerade & the one started commenting about it, I turned to them & said, “Please stop talking. I did not pay all this money to hear you talk”. Thankfully, they shut the fuck up after that. I’ll see how much the recording picked up- might have to just post pieces, we’ll see.

Also, I met ALW in the lobby before the show & got a selfie with him. We both look terrible in it so just take my word for it.

Ben made a speech from some notecards for the curtain call, acknowledging ALW & former cast members being there, and thanking the swings & understudies for making Phantom’s reopening & continued performances possible.

They had a fancy cake made again (it was standing vertical??? Apparently it was rice krispies or something), but the cast didn’t even get to eat it! It had dry ice on it for the “candles” & was apparently sitting backstage all show, so…maybe that was for the best. Black icing doesn’t taste very good, anyway.

I don’t know, tonight was strange for me. I had a swell of emotion during the Overture, and another one at “it’s over now, the Music of the Night”, and when everyone sang Happy Birthday during Ben’s curtain call speech. But otherwise, this show didn’t do much for me.

And honestly? I am very, very okay with that.

I saw tonight as closure, a farewell to an incredibly tumultuous time in my life and to this beautiful production. I’ll probably see it again some day somewhere, but this was my last time seeing her on Broadway.

Farewell my fallen idol my love. It was good to see you one last time.

#phantom of the opera #the phantom of the opera #POTO Broadway #35th Anniversary #txt