#I aspire to the level of fashion confidence that man has
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Cinderella Closet Volume 1: Setting The Stage
I love series that challenge gender norms and conventional approaches to sexuality. I love series that have a wide range of style and clothing for the character. And I love cute and fun series. Cinderella Closet checks all those boxes with a modern and fun story that doesn't hide behind stereotypes or cliches in much of any facet.
So, what's it about? Haruka's a freshly 20-year old university student living in Tokyo, who exists in the shadows of the dreams she had for her future. She doesn't have a boyfriend, she's not "trendy", and she's not incredibly popular. Then comes along a golden opportunity to go out with her work crush. But, I mean, have you seen what she looks like? The situation's real dire, so by chance Haruka runs into Hikaru, and the stars align for a fairy godmother to take the stage and turn Haruka into Cinderella.
Cinderella Closet revolves around the dynamic of stylish and chic Hikaru coaxing (though more like wrenching) Haruka out from within her shell. There's not a huge amount of details in regards to the fashion, but they more than provide various details and the reasoning behind dressing Haruka as they do.
More than that though, it's a commentary on the power of fashion and beauty that exists. I think it works really well given Hikaru and Haruka as opposites. The first being the man that dresses as a beautiful woman, and the woman that has a hard time being perceived as one normally. Each have ways in which they remain alienated from self-acceptance and confidence, but through fashion as a medium they're able to find the ability to stand tall and be proud of themselves, and confidently declare that they're beautiful.
And I think that's really all there is to say with any profound statement. It's reclaiming the beauty standards placed on women as a form of empowerment and confidence, and is making a damn cute pass at it as well. Haruka is helplessly funny without any intention of being so, and Hikaru plays a great straight man to her act. The two get on like a house on fire, and while it might seem a little odd based on the time that elapses between interactions and the like, I really enjoy the various moments that they show.
What I think sells it for me is how Haruka views Hikaru, and how Hikaru treats Haruka. It has nothing to do with gender or sexuality, and instead is a bond formed through their shared passions and interests, and is expressed as such. Hikaru sees how much of a great person Haruka is, and tries to protect her while giving her that push in the back she needs. And Haruka just does what anyone should do for Hikaru, treats them like a normal person. It doesn't matter that they're a man, it doesn't matter that they enjoy dressing as a woman, and anything else in-between is about as insignificant as Hikaru wants it to be.
It's really great, and represents this very unique two-way street where each person approaches it differently. They each adore each other because they embody what the other desires. Haruka sees Hikaru as the pinnacle of fashion and beauty, and aspires to reach their levels of confidence and pride that they carry themselves with. Meanwhile Hikaru sees Haruka as a version of themselves. A version that is wary about being themselves, but at the end of the day is able to spread their wings and fly. Despite neither being perfect or what they believe the other person wants them to be, they both see a light in the other that they can't find in themselves.
Okay, enough of the big talk, let's get some fun stuff in here! I loved the jokes and (attempt at) modern humor in the manga. I think the translator struggled a little with some pieces, but nonetheless we get straight up memes in this first volume (have to use a picture of the physical manga as fan and official TL differ on this dialogue).
Also, absolutely credit to this random guy, he knows where it's at.
And just to finish it off, some housekeeping. Given that it's adults in the story here, it's enjoyably spicy about it. Not that anything happens, but they're comfortable in sharing what's typically considered more "adult" information. In that sense, I think the tertiary interactions of Hikaru, and Haruka's boyfriend/crush Kurotaki are really nice. There's a good air of hostility and some decent common ground found through Hikaru's defense of Haruka.
Cinderella Closet certainly takes a bit of time getting moving, but I can appreciate that it works to establish solid footing before running away with it. You don't get reveals right away, confrontation doesn't turn into conflict immediately, and feelings are made crystal clear at the drop of the hat. In opposition though, fashion is apparent throughout, and is used both as a tool and a weapon in countless ways. Putting it together, it gives you something that has a solid thread to follow, but isn't afraid of reaching out from it to explore other pieces.
#cinderella closet#fashion manga#yanai wakana#manga recommendation#manga review#shoujosei#shoujo#shoujo manga#shojo manga#shojo#shojosei#anime and manga#manga
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1, 2, 8, and 15 for the ask game :)
Thanks Ann hiii 💕
1. One of your favourite female characters?
WHO TO CHOOSE FR but today I will go with ms Palutena “Kid Icarus Uprising” Goddess of Light I love her so much she’s silly she’s smart she’s caring she’s snarky she’s cringe she’s cool she makes dumb reference she can’t be trusted in the kitchen she’s a mom what doesn’t she have she’s the woman of all time fr, I’d do anything for her
2. One of your favourites from when you were a child?
PIPER ROBOTS 2005 I always thought she was so cool she was a fiesty she was embarrassed by her brother but would also kill people for him she was confident in herself and when they tried to sideline her she was like oh okay I’ll just go get everyone and have a way cooler moment then the rest of you
Also Maggie from Meta Jets I just always thought she was really cool I mean she was a professional jet racer who fought crime in her cool tricked out jet
8. A minor female character you love anyway?
This was such a hard choice but Juleka Couffaine !! I love her to death she’s just. Idk uhm it’s just one one level like at her core she’s a very sweet person who deal with very debilitating anxiety & low self confidence which just hits hard for me as someone who has to deal with that themselves and she cares a lot about her friends and she tries helping them out a lot. And I really love the fact that despite her anxiety and stuff she wants to be a model!! I just think it’s such an interesting but nice aspiration to give her that really sets her apart from other anxious quiet goth kid types like I fully hope she gets to achieve her dream someday. Also she plays the bass and as mention is goth she’s so cool, and her superhero persona is a tiger with the magically ability to just be one punch man you WISH you were her
15. Female character you would defend with your life?
DAPHNE BLAKE, POPCULTURE AT LARGE DOESNT UNDERSTAND HER ONE BIT IT MAKES ME SO MAD!!! Yes she likes fashion and makeup and nice clothes and crushing on boys but she’s not some generic popular girl she’s also unapologetically a weirdo!!! She’s a martial artist she self identifies as a nerd she wholly believes in the supernatural she loves her friends so much like she would never alienate any of them for being “weird” because she’s weird!! She’d kick your ass for making fun of shaggy. She has the wildest most random selection of assorted skills. She has a genuine passion for mystery solving I need them to stop messing her up
Also Ashley Resident Evil get behind me, I’ll protect you
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I see that it’s late and night and dark and I IMMEDATELY pull Evie outside to drink a confidence boosting potion. And volia! She managed to overcome her fear of the dark. Even spotted the trait vanish from her traits list, nice!
Anyway, Pierce did some household cleaning and made some breakfast for himself. His first whim is to win a game of chess and that means I head on over to the park or to the library. And well, we got cool teen hangout lot soooo I know my preference. Evie’s also tagging along. Figured she and Lazerwolf can go and learn some more tricks around here.
Ooo, now here’s a teen heartthrob that’s actually Pierce’s type. ...evidently he’s single!? What? No way no way, I was meaning to set him and Rashidah Watson as those teen lovers who run away with each other. BAH! So I guess it’s time to flirt over chess. A fun game to flirt over, I suppose. And a friendship has been struck up and we’re onto the next stage of Friend of the World! Need to have 20 friends, level 10 charisma and a BFF. ...I should look at Pierce’s friendships to see whom that could be, I think Alex. No? Huh. Must be whomever he befriended back in his kid days. Perhaps even his long deceased father!
Meanwhile, Evie reached level 4 of pet training. She can now show off tricks and...command her pet to attack. RUDE! Very rude! But it is something that would require training wouldn’t it. Of note is as soon as I got Lazerwolf out of pet training that he immediately collapsed out of exhaustion. Poor puppy! Anyway, I had her attempt to strike up a friendship with a nearby girl, Miki Akiyama and have them play on the pirate ship together but alas, she headed home. So instead Evie began playing with a kid already on said gym, Marc Casillas. Though he left soon after as well. Man. Instead we got an elderly lady to play sea monster with, Karly Henley, a townie I adopted and jazzed up her fashion as the kooky weird lady. Love those gals. She’s a part of the Garden Gnomes, Moria Fyres’s club that I set to pop up over all parks.
Do you want to know what Lazerwolf is beside a lazy couch potato? He’s a hunter! So I sent him off to search around for goodies. He sniffed the nearby bushes and actually dug up a nearby dig pile for goodies. Though now, he needs a bath. TO HOME! ...Evie can’t give dog baths though so I guess it’s Supriya’s job! Then she took care of her regular needs and took a jog around the neighborhood. Pierce also came back from work with a promotion and a new fear of capitalism. Slow down game! He just got the job and a promotion!
God damn it. The bugged fear is still bugged. Man. Ah well.
Anyway, with Supriya’s next whim to flirt with someone else, I’m going “nah. We’re going on a special date with Curtis.” The two are at the local bar nearby and...wow, even Supriya’s party clothes are rather more chill. Perhaps she is underdressed for this bar but ah well! But why is this date such a special one?
This. This is why. PROPOSAL TIME! Now normally, I wouldn’t mind a longer engagement and flirtation. Normally. The hand of grim and neighborhood stories is not so kind and I’ve had dates for people I like die off before I could play the household again. If you love someone, marry them quick! I ended the date slightly early after finishing all of the date markers since Supriya was tired. And also!
Curtis now joins the household! The true way of saving someone from death is to have them be played! And now we have the maximum number of Sims in a household, eight! A lot of that is thanks to four pets.
Curtis has the Neighborhood Confidante Apsiration...which is bugged and isn’t showing up with any progress markers, no skills and no job! Welp. I’m just gonna switch him to an aspiration that isn’t bugged and hopefully whenever I reload this file or revisit this household, it’ll fix itself. Otherwise, the recommendation is doing a game repair. But! As we return home, it’s time for!
Neighborhood Watch!
Brindleton Bay: The Richard household moved out.
Federica Sandoval in the Sandoval household has died. Federica tried to make cereal but it burst into flames.
Elise Palumbo in the Palumbo household has died. Elise stuck a finger in a plug and electricity came out.
Brindleton Bay: The Cormier household recently moved out.
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I’ve been thinking a lot about life and where I want to go not just in this upcoming new year, but for the years to come as I progress through young adulthood…
And what it truly means to find fulfillment, satisfaction, and most importantly: happiness in our finite time in this world.
Whether that’s through sheer stubbornness or dedication and hard work towards achieving said goals listed above.
At the moment I don’t feel like as if I’m good at anything nor do I have unwavering confidence in my supposed abilities that many claim I exhibit. I’m someone who strives to succeed and punishes myself harshly for failure, even if it’s irrational and outside of my immediate control.
That’s one of many goals I wish to work on. Not only proving to myself that I may accomplish whatever I decide to put my mind towards, but also being able to proudly declare and back up my established confidence without sowing seeds of crippling doubt.
Several weeks ago Shiki commented on a post of mine, stating: “I feel it’s hard to say from an outsider’s perspective.” This was in relation to a post on my inability to understand why people enjoy alcohol or alcoholic beverages… and I’ve thought about it… extensively.
To some alcohol is a poison and to others alcohol is a form of escapism, a temporary bandage and salve over a gushing wound that can’t be closed without external assistance. Escapism is something we’re all guilty of to an extent, some vastly more than others.
Fiction especially. While some fictional stories or universes resonate with us on a personal or spiritual level… some can reflect our own journey’s or serve as a cautionary tale towards a winding string of dangerous paths.
But for me… Fiction serves as a conduit for my own personal desires in myself. There are countless attributes I’ve given my characters, namely my OC’s and Personal Interpretations/Headcanon’s. My goal was to make them strong… but flawed. And throughout their journey’s overcoming said flaws, becoming better people in the process. Which I think… should be something everyone strives for at one point.
Aspirations I couldn’t hope to achieve… Aspirations I didn’t believe I could achieve at that time, moments and allusions experienced in my life I’ve put into some of my characters as you’ve seen. It’s not perfect, but perfection is an unrealistic term.
At this point and time, Rei Hino-Aino II, Rei Junior, RJ… is my blog’ and my writing’s Magnum Opus. And maybe I’m not the one who should declare such a prestigious title, however I feel it fits his story and evolution as a person.
He serves an allegory, a metaphor if you will, for my own life and experiences. Alienated for not fitting into the ideals or images placed into the minds of my peers, judged or ostracized for viewing the world differently, beaten down physically and metaphorically for standing your ground, and above all else… finding strength in the ideals and emotions you hold true to yourself.
He exists as a biological male and the first Martian-Venusian hybrid… but his outward appearance, style, and even down to his fashion choices relate to someone who’s not ashamed of his body. He might be a boy, but wears ambiguous and feminine clothing such as skirts and bras.
It doesn’t make him less of a man because of the clothing he wears nor does it mean he’s a weak, defenseless, and incapable one… He has nothing to prove to anyone, because eventually you realize the only person you need to prove anything to… is yourself. RJ is not defined by his appearance, he is defined by his character, by his passion, and more importantly his love.
And while he is a grumpy, moody, and curvaceous purple-haired 19, almost 20 year old… He’s important to a lot of people and isn’t allowing his mistakes of the past to hinder him any further.
I’ve experienced highs and lows in my time here… I came into this community as rather unassuming, oblivious, recklessly kind, and gullible. Because I hadn’t been completely exposed to these type of experiences.
My lingering depression and apparent anxiety, coming to terms and the realization of me being not genderfluid, but rather a trans-woman, a period of nihilistic beliefs and self-hatred, the friends I’ve made, the friends I’ve lost, a grasp of what I’ve done through in childhood isn’t natural and shouldn’t be normalized, what the receiving end of manipulation/gaslighting feels like, what it means to belong somewhere, and… maturing.
A lot of my inner child has died in recent years… I’ve fully realized the world is a cruel place and people will take advantage. It will not hesitate to bash you face first into the pavement over and over and over again. Yet, it’s filled with a lot of great people and possibilities and to hold myself back is to limit my own reach of this wide world.
And understanding that these coexist, allowing yourself to fail even when it hurts, and pushing your mind and body can help guide you towards that semblance of happiness. Because that happiness is different for everyone alongside the capacity of it.
My deceased Makigumo once said to Kirishima… “Live Kirishima-Sensei, Live. If not for anyone else, then for yourself!”
Because living is the greatest thing someone can do. And we owe it to ourselves… we deserve the privilege… To live fulfilling lives regardless of the form said fulfillment takes. While there are other factors that ultimately play into it… the person who holds themself back the most is yourself.
You are the ultimate enemy, but you’re also the ultimate human being. And that state of being… is being yourself.
Live. Dream. Prosper. No matter how hard it might get, there’s a miracle waiting to be forged by your own hands.
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Andy “Just wears ‘random separates’ from his closet to the Tonys and still manages to rock the most iconic look of the night” Mientus
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I’m pleased to be here today to discuss who I’ll be supporting for president, and why.
It was the honor of my life to represent my state, Arizona — my family’s home — in the United States House and Senate for eighteen years. I am a conservative. I’ve always felt that my conservative beliefs and values were best expressed in the Republican Party. I was a Republican long before the president ever called himself one, and I will be a Republican long after identifying as such is no longer useful to him. Principle does not go in and out of fashion, does not chase ratings, or play to the base, or care too much about polls. And principle is the provenance of no one party. That is one of the things I am here to talk about today.
The other thing I am here to talk about is the future — both of my party, but more importantly, the future of our country.
I was raised on a cattle ranch in Northern Arizona. Goldwater country. When I was a kid, the Republican Party under President Reagan was brimming with ideas, full of purpose and principle. It was coherent, and inspiring, and idealistic. So much so that it awakened the imagination of a kid from the town of Snowflake, and a whole generation of other kids just like him. Made us think big thoughts, and of our place in the world, and of what it meant to be an American in America, the shining city on a hill.
With Reagan, a conservative’s vision of America as the indispensable nation was benevolent and big-hearted, a beacon to the striver and to the subjugated and those locked behind an ideological wall that divided the world into free and oppressed. It was morning in Reagan’s America. It wasn’t perfect, but it was always getting better. We were the sum of our goodness, not our gripes — of our resolve, not our resentments.
I got into public service believing that for our politics to be healthy, the American government needed people who believed as I do, but also people who believed differently from me. This has become somewhat of a novel idea. But it is the genius of our founders that the Constitution forces compromise. Governing is hard. Democracy is hard. Decency shouldn’t be that hard, but apparently it is. You know what’s easy? Name calling. Demagoguery. The politics of vengeance is easy. Dehumanization requires very little talent.
By raging at each other, our minds vacant of reason and reeling with ill-will and tinfoil hat conspiracy theories, we have given in to the horrible tribal impulse to first mistake our opponents for our enemies… then become seized with the conviction that we must destroy that enemy… seemingly oblivious to the fact that not only are we not enemies, we are each vital organs in the same body.
It’s as if in order to save itself, your brain decided to destroy your heart. That’s about the level of care we are currently bringing to the proceedings. There is a sickness in our system, and we have infected the whole country with it.
We’re all old enough to remember when we elected presidents who spoke to our highest ideals and aspirations as a nation, not to our darkest dystopian fears. I can remember when, once an election was settled, a new president would reach out a hand to those who had opposed him, and pledge to do right by all Americans, not just those who were loyal to him.
That’s the way presidents once sought to lead and govern. In fact, it is the way every other president in the modern era, Republican or Democrat, tried to conduct himself in office. Each possessed a keen awareness that a president’s principal role is to serve not himself or his interests or the interests of his clan, but the people of the United States. That was once the American way.
Those of us of a certain age in this country have also had the rare good fortune of growing up and into adulthood not having to think too much about the consequences of our votes — or even whether we vote at all in a given election.
For our entire lives, through some very fractious political periods, we have taken steady self-governance for granted, and that is a luxury that so many of our fellow human beings living in other countries have never had for a single day of their lives.
But the story of the past 3 ½ years is the story of the power that we vest in the presidency, and the consequences when a president does not use that power well. And these times prove the folly of taking anything for granted.
In 2016, one candidate running for the Republican nomination described our current President as a “chaos candidate” and if elected he would be a “chaos president.” Can anyone now seriously argue against this proposition?
Of course, in 2016 the President was a private citizen, and thus was unaccountable for the chaos he caused. And these traits of the man who would become the standard bearer of my party were bad enough when exhibited by a mere candidate for president.
In 2016, it was bad enough when for months in advance of the election, the Republican nominee for president claimed falsely that the coming election would be rigged. Now, as president of the United States, he has said, and I quote: “The only way we’re going to lose this election is if the election is rigged.” What kind of president talks like that? What kind of American leader undermines confidence in elections in his own country, as part of his strategy to hold power? This is extraordinarily dangerous to a free society and it stands to inflict lasting damage to our democracy.
It was bad enough when as a candidate he attacked a federal judge because of his heritage, saying that Judge Gonzalo Curiel couldn’t preside fairly over a certain case because Curiel’s parents were from Mexico. As President, he has only intensified his attack on judges. He has interfered in cases involving his friends and threatened jail for his opponents, demonstrating how little he knows or appreciates about the independent administration of justice in America.
In 2016, it was bad enough for a mere candidate for president to sweet talk the Russian dictator, calling Vladimir Putin a “strong leader for his people,” as if “his people” had a say in the matter. Watching that man as president stand with Putin at Helsinki and take the dictator’s side, defying his own intelligence community and denying the ongoing Russian attacks on our elections — was shocking and appalling. In that moment, and in so many other inexplicable moments of deference to dictators, a president of the United States degraded his office and diminished America’s role as leader of the free world.
It was bad enough in 2016 when as a candidate he resorted to calling his opponents childish names. That behavior in a president — which has only gotten worse, is an embarrassment to the office. Do any of us want our children to emulate this behavior?
I could go on, but the litany is all too familiar. It is apparent by now that the president’s behavior has not and will not change, whatever hopes we Republicans might have entertained about the office changing the man.
Some of my conservative friends will say, yes, we don’t like his behavior, but he governs as a conservative. Here, today, I will say to my fellow conservatives: Whatever else you might call the behavior I have just described, it is most assuredly not conservative. Indifference to the truth or to the careful stewardship of the institutions of American liberty is not conservative. Disregard for the separation of powers — the centerpiece of our constitutional system — is not conservative. Governing by tweet is not conservative. It’s not even governing.
And to the refrain — Well, it’s all about the Supreme Court, I say: To fall back on Supreme Court appointments as the last remnant by which we define a once vibrant conservative movement should offer little solace to conservatives.
Three conservative principles have defined and animated the Republican Party over the past several decades. A belief in limited government, a commitment to free trade, and a recognition that strong American leadership around the globe makes America a more secure nation and the world a better place.
So, how are we doing with these principles?
Well, we were running trillion-dollar deficits even before the coronavirus hit us. We have destroyed foreign markets for our goods and services. We have threatened security agreements that have kept the peace for nearly three quarters of a century. We have offended allies who we will desperately need to face China and other long-term threats to our security and prosperity. For no good reason.
Can any of us stand here today and claim that our party has remained faithful to conservative principles during the President’s time in office? No, we cannot.
If we are honest, there is less of a conservative case to be made for reelecting the President than there is a blatant appeal for more rank tribalism. And further division. And more willful amnesia in the face of more outlandish presidential behavior.
I cannot and will not be a part of that. There simply is no future in it. To my fellow Republicans who, like me, believe in the power of conservative ideas — ask yourself: Will we be in a better position to make a conservative case for governing after four more years of this administration? I think we all know the answer.
So here we are today. During the 2016 election, given what I had already seen during the campaign, I knew I could not vote for the President. Like many of my colleagues, I chose to vote for a third-party candidate. Today, given what we have experienced over the past four years, it is not enough to just to register our disapproval of the President. We need to elect someone else in his place, someone who will stop the chaos and reverse the damage.
Putting country over party has a noble history here in Arizona. In 1992, Mr. Republican, Barry Goldwater, endorsed a Democrat running for Congress over the Republican he felt would not represent the party well. Goldwater hadn’t traded in his conservative credentials. Far from it. He simply believed, in that case, that the conservative cause would be better served over the long term if the Democrat prevailed.
And that is what I believe today, in this election. And that is what a growing number of Republicans believe and are declaring today as well.
I have never before voted for a Democrat for president. But I’ve been asked many times over the past four years if I, as a conservative, could vote for a Democrat for President. “Sure,” has been my ready answer, “if he or she were a Joe Biden-kinda-Democrat.
Well, the Democratic Party just nominated a Joe Biden-kinda-Democrat, whom I am confident will approach his constitutional role with the reverence and dignity it deserves. I know that he will reach across the aisle, because that’s what he’s done his entire career.
After the turmoil of the past four years, we need a president who unifies rather than divides.
We need a president who prefers teamwork to tribalism.
We need a president who summons our better angels, not a president who appeals to our baser instincts.
That’s why we need Joe Biden.
If we have learned anything over the past four years, it is that character matters. Decency matters. Civility never goes out of style. And we should expect our president to exhibit these virtues.
I have known Vice President Biden for two decades now. I served with him in Congress for much of that time. He is a good and decent man. I haven’t always agreed with him, and there will be many policies on which we will disagree in the future, and that’s okay. The steadiness of leadership, and the health and survival of our democracy — those things far supersede any policy issues on which we might disagree.
And this much I know: With Joe Biden as president, we will be able to preserve the civic space wherein Republicans and Democrats can go back to merely disagreeing about issues of policy, without fear of revenge or reprisal.
That day cannot come soon enough.
And so, it is because of my conservatism, and because of my belief in the Constitution, and in the separation of power, and because I am gravely concerned about the conduct and behavior of our current president that I stand here today — proudly and wholeheartedly — to endorse Joe Biden to be our next president of the United States of America.
America’s best days are ahead. Go Joe.
Thank you very much.
27 Prominent Republicans endorse Joe Biden for President.
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Which tarot court cards would you think best decribes each bts member and why?
great question! as usual, ignore the german labels on my cards
Namjoon is the KING OF SWORDS. What looks like a scary card is actually the brainiac of the tarot 😄 It was glaring I needed to associate Joon with swords (they symbolize intellect) and mature energy. The Page and Knight are too youthful, it’s either King or Queen. The Queen of Swords is all about cutting ties and never mincing words, that’s not him. The King of Swords is left and it fits, he is all about reasoning, high ed, leadership, and being a father figure. The same goes for assertive speech, rap is represented well by this card. RM often poses as the all-powerful King of Wands, but his pursuit of knowledge connects to air (Swords) rather than fire (Wands). It needs an analytical archetype here. The King of Swords is often found in deep, wise thought just like Joon.
Jimin is the KNIGHT OF CUPS. Another obvious suits pick, cups equal emotion, that’s where Jimin is at home. The ups and downs and romance themes of water energy are very present here. Pentacles are too profit-based, Swords and Wands not tactful enough. A flirty and people savvy guy, Jimin has to be in the chalice suit where love is the key. I picked the Knight because of his chivalry and sexy strength that comes from the heart. I also considered the empathetic, selfless Queen of Cups, however, I feel she’s too advanced and serious for him at this point, but he’s headed there. The Knight has more fervor in his charm and mood while at the same time being sensitive and younger. As a dancer, it has to be a tarot figure that’s on the move with less lingering, always on the search for giving and receiving affection.
Taehyung is the PAGE OF CUPS. I was debating whether cups or pentacles are his matching suit. Swords and Wands I excluded from the get-go, too wild, too extreme, too primal. Swords are sneaky silver tongues prone to aggression, wands are the boss mood of the tarot. That’s not Tae at his core. Since cups are all about creativity, art, beauty, family and dreams while pentacles mean business, nurture, pragmatism: Cups it is. Similar to Jimin, he aspires to level up, in his case, to become the King of Cups, the ultimate family man. But for now, Tae occupies the dreamy state of the curious Page who is lost in thought and loves to create. The energy of cups becomes whimsical and inventive here. Tae’s imagination is strong, that’s precisely what this card stands for.
Hobi is the KING OF WANDS. I mean look at that fashion forward guy. Very majestic. Here goes the most powerful and enthusiastic guy of the suits. A court card of strong passion for a born entertainer. The other suits I excluded fast. Swords: Too much hyperrational, up-in-the-clouds thought going on. Cups: Too intuitive. Pentacles: Too corporate. Wands describe Hobi’s bright and energetic personality best, he matches suits with Jin with good reason. Since he’s the quasi-leader of Bangtan and has effortless confidence to take control and teach, we’re talking King or Queen vibe. It could go either way, I opted for King because the Queen is more about socializing, efficiency and tasks while the King is about charisma, fun, and motivation.
Jungkook is the PAGE OF PENTACLES. He has a bit of lovey-dovey cups energy and the ambition of wands, however, pentacles are still my best bet. Swords I ruled out entirely, fostering the mind for the mind’s sake is not JK’s forte, he prioritzes the body, what is tangible i.e. the earth element i.e. pentacles. There’s a reason he idealizes Joon who is peak swords essence. Now, as for the figure. The King and Queen are personalities who’ve seen it all, Jungkook has not arrived there yet. The King of Coins is too busy dealing money, the Queen too busy organizing. Now whether he fits the learner role of the Page or the action task of the Knight… I think the Knight of Pentacles is too much of a guardian-like person to fit JK. The quirky, agile Page is much more wide-eyed. Someone who works on their skills and health constantly.
Yoongi is the KING OF PENTACLES. How very sexy of him. Didn’t have to think twice about that one. Cups are too relation-focused, wands too bossy, swords too ripe with conflict and academia focus. Pentacles are his ideal suit. Hard work, career, enterprise: That’s all Yoongi stuff. He’s a homebody and more of the steady kind, that’s coins energy, too. Since he’s already earned himself a reputation of being too old for this shit, it’s gotta be the King. Kings encompass a metric ton of experience. Success and wealth is integral to this tarot figure, as are long term plans. The King of Pentacles wants to thrive, trade, prosper, see rewards. Unlike the King of Wands or Cups it’s also a more grounded male energy, pretty introverted, too. Look at the card, this king is very much to himself and hidden from plain sight.
Jin is the KNIGHT OF WANDS. Super bold card! Jin has a lot of fire. The willful suit of wands makes the most sense to me here. Cups, coins, swords: All not gut-based and unpredictable enough. Wands are the feral part of the tarot. Being rambunctious and fun but also direct and flamboyant, the prancing Knight energy is just about right. That’s why Jin is the only hyung (!) that isn’t represented by a King card. From time to time we see Jin appear as the caretaking Queen of Pentacles, but in actuality, Queen and King roles are far too rigid for his outlook. The Page is too childlike for him on the opposite end. Meanwhile, the Knight of Wands is a very youthful, risk-taking card with an agenda of courage and adventure. He’s fearless and out to stun like Jin.
#might do a post with them as major arcana cards as well#bts#bts tarot#bts tarot reading#anon#cub mail 🐅
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001 Barbie! xx
As you wish! They’ll mostly be from Barbie movies but I’ll probably include other Barbie media as well
001 | Send me a fandom and I will tell you my:
Favorite character:
I guess it’s obvious, but Erika’s always been #1 in my heart. She’s brave, loyal, and on a personal level got be through a lot of rough times. But if I had to choose another, it would be a tie between Starlight (Barbie of Para-Den) and Mariposa.
Least Favorite character:
Probably Ryan from Life in the Dreamhouse. He just won’t shut up about how much Ken sucks and how cool he is and how he’ll steal Barbie away. At least most of Raquelle’s shenanigans were about proving she was better than Barbie in general, not just as a romantic partner. Plus she was way funnier and *gasp* showed remorse every once in a while.
5 Favorite ships (canon or non-canon):
1. Every combo of the Princess and the Pauper OT4 (Julian x Anneliese x Erika x Dominick) because they all work so no you can’t make me choose!
2. Every combo of the Mariposa OT4 (Willa x Carlos x Mariposa x Catania) because again I ship them all so you can’t make me choose!
3. Starlight x Sal-Lee. I mean it’s a classic “tough girl lets her guard down for this one person” idea that I adore, plus through Starlight Sal-Lee ends up opening up to everyone else as well, meaning she’s taking influence from Starlight. I also think they just have a lot of good chemistry. I wish SLA had it sequel so we could see more of their interactions.
4. Tori x Keira x Liam. I think I actually like this one more than Anneliese x Erika because they get so much more time together onscreen. And omg that time together is just oozing in adorable interactions. The winks, the sly smiles, the gushing, it’s just too cute. I also just think Liam is so sweet with Keira and you can tell from the “Perfect Day” montage and the scene with Tori in the carriage that he really loves Keira’s company. I like to think that Keira ends up casually dating both of them for a while - because she’s a BICON! If you really wanted me to choose just one between them though, sorry Liam, but I’d be Troi x Keira all the way.
5. I’m including Summer x Raquelle here because like I’ve said before I love the chaotic energy they’d have. I think if they ever got together Raquelle’s ambition combined with Summer’s competitive nature would lead into hilarious schemes of proving that there's "obviously" the best couple and Summer getting all defensive if Raquelle’s goals aren’t going her way.
Character I find most attractive:/
I have to admit, I think George (Dreamhouse Adventures) is pretty handsome. I think I just have a thing for men with dark hair and glasses.
Character I would be best friends with:
Oooh, so many to choose from! Okay, if I just pick one it would probably be Marie-Alicia (Alice). We’re a lot alike in some ways, shy about our passions, softspoken but not afraid to throw down, and struggling with confidence issues. I would love to spend calm afternoons with her sitting by the windows in Millicent’s Fashion House, working on my latest videos and musical aspirations while she worked on new designs. And then maybe we’d go for dinner or coffee and treats after!
a random thought:
I’m don’t think I’ll ever be over Barbie Live! In Fairytopia and Barbie LIVE! The Musical being limited releases with no proshots (proshot just means filmed musical/play). I mean come on even BARNEY had a proshot for one of his shows, so why not Barbie too?? Not only would everyone have gotten to see it but it would’ve helped to make back money for the production as well.
An unpopular opinion:
I love ALL Barbie movies and I don't think they "went downhill" after Three Musketeers. Sorry y'all.
My Canon OTP:
Barbie x Ken because I’m basic but I mean can you blame me??? They’re adorable in Life in the Dreamhouse, and I’m actually loving the slowburn in Dreamhouse Adventures despite how overused the trope is. They’re just so comfortable with each other and it’s clear how strong their bond is, even just as friends. Love them.
My Non-canon OTP:
Merliah x Kylie but honestly, you can’t convince me they aren’t canon. I mean come on, Merliah has NO male love interest and Kylie and her are a classic “rivals-to-lovers” trope. They kind of remind of me of Annika and Aidan at the beginning of Magic of Pegasus actually, because those two idiots were really trying to hide any attraction with snark and it just didn’t work. That’s how I see Merliah and Kylie; they pretend to be all tough and dismissive because neither wants to admit they’re actually head over heels. Plus I mean Kylie almost DIED to protect Merliah and the whole ocean, could you really blame me for shipping them after that?? Aw man they’re one of the best f/f ships out there.
Most Badass Character:
I’d say of all the badass characters in Barbie, I’ll choose Rosella. She learned how to provide for herself on the island, she can *parkour* (lol), and most importantly she never gave up trying to help Apollonia’s animals no matter what. Even when everything was against her, she stood up for what she knew was right. Also, she never said one bad word against Luciana. I know that may not seem like much but too many movies with love triangles pit the women against each other and I’m just not fond of that unless one of them is supposed to be really nasty or villanous.
Most Epic Villain:
I’m going with Preminger because he honestly scares me. Similar to someone like Adagio Dazzle, he’s almost always one step ahead and easily molds the situation to fit his needs. Every time a wrench is thrown into his plans, he finds a way to adapt and continue being the one in control. He’s undoubtedly clever and cunning.
Pairing I am not a fan of:
i know I’ve said this before but UGH Kara/Super Sparkle x Wes Rivers. I don’t care if he’s supposed to be her “Lois Lane”, he’s a wannabe newshound who exposed her identity without a second thought to boost traffic to his blog. That is the NUMBER ONE thing you do not do to a superhero because it can and WILL endanger not only the life of the hero herself but also anyone she knows. He’s not a journalist, he’s just a one-man papparazzi with a phone instead of a camera. Absolute worst Barbie movie love interest.
Character I feel the writers screwed up (in one way or another):
Barbie in Puppy Chase. First, she brings the puppies with them to Hawaii for no good reason. Seriously, there’s a lot of work that goes with bringing pets on a plane, so unless it was Chelsea that begged her to take the puppies, which I seriously doubt, there was no reason to waste any time/money on doing that. Secondly, she didn’t reserve a car beforehand. That’s...just common sense. Third, she completely ignored Chelsea every time she said that it was HER trip, for HER competition, and SHE wanted to go straight to the hotel. There was time to see the horses and whatever else, sure, but they should’ve done it AFTER checking in at the hotel. Not to mention, what if their room had been given to someone else because they were no-shows? This movie just made Barbie look like an insensitive idiot and I can’t forgive that.
Favourite Friendship:
One of my favorites is definitely Erika Juno and Princess Olivia. I made a longer post about it a few years ago. I really like how they teach each other and how they grow thanks to each other’s influences.
Character I most identify with:
Right now, Starlight & Erika. I’m jittery, unfocused, and at times really unconfident. At the same time, I also feel trapped inside and music is really my escape from both the world and my own sorrows.
Character I wish I could be:
When I get older, I hope to be like Aunt Millicent - the “cool” aunt that inspires her siblings’ children, like how Millicent inspired Barbie to be a strong woman. I mean I’dl ike to be inspiring to my own children as well, but I chose Aunt Millicent specifically because I’m not sure if I myself will ever be ready to have a child, so right now I’m preparing more for being the best Aunt I can whenever my little sibs have kids.
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Illya’s Never-Ending Survey
Rules: Repost, do not reblog
Tagging: I’m sure most people have already done this so I’ll just tag those I know haven’t yet @ofthesilverlining , @windup-dragoon , @theadventuresofshuri and anyone else who hasn’t done this but wants to.
BASICS.
FULL NAME: Illya Skawi
NICKNAME: Magus of the white (by another OC of mine)
AGE: 19
BIRTHDAY: 31st Sun of the 6th Umbral Moon (31st December)
ETHNIC GROUP: Lalafell / Dunesfolk (Has a hint of hyur from her father)
NATIONALITY: Unknown. She comes from a rural countryside outside Eorzea
LANGUAGE/S: English
SEXUAL ORIENTATION: Bisexual
ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: Biromantic
RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Taken by Alphinaud in the main canon, supposedly single in other AUs.
HOME TOWN / AREA: Black Shroud
CURRENT HOME: Lavender Beds.
PROFESSION: Glorified errand girl, Adventurer, Medic
PHYSICAL.
HAIR: Pure white, usually straight with bangs
EYES: Round and Violet
FACE: Soft, slightly rounded
LIPS: Pale, thin
COMPLEXION: Fair skinned, smooth
BLEMISHES: None
SCARS: Scars littering a good portion of her torso
TATTOOS: None
HEIGHT: 2′9′’
WEIGHT: 43 ponze
BUILD: Short, neither chubby nor very slender by lala standards, average
FEATURES: Glossy eyes, button nose, white hair that almost reflects the sun
ALLERGIES: None
USUAL HAIR STYLE: Usually loose with minimal styling, bangs just above her eyes and a white hair band
USUAL FACE LOOK: No make up
USUAL CLOTHING: Robes, Warm clothing, Armor suitable for whatever class she is, occasionally wears glasses. She’s not picky with her fashion at all.
VOICE CLAIM: Japanese voice: Hanazawa Kana. Something similar to her voice for Nadeko, Kanade and Shiori. English voice: Not a fixed voice actor but her in-game voice is this, which I think is pretty accurate to how she’d sound in English.
PSYCHOLOGY.
FEAR/S: Failure, Being abandoned, Polar Bears
ASPIRATION/S: Acquisition of all the knowledge and skills she can, To finally be someone who is of use to others
POSITIVE TRAITS: Kind, open-minded, intelligent, curious, hard-working, loyal, cooperative, empathetic, observant, patient
NEGATIVE TRAITS: Pessimistic, shy, anxious, cowardly, emotionally fragile, envious, weak, passive, dependent, insecure
TEMPERAMENT: Melancholic
MBTI: INFJ / ISFJ (she kind of tip-toes between both)
SOUL TYPE/S: The Scholar / Server
ANIMALS: Dwarf rabbit
VICE HABIT/S: Hiding her face when she gets emotional, Twiddling her fingers together, Avoiding eye contact
FAITH: None
GHOSTS?: Debatable. She wonders if they are that different from voidsents
AFTERLIFE?: Probably
REINCARNATION?: Possible, but unsure
ALIENS?: No
POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: None
EDUCATION LEVEL: Basic education
FAMILY.
FATHER : Lachlan Skawi, Midlander Adventurer, alive and active. A friendly, witty and adventurous man who can never stay in one place for too long. His sense of humor and persistence eventually causes a reclusive lalafellin farmer to open up her heart to him.
MOTHERS : Cocona Coruna, Half Dunesfolk Half Plainsfolk, alive and active. A stern, sharp-tongued but dedicated farmer who provides the strange adventurer shelter in her home after his journey by ship gets interrupted by a band of pirates wrecking the boat.
SIBLINGS : None
EXTENDED FAMILY: None
NAME MEANING/S: None
HISTORICAL CONNECTION?: None
FAVORITES.
BOOK: I have no idea but she loves reading a lot
DEITY: Nophica
HOLIDAY: Little Ladies’ Day
MONTH: Second Umbral Moon. Usually when spring starts
SEASON: Spring
PLACE: Anywhere with lots of flowers. She’s understandably starstruck when she first visit Il Mheg
WEATHER: Clear skies
SOUND / S: Leaves rustling, Gentle breeze, Insects chirping, windchimes
SCENT / S: Anything floral, Freshly baked bread, Herbs
TASTE / S: SPICY, Fruits
FEEL / S: Texture of cotton or wool, warm blankets
ANIMAL / S: No real preference but probably birds
NUMBER: None
COLORS: Blue, purple
EXTRA.
TALENTS: Magic, cooking and baking, gardening, domestic chores
BAD AT: Physically strenuous labor, Speaking, awful fashion sense
TURN ONS: Courage, Kindness, Altruism, Confidence (because she lacks it herself hah), Loyalty, Independence
TURN OFFS: Manipulation, Bad tempers, Sadism, Selfishness, Too domineering, Perversion or openly lustful behavior, Unnecessary violence
HOBBIES: Cooking or baking, gardening or farming, reading, writing, crochet, sightseeing. magic
TROPES: See this post
QUOTES : “It’s impossible... I’m just... I’m just too weak.”
MUN QUESTIONS.
Q1: If you could write your character your way in their own movie, what would it be called, what style would it be filmed in, and what would it be about?
A1: She’s 100% not going to be the star of some action movie. I don’t know what title I’d give it, but probably a slow-paced melancholic movie focusing on character development driven narrative.
Q2: What would their soundtrack/score sound like?
A2: Pianos. Lots of piano tracks.
Q3: Why did you start writing this character?
A3: She just kind of happened. Getting into ffxiv, I wasn’t really expecting to come out of it with a new OC I’d be obsessing over. But as I grew more attached to the story and also came up with headcanons for the player character, Illya just sort of developed into her own character in my eyes.
Q4: What first attracted you to this character?
A4: Not sure if it counts but I was surprised just how much they made the player character so involved in the story, especially for an MMO. Her pro-activeness and continuously being willing to help and save others when I myself would have been too cynical to care made her endearing to me.
Q5: Describe the biggest thing you dislike about your muse.
A5: I’d like to think she’s a complex character, given how I spend more time thinking about her flaws than actual strengths.. but I do sometimes wonder if she’s too ideal or mary sue-ish. Her aesthetic of flowers, magic and purple has got to be the most overused and cliche combination of aesthetics imaginable. Also she stutters a lot, which makes writing dialogue in her POV slightly annoying.
Q6: What do you have in common with your muse?
A6: We’re both introverted and have self-esteem issues. We’re also both rather pessimistic, though for her she’s pessimistic in her beliefs of whether she’ll be able to live up to the expectations of others, while I’m pessimistic about everyone in general. Other than that I think we’re actually rather different.
Q7: How does your muse feel about you?
A7: Dunno. She’d probably be really scared of me, I think.
Q8: What characters does your muse have interesting interactions with?
A8: If I had to go into detail about every interesting interaction she has I’d take another six hours to write but in a nutshell:
Meets her best friend and fellow WOL Laurelis near the start of ARR and grows more and more attached and comfortable around her as time goes on despite starting off rather wary and weirded out by her. Meets Alphinaud at the very beginning of ARR but doesn’t really bond personally with him until the very start of HW. They confess some time mid-Stormblood. She has interesting dynamics with other WOL OCs I have too, but they’re a topic for another day.
Q9: What gives you inspiration to write your muse?
A9: Just my sheer love for her. I’ve grown to love her like I would any favourite character to the point she sometimes doesn’t feel like an OC anymore.
Q10 : How long did this take you to complete?
A10 : Too long. Granted I tabbed in and out, doing different things all at once but I really shouldn’t have taken close to three hours to finish this.
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Questionnaire :: Eligos Venator
BASICS.
FULL NAME: Eligos Cen Venator
NICKNAME: Eli
AGE: 27
BIRTHDAY: He forgot it and just counts up at the start of a new year.
ETHNIC GROUP: Garlean [Born with an Atavism]
NATIONALITY: Garlemald
LANGUAGE/S: Common [Eorzean], Hingan, Garlean, Thanavarian
SEXUAL ORIENTATION: Heterosexual
ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: Straight
RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Disinterested
HOME TOWN / AREA: Garlemald
CURRENT HOME: Mists Apartment
PROFESSION: Mercenary, Minion-for-hire
[ Cut due to length. Read the rest below! ]
PHYSICAL.
HAIR: Short, jet black hair that is rarely combed properly.
EYES: Gold, highly reflective
FACE: Somewhat Angular
LIPS: Thin
COMPLEXION: Pale
BLEMISHES: None
SCARS: Only the one across the eye. Body is abnormally free of them otherwise.
TATTOOS: None
HEIGHT: 5′10”
WEIGHT: Average
BUILD: Athletic build. Highly Muscular.
FEATURES: Canines are longer and are sharp fangs as a result of the atavism. Has a short, well groomed beard.
ALLERGIES: None [He claims stupid people, but that’s a lie.]
USUAL HAIR STYLE: Short and messy.
USUAL FACE LOOK: Smiling and seeming carefree, though well aware of current surroundings.
USUAL CLOTHING: Magitech Armors if working. Long-sleeved jackets and suits when not working. Short-sleeved clothing only when weather is extremely hot or at home.
PSYCHOLOGY.
FEAR/S: Starvation. Wasting Away.
ASPIRATION/S: To amass wealth so that he can retire in peace and luxury.
POSITIVE TRAITS: Extremely intelligent. Tolerant and patient when dealing with others. Curious and eager to learn. Reliable and honors his contracts to the letter.
NEGATIVE TRAITS: Massive Ego. Untrusting. Amoral. Easily Distracted.
TEMPERAMENT: Calm, Friendly, Cheerful
SOUL TYPE/S: Gunbreaker/Machinist
ANIMALS: Ibri, a hunting hawk with a foul attitude.
VICE HABIT/S: Loves to gamble, but will try to rig each game to be in his favor.
FAITH: Only in himself.
GHOSTS?: No
AFTERLIFE?: No
REINCARNATION?: No
POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: Disinterested
EDUCATION LEVEL: Nearly graduated from the Magitek Academy in Garlemald as a bioweapons researcher. Finished remaining education on own time after.
FAMILY.
FATHER: Caledon Cen Venator
MOTHER: Palmira Cen Venator
SIBLINGS: None
EXTENDED FAMILY: None
NAME MEANING/S: Eligos is the name of a demon of Ars Goetia. The demon in question knows the future of wars and is depicted as a goodly knight. Eligos takes this and tries to incorporate white armor in some fashion to honor his namesake, even if not all of the armors he has used are knightly in appearance.
HISTORICAL CONNECTION?: N/A
FAVORITES.
BOOK: Anatomy books for research. Is happy with any science-fiction book for inspiration.
DEITY: Worshipping gods is as bad as worshipping Eikons, as far as Eligos is concerned.
HOLIDAY: None [Rarely gets hired during holiday seasons]
SEASON: Winter
PLACE: Indoors, either in front of magitek or in bed with a good book in hand.
WEATHER: Snowfall & Light Rains
SOUND / S: Rainfall upon a roof. The hiss of hydraulics.
SCENT / S: Burning Ceruleum. Oil.
TASTE / S: Aged Red Wines.
FEEL / S: A soft bed with a heavy blanket. The feel of a pan or kitchen utensil in hand.
ANIMAL / S: Loves all animals, but they tend to hate him in return.
NUMBER: 5: The number of cards in a poker hand.
COLORS: Black, White, Gray
EXTRA.
TALENTS: Magitek Construction & Design. Creation of Explosives. Skilled Tactician. Close Ranged Combat. Cooking & Cleaning.
BAD AT: Being Humble. Being Courteous. Respecting those who shun technology. Showing Empathy. Filtering own words.
TURN ONS: Self-Confidence. Independence. Sharp Wit. Strong Will. Physical Strength. Good Style.
TURN OFFS: Stupid or Slow People. Nervousness & Uncertainty. Willful Ignorance. Short Tempers.
HOBBIES: Cooking. Magitek Disassembly & Construction. People Watching.
TROPES: The Combat Engineer. Demolitions Expert. Combat Pragmatist.
QUOTES: "Don't rely upon gods or man to deliver a miracle in your hour of need. Manufacture it yourself."
MUN QUESTIONS.
Q1 : If you could write your character your way in their own movie, what would it be called, what style would it be filmed in, and what would it be about? Unfortunately, Glorious Bastards is already taken. So instead it would just be a comedy, in the same style as The Dictator, featuring Eligos’s view of Eorzea and the problems encountered in trying to adapt to life in it.
Q2 : What would their soundtrack/score sound like? “Machines Collide” by Frank Klepacki and most of the MGS: Revengeance soundtrack for combat. “The Devil You Know” by Blues Saraceno for social interactions.
Q3 : Why did you start writing this character? I wanted a change of pace, really. My prior character was patient, but he was also not outgoing enough to engage people on his own terms nor able to really carry a conversation. I also wanted to play a character that was more upbeat and less depressing, and so the overly cheerful bastard Garlean was conceived as a character.
Q4 : What first attracted you to this character? Design, design, design. I am not ashamed to admit I’m extremely picky with armor types and equipment when making sets. Slight clipping drives me up a wall and I’ll often scrap a set due to some overlap or small detail that doesn’t look right, like the metal trim colors not lining up perfectly. Using a Hyur model for the Garlean meant I could wear almost all armors and have them look right, versus the issues I ran into playing Au Ra and Elezen characters who are a bit stretched out and so they are more limited in choice that works really well.
Q5 : Describe the biggest thing you dislike about your muse. Eligos tends to look down on those around him that he feels can’t keep up with him. He is very technology oriented, and because of that he also tends to view those who refuse to adapt to the times as lesser, simpler beings.
Q6 : What do you have in common with your muse? We both are very easily entertained beings. It doesn’t take much to amuse me, and Eligos is much the same in that he seeks joy and finds it in the small things in life.
Q7 : How does your muse feel about you? Eligos would get bored very quickly and just walk off. He would probably just forget me within ten minutes of meeting me.
Q8 : What characters does your muse have interesting interactions with ? Can’t say! Each person he’s met so far has managed to draw different aspects of his personality out and into play. With some he’s more patient and quiet, letting them speak at length, and yet with others he’s played the part of unwanted pest, peppering with questions that are borderline insults as he prods to see what makes Eorzeans tick the way they do and trying to understand them better.
Q9 : What gives you inspiration to write your muse ? Mostly it’s music that inspires me or urges me to write more for Eligos. I have a playlist I tend to listen to when I want to write the character, or I play a song or two by Sabaton.
Q10 : How long did this take you to complete ? I didn’t track the time. At least an hour.
Tagged by: @roleplay-aficionado [Thank you for the tag!]
Tagging: @divine-ruin @nocturnedreaming @arcurisrilanox @mitsunerokuyari @ivyffxiv @trahja-tia @wildgirlcinna @shroudkeeper @againstthewiind @cottoncnyandy @cadrenebula @jorandalkitor @handofcards @twelvesavethequeen @theshieldedhero @mteshi-ffxiv @of-shadow-and-storm and anyone else interested in doing this!
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Stuart Immonen Superman Comics Circa 1998
There’s a lot of “best of the year” lists that appear at the end of the year, but after that flutter of activity, tied to commercial imperatives, there are moments for reconsideration, as we approach the year to come and ask ourselves what it is we want. So now is as good a time as any to talk about some Superman comics Stuart Immonen drew some twenty-odd years ago. The artist announced earlier this year that he was “retiring” from comics, but this didn’t mean he was going to stop making comics, just that what he did would be “personal” work, in collaboration with his wife. They recently launched a comic on Instagram, and they’ve done some graphic novels together previously, none of which I can recommend.
I do think it’s interesting that these personal works are scripted by his wife, rather than him writing them himself, though; because back in the nineties, working for DC, he took a few stabs at writing. This was done within a framework that must’ve removed some of the risk involved: The four monthly Superman series that together constituted a weekly serial split between different creative teams had him drawing Karl Kesel’s scripts for a few years before he took over a separate title for his own. In my mind, much of the overall plotting would be hashed out at a conference, and then kept coordinated by an editor. Ideally this process would be oriented around what it was each individual creative team wanted to write and draw: Immonen’s artwork was a little softer than his compatriots, a little more likely to seem like he could’ve drawn romance comics in a different era, maybe younger than the others and more interested in youth culture and fashion, probably more likely to admire Jaime Hernandez. Maybe all this just manifests in the context as being the one who could draw women, but in a era where none of the Superman comics are showy about what they do and all aspired to being solid and well-crafted, his were the most enjoyable.
This softness I appreciate in this work isn’t really present in his subsequent work, which is sharper, shinier, where figures and their wardrobes seem consistently sculpted out of plastic. Part of it’s the coloring, but there also seem to be changes in how scripts call for layouts. He’s also maybe working with ink wash underneath the digital coloring and delineating more how he wants values of light to be approached, I don’t know. I don’t really want to diminish the work the man’s been doing in the years I haven’t been reading superhero comics. I can look at the years of intervening work and see how the choices he’s making are confident ones, the result of years of drawing action comics. I haven’t really read any of them, but that’s not to say I wouldn’t.
Still, if you’re anything like me, you probably generally think that comics created by one person are better than those made in a collaboration mediated via a written script, so if I’m going to read anything by the guy, it’s going to be work created under those circumstances. I’ve heard that DC sort of has structures in place against writer-artists: this is why those “Bizarro World” anthologies where they brought in alternative cartoonists forced them all to collaborate with each each other. Maybe this rule was a little looser with the Superman books: After John Byrne relaunched the line in the mid-eighties, both Dan Jurgens and Jerry Ordway would write and draw chunks of their subsequent runs. Otherwise it’s pretty rare: The only other thing I can think of would be that Rick Veitch Swamp Thing run, the circumstances of its ending probably be why they don’t let that happen too often. A little after Immonen and Kesel did the event The Final Night, Immonen wrote and drew a 4-issue miniseries spotlighting the Legion Of Super-Heroes character Inferno. It’s not good or anything, but it does seem to revolve around the strengths or interests I understand him having at this time: It’s a comic about a young woman, hanging out in the mall with a group of other young women, who might be understood as punks, as some are homeless. Before Immonen worked for DC, his initial small-press work, Playground, made in collaboration with his future wife, was described in “punk rock” terms. He states in the Inferno letter column his goal was to make something someone who didn’t read other DC Comics could read and enjoy. I don’t think it gets anywhere near being able to achieve that, it’s confusing on multiple levels. The covers are probably the most memorable part, but because you can track those down easy enough, I’ll include a bit of interior sequential art.
Not long after that, he took over writing Action Comics. I haven’t read that many of those either! I had stopped reading the Superman comics regularly not long before this happened. It was during the time period when Superman had electric powers and a blue costume. I was in middle school. I found out he’d started writing when I found a couple issues in a bargain bin and picked them up, but I didn’t get back in the habit of reading Superman comics, as the story was pretty difficult to follow if you attempted to only read the series with the best art. He also didn’t really work as a writer for that long: After a little while, Mark Millar gets credited for providing scripts.
But a little while back, around the time I wrote that post about why I’m willing to read superhero comics with some degree of hope that they’ll be good, I ordered a three-issue arc that seemed kind of self-contained. Looking online, it seemed like after the whole “electric Superman” story wrapped up with a special called Superman Forever, each of the four monthly books told their own stories, set in different historical eras, for a few months. Immonen’s Action Comics issues had covers suggesting they were united in progressing from one to the other. I was pretty into them, though in some ways it was an unsatisfying experience. The first issue in the arc is drawn by a fill-in artist, the third part focuses on this separate narrative thread- It’s narrated by this new villain, with god-like powers, who I guess was behind the whole “multiple timelines” thing in the first place, so you there’s exactly one fairly self-contained normal Superman comic written and drawn by the dude, though that third issue kinda rules, as aside from the narration, you’re reading all the normal Superman storytelling stuff happen wordlessly, calling attention to the clarity of the storytelling. It might fail to live up to expectations for a third act based on the way serialization has it setting up the next big arc, but as an episode in itself, this would be a pretty fun surprise to come across in your pile of the week’s comics. Which, if you remember that post, was exactly what I claimed to be looking for.
There’s also an original graphic novel that’s a little later still, “End Of The Century,” which seems like it’s partly tying up a long-running subplot in the Superman comics about Lex Luthor and his wife. It honestly has WAY too much plot, and too many narrative threads, and it’s all still fairly generic. While I picked it up hoping to see cool visual storytelling, the amount of story there is to tell gets in the way. The visual art is good, Immonen’s linework shifts to be a little finer. There’s also this weird thing where real images are photographed/scanned and inserted like they’re laying on the edges of the page, which is dumb, but the technology to achieve this effect was probably only recently made available. There’s also some sepia painted pages, and the most likely reason the “graphic novel” exists is because Immonen wanted to do the painted pages and have the time to work on them. That’s as good a reason as it is to try writing comics for a few years because you’ve drawn them for a few years and writing doesn’t seem hard and you would get paid more, and reasoning resulted in work I thought was better than what you usually get.
Ambition is a wild thing, in that it can really just stir inside you feeling frustrated even as you have no idea what you want to do with it in particular. It can easily be applied to other people’s ends. Work might be personal not because of the importance of what “the artist” has to say but because it’s an outgrowth of a personal relationship. It’s worth noting, looking at his career, the importance of cultivated professional relationships: He had those comics scripted by Mark Millar, and decades later they did a comic together which has probably resulted in a development deal and a sizable paycheck. He did two creator-owned comics with Kurt Busiek, largely forgotten I’d say, and then worked with him on a Superman comic which is pretty well-regarded. He’s collaborated with both Warren Ellis and Brian Bendis multiple times. It is sensible to view all those professional relationships as having had their respective culminations, while working with one’s wife is more of an ongoing long-term project.
At the same time: Having someone write for you, and what they see as your skillset, is going to present different challenges than seeing what you can do and pushing yourself, even if the latter results in what can be easily described as failure. It’s fine either way. Career paths in the arts are always going to be weird and haphazard, because there are so many decisions to make in creating a piece of art that progress is never going to be linear. I don’t know if any of these collaborations embraced what I like about his work, but maybe what I like in his work isn’t what he sees as his strengths, but is just what was emblematic of his style at the point in time I was initially exposed to it. The questions of who we are in relationship to others vs. what our true potential is is always up for negotiation.
I think those Superman comics excel because I came to them with very particular set of expectations. Not only can I not expect anyone else to share those expectations, I don’t even really want to convince anyone to have them: There’s no small part of me that thinks of the fact that I tracked them down to write about them is in some ways squandering some bit of potential inside myself I can’t expect anyone else to care about. I don’t know what 2019 looks like, though I hope I won’t spend too much of it looking back twenty years at comics from 1999. I don’t like doing this thing where I try to make something “personal” to rationalize my talking about some some comic while actually just talking in vague generalities because I’m very reticent to talk about myself, but I’ll probably continue to do so. I’m probably not going to spend the next year looking at Stuart Immonen’s Instagram feed. But here at the end of this year, as I contemplate my own inertia and depressive laziness, I have to give an honest accounting and give it up to that dude for putting in the work.
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The 5 Stages of Business Interview with Joshua Latimer & Keith Kalfas
I have really humble beginnings. I was once a guy who struggled to dream big. I used to doubt I deserved more than I thought I could achieve. But then, reminiscing my younger self, I realized how bad I was at trusting myself and my skills.
We all dream to reach our goals in life and live a life some people think only occurs in movies, but sometimes, we sabotage our success before it even manifests. Today, we’ll talk about knowing ourselves and aiming towards our targets.
Joshua Latimer once had a safe and secure job at JP Morgan Chase, but he left everything to start a local cleaning business. His first two years were a real struggle, but as soon as he figured it all out, he was able to triple his revenue in one year. From then on, he’s been doing a lot of businesses and has helped thousands of other entrepreneurs succeed in their fields.
“Who you believe you are, what you believe you’re capable of, and what you believe you deserve are going to take care of 90% of everything. If you don’t deserve more than what you have, you’re not going to have more than what you have if you don’t believe it in your heart.”
– Joshua Latimer
Why do you have to listen to today’s episode?
02:00 – Your reality is a mirror of your mindset. Guarantee yourself. Think and talk about your vision and the impact you can make.
05:45 – Four distinct value levels determine one’s potential to earn: implementation, unification, communication, and imagination. A balance between all these is the key to improvement.
12:50 – Everyone has a system of their own. Be shameless enough to see if yours is serving you well and aspire towards the future version of yourself.
17:24 – Know who you are and what you’re fighting for. Have a strong connection with people close to you as you aim towards achieving your goals.
19:37 – Teach your kids ancient – not old-fashioned – principles. Teach them to be responsible enough to create value in this world.
22:29 – We all have a choice to either become a victim or an entrepreneur who believes we deserve more than what we have. Be the latter.
Key Takeaways
“The older I get, the dumber I realize I am. When you think you know everything, it’s just evidence that you know almost nothing. If you know lots of stuff, you realize that you know almost nothing.”
“People that pretend like money doesn’t matter forget how important money actually is.”
“Good communicators have an unfair advantage in life. The good news is that it’s a learned skill. You just got to put in the work.”
“Everything that was created in the world by man was created twice; first, in your imagination, and then it manifests into reality. If you spend no time daydreaming about your future and what could be, you’re gonna have a hard time doing big things.”
“The main thing that has changed over the last 15 years for me is my brain, and the main reason my brain changed is because of the people I spend the most time with.”
Connect with Joshua
Website
Instagram
Facebook
LinkedIn
Connect with Keith
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Instagram
YouTube
LinkedIn
Website
Resources/People Mentioned:
Uplevel your kids’ knowledge, confidence, and maturity with The Kid WarPlan
Master your skills with Myron Golden
Book about communication: I Said This, You Heard That
Get a Free Trial of JOBBER Software & save 20% for the first 6 months. Grow Your Business With Jobber (getjobber.com)
Have almost anything you need to be delivered on your doorstep with Lowe’s Home Improvement
Try Jill's office today and get a $25 discount when you say or type untrapped; go to Jill's office.com.
Please leave us a well-written, positive 5-star review if you liked the show. Please go to Apple Podcast and Spotify to rate us. It is truly appreciated
Check out this episode!
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@plumb1tes
This is my Athena Troll! Hope you like her ^u^
YES with the 80′s businesswoman vibe! Love her!
FIRST: Alternia or Beforus or some type of AU?
Ok, this is a WIP AU where twelve trolls (based off of Greek Gods) play sgrub, and their planet is pretty similar to Alternia in terms of enforcing the hemospectrum and the like. This troll is based off of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war (the tactical side of it)
Name (preferably include how you came up with it and why): Athine Pallas (Athine from the goddes’s name, Athena. Pallas is from the extra title that some address Athena, as some call her Athena Pallas.)
Hmmmm I worry that this name tips its hand a little too readily? Athena’s got a lot of epithets besides “Pallas,” many of which serve an actual function of her role as a goddess. Based on your description, I think the best ones to use for her are Atrytone, “The Unweariying,” and Promachos, “She Who Fights in Front.”
So maybe…Atryon Pachos? Also keeps her initials the same.
Age: 7 sweeps (almost 8)
Strife Specibus: shieldKind (Can be throwable, and its quite high-tech, like Captain America’s. It has retractable razors on the rim of the shield, and circles back after thrown like a boomerang.)
God I love this! As CD pointed out, Athena from borderlands has a rad shield that might be fun to use as a visual anchor!
Fetch Modus: Not really great with these, but puzzlemodus seems to fit her, as she likes solving problems.
I kinda like giving her Jade’s Pictionary Modus since Athena is a also a goddess of handicrafts.
Blood color: Teal
Symbol and meaning: It’s an astrology sign of Minerva, Athena’s roman counterpart.
Love it! It already fits tealblood sign language pretty well! I may add a line and open up the upper loop a little but I think it’s good to go!
Trolltag: adroitExarch
You’ll see below that I’ve offered suggestions to modify her ancestor’s title, but I still like this trolltag since it sets up a desire to rise above her station.
Quirk: She doesn’t use any other punctuation other than a period. It’s to show her monotone voice. (If you have any suggestions I’m glad to hear some!)
Nah, I think this works! Troll quirks don’t have to be super complicated. If you wanna add a fun one, maybe she extends her “oo” sounds into “ooo” when she’s over-excited, sort of like an owl hoot!
ex: “Whooo the fuck do yooou think yooou are?”
Special Abilities (if any):
Lusus: An owl, which is sacred to Athena. She was a mentor to Athine, and raised her without much fighting, as Athine was a pretty composed grub. However as Athine gets older, she spends less time with Owlmom, and doesn’t really listen to her advice as much due to believing she’s smart enough to not need it, becoming absorbed into studying due to wanting to be a general, like her ancestor. Owlmom loved Athine, and felt pretty sad about being ignored. She grew a bit mischievious, and would frequently cause trouble to get Athine to pay attention to her.
Personality: The first thing to describe Athine: logical to a fault. She is a pretty unemotional person, and responds to questions with the most logical answer she can think of. Athine is an ambitious person, and a go-getter. She doesn’t want to settle with being a legislacerator, even though she assumes she’d be a pretty good one. She has her sight on being the general of the emperor’s army. With her perception and intelligence, she gained a decently sized ego, though it’s much more subtle than others in her session (*cough cough* the Aphrodite troll *cough*).
I wanna MEET the Aphrodite troll!
Athine is also a pretty irritable person, but most of her frustration is directed at her lusus’s mischief, and tries not to lose her cool in front of her group if she can help it. She is a pretty professional person, and almost always reacts to situations with an apathetic demeanor. This doesn’t mean she’s emotionless, but she prefers to not have her feelings cloud her judgement on others.
God yeah she’s a Dersite.
Athine is confident in herself as a leader, and is good at ordering others to work in order to achieve a goal. She’s definitely not a personable troll, nor is she very friendly, but is able to quickly make decisions in the heat of the moment. She is very no nonsense, and has no sense of humor most of the time. While she thinks herself as a good leader, if a friend were to be harmed by her own judgement or decisions unintentionally, she would be quite remorseful and critical of herself for a long time.
Interests: She loves to play chess, and has played it since she was a grub. Athine is also pretty studious, and likes to gain knowledge that will benefit her or her group, though she doesn’t really like trivial knowledge, or information that isn’t useful to her.
Athine likes to play FLARP with the Ares troll of their session, being a pretty formidable duo (him being the one that does most of the actual fighting, and her giving him orders. This is symbolic of the fact that Ares and Athena are two sides of war; Ares is the brutal fighting, and Athena is the tactical planning.)
Honestly if I could add something? Include weaving. She’s the goddess of warfare and of handicrafts, and her weaving competition with Arachne is one of the more famous myths with which she’s associated. Also much like tactical warfare, weaving requires immense pre-planning and rapid adjustment if you mess up.
Ansestor: The Exarch. A supreme general that squashed rebellions, leaded fleets of soldiers to victory, and the Emperor’s right hand woman. Her story was a pretty well-known one, and it is from her ancestor that Athine aspired to become as brilliant as her, and wanted to become a general instead of a legislacerator. Athine greatly respects and admired her ancestor, and wishes to be just like her.
Man I like the concept but troll rules as far as we know still state that ancestor titles be eight letters long. If we go a rank above Exarch, we get Patriarch, which actually matches the correct number? Whether you wanna change it to Matriarch or not is up to you, but I like Patriarch since it lines up with Athena wanting to be on the level of her male contemporaries. As CD points out, a common feminist criticism is that Athena favors men in her stories but also like…men wrote those myths, so…
But the point stands. I especially feel like this fits her because you’d expect army generals to be purplebloods or violetbloods, both of which are apparently male-dominated castes.
Title: Thief of Mind (I think this suits her pretty well, but if you believe you found another one that suits her, I’m all ears.)
I…honestly think she might be a Space player? Tactical warfare and handicraft have a lot to do with manipulating space, and while I admit that I’m the one who included weaving, Space definitely has an association with fashion (Just look at Kanaya and Jade, the most fashionable characters in Homestuck).
Given her desire to be this flawless leader, I think Heir of Space is a fitting title? Especially since the inverse, Mage of Time, also lines up with the character you gave her.
Land: Any suggestions?
Yes! Land of Spiders and Frogs. Given the Arachne myth, I can’t imagine she’s a fan of ‘em. Also lets you design a very witchy-looking planet, which is fun since Athena is also worshiped as an aspect of the Goddess in Wicca. Go wild! Put some crystals on it! And Hoo BOY is frog breeding the perfect task for her! It’s literally all about pre-visualization and intense strategy.
Dream Planet: Derse
Yep yep. With her new classpect, that would make her Liga, sign of the Dogged. I think it suits her real well, and incorporating it into her original sign is as easy as adding just a couple lines. Let’s go to the redesign!
My redesign was pretty heavy handed, partly because of how well-designed she is in the first place. Sometimes it’s like, I could just textually give you one suggestion or go absolutely crazy with it.
So CD and I have a running theory that tealbloods are all designed after college kids of some kind. But the lady on the left doesn’t look like she goes to my college! She looks like she’s mock-interviewing me and keeps scribbling way too many notes after each of my answers and never changes expression.
She’s 7 sweeps old. She should look like a teenager. So I wanted to design the girl that might eventually grow up to be the woman on the left. And who becomes an 80′s powersuited war general? A 70s college feminist, potentially. I based the design on the right on Gloria Steinem, who was really weirdly upfront about working for the CIA because it was “liberal, nonviolent, and honorable” lol. Let’s go top to bottom!
Hair - Original is heavily edited from Sollux’s hair, of all people (I admit to being very weak when it comes to spriting hair with limited volume), while the new version is from a naphal sprite sheet. Gloria Steinem had iconically highlighted hair and I wanted to nod to that.
Eyes - whenever we talk about a “wise owl” we usually see a cartoon owl with a graduation cap, a set of comically large glasses, and a pointer. I wanted to give her glasses to make her look more owlish while keeping the downcast condescending look from the original.
Lips(/Heels) - I wanted to add a little bit of college-y rebellion to her aesthetic and felt the best way to do that was to play on the trope of “lipstick as red as the blood of her enemies.” Instead, she’s sporting a seadweller-purple lip and a matching kitten heel, to make it clear she’s gonna chew ‘em up and stomp on ‘em.
Shirt - I was listening to Death By Glamour on loop when I sprited the left side to get in the mood for those shoulders. On the right I simplified a lot. Gloria Steinem usually wore plain shirts with high-waisted pants, which was easy enough to edit from your original.
Symbol - made it a little bigger and added two internal horizontal lines to reference Liga
So that’s my very indulgent review of your troll! I hope you like some of the suggestions I made!
-TR
#plumb1tes#athine pallas#athine#pallas#atryon pachos#atryon#pachos#tealblood#review#redesign#tr review#submission
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Entertainment heat wave is coming this summer: What to watch for | Entertainment
New Post has been published on https://tattlepress.com/entertainment/entertainment-heat-wave-is-coming-this-summer-what-to-watch-for-entertainment/
Entertainment heat wave is coming this summer: What to watch for | Entertainment
Remember 2019, when hot girl summer became a motto for living with confidence?
Well, with life getting closer to normal and vaccines nudging the pandemic into — fingers crossed — the rear-view mirror, 2021’s entertainment calendar for the next few months has a similar mood.
Call it a hot everything summer.
Blockbuster movies are returning to theaters. Live concerts are set to resume. Television and streaming shows are back to being a nice part of the mix, not a sole entertainment lifeline. And with travel heating up again, beach books can actually be read on a faraway beach.
To navigate this soaring heat index for fun, here is a list of recommendations that are sunny, breezy, steaming and sizzling. You get the idea.
Hot Jeff Daniels summer
Michigan’s resident acting great always keeps it real — remember his plaid dad shirt at February’s virtual Golden Globes? His latest project evokes his home state’s ethos of blue-collar endurance. “American Rust,” a nine-episode series premiering Sept. 12 on Showtime, stars Daniels as the police chief of a Rust-Belt Pennsylvania town who is feeling “ticked off and kind of jumpy” when a murder investigation tests his loyalties. If the preview looks a bit like HBO’s gritty “Mare of Easttown,” that’s a very good thing.
Hot goofy summer
In real life, metro Detroit native Tim Robinson could be a calm, collected guy. But as a sketch comedian, he’s made an art form out of wildly overreacting to life’s little embarrassments. “I Think You Should Leave,” his mini-masterpiece Netflix show, is back July 6 with a second season. Besides brilliantly making himself the butt of the jokes, Robinson always remembers his hometown friends. Let’s hope for repeat appearances by his pals like “Detroiters” co-star Sam Richardson and Troy’s own Oscar nominee, Steven Yeun.
Hot retro Motor City summer
The Detroit of the mid-1950s comes alive in director Steven Soderbergh’s “No Sudden Move,” available July 1 on HBO Max. The crime drama starring Don Cheadle, David Harbour, Benicio del Toro, Jon Hamm and more is about some low-level criminals given a simple assignment that draws them into a mystery that stretches to the heights of the automotive industry’s power structure. The film was shot last year in Detroit under strict COVID-19 safety measures, because Soderbergh, who filmed 1998’s “Out of Sight” here, would accept no other city as a substitute.
Hot road trip summer
Six years ago, a young waitress from Detroit created a viral Twitter thread about a bizarre journey she took to Florida with a new friend to do some freelance stripping. It was as compelling as a novel and as vivid as a movie. Cut to June 30 when “Zola” hits theaters starring Taylour Page and Riley Keough. It’s a comedy and a thriller that defies expectations and makes J-Lo’s “Hustlers” seem mild. Director Janicza Bravo and screenplay co-writer Jeremy O. Harris have created a raunchy adventure that still respects A’Ziah (Zola) King as a strong woman and original writing voice.
Hot action dad summer
Yes, Matt Damon is now old enough to play a Liam Neeson-esque outraged father out for justice. In “Stillwater,” Damon is a worker for an Oklahoma oil rig who must travel to France to try and clear his daughter (Abigail Breslin) of murder charges. Think “Taken,” if it were a serious drama directed and co-written by Tom McCarthy of “Spotlight” fame. It comes out July 30, just in time to make Damon’s fans from his “Good Will Hunting” days feel ancient.
Hot reboot summer
It has been almost a decade since “Gossip Girl” ended its run, which is way too long to be without fashion tips from impossibly beautiful rich kids. The newly reimagined “Gossip Girl” on HBO Max arrives July 8 with some notable improvements, like the inclusiveness of its cast of newcomers. But it’s bringing back the original narrator, Kristen Bell (who grew up in Huntington Woods), as the voice of the title character with the hidden identity.
Hot sweating summer
Sweating is a bodily function, but what exactly is it all about? “The Joy of Sweat: The Strange Science of Perspiration,” out July 13, will explore the biology, history and marketing behind the moisture that makes us glow (to use a polite term). It covers everything from the role of stress in sweat to deodorant research that involves people who can sniff out, literally, the effectiveness of a product. Since the New York Times recommended the book as one of its 24 summer reads, you know that author Sarah Everts did sweat the details.
Hot Olympic star summer
The 2021 Tokyo Games, which run July 23-Aug. 8, will feature the world’s best gymnast, Simone Biles. She still enjoys competing, but quarantining gave her some time to improve her work-life balance, as she told Glamour for its June cover story (which comes with a dazzling photo spread of Biles). “Before I would only focus on the gym. But me being happy outside the gym is just as important as me being happy and doing well in the gym. Now it’s like everything’s coming together.” For the 24-year-old GOAT, the sky — or, maybe, gravity — is the limit.
Hot variety show summer
“What percentage of white women do you hate? And there is a right answer.” That was among the questions posed by internet sensation Ziwe to her first guest, Fran Lebowitz, on the current Showtime series that carries her name. Combining interviews, sketches and music, “Ziwe” deploys comedy to illuminate America’s awkwardness on issues of race and politics. The results are hilarious, so find out about Ziwe now before her next project arrives, a scam-themed comedy for Amazon called “The Nigerian Princess.”
Hot ice road summer
Take the driving skills of the reality series “Ice Road Truckers” and add one stoic dose of Liam Neeson and you’ve got “The Ice Road,” which premiered Friday on Hulu. The adventure flick involves a collapse in a diamond mine, the miners trapped inside and the man (Neeson) who’s willing to steer his ginormous rig over frozen water to attempt a rescue mission. Crank up the AC temporarily!
Hot kindness summer
There is a better way to be a human being, and he shares a name with an Apple TV+ series. “Ted Lasso,” the fish-out-of-water sitcom about an American football coach (Jason Sudeikis) who’s drafted to lead a British soccer team returns for a second season on July 23 —the date that Lasso fans will resume their efforts to be more empathetic and encouraging, just like Ted. Only there’s a new sports psychologist for AFC Richmond who seems impervious to Ted’s charms and home-baked biscuits. She doesn’t like Ted? We’re gobsmacked!
Hot podcast summer
When Michael Che guested on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” recently, his segment was interrupted repeatedly by Dave Chappelle, who kept plugging his “The Midnight Miracle” podcast available on Luminary. What Chappelle was selling is worth the listening. “The Midnight Miracle” brings him together with his co-hosts, Talib Kweli and Yasiin Bey, and his famous friends from the comedy world and beyond for funny and though-provoking conversations interspersed with music. If you were a fly on the wall of Chappelle’s home, this is what you might hear.
Hot series finale summer
The last 10 episodes of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” start airing Aug. 12 on NBC, a too-short goodbye to one of the most underrated comedies in TV history. You can give all the glory to “The Office,” but the detectives of the Nine-Nine could go toe to toe with Dunder-Mifflin’s Scranton branch in terms of quirkiness, humanity and office romances and bromances. It’s hard to pick a favorite dynamic among the characters, but the irritated father-incorrigible son vibes between Captain Holt (Andre Braugher) and Det. Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) are sublime.
Hot musical comedy summer
Keegan-Michael Key and “Saturday Night Live’s” Cecily Strong lead a star-studded cast in “Schmigadoon!,” an AppleTV+ series premiering July 16 that magically transports a backpacking couple to a land of 1940s musicals. Until Broadway reopens in September, this parody love letter to the power of musical theater should do nicely. And the premiere episode’s song “Corn Pudding”? Catchy!
Hot nostalgia tour
Hall & Oates are criss-crossing the nation with enough 1980s hits —”Maneater,” “Kiss on My List,” “I Can’t Go for That,” “You Make My Dreams Come True,” etc. — to make you want to trade your mom jeans for spandex leggings. As if they weren’t enough top-40 goodness, their opening acts are Squeeze, still pouring a cup of “Black Coffee in Bed” all these years later, and K.T. Tunstall, whose “Suddenly I See” is immortalized as the anthem of “The Devil Wears Prada.”
Hot all-female, all-Muslim punk band summer
A British import now airing on the NBC streaming spinoff Peacock, “We Are Lady Parts” would be notable alone for defying stereotypes about Muslim women. But this sitcom about an all-female, all-Muslim aspiring rock band is a gem of both representation and laughs, thanks to characters like Amina, a shy doctoral candidate in microbiology whose complaints about a guy she calls “Bashir with the good beard” inspires a song.
Hot documentary summer
While Woodstock has become synonymous with epic music gatherings, the Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969 is finally about to get the pop-culture recognition it deserves. “Summer of Soul: (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised),” directed by the Roots drummer Questlove, will hit theaters and Hulu on July 2. It chronicles a mostly forgotten event that drew superstars like Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, the Fifth Dimension, Sly & the Family Stone and B.B. King. Using his vast knowledge of music, archival footage and interviews with performers and those who attended, Questlove has created a history lesson that’s also the best concert you’ve never seen before.
Hot Marvel summer
Once you’re all caught up with the summer streaming sensation “Loki” on Disney+, please turn your attention to two new films. “Black Widow,” the long-awaited star turn for Scarlett Johansson’s former KGB assassin Natasha Romanoff, makes its debut July 9. It’s followed by “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” set for Sept. 3 and starring Simu Liu (“Kim’s Convenience”) as the martial arts master of the title. All brought to you by the corporate global entertainment domination machine that is Marvel.
Hot biopic summer
“Respect,” starring Jennifer Hudson, arrives Aug. 13 at theaters, nearly three years to the day the world lost the Queen of Soul. Although Cynthia Erivo gave a fine performance earlier this year as Franklin in “Genius: Aretha” on the National Geographic network, the odds are good that Hudson, chosen by Franklin herself for the part, will be the definitive screen Aretha.
Hot fiction summer
Terry McMillan calls “The Other Black Girl” essential reading. Entertainment Weekly describes it as “‘The Devil Wears Prada’ meets ‘Get Out,’ with a little bit of ‘Black Mirror’ thrown in.” This debut novel by Zakiya Dalila Harris mixes office politics with suspense in its story of Nella Rogers, an editorial assistant who’s the only Black staffer at a noted publishing company. When Hazel, a new Black employee, is hired, things seem to be improving. But then Nella starts receiving ominous unsigned notes. Sounds like yet another reason to keep working from home.
Hot slow dance summer
After nearly four months on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, “Leave the Door Open” remains the song most likely to provoke a quiet storm on the dance floor. The hit single from Silk Sonic (aka Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak) may sound like a cover of a long-lost ‘70s classic R&B tune, but it’s a contemporary song that can make you forget the humidity long enough for “kissing, cuddling, rose petals in the bathtub, girl, lets jump in.”
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and if i try to change my life one more day
Sebastian’s parents met when his father had moved to Paris while he attended an ivy league University exchange program. There he met Sebastian’s mother-to-be and the pair continued their relationship even when he’d returned to school in the United States. Sebastian’s father continued his studies, while his mother did her own, though for his mother, schooling wasn’t her highest priority. Born into one of France’s richest families, she grew up without worries and constantly took trips to America to visit her boyfriend. Who became her fiance and husband after graduation. The two had a very open marriage and had no issues with it. Sebastian’s mother hand her hands in many different pots so to speak, doling about the family business and her own aspirations as a fashion designer; whereas Sebastian’s father was far more into law and politics... But mostly, getting his way. Sebastian came a few years into their marriage and remained to be their only child, who was loved and spoiled beyond belief. He never wanted for anything and spent the majority of his childhood in France at his parent’s estate, thriving in European culture and under the watchful eye of frequent nannies that he had no problem giving heart attacks for his sudden disappearances.
there would be nobody else to save
After all, when he could leave the house and demand the driver take him to wherever he wanted to go? It wasn’t his fault the nannies didn’t have eyes on the back of their heads. It was no surprise when he developed a love for travel, and the finer things in life... And among that, men. It’s not that he hadn’t lived in the States before, but it paled in comparison to Europe. The people were far different and seemed to have a problem with him half the time, though he knew how to play the ground. if he needed to. Such as the case with the numerous teachers, his father, and everyone else in his life that mattered. But it went without saying if you didn’t have Sebastian’s respect, you were next level unapologetic garbage in his eyes. The move to Colorado had also been garbage, but his father had at least sought out one of the best private schools in the States where Sebastian could board, but it also kept him close to his father when he was needed for public appearances. After all, a good family was the backbone to any good man. And if his mother was in Paris at the time, she would simply fly back to join them. Sebastian joined the lacrosse team and spent most of his high school years at the local gay clubs, having far too much sex, working out his liquor, and fully stepping into what a fucking power house he was.
and i can't change into a person i don't wanna be, so
With the pull of his family’s name, the prestige behind him, along with the limitless amounts of money and the confidence he exuded; there wasn’t anything he couldn’t do, nor a school he couldn’t get into. And yet, he ended up at UCCS somewhat because of the legalization around Colorado and the disinterest in pursing school further when he wasn’t exactly sure what he wanted to do. After all, he was young and the world was his oyster, there was time to figure out the bullshit, this was the time to have fun. With the athletics and the new draw to Colorado, Sebastian thought for Americans, there’d be pretty good pickings and he’d heard good things, so the rest was history. He plays it by a case by case basis and isn’t entirely sure if he’s going to stick around for another year; but the whole idea of the project had his curiosity peaked. He could sit back, party all summer and stick by the lake while everyone else did the bull work, and reap the benefits afterwards. Sounded perfect. Well. That and Blaine fucking dragged him here.
oh, it's saturday night
A few things to understand about Sebastian Smythe: he’s better than you and has no problem telling you, or showing you. He’s hot and he knows it. 10/10 times he gets his way, if not immediately, soon enough. He’s not above blackmail, manipulation, and all things emotional terrorism if a worthy candidate arises, aka mortal enemies. Blaine Anderson, his best friend (with many benefits), tends to be the only one that can dial him back if he starts to rear his ugly head in terms of dark route. While his methods lie mostly within the realm of psychological warfare, he’s not afraid of holding his own, because unlike most rich boys, he’s not a fucking pussy and is in peak physical shape, and the king of the lacrosse field. He’s also got the voice of an angel to really inflate the already disproportionately huge ego, but he’s got a pretty chill air around him. He loves gambling, challenges, sex, and a good wager, especially when he’s certain he’s going to win, which is always. But who doesn’t love a good bet?
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Andrew Cunanan, who shot and killed Gianni Versace on the front steps of the designer’s palatial estate on the morning of July 15, 1997, was good at bragging. In the second episode of The Assassination of Gianni Versace, a new FX miniseries about the crime and the years that led up to it, Cunanan (Darren Criss) lands in Miami’s South Beach. It is the last stop on a three-month killing spree, in which he has already murdered four men in three different states. Boasting energetically to a new friend, he claims he was once engaged to Versace (he wasn’t), who took him to dinner at the fabled San Francisco restaurant Stars (he didn’t). He launches into a reverie on Versace’s gift for design, and when his friend replies with, “Sounds real nice,” Cunanan is not pleased. “I don’t see something nice. I see the man behind it. A great creator. The man I could have been.”
Cunanan’s curdled sense of self-importance runs through the next seven episodes of the series, which travel backward from Cunanan’s crime spree to his troubled childhood. His parents, a depressive Italian-American mother and a Filipino immigrant father, poured all their hopes into young Andrew. He slept in the cavernous master bedroom by himself and attended a swanky private school in La Jolla, California, even though his parents could barely afford the tuition. He wore a red leather jumpsuit to school on occasion and was voted “Most Likely to Be Remembered” in his senior yearbook, but his own page gave almost no information about him. Instead, he inserted just one quote, attributed to the French King Louis XV: “Après moi, le déluge.” After me, the flood.
Cunanan’s first victims were Jeff Trail (Finn Wittrock) and David Madson (Cody Fern), two young gay men he met through the San Diego and San Francisco nightlife scenes when he was in his twenties. Trail, a former naval officer, befriended him when his ship was docked in the San Diego harbor. Madson, a promising young architect from Minnesota, and Cunanan had met in San Francisco in 1995, when Cunanan spotted him at a restaurant bar and sent a cocktail over. That night, according to writer Maureen Orth’s account (the FX show is partially based on Vulgar Favors, her 1999 best-seller about Cunanan’s crimes), the pair had a “nonsexual sleepover” inside the Mandarin Oriental hotel, where Andrew was staying thanks to an allowance he collected from a wealthy, older La Jolla businessman named Norman Blachford.
Blachford, whose partner of 26 years had just died when he met Cunanan, allowed him to move in to his mansion and decorate it, giving him credit cards, a $33,000 Infiniti, and a $2,500 living allowance. Cunanan was apparently ashamed of being a “kept” man but also flaunted his nouveau riches, spending lavishly on friends and acquaintances. When he met Madson, Cunanan felt a genuine emotional connection and obsessed over the architect romantically for the next two years. By the time Trail took a blue-collar job in Minneapolis, where Madson also lived, Blachford had dropped Cunanan, who was now alone. Cunanan flew to Minnesota, killed Trail with a claw hammer inside Madson’s airy loft, and then shot and killed Madson four days later on the banks of East Rush Lake, an hour outside town—perhaps out of jealousy or despair.
The Assassination of Gianni Versace sticks with Cunanan throughout his spree. Versace (Edgar Ramírez) and his longtime partner, Antonio (Ricky Martin), only appear intermittently, like pops from a flashbulb rather than fully developed characters. This feels purposeful: Cunanan was preoccupied with fame, perhaps to the point of psychopathy, and he put celebrity on a pedestal. He saw himself as destined for greatness, and it is this tragic misconception of himself that makes his story so very American. Versace was an openly gay immigrant, succeeding at the highest levels of American business. This must have enraged Cunanan, the openly gay son of an immigrant, who saw in Versace the anointed prince that he longed to be.
Shortly before the first episode aired, members of the Versace family distanced themselves from the new show, which they thought “should only be considered as a work of fiction.” In Vulgar Favors, Orth asserts that Cunanan had met Versace in San Francisco around 1990, when the designer created the costumes for a San Francisco Opera production of Capriccio. Although it’s not clear whether the two met only in passing or were much better acquainted, we see this encounter in a scene in The Assassination of Gianni Versace. If they had dated, as Cunanan often boasted to friends, Cunanan’s violent act may have been personal: Some reporters at the time speculated—with a homophobic slant—that Cunanan may have been an “HIV killer,” out to get revenge on former boyfriends. (A medical examiner later testified that he was not in fact HIV positive.) Versace’s family holds that he never met Cunanan, that the designer was a victim of his own fame and of one man’s twisted rampage against a sparkling culture that rejected him.
The second installment in Ryan Murphy’s American Crime Story anthology series, the show doesn’t aim to establish which version is true so much as to expose the rot at the center of American culture—horrors that could only happen here. (Last season followed the trial of O.J. Simpson, dissecting the racial and gendered complexities of the case.) What we do know, from Orth’s book and from several other reports following the murders, was that Cunanan’s life was one of deception and delusion, of falsehoods and fibs and chicanery. He wanted to travel in the highest echelons of society, clinking glasses with socialites and captains of industry and cavorting on yachts. He didn’t like to work but loved to party, a less talented Mr. Ripley.
Cunanan wanted to travel in the highest echelons of society, clinking glasses with socialites and cavorting on yachts.
Throughout, Cunanan has to confront the mismatch between his aspirations and reality. From an early age, he bluffs about his background, telling classmates he is the son of wealthy aesthetes, that his father, Modesto (Jon Jon Briones), once served as Imelda Marcos’s personal pilot and that his mother has filled his lunch box with lobster tails. In the penultimate episode, we learn that Modesto has had to flee the country after embezzling fortunes from his clients. When Cunanan, now in his teens, goes to Manila to find him, Modesto is living in squalid conditions. Criss and Briones stare at each other for long minutes in this scene, filmed inside a tiny tropical shack. Cunanan realizes his father’s success was a lie, and that all of the confidence and self-regard he has absorbed from his bellowing belief must also be fraudulent.
Many people would experience this sort of trauma—the explosion of the family unit, the disgrace of a parent—and cave inward. Cunanan does the opposite. When he returns from Manila, his lies only get bigger. He claims that his father owns a pineapple plantation, that as son and heir, he is set to inherit millions. He tells friends that he has family in New York, Paris, and Rome, and that Signore Versace has asked him to travel around the world with him designing costumes. Even before the period when a quick Google search could swiftly puncture outrageous claims, all this bragging raises suspicion. In a conversation Madson imagines shortly before he is killed, he asks Cunanan to tell him one true thing about his life. It doesn’t happen. Cunanan was like a Gatsby so enchanted with the green light that he would kill for it, a man so bedeviled by the American dream that he became a walking nightmare.
Because the show tells Cunanan’s story backward, we often see his victims die before we get to spend time with them. We see Cunanan in the days leading up to the murder of Versace, then we see him bludgeon Lee Miglin (Mike Farrell), a prominent Chicago real estate developer, in Miglin’s garage. We see him shoot a cemetery caretaker in Pennsylvania just so that he can steal his red pickup truck. When these victims appear again on-screen, beaming and unaware of their bloody future, it can feel like agony. They die in front of you all over again, and you are mourning them even while they are simply talking and moving.
The best episode of the series is “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which follows Jeff Trail through the trauma of being gay in the military. In one scene, he tries to hang himself in uniform; in another gruesome moment, he takes a box cutter and begins to slice a tattoo from his calf, after hearing that officials can identify homosexuals by their body markings. The anguish and shame that Trail feels is devastating, especially as we know what fate lies ahead. He is forced to leave the Navy, but as he leaves, he gives an interview to a news program about the struggles of being gay and wanting to serve your country. The fact that this act of bravery—and its promise of a new, more open life—so closely precedes his death haunts the episode.
No one is safe in Cunanan’s world, but then, perhaps, it was never safe to be gay in 1990s America, even for gold-plated celebrities like Versace. The media of the time blamed the victim for his own murder as much as it blamed Cunanan. While Cunanan was “a killer on the loose,” Edward J. Ingebretsen has written in At Stake: Monsters and the Rhetoric of Fear in Public Culture, Versace was seen as “a different threat entirely, that of a profligate and well-traveled member of the upper class, whose mobility, like the killer’s, is also the stuff of myth.” The media wrapped Versace’s and Cunanan’s stories together, frequently drawing parallels between the two: both gay, fashion-obsessed men, enchanted by wealth. Yet they couldn’t have been more different—one of them created, while the other destroyed.
In the end, The Assassination of Gianni Versace belongs to Cunanan, because it is a singular story: the story of a boy who wanted everything in the world but never figured out how to get it. This is an American crime story, in that we see in the rearview how the consumerist ’90s could warp those who treated celebrity like a religion, how some were even willing to commit vile acts for a taste of rarefied air. Very little is, at its core, more American than that.
#acs versace#new republic#article#review#acs spoilers#february 2018#.thanks musexmoirai for the link
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