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magic-and-maybess · 1 year

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A semi-formal review of pre Critical Role live action Ashley Johnson content

*this is not an exhaustive list, just the films/shows I've watched personally. yes i am biased. Blindspot is not included but I do have many positive feelings about seasons 1 and 2*

Crime Scene Investigation, season 7 episode 21 : Ending Happy (2007)

Character - Dreama Little

Plot -

When a has-been boxer is killed, the team must establish which of several life-threatening acts actually ended his life.

Review -

As someone who hasn't seen any CSI prior to this, I thoroughly enjoyed it. This episode puts Ashley in the shoes of a sweet prostitute with a southern drawal and more smarts than one would expect.

The episode was engaging and made me feel very empathetic for Dreama. She certainly stood out from the main cast in just a few scenes.

Rating - 8/10

Spooked Episodes 1-4 (2014)

Character - Morgan

Plot -

Five paranormal investigators help the citizens of their city with everything from ghost sightings to possession and aliens.

Review -

This was a decent, turn-off-your-brain spoof on paranormal investigation shows. I found the writing to be a little shotty at times and many things could have been fleshed out more. Despite this, it was an entertaining binge at only 4 20 minute episodes available for free.

I found Ashley's character one of the most entertaining of the group. Quickly, a love triangle forms around her and sets off a lot of drama within the team but the resolution was an oddly sweet one.

Rating - 6/10

Annie : A Royal Adventure (1995)

Character - Annie Warbucks

Plot -

In this sequel to the 1982 film, Annie and her friends venture to England where hijinks ensue and the preteens must stop a plot to overthrow the monarchy.

Review -

This was a fever dream of a film, but in a fun way. I didn't expect much going into it, and I wasn't disappointed. It was very childish but not in an annoying way. There was a song, which I enjoyed.

Rating - 5/10

The Failures (2003)

Character - Lily/Lilian

Plot -

When a misfit teenager meets a suicidal outcast, she comes up with a plan to help him kill himself. Too bad love gets in the way.

Review -

This was the best movie I've watched in a while. I was completely engaged. The writing was witty, nuanced, and every character was so well done. Neither cynicism or optimism was the right answer, life just is what it is.

Ashley gave a standout performance here. Lily is so well done. She's not good or wise, she's just a dumb 17 year old who thinks she knows everything. Her intentions and motivations are messy just like everyone else here. Nobody is fully bad or good. They're all just people.

Rating - 10/10

Growing Pains : The Movie (2000)

Character - Chrissy Seaver

Plot -

Jason and Maggie Seaver move back to their hometown so Maggie can run for public office. Quickly, things spiral into a mess when the kids get involved.

Review -

This movie was... fine. It did what it was trying to do, I think. When viewed as a continuation of the original series, it falls a little flat. I found Carol's relationship drama to be really boring, and the writers seemed confused on who they wanted Chrissy to be. Overall, there was a lot going on in this that makes it the far weaker of the two.

Rating - 4/10

Growing Pains : Return Of The Seavers (2004)

Character - Chrissy Seaver

Plot -

Jason and Maggie are finally ready to sell the house and see the world now that the kids have all moved out. As it turns out, this is not okay with the oldest Seavers, and shenanigans ensue.

Review -

This is the far better of the two Growing Pains movies. The plot is much more engaging and the characters feel more like themselves. Chrissy also gets a lot more of a plotline here as she deals with her awful love life. Overall, it's a better version of what happens to these characters 15 years later.

Rating - 6/10

Otis (2008)

Character - Riley Lawson

Plot -

Teenage girl Riley is the newest victim of serial killer/degenerate loser Otis, who just wants to take a girl to "prom". When a misunderstanding between Riley and her family occurs, they devise a plan to murder her assaulter... and get the wrong guy.

Review -

The first half of this movie was tolerable, almost enjoyable. After Riley's escape, the entire thing goes downhill. Don't let the box art fool you, this is the worst movie I have seen in a *long* time.

The only redeeming quality was Ashley's acting. She was wonderful as always and was the only character I felt any positive emotions towards.

Rating - 3/10

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ashleyjohnsonoftheday · 3 days

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Day 629

#ashley of the day #ashley johnson #critical role #critical role cast #annie: a royal adventure #via: annie a royal adventure #baby ash

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spooky-donut-ghost-house · 7 months

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It is truly a shame how little content there is of Ace and Annie

#dc #dc comics #dc universe #detective comics #dcu #dc ace #dc ace of clubs #jlu ace #jlu ace of clubs #annie hagen #clayface #batman #bruce wayne #royal flush gang #matt hagen #the joker #justice league unlimited #the new batman adventures #tnba

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mann-walter · 9 months

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Thanks for making Star Wars a blast. Thanks for introducing me to some books I never will regret reading and programs that will never disappoint (especially City of Vice; not the best show ever, but I like it very much). Thanks for the memes.

Oh, and thanks for introducing me to that 1979 televised production of Macbeth, it was one of those "Come for one, stay for everyone" movies.

#Happy Birthday Ian McDiarmid #Ian McDiarmid #palpatine #Star Wars #Utopia #City of Vice #and everything else #I can't name them all obviously #but all of them - without exceptions - never ever disappoint #except that 2005 “King Lear”#That was on me though #I wasn't - still am but it's getting better - familiar with the text and I'm less imaginative when it comes to audio dramas #I didn't really know what was going on so I left it #I still can't believe he was in Annie; A Royal Adventure though #Ah yes that's one that I haven't seen #Such an odd place to find Ian McDiarmid but okay #Mann Walter

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enjoymorestuff · 1 year

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I have an observation to make about the casting of The Last of Us!

This is Bella Ramsey, who plays Ellie:

This is Ashley Johnson, who played her in the video game. To make it an even comparison, this is in, um, "Annie: A Royal Adventure."

I know they don't look identical, but...they could be sisters. I love it.

#the last of us #bella ramsey #ashley johnson #annie: a royal adventure #also I should say I have mild face-blindness #so please don't yell at me if I'm off-base here

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venusiancharisma · 1 month

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Your Femme Fatale Persona Based On Moon Sign...

Just for fun, astro observations. Enjoy! This is based on the manifestation of... "they made me do it". So, while I dont agree this is the Femme Fatal "homeostasis" of each moon sign, I believe that, at one's darkest hour, these are the specific persona's each of us would take on...

Aries Moon - Lara Croft (Tomb Raider): Strong, independent, and fearless, the Aries Moon femme fatale is a daring adventurer who isn't afraid to take risks. Like Lara Croft, she's always ready for action and thrives on challenges. Additionally...

The Bride (Kill Bill): Driven, vengeful, and skilled in martial arts.

Aeon Flux (Aeon Flux): Athletic, daring, and rebellious.

Taurus Moon - Satine (Moulin Rouge!): Sensual, alluring, and grounded, the Taurus Moon femme fatale is a master of seduction. Like Satine, she knows how to use her beauty and charm to get what she wants while remaining emotionally steadfast. Additionally...

Sugar Kane Kowalczyk (Some Like It Hot): Sexy, charming, and pleasure-seeking.

Regina George (Mean Girls): Popular, manipulative, and materialistic.

Gemini Moon - Catwoman (Batman Returns): Clever, adaptable, and enigmatic, the Gemini Moon femme fatale is a master of disguise. Like Catwoman, she's quick-witted, elusive, and always keeps others guessing. Additionally...

Jordan Baker (The Great Gatsby): Clever, charming, and unpredictable.

Marion Crane (Psycho): Secretive, impulsive, and multifaceted.

Cancer Moon - Norma Desmond (Sunset Boulevard): Emotionally intense, nostalgic, and manipulative, the Cancer Moon femme fatale is a complex character. Like Norma Desmond, she may cling to the past and use her vulnerability to control others. Additionally...

Annie Wilkes (Misery): Obsessive, nurturing, and unstable.

Alex Forrest (Fatal Attraction): Clingy, possessive, and emotionally demanding.

Leo Moon - Foxxy Cleopatra (Austin Powers in Goldmember): Confident, dramatic, and alluring, the Leo Moon femme fatale knows how to command attention. Like Foxxy Cleopatra, she's bold, charismatic, and always steals the spotlight. Additionally...

Marilyn Monroe (The Seven Year Itch): Charismatic, flirtatious, and attention-seeking.

Jessica Rabbit (Who Framed Roger Rabbit): Seductive, enigmatic, and theatrical.

Virgo Moon - Catherine Tramell (Basic Instinct): Intelligent, calculating, and mysterious, the Virgo Moon femme fatale is a master of manipulation. Like Catherine Tramell, she uses her intellect and attention to detail to outmaneuver others. Additionally...

Tracy Lord (The Philadelphia Story): Perfectionist, analytical, and critical.

Amy Dunne (Gone Girl): Cunning, organized, and vengeful.

Libra Moon - Gilda (Gilda): Charming, sophisticated, and flirtatious, the Libra Moon femme fatale is a social butterfly. Like Gilda, she knows how to use her charm and beauty to captivate and influence others. Additionally...

Madeleine Elster (Vertigo): Elegant, charming, and mysterious.

Daisy Buchanan (The Great Gatsby): Charming, indecisive, and idealistic.

Vesper Lynd (Casino Royale): Sophisticated, diplomatic, and elusive.

Scorpio Moon - Phyllis Dietrichson (Double Indemnity): Intense, secretive, and seductive, the Scorpio Moon femme fatale is a master of psychological manipulation. Like Phyllis Dietrichson, she uses her sexual allure and emotional depth to ensnare others. Additionally...

Cersei Lannister (Game of Thrones): Power-hungry, manipulative, and intense.

Brigid O'Shaughnessy (The Maltese Falcon): Mysterious, alluring, and deceitful.

Sagittarius Moon - Beatrix Kiddo (Kill Bill): Independent, adventurous, and philosophical, the Sagittarius Moon femme fatale is a free spirit. Like Beatrix Kiddo, she's a skilled warrior who follows her own moral code and seeks justice on her own terms. Additionally...

Nikita (La Femme Nikita): Rebellious, independent, and adventurous.

Lisbeth Salander (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo): Unconventional, daring, and justice-seeking.

Capricorn Moon - Miranda Priestly (The Devil Wears Prada): Ambitious, disciplined, and powerful, the Capricorn Moon femme fatale is a formidable presence. Like Miranda Priestly, she's a master of her craft and expects nothing less than perfection from herself and others. Additionally...

Evelyn Mulwray (Chinatown): Reserved, ambitious, and secretive.

Lady Macbeth (Macbeth): Ambitious, manipulative, and ruthless.

Aquarius Moon - Mia Wallace (Pulp Fiction): Unconventional, independent, and mysterious, the Aquarius Moon femme fatale is a true original. Like Mia Wallace, she marches to the beat of her own drum and isn't afraid to break the rules. Additionally...

Mathilda (Léon: The Professional): Unconventional, intelligent, and rebellious.

Clementine Kruczynski (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind): Eccentric, free-spirited, and unpredictable.

Pisces Moon - Nina Sayers (Black Swan): Imaginative, emotionally vulnerable, and self sacrificing. Like Nina, she uses her damseled distress and emotional depth to draw others into her web of desire and deceit. Additionally...

Melissa Robinson (The Last Seduction): Deceptive, adaptable, and seductive.

Laura Hunt (Laura): Elusive, enigmatic, dreamy, and idealization.

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disneyga · 2 years

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#Annie 2 A Royal Adventure #Molly

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alasarys · 7 months

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Recommended books for the drivers from BookPeople, Austin, Texas (insta)

Daniel Ricciardo: Friday Night Lights – "... every Friday night from September to December, when the Permian High School Panthers play football, this West Texas town becomes a place where dreams can come true."

Lando Norris: Assassin's Apprentice – "Fitz ... must give up his old ways and embrace a new life of weaponry, scribing, courtly manners; and how to kill a man secretly, as he trains to become a royal assassin."

Alex Albon: My Brilliant Friend – "... a rich, intense and generous-hearted story about two friends ... a touching meditation on the nature of friendship."

Logan Sargeant: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – "hilarious, delicious, and brutal"

Yuki Tsunoda: A Cook's Tour – "the unpredictable adventures of America's boldest and bravest chef."

Carlos Sainz: Great American Golf Stories – "some of the best classic writings, both fact and realistic fiction, that reflect the rich history, tradition, agony, and ecstasy of one of our most enduring and endearing pastimes."

Oscar Piastri: Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting – "It turns out that talking to strangers can teach you about the world around you--and even more about yourself."

Lance Stroll: Infinite Jest – "Set in an addicts' halfway house and a tennis academy, and featuring the most endearingly screwed-up family to come along in recent fiction, Infinite Jest explores essential questions about what entertainment is and why it has come to so dominate our lives; about how our desire for entertainment affects our need to connect with other people; and about what the pleasures we choose say about who we are."

Charles Leclerc: Every Good Boy Does Fine – "[Denk] reminds us that we must never stop asking questions about music and its purposes: consolation, an armor against disillusionment, pure pleasure, a diversion, a refuge, and a vehicle for empathy."

Lewis Hamilton: The Boy with a Bird in his Chest – "A heartbreaking yet hopeful novel about the things that make us unique and lovable, The Boy with a Bird in His Chest grapples with the fear, depression, and feelings of isolation that come with believing that we will never be loved, let alone accepted, for who we truly are, and learning to live fully and openly regardless."

Max Verstappen: Atomic Habits – "Atomic Habits will reshape the way you think about progress and success, and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits--whether you are a team looking to win a championship ..."

Zhou Guanyu: A Visible Man – "When Edward Enninful became the first Black editor-in-chief of British Vogue, few in the world of fashion wanted to confront how it failed to represent the world we live in. But Edward, a champion of inclusion throughout his life, rapidly changed that."

Pierre Gasly: Misery – "He's a bestselling novelist who has finally met his biggest fan. Her name is Annie Wilkes and she is more than a rabid reader – she is Paul's nurse, tending his shattered body after an automobile accident. But she is also his captor, keeping him prisoner in her isolated house."

Valtteri Bottas: Foundryside – "To have a chance at surviving ... Sancia will have to marshal unlikely allies ... and undergo her own transformation ..."

Fernando Alonso: The House of the Spirits – "an enthralling saga that spans decades and lives, twining the personal and the political into an epic novel of love, magic, and fate."

Kevin Magnussen: The Daily Dad – "366 Meditations on Parenting, Love, and Raising Great Kids"

Sergio Perez: Bad Feminist – "an inspiring call-to-arms of all the ways we still need to do better"

Building on the excellent work by @vegasgrandprix and @kritischetheologie

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emillyverse · 2 months

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Some warnings + Chapter 1 Progress!!!!!

HELLO MY LOVELY STARS!!!

You didn't expect to see me updating KoW so soon, did you???

I usually post updates on Saturday or Sunday, but I'll be traveling so I decided to leave the previews today.

In fact, this trip is the warning I have to give. I will be away from my work desk and my materials for a few days (I don't know exactly how many but between one and two weeks), therefore I will not be able to make progress on the Comic during this period.

This is sad I know. But look on the bright side, I'm going to get a lot of rest and return to work with renewed energy!!!

✨YAYYYYYY !!!✨

Anyway, without further ado, let's get to what everyone wants to see:

THE CONTINUATION OF THE OUTLINES OF CHAPTER 1 OF "THE KINGDOM OF WISHES"

( Written by @annymation , design by @uva124 )

Check out part 1 here.

"The two brothers grew up and, with their father's teachings, became powerful sorcerers."

"But when the big day arrived, Florian was crowned king, as Magnus still didn't feel confident and claimed that something was missing in his life; something that gave him strength and courage!"

"It was then that Magnus met Amaya."

"The most beautiful maiden he had ever seen had been found adrift in a boat and taken shelter in the castle by order of King Florian."

"As a form of gratitude for the hospitality, Amaya began to serve the court as a royal alchemist and, as the days went by, she ended up winning Magnus' heart, finally making him feel like he could do...anything".

"Encouraged by his new love, Magnus decided to travel in search of adventure, leaving the kingdom to prosper in Florian's hands."

"But then, a tragedy happened. When Magnus returned to Rosas he discovered that his brother had passed away due to illness. A painful loss for the entire kingdom, which was made worse by Florian not having legitimate heirs"

"Magnus was moved. He could not let the magnificent legacy of his beloved brother and predecessors end like this."

"Feeling confident with Amaya by your side, Magnus took over the throne and changed the way wishes were granted monthly, doing dozens of them a week, making them float back to your Wish Makers, during the night"

The Kingdom was so happy and grateful that they began to name their new rulers with nicknames that reflected their magnificence and passion, thus making them known as King Magnífico and Queen Amable.

"The end".

Sabino: "I admire your taste in complex stories, Asha, but... Hmm...Don't you think this is too complicated for you?"

Asha: "I thought it was a fantasy book, but it's just romance. Yuck!”

Sabino: "Never judge a book by its cover, darling! What you have here is a history book."

Asha: "But he doesn't explain things very well.Where does Queen Amaya come from? And the king's staff?What disease did Florian die from?"

Sabino: "Well, Asha, let's see..."

"First, the queen is very private about her past, we have to respect that."

"Second. That staff is just a souvenir the king got on his travels."

Sabino: "And third. Sometimes bad things just... happen... without explanation."

"And there's nothing we can do about it."

"Unless you move on..."

To be continued...

FORGIVE FOR ENDING WITH AN ANGUISH DRAWING 🥺🥺

BUT DESPITE THAT, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT!

And understood. Remembering that, like Anny, I'm Brazilian, but unlike her, I don't understand English and I'm always using Google translate, so maybe there are some mistakes. But Anny and you are always welcome to point out mistakes and correct me!

That's it for today and until after my little vacation Lmao 😅 I'll still be online to answer any questions or curiosities you may have, or simply to see posts and rewrites in which they mark me. I love interacting with this fun and tight-knit community of Wish Concept Art fans!

Anyway, goodbye!!

Kisses full of light and stars!

~Emy

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just-a-spacecase · 3 days

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SO. THAT NEW TADC EPISODE, HUH… /POS

im gonna be rambling about possibilities of my s/i being in the new episode, or, how she would interact with everyone !! feel free to read on <333

annies thoughts on candy canyon kingdom;;

she thinks everything is…very bright. she would paw at the confetti that showered the group as they were led into the kingdom, saying stuff under her breath like “woaaahh…!” and “so pretty…!”

seeing ragatha so happy made her happy as well! she thought she fit right in at the candied kingdom. though too shy to say it: annie thought ragatha was like a brave princess, the way she would take responsibility for important things and be helpful toward many who lived there !! …even if they were all NPCs.

speaking of princesses, annie couldnt stop staring at princess loolilalu. she was…incredibly tall. and made of CANDY. she was a CANDY PRINCESS. how cool !! she would curtsy and say, “ive never been in the presence of a royal before!”

though, her tail would flick in annoyance as she thought about ragatha getting too close to the princess. protective nini mode………she couldnt help it !! spooky candy lady better watch her step. kittys got claws, after all !!

jax would nudge annie, chuckling and saying “annes, she wont hurt us. shes an NPC.”

annie would enjoy riding around candy canyon kingdom, feeling very important (for once). she would kick her feet happily in the backseat, and nearly fall out of the vehicle as she leaned out of the window to get a better look at the scenery.

jax, being his reckless self, would try to get annie to fight against gummigoo and his friends. she would get anxious, hiding behind things and angrily squinting at them instead. ragatha would say something along the lines of “dont make poor annie fight !!”

annie did, however, pounce on gummigoo once. ragatha just picked her up, sweeping her off of the poor gummy-croc while hiding giggles.

she was afraid of the fudge, clinging to ragatha as he would talk to the group.

if annie would be the one in pomnis place (aka helping gummigoo get out of under the map), she would just hug him unexpectedly and begin to share her own experience with dissociation. despite her ditzy personality, annie is very knowledgeable on memory loss, dissociation, anxiety, and other things of the like. she would say “nobody deserves to be stuck in a scary place or situation and feel like nothing. you included, mister gummigoo.”

after the adventure, she would giggle at jax being incredibly angry about the fact that there was no epic battle or bloodshed. she finds his recklessness silly (and attractive-).

once they were back at the circus, she would attend kaufmos funeral. she hates seeing people so upset, and she may not have known kaufmo, but…she wants to be emotional support for the people at the service.

after the funeral, ragatha would hold annies hand as they went to jaxs room. the three would talk about the adventure, and about kaufmos memory.

overall, it was an eventful day at the digital circus !!

OKAY SO HOPEFULLY THIS ISNT CRINGEY (yes yes i kno cringe is dead BUT IM STILL SCARED.)

n e wayz, hope yall enjoyed the new TADC episode :3

#「🖤 —> spacecase speak」#self ship #selfship #selfship community #f/o x s/i #f/o #s/i #tadc #tadc jax #the amazing digital circus #tadc ragatha #the amazing digital circus ragatha #the amazing digital circus jax #lgbtqia #new tadc episode #new tadc episode went CRAYZEE

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magic-and-maybess · 1 year

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Bad movies featuring Ashley Johnson is my favorite genre

#ashley johnson #critical role #otis (2008)#christmas cupid (2010)#annie a royal adventure (1995)#growing pains the movie (2000)#growing pains return of the seavers (2004)#the failures (2003)

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ashleyjohnsonoftheday · 1 year

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Day 272

#ashley of the day #ashley johnson #critical role cast #critical role #sam riegel #annie: a royal adventure #via: critical role campaign 2 #baby ash #kinda

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brokehorrorfan · 9 months

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Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 26 via Universal. The 2023 DreamWorks computer-animated family action-comedy is currently available on PVOD and hits Digital on August 29.

Kirk DeMicco (The Croods) and Faryn Pearl co-direct from a script by Pam Brady (South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut) and Brian C. Brown & Elliott DiGuiseppi (Lucy in the Sky). Lana Condor, Toni Collette, Annie Murphy, Colman Domingo, and Jane Fonda star.

Special features are listed below.

Special features:

Audio commentary by director Kirk DeMicco, co-director Faryn Pearl, producer Kelly Cooney Cilella, head of character animation Carlos Fernandez Puertolas, and head of cinematography Jon Gutman

Deleted scenes with intros by co-director Faryn Pearl

Squad Solidarity: Adventures in ADR

The Kraken: Myth or Monster

Meet the Gillman Cast

The Kraken Krew: Meet the Humans Behind the Gillmans

Prom Stories

Super Sea Girl Besties

Oceanside Drawing Guide

Make Your Own Aquarium

youtube

Dive into the turbulent waters of high school with this heartwarming action comedy about a shy teenager who discovers that she’s part of a legendary royal lineage of mythical sea krakens and that her destiny, in the depths of the oceans, is bigger than she ever dreamed. Learning to be an all-powerful sea creature while hiding among humans is hard enough for Ruby, but to make matters worse, her super popular new bestie, Chelsea, is secretly a mermaid! Mermaids have been battling the krakens for eons to rule the ocean, but Chelsea has come to land to finally put an end to that conflict. However, when Chelsea double-crosses her, Ruby will ultimately need to embrace who she is and go big to protect those she loves most.

Pre-order Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken.

#ruby gillman #ruby gillman teenage kraken #dreamworks #lana condor #toni collette #annie murphy #colman domingo #jane fonda #dvd #gift #sam richardson #will forte #liza koshy #jaboukie young white #ramona young #Youtube

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rainbowmagicfairyfight · 9 months

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Rainbow Magic Fairy Fight

Round 1

Round 1: Abigail the Breeze Fairy, Addison the April Fool's Day Fairy, Adele the Singing Coach Fairy, Aisha the Astronaut Fairy, Aisha the Princess and the Pea Fairy, Alexa the Fashion Reporter Fairy, Alexandra the Royal Baby Fairy, Alice the Tennis Fairy, Alison the Art Fairy, Ally the Dolphin Fairy (August 16)

Round 2: Alyssa the Snow Queen Fairy, Amber the Orange Fairy, Amelia the Singing Fairy, Amelie the Seal Fairy, Amy the Amethyst Fairy, Angelica the Angel Fairy, Anna the Arctic Fox Fairy, Annabelle the Drawing Fairy, Annie the Detective Fairy, Anya the Cuddly Creatures Fairy (August 17)

Round 3: Aria the Synchro Fairy, Ariana the Firefighter Fairy, Ashley the Dragon Fairy, Autumn the Falling Leaves Fairy, Ava the Sunset Fairy, Bea the Buddha Day Fairy, Becky the Best Friend Fairy, Bella the Bunny Fairy, Belle the Birthday Fairy, Bethany the Ballet Fairy (August 18)

Round 4: Billie the Baby Goat Fairy, Blossom the Flower Girl Fairy, Bobbi the Bouncy Castle Fairy, Bonnie the Bike-Riding Fairy, Brianna the Bee Fairy, Brooke the Photographer Fairy, Caitlin the Ice Bear Fairy, Callie the Climbing Fairy, Camilla the Christmas Present Fairy, Cara the Camp Fairy (August 19)

Round 5: Cara the Coding Fairy, Carly the Schoolfriend Fairy, Carmen the Cheerleading Fairy, Carrie the Snow Cap Fairy, Catherine the Fashion Princess Fairy, Charles the Coronation Fairy, Charlie the Sunflower Fairy, Charlotte the Baby Princess Fairy, Chelsea the Chimpanzee Fairy, Chelsea the Congratulations Fairy (August 20)

Round 6: Cherry the Cake Fairy, Cheryl the Christmas Tree Fairy, Chloe the Topaz Fairy, Chrissie the Wish Fairy, Clare the Caring Fairy, Claudia the Accessories Fairy, Coco the Cupcake Fairy, Coral the Reef Fairy, Courtney the Clownfish Fairy, Crystal the Snow Fairy (August 21)

Round 7: Daisy the Festival Fairy, Danielle the Daisy Fairy, Danni the Drum Fairy, Darcey the Dance Diva Fairy, Debbie the Duckling Fairy, Deena the Diwali Fairy, Demi the Dressing-Up Fairy, Destiny the Pop Star Fairy, Edie the Garden Fairy, Eleanor the Snow White Fairy (August 22)

Round 8: Elisa the Adventure Fairy, Elisha the Eid Fairy, Elizabeth the Jubilee Fairy, Ella the Rose Fairy, Elle the Thumbelina Fairy, Ellen the Explorer Fairy, Ellie the Guitar Fairy, Elodie the Lamb Fairy, Elsa the Mistletoe Fairy, Elsie the Engineer Fairy (August 23)

Round 9: Emily the Emerald Fairy, Emma the Easter Fairy, Erin the Firebird Fairy, Esme the Ice Cream Fairy, Esther the Kindness Fairy, Etta the Elephant Fairy, Eva the Enchanted Ball Fairy, Evelyn the Mermicorn Fairy, Evie the Mist Fairy, Faith the Cinderella Fairy (August 24)

Round 10: Fatima the Face-Painting Fairy, Felicia the Fidget Toy Fairy, Fern the Green Fairy, Fiona the Flute Fairy, Fizz the Fireworks Fairy, Flora the Fancy Dress Fairy, Florence the Friendship Fairy, Frances the Royal Family Fairy, Francesca the Football Fairy, Frankie the Make-up Fairy (August 25)

Round 11: Frenchie the Bulldog Fairy, Freya the Friday Fairy, Gabby the Bubble Gum Fairy, Gemma the Gymnastics Fairy, Georgia the Guinea Pig Fairy, Giselle the Christmas Ballet Fairy, Goldie the Sunshine Fairy, Grace the Glitter Fairy, Greta the Earth Fairy, Gwen the Beauty and the Beast Fairy (August 26)

Round 12: Hana the Hanukkah Fairy, Hannah the Happy Ever After Fairy, Harper the Confidence Fairy, Harriet the Hamster Fairy, Hayley the Rain Fairy, Heather the Violet Fairy, Heidi the Vet Fairy, Helen the Sailing Fairy, Helena the Horseriding Fairy, Holly the Christmas Fairy (August 27)

Round 13: Honey the Sweet Fairy, Hope the Welcome Fairy, Imogen the Ice Dance Fairy, India the Moonstone Fairy, Isabella the Air Fairy, Isla the Ice Star Fairy, Ivy the Worry Fairy, Izzy the Indigo fairy, Jacinda the Peace Fairy, Jade the Disco Fairy (August 28)

Round 14: Jae the Boy Band Fairy, Jasmine the Present Fairy, Jayda the Snowboarding Fairy, Jessica the Jazz Fairy, Jessie the Lyrics Fairy, Josie the Jewellery-Making Fairy, Jude the Librarian Fairy, Julia the Sleeping Beauty Fairy, Juliet the Valentine Fairy, Kat the Jungle Fairy (August 29)

Round 15: Kate the Royal Wedding Fairy, Kathryn the PE Fairy, Katie the Kitten Fairy, Kayla the Pottery Fairy, Keiko the Diving Fairy, Keira the Film Star Fairy, Kimberley the Koala Fairy, Kimi the Bubble Tea Fairy, Kitty the Tiger Fairy, Konnie the Christmas Cracker Fairy (August 30)

Round 16: Kylie the Carnival Fairy, Lacey the Little Mermaid Fairy, Lara the Black Cat Fairy, Lauren the Puppy Fairy, Layla the Candyfloss Fairy, Layne the Surfing Fairy, Leah the Theatre Fairy, Leahann the Birthday Present Fairy, Leona the Unicorn Fairy, Lexi the Firefly Fairy (August 31)

Round 17: Li the Labrador Fairy, Libby the Story-Writing Fairy, Lila and Myla the Twins Fairies, Lily the Rainforest Fairy, Lindsay the Luck Fairy, Lisa the Jelly Bean Fairy, Lizzie the Sweet Treats Fairy, Lois the Balloon Fairy, Lola the Fashion Show Fairy, Lottie the Lollipop Fairy (September 1)

Round 18: Louise the Lily Fairy, Lucy the Diamond Fairy, Lulu the Lifeguard Fairy, Luna the Loom Band Fairy, Lydia the Reading Fairy, Maddie the Playtime Fairy, Madeleine the Cookie Fairy, Madison the Magic Show Fairy, Maisie the Moonbeam Fairy, Mara the Meerkat Fairy (September 2)

Round 19: Mariana the Goldilocks Fairy, Marissa the Science Fairy, Martha the Doctor Fairy, Mary the Sharing Fairy, Maryam the Nurse Fairy, Maya the Harp Fairy, Megan the Monday Fairy, Meghan the Wedding Sparkle Fairy, Melissa the Sports Fairy, Melodie the Music Fairy (September 3)

Round 20: Mia the Bridesmaid Fairy, Michelle the Winter Wonderland Fairy, Miley the Stylist Fairy, Milly the River Fairy, Mimi the Laughter Fairy, Molly the Goldfish Fairy, Monica the Marshmallow Fairy, Morgan the Midnight Fairy, Naomi the Netball Fairy, Natalie the Christmas Stocking Fairy (September 4)

Round 21: Niamh the Invitation Fairy, Nicki the Holiday Camp Fairy, Nina the Birthday Cake Fairy, Nur the Vlogger Fairy, Olivia the Orchid Fairy, Orla the Inventor Fairy, Padma the Pirate Fairy, Paige the Pantomime Fairy, Paloma the Dodgems Fairy, Pandora the Poodle Fairy (September 5)

Round 22: Paula the Pumpkin Fairy, Pearl the Cloud Fairy, Penelope the Foal Fairy, Penny the Pony Fairy, Perrie the Paramedic Fairy, Phoebe the Fashion Fairy, Pia the Penguin Fairy, Pippa the Poppy Fairy, Polly the Party Fun Fairy, Poppy the Piano Fairy (September 6)

Round 23: Priya the Polar Bear Fairy, Rae the Rollercoaster Fairy, Rebecca the Rock 'n' Roll Fairy, Rihanna the Seahorse Fairy, Riley the Skateboarding Fairy, Rita the Frog Princess Fairy, Rita the Rollerskating Fairy, Robyn the Christmas Party Fairy, Rochelle the Star Spotter Fairy, Rosalie the Rapunzel Fairy (September 7)

Round 24: Rosie the Honey Bear Fairy, Roxie the Baking Fairy, Ruby the Red Fairy, Ruth the Red Riding Hood Fairy, Sabrina the Sweet Dreams Fairy, Sadie the Saxophone Fairy, Samantha the Swimming Fairy, Samira the Superhero Fairy, Sara the Party Games Fairy, Sarah the Sunday Fairy (September 8)

Round 25: Sasha the Slime Fairy, Saskia the Salsa Fairy, Savannah the Zebra Fairy, Scarlett the Garnet Fairy, Selena the Sleepover Fairy, Selma the Snow Leopard Fairy, Seren the Sausage Dog Fairy, Shannon the Ocean Fairy, Shelley the Sherbet Fairy, Sianne the Butterfly Fairy (September 9)

Round 26: Sienna the Saturday Fairy, Sky the Blue Fairy, Skyler the Fireworks Fairy, Sophia the Snow Swan Fairy, Sophie the Sapphire Fairy, Soraya the Skiing Fairy, Stella the Star Fairy, Storm the Lightning Fairy, Summer the Holiday Fairy, Sunny the Yellow Fairy (September 10)

Round 27: Susie the Sister Fairy, Tallulah the Tuesday Fairy, Tamara the Tooth Fairy, Taylor the Talent Show Fairy, Teri the Trampolining Fairy, Thea the Thursday Fairy, Tia the Tulip Fairy, Tiana the Toy Fairy, Tilly the Teacher Fairy, Trixie the Halloween Fairy (September 11)

Round 28: Tyra the Dress Designer Fairy, Una the Concert Fairy, Vanessa the Dance Steps Fairy, Victoria the Violin Fairy, Violet the Painting Fairy, Whitney the Whale Fairy, Willow the Wednesday Fairy, Yasmeen the Canoeing Fairy, Yasmin the Night Owl Fairy, Zadie the Sewing Fairy (September 12)

Round 29: Zainab the Squishy Toy Fairy, Zara the Starlight Fairy, Zoe the Skating Fairy (September 13)

#rainbow magic fairy fight #rainbow magic fairies

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natreads · 4 months

Text

2023 reading wrap up

I read 45 books this year, including one for work. I don't typically include those but I was working with the translation of a book and so it had technically already come out so I decided to put it on Goodreads. I have however not included it in this wrapup, so there's only 44 of them here.

Classics (8) 1 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 2 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 - ⭐⭐⭐

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (reread) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin (queer, reread) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans (e, childrens) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Grey Woman by Elizabeth Gaskell (au) ⭐⭐⭐

Play It as It Lays by Joan Didion (modern) ⭐⭐⭐

The House of Hunger by Dambudzo Marechera ⭐⭐⭐

Slow Days, Fast Company by Eve Babitz (modern) ⭐⭐⭐

Teleny by Anonymous (queer) ⭐⭐⭐

Poetry (4) 1 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 2 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1 - ⭐⭐⭐

Dancing in Odessa by Ilya Kaminsky (e) ⭐⭐⭐

Closer Baby Closer by Savannah Brown (e) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Carrying by Ada Limón (au/ph) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Things You May Find Hidden In My Ear by Mosab Abu Toha (e) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Romance (2) 1 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1 - ⭐⭐⭐

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn (au) ⭐⭐⭐

Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (reread, queer) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Non-fiction (10) 3 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 2 - ⭐⭐⭐

Letters to Camondo by Edmund De Waal ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Det är natten by Karolina Ramqvist (sv, e) ⭐⭐⭐

En bok av dagar by Patti Smith (tr) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

My Salinger Year by Joanna Rakoff ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Kind of Magic by Luke Edward Hall ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Blir du ledsen om jag dör? by Nicolas Lunabba (sv) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Krigsdagböcker by Astrid Lindgren (sv) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dagbok från 20-talet by Nicolas Lunabba (sv) ⭐⭐⭐

The Forster Cavafy Letters edited by Peter Jeffreys ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Greco Disco by Luke Edward Hall ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fantasy (1) 1 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (au, ph) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Contemporary (19) 1 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9 - ⭐⭐⭐

Big Swiss by Jen Beagin (queer, au) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kärlek i Seoul by Sang Young Park (queer, tr, au) ⭐⭐⭐

Andromeda by Therese Bohman (sv) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Min Far by Annie Ernaux (tr) ⭐⭐⭐

Göra sig kvitt Eddy Bellegueule Édouard Louis (queer, tr) ⭐⭐⭐

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami (au) ⭐⭐⭐

After Sappho by Selby Wynn Schwartz (queer) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Babetta by Nina Wähä (au, sv) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

My Policeman by Bethan Roberts (queer) ⭐⭐⭐

Rumple Buttercup by Matthew Gray Gubler (e, childrens) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Aftonland by Therese Bohman (sv) ⭐⭐⭐

Om uträkning av omfång 1 by Solvej Balle (tr, au) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Adventures of the Seven Christmas Cards by Anthony Horowitz (au) ⭐⭐⭐

Vinternoveller by Ingvild H. Rishøi (tr) ⭐⭐⭐

Heartstopper volume 5 by Alice Oseman (queer, YA) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Stargate by Ingvild H. Rishøi (tr, au) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

In the Absence of Men by Philippe Besson (queer, tr) ⭐⭐⭐

Saint Sebastian’s Abyss by Mark Haber (au) ⭐⭐⭐

Additional info and stats under the cut:

e = ebook au = audiobook ph = physical (only used when I alternated between the audiobook and the physical copy) tr = translated sv = originally in Swedish

Childrens - 2

YA - 1

Middle grade - 1

Graphic novel - 1

Modern classics - 2

Translated - 8 (Korean, English, French x3, Danish x1, Norwegian x2)

Swedish - 7

Audio - 12

E-book - 6

Rereads - 3

Queer - 8

5 stars - 7

4 stars - 18

3 stars - 19

Owned - 30 + bought 1 as e-book)

Unhauled after reading - 8

#nat talks #2023 reading wrap up #long post

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gaygryffindorgal · 5 months

Text

A Christmas Prince; The Royal Wedding

Chapter 1: Back to Alderly

Summary: It's been a year since Dawn helped Quincey keep his throne. Now the pair's wedding is fast approaching, but unrest is stirring both in Alderly and in the personal lives of our heroes...

A/N: The second installment in the movie trilogy makes even less sense plot-wise than the first but Annie and I wanted to try our hand in this anyway. I expect this one will be a little shorter than the first fic was, because I'm cutting the stupidest parts from the movie script entirely, lol.

Words: 3k

Characters:

Dawn and Evan Harvelle @potionboy3

Quincey, Olympia, and Isabella Alderly

Tess Brandon

Lainey Bell by @gcldensnitch

Beginning | Next Chapter

Want to read the first fic in the series, A Christmas Prince? Click here!

Chapter 1: Back to Alderly

Dawn’s Blog, December 15th

Post title: Big Event!

Dear all, It's been three hundred forty-nine days, eleven hours, twenty-three minutes, and seven seconds since I said “yes” to the love of my life, Quentin Christian Alexander, King of Alderly. But who's counting? Other than me and millions of people around the world. Needless to say, it's been a whirlwind year. There's been a lot of back and forth between Bristol and Alderly. The long-distance engagement hasn't always been easy, but it's always been interesting. Somehow through all this insanity, I'm still me. Even though I'm about to become royalty of a small country. Thank you for all your love and support this past year. Sharing my writing with all of you means more than you'll ever know. I promise to keep you posted on all my adventures to come, especially our wedding on Christmas day in Alderly.

“What’s with the sunglasses?” asked Evan Harvelle when he, Dawn, and Dawn’s aunt Teresa exited the airport.

“We’re in disguise, dad,” Dawn explained.

“You’d think that they would send someone to escort the future prince consort,” Evan mused quietly. The airport was bustling, as usual. Alderly’s tourism had seen unprecedented growth since Dawn and Quincey’s engagement announcement. Of course, there were also those that firmly opposed the marriage, but Dawn felt like nothing could dampen his spirits.

“I think they did,” said Tess, pointing towards a line of cars heading towards them.

“Oh, they’ve sent the royal motorcade,” said Dawn, surprised.

“Did you think they were going to make you take a taxi?” joked Tess.

“I mean we took one to the airport back in England so...”

The motorcade naturally drew people’s attention, and it wasn’t long until someone shouted: “Look, it’s Dawn Harvelle!” Several faces turned to look at them and Dawn and his family surely would have been swarmed, had the royal chauffeurs not managed to get to them and escort them to the car. As Dawn was about to get in, a reporter approached him through the crowd.

“Mr. Harvelle, any comment on the King’s new initiative? Will it affect the wedding?” she asked, thrusting her recording device towards Dawn. He had been prepared for this.

“I’m very happy to be back in Alderly,” he said. “And excited for the wedding, and Christmas of course.”

The reported didn’t look pleased with Dawn’s reply but before she could ask anything more, Dawn was ushered into the car.

“That was intense,” said Tess. She was already sat in the limo looking a bit hackled. Tess was Dawn’s mother’s sister and only five years older than him. Dawn had asked her to join them, since the two were quite close, especially since the passing of his mum.

“Are you okay?” asked Evan.

“Yeah…”

“What was that initiative that reporter was talking about?” his dad continued.

“I…” Dawn paused. “Actually, I don't know the details. I’ve been so busy I’ve barely managed to catch up with Quincey in weeks.”

“I can��t believe you’re going to be living in here,” said Tess, peering out the window.

“That makes two of us,” said Dawn.

“Three,” corrected Evan. “When you shipped off all your stuff here, it was one thing, but now…”

He looked a bit stricken and Dawn had to admit that his own chest felt suddenly tighter, too.

“Dad, I’m going to come visit Bristol all the time,” said Dawn. “And you can come here anytime you want. Remember, they’re making you a count or something.”

Every time Dawn thought about his father as a count, he felt the urge to giggle. Evan Harvelle was the most normal man in the world. Not to mention it would be infinitely amusing to have both Count Evan and Count Evander.

The motorcade weaved its way through the city. There was snow everywhere, because of course there was, and when the palace first showed up behind the snow-covered treetops, Tess actually audibly gasped.

“Not bad, huh?” asked Dawn.

“You’re so posh now,” she teased.

They all filed out and headed inside. Dawn was expecting to see a certain face among the welcome committee, but Quincey was conspicuously absent. Instead, he was greeted by Queen Isabella and Olympia, the latter of whom immediately wrapped him into a big hug.

“Dawn!” she exclaimed. “I’m so happy to see you again!”

Dawn hugged her back. “Damn right,” he said. “I missed you.”

Olympia let go of him and smiled.

“This is my dad, Evan,” said Dawn.

“Your majesty, your highness,” said Evan, only a little clumsily.

“And this is Tess, my aunt.”

Tess echoes his dad’s formalities.

“It’s nice to meet you both,” said Olympia and Queen Isabella nodded. She didn’t seem openly hostile, but Dawn could tell she wasn’t happy about how everything had turned out.

“Mr. Harvelle, welcome back to Alderly,” said the queen. “And I’m most pleased to meet you both.”

“And you,” Tess said with a smile. Isabella regarded her for a moment. Tess was dressed in her usual manner in a flowy, colourful dress and knee-high boots. It was quite the contrast to Isabella’s prim and proper pantsuit and immaculate bun. If Tess noticed the queen rating her outfit quite low on the scale of 0 to 10, she gave no indication.

Behind the royal family members was Dawn’s old friend, Miss Pince.

“Pince!” he said when the introductions were out of the way. “How are you? Has it been awfully boring here without me?”

“It has been quiet, Mr. Harvelle,” Pince replied, and it was quite evident she had vastly preferred it. “And I have been promoted to the head of Palace Office of Press and Protocol.”

“Oh, sweet,” said Dawn. He wasn’t exactly sure sweet was the right word, though.

“Come on, I’ll show you to your rooms,” Olympia said cheerily.

“That is hardly appropriate,” said Pince.

“Oh, Irma please, let it go,” said Olympia and headed towards the stairs. Pince sighed. Dawn, Evan and Tess followed the princess.

“See you all at the reception,” the queen called after them.

Dawn almost choked of laughter when Olympia announced loudly that he was to have the bridal suite until the wedding. He then also understood why Olympia had wanted to take him personally. They’d left his dad and Tess to settle into their own rooms.

“Pince did this on purpose,” said Dawn, more amused than anything.

“Oh Dawnie, it’s tradition, it’s protocol,” Olympia laughed.

“It’s very… frilly,” he noted. “And pink.”

“Nothing wrong with a little pink,” said Olympia, a known appreciator of pink.

“I love pink,” said Dawn, who didn’t really have a strong opinion for or against.

“I had hoped I could simply share a room with my fiancé.”

“That’s entirely impossible, and worst of all, common.”

“Where is he, by the way?” Dawn asked.

“He’s been busy with all kinds of kingly duties,” Olympia explained. “I’ve barely seen him, and I live with him.”

Dawn couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy with this new information.

“But I’ll let you settle in now, you must be exhausted,” Olympia said. “We must catch up as soon as possible though, I have so much to tell you.”

“Of course, thank you O.”

Once left alone, Dawn looked around the room. It looked straight out of one of those early 2000s animated Barbie movies. On one of the nightstands Dawn noticed a note, written on familiar hand. He took the paper and read:

“To my love, with all my heart.

From this day forth,

we shall not be apart.

Poetry can be a challenging art.

If not yet mastered, here's a start.”

He couldn’t help but laugh at the corny little poem, when a voice from the door behind him said: “It’s a limerick. Of sorts,” said Quincey.

Bad limericks be damned, Dawn all but ran to hug him.

“Sorry I wasn’t there to greet you,” said Quincey, hugging him back. “I had to finish my poem.”

“Next time, maybe you could forgo poetry and come greet me instead?” Dawn suggested.

“Hey,” Quincey protested. “It wasn’t that bad, was it?”

“Yes. It most definitely was.”

Quincey laughed and Dawn kissed his stupid face.

“I can’t believe this is finally happening,” Quincey said.

“You’re telling me,” Dawn laughed. “A year ago, I was working a shitty job in Bristol, worrying about writing an article about a ridiculous playboy prince.”

“Ridiculous, maybe,” Quincey mused. “Definitely not a playboy.”

“I guess that’s true–,”

Dawn’s sentence was cut short, when Quincey’s new equerry showed up at the door.

“Excuse me, Your Majesty,” she said.

“What is it, Lainey?” asked Quincey.

“An urgent call from the Minister for Economic Affairs and the Prime Minister,” the equerry said, eyeing the both of them. She seemed to be around the same age as Quincey, with her blonde hair up on a ponytail and a tablet in her hand.

Quincey sighed. “Can’t it wait?”

“I’m afraid they insist.”

Quincey turned back to Dawn. “I must take this. We'll have more time this evening at the reception.”

He kissed Dawn’s cheek quickly and followed Lainey out the door. Dawn sat on his bed and dug out his phone. He typed in a message to the group chat he had with his friends: just saw my husband-to-be for the first time in months for all of 5 minutes.

Not long after came a reply from Jimmy: abolish the monarchy.

Two hours later Dawn had unpacked his meager little bag (most of his other belongings had been handled earlier by palace employees) and gotten ready for the reception. It was to be a party of importance, with government officials and foreign ambassadors. The thought might have spooked Dawn once, but now he was slightly better prepared. He met up with Quincey before the double doors that lead to the banquet hall.

“Hi,” said Quincey in a low voice.

“Hi,” Dawn replied. Quincey offered his arm and Dawn took it.

“Ready for this?” asked Quincey.

“As I’ll ever be.”

The doors were opened, and the pair entered, with a herald calling out: “My lords, ladies, and gentlemen; King Quentin and the guest of honour; the future Prince Dawn!”

As they entered, at least fifty pairs of eyes turned to look, among them the prime minister but most of the faces completely unknown to Dawn. He hadn’t had any official duties as a royal spouse yet, as their circumstances were rather unusual, and Quincey’s advisors felt it was best to move slowly and respect traditions. Dawn didn’t want to cause any more trouble than he already had but he wasn’t sure how much tradition and protocol he was going to be able to handle without complaint.

“Oh wow, this is–,” he started but suddenly a man in an expensive looking suit and a serious look on his face appeared and whispered something to Quincey.

“Dawn, find Olympia, I’ll get away as soon as I can,” he said as the man whisked him away and Dawn was left standing alone in the middle of the room, feeling more awkward by the second. He was approached by several people with greetings and congratulations, he recognized the Minister of Internal Affairs, as well as Magister Malinda, but some he only pretended to recognize, as he had been advised to do.

“Mr. Harvelle, here,” said the queen’s voice to his left and Isabella introduced him to some more dignitaries, such as ambassadors from Penglia and a president of the Council of Women in Alderly.

“I should go save Quiney…” Dawn mused as he saw him still talking, or rather, arguing with the same man.

“Best, I think, to leave him to it,” said the queen.

“What’s going on?” asked Dawn.

“Nothing you need to concern yourself with,” Isabella simply said. “You should focus on the wedding. Most of it is well in hand but Quentin insisted we leave some breathing room for you, despite the short notice.”

And the Queen's objection, Dawn thought but only said: “Well, that’s nice."

He had pretty much resigned himself to having no say at all with the wedding.

“To that end, I have hired a wedding planner to help you.”

“What?”

“A wedding designer, Your Majesty, but yes,” a woman said, walking up to them.

Dawn recognized her. Rosa Yaxley, the girl who had been briefly engaged to Count Evander, Quincey’s throne-stealing cousin.

“You’re a wedding designer?” Dawn asked.

“Yes, and now I’m here to help,” she said, though Dawn couldn’t be sure if she was all too happy about this prospect. “I hope there’s no bad blood between us?”

Dawn looked from Rosa to the Queen and back again and then said with a note of humour in his voice: “Well, if her Majesty found it in her heart to forgive you, then I suppose so can I.”

Rosa smiled. “Glad to hear it Mr. Harvelle. We’ll get to work tomorrow.”

Dawn finally found Olympia, chatting with his dad of all people.

“Well Dawn and I call them meat jelly, they’re pretty gross,” Olympia was saying to Evan, who examined a suspicious looking block of meat that a passing waiter had offered to him.

“Don’t eat that, dad,” said Dawn.

“Thanks for the tip, kiddo,” Evan said and deposited the meat jelly on a nearby table.

“Oh, Dawn, I was just telling your father about how I’m part of organizing a charity event!”

“You are?”

“It’s a play,” Olympia continued. “The Tale of Princess Froon, an Alderlian folk tale. I was asked to play the titular role to draw in the high society crowd.”

“Oh my god,” said Dawn.

“Hey, it’s a beautiful tale,” said Olympia with a grin.

“Oh, I’m sure.”

“Anyway, all the proceeds will go to helping those affected by the current depression.”

Dawn had read the newspapers, of course, and knew of the rather terrible financial situation in Alderly. “That sounds pretty awesome,” he told Olympia.

“I’d sure like to see some Alderlian culture in play,” said Evan.

“You’re most heartily invited, Mr. Harvelle,” said Olympia.

“Isn’t this the one where Princess Froon gives Santa his magic powers?” asked Dawn. He remembered Quincey talking about it last year.

“Yes, just the one.”

“Oh, I can’t wait.”

A tap on his shoulder made Dawn turn around, ending up face to face with Miss Pince.

“In my new capacity as the head of Palace Office of Press and Protocol, I’d like to have a word with you.”

“Of course,” said Dawn. “See you later dad, Olympia.”

Olympia gave him a thumbs up, as Dawn followed Pince to a less crowded area.

Once they were safely out of earshot of any visiting dignitaries, Pince said: “It's clear that you've had a very laissez-faire attitude concerning your image over the past year; magazines, television, blogs…”

“Blogs, that's what I do for a living,” said Dawn. Ever since his successful article about Quincey, he had run a blog focused on his journey into learning all about Alderlian politics, customs, and of course, details about his own personal life all mixed into a neat little package. He was quite proud of it. “I’m a professional write–,”

Pince interrupted him: “But now that you're a part of the royal family, we must be careful of the image that you project. Consider me your protector.”

Dawn wasn’t a fan of where this conversation was headed. “Look, Miss Pince, I know that my life is about to change in a major way, but I’m not going to quit my job.”

“The goal is to see you and the crown in the best possible light.”

Dawn sighed, and said: “Well, nothing shines quite like the truth, right?”

“I'm glad we see eye-to-eye. Please wait here and I'll have the King and you pose for the photographs.”

After their photo-op, Quincey led Dawn out of one of the doors lining up the outer wall into a beautiful little courtyard.

“Irma didn’t give you too much trouble, did she?” he asked.

“Just wants me to delete my blog,” said Dawn.

“Yes, we’ve had words about that before,” Quincey said. “She’s just passionate about protecting the image of the royal family. She feels like it is needed now more than ever, when we’re already breaking about a dozen ancient customs just by being together.”

“I know,” said Dawn and took Quincey’s hands in his. “It’s important to project an image of continuity even through this massive change.”

“Yes.”

“Has it been difficult?” Dawn asked.

“Well, not everyone is as on board with a gay monarch as I had hoped but it was to be expected. I can’t change people’s decades held beliefs overnight, but I know I can make a change over time.”

“You’re doing a great job,” said Dawn.

Quincey smiled, but it was a tight smile. He was hiding something, but Dawn didn’t feel like pestering him about it tonight. He was exhausted too.

“You have a new equerry,” Dawn noted.

“Oh, yes, her name’s Lainey Bell,” Quincey replied. “We met in uni. She’s about the only thing keeping me afloat right now.”

Dawn gave him a look and Quincey laughed. “Aside from my everlasting love for you, of course.”

“We should get a Christmas tree up in here,” Dawn just said, observing the tree-less courtyard.

“Oh, a good idea!”

“We could go look for one tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow’s no good, I’m going to town to give a speech.”

“What kind of speech?” asked Dawn.

“Well, you know how I’ve been trying to implement the initiative to bring Alderly into the 21st century? Strengthening infrastructure, schools, tech…”

“It's smart.”

“That's what I thought but instead of strengthening the economy, the country is bleeding money,” Quincey explained. “And nobody can tell me why.”

Dawn frowned. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Do you know any genius economists?”

“I can’t say that I do.”

“I’m having a meeting on Friday, trying to figure this out. Something’s not right.”

“Can I come?”

“I would really appreciate it if you did.”

Dawn smiled and squeezed his hands. “We will figure this out.”

“I hope you’re right,” Quincey said. “But I also have a feeling like Irma and Miss Yaxley are going to keep you quite busy with the wedding preparations.”

“Oh, for cock’s sake…”

tag list: @lifeofkaze

(ask if you want to be included or removed)

#fic: the royal wedding #a christmas prince au #dawn harvelle #quincey alderly #dawncey #here we are girls and gays!!!#*my writing #yes dawn's blog is called 'dawn's blog'#*tess is FIVE years older than dawn NOT FOUR #i can't count

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