#but broadway I feel like has really improved some things | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

vallanoux · 4 months

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𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚. - 𝐀𝐂𝐓 𝟏, 𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐄 𝟒

ps: chapter 4! it's nearly 12 pages <3

The very next day, (name) walks out of her room, feeling groggy, but well-rested enough for another day. Similar to the night prior, she doesn’t let herself think too much about her situation, and rather focuses on the present. What she wished to be nothing more than just a made up dream was real. (name) (surname) really did get transmigrated into Hazbin Hotel after being killed by an insane fan.

A shiver crawls down her spine. (name) wraps her hands around herself and squeezes her forearms tight, “you can do this… just like always. You’re known to make the best improvisations when things go wrong on stage. This is- This is nothing different from a stage gone wrong, yeah?”

(name) forces herself to believe in what little confidence she has left, and knocks on Lucifer’s bedroom door. It takes him a while to respond.

“(name), is that you?” He calls, then, in a more hushed voice meant for only him to hear, he continues, “of course it would be… Who else would it be, you idiot?”

After turning into a.. bat human? Bat demon? Eh, not too sure, and not that it matters.. But.. all of (name)’s senses had improved far beyond that of an average human. What she normally wouldn’t have heard as a human, she could hear as clear as day.

“Yes, it’s me! You promised that you’d teach me more about my powers? Is it too early? I’ll go if you still want to be alone.”

“Teaching..? Powers..?” He confusedly mutters to himself. It takes him a while to realize what (name) was talking about. The brain fog that clogged his mind constantly deteriorated his memories, barely ever letting anything sit right and firm in his mind.

Then, the door bursts open, revealing the King of Hell bearing a bright grin on his face, “I remember!”

It broke (name)’s heart to see him happy over such a small thing as remembering. Under the stress of mental fatigue, day-to-day tasks that should have come by easily no longer did. The body, because of the mind, loses its innate ability to care for itself. With a hopeless overseer, what would push its dependents to work? Nothing. Nonetheless, she musters up an encouraging expression for Lucifer, “yes, you remembered. Thank you, Lucifer.”

Pleasantly surprised that (name) hadn’t questioned his poor memory, he excitedly grabs her hand and pulls her close. He uses his powers to teleport the both of them to the rooftop of his castle.

And, there it was again. Pressed up against him and so close to the crook of his neck, she smells it. The deliciously sweet scent of musk and cinnamon apple pie that would make anyone ravenous. Heat prods at the shell of her ears, painting them rosy in color.

When they arrived, the Broadway talent hurriedly got out of Lucifer’s grasp, “and here we are!”

“That must've been too close, sorry. I got a little too excited.” He dorkily rubs the back of his head. “It’s just been a while since I’ve gone flying––or taken anyone flying!”

“It happens.” (name) stares at the vast expanse of nothingness that stretches endlessly right outside of pentagram city. There was nothing but hard, sharp, rocky stones. “Is there really nothing out there?”

“Save for a few demons who try to find peace and quiet out there, not really. It’s not livable.” Lucifer explains. “Why, you want to go there?”

“Just curious, and... would you mind using some more of your magic? I’m only wearing a nightgown and it’s very, very chilly up here.” She shivers as a gust of wind blows past her. “And not to mention, a nightgown is very unideal for flight. I might flash people.”

Lucifer looked so disappointed in himself when (name) pointed both things out. He slumps and waves his apple scepter to change her outfit into something much more comfortable. “How could I forget again? There you go.”

“What matters is that you’ve actually done it when I asked,” she tilts her head and gives Lucifer a concerned expression. “You're giving yourself standards you’re bound to fail, and that’s healthy for no one. Not everyone can notice everything.”

“You’re right. It’s just that I used to be a lot more observant, is all.” He allows himself to remain downcast for a couple more seconds, then he lets himself brighten up if only just a bit. “It's because you're that much of an important guest to me. The first guest I’ve had in ages.”

“You’re already plenty good to me.” (name) lets her wings stretch out in the wind, enjoying the feeling of air slipping and gliding across her outstretched wings. “I’m satisfied, so you don’t have to worry about it in the future.”

The Broadway talent turns around and offers him a hand, “for now, teach me how to fly!”

Eagerly, he takes her hand and brings her right to the very edge of the castle’s pointed roof––it’s highest point. “The winds are a bit strong today. Maybe we shouldn’t learn this now? We can wait until the wind is steadier. What about we learn about your other powers instead?”

(name) lifts a hand and feels the strong breeze, “I’m new to this, so I have no clue what you’re talking about. But don’t they say it’s best to learn from difficulty? Pressure either makes or breaks you, and so far, I'd say it's made me.”

“You... have a point, but still, I'm worried. Though, you sound confident in yourself, so I'll trust you. You don’t mind if I touch your wings, right?” Lucifer maneuvers to her back.

“Nope, go ahead.” (name) shrugged.

“Well, these things tend to be very sensitive. Especially on the base.” His hands glide to the tips of (name)’s wings. He pats them down, keeping them neatly folded. “Don’t leave them open when you’re walking around, you’ll bump into things easily, and air resistance will make them feel heavier.”

She shivers at the sensation of his cool fingers tracing across her wings, fixing her posture. A purr rises up her throat, but she stops it right where it starts. She wouldn't allow herself to put on such an embarrassing display. I shouldn’t let anyone touch them freely in the future. That’s dangerous.

Unaware of the Broadway talent’s inner struggles, Lucifer continues on. “There are two ways to take off depending on where you need to fly from. Ground take offs require more effort, which is why we’ll learn them later. Taking off from higher grounds is easier since the winds are stronger. Stronger winds means you can catch them easily, and glide with them. It's common to start by jumping with your wings tucked, then when you feel enough wind pushing against you, you spread your wings wide to catch the wind. Since my wings are different from yours, I don’t know much about what happens after in the air. According to the texture of your wings, I'm sure to keep yourself flying, you'll have to flap them a lot more than me. My wings are good for gliding and long flights while yours are very agile and good for sharp turns."

“Woah, Professor Lucifer~” (name) teased him. “Getting into the zone, aren’t you? You're certainly very knowledgeable.”

Lucifer’s cheeks flush at her teasing. He giggles softly and averts his gaze, “well.. I used to teach the young ones how to fly way back when. They were very cute and fuzzy little things, like ducklings!”

“That’s very sweet of you,” (name) compliments. “Now I’m very confident that you won’t let anything bad happen to me. I’m in good hands.”

For some reason, at (name)'s bold statement, Lucifer’s disposition straightens, and his lighthearted tone irons to firmness, “trust me. Nothing will happen to you when I’m here.”

He falls into silence, so she takes the time to earnestly look into his eyes, and she sees that there’s something terribly wrong. A spark of a storm whirling in his eyes, that shined and for a brief moment, looked past (name) and everything behind her.

Before she could speak up on her concerns, he broke out of his inward dilemma and held out both hands for her to take, “take my hands, (name). I’ll show you how to fly.”

She takes his hands and looks at him, waiting for more instructions, “and?”

Lucifer lets his wings show, spreading from their furled state. “I’m going to create a gust of wind for you, and you try to catch it, okay?”

He flaps his wings and a strong gust of wind blows past her. (name) stretches her wings out, attempting to catch the wind as he said she would. It came by naturally to her, as if it was second nature. A bright grin breaks onto her lips, curling up and wide onto her features. Her eyes glinted with light, the brightest Lucifer had ever seen from her–– and dear, oh dear was it an addicting expression he wishes to see more often. Wishes to be the reason of.

“I’m doing it! I’m really doing it!” She cheers brightly, her now rounded, almost childlike (e/c) eyes held at attention with Lucifer's own yellow ones.

“Yes, yes you are.” He says with such tender endearment it makes (name) freeze.

She knew well enough to know that the endearment in his voice wasn’t directly addressed to her. Rather, to someone else he used to hold so dearly. Yet, to know that she made him feel such a glimpse of such a strong, positive emotion was enough to cause the small twinge of guilt in her chest to eat her alive.

As her focus was averted away from her wings, they were left open wide, blowing her back onto the roof and pulling Lucifer down along with her. Lucifer reacts quickly. He uses his wings and wraps them around (name) and himself tightly, securing her in a protective embrace. He also places his hand behind her head and presses her head to his chest to prevent any whiplash. Lucifer, bless his sweet soul, had secured her so well as that when impact hit, it felt completely painless to (name).

Still, from all the movement and spinning, her head spun in circles and made it so that it was hard to respond properly to Lucifer, whom immediately hoisted her up and began fussing over her, checking for injuries. He looked so frightened when he was checking her, as if he’d done something terribly, criminally wrong.

His eyes shift to the Broadway talent’s. His worry dies down, replaced by a little hint of anger and a lot of exasperation. He reaches to pinch her cheek and scolds her, “(name)? Why did you stop? That was a very dangerous thing for you to do! You don’t get distracted when you’re flying unless you want to fall and die, or at least experienced enough to recover from a nasty incident.”

He locks her gaze. (name), to her own regret, quips back before she could stop herself, “well, I wasn’t the only one who was distracted.”

Her eyes widen and she immediately apologizes, “sorry, I didn’t mean that at all.”

Rather than the angered response she was expecting, Lucifer looks downcast and forlorn. “You’re right. I was stuck reliving some memories I should’ve let go by now. You’re not––you’re not who I wished you were, and it’s wrong for me to treat you like someone else just because you’re similar. It must’ve been off-putting to have someone you hardly know stare at you like that.”

His gaze meets (name)’s again, “but that still doesn’t change that you almost hurt yourself, you know?”

“I know, Lucifer. I let it get to me a bit too much.” (name) admits. “I”m sorry, for the person you lost.. Whoever it was.”

Although I already know who and why... Heaven, Lilith, Eve... how could you do this to him?

“Thank you,” he mutters. “I appreciate it. More than you know.”

“Are you this nice to me because I remind you of that person? Because if that’s the case... It’d be hard accepting what isn’t mine.” Although (name) knew her words could completely stop all the good will she would be receiving from Lucifer, it was the right thing to do. She couldn’t bear the guilt of fooling someone so extraordinarily kind like Lucifer. Like I did before…

“No, I genuinely care for you, (name).” He shakes his head. “I care for you since you’re my… first friend in decades. We’re friends, right..?”

(name) couldn’t deny the hopeful shine in his eyes, “yes, my very first friend in Hell.”

Lucifer, at that point, was nothing but sparkles and rainbows. He gives a cheer and squishes her in a very, very tight hug whilst rubbing his cheek against (name)’s. So soft.. And so very squishy.

Taking her chance, she whispered into Lucifer’s ear, "as someone with issues letting go of the past, I get you. But don’t let it eat you alive. Don’t make that mistake. Because that's what.. Landed me here. At least, I’d assume so.”

For the first time in years, (name) lets the mask fall if only for a moment; the thin veil gone, and the performance was put on break. (name) never wanted to admit it, but her career as one of the most prestigious Broadway talents had devoured her whole. Took her heart, ate it on a silver platter, shit it out and forced it right back into her mouth for her to swallow and choke on in one endless, insufferable cycle. Most her life had been nothing but a comfortable lie.

The very next second, she finds herself laughing, because really, how ironic was it that the first time she chose to be honest wasn’t when she was alive, but rather dead in Hell, and to the King of Hell himself? Who, like her, was burdened far more by his past than he would ever show.

“I’m not laughing because it’s funny. More so that I haven’t been this honest in ages.” (name)'s laugh mellows down. “It’s a nice feeling.”

“I’m glad you feel as if I’m someone you can be honest around,” Lucifer mumbles gently as he pats her back. “I try not to think about it, but it ends up being a double-edged sword since I hardly remember anything.”

“I’m sorry,” (name) whispers back. There was nothing she herself could do to change the situation, or make it any better. All she can give is a well-natured, earnest wish. “I hope it gets better.”

“It just might,” he pulls away and steals a glance at (name). “Why don’t we move on and try flying practice again? Or are you feeling unwell after the fall?”

“No, you’re right. Let’s not sour the mood.” (name) tries to get up, but right before she does lift herself, she realizes that she was in a rather precarious position with Lucifer. “Um.. Lucifer?”

She steals a glance at his wings that were still tightly wrapped around her to give him a hint. It takes a while for Lucifer to realize, but once he does... the poor man combusts. His entire face was now a similar color to his natural red circular accents on his cheek. In (name)’s fair opinion, it was absolutely adorable to see him turn all red and blushy. Really, the cutest, most adorable sight.

(name) laughs at Lucifer, who looks like he’s on the verge of fainting from embarrassment. Her laughter probes him to unwrap his wings and scramble off of her. However, still a true gentleman by nature, he offers her a hand with his gaze turned away, too flustered to look directly at into her eyes.

She takes his hand with a grin as he helps her up, “let’s practice flying, shall we?”

She only holds his hand for a brief moment before letting go. She then rushes to the top of the roof, leaving Lucifer behind, and before he could stop her, she jumps off with a large, taunting grin on her face.

“Catch me if you can!” The Broadway talent calls as she dives off the tallest point of the castle, with her wings tucked in to increase the speed of her fall.

“(name)!” Lucifer was quick on his feet, immediatley rushing off the tower and jumping after her.

His wings furl around him, and he holds an outstretched hand to catch her. His eyes narrowed, brows knitted together and his smile pressed into a thin, almost downward line, solely focussed on saving (name). And, right before she would be pierced by a large, pointed rock that would have definitely made a skewer out of her, Lucifer swoops her into his arms.

“You’re seriously the most reckless person I know! Why would you do that?” Lucifer was reasonably extremely angered.

“Because no matter what, I knew you’d catch me.” She holds his gaze with more certainty and confidence than she’s ever worn her entire life.

What looked to Lucifer as a purely reckless decision on (name)’s part was instead a purely calculated move performed by the Broadway talent meant to create this very scene––meant to reinvigorate Lucifer’s faith in himself that he could indeed protect what was important.

Struggling to find it in himself to stay angry, the corners of his lips twitch upward, “I’ll catch you, always. No matter how many times you fall.”

The fruits of both Lucifer and (name)’s labor proved to be fruitful. After (name)’s “reckless” trust fall, as Lucifer called it, she was able to properly learn how to fly.

“I’m so proud of you! You’re a natural flier for sure,” Lucifer had a cute, dopey smile on his face that egged (name)’s urges to pinch his cheeks. She looks away to refrain herself from doing as such.

“What can I say? It must be my bat instincts kicking in.” She bites into the food plated right in front of her.

The pair, noticing that it had gotten quite late, returned to the castle for dinner. That day, from morning until late, had been filled with nothing but flying, obviously tiring out (name). On the other hand, Lucifer claimed to be completely full and surprisingly, energized.

“Demons don’t need to eat. I’m curious why you’re hungry, actually.” He gazes at her plate with interest. “But what you cooked definitely looks delicious.”

“Because it is delicious.” (name) proudly grins. “A recipe my friend shared with me back from Earth.”

“Ah, how wonderful,” he rests his chin on his hands, keeping his attention on me. “Do you also want to learn about your other powers today? Or another?”

“No, today is good. It’d be nice to get everything out of the way first. But.. How are we going to do that? Aren’t my powers just something I figure out along the way? I heard experiencing mentally stressful situations would urge someone to figure out their powers. That’s what the book said in the library!”

“The book isn’t wrong,” Lucifer nervously chuckles. “But it is oddly a very scary way to find out your own powers. Instead, I can just do it for you with my magic.”

“Wait, really? You can do that?” She looks at Lucifer with big eyes.

“(name), you seem to forget that it’s the King of Hell you’re talking to. Of course I can do it!” He crosses his arms and puffs his chest proudly.

You literally can’t blame me. You’re so dorky, so cute, so squishy, so mushy, so AAAA- (name) takes a deep breath to stop her inner dialogue and to mask her rather questionable thoughts, she stuffs her face with more of her own cooking.

“Well, you don’t exactly radiate that energy, do you? You’re very cute.”

“M- Me? I’m cute?”

“Totally.”

Lucifer takes off his hat and buries his face in it, letting out muffled whines, “you can’t say that to me!”

“But I can.” (name) leans in closer. “Cause you’re my friend now.”

“I regret it already.” He groans.

“Aww, no you love me.” She coos in return, which causes Lucifer to bury his head further into his hat. The poor snake that was wrapped around his hat slithered off, questioningly booping Lucifer to see if he was alright. “See? My point stands both here and in court.”

“Aghhh!” Lucifer slumps and completely goes still.

(name) looked at him with a raised brow, “you good?”

“Fine..” He manages to get out. He straightens his back and wears his hat again, finished recollecting himself. “Just give me your hand and I can already tell what type of magic you have.”

Thinking nothing of it, the Broadway talent reaches her hand over the table. What she least expected to happen, happened. Lucifer takes her hand and intertwined his fingers in between hers, pressed his palm against her own and gently squeezed her hand. He proceeds to pull her closer to himself.

“Two can play at this game.” He looks at me with a half lidded gaze, the edges of his lips curled up into a devious, taunting smirk.

“Oh, you devil.” (name) lifts up her other hand to hide her face and casts her glance aside.

“I quite literally am, amicus meus,” he giggles and he gives my hand another squeeze, which he proceeds to let go seconds after. “Okay, I know your powers now.”

“Really? You weren’t.. completely messing around?” (name) lifts her gaze cautiously, afraid she’d be duped again.

“Really. And by the looks of it, you have interesting powers! Much like that of a demon.. So it almost makes me wonder more than anything else how you even have divinity in you in the first place. And it’s even more curious that you don’t know the answer-”

(name) finds Lucifer’s tendency to ramble extremely endearing. She waits until he finishes before she says her piece, “I know, it’s a little weird. Though, could you tell me about my powers, please? I’m curious”

“Oh, right! That! So, to sum it up, you should have all the powers of a bat. Like echo-location, night vision and the like. I’m also quite surprised to see this since most demons don’t have magic, but you do. Get well acquainted with shadows, (name). I’m certain you won’t regret it.”

“Shadows?” (name) curiously tilts her head.

“It seems to me that you can hide in them and communicate? I’m not quite sure how the latter half works since shadows aren’t sentient, but I’m sure you’ll figure that bit out by yourself. You’re a smart person.” Lucifer gives an expectant smile. “Yeah, I’ll figure it out. Thanks Lucifer.” (name) nods her head in understanding.

She finishes the last bits of food and takes the emptied plate. Lucifer gives her a questioning look, “what are you doing?”

“Cleaning the plate..?”

“I can just do that with magic.”

“Oh.” She sets the place down. “Then could you please..?”

“Sure thing.” With a wave of his adorable apple scepter, the plate is now out of sight. He taps the table and he straightens up as a new thought pops up in his head, “we should get you some clothes, (name)! Let’s go shopping tomorrow?”

“And with what money?” The Broadway talent raises a brow, giving Lucifer an odd look.

“My money! Again, being friends with the King of Hell has its benefits~” he says in a sing-song tone of voice as he flashes me another charming smirk. “I have wealth and connections.”

“If you say so,” (name) returns an exasperated but grateful glance. “I’ll go test out my powers now, so I’ll see you next thing in the morning?”

“Yep, I’ll just jot it down so I remember.” Lucifer approaches her and looks at her expectantly.

“Yes?” (name) raises a brow.

“A goodnight hug.” Lucifer goes on his tiptoes and pulls (name) into a tight, warm hug. “From a friend, to a friend.”

She buries her face in the crook of his neck and gives him a quick tight squeeze before pulling away. I could never get used to your warmth, Lucifer. But it means more to me than you’ll ever know.

“Yes, from a friend to a friend.”

11.7 pages

4,094 words

status: edited

Notes:

i don't know why, but i sort of headcannon luci speaking latin? also GUYSSS LUCI KNOWS HE'S HOTTTT!!! LOOK AT THIS SHOT FROM EP. 8!!!

next chapter is luci's pov

#lucifer magne x reader #hazbin x reader #alastor x reader #alastor x reader x lucifer #hazbin hotel #lucifer magne #alastor #radio demon #lucifer morningstar #lucifer morningstar x reader

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hopefuloverfury · 8 months

Note

I always get so sad when I think about the bachelors and bachelorttes not being able to achieve their dreams :( so how do you think the game would be different if they had? like before they meet the farmer? (i love your writing by the way,,,)

While I was thinking about this, the main question in my head was “Why would any of them still be in Pelican Town if they achieved their dreams?” Sooo I had to put them through some bullshit to get them all in one place lmao. Thank you for enjoying my writing, it means... way more than any of you probably realize. Anyway, this was fun to think about, and I hope you have fun reading it! <3

Mentions of parental death, abuse, infidelity, dysfunctional familial relationships, and reference to Leah’s shitty ex (FUCK YOU, KEL!)

Sam was the lead singer of his own band, but is now struggling to find his new normal after the members decided to go their separate ways. It certainly doesn’t help that they ended on negative terms, and their fanbase has become fractured due to the controversy surrounding the break-up. Sam has come back to Pelican Town to spend time with his family and figure out which direction he wants to take his career, but his band-mates said ill-intended things about him before they broke up, and he’s struggling to make amends with his perception of himself. He tries to write new songs, but he isn’t liking anything he’s come up with, and it’s reflecting poorly on his self-esteem. He wonders if his fans will still be there waiting once he’s ready to release his solo-music, and is paralyzed with fear about what will happen to him and his career if they aren’t.

Sebastian is a professional coder. He saved up enough money to move away as soon as he turned eighteen, and has only visited for holidays since. He was previously engaged while living in the city, but after his fiancé cheated on him with a coworker, he returned to Pelican Town to pick up the pieces of his heart. During his time away he managed to check himself into therapy, so he’s well-equipped to handle conflicts with his family, and his relationship with his mother and sister have improved dramatically since, which is really nice. He is trying his best to pursue a healthier relationship with Demetrius, but the man really doesn’t make it easy. Robin also added an extension to the house, so he doesn’t live in the basement anymore. His room has a window now, but he still prefers the rain, and discovers with surprise that he likes the rain in Pelican Town more than he ever did in the city. It’s nice to see the frogs again.

Alex is a professional gridball player. His mother passed away before she could see him achieve his dreams, but his father has contacted him many times. Alex knows his father doesn’t actually want a relationship with him, though, because the only times he’s contacted him is to ask for money. Alex blocks his dad’s number after catching sight of him on the news, trying to drag Alex's name through the mud, but eventually moves away when his dad breaks into his apartment and wrecks the place. He settles back into his bedroom at Evelyn and George’s house, and tries not to feel too drained by the legal proceedings. It’s pretty relaxing though, going back home during his off-season. Not to mention he really missed the summers in Pelican Town.

Elliott is a reputable author. He’s written a trilogy or two, a smattering of stand-alone novels, and even has a few broadway credits. But after years of constantly writing, he’s burnt out and tired, and needs a break, so he moves out of his stuffy apartment in the city and into the cabin on the beach. He commissions Robin for expansions and repairs, and it’s turned into quite a nice place, if he should be so bold to say so. He talks to Willy a lot, and after hearing the stories the fisherman has collected over the years, he kind of wants to write a book about pirates or some other kind of adventurer, but nothing is coming to mind. He’s got an excess of inspiration and drive, but the moment his pen hits the paper, his mind goes blank. It’s incredibly irritating.

Shane is one of the most notable film directors of the last decade, and he’s got quite a number of credits under his belt. His IMDb page is massive, and while he doesn’t get recognized on the street very often, anyone who knows anything about film will know his name. He moved to Pelican Town with Jas after the death of her parents. Riddled with grief, he had the presence of mind to recognize some bad habits were developing, and he couldn’t really handle the pressure of celebrity life anymore. He drinks occasionally, but he doesn’t consider himself an alcoholic. He only drinks a few times a week—and compared to his colleagues in the city—that’s nothing.

Harvey is an experienced pilot. He initially wanted to join the Ferngill Republic Air Force, but after many discussions with his parents, he decided to pursue an ATP certification and become an airline pilot instead. However, due to the recent trauma of a severe crash, Harvey is taking a break from flying. He’s become intensely afraid of heights, and the thought of getting in a plane makes him physically sick to his stomach. He’s been working on it, but it’s already been a year, and he’s not any closer to being back in the pilot’s chair. What’s wrong with him?

Maru went to university to pursue a career in STEM, but was quickly disillusioned and decided it wasn’t for her, so she decided to switch gears and abandon her dream school. Robin understood after a short explanation and told her to come back home, but Maru’s relationship with her father has become strained since, and even though they regularly experiment in the lab together, it causes some unnecessary drama in the household. Maru tries not to let it get to her too much, but it does. More positively though, her relationship with Sebastian has improved since they both came home, and they can actually hold a conversation without getting irritated at each other. She likes hanging out with her brother, but wishes that they could've gotten along like this as kids, too. They have a lot of years to catch up on!

Penny was a stay-at-home-mom up until a few months ago, when her partner suddenly decided domestic life wasn’t for them, and yanked the rug out from under her. With nowhere to go and no employment, she trudged back to Pelican Town with her tail between her legs and a toddler on her hip, to move back in with her mother. She teaches Vincent and Jas regularly, and works as a private tutor for a few clients in the town over. Pam chose to take on the majority of childcare for her grandchild, but she’s excelling at it and hasn’t stepped foot in the saloon in a long time. It should be a great thing, but Penny doesn’t know why she’s so bothered by it.

Abigail is an active member of the adventurer’s guild, a highly skilled swordswoman, and she will occasionally dabble with the magical forces of Stardew Valley under the careful guidance of her mentor, Rasmodius. Yes, she knows. No, she doesn’t mention it, and neither does he. She doesn’t live with her parents anymore. When she was looking to move out, she asked to buy the deed to the old farm, but was quickly shot down by Lewis, and decided instead to claim the decrepit cabin south of Rasmodius’ tower. Robin helped her fix it up, and after a few months, it was in good enough repair to move in permanently. She spends most of her days down in the mines, clearing the monsters on the lower floors. She’s never gone past level 20, if only to save herself from her mother’s tearful begging, but Pierre has given up. They don’t speak much.

Haley is a prolific photographer. Her portfolio is hefty, some photos dating back from when she was in high school, but the most recent picture is from three months ago, and she hasn’t picked up her camera since. She doesn’t know why, but nothing looks interesting enough to shoot anymore. The world looks flat and dull, but maybe that’s just the city. When her parents ask her and her sister to watch their house in Pelican Town while they galavant through the archipelago on some “soul-searching-journey,” she accepts without preamble. Maybe she just needs a change of scenery to get her inspiration back. Maybe she’ll find her muse?

Leah is a revered artist, and many of her pieces are in museums and art galleries. She tries to live in the city, but quickly realizes that she hates it, and after a few misses, she moves to Pelican Town. The lush flora and fauna kick her inspiration into overdrive, and with the amount of foraged greens she’s been eating since moving into the cabin next to Marnie’s, she doesn’t think she’s ever felt so good. Unfortunately her ex Kel is determined to sniff her out, and that puts a damper on her shiny new life in Pelican Town. She wishes it was because they actually loved her, but she knows it’s only because they miss the luxurious life Leah’s job afforded them. She tries not to think too hard about that, though.

Emily is a fashion designer! She’s had plenty of shows during different fashion weeks and other events, and many name-brands have collaborated with her. She does do stylist work on the side, and many of her clients are a-list celebrities or high profile professionals. She prefers the countryside, though, so when her parents offered her and her sister their place in Pelican Town, she jumped at the opportunity! Only thing is, it’s been years since her and Haley have occupied the same space, and every resident in town has a dark cloud of thick negative energy hovering over their heads. She’s overwhelmed with guilt, knowing she can’t do anything to help.

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winterzz7 · 2 months

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hi winter whats up how are u :))

this is a free yap pass. just in case u needed an invitation to yap about something

if theres anything on ur mind or any ideas or plans or…really anything!! hope ur doing okay :,)

- ash

i am very sick </3 eughghhutghjbdfghjbdfg im a victim of my family's monthly round of passing off the sickness to each other.

omg i get to yap omg jdfgjkndf

okay so like im just gonna yap about random shit because ive been given an opportunity :3

so first of all my last club volleyball tournament of the season is this weekend and im like half excited half done with this shit, we have sucked all season and a lot of people have had very little improvement. i set so i get to deal with their shitty passes and them rocketing my sets out of the court </3 honestly i wish i had tried out as a different position because at the club i play for there is SO MUCH competition for setters. like im not TERRIBLE im just not as good as some of the other setters. like i pass and hit better than a lot of my teammates which is concerning as i do neither of those things often (I DID GET A KILL LAST TOURNAMENT THO CUZ SOMEONE ELSE GOT SECOND HIT AND SET ME UP) but just like udufhdfhuidfbhj idk i love my teammates but good god sometimes. ALSO the city we play in has a broadway theater and the last time we stayed there you could see it from our airbnb it was so cool!!! but the last time we did play there i got rlly sick and didnt play for one of the days cuz i was vomiting <3.

anyways onto something else cuz no one wants to hear about my volleyball stuff

oh ive been reading alexander hamilton (ron chernow) and i love it uurugghgh I EVEN TALKED TO MY EYE DOCTOR ABOUT IT WHEN I WENT LAST WEEK SJKAGKB but im a sort of slow reader and im like halfway done after maybe 2 months... but honestly im more just trying to enjoy reading it rather than reading it fast just to say i did yk?? but its silly and i love like seeing where lmm got his ideas and like thinking about what song the part im reading might have been based on!! grammarly is yelling at me rn help anyways i just aagghkhk

CROCHET. im like convulsing i need to unleash the inner grandma and get mountains of yarn NOW. it makes me feel cool and like before i got to learn i had always wanted to learn and even tried finger crochet before. but like im double jointed and my fingers pop out of place sometimes... so holding the yarn gets a little awkward

yapping done :3

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authenticparanoidghosts · 4 months

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hey, found your blog by accident. i see that you have many opinions on chess. what are your thoughts on freddie's arc in the obc? ngl, i kind of love that he never improves. he's a hysteric diva to the end. i think that's so fun but it's also so interesting how he gets a weird sort of redemption arc in every single revival i've read the summary of lol. florence vassy you just haven't got the instincts of a winner!!!!!!!!!!

okay first of all we need to understand two things. 1) I received a CD of the original concept album for christmas, which I promptly loaded into my car's CD player, and 2) it took me a really long time to guess what OBC might stand for. I'm still not totally convinced it isn't Original British Concert, but enough about Chess in Concert! enough, I say! I don't care what Tim Rice said in 2009, Chess in Concert is the coward's way out!

Original Broadway Cast Freddie is a great Freddie because he sucks so bad. it is so important that Freddie sucks. it is, I would argue, fundamental to his character that he sucks like crazy and is generally unpleasant to be around. Broadway Freddie is so weird and dramatic and pathetic. he throws a big fit about the yogurt, he ditches Mountain Duet to do One Night in Bangkok, he's Walter's babygirl who is so so easy to manipulate. they don't let him in on the big plot to get Anatoly back to Russia, they don't even let him win at chess on his own merits!! Anatoly has to outright throw the match for Freddie to finally become world champion, which I find a very funny choice for the American version of the musical.

within the swirling multiverse of Whatever Chess Is Supposed To Be, I like Freddie a lot. I like when he acts weird and bad, because the point of him is to be a flawed human being whose faults reflect on himself rather than the material success of his country/capitalist ideology. Freddie gets to be annoying and misogynistic and hurtful and childish all out in the open because he is Anatoly's mirror, because Anatoly is not a paragon of Russian ideology/communist superiority, he is also just some guy who sucks and is hurtful and misogynistic and childish. Anatoly fighting for his right to be judged as an individual invites this comparison by default - as rivals, they are the only truly "equal" characters in the story - so when Anatoly becomes a man who is not the Representative of Everything Russian, it makes the viewer aware that Freddie is not just a boiled down extraction of what it means to be American. and therefore, when Freddie does something lame and bad, we know this is because he is lame and bad as an individual, and that Anatoly is also lame and bad on his own merits.

I don't think Freddie needs a redemption ("redemption" or maybe, like, "minor improvement") arc to be an interesting character, so I don't feel like I'm missing anything from the Broadway version of him where he doesn't really grow or change as a person. the MOST important thing about Freddie is his positioning relative to Anatoly (men will hurt every woman who comes into their life because their real [NARRATIVE PARALLEL] is another man), so as long as that's interesting, I'm having a great time. in the original Broadway production Freddie is unaltered by the events of the plot, and therefore Anatoly is pulled, magnetically, back to his starting position. the board resets, same as it ever was, with Anatoly back in Russia, Freddie chasing fame as the American champion, and Florence alone, with nobody on her side.

#me on my Anatoly Is A Bad Person grind. lmao.#I DIDN'T GET THIS NOTIFICATION ON MOBILE! HOPE YOU'RE STILL AROUND!#anyway #ask #Chess the Musical #this is not to say I don't like when Freddie gets character growth! I'm an inveterate Talking Chess stan and I'll die on that hill

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sweepseven · 1 month

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Cirque du Soleil Bazzar review

Happy 24th Cirque show and 60th (!!) performance to me! I did not specifically plan to see Bazzar this year, but as these things weirdly tend to for me, it worked out anyway. I had been interested to see this show for some time, though not for my usual reasons: I was very taken by its development but distinctly disinterested in the show itself. There were some acts I was keen to see but nothing about the theme, costumes, or music ever really grabbed or even attracted me. But I was very drawn to the story of its unexpected post-pan revival: it did well where intended (smaller Asian audiences), and then it seemed to surge even further, potentially beyond anywhere Cirque initially expected. Good for the show, but... is it good for Cirque?

I am extremely glad I saw Bazzar, not because it rocked my world, but because I feel like Cirque has tipped its hand in a very weird way with this one. For the very first time I felt like the Cirque du Soleil brand actively harmed its own show. For the very first time I thought a tent show actually belonged anywhere but under a tent. And as with most shows that generate the densest reviews from me (and this one is dense), there were so many glaring areas for improvement that I want to take the entire creative team, shake them by the shoulders, and demand "why did you half-ass something with so much potential??"

But we know why. No one expected this show to see much of the world beyond Asia. This was their fun, low-cost experiment for small international markets. But suddenly Cirque is exiting the pandemic with a viciously public bankruptcy. Suddenly they have to face a stunning track record of recent failures (Paramour, RUN, Axel, Nysa's utter failure to launch). The only thing new on the docket is a disaster of a show in development that the pandemic probably did a favor to by ensuring it was scrapped and rebuilt (Under the Same Sky).

But they had Bazzar. And it was doing well. So off it goes on a traditional Grand Chapiteau tour whether one suits it or not.

Did I have fun at Bazzar? Categorically yes. This is a bright, energetic, honest show with stunning and unique acts deserving of very high praise. I smiled the whole time. But will this review focus more on what Bazzar reveals about Cirque as we know it today? Also yes. I'll include an act by act breakdown as usual, but not before we take a painfully close look at everything else, beginning with four key observations:

Bazzar does not belong under a Grand Chapiteau.

I want to be very clear that this is not the fault of the show. This is Cirque's misstep. They developed a smaller show meant to be presented under a smaller tent, then repackaged it inside a traditional GC and thought the audience wouldn't know the difference. We did. I knew it from the moment I noticed there were no spotlight operators ascending the pylons just before the top of the show. Simply put, Bazzar does not utilize its space. There is not an act, a moment, a set piece, or an interlude (there are actually basically no interludes at all - more on that later) that necessitates a 270 degree view. Every part of this show could be presented in a traditional theater.

And it would do so well in one. That's where this fucking gets me. Bazzar would work tremendously well touring in traditional theaters, and Cirque has never tried it before. I could see this show at the New Victory Theatre on Broadway so clearly it hurts. Bazzar has the spirit of a show that makes an impact in 72, maybe 96 hours and then moves on to the next stop arena-style, but without the gaping chasm of an arena format. It is an intimate show, it does embrace its audience. So why hasn't Cirque given Bazzar a single act that takes advantage of the space it's granted? It has aerial straps, but we don't want to fly the artist over the audience? It has slackline, but we don't want to do any sort of creative rigging? It has a huge emphasis on dance, but we don't want to bring that into the aisles even once?? Why are we here, people??

The truth is we don't need to be. We do not need to be in this tent. And it is immensely difficult for a show to capture the hearts of a 2,600+ seat tent when it was never designed to do so. We are better off with a traditional straight-on view and an orch/mezz/balc setup that will let the intent and staging of the show shine.

Bazzar would do well to distance itself from its parent company's name.

Bazzar does this really weird and uncomfortable thing where it reminds you like ten times over that you're at Cirque du Soleil. You're actually directed by the Maestro to respond "wowwwwww" whenever they say "Cirque du Soleil." Which is often.

But very little about the show says "Cirque" besides the tent and the acrobatics. I actually feel strongly that this show could have been put on - and to even better effect - by a company like Cirque Mechanics. They are small, scrappy, innovative as hell, and guess what! They tour traditional theaters!! They produce infectiously magical shows that marry movement and structure - they would be a splendid match for the spirit and content of Bazzar. Instead Cirque falls over itself in the effort of reminding you that you're at one of their shows, which ultimately evokes a response of "...aight." We know. We paid the ticket price. No one cares. It's strange and fourth wall breaking. Let Bazzar be Bazzar, which it is very good at doing. If you have to insist on your brand this overtly, maybe it's time to ask yourself whether your brand speaks for itself at all anymore.

Bazzar betrays a careless development.

I saw the "someone takes the magic hat" show. It was called Quidam and it ruined my life. I saw the "conductor-like entity passes the torch" show. It was called Kooza and it ruined my life. I saw the "zany shit happens in a zany world" show. It was called Kurios and it didn't ruin my life, but god was it fun and memorable as hell. So again I ask Cirque, what are we doing here??

Bazzar could have been the "Fantasia" of CdS. Music made movement. It even says so right in the beginning (in English, I might add, so there is no missing it): "Everything is music." This is a unique and potentially beautiful theme. And there are moments in the show where it's illustrated quite vividly, usually in the form of the Maestro conducting the audience, who were more than willing to participate.

But I challenge someone on the creative team to tell me what any of the acts do to service this theme. The big emphasis on dance is an excellent value add, but apart from that and an excellent showcasing of the band, there is nothing that screams "music matters." There is only a confused "broken hat" throughline so pointless that it weakens both plot and theme at the same time. It is shocking to me that at no point during development did someone ask "what are we even doing with this hat."

(Conspiracy theory: they did ask. They asked and then they realized a broken baton would be 10x more meaningful to a conductor than a hat. But then they remembered that not only was Kooza the "pass the torch" show, it was also the "haywire baton" show. So. Better to retread the ground of three shows rather than the same show twice over, I guess.)

The best thing Bazzar could do is abandon all hints at a plot entirely. We don't need one. Sometimes the show just is "guy conducts" and that's perfect. Look at Corteo - "guy dies." Look at Zed - "guy explores." Look at Dralion - "there's elements." All fantastic, evocative shows. Instead Bazzar trips along in its effort to replicate Kurios' magic with none of the commitment to setting or theme. But hey, at least you know you're at Cirque du Soleil, right? ("Wowwwwww.")

Ultimately, Bazzar has solidified my belief that Cirque is closing in on ten straight years of unremarkable original shows.

I want to emphasize "original" here - I consider Alegria IANL a remake (and you know I think it's a work of art), and I consider Drawn to Life a collaboration (and you know I think it's adorable). Apart from those, it's time to admit that Cirque has been all emotional and thematic misses since Luzia. Believe me when I say I take absolutely no pleasure in this realization. But something about seeing Bazzar made me sit back and think, "Shit. The good old days really are behind us."

I watched this show and felt genuinely sorry for the people next to me that didn't return after intermission. They told me it was their first ever show. What if we'd been at Varekai instead? Would they have made it through? Would it have made lifelong fans out of them? And what about newer fans who came to Cirque even too recently to enjoy the Dragone arena era? They are here just in time to witness spectacular shows like LOVE close and yet may never understand the true depth this company is capable of delivering. More than fun, more than escapism, but true works of art that challenged emotion and left you a changed person when you exited the tent.

Fun and escapism are great. But tons of companies do that, and Cirque was so much more for a very, very long time. I am running out of ways to communicate that without sounding dismayed for newer fans or diminishing the enjoyment they derive from what shows they are able to see live. I can only encourage them to seek out IANL, Corteo, or Luzia (or if life takes them to Vegas - Mystere, O, or Ka). That is what we used to have. That was the standard and expectation, all of the time. That is what you deserve.

Anyway. Writing all this bummed me out. I really did have fun at Bazzar, too. I'm just so exhausted by the bar being set at "fun" and "neat" and "silly," both by the company and newer audiences. That actually isn't good enough. Your time, emotion, and money (especially at this price point) are worth so, so much more.

Act by act time ig. Actual placement of non-act elements might be a little out of order.

Preshow - Maestro and band collaborate in physically playing with beats (think imaginary ball dribbles and tosses to bass hits). Right away you can see that the Maestro is an excellent and infectious physical actor.

Opening - "Everything is music." I'll tell you what the fuck is music - the musician on tenor sax absolutely ripping it at center stage. Such high energy, and even the dancing and general acrobatics behind him couldn't pull focus. He was one of the highlights of the entire show - if it wasn't percussion and it wasn't keyboards, it was him. What a talent and what a powerhouse.

Unfortunately the singer was out tonight, so I didn't get to see her live. While I don't think her character would have done much to enhance the overall show, it did diminish the effect of the theme. "Everything is music... anyway here's a three piece band and some pre-recorded vocals." Bad luck.

Teeterboard - A relatively quick three-man act. Fun and high energy but otherwise pretty unremarkable.

Roller skating - Now we're talking. I was really really happy to see a roller skating act that leaned on some truly technically difficult tricks instead of the usual flashy ones. They had flash too, don't get me wrong, but I think this was particularly well balanced for a roller skating act.

Aerial straps - YES. SIR. I didn't know this show had aerial straps so I originally thought it might be in rotation for something, but about a minute in that theory was quickly refuted. I've never seen a man perform such a bendy straps act. He was a fantastic front bender, ridiculously strong, beautiful lines, and completely daring. This was a highlight of the night.

Acrobatic bicycle - This was cute and had the length of an act but somehow still felt like a bridge rather than a full act in its own right. It's hard to describe - the artist couldn't have had more fun, his stage presence was infectious, but I kept expecting it to end earlier than it did.

Mallakhamb - I was most excited to see this. I haven't seen anyone perform this act live since like.... 2016, and certainly never in Cirque. It wholly delivered. The success of this act alone should spur Cirque to seek out more unique, global disciplines. What a fantastic choice to feature a discipline straight out of the show's origin country. The four dancers (Pink, Yellow, Purple, and Red for this act) did a ton to heighten the energy, too.

Duo trapeze - This act at first made me think "Totem's Lovebirds Lite." It started out cute but a bit unpolished, and I think we could have gotten more emotional connection had the music stood out more. They really kicked it up at the end with some fun drops and a twisting of the trapeze you rarely see in static, much less duo. I really liked it in the end.

Vertical rope - D A M N. This artist absolutely killed it. Fierce, dynamic, and unrelenting. Press kit tells me this character is called the Floating Woman, but she was called what sounded like Rochambeau several times by the Maestro, particularly when she took off with the hat or broke it or whatever she did (or maybe she just took it and Mini Maestro later broke it... I promise you it does not matter either way). Since she was already established as a key enough character to name and to serve as a forward mover of our pointless plot, I admit I did expect this act to do more narrative work. Instead it's just her performing, which she does beautifully, but it doesn't add anything to the broader story in the way you might hope or expect given the way she was previously established. Regardless this was one of my favorite acts of the entire evening.

Slackline - Big fun. Happy to see another unique act for a touring show. The audience went wild for him.

Cyr wheel - This act was performed by someone that somewhat resembled Rochambeau rather than Mini Maestro, whom I understand used to perform it a while ago. Now it seems this act is in rotation but I can't for the life of me figure out what it was in for. Again, this act was solid but not really doing anything different from what we've seen before. But maybe my cyr opinions are forever tarnished after seeing Ghislain in Alegria so recently.

Hand to hand - Okay this one actually made me kind of angry. This act is doing something. There is real chemistry, there is excellent choreography, there are all the trappings of an act accomplishing something other than "looking cool." But not only does Bazzar outright refuse to let its acts have any meaningful impact on the show, it's given these three artists some of the worst wigs I've seen in all my Cirque days. I wanted this act to teach Ovo a thing or two. Hell, I wanted it to teach Alegria a thing or two. It's genuinely better than both! It screamed wasted potential and while I enjoyed it, I found myself aggravated on behalf of the artists. It felt like watching them get short-changed.

Fire - Fave of the night. Holy hell. The music alone. I'll get more into the music overall in a sec, but this was one of the few songs that stood out to me as distinctly unique from the rest of the soundtrack. We did have one drop but who the fuck caaaares, this guy absolutely rocked it. More often in Cirque you see this type of act performed specifically as "fire knife dance" with a tangible emphasis on the discipline's Polynesian origins. While it's clear that influence and training are present here, this act seemed to favor inspiration from the rave scene and flow arts. The music had a clear EDM edge to match, which of course I adored. Can't say enough good things about the entire experience of this act.

Finale/hair hang/juggling/hoops/cyr wheel (again?) - It seems like the finale was going for a charivari-style energy, but unfortunately it doesn't have the impact it could. Charivari makes a great opening in Kooza because it welcomes you into the thematic energy of the show. It also makes a fantastic finale for Zed, where it calls back to every single feat you saw up until the very end. Here we instead see some really cool stuff, but they're totally disconnected from the rest of the show and sharing the stage between so many disciplines robs the audience of a moment to appreciate any of them in full. The only un-disconnected moment was cyr wheel, but only because we'd already seen it, and at this point it feels even weirder because you're looking at the same thing twice when everything else onstage at the moment is new. It's just poor execution.

The show ends with the hat finally being fixed, which of course doesn't matter because the hat never had any impact on the world. Maestro hands it off to Mini Maestro, whom until this moment didn't appear to want, deserve, or otherwise have any sort of vested interest in it beyond "hat important." Rochambeau is there too and it's kind of like... should she be given a chance instead? Has she had some sort of redemption moment I blinked and missed, or is she just an impish lil scamp and we don't care that she kicked off this whole meaningless chain of events? Why do both of these characters exist when neither completes any sort of meaningful work? Whatever. Bazzar doesn't care so I guess I shouldn't either. All dance, all smiles, the end.

Music - This was interesting to me because the music is good, but it's also very rarely distinct. It has a similar feeling to Echo in that way, but comes away the stronger of the two because at least Bazzar's music is fun and energetic rather than Echo's "ethereal for ethereal's sake" style. For a show where "everything is music," you'd think they'd put forth some effort to distinguish most songs from one another.

Dance/general cast - LOVE. Love. Listen to me: love. Dance is this show's strength and it knows it, and it was such a treat to see it highlighted so deliberately and frequently. Some of the main dancers were highlighted less than others (Blue, where were you hiding so often? :(( ), but whenever they accompanied a proper act, they were ever a plus and never a distraction. This is also an excellent moment to note that this entire cast is incandescently happy to be there. Their energy is infectious and they are responsible for the smile that stuck to my face for the duration.

I do feel like the average age of the cast was like... 26. And it's only that high because Maestro was like in his fifties. I know this is a simpler show, but between the cast ages and general lack of thematic polish, a very snobby part of me was thinking "Circus Smirkus" at times. TO BE CLEAR: Circus Smirkus produces incredible performers and is a vital part of the American circus tradition. But Bazzar seems like the kind of show an artist starts at before "graduating" to something more serious and artistic within the company.

Costumes - Way better in action than they look in pictures! At times they really do look like sketches in motion. The dancers' costumes were pretty uneven in places - clearly someone loved Red but didn't care whether Green lived or died, for example - but I was continually and pleasantly surprised to see such structure affording so much movement.

Plot notes - I've mentioned it a couple times now but the broken hat doesn't mean a fucking thing. Maestro points at it, says it's important, it breaks, and there are a grand total of zero consequences from there on out. This colorful, musical world doesn't fall into discordance (hi Kooza). Other characters don't attempt to grab a piece of Maestro's apparent authority (hi Alegria). We all just carry on as normal, and when it's fixed, we're told this is good and a relief and we all celebrate Mini Maestro, a wholly pointless character whose inheritance of the hat is, you guessed it, also pointless. I'm telling you, this show would be orders of magnitude better without any of it. It truly deserves more than this less than half baked effort.

There were a grand total of two interludes: one where EMTs attempt to resuscitate the broken hat, and another frankly embarrassing one where the Maestro wanders around with some facsimile of a VR headset for like, way too long. The impact of this latter interlude is: VR is topical, right? The rest of the show is just act to act to act to act with no breaks in between, no moment to breathe or appreciate, no time to piece together a broader experience.

However there were also no clowns, which to me is often an advantage lol.

So that's it! My advice is see Bazzar if it comes near you, but I implore you not to spend more than $80 on a ticket. Be prepared to smile a lot and feel a little bit like Cirque thinks you're stupid. And if we make it to 2026 without some real improvement in Cirque's body of original work... I dunno, people. I don't know how many more times I can say "wowwwwww" without meaning it. Not at the level I invest my time, travel, and care into these shows.

#cirque du soleil #bazzar #reviews

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felizusnavidad · 3 months

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oooh the last two anon replies got me fired up so here's my manifesto i guess.

the universal hating on lin manuel miranda comes down to a few factors that most of the time have nothing to do with his actual mistakes:

their cringe history is reflected in him and they can't deal with it. let it be known that it is not lin who created miku binder jefferson. that was entirely a monster of our making. and somehow, his enthusiasm and willingness to interact with fan content (i remember everyone loving him for it) is worthy of punishment in relation.

he's an easy scapegoat to dump criticism on because people already feel so comfortable speaking on him. like you said, it's crazy that people will paint out lin manuel miranda, the guy who changed broadway and did so much for POC roles, to be the big baddie. he's made mistakes, and there's a lot we can discuss about hamilton's legacy, etc., but damn. where's this energy for everyone else? is it a case of "he actually tried, therefore we have material to latch onto and tear down?"

a lot of what he does is successful and in the public eye! it's crazy but i see people going "why is lin manuel miranda in everything" about projects from the 2000s, like yeahh he didn't just make hamilton and then disappear for your own convenience. if anything it's a statement about how a lot of his work, like it or not, is remembered over time. the reaction to him being in percy jackson was crazy to me because i KNOW for a fact that you did not see his dark materials or tick tick boom; at most you know him from moana and hamilton. and then complaining that he "threatened disney to be in everything they do" smh.

he's not your typical white boy of the month. this might be a loaded statement but sue me, i think it's true. POC celebrities have a limited amount of time in the sun compared to white celebrities. a white actor having multiple roles in a year is okay, and it means they're a hard worker. but when it's a POC actor, their presence is conspicuous. their presence becomes bothersome. public goodwill dries up so much faster. even pedro pascal, i feel, has been talked about with eye-rolls recently. i read a very interesting paper about this.

it's fun! the internet's chosen him as their punching bag, and there are no consequences to online hating if everyone else agrees. i bet a lot of people think they're just joking.

and all of this makes it such that if they do find out about some of his actual mistakes, it's a relief. i legitimately saw a tiktok comment section filled with bashing, and someone said "this is so hilarious but kinda mean, the guy didn't do anything" and someone said with "actually he did this this and this" and they replied "oh thank god, i don't feel bad now!" so it's not "oh let's see if this person improved" it's "phew! i have a legitimate reason to continue what i've been doing all along!"

it's crazy because i'm not even a lmm fan necessarily. i've just been in the musical community for years and noticed all of this happening surrounding his very popular work. you all will rue the day! 10 yrs later or so people are going to start making those "he deserved better" posts but i will not forgive or forget.

i don't know if you want me to respond to every single thing you wrote here, but i appreciate the message, especially when it comes from someone who's not really a fan - it only shows me that it's possible not to be in the fandom & still be respectful.

don't even get me started on miku binder jefferson, it's probably the most ridiculous thing i've ever seen in my life. also, one thing i need to point out is that NOT EVERYONE in this fandom is like that, & i think i'm a perfect example of a person who just enjoys lin's art & likes talking about it & analizing things, but not enjoying all those weird cringe things that were created by the fandom (like the one you mentioned), so like... maybe a certain part of the fandom was the problem, not the creator of the thing? i have nothing against fanfiction in general, nothing against fanarts but like... some people are ruining the thing cause it's just too much. like the famous lmm cannibal mermaid fanfiction, come on guys, be serious, what the actual fuck???

i also agree with the percy jackson thing, i remember seeing all the hate even before the episode with him dropped & honestly i couldn't stand it, the pjo fandom ruined all the fun for me & i literally had to block pjo tag lol. then the episode was out & everyone was suddenly like OH, HE WAS ACTUALLY GOOD, well guess what bitch, i've been saying this all the time, he is actually a good actor & you are just a miserable hater. this fandom is toxic as fuck. also, you think he's everywhere? i do know a lot of other celebrities who actually ARE everywhere these days & somehow no one is sick of them??? so maybe people really are just racists. also, this is literally his job lol what do you expect him to do, disappear forever?

i will not forgive or forget either. like i said before, i'm aware that he made some mistakes, it's not like he didn't apologize for some of them, also he's not perfect, but no one is. all i'm trying to say is that there are more problematic people but somehow everyone feels the need to hate on him. you picked the wrong guy, just let him be.

#i will always defend him no matter what #i literally HAD a friend who called him a disgusting piece of shit because of all the bad things he did & said he should die #& this person is a swiftie who can see no bad things in taylor's behaviour looool #i had to block the bitch #anyway #thanks for the message once again #have a nice day anon #lin manuel miranda #lmm #anon #i saved every letter you wrote me*

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h0n3yk1tt3n · 1 year

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thoughts on the squip?

It's. Complicated.

Well the complicated part is what the fandom thinks of/does with the squip. Actual Canon squip in the show? ..also complicated bc Two River and Bway are vastly different ALMOST to the point of not even being the same character bdjdbddj OK ITS ALL COMPLICATED BUT FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, I'LL TRY NOT TO RAMBLE BUT I CANT MAKE PROMISES

Two River Squip

To me it's the best blend of intimidating "I wanna be that" and intimidating "I'm scared of that" where we can actually feel threatened by the "everything about you makes me wanna die" AND STILL get lulled into a false sense of security with "everything about you is going to be wonderful." It shifts between the two so well that you Think it's on your side Most of the time, but has questionable actions that you don't really know whether to trust or not. It goes from the encouraging "of course [she's talking about you], I've been activating your pheromones. Keep it up" to the almost menacing (albeit absurd) exchange of finding out about eminem. For anyone that needs a refresher, it goes as follows:

Jeremy: did you know this was going to happen?

Squip: of course not!

Jeremy: so it's a coincidence you told me to wear this shirt?

Squip: of course not.

Jeremy: what- did... did you kill eminem??

Squip: nooooot exactly. My quantum processor allows me to envision probable futures. While I did not know that today eminem would be impaled by that rogue hockey stick, I was aware of the probability of a... favorable outcome?

Jeremy: ...favorable for who?

Now this conversation doesn't change in the bway script (as far as I'm aware) but the tone of the scene changes significantly between productions for me because bway squip just. Doesn't come off as menacing to me, which leads intooo

Broadway Squip

I hate to say it because it just sounds like the same shallow shit from 2018 off-bway, but I just can't take the surfer dude voice seriously. And you can argue that you're not supposed to! This is kind of a comedic show first and dramatic show second. I mean it IS dramatic bc everything is dialed up to 11 but it's over-the-top dramatic and not oh-shit dramatic. Which is fine! It's a different take on the tone of the show! I just can't buy the intimidation of "everything about you makes me wanna die" or how fucking manipulative it REALLY is when the squip sounds stoned.

Headcanon Squip

I likes me a squip that feels much more cold and calculated. It'll Act Like it has your best interest in mind, but it doesn't care how it gets the results it wants. Doesn't care who gets hurt or Literally Dies to make all the pieces fall into place. Just reeeaaally lean into the emotionless computer tied solely to its programming aspect. Now ofc it'll Act Out emotions, but as a mimicking/manipulation tactic to get Jeremy to trust it more.

"A squip's sole purpose is to improve its user's life," it'll say, while electrocuting and psychologically tormenting you and arguing that, on a TECHNICALITY, your life is better because you have more friends and your dad wears pants now. Yes you hurt your best friend, yes you took advantage of a girl that really liked you, yes your friends got injured in a house fire, but it all worked out in the end didn't it? You win some, you come out of others with a little bit of PTSD.

Fanon Squips

Don't get me wrong, the shitposts are funny. Seeing all the squips riffing off of each other and showing their different personalities is great. Hell squip x squip ships are the ONLY ones ill accept. PEOPLE CAN SHITPOST ALL THEY WANT. I just think that the shitpost personalities put on the squips (particularly bway) make people forget that... this is the main antagonist of the show. And it's easier to forget that with bway I think, because this villain is made So Campy that you Forget To Take It's Actions Seriously.

This thing emotionally and physically abused Jeremy, and it's been boiled down SO MUCH into Haha Silly Sexy Computer that people forget (or flat out ignore) that THE SQUIP EXACERBATED DYWH.

Remember who the real villain is (Spoiler alert: not Chloe)

I've already gone on a whole tirade about how Chloe gets so much fucking hate for a goddamn teenager going through the hellish hierarchy of high school, AND I WILL REITERATE THAT IM NOT DEFENDING HER ACTIONS, but for fucks sake THE SQUIP PREVENTS JEREMY FROM MOVING. Can you think of how fucking terrifying that must've been? Not only is your girlfriend's drunk best friend trying to jump your bones, but the squip LITERALLY TAKES AWAY HIS ABILITY TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. The squip MAKES HIM drink the alcohol. The squip MAKES HIM kiss Chloe. THE COMPUTER IN HIS HEAD THAT CAN CONTROL HIS BODY HAS RENDERED HIM POWERLESS. As soon as the squip shuts down, HE GETS THE FUCK OUT OF THERE BECAUSE ITS NOT CONTROLLING HIM ANYMORE, showing that he ABSOLUTELY could've escaped sooner IF NOT FOR THE SQUIP.

Let's tally up those sins real quick.

Chloe, getting mixed messages as to whether Jeremy actually wants this or not because he 1. Says he has to go, but doesn't leave 2. Calls her the hottest girl in school (which Chloe misreads and takes as a kissing invitation) 3. Says he isn't a drinker, but drinks from the bottle anyway 4. Kisses her (which SHE doesn't know to be the squip's doings and not Jeremy's) 5. Finally conveys "I don't want this" with enough body language for Chloe to get the idea, at which point her only concern is just making Jake THINK she slept with Jeremy rather than actually DOING IT: let's call this 2 sins, because she 1. should've stopped her advances after Jeremy said he has to go and 2. Shouldn't have kissed him unprompted. Everything beyond that was ambiguous because she didn't know that the squip was controlling Jeremy.

Squip, KNEW Chloe wanted to jump Jeremy's bones and didn't CARE if Jeremy didn't want it, TOOK AWAY his ability to escape, DIDN'T WARN him that Chloe was about to kiss him, MADE him drink the alcohol, MADE him kiss Chloe, and had NO SIGNS of letting Jeremy go UNTIL IT GOT TURNED OFF: that ALONE is 6, NOT COUNTING THE REST OF THE SHOW.

In conclusion, Two River squip comes off as a more menacing villain than Bway, fanon squips are funny but feel like they've been watered down to jokes or thirst traps, and Chloe isn't WORSE than the squip (she fucked up, she's not IRREDEEMABLE)

#asks #mj says shit #squip #chloe valentine #jeremy heere #this post ate my fucking morning and i have to go to work in an hour #i hate evening shifts with a fiery passion

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margridarnauds · 1 month

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Do you have a favorite musical composer or director? If so, why are they your favorite!

Tough question, but I do maintain that I do, genuinely, like Frank Wildhorn's work.

Okay -- Pretty much all the critical reviews of his stuff are 100% accurate. The man often sacrifices plot and characterization to spectacle and pop ballads, but...there's something to be said for SPECTACLE, isn't there? We're living in an age where Broadway is increasingly....un-ambitious. Which you could argue has been the case for ages now, but it's not getting *better*. I grow weary of the endless putting down of jukebox musicals; I think they're a valid art form and a valid approach to musicals, but the truth is that we DO currently have no fewer than three currently on Broadway at the moment. The age of the overblown gothic spectacle has been swept away by this sleek, modern musical that is increasingly embarrassed of the fact that it's a musical to begin with.

And...Frank Wildhorn is many things, but chief among them is EARNEST. He genuinely BELIEVES in his musicals and in romance and in love ballads and sword fights and adventure, and it shows. Yes, the time I spent with Wonderland was 2 hours of my life that I'll never get back, but STILL. He *cared* about it. He LOVES spectacle, he loves over the top stagings that draw you into the world of the musical, he loves period settings and that scratches a specific place in my id.

He also, genuinely, LOVES villain songs, and it shows. His most iconic songs are, overwhelmingly, the villain songs -- "Life after Life" from Dracula, "The Reign of Terror" from Robespierre, "I Will Prevail" from Wonderland, "Falcon in the Dive" from Scarlet Pimpernel, "Monster Inside of Me" from The Man Who Laughs, "A Story Told" from The Count of Monte Cristo, either "Hurricane" or "The Game Begins" from Death Note (depending on if you view a "villain song" as belonging to a villain or an antagonist), "You belong to me" from Carmen (though imo, Zuniga is Wildhorn's most vile and terrifying villain, yes, even in competition with Hyde), "You and I" from Svengali...the man GETS villain songs and how they work, and it means that his villains, imo, are often more charismatic and interesting than his leads (who are often, again, imo, bland self-inserts who hurt the women around them, who take it with a loving smile because they are the Madonna in the Madonna-Whore dichotomy...which could be interesting if it was explored more but is often taken for granted.)

This is especially true with his female villains which...I know we've discussed this before, but it's so GREAT to see female villains get VILLAIN SONGS. There truly aren't that many female villains in musical theatre, fewer who actually...are allowed...to be villains. It feels sometimes like, even though we've improved so MUCH even since I first started being a musical fan, about....14 years ago...there's still an expectation that women's songs in theatre should be Girl Power songs, or sad, or soft, and...that's great, but sometimes, *I* want to be the badass, powerful one. Also pretty lady step on me. Morgana from XCalibur (even though she suffers from some tragic writing in both versions of it) and Hatter from Wonderland, even though they're not EXEMPT from sexist writing decisions, ARE badass, when they're allowed to be. Likewise, Lucy from Jekyll and Hyde (again, who isn't exempt from sexist decisions) gets some of the most iconic songs from the musical. Mina from Dracula, ditto-- "Please Don't Make Me Love You". Carmen and Mata Hari (and, again, ditto for not being exempt from sexism) both have their OWN shows, and, imo, are presented in a way that tries to understand them and gives them some really strong songs that get to the heart of why they are the way they are. I'm forever in MOURNING for "If you Only Knew" from Jekyll and Hyde, since it REALLY got to the heart of Emma/Lisa's character in an interesting way (likewise for "Lisa Carew" from the concept album). "Viva" from Carmen is a great example of a woman just...enjoying life and enjoying living life, while "I Can't Go Back" from Mata Hari is a great exploration of Mata's fears, her anxiety over being dragged back into a life she's terrified of leaving behind.

The man is a middle aged straight white male composer -- fine, but also...how many composers are perfect? It's a matter of choosing what flaws you're willing to live with and which ones you aren't. Plenty of people are fine with, for example, Kunze and Levay's, and I feel like they do less but claim more re: their depictions of women. I feel like Frankhorn...does *try*, especially since marrying Wao Yoka, and I think that he does love her. I think that she's really helped him expand his repertoire and his range as far as his subject matter, and I think that his move to Japan (specifically, Takarazuka) and Korea as far as his focus is probably for the best, as it allows him to do what he wants with an audience who will actually appreciate him.

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asksoldieron · 7 months

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SO-12: The Spirit of Harpo Marx

If there's a lot of engagement on this, this post is liable to get real long, beware before you expand.

Welcome to the Engagement Lounge, for Alight at the Window (SO-12) an instalment! Short comments can go in the replies, but there's a 475 character limit. Longer ones will need a reblog. Remember to @asksoldieron if you're reblogging someone else's reblog, so I can see it too!

Awwwwww, ya know? Awwwwww ❤️!

Poor Erik is in ⚡🔋no shape🔋⚡ to communicate, but he's doing his best. Maggie has no idea whether he's messing with her on purpose, or what's wrong with him, but she won't let him go. They'll get to him eventually. (I've just finished that part, actually. They've got him! Uh. Sorta. At least he's... safe now? 😅Oh, I can't say that with a straight face.)

This is the last of my queued posts/instalments, and I have no idea where my reading and drawing ability will be when it goes live. If I can't update you on my condition (and the condition of the next six instalments) I'll hafta have the spouse type a note for me. I want to do six more right away, or I might take a two week break, or - if I'm really struggling - it'll be a break of indeterminate length. I hope I'll be okay to just keep going, my Patrons have been so patient this year. Thanks, y'all.

But, either way, there will be a break at some point, because I'll have a while where I can't write or draw and that's going to eat up my backlog. Also, recent updates have done more stupid things to my theme and I think the site needs a redesign - maybe including some radical simplification. I'm just not mobile friendly and I can't make the current format behave. People with better eyesight than me do a lot of reading on their phones.

I have no idea how to build a community and I'm flailing, really, but maybe if I can get the interface more convenient, more people will like me? (I have no idea. Probably they won't.)

Look, though! You've got some extra art to tide you over! And a song!

I'm not in love with how Erik's design looks right now - he looks like a train wreck, but he should look like a train wreck. Nobody is going to fix his hair. I still feel self-conscious about it. He used to be cute. I've got to do a full-body rendering of how he'll clean up, but I don't have time for it now.

However, I did do a page of something trying to get comfortable with his ability to emote in train reck form. I don't have time to finish it, but I think it looks cool so I'm sharing.

This is potentially a way for me to serve you the music without lyric backgrounds that you can't read! It's very labour-intensive, but I was figuring out how to do it and it might get a little easier with practice. Also, my current tablet is struggling with the resolution and I plan to update it by the end of the year - depending on sale prices.

After I saw Hedwig and the Angry Inch, I found out the original Off-Broadway incarnation had filked music with lyrics by John Cameron Mitchell. 🥹😊I'm calling it! This is something other people sharing my identity do to tell their stories! Filk musicals are an enby thing! We do not give a shit about the music industry's copyrights! I'm performing nonbinary correctly!

So here's the lyrics again, and maybe I'll give you the rest in comic form as my vision and my tools improve.

You Are Found! (based on "We Are Young" by fun.) I need a minute, I… I don’t know if I’m ready yet I’m tryin’ to get my shit together, Maggie, please don’t be upset My family must be looking for me somewhere very near Guess I knew you must be coming but I can’t believe you’re here, and… It’s been forever since I’ve seen your face I know you want to take me home But although it hurts to do this work they need my help for what it’s worth — Oh, gods I’m not sure if I wanna go So maybe if, next time you see me, You can take me by the hand, You’ll steal me away At last I am found So I guess the party’s over Time to get sober, and come down At last I am found So I guess the party’s over Time to get sober, and come down No, I wanna go home I’m just not done I guess that I, I just hoped We could visit and I’d get right back to work But I can’t go yet So I must forget 'Cause I think you’ll hafta steal me away At last I am found So I guess the party’s over Time to get sober, and come down At last I am found So I guess the party’s over Time to get sober, and come down Steal me away at last (na na na na na na) Come steal me away at last (na na na na na na) Steal me away at last (na na na na na na) Come steal me away at last (na na na na na na) The gods have their own plan (na na na na na na) But I’m just one weary man (na na na na na na) So you're gonna hafta steal me away at last (na na na na na na) I have so much to do (na na na na na na) How can I go with you? (na na na na na na) So you're gonna hafta steal me away (na na na na na na) At last I am found So I guess the party’s over Time to get sober, and come down At last I am found So I guess the party’s over Time to get sober, and come down So maybe if, next time you see me, You can take me by the hand You’ll steal me away at last

See you soon! Ha, I hope!

Late edit: Two week break, folks. No drawing ability yet, so we're stuck with it. I still hope to get you the next six by the end of the year. I'll keep you posted!

[Back to Site?]

#tin soldier and soldier on #instalment #engagement lounge #music #covers #comic #lyrics

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trialbystory · 11 months

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Got tagged via @weissroseschnee, and yeah sure, I have some thoughts.

List 5 things that make you happy, then put this in the askbox for the last ten people who reblogged something from you! Get to know your mutuals & followers!! <3

1) Music. Plain and simple. If I’m having a good day or a bad day or the best day ever, it can be improved by playing some music. Classical, Ska, Broadway, Game OSTs, Power Metal, whatever comes up. Spotify, mp3s from my phone, something from my vinyl collection, it’s all good. Whether I’m really getting into it and singing along/playing an instrument, or just letting it sit in the background while I read or game, it always enhances my mood.

B) My friends. I’m not a particularly social person, so my offline circle is fairly limited. But despite that (because of that?) I’ve accomplished something I am unreservedly proud of: I’ve surrendered myself with better people than I am. That sounds a bit self deprecating, but I promise it’s not. My friends are legitimately some of the best human beings I know. We help each other and watch each other’s backs, it is legitimately like tropey shonen anime bullshit and I love it.

III)This may be obvious, but the greatest source of joy in my life is stories. Consuming them, creating them, examining the different ways we tell them and why different stories are important to different people in different ways, it’s wonderful and fascinating, and I wish there were more hours in the day for me to devote to it.

Four) People supporting each other. This kind of expanded out of my live for the found family trope, but seeing groups of people come together to be positive and lift each other up fills me with a le almost physical sense of warmth. Whether it’s a story where a closeted character haphazardly stumbles into a group of people who can help them learn to recognize and live their true self, or real-world stuff like the overwhelming positivity of the LoadingReadyRun community and events like Extra Life or AGDQ or Desert Bus for Hope (only a few months away). It helps remind my jaded, misanthropic ass that people don’t just suck by default, and that’s a good feeling.

Final) The advance of technology. Okay yes, this one’s kind of loaded, but I am ever the techno-optimist. But in my defense a lot of the dark side on this one comes from ass clowns more concerned with money and the business side of things than the actual tech. But at the end of the day I do believe that if it’s allowed to, technology can solve more problems than it can’t. Any advancement that’s not strictly in the field of weapons has something to contribute to human society. There will alway be problems and there will always be greed trying to bend technology away the good of the world, but I think given time it will always be a net positive.

I dont exactly have a lot of followers/mutual to tag, so rather than doing it through asks I’ll just do it at the bottom here. Really only three people readily spring to mind, and if you’re one of them feel free to ignore (and if you’re not feel free to pick up the banner yourself out of spite or something?) but @powertaco @infinitefern and @misterdadguy you lot are the official callout.

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mrcowboysmovieroom · 7 months

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Staying Alive (1983)

Directed by: Sylvester Stallone Genre: Romance, drama (horror.. im kidding but really)

CW: SA is mentioned briefly as it pertains to this movie and Saturday Night Fever.

The only thing this movie improves upon it's predecessor, is that it's a much shorter runtime.

Staying Alive attracted me because it looked bad and I was obsessed with how incongruous it feels for Sylvester Stallone to have directed it. The screenshots I was seeing of Travolta scantily clad in torn clothing while arms reach for him were too appealing for me to simply ignore them. In fact, it low-key reminded me of the poster for Barbarella which is a movie I do love the appearance of.

Of course, I couldn't simply watch the sequel to a movie I hadn't seen before, so I first watched Saturday Night Fever from 1977. Saturday Night Fever, faultless it is not, was still a pretty swell watching experience. But it definitely impacted how I was to see the sequel. And how could it not?

When the emotional through-line of the film is class struggles, racism, and especially sexism, then it's hard not to notice how a sequel carries on with those themes.

Staying Alive's solution is largely to ignore these things. Or ignore them in part. There is still some pointing and gesturing at the class disparity between Tony (Travolta) and those around him, especially Laura (Finola Hughes). Sexism is also very much alive and well but, unlike SNF, there isn't really a point to these themes and conflicts being there or a lesson we are meant to learn.

SNF managed to make the character of Tony still a tad likeable despite it all. In Staying Alive I feel none of this goodwill. SNF ended with a promise of change and self awareness. Staying Alive begins with a Tony as problematic as he started. There is something macabre about it to be honest. Between those six years of lost time, Tony spurned Stephanie for good and has now been meandering around Manhattan terrorizing women, jaunting about like a gangly, unsteady gazelle. At times he is borderline terrifying, and you'd expect his character to feel right at home as the dangerous stalker in some horror flick.

Somehow he still has a girlfriend named Jackie (Cynthia Rhodes), whom he decides to cheat on very immediately into this movie. And despite all logic, she still gives him a chance, not only to be her friend but picks up dating him again. And even in the end he cant help himself. He has to kiss Laura without her consent for what? To prove he can? Both women end the movie interested in him, though he decides to commit to Jackie.

On to Laura, she is a pseudo antagonist. She's meant to be annoying and bitchy, but can you really fault her? She has to deal with Tony this whole movie and that is so much to ask of anyone. Her character is so inappropriately handled. Tony expects much from her and ignores all her very DIRECT declarations that she is not at all interested in him in a long term sense at this point. He makes it her fault, and in turn, the movie never sees him serve time for his poor behavior towards her. At times she or someone else will call him out on it, but you never see his character learn from this behavior. After he forces a kiss on Laura, she apologizes to him and he doesn't even bother to say it back himself, which is the LEAST of what he should be doing.

Tony IS the bad guy. He's annoying and rude to her, grabs her and touches her without permission, and is just all around unapologetic for any of it. It feels like he only really stops bothering with her because Jackie's still throwing herself at him, and it gives him a sense of power to see Laura wanting him.

AND THAT'S NOT TO MENTION THE DANCING. SNF almost manages to endear itself to me PURELY for the dancing. Travolta's little disco floor scene (you know the one) is the best part of the movie. In this movie, the dancing is all so meeehhhhh. We spend all this time building up the final Broadway show, and the resulting product was so underwhelming.

If this movie had been about male entitlement and ego, it would have been so perfect, but it's not about that even though it so perfectly depicted it. Feeling like a 2/10 on this one.

#staying alive #staying alive 1983 #80s movie #john travolta #Finola Hughes #Cynthia Rhodes #saturday night fever

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aonoexpat · 5 months

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10-01-2024

Happy new year everybody! And as the previous submissions highlighted (thankss friends ❤️), yes, it's been a while, and I do apologise for the radio silence. My mental health has been a bit of a rollercoaster the past month and a half, and I've had to prioritise other things. But I'm not about to let the daunting task of summarising 6 weeks in 1 post discourage me! Let's go.

The talks of politics and philosophy at home have continued, occasionally with extra participants. They sent me down a pretty depressing and nihilistic spiral for a little while, but I feel like I've really managed to climb my way out of that again. I was finally brought to a bit of an epiphany that's made me able to at least pick myself up by my bootstraps, and though I'm currently not very comfortable in any hard political or philosophical positions, I seem to have a bit more grip on a general framework again. And that helped me stop moping around and start enjoying my time here more again. Though I'm still quite fragile mentally and quickly overwhelmed, sometimes to extremes that I haven't experienced in years, all in all I feel like this has been an incredibly humbling experience that has helped me grow tremendously. Who knew the last leg of my journey would be one of this kind? I spent four months exploring the South island, and now I've spent the next two exploring my own mind. Though I think that's a journey that will never truly be over, which is both exciting and terrifying.

I have been extremely lucky to be able to live this last bit of my journey rent-free, thanks to my wonderful housemates (and their adorable little dog):

Which meant that I could get away with only working part time. I still thoroughly enjoy my job and my coworkers (we love singing along at the top of our lungs to broadway songs as we clean up after close), but it's great to have a lot of free time around work to meet up with old friends and eat sushi or go to the beach...

...Play board games...

...Celebrate Sinterklaas...

...Organise all my marked road maps, give myself manicures and haircuts, and, with deep deep pain in my heart: sell Elrond 💔 I will say I was extremely lucky to be able to sell him for DOUBLE what I paid for him back in May 😱 I definitely did improve upon him, with the brand new solar panel, newly constructed bed and shiny new rear brakes. Still, I hadn't expected to get my asking price for him, but I got lucky having two interested buyers who wanted to compete. I can barely believe it, but this means I have almost fully earned back my entire South island trip, car costs and fuel costs combined! And now I don't have to worry about the scenario in which I wouldn't manage to sell him, and would have to leave him with friends. All that was definitely the silver lining I forced myself to focus on as I gave him one last deep clean, both to be able to present him properly to his new owners, and as a sort of closure ritual for myself. I cleaned out all the dead sandflies, dusted all the surfaces, vacuumed the floor mats, and gave the kitchen a thorough wash. Saying goodbye is never easy, and I definitely had to fight back some tears when his new owners came to pick him up and take him away. But they are absolute sweethearts (they already sent me a photo from their adventure with him), so I can rest assured that he is in good hands! Farewell my darling, you were the best first car I could have wished for, and you will not be forgotten ❤️

Aside from all that, I was also very glad to have the chance to go on two more spectacular hikes in this area!

Patuna Chasm

This GORGEous ~3-hour hike definitely justified my bringing my Teva active sandals with me from home, as almost three quarters of the walk was through knee-deep river water. It was a cold and windy morning as we got driven to the start of the track in a 4WD car by the owners of the land, and were told to be back at the drop-off point in three hours to be brought back to our own car. If we were to miss that car, we'd have to wait a full hour for the next ride. So with our route map in hand, we set off on the first leg of the hike, which took us up the hills and back down to the chasm. The views were stunning, with spectacular rock formations and the grass on the hill faces waving in the wind like a green ocean:

Down at the river, we got our clothes and bags ready to get wet, and stepped into the water. As we followed the river, first upstream towards some serene waterfalls (where I may have given myself a brain freeze and mild hypothermia by deciding to stand under them):

And then downstream to start making our way back to the car, it started to slowly rain, but that didn't stop us. We saw eels:

We clambered up muddy hills and over huge boulders, down ladders, through deep and shallow sections of the river, explored caves:

And when we finally got back to the section of the track that would take us to our starting point, two of my friends were kind enough to carry mine and our fourth friend's backpack, so we could go down the alternate route: the last stretch of the river, which required us to swim through neck-deep water. I couldn't feel my feet or forearms by the end, but the adrenaline drowned that out as we sprinted up the riverbank to make it back to the 4WD car, only to catch it right as it was about to leave without us! It was absolutely exhausting, but so much good old childish adventurous fun, and one of the most spectacular hikes I've done in the country! (Photo credits to Liv :) )

Escarpment Track

This was the last hike my friend and I did together, which was a sad fact I tried not to think about too much as we walked. The track took us about 10km along the East coast, and it was quite the climb. The view was stunning though, the path itself was very well laid out, with stairs and ropes to hold onto, and benches along the way, which we happily used to take a lunch break about halfway through.

We were very happy to have some cloud coverage that day so we weren't constantly exposed to the sun. My favourite parts were the two rope bridges that were bouncing wildly in the wind. Standing on them felt a little like flying!

And for most of the track we were flanked by immense amounts of fennel, which gave the whole walk a wonderful background aroma:

I was so amazed by the thought that this hike was literally 15 minutes from my friend's home. That type of easy access to incredible nature is definitely something I'm going to miss when I go home. But that made me all the more grateful I got to do this while I still could! (Photo credits to Liv :) )

Soon enough my birthday rolled around, which was an incredibly emotional day for me. I had to say goodbye to my dear friends, one of whom I won't see again before I leave the country. I gifted her a little hand made photo album of our adventures together, which had taken me a lot longer to make than I had anticipated, but luckily I had managed to finish it the night before:

She told me this wasn't a 'goodbye', but a 'see you next time', and though I'd happily believe that, the next time will be at least a long time from now. She has meant the world to me during this trip, has helped and supported me more than I could thank her for, so I had to bite back tears as I watched her walk away. After that I had drinks at work, where my super kind coworkers surprised me with vegan chocolate and doughnuts, making me struggle not to cry for the second time that day. In the evening I had a video call with home, during which I remotely participated in their game of Memory, and still WON 💪😤

After my birthday my housemates and I went straight into Christmas mode, running around decorating the house and cooking all sorts of dishes! It was very odd to have Christmas without the associated weather/season, and without getting to see my family. My housemate introduced me to Tim Minchin's song White Wine in the Sun, which makes me cry like a baby every time I listen to it. So I took a photo of myself and my housemates, drinking non-alcoholic sparkling white grape juice in the sun, and sent it home along with a link to the song to make my parents cry as well 😈 We spent our days here enjoying all the wonderful food and the company of the neighbour and his family, and I even got to sing some songs which I hadn't done in a long while. I also got to give Christmas presents to my housemates, which I worked quite hard on: matching cowl scarves for the two of them and the dog 😊

Of course next on the calendar was New Year's Eve. In honour of my family traditions, I got some non-alcoholic sparkling rose and cocktail fruit from the supermarket, and a couple of minutes before midnight a musician friend and I combined them into portable cups, so we could cheers to 2024 at the waterfront as the fireworks lit up the sky!

I had a wonderful night of music, dancing, playing on the beach, walking in the woods, and eventually sheltering from the rain, and didn't fall asleep until 6 in the morning. My sleeping rhythm still hasn't recovered! The next morning I woke up from my alarm at 11:55, and quickly got up so I could listen to the last minutes of the Top2000 and wish all my Dutch people a happy new year at noon. It felt so odd to do this in the sun in the middle of the day, but in a way that felt more real than the midnight before!

The next days I spent some time looking back at my highlights and achievements from 2023, and I created my own makeshift "Spotify wrapped" by analysing some statistics from my offline music player app. It turns out that (besides Asha, which is the music I play to fall asleep nearly every night) Ghost was my top artist of the year 🎧 Oh and I caught a big spider in my room!

For Sinterklaas, my parents had gifted me a metaphorical voucher to spend where I wanted to, so I got myself a ticket to a tour at Wēta Workshop, the SFX and other movie magic studio behind the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Avatar movies, and many more. I dragged one of my housemates and a mutual friend along, and I'm really happy we got to go! We were shown around the different stages in the SFX process, we got to hold some movie prop swords, and got to see the original weapons and armour used on-screen in a plethora of different movies. Unfortunately for copyright reasons we weren't allowed to take photos inside the studios and work stations, but I snapped some photos outside!

And while I'd much prefer not to face it... By now I have had to start focusing on my upcoming homebound trip. Slowly plans for when I get back home are trickling in, which feels very surreal. I can't believe it's actually only two weeks until I go home, a fact that I like to hide from as much as I can. It's not that I don't want to go home, I've been looking forward to seeing my family again, eating all my familiar foods, seeing my neighbourhood and getting to hug my friends again for so long now. And I am genuinely excited for that. Part of the reason I enjoy traveling is that it reminds me of what I love about home, and allows me to miss it, and return to it more grateful than before. But it also feels like returning to 'normal life'. I'm afraid of going from a time of adventure to a time of stagnation, even though I know that's not a fair or reasonable thought. I suppose something I was afraid of is happening, which is that I feel at home here now, and happy, and have found the right people, and am enjoying the summer, and so going home (to winter 🥶) actually doesn't sound very attractive at all at times, at least not the way it did when I was living in Elrond. Back then I was struggling a lot more, I felt alone and lost, and so the thought of going home felt like such a relief. Now that I've grown accustomed to the luxury of living in a house again, and being surrounded by a social network I feel safe and appreciated in... the contrast is a lot smaller. And it almost feels like I'm going to feel homesick towards here when I go home. Like this upcoming flight is my departure, not my return.

This thought was solidified even more when my housemate asked if I'd be willing to wear a sweater that I'm not going to take with me as much as I can for the last two days or so, so that it will smell like me and I can leave it for the dog 😭💔 I really struggle not to cry at that thought, and I'm wondering if maybe (i.e. am pretty sure actually that) I'm even procrastinating with booking the trip between here and Tāmakimakaurau out of pure denial. I don't want to leave. I don't want to say goodbye, and never come back. Much more than I ever felt with Australia, I want to return here. I don't care when, maybe that will be when I'm old and retired and have no family left in Europe to miss, or when the most important people to me come with me, or if I find out I have been irrevocably changed and flee back here in a year or two. But I want to come back.

I have procured a second suitcase, and am slowly working on getting all my possessions sorted. I've sold my busking amp and microphones to a good musician friend after we'd used it for a last busking hurrah at the harbourside veggie markets last Sunday. It was a fantastic end to this busking season for me, as we connected with the crowd, the weather was wonderful, and I got to sing all the songs that were important to me. I can't bring my guitar with me, so I'll bring it to my friends' house for safekeeping, and maybe they can get it back to me some day. And the big pink bear who was riding shotgun with me in Elrond? It would break my heart to leave him behind, so I stuffed him into one of those vacuum seal bags:

And I'm going to break my back trying to fit him into the new suitcase! He means too much to me, even if I only paid $10 for him.

My to do list is shrinking slowly but steadily, and I really have to plan well to fit everything that's left into the little time I still have here. I am going to make the most of it, spend time with the people here that have meant the most to me, immortalise the memories and when the time comes, I will get on that plane with a fond smile ❤️

#aotearoa #backpacking

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dross-the-fish · 1 year

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On Wasted Potential

I had an interesting discussion with a co-worker about what it takes to really make me angry when I consume a piece of media and, honestly, when I look back at all of the things that provoked any kind of strong reaction it always boiled down to one thing: wasted potential. In nearly everything that inspired a negative enough reaction that I felt like I wanted to talk about it I had some kind of expectation of quality or there were genuinely good elements that were squandered. This is why the subjects of my ire tend to be sequels and adaptations of works I already like. I get a lot of flack for being critical of the Disney remakes but I stand by my previous statements that these are, every single one of them, complete and utter trash. I feel this way specifically BECAUSE on some level I would have liked to see these movies adapted into live action. Or more specifically.... I wanted to see the stage versions of these movies adapted into film. Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, the Hunchback Of Notre Dame, Tarzan and the Lion King all have stage adaptations that are generally pretty good to excellent and actually do bring new layers to these stories. The Hunchback of Notre Dame in particular is my favorite and the only one of the group not to make it to Broadway and that is a fucking crime because it's phenomenal. My first encounter with it was actually the German production from the 90s and I could write a whole essay on that by itself but the La Jolla version that was adapted from that is every bit as good and in some ways better. This is by far the clearest example of an adaptation actually improving on the original work. I love Hunchback, it's my favorite of the Disney movies, the stage adaptation is even better. And when I watch the stage versions I find myself thinking wow...why didn't they take some ideas from this and put it into their shitty remakes? I wasn't asking for Robin Williams by any means but why did I have to endure Will Smith when we could have had..

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Somebody like James Monroe Iglehart or any of the broadway genies. Seeing what could have been and just know that it's not what we ever will get has soured me permanently on the live action remakes. They don't stand up to the original animated films by any means and they don't stand up to the stage versions. Despite having huge budgets and a ton of advertising they are the weakest adaptations and seeing that they continue to be shat out while Disney fails to offer any new or quality content makes me hate them even more. I am so tired of a company this big continuing to feed us garbage and I genuinely hope all of their upcoming remakes fail as hard as pinocchio did. Maybe then they'll be forced to put out something decent again.

#anti-disney #rants and ramblings #Youtube

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sunskate · 9 months

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JGP Austria ice dance -

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Darya Grimm/Michail Savitskiy 🇩🇪GER (16/20 yo) they were 5th at the JGP Final last season and 6th in the RD at junior worlds but had to withdraw from the FD due to food poisoning. he was the engaging commentator for Nebelhorn Trophy last fall. their ISU bio hobbies are cherry pit spitting (her) and failure management (him), and their skating has personality as well 😊 he's been the stand out - lovely skater, strong partner - he draws your eye when you watch them. she was very young when they began, has lots of potential. her extension and free leg weren't quite matching his last season. their RD is to ELO, and they have a Habanera (so, Spanish themed?) FD. this is their 3rd and final junior season. the podium at worlds feels like an attainable goal for them

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i wrote this before news of their accident 😢 we won't get to see them skate, but check out their previous programs if you like. hope she recovers stronger than ever and that we see them back this season

Angelina Kudryavtseva/Ilia Karankevich 🇨🇾CYP (17/19 yo) known for their creativity and flair, they had a cheerleader FD last season. every season they do something nobody else is doing (2021, 2019). i love their audacity and quirkiness - most of their programs have some surprise, their take on most styles has their stamp on it. they like no hands balance lifts where she's holding on by her heel or toe, or rotational lifts where she's spinning on top of his head. even in a lyrical program ⬆️ look. at. these. lifts! maybe not every novel thing works, but so often it does. they've been as high as 8th at junior worlds but tend to lose points on levels and twizzle errors. there are details of unison and control that they need to improve in order to move up. i'm sure they're aiming for top 5 in the world and want to make the JGPF. they're skating a Madonna RD and a Nights of Cabiria FD - if that's the Fellini film music, it's bright and jazzy but more in a characterful than cool way, 50s, kind of lush in places, and it’s the story that Sweet Charity is based on - am very interested to see what they came up with for their final junior FD

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Elliana Peal/Ethan Peal 🇺🇸USA (16/19 yo) a sibling team, they've been as high as 3rd at US Nationals and have silver medals from Dallas and Lake Placid this season already. they're aiming for the worlds team for the US this season. they have a Janet Jackson RD ⬆️ and Lord of the Rings FD. they've always been coached by their dad, who went to jr worlds for US ice dance himself, but at Lake Placid, Igor was also at the boards for them although he's not officially on their team. they maybe lack speed but have good unison

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Iryna Pidgaina/Artem Koval 🇺🇦UKR (14/19 yo) she looks more mature as a skater than her years, so they seem balanced as a team. last season was their first in int'l competition, and they had a 4th place at JGP Gdansk. this season they're skating George Benson and Pump Up the Jam for their RD, Robbie Williams and I Love Rock n' Roll for their FD, and Nazarova/Nikitin are 2 of their choreographers😭

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Chloe Nguyen/Brendan Giang 🇨🇦CAN (18/20 yo) they're a newly formed team training with WIng/Lowe in Vancouver. both have been to the JGP with their previous partners. they won the Next Gen competition, have good fundamental skills, seem well matched and are off to a good start (they're at 1:09:30 ⬆️) i really hate their Aspects of Love FD music- it's from an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical that was a huge flop on Broadway. i'd dislike the music anyway, but what makes it worse is that the show, among a number of storylines, has 2 inappropriate relationships between an adult and a minor, and two of the songs in this FD are about those relationships. i don't know why their team would choose this for a junior program

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Ashlie Slatter/Atl Ongay-Perez 🇬🇧GBR (14/16 yo) they are musical and have been vibrant performers since they were little. as their skating skills develop to catch up to their performance quality, they'll rise. levels in step sequences and patterns have been a challenge. but they have interesting choreo and i think? skate more in hold than a lot of teams. they were 18th at junior worlds in march. their RD is Run-DMC, and their FD is jazz, blues and Great Balls of Fire

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Caroline Mullen/Brendan Mullen 🇺🇸 USA (17/19 yo) they had to sit out last season due to injury and also switched camps from WISA to Rockville with Dmitri Ilin but have been spending time at MIDA getting choreo as well. they have a bronze medal from Lake Placid this season, and this is their first JGP

Ambre Perrier Gianesini/Samuel Blanc Klaperman 🇫🇷 FRA (16/16 yo) this is their 2nd junior and 2nd JGP season. they medaled at some events last season and have nice qualities but also were prone to falls and twizzle errors. hopefully they got their nerves out and will have good outings here

#Youtube #jgp linz #cup of austria #sept 1-2

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