I'd like to give props to this prince from the Sicilian fairy tale "Beautiful Angiola" for being in it for the long haul:

"Furious, [the witch] cast a curse on beautiful Angiola: "May your beautiful face be turned into the face of a dog!" she yelled. Within seconds Angiola's beautiful face was transformed into the face of a dog. The prince became very distressed and said, "How can I present you to my parents now? They'll never allow me to marry a maiden with a dog's face." He took her to a small cottage in which she was to live until the evil curse could be ispelled, and afterwards he returned to his parents and lived with them. However, whenever he went hunting, he visited poor Angiola." (Gonzenbach, trans. Zipes, 2006, p. 51)

I absolutely adore the implication that it's genuinely only his parents' probable refusal that prevents him from marrying her anyway. Finally a proper Prince Charming. (He's proven right too, because when he presents her to his parents after the curse is broken, it's stated that they are immediately won over specifically by her beauty. Probably because she's a peasant girl without a dowry.)

Other fantastic details in this Rapunzel-like folktale:

The witch has a guard donkey for her garden

The witch's tower is furnished with living furniture and household objects that can speak and eat

The witch's own pet dog persuades her to break the curse on Angiola, arguing that she has been punished enough

Critical role has released a statement (my guess is a bigger statement will follow)

Image id : a screenshot of a tweet from the critical role foundation. The tweet reads “We have donated 25K each to two organizations that are working diligently to provide vital aid to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza—@WCKitchen and @Savethechildren. To those that sent us messages and asked us to support, we hear you. #Ceasefirenow : end id

I want someone to wrap their arms or wings or, whatnot, around me and help me sleep. Hold me tight as I fall asleep in their arms. I am a little cuddly bat and I love affection to help me sleep. It is a strange thing but I just can't help myself. Bats love cuddling up don't they?

∀ Gundam – Gender, Self, and Society

I wrote an essay about Turn A Gundam - how it communicates theme with its characters, how I interpret what it says about war/humanity, and my new favorite ship of all time!

(Read only if you are okay with heavy spoilers!)

"Oh, don't mind me, amigo. I'm just appreciating the view."

I can't believe how GORGEOUS Laura turned out by @sinizade. I mean, Sini usually draws hot people, but goddamit, I'm still drooling over her! lol

Since I saw people talking about the 'bisexual gaze' that Luis and Ashley give to Leon at the shooting range, I felt the urge to complete a Holy Triad, and here we are.

(Is she looking at Leon or Luis on the pic? Yes Who knows?)

Well, thanks again, Sini, and y'all are invited to read The Windmill!

Shipping Poll (part 1e)

Good morning on this fine Saturday, folks! It's time for a new shipping poll. Yesterday's was Jolene/the person speaking in "Jolene" vs Sir Percy Blakeney/Marguerite St. Just, and it'll be up for a few more days.

Now, onwards:

Next time: Beatrice/Benedick vs Perseus/Andromeda!

good morning everyone I guess yesterday was real uhm?

The Faces of Sandra Oh as she listens to Laura "Satan" Neal prattling on.

i never even thought abt how different the Laura-Max flashback sequences would feel if you hate Max

Hows about 3, 7, 9 and 12 from the 'Love' asks with your boy Rex, my Brie-loved <3

MY LAURADORED!! My dearest, my sweet thank you so much!! @squips-ship

Love

3. Who uses cheesy pick-up lines? djghgk Rex probably wouldn't even be able to go through with attempting it without fumbling somehow, he's just not cut out for that sort of thing but once in a while I'll slip him one just to make him laugh x3c

7. What are their favorite things to do together? Honestly, anything we can! Especially before the end of the war, when we still have to keep our relationship a secret. Whenever we even manage to be in the same place we cherish it any way we can. In private, we soak up every bit of intimacy and closeness we can, and in public we take comfort in knowing that whatever happens we’ll be able to jump in and protect each other if need be! 

9. Who's more protective? That’s gotta be Rex, always Rex, honestly. Over our whole family. He still considers it his sole responsibility and he’s lost so many people he’s just had to move on from because there wasn’t time to grieve, it was just a fact of the war. But he’s not willing to let go of me or our kids. He’d do anything to make sure we were safe, even at his own expense. 

12. What kind of nicknames do they call each other? I definitely use ‘My Love’ and ‘Beloved’ often, Rex is partial to using Mando’a phrases like ‘Cyar’ika’ (My Darling) or ‘Mesh’la’ (Beautiful) and it never fails to make me blush >//<

My funny Twin Peaks anecdote is that I couldn't tell Laura Palmer and her cousin were played (well, "played") by the same person, but I did confuse Donna and the cousin whose name I forgot lol

When vampires (or vampire-like revenants) manage the masquerade as human in folktales, there is usually some mention of what they do or do not eat. For instance that they seem to not eat at all, or only eat meat, or only drink water. But I've always loved Angela Sommer-Bodenburg's lore in her Der kleine Vampir series that includes the detail of vampires, especially young vampires, can also drink milk and eat milk products.

It feels logical, milk is a liquid source of life just as much as blood is. And while most old folklore isn't at all concerned with giving vampires ways to appear more human, there is a folkloric basis to letting them drink milk as well as blood, and that delights me:

"The second curious characteristic requiring an explanation is the belief that the vampire sometimes drinks milk rather than blood. Ernest Jones in his pioneering essay on the vampire notes this feature when he comments: "The German Alp sucks the nipples of men and children, and withdraws milk from women and cows more often than blood. The Drud also sucks the breasts of children, while the Southern Slav Mora sucks blood or milk indifferently" (1971:119). In Romania, we are told that vampires on St. George's Eve "take milk away from nursing mothers" (Murgoci 1926:332)."

From: The Vampire: A Casebook, Alan Dunes, 1998, p. 163.

Whilst I live in fear of said statement especially knowing how some core cast feel about the us military it’s insane that Critical role has not released a statement of any kind about Palestine. Knowing how large their audience is weekly..they haven’t even called for a ceasefire

Even if they two sides it (which is regrettably the most likely outcome) like. At least say something..trying to skirt by a genocide w/o saying anything at all?? Insane they literally have their own charity foundation they could help if not in Palestine the people arrested protesting for them here

Like now that Brennen’s made a statement there no reason Matt can’t. I genuinely don’t feel comfortable supporting them w/o knowing where they stand on this even if they as a company can’t issue a statement the core cast can individually like..

I should be: reading a book for the job

But instead I am: writing fanfic

Shipping Poll (3b)

Hi, all! Happy Monday (I guess. bleh) and it's time for another poll! Yesterday's, still open, was the SW OT3-off between Luke/Han/Leia and Leia/Jyn/Cassian. By coincidence, today's poll pits two great femslash ships against each other.

Tomorrow's, meanwhile, is a clash of classic titans: Elizabeth/Darcy vs Beatrice/Benedick!

tomorrow's a big day. I have a really important test. I'm trying not to let the anxiety take the best of me. pls everyone send good vibes. thanks