cristinablackthornkingson

[cristinablackthornkingson]

Can I give you some advice?

RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE [2023]

[cristinablackthornkingson]

Nora Holleran is a Black bisexual woman who is implied to be polyamorous. June Claremont-Diaz is a Latine woman who is implied to be polyamorous and attracted to multiple genders. Amy Chen is a trans lesbian of color. These are all historically very marginalized identities, especially in intersection.

Yes, Red White and Royal Blue is centrally about an interracial mlm relationship. But it has three significant queer female supporting characters, who are not only all queer women but also all women of color.

My single largest criticism of the Red White and Royal Blue movie (which I overall quite enjoyed, but I am mature enough to be able to like something and also still call out it's flaws):

No indication that Amy is trans other than her being played by a trans actress, and no indication whatsoever that she is sapphic and married to a woman. No indication whatsoever that Nora is bi (somehow?? didn't realize that that was even possible but I guess it is??). No June at all.

Congratulations, you've killed all your queer women

[cristinablackthornkingson]

Ellen Claremont - Red, White & Royal Blue, 2023

[cristinablackthornkingson]

Shaan being petty to Alex (not letting him shower before the photos or letting him get makeup before the interviews) is such a solidarity with Henry.

Shaan is so protective of his ward and Henry's been pining over Alex and Alex has been a dick to Henry and Shaan can't fuck him up but he can be a petty bitch and I love that

[cristinablackthornkingson]

"so are you, are you gay? bi? fluid? pan? queer?"

"cool it, mom. I'm bi"

"well you know, the B in LGBTQ is not a silent letter"

THE WAY HIS MOM ACKNOWLEDGED HIS SEXUALITY, DIDN'T DENY IT OR MAKE FUN OF IT BUT LITERALLY TOLD HIM - "I SEE YOU, MY SON" GOT ME UGLY CRYING.

how i wish i could talk to my own mum like this. she was genuinely willing to know. even if this subject might've been a bit distant to her, it was her son and she wanted to know and wanted him to trust her and be happy within himself and who he was with

[cristinablackthornkingson]

One last thing and then I'll shut up about this film (for now)

I love love LOVE Henry's relationship with Oscar!

(even if it's only crumbs)

Losing his father hurt and traumatised him a lot, he can't talk to his brother or grandfather, his mother is MIA, he tries to protect Bea, he basically only has Shaan as a father/older brother figure - and he gets PAID to be there for him.

And then there's Oscar Diaz, inviting him to his lake house, joking around with him ("call me congressman" "well then I'm your royal highness"), letting him share a bed with Alex and just letting them be. To Oscar he's just Henry, his son's boyfriend. Sure he's also a prince but Oscar invites him to get to know him as Alex's boyfriend.

And then on election night the whole "we're the blue team, right?" thing and Oscar doing the dad™ thing of "they don't teach these kids anything in school nowadays" and pulls him into a sort of half hug and makes him sit next to him to watch the results.

And he stays there while Alex wanders off and finds his mother writing her concession speech. He's obviously comfortable around Oscar and Oscar obviously likes him.

He found love with Alex but also a family with Alex's family and Oscar Diaz filling some of the void that Arthur Fox left behind.

[cristinablackthornkingson]

hiiii this is for the ficlet fest !!!! shaan srivastava, the white house, 3:14am 😎

thank you for the prompt! i haven't written shaan's POV before, so this was really cool. enjoy! 💜🦗

want your own ficlet? TWO DAYS LEFT rules here.

❤️🤍💙❤️🤍💙

white house, 3:14am

“Are you done packing your office?” Shaan asks, coming up behind Zahra and dropping a kiss to the nape of her neck.

“I’ve been packed for a week, Srivastava, you know that.”

Shaan hums. He does know that. The neatly stacked boxes of her things have already been whisked away by the efficient White House resident staff earlier tonight.

“If you’re fishing about my mental state about tomorrow being the Inauguration for the next president and therefore the end of Ellen Claremont’s time in the White House, you’re doing a piss poor job of it.”

He pulls her closer. Her words are all prickle and fire, but her body sags into his, letting Shaan hold her steady for once.

“I figured I’d give you an opening if you wanted to take it.”

Zahra just sighs, looking around at her (almost former) office. All of Zahra’s files and extra clothes and knick-knacks that Alex buys her that she pretends not to keep, are gone – only the furniture remaining. The room seems to be slumbering, or maybe holding its breath, ready for the next occupant.

“Ask me again in a week. I’ll be bored of downtime by then.”

“Deal.”

There’s a clatter in the hallway, then loud shushing noises and the careful click of a door. Shaan moves the pair of them to the doorway, curious as to who else is moving around the West Wing at three in the morning but— Ah, he should have guessed.

Through the door to the veranda, a pair of young men’s silhouettes are visible in the moonlight on the way to the garden. Alex is in front, one of his hands tangled with one of Henry’s, leading the way. Shaan drops a kiss on the top of Zahra’s head, overcome with pride for the pair of them.

Zahra makes a noise somewhere between disbelief and delight. “Those sappy little shits.”

“I wouldn’t throw stones, love – they aren’t the only ones doing a grand farewell tour of this place.”

“Yeah, but I do it with class,” she says, spinning in his arms and throwing her own over his neck. It’s been four years since he proposed, but Shaan still tracks the glint of the diamond on her engagement ring with a rush of joy. It’s even stronger since it was joined by her wedding ring last year.

Zahra rises up on her toes and he ducks his head to make it easier for her to kiss him. It’s a quick kiss, more of a peck, but she says so much with her body that never makes it past her lips. Shaan’s spent so long learning this silent language of hers, that it’s easy to parse the love and relief and exhaustion and sadness that she pushes into his mouth. He gathers all of it up and tucks it into his own heart – he’ll carry it for her for a while. For as long as she wants him to.

“Let’s go – for once I don’t have to commute here in the morning, we should make the most of it.”

“After you,” he says, stepping back and letting her lead the way toward the Residence. She reaches one hand back to tangle her fingers through his.

[cristinablackthornkingson]

SHAAN BELOVED 🫶🏻

[cristinablackthornkingson]

Alex: 😇 Zahra: 🔪

Red, White & Royal Blue (2023) dir. Matthew López

[cristinablackthornkingson]

SARAH SHAHI as ZAHRA BANKSTON → RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE (2023)

[cristinablackthornkingson]

[cristinablackthornkingson]

i think we need to abolish subscriptions. im tired of remembering passwords and giving out my email. check out as guest, no you may not know my name. die

[cristinablackthornkingson]

summer lovers DNI

[cristinablackthornkingson]

TIL Many haunted houses have been investigated and found to contain high levels of carbon monoxide or other poisons, which can cause hallucinations. The carbon monoxide theory explains why haunted houses are mostly older houses, which are more likely to contain aging and defective appliances.

via reddit.com

[cristinablackthornkingson]

I colorized Queen of Air and Darkness arts cause apparently colorizing relaxes me🌝

Pls appreciate Livvy's dress, I'm proud of it

[cristinablackthornkingson]

Lucie and Matthew!

ehii i’m not dead i’m just currently busy with my exams and will be for probably the whole month. have this drawing in the meantime 🤲🏻

[cristinablackthornkingson]

if you can't draw a character's big, hooked, bumped, or crooked nose i dont think you should be drawing that character