#… my valjean forever and always

[thesunsethour]

Little Les Mis Things - 11/01/24

My ramblings (aka an in-depth analysis) on how amazing the current West End cast of Les Misérables are having seen the show yesterday (a particularly special version because of how many amazing covers and swings performed!) This is also the first time I’ve seen Les Mis in London with the new production changes (so much to talk about!)

Yesterday was my 6th time seeing Les Mis, and 4th time in London - let’s get into it!!

Jean Valjean - Played by the absolutely wonderful Killian Donnelly who is MY Valjean. This was the third time I’ve seen him play this role and no one has come close to him for me. The tenderness he brings to the role without losing any of Valjean’s rougher edges is sublime. His voice is as divine as ever yet at the same time has matured so much over the years since I first saw him as Valjean in 2017. The result is the most beautiful blend of roughness at the beginning that over the course of the show mellows as Valjean ages - but at the same time is always distinctly *Killian*. His rendition of Bring Him Home is the best version of all time. I would like to apologise to my aunt for this sacrilegious statement against the wonderful Colm Wilkinson but after yesterday I cannot deny it anymore. I always cried at the end of Les Mis, but yesterday was the first time I was sobbing from Bring Him Home onwards, and that is thanks to Killian Donnelly.

Javert - Played by Jordan Simon Pollard, who usually plays Claquesous but is first cover Javert. He was sensational! His voice filled every crevice of the theatre and his rendition of Javert’s Soliloquy was out of this world.

Fantine - Played by Ellie Ann Lowe, who usually plays a Factory Girl but was on as Fantine yesterday and smashed it right out of the park! Beautiful voice (especially at the end of I Dreamed a Dream) and an incredible actress to boot.

Cosette - Played by the lovely Lulu-Mae Pears. Her Cosette was a treat to see and her voice was stunning. Side note I LOVE Cosette’s new costumes for the London production.

Marius - Played by Ben Oatley, who usually plays Joly, and was making his debut as Marius yesterday! He is second cover Marius and this is his first ever West End show having graduated last year and it’s almost hard to believe when you see how talented he is - like he’d been doing the role for years! If you want to imagine this Marius just picture Mr Bingley from Pride and Prejudice 1995 now give him bucketloads of trauma. And then BOOM! A Ben Oatley Marius.

Éponine - Played by Rosy Church, an ensemble actress who is also making her West End debut with this current cast of Les Mis! She was simply outstanding, with a voice as clear as a bell and a higher register that really surprised me for a bit but I loved. Her ‘On My Own’ sent goosebumps down my arms - simply brilliant.

Enjolras - Played by Djavan van de Fliert who made the entire audience fall in love. The most charismatic Enjorlas I have ever had the pleasure of seeing, he filled the stage when energy whenever he was on it. During his entrance for One Day More he fell down on stage but didn’t miss a single beat and got an absolutely rapturous round of applause at the end.

Little bits and bobs I loved from this production:

* They’ve changed the tops that the chain gang wear from brown to red - it initially appeared quite jarring to me but then really grew as the show went on. It makes Valjean stand out more (especially important for people like me, who were watching from the Grand Circle all the way up in the Gods)

* Killian went for the higher note for “took my FLIGHT” which I always simply adore when he does that

* The way Killian said “the whirlpool of my SIN”… I cannot explain in words how many emotions he can pack into one word

* An addition from the last time I saw the show in London was that Valjean goes to help a little girl when going from town to town at the beginning and gets shunned and attacked for it, and this adds an extra weight to when he takes the coin off the little boy later on

* Valjean gets beaten up a LOT more than he used to… it works so well on stage but also leave my father alone…

* The actor playing the bishop in this production (Adam Pearce) was so brilliant - he played the role with an underlying tinge of anger which was a unique choice I’d not seen much of before. He seemed to be angry not AT Valjean but at his circumstances, which really worked well

* One of the factory workers called Fantine a bitch with such vitriol that the dozens of teenagers sitting in front of me on a school tour gasped out loud

* I loved Killian’s acting during the scene when Fantine was fired, she was begging him to look at her letter and Valjean just waved her away - it was made more obvious than in other versions and really helped to heighten his guilt later on when he finds her in the street. Also some excellent background acting with Valjean instructing the workers in the back

* When the man attacked Fantine after Lovely Ladies it was the most violent choreography of it I’ve seen so far. Then Fantine punched AND spat at him

* When Valjean finds Fantine it takes him a good couple minutes to admit his own guilt but when he did it was overwhelming to him

* Killian also kept putting his hand on Fantine’s cheek and then over his own heart…. killed me actually

* Ellie’s “you let your foreman SEND ME AWAY” was breathtaking

* I LOOOOOVED Valjean and Javert’s interactions when Valjean is Mayor because like for example after lifting the cart obviously Valjean had to take off his coat and Javert was holding it and it was after some very tense seconds where Javert was suspicious Valjean just motioned for Javert to return his coat bahahaha. So subtle but so brilliant

* Javert was getting worked up and said “but MONSIEUR LE MAYOR-“ and Valjean just held up a single hand to silence him and it was so perfectly done - I love their shifting power dynamics so much

* And during the Confrontation Valjean stole Javert’s chain and kept slowly wrapping it around his hand before delivering the most satisfying punch

* The little actress who played young Éponine was so fantastic, she kept mirroring Madam T’s behaviour

* I love how the new production emphasises Valjean’s nose boops to Cosette. They are actually so important

* But then… a huge travesty… they changed the line from “Yes Cosette, yes it’s true. I’ll be father and mother to you” to something along the lines of “Yes Cosette, yes it’s true, there’ll be a castle just for you”…. really don’t like this change. I always adored the “father and mother” lyric :(

* And I can’t even keep track of the amount of lyrics changed in Master of the House…

* Once again one of my favourite sections in the musical is The Thénardier Waltz because I adore Valjean’s exasperation and passive aggressive reaction to their antics

* Also when they were talking about his Cosette was often ill, Madam T said to Cosette “play dead!” Excellent new addition

* When Valjean went to pick Cosette up to spin her around Killian said ‘h-UP’ which is such an Irish thing and made me so happy like I really think Killian’s acting with young Cosette and even later with Marius in the sewers has so much more depth since Killian himself has had children 🥺

* Now we’re in Paris (side note they’ve got rid of the location and years projections which I miss…)

* They still have the “everyone’s equal when they’re dead” line for Gavroche which I never liked as much :(

* Although they did let Gavroche carry around a little baton the whole time to mock Javert which I loved

* They made Éponines “I know a lot of things I do” quite overtly sexual which is a change from other versions I’ve seen and I wasn’t mad on it

* I love how the Grantaire and Gavroche has been developed over the years it’s so endearing

* I really loved all the Marius and Grantaire interactions - and really Grantaire with the whole ensemble, such wonderful friendships

* When Enjolras took Grantaire’s bottle off him he immediately took out another one

* Marius sang the first few lines of ‘A Heart Full of Love’ from the top of the fence which I’d never seen before and loved

* Also I am CONVINCED Éponine said “shit!” when she noticed Valjean come out the door

* And later when Éponine delivered the note from Cosette to Marius via Valjean he was so soft towards Éponine and even softer when he realised she was a girl. He clasped her hands and told her to stay away from the barricade

* Death’s kiss!!!!!!! Éponine kissed Marius!!! And I sobbed

* When Éponine was dying one of the Barricade Boys brought Javert out and made him look at her body but Javert kept looking away… oh god quick where is that Éponine and Javert parallel post

* Éponine’s anger at the end of ‘On My Own’ was so palpable and especially her “a world that’s full of happiness that I will never KNOW” was so painful

* Drink with Me while very sad was also very funny because everyone was having a good time and then it’s like “oh good Grantaire is joining in- OH NO HE IS NOT OKAY”

* Enjolras really seemed have a lot of respect for Grantaire in this production which made it all the more painful when Grantaire shook his arm off when Enjolras tried to comfort him

* Grantaire’s “IS YOUR LIFE JUST ONE MORE LIE” really played into his NEED to believe in something

* BRING HIM HOME WAS THE MOST SPECTACULAR PERFORMANCE I HAVE EVER SEEN. I sobbed throughout. Killian is so talented. Because his voice is so soft naturally and the beginning of the song is extra soft it means the gut punch of “the summers DIEEEE ONE BY ONE” all the more powerful

* Grantaire and Enjolras hugged over what they thought was Marius’ dead body… god…

* Valjean looked so devastated that he couldn’t save all the other boys at the barricade oh god it killed me

* Once again Grantaire was the last to die and shouted “YOU BASTARDS”

* One of my FAVOURITE additions to the new Les Mis staging (which Killian does particularly well) is Valjean saying “good boy good boy… good boy” to Marius as he heaved him up. I burst into tears again

* Turning was soooo good because they have a little girl sing the lyric “who will wake them?” and then she stares at Marius as he comes out for Empty Chairs

* I hated the lyric change in Beggars at the Feast from “that one’s a queer but what can you do” to something like “that one’s a queer but guess he’ll do”… like why. why.

* When Valjean was telling Marius about his life he kept rubbing and clutching his wrist which made me think of Fantine’s line about chains binding him… oh god

* As always Valjean’s death was so beautiful and painful… the part of the show that always gets to me the most

* THE BISHOP HUGGED VALJEAN WHEN HE DIED TO WELCOME HIM TO HEAVEN

* and then I died too. I love this musical so much

#sorry for any spelling or grammar mistakes i typed this on the plane #les mis #les miserables #theatre stuff #killian donnelly #… my valjean forever and always

[lisbeth-kk]

Sherlock fandom.

Heartbreaking Lure

“Are you ready, John?” Sherlock shouts from the bedroom.

“Probably not,” John mutters under his breath.

“Sure,” he says out loud.

John must blink several times when his so-called boyfriend appears in the doorway. If he hadn’t been so familiar with Sherlock’s body and demeanour, John wouldn’t have recognised him. Sherlock looks like someone taken out of the hippie era. A golden-haired wig, long and wavy. He has a cerise coloured hairband across his forehead. The shirt is a loose-fitting thing in denim blue embroidered with yellow and red flowers. Low on his hips, a pair of tight white trousers cling to his muscular thighs and widen considerably just below his knees. Worn trainers complete the outfit.

“You don’t do things halfway, do you, love?” John says rhetorically and approaches the figure he almost can’t fathom is Sherlock Holmes.

Before John reaches him, Sherlock puts on a pair of round spectacles with red glasses, which hide those peculiar eyes of his. 

“You know my ways, John,” Sherlock purrs and pulls John in for a languid kiss.

“I do,” John confirms a bit out of breath after the lovely snog. “Now get your gorgeous arse moving, and I’ll see you later.”

John gives Sherlock’s arse cheeks a good squeeze to emphasise his words and Sherlock gives him a wink before bouncing down the stairs.

***

John feels utterly ridiculous when he’s dressed himself. It’s Sherlock who has bought the costume, and of course it reflects one of the many kinks of the detective. However foolish John feels dressed up as a sailor, he knows it’ll be worth it in the end.

The only way John can get Sherlock to attend a carnival, is for a case, like now. They are both undercover trying to catch the jewellery thief red-handed. 

When John arrives at the posh apartment in Mayfair, Sherlock’s nowhere to be seen.

Clueing for looks somewhere, John thinks to himself and chuckles. 

John’s disguise doesn’t stand out at all. There are all sorts of costumes, from the pompous Marie Antoinette figure to something reminiscent of Jean Valjean when he was imprisoned. A few hippies emerge from another room, but none of them is Sherlock.

John wanders around, his hands clasped on his back as if inspecting a regiment. 

Old habits die hard.

A murmur in his ear, startles him.

“As you were, sailor.”

“Git,” John hisses. “We don’t know each other, remember.”

Sherlock’s rumble is low and makes John’s knees weak with desire. The power Sherlock’s voice has over him should be alarming, but the feeling is far too delicious to fight. 

“The library in five minutes. Second door to the right,” Sherlock whispers and gives John’ earlobe a lick before he’s gone.

John takes a deep breath and steels himself for the confrontation that will happen in a few minutes.

***

“Stop laughing,” John complains when they’re back at Baker Street.

“But, darling, you look so sweet when you’re like this,” Sherlock explains, his voice filled to the brim with glee.

The confrontation had gone well, until the thief had tried to flee. John had tackled the woman, dressed as Zorro, in some sort of boudoir. She had been like an eel in John’s hands and had gotten a hold of a jar of glitter that she had thrusted at John. Sherlock and Lestrade came to his rescue, but the glitter stuck to John’s face, neck, hair and hands.

“I’m taking a shower!” John exclaims while Sherlock still shakes with laughter.

“Jo…John, don…don’t be upset. You look ador…”

“Shut it, Sherlock! Not funny anymore,” John spits and marches to the bathroom.

It takes forever to get rid of all the twinkly bits, and John’s mood has not improved. When he finally turns off the shower, he hears familiar music being played in the sitting room. It’s something John always describes as a heartbreaking lure. “In the Cluster Blues”. One of his favourites, and Sherlock’s way of apologising.

John smiles, his mood suddenly lightening, something only one person in the world is able to make happen so quickly. His beloved Sherlock Holmes.

@flashfictionfridayofficial @totallysilvergirl @keirgreeneyes @calaisreno @a-victorian-girl @phoenix27884 @helloliriels @safedistancefrombeingsmart @gregorovitchworld @peanitbear @topsyturvy-turtely @raina-at @7-percent @ninasnakie

#flash fiction friday #FFF243 #sherlock fandom #john watson #sherlock #bbc sherlock #johnlock #sherlock fanfic #glitter and blues

[secretmellowblog]

People always take the line “Javert was tempted to fling himself upon Jean Valjean, seize him, and devour him: that is, to say arrest him” out of context in order to make it seem gay. But when you read it in context, it’s actually a lot gayer.

My pet peeve is that people often act like this line represents Javert’s “usual” feelings about arresting Jean Valjean—-“See, Javert doesn’t want to arrest Jean Valjean because he’s a bootlicking authoritarian who enforces unjust laws, hes just homoerotically obsessed with him!” But Javert really isn’t obsessed with Jean Valjean in the novel. They reunite mainly by coincidence and chance, and Javert doesn’t think too much about him outside of doing his job…until after Jean Valjean saves his life at the barricades, and Javert suddenly begins to develop Emotions.

The “seize and devour him” line is from the scene where Javert is considering suicide, and reflecting on the new agonized complicated emotions he’s only just started to develop for Jean Valjean.

Here’s the full paragraph it’s from with the pieces people always leave out:

Twenty times, as he sat in that carriage face to face with Jean Valjean, the legal tiger had roared within him. A score of times he had been tempted to fling himself upon Jean Valjean, to seize him and devour him, that is to say, to arrest him. What more simple, in fact? To cry out at the first post that they passed:—“Here is a fugitive from justice, who has broken his ban!” to summon the gendarmes and say to them: “This man is yours!” then to go off, leaving that condemned man there, to ignore the rest and not to meddle further in the matter. This man is forever a prisoner of the law; the law may do with him what it will. What could be more just? Javert had said all this to himself; he had wished to pass beyond, to act, to apprehend the man, and then, as at present, he had not been able to do it; and every time that his arm had been raised convulsively towards Jean Valjean’s collar, his hand had fallen back again, as beneath an enormous weight, and in the depths of his thought he had heard a voice, a strange voice crying to him:—“It is well. Deliver up your savior. Then have the basin of Pontius Pilate brought and wash your claws.”

I feel like it’s important that this line is followed up immediately with the description “he had not been able to do it”— with Javert hesitating as he reaches for Jean Valjean’s collar and letting his hand fall, because he can’t bring himself to hurt him for reasons he doesn’t understand.

The reason this description is so visceral and feral isn’t because “this is how he usually feels about arresting Jean Valjean all the time” but because post-barricades Javert is in a frenzied desperate suicidal state, like an animal backed into a corner.

Javert is frequently compared to animals throughout the novel— he is the “watchdog” of the government, the domesticated wolf who is tolerated because he hunts down the wild wolves like Jean Valjean. But here finally feels shame and disgust at his own animalistic violence. He feels a tiger roar within him, is furiously certain that he is obligated to arrest Jean Valjean— but then he notices how animalistic and monstrous he is, and that his hands are “claws,” and he suddenly feels a deep confused shame.

I think you can also analyze this line through the layer of….Javert doesn’t actually know what he’s feeling, and so he is attempting to describe all of his emotions through the language of prisons and police. The only metaphors he has to explain his feelings to himself are the metaphors of are arrest, violence, and hunting. And I think in that context it’s also possible to read this paragraph as Javert’s confusion over wanting to touch Jean Valjean, but not wanting to hurt him— and not understanding what that means. He wants to seize him, which must mean he wants to arrest him— but he doesn’t actually want to arrest him. He keeps raising his hand to reach out to him and then letting it fall. What does it mean if he has a violent visceral emotional desire to touch someone, to seize and devour someone— but does not actually want to hurt them? Is someone whose hands are “claws” even capable of that?

Idk, I often see this line used to ‘prove’ how Javert’s weird vaguely homoerotic feelings for Jean Valjean are what make him predatory and violent —but to me actually it’s the opposite. Javert’s obsession with authority makes him predatory and violent, and the weird vaguely homoerotic emotions he develops for Jean Valjean are what finally make him hesitate, and ‘let his hand fall’ rather than hurt him.

#Les mis #is this coherent? #no #but i always get in a mood when I reread detailed #anyway. #diversity win!! the deranged authoritarian bigoted police officer is gay!

[enjolrasling]

I saw the Les Miserables US tour on Tuesday and am still IN MY FEELINGS about it, so here’s a random assortment of somewhat coherent thoughts/rambles/write up/review.

(Note: I saw the entire principle cast except Randy Jeter (who was out) and two ensemble swings. Andrew Marks Maughan was pulling double duty as both the Bishop and Combferre.)

• I didn’t know anything about Nick Cartell going in, but holy fuck, that VOICE. Tone is immaculate. Lungs of fucking steel.

• “Another story must beGINNNNNN” are you kidding me Nick. Who gave you the right to be this talented. Why is this man not more famous?!

• Preston Truman Boyd as Javert - voice is great, nice deep baritone. I wanted a smidge more from him acting wise though (this improved over the course of his performance).

• Nick and Preston sound phenomenal together, their voices work SO WELL.

• Haley Dortch has the voice of an angel and I loved her portrayal of Fantine.

• I appreciated that when Fantine was attacked/arrested all of the lovely ladies kept trying to stop it/help her. A nice staging touch.

• The whole transition into the courtroom was fantastic. Nick with that ending note of “Who Am I?” 🤯 I feel like I heard a few nods to Colm’s Valjean throughout Nick’s performance, this being one, which I appreciated on a cellular level.

• Confrontation sounded sooo good. It is a little goofy looking because Nick is so much shorter/smaller than Preston, which made the whole Valjean-as-stronger-man thing a bit silly. The blocking here didn’t do much for me. But what can you do. However! The “you’ll wear a different CHAInnn!” *cue Present with the chain hitting the stage floor* was fierce.

• It took a minute but Matt Crowle really won me over as Thénardier. Acting choices were 💯 without going over the top.

• There was a lot going on during “Master of the House” and it was a lot of fun, but also hard to catch everything.

• Gavroche was delightful. As usual.

• I’m not sure why Enjolras’ blonde wig was so bad, but it was really distracting. Devin Archer does a very decent Enjolras, but man that wig was not doing him any favors.

• Marius’ entrance was forgettable. I think this was more a staging issue than a reflection on Jake David Smith maybe? All the students kind of looked the same at this time. I had a hard time telling Les Amis apart all night, honestly. Except for Enjolras and Grantaire, obviously, which brings me to….

• Kyle Adams. You freaking fan-servicing national treasure. Cards on the table, seeing reviews of Kyle’s Grantaire was the single biggest reason I decided to catch this tour, and I was really, REALLY hoping to see him in the role. I did not think anyone would ever come close to eclipsing Hadley as my R of all time, but Kyle is right up there in his orbit. Omg that scene stealing little shit. He really put his all into “the drunk one”. Blowing the kiss to E at the end of Red and Black. Continually slapping people with his coat jacket. The dick-bottle in Enjolras’ face. Constantly goofing around with Gavroche. It was all gold. I really appreciate an actor who’s done their homework, and Kyle is very obviously well versed in both the source material and the rabid E/R fan fiction. His performance is a love letter to the fans - to those of us who have cried over the brick, who have watched every musical version we’ve been able to get our hands on over and over again - and I love that for all of us.

• Anyway, back to “Red and Black”. Devin is great, really brings the sassy Enjolras energy. Marius is….kind of forgettable again. Sorry, Jake. Enjolras when he grabs that flag…Devin is really serving.

• “Do You Hear the People Sing” was wonderfully rousing, as always. One of my favorites forever. The transition to the streets was very pleasing. Again, Devin with that damn flag. I might end up shipping Enj with the flag as much as E and R, he’s that passionate with it 🤣

• Delaney Guyer was a perfectly pleasant Cosette. No criticisms, I just haven’t really ever cared about Cosette much as a character. Her songs do very little for me. But Delaney was lovely.

• Mya Rena Hunter as Eponine was somewhat “meh” for me. Her vocals are killer and “On My Own” got one of the biggest ovations of the night, but I didn’t love her acting choices. Or maybe lack there of, it didn’t seem like there were any. I dunno.

• The staging/choreo for “One Day More” was really entertaining. Much better than the underwhelming marching I saw in the 2012 production. Devin serving sassy, dramatic Enjolras with flair and a rifle is a whole ass mood.

• I fucking love the barricade set. Seeing Les Amis climb all over that thing is such a moment. Enjolras literally leaping off the set multiple times. Dude gets AIR.

• Gavroche flipping off Javert was an audience favorite.

• “A Little Falls of Rain” was underwhelming. The staging was a bit awkward and there was no scene chemistry between Jake and Mya. I really wanted to feel something. I didn’t. Just eh.

• “Drink With Me”, on the other hand, was so wonderfully emotional. Kyle’s stying of R’s verse is an angrier, grittier interpretation and I’m sooo here for it. Enjolras goes to console him and R pushes him away. The pain feels so real.

• “Bring Him Home”….Nick. Fucking. Cartell. I have no words. He cast an absolute SPELL over the theater. His breath control is super human. His last “home” note went on FOREVER. Absolutely phenomenal. Hands down best version I’ve ever heard live. Biggest ovation of the night.

• Gavroche’s death 😭 So sad, so well done. It was very striking how he was shot just as Enjolras’ hand reached up for him as he returned. The timing, the lights, sound everything was excellent. Then he crumpled onto E’s shoulder. E handed his lifeless body to R, who was just devastated. I love the relationship they created between Gavroche and R this production. The entire build up of their interactions made this moment so poignant and believable.

• Christopher Robin Sapp really took his 5 seconds of National Guard Officer/Loud Hailer time and absolutely slayed it. I want to see more of this guy in the future.

• The choreo of the final battle was very satisfying. I totally missed Marius getting injured and just mistook him for another student because again….Marius was just not catching any of my attention this tour, lol. The frantic moment between E and R in this scene was so raw and well done by both actors. R reaching for E’s face, clasping hands so very briefly. Ugh.

• Then E with the flag again. This scene is so striking and Devin gives it EVERYTHING. Then R climbing up after E once he gets shot and falls off of the barricade. The way it takes a few moments for R to die after being shot and Kyle freaking Adams makes sure the audience knows it…

• I was lucky enough to see a production with the revolving stage back in the day and I’m really glad I did, because the reveal of Enjolras’ body hanging upside down off the other side of the barricade with the flag is one of those theater moments that will haunt me forever. Enjolras’ lifeless body in the cart just doesn’t have quite that same punch, but it’s timed very nicely with the music swell, and the way his body shifts/almost falls out of the cart when it’s carried away again is quite effective.

• Ok so the sewers. That was cool. I felt like this production used just enough of the screen to really assist the set design without relying on it too much. It worked really well for the orchestration and gave depth to Valjean just dragging Marius across the stage 3 times.

• Thénardier dragging in that corpse by his ankles for “Dog Eats Dog” lol. Matt really showed up for this scene. I think he did a good job of dipping into the “comedic” aspects of Thénardier as well as balancing the really rotten parts - this was a really great rotten part. I thoroughly enjoyed his turn as the infamous innkeeper.

• Javert is such a little drama queen.

• “Stars” was A++++. One of my forever favorites anyway, but Preston took this song to church. Also, I do NOT remember this staging, if it’s what I saw in 2012 (I don’t think so?!) and holy shit. I was not expecting what they did, which got quite a few gasps from the audience. The falling/floating/reaching while holding that last “ONNNNNNN” was a fucking MOMENT. Props to this production set up. Major props to Preston. Just wow.

• The transition from “Turning” to “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” was beautiful, and I love love love the candle choreography. When Les Amis blow their candles out….ugh 😭 This number was a bit of redemption for Jake David Smith, who until now had kept slipping into the background. I found his Marius to be a bit uninspired and unrecognizable for the most part. He did not bring much of a presence to the role until this moment. But his vocals were great here, and the anguish felt genuine.

• I don’t have much too say about “Beggars at the Feast” because I was too busy watching no one but Kyle Adams as Major Domo for the entire scene 🤷🏻‍♀️

• But omg the change of Thénardier’s lyrics from “this one’s a queer / but what can you do?” to “this one’s a queer / I might try it too” and then he dips that random wedding guest dude was a giant yes from me.

• Finale left a touch to be desired blocking/staging wise. I remember feeling that way with the 2012 production as well. Les Mis is just such a powerful musical, I feel like it deserves a bigger ending than basically everyone just standing in two lines behind Cosette and Marius. The cast’s vocals made up for the lack of production though. Truly so, so good.

• In conclusion: Nick Cartell has an otherworldly voice and Kyle Adams is the Grantaire we all deserve. I am so, SO glad I got to experience this cast.

#les miserables #les mis #les mis tour #review #rambles #text post #kyle adams #nick cartell #devin archer

[cliozaur]

“I have come to sleep with you,” I think it’s one of the best lines in the Brick!

The initial impulse while reading this chapter might be frustration with Marius. His seemingly aimless musings, which Hugo attributes to excessive daydreaming and lack of work, could certainly agitate the reader. However, before passing judgment, consider them as indicative of deep depression. In addition to his past traumas, the incident at the Gorbeau house was a jarring experience for him. He believes he has lost his beloved forever, can no longer even call her "Ursula," is unable to work, has lost his source of income, and his clothes are deteriorating. According to Hugo, all Marius can do is daydream. Hugo then delves into contemplations on the perils of excessive daydreaming, and he acknowledges that it can lead to tragic outcomes: “By dint of going outdoors to think, the day comes when one goes out to throw one’s self in the water” (why does it always involve drowning in suicide? Was it the only way Parisians killed themselves in Hugo’s time?) But I suspect that Hugo mistakenly takes depression for “excessive dreaming.” At this point Marius is not explicitly suicidal but just wait for it. The way Hugo explains Escousse’s and Lebras’ suicides as stemming from an excess of “reverie” also, in my opinion, underscores his misunderstanding of the situation.

However, what truly and consistently vexes me, though, is Marius' unwavering determination to pay the debt to Thénardier. Even after witnessing the despicable acts committed by this man in the Gorbeau house, this itch appears to become even stronger. To the extent that Marius has broken his personal taboo against borrowing from his friends (actually, should be singular, his friend Courfeyrac). I can partly comprehend why Hugo chose to portray abominable Thénardier as invincible and unsinkable, yet this doesn't prevent me from becoming upset and irritated with individuals who have the potential to be harmed by him and yet still inadvertently empower him by providing him money (not only Marius, but also Jean Valjean).

And of course, I should say something about Javert as he was mentioned in this chapter. It’s rather amusing that he has forgotten Marius’ name and was unable to trace him when he needed him! Javert, who is usually so sharp and almost intimately knows his Pattron-Minette and their associates, forgets the name of a lawyer who came to the police station to report a crime. This only reinforces the notion that Javert is solely interested in individuals when they are involved in criminal or potentially criminal activities. He must have been disappointed in Marius, whom he initially commended for his courage, but whom he suspected had faltered at the last moment.

#les mis letters #les miserables #marius pontmercy #courfeyrac #thenardier #javert #jean valjean #patron minette #lm 4.2.1

[thechaoticfanartist]

The Grim & Maul team up lives in my head forever and always

Tag List (let me know if you want to be added or removed) : @padme--amygdala @soclonely @mrfandomwars @jgvfhl @starlonkedd @milfspectre1 @togrutanduin @jedi-valjean @one-real-imonkey @traygaming @aiylasdrawings @keoxus  @dykerebel @veiled-in-stars @sentineljedi @spicysucculentz @amelia-song-pond @kohtoyah @saturnsokas @thejediprincessqueenofnaboo @veradragonjedi @arrthurpendragon

#grim kennet #star wars #my oc #star wars oc #jedi oc #my art #fanart #star wars the clone wars #star wars art #sw art #darth maul #grim and maul #tcwganv art

[queerprayers]

some Sunday thoughts (Broadway edition)

I saw Les Miserables on tour last week and it hasn't left me. I've loved the musical my whole life, but I had never actually seen it live. (Official review: A masterpiece. Best cast I've ever heard, especially Valjean. And I've listened to every recording. If you have a chance, go see it!) I've always connected with it spiritually, but seeing it in person really solidified its meaning for me. I can't think of another work that so clearly lays out love as an act of God, and the evils of police and prisons and criminal records, and the hope that is present even (and especially) when everything fails. It's a tragedy, you know from the beginning it's a tragedy--but that doesn't erase the love. I've always come back to it.

The Bishop is one of my favorite characters in basically anything, and his one act of love, an act of love that includes welcoming a felon and lying to a cop, changes a man's life forever. I yearn for a world in which all religious officials so clearly embody Jesus. Showing love to vulnerable people makes us vulnerable; we know this. But Les Mis tells us that it's worth it, that even if they take advantage of us, maybe we can give them one more act of grace--it could be the difference. We can't only love those we trust--and we are called to trust even the most untrustworthy with our love. It is their path to choose what to do with it.

Javert (the cop) is shown that same love, of genuine forgiveness and goodwill, and instead of changing his heart it hardens it, because he can't reconcile love with his worldview, and it's his ruin. He's a perfect policemen, following each letter of the law--and so evil comes from his hands. He sees doubt as an enemy, questioning the status quo as heresy, justice as synonymous with punishment. And we see him die, not as punishment, but as tragedy. So many other characters' tragedies come from love, but his comes from fear--and we know there's a difference. All lives hold tragedy, and we can't choose our end, but maybe if we love and love and love, our tragedy will look a little more like those at the barricade than Javert's.

The parallels between Valjean and Javert could fill a book. For now: When we are confronted with love that breaks down all our walls, may it give us new foundations instead of bury us. May we break with terrifying honesty, and face the horizon, instead of fading into the night.

I'm iffy with tags on this blog (I promise I'll organize it someday), but one of the tags I've actually kept up with is "to love another person is to see the face of God." If anyone didn't know, that's a line from the finale of this show, and it's the line that probably best describes my religious practice. Someday I'll have it tattooed on me. So: whose eyes will you see God in today?

Anyway, this is all to say it won't hit the same without narrative/character/reprisal context, but here's the finale. Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise. Y'know the world you long to see? I can hear it in the distance. Don't you think it's worth a little tragedy?

<3 Johanna

#niche posts with johanna! #need a late Lenten practice? #if you wanna get into the show i would go for the 10th anniversary concert version on youtube!

[oldbutnotyetwise]

One More Day

     One More Day.  What do you think of when you hear that?  Maybe that Country Music Song by Diamond Rio.  You know the one, 

Last night I had a crazy dream

A Wish was granted just for me

It could be for anything

I didn’t ask for money

or a mansion in Malibu

I simply wished for one more day with you.

     Or perhaps you think of the other song of the same name from the Musical Les Mis that is sung by the lead character Jean Valjean.

     Or perhaps you are less musical and more  inclined towards books and movies in which case you might think of the book by Mitch Albom of the same name, which was then made into a TV movie.

     All of these are about getting another day with a loved one after someone has died.  They are about regret, wishing a wish that can never come true, other than in a song, book or movie.

     My body is slowly dying, leaving my able mind trapped inside this shell of a body, a body that was once able, but now is very unable.  So please excuse my premature One More Day, I’m not dead…yet, but my one more day is about having one more day inside a capable, working body, and how I would choose to spend it. 

     What follows is not a perfect day, I’m not sure that “A Perfect Day” actually exists.  What follows is a good day, a very good day spent as I wish I could spend it, if only my body hadn’t one day become the enemy, always looking to gain more ground in its war against me.

     My day would start off just before Sunrise when I would make love to my beautiful wife Robin.  Afterwards we would lay in bed, wrapped in each other’s arms, under the Comforter as we watched a remarkable sunrise through our bedroom window.  The sun slowly creeping up, peaking just above the eastern horizon and slowly chasing the darkness away, as well as the fog that often lingered in the valley, offering all the hope that comes with a new day.

     I would then get myself up and out of bed, I would put on my running gear and go for a nice comfortable 10 K run with my daughter Elizabeth.  It would be down country roads and dirt paths, we would run across deer and other wildlife enjoying their early morning, they would just look up at us as we casually ran by before returning to their grazing.  Elizabeth and I would enjoy easy conversation about any number of things, the kind of conversation that only a father and daughter who are also friends can partake in.

     After the run we would return home where Robin would have made us a delicious breakfast consisting of an Omelette, Bacon, Home-fries and Toast.  We would enjoy the delicious food, the three of us would laugh as we shared good conversation while the dogs laid at our feet.

     After breakfast the three of us would take the dogs for a hike around our farm property.  While Tia would be bounding off into the surrounding fields and woods, popping out every once in a while to check on our progress, Kiwi would forever be dropping her stick in front of us, sad brown eyes looking up at us, pleading with us to throw the stick for her.  

     Then I would get on my tractor with the Bush Hog and I would go out and work on the hiking trails for an hour or two, cleaning them up, smoothing dirt out, removing any limbs that had fallen across the trail or perhaps digging up and moving a boulder that was in the way.  

     After a delicious lunch made with vegetables freshly picked from our garden Robin and I would go for a hike on the trails I had been working on, holding hands, looking for any changes, wondering how long ago the bear had been there pooping on the trail.  We would stop repeatedly, looking around at our property amazed at how incredibly fortunate we were to get to live in this incredible piece of land that seemed so disconnected from the outside world.

     After we returned home I would go out to the workshop where I would pick out a beautiful piece of Olive wood that I would turn on my lathe, and then after applying the finish I would assemble a new wooden pen that I would put aside until I give to some dear friend who I thought would appreciate it. 

     It will be time for supper soon but I will sneak out on my motorcycle for a quick ride exploring some nearby dirt and gravel roads.  It feels good to ride for the joy of riding rather than needing to get somewhere. 

     Once back home Robin, Elizabeth and I quickly get on our way to a quaint little Italian Restaurant, the kind that is dimly lit, with bright red velvet curtains and small votive candles on the tables covered with red tablecloths.  The restaurant is closed for a private event  tonight, it is a gathering of my closest friends (you know who you are).  There is no head table, just tables set side by side and around in a rectangle with no one on the inside so everyone can see each other.  My meal starts with warm fresh bread and rolls on the table, from the aroma of the warm bread I know it will taste as good as it smells.   Then a serving of Roasted Red Pepper Soup that is just slightly spicy that warms me from my mouth down to my stomach.  After the soup a plate of Chicken Parmigiana with a side of pasta in red sauce is placed in front of me.  The sauce is nice and thick, the chicken parmigiana is a good sized piece smothered in cheese, and there is Parmesan Cheese generously sprinkled over the entire plate.  Once my plate is mostly empty I use the bread and rolls to mop up any sign of sauce on the plate, so much so that it looks like it should go back on the shelf rather than in the dishwasher.  The finale is the Creme Brûlée which comes out perfectly browned and crusty on the top.  I hit the top of it with the back of my spoon and watch the cracks spread before digging in and getting the right balance of custard and crusty topping on my spoon.  As the meal comes to a close I acknowledge that I have eaten too much, but I have no regrets.

     Now before I leave I have time to visit. Somehow the clock has been stopped and I get all the time I want to spend with each and everyone of these incredible people before having to say goodnight.  As I get ready to leave I stop at the door and look back at the faces of my best and dearest friends looking back at me and my heart is bursting with love and gratitude for having these extraordinary people in my life.

     Later upon returning home my friend Suzanne has come over and together we play our guitars and sound just like the amateur folk duo that we are as we sing songs from the 60’s and 70’s.  

     As the sun is starting to head for the horizon the last dog walk of the day is undertaken, the breeze is moving the branches of the nearby trees, the birds are all quiet now, the slight scent of smoke from a neighbour’s wood stove, and not a sound of civilization can be heard.  Kiwi and Tia are enjoying their last out as mother nature paints the sky with shades of red, orange and yellow.  I stand there watching the sun dip below the horizon, the light of the day evaporating before my eyes.  I make my way back to the house, my favourite place in the world, my safe place.  Before I go inside I pause and stare up at the incredible night sky jamb packed full of stars, a sight only country people get to enjoy.

     Everyone else has gone home, Robin is waiting there at the kitchen table with a game of Backgammon set up.  As she often does Robin gets an inexplicably large amount of double sixes and beats me two games to one, and I smile as she does her happy victory dance about the kitchen.  

     Together we go to our bedroom, get undressed and climb into bed.  We exchange our nightly I Love You's, wrap our arms around one another, our bodies tightly held against each other, cheek to cheek while we slowly drift off to sleep.  The day ends as it has begun, in the arms of love.

     I wasn’t able to fit everything into this day, there was no Cribbage game with my dear friend, no game of Mexican Train Dominoes with whatever friends were visiting, no time spent sipping scotch with a friend who enjoys the same elixir, no savouring a warm cup of tea with my old partner from work, no heart to heart chat with my close friend, no meeting with my friend for our Thai lunch, no working in the garden in my overalls until my brow was covered in a pasty combination of dirt and sweat.  Clearly one day wasn’t long enough.

     How would you choose to spend your day if you had the opportunity to pick from all your favourite things to do and people to be with?  Oh wait, that’s right.  You are probably physically capable of making a day like that happen, so I guess the second question is why don’t you?

#als #one more day #love my wife

[boxfivetrades]

something that really annoys me about joj is i think he didn't like to play phantom with an actress who had previously played cosette to his valjean aka gina beck and katie hall, which is dumb bc he's an actor. he said back then it was "weird" to kiss them. gina was always very emotional when returning the ring, but with john he didn't let her do it as much, don't get me wrong their final lair is my absolutely favorite but it could have been even better, obviously they only did one performance and he was recovery that day which makes it even more amazing. with katie he had some time to get used to her as christine and despite how terrible the restaged blockings were he had great chemistry with her. i so wish they had work together again after the tour, forever bitter over that. joj&katie are my fav pair and they were the closest to match phantom and christine in leroux's novel besides michael and sarah.

i will raise your complaint with john next time i see him.…

[fixaidea]

Name three fics:

A/B/O, any fandom

50 shades, any trope

Valjean x Javert

I shall go with no. 2:

Christian Grey was not into men.

Nor was he, as a rule, into blonds.

And yet, here in the depth of a London nightclub, amid the throbbing music and strobing lights, he found himself being charmed by a golden-headed youth.

'I am forever in chase of the New, the Unusual, the... Sensual' the young man told him, when asked about what he was doing here. Christian wondered if he was meant to recognise a quote here, or if his new acquaintance just always talked like this.

Whatever, the boy looked like a tasty morcel.

'I could certainly show you all of that and more.'

'So I hear Mr Grey. Rumour has it you are... something else.'

Christian grinned.

'I see my reputation precedes me' he drawled, languidly leaning back in the leather couch 'Would you care to find out, Mr Gray?'

The youth took a suggestive drag of his expensive cigar and flashed a row of pearly teeth at him.

'Call me Dorian.'

#in which christian sticks his dick in crazy and shows dorian just how disappointing a man can be #50 shades of gray #fanfic woes

[thatoneguyletoturnedintoafrog]

so, after roughly two and a half months, I have finally finished reading Les Misérables, by Victor Hugo, translated from French to English by Lee Fahnestock and Norman Macafee. (I am a little relieved to no longer have to carry around a very, very thick book with me everywhere I go.)

Finishing a book that's taken me this long to read is always sort of bittersweet. On one hand, I feel the sense of accomplishment of finally finishing this huge book I've been working on for forever! But on the other hand, I feel a little sad. Finishing this book felt a little like saying goodbye to an old friend. Again, I've carried this book around for a while! It's sort of been my little traveling companion.

on the bright side, I actually haven't listened to the musical yet, so I'm planning on doing that sometime today or tomorrow. I've heard great things about it, and I'm very excited to see how it adapts the plot and the characters! I've heard snippets and I've liked all that I've heard so far. I did really, really love this novel. The characters were all absolutely fascinating and tragic in their own ways, and the points that Victor Hugo makes indirectly through the plot or directly by stating them are all still very relevant and important today. I'm definitely going to take time in the next little bit to talk about each individual character, because augh!!!! Victor Hugo is so good at making you hate or love characters! You love and root for Jean Valjean constantly and you want him to be happy, and even though Cosette and Marius can be really silly and frustrating sometimes you still want them to be alright in the end, and you love all of Les Amis de l'ABC and you cry with them and celebrate with them throughout the whole Barricade Scene, and augh!!! I loved this novel so so much, even that slightly tiring Waterloo part. prepare for me being very annoying about this!!!! :)

#Les Misérables #les mis

[vapaus-ystavyys-tasaarvo]

Pilf's tags on the Théodule post reminded me of the fic concept I always wanted to see but felt too intimidated to write where the Amis befriended Fantine and they tried to help her track down Cosette but lost the trail once Valjean adopted her. And then of course it takes everyone a WHILE to connect the dots between Marius' secret new goth girlfriend (that he hasn't introduced to anyone) and Fantine's lost daughter.

(I was gonna say modern au but you know what, I'm up for anything actually)

(In fact my werewolf AU that I just forever kept rewriting the first chapter of and never got any further kinda had this as a sideplot, rip)

[euphraisette]

tell me about marius and cosettes children pls

HUZZAH I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS QUESTION

modern au because that's just where my head lives ok

so like i've said before i imagine that it's been a lifelong dream of cosette's to adopt when it came time for her to have children because it was such a lifesaver for her to be adopted by valjean and she wants to be able to save another kid from a bad home situation and give them all of the love and protection and good opportunities that she was given when she was taken away from the inn

and marius like never rlly thought about that?? like he wasn't against it it just wasn't something that particularly occurred to him but when cosette bring it up he falls head over heels for the idea and yeah like less than a year into dating they decide that that's what they're doing

(also offside but i hc marius and cosette as dating for like, a loooooong time before they get married and then waiting like 5+ years to adopt after the fact, mostly because they want to be really settled and stable before they start their family and they meet before either of their prefrontal cortexes have finished developing and cosette is very aware of this so she makes Marius wait like 5 years before they get married, tho he'd have married her on the spot the moment they met if he'd let her)

BUT ANYWAYS i hc they adopt a little girl and then when their daughter goes into school and they have a little more free time on their hands they become foster parents to twin boys who they eventually end up adopting. their daughter is named fantine eponine and she sort of looks a lot like musichetta which cosette loves and musichetta and fantine bond instantly and are close forever and ever

and the rest of the amis are so in love w her and protective of her from the moment marius and cosette bring her home they are the best aunts and uncles in the world courfeyrac reads her endless stories no matter how many times she asks him to repeat the same page over and over again and grantaire sings her lullabies and feuilly paints little birds on the wall above her cot and joly is on call 24/7 for all of the new parent's worries about every little cough and sneeze and too-long blink and enjolras buys baby books about historical figures who were amazing women and buys little plaques for her room with inspirational quotes and bossuet makes her little flower crowns and braids strands of costume-jewellry pearls into her hair when it gets long enough and lets her do makeovers on him and combeferre has a special butterfly pressed in glass for her and instills 'bring your niece to work day' so she can run around the museum and jehan knits her a blanket with her initials monogrammed and eponine is actually the best babysitter because she's quiet and sort of plaintive with the baby which puts the baby at ease so she can sleep and bahorel gets a tattoo of a little cursive 'f' on his hand and helps teach her how to ride a bike and whenever she has like an important day at school or a dance recital or sporting event or smth they ALL show up and cheer and bring flowers and cry over her and eventually they mellow out with their excitement but the first few years they are NON STOP

then when they bring home they boys, georges courfeyrac and jean enjolras, the whole ordeal starts up again

and marius and cosette are the best parents, they've both done a lot of work on themselves to overcome their trauma from their childhoods and marius is so overly cautious, especially when the kids are babies, that he'll drop them or rattle them or otherwise disturb them and he's sort of a helicopter parent like lourding over the kids taking their first steps or using a spoon for the first time or toddling around the house worried they'll get hurt but he's so unabashedly affectionate with all three of them, especially his sons, because it's important for him to let them know that their father loves them and will always be there for them and will never abandon them no matter what

and cosette is so naturally maternal it comes so easily and quickly to her that it almost makes marius panic like 'what am i doing wrong :(((((' like i imagine hime to be the type of dad whos baby starts crying as soon as he picks them up but it's just because he always picks them up right after they eat or after they've woken up from a nap so they have gas and need to be changed and he takes it sooooo personally but once cosette sort of teaches him how to know the baby's cues and when they need what he becomes so confident and like a super-dad basically

THIS WAS GREAT IL DEF COME BACK TO THIS BC I HAVE SOOOOOOOOO MUCH MORE TO SAY BUT PLS TALK TO ME MORE ABT THIS KIND OF STUFF IT WAS SORELY NEEDED

#hcs #les mierables #les mis #les amis #les miserables headcanon #les mis headcanons #les amis headcanons #cosette #marius pontmercy

[hunnothyun]

Musical

In my eyes, they represented different forms of love.

I already knew what the next scene would be, but the scenes before me felt always new. 

I watched the musical Les Misérables for the first time. I had previously encountered this work in a movie, and it had touched me deeply. The fact that it was presented as a musical added a refreshing mood to the experience. The performances by the actors were outstanding, and I was captivated by the various ways in which the characters lived amidst the backdrop of the French Revolution. In my eyes, they represented different forms of love: love for justice, love driven by desire, love for children, and love for a better life.

From that moment, I longed to visit London and witness the magic of Les Misérables in person. I discussed this plan with my mom during a trip to Italy last year. We contemplated the idea of extending our journey to England. We would take a plane and attend a musical. However, as I was serving in the military at the time, traveling to England was restricted by regulations. I had to abide by the rules and couldn't fulfill my dream of experiencing Les Misérables in London. It left me feeling deeply disappointed.

Preparing for my trip to England, the most crucial wish was to watch Les Misérables. Other plans and schedules seemed trivial in comparison. I believed that witnessing the musical live at a London theater would be an immensely moving experience. So, I booked a ticket for 75£. I watched the movie again and even read the original novel by Victor Hugo to refresh my memory before attending the musical.

The day of the trip arrived, and it felt like destiny was finally on my side. I reached Soho, and the night streets of London displayed their enchanting beauty. December in London was adorned with vibrant decorations, proudly proclaiming the arrival of Christmas. I boarded a red double-decker bus, navigating through the bustling crowds until we reached the theater. Standing in line, I noticed a large poster adorning the theater, igniting my anticipation that soon, I would have an unforgettable memory.

Les Misérables possessed a unique charm. One particular scene stood out: detector Javert's pivotal decision to capture Jean Valjean. The stage backdrop, coupled with a projector, created a mesmerizing visual of Javert descending from top to bottom. It was a creative production that left a lasting impression. Although the stage was quite distant, I held my head up high, fighting back tears of joy. Finally, I was witnessing the musical I had yearned for all along.

As the musical finished, the audience erupted in cheers, offering a standing ovation. The actors acknowledged the applause with bright smiles. Les Misérables had become a remarkable milestone in my life. Although I already knew what the next scene would entail, the moments before me remained eternally fresh and new. The narrative of Jean Valjean, transforming from a vessel of hatred to a life fueled by love, will forever dwell in my heart.

#Germany #Travel #Essay #ExchangeStudent

[fantasywritten]

Send me your URL and I'll tell you

My Opinion on; @dcmur3

Character in general: VALERIE MY BELOVED 🥺🥺🥺 There are hardly any words to describe how much I adore her. With how long we’ve written together and how many interactions we’ve had, she is a cornerstone of my tumblr rp experience!!! Her dynamics with almost ALL of my characters — notably, Peeta, Adam, Haymitch, Valjean… I KNOW I’m forgetting people lolol but just. All of the dynamics and interactions are so cherished by me ❤️❤️❤️ I literally love Valerie so much it’s unreal lolol

How they play them: Again, there are no words. ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!! Valerie is the perfect combination of sweet, naive, innocent, yet… not TOO naive, not TOO innocent. She is absolutely adorable!! I want to scoop her up and give her the biggest hug in the whole wide world!!! I am honestly so lucky and so blessed to have such amazing interactions with her!!

Do I:

RP with them: Forever and always!!!

Want to RP with them: For as long as I am rping, I will be rping with Carp 💕 she is a literal angel with INCREDIBLE writing skills!!! What more could you ask for?

What is my

Overall Opinion: My favorite thing about Carp is how freaking SWEET she is ❤️❤️❤️ she is so incredibly genuine and puts so much of her heart and thoughts into her replies, both IC and OOC!! I honestly don’t know how she does it lolol. She’s extremely consistent, extremely sweet, and a literal model of what the tumblr rpc should be like!!! I love her with all of my heart and soul ❤️❤️ plus she is willing to interact with ANY AND ALL of my muses which. That’s just incredible to me!! In conclusion, if you’re not writing with Carp, you’re missing out 🩷🩷

**Note: Mun’s answer are all to be completely honest. Don’t send url if you don’t want brutal honesty

#literally love you to the ends of the earth #✽ (out of character) — allison speaks #✽ (answered) — ask and you shall receive #dcmur3

[midasinc]

les mis tween era hcs

-combeferre rockets up skyward, like oh my god this kid grows so fast in his tweens. and has the knobbiest of knees. this is also around when his eyes go to shit, so he has to get a pair of really thick and nerdy glasses. he's very insecure and tries going without them, but he is literally borderline blind and eventually gives up due to the blurriness and the migraines

-courfeyrac is the kid that wears all neon. he's also 100% class clown type because he really wants attention from multiple sources at once. this often gets him kicked to the hallway, but he's surprisingly really smart and gets very high grades despite all this

-enjolras is still an average height (but he grows taller than combeferre during the first two years of high school- his bones ache, dude) but has super crooked teeth and gets braces put on for the first time when he's 12. he doesn't speak for a week straight because he's not adjusted to them yet and has a lisp. he learns to deal with it, but the lisp is definitely there until he's 15. he's also got the worst case of puberty explosiveness ever- you piss him off and he turns into mount vesuvius

-bossuet's alopecia actually triggers when he turns 13. it's a huge blow to his self-esteem, but grantaire (who he's known since forever) shaves his head in solidarity and it really, really helps him pick back up. he also accidentally sets off a fire alarm somehow every single year- bossuet ends up in the principal's office very, very frequently despite being a very sweet kid

-joly is an anime kid. he's going around asking people if they've ever seen cowboy bebop and everybody else is like "dude what are you even saying". he's the shortest kid in his grade and kids make fun of him often for his clubbed foot, but joly doesn't let it hurt him. he keeps to himself and hums as he reads manga during lunch

-marius is a dork. he's got the knobby knees, the big ears, he is the goofiest kid you've ever seen. he has really poor social skills and joins student gov't, but there's this terrifying blonde kid who yells at him the first day and marius quits out of fear to avoid him for the rest of his life. he's also such a teacher pet and the "you forgot to give out the homework :(" student

-feuilly moves around a lot between foster homes and he's very angsty as a kid because he feels really alone. he gets really bad grades and winds up in the counselor's office because he won't explain himself. like marius, he's got big ol' ears and his face is splattered in hundreds of freckles. he wishes he has more friends and is going through a super mario 64 speedrunning phase. after school, he plays games instead of hanging out with people his age

-jehan and eponine are in a creative writing club. she likes to write happy endings to her stories, and jehan writes the EDGIEST poetry you have EVER heard. each one is objectively terrible and they believe they are the next sylvia plath.

-musichetta is always in the library. she hits her growth spurt early, like combeferre, and towers over the girls and boys in her class. she always feels a bit out of place and chooses rather to spend her lunch period with the librarians. they think she's funny for a kid and even let her file away books and keep some of the copies they plan to throw out (she's slowly collecting all of their books in the animorphs series)

-bahorel ends up in the principal's office a lot too for fights. he's always ending up in them, and when he's 12 somebody knocks out his two front teeth. to this day, his front biters are prosthetics (he likes to prank people with them in his twenties, so it's both a blessing and a curse). he's also on the junior wrestling team! bahorel grows more outward than he does upward and he puts it to good use, if you asked him. he's on the brink of his emo/punk phase, and he's listening to a CD of black sabbath every night because he thinks he's so cool

-grantaire is so edgy. but like- oh no his dandruff. this kid does not shower. it's so bad. when he shaves his head, it's actually a blessing because now he doesn't have greasy hair hanging in his eyes. he's not quite in his extroverted era yet, instead being really shy and uneasy around the other kids. bossuet is his only friend and he kinda follows him around like a lost dog. he's in an art club and he makes the edgiest art you've ever seen- but only in an anime style. in their later years, he and joly bond over being the anime kids at their schools

-cosette is homeschooled! she's an extrovert and a ball of energy and because she is almost never around real people, her social skills are WEIRD. this poor girl oh my god she has no idea how to make normal conversations and she has no idea. she's also super into acting at this time and runs through lines of shakespeare with valjean. she loves to do the mercutio death scene- she always makes his final breath this goofy and ridiculous gasp that makes valjean laugh.

#les miserables #les mis #les amis #modern era #victor hugo #OPs Les Mis Hcs #tag yourself i was joly and grantaire combined in legitimately the worst way #i was a nightmare when i was a kid #enjolras #combeferre #courfeyrac #bahorel #eponine #cosette #grantaire #feuilly #musichetta #musicheals #jehan prouvaire #bossuet