#I'm pretty sure all the Princesses were designed to be objectively pretty
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Hello! Can we get a soft/needy Alucard headcanons with his s/o? Fem or gn, whatever you feel comfortable with. Thank you 😊
✿ You walked through the halls of Hellsing's manor, your steps slow yet your kinda of short figure remained straight and prideful. You stopped on your way into the kitchen once you spotted two soldiers whispering to each other in a low tone.
✿ One of them held a fine-designed bottle with a red liquid that seemed like wine. (Let's be honest, every one of you knows pretty well what is inside the bottle).
✿ "It's your turn to deliver this" The chubby one pointed out.
✿ The tall-skinny soldier frowned at his partner's suggestion. 'Have you lost your mind!? There's no way I'm going down there. God knows what that sinister monster has in store for people like you and me!"
✿ "I will get this" You spoke suddenly with your hand reaching out, startling both of them as a result.
✿ The soldiers gazed at you and then at each other before they finally stared back at you with unsure expressions.
✿ "Are you sure you can-" The chubby began to say but the other man interrupted him abruptly as he grabbed the 'wine' and gave it to you.
✿ Without a word you turned on your heel and walked away, holding the glass bottle with both hands behind your back. You heard a weak "Be careful" But instead of feeling the slightest concern, the smirk across your face grew bigger.
✿ On your way down to the long rocky stairs of the estate's basement, a thought crossed your mind. 'Cowards, what a disappointment for the Hellsing organization".
✿ "Indeed, my princess" Alucard's deep voice echoed within the walls with an amused laughter following shortly after.
✿ "How many times will I tell you to not read my thoughts without my permission?" Your tone was serious but Alucard knew better you were just joking around.
✿ "How much time will it take you to know that I am only teasing you, my beloved?" The vampire king's grin widened showing his pure white teeth along with his sharp fangs.
✿ You gave out a deep sigh and looked straight into his glowing eyes. "Catch" Without a second warning, you threw the glass bottle at his direction. You gave him a satisfied grin when his hand caught the desired object in the air with such ease.
✿ Your eyebrow raised a bit once Alucard glanced at you while patting gently his lap with one hand.
✿ "Not until I'll be sure you're no longer 'thirsty'" You answered with closed eyes and a gentle smile.
✿ "You do remember my vow to you, don't you, princess?" Alucard questioned calmly.
✿ "How much time will it take you to know that I am only teasing you, Alucard?" You joked as you made your way to him. You sat on his lap and wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him in for a loving embrace. "I missed you", You whispered to him.
✿ It took him a whole minute but he returned the loving gesture by embracing you back. Covering your upper body almost completely with his long arms.
✿ One hand reached up and began to caress the back of your head while the other was giving your back gentle rubs. His eyelids closed slowly and a genuine smile appeared across his lips, he finally had you in his arms after so many hours of waiting for you to pay him your every night visit. "My princess, you have no idea how much I craved your touch" Alucard's voice sounded like a blissful melody, as he had already rested the side of his face against yours. The low tone of his voice along with the soft waves of his breathing hit your ears ever so softly. His lips gave your cheek a sweet kiss, making you grin a bit as you bury your face into the crock of his neck, and nuzzle his pale yet smooth skin. A fair chuckle escaped him. "is my beloved one too tired to roam the night with me?" Alucard laughed sarcastically at your half-sleeping state.
✿ "I haven't even the strength to respond to your arrogant stupid words properly" You sounded so exhausted. "I worked all day, I know it is my turn to stay up through the night with you but...it's not always easy for me as it is for you"
✿ "There's no reason to explain yourself to me about your human needs. If you wish to stay put and rest for the night then I am more than willing to enjoy a peaceful evening with no one else but you my dear" Alucard held you against him, noticing how your breathing began to slow down as you fell asleep into his embrace. The monster and the man inside him laughed in amusement. How could such a little mortal like yourself change the ruthless beast inside him? Alucard will remain awake to guard what's most precious to him and treasure such moments between you both.
#headcanons#hellsing ultimate alucard#hellsing alucard x reader#hellsing#hellsing ultimate x reader#hellsing ultimate#alucard x reade#alucard x you#x reader#fanfiction#fanfic#romance
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Mind you I've never read LW but i kinda enjoyed the 2019 movie, why did you hate it? (Maybe i just wanna put Timothee Ch on a leash) feel free to go off 🌷
So, the costumes sucked from a historical perspective. Which would be less Objectively Bad and more Just Not My Thing...if the designers hadn't gone ON AND ON AT LENGTH about how ~Authentic~ they tried to make everything.
Didn't claim accuracy and didn't do accuracy: meh, whatever
DID claim accuracy and didn't do accuracy, AND won an Oscar for it: urge to kill rising
the hair design was particularly egregious, with the designer at one point saying they chose [checks notes] insane flyaways and half-up hair on adult women (who would have worn their hair entirely pinned up, for practical reasons and as a cultural marker of adulthood) because that seemed "more authentic than coiffures"
MORE AUTHENTIC
THAN THE WAY ACTUAL WOMEN BACK THEN
WORE THEIR ACTUAL HAIR
AS DEMONSTRATED IN PHOTOGRAPHS- EVEN CANDIDS -AND PORTRAITS
"blee bloo they didn't have hairspray!!!" THEY HAD POMADE. HAVING YOUR HAIR VERY SMOOTH WAS THE STYLE IN THE 1860S, EVEN FOR POOR WOMEN, AND MASSIVE FLYAWAYS ARE HUGELY IMPRACTICAL, AND NOT ALL FIXATIVES ARE HAIRSPRAY YOU ABSOLUTE-
[Marzi.exe has encountered a problem. please hold]
apart from the hair, there were fit issues and at least one case of Trying To Copy the 1994 Movie, But Worse (Amy's black and white dress in Paris).
1994. the pattern is soutache, a kind of applied trim done with flat cord that was very popular throughout the mid-late 19th century
2019. You cannot tell me the choice to have her in a white dress with black floral patterning, in effectively the exact same scene, was a coincidence.
also I'm pretty sure there was one shot with an actress visibly wearing Uggs. (EDIT- thankfully I am informed that this is a set photo and the Uggs were not visible in the finished film. i had forgotten this. good to know! leaving the pic there because STUPID HAIR and HATLESSNESS)
also the Pretty Pastel Princess Dresses (with overly fluffy attempts at bertha collars) and Matching Long Gloves (wrist gloves were popular for evening back then, and they were almost always white) in the Concord ball scene.
is it a Civil War-era ball, or is it a parade of "southern belles" at Cypress Gardens in 1995? leaning towards the latter.
once again, the choice to put Meg in pink for the ball instead of her book-described blue dress is something 1994 did first, and did better IMO
also Meg's 2015 Coachella wedding look, the fact that none of these girls from a poor family seemed to wear each other's old clothes ever, and the lazy choice to dress Jo in half-menswear instead of actually looking into menswear-inspired women's clothing in the era (which was a Thing!). but more than just the costumes pissed me off
they just...didn't seem to understand the era, or want to, or care? it was a bunch of little things that served to make it all more #relatable to modern audiences but ultimately undermined the setting:
Marmee telling a random young man she's never properly met to call her Marmee, because "everyone does." her DAUGHTERS call her that. her ACTUAL CHILDREN. who the hell else would? it's not a derivative of her name; it's a variant of Mama. Laurie can graduate to Marmee when he's an actual family friend
Jo wearing some of Laurie's clothing because "she stole it when they were hanging out in his room," according to an interview. um, NO NO AND NO, they are teenagers and that would distinctly not fly on several levels even in her progressive family. I might actually buy this if it were like "he gave them some clothes for an amateur theatrical and she kept them;" the actual Alcott sisters had a costume trunk for their plays, which is still on display at their house. but these writers clearly think a teenage boy and girl could be in his bedroom together unsupervised, for long periods of time, habitually, in 1860-whatever. which is absolutely incorrect
Jo saying "okay" in refusing Laurie's proposal. this is so tiny, I know, but while that term did already exist, it was a joke phrase only. this would be like saying "lol" while turning down your best friend's proposal today. once again, it's an example of Relatability mattering more than actually understanding the world these characters lived in
there are more, but I've blocked them out. I just really, really hated it on many levels
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Starlight, Starbright
●☆ A the story of a goddess☆●
PROLOGUE
"I’m not trapped in a tower, hidden away so I can be protected from the world. I'm in this tower so the world can be protected from me.”- unknown
Feel free to give me pointers!
I look out the window, a particularly troubled expression on my face. Years. It's been years since I've been outside, since I've seen my people. I’ve tried everything. Using my dresses as rope from a window four stories up, sneaking out the back gates, even dressing up as one the maids. I long to feel the sun, to feel the rain. Anything to make me feel human.
Though, it's controversial to say anything about humans anymore.
It's been 10 years since it happened. The war that ruined everyone’s life. We won, and yet, it truly feels like we lost. The humans have gone away into hiding, because if they don’t they’ll be killed. We hide away in our towers not because we’re scared of them, but the sheer power we hold as gods scares the moonlights and solarflares. We scare our people.
I’m on my thirteenth diary entry, trying my best not to tear the book and the whole room apart, when I hear footsteps. They’re swift and almost silent, but I hear them. I know who's coming.
"You know better than to be by your window with no blinds.” She says as she enters the room.
“Sorry Mother.” I say as I close the window.
Mother was irritating but at least pleasing to the eye. She wore an elegant, livid colored dress with a perfectly straight and simple crown
“Seriously, what is with you? You only ever leave this room when you’re asked-”
“Forced,” I spat, “I was forced."
“Whatever,” She yelled, “My point still stands. You are a princess. You should start acting like it.” She pointed, jabbing my chest
“As you wish, your majesty.” i back up and bow
She turned her head indignantly and left, leaving the door open and me alone. I already knew she meant for me to follow, and I couldn't object to my mother. So I did. The castle isn’t a place I traverse often. It's big, elegant, and regal. The walls have paintings all over them, painted by some of the best painters of Etherenesca. The workers of the castle scurry around, with a huge fear of bumping into us ( which I think is no way to live.) There's about three floors, 4 if you count the roof, and each one has a purpose. The 1st floor is completely dedicated to the workers. It has rooms for them, though mother and father never see to it that they’re good rooms, and it's where most of their work is done. It also holds the ballroom and throne room, where mother and father receive guests. The 2nd floor is mostly for the royal family. Mother and father have their chambers on the left wing, I have mine on the right. Their chamber is more dull than mine, using more grayscale colors than the vibrant ones I paint on my walls. The 3rd floor is for activities. Apparently, it was specifically built for me when I was younger, so I would have something to do when I was older. It has a library, a paint studio, a design room for sewing, and a diplomatic office ( though I'm pretty sure that is for my father). And 4th is the roof. No one is allowed up there anymore.
“Are you even listening, Iridiana?,” Mother asked, pulling me out of my head yet again, “Seriously Iri, this is why we didnt have more of you, always in your head about something or the other.”
She mumbled something else and started walking up the stairs.
“Jericho!” Mother practically screamed.
My dad appeared from the diplomacy room, clearly upset at being called. He was wearing a similarly colored suit with a big, regal crown. He loved to show off.
“Yes, Gianna?” He basically groaned.
“You were supposed to be in the throne room hours ago, not playing fix it with your council.”
“ I am not playing, Gianna, I am trying to fix the economy you broke!”
Mother rolled her eyes, turned and motioned for us to follow. Although we all knew that we don't really sleep much, all of us looked extra tired at that moment.
The throne room was big. It had three thrones in the middle of the room, my parents' thrones on either side of mine. It was made of pure marble flooring and golden arches on the ceiling. Unusually, the throne room was full of people.
No, not people.
Prisoners.
What was she doing?
I looked around. All of these people..they were human. They wore dirty clothing and were shivering, but not from the cold. They were in a cage guarded by 5 of the best guards we have. I stopped. I refused to walk forward. I refuse to know what she's trying to do and I refuse to partake in it.
“What are you doing, Iri, ” Mother asked, “ Your throne is that way.”
“Yes, but i'm not going.” I began to back up slowly. I wasn’t going.
“You will go or spend a week in the dungeons.” She glared, daring me to try her.
As much as I wanted to, I didn't.
I walked forward as the people shivered, fearing for their very lives. I feel powerless. I feel hopeless. I feel…
“Greetings guests and prisoners,” Mother started, interrupting my thoughts yet again, “Today is a joyous day for solar flares, moonlights, and gods alike. Today, we rid the world of these humans, starting with these ones.”
Ihatethisihatethisihatethis
“As you all may now, many years ago, humans were on top. They thought that they could use us. Belittle us. They used us as slaves and categorized us as cargo. But our powers awakened, Beni the god above gods, Blessed us with our gifts. To take over and make them pay for what their kind did.”
This was so wrong. There were children in that cage. They didn't do anything. None of them did.
“Bring the first prisoner”
Tears. I don’t know who started to cry first. Me, or the family of the first prisoner.
He was tall, a little muscular, but looked soft. He was wearing dirty overalls and had dirt all over his body. He hung his head of curly dark hair as his shackles were dragged in front of the queen.
He was tall, a little muscular, but looked soft. He was wearing dirty overalls and had dirt all over his body. He hung his head of curly dark hair as his shackles were dragged in front of the queen.
“Hephorus!” A little girl cried. Presumably, his family. My tears were trying to increase steadily, but I held them back.
I had to do something.
But what?
“So, Hephourus,” Mother started, “Do you answer to the crime? Do you admit what a terrible crime it is to even exist as what you are?”
She aimed her hand at him
Aura projection. She was going to kill him. She was going to kill all of them.
“No!” I said
I jumped in front of him. My own aura caused such a blast of light that everyone was blasted back to the nearest wall.
The throne room was a wreck. The furniture was broken, and the cage melted in the light, all the humans running away because of it. Hephorous, or whatever his name was, was under me and took most of the hit. We were hidden by a wall, and no one could really see us unless they were looking.
“Ow…” I groaned.
Hephorus groaned too, but it sounded like he was in more pain than i was in.
“What did I do…” I whispered.
I slowly stood up, But was careful not to reveal myself.
“Find her! NOW!” Mother screamed, “ And round up the prisoners too!”
I flinched. I would have to find them before her, but first is checking myself and hephorous for major injuries. I looked down.
He was bleeding from his head, but he looked conscious. He was looking at me with hazy eyes. I was bleeding too, but from my arm. It was numb right now, so that’s probably something to be concerned about later.
“Thank…you…” He said.
I crouched down. He looked in awful shape. I would have to get him somewhere in order to treat those wounds.
“You’re welcome…ah…what was it? Hephorous?”
He tried to nod and grunted at the pain
“Try not to move your head,” I whispered, “You got hit pretty bad. And stay quiet.”
I put up my hands .
“One means yes, two means no. Got it?”
He put up one.
“We have to go somewhere that isn't here to treat your wounds, and I know a place. Do you think you can walk?”
Two.
“Great.” I groaned. I looked around at my options.
The throne room was empty. No one was in here anymore, and there are plenty of exits from the castle here. Since we're on the first floor, the windows are my first choice.
“We’re going out by the windows. Give me your hand.”
He obliged and I lifted him up. I basically dragged him to the nearest window. I opened it, as it was the size of a giant, walking out into the gardens with him. By now, it was nightfall, so we could travel in darkness.
“Take deep, quiet breaths, okay?”
He did.
We hobbled all the way to the gardener's house (Which was deep in the woods) and locked the door behind ourselves. I was sure I was gonna be killed the next time Mother sees me.
“Listen.. I’m gonna treat your wounds, and I'll keep you in here. Nobody ever goes in here cause we haven’t had an official gardener in forever.”
I put him on the bed and found a towel to wet. I wiped the blood and put the towel in a bucket.
“Name…” He whispered
“Hm?” I said
“Your…Name…” He asked again.
“Iridiana Camille Saint-Fleur.” I say, Now treating my own wound before I could start feeling it again.
“Iri..” He whispered. And then fell fast asleep.
I pulled up the blankets on him and began contemplating the big question.
What in Beni's name was that?
Only the cosmic gods had any kind of power that big. My mother wasn’t a cosmic god, and neither was my father. And if I had powers that strong… what did this mean?
I didn’t know what else to do except sleep. So that's what i did
I wake up sweating, almost jolting out of my bed. I had a nightmare, but what I saw when I woke up wasn’t nightmarish at all.
“Good..Morning?” I say, confused as to what hephorus was doing.
“Mornin’.” He said.
He was making breakfast. That much I gathered, but what I couldn't say.
“Look,you can stay here, but I can't, otherwise they’ll find you. My mom has a funny way of tracking me sometimes. She can see a general idea but never the exact point, so it's never safe for others if I stay for long.”
He nodded slowly, trying not to irritate his head wound. I start to head out.
“Oh, Hephorous?” He looked up slowly, “For what it's worth, I will not reign like my mother.”
He offered me a small smile, and I headed out, locking the door behind me.
Time to face my mother.
“How could you do such a thing!” Mother screamed, “How could you let them escape! How could you *help them*?!”
“I’m sorry, mother.” I lied
“ Yes. You will be.” She yelled as she snapped her fingers, and I was transported to my tower.
My tower is the place I go when I do something bad in my mother or fathers eyes. It's an empty place. With nothing but a bed, I sit here for weeks on end sometimes. I hated my tower.
I screamed when she first put me in here. I screamed, yelled, and kicked. I soon realized no one could hear me. That this place was so far from people. I remember that moment like it was yesterday.
I was about ten, playing in the kitchens, when I spilled flour on myself. I thought my dress was so pretty. I cried about it. And when I wouldn't stop crying, Mother snapped her fingers, and here I was. I cried for hours until, eventually, I just collapsed on the bed and slept until one day I woke in my bed, and my mother acted like nothing happened.
I am so tired of her. I'm so tired of this. I just sat and wept.
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HEY THERE PEOPLE OF TODAY AND ROBOTS OF TOMORROW!
IT IS I, CLARK! HERE WITH A LITTLE DOSE OF WEIRDNESS!
Ah, summer time is here once more. You all know what that means, right? Indeed, it means I'm working on art for Halloween and Christmas! Ha ha! What can I say, I plan on being prepared this year. Santa Clark hates getting caught with his pants down. Luckily that won't be a problem this year, as I've already got six sketches cemented for the Spoopy Season and have began work on two illustrations for the Jolly Season. My determination has been amplified ten fold! Surely nothing could distract me now, right? Enter @burningthrucelluloid to argue otherwise with something he had found on Twitter. A talented artist by the name of @QalcoveArt had drawn a pin-up of Zootopia's Judy Hopps in a two piece bathing suit to celebrate something called National Bikini Day. Keep that furry fuel alive, Internet! I kid of course, really Alec and I were moreso shocked that such a Holiday existed. We laughed at first, then Alec had a thought. He had envisioned his alien wasp princess Exa sporting a two piece herself, posing all pretty like before eating her outfit, much to the objections of her human friend Jackie. Seeing my friend take initiation, I suggested he design the bikini with a honey comb pattern, which is how we ended up with this:
Now THAT, my friends, is comedy!
It certainly got a great reaction on my Discord server once he posted it there too. Afterwards we started talking about Jackie and Exa's friend Rosie, my own cosmic cutie charged with cataloguing the cosmos, and what she'd look like in a bikini. What the Masked Maniac had yet to realize was that he had issued me a creative challenge. One all too tantalizing to pass up. Thus I spent all of Thursday sketching Rosie in a snazzy two piece suit sporting the whimsigoth style. It had first been introduced to me by @sleepy-teacup and had proven to be a perfect match for my sentient space anomaly when I drew her as a wizard in my last Sketch BOOM. Anybody who wants to see how that turned out can click here! For now, we can marvel at this piece that took hardly any time to complete. My sketch was completed within an hour or two, leaving me with the task of coloring the thing in. However, I was coloring the thing in at two in the morning. I was only halfway done when I saw my clock read 4:00. Two hours had passed?! Darn me and how easily I get distracted! No doubt I would've continued coloring this were it not for Foxhatart telling me to get my insane, spotted butt to bed. Cut to the following Friday when I finally finished up the rest of this picture, giving Rosie her fiery red stars, dotting her bathing suit with golden stars, and giving her a beach ball and sunglasses for added style points. Now she's ready to have a rockin' summer in whatever universe she's currently visiting! All of this for a Holiday I technically missed. Either way, I hope you all enjoy.
Oh! And to those wondering about my Commissions, expect an update on that soon!
MAY THE GLASSES BE WITH YOU!
#clarktoons#clarktooncrossing#cartoons#cute#rosie#Rosie Stardust#multiverse#cosmos#space#national bikini day#bikini#swimsuit#ai sucks#digital art#summer
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Include pics: What are your top 5 ( 10 if you want) royal wedding jewelry ( earrings, bracelets, necklaces) you would want in your personal collection.
Hi, thanks for the question! I'm way less versed with other royals than everyone else who already answered this question, but I did a bit (a lot, lol) of retrospective research to try my best ^_^
Tbh I was surprised how the vast majority of the jewelry I saw was reallyyyyy not to my taste. I thought this was just a BRF problem, but man, most royal jewelry is . . . ugly. Especially what they choose for their weddings. I don't know, maybe I'm just too poor and plebeian to understand the tastes of the elite. But still, I managed to scrounge up a few pieces that I liked. Namely (and in no particular order):
Princess Claire of Luxembourg — Earrings
I don't know if this is a cheat or not, since she technically wore these to her civil marriage ceremony and not the actual big wedding, but whatever, I'm counting it, cause LOOK at that gorgeousness. Stunning aquamarine pendants with a sleek diamond halo? Absolutely lovely. I'd wear these in a HEARTBEAT.
Princess Rajwa of Jordan — Earrings
Especially as bridal earrings go, these are so fresh and unique. She didn't go for the tired old look of dropped pearls that eeeeeeveryone and their mama falls back on for wedding looks. Plus that double-draped line is so cool, especially with how the stones are all irregularly shaped and sized. (My friend is reading this over my shoulder as I write this, and she says the shape of the earring looks like a vagina to her, but ignore her, she drinks). These earrings were a super interesting and pretty choice that complemented her tiara well, but would also not be out of place on a peasant like me to get dressed up in.
Archduchess Gabriella of Austria — Earrings
If I absolutely have to go for dropped pearls, this, in my opinion, is the way to do it. Super minimal, sleek, letting the pearl speak for itself, with nothing but the tiny diamond stud to help balance it out. Very nicely done here. Tbh I don't think it matches particularly well with the tiara she chose, but that's not my business lol. We're just talking about what I'd take for my own closet, and these earrings are for sure the most wearable of any royal bride I've seen yet.
Queen Sofia of Spain — Necklace
Similarly, Sofia's necklace was probably the wrong choice for what she had going with the neckline of her dress at the time. It's getting overwhelmed by all that high-necked lace, unfortunately. BUT, as you can see, she wore it multiple times afterwards (swapping out the cross pendant for a simple diamond), as well as her daughter-in-law Letizia, and both of them had the sense to pair it with much more open and clean necklines, where you can see that absolutely lovely shape and glitter of the piece. I don't know what this kind of pinched, V-shaped design is called, but I love it.
Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex — Ring
Now, in my research for this post, I'm obviously not pretending I was able to closely scour every single royal bridal look ever. But I did go through a LOT, and none of the ones I saw ever experimented with some fun statement rings like Meg did. I love this absolutely enormous aquamarine on her, both because it's so bold and unexpected, it's objectively beautiful on its own, and of course, its connection to the story of her late mother-in-law.
BONUS: Princess Eugenie — Tiara
Okay I know you probably did not mean for tiaras to be included, and so I tried very hard to work around that. But I'm sorry, I just have to sneak this one in at the end. As I mentioned in another post a while ago, I've been largely unimpressed with the tiaras I've seen in the past (though I did come across some interesting ones while researching this post), but I make absolute exception with Eugenie's wedding tiara. I suspect I might be partial to the Kokoshnik tiara style in general, but what the Greville in particular pulls off with those breathtaking emeralds and the perfectly sloped shape and all those lovely scalloped diamond details . . . perfection. Truly. Best piece of royal jewelry I've ever seen in my life.
#thanks again for the q!#it was super fun to research all these weddings i never heard of before#fashun#oh oops this was supposed to be posted yesterday w/ my other answers but i accidentally saved it as a draft instead so sorry about that lol
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Another 10days gone already? Alright then.
Seriously, time is kinda a jerk. Still, got another ten for a wrap up.
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i hate to say a level is just, kinda, there; but this one is just kinda there. It's not not fun, and it does have its charm, but... at the same time, it kind of blends in wiv a lot of similar in theme levels. i did appreciate the credits at the end, it's always nice to see shout outs to creators that've helped out. You know... i wonder now if some of these "just there levels" are really more to give a chance to have fun wiv friends in LBP. i wonder what that was like.
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i think this might be, hands down, my favourite all-around level i've played in all of LBP. Just 10 outta 10, no notes, the whole she-bang.
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i need to come back to this one, 'cause i'm pretty sure Mellan updated it wiv a bit more polish on player communication, and on the main gimmick. Even in the form we have here, tho', it's a pretty solid level. Mellan's a good kid, and i'm glad to have met him. i think i can say that about most all the folx who've stuck around wiv the channel for a while. i have been exceedingly lucky in that department.
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This one's a much different take on kokeshi than the previous one, but i think it mostly manages to pull things off. i can't say it's scary (that's a real hard thing to accomplish in LBP), but it is effective. The boss fight at the end is really quite neat, too. Took me forever to get the timing right on my first playthrough. i think the one we have here was my third?
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i think i might actually like school a little more than carp at the end of the day. They're both masterpieces, and carp is an object lesson in level design, but this one is just so charming. The only thing i didn't quite like about it was the use of the cushion as a main building material, the corners of it always feel a little to puffy when it's used in larger constructions, but that's very much a me issue. There's one more secret area here that i wasn't able to find no matter how much i poked around, and you have no idea how much that irritates me from an archival standpoint.
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i don't run into a lot of these expansive "just explore around" kind of levels it feels like. They're... honestly a bit of a mixed bag for me? i do like that there's just a lot of stuff all over, and some of the set pieces in this one were pretty cute. It's kind of cool that you could go through the level and just miss stuff if you bee-line for the exit, and that's interesting from a level design/player experience perspective. At the same time? i kind of like a little more of a throughline in level design. i want to know what i'm meant to be doing, and then i feel more comfortable going against the grain of that. i think that's part of the reason why sand-box/open-world style games don't super appeal to me. That and so much of the side-content winds up feeling like "well, i did that because it was available to do, but why?"
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i really, really like this one. It clicks for me so well as the introduction to a larger whole (which we may or may not ever see. i don't know if the creator has any interest in continuing to build on the concept). This one really manages to nail that Gardens feel, while still feeling like its own thing. Also, that princess is kinda goals? Like, my self-image doesn't lean heavy towards the feminine, but even still, there was a voice in the back of my head that was, like, "oooh, but... gender?"
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We talked about this not so far back, so all i'll add is the first time i played a level that had that "play chomping sfx when food item is grabbed" i thought it was kinda cool and/or neato. After a dozen times, tho', it started to get to me like the Wilhelm Scream does for film nerds.
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The precursor to the level we looked at on Friday, and it's clear what a step up Aaron took between the two projects. Which sounds like i'm saying this one isn't good, and i'm very much not. This is, itself, a very impressive, and impressively presented piece of kit; and worth the 30minute playtime if you have it. i do feel like it leans more heavily on exposition to its detriment, tho'. You've got short bursts of "ok, i can do something now" between much longer cutscene sections. It doesn't help that the sfx Aaron chose for your legally-distinct Navi can get to be a bit grating after awhile.
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This one's the real deal. The LeChonk. The.... umm... <checks notes> big chungus amung us? Scratch that. Don't like that. Will never say it again. i got to talk a bit wiv Aaron via 'Tube comments, and they're really quite nice. i had very much of the stress that i would be able to convey how i felt in a way that was honest. They did confirm that the level runs smooth wiv no issues on PS5, so if you've got one of those, maybe give this one a shot. If you don't, i still recommend it; but if you're worried about the level breaking, well, you do gots the video here for you (hint, hint, hint, hiiiiiiiiiiiiiint).
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It always blows my mind when Entrapta-centered fanfics choose to describe her as "not physically attractive by normal standards" or "plain" or "not very pretty" etc. like did y'all watch the show?? Or are they referring to her in that way because of her personality or her clothes?? Because how do you watch the show and not think she is the cutest girl in the whole world, please check yourselves.
Proof:
#like come ON#I'm pretty sure all the Princesses were designed to be objectively pretty#like she's literally so cute and curvy how y'all get unattractive out of that#Entrapta#just admit you find her personality unattractive but don't discount her mama milkers and silky hair
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Personal Shopper
A Choices : Save the Date Fanfiction
Pairing: MC Stella Jennings and Martin Mercado (Justin)
Rated: PG for language.
Word count: approx. 2800
Context: Martin calls Stella and asks for a favor.
Author's note: Stella's personal thoughts appear in italics
Tagging:
@dailydoseofchoices @sanvivrma @samihatuli @gardeningourmet @lovealexhunt @princess-geek @loveofafangirl @storyofmychoices @msjpuddleduck @perriewinklenerdie @thepotatobleh @shrinkthisviolet @griselda1121 @iamnotjesha @desiree-0816
*************
I'm standing in the bridal boutique with Lindsay finalizing our plans to attend the Wedding convention in Niagara Falls, when my phone starts ringing. Without looking at the caller ID I answer, “Hello, Jennings Wedding Planners. We make weddings spectacular, how may I help you?”
After the words leave my lips there's a pause, giving me just enough time to feel awkward about using the word ‘spectacular' .
“Stella, Hi. It's Martin.”
It's been a while since we've spoken, and I can't help but feel a tingle of excitement at hearing his voice. When I don't say anything he continues,
“Nora's wedding is coming up soon, and I was wondering if I could ask a favor?”
Oh so now he needs me for something. Is this a test?
“What kind of favor?”, I ask.
“Well as wedding planner I value your opinion on what to wear, and as Best Man I need a tuxedo. Could you help me pick one out?”
Well I've already overseen the picking out of wedding dresses. And this would give me another chance to show Martin that I can be professional and take my job seriously. So why not?
“Ok Martin, are we picking something out of your closet or are we going shopping?”
I can hear the smile in his voice when he answers, “I want something fresh and new for Nora's wedding, so let's go shopping. Are you free this evening?”
When he's not mad at me for something his voice does carry a certain charm. I wish it didn't affect me so much.
“I'm free, where are we going?”
“I'll text you the address. Meet me there at 7?”
I can't help but smile, “It’s a date.”
I hear him laugh on the other end, “Don't be late.”
As I look out the window of my taxi I can't help but shake my head. Given that the address Martin gave me borders on the south end of Central Park, it couldn't have said more “fancy rich guy” if it tried. When the taxi stops outside of the Ritz-Carlton hotel, I see Martin standing talking to the doorman. When the doorman steps over to get my door, Martin waves him off and opens it for me.
“Wow, aren't we being a gentleman?” I tease as I climb out of the taxi.
“Well you're here to do me a favor, so it's only right.”
Martin knocks on the passenger window and the driver rolls it down to accept his credit card.
I stand on the sidewalk and wait. The Ritz-Carlton doorman tips his hat to me in greeting and I blush. As the taxi drives away Martin comes back over to me.
“So this is a hotel. I thought we were going shopping?” I ask, eyeing Martin warily.
Martin's usual stern facade shifts and he smiles, “Oh we are, the store isn't far from here. So I figured we could walk.”
I shrug, falling in step beside him as we join the flow of pedestrians. “Don't tell me you're taking me to shop on 5th Avenue.” I joke.
Martin glances at me all serious, “Well yes, I always shop on 5th Avenue.
Of course you do.
As we walk by the other hotels on the street the crowd on the sidewalk gets more dense, and it's tough not to bump into people. A group of people come at us from the other direction and I have to step closer to Martin to avoid being trampled. Without warning I feel him take my hand, he leans in close to whisper. “Don't worry, I've got you.”
I give his hand a grateful squeeze, “Thanks, remind me again why walking is better than taking a taxi?”
As he guides me around a woman pushing a stroller, he smiles. “I like walking with you Stella. Remember how I walked you home after Nora's bridal shower?”
“I remember wanting to learn more about the real Martin that hides behind the façade of CEO event planner guy.”
We navigate the maze of cross walks and find ourselves on 5th Avenue.
“Well consider this as an another insight into who I am. I love this city, I live this city. The excitement, the people, the living breathing organism that is the exchange of commerce and business. I feel so energized to be a part of it.”
As I look down at his expensive shoes and the designer clothes he's wearing it reminds me of the divide between our economic classes. We might live on the same island, but he's all high-rise Penthouse and I'm Hell's Kitchen. I don’t belong in his social scene at all, yet here I am planning his sister's wedding and holding his hand. It's terrifying and exciting at the same time, like I'm on a carousel ride and if I dare let go it will all disappear and be just a dream.
He holds the door open for me as we enter the men's wear store at Bergdorf Goodman and as we step inside he looks like he's right at home. I feel like an ugly duckling in my basic cotton dress and sandals. He leads the way to the escalator and we go up to the second floor formal wear department.
The mannequins are all sharply dressed in suits of various colors and designer brands. As the only feminine thing in the whole room it feels very intense, almost erotic to be surrounded by such powerful masculinity.
The way that Martin just casually walks by the expensive price tags on display is mindboggling. But then this is his world, and money is no object. As we approach the clerk behind the counter the man smiles at us and greets Martin like an old friend.
“Martin! Back so soon! And with a pretty girl on your arm. How can I help you two today?”
Martin smiles back, “Good evening, Eric. My sister's getting married next month and I need a tux.”
Eric eyes me appraisingly as if I'm Martin's date. He seems to approve, but I don't know for sure because he quickly averts his attention back to Martin.
“Nora, right? Well tell her congrats for me. So for this extra special occasion are we going for something equally as special? Perhaps a tail coat this time?”
Martin shrugs and then looks at me, “That's not quite what I had in mind as Best Man, but let's ask the wedding planner. What do you think Stella?”
I hold my hand up, needing to clarify something first, “Hang on, I'm still trying to get over the fact that the staff know you by name. Just how many suits have you bought here?”
Martin grins at Eric, “Well this will be the fifth. There was Prom, two award shows, and of course Sam and Ali's wedding. I like shopping here because they carry the styles and brands that I like. Plus they have my size and measurements on file which helps.”
Eric laughs and smacks Martin on the arm, “Besides Martin and I go way back because we used to work here together.”
“So you weren't always part of your Dad's event planning business?” I ask, trying to imagine Martin working behind the counter at a clothing store.
“I was in highschool and Eric was in college. We worked in the backroom more so than directly with customers. It was my first taste of the business world at the ground level.”
Eric smiles, “One of the best, most down-to-earth guys I’ve ever worked with.”
Wait, what? Bossy pants, rich guy Martin is actually a nice guy under all of that expensive cologne? I knew it.
“Stop it Eric, you’re going to ruin the hard ass millionaire persona I’ve been trying so hard to uphold,” Martin jokes.
The air between us gets a little more awkward as Martin looks at me and smiles. What game are you playing Mister? You like me, then hate me, then you look at me like that and my knees go weak. Stop teasing me.
Eric claps his hands to dispell the moment and bring me back to reality, “Ok then, enough reminiscing, let’s get you a tux.”
He leads us to the racks and starts pulling things. “Let’s try this, and…this, oh and this one.”
Eric’s confidence as he chooses designer looks just at a glance is so different to Lindsay’s timid nature at the bridal boutique. He knows his niche market so well and obviously excels at it. I wish I could get the two of them in the same room, and just maybe some of his confident optimism would rub off on her.
He hands Martin a bunch of hangers as he leads us to a changing room, “I’m sure you two will be just fine with these, I’ll check back on you later.”
I feel a sudden panic take over at the idea of being left alone with Martin in a changing room. “Wait, you’re not going to help advise him about fit and stuff like that?”
Eric smiles, “I think in this matter that Martin would value your opinion more than mine. I’ll give you some privacy.”
Did he just wink at Martin before he left?
I suddenly feel hot all over when Martin hands me the hangers and then starts to unbutton his shirt, This is so not in my job description. What is going on?
I feel myself blush and look away, “Um, Martin should I wait outside?”
As he unbuttons the cuffs on his sleeves he looks down briefly as he slips off his shoes. “Only if you really want to Stella, I’m not too shy to ask for your help if I need you.”
If he needs me? What if I want to help now?
My eyes are drawn to the open neck of his shirt and the little bit of chest he’s revealed. I hang up the suits I’m holding and step toward him. “Let me help you with that.”
Martin doesn’t argue as I gently lay my hands on his chest, smoothing the fabric under my palms and running my thumb up over the buttons. His hands hang at his sides as he watches mine work to undo the buttons. I can feel his warm breath on my neck, and I boldly let my thumb graze against his skin as I reach the bottom button. Biting my lip I tug the shirt up out of his waistband. As I undo the last button I look up and meet the dark intensity of his eyes with my own. Our lips are only inches apart and I see him gasp as I run my hands up his bare chest and slide the shirt off of his shoulders and then it drops to the floor.
“Stella,” he whispers, catching my hands in his. “That's enough, thanks for the help.”
I step back and let my eyes wander down his toned and muscled arms and chest, ending at his abs, trying not to focus on anything below the belt. He clears his throat and then I look back up at his eyes.
“Are you sure you don't need help with anything else?” I ask, bending down to pick up his shirt. It's still warm and smells like him.
He pushes his shoes off to the side, and undoes his belt. I can't help but watch his hands.
“Yes Stella, I think I can manage the rest from here. I'm quite capable of dressing and undressing myself.”
I feel warm all over as I back out of the changing room, “I..I understand. I'll be outside if you need me.”
I lean against the wall and try to catch my breath. My mind, nerves and sexual desire are buzzing in overdrive.
Holy hell what the heck was that? He had no reservations about taking his shirt off in front of me. What the fuck is this twisted game he's playing? Was he just testing me to see if the attraction is mutual? Because it definitely is.
My eyes are closed, when I hear the door open.
“Okay, what do you think?”
My head snaps round to the sound of his voice. Damn he looks good in black. The crisp white of his shirt pops against the caramel color of his skin, and the bowtie draws attention to his handsome face and brilliant smile.
“Wow, Martin. Just wow.” I can't hide my smile of admiration.
“I know right? Eric really knows what looks good on me.”
He certainly does.
“You bet I do!” Eric says, grinning from ear to ear with pride.
After a quick visual assessment Eric nods. “And it's a perfect fit.”
Martin catches me staring and makes a show of adjusting his shirt cuffs and smoothing the lapels of his jacket. I can feel myself blush when he lays a smoldering look on me. He knows he looks good and that I'm checking him out. He undoes the button on the jacket and casually stuffs his hands in the pockets of the trousers as if he already owns them.
“Great then. I'll get changed and then you can ring me up.”
Eric smirks at me when Martin disappears to go change, “You like him don't you? You know you're just his type. Please tell me that you two are a thing.”
I'm caught off guard by his observation, but I can't help but tell him the truth.
“Not yet, but I'm working on it.”
Eric laughs, “I knew it! The two of you have been setting off serious sparks ever since you walked in.”
Well whatever is going on it's seriously something volatile.
“You're his friend, any advice for me?” I ask nervously.
I can't believe I'm really asking someone how to pursue a relationship with Martin.
“Be patient, he knows what he's got going on, but under it all he has a good heart and a good head.”
“And a good face.”
He grins and points at me, “You, Stella. I like you. Got spunk for days.”
Martin comes back out, “What are you two grinning about?”
“Oh nothing. Stella and I were just talking about cute boys that's all.”
He laughs, “I bet your husband wouldn't like that.”
Eric laughs, “Nah he'd just be jealous about missing out on the details.”
I blush and look down at my shoes, praying for the floor to open me up and swallow me whole. “Um, can we go now?”
Eric winks and collects the tuxedo and accessories from Martin, “But of course Madame et Monsieur, right this way.”
Standing next to Martin at the counter I try not to peek at the price of everything as Eric rings them up. Martin hands over his black Visa card. “So I'm assuming the hemming of the trousers to the proper inseam is included. And that everything will be delivered to my address?”
Eric smiles and nods as he makes a note on the receipt. “Yes Mr. Mercado, and as always it's been a pleasure doing business with you.”
“Thanks Eric, we'll be back.”
We? What's this we all of a sudden?
“Nice to meet you Stella.” Eric says as we turn to go.
I smile and wave and then Martin leads me back out of the store. Out on the street I turn on him.
“Ok Martin, out with it. Why did you really invite me out to go shopping with you?”
Martin runs his hand over the side of his face, and looks down at his shoes with a sigh. “Honestly?”
I fold my arms across my chest, “I'd like the truth, yes.”
Martin looks up and the expression on his face is open and sincere. “The truth is…that..that I like you Stella. I was looking for an excuse to see you again.”
Well holy shit. I don't know what to say.
“Stella?” he says, as he catches me staring at him again. “Say something.”
I blink and then look down and reach for his hand. When I look back up at him again he's smiling. “I think I'd like that Mr. Mercado.”
He steps closer, “And what exactly would you like Stella?”
“For you to find more excuses to see me. Because I like spending time with you too.”
He brings his hand up to brush the hair back from my face, his thumb grazes my cheek and sends a thrilling sensation traveling down my neck. He leans in close and my eyes drop down to focus on his lips, now just a breath away from touching mine. I suck in a breath in anticipation and then he draws himself back.
With a sigh he steps back from me. “Can I call you sometime?”
I feel like all the air has been squeezed out of my lungs so I just nod.
“Yes, anytime.” I manage to whisper.
"Okay good, but for now let me call you a cab."
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