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popentertainment-interviews · 10 months

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Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Jason Schwartzman, Bryan Cranston, Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Stephen Park, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis, Maya Hawke, Jake Ryan and Wes Anderson

Take Us Down To Asteroid City

by Jay S. Jacobs

No one in filmmaking has such an eccentrically idiosyncratic narrative voice as Wes Anderson. The acclaimed writer/director has been putting his very distinctive stamp on films for nearly 30 years, producing such unique entertainments as Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Darjeeling Limited, Moonlight Kingdom and The French Dispatch.

Anderson’s latest ensemble piece is Asteroid City, the story of a bunch of strangers who meet in a desert town in New Mexico in the 1950s right in time for an alien landing. (Of course, like all of Anderson’s films, this thumbnail sketch only touches on the levels of the narrative.)

As often with the cast, the film has a star-studded ensemble of stars who were dying to work with the filmmaker, including Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Jason Schwartzman, Bryan Cranston, Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Stephen Park, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis, Maya Hawke, Jake Ryan, Steve Carell, Margot Robbie, Live Schreiber, Matt Dillon, Ed Norton and Willem Dafoe.

The below discussion is culled from a virtual press conference which we attended in which many of the stars and the writer/director of Asteroid City discuss the experience of making and the meaning of the film.

On the inspiration for the film:

Wes Anderson: Oddly, that's not a question I've been asked specifically. The quick answer would be usually, for me, starting to write a script is usually not an idea for it. It's a couple of ideas. Two or three things… Roman Coppola and I wanted to write a part for Jason Schwartzman at the center of a movie that would be something he hadn't done before. We didn't really know what it was, but we had a few notions about what this character was going through. We were interested in the setting of 1950s New York theater. [A] golden age of Broadway-ish thing. We thought we'd tell a story of the play they're putting on. The original thing was it was a play called Automat and was going to all be in this automat. Then we decided it's too small. So we expanded it to the desert. I guess it then became something like this interaction of a black and white New York stage and a color cinema scope-ish western cinema story. Everybody's both an actor and the role they're playing, they mix together. That is how I got the idea for Asteroid City.

On finding out they would be a part of the film:

Jason Schwartzman: It was July of 2019. July 11th, 2019, actually. It was my anniversary. I was going [out] with my wife, but Wes was calling, so we pulled over. He said what I'm sure everyone here gets excited to hear, which was, "I've got an idea for something. I'm working on it with Roman. I can't tell you much, but we have an idea for you for something. We're going to work on it, and we'll get back to you when it's more completed. But you should be excited." That's a really rare, nice thing to get.

Tom Hanks: I met Wes at a restaurant in Rome about, I'm going to say, 15 years ago. It was a long time ago. Ed Norton said, "Hey, we're having dinner at this place in Rome."

Wes Anderson: Nino's.

Tom Hanks: This sounds like a movie from the 1960s.We were there, and part of it was like, "That's Wes Anderson?"I would imagine, the spectacle, the pompous or smoking a pipe, like what you did. We didn't talk about anything at all. I don't know if I said at that point, "Hey, come on, man, let me into that rep company of yours. Give me a call." And [years later] this came about literally because of a lovely email that said, "Would you like to come and join us?" And I said, "Yeah. Sure….” I haven't seen a Wes Anderson movie that I didn't wish that I was in. So it was great to be a part of this. The role was great. I think you used the reference of, "We're looking for a retired Ronald Reagan type." And I go, "I'm your man. I can do that.”

Jake Ryan: Yeah, after Moonrise [Kingdom], we sort of kept in touch. You had me be a part of a bunch of different projects that you were working on at the time. I would like to think that I had matured a little bit and [laughs] vaguely understood what I was doing at this point. So when I got the audition for this, I mean, you knew me.

On working on the film:

Bryan Cranston: I remember writing to Wes a little earlier after we had finished the film, and I said, "How are you feeling about it?" Quite honestly, Wes said, "I think it might be a really nice poem. I don't know about a film just yet." Because you were still in the throws of post and editing. He was just still trying to figure out where it was going…. The types of characters that he is imagining in his head. We can only take a glimpse into the head of Wes Anderson. We can't live there. That's his domain. We can only visit.

Jeffrey Wright: It was really like an equation that we had to figure out. And we figured it out. It was the wildest, strangest thing. I loved finding the answer.

Scarlett Johansson: What's unique about it is we're all circling the same thing. It's that sense of comradery that you have. One of the things that really touches me about the movie was how supportive all the performances are of one another in this way that's very noticeable. Maybe because we're all inside it but every performance stands out, but they make this beautiful sort of orchestra, the pieces all together.

Tom Hanks: For the end-up days to the Wes Anderson gravy train, the folks that were there for the first time, I wondered if we got to have ideas. Do we get to come in and say, "I was thinking about this?" We asked some of the veterans of it. "Do we get to say, 'How about this?'" And they said, "Yeah, sure. Sure, sure." We would, but then you would say, "Well, we don't have enough set to shoot that." That would be something. But I found you to be just as flexible as anybody would be, provided you're not going so far out of the realm of what you're going for.

Scarlett Johansson: Wes and I talked, tried to figure out the old Hollywood star. I was the Midge Campbell character. We shared some ideas about what type of a person this could be, or what kind of career she could've had. Did she come through the Actor's Studio? What did she sound like? I mean, I liked Bette Davis. She felt like Bette Davis feels. When you watch her, she seems comfortable in the space she takes up. I felt like that could be a good beginning. Also her voice, actually. She has a little bit of that Mid-Atlantic thing. Understanding where that came from, all that stuff was helpful.

Wes Anderson: Like Bette Davis, you said, "comfortable in her space," and it's a space that she's created, and a voice that she's cultivated – you know, an invented one.

Rupert Friend: There was so much freedom in that. One of the things we've talked about a lot is that Wes wrote one of his more succinct stage directions in the scene where we have our musical number, and it just said, "They dance." That was it. We kept saying, "When's the choreographer coming? When's the rehearsal?" It was like, "Oh, yeah, another time, another time." We got there, and we hadn't had any of that. It was just a kind of go for it. That feeling of exuberance. I remember it was actually an amazing moment.

Maya Hawke: Wes has just sort of cut all the fat and ridiculousness out of the moviemaking process. So many times when you have a scene partner, you have to establish a bond. You have these chemistry reads. It's like, "Oh, we're all going to meet, and we're going to talk, and you guys are going to get to know each other." Instead, Wes is like, "Why don't we just have dinner every night together? Wouldn't that be fine? Actually, you guys are off tomorrow, you should go for a walk." And we just did. We went for a bicycle ride. So often you're on hold when you're doing a movie. You get brought in and you sit in your trailer, and you wait. Wes has fixed that. You're always on hold 100 percent of the time. But you don't feel like you are because he's taken you out of this magical, wonderful place where you get to be both engaged in other people doing their work.

Scarlett Johansson: That's how it feels on the set. When I got there, my work was truncated into a short period of time. I could not have done it without having my scene partner, Jason, there. He was immediately completely available, present, rehearsed. It was just like falling into this comfortable pocket, you know?

Tom Hanks: You know those old movies about Hollywood where they're on the lot, and somebody is a cowboy, and there's a showgirl, and there's a Roman gladiator, and there's a guy dressed up like he's in Charles Dickens? That's what it's like hanging around getting ready to work. We're all in our costumes all day long.[clears throat] We're all dressed in these different things. We're all on hold ready to go do the work on the set. We're just incredibly focused and concentrated.

Jeffrey Wright: Basically, you're trapped. [laughs]

Maya Hawke: But you want to be trapped.

Adrien Brody: Then we all stay in the same hotel, and then Wes will say, "Oh, we got to go." Several of us will hop on a golf cart with Wes fully dressed in character. And so they'll be alien and a cowboy and a…

Tom Hanks: … A showgirl…

Adrien Brody: … or some children hanging off the back. Then we just make our way with a golf cart on the edge of this road through town, through Spain, and arrive upon this magnificent set. That is just mind-blowing. That is just as spectacular as it looks in the movie. Show up fully ready to roll and jump right into the scene, and let's get cracking.

Wes Anderson: Well, we did it under COVID protocols. I realized, I think we've been bubbling our movies for 15 or 18 years. [laughs] It wasn't that different from the usual.

Rupert Friend: I don't know if you saw this, Wes, but when we did that [dance routine], I threw my hat in the air, and behind the camera that day, Bill Murray had come to visit set, and he just caught it at the exact moment. It was just perfect.

Maya Hawke: I remember sitting and watching Scarlett and Jason do those incredible scenes between that window. I would come and sit next to Roman at his little monitor and watch them. Then after a little while Adrien would come over and he'd be sitting there, too. We were all engaged in the movie as a whole.

Jason Schwartzman: Over the years, we've been through so many different things. But it's fun to come back and to share the things that you've experienced with someone that you know and love. It's about going off and having adventures. It's like Halloween, dumping out your stuff, seeing what you're interested in.

Bryan Cranston: It's so specific and so dense with detail that it is sometimes, I have to read it a couple times to really get a sense of what we're doing. This is a movie about a television show that's doing an expose on a theater piece. That in itself is kind of a Russian doll thing. Then there's the actors who are also playing. So when you read that in script form, it can be a little daunting.

Hope Davis: The piece feels theatrical… It feels very loose, the way my early days in the theater felt. We were all jumping around in the desert with air guns in our hands. It had that kind of looseness. Movie making can be very slow and dull. This just felt so alive and so playful. It reminds you why you got into it in the first place for me.

Scarlett Johansson: This is so vivacious. It feels so exciting. Even just to be a new actress coming on the set just to watch other actors performing. It's a very unique experience for a film, I think.

Tom Hanks: There’s a very convivial atmosphere that we are all very much attracted to. That is the secondary experience. The work that we do on the set is incredibly focused and there’s nobody who works harder at this than Wes. Because Wes doesn’t walk away saying, no, that’s good enough.

On experiencing the finished film:

Stephen Park: It's just a beautiful realization of everything that Wes has prepared us. To actually see the film, it's mind-blowing. I saw it first just with my wife. Then I saw it again at Cannes the second time, and I felt like I hadn't seen it before. I was really struck emotionally the second time in a way that I wasn't the first time. I feel like I'm looking forward to seeing it again tonight, because I know I'm going to see all these new things. There's so much to savor in this movie.

On the subject of grief in the film:

Jason Schwartzman: With grief, my experience is that there’s no wrong way to feel if you’re grieving. If you don’t feel sad when everyone else is sad, that’s okay. It’s worse to feel bad about not feeling a certain way that everyone else is feeling. You just feel the way you feel. That’ll be okay. Just trust that. I didn’t think about that while we were doing it.

Scarlett Johansson: It’s the enormity of this grief. My character says I don’t want that feeling so I’m just going to not have it. Which is so great and convenient. I mean, especially if you’re an actor. It’s perfect. You just do not have that feeling and erase it. Maybe you don’t want to either, and that’s perfectly fine. That’s the world that she’s living in.

Jason Schwartzman: When I saw the movie and Adrian’s character says, “Just keep doing it.” To me that’s what it is. Don’t feel bad about it. Don’t worry about how you’re feeling. Just feel it. It’s okay. Just keep going. This movement really kind of hit me when he said that.

Scarlett Johansson: It’s funny too, because I think when we have the conversation about what connects us… Not necessarily helpful for a father of four kids, but I think it gives them both permission to be living just in the moment that they want to be in and that’s fine. You don’t have to feel obligated to, as you were saying, have a moment they’re supposed to be having or whatever. That’s what they recognize in each other in that window of time.

Wes Anderson: I guess we have these milestones in our lives and particularly as you get older. The dead begin to pile up. You go through this thing where you start to say, “I cannot believe how often you say the person who I would actually like to hear his or her point of view is this one, and I’m never going to get the answer to this question I want to ask. I will never get the answer.” That just starts to happen more and more and more. Just the power of these losses, it’s among the key milestones. At least that’s my experience. I guess you circle back to these things that you can’t quite find the answers about.

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#Tom Hanks #Jason Schwartzman #Bryan Cranston #Adrien Brody #Jeffrey Wright #Stephen Park #Hope Davis #Jake Ryan #Wes Anderson #2023 #Asteroid City #Actor Interviews #Actress Interviews #Director Interviews #Jay S. Jacobs #Youtube #Scarlett Johansson

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popentertainmentconcertreviews · 1 year

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Big Star – Ardmore Music Hall – Ardmore, PA – December 6, 2022

Perhaps you’ve heard the legend. An unknown rock band puts out a debut album on an imprint on of a record label more well-known for rhythm-based artists. The album gets good critical buzz, but only sells a handful of copies. The group releases a follow-up, which also barely makes a ripple. Members of the band split off, and the third release turns out to be essentially a solo album by the original lead singer.

The albums start showing up in record store cutout bins. They still don’t do all that well, but it seems that just about everyone who buys their records ends up starting their own band. And years after the band had broken up, they became a cult favorite band, beloved by a passionate base.

No, we’re not telling the story of the Velvet Underground. Well, okay it is the VU’s story, but it is also the tale of Big Star. The Memphis foursome, made up of former Box Tops lead singer Alex Chilton, guitarist Chris Bell, bassist Andy Hummel and drummer Jody Stephens, put together a sweet and spicy sound, mixing rock and swooning ballads and becoming one of the first power pop bands.

It has now been 50 years since the release of the debut album #1 Record, which has become considered a bit of a lesser-known classic, as did the second album Radio City. Guitarist Bell left the band to go solo after the release of Radio City, although his solo album I Am the Cosmos was not released until after his 1978 death in a car crash. Hummel also left the band after Radio City to finish college, eventually working for Lockheed Martin for decades before his death of cancer in 2010.

Chilton and Stephens reunited in 1993 and toured on and off for many years until Chilton had a fatal heart attack, also in 2010. Stephens returned to his day job – running Ardent Records, the formerly Stax-distributed label that Big Star had recorded for all those years earlier. It seemed like Stephens would never play the music again, until he announced this limited 50th anniversary tour celebrating the band.

However, this isn’t just the case of a classic band touring with one surviving member and a bunch of kids young enough the be the sons (or grandsons) of the original artists. For the Big Star 50 tour, members of some of the most respected alt-rock bands of the 90s – and all Big Star fans – came together to make up the rest of the band. These included Mike Mills (of REM), Pat Sansone (of Wilco), Chris Stamey (of the dBs) and Jon Auer (of the Posies).

In fact, Auer (and his former Posies cohort Ken Stringfellow) had toured with Chilton and Stevens in the revamped Big Star on and off from 1993 to 2010, when Chilton died. They even did a 2005 album together called In Space. (Stringfellow is no longer involved with Auer or Big Star due to fall out from a series of 2021 sexual abuse allegations.) Therefore, Auer has been playing this music well longer than half of the original Big Star members ever did.

And the other new “band” members here obviously had the chops and the love for the music to make this show rock. There was also a guest appearance for this show on two songs by Adam Weiner, lead singer of the band Low Cut Connie.

The concert was split into two acts. First, they played the entirety of the #1 Record album – in order. Then after a brief intermission they came back and played a bunch of fan favorites – a great deal of which came from Radio City, but they also did some cool unexpected rarities – including a simply gorgeous version of Bell’s solo single “I Am the Cosmos.”

All five musicians (six if you count special guest Weiner, who played on two songs and sang one) traded off on lead vocals and instruments. Band favorites like “Don’t Lie to Me,” “Ballad of El Goodo” and “Jesus Christ” sounded fantastic, peaking with a stellar version of “September Gurls” featuring Mills on vocals.

Still, to this day, it’s a complete mystery that this band never became huge. At least we got the opportunity to bask in their stellar songbook for one more night.

#Big Star #2022 #Concert Reviews #Ardmore Music Hall #Ardmore #Jay S. Jacobs

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popentertainmentmusic · 1 year

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SPINNING GOLD (2023)

Starring Jeremy Jordan, Wiz Khalifa, Jason Isaacs, Jason Derulo, Jay Pharoah, Michelle Monaghan, Dan Fogler, Sebastian Maniscalco, Winslow Fegley, Ledisi, Sam Harris, Caylee Cowan, Chris Redd, James Wolk, Tayla Parx, Lyndsy Fonseca, Peyton List, Pink Sweats, Casey Likes, Alex Gaskarth, Michael Ian Black and Vincent Pastore.

Screenplay by Timothy Scott Bogart.

Directed by Timothy Scott Bogart.

Distributed by Hero Entertainment. 137 minutes. Rated R.

Neil Bogart was a larger-than-life legend in the music business, even if very few people other than music nerds like me still have a clue who he was.

Bogart ran Casablanca Record and Filmworks, which after a very rocky start became the most successful independent record label of the 1970s. Bogart worked with and/or discovered such acts as KISS, Donna Summer, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Bill Withers, The Village People, Parliament/Funkadelic and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. He worked hard, lived hard, partied hard. He ran up monumental debts and threw legendary parties. He ran afoul of music biz execs and the mob. All of that before dying way too young at 39 of cancer.

It's a fascinating, under-explored story about the highs and the lows of the music business in its glory days. Bogart’s son Tim has long felt that it was important to tell his dad’s story and has been working to get his dad’s story on film since the 1990s. (Early on, Justin Timberlake was in talks to portray Bogart, although eventually he had to drop out because his musical schedule was packed, and he could not fit it in.)

Now, finally, after decades of waiting, Tim Bogart has gotten his father’s life story onscreen. He did it in a way that his own dad would appreciate – going the independent route and taking on the tough work (screenwriting and directing) himself, and basically willing it into existence.

“Getting that story out… is… moving for me,” Bogart told me in a recent interview. “I do think this is a great parallel in the perseverance and the dream I had in making it.”

Bogart has captured a fascinating look back at the wild west days of the old music world, sex, drugs and rock & roll back when it was safe and normal. Like many recent music biopics, Spinning Gold is a mix of hard reality and fanciful romanticization. Sometimes it feels like a serious gangster drama of the 1970s, at other times a jukebox musical with some damn good music provided by current singers playing the legends of days past.

While most of the celeb singers have the voices to pull off the roles, they mostly look almost nothing like the performers they are playing, such as Donna Summer, Gladys Knight and Bill Withers. Also, a personal note to Wiz Khalifa, in 1976 almost no one had nose piercings, not even someone as wild and funky and willfully out there as George Clinton. So you may want to take those things out when portraying a real-life character from another era.

However, I suppose this is not supposed to be a tribute act. The song is the thing, and mostly the re-recordings of legendary hits of the 1970s work surprisingly well.

Holding it all together – the ringleader of the film portraying the ringleader of Casablanca – is Broadway and TV star Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, Little Shop of Horrors, Supergirl) who can access both Bogart’s showmanship and hard-nosed determination. It’s a fascinating bit of myth-building.

“That was kind of Neil's vibe,” Jordan told me in that same interview. “He just wanted to make you dance and wanted to entertain. He was a showman.

“He's writing his own ending, and it is really kind of beautiful and magical and different in that way,” Jordan continued. “We don't feel tied to ultra reality, and this is the exact perfect way that this happened. It doesn't have to be [real] because it was sex, drugs, rock and roll. It was the journey as opposed to the actual truth of it all.”

You could say that about the 1970s in general.

Spinning Gold is spinning some fascinating tales of life on the periphery of superstardom and the high you reach by going all in and creating some genre-defining art. Plus, it’s got a great beat, and you can dance to it. What more can you ask?

Jay S. Jacobs

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#Spinning Gold #2023 #Music Review #Jeremy Jordan #Jay S. Jacobs

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popentertainment-concertphotos · 1 year

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Gilbert O’Sullivan – City Winery – Philadelphia, PA – March 15, 2023

#Gilbert O'Sullivan #2023 #Concert Photos #City Winery #Philadelphia #Jay S. Jacobs

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general-kalani · 4 months

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“What if they kissed?” Jacob/Jay (reg ViperSinner one because THEY NEED A BREAK, everything is happening so much they need a break)

{ Prompt from here!

Mun note; I FEEL THAT WJKAHDJKA writing this in the verse where Jacob has NO EYE INJURY- }

"Y'know, I'm still surprised Hunter loves ya this much."

Currently the puppy was trying to knock down Jay to lick him. They'd stood just outside the wolf cages, since Hunter had been so restless to meet his other father again and spend time with him.

The wolf pup had been picked up by Jay, where the puppy immediately got to licking his face for at least ten seconds, perhaps more before settling in, his tail wagging.

"Heh, fuckin' cute in yer arms ain't he... Not t'mention how cute you look holdin' him."

A grin, a kiss to the others lips.

"A'course, y'look cute every day. Oh. Happy birthday by the way."

And with it, a blade brought out and held out to Jay. A knife, whether it was Jacob's personal blade or a replica he'd had someone make would be unclear but the serrated back of the blade with the red handle said it was made with care.

Perhaps Jacob himself made it.

"Whole day, we do whatever y'want. How's that."

Another kiss.

#copy that taccom { ask }#redjaybird #muse: jacob seed #jacob/jay #my writing #SURPRISE BIRTHDAY DRABBLE-SCENARIO HEHE #>:3 #I FEEL NO REGRETS DOING IT EARLY IT'S JUST AN E X C U S E-

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esonetwork · 2 months

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The Earth Station DCU Episode 368 – I'll Find You

New Post has been published on https://esonetwork.com/the-earth-station-dcu-episode-368-ill-find-you/

The Earth Station DCU Episode 368 – I'll Find You

This Week on Earth Station DCU! Drew Leiter and Cletus Jacobs will find you. Superman finally has a way back to Victor’s planet, plus the secret of Hope’s baby is revealed in Superman: Lost #10. Jay learns the truth behind his and Judy’s powers in Jay Garrick: The Flash #4. Both Supermen and Batmen band together to thwart Gog’s plan to attack Apokolips before it’s too late in Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #23. Bizzaro returns to Earth-0, but as Superman finds out, his doppelganger is much more powerful than he has ever been in Action Comics #1061. In a flashback sequence, the truth is revealed why Sector 2814 has been quarantined and what happened to Killowog on Korugar in Green Lantern #7. Amanda Waller decides it is time to take out Garro in Titans Beast World #4. All this plus, DC News, Shout Outs, and much, much more!

————————

Table of Contents

0:00:00 Show Open

0:01:00 DC News

0:07:52 Superman: Lost #10

0:16:48 Jay Garrick: The Flash #4

0:24:48 Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #23

0:27:34 Action Comics #1061

0:32:20 Green Lantern #7

0:41:32 Titans Beast World #4

0:49:16 Sweet Tooth S2 Ep7 – I’ll Find You

0:56:22 Show Close

Links

Superman: Lost #10

Jay Garrick: The Flash #4

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #23

Action Comics #1061

Green Lantern #7

Titans Beast World #4

The Flash #1 (Cletus’s Read More Comics Pick)

If you would like to leave feedback, comment on the show, or would like us to give you a shout out, please call the ESDCU feedback line at (317) 455-8411 or feel free to email us @ [email protected]

#action comics #Batman #Cletus Jacobs #Drew Leiter #Earth Station DCU #ESO Network #Green Lantern #Jay Garrick #Superman #Superman Lost #sweet tooth #The Flash #Titans Beast World #World&039;s Finest

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xzaddyzanakinx · 5 months

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I Crybaby I part two

Mean Punk/Grunge Anakin × Naive Femme Reader

18+ MDNI

Warnings: demeaning comments, crude behavior, aggression toward reader, hurt/comfort, reader is taken advantage of, Anakin is briefly a creep

Info: Anakin is an ass, like no joke he's really mean. Pierced and tatted Ani, he plays the drums, annoying rude neighbor, modern AU (90's), he might be mean now but I promise he will get better (probably)

NOT PROOFREAD

As the day went on you got yourself ready. A friend from one of your college classes was due to pick you up anytime now. The guy was nice enough to invite you out to go bowling with a group of his friends, knowing you were new and that you didn’t have a solid friend group yet. You were appreciative of the gesture, despite your bubbly personality you found it difficult to keep a steady friendship, it seemed that people took advantage of your naivety, your kindness.

Jacob had promised that his friends were just as great as he was, it was the week after classes had ended for the summer and they had collectively decided it was an atrocity that a girl like you had went the school year without a proper night out with friends.

Wearing a tight red crop top and a cherry patterned short skirt and a pair of white sandals you stepped out side, checking on your hair and makeup one more time in the porch window before sitting on the swing to wait for him to pull up.

Anakin had been watching you from behind his bedroom curtains as you primped and prepared to go out. A mix of annoyance and fascination flickered within him as he observed your movements. He couldn't help but notice the tight red crop top that accentuated your figure and the short cherry-patterned skirt that revealed your toned legs.

Feeling a sudden pang of jealousy, Anakin scoffed to himself as he grabbed his pack of Marlboros and his lighter from the nightstand. He stepped out onto his porch, determined to distract you from whatever event you planned on attending.

Anakin couldn't help but admire how good you looked, despite his attempts to downplay it.

"You're really going all out, aren't you?" he called out, purposely using a sarcastic tone as he walked over, the sound of his combat boots hitting the concrete echoing through the air.

He lit up a cigarette, taking a deliberate drag and letting the smoke linger in the air between you. Smirking at the disgust on your face when the smoke curled around your head, he snickered as he watched you fan it away with your delicate little hands.

Despite his snarky facade, he couldn't help but feel a streak of possessiveness at the thought of you going out with someone other than him.

"What do you mean?" You asked, standing as you saw Jacob's station wagon rounding the corner.

Anakin smirked, taking another drag from his cigarette as he leaned against the porch railing, the smoke escaping his lips in a lazy wisp. The sight of Jacob's car approaching only fueled his determination to stir up some trouble.

"Don't get your panties in a twist, princess," he replied, his voice laced with a blend of amusement and annoyance. "Just think you're putting in a lot of effort for some random."

As Jacob's car pulled up, Anakin pushed himself off the railing, making his way over to your driveway with an intentional swagger. He looked Jacob up and down with a scrutinizing gaze, silently sizing him up as if daring him to make a move.

"So, this is the lucky guy, huh?" he drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Better keep a close eye on him, he looks like one of those sleazy types."

Anakin's words were meant to ruffle Jacob's feathers, and to his disappointment, the other boy seemed to be unaffected. He simply stepped aside and leaned against his car, a grin spreading as he watched you leap down the steps.

"Jay-Jay!" You shouted excitedly as he opened the passenger door for you.

Anakin laughed loudly, doubling over before leaning back on his heels, the toes of his shoes leaving the ground. “Jay-Jay?” He mocked.

"Who's this?" Jacob gestured to Anakin, very obviously judging his appearance and behavior.

"He's my neighbor, lives right there." You pointed.

Anakin raised a pierced eyebrow at Jacob's judgmental gaze, his playful smirk never leaving his face. He leaned against the car, deliberately invading Jacob's personal space as he spoke with a self-assured tone.

“Just thought I’d make sure she’s in good hands you know? Gotta watch out for my baby girl.” Anakin replied, leaning into the still open car door to give you a condescending pat on the cheek.

His use of the pet name was deliberate, a subtle reminder that he had taken a liking to you, even if he wasn't ready to admit it. Anakin shot you a mischievous grin as you settled into the car, his gaze lingering on you for a moment before he turned back to Jacob.

You watched the exchange between the two boys. Jacob instantly bristled at the use of Anakin's pet name. He stood up a bit straighter to attempt to tower over Anakin with no luck, since Anakin was obviously much taller, even without the clunky boots he wore. You could tell Anakin liked getting a rise out Jacob, seeing as how his cheeks got red and his fists clenched.

"Take care of her, champ," he said, his tone containing a mix of jealousy and true concern for your safety.

“Can’t believe he said that while I’m standing right there!” Jacob fumed under his breath as he walked around the car to the drivers door. “Little shithead.”

Anakin couldn't help but overhear Jacob's remark as he made his exit. He chuckled to himself, basking in the knowledge that he had effectively managed to get under his skin.

He muttered, his tone tinged with amusement. "Guess I struck a nerve."

With one final wink in your direction, Anakin pushed away from the car and retreated back to his own porch. Leaning back on the porch swing, Anakin took another drag of his cigarette, the smoke curling around him like a protective shield. But deep down, he couldn't ignore the flicker of concern that wormed its way into his thoughts.

He watched as Jacob's car disappeared from view, the distant engine noise fading into the quiet evening. The reality of his own possessiveness began to sink in, causing a mix of conflicting emotions to surge within him. Anakin found himself questioning his motives, the strange connection he felt with you.

With a sigh, he stubbed out his cigarette and stood up from the porch swing.

You were worried that Anakin's behavior would dampen the mood, but it didn't, Jacob quickly recovered to his usual chipper self.

Walking alongside you happily as you entered the bowling alley to meet his friends. Thankfully there were other girls there that immediately took a liking to you, they made you feel like part of the group right away.

As the night went on you formed the opinion that yes, Jacob had some cool friends, and you wouldn’t mind getting to spend more time with them. The girls and you had ordered a few drinks at the bar next door between games and by the time Jacob was ushering you into the car to take you home with a gentle hand on your back, you were more than a bit tipsy.

Soon enough he pulled into the driveway, jogging around the front end of the vehicle to help you out. He chuckled when he saw you had taken off your shoes and were holding them awkwardly in your hands. Your bare feet smacked the pavement and you couldn’t help but giggle.

"Thanks, Jay," you slurred, flashing him a crooked grin. His hand on your waist steadied your loose movements.

"C'mon let's get you inside." He laughed.

As you fumbled with your keys at the front door, Jacob leaned in close, his voice laced with mild concern.

"Careful now, don't want you busting up that pretty face," he teased, gently guiding the key into the lock for you.

The door of Anakin’s home swung open, time for his late night smoke and not at all meant to be a front for spying on you and the stupid guy with an arm around your waist.

"Buh-bye Jay," you slurred, hugging Jacob sleepily.

The boy towered over you, dwarfing you with his larger size. You seemed to small and fragile next to him and it worried Anakin. He leaned in with the intent to kiss you, and of course you remained blissfully unaware of the escalating tension hanging in the air.

Anakin couldn't stand by and watch as another man tried to claim what he saw as his. With a flick of his cigarette, he crushed the butt beneath his boot and rose to his feet. A mix of anger and protectiveness coursed through him as he approached the porch, his eyes never leaving the scene unfolding in front of him.

"Alright, that's enough," Anakin growled, stepping between the two of you. His voice dripped with a toxic combination of aggression and protection.

Jacob stepped back, his expression caught between surprise and annoyance.

“What's your problem, man?" he snapped, clearly taken aback by Anakin's sudden appearance.

Anakin leaned in closer, his voice dripping with contempt. "You think you can just swoop in and take advantage of a clearly intoxicated girl, huh? You're delusional if you think I’m letting you walk in there with her."

His words hung heavy in the air, a tense silence engulfing the three of you. Anakin's gaze remained fixed on Jacob, his icy stare daring him to make a move.

Jacob, realizing the situation was escalating, backed off slowly, his hands raised in a gesture of surrender.

"Look, man, I didn't mean any harm. I just…. I thought she was into it. My bad." He stuttered.

Anakin's lips twisted into a smile, though it was laced with bitterness.

"Your bad, huh?" he sneered. "Stay the hell away from her. She's off-limits."

Without another word, Jacob turned on his heel, swiftly retreating to his car. The confrontation left a sour taste in the air that dissipated swiftly after Jacob’s car squealed out of your driveway.

Anakin's gaze softened, though his anger still smoldered beneath the surface. He turned his attention to you, remaining silent for a beat before stepping closer, his touch gentle on your exposed shoulder.

"You alright, princess?" he asked softly, his voice a stark contrast to the venom he had displayed moments ago. His hand reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair away from your face.

The warmth of his touch sent shivers down your spine, and you found yourself searching his face to confirm he was being genuine.

At the realization that he was indeed being serious tears filled your eyes and You pushed the heels of your palms into them to attempt to fight them off, but it was no use. Your mascara was running, no doubt your lipgloss was smeared across your cheek, you were in a disheveled state and couldn’t help but steel yourself for the possibility he would make some terrible jab at you and your situation. You let yourself crumple into yourself as you sunk to the ground, taking a seat on the threshold of your still open front door.

"'S-sorry. I don't mean to be a crybaby." You shot a rude glare at him. Still upset that he had called you that so long ago.

“I feel so stupid!” You cried, your fists against your forehead. “I thought he wanted to be my friend.” Your voice trailed off, broken and quiet.

For a moment, Anakin was at a loss for words, his mind swirling as he scraped the nearly empty barrel of empathy stored in the back room of his brain.

"Hey, hey, it’s okay." he murmured, his voices held a rare tenderness as he knelt down in front of you.

“Want me to beat his ass? I’ll do it.” He tried joking with you, sighing in defeat when it just made you cry harder.

He reached out, his thumb gently tracing along your cheekbone, wiping away each tear that escaped your eyes. Anakin's touch was surprisingly tender, a stark contrast to his usual behavior.

"You're just here to make fun of me."

"Hey, don't talk like that," he said softly, "I'm not here to make fun of you babe." he said, his voice carrying an undertone of genuine affection.

"I can be an asshole sometimes, but that doesn't mean I don't care.” He smirked, “I do have a shriveled up heart in here somewhere.”

Anakin's confession hung in the air, his words carrying a weight that revealed a deeper layer to his guarded personality.

You were so shell-shocked by his words that your sniffling halted completely, the guy had never said a more than a few grumpy words to you before. Now he was here in front of you, offering Comfort? What bizarre alternate reality had you stumbled into?

“You gonna say something or just stare at me?” He laughed.

“I- sorry.” You cleared your throat and scrubbed at your eyes, managing a half hearted smile, “thank you.”

"Yeah, yeah." He said sarcastically. Offering you his hand, "c'mon. Don't want the whole neighborhood seeing you like this."

You took his hand and let him pull you inside, he closed the front door and looked around, trying to decide what door led to your bedroom. Eventually he chose the correct one and guided you to your pink blanketed bed.

"Where's your stuff at? Like your pjs and shit?" he fumbled through the dresser, shoving the underwear drawer closed immediately, so embarrassed that he saw it he smushed his finger in the process.

"God damnit." he mumbled, shaking his hand. You giggled and pointed to the next drawer down.

He pulled out a set of cotton shorts and a matching shirt, adorned with a cute little Hello Kitty and strawberry print. Anakin held up the clothing, a mix of amusement and surprise playing on his face.

"Really?" he remarked, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

He handed you the pajamas, his fingersbrushing gently against yours.

"Take your time changing," he said, his voice softening with a newfound tenderness. "I'Il wait here."

Anakin settled himself on your bed, leaning against the headboard, his piercing blue eyes never leaving your figure as you walked into your bathroom. He wanted to give you the space and time you needed to collect yourself, to let the tears subside, but it was awfully hard when you left the door cracked open. Flashes of your legs could be seen as you kicked off your clothes and Anakin was valiantly fighting the urge to drool.

As you changed into your pajamas, his gaze trailed over your legs, appreciating the way the fabric was dragged up and over your curves. Anakin's thoughts wandered to something significantly less than holy, if he was a religious man he would’ve smote down by lightning just for forming those thoughts.

But he shook himself out of the trance, reminding himself to respect your privacy. Once you stumbled out from the bathroom, dressed in your ridiculous, albeit cute, pajamas, Anakin's eyes met yours, a faint smile gracing his lips.

"You did good, princess," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

He patted the space next to him, silently inviting you to join him on the bed. It was a small gesture, but a meaningful one, he wanted to create a safe space for you. Anakin genuinely cared about your well-being, at least right now in your drunken state.

He lifted up the blanket for you to crawl under, and patted your head awkwardly as he stood up. Stepping into the bathroom and searching through the cabinet, finding a wash cloth he wet it and then glanced around for soap. Shrugging his shoulders and deciding the hand soap was good enough. Trotting back over to you, dripping soapy water on the hardwood floor of your bedroom.

"Close your eyes." he commanded softly.

Gently wiping off the black streaks on your face. The gesture made me sleepy, and soon enough you were half asleep. You heard him chuckled to himself and the wet smack of the washcloth landing in the sink.

"Night." he whispered thinking you were asleep, trailing a finger over your cheek. Soon after you heard the front door open andclose, knowing he'd went back to his house.

You thought maybe after that night Anakin would be a bit more friendly with you, but he'd ignored you even more than before. You were quickly getting exhausted of it. Everyday you’d see him leave his house, you’d wave and he'd ignore it.

Everyday you would see him come back home, You would wave and ask him how his day was and he wouldn't answer. He'd just go straight into his garage to take off his mechanic's jumpsuit. He even came to the diner were you worked at and you had to watch him request a different waitress just so he wouldn't have to speak to you in front of his band mates.

The next few days were more of the same, and you expected it to be no different when clocked in at the diner that afternoon. After sliding your punch card back into its slot you sauntered through the kitchen and greeted your coworkers on your way to the front.

After arriving at the counter you noticed a new flyer pinned to the cork board behind the register. In big bold sharpied letters the word 'Vermin' was followed by a date and time. The description was 'headbang at the hideaway with us.' The location was a well known party spot, an abandoned warehouse.

"Hey, what's this?" You pointed to it, one of the waiters coming over to explain that it was a local band.

"You know the drummer don't you? Blue hair? Tall?” He laughed at your shocked expression, and you explained that you never realized his band was popular enough to get a gig this large.

"Are you going?" You asked excitedly.

"No but I think Kristen and her boyfriend are." He pointed to the other waitress on shift.

You made a mental note to ask her more about it. You decided you were going, and you were going to look good doing it.

After work you went straight to the mall. There was only a day before the event and you knew you didn't have the right clothes.

"Sorry to bother you," Feeling extra brave you walked up to a girl standing outside smoking, she had on a t- shirt similar to one you had seen Anakin wear before. "do you mind if I ask where you got your shirt?"

You smiled, trying to be as polite as possible and not make a fool of yourself. A soft chuckle escaped her, but there wasn't a hint of malice behind it. For some reason you felt that she could be trusted, she had a calming vibe about her.

"Uh yeah, the only alternative store we in town is in there." She laughed, looking you up and down.

"I-| know I don't look the type." You put your head down in embarrassment. "there's this thing I want to go too and I don't want to look out of place."

“Oh don’t tell me it’s for some boy.” She gagged, smiling nonetheless.

“Yeah actually it is.” You blushed, picking at your nails, “Um thanks, I’ll just-“ she interrupted you.

"I'Il help you pick something out m'kay?" She pushed off the wall with her shoulder, her clunky boots smacking the pavement as she threaded her arm through yours and led you into the mall.

It was a small gesture, but it meant the world to you, knowing that you wouldn't be left alone and confused in a dimly lit store you’d never stepped foot in. The air was thick with the sound of music and the scent of incense, the cashier cover in various body piercings and tattoos.

The girl took the lead, guiding you towards racks of clothes that resembled something similar to things you’d seen Anakin where before. Together, you flipped through hangers, choosing pieces that were definitely out of your comfort zone, but that you felt like you could easily pull them off.

Feeling like you were in a cheesy movie’s dressing room montage you experimented with band shirts, ripped jeans, and accessories that looked like they could be considered as weapons. Her presence provided a sense of comfort, assuring you that you were on the right track, it helped that she was perfectly comfortable being there herself.

The nerves that had once plagued you were replaced by a growing sense of confidence. The mirror reflected a version of you that felt stronger, more self assured. You were starting to understand the appeal of this type of dress and the scene it went with. The music flowing through the speakers started sounding less like pots, pans and rabid raccoons and more like drums, guitars and harsh vocals.

Finally, you settled on an outfit that made you feel empowered. You looked to your new friend, who had previously insisted despite her birth name being Deborah she was not a total loser and would rather you call her by her middle name, Marie.

"God. You look hot." She nodding her head in approval. “I’d fuck you.”

"Just chop this part off when you get home and you'll be irresistible." She made a scissor motion at the hem and sleeves of the shirt

"Chop it off?" You gasped. "why?"

She laughed, "Just gives it character, it'll make it look like you've worn it before and not like you just got it."

"Here." She dropped a chunky silver chain in your hands with a clip on each end. "that will go on your jeans okay? Then we'll rip some holes in here at your knees. And the shoes you have already are fine, converse go with everything. Let's go."

She pushed you toward the register, then out the doors and guided you towards the back entrance to the mall, stopping just outside the doors. She grinned, yanking the jeans from your bag.

“Don’t flip out.” She warned, grabbing the jeans by the waist and the end of the pant leg.

She pushed the toe of her boot to the fabric where the back of your knee would be and pressed it to the brick wall. She began rapidly sawing the jeans back and forth creating a distressed look. She tipped her head to you and offer the pants to you so you could do the other leg.

The act felt liberating, you’d never purposely destroyed brand new clothes before. Your movements were tentative at first, quickly escalating to something just shy of the force Marie had used. You let out a puff of air that blew your hair out of your face as you turned around to show her the pants.

She gave you an approving smile and tossed your bag over her shoulder, “Follow me, I’ve got some magazines and shit in my car you can have.”

“Magazines?” You questioned, bunching up the jeans in the crook of your arm to jog after her.

“Yeah, like for hair and makeup?” She laughed, headed toward a busted up black hatchback.

“Oh cool okay! Yeah I’d love that!” You giggled and clapped excitedly as she threw open the back seat’s door and ruffled through the mountain of discarded pop bottles, receipts and fast food bags.

“Ignore that.” she huffed when a grocery bag tied up with trash stuffed inside rolled out and onto the pavement.

She shoved the crinkled magazines into your shopping bag of clothes and picked up the trash bag and threw it behind her in her backseat, bumping the door shut with her hip.

“Thank you!” You threw your arms around her shoulders in a crushing hug that she wasn’t expecting, but quickly reciprocated.

“You got a pen in that purse?” She asked when you broke the embrace.

“Uh huh!” You nodded, easily finding it among the highly organized pockets and handed it to her.

She grabbed your wrist and wrote down her phone number, and pointing out the magazine was a subscription and had her address on it.

“I know you’ve got a little planner or address book or some shit like that.” She laughed.

“Yeah I do.” You blushed, smiling because she’d guessed correctly.

“Don’t forget to pencil me in okay babes?” She leaned in and gave you a cheek to cheek kiss like you’d seen people do in foreign films.

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tigerjisunz · 3 months

Text

binded lotus (preview)

art, beauty, death and forbidden love.

SUMMARY: y/n, a passionate young 20 year old artist who is hired by the sim family to paint their portraits. the most prestigious family who comes from old money. jake finds himself obsessing over her. the family does does not see y/n to be in favor for jake or his future. the forbidden love between them leaves jake and y/n alone together.

WARNINGS FOR THE BOOK OVERALL: sex, drug usage, mentions of physical abuse, manipulative jay, small love triangle, murder, suicide

a/n: this book is loosely inspired by the beautiful movie, saltburn, starring berry kehogan and jacob elordi. please do not copy, translate or reuse this story for your own page.

w/k: 2.5k

————————————————

your eyes graze over the beautiful flowers planted into the ground, the vines growing over the walls in twisted patterns, and the beautiful deep blue sky while it waited for the moon to fall dusk on it. walking onto the estate, your heart pumped faster, not knowing what to expect from this palace.

this palace is a place from storybooks, hundreds of rooms, and amazing victorian architecture. it's the kind of place you could explore for days and not be able to see everything. you were staring at it in awe as the sunset beat on your face. its the early 2000s, intricate architecture is dead now, this place comes from old money.

the sims, they ruled over the region of south korea. now they are working on annexing switzerland. which is where you are now. they were a powerful family that was known for extending their territories across the globe. you were shitting bricks to even be in this family's presence.

the family's chauffeur walked alongside you, and helped you carry your baggage to where you will be staying in their house. you had many suitcases. they were carrying all of your clothes, oil paints, and supplies.

you walked the paved concrete with beautiful designs, taking in every detail, seeing how the sun hits the ground, how the shadows linger in between the cracks.

knock knock knock

the chauffeur used the door knocker, the knocks are heavy and prolonged. the man who opened the door for your was what seemed to be a butler. the chauffeur left the bags in the foyer of the house. the butler had a small smile on his face and welcomed you to the estate.

"welcome to this estate ms. y/n." the butler said with a small bow. "i will lead you to your room." he swiftly turned around to lead you there. he had a slim silhouette, trimmed eyebrows, little amounts of hair on his head and pointy shoes.

"thank you sir." you reply. you didn't know the formalities.

"i have worked for the sims for 3 decades, i will be here to accommodate any of your needs during your stay. you may refer to me as valentino." he says as he walks through the hallways.

as you walked through the various rooms of the house, you feel immediately inspired by the artwork surrounding you. the architecture of the house was old, victorian, beautiful and intricate. the endless colors and different shades of greens, blues and pinks painted on the walls. every room had a different vibe and tone, but every room was beautiful. there were luxurious woody fragrances that you picked up on. there were huge windows spanning from the floor to the ceiling.

as you looked out of the window to your left, there was a patio. a man sat there, while he sat on a beautifully carved wood bench. this man had a journal in hand, writing like he was running out of time. he was extremely beautiful, like Aphrodite herself had bestowed a fraction of beauty onto him.

though there was glass separating you two, you felt as if his aura was seeping into your skin. maybe it was the glow of the sun reflecting off of him, but he has such a innocent beauty radiating from him.

he had a very strong jaw, with soft eyes. he was deep in thought with his furrowed brow, while he bit down on his lower lip.

there were beautiful flowers behind him, the golden sun was starting to shine down on him, and the sky was turning pink. while he sat on the bench, a light blond dog ran up to him.

the man's face changed from serious and deep in thought, to lighter expression. a small smile was forming on his face while he petted his dog. you stopped to watch.

you had realized that you weren't following valentino anymore. fuck

fuck fuck fuck

there was a set of stairs that he could've gone up to, or the hallway to your right which lead to another room. "damnit" you whispered to yourself. how can you already mess this up.

"ah!" a high pitched voice from a woman calls out. she has an expensive australian accent. "you must be y/n! it's nice to finally meet you. jay has told me so much about your work!"

"nice to meet you elspeth." you hold your hand out to shake hands with her, she looks at it, and slowly looks up at you, then back down to your hand. she was the woman who was in change of the estate. a very important woman, she is the one who hired you.

she gives a dirty look and gives a small bow, "you may find your living quarters." as she looks away. she immediately went to page someone as she walked away.

the interaction left you feeling confused and felt a pit in your stomach, knowing that was a bad first impression. you knew she was the main woman in the house. you knew there were two women and two men you would be doing portraits on.

"y/n!" a sharp snap of a man's voice. you find his face to match the voice, and it is valentino.

his demeanor started as upset, and quickly shifted to a calmer one. "it seems that i have lost you there. follow me up to your room."

you walked up the carpet lined stairs to the room.

"your bags are all here. we searched them and everything seems to be good." he says while closing the doors.

you immediately sit on the bed and take a deep breath to decompress from what had just happened. as you look around the room that you are in, you see how marvelous it is.

the tall ceilings, the walls are painted a rich red, with accents of chartreuse and gold. the bed was king sized, with long curtains draped from poles that were part of the bed frame. the slightly opened window let in the soft sunset and a quiet breeze.

turning your attention, there was a huge vintage wooden dresser. gliding your fingers along the edge of it, you got a splinter in your middle finger.

"ah!" you say in a moment of pain. you immediately go to pick it out of your skin and you get it. there are some band aids in your backpack which you reach to get.

while doing some more exploring you find a cd player and lots of cds, madonna, MGMT, rihanna, gwen stefani, and destiny's child. there was some good shit in here, with lots of obscure artists who you've never listened to, but you will have lots of time to get to know them.

stuffing away all of your clothes, books, and bags took some time. by the time you finished, you threw your body on the bed. letting your muscles relax. today had been long, with the travel, weird out of touch rich people and feeling grimy. you had to shower.

you walked into the bathroom and it was just how you expected, fancy. on the counter, there was a beautiful vase with intricate designs. the vase was filled with in bloomed roses. it was very nice, there were 4 towels folded, with a handwritten note on top of them.

“be sure to call the service line when you need fresh towels.”

you placed the note on the sink and turned on the shower.

———————————

night time

you had been rotting in your huge bed for the past few hours. after showering, you lounged in the robe that was hanging in the closet for you. you did some skincare.

you needed some brain stimulation, after all, you were going to be using your brain a lot. painting took like of thinking, analyzing and thought. it made you feel like your brain was more of a muscle than a fatty organ with the way you felt like you were always challenging and working out your brain.

doing fine art was like working out for you. making you stronger, and it made you explode with endorphins. color theory, composition, anatomy, all of it. creating art makes you feel like you are your most authentic self. so, you decided that since you were here on a work trip, you needed to do some practice.

anatomy was your favorite, the way the body was created. drawing and analyzing the human figure was amazing to you, you had a deep connection with it. the way muscles, arteries, veins and fat lay on top of each other. the way the muscles and bones created movement, form and shape. you could learn about it forever. drawing from life was your favorite.

you went into the bathroom and took your robe off. you didn’t usually do self portraits from the mirror, because it is a bit challenging. it was nothing sexual, you just didn’t feel like drawing anything else right now.

your robe was now off your body, and you were looking at yourself wondering how you should pose. this felt kinda awkward for you, but why should it? it’s just you, alone.

you stood there for a second, moving your body in different ways to see what would look good. you decided to go for a sensual pose where you had your left hand grazing your left boob, with a rose in your hand. and your body was leaning a little.

you would take classes down at your local art school, so this was nothing irregular for you. random strangers would pose for the art classes you would take.

sketching your body was easy, detailing was a little more difficult, but nonetheless, you could do it easy. the rough sketch took no more than 3 minutes, getting the shape down. then after a few minutes, you started detailing, adding shadows, value and tone.

you suddenly jumped at a knock at your door.

“y/n. it is supper time in 5 minutes. be sure to come down.” valentino’s stern voice says to you.

“okay valentino. thank you.” you yell back as you were surprised. you subconsciously covered yourself with your hands out of fear that he would open the bedroom door and see you naked in the bathroom.

you rushed to get ready for dinner. you didn't know that were was a mandatory dinner. you didn't know what to wear. you didn't have many fancy things, so you just slipped on your cutest "formal" outfit. this would be the first time you meet the family.

the five minutes have passed and you put some makeup on, you looked cute. you went downstairs to see the headmaster and his wife eating without you. they were laughing to each other. you walked in and they all stopped to look at you. you felt the air get heavy and awkward.

the dining room was extremely huge. beautiful table settings, and a marvelous ceiling with renaissance paintings. the table was also huge, even though there were only a handful of people eating on it. elspeth and her husband sat at opposite heads of the table. a harpist was performing in the corner, playing strings of beautiful harmonies. the live music was so good.

elspeth looked at you with an annoyed expression on her face. the annoyed expression turned into a grin. valentino stood there, along with servers who started at the wall, waiting for a command to come their way. "why valentino, do not be a drag to young y/n? set her a plate at the table. she is our guest after all." she had a chuckle to herself. "be a darling and sit next to me y/n? i would like to talk to you about your work."

you walked over, sitting in the empty chair nearest to elspeth, chuckling in embarrassment. did valentino purposely give you a late heads up? what the fuck.

there were only 2 people at the table. elspeth, and elspeth's husband, sir james

"i thought i was supposed to be doing 4 portraits?" you thought to yourself.

"tell me darling, why are you so late?" elspeth laughs to herself. she was being passive aggressive towards you.

"i'm so incredibly sorry. i was not aware that there would dinner at a specific time." a pit in your stomach is arising.

"well yes, there is always a list of all daily activities in all rooms. every morning they are delivered." she looks at you as if you're stupid." valentino, be a dear and check if there is one in y/n's room for me."

you did nothing. you said nothing. you sat there embarrassed, you have been staying for 5 seconds and already feel unwelcome here.

"i hear you're a very talented young girl." sir james tells you.

"thank you. i'm very grateful to be able to-" you were cut off by a sudden clap by sir james.

a server comes close down to sir james, and kneels down to him. the server then brings out a small bag with a white substance. a small spoon, and puts it to sir james' nose. he snorts the substance.

"WHEW!" a loud yell comes out of his mouth as a reaction from the drugs, with a euphoric look in his eyes and his hand hitting the table. he squeezed the tip of his nose and looked back at you.

"i feel the most inspired when im using my sensory extenders. lets talk about art. so i wa-" he says before cutting you off.

"oh yeah!" you said to go along with his ideas. you spurted that out due to not knowing how to handle this situation. on the inside, you were shitting. this man that you've never met just did fucking cocaine in front of you, and you will be living with him for the next few months.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP. let me finish." he yells at you for interrupting you in his sentence.

you physically felt yourself get taken aback. the hairs on your arm stood up. you felt your face getting hot, your throat closing and your eyes tearing up. you felt frozen in fear.

"darling, do not talk to our guest like that." elspeth replied with a stern look, and a champagne glass in hand.

for a few moments, you just sat there, not knowing what to say. you looked down at your empty plate, trying not to cry.

you heard someone running into the dining room for on the other room. it was the man from earlier with the journal. he ran in looking concerned, but he slowed down once he got inside.

“what's going on. mom are you okay?" he comes in, but he seems as if this is nothing new. as if this is something that happens often. you and him lock eyes.

elspeth looks away in shame “im so extremely sorry y/n. we are sophisticated people with class.”

sir james sits there, looks at you and claps once more. the man from earlier looks at his dad in anger, looks at you, and goes over to you and elspeth.

he whispers into his moms ear and she just looks at him with a disappointed look. the man leans down to you and asks if you want to go with him.

“i know this must be overwhelming. my dad isn’t usually here most of the time. i’ll just take you somewhere else if that’s okay.” he says in his soft australian voice. he grabbed out your hand to kiss the back of it. “my name is jake sim by the way.”

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a/n: hope you enjoyed this! i had sm fun writing it and i have tons of amazing ideas for this story. stick around til the next time. i will be letting you guys know when chapter 1 comes out. :)

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rypnami · 5 months

Text

Jamie Ambrose

About

Full Name: James David Ambrose Nickname(s): Jamie, Jay Age: 18 Date of Birth: 17 August 1873 Birthplace: Manchester, England Blood Status: Half-Blood House: Gryffindor Wand: Willow, dragon heartstring, supple, 13 inches Sexuality: Bisexual Height: 5'8 Quidditch Position: Seeker

Personality

Traits: Brave, stubborn, intelligent, studious, impulsive, charming Likes: Creatures, sweets, Quidditch, flying, spending time with friends, most foods. Dislikes: Rude people, blood supremacists, Cadmus Peverell, Patronus: Some sort of owl

Family

Parents: Henry Ambrose and Andromeda Malfoy (Deceased) Extended Family: Alice Ambrose (Aunt), Jacob Ambrose (Uncle), Alexander Ambrose (Uncle), Mary (Aunt), Thomas Ambrose (Uncle), Ellie Ambrose (Cousin), several other cousins that I was too lazy to name.

Relationships

Partner: Jack Peverell Friends: Gryffindor Quidditch Team, Sebastian Sallow (kind of), Eric Northcott Enemies: Cadmus Peverell, Abraxas Malfoy, the Gaunts (except Ominis ofc)

Future

Career: Seeker for Wigtown Wanderers (team subject to change) Spouse: Jack Peverell Residence: London Pet(s): Snowball (diricawl), Snowball II, Ginger (cat) Children: Ruby Ambrose

Other Facts

- He got his scar in a werewolf attack when he was 6 - His mother died as a result of that same attack - On his 7th birthday he displayed his first signs of magic when he sneezed and his cake caught fire - Aside from the Quidditch team, he considers his dad to be his best friend - Despite being a generally non-violent person he would 100% commit murder if he had to - Probably has some very very mild wolfish qualities from the werewolf attack

i'll probably expand this later idk

#hogwarts legacy #hogwarts legacy mc #gryffindor #gryffindor oc #jamie ambrose

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the-ninja-legacy-whip · 6 days

Note

so can you give an age range of all the elemental masters from the tournament relative to the ninja and when the war happened

Coincidentally (according to my current yet-as-always-subject-to-change notes), the Tournament of Elements occurs, like, exactly 40 years after the Serpentine were sealed away, with the incident with the Time Twins happening not long afterwards leading to the Fifth Gen split up. Of course, this changes a thing or two come show-Season 7, but like, saying "40 years ago" and being off by a year or two is not the end of the world imo :V

Anyway-

As previously mentioned, Zane, Cole, and Skylor are 18 during S4, while Kai turns 18 over the course of events. Jesse is 17, Jay and Nya are 16, and Lloyd's almost 15, but not quite. It's a point of contention that the Secret Ninja Force/Masters of Spinjitzu are all so young compared to (almost) everyone else in the Alliance.

Also mentioned, Tox is three years older than Cole, so during S4 she would be 21. Also in their 20's are Griffin (20), Ash (24), and Shade (28).

Also also mentioned is Karlof: he'd be about 36 or 37 during S4. Also in their 30's are Paleman (33), Jacob (35), Gravis (37), Neuro (36), and Bolobo (34)

Andddddd Chamille herself is 15 almost 16 here

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popentertainment-moviereviews · 1 month

Text

LIMBO (2024)

Starring Simon Baker, Rob Collins, Natasha Wanganeen, Nicholas Hope, Mark Coe, Tiana Hartig, Alexis Lennon, Joshua Warrior, Craig Rossiter, Shannon Wilson-McClinton, Nicholas Buckland, Ricardo Del Rio, Andrew Dingaman, Yarron Jowsey, Saliesha Dingaman, Reg Roordink and Tania Roesch.

Screenplay by Ivan Sen.

Directed by Ivan Sen.

Distributed by Music Box Films. 109 minutes. Not Rated.

Limbo is pretty much the perfect name for the (fictional) town at the heart of this offbeat police procedural which takes place in a small, dilapidated burg in the desert of the Australian outback. Limbo is offbeat for many reasons, not the least of which is that if you are looking for typical mystery beats – like for example finding and punishing the bad guy – you may be looking in the wrong place.

Limbo is much more of a character study of horribly damaged people trying to survive in a hellish area, an examination on how crime can affect the people who knew the victim even decades later, and also a scathing political allegory about the racial divide in that country. And while some questions of the central mystery are answered here, many others are left hanging.

Limbo tells the story of a white Australian policeman named Travis Hurley, who is sent to the title town to look into a 20-year-old cold case about the disappearance of a young Aboriginal girl. She was a native, and a troubled girl, and at the time the case was looked into in a very slipshod manner. Even the new cop acknowledges that had she been a white girl, the case would have been handled completely differently at the time.

Twenty years later, memories are very hazy, some of the witnesses and at least one of the main suspects are dead. Frankly, those people who are still around do not trust the police enough to speak out, particularly not to a white policeman.

Of course, there may be a reason not to trust this cop. Our first introduction to him has him driving into town, checking into the local motel (a spectacular place with rooms and hallways which are actually carved out of the rock in a local cave) and shooting up with heroin until he passes out.

Travis is played by the only actor that most people will be familiar with here. It is a continuation of the return to his native land for Simon Baker, best known as the lead in the long-running TV series The Mentalist and for roles in films like LA Confidential and The Devil Wears Prada. Baker is honestly just barely recognizable here – with multiple assorted tattoos, an emaciated build, a severe buzz cut, a scruffy beard and mustache. Literally, I spent the first five minutes of the film trying to figure out if that was really him on the screen.

Baker has spent the last few years (mostly since the pandemic, it seems) back in his native Australia, taking on harsh, realistic roles which bely his pretty-boy reputation in American television and film. Good for him for taking on this risky career reinvention. Limbo has some of his finest work.

Limbo takes place in a dust-strewn, depressing area of the Australian Outback. (The film was filmed in Coober Pedy, a tiny speck on the Australian map which was known for the mining of opals.) It is a world that is well known by the Indigenous filmmaker Ivan Sen, who gives the town of Limbo an oppressive sense of heat, dirtiness and desperation, which is only enhanced by the film’s crisp black and white cinematography. The film is an arid, oppressively sun-drenched film noir. (And yes, I get the fact that sunny and noir seem to be a contradiction in terms but watch Limbo and you’ll see.)

Travis may be a visitor to the town, but you realize quickly that he knows this kind of place well, and the town’s decrepit sense of sweltering rot mirrors the policeman’s psyche. Still, despite his depression and pessimism, Travis does believe in justice, and he does seem to truly want to help solve the case, no matter how futile his efforts may be.

He enters into a fragile relationship with the town and its citizens. He particularly connects with the victim’s brother Charlie (Rob Collins), with whom he even eventually reaches the tentative beginnings of a friendship, and his estranged other sister Emma (Natasha Wanganeen), who becomes almost a wife-figure to Travis, although in a platonic manner.

Even if Travis can’t give them an answer about their sister’s fate – and neither of them seem to expect an answer to be possible – perhaps Travis can mend the rift between the siblings and come to terms with some of his own demons.

There are no happy endings in Limbo, just a sense of incremental healing. Maybe that is all anyone can expect in that world.

Jay S. Jacobs

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#Limbo #2024 #Movie Review #Simon Baker #Jay S. Jacobs #Youtube

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popentertainment-interviews · 2 years

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Angourie Rice, Armani Jackson and Amy Keum

High School Confidential

by Jay S. Jacobs

High school can be a jungle.

Students climb all over each other trying to be the best – the best student, the best athlete, the best looking, the best dressed, the most accomplished. And yet not everyone can be best, leaving a large group of outcasts, bullied and disenfranchised kids.

It’s a stressful time, and yet it’s also a fertile ground for comedy. High school films are long-time staples of cinema.

This is the premise behind Honor Society, a new comedy in which an over-achieving student named Honor (Angourie Rice of Mare of Easttown and the Spider-Man movies) tries to assure that she will get a vital recommendation for Harvard – her dream school. She finds out she is in the running with three other students, and she goes to great extents to try to sabotage their chances.

These other students are a brainy nerd named Michael (Gaten Matarazzo of Stranger Things), a big man on campus with a personal secret named Travis (Armani Jackson of Chad) and a brilliant-but-uptight loner named Kennedy (Amy Keum of Evil).

The more that Honor plots to distract them from their academic goals, the deeper she is drawn into their lives, and she learns that perhaps grades are not the most important things in life.

About a week before Honor Society has its debut on Paramount+, we hopped on Zoom calls with stars Angourie Rice, Armani Jackson and Amy Keum to find out if high school ever ends.

What was it about this script that intrigued you and wanted you made you want to be a part of it?

Angourie Rice: Many things. I really liked Honor as a character. I saw a lot of myself in her, just that ambition and that competitiveness. But I also wanted the challenge of talking to the camera. I wanted the challenge of playing a character so confident, who goes through this incredible arc of learning and growing. There are so many interesting little bits in this script that really caught my attention.

Armani Jackson: For me, it was, I just love being a part of something that teaches people something. And then can actually start like a movement and start changing people's lives. When I read the script, I almost – even without seeing it, just reading it – gave me a new perspective on things. I knew that once the film was actually made it would be 100 degrees more impactful than that. So for me, it was just being able to tell a story that that hasn't been told that much. And, showcase that it's not always that scary to be yourself.

I thought it was very funny, that Honor thinks that she's this big puppet master. She's taking care of all these things and moving everyone in her ways. Yet, as is pointed out in the movie, she's too good hearted to really hurt the people she's going up against. Was that fun for you to play?

Angourie Rice: So much fun. Also, she's constantly surprised by people. She thinks she has everyone figured out and they keep surprising her because she hasn't made the effort to get to know people. She puts people in these stereotypical boxes, and then is confused when they don't act in the way that she expects them to. So I think she learns to really open up to other people and to be vulnerable in forming connections.

Armani Jackson: I think Honor is such a good person that she almost sometimes doesn't even realize she's helping people. So yeah, it was cool to work off of her character. It was really fun to work off of her breaking the fourth wall.

Amy Keum: Yeah.

Armani Jackson: Sometimes we’d be in the middle of a scene, and we'd have to continue with what we're doing while she was just like talking to the camera. That was new. It is still not done that much. At least for me, I haven't done a project like that.

There's a terrific cast of young actors here. What was everyone like to work with?

Angourie Rice: Fantastic. The whole cast is just great. Everyone was so committed, and so into it, and so great. Those were my favorite days when all the young people were on set. All the stuff in the theater. All the stuff in the chemistry class. All of that was just such a treat to film.

Now, Amy, your character was very, very uptight. To put it nicely. Was that difficult to to find to do as an actress? And what ways would he even someone like you?

Amy Keum: (laughs) Yes, absolutely. I mean, I would say there are some similarities I shared with Kennedy that I definitely had to just lean into a lot more. When I was really little, I was like that at times where I'd kind of look around and be very precocious and look at other kids and be like, grow up. (laughs again.) I would like to think I've grown out of that. But in order to prepare for the character, I just really leaned into that.

Angourie Rice: One of my favorite aspects of the movie is Honor’s friendship with Kennedy that slowly develops. I loved building that with Amy. I just think it's so special, that friendship.

Amy Keum: Even in the hours leading up to filming I would have to get pretty in the zone, journal in the character of Kennedy and think like, “Okay, what would Kennedy be doing?” She'd be approaching this in a very intense way. Then of course, the challenge was once I had that hardened shell now how do I show some of the cracks in that? How do I still show the humanity of Kennedy and that she's a human? She's a soft person inside, too.

I know that you're very into literature. I thought it was interesting that it was a point made a few times in the movie that Honor considered The Handmaid's Tale as her defining book. That's a book that's been very much in the news right now. Was that something that you had in the involved with? Were you familiar with the book?

Angourie Rice: I hadn't read the book before I got the script. I read it after I got the job. I loved it. There are so many interesting things in there that are very applicable and really resonate with everything going on now. Also, there are many, many quotes in there that connected me more to Honor as a character. There are lots of things about hiding yourself and protecting yourself from harm in a way, putting on a show becoming someone else to appease certain people. I think that's very relevant to Honor as well.

How far do you think you would go to get the dream recommendation to the school that you want most?

Armani Jackson: Not that far.

Amy Keum: (laughs) Yeah.

Armani Jackson: I get it. I think high school sometimes it feels like that's really what you’re there for. It's just like a gateway to your next step. Sometimes people forget to just have fun, live in the moment.

Amy Keum: Absolutely. I think in some ways I was like Honor. Not in the cutting other people down way but just in trying to be like this perfect student and do all the right things. Even looking back now I'm like: You know what? I could have enjoyed high school a little bit more.

Armani Jackson: It always happens, it could have been better.

Is bread love?

Angourie Rice: (laughs) You’re the second person who has asked me that. You know what? I think yes. I love bread. (laughs again.)

Do you have any special favorite high school films that may have inspired you when you were making this film?

Armani Jackson: For me, it was probably Booksmart, honestly. It had a lot of similar vibes. Especially from the way it was shot. It's always fun to have a little bit of inspiration in mind whether it's the acting, or whether it's the realism, or just the style. It's fun to be passionate about a different movie or project you saw when you're working on a new one.

Amy Keum: Absolutely. As inspired by our hair master Jessica [Rain], she told me that I should rewatch The Breakfast Club. So definitely Ally [Sheedy] was one of my inspirations of just another really stark interesting character that really marches to the beat of her own drum. Then, additionally for on my own personal research, I watched a lot of Bloody Mary history videos just get a little extra research in.

Angourie Rice: Clueless is one of my favorite movies of all time. I think the journey that Cher goes on is similar to Honor’s journey. Cher learns a lot more. Honor’s a lot more clued in than Cher is. (laughs) But I think that character arc is very similar. And Election. Tracy Flick is a is a great parallel for Honor. That was a movie that I rewatched to prepare.

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#Angourie Rice #Armani Jackson #Amy Keum #2022 #Actor Interviews #Honor Society #Jay S. Jacobs

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