Whenever someone includes Malevolent on their “queer podcast” lists I feel like laughing. Malevolent is the equivalent of the lonely cis allo straight guy at a pride parade. He didn’t come to support anyone. He doesn’t even know how he got there. He was just walking down the street and got pulled into the fray by excited subtext enjoyers.
At first I wasn't wild about Arlecchino's ponytail, but then I opened my third eye and considered... Arlecchino and her lover are in bed and her lover just stares at her hair and before Arlecchino could even ask why they're staring, they pull Arlecchino close, remove her hair tie and run their hands through her hair to enjoy how soft it is.
The bed was warm, but never warm enough. No one ever became truly warm in Snezhnayan weather. But Arlecchino was always warm. You were initially surprised but it was comforting, especially when she held you in her arms.
Arlecchino was also always awake before you. No matter how much you tried to wake up before her, she was always conscious. Some days she was already gone, her side of the bed cold. Some days she was still there, such as today, basking in the quietness as she waited for you to wake up.
Sometimes you wondered if she ever got bored of simply lying in silence with you on her sparse days off. Arlecchino was such a busy woman - she could probably be doing much more productive things instead of wasting her time here with you. You remember offhandedly mentioning it to her, but she quickly narrowed her eyes and told you not to be foolish, which was reassuring.
So, on rare days like this, where the first thing you saw when you woke up was her face instead of the empty space, it was very precious to you. Already awake, as per usual, she immediately noticed the slow opening of your eyes, considering her hand was now stroking your cheek.
“Good morning, [Name],” her voice echoed throughout the completely still room, save for the snow beating against the window. It took a few seconds for you to process that your lover was still here with you, the warmth from her body seeping into you, her voice repeating in your head. You looked at her blinking, taking in her smooth face, X-ed eyes, and pink lips all directed toward you. At first, she didn’t question your staring, as you were usually bleary and still adjusting to the light in the mornings. You sleepily wondered what she thought about as she studied you.
In no time you realized that she was actually here with you, especially when she placed a soft kiss on your cheek, quickly waking you up embarrassingly enough.
“Arlie… good morning. It’s nice to see you,” you murmured as you snuggled into her chest, enjoying the attention you were getting.
“You as well,” she responded, and silence reigned once more. One did not need to speak during these moments. Sometimes more is shared in the quiet than with words.
You peered back up at her, and that’s when you noticed that Arlecchino had exchanged her usual fancy hair clip for a regular hair tie so that it was more comfortable in bed. Though right now, her hair wasn’t the neat, orderly ponytail it usually was. Some wisps of hair bordered her face like a picture, while other locks were thrown over her body.
Arlecchino’s hair always fascinated you. It was beautiful, to put it simply, but simple wasn’t enough to describe it. Pure white that rivaled the snow of Snezhnaya, black locks trickling down that challenged the darkness of the night. And finally, it flowed into red curls that clashed against the white and matched her eyes.
Your internal marveling at your lover’s hair gave you the sudden urge to run your fingers through it. You had done it a few times before, and you enjoyed it immensely. Arlecchino seemed to not mind it either. So you decided to indulge yourself, and it was now that she noticed your endless staring. She was just about to question you when you suddenly pulled her closer (although it wasn’t much of a pull when your bodies were already touching each other) and tugged off the hair tie, allowing her hair to spill out and onto your waiting fingers.
The first touch of the softness against your fingers was heavenly. It was always astonishing how nicely her tresses rubbed and tickled against your hand. Hair both pretty to the eye and touch, something many people would be jealous of, including yourself. But you had Arlecchino all to yourself at least.
Arlecchino had not uttered a word during this. She had raised her eyebrows the tiniest bit at your sudden boldness, but soon returned to her poker face, allowing you to do as you pleased. Secretly, she had always found this activity to be quite relaxing and endearing, as well as finding the expression on your face cute. She wondered if you enjoyed this more than her sometimes, considering the funny things you did with her hair.
You twirled a whole lock of her hair around your finger, and let it go to see it bounce and then fall flat. You let strands flow between each of your fingers, and let it fall and brush against your arm in the process. You even combed out some tiny knots. It was always the mundane things that were oddly the most delightful, you thought, lost in the way her hair danced in your hand.
You weren’t sure how much time had past, but it was then you realized on every occasion where you played with her hair, you always asked explicit permission. Sometimes, there were days when she didn’t want to be touched, which was completely understandable, so you always made sure to ask. So now you were anxious about if you were internally irritating her.
The more you thought about it, you were worried that she would get annoyed at your continued stroking, so before you could get too lost in the motion, you began to pull away. But she hastily caught your wrist, only speaking a few words from there.
“You may continue.” You were surprised at her request but also happy and relieved, obeying her as your fingers returned to their rightful place, entangled with her locks of hair. It was then that she amazed you even more. Arlecchino’s eyelids began to droop, slowly but surely, until her multicolored eyes could be seen no longer. You knew she wasn’t asleep - she only fell asleep after you did - but this was simply incredible for you.
Your heart pounded fiercely at the sight, as though you’d just run a marathon. Even as Arlecchino’s lover, you rarely ever saw her as vulnerable as she was right now. She was surely a sight to behold. Ruthless and cruel to soft and comforted.
You didn’t utter a single word, not wanting to ruin this perfect and tender moment. And so the two of you continued to lay there in peace, her locks of hair gliding through your fingers effortlessly, and a very tiny, content smile on the Harbinger’s face.
no thoughts head empty the oppressive stagnancy of legacy in ever after high dragging me round the block yet again
it's such a shame that we get so little explanation about the actual mechanics of destiny, which is the entire premise of the show, bc it's so juicy. like what power does destiny hold when you rip away milton's lies and centuries of assumptions and traditions. esp bc despite raven signing herself as the evil queen in the real storybook of legends, when the snow white fairytale actually happens in dragon games she's playing one of the seven dwarves and her mother has reprised her role. like how much of that was because of the characters' actions and how much was destiny pulling on old, familiar threads. keeps me up at night.
a lot of this is probably just like, plot holes and writer hot potato but i like making it that deep, that's half of the fun. my personal interpretation is that fate is a wild thing that desires repetition and they developed the system of fairytale legacy bloodlines to keep those repetitions predictable and contained, instead of wreaking havoc whenever and wherever they please.
which lends itself to some really juicy exploration of how legacy is a duty as much as it is a privilege, and how to be a princess or a witch or a hero or a dragon is to be the same thing in the end: the lamb destiny slaughters on the altar to sate the ever-ravenous narrative. to keep the flock safe. keep the unknown that prowls beyond the beaten path at bay. because if a there is always a mother who will be cruel, or a maiden who will fall into a sleep like death, or a child who will become a bird, isn’t it better to know who, and how, and when? isn’t better if it’s you, who has known your whole life that you must be eaten, be poisoned, be stripped of your humanity, rather than anybody else, who wasn’t raised to see it as an honour instead of a great and terrible injustice?
Pretty much everything actually. The Fukuchi 36 years reveal was rushed due to the pacing but it made sense and finally explained why the hell he would go about blowing up the world when he was so motivated by the horrors of war. It also leads itself into some interesting questions for later. But I'll list some other highlights:
The pretty flashbacks
Aya and Bram :) Also Bram getting his body back.
Whoever "that man" was that Fyodor mentioned. I am intrigued tell me more. Does this mean that Fyodor was projecting his feelings towards his rivalry with an ex onto Dazai. That would be so funny. (Also I wonder about his age still... how long ago are we talking?)
Dazai's strength explicitly being stated as the absolute trust he has in his allies, as opposed to Fyodor's need for complete control. <-I mean. We all knew but it's the confirmation that's nice.
Nikolai's conflicted emotions on Fyodor's death getting focus and attention - and Dazai not saying anything and just letting him feel whatever he's feeling. My poor jester lad.
Chuuya trying and failing to pull the fangs out of his mouth
Poor Teruko having to deliver the final blow
Semi-confirmed old man yaoi??? Like. The way that whole scene was framed between Teruko, Fukuchi, and Fukuzawa. Um.
Fukuchi's dying moments. Fukuzawa trying and failing to throw away One Order. The most emotional and devastated we've ever seen him. Ranpo knowing he can't throw it away. For all I was saying earlier, guys I'm so so glad he isn't dead.
Whatever that last bit was??? Are we changing the setting? Is this what happens after the other side of the Page is activated? Are we pulling in mythology? Sskk complete confidence and Atsushi smiling at Akutagawa? Hell yeah?????
Things I am not sure yet how to feel about:
Fyodor's apparent death. If he really did just die and won't be back in any capacity... it's kind of a let down. He. Barely did anything. But I feel like there's still going to be something. Like even if he's dead for good he'll still haunt the story in some way.
Hope they do something more with Teruko after this. Interesting to have her end things like that but. Please can we elaborate on her more. Other than just she had feelings for him. Please.
No involvement from Yosano or Kyouka or Kouyou. I get that it was already busy and crammed enough as is, so it wouldn't have worked to shoehorn them in at this point but. Please do something with them in the next arc.
Things I did not like:
...Chuuya wasn't really a vampire he was just wearing contacts and glue in fangs the entire time. 🙄
remade this again because im angry and mindless editing lessened it
So. That new announcement. And the fact its an adaptation of the animated trilogy, not a continuation or any innovation.
Yeah. Im just gonna watch the actual httyd1 and pretend that never happened.
Dont fall for the nostalgia bait bros, let that scheme shrivel up and die.
Incoming rant below about this
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People already know the reasons why its going to be shit so I wont say it again
Considering how Dean has completely misinterpreted the major themes of the first movie, I cant trust him at all with this one nor would I want to
Powell made a perfect masterpiece with the og, idk what else he would do or add on with this one but i can only hope ig, but even then-
Seriously, what else is there to add? The story is tight. Maybe a little more of Toothless' perspective, giving him more scenes of agency and character, but does Dean even still see him as more than a baby pet?? Does he even give a rat's ass about aLL THAT???? HAHHAHAHHAHA
Just. We all know its not gonna work. I have an inkling that all "show dont tell" sequences are just going to get marred or removed of all nuance. I do not want to see Downed Dragon, Forbidden Friendship, New Tail, Test Drive, or Romantic Flight or practically any of the scenes that made me love this movie get a poor imitation.
You really think live action can mimic the body language, gestures, tHE WAY THE DRAGONS FLY in the first movie or miraciously somehow make it even better? You really think the music of the first could even be topped? YOU THINK THE CINEMATOGRAPHY, THE SHOTS AND LIGHTING WOULD BE COPIED??
Either way, at the end of the day, they already know they cant beat the original movie. All they need to do is horrendously mimic some parts to keep your interest, whether its a beloved scene or music. You're not watching the new one because you love the new, you're gonna watch it because you loved the original.
I really hope it either gets dropped, sent to development hell, or ends so bad that they cant make more. Please please please i hope it gets the ATLA movie treatment
Just when I thought Puss in Boots and Bad Guys were gonna start a Dreamworks Renaissance, this shit happens.
Stop ruining the movies i adore and love, please and thank you
i am willing to bet real money that riz's glasses are not prescription & i am willing to pay real money to see a scene where someone brings up the glasses and he gets awfully defensive about it
I CALLWD MY BEST FRIEND IMMEDIATELY TO SCREWM AND TELL HIM ABOUT IT. WE YAVE COLLECTIVELT PREORDERED ALL THREE AVAILABLE BERSIONS. I AM SO SOSP SO FUCKIMG EXCITED