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felix-lupin · 11 months

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In Coraline, there’s a recurring theme with names and identity, and I personally don't think it's talked about enough.

(As a note, this is dealing largely with the book, not the movie, although there are some hints of this theme in the movie as well)

Coraline’s neighbors constantly get her name wrong, calling her “Caroline” and not “Coraline”, to which she persistently corrects them. Despite her attempts, they never get it right, until chapter 10, in which Mr Bobo (Mr Bobinsky) finally gets it right.

"It's Coraline, Mister Bobo," said Coraline. "Not Caroline. Coraline." "Coraline," said Mr Bobo, repeating her name to himself with wonderment and respect. "Very good, Coraline."

It should be noted that, until this chapter, Coraline did not know Mr Bobo’s name either. In fact, it had never even occurred to her that he had a name. Up until then, she had just been thinking of him as “the crazy old man upstairs”, not as a person with a name. This moment, with her learning his name and him getting her name right, is a moment of genuine understanding and connection between the two, humanizing them both to each other.

Coraline’s other neighbors get her name wrong, which is representative of them not listening when she says anything, really, such as her telling Miss Spink and Forcible that her parents are missing and them literally not even acknowledging it at all??

"How are your dear mother and father?" asked Miss Spink. "Missing," said Coraline. "I haven't seen either of them since yesterday. I'm on my own. I think I've probably become a single child family." "Tell your mother that we found the Glasgow Empire press clippings we were telling her about. She seemed very interested when Miriam mentioned them to her." "She's vanished under mysterious circumstances," said Coraline, "and I believe my father has as well." "I'm afraid we'll be out all day tomorrow, Caroline lovely," said Miss Forcible. "We'll be staying with April's niece in Royal Tunbridge Wells."

Mr Bobo gets her name right after being corrected (only after being corrected alongside her using his name, mind you, showcasing her making an effort to listen to and understand him as well), which is representative of him actually making an attempt to listen and understand her. This point is further illustrated by a conversation Coraline had with the Other Mr Bobo in chapter 10.

As Coraline entered he began to talk. "Nothing's changed, little girl," he said, his voice sounding like the noise dry leaves make as they rustle across a pavement. "And what if you do everything you swore you would? What then? Nothing's changed. You'll go home. You'll be bored. You'll be ignored. No one will listen to you, not really listen to you. You're too clever and too quiet for them to understand. They don't even get your name right."

He equates those in the real world not getting Coraline’s name right with them not listening to her, and fundamentally not understanding who she is. So, somebody getting her name right, then, shows them actually listening to her, and being willing to understand who she is.

The mice in the real world know more than they should be able to know, and they also get Coraline’s name right.

"The message is this. Don't go through the door." He paused. "Does that mean anything to you?" "No," said Coraline. The old man shrugged. "They are funny, the mice. They get things wrong. They got your name wrong, you know. They kept saying Coraline. Not Caroline. Not Caroline at all."

They seem to know about the other world, somehow, on some level, and the dangers it presents. Them getting her name right represents them knowing more than they should know, more than they are told. Animals in general seem to have this type of quality in Coraline, actually.

The cat does not have a name. It says so in chapter 4, that cats do not need names. It says that this is because cats know who they are. But humans need names, because they do not.

"Please. What's your name?" Coraline asked the cat. "Look, I'm Coraline. OK?" The cat yawned softly, carefully, revealing a mouth and tongue of astounding pinkness. "Cats don't have names," it said. "No?" said Coraline. "No," said the cat. "Now, you people have names. That's because you don't know who you are. We know who we are, so we don't need names."

The cat shook its head. "No," it said. "I'm not the other anything. I'm me." It tipped its head on one side; green eyes glinted. "You people are spread all over the place. Cats, on the other hand, keep ourselves together. If you see what I mean."

This shows that, in humans, names are connected to our identities and who we are. Names are used to individualize and distinguish ourselves from each other. But cats do not need names to recognize each other, or be recognized.

"Oh. It's you," she said to the black cat. "See?" said the cat. "It wasn't so hard recognising me, was it? Even without names."

With or without names, it is still the same cat.

During the Other Miss Spink and Forcible’s performance, in chapter 4, they begin quoting Shakespeare. The specific quotes that they use are interesting to me when looked at under this lens of the importance of names, especially Miss Forcible’s.

"What's in a name?" asked Miss Forcible. "That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

"I know not how to tell thee who I am," said Miss Spink to Miss Forcible.

Now, of course, this is just them quoting Shakespeare. But. Why these quotes specifically? They’re at the very least notable when discussing Coraline’s recurring theme of names. Especially the quote about the rose. It makes me think of what the cat said earlier, about how cats are sure of who they are so they don’t need names, about how Coraline didn’t need the cat’s name to be able to recognize it for who/what it was.

But, of course, this does not apply for humans. We need our names to be able to know ourselves, to be able to tell others who they are.

In chapter 6, Coraline wakes up and is disoriented. This disorientation is compared to the feeling one might experience upon being suddenly pulled out of a daydream. In this comparison, forgetting one’s name is equated with forgetting who one is and where one is.

Sometimes Coraline would forget who she was while she was daydreaming that she was exploring the Arctic, or the Amazon rainforest, or darkest Africa, and it was not until someone tapped her on the shoulder or said her name that Coraline would come back from a million miles away with a start, and all in the fraction of a second have to remember who she was, and what her name was, and that she was even there at all. Now there was the sun on her face, and she was Coraline Jones. Yes.

The ghost children have also forgotten their names, and with it most of who they were. In chapter 7, when Coraline is locked behind the mirror in the Other World, one of the ghost children says that names are the first things that one forgets after death.

"Who are you?" whispered Coraline. "Names, names, names," said another voice, all faraway and lost. "The names are the first thing to go, after the breath has gone, and the beating of the heart. We keep our memories longer than our names. I still keep pictures in my mind of my governess on some May morning, carrying my hoop and stick, and the morning sun behind her, and all the tulips bobbing in the breeze. But I have forgotten the name of my governess, and of the tulips too." "I don't think tulips have names," said Coraline. "They're just tulips." "Perhaps," said the voice sadly. "But I have always thought that these tulips must have had names. They were red, and orange-and-red, and red-and-orange-and-yellow, like the embers in the nursery fire of a winter's evening. I remember them."

The ghost children may have their memories, but they have largely forgotten who they were. They may remember their tulips, and certain strong memories, but there is very, very little left of them, and they have forgotten who they once were, they have forgotten their names.

"That is why we could not leave here, when we died. She kept us, and she fed on us, until now we're nothing left of ourselves, only snakeskins and spider-husks. Find our secret hearts, young mistress."

"She will take your life and all you are and all you care'st for, and she will leave you with nothing but mist and fog. She'll take your joy. And one day you'll awake and your heart and soul will have gone. A husk you'll be, a wisp you'll be, and a thing no more than a dream on waking, or a memory of something forgotten."

The Other Mother stole their hearts and their souls and their selves. She stole who they were away from them, their identities and names and the names of those they loved, leaving nothing in her wake.

The same ghost that talked about the tulips and the names of the tulips struggles to answer when Coraline asks their gender, as well, and when they do eventually give an answer they seem somewhat unsure of it, as shown by the word choice of “perhaps” and “I believe”

"A boy, perhaps, then," continued the one whose hand she was holding. "I believe I was once a boy." And it glowed a little more brightly in the darkness of the room behind the mirror.

(I personally take this quote, specifically it "glow[ing] a little more brightly" after coming to this conclusion, to mean either that the ghost is happy at realizing that he was once a boy, or even to mean that he has become somewhat more tangible upon this realization; upon remembering something about his self, and his identity.)

As an aside, it's noteworthy to me that we never learn the Other Mother’s true name. She is simply “The Other Mother” and “The Beldam.” Never is an actual name applied to her, only titles. We do not truly know who, or what, she is. Beings without names are shrouded in mystery (or should i say mist-ery). The ghost children are benevolent mysterious beings, the cat is an ambivalent-leaning-helpful mysterious being, and the other mother is a distinctly malevolent mysterious being.

"Who are you?" asked Coraline. "I'm your other mother," said the woman.

"She?" "The one who says she's your other mother," said the cat. "What is she?" asked Coraline. The cat did not answer, just padded through the pale mist beside Coraline.

But in conclusion, names in Coraline are extremely important. I’m sure there’s probably more that I'm missing, and feel free to add onto this, but basically—

People need names to know and remember who they are, and forgetting one’s name is the first step to losing the rest of who one is. Names humanize a person; with a name, they are less shrouded in mystery, more clear.

Knowing somebody's name helps one connect to and better understand that person; it is the first step in getting to know them and see them as a full person, the transition from “the crazy man upstairs” to “Mr Bobo”. Names, to people at least, are one of the fundamental building blocks of who we are.

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cloverboyblue · 6 months

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every time i am forced to think about acotar against my will i remember when feyre goes to Mind Control Land to spend time with Mr. Evil Mind Control and then when tamlin and lucien are like "maybe you're a little mind controlled :/" she goes freakin ballistic

#anti sjm #yet another time this would have been a cool concept if ms maas could just actually do something interesting with it #as an aside #enough ya books that are like “everyone mistrusts the mind control people :(” maybe you SHOULD mistrust the mind control people #considering they can MIND CONTROL YOU #but like... feyre overcoming mind control would have been a much cooler arc than whatever happened in acomaf (i dnfed it it was boring)

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riddlerosehearts · 4 months

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have i ever talked about how much fun i think it would be for vil, in a parallel to when idia was shocked that he expressed an interest in gaming, to assume that idia has no interest in fashion and then be shocked when he finds out that idia's online gaming persona is well known for his fashion sense, that he's interested in cosplaying, that maybe he would like to be able to try out different fashion styles if only he had the same confidence or capability irl that he can have behind a screen? i genuinely can't remember if i've already said this in another post but if i did then i'm saying it again. i just think it would be neat for them to both have these individual discoveries that they misjudged each other and have more common ground than they thought, and also, i think they should make custom animal crossing designs together.

#twisted wonderland #vil schoenheit #idia shroud #i'm going to put ship tags on this because. i ship them.#but this doesn't necessarily have to be a ship thing #vildia #vil x idia #idia x vil #vilidia #idiavil #twst #as an aside #it's too bad idia and vil are both insanely rich because *i* like to go thrifting for things to use in my cosplays #and i was about to say it'd be fun if they did that together and then i was like wait a minute...#i mean. maybe they could anyway though. either way they FOR SURE should do cosplay and go to cons together

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veilkeeper · 6 months

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not to be durgetash brainpoisoned but Fel saying "you are wrong to consider another your equal" in the scene in act 2 when durge is going to kill their LI.... i wonder if thats the first time he's said that to them.

#as an aside #he also says 'it is my duty to ensure you are making the right decisions'#which completely plays into my interpretation that Fel is sort of meant to be keeping durge in line #bc their brain was turned to soup to give them a reset/another chance #but thats just me #speaking recreationally #durgetash #bg3 #durge #secleritas fel #bg3 spoilers #also the 'your betters are not a fan of the company you've been keeping. an example must be set.'#like oh okay so definitely not the first time.#mine

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kedreeva · 1 year

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Kedreeva, may I ask your opinion on a fic commenting issue?

If a reader leaves a comment on a fic that results in the writer giving up on it, would you automatically think that reader was in the wrong?

Here's why I'm asking. I've been writing a fic for almost a year, but I've been struggling with it for the last month or so. I've lost focus, don't know what I'm doing with it anymore, can't keep the plot on track, no longer feel the joy for it that I used to feel.

This morning, a reader left a comment on the fic saying what I know in my heart. It's wandering off, it's lost focus, it's become long and bloated and isn't going anywhere anymore. I need to learn to edit, to tell a proper story instead of just wittering on and on.

Not gonna lie. The comment made me cry. But at the same time, the reader is absolutely right. Everything they said was true.

Reading the comment gave me the courage to do what I should have done two months ago. I put up a note telling readers I've lost my way with the fic and it's time to move on to other projects. I felt sad, but a little relieved at the same time.

I explained the situation to an online fic buddy, and they were furious at the reader who left the comment, said they had no business saying something like that, and the remarks were completely uncalled for.

But I feel like the reader's honesty made me realize the truth of the situation. The fic has turned into an unfixable mess - I just couldn't acknowledge that until someone said it loudly right to my face.

Was that reader in the wrong? I don't feel they were, but my buddy disagrees. Would love to know what you think.

Your buddy is right that the reader was in the wrong in so far as etiquette goes. Whether or not the reader was correct has no bearing on the etiquette of the situation, which is that (at least on AO3), unsolicited criticism is considered rude to leave.

Compare the context to another situation; if a writer makes a typo and a reader comments to correct the typo, without being asked to do so first, it doesn't matter that the spelling correction is correct. The correctness of the comment has no bearing on the etiquette of giving unsolicited criticism. It's still rude to leave because the author didn't request interference or assistance, and the reader has no idea what effect the comment will have on the author.

Now, that in no way means that you, personally, have to be angry with this particular reader or hurt by their action. If you feel it helped you, then it helped you. Individual writers may have mixed or even positive associations with crit, solicited or not, and that's totally cool. I, myself, am not going to suffer any great consequence if someone criticizes my work (I don't like it, but fuck 'em, it's not going to stop me or anything), but they're still going to get an earful back, because I have seen too many people hurt or leave because some readers can't follow the golden rule, and I don't want to see the more vulnerable people pushed out of my community.

Because the point of the etiquette here IS to protect the vulnerable people in our communities. Fandom in general is FULL of vulnerable people, and fanfiction often exposes soft bits of the author. You may have taken it well enough and resolved a personal issue because of it, but that same type of comment given to someone just starting out or to someone in a delicate/sensitive part of their life (for example, if they are experiencing hardships in real life and writing to escape that for a little while) or just simply writing as a fun hobby... that kind of comment can do a lot of damage. You chose to stop because you already knew you were having problems with the story. Another person may choose to stop not because they want to or because it's a positive step for them, but because their RSD now makes it horrifying to try to write instead of being a happy endeavor. Or a hundred other, negative reasons.

And the reason your friend is likely angry on your behalf is that the reader had no way of knowing whether you would take it well, and did not (as far as I know from what you've said here) make any attempt to inquire with you first as to whether you wanted that kind of advice. It would be different if they had said "hey, i've been reading along, and I was wondering if you'd mind some advice?" first. That at least would have given you an opportunity to talk about it willingly or say "I'm not really in a place where I want/can handle that, but thank you for the offer!" Regardless of outcome, you deserved to have had that option in the first place.

I'm glad that the comment helped you, as an individual. But your friend is also right, in that that type of comment is typically rude and potentially harmful to others. That being said, your friend should also be able to let go of their anger about it if there was no harm done in this instance. There's room for coexistence in this case; I'm sure that you can understand that just because you weren't hurt doesn't mean no one would be, and I'm sure your friend can understand that just because it was rude doesn't mean it was bad for you (specific) this once.

#anon asks #asks #commenting #writing #reading #ao3 #and I wish you luck in your continued writing endeavors!#as an aside #you CAN always always always just leave a note #saying that you're fine with crit #like if it doesn't bother you or if it helps you #you can just blanket give permission!#then your friend can relax because it's not unsolicited anymore

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deliciouskeys · 5 months

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I am apparently not in total agreement with most about Madelyn Stillwell and Diabolical but I cannot formulate what I want to say coherently. Let me try to summarize as succinctly as possible:

TL;DR Madelyn Stillwell in Diabolical is “mad eyebrows”, clearly bitchy femme fatale villain. I know I’m perhaps overly fixated on the way she’s drawn but I think it’s indicative of how she’s written in Diabolical’s script.

She is very different than what she is in the main show, looks and behavior wise. Time passes, and people can change into much softer, much subtler, much more maternal figures. Perhaps. I think she is a much more interesting character as presented in the show. I think she’s much more interesting than “she’s got freaky kinks and she groomed HL when he was a wee babe to fulfill her depravity” reduction that I see being bandied about.

I’m going to regret putting this up half baked like this, when work has drained me of all argument energy, but… I am not a fan of the reduction of her character to mustache twirling evil bitch. In the show, she is an ambitious woman who happens to have a side job as a sex worker as part of her way up the corporate ladder. She’s not a boss bitch. She’s a rare corporate specimen of friendly and feminine, whose edge and ruthlessness are hidden masterfully. And she’s not fucking her bosses to get to the top, she’s fucking placating and baiting her savagely scary volatile subordinate. She does not have all the power in S1. The fact that she has any power in S1 is remarkable. I can woobify HL all day, but I don’t think for a second she didn’t have balls of steel being able to handle him for decades. Is she manipulative and ambitious? Hell yeah. Was molesting a young child her kink? I may be alone in this, but I don’t think she had that much sexual interest in him :c. Like maybe she even found him attractive theoretically but I think he was so valuable and so dangerous that her brain just wouldn’t even perceive him that way. The sexual advances in S1 are not her first resort. They’re her resort when he’s showing signs of wanting to break with Vought.

Fin.

#don’t kill me #as an aside #we don’t know what ‘becoming HL at 16’ means #he’s certainly not drawn as a 16 year old in Diabolical #im not sure that scene isn’t later #madelyn stillwell #homelander #homewell #homelander meta #the boys #the boys tv

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the-last-rat-standing · 3 months

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NCIS S21E02- The Stories We Leave Behind

Is that too harsh? Maybe it's too harsh.

Let me preface this by saying, I can only imagine how hard it must've been to write and film this episode. It's one reason why I don't write DeathFics, and those are only fictional people. Writing the passing of a real person, a friend and a colleague? Must be one of the hardest things to do as a writer.

So maybe that's why this felt so incredibly flat. Maybe trying to find that balance between dealing with the death and moving on dulled the emotional punch of it all? Because beyond the opening and closing, this was barely more than a clip episode shows throw in the middle of a season to save money. And of those flashbacks, we could only get ones with 3 characters who are still on the show, because Knight, Parker and even Torres didn't really know him. (I'll mention the Gibbs flashback in a second.) So you had this random assortment of clips that were supposed to engender emotions, but did the opposite in a way- because they weren't immediate reactions (they were memories), it actually lessened the emotional impact. You know what flashback would've been a kick to the gut? How about someone mention Cate, and then show us the clip of Ducky and Cate together? Then you would've gotten the one-two punch of 2 beloved characters now gone. Because if you're going to show a scene between Gibbs and Ducky that no one was present to see (using Ducky's journals as your 'out'), you could've shown Cate or Jenny or Ziva.

By not showing the funeral, fans missed out on a proper send off and a true tie-in with the past. I know Brian Dietzen said they didn't want it to be crammed full of guest stars, but the only guest star we got was a 3 minute cameo by Michael Weatherly?? If they'd had a funeral, they could've filled the church with faces we remembered and given characters/actors a chance to pay their respects. Imagine the nostalgia in seeing Hollis Mann, Jordan Hampton, Gerald Jackson, Ziva David (would've made sense since they brought Tony back), Abby Sciuto (I know, there are off-screen problems w/PP), Rachel Cranston, etc. I know Jessica Walter has also passed away, but what about the rest of Ducky's detective group? What about Jack Sloane? Yes, I know these may have added more storytelling time (particularly Abby and Jack) but did we need McGee's poison ivy flashback?

Other issues:

What happens to Nicholas Mallard? You know, Ducky's half-brother.

What happens to Gibbs' house?

What was the actual proof that the senator was dirty? I mean, real forensic proof? I didn't seem to hear anything other than Parker reading off the autopsy report and the Marine. Or I guess we're just meant to think that ruined his career? Because they didn't charge him with murder or anything.

The entire story hinged on McGee remembering one of the pictures hid a safe? Like Ducky's only clue to an important case was a cryptic line in his journal? smh

This was... this was just not good. One of, if not THE most beloved character on this show and we got a clip episode.

Which brings me back to the Gibbs flashback: As soon as they showed the picture of Gibbs and Ducky on the bookshelf, I knew we weren't going to see Mark. And that disappoints me more than it should, really. After tonight, we should never, ever see Gibbs on this show again, because there will be no bigger reason for him to return than Ducky's death, and he didn't show. Any reason after tonight will be bullshit and a slap in the face to the fans who supported and fell in love with the Gibbs/Ducky friendship. I'm so bitterly disappointed.

#ncis #david mccallum #ducky mallard #jimmy palmer #leroy jethro gibbs #mark harmon #as an aside #tiva fans never fucking learn #I'd be laughing if the rest of the episode hadn't also been shit

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floorsauce · 7 months

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"Well aren't you just a blushy bear~"

More stuff in the works, I promise

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doctornolonger · 1 year

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It seems that Britbox is losing Doctor Who outside the UK. With it now nearly certain that Disney+ will be snatching up the Who back catalog – not just future releases, as has been officially confirmed – it’s time to start thinking about how they’ll be splitting up NuWho into separate tiles! After all, surely Disney doesn’t want viewers to think they have to watch all of it before starting the Tennant specials and Gatwa series.

Ways they might do this, ranked from least to most cursed:

They restart the numbering so Gatwa’s first series is 1. “NuNuWho”?

One tile per Doctor, so series 5 is rebranded as “The Eleventh Doctor: Series 1”. This would extend nicely to Classic Who as well, but it’s a bit misleading, since starting with the Tenth or Twelfth Doctors wouldn’t make any sense.

One tile per showrunner era: RTD 1.0, Moffat, Chibnall, and RTD 2.0. Given that handovers have coincided with soft reboots in the past, this would make perfect sense; my main worry would be what names they’d come up with for each era…

One tile per showrunner, so RTD 1.0 and 2.0 go on a single tile. Viewers are encouraged to go straight from The End of Time to the 2023 specials. (If this happens, expect the first Fourteenth Doctor special to begin with a Twice Upon a Time-style long-range “Previously on…” flashback to series 4 (this might happen anyway tbh).)

One tile for series 1–4 and 14+ called “Doctor Who”, and one tile for series 5–13 called “Doctor Who: Legends”.

BIG FINISH ON DISNEY+ B I G F I N I S H O N D I S N E Y +

Have I missed any? Which is most likely?

#rtd 2.0 #disney+#as an aside #i do not trust the gally one pr blitz #i have no doubt that the bbc didn't help things #my username has been wtfbbc since forever #because they rarely do anything right #but does that mean they're solely responsible for every shortcoming?#of course the writers are lovely and charming people #anyone who's wished them ill is delusional #but a lot of fans seem too hasty to believe there's no other side to the story #which just isn't justified #we still don't know the full story on the moffat years #important bts info from rtd 1.0 is still just coming out #we won't know the full story on Chaos in Cardiff until the 2030s #at least #and it'll come from people whose current top priority isn't to salvage their career(s)#also #gally's policy of banning recordings is inexplicable #outdated at best and classist at worst #shout-out to attendees who posted their notes!

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historyartthings · 1 month

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#1 #2

#for me I’d go with 1 #tbh I think popular and academic thought has definitely swung that way these days #ive seen it suggested that the first one resembles the 'most happy' medal too #as an aside #(people can be nasty about her looks here. same as they are w Jane Seymour in a big way. you might not find them attractive or whatever and #obviously it’s fine if you don’t think they’re beautiful - people say so about these portraits #but just leave it at that. no need to be a wanker in how you go about it #even worse when people try and frame it as if they 'objectively' werent attractive)#anne boleyn #polls #history polls #Holbein

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duskdishwasher · 1 month

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I'm just so happy to be on the side of the internet that implicitly knows fat people are beautiful. there's no performativity about it. it's just a fact that we all know of.

#as an aside #I don't know why I like this so much #I don't consider myself fat and nor does society #yet for some reason it is Healing to know that people here love fat folks #I guess maybe the alternative (implicit fat phobia) is so much worse #maybe it's like being a huge fan of Burgers while being surrounded by burger haters #you'd feel like an imposter and never truly at home

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likes-words-and-shrimp · 1 year

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Tales of Symphonia is a love story.

#tales of symphonia #tales of symphonia remaster #lloyd irving #colette brunel #screencap #my playthrough of the remaster and i am dying once more #as an aside #the colors here look dim but in game they're pretty bright so idk why its different #disclaimer: this post is a celebration of my favorite ship and how they interact in the game #this is not a put down of other ships at all #some people have been wildly misinterpreting this in bad faith and its honestly quite sad #which is ironic coming from some people #enjoy your trash and I'll enjoy mine

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buckttommy · 1 year

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Aisha putting the 118 on her daily Gratitude List got me feeling some kinda way

#As an aside #I really like the idea of doing a daily gratitude list

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prettyboyhowl · 9 months

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the gang goes to Barbie (drabble)

(when I thought about which movie the ROs would see between Barbie and Oppenheimer I quickly realised none would go for Oppenheimer lmao, so have a drabble)

You look down at Gil's footwear with a combination of disgust and awe. "I still can't believe you bought those. Are you even going to wear them after today?"

"Uh, hell yeah! It's gonna be me and my barbie pink Crocs all day every day." With a shit-eating grin, he flicks his pink sunglasses down over his eyes. "That's Kenergy, babyyy."

Nearby, Otto sports a similar pair of shades on top of her head. You all agreed to wear pink to see the movie, but she lacked the colour in her wardrobe and didn't want to buy a new outfit. Instead, in an effort to commit, she took an old plain white tee and scribbled on it with hot pink marker. The front says 'BARBIE', with a messy thick line underneath it, and there's a large 'B' on the back. She's wearing it with a pair of black cargo pants and boots.

In contrast, Lemon Sorbet truly went all out, showing up to your meeting spot outside the cinema in a pink suit. He bristles with energy, looking very excited and happy to be here.

Gil's not completely donned in pink, dressed in a hawaiian shirt and shorts, but he's a staunch competitor for 'most attention-grabbing' with his pink shades, the pink Crocs, and the flaming hot pink feather boa draped around his neck. Passers-by glance at him as they approach, then do double takes as they pass, the streets crowded with people on their way home from work. You stand in a bit to avoid blocking the sidewalk.

The most normal-looking one is actually Ernie, who, despite her commitment to the theme, hasn't changed much from usual. The elegant light pink jacket and skirt combo may be a little fancy for the cinema, but it's the kind of outfit she'd normally wear. She's standing off to the side, eyes sparkling as she takes a picture with a Barbie movie poster that's been put up on the outside wall of the cinema; framed and rimmed with lights to combat the darkness setting into the sky.

"Alright, let's go," Gil exclaims, gathering the group's attention. He begins to lead the way to the supermarket three doors down.

"Aren't we going into the cinema?" Ernestine asks.

"We're getting snacks first," you say with a smile.

Gil slows to take up the space on Ernestine's other side. "Right, see cinemas usually don't let you bring in your own food because they want you to buy their snacks, which are more expensive," he explains to the Otherworlder.

"Ohh," Ernestine nods understandingly. "So you save money by smuggling in things you get from the supermarket."

"Exactly!"

"Why don't you steal from the supermarket while you're at it?" There's not a hint of sarcasm or judgement to her tone, and when you scan her face you find her looking at you in genuine question.

"Uhh," your smile freezes, "that would be illegal." You swear they have laws in Faethairis; why do you always seem to be having this conversation with Ernie?

"You're breaking the cinema's rule, aren't you?" she points out.

"Yeaaah," Gil pulls a face, "but that's not the same as breaking a law. Potato, tomato, you know?"

Ernestine tilts her head. "Aren't you already breaking laws-"

She's cut off by loud laughter from Gil, who looks around to check no one was listening in. His voice pitches up nervously. "Whaaat, we have not done… anything of the sort."

"What are you three talking about?" Lemon Sorbet asks brightly, catching up from behind with Otto in tow.

Three different answers come simultaneously: "What snacks we want." "Law-breaking." "Nothing much."

Otto lifts a brow amusedly as Lemon Sorbet just smiles cheerily. "Ooh, I'm so excited for the movie," he confesses. "Aren't you, Otto?"

She shrugs non-committally. "Eh. Better this than the other one."

"To think of how far Barbie has come… " He lifts a finger. "You know, I was there when the first one was released. Fascinating, how things evolve." You can see the scholar in him ignite as he begins to get lost in reminiscence.

"Hey, we should all take a group photo later," Gil suggests as you all file into the supermarket, flooding the bright white aisles with a wave of pink.

"Can you stop pushing me?" "I'm not even touching you… ow!"

"Otto I think you need to stand a bit closer." "Yeah, people will think you're scared to be seen with us." "That's ridiculous." "Okay now you're too close."

"Are we smiling or doing funny faces?"

"Let's smile first."

"Okay wait is everyone in the frame?" You start the countdown. "Okay, 1, 2, 3…"

"Barbie!" "Margot Robbie." "Cheese!" "…"

*click*

#as an aside #eddie would've chosen barbie too #and f!eddie would've teared up at the ending #ros #drabble

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