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#hannibal fan page
eli-elien · 11 months
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I have a kofi!!
fhello if you’ve been wanting some art for some time but can’t afford comms than I have a kofi!! I’ll do sketch/doodle requests (maybe colored if you ask) of some of the fandoms I’m in (rotsh, kh, ben 10, mcyt, stray dogs, hannibal, yellowjackets, ect ect I’m in alot lol) 
and even writing snippets of a trope or start of a story who knows cuz I’m a writer too!!
My Kofi
some examples of the sketches/writing under the cut!
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From my “To Become a Hero” bedrock brothers oneshot
Tommy became intrigued putting it aside to perhaps read it once he finished exploring the room. Another was something something "Theseus" which made him curious. Not only because the only books he read as a child were boring and that green bastard forbid anything that had any god other than their own but because Techno as of late had been calling him that.
He stopped after a good number of books towered in what Tommy liked to call the "Big Man pile". Tommy looks back to a wall the bed is facing. Several different-sized canvases' hung on the wall.
He was drawn to the middle one.
It was golden grass, wheat, and a forest all below a crimson sky as bright as the fire that burned, ever reaching towards anything it could greedily gobble it up.
Another from “Rubies, Sapphires, and Gold” a syndicate oneshot, focusing on emerald duo:
Every time Techno looked in a mirror or was reminded of his eyes being the way they were he felt sad and empty; it's not that he disliked them but it was a clear reminder of his parents. How he loved the warmth of his fathers irises after he came home from trading and being a guard, or maybe the calm of his mothers blue eyes that were patient enough to sit and watch plants grow.
He found it strange even after all of this time, after everything, he'd never forgotten their faces. He loved that fact, and would love to sketch them out one day.
He was snapped back to reality by Phil, "You've had a rough life Tech...but now look at us. I mean it's not even just me and you anymore!"
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eu-fraseando · 8 months
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Hannigram Masterlist
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polkadotdragonx · 10 months
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I recently started looking into fanbinding and have become obsessed with designing covers for and having some of my all time favorite fanfics on my bookshelf. The first one I’m working on designing now is the amazing “With a Crown of Stars” by thehoyden who has given their permission for a fanbinding.
I’m still waiting on gathering materials to begin the actual printing and bookbinding process, but I had fun working on a cover design today! I think they turned out pretty great. I doubt the actual cover I make for the fanbinding will be quite as intricate — some will depending on what materials I end up using— but I’m pretty happy with how this design turned out regardless.
@thehoyden , thanks for writing such a great story and inspiring me to draw!
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immamapletreekid · 6 months
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once again impressed at just how quickly a new piece of media can take over my waking hours
#so the ppl were right...hannibal really is brain chemistry altering. in fact its scary how powerful it is#ive read through..;;;all the wikipedia pages for all 36 episodes in an evening instead of doing anything productive#before i realized it. the whole afternoon was gone. fuck#no regrets (will have many regrets come tomorrow morning)#ok but back to the topic at hand. all wikipedia articles. several other character wiki pages#SEVERAL SEVERAL VERY VERY VERY WELL WRITTEN TUMBLR ANALYSES ON THE SHOW#a good few made me have to put my phone down punch my bed a few times then walk several circles around my room flailing my arms about#bc of the shivers they gave me#god some of u ppl out there are so cool so incredibly skilled with an eye for these things#also went down deep dives on youtube for interviews.. the actors breaking down their characters. fan made compilations#again im particularly a big fan of the video compiling nearly every single cannibal pun made in the show#i feel like a new person again. a persona 3 obsession followed right after by this?!?!?!!!! ive never felt as alive as#when theres a piece of media that consumes all my thoughts. every minute im awake. nothing except the world and the story and the characters#and just how fucking incredible these pieces of media are at weaving the theme so deeply into every fibre of the series#actuslly if i try very hard. ims ure i csn find similarities between persona and hannibal that appealed to me#lately persona 3 has still got an iron grip on me. but that grip has been strengthened furthermore by persona 4 and 5....;;; truly this#this may be the end for me I JUST WANNA SPEND MT DAYS CURLED UP IN MY ROOM OBSESSING OVER THESE THINGS#no stress coming from school or job searching or money or social obligations or just. idk being a person is hard sometimes#passion is so important. like actuslly im going to start crying its so good to be passionate about something#ppl who are passionate about their stuff their thing their knowledge are so cool#im tired now and am going to sleep maybe. after rbing a few more things i keep seeing that cause thst little jolt of#excitement happiness goosebumps and shivers and i need to save tjem for times when it feels i have no passion left to absorb from the world#rambling about stuff
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marsadler · 9 months
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Hello! I wrote a book and I think y'all will like it. It's for fans of Good Omens, Hannibal, Angels Before Man, and all the queer people who deserve financial compensation from the catholic church.
I present to you:
FIRST CREATION, a high heat queer horror novella with a trans angel MC and a queer demon LI!
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FIRST CREATION is a love letter to fallen angels, to finding your place in the world, to connecting to religion in a way that works for you. To touch and peaches, and surviving horrible things, to finding a place to be holy if God won't give it to you. (it's also nasty, and about cannibalism and shame and guilt, too)
It's a 22k word (98 page) novella that you can read in one (or two, or three) sittings.
You can find it on Amazon and itch.io here to read an actual synopsis and look at reviews. You can also find content warnings at the bottom of my website: (I definitely encourage you to read them before you buy!)
Here's also some unhinged ao3 tags for fun
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fashionbooksmilano · 4 months
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Hellbangers
Pep Bonet
Texts Pep Bonet and Steffan Chirazi, foreword by Rob Halford
Hannibal Books, Furnes 2021, 128 pages, 17x22 cm, hardcover with coloured edging, ISBN 978 916388 788 5
euro 60,00
email if you want to buy [email protected]
The Hellbangers are the enfants terribles of a sleepy, diamonds rich country. Photographer Pep Bonet (1974, Mallorca) has been following Overthrust, a heavy metal band from Botswana, Africa, and shows us a growing, exciting and thoroughly organic heavy metal community. Ten years ago, one group existed. Today there are more than ten and their fans are growing every year. The inhabitants of Botswana portrayed in this book are tattood, wear loudly and proudly leather jackets, leather trousers and play heavydeath metal music. Imagine the DIY ingenuity of their costume creation involving harvested animal skulls and other natural elements. With names like Demon and Gunsmoke, it would be easy though to think they are thugs, but We try to be exemples. Rock is awild thing, but also something for the heart, says Gunsmoke, the heavy metal head. Here too, the lyrics of the songs are very critical towards societies, just like their western peers. Metal in Botswana is rebellious movement against authorities. This is the story of what looks at first to be an unlikely union, yet one which powerfully illustrates how music, how heavy metal music, has become a positively unifying force in an unlikely part of the world.
28/12/23
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slasher-male-wife · 1 year
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Slashers on Valentines day
Happy Valentines day everyone. I'm single so I don't really have anyone to celebrate with but who cares when I still get chocolate and can watch a campy slasher movie centered around the holiday. This is kind of a random selection of slashers including Danny because he's my baby girl and I saw really cute Valentines day themed fan art of him. Anyway I hope y'all enjoy <3
Includes: Hannibal Lecter, Harry Warden, Candyman, The Sinclair brothers, Amanda Young and, Danny Johnson
Warnings: Mentions of murder and gore kind of
Hannibal Lecter
He's obviously cooking for you today. You're not to step foot into the kitchen because he's taking care of all of it himself. You're getting spoiled today and that's final.
He's going to buy you something expensive that you'll love. It might be a ring or a new bag, maybe an entirely new outfit. Whatever he sees fit to give you. He doesn't expect you to get him anything but if you do he's very thankful.
He's probably taking you to the opera with him. Something high brow and fancy for his lovely s/o, nothing but the best for you on a very special day.
I can see him spending the evening drawing you too. You're probably in his study, drinking wine and doing something relaxing while he sketches you and recites love poems.
Harry Warden
He's going to be busy murdering people on Valentines day so he's not going to be able to do much of anything with you.
But he is going to bring you whatever he thinks you'll like. Flowers, chocolate, a card addressed to one of his victims, whatever he finds he's giving you.
He doesn't really enjoy having decorations up for Valentines day. Having pink and red themed decor is fine with him but explicit Valentines day decorations aren't his jam.
While he isn't there on the actual day, he's going to be there after Valentines day and that's when he's going to shower you with love and affection.
Candyman
It's going to a very romantic day overall for you. Lots of your favorite flowers around your house/apartments waiting for you when you wake up. Maybe some chocolate but probably a little honeycomb too.
He's going to steal you all of the gifts he gets you. Mostly expensive jewelry he thinks you'll like or you've pointed out to him.
Oh and he is most definitely writing you a love letter pages long, listing off every detail of why he loves you and what he would do for you.
Of course he's going to be spending the entire day with you. You're not going out but you're going to enjoy time spent with him in your house together.
Vincent Sinclair
He's going to give you whatever gifts he can make/get you for the occasion. He doesn't have access to most traditional things for Valentines day so it might just be a painting or a love letter, but he's trying ok?
He wants to spend the entire day with you. He usually spends a lot of time with you anyway but especially on this special day. He'll keep Bo away so he doesn't make stupid comments about you two, and Lester won't bother you at all.
He might want to try slow dancing with you since he's never done it before and he sees couples do it in romance movies all of the time. He might suck at it but he doesn't really care because it's with you.
He's going to end the day with a nice dinner between the two of you. He pulled out an old cook book to use for this and he did a pretty good job at cooking it too.
Lester Sinclair
He's going to get you all of the stereotypical gifts, chocolate, flowers, a card, etc. He just loves you so much and he wants to spoil you every once and awhile you know?
He's going to take you out to an actual town where the two of you can really be a couple. You're probably just going to be walking/driving around and getting dinner but it's the thought that counts.
Lots of physical affection too. Like he wants to always have a hand on you today. He thinks that he can't fully express how much he loves outside of giving you hugs, kissing you, holding your hand, etc.
He's probably taking pictures of all of this. I can see him being a sentimental person so spending a special day with you is something that he's going to want to document.
Bo Sinclair
He thinks the whole idea of the day is stupid. But that doesn't mean he isn't going to do something special with you for Valentines day. He can be a gentleman when he wants to and today is one of those days.
He'll probably get you flowers. Nothing too special, he'd ask Vincent what flowers to get if he doesn't know your favorite flowers are. I feel like Vincent could go off on a big thing about the different meanings of flowers but he knows Bo doesn't care so he'll just say roses.
I feel like he would maybe get you a ring that matches one of his. Partly to sell the idea that you're married to victims, partly because he's a possessive guy and likes the idea of you always being reminded who you're dating.
He also expects you to be romantic. He knows you can't do much because you can't leave town without him but he still expects you to do something like cook him something special or write him a love letter if you're that kind of person.
Amanda Young
She also thinks Valentines day is stupid. She's never been much of a romantic and probably has never been in a healthy romantic relationship, let alone an actual relationship.
Like Bo she's still getting you something. If you're like her she's getting you a gothic box of chocolate and maybe flowers (They do sell gothic boxes of chocolate and I'm in love with them).
She will happily go out to dinner with you. She somewhat expects you to plan it and pay for at least half of the dinner. I can see her getting dressed up if it's a more fancy restaurant and looking so pretty.
She's also going to rub it in Hoffmans face that she has a partner who loves her and that she got spoiled while he probably sat home alone doing whatever he does.
Danny Johnson
He's going to make a scrap book of all of his favorite pictures of you and share it with you. Pointing out the ones he likes the best or ones with fun stories behind them.
Because he's an obsessive little shit he knows all of your favorite things and he's going to get them for you. Expect to find your favorite flowers, candy, drink, etc on your kitchen table in the morning.
Maybe does a romantic photo shoot with you. He wants to pick out some aspects of it but will let you pick out outfits to wear. He's going to spend half the time actually taking pictures and half posing you so he has an excuse to touch you.
If you're as morbid and crazy as him then he's going to get you an actual heart. It might be human, it might be an animals heart he got at the butcher, ok it's probably a real heart that he says is an animals.
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enretrogue · 4 months
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𝗗𝗘𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗙𝗜𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗦 (𝟭)
.☘︎ ݁˖ = BLACK/POC WORKS | 23' FIC REC M.LIST
PEAKY BLINDERS
ALFIE SOLOMONS
Destiny — @butterfly-lies-chase-them-away
A Brother For Cyril ⎢ Part Two — @muneca-lemon-steppa
You Love Is Enough — @muneca-lemon-steppa
Evenings At Home — @muneca-lemon-steppa
Good Girl — @ukrainianmotherfucker
Interviews For New Beginnings ⎢ Part 2 ⎢ Part 3 ⎢ Part 4 ⎢ Part 5 ⎢ Part 6 — @muneca-lemon-steppa
Kisses For Bad Days — @muneca-lemon-steppa
Change Of Plans — @muneca-lemon-steppa
Married Life w/ Alfie Solomons HCs — @muneca-lemon-steppa
All Kinds of Trouble — @muneca-lemon-steppa
Overstimulation + Praise Kink — @fandom-puff
Rum and Soap — @dearshleby
Always — @muneca-lemon-steppa
MICHAEL GRAY
Show You How Much I Love You — @roguerogerss
I Can Imagine — @xoxoavenger
THOMAS SHELBY
At the End of the Day — @lis-likes-fics
The Complaint — @look-at-the-soul
Midnight Interlude — @awritesthings1
Gone with the Leaves — @awritesthings1
Numbers — @mrkdvidal1989
Train Left - Moments Passed — @mrkdvidal1989
Ignoble Sins — @cillmequick
Empty Promises — @fallatyourfeet
You Have More To Lose Than You Take — @mrkdvidal1989
Bloodstained Hands — @mrkdvidal1989
Look At Me — @simplyundeniable98
Time After Time Chapter 13 — @all-mirth-no-matter
A Moment of Happiness — @gypsy-girl-08
Christmas Lights — @mrkdvidal1989
First Christmas — @acewritesfics
Eye Fucking Each Other — @mrkdvidal1989
All I Need — @gypsy-girl-08
Promotion — @acewritesfics
No Man Works Alone — @muneca-lemon-steppa
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TRIPLE FRONTIER
BENNY MILLER
The Best One — @theewokingdead
Are You On Mute? ⎢ Part Two — @rhoorl
Ask Prompt — @bullet-prooflove
Are You Going To Be Quiet? — @rhoorl
FRANCISCO “FRANKIE” “CATFISH” MORALES
Bluffing Season — @beskarandblasters
Mesmerized — @endlessthxxghts
New Year’s Day — @hellishjoel
My Home Is You — @chronically-ghosted
Stars — @trulybetty
Need You — @endlessthxxghts
Cravings ⎢ Crash ⎢ Insatiable — @pedge-page
Merry Christmas Cariño — @joelsflannel
All I Want For Christmas — @morallyinept
WILL MILLER
When Sleep Comes Easy — @laurfilijames
Just A Little Push — @missdictatorme
Kinktober 2023: Sexual Exhaustion — @gosmigenergy
Clusterfuck — @velicibeewords
All I Want — @laurfilijames
TRIPLE FRONTIER BOYS
Company — @pimosworld
The Story of Us Masterlist — @pimosworld
TSOU AU ⎢ Never Have I Ever ⎢ Down The Rabbit Hole ⎢ Santa’s A Homewrecker — @pimosworld
What Benny Doesn’t Know Masterlist — @backtothefanfiction
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THE GRAY MAN
SIERRA SIX/COURT GENTRY
The Nurse Series ⎢ 2 ⎢ 3 ⎢ 4 ⎢ 5 ⎢ 6 ⎢ 7 — @heresthestorymorningglory
The Spy Next Door — @renren-006
Homework Problems — @renren-006
Wide Open Spaces — @elusivewildflower
Hurt You — @j4desblurbs
Bodyguard!Sierra Six — @wiidvw .☘︎ ݁˖
Safe Hands — @hollandstrophyhusband
Bodyguard!Sierra Six — @wiidvw .☘︎ ݁˖
Aftercare w. Sierra Six — @ken-dom
Bodyguard!Sierra Six — @wiidvw .☘︎ ݁˖
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DC
BATMOM
See You Soon (+ Jason Todd) — @reveluving
Batmom’s Biggest Fan — @silly-thinkings
The Bat in the Shadows ⎢ Part 2 ⎢ Part 3 — @ynscrazylife
Long Overdue Masterlist — @apocalypse-shuffle
Love Thorns All Over This Rose ⎢ Part Two — @youreobsessedwithtoomanyfandoms
Harmony (+Dick Grayson) — @soriseerakyra
Batprank ⎢ Part Two — @ciaraswritings
Unexpected — @ciaraswritings
Ballet (ft. Cass Cain) — @reveluving
I Want To See My Little Boy (ft. Damian Wayne) — @dragon-chica 
BRUCE WAYNE/BATMAN
Gossip and Galas — @ciaraswritings
DICK GRAYSON/NIGHTWING
The Graysons — @hannibals-favourite-meal
BATSIS
Alleviate The Pain (Platonic!Dick Grayson) — @pugh-pugh-pugh-pugh
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t3acupz · 3 months
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i was feeling nostalgic so i logged onto my deactivated facebook from a decade ago and omfg the hannibal stuff on there
- so i did watch s1 while it was airing but i was on facebook with my friends and not really on tumblr for the fandom stuff
- i was very confused why there wasn’t more material from red dragon in the show (i was a book fan first)
- i thought hannibal ate abigail at the end of s1, a friend said she didn’t think so because hannibal cared about her but i was convinced he did (bzztWRONG)
- being sad i had to wait a year for s2
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- no one really shipped hannigram until s2 when homoerotic subtext was way more obvious
- everyone thought hannibal was a monster and will was hot (buzzfeed made listicles)
- obsessing over mukozuke and begging my friend to hurry up and watch the episode
- i said the cgi for “the deer” annoys me (A+ criticism)
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- me liking this post from the hannibal facebook page and aww that hashtag #kickthebucket
- convincing my friend that hannigram was canon 👇
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- my statement about mizumono “honestly they were boyfriends and will broke his heart”
that was a trip. it’s been a decade so it was hard to remember exactly how i felt watching s1 and s2 so wow yeah hope you guys enjoyed reading that
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strangestcase · 2 months
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Average “for you” page
Stray TMA enjoyer: I need to suck the door man’s eldritch willy
FNAF fandom blog: [most gorgeous artwork you’ll ever see in your life but it’s clearly a chucky cheese animatronic dripping with blood]
Hannibal fan you’ve never talked to: You twee motherfuckers could never handle our canceled tv show. It has murder and gore and cannibalism, which no other tv show has ever had, and a score, which no other tv show has ever had, and is very gay because it features two possibly bi men that never touch each other or say they’re bi at all and one fucks a lesbian.
Self-proclaimed “batfam blogger” with a Wayne Family Adventures Jason Todd pfp: OMG imagine if Danny Phantom met the Joker….. he’d scare him so bad…… and Tim Drake is there and is drinking coffee
Random TERF that is only here because you liked a post about feminism once: maybe the Nazis were right
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I wanted to show you guys this first before I posted it on my Taylor fan page
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Hannibal as the album reputation makes so much since to me.
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justporo · 4 months
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10 CHARACTERS!
rules: pick 10 characters from 10 different fandoms and tag 10 people!
aye, @tripleyeeet thank you for the tag - I'm sorry I take forever to do stuff like this mostly, I'm just a loser with these kinds of things, sorry...
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Astarion - not to anyone's surprise, lol. But he has to go first - this character has me in a chokehold and goddamn he changed quite a few things in my life - for one, I started writing again and posting fanfics online and now I'm here!
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2. Kaz Brekker - I prefer the book version though. He's such a great character, he's such a snarky genius and such a bastard - I love him. And Six of Crows was also my first read by Leigh Bardugo and now she's one of my favourite authors!
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3. Big Boss/Venom Snake - For some still unkown reason I got really into MGS5 when it came out and am still a big fan of the MGS and Kojima to this day (although I haven't even played all the games, lol).
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4. Ellie Miller - Last of Us Part 1 I could only watch as Lets Plays but I got into TLOU Part 2 myself and I love the story and Ellie especially although my heart still hurts - and probably always will.
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5. Loki - I got into online fandoms because of that fucker. So in a way he paved the way for Astarion and my content today, adhwqfhef.
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6. Hannibal Lecter - Gosh dang, he's such a perfect villain. One of my absolute faves. I could write you an 15 page essay on why I think Hannibal is a spectualar show over all - and also Mads Mikkelsen is amazing!
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7. D.Va - Back when I was biiiig into Overwatch she was one of my absolute favourites. Girl in a big mecha wrecking ass - sign me up!
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8. Jinx - I've loved her from when she was introduced to League. I love her design and how crazy she is and was especially happy she was such a big part in Arcane.
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9. Geralt of Rivia - White-haired men just are my thing apparently... I love his grumpy ass and how his heart is ultimately in the right place despite him acting like he's an asshole.
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10. Cristina Yang - I'm still not through with watching Grey's Anatomy but Cristina is and always will be my fave from the show!
I'm tagging: @megs-98 @tavdraws @tragedybunny @tatterings @micropoe10 @bearhugsandshrugs @azaani-art @the-littlest-raindrop @smaranshakthi @aurasyn (only if you wanna and also anyone else that wants to join!)
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eu-fraseando · 8 months
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HANNIBAL MASTERLIST
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odetolove95 · 8 months
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I will love you in every universe 🤍🌌
I really need to find more time for Tumblr since twitter (or X) is going down 🤦🏻‍♀️
Hannibal prints, pins and other fun merch on MY SHOP
If you like what I do, join my PATREON
for early access to art, and pieces I don't post here, as well as fan requests and comms 🌸🌸
There's a free trial on my Patreon so you can check out my page for free for 7 days!
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junco8 · 2 months
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🌹I have started a fan project of casting Pokémon in The Phantom of the Opera and will be sharing multiple artwork of such (this being page 1 and I may have gone a little overboard with the Hannibal costumes lol). Don't ask me why, I just simply felt inspired!🌹
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Casting Primarina as Carlotta Guidicelli was an obvious choice. She's literally a prima donna! And I felt making her shiny inflated her diva-ness even more 👍
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I needed a rounder Pokémon who can also sing for Ubaldo Piangi and Kricketune fit the bill! I've given each Pokémon a special extra feature as well to make them unique and fitting for their roles, so Kricketune got a beard! Huzzah!
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Although Meloetta's design was more vocaloid-based, she felt perfect for the role of Christine Daaé. I even gave her wavy hair!
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Kirlia as Meg Giry was an obvious choice for me since I decided Gardevoir was Madame Giry (for her stoicism and secretive air). I had fun with those curls!
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I considered making Giry's "hair" black, but decided to keep it natural. I did however give her slightly thicker eyeliner.
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Lucario has big love-interest protagonist energy, so he fit the role of Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny just right. This Little Lotte scene was fun to draw! (It's also on page 2 btw, so you'll see it again later)
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There were several runners-up to play the Phantom, most of which being dark or ghost type. But ultimately I casted Mewtwo for the role for his trickster and mysterious energy while also being a lonely outcast with a tragic background. (And he's og legendary 🙌) I enjoyed designing the Yamask-themed mask (one of the runners-up Pokémon for the role), and giving him a golden-lined cape.
Hope you enjoy! Would you cast any of these differently?
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londonspirit · 7 months
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Imagining what could have happened if the creator dared to dream bigger is fandom’s driving ethos. Whether or not the people behind the scenes expected to have the most passionate bloc of their audience fixate on a queer romance that may or may not have been intentional is irrelevant. When queerness is still on the periphery of society, it’s unsurprising that the relationships fans obsess over and seek to actualize are predominantly queer.
Our Flag Means Death, whose second season is now airing on Max, doesn’t require its fans to dream of the queer possibilities. Instead, it’s that rare breed of work that raises the romantic subtext—typically buried under bromatic jokes or subtle ambiguity—to undeniable text from the very beginning. And when fandoms and creative teams are both on the same page of the same unabashedly queer love story, as is the case for Our Flag, the experience is nothing short of sublime.
Queer media, particularly TV, has entered something of a golden age since the aughts. There are the early mainstream pioneers like The L Word and Will and Grace; the wholesome coming-of-age romcoms like Heartstopper and Love, Victor; and the adaptations taking beloved stories one big step further, like Interview with the Vampire, Good Omens, and Hannibal. There are gritty, inspired-by-real-life dramas like Orange is the New Black and Pose, murderous thrillers like Killing Eve and Orphan Black, raunchy comedies like What We Do in the Shadows and Sex Education, and many more stories featuring queer leads with fully fleshed-out storylines.
But even among these big names, this silly gay pirate show stands out by taking what these shows do best and fulfilling a particular need few have met before. The reasons are myriad: It refuses to use queer subtext as a prop or ransom for audience loyalty. It eschews the will-they-won’t-they dance that positions love as an end rather than a beginning. It defies the trope that you must renounce your past in order to move on. It scoffs at the notion of a ceiling for complex queer characters and relationships in a single show. And it demonstrates that depicting the experiences of queer people (and, just as importantly, people of color) don’t always have to center brutality and trauma—that healing can come from making acceptance the norm and bigotry the butt of ridicule, and that being kind doesn’t necessitate being passive.
As a show that didn’t explicitly market itself as “LGBTQ,” one of Our Flag’s most striking aspects is how it subverts the way this genre typically approaches romance. You could argue that the love story begins when Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby) is recognized as the pirate he wants to be—while three-quarters of the way dead—by none other than the dread Blackbeard (Taika Waititi). Or you could say it begins when Blackbeard, a.k.a Ed Teach, is seen, for the first time, as someone who deserves softness and finery by the epitome of softness and finery himself. Or when Stede comforts Ed as he curls up in a bathtub reliving his worst memories. Or when Stede picks roasted snake out of Ed’s beard. Or when Ed gives himself up to the British to save Stede’s life. Or when…
You get my drift. There’s an entire season’s worth of scenes that make up the foundations of a fandom: moments of intimacy and connection that gesture toward the possibility of something more. These are the planks and rigs of a ship sturdy enough to outpace the fleet of fanworks chasing such moments down until feelings are admitted, consummated, and set sailing off into the sunset. In hindsight, Our Flag was undoubtedly heading in this direction. But it wasn't until the most incontrovertible on-screen gesture of romance happened—a kiss—that fans heaved a sigh of relief. Because fandom, for all its capacity to will alternative universes into being, is inherently bound to the media from which it springs, and many have only ever cast queer love as bait.
But with Our Flag, most fans aren’t at all concerned about what direction the story will take. And the key difference is that they trust the creators wholeheartedly.
For many queer fans, it’s a novel experience to interface with a creative team that is not only aware of exactly who the audience is and what they care about, but also proudly and vocally celebrates them. In interviews, producer and lead actor Taika Waititi has stated that he collects fan art on his phone. Vico Ortiz (who plays the nonbinary pirate Jim Jimenez) has shared that fan art encouraged them to get gender-affirming top surgery. Creator and showrunner David Jenkins once remarked that fan discussions are so spot-on, it was as if they had “been in the writers’ room.” And several queer actors on the show have expressed that the fandom has made them feel even more connected to the LGBTQ+ community.
Our Flag is one of the rare cases where fans and creators share the same vision for a given work. There are no calls for the figurative death of the overly originalist author, nor strict separation of the "canon" of the original work from the "fanon" interpretations of the audience. There is no need for fans to dig for subtext, because what they’ve been searching for has been on board with them all along—not as a blink-and-miss-it pantomime or a nothing-left-to-lose Hail Mary, but a queer love story that was intentionally, thoughtfully crafted from the beginning.
Our Flag presents fans with a vibrant world where everything is mostly beautiful and almost nothing hurts—at least, not yet. Fans can surmise the shape of the second act and the close of the third, even if they don’t know exactly how they’ll get there. But with full confidence in the creators, fans have the opportunity to stretch their imagination beyond tallying evidence and righting wrongs—and it makes for a fandom experience less a eulogy at a funeral of another buried gay, more a toast at the most extravagant and absurd cruise-ship wedding to ever grace the seven seas.
We are all on the same page of the same story, and the experiences of everyone involved is so much richer for it. Or, as Stede would say, treasure is the real treasure.
Fandom, like being a pirate, is in many respects a very queer enterprise. It centers on abandoning the rules so you can survive; grabbing every scrap of home you can find and making it your own; sharing the spoils with the people who see and accept you for who you are and who you want to be. Or, in the words of the show’s pseudo-antagonist, Izzy Hands (Con O’Neill), it's about belonging to something—a something that, I believe, could be enough to help you fall back in love with life and the world.
I think often of the scene that first drew me into Our Flag: Stede asks his former wife, Mary (Claudia O’Doherty), what it feels like to be in love. Looking back at it now, I realize her response describes what the experience of being a part of a community a show like Our Flag creates can feel like. Because love, she tells him, is as easy as breathing. It’s understanding each other’s idiosyncrasies and seeing the charm in them. It’s exposing each other to new things and laughing a lot. It’s passing the time so well together.
To every queer fan out there: I hope you find that, too. I hope you can name it without fear. And I hope you will be embraced for that revelation, and all the wonder and joy it brings.
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