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goodticklebrain · 5 years

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Q&A August: Austin Tichenor of the Reduced Shakespeare Company

They say you should never meet your heroes, but obviously “they” were never enlightened enough to consider Austin Tichenor of the Reduced Shakespeare Company a hero. Like many Shakespeare geeks, I was exposed to Reduced Shakespeare Company’s performance of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) at an impressionable young age. Once the DVD came out, I watched it over and over again, soaking up the irreverence and affection for Shakespeare like a sponge. It never occurred to me that I would one day meet the curly-haired pompous idiot in the black pants whose antics had entertained me so much, let alone be lucky enough to call him a friend, but that’s exactly what has happened.

I first met Austin (after exchanging mutually admiring tweets with him) in April of 2016, during their world premiere of William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (abridged) at the Folger Library. I was prepared to be utterly starstruck, but Austin was so wonderfully down-to-earth that within minutes I felt like I’d known him forever. Totally lacking the pomposity and idiocy of his stage persona, Austin was overwhelmingly encouraging and supportive of my work, immediately welcoming me to play with him in the Shakespeare comedy sandbox. I had literally just started working full-time on Good Tickle Brain, so his enthusiasm meant the world to me.

I could gush about Austin for many more paragraphs, but I’m sure you’d rather hear from him, so here he is, my Comedy Fairy Godfather, in his own words!

1. Who are you? Why Shakespeare?

I’m Austin Tichenor, a playwright, director, and actor. I'm the co-artistic director of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, a three-person comic theatre troupe that reduces long serious topics into short silly comedies.

My first exposure to Shakespeare was undoubtedly in the original series of Star Trek! I read Shakespeare in high school English classes and got to see fantastic productions of Shakespeare at American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco and the Berkeley Reprtory Theatre, but I didn’t get to actually WORK on Shakespeare until grad school where I both played Claudius in a production of Hamlet and reduced my first Shakespeare (it was a directorial exercise: a five minute reduction of Much Ado About Nothing). My first professional theatre job was creating plays for young people so I went to Shakespeare immediately, creating 45 minute cuttings of Much Ado, Midsummer, and The Tempest.

So the opportunity to join the RSC in 1992 and perform its signature work The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) (written by the RSC’s founders) in London’s West End for eight months combined all my theatrical loves: smart silly comedy, non-realistic theatricality, and Shakespeare — which is kinda redundant, now that I think about it

2. What moment(s) in Shakespeare always make you laugh?

My favorite moments are typically when characters make incredible discoveries about themselves, and these are usually comic. Malvolio’s “I am…happy!” Terrible actor Francis Flute fully committing to the moment on “Dead, my dove?” Benedick’s “There’s a double meaning in that.” Hamlet toying with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, or telling Claudius he “shall nose” the dead Polonius as he goes upstairs. Olivia’s “Most wonderful!” when the penny drops and she realizes “Cesario” is actually Viola (and Sebastian’s twin).

3. What's a favorite Shakespearean performance anecdote?

I have two!

1) We were performing William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (abridged) for the Shakespeare Theatre Association conference — the savviest and most knowledgeable group of people I’ll probably ever perform for, ever. I was playing Richard III and limping downstage to say my first line, one of the most famous first lines in all of Shakespeare. But I was distracted because I saw there were people sitting on the sides and I didn’t want to limp too far downstage for them to see — and in my distraction I said, “Now is the moment of our...” As soon as the word was out of my mouth, I knew I’d blown the line (it’s supposed to be “Now is the winter of our discontent”) and I knew I couldn’t pretend that it hadn’t happened; not in front of that crowd, not in our style of show. So I quite audibly said, “Oh f&$# me,” and limped back offstage to come in again. This time I said the line right and emphasized the first word: “Now is the winter of our discontent!” It brought down the house and everyone asked whether I’d planned it. Sigh…no, I hadn’t.

Mya interjects: I was in the house for this performance and this moment remains one of the highlights of my theatre-going career. What Austin neglects to mention here is that Reed, who had been left alone onstage after Austin had retreated, went over to the wings as if to confer with Austin, and said, sotto voce, “No, I don’t think anybody noticed.”

2) We were performing The Complete Works on a stage that had a little runway that circled the orchestra pit. In one of the scenes, Adam Long (one of the RSC’s founding members) decided to hop over the pit, from the stage to the runway, and he ended breaking the runway floor and falling through the boards. Thankfully uninjured, and delighted that he had this opportunity, he immediately uttered the immortal words, “Don’t worry, it’s just a stage I’m going through."

4. What's one of the more unusual Shakespearean interpretations you've either seen or would like to see?

I’m glad that nowhere in here have you asked what my favorite play is. I don’t have favorite Shakespeare plays, but I do have favorite productions. Here are two:

1) The Folger Theatre at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC’s production of Love’s Labor’s Lost was delightful from start to finish: Incredibly smart, wildly funny, and wonderfully charming. The director and her team made the King’s desire for “a little academe” quite literal by re-creating the Folger Library’s handsome reading room onstage. (I wrote about this terrific production here.)

2) The Chicago Shakespeare Company production of The Tempest, co-directed by Aaron Posner and the magician Teller, turned Prospero into an actual wizard and filled the production with literal magic. (There must have been magic in Shakespeare’s original production as the First Folio has a stage direction that mentions that characters disappear by means of “a quaint device”. Teller filled his production with many quaint magic tricks and devices!) With music by Tom Waits and great comedy from its clowns, it was the most entertaining and completely realized production of The Tempest I've ever seen.

Favorite moments?

When Henry IV (Jeremy Irons) slaps his snotty son Prince Hal (Tom Hiddleston) in The Hollow Crown adaptation of Henry IV, Part 1 taking him (and the audience) by total surprise.

When Francis Flute’s (Sam Rockwell) emotions bubble to the surface unexpectedly in the ridiculous “Pyramus and Thisbe” in the film version of Midsummer.

When Juliet (Claire Danes) stirs and almost wakes up in time to prevent Romeo (Leonardo DiCaprio) from killing himself in Baz Lurhmann’s Romeo + Juliet.

When Antigonus (Gregory Linington) distracted the Bear, dooming himself but preventing the death of Perdita, in the Goodman Theatre production of one of my least favorite plays The Winter’s Tale.

5. What's one of your favorite Shakespearean "hidden gems”?

The hidden gem of Shakespeare is actually right out in the open: He’s written incredibly theatrical plays, filled with rich and elusive characters that still fascinate us 400 years later, and even the most serious of his plays (including his Histories and especially his Tragedies) contain more comedy than is generally realized (or pulled off). Shakespeare was a showman whose livelihood depended on entertaining his audiences, so he created plays filled with music, devices, comic bits, fascinating characters, time jumps, changing perspectives, and shifting tones that are always serious (especially his Comedies) but never solemn.

(You don’t ask what my Shakespearean pet peeve but here it is: Productions that lack urgency and ignore the above, as in: Comedies that are beautiful-looking and melancholy but not funny. Histories that ignore the comic chaos that Shakespeare layers in. Tragedies that are one-note, over-the-top, and not in any way believable. Romances that equate pastoral with languid and not compelling. Argh.)

6. What passages from Shakespeare have stayed with you?

Oh so many...

Beatrice’s “Kill Claudio,” which comes seemingly out of the blue and yet is so right.

Falstaff’s honor speech, when done right, in front of a live audience.

And I find Miranda’s “O brave new world that hath such people in’t” just incredibly moving. (I’m always moved by Joy. Tragedy can suck it.)

Mya interjects: “Tragedy can suck it” might be my new personal motto now. Thanks, Austin.

7. What Shakespeare plays have changed for you?

Henry VI, Part 1. Reading it again recently, I was struck by the level of chaos Shakespeare depicts in a kingdom struggling without a ruler. It’s almost like Monty Python meets Veep: Sentences can’t get finished because people are running in and out, declaring “I’m in charge! I’m in charge!” with grand impotence. Of course Shakespeare would write it like that: He needed to entertain his audience, who were probably also nervous about their aging queen who had yet to declare a successor. Shakespeare created a chaotic warning that England shouldn’t descend into that kind of comically dangerous madness again — a warning that wasn’t really heeded, unfortunately.

8. What Shakespearean character or characters do you identify the most with?

Having played so many of them (albeit in reduced forms), that’s a tough call. But because I’m also an actor and a playwright, the ones I probably identify with the most are Shakespeare's seemingly autobiographical ones: Peter Quince, the only (I think) actor-playwright in the canon. Hamlet, the Danish prince with surprisingly strong opinions about theatre’s power and how certain speeches should be played (and how annoying comedians can be). Benedick, who struggles with his writing so comically. Suffolk, who in Henry VI, Part 1 declares, “I’ll call for pen and ink and write my mind.” And Bottom, of course, who thinks he can play anything.

Mya interjects: PETER QUINCES OF THE WORLD, UNITE!

9. Where can we find out more about you? Are there any projects/events you would like us to check out?

I’ve spent the last several years doing incredibly deep dives into Shakespeare, across many media:

My RSC partner Reed Martin and I wrote Pop-Up Shakespeare, an incredibly fun (and useful) introduction to the Bard’s life and works with beautiful, amazing, and funny illustrations by Jennie Maizels.

I contribute monthly essays about the intersection between Shakespeare and popular culture for the Folger Shakespeare Library’s Shakespeare & Beyond blog.

My weekly podcast (now in its 13th year) is a backstage glimpse into the life and works of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, featuring interviews with our many comedian, actor, playwright, author, director, composer, dramaturg, and artist friends and many many deep dives into matters Shakespearean.

Reed and I also wrote the definitive irreverent reference book, Reduced Shakespeare: The Complete Guide for the Attention-Impaired (abridged), which is still inexplicably in print (perhaps cuz it’s definitive).

We also wrote the stage play William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (abridged) (“An absolute resolute hoot of a bawdy comedy of errors!” Broadway World), which premiered at the Folger Theatre in 2016, has toured the US and the UK, and is available for licensing via Broadway Play Publishing.

And in November 2019, the RSC will perform the international premiere in Israel of our brand new script Hamlet’s Big Adventure (a prequel) — what would happen if Tom Stoppard wrote Muppet Babies. It’s the comedy of the Prince of Denmark!

If after reading all this, for some insane reason you still want to get in touch, come find me here on Twitter. I think Mya will agree that it’s a much more civilized and fun place than its reputation suggests.

(Back to Mya) Thanks so much to Austin for taking the time to answer my questions! If you want to HEAR us actually talking to each other check out:

Reduced Shakespeare Co. Podcast #493

Reduced Shakespeare Co. Podcast #532

Reduced Shakespeare Co. Podcast #653

Q&A August continues next week with two phenomenal women who are using Shakespeare to build the most amazing things.

#Q&A August #shakespeare #reduced shakespeare company

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tinkiisms · 4 years

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crossover ship wishlist

now, i’ve finally found an rp partner who is giving me the tink/jim i’ve long desired, but last night when i couldn’t sleep i was thinking of the rest of the crossover ships i’ve always wanted but never got the chance to write.

maybe describing my vision for them will convince ANYBODY to consider plotting with me!

in no particular order, i submit for your perusal....the perfect crossover ships w/ tinker bell.

TINKER BELL x PIPS:

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times, this is literally the most perfect conceivable animated crossover ship possible, and idk why it isn’t more popular.

Both characters are sassy and fun-loving, attractive fairies who would certainly take an interest in one another. Pips is quite similar to the character Tink canonically has a crush on (Peter) which being more mature and actually her size/species, as well as Tink having a similar personality to the character Pips has a crush on (Crysta.) Neither ended up with their unrequited loves in their story, so it’s not even like x-over ships with like all the Disney princesses and other characters who found their “one true love” because they’re both SINGLE, READY TO MINGLE, AND LITERALLY PERFECT FOR EACH OTHER

I like the thought of the romantic tension we can have for them because they might both be wary to start anything, having had unrequited love before, but they definitely flirt and vibe with each other.

Also I have already made several edits for them--this is the kinda ship that I’m never gonna stop reblogging inspo for and writing threads, if I only had a partner to explore it with me.

TINKER BELL x CRYSTA

As I said wrt to Tink/Pips, Tinker Bell and Crysta have a similar personality. They’re both curious, easily distracted, and none too concerned with rules--and then their differences in personality just go toward giving them chances to clash and not be the same person.

They would definitely be a good bad influence on each other, exploring and getting into trouble, but helping each other out of it as well.

I don’t have so much to say about them bc Tink/Pips is really where I think the most potential is, but I also refuse to neglect the delightful possibilty of a wlw fairy ship sitting right there for the taking.

TINKER BELL x HICCUP

I’ve seen videos of Hiccup/Fawn--which makes sense on its own bc like, Hic&Toothless + Fawn&Gruff vibes, they're both bleeding hearts--but I’m SHOCKED that I haven’t seen any for Hiccup/Tink?? Let’s discuss:

They look good together, both favor natural color schemes with green. They’re both inventors which is something to bond over. They both break the mold in their respective society, going where none others have gone before/breaking customs that end up making their kingdoms that much better because they have open minds.

The potential plotlines because Hiccup gave a dragon the ability to fly again w/ his wing design, and Tinker Bell broke her wing in one of her films--so let’s say sparkly sister magic isn’t a cure for broken wings, but Hiccup helps her?? I just love it.

The angst, the drama, the romance, the fluff, endless possibilities. Canon divergence is necessary tbh--in general crossover verses I can play Tink as a fairy that can change to be human-sized (like in OUAT) to make for a better match with human characters. But other than that, we have a perfect basis for a x-over ship if I just find a writing partner with the right chemistry!

TINKER BELL x MARIANNE

OKAY ideal fairy crossover ship, yes. 1. Tinker Bell and Marianne have similar character arcs throughout their stories (Marianne in Strange Magic, and Tink from her series of films through the original Peter Pan timeline and then the Disney Fairies books.)

Both start out quite hopeful and sweet, but when their first love breaks their heart, they kinda vow to never fall in love again and swear not to let themselves be hurt like that, they close themselves off from such feelings and develop a tough exterior. Marianne learns to sword-fight, and Tink carries around daggers--fighty couple with each other’s back potential!!

They both eventually open up to love--WITH EACH OTHER. And that would be so sweet oh my god.

The actress for Tinker Bell has done a couple duets with her friend who looks like Marianne and it makes my heart sing.

TINKER BELL x NOD

It’s been a long time since I watched Epic but I remember that Nod was another kind of energetically rule-breaking character who would mesh well with Tink. Again, they look good together. I just want to see how that goes because I can never get my sights off of other tiny-character muses for Tink to cross-over with...

TINKER BELL x TOOTHIANA

THIS ONE WOULD JUST BE SO ADORABLE. Tooth is adorable and Tink is adorable and if they were girlfriends it would be really sweet and perfect, that’s all.

TINKER BELL x HERCULES

I’ve plotted this one out a little bit with an RP partner years ago but we never really got past the first couple replies on our thread to start developing the concept.

I just love the idea of Tink and Hercules being long-time friends even before he realized his lineage, and then when he becomes all famous Tink is like “don’t forget about me” and they both just shine so,

I just think they’re neat

TINKER BELL x ARRIETTY

Here we go. Tink and Arrietty: both little explorers at heart who want more out of life. Both disregard what they’ve been told about humans because they find them interesting and not bad. Arrietty would be fascinated by Tink bc 1. She didn’t believe in fairies though her mom claims to have seen one once in her youth, so meeting her she would be in awe. 2. She wants to be a proper borrower who ventures out instead of keeping the house, and Tink legit lives in nature and makes inventions out of lost human things.

They would just have such an interesting dynamic, like Arrietty fricking running off with a fairy of all things to fulfill her dreams--

TINKER BELL x CORNELIUS

A commoner/royal dynamic I enjoy, because Tink is unused to be treated a certain way. Cornelius is really cute, and together they wouldn’t have as much of a sweet-sweet dynamic as Cornelius/Thumbelina but a little more dynamic and interesting to explore.

I also make edits...

TINKER BELL x THUMBELINA

Tink/Thumbelina would be really cute because imagine them meeting instead of Cornelius meeting Thumbelina, right? She would just see Tink and and be BIG BLUSH over her and Tink would be like “what is this feeling? oh no she’s cute” and I just love it

I already have a temporary tag for them where you can view some art/edits other people have made, but once i find “their ship song” it will get a proper tag

TINKER BELL x ARIEL

One of those things. Um, both fascinated by human junk, both part of a different world, fall in love with someone of another species, but here’s the thing. Ariel is sea, and Tink is sky. The plotting and development that would have to go down to get them both to meet in the middle, on land, is what makes the thought of this ship really interesting to me.

We can basically write our own movie based on the idea of a fairy and mermaid falling for each other.

basically if anyone decides to plot any of these with me, i’m gonna be making edits, playlists, aesthetics and reblogging ship inspo posts & musings bc i have a lot of muse for these potential ships.

i have either currently or in the past written platonic threads with some of these characters, so that’s one thing and good in its own regard but i’m not looking for it with this post lbr.

i’m interested in shipping rn bc tbh i have a lot of random fluff interactions going on but i generaly have a lot more inspiration to reply to things and hold multiple threads with a partner when we develop stronger relationships between the muses. (rather than casual introductory stuff)

like it just keeps me very intrigued in plots when more feelings are involved? & there are more places to go with romance bc you can have every plot a platonic pair can have + additional romantic-feeling based plots. no shame in that...i like ships :s

#⊹*⋅✧ | ᵈʳᵉᵃᵐˢ ᵒᶠ ᶰᵉᵛᵉʳᶫᵃᶰᵈ (wishlist)#if u have any other suggestions for crossover ships im all ears #bc im obsessed #it's been a while since i was really making edits #but i might have to get into it again

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en241 · 4 years

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Friday, 17 April

Week 11: The Secret Garden, Chapters 19 - end of book.

First, More of Your Comments:

I am just catching up to the end of the book so I thought I would check in. As most said in the comments you shared on Tumblr I would have to agree it takes a lot for me to get into a book so it did take me a bit for this one but I was surprised how much I liked this book. The ending was really surprising as well it was very sweet and just made you feel good. I have noticed that the author uses sensory imagery throughout this novel which allows the characters and reader to connect with nature making you rethink your own life in positive ways, I really enjoyed this aspect. Mary’s positive thoughts and attitude makes you want to be the same. This even makes Colin interested in the outdoors as well despite his illness. I did really enjoy this book!

From this weeks reading, I have observed how the garden is changing People and things as a way of resurrection. Not only are Mary’s waxy features changing but, Colins skin is changing as well. Colin is no longer ivory skinned, he looks like he has flesh. It seems that the garden is bringing life back to them after all of the bad things that have happened to them. It may also be helping things like the tree his mother fell from. Although the tree is dead, new roses will cover its outside. I feel the new roses symbolize the spirt of the children and Colins mother who have never really left the garden. Colin planting the single rose represented ownership not only of the garden but of the spirits left there.

We all have that one place where we want to be, or think is our fairy-tale. The garden is the fairy tale in this story. The flowers create the fairy-tale. The tale or what it once was and what it could be. This has become such a part of Mary’s life she claims to have stolen it. I have experienced this situation as well. I have claimed a horse that was not really mine. I had so much pride in her I did not realize I was stealing her like Mary.

Now, some Thoughts from Me: Please bear with me and read them . . .

I’m so glad that so many of you liked the book so much. I love this book & I love teaching it, but it’s never been as meaningful as it has been this semester. And that’s because of all your comments.

One big thing: the way all the book’s major characters are on their own maturation plots, and how each of them help the others, so that in the end they all overcome their own personal traumas and grow. (And the garden itself is one of those characters -- maybe because it’s Mrs Craven’s spirit or maybe because Nature.)

I wish we could talk about all the details of this book and how they work together in order to make a coherent narrative argument. And I wish we could talk about this book -- especially its characters -- and compare it with the other books we’ve read this term. I could write up notes for you about this, but that wouldn’t be the same as discussing it together. It wouldn’t be fun.

I also wish we could come back to the big issues of the course -- the maturation plot, the adult/child identity problem, the three modes (nonsense, realism, and fantasy), and all the thematic patterns like food and appetite, indoors vs outdoors, reason vs imagination, sorting, stacking & counting, adventure vs safety, honesty vs dishonesty, etc. Because, you know, that’s the point of the class.

I also wish we could talk about all the different ways we can read Children’s Literature from a cultural perspective -- not just its history, or its connection to things like theories of psychology and education, but also its relationship to issues like race, gender, dis/ability, and ecology. Because, well, college.

It would also be really interesting to think about issues like illustration (have you spent time with the illustrations I’ve been posting?), book design, and adaptations into other media. Because words are great, but words are not enough. (Although tbh the new movie version of The Secret Garden looks like absolute shite imho.)

Aaaand it would also be fun to talk about more recent children’s literature and how reading these books together might go

But we only have one week left.

And we are all dealing with a lot of stuff.

So next week, if it’s ok with you, I will finish out the term by giving you a couple of new things to read and/or watch. (Kinda like what we did at the beginning with Struwwelpeter, the Gashlycrumbs, and the Wild Things. Only nicer. Much nicer this time. Happier. I promise.) And I’ll ask for your comments, and post them, just like we’ve been doing. With a final reflective assignment at the end.

Meanwhile, read this article: 21 Ways The Secret Garden Prepared Us For Adulthood . If you hadn’t read the book, it would look like a list of 21 cliche phrases . . . but now?

Take care, stay safe, be kind, and wash your damn hands.

AAAAAnd one more comment:

I just finished the book , absolutely loved it. Heres some thoughts...

So I think Mary is a super super interesting character. Most child fantasies start their adventures with a likable, honest and pure protagonist. At first, Mary isn't the most likable of characters .. She’s privileged, kinda annoying and just isn't the most relatable. This made it really hard for me to like Mary in the beginning but to slowly realize no - she's just damaged, really flipped the whole narrative for me. Life as a neglected, lonely orphan must have caused a lot of internal dysfunction in Mary and left a hole of hurt and pain she wasn't able to deal with and heal.

- I mean she is a child; she doesn't know how to handle these things. Imagine having your parents die at that young an age? Must be a horrible thing to deal with. Then getting sent off to the middle of nowhere to live with your weird uncle? that would suck - I definitely would cause a scene too -

I think Mary was destined to find the key to the garden and I think the robin - yes! i also think this is symbolic of Colin's mother - specifically chose to give it to her because she needed to see the garden. She needed a physical thing to take care of and nurture so she can see how attention to something leads to blossoms and beauty .. this helps her accept how important it is to give attention to herself and how planting a seed of self-love and acceptance will lead to strength and happiness.

The garden helped Mary heal wounds of the past, understand human failure, forgive herself and her circumstances to grow. Mary needs to go through this transformation to achieve maturation which is a super super prevalent theme here .. pretty much the whole book focuses on the healing and growth of Mary, and Colin later in the book. The garden is her “Wonderland” - it’s her safe place that wants to instill some sort of lesson or narrative in Mary that she absolutely needs to hear.

Mary and Colin are very alike at the beginning of the story and they get along best because their relationship is so honest .. they’re both at Stage I of childlike naiveness, with no self-awareness. I think maybe they were also destined to meet and their growth together is a beautiful thing to witness. I think the friendship they share is so important and fundamental to both of their growth. Mary and Colin aren't romantically engaged either - well because they are cousins - but this makes their bond even more special and important - definitely a relationship that’s important to have irl too .. a true friend , someone to grow with - I kinda wonder how the story would unfold if they weren't written as cousins .. would they have fallen in love??

The garden is an important place for Colin too - it gives him the motivation to want to live .. a super powerful and almost magical thing.

Anyways I'm kinda obsessed with this book now , the journey to learn how to love and accept yourself - at least that's what I took out of it - also how beautiful and valuable a strong relationship is.. definitely an important thing to note.

illustration by Inga Moore

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thechanbaeklibrary · 6 years

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FIC SEARCH of all fic searches

Hi everyone! Here we have gathered all the fic searches that haven’t been answered yet so we could give it a second chance. Hopefully, you can help!

1) anonymous asked: Im trying to find this chaptered fic that i read a while ago. Its a chanbaek. I think chanyeol and Baekhyun work together and baekhyun needs a place to stay. Chanyeol gets baekhyun to move in with kai who is dating kyungsoo. Baekhyun and kai make out at a party and then fuck the next day but kyungsoo comes home and walks in on them.

2) anonymous asked: hello! sorry to bother you! but i’m looking for a fic! so it was an ao3 fic i believe and chanyeol was like holding baekhyun hostage? he had him handcuffed to the bed or handcuffed to something and chanyeol loved baek but like it was messy and there was a point where baekhyun did try to escape but chanyeol caught him and he does slap him. and i think chanyeol wore glasses. thanks!

3) anonymous asked: Hellooooo, do you know this fic where CB are bestfriends, this fic is an omegaverse and there’s something like ‘ghost mating’ in the story? And later CB are mates. Thanksss

4) anonymous asked: hey, do you know that fic where chanyeol would go with baek at the bus stop everytime after school(?)or when it was really night(?)and baek was into hapkido(?)and some time he got beaten up(?)uhhh i don’t really remember that much tho

x The Fortune-Teller Said That You're My Future Husband byOtpismyoxygen

5) anonymous asked: Hello idk if you can help me. I read a fic years ago but can’t remember the name. It was Baekhyun was from an abusive family and raped,he disappeared but he came back to school where Yeol and the rest found him working as an assistant. There was a scene where he begged Baek on a roof to tell him what’s wrong. I really really can’t remember the name ;_;

x Lifeless

6) teespoone asked: Hello lovelies! I’ve been searching for this fic forever and I can’t find it. It was a zombie au and I’m pretty sure chanbaek weren’t the main pairing. The only thing i remember is that baek got bitten (on his foot/ankle maybe?) and the others wanted to either leave him or kill him. Chan thought he would get better and kept him around until baek tried to bite him. Then he took them away to “shoot” him but ended up killing himself too. That’s all I remember. Thanks!

x The Sky Under The Sea

7) Anonymous asked: hi! idk if youre taking requests rn (if you’re not you can just delete this) but there’s a smut one shot where baekhyun never felt satisfied after having sex with chanyeol and chanyeol overheard baekhyun on the phone with sehun and then they had sex. this isn’t a great description but could you help me find it?

8) aeri-chogiwa asked: Hello! I’m such a fan of you guys! I’ve been looking for this fanfic, but I can only remember its ending. The ending was when Chanyeol came home but before he entered the house( I guess he can see from the inside) he saw Kai and Baekhyun getting sweet while watching their kid. It was an angst story. I hope you can find it for me! Thank you so mucch!

9) anonymous asked: hello~~~ i wanted to ask about a fic in which one of them (i think baek) was at a party but his clothes got dirty so he stumbled into chanyeols room where (?) they had sex and they even went to meet chanyeols friend (?) yixing who had a guitar

x Shawty I Got It

10) anonymous asked: Is there a FF where the description is Like… they are 4 years together and Chanyeol is away the 2 ?

x Love You Closer

11) anonymous asked: Hello! I’ve been searching for a fic that I read quite some time ago and I don’t remember all of it but have some minor details that could help in finding out what the fic is. So baekhyun is staying at home I believe and chanyeol is his neighbor who comes by the fix things in his house? And they both go to college I think Berkeley or Stanford? And chanyeol is a science major? Again not too much detail sorry…

12) anonymous asked: hi!! there was a fic I read a long time ago.. i think cy was bh’s puppy and they grew up together, but then one day cy passed away as a older dog and bh had to go to college where he met cy as a person. i really hope you guys know what fic this is, it was so heartwarming and cute ;w;

13) anonymous asked: Hi ! Can you help me find a fanfiction ? ChanBaek are best friends in it although Chan often neglects Baek for One night stands, and the main plot was Taemin making a bet with Kris about sleeping with Baek, who’s still a virgin and Chanyeol finding out and yeea x) much better than it sounds right now! And it was on aff. Oh and ChanBaek get together of course xD I’d seriously love you forever if you could find it!

14) eu-inquietude asked: This is not the 1st time I come here, but thank u for all the good work again, I really apreciate your blog! There is this oneshot where Baekhyun is on the baseball team and starts to crush on Chanyeol, a transfered student and now part of the basketball team. Then Baek keep on searching about Yeol’s sexuality with Jongdae’s help, his bff and the school journal reporter, in vain until the day Chanyeol finally comes to talk to him. Please, I’m feeling like bbh now cause I can’t find this nowhere.

15) anonymous asked: Have read a fic about Baek who is a very smart student, never studies but always on top. And Chanyeol despite studying hard still can’t top B(he hates B for that) At some point they compete for who will get the highest score, then what B asked is a date(?) or C to be his bf(?). Because B is bored and he is sick and dying(?). It was my sister who have read the fic, then she suggested it to me but completely forgot the title. Fighting!~

16) anonymous asked: Hii ❤ Do you know of any fics where Chan is a church boy and Baek kinda “corrupts” him. Similar to The Confessional by t_dragon on AO3. Thankss 💖💖

17) anonymous asked: Hello💖 Can you tell the name of the fic where Chanyeol is the best man at suho’s wedding. Baekhyun is the crazy brother of the bride and Chanyeol needs to stop him from ruining anything so he locks him up but Baekhyun manages to escape. Pls tell me the fics name if u know. It would be a great help Thank you💖

x And Your Name Was?

18) anonymous asked: Hi, I would like to ask for a story in which Chanyeol is a (?) fairy and baekhyun finds him and then Chanyeol stalks the other but baekhyun leaves and it turns out Chanyeol turned into a human to find baekhyun and finds him in his office but really baekhyun is just making up this story off of Chanyeols new blue hair

19) creative-catcafe asked: Hi, i’ve asked this before, but do you know the fic where Chanbaek never said i love you, and Chanyeol got sad, and Baekhyun said he didnt feel the need to be the kind of couple that does that, and he comforts Chanyeol? Its kinda short

20) saekireine asked: hi! I’m looking for a chanbaek fic for my friend who forgot to bookmark it last time he read it. it’s a pretty woman/hooker!au where baekhyun plays the role of vivian and yeol the role of edward. the fic starts off just like the movie and follows it very closely. he remembers reading it on ao3 and that it was already completed. can you pls help?

21) anonymous asked: hi! been looking for a fic where Baek has unrequited love for Chanyeol but few years later, he tried to move on and he got Kris as his bf. Baek kept refusing to Kris’ marriage proposal so Kris left him. I think it was Luhan who contacted Chanyeol to help Baek and told him Baek got cancer. The ending was wonderful, Yeol prepared a speech for Baek to have him again. I forgot the title of this fic ㅠㅠ I hope you can help me. More power to your blog!

x i sing better than snow white

22) anonymous asked: Hello!! I really love your blog 💖 I was looking for a fic, it was highschool!au and chanbaek were kind of fwb and one night chanyeol climbed up to Baekhyun’s bedroom through the window to cuddle or something. I also remember Baekhyun being very afraid of his dad finding out about him and Chanyeol. I think this was on aff as well! Thank you for your time~

23) anonymous asked: Hi, I’m looking for a oneshot. It was very cute and fluffy. Baekhyun was on a blind date with Chanyeol, and B didn’t fancy him at all at first. They get very drunk, and I think Chanyeol buys him a pair of socks(?). And we don’t get to know the name of his blinddate before the end, if I remember right :) It was very very cute, but I can’t find it anymore. It was on aff, I think!

24) chanoyel asked: Hello!! I hope you’re doing well! I was wondering if you could help me find a fic I read a long time ago. Baekhyun goes around Seoul and finds portraits of Chanyeol from street artists who have drawn him with his goofy eye smile. Baek falls in love with his smile and tries to find Chanyeol. Thank you in advance and have a great day!! 💗

25) anonymous asked: Hello! I’m looking for a story in which chanbaek were a couple and Baek was jealous of Chanyeol’s work mate - Kris. Baekhyun thought Chanyeol wants to leave him or he was cheating on him and he was fraeking out but Channie only wanted to be be as cool as he thought Kris was for Baek. I hope you can help me bc I’m in need for that ff! BTW I LOVE YOU ALL AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK! YOU MAKE MY LIFE BETTER!!

x (I wanna be) Close to You by sogogibaby

26) anonymous asked: Hi! I’m looking for a fanfic where baekhyun convinced his boyfriend to do a threesome with sehun. So baek approached sehun in the bathroom, seduced him and asked him to join chanyeol and him in their room. I hope you can help me. Thanks for your work, love you!

27) anonymous asked: hi~ I’m looking for an abo fic in which baek worked in a glass factory and chanyeol was part of a pack and they meet in the forest when chanyeol was getting rid of a corpse i think and Baek tried to run away because he saw him right at that moment but chanyeol caught him and realized Baek was his mate. One night Baek was working late and on the way back home some men attack him but chanyeol saved him and it has a happy ending and chanyeol cared for Baek a lot. Thank you! You are the best!

x I Will Never Be Complete (until I find you)

28) anonymous asked: Hello😀! Do you know a fic where chanyeol returns home after a business trip(im not sure) and they missed each other and were going to have sex but then Lay who was baekhyun’s neighbour interrupted them because he wanted to borrow something ( i think it was milk) and chanyeol fell asleep waiting? I think baekhyun had a roomate who left them alone for the day to catch up. Can you please find it?

29) anonymous asked: Hi!!! Do you know the fic where Chanyeol only meant to hook up with B and he also kind of got into a fight with yifan before that. Then times pass, baek and Chan are still together and c was about to propose to b when they got into a fight an b found yifan again…? Sorry that’s all I can remember, thank you v much!! <3

x The Only Exception

30) anonymous asked: Hellooo!! So i was looking for this fic i read a while back and i cant find it anywhere. Its an abo where chanyeol cant seem to focus when hes at work and it turns out his rut is starting and so he goes back home to baekhyun and then smut happens. I think it was on aff im jot really sure. Could u help plz?Thank you….

#fic search #answered

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every1studio · 6 years

Text

REQUESTED: “mr teddy bear” [w1: jihoon]

genre: angst + fluff

ficstyle: bulletpoints

anon asked: “ Hello! In honor on I.P.U may I request a scenario with Park Jihoon when you two had broke up bc of his busy idol life, but tries to get you back with teddy bears? Some kind of angst with a fluff ending plz! Thank you~ “ [featuring SEONGWOO + Wanna One]

note: SORRY FOR THE WAIT / I do have a life outside of this so please understand if I don’t post as often as I should

“STOP BEING SELFISH!”

“I’M NOT ASKING FOR A LOT; I JUST DON’T WANT TO BE IGNORED!”

you and JIhoon were fighting once again...

both of you knew the consequences of dating

but at the time

you both were willing to take it

but this time

it was too much to handle

there were times where he acted like he didn’t know you or even acknowledged you

especially when other members would

you and Jihoon were fighting before he went to go shoot for a MV for “BOOMERANG”

everyone was watching the both of you but neither of them were going to but into a personal conversation; not even the members

“I’M NOT IGNORING YOU, AM I IGNORING YOU NOW?”

you scoffed in frustration

“YOU IGNORED ME FOR ONE WHOLE MONTH, I EVEN FORGOT WE WERE EVEN DATING UNTIL YOUR FAN ASKED ME IF WE WERE STILL DATING? WHAT IS THAT?”

he rolled his eyes back

“you need other people’s opinion to see if we’re still dating?”

you were so fed up with his attitude

“no I don’t”

you stood up and struggled to take your guys’ couple ring off

“ya...what are you doing right now? don’t do it..”

he was getting even more annoyed at this point

you threw the ring at him

the studio echoed of your ring spinning on the ground

“I just needed your opinion in our relationship... but I guess that’s asking for too much..I’m done..”

you flailed your arms in the arm; pointing as you were on the verge of tears

“I’m done with this....”

you gave him one last hurtful look

“I’m done with you..”

you stormed off

you felt his fingers graze your wrist

SLAP

but you turned around and slapped it away

“I’m doing you a favor... so do me one.. don’t talk to me again...”

SLAM

the sound of the heavy door echos

Seongwoo, your childhood friend, looked at Jihoon before running after you

Daehwi reaches out to Jihoon

“hey-”

“DON’T TOUCH ME..”

Jihoon storms off to get his solo shot done

using work as an excuse to cool off his head

but then again...work was the reason why this happened

“Y/N!!”‘

Seongwoo runs after you

you stopped in your tracks but you didn’t reply to him

he sees your shaking back as a sign that you were crying

Seongwoo turns you around

“hey now...”

he wipes your tears from your face

Seongwoo was always there for you.. regardless of who his friends were, he always came to you first

you always thought that it was because you’ve been friends with him longer and he knows how sensitive and fragile you were

even though you acted tough

but in all honesty.. it was because all this time.. he loved you

even when you were dating his closest friends

he sat you down in a bench near by

he let you cry your heart out

you didn’t have to worry about crying in front of anyone else but him

“why do you keep doing this to yourself y/n..”

Seongwoo tucks your hair behind your ears

you didn’t reply to him

you wanted to ignore what he said.. as you were filled with regret and emptiness

there was an emptiness on your right index finger that you didn’t like

the token of Jihoon’s love was gone

“thanks Seongwoo.. I’ll... be fine...”

as you were getting up to leave, you felt a light grip on your hand

“if..if you need anything else... I’ll be here..”

you tried your best to smile at him as you left

Seongwoo goes back to the filming area as Jihoon bursts the door opened

“where’s y/n..”

“she left..”

Jihoon tries to run past Seongwoo but Seongwoo pushes him back into the building

“leave her alone, she doesn’t want to see your face...”

Seongwoo gives Jihoon an icy glare

but Jihoon doesn’t budge

“don’t make me repeat myself.. dongsaeng...”

JIhoon’s knuckles turn white and exhales sharply before he stomps back into the building

A FEW DAYS PASSED

Jihoon felt worse and worse as time went on

he realized how much he neglected you

how much he ignored you

and

how much he missed you

especially after seeing an article about the questioning of the break-up between you two

he knocks at Seongwoo’s door

creakk

“what do you want?”

Jihoon shuffles his feet back and forth

“I..I wanna apologize to y/n....I’ve been...I’ve been a real asshole...she deserves better...but..I want a second chance..”

Seongwoo looks at Jihoon’s phone as he sees the article on his phone

“a second chance after seeing a news article? honestly... do you even think you deserve a second chance?”

Jihoon hangs his head low

but doesn’t say anything

Seongwoo sighs deeply

seeing you upset was already bad enough

but seeing his teammate just as broken..

made him feel helpless to the both of you

“I’ll help you...”

Jihoon looks up happily

Seongwoo grips Jihoon’s shoulder tightly; with a little too much force

“if you ever..EVER.. hurt y/n like that again... I’ll leave this group just to kick your ass.. you got it?”

JIhoon nods; agreeing with what Seongwoo said

di-ding

you got a text from Seongwoo

“how’ve you been? let’s go to xxx cafe”

you smiled

(at least someone checks up on me more often than not..)

you got ready

sporting a high messy ponytail, black leggings, an oversized white tee and checkered slip ons

you went to xxx cafe but it was empty

the cafe was cozy; it had fairy lights everywhere

“maybe he’s not here yet...”

the barista led you to a table next to a gigantic teddy bear that was sitting in the corner

she also brought out a drink without even asking you

“I didn’t order anything yet...”

she smiled

“it’s on the house...”

she bowed and walked into the back of the store

there Seongwoo was watching you and giving the barista a fist bump

you smiled at your drink

it was a favorite of yours and Jihoon

“a simple cup of mocha with lots of whipped cream, huh...”

you took out your phone and snapped a picture of the drink with the teddy bear in the background

typing in a caption as you read it out at the same time..

“moments like these...are moments that I miss you the most...”

“REALLY?”

you fell out of your chair

eyes widened as you were staring at the standing bear

you grabbed your chair and raised it the defend yourself

“WA-WAIT!! CAN YOU PUT THE CHAIR DOWN!!”

you looked around for the barista but she wasn’t there

Seongwoo and the barista were trying so hard not to laugh

“WHAT DO YOU WANT”

the bear stuck his arms out

“JUST LISTEN TO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY”

you put down the chair but you didn’t let it go

“I...I can’t have you look at my face right now..but ..y/n..I’m so sorry...”

at this point you realized that it was Jihoon

you sighed as you turned to leave

you didn’t want to deal with this

but you felt a warm and fuzzy pair of stubby arms hug you from behind

“I neglected you...I ignored you...I was stressed and I took it out on you....but honestly...at the end of the day, you were always there for me... and I never took it into consideration...”

you slowly turned around to face the bear

“y/n...am I worthy enough for a second chance to prove to you..that I can actually treat you right...?”

you knew how hard his life was...but all you wanted was a little recognition from him that he knew that you were there for him

you pouted..not wanting to fall for his current appearance..and his hard efforts

“promise me.. that you’ll be a better version than your old self?”

he stretches his arms out

“aren’t I already a better version of myself...”

you looked at him; unamused

“haha. beary cute. no but seriously, JIhoon...”

he takes off the top of the bear costume

you could tell he’d been crying and stress-eating

his face was red and bloated and his eyes were all puffy

“i’m serious, y/n, with all of my heart, soul and body.. I could never be anymore serious than I am now..”

you smiled

“you’re lucky that I’m a fool for you...”

he shimmies out of the costume and gives you a little teddy bear

you saw that the bear was wearing your ring, that was attached to a string, around it’s neck

“mr. teddy bear says that you should drink your mocha soon before it gets cold..”

you pecked him on the cheek

“more like, mr. teddy bear is telling me that Jihoon wants my mocha but is telling me to drink it before he does..”

Jihoon pouts

“well.. you’re not wrong...”

he dashes over to your drink and you chase after him

with that Seongwoo quietly leaves out of the back of the cafe and walks in front of the cafe

just to look at you one last time

for a second you glanced up at the window

“I swear...I just saw Seongwoo...”

Jihoon places whipped cream on your lips

“what’d ya say?”

“oh..nothing...”

you pecked Jihoon on the lips

you were happy once again

END / I kinda wanna write about Seongwoo and the barista / LEMME KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS THINK

[masterlist + guidelines]

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lest-we-dream · 5 years

Text

So the story goes

It starts with a girl named Amber, so named for the flecks of amber color in her eyes, who goes by Amy. I don’t have a last name for her yet.

She doesn’t like people using her real name and always calls others by nicnames because she subconsciously knows that names have power

She’s got a smidge of Fairy blood in her as her grandfather’s grandmother married a Fey, but it’s been diluted so all she really has from it is the color of her eyes, a slight allergy to Iron, and true sight-that she’s suppressed since she was little with unknowingly enchanted glasses.

The beginning of the Story will have her arriving at her late grandfather’s home in the woods that she inherited after he passed. And now that she’s 18 it’s in her name so she’s going there to spend the weekend to clean it up and make decisions on what she’s going to do with it.

She grew up here, spending every summer and holiday she could with her grandpa when she was alive. But she doesn’t know that this was the home that the fairy ancestor built for her grandfathers grandmother years ago and the whole reason it was made was that it was built next to a door to Fey.

When she was little there was a boy that she can’t remember anymore that she played with once. If she does think back to her childhood she can almost remember him, getting a vague nostalgic feeling about him but no clear memories or thoughts.

The boy is the halfling son of a noble fey in one of the courts, probably Seelie since that’s the “good” one, though by good it just means more polite and pretty. Less openly gory?

Anyway since he has much more Fey blood he has more traits, like he can use glamor to an extent and can use some magic. He also inherited the inability to lie which pisses him off. But initially he was left to live with his mortal father, but when he found out what he was he cast him out. And rather than let him die, his mother took him back home and raised him in Fey which for a half-mortal isn’t exactly always pleasant.

But he is initially drawn to her when he sees her and she can see him because he had hidden himself. But since she had true sight and hadn’t suppressed it yet she could see him. They played all day until they were both called away, but then he wasn’t allowed to go near her again since his mother no longer trusted mortals wouldn’t hurt her son again.

But he watched over her and loved her from a distance until the day her grandfather died and she wasn’t able to come back anymore.

Her own mother, who is the one she got they fey blood from, died in childbirth and the father remarried rather quickly and so her half-sister is all human. The grandfather insisted in being a part of Amy’s life and the father reluctantly agreed but the house being close to Fey made him nervous, though he didn’t know why, and so after he wasn’t obligated anymore he never went there again.

And the boy, who I haven’t picked a name for yet, eases his heart when he learns where she is now and sends her dreams. The dreams start off as simple abstract thoughts and warm feelings to ease her heartbreak over losing her grandfather because he doesn’t have much practice yet.

But eventually they end up becoming more elaborate and cohesive. They’re able to talk in the dreams and go on adventures that she can almost remember when she wakes up. But at some point she notices something off in the dreams. I’m thinking in order to learn to use the power he went to the other court and got captured as a hostage for peace, since war is always imminent between the two courts. And his mother is important enough that it’s enough to keep the peace, but since he’s half mortal it’s not enough to mount a rescue so he’s stuck

And the dreams will slowly show more and more truth of this as they go on and they both get older. And he will leave her clues and important tidbits in the dreams until she remembers enough of the lingering feelings and impressions and things that she goes and investigates with her sister Al to find out more.

And she’ll realize eventually why the house was built because there is a door there and she and Al will go together to find it and they make it in twice I think.

The first time they are treated like normal mortals and she is barely able to get her sister out alive. But someone with eyes like hers follows her to the house and she is visisted by her however many greats that is grandfather who had helped them escape and cautions her to never do that again!!!!

And she’s like eff you like you care i bet you just left my great however many grandma to rot and never thought of us again

Because he acts very aloof and uncaring towards them

And he gets angry and lets her know that he stayed with her until she died and stayed with their daughter just the same until the stink of Iron was too much for him to stay in the mortal world for long and he couldn’t continue, but he’s watched over his line the entire time and he was the one who gave her the enchanted glasses when the gift of sight made her too much of a target and plaything for the solitary fey in the cities and so on

and she asks him to help her again and he refuses saying she should go back to the safety of the iron cities and not meddle with these things

and so she and her sister plot and she goes back in and this time she’s known to be of Fey blood because I haven’t figured that out yet, but so they ‘welcome’ her as a guest and parade here around and overdress her to find her prince charming and hold a party to mock her, though mostly to mock the fey boy because they find out he cares for her.

And it’s basically dangling a treat in front of a hungry dog where they let them dance and mingle and talk together, but he’s being ordered by the power of his name so he’s not ilke he is in the dreams. And so she grows uncertain about if he really should be saved

but he gives her cryptic hints that spark memories from the dreams

and he like left clues for his true name, as they were ordering iwth only part of his name,

and also during all their dreams together he’s practiced riddles with her and all sorts of things and geared her into learning more about how tto think like a fairy and trick them and answer and tell riddles and such.

and so she riddles her way into escape and comes back a third time after realizing his name and she comands him with it, breaking the hold the other fey have on them

and they escape together.

And maybe it ends there on a kinda tense happy not like

maybe a sequel can happen? or like are they followed? idk.

BUT the main focus for the first act is going to be on dreams where they can go into different like au adventures and get to know each other.

And Amy will be kinda a loner because the fey blood in her kinda puts people on edge and she reacts to that by closing herself off to people other than her sister

And her parents kinda ignore her because she’s kinda unremarkable and dad hurts to remember her mom and step mom doesn’t know how to deal with the child of her husbands first wife and they’re not cruel but kinda neglectful where they dote on Alice, but Alice tends to slip away from that when she can to spend a lot of time at her sisters side.

I’m thinking at one point maybe Alice would be taken as leverage against Amy

And i want a couple other characters to interact with, but i haven’t decided on them yet.

But there will also be tension with the boy because he can’t lie in person but he can in dreams because dreams are stories and so Amy will doubt whether anything he has told her is true or not because she knows he’s lied to her in dreams as she’s called him on it before, but they were small lies for the sake of the story and at the time they were all good fun. Also it’s the closest he can come to an outright lie so he finds it very fun but he’d never lie about something important even if he could.

But it casts doubt because she knows at that point that he’s half- mortal so maybe he can lie like she can? and so on.

oh and there will be a scene where She and Al are painting her pants buttons with nail polish after taking them out of the wash because prolonged contact burns her skin. and it’ll maybe be a sweet tension breaker moment.

and Also car rides make her very car sick because of the iron.

And I think that’s all I’ve gotten written down so far? There’s more I think but I’ll have to remember.

Oh yeah, Grandpa great comes in to help even though he said he didn’t want to because he does love his family and misses his late wife from so long ago and what not,

Maybe when Al is captured he helps to save her. And they stay in his home for a while where he teaches her about dreams and that’s when she’s able to

OH YEAH at some point when she learns about the dreams and starts making these decisions that they’re real and all that she starts to learn to lucid dream where she can ask him real questions instead of just being along for the ride.

and then she starts to be able to remember more when she’s awake

and grandpa great will maybe teach her more precise control over the dreams and it’ll help with saving halfling boy. Perhaps while Al is recovering after the ordeal

I thnk there’s more to it that I have but that’s all I can scrounge up right now.

oh and sometimes when Alice is being a brat Amy calls her Ice because she’s being spoiled and hates that nick name lol

#plot #lest we dream #story

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allthecreepylittlethings · 5 years

Text

Childhood Nightmares: A Pinocchio Analysis

(TW: Before reading this, please be aware that this blog will discuss triggering issues like abuse, neglect, and human trafficking. Please skip this post if any of these topics upset you.)

I probably don't need to explain too heavily why Pinocchio would be talked about on a blog dedicated to all things creepy and disturbing. But I'm going to anyways because I blocked out this movie for years over one particular scene that I'll get to in a second.

And before we go too far, I want to make clear this is purely focused on the Disney movie. My Grandpa did start to read the actual book to me as a kid but we never finished, unfortunately. I already know that the original source material for this movie was far darker, but maybe I'll save that for another time.

The strange thing about Disney's Pinocchio is that most people remember enjoying it as a kid and there was a lot of subject matter that didn't really affect them. Except for, again, that one scene, which is still coming later. What was weird to me as a kid, however, was the fact that my mom really didn't seem to like the movie and kept emphasizing that a lot of it was scary, especially if you're a parent. I sort of shrugged this off, thinking she was just being overly sensitive. My mom and I have always had different tolerance levels when it comes to horror or disturbing subject matter, after all (not to pick on her. I love my mom!).

But when you re-visit the movie as an adult, it becomes a different experience entirely. What might have seemed like a whimsical story about a puppet learning how to build up his moral compass becomes a scary story about neglect, abuse, manipulation, and just an ugly town with characters bent on taking advantage on naive kids. While I could write ballads about all of this, I'm just going to break it down as briefly as I can.

Geppetto is a terrible parent...

Now to be clear, Geppetto is not a bad person. From the start of the movie we see that he's a very sweet-hearted old man, insanely talented as a clock and toy maker, and has two pets he treats with complete adoration and affection. He is a genuinely good person.

We also see his genuine desire to be a good father to Pinocchio. When he is granted his wish from the Blue Fairy and finally has a little boy, he welcomes Pinocchio with open arms and celebrates with him. He plans to send Pinocchio right off to school so he can learn like all little kids should. All of those points are good things and his heart is clearly in the right place.

So what makes him such a terrible parent in this movie? His complete obliviousness to Pinocchio's real needs and being almost completely negligent to his son's wellbeing. From the start, it's obvious Pinocchio has no idea what being a living being entails. He doesn't understand why he shouldn't play with fire, asks why people need sleep at all, and doesn't understand what the words "right" and "wrong" mean. He is completely naive, new to the concept of being a living thing, and clearly needs some time to adapt and learn more about his new life before plunging headfirst into trying to be a normal child.

This doesn't happen. Instead, the very next morning after Pinocchio comes to life, Geppetto sends him right out the door to go to school, not only expecting Pinocchio to understand how to ignore strangers and know his way to the school all on his own, but he also anticipates the outside world to just turn a blind eye to the fact that a LIVING PUPPET is suddenly walking among them with zero explanation. Even in the magical universe that is Disney, someone's going to notice that, if not everyone. And it's likely to be a terrifying experience for them. Or, if they're more of the villainous type, it's the perfect opportunity to exploit this oddity. Which is exactly what happens. Really, nearly the whole plot of this movie could have been avoided if Geppetto had just used his head and thought about what he was doing.

Stranger Danger...

One of a parent's worst nightmares is their child disappearing without a trace. It's one of those horrible realities that people have to prepare for and take precautions to avoid. Unfortunately, Pinocchio is still brand new to the world and knows nothing about any of this (and as mentioned above, Geppetto did nothing to teach him). This makes him a very easy target before even addressing the fact that he's a freak of nature, bound to attract attention.

The fact that there are characters immediately ready to take advantage of him is terrifying, and it naturally doesn't take much to trick him. What makes it worse, however, is it happens more than once. The first time Pinocchio runs into Honest John, he gets tricked into being sold to Stromboli, an extremely angry and violent individual who locks Pinocchio in a cage and tells him that once he becomes old and useless, he'll be chopped into firewood.

Stromboli is the first instance in the movie of what could easily be described as the Disney-friendly version of human trafficking. And that's not to downplay the horrors of real human trafficking. Obviously a work of fiction does not compare to the real thing, especially when it's a children's cartoon. But let me elaborate a bit on my reasoning for labeling it as such. Even if Pinocchio isn't being sold for... well, what human trafficking usually sells its victims for, it's still a disturbing concept. He's taken from his home by force, locked up so there's no escape, and is intended to be forced to perform in front of people for the rest of his life, which will end in a violent manner.

He is given a second chance when the Blue Fairy rescues him, but almost immediately after, he gets tricked again by the same people who betrayed him the first time. Of course they promise that this time it'll be different and he won't suffer, and he falls for it. This could be reminiscent of the cycle of abuse (grooming, violence, apology, repeat), and I can't help but wonder that if Pinocchio was taught anything about manipulative liars and how to spot someone who means harm, would things have turned out differently?

Okay... I've stalled long enough, so let's get to...

That Scene...

If Honest John and Stromboli were only a minor reference to human trafficking, they barely hold a candle to The Coachman, who may arguably be one of the most evil villains featured in a Disney cartoon. As a kid, my mom used to talk about how she felt Stromboli was the scariest character of the movie, and while he definitely was unsettling for his brief screen time, he just didn't compare. Not by a long shot.

When we're first introduced to The Coachman, we know something's very wrong with this guy. The fact that Honest John immediately assumes he's being hired to perform a hit for him should be enough of a hint that this character is a monster.

Again, this feels like a heavy lead-in to human trafficking as the conversation takes place. He explains that he's looking for "stupid little boys" and wants Honest John to help lure them to him. After he explains he plans to then take the boys to Pleasure Island, he adds that he has no worries about the authorities catching on because, "They never come back as boys..." Obviously, you can assume that he doesn't mean exactly what this sounds like, but it's still frightening line that I'll explain further in a second.

Pleasure Island, despite what creepy images the name alone might plant in your head, is still a messed up place but for completely different reasons. Here, the kids are encouraged to binge drink beer, smoke cigars, smash and destroy anything they get their hands one, and basically just do whatever they want (and I will admit... that kinda looked fun when I was a kid). Underage drinking/smoking aside, they're lured into this false sense of security where they can be themselves without being punished, and the friendly Coachman encourages them all to do it. All the while, the children never notice the figures in black, shutting and locking the gates so there's no way they can get out. They're trapped and unable to realize it until it's way too late.

And then... that scene... Oh God, that scene...

We discover in one of the most horrifying scenes ever presented in a cartoon, that the children are being turned into donkeys to be sold to places like the salt mines or the circus. Even more upsetting is the ones that didn't fully complete the transformation are tossed into a pile on the side and deemed as useless. We never learn of their fate but I can only assume it's not good. Watching Lampwick discover what's happening to him and frantically screaming for his mother, all while knowing no one is coming to save him is a hard thought for even a kid to swallow.

What makes this scene so much worse as an adult is having that full understanding that the children are being robbed of their humanity through the transformation and just how awful of a concept that really is. This was always a horrifying concept to me to the point where I've never been able to watch The Dark Crystal more than once because of that goddamn podling scene, and I still struggle through Willow because of the pig scene. Since we still see emotions of fear and sadness coming from the donkeys as they're being sold off, it almost dips more into, "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream," territory. They know what's happening to them, but they'll never be able to call for help or tell anyone. Even if they were to somehow bump into their families later in life, they'll never be able to tell them, "Help! It's me! I'm still alive!" Again, this also feels eerily similar to human trafficking. They're robbed of their humanity, sold to the highest bidder, and silenced so they can never reach out for help.

"They never come back... as boys..."

Their only hope is that someone somewhere discovers what the Coachman is doing and puts a stop to it. But that never happens. There is no final comeuppance, no justice, the children are never saved, and The Coachman is likely still doing this long after the movie is over. I mean, we can hope Pinocchio or Jiminy alerted someone about this after they're safe at home again, but we ultimately never know if they did. Even after he reunites with Geppetto and gets asked what happened to him, he goes quiet and doesn't tell him and that's honestly heartbreaking when you think about the fact that he's a victim of trauma and just a child.

Now, I could write about Monstro and how terrifying that whale of a whale was, but he gets a pass because, unlike the other characters who played the villain, Monstro was just an animal. Not a vindictive, manipulative, horrible piece of garbage. Just an animal living as an animal would. If someone happened to get swallowed along the way, it wasn't entirely deliberate, it was because he was hungry. So while he is his own brand of nightmare fuel, it's not in the same way as the characters I've described above.

Looking back, I remember loving this film as a kid and thinking it was just another story of adventure where important lessons are learned along the way. But now that I'm older, a parent, and have had a bit more life experience, Pinocchio is not what I remembered it to be. I'm not saying I don't still love the movie. I do! In fact I've found more bits to love about it, re-watching it as an adult. But the thing is, it's far from a happy movie. Just because it has a happy ending does not mean it's a happy movie. Pinocchio embarks on a horror story of being manipulated, used, imprisoned, nearly killed several times, being made to watch as new friends are subjected to a cruel fate, and only barely managing to make it home alive. And again, he's just a child. He single-handedly goes through a gauntlet of horrors most adults will never see in their entire lifetime, just in the span of a few days.

I don't know what sort of adult he ultimately grew up to become, but I wouldn't doubt that this misadventure messed him up for a long time.

#pinocchio #disney #tw: human trafficking #tw: abuse #tw: child abuse #analysis

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