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mostofthingsmostofthetime · 2 months

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My thoughts on The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie

I don’t know if I liked it as much as the original films (maybe Mockingjay 1 & 2 as they are pretty emotionally draining), but I still enjoyed it.

I think where it fell a little flat for me is 1. The beginning was a bit slow (tbh I only really started getting interested when Lucy Gray stuck that snake down that girl’s dress & even then I enjoyed the story more when the setting changed from the Capitol to the district) 2. I knew Snow would survive 3. I’d already been spoiled online for a lot of stuff that happens & 4. while I know the director did his best to make Snow as “likeable” as he could for as long as possible, even before he started getting “a little too comfortable” with killing & snitching I didn’t find him as sympathetic as Katniss or Peeta (but that is probably again down to the fact that I know what he goes onto do & there’s no real way around that), this made engaging with him difficult for me.

The world is fascinating. Getting to see all the new locations we never had access to before as well as old locations now in a totally different light (for example district 12 which, while still clearly suffering, seemed like such a bustling industrial town compared to how it is in Katniss’s time). It might have a much more retro aesthetic but there's also just a more vibrant, natural, wild & lawless atmosphere to this movie compared to the others in the franchise. The whole scope of the film just felt more cinematic then I remember the others being yet also weirdly intimate. Maybe because it was one contained story & we knew the main character’s fate from the start. I also loved the title cards signifying the start of each section of the story like from the books & wished they'd done something similar for the other films. It just added a certain flair to the whole thing. Almost gave it the vibe of a tragic play.

The costuming was great. The bright red of the academy uniforms. Flickerman’s snazzy suits. Snow’s dapper black & white outfit. Both peace keeper uniforms (despite one of them giving very ‘1930’s Germany’ vibes) looked great. Grandma might have been a bigot, but at least she was well dressed. Everything Dr Gaul wore (except the top that looked like a used tampon, lol) was exquisite. The main ladies of fashion, Tigris & Lucy Gray slayed. Our Future Capitol stylist looked like some regal yet exotic bird & Miss Survivor was giving Bohemian, country girl realness the entire time she was on screen. Even the extras were serving (like that random couple Snow walked past on his way to the reaping ceremony).

The music was amazing. Every song that played was fantastic (shout out to Olivia for her end credit contribution). The lyrics & instrumentation were beautiful & my god does Rachel Zegler have pipes! Anyone who says the singing scenes are cringy is just stupid like I’m sorry you can’t appreciate art. Also, the words ‘ballad’ & ‘songbirds’ are literally in the title. Plus, Lucy Gray is from the poorest district, so what exactly do those people want her to do in her free time? She can’t exactly hop on an X-box for a few hours. Not too mention that (as the offspring of someone who’s musically inclined) I can tell you, it’s completely realistic for a musician to use their craft to help them deal with trauma & Lucy Gray clearly had more than her fair share of that.

The Grandma'am helped to paint a sadly very realistic background for Snow. As who among us hasn’t met at least one delusional old person who thinks that their/their group’s suffering (regardless of the severity of it or the reason behind their former/newer status in society) means that no one else are deserving of even the tiniest shred of humanity & there are some people who are unlucky enough to not only be related to these people but be raised by them.

Hunter schafer as Tigris is clearly the superior Snow when it comes to things like empathy & overall mental stability but I do kind of wish they’d been more for her to do. Credit where credit is due though her & Tom did actually look like they could be related & I did buy their familial bond (which makes her appearance in Mockingjay so much sadder in hindsight).

Peter Dinklage as Casca Highbottom was a bit of a mix for me just due to his purpose as a character & the limit of film as a form of media. Like sure the audience know that Snow’s going to become an irredeemable monster in the end but without a window into his mind it really does just seem like the Dean is just out to get him & even when we find out why it seems kind of unfair. Like sure his dad sucked but haven’t the Games shown that blaming children for violence caused by others is unjust (& like ok he hates Coriolanus & probably the grandma but Tigris hadn’t done anything to deserve living in poverty, as she can’t control who she’s related to)? Plus, it felt like he could have at least tried taking Snow under his wing at some point to try to hinder Dr Gual’s influence. Saying all of that, though, Peter Dinklage is great at playing an addict with depression & the idea that some drunken rambling could lead to such long-lasting suffering is terrifying. Also its pretty realistic that living with that kind of guilt & in such a cruel environment for that long would make most people jaded & bitter, even if they did have good intentions.

Omg we finally get a Mayor family on screen & they’re assholes! Madge would be so disappointed 😭. It was interesting to see how harsh & overall “boot licky” the mayor & his family seemed compared to decades later, which makes sense as the war wasn’t that long ago for them so the dad probably felt more incentive to align himself with the Capitol as well as not feeling very connected to the district people as 12’s decline probably didn’t fully set in until they really started running low on coal & Snow became president (oh I just know he wanted to blow that district off the map 😆). I also wouldn’t put it past Billy to come up with some sob story of how he really does love Mayfair but wicked Lucy Gray is somehow preventing them from being together. Still no excuse to try to send her to her death twice in one week, though. Definitely not a girl’s girl.

Ok, so a liar. Cheat. Drunk & someone who hits women. Is there anything good about Billy Taupe? Also, trying to get your ex back, while your current girlfriend is literally standing right next to you? Dude, have some god damn back bone! You made a choice, now stick to it. Also, fumbling Lucy Gray, for a girl like that? What’s it like having no brains or taste? Well, too bad, coz you’re stuck with her forever now, lol.

Viola Davies, the actress that you are. What else is there to say? Dr Gaul is almost comic book levels of insane. Like she is how the Right see women in STEM, on crack! I don’t know what she did to get into character, but whatever it was, it worked.

Jason Schwartzman as Lucretius Flickerman is a very interesting addition to the story despite playing such a small & seemingly insignificant role. He is strange in how unthreatening he is while also extremely blasé about the abhorrent violence he witnesses that it’s as funny as it is disturbing. Making him come across as more human yet harsher than his son, who at least pretends to care about the tributes (in a very Capitol way, obviously but still). There’s also a polish & confidence to Tucci’s performance that I think Schwartzman did a great job of avoiding copying (despite knowing what audiences were probably expecting) because not only are their characters in entirely different stages of their careers but the whole ethos of the Hunger Games is different in Snow’s youth than it is in Katniss’s. Caesar is a well established presenter & during his time, the games have always been a success (minus the year with the tundra) that the entire Capitol is invested in & seemingly in support of. On the other hand Lucretius had the unique task of not only coming into a job like this with zero experience (I mean imagine going from announcing the weather to presenting the fucking hunger games) but also there were no vibes to try to emulate let alone guidelines to follow because he truly was the first person to do this. On top of that, the "event" his presenting has been panned for years as both boring & unethical. Schwartzman brought a slightly awkward, experimental, yet try hard vibe (like a comedian who's desperate to get a laugh) that I think worked wonderfully for the character.

Tom Blyth's performance was great & he was visually perfect for a young Snow (the power of a good wig! Who knew lol). Even having the cool, analytical stare of Donald Sutherland, down pat. While his appearance was very Eminem during his peacekeeping days, his realisation in the cabin and subsequent breakdown in the woods were crazy. There was so much tension between him & Rachel in that scene that for a second, it literally felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room. I could almost hear the record scratch for both of them, & all that building paranoia finally coming to a sudden crescendo in the way that it did? Pure cinema!

Josh Rivera, as Sejanus, was honestly a mix for me. Obviously, I agree with his morals, but his way of going about it did seem a little dumb. However I do think it’s pretty realistic that a teenager, especially a rich one, would be rather naive. Also I’ve heard that he’s smarter in the book & I think at times my frustration with him is more just down to the fact that I’m seeing him from Snow’s point of view. Meaning scenes that would be portrayed as noble in any other film instead come across as almost painfully inconvenient because the focus is always on how they affect Snow rather than the actual victims of the situation. Lastly, sorry, Snowjanus shippers, I just don’t see it (especially on Snow’s end), but whatever floats your boat.

Rachel Zegler played Lucy Gray with the perfect mix of natural charm & emotional vulnerability with clear pride in her culture & a refusal to let the world around her change who she is. Yet there was also an air of mystery & a subtle resilience to her that makes her potentially surviving out in the woods for years without being detected actually believable (though I don’t buy the theory that she went on to become president Coin). Definitely the highlight of the movie for me.

PS. I'd love to know what you think of my review in the comments/tags & am open to criticism (as long as it's respectful) just remember that I'm only talking about the movie so please don't reference anything spersific to the book.

#some other things i wanted to mention but didn’t seem significant to put in the review (+ it was getting rather long) are:#Clemensia you were so pretty & did not desserve to die #like who hasn't cheated on their homework a little #may my hair look as good as your's if i ever get bit by a snake #dill & wovey rest in peace my darlings #Lysistrata it wasn't your fault #Arachane you got what you deserved tbh #reaper you have my respect forever king #lumina really said kill um with kindness #no but sersiously i love you girl & your 1950's farm girl aesthetic #marcus you did not desserve that & sejanus is sorry & in my heart you guys meet up & become boyfriends in the afterlife #treech you didn't leave much of an impression but at least your hat was cool #bobbin my little germin looking boy #at least you gave Snow a good scare before your demise #coral looks gay like that's a lesbian right there #thg #the hunger games #the hunger games the ballad of songbirds and snakes #the ballad of songbirds and snakes review #thg tbosas #thg tbosbas #tbosas #tbosbas #tbosas review #tbosbas review #thg tbosas review #thg tbosbas review #the hunger games the ballad of songbirds and snakes review #southern gothic is my new fravriote genre #review

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im-not-mean-just-right · 2 months

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my hazbin hotel thoughts

Basically, I thought it might be cool to watch the new show, i watched the pilot and that was kinda it. none of the characters really stuck out to me but I thought the actual show would be different. WHOOOH BOYYY was i wrong. The show itself had weak characters who don't develop much and an incredibly rushed plot. The songs were ok, they weren't amazing or absolute dog shit. But lets talk about the characters.

Charlie: her character to me was so incredibly hard to watch. shes not funny, relatable or something I enjoy seeing. Her entire character arc is flat. It seems like vivzie just used the "adorkable" template that disney uses. Her character was just bad. Vivziepop is so bad at religious imagery it is laughable.

Vaggie: Holy shit. the voice acting was so flat and emotionless. Her whole angel reveal thing was so badly executed and just expected. when you want a plot twist you want it to 1. make sense with the characters and 2. be a twist. The whole vagina-vaggie thing wasn't funny.

Alastor: his character is just a tumblr sexyman. His character design is a much different thing, he is supposed to be a black character but his hair is straight and his skin is gray which seems to be a reccurring theme for vivzies "black" characters. (ie. The seraphim, velvette). If he was a black man who died in the 1930's whos parents would have most likely been slaves, the whole thing with him and husk with the chain and the being tied to him/being his slave thing wouldn't have happened. Alastor is boring.

Angel dust: the fetishized sexual abuse was terrible. he is literally just quagmire from family guy. His character is weak and undeveloped. that kinda it.

(there was more but i had to delete)

The plot:

The plot itself was weak and very rushed. the whole heaven is bad thing was terrible. If i was the one doing the show I would have done the same premise maybe stretched across a longer period. Also maybe having the group go to the different rings in hell and they would learn a bit about the character and maybe how they could be a better person so then they would have a reason to be redeemed. like in the greed ring, we learn about husk being an ex-overlord and him seeing the residents and realizing that if he doesn’t change he will become just like mammon. it would be cool to see a character battling addiction. Using daddy issues as a trope in your story is not an inherently bad idea. but the way it is shown in hh/hb is so...bad. the "funny millennial dad who is just trying his best" is the basis of 3 different characters in both hh/hb. Charlie and Lucifers relationship is so badly written and it portrays lucifer as doing nothing wrong. it would be cool to see charlie internally battling with weather to forgive her father for not talking to her/ neglecting her throughout the show.

anyway. thats kinda it. I am in the process of making a full length video making redesigns of the characters and re-vamping the plot

#hazbin hotel #hazbin critical #hazbin critique #hazbin criticism #vivsiepop #vivzipop critical #redesign

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helluva-hazbins · 2 months

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@liecoris

Despite rumors, Hell's great Ringleader did get out of the palace, it was a rare occassion but when it did happen it was luxury and atmosphere that he desired. The classiest place Pentagram City had to offer and because of that along with it's exclusivity policy, the Ringmaster made it a point to visit. It was a fully glamorized decor that adorned the interior walls and high rise ceiling of the Night Club, bar and lounge. It had a theme that just about revitalized the era of Earth's topside 1930's art deco, sharp geometrics and gold accented. He was in the V.I.P. section, roped off for only the highest valued clientele but it was only after a few drinks he realized he didn't feel much for drinking alone.

Eyes trailed along his surroundings. Until they halted, time not only stood still but could have ceased existing at all. It was only his third time out recently and he'd caught glimpse of her each time. Something about her was so magnetic, he felt drawn to her, in a way he hadn't been pulled at in so long, he'd almost figured he'd never feel it again. She was in a seperate roped off section, though on the same teir, it was a smaller space that she appeared to be sharing with a fair selected few as far as Lucifer could deduce. He knew she couldn't be royalty, he was familiar with all of them. Her looks, gorgeous as she was, read purely of that of the features indicative of a Sinner, formerly a surface dwelling human who had met with death. Even knowing that, he surprisingly didn't feel deterred.

So he got up, adjusted his coat and proceeded to walk towards an unlit stage. The stage attendant nearby, quickly dropped everything else he had been doin upon realizing exactly who it was heading up the steps of the oval-hsaped center stage and turned on all of the associated lighting, giving Hell's highest Royal Figure the complete spotlight. He reveled in it instantly, a wide smile as he took the mic, "Good evening folks! Hope you're all enjoying yourselves. Who am I kidding, of course you are, you deviants!" He laughed and nodded. "How about a little live entertainment, that sound alright to you fine folks?" Being the King came with it's perks, like never being told 'no'. A flash of ruby lightning zaps across the stage and with red clouds of smoke, it appears he's manifested several duplicates of himself to play several instruments and make up a band to accompany him. He himself, takes the seat at the large white grand piano that had also appeared in the red clouds of smoke and shimmering essence from his mystical power. Placing the mic back on it's stand, he gave a signal with a flick of his wrist and they all began to play in tempo; perfect harmony.

~You make me feel so young~

~You make me feel as though spring has sprung~

And every time I see you grin

I'm such a happy individual

The moment that you speak

I want to go play hide and seek

I wanna go and bounce the moon

Just like a toy balloon

After some time he stands, removes the mic from it's placement, taking it in hand once more and glides across the stage in her direction. Once in place he makes clear eye contact. A smile at play as he continues his song.

You make me feel so young

You make me feel there are songs to be sung

Bells to be rung

And a wonderful fling to be flung

There was a flame blooming from inside his chest and he just had to sing, his words; an outpouring of pure unfettered emotion he only wished would reach her. If his talent, his music, his passion could translate somehow. Maybe she would feel a fraction of what he'd been feeling, too.

The song finishes, he thanks the crowd, disperses his bandmates in a puff of shimmering red smoke clouds and begins walking down the steps, rubied eyes searching the crowd as they sweep over so many faceless individuals.

There was only one face he had eyes for in this moment.

#liecoris #muse!lucifer #[should we title this one?]#[lol and don't worry about matching length - it'll probs be more fun if we go smaller after this scene set-up]

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awigglycultist · 2 years

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Pt 4 of The Guide: Shipwrecked Comedy (SC or just Shipwrecked). The other sorta sister company. Which I would call even less of a sister company, it's more like, a friend company. It's run by 4 ppl who aren't really ever in any SK productions but have been in several of TCB's and they're all good friends with TCB and many SK members and several SK members are in Shipwrecked's productions. Shipwrecked's productions also seem to be connected though its something a lot less talked about, but again you don't need to watch one to understand another, there's just little references that show up, not something you need to understand, they just happen and it's neat.

Kissing In The Rain. To be perfectly honest I haven't seen it yet and know absolutely nothing about it but it looks good, here's the trailer

Edgar Allen Poe's Muder Mystery Dinner Party (Poe Party). A webseries, it's very funny, the characters are super fun, it's even funnier if you really know who these writers are and get the references to their stories, but you do not at all have to know who they all are to enjoy it. Also you can follow along and try to figure out who the killer is too.

Summary: Edgar Allen Poe invites several other writes over for a fun murder mystery dinner party, until people start actually getting murdered. It's has Lousia May Alcott, Ernest Hemingway, George Eliot, Charlotte Brontë, Fyodor Dostoevsky, H. G. Wells, Mary Shelley, Oscar Wilde, Emily Dickinson, Agatha Christie, as well as two characters from Poe's stories, Lenore and Annabel Lee. Trailer

The Case of the Gilded Lily (Gilded Lily for short). A short film. It's short and sweet and funny. It's a classic old black and white detective case in the 1930's. It's another mystery you can solve along with them. (Fun fact they just ended a Kickstarter for a podcast called The Case of the Greater Gatsby (Greater Gatsby for short) which will be another mystery involving the Gilded Lily characters and tons of new characters as well, finding out who killed F. Scott Fitzgerald. It'll be a while before that's released tho so.)

Summary: Private Investigator Ford Phillips promised he'd never take a case involving Hollywood. Until a fast talking journalist comes in with her rich loud mouthed actress friend who is being black mailed and he finally decides to take the case to help them. Trailer

American Whoopee. It's a fake trailer for a silent film. It's funny but it's not really my personal fave (although it is still good). It doesn't really have a concise plot exactly, which is on purpose. Again it's a trailer, and the joke is that their doing these classic plots that so many modern movies and shows all mixed into one movie but it's a silent film.

Friends Til The End. A wonderful song! I've listed to so much it is just SUCH a bop!

Summary: ok well not much to really summarize here, it's a song based off of Dracula from the perspective of Mina and Lucy.

Headless and Unsolved Babestreries. I absolutely absolutely love it. Really fun cast of characters, hilarious, great twists and mysteries. Again you can try and solve the mystery along the way. It's my favorite Shipwrecked Comedy production.

Summary: it's the classic story of Sleepy Hollow and the the headless horseman with a twist. Ichabod Crane has gotten a job in Sleepy Hollow as a science teacher but he's having a hard time paying his rent. He finds out about the legend of the Headless Horseman and then find out its not just a legend. He decides to let the headless horseman become his roommate and help pay rent and help the horseman find his head. Trailer

Shipwrecked Plays D&D. Exactly what the tin says, Shipwrecked Comedy plays D&D. Spefically Sean, Sinéad, MK, Sarah and Krystina as players and Gabe as their DM. A really fun series, if you like D&D I'm sure you'll like this, and if you don't I think you could still like this, it's just really fun. There's also lots of references to Headless (but I don't feel like it's necessary to have watched Headless to enjoy this at all, but it definitely makes the experience more enjoyable).

Summary: we follow the characters as they team together on a mission given to them by C.R.A.N.E, the organisation they work for, to investigate a town being haunted.

The Case of the Greater Gatsby (Greater Gatsby). Currently ongoing. Very fun follow up to Gilded Lily. If you liked Gilded Lilly then you gotta listen to this, it has all the same characters plus so many more and they're all so fun and colorful. And ofc another fun mystery to try and figure out yourself as you listen. There's so much going on and so many characters and it's so great.

Summary: Ford Phillips and Fig Wineshine are back at it again, this time to investagate the murder of F. Scott Fitzgerald and robbery of the script he was working on: The Greater Gatsby, which was filled with secrets about Hollywood. Trailer

How to Be A Ghost. Another wonderful song! The costume designs are especially a highlight for me.

Summary: again not exactly much to summarize. It's a song based off of A Christmas Carol from the perspective of Jacob Marley after he dies and is told by the Christmas ghosts that he needs to visit Scrooge on Christmas Eve to help him become a better person.

#shipwrecked comedy

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bike42 · 9 months

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Wednesday September 13, 2023

A 100% rain day - we knew it had to happen and we were ready for it. We had another leisurely morning, which was good for some as they stayed in the bar quite late I heard. Also, the other three “spouses” are positive and sick with COVID, so that makes everyone other than MaryNelle and Sue, who have been diligent about mask wearing, and M&M, and Peter and Fionan.

We left the hotel at 11am for a noon boat ride to see the Cliffs of Moher from the sea. It was drizzly / rainy, but since we’ve got 10 days of hiking in the UK coming up, we were well prepared with our GoreTex jackets and rain pants, umbrellas and my secret weapon: XtraTuf boots!

Along the drive, Peter played more M&M musical selections and also talked more about “session” music that occurs in pubs across Ireland. People show up with a musical instrument and hope to get noticed and invited to play for a song or two. We saw examples of that with the music groups we’ve seen this far. It’s really cool to see how tempo/key changes are signaled by the leader and I notice M&M doing that sometimes.

I’d never thought about it, but Peter said that SONGS have words - TUNES are just music. He told us about Jigs - three count and the Reel - which is 4/4 rhythm. It was raining harder when we arrived at the boat dock and we had 20 minutes to spare on the bus. Peter taught us a “lilt,” where we sang an Irish tale (a digression) and the different sides of the bus sand the “dideley-do” refrains. Fits right in with my making the best of a rainy day philosophy!

The boat ride to view the Cliffs of Moher from the water was amazing. It didn’t rain hard, and about six of us enjoyed the view from the top deck with another six hearty older Germans. Despite the weather, the sea was very calm.

Back in the van, we had a short drive to a stop at Saint Brigid’s Well. According to Peter, Brigid was the Pagan goddess of fertility; unique to Ireland and not an actual Saint. At the time of the revolution she was changed from fertility to chastity. Clearly, it is a much visited site where people leave tributes to their loved ones.

We drove back to Lahinch for a couple of hours to explore. We joined Sue and Wayne for Fish & Chips at Spooney’s, then we window shopped while they went off to find whiskey. We walked down to the beach, and the waves were huge - tide was in too I guess as the water came right up to the rocks, none of the massive sandy beach we were on last night was showing!

Back to the hotel for R&R and the last night group dinner. Before dinner, Peter invited us to the conference room to view samples of his “Crankie Island” project with Cathy Jordon. It’s hard to explain, but Peter obtained this 1930’s cinema box where an illustrated scroll is cracked through the device, which uses mirrors to project the show. They started this project during COVID lockdown, with Peter doing the illustrations and Cathy is providing the music. Their plan is to have a traditional song illustrated from each county in Ireland. They have a website in progress - www.crankieisland.com and their completed projects are best viewed on YouTube.

We had our last group dinner in a private room off the breakfast room. Jeff, Bill and I sat with Kort and Fionan - a relief of have a real conversation with people we could connect with. Kort told us more about meeting James and their decision to work as a duo and the ups and downs that go with that. We also got to talk about their business model and how it works for them to lead the lifestyle they want - even though there are sacrifices too (mainly time away from their families).

Our table, Wayne and Sue, and Judee went into town for a couple of whiskies at Eugene’s. We stayed about 90 minutes and had such a fun time! He added our business cards to the collection he had stapled to his ceiling. Fun night and end to the trip.

Thursday morning Fionan drove about the last 10 of us to the Shannon airport. The others had early morning flights and had already left by taxi. We arrived at 10am, 4 hours before we could even check into our flight for Heathrow and on to Edinburgh Scotland. Found a comfortable place to pass the time playing cribbage and catching up on email.

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mell0hi · 3 years

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How mcyt would react to your aesthetic...

COTTAGECORE

WILBUR;

-Admires your passion for homemade items

-Will help you bake fruit pies

-Loves your outfits and is constantly playing with the fabric on your clothes

-This man literally won’t keep his hands off you if you’re wearing anything made of silk

-And it’s purely because he likes how soft it feels

-Will sit in a field and play the guitar while you pick flowers for him

-Adopts cute animals with you

-Turns into mush when you come back home from a walk with a flower crown for him

“That’s for me? Awh~”

“You’re so cute how am I supposed to stay calm about this-” He watched as you reached up to place the crown atop his head,

“You can’t even reach the top of my head to put it on aHA-”

QUACKITY;

-This guy honestly doesn’t know how he ended up dating someone like you

-But he cherishes every moment with you because he needed someone soft/wholesome to be with after a stream

-Makes the most lewd sounds whenever he tries anything you bake

- “What? These are the sounds of someone who’s enjoying themselves, I’ll have you know. I’m just appreciating honest work-”

-Stole your frilly socks as a joke but never gave them back because they were comfy

-You accidentally left one of your blouses in his room and he put it on as joke during a stream and ripped it

-Let’s just say he almost cried

-He felt so bad and kept yelling at his chat not to mention anything

-Sat in silence just staring at his computer while covering his mouth out of shock

“Chat- what do I do I feel so bad- NOO-”

“Chat- chat they just text asking if they left a shirt here-”

“I’m texting back ‘no’. Pretend that never happened- pretend that never happened.”

KARL;

-Helped you make a strawberry patch

-Sends you pictures of them everytime he spots a new one growing

- “Chat ya boy has his own 1900s milkmaid bf/gf/jf.”

-Will sit for hours and listen to you talk about your fantasies of living on a farm in the 1930s

-Likes watching you embroider little flowers and things on your clothes

-Let’s you sit on his bed and write/draw etc while he streams

-Has become accustomed to your music taste and sometimes plays the songs he hears before his stream

-Ate all the strawberries out of your strawberry patch and felt so guilty when he saw how sad you were

“I didn’t know you wanted to bake with the, sweetie :( I’ll more for you?”

“What do you mean it’s not the same? They’re strawberries-”

TECHNOBLADE;

-Like quackity, he also has no clue how he ended up with someone so precious and carefree

-Finds himself talking about you while he’s recording his skywars commentaries and has to cut it all out

-Likes to read your poetry/writing

-Will go on picnics with you if you beg hard enough

-Always finds your shoes you’ve forgotten at his house because you prefer being barefoot

-Almost melted to the floor when you gave him a bunch of flowers you picked for him

-Once liked a tweet that had fanart of you and him

-His chat would not let it go

- “Chats calling me a simp- guys no-”

-You accidentally walked in on his stream once and he muted his discord instead of his mic and his chat heard everything

“I’m streamin’ oh hey darling.” He turned towards you and pointed to his bed.

“You can sit over there- yes I love your outfit- sit there.. yes it’s very pretty, sweetheart.” He laughed and turned around again focusing on his stream.

“Oh god- chat no- I’m stupid, I’ve realised that I muted in discord and not- oh god.”

—

-🪐woo let’s go last thing I had to rewrite :]

Technos scene was based off when his dad walked in on his stream lmao

I’m gonna start writing headcanons for separate people tomorrow!

#mcyt x reader #mcyt headcanons #mcyt headcanon #mcyt x you #wilbur soot x reader #quackity x reader #technoblade x reader #Karl jacobs x reader

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sweetandsourfics · 3 years

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Glitter & Gold

Natasha Romanoff x Show Girl Reader | 1930s | NSFW | Masterlist

Summary: Natasha Romanoff is a woman in a man's world, tough and brilliant she is a force to be reckoned with, and she does all of this for her one true love. A little dancer with a mass amount of talent.

Warnings: slight mention of homophobia, smut, oral sex, vaginal fingering, edging, fxf, adult language.

Authors Note: I have a massive soft spot for my girl Natasha. Feedback is welcomed. I love hearing what you think of my stories. I'm also thinking of opening up my asks for requests.

Song used: The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane.

Natasha is a woman in a man's world. She demands respect. Unlike the other women who are laughed out of the room, she is given respect.

She protects the women of the city. Earning the nicknamed the Black Widow. Even worked enough recognition for her name that the group known as The Avengers came knowing at her door.

She takes a long drag of her cigarette, the stress of the night rolling off her shoulders.

Music erupts from the band pit, pulling all of the club's patrons to the stage. You step forward body shield with two giants fans.

A melody pours from your painted lips.

There you are, twirling around on the stage, dripping in jewels. A smirk pulls at the corners of Natasha couldn't help but laugh as Tony's mouth hangs open.

"Ain't that your girl?" Tony asks with a lazy gesture.

Flicking the cigarette butt into the crystal ashtray, a grin playing on her red lips. "That she is."

A true starlet, this tiny stage doesn't deserve you. You belong on Broadway. A life full of luxury, and she is going to make sure you get it.

Natasha watches as your eyes light up. You've noticed her.

You are now only singing for her, swaying your hips for her. A show that was meant for everyone now is all for the Black Widow.

They better enjoy the show because this is all they're getting.

Tony has managed to pick his jaw up from the floor. "That is one hell of a girl you got."

"Oh, I know." Natasha loves talking about you. Bragging about what a talented little lady she gets to come home to.

Her boys are the only people that she can talk to about her marital status. The rest of the city knows her as the man killer, single by choice. But in reality, she's wrapped around the finger of a certain female dancer.

Like everyone else in the club, they watched eyes fully focused on you. Tony feeling jealousy nipping at his nerves.

As the band fades out, you are rewarded with a standing ovation. Tony lets out a wolf whistle that surely has sent Natasha and the five closets tables deaf.

"You okay with closing this deal without me?" Natasha asks Tony.

She has some personal business to take care of. You can't expect to shake your hips and flutter your eyelash like that and expect nothing in return.

Tony gives her a knowing smile. He knows that look in her eye. Hell, he's the king of personal business.

"You want to go have some fun with your girl?" She was about to bite back, but he bet her to the punch. "Just go before I steal her away from you."

The look in Natasha screams bloody murder, and Tony raises his hands. "But I won't."

He downs the rest of his drink, "because I don't have a death wish."

Natasha stands, patting her boss on the shoulder. "That's what I thought."

Behind the closed door, Natasha can hear the beads of your dress rattle with your movements.

You're humming away to yourself, riding the high that comes with performing.

With no need to knock, Natasha lets herself in. The smile that you give her can brighten up the darkest days.

Your smile is the reason for her present and future.

Natasha grabs your hips and plants a heated kiss onto your lips. You're already whining for more.

You shiver in her hold, your cunt purring for her touch. Lord, she has only kissed you, and yet your body is craving her. She's like a drug, one that you know you'll never be able to kick.

She breaks the kiss, nipping at your bottom lip. "You really do know how to make that stage yours, don't you, baby girl?"

"Flattery will get you everywhere." You tease.

Her lips are back on yours, kissing you hungrily. Manicured hands wondering to your plush ass.

Natasha's lips wander from yours and down your neck. Sucking and biting into the subtle flesh.

You'll be packing on the foundation tomorrow.

You manage to rasp out a warning. "T-the door, baby."

With a frustrated noise and reluctant hands, Natasha pulls away. Taking the wooden chair from the dresser, she barricades the door.

Her coworkers may have no issue with your relationship, but you'd be out of a job and on the streets (Natasha would never let that happen) if one of the many club workers caught on.

By the time she returns, you sit atop the dresser, pantyhose, underwear and shoes on the floor.

"Why, aren't you a good girl?" She purrs, stalking you like a lioness. You can feel yourself grow wetter. "Ready and waiting just for me."

Natasha runs to fingers between your lips, collecting your arousal. "You are truly eager aren't you?"

You haven't the strength to speak. Your bottom lip sucked between your teeth. A pitiful needy noise is her only answer.

"You know the rules, Princess. No touching. Hands on the dresser." Natasha purs, pressing a finger to your clit. "If they move, the longer you'll have to wait to come."

Slowly she pushes two fingers into your tight entrance. Working you at an agonising pace. Your hands tremble at your side. You need to find some way to keep them busy or for Natasha to move faster,

You grind yourself against her. "That's it, princess. Nice and easy."

She knows your body as if it was her own. Curling her fingers she rips your breath from your lungs. Natasha meets you in a loving eager kiss.

you moan into the kiss as she quickens her movements. The small dressing from being filled with sinful noises. Your moans and the wet sounds of Natasha finger fucking you like some back alley whore.

"Yes! Yes, there!" You scream. Back arching from the mirror. Natasha applies much-needed attention to your clit.

Your orgasm approaches like a tidal wave, but just as the water is about to crash onto the shore. Natasha pulls away.

A devilish smirk on her lips. Licking you from her fingers.

The ache that radiates between your legs brings tears to your eyes. Helplessly you buck your hips hoping that something, anything! Will be able to scratch the itch.

"I love it when you're like this." Natasha takes a step back, taking a moment to admire her work. "Desperate. For me."

You beg, "please."

"Please, what?"

"Please, let me come."

"That's my girl."

Your legs are spread wide as Natash buries her tongue deep within you. The pink muscle pulls unholy sounds from you. Her thumb massaging your sensitive bundle of nerves.

Your hands tangled within her auburn locks as your hips abstinently roll against Natasha's tongue. Hungrily searching for release. Natasha has a death grip on your thighs.

Silent screams of pleasure falls from your lips. Thighs shake as the long-awaited wave of ecstasy swallows you whole.

The signs of your pleasure glisten on Natasha's lips and chin. Only her can make you cum this hard. Just one of the many reasons on the long list of why you love her.

#natasha x you #natasha x reader #natasha x y/n #natasha romanoff #marvel #marvel cinematic universe #mcu fanfiction #mcu natasha romanoff #mcu x y/n #mcu x reader #mcu x you #black widow #natasha romanoff x you #black widow x reader #black widow x y/n #alternative universe #reader insert #female x reader #female x female

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natromanxoff · 3 years

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Mercury Roadrunner's Interview about Freddie Mercury with Peter Freestone – Part II

Thanks very much to Mercury Roadrunner (Pavel Strashnyy) for letting me share his amazing interviews! Originally shared here.

Check the tag "MR interview with Phoebe" to see the other parts. Here are the 3 main topics of this interview, beginning of each topic is written in bold:

1. Language skills

2. Music videos, Garden Lodge

3. Celebrity friends, leg damage story, Joe Fanelli, relationship between band members, Freddie's last days

PS: So here is our second part and the first topic is about Freddie’s language skills:

Did he actually know only the English language or did he also know the Gujarati language or any other languages?

PF: When his parents were in Garden Lodge or if he called his mother on the telephone, he only spoke English. I suppose, he must have understood Gujarati, because, okay, in the school he was taught English, but before the school, when he was in Zanzibar and he would have been with is parents, so I would have thought they would have been speaking in Gujarati.

He had about twenty words of German after living in Munich for so many years. He couldn’t speak German, but I think he understood the language, if he was paying attention, because most of the people around him were talking English, so he never really had the need to learn German. Although, saying that, one of his partners, Winnie, was German and did not speak a lot of English, but then he had Barbara to do the translating.

PS: The second topic is about a very special song “Mad The Swine”, which was recorded in 1972, but was released only in 1991 as a B side of “Headlong” single. Why, after so many years, Freddie decided to come back to it and release it?

PF: Freddie knew that “Innuendo” was going to be his last complete album and I think that this song had a special place in his heart, there were something about it, and as far as he was concerned, it never got an airing he felt it deserved and the rest of the band was happy to put it on.

PS: I mentioned the “Headlong” song and you can be seen in some archival footage of making of the “Headlong” video, you help to lay the Queen members on the shelves. What are your memories about that day?

PF: I was just there to help them. When they are making a video, they don’t need someone to take care of costumes, because there is a costume person, there is a makeup person, everybody is there to do something. And so I was there for Freddie, looking after him, and it just seemed natural to help out. And the band would feel more comfortable if that was someone that they know who would help to put them on the shelves rather than some technician turning up and trying to do it. And this moment with selves wasn’t’ planned. That wasn’t in the storyboard, it’s just that they saw it, there were four shelves so they just thought “Well, why not? Let’s do something crazy”. And the idea must have come from the band member, because Rudi would have seen all the possibilities when he was checking out where they were going to be doing the filming, and if he had thought of using the shelves, that would be one of the ideas put in the beginning.

PS: There are also some parts where we can see you in “The Great Pretender Extended Version” video - can you remember anything about it?

PF: It was just a big long laugh. There is not one part of the making of the actual scenes that they are not laughing and smiling. Roger, Peter and Freddie – they just clicked, it all worked. Nobody had to be bigger than the next one, nobody had to take the spotlight, and they just were there, having a good time.

PS: What is your personal favourite memory from that day?

PF: Personally, for me it is watching the recording of the six girls –you know, both of the backing group were girls, they were wearing two different outfits – and watching the recordings, when they were recording the one group of three and then the other group of three, the costumes they got in to and what they did – you couldn’t help but feel really-really happy. They were actually standing on the same platform when they were recorded. And then, of course, they used computer graphics to put two different groups on the screen at the same time. Just watching three of them there on the platform, waving their hands goodbye, it brings back the memories of those groups of backing singers in the sixties.

PS: What are your memories of making of the “Breakthru” video?

PF: I remember that it was probably the hottest night of the year, no sleep, because it was just so hot and humid. They had a huge problem with the opening scene, and they shot that last in fact. But they had a huge problem because when the engine went into the tunnel it caused air pressure so that that polystyrene wall burst out a long time before the engine arrived. So they tried it earlier on and that’s when they found that that’s what happened, and then they had to do playing around with it during the day, there was people doing that while the rest of the filming was going on, and then they had to sort of re-do it and it was the last shot. And the engine was actually already in the tunnel before it started getting up a bit of speed. And it wasn’t going as fast as people think it does, so that it looked right. It was a fun day. Only the band and the actual film crew were allowed on the flatbed, where the band were performing, because of the way it was being filmed, you could easily be in shot, so the less people that were there – the better. John was having a ball, I remember him laughing a lot, he was enjoying himself. And there was a normal carriage, like a dining car, but old, 1930-1940s, and that was where we would have food and drink. And it was wonderful. It’s a working old train line, it’s a tourist thing, but it’s great, it’s really-really nice and it’s not that far away from London. And Freddie was enjoying the shooting. I was surprised when I saw what he was doing on that flatbed, he was leaning over the edge as the train was going along, but again, it looks faster than it was. It really was only going at about 25-30 kilometers an hour. But it’s made to look as though they are speeding along.

PS: And what was the very first Queen video you were presented on?

PF: The very first video that I was involved with was “Save Me”, because it was shot during two shows of the “Crazy Tour”, I think it was at “The Rainbow” and it was shot at “Alexandra Palace”. Because it was the mix of the live action, the cartoon girl, the bird – and that was the hardest thing – to get Freddie to almost catch the bird, the pigeon. They had to re-film it for about 15 times. And it was where David Mallet, the director, fell of the stage into the orchestra pit. Everybody panicked for a few minutes, but then he stuck his head up “Oh, I’m alright”. It was about 2-3 meters he felled. And then followed all the post-production with the girl, with the cartoon, and how they blended the live pigeon to become the cartoon one and all that sort of work – all of it was done afterwards and it was done before Christmas 1979.

PS: And what was the very last Queen video you were presented on?

PF: “I’m Going Slightly Mad” video. I remember the penguin on the couch moment. Actually most of all I remember the way Diana was with Freddie, because she just took such a good care of him, she had special thermal underwear made for Freddie, because right from my meeting with Freddie in 1979 I remember the easiest thing for Freddie was to feel cold. And it only got worse the more sick he got. And she had special thermal underwear made for him that went underneath the shirt and the suit. She just was there for him all the time and it was just wonderful to see.

PS: And did Freddie usually have cold hands or he had normal temperature of hands?

PF: He could have normal warm hands, but often they would be cold. So maybe he could have a blood circulation problem.

PS: Can you remember something about the shooting of “I Want It All” video?

PF: I don’t think I was at that one, because that would have been Joe, Joe Fanelli would have been there, because we sort of took in turns – he would go to one, I would not, I’ll do all the stuff at home, then I would go to one and he would stay at home.

PS: And it was also the same for you take the turns in concerts?

PF: No, I was on tours with Freddie from 1979 till 1985 and then Joe took over from the last part of 1985 and 1986.

PS: And why you stopped going on tours and Joe took that part?

PF: Because Garden Lodge had been completed and to keep the insurance cover someone had to be living there, so I got to live there. I moved in six months before Freddie did. And Freddie moved in in the middle-end 1985. Because what we did was – Freddie was at Mary’s home and Terry and I took Oscar and Tiffany away from Stafford Terrace. Because Freddie was supposed to move in and he kept putting it off again and again, he said “I’ll do it tomorrow”, “I’ll do it at the weekend”, there was always a reason, an excuse, so what Terry and I did – we went and kidnapped Oscar and Tiffany and took them to Garden Lodge. And then, when Freddie went home and he was looking for the cats, Terry said: “No, they are not here, they are at your other home” – and Freddie moved within two days.

PS: And what was it like living with Freddie in Garden Lodge? What are your first memories of start of living there?

PF: At that point I was living above the kitchen. Joe and I had rooms that were above the kitchen, just up those stairs. And it just felt strange just to be living in that house. The thing is, I’ve been living with Freddie for years, because whenever we were in hotels it was always a two bedroom suit, so I knew how he was, what he would do, what he needed in the morning, how the moods could change, that was all standard, that was all normal. The difference was being in the luxury of Garden Lodge, knowing that it was a house, not the hotel, and the fact that he had made us promise, both Joe and myself, that we would treat this place as our home. It wasn’t just work and somewhere to stay because of work – it was our home.

Some houses have energy, they have a feeling, and while Freddie was in Garden Lodge it was a really warm, friendly house.

PS: And the atmosphere in the house changed almost at the moment Freddie passed away, right?

PF: Literally. For me, while he was still alive, even in those last minutes, it was still the same house, but literally within minutes, while we were waiting for the doctor, it just became bricks and mortar, it just became somewhere to sleep, somewhere to live.

PS: You mentioned living together with Freddie in hotels, but do you remember living with Freddie in some flats or houses before Garden Lodge?

PF: We were living in his apartment in New York. The way it was set up there were two bedrooms, sitting room, dining room, kitchen, a maid’s room and a sort of TV room.

And later we lived together for six months in Los Angeles. Recording “The Works”. They rented the big house for Freddie. A nice house, big-big house. It belonged to a doctor, who just constantly rented it out to stars, who needed somewhere to stay while they were filming. Elizabeth Taylor apparently stayed there, George Hamilton was there, lots of different film stars used it. It was a big house in nice big gardens, it had a swimming pool, had a tennis court, you know, it all the things you need.

PS: And it was actually two of you living there together?

PF: Yeah, Freddie and me. And Terry was there too, to drive.

PS: And speaking of Freddie’s New York Times, can you actually remember what was his the most favourite part of the city?

PF: Most evenings he would end up down on Christopher street, which is down near Greenwich Village. Because there were bars around there, clubs around there, restaurants around there, everything was there in that area, in the West Village.

PS: Our next topic is about Freddie Mercury and George Michael; we can see them together at “Barcelona” album launch party and Queen 20th anniversary party – do you remember the interaction between them?

PF: They actually met up at Live Aid, after it finished. We had to stay in the bar, because there were absolutely no way any cars were going to get out of the stadium area, because of the traffic and everything. And that was the very first time that they actually met. Freddie admired him, he thought George had a great talent both in writing and in singing, but there was no special friendship, because Freddie didn’t create big friendships with other musicians. He preferred, so to say, normal people. And also he enjoyed actors and actresses, their company, more than other musicians, because the way he felt, most musicians just wanted to talk about music and he had many more interests. So, yes, if Freddie and George were in the same place, then yes, they would meet up and they would chat about what was going on in their lives, but most of it was always about work. Their conversations would always be like “what was the tour like” and they would laugh, because they would make jokes about what they had been doing. Freddie could make a joke out of any situation. He didn’t tell anecdotes as such, but he could see something and he could make a joke out of it.

PS: As you mentioned Freddie having friends among actors and actresses, could you remember some of them?

PF: Anita Dobson, Debby Bishop, Carol Wood, Pam Ferris, Susannah York. One he would like to have met and she lived literally just across the road, but it never came, was Diana Rigg. And he was incredibly happy when I gave him an autograph from Honor Blackman. I met her and I said “Could I have an autograph, please”, she says “yes, of course, who’s it for?” and I said “it’s just for my friend, Freddie”. And he was overjoyed with it and he kept it in his bedside drawer.

PS: And who was his favourite actors?

PF: Franco Nero, James Mason, Laurence Olivier. And he got to meet him, so that was another of Freddie’s absolute joys. Dave Clark took Freddie to dinner at Laurence Olivier’s house. It was when they were working on “The Time” musical.

PS: And it was actually very last Freddie’s live performance, can you remember something special about it?

PF: Yes, April 1988. I just thought how amazing it sounded. We all heard “In my defence” before, but when he did “it’s in every one of us” as a duet with Cliff that was absolutely amazing. We had goose bumps. And then after the performance we went to Cliff Richard’s dressing room, sitting and talking there.

PS: And you said that Freddie didn’t have many friends amongst musicians, but could you remember something special about Freddie and Elton John’s friendship?

PF: They first met back in 74/75, when Queen were managed by John Reid and in those days both of them were constantly touring so they could rarely meet up. But every now and then Queen would have just done the show and Elton would be performing the next day, so he was already in the hotel and we would meet up and go round, sitting in Elton’s room talking. And then for about a couple of years after Freddie’s diagnosis they didn’t see each other, but then Freddie told Elton about his status and for the last year and a half Elton would regularly come to Garden Lodge. And in Freddie’s last two weeks Elton would ring us, say what time he would arrive, so that he wouldn’t be seen arriving, he wouldn’t come through the front door, and we would let him in through the Mews in his mini, so nobody knew he was there. He had to go to Paris to record, so he gave me all of the numbers: hotel number, the studio number, his mobile number, his assistance’s mobile number, all the numbers, just to let him know when it happen, because he knew it was going to happen. And at the very last time he came to Garden Lodge, he drove in one of his Bentleys and parked it right outside the front door and the press were running over to him asking “why are you here?” and Elton just turned around and said “I’ve come to see my friend”. And that was it, he just came in and they sat and talked. And when Elton came, it was really just Freddie and him in the room, just talking.

PS: And what was the story about Freddie getting his leg damaged in Munich?

PF: Freddie, when he had a few drinks, he would pick people up, just lift them off the floor, to show how strong he was. So Freddie had picked someone up and then someone next to him bumped into his knee and the ligaments tore, because instead of the way it was supposed to bend the knee bend the other way. Freddie then dropped the person he was carrying, he was screaming in pain and we had to go and get it set. When Queen filmed “It’s A Hard Life” in the end of the video, you can see him favouring the leg.

PS: And as you mention “It’s A Hard Life” video, Freddie’s friend Barbara Valentin stars in this video and she was a star in films of Rainer Werner Fassbinder – did Freddie ever discuss his films with her?

PF: Yeah, because she had videos of them. Freddie did meet Fassbinder once. They were in the “Deutsche Eiche”, which was Fassbinder’s favourite restaurant, he was always in it in Munich. And Barbara would take Freddie there every now and then. So Barbara introduced them to each other, they talked a bit, but they were there for lunch, it wasn’t a planned meeting or anything like this.

PS: And what film directors Freddie admired?

PF: Vincente Minnelli, George Cukor, the directors of the 40’s-50’s.

PS: What are your memories of Joe Fanelli?

PF: He was American. The first time I met him his relationship with Freddie was just finishing, this was in 1979. But he stayed in London and worked a lot in London. He was working in different restaurants. He was an amazing chef. And they kept in touch over the years and that’s why when Garden Lodge was finished and someone had to be there, that’s when Freddie thought to bring Joe back. And it worked, because Joe used to go to the gym all the time and he was taking care of himself, which he didn’t do so much when he was with Freddie. He was great. He was amazing on the computer. Computers were just starting, but Joe could write programs and things. Freddie’s favourite programme on television was “Countdown”, which is where they pick out seven letters and you have to make the longest word you possibly can out of those seven letters and then there’s also the numbers thing as well – and Joe created that on the computer for Freddie so that he didn’t wait for it just on the TV. He was fun, and he was good; it was good working with him and most of the time we just got on so well. Garden Lodge would not have been the same without him.

PS: And you mentioned Joe programming “Countdown” for Freddie so Freddie could actually play this game on computer?

PF: Well, no, he couldn’t, but he could sit there and Joe would do the computer. The computer was bought by Freddie for Garden Lodge and it was set upstairs on the musician’s gallery in the big sitting room.

PS: How would you describe the relationship between Freddie and other Queen members?

PF: They were all close to each other, but in a different ways.

Freddie was close with John. John was the new boy, he was the last one to join, he was the youngest, and Freddie just felt protective. He wanted to protect him a little bit for the dangers of rock’n’roll. But then John got married, had Veronica, so he had the security of home, and John was not around Freddie as much, but it didn’t stop the friendship because of what happened at the end. John just decided to finish because Freddie wasn’t there anymore.

With Roger it was a different friendship. And a very good friendship, because both of them had similar personality trait, they both enjoyed a good drink; they both enjoyed a good party.

And with Brian, of course, they were friends, but Brian was much more serious and Freddie was much more of a laughing person than Brian. Brian thought about things so much. But Freddie knew that he would never find anyone better than Brian to help him with the music.

PS: We know that Brian and Roger visited Freddie in his last days, but we never heard of John visiting Freddie.

PF: I don’t think John was prepared to see Freddie looking like he did in the last days, but John came and visited Freddie before those last two weeks. I know that he did come to the house, but I don’t think he could accept seeing Freddie the way he was in those last weeks.

PS: Freddie started to get a lot worse in those last two weeks?

PF: For the last two weeks Freddie hardly ate, he hardly drank. He was taking no drugs that were keeping him alive anymore, he was taking painkillers, and that was it.

PS: What was the reason of Freddie’s last visit to Montreux?

PF: He just wanted to get away from London. He wanted to have a little bit of peace and quiet away from all the press. He had that apartment in Montreux, so he went there.

For the last two-three years of his life he would be there every other month for a couple of weeks. There was no feeling of “this is the last time I’m going to Montreux”, that wasn’t part of his mentality, he only decided that this was the last visit when I called him, because I wasn’t with him, Jim, Joe and Terry were with him at that time, I was in Garden Lodge and I rang him and I said: “Look, just so that you are aware when you come home, that there are press outside the house 24 hours a day. In the nighttime it’s down to about four or five and in the daytime it’s up to about twenty”.

And that’s when he decided that when he went into Garden Lodge, coming back from Switzerland, it would be the last time, because he knew that he would never be able to get out again.

PS: And how long was he there for the last time?

PF: For about two weeks.

PS: And how do you remember him when he came back?

PF: He was sort of happy, but he was a bit withdrawn, because he had made the decision that when he came into Garden Lodge, it would be the last time, that he would never leave it again. He already had decided that, so, of course, he was a little bit more thoughtful, more inward thinking rather than being laughing and all that. But still, even in those two last two weeks there were still times when he would laugh, because he never wanted sad people around him.

PS: What are your last memories of Freddie?

PF: Since he got back from Switzerland on the 10th, he basically stopped eating and drinking. He would have a little bit, but that’s it. So, of course, he was tired, he had no energy. Most of the time he had short sleeps, short sleep –wake up, short sleep – wake up.

In those last two weeks, except for his needs, the only other time Freddie left his room, was when Terry carried him downstairs, on the Wednesday, 20th of November, because he just wanted to look around the main room, he just wanted to have a last look at paintings, at the crystal. He just wanted to spend some more time in that huge room where he felt most comfortable.

The last week of Freddie’s life he was actually never alone, because between Joe, Jim and myself, we would spend twelve hours with him and there was always one of us with him. We did the shifts from eight in the evening till eight in the morning. The last time that I was with him was on the Friday night. And on that Friday night I got there just before eight o’clock. And, you have to remember, that at eight o’clock the statement was released to the world that Freddie had AIDS. The thing is, those hours I was with him, he was the most relaxed I had seen him in years, because there was no secret anymore, the whole world knew. And he would just talk about anything, he would be in bed, I would be sitting on the bed next to him and I would be just holding his hand. The television was on, just for some noise, he would talk and he would go to sleep and talk and go to sleep. And we talked about silly little things, nothing really serious, and nothing like “we knew everything was coming to an end”, there was none of that. He could still talk fine, his mind was together, he just was very-very tired.

But, I think, because the statement had been done, I think Freddie felt that it was time for him to go. Because it was coming up for eight o’clock and I think it was Joe coming in at that point, Joe was coming at eight, and I said to Freddie something like “Look, okay, I’m going now, Joe is going to be here, but, of course, I’ll see you, I’ll see you soon”, he said something like “uhum, yeah, yeah”.

And then he just took my hand, looked me straight in the eye and just said “Thank you”.

And I will never know, whether he already decided that we would never meet again and was thanking me for the last twelve years, or if he was just thanking me for the last twelve hours.

But I have a feeling that he already knew that we would not see each other again.

PS: Do you remember when you for the very first time understood that you are not just working with Freddie, but you are becoming friends?

PF: That really started from the very-very beginning, because we didn’t have to always talk to each other to know what he wanted. I understood him. Because of our similar upbringing in boarding school in India I knew why he reacted in some ways, why he did things, I knew it, it was just instinctive and it made everything very-very easy for him and for me. Maybe it became more intense when Freddie started the time out of Britain, because we were going to be together 24 hours a day, so you have to be friends. And for me, it was the easiest thing on earth to be friends with Freddie. I never thought about Freddie, The Superstar. I was thinking about Freddie, my friend.

SPECIAL THANKS TO VALUREX FOR CONTRIBUTION AND ASSISTENCE

#MR interview with Phoebe #queen #queen band #freddie mercury #roger taylor #brian may #john deacon #peter freestone #joe fanelli

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porgthespacepenguin · 2 years

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The blueprint: looking back on episode 2.1

While researching episodes for my other posts, I ended up rewatching episode 2.1 entirely and let me tell you, my fellow Qcard gremlins: did you know they’ve been toying with us the whole time?

(We’ve been played, and we’ve been played good. )

Episode 2.1 is essentially the blueprint for season 2, and I can prove it. With a very, very, very long post.

Buckle up, folks, and let’s jump in.

(Some spoilers for 2.9 and 2.10 under the cut)

Warning: since this episode foreshadows almost the whole season, I’ve touched on many topics already in previous metas, so instead of repeating myself I’ve sometimes linked to the posts in some sections.

But before we start, I also want to remind you that in a production like STP, every single detail you see on screen has been specifically chosen and approved. Song choices, props, camera angles -- nothing is left to chance.

Time is on My Side

Right off the bat, we begin the episode with some solid madness. After the cold open and the intro, there’s a long scene of Picard and his friend from work Laris during the harvest.

As they’re picking ripe grapes under the sun (AHEM), a song is playing. And it keeps playing for a long time. A very long time.

1 minute and 22 seconds, to be precise (and yes, I timed it). For a TV episode, might as well be an eternity.

The song? “Time’s on my side”, by Irma Thomas.

Note that there are two slightly different versions of the lyrics; here are the ones in the episode, in all their heavily abridged glory:

Time is on my side, yes it is

Now you always say That you want to be free But you'll come running back I won't have to cry no more

Oh, time is on my side, yes it is Time is on my side, yes it is Remember, I'll always be around And I know, I know Like I told you so many times before You're gonna come back, baby 'Cause I know You're gonna come back knocking Yeah, knocking right on my door Well, time is on my side, yes it is Time is on my side, yes it is ' Cause I got the real love The kind that you need

Okay. So. That happened. They chose this song for Picard’s intro, while he’s working the vines at La Barre.

Under a bright shining sun.

Now who, exactly, has time on their side and is waiting for their wayward lover to wisen up and knock on their door? Because they have the deep love they really need?

Exactly. And trust me, we’re barely getting started.

Also remember how I said there are two versions of the lyrics? The other one, also by Irma Thomas, was later sung by the Rolling Stones and is vastly more popular. By a spectacular margin.

But the new version doesn’t have the following lines, and clearly the writers wanted them in:

Just like I hoped you would, baby You'll come running back (to me)

I know that you're searching for good times But just wait and see One of these days, baby (You'll come running back) Oh, and it won't be long

And indeed it isn’t long at all: less than a day later, Picard rushes out of the house toward adventure... and Q.

Choices were made, is all I’ll say about it.

A Life in the Stars

Later, we find Picard and Laris enjoying a glass of wine after a long day’s work.

They end up talking about Zhaban, and how much they miss him, then Laris makes a pass at Picard.

I actually ended up covering this part in details in my thoughts about the 2.10 trailer, so I encourage you to read it if you haven’t already.

But suffice to say, this is the first of three face touches in the season, and it fails -- naturally.

(Oh hey, look, it’s our good friend the rule of three!)

A Rose by Any Other Name

After Laris’ failed attempt at seducing Picard, the two look at each other until Laris makes her excuses and departs, leaving Picard reeling.

Awkward.

Anyway, there’s a flashback of Baby!Picard running through the house, inexplicably wearing 1930′s clothing, and then we find the older Picard walking into his mother’s solarium, dusty and abandoned.

As we now know, the solarium is the exact place Jean-Luc’s heart was broken as a boy when his beloved mother died. And of course, it’s also the place Jean-Luc and the love of his life will likely have a fateful conversation in 2.10.

Kneeling down, Picard picks up a shard of the painted window, as his mother says, in a voiceover,

“There’s magic here.”

(Oh, foreshadowing, how nice of you to join us. Come in, come in.)

Wait, what’s that on the shard?

A red rose?

What you may not know or remember, is that in the very first scene of episode 1.1, Picard is playing poker against Data in a dream. Eventually, Data plays an impossible hand: five queen of hearts.

Guess who is officially represented as a Queen of Hearts card in the early season 2 trailer?

Oh hello, Q!

And do you know what the Queen of Hearts holds in her hand in the French deck?

Oh yeah. It’s a red rose, all right.

Incidentally, the roses make another appearance in episode 2.4, as “Je ne regrette rien” plays (more on that later).

The camera lingers lovingly on the painted roses:

Anyone who has seen Tapestry before will remember the red rose bouquet Q brings Picard, naturally...

Anyway, back to our flashback. Maman comforts Jean-Luc, who is mightily displeased at moving to the countryside,

“Might as well have sailed straight off the edge of the world.”

His mother is certainly amused at his grumpiness:

Dramatic? Now there’s a word more often used to describe Q. And yet we get here a lovely, heartbreaking glimpse of who Jean-Luc was as a boy, before his heart was broken and he locked the door on half of his soul.

(Hopefully, this dramatic, wild side will reappear in the future...)

Maman then tells him,

“Look up at the stars, Jean-Luc.”

And together they look up at the starry night sky.

Search for Spock

The next morning, Picard goes through his library, frantically looking for a book. A very specific book. A book written by Spock.

He’s literally searching for Spock.

And the title of the book?

"The one and the many.” You read that right: a Wrath of Khan reference.

You know, the movie that introduces the Kobayashi Maru and in which Spock gives his life to save Kirk and the Enterprise.

(It’s not that they’ve given up on being subtle, folks. It’s that they started out with no chill whatsoever, and just kept going.)

Well, that’s awkward

Laris comes into the library, holding a cup of...

Poor Laris: all she can bring to Jean-Luc’s life is lukewarm tea, when the man is craving the warmth of a sun.

(Somewhere in the galaxy, sipping a cocktail with a tiny pink umbrella in it, Q looks on, and shrugs. Can’t relate.)

Apparently, Picard has been difficult to find,

“There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

She has, but Picard clearly hasn’t been looking for her in return.

They’re out of sync, a pattern that will hold true for the rest of the episode, and which foreshadows early on what will likely happen between them.

After giving Picard roughly 8 hours or so to consider her romantic overtures, Laris is clearly hoping Picard has changed his mind. To her obvious disappointment, the good admiral is more concerned with finding Spock’s book.

She does find it, and hands it to him. Is this foreshadowing her letting him go after Q in season 3? Hard to say. Time will tell.

The whole scene is painful to watch. Picard takes a step toward her, she steps back, putting the table in between them:

Again, they’re out of sync.

Picard tries to apologize,

“Last night, I was...” “You.”

The way Laris says it make it sound like Picard being Picard is, well, a bad thing. It’s clear she was expecting something different from him. She doesn’t love him, she loves the idea of him, of a romance with him.

(It’s never a good sign when a potential LI wants to change the hero. Just saying.)

Anyway, Laris then decides that she’s done. And when I say done, I mean done. She definitely implies that she may just... leave?

“Nothing has to change.”

“It’s too late for that, Jean-Luc. (...) Going forward, it’d all be too awkward. And I’m too old for awkward.”

So, what? She’s moving out? They’re not going to be friends anymore? After 20 years?

Wow, Laris, maybe take a breath or something.

Look up

Later, Picard gives an inspiring speech to Starfleet cadets, and I’ve covered this part in a previous meta already, so I wont go over it again in details.

What matters: the speech frankly screams ascension to me.

Including this little gem Picard ends his speech with,

Same words, same posture, same colors even. What a coincidence!

OR NOT.

(Anyway, another one for the potential season 3 foreshadowing pile. And the AGT reference pile. There are many piles.)

Holographic integration

We skip over to Seven on board Rios’ old ship. She’s still struggling with her Borg half, unsurprisingly, and seems to have left Raffi behind for now.

This scene foreshadows multiple elements that will come back during the season:

Seven’s difficulties with her Borg heritage;

Her equally complex problems with emotional intimacy;

The fighting capabilities of the holograms (brought back in 2.9)

But the most important point? The hologram.

That’s right, the hologram. Hear me out.

In season 1, La Sirena was equipped with a multitude of holograms replacing a crew, all based on elements of Rios’ personality. The holograms have now been combined into one integrated personality.

This foretells the central theme of the season: the integration of the self.

Trust comes from the heart

Next, we meet up with Soji and Agnes, attending a diplomatic dinner on a fancy planet. Soji has completed her journey in season 1 already, more or less, which is why she doesn’t end up tagging along like the other ducklings in season 2. She doesn’t need it.

This scene is absolutely, extravagantly essential for Qcard later on. I talk about it a little in my Trios-Qcard meta, but we ought to take the time to analyze the scene on its own.

Soji has been touring the galaxy for over a year, as a sort of goodwill ambassador for the newly-legal androids, and she has learned something very important,

“You can’t ask for trust through an interpreter. “

This sentence felt quite random when I first watched the episode. But loss of trust through failed communication is actually another defining theme of the season.

We see it happen to all the characters, with varying intensity. But Q and Picard are in a class of their own: In fact, from 2.2 all the way to 2.10, Q and Jean-Luc don’t speak to each other, except through third parties: first Soong, then Guinan.

No wonder things go from bad to worse for them.

Soji continues,

[Trust] needs to come from here...” Soji points at her heart. “Through here.” She points at her lips.

(Okay, if she’s not foreshadowing a Qcard kiss after a love confession, I don’t want to live on this planet anymore. But we did get the exact same scene with Trios, so I have great hopes.)

And finally, the last nail in the subtlety coffin,

“True connection can only be forged when the heart has spoken.”

If this isn’t 2.10 Qcard, I’ll eat my hat.

The rest of the scene is mostly Agnes spiraling, despairing of ever finding true connection.

We learn that she has broken up with Rios, and that she thinks herself unable to sustain relationships, foretelling her future desire to belong to the Borg, and foreshadowing the end of her tenure as a Picard duckling:

“I have a feeling you’re going to be just fine without me.”

The Legacy

Agnes beams aboard the Stargazer, which is on its way to the anomaly,

“Get us there as fast as you can short of flying us through a sun.”

(Subtle, subtle.)

Rios makes a joke of emulating Picard (”Make it so”), and Agnes remarks wryly,

“Oh, the pressures of legacy.”

Remember this word: legacy.

It pops up everywhere late in the season, and also in the season 3 trailer, so it’s critically important. And that it starts here, with Rios, is probably not a coincidence.

Although until now, Picard has been holding them at arms’ length, Agnes and Rios both canonically see Picard as their father figure,

Picard and Agnes’ journey is certainly the most obvious one: their interaction on the Stargazer locks everybody else into a causal loop of epic proportions, after all.

But Rios and Picard’s journey is also fascinating. In 2.1, Rios does already “inherit” part of Picard’s legacy: the new Stargazer, a new ship named in loving memory of the old one.

But this was Starfleet’s decision, not Picard’s, and I think this aspect of their relationship will deepen in the future.

Anyway, we’ll come back to both Rios and Agnes later on.

The Q-bayashi Maru

Speaking of lovely homages, we hear about a few nostalgically-named starships: most importantly, the Grissom and the Excelsior.

The original USS Grissom was destroyed in Search for Spock, and in the same movie, the USS Excelsior was sabotaged by Scotty so it couldn’t catch up with the Enterprise.

(All together now: season 3 foreshadowing, season 3 foreshadowing...)

Anyway, chatting with Raffi, Picard then drops this little bomb of a line,

“I’m considering an update to the Kobayashi Maru.”

It could have been anything else in the curriculum, but no, it’s the freaking Kobayashi Maru (which was introduced in Wrath of Khan, incidentally). You can read more about the Q-bayashi Maru theory here. All I’ll say is Picard may end up regretting his words.

Picard and Raffi continue to chat, trading friendly barbs about their respective shortcomings, and we learn more about Saffi’s current difficulties, which of course they will work on during the rest of the season.

Raffi sighs,

“She has me hoping for something more.”

Picard also hopes for something more: that’s what held him back with Laris.

The man wants more than cold tea, and can you blame him?

Raffi then compares Picard to Seven: both ostensibly self-sufficient, both happiest in the stars...

“Hell, I wonder if either of you even get lonely.”

Lonely, eh? Let me see, who else is called lonely later on, through the mirror of Maman?

"Did you know that space is so vast, so infinite, it takes billions of years for that tiny pinprick of light to make that lonely journey from its star to our eyes?"

Picard is terribly lonely, Raffi. So is Seven and so is Q. Everybody’s lonely this season, what can I tell you.

Absolute Candor

Picard meets up with Elnor, who’s been assigned to the Excelsior, along with Raffi.

The book Picard had been looking for, almost making him late for his speech, is a gift for Elnor, who is struggling with integrating his Kovat Milai ethics with his Starfleet training:

“It’s paradoxical.”

(NO, THIS EPISODE IS NOT SUBTLE.)

Picard then quotes Spock at him:

“Exhilaration enhances the absorption of knowledge.”

Another major theme of the season: the heart and the brain do not have to be in conflict. Emotions and logic working together bring you wisdom.

(Doesn’t hurt that Picard is later symbolized as the brain, and Q as the heart; much like his father and his mother, respectively... More onto the pile.)

And, because the writers are sarcastic little gremlins, Picard drops this wonderfully ironic line:

“In other words: live a little.”

Take your own advice, admiral. Trust us. You won’t regret it.

(Well, you will. But only temporarily, so that’s okay.)

Before moving on, we get one last little cheeky line from the writers:

“Hmm, they’re playing my song.”

PLAYING A SONG, EH?

Wonder if a song is going to play a significant role at the end of the episode or something. Nah. I’m just being paranoid.

Anyways, Picard gazes wistfully at a commemorative plaque for the old Stargazer...

Help us, Picard

... and we cut right back to the new Stargazer.

The anomaly starts broadcasting, and the computer doesn’t know what to make of it. Of course, it’s Agnes who is able to decrypt and understand the message, because she’s the one who sent it, see.

The message is a mix of multiple languages, all working together to carry a simple message:

A Cheating Heart

Meanwhile, said Picard, in dire need of advice, has beamed to Los Angeles to visit an old friend. Again, I’ve covered this in a previous meta, but it’s worth spending time on. You’ll see what I mean.

As Picard walks into Ten Forward, “Guilty as Charged” starts playing, and the camera makes a point of focusing first on him, then on Guinan, for a very long 15 seconds.

The exact time needed, in fact, for us to hear the following lyrics,

“This road is paved with good intentions There’s something ‘bout me I forgot to mention I’ve got a cheating heart…”

To rephrase: Picard, still thinking about what happened with Laris, comes to Guinan for love advice, and so the writers give us a song about a cheating heart.

It bears repeating that nothing in a show like STP is a coincidence. Somebody chose this song, somebody chose the camera angles, somebody timed the lyrics to match. On purpose.

So the message is clear: Picard didn’t kiss Laris, because to do so would have been cheating. But on whom? If this were a romcom, the right love interest would eventually pop up out of nowhere -- oh wait, he does. At the end of the episode.

(Bloody unhinged, is what it is.)

In passing, love how we get a snarky call-back to Laris’ lukewarm tea:

(”911, I’d like to report a murder please.”)

But see, the thing is, Picard is not in the mood for tea at all. What does he want?

“Something stronger.”

You don’t say.

Guinan makes a quip about their age, and as Picard remarks that El-Aurians age very slowly, she mentions in passing,

“I noticed that humans don’t like to be reminded of their mortality, so I try to keep up.”

Funny, I wonder what other ageless entity is going to tactfully do the exact same thing in about, oh, 20 minutes:

“There, now we’re even.”

Probably just a coincidence.

Anyway, Guinan and Picard settle down for a chat with a bottle of hooch. Saurian brandy, which is as powerful as it is sweet.

(I give up.)

They start talking about love, and Guinan points that while Picard has known love, he’s only allowed himself to feel it shallowly:

“Only with those who would only be temporary. (...) So that you’d never have to fear any of them taking root.”

The first time I watched the episode, I remember pausing the video, because the phrasing puzzled me.

By definition, all mortal relationships are temporary. That’s part and parcel of well, being mortal. If Guinan had said, for example, “never anything long-term”, that would have made a lot more sense.

But they wanted the word temporary in the dialogue, because the opposite of temporary is forever.

(I lied, I won’t ever give up, this is insane. Also, taking root? Like... a rosebush, perhaps? UGH.)

Guinan continues with her usual brilliance,

“The problem isn’t time. It’s you.”

Now, if you know me at all, you also know I love these six words enough to have essentially based an entire fic around them.

Because they’re essential.

Later, they will play a significant role when Picard meets Guinan in the 21st century: they’re what convinces her that he’s not crazy.

Oh, yeah, and incidentally, they describe the entirety of season 2: the problem isn’t that they’re trapped in the past; but that Jean-Luc is trapped in his head.

(Given the show’s propensity for playing around with the rule of three, I wouldn’t be surprised if they come back again in 2.10 or in season 3.)

They keep talking about Picard guarding his heart, and then this happens:

“There are worse things than being dead.”

You know what’s worse than being dead? Being alive when the love of your life isn’t, because they gave their life for yours.

Guinan is dropping truths left and right in this scene, and I’m here for it, but that line is brutal in hindsight.

She then asks what is holding him back, and when Jean-Luc doesn’t answer, asks him why he went to the stars in the first place.

Interesting juxtaposition, by the way: what’s holding Jean-Luc back is stars-related.

There are so many possible layers to this:

His mother’s death, predominantly (”Look up”);

His love of exploring space as a Starfleet captain;

And yeah, a specific lonely dying star we shall not name.

Sensing weakness, Guinan goes in for the kill,

“The only place you have ever been afraid to explore...”

(What’s another AGT reference between friends, I ask you.)

Guinan then drops the million-dollar question,

“What happened in there, that you and I have never talked about?”

And now, as we approach the season finale, we finally know. Jean-Luc opened the door, and his mother killed herself. Since them, the door has remained closed, and his heart along with it.

Until Q helped him find the key again, allowing him to remember.

The scene concludes with Guinan dropping yet another truth,

“I think your answers are not in the stars, and they never have been.”

She’s right: they’ve been in his own heart all along. Q, the proverbial star, does not give him the answer he seeks. He gives him the means to find it himself.

Picard’s future though? It’s absolutely in the stars:

“Because I think there’s one final frontier yet to come.”

(Oy, who threw a BRICK at my face?!)

The Stars Come Calling

Speaking of stars, Starfleet drops by at La Barre with interesting news: a strange new space anomaly has been found, and it wants Picard.

And it wants to join the Federation. That too. But mostly Picard.

As Admiral Whitley puts it,

"An unknown entity that can open and close a hole in space-time wants to join the Federation, and apparently will only talk to you about it."

Oh, look, it’s the call to adventure!

(Also, a powerful, time-altering entity that will only speak with Picard? Tell me Picard didn't think it was the Q Continuum for at least a second.)

Out of Sync

Picard accepts the call, of course. And now we get to a particularly unhinged moment in the episode, that to me, seals the end of Laris as a viable LI.

Picard exits left, and a few seconds later, once he’s out of frame, Laris enters right.

Leaving aside the fact that they are, once again, completely out of sync, the stage direction of the entire scene is shockingly full of meaning.

The distinction between left and right wing dates back from Roman theater, where for practical reasons only one set was generally used, and the audience needed a shorthand to understand where the actors were coming from, or running to.

The left wing represented the farther distance: leaving the city, or even the country; while the right wing represented closer scenes: staying in the same street but changing houses, for example.

This convention persists today, in different forms. In modern theater jargon, exiting stage left means,

“To exit or disappear in a quiet, non-dramatic fashion, making way for more interesting events.“

Picard is leaving stage left to follow his destiny, which isn’t in La Barre, and never has been. He told us so in episode 1.3:

"I tried my best, to belong to this place. But I don't think I ever truly felt at home here."

Laris, meanwhile, enters stage right, and stays there, symbolically bound to La Barre, and to Earth. She cannot follow where Jean-Luc goes.

From the moment Picard leaves the frame, the camera stays on Laris. We hear the shuttle taking off, but we don’t see it:

The scene is now from her perspective only. There's no shot of Jean-Luc looking around for her before he leaves, nor of him looking down at her through the shuttle window. He didn’t even leave her a note.

Nothing.

Because, just like the camera angle, Laris’ feelings are one-sided.

Just to twist the knife a little more, the writers then show us Picard’s shuttle as it approaches the Stargazer to dock. This scene takes 10 whole seconds, and they couldn’t spare two of them to include a quick close up of Picard looking conflicted about Laris. Nope. Shuttle was clearly more important.

(And that, my friends, is what they call “show, don’t tell”.)

The Stargazer

Picard meets up with Seven aboard the Stargazer, and we learn (or are reminded) that the old USS Stargazer was Picard’s first command,

“Being here... it feels like my life has come full circle.”

(*whispers* It’s free foreshadowing.)

But the new Stargazer isn’t just a nostalgic call-back to the old days: it’s the first of its kind, a harmonious blend of Starfleet and Borg technology.

(Much like Seven herself at the end of the season, actually... Or Agnes.)

Old prejudices die hard, and Seven feels out of place aboard a Starship vessel,

“There are still many who fear the Borg. (...) My presence is increasing historical tensions and paranoia.”

Oh darling, if only you knew.

(By the way, here’s a free season 3 prediction for you: Captain Seven. Let’s hope they make it so. She deserves it.)

Picard!

Picard addresses the anomaly directly, and the Borg finally come out to play. Clearly, they had been waiting for him.

A gigantic Borg vessel comes out of the anomaly as the bridge looks on in dismay.

Pretty soon, many Starfleet ships join them in support, including Raffi and Elnor’s ship, the Excelsior.

(”We come in peace.” “RED ALERT.”)

Historical tensions and paranoia? Let’s say, about sky high.

“Right now, you’re the tip of the spear (...) and the devil is calling your name.”

Note how martial Rios’ words are. Him, and through him Starfleet, are readying themselves to fight, although he hopes for a diplomatic solution.

At this point, Picard is actually still resisting his fear. As he points out,

“That out there, could be the very point at which history turns.”

And it is, in more ways than one, as we learn later on in season 2. It’s potentially a defining moment for the Federation and its future.

Seven, on the other hand, is already ruled by her fear:

“The Borg consume. They assimilate. They don’t ask to be assimilated.”

She’s not wrong, and considering her own experience, and the Borg’s entire history, it’s hard to judge her for it.

Still, she speaks for the side of fear and is adamant that the Borg be treated as hostile until proven otherwise. Rios leans towards the same conclusion, but more reluctantly, driven more by facts than pure fear. Only Agnes advises caution,

“We could be putting a bullet into the greatest ally the Federation may ever know.”

Her words fail to convince them. Seven concludes, coldly:

“If I’m wrong, we destroy a Borg ship. But if I’m right, and we do nothing, then today is the beginning of the end of the Federation.”

The Queen

Meanwhile, the Borg are running out of time (keeping the anomaly open must be requiring tremendous amounts of energy) and decide to send an emissary to negotiate with Picard: Queen Agnes herself.

Agnes has learned from Soji, back at the beginning of the episode, that trust can only be achieved directly, and so she puts herself at risk to be able to talk to Picard face to face.

And to their surprise, their shields aren’t able to stop her from beaming aboard.

Driven by fear, Seven continues to advocate violence,

“Rios, don’t wait until it’s too late. Fire.”

Still symbolizing Starfleet, Rios remains mostly neutral, ordering his crew to arm up, but also not to fire before it’s necessary.

The Queen beams aboard, and immediately states her intentions,

And then, everything falls apart as the Queen announces she also needs power, and starts to take it.

(My guess is that opening the anomaly fully took a huge amount of energy, and she needs to replenish her levels. Most likely we’ll know more in 2.10.)

Fear rises, choking.

Seven gives in to it, and opens fire on the Queen.

The rest follow suit, and soon the entire bridge is shooting at her. She defends herself, shooting at them in turn.

It’s not yet too late, but the point of no return is coming ever closer.

Still resisting his own fear, Rios orders the crew to stop firing, with mixed results.

Seven, for her part, finally notices that the Queen is only stunning the crew, not killing them. But even that fact is not enough to assuage her terror.

The Queen starts to redirect the bridge controls, evidently needing something from the Stargazer. This, of course, raises assimilation fears for the bridge crew.

Yet we know that Queen Agnes is different: the new Borg offer choices, and don’t assimilate without asking. So something else is going on. But what?

As the countdown rises, so does the fear on the bridge. The situation is spiraling rapidly out of control. Seven reminds Picard of what could happen if they fail to act.

And Picard makes a fateful decision:

“Computer activate auto-destruct sequence.”

Je ne regrette rien

As the computer confirms the auto-destruct, awaiting the final command, a song starts to play.

“Non, rien de rien...”

And not just any song. A very important song, which holds special meaning to Picard:

It was the song his mother would play whenever he was scared, comforting him and helping him get past his fear.

When we learn about this in Picard’s flashback in 2.4, the show specifically focuses on two lines, cutting out the rest of the verse,

Balayé pour toujours Je repars à zéro

Which in English, translates to:

Swept away forever I'm starting over

“Starting over” is pretty clear in context: Picard is getting a second chance to make the right choice on the Stargazer. To unlock the trauma of his mother’s death and heal from it. To save the future.

“Swept away forever” though...

Not ominous or anything, no sir.

We hear this song a second time in the corrupted La Barre, after Q lashes out at Picard in 2.2. Technically, we’re overdue for a third one.

Let’s pause for a moment and take a dip into a truly galaxy brain possibility. Remember this absolutely mind-blowing moment from the 2.10 trailer?

The third face touch, the one that succeeds, the one that may lead them into a kiss.

I know, I know.

But let’s reach for stars here, for a second.

What if, as they are kissing, “Je ne regrette rien” suddenly starts to play, and Picard finds himself right back on the Stargazer, at the exact moment we heard the song the first time?

Starting over, while Q is swept away into nothing.

(I would start screaming and probably never stop again.)

But of course, this time around, Picard confirms the self-destruct and seals all of their fates: the Borg’s, Starfleet’s, his friends’, Q’s and his own.

As they stare at each other in stunned horror, the Queen calls him softly,

“Picard. Look up.”

Picard’s eyes widen in sudden realization, but of course, it’s too late.

And everything blows up.

Agnes in Aulis

But it’s not simply the future of a peaceful Borg that Picard destroys. It’s also the life of his own daughter figure: Agnes.

Like Agamemnon before him, Picard sacrifices his daughter on the altar of his fear. An unforgivable sin, as Q points out in 2.2,

“[You can] attempt, like Macbeth, to wash the blood from your hands. But I assure you, Jean-Luc, it’s unwashable.”

In killing Agnes, Picard has killed the future.

No wonder Q is furious. No wonder Picard must atone, in order to gain forgiveness for this grievous symbolic sin.

A Dark Chateau

There’s a flash of white light, ostensibly Q’s intervention, and Picard wakes up in his mother’s solarium, as bare and deserted as it is in the real chateau.

Immediately, he looks up, but the stars, or the sun, are nowhere to be seen,

Pulling himself up, he finds himself staring at his broken reflection in the unpainted windows:

The theme of the season is the integration of the self. Right now, Picard is as dissociated from himself, from his heart, as he’s ever been.

Picard tentatively explores this strange version of La Barre. Outwardly, the chateau is bright and clean, but a closer look immediately shows us the darkness lurking underneath, like rot under a thin layer of veneer: the decorations are martial in nature, the lights dimmer than normal, the portraits disturbing (to say the least).

Distraught, Picard calls out for Laris...

But of course, she’s nowhere to be found.

Unsurprising, considering the circumstances, but I wonder if this is also not yet more foreshadowing of things to come.

@essence-stealer very smartly remarked that by the time Picard comes home to La Barre 2.10, Laris might be gone already.

She had expression the intention to leave earlier on in the episode, pleading the awkwardness of the situation, and Picard for his part left her without a backward glance. Not knowing what has truly happened in between, Laris is likely to have packed up her bags and left.

La Barre isn’t Jean-Luc’s home, it never has been. Part of his journey includes leaving the chateau behind, and while Zhaban and Laris remained, Picard couldn’t let it go. But now Zhaban is dead. If Laris truly has left, then nothing tethers him to the house anymore.

Actually, it’s a beloved headcanon of mine that Rios will one day inherit Picard’s earthly legacy as well as the spiritual one (being the captain of the new Stargazer).

Perhaps moving in to La Barre and raising his children there, painting colorful murals like Jean-Luc used to with his own mother:

(Surely, surely, a coincidence.)

It would make sense if this happened in season 3, actually, as all of Picard’s ducklings have now completed their journeys: Soji, in season 1; and now Rios, Seven and Raffi in season 2.

Since the TNG crew is coming back as the main cast in season 3, it makes sense that the ducklings would move on with their lives: Rios as the father he wants to be, Seven and Raffi happy and in love, the three of them in Starfleet where they belong. And Agnes, of course, leading the new Borg.

Enter the Sun

An android servant appears, telling Picard,

Solar shields? Preventing the light from getting through? No wonder this is a cursed place: this is a world that sunlight literally cannot touch.

Speaking of the sun, unsurprisingly, he makes a dramatic entrance,

Note how Q calls Picard, “mon capitaine”: a habit he, like Guinan, has never dropped.

And of course, like almost everything in this episode, this comes back into play later, in episode 2.7, specifically,

And indeed, Guinan and Q are Jean-Luc’s closest friends, the two beings in the whole universe who know him the best, and love the whole of him, in spite and because of his flaws.

“How I’ve missed you,” Q says, with pure honesty.

But Picard is still in the throes of his fear, his anger, and Q makes a convenient target: how much easier to cast Q as the villain, than to open his eyes and realize where the blame truly lay.

He’s not ready to face himself, let alone the consequences of his actions.

Q knows it all too well. Smiling, he casually drops the key to the next few episodes, and the rest of the season:

“You’ve been talking a lot about second chances. Well my friend, welcome to the very end of the road not taken.”

And, scene.

( If you’re interested, I’ve already discussed at length the reasons behind Q’s actions in season 2 in a different meta.)

Well, friends, this was a truly epic post to write, and I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it. ❤️

#star trek #star trek picard #star trek spoilers #qcard #qcard meta #star trek theories #star trek speculations #star trek picard spoilers #jean luc picard #q of the continuum #q star trek #porg has qcard thoughts

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cidnangarlond · 2 years

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okay here's my non-comprehensive list of black and white movies I like whether because I genuinely enjoy them, they have a good amount of cultural relevance decades later, so on. if any titles sound good based on the title alone lmk and I can give a brief description of the movie :] Citizen Kane isn't on here because I can't stand that bitch. most are in english from the hollywood studio era but others are in japanese, swedish, russian, french. silent movies I've also noted as such. if it's silent and in another language I've noted that, but if it just says "Silent" it's in english

- Mr Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

- Intermezzo (1939)

- The Seventh Seal (1957) - Swedish (also Latin)

- The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) - Silent + German, intertiles are in German but subtitles translate

- Metropolis (1927) - Silent + German, intertiles are in German but subtitles translate

- M (1931) - German

- Astaire and Rogers literally pick one formulaic yes but it works and if it ain't broke don't fix it. But Top Hat (1935) and Shall We Dance (1937) I personally recommend. Also Swing Time (1936) has blackface in it

- 12 Angry Men (1957)

- Bringing Up Baby (1938)

- Casablanca (1942)

- Dr. Strangelove (1964)

- The Ghost and Mrs Muir (1947)

- A Star Is Born (1938)

- Smilin' Through (1932)

- Roman Holiday (1953)

- Spellbound (1945)

- Limelight (1952)

- All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) - There's a couple different versions as it was filmed with two cameras side by side, so there's a silent version and a sound version, but both are in English

- Persona (1966) - French

- Breathless (1960) - French

- The Artist (2011) - Silent, mostly

- It Happened One Night (1934)

- A Raisin in the Sun (1961)

- Lilies of the Field (1963)

- The Philadelphia Story (1940)

- His Girl Friday (1940)

- The Maltese Falcon (1941)

- The Third Man (1949)

- All About Eve (1950)

- Sunset Boulevard (1950)

- Tokyo Story (1953) - Japanese

- Rashomon (1950) - Japanese

- Seven Samurai (1954) - Japanese

- Touch of Evil (1957)

- Night of the Hunter (1955)

- What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

- Diabolique (1955) - French

- Battleship Potemkin (1925) - Russian

- A Face in the Crowd (1957)

- Safety Last! (1923) - Silent

- Ugetsu (1953) - Japanese

- Rififi (1955) - French

- The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) - French

- Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)

- Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) - English and German

- The Cranes Are Flying (1957) - Russian

- The Kid (1920) - Silent

- Double Indemnity (1944)

- Paths of Glory (1957)

- City Lights (1931) - Silent

- The Great Dictator (1940)

- Ivan's Childhood (1962) - Russian

Content/Trigger Warning Notes:

"Judgment at Nuremberg" is about the Nuremberg judges trial following World War II and does include footage from the Holocaust, talk of it, forced sterilization, antisemitism. Do proceed with caution.

"The Great Dictator" is a Chaplin satire and parody of Nazi Germany and denounces them wholly but I wanted to mention it regardless if that is something you are sensitive to so approach with caution if you are.

"Rashomon" is about four different accounts of a rape and murder so also approach with caution.

"12 Angry Men" is about jurors in a jury room following a trial deciding the fate of the boy on trial and racism is discussed/a fairly prominent topic.

"Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" deals with an abusive relationship between two sisters, there is also animal death.

"A Raisin in the Sun" also deals with racism.

I'm definitely missing a few but be sure to look up content warnings for the movies before just in case, as old movies aren't necessarily like, free of potentially triggering things. These were a few I could name off the top of my head and felt necessary to point out and mention.

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merlinmyrddin · 3 years

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Hello!

Can you recommend me some very underatted gay movies? (I prefer comdey or happy ones if it's possible)

I recently came to realize i am a 23 man who happens to be gay. I don't know what took me so long.

Hello! I am sorry for the time it took me to answer you, but your ask has been playing constantly in my head now for weeks and I had to go down nostalgia lane film-wise...!

I'm also sorry for how long this answer is, I got carried away!!!

So first of all, I am damn proud if you. I know it sounds like empty words but whether you're 13, 23, or 45, being able to say you have found your inner truth is always something to be proud of! And what took you so long? It didn't. We are living in times where people want you to believe you are meant to have your sexuality and/or gender figured out by 18 when in reality, I know more people doing their coming out in their 20's/30's. Because when it comes to being gay, lesbian, bi, trans and queer : this last decade has seen some major changes. But it's ok for people born late 80's and 90's to come out "just" now. We grew up in a time where homosexuality was still taboo in most places. And when I say taboo, I mean that "homosexual" was barely pronounced, sometimes only whispered. A time where "gay panic" was a legitimate defense in court. (Talking from a Western European point of view here again. Many places in the world, including the USA still consider the murder of an homosexual or transgender victim as a legitimate act. And these last years has proven that there was not only the "gay/trans panic" crippling our streets, but also a "black panic" and more recently, an "Asian panic". Short aparte here : "gay panic" doesnt mean "omg, that person is making me question my identity!?" nor is it a term used when thirsty over an actor/actress when openly gay such as "[actor name] oh wow...*gay panic intensifies*... this term is a serious concept a murderer can use in court as a defense when taking the life of someone from the community. This is the law enabling hate crimes.)

To any younger people reading this right now : gay marriage has been legal in France since 2013, in the UK since 2014 and, allegedly, in the US since 2015. This is recent history. People who are mid-20's are historically closer to the HIV/AIDs crisis than of the legalisation of same-sex marriage.

As such, we are made to believe than coming out in our twenties or thirties is doing a late coming out. No, it's not. We are a generation who suffered through systemic homophobia in our formative teenage years. When we were trying to figure who we were, people were marching in the streets calling us names, and trying to defend the idea we did not deserve basic humans rights. (As a side note, I am not implying that such issues are not currently happening. This is mostly western European centred again as I am, well, European. This is also targeted towards sexuality orientations, excluding any gender talks as this is still currently a very real societal issue for which the fight has only just begun. Double side note : I'm not yet fully caffeinated. But hopefully you get the general idea despite my flagrant lack of eloquence on this fine morning.)

Alright, let's move on to films then!

I searched for a long time for happy / comedic films but then I realised I was definitly not the right person to answer that. On a general basis, I enjoy dramas. That's my thing.

So instead, I thought I would list you the first LGBTQ+ Films I ever watched, hoping they'll find you well.

-Stonewall (1995). Not my favourite film, but as a kid, it was great first jump into lgbtq+ history. Sad note : The director of this film died of AIDS shortly after.

-Another country (1984) Based in the 1930's in a public school. Starring Rupert Everett (who just a few years ago came to direct "The Happy Prince", a great take on Oscar Wilde and Alfred Douglas, casting himself as Wilde, and Colin Morgan as Bosie...fantastic film, highly recommand), and starring Colin Firth. Teenagers discovering themselves, from homosexuality to politics. (The parralele made is quite interesting as both young men are misfits...one for being gay, one for being Marxist.) Great watch, but a heavy one.

-Maurice. (1987) God, I love this film. It explores not only coming to term with your sexuality but also what it means to be homosexual for the people around you and the impact it can have on your life, depending on your social background. Starring James Wilby, Hugh Grant and Rupert Graves, this is an other drama which leaves you feeling almost raw. I always had an affinity for British film because of how...real they feel. Best example would probably be Danny Boyle himself. You know what I mean... you grow attached and you feel for these characters. And Maurice does just that. Memorable quote : I am an unspeakable of the Oscar Wilde sort. (And you might think : "Oscar Wilde? Again??" And oh boy, yes. Oscar Wilde again. Yes, he is one of the most well known author, mostly because of The Picture of Dorian Gray, but he is also a major part of Queer history. After all, "queer" has been used as a derogatory term for homosexuals for the time...directed at Wilde during his trial for posing as a somdomite. (No typo there.) Being an unspeakable of the Oscar Wilde sort is an other one of the euphemism like "being a friend of Dorothy") And talking about Wilde...

-Wilde (1997). Biopic, Stephen Fry as Oscar, Jude law as Oscar's lover : Bosie. Incredible. Superb film. I can not find words.

-An Englishman in New-York (not the Sting song. Actually yes, kinda the Sting song. Because both the film and the song are about the same man : Quentin Crisp). Biopic. An artist, writer, actor, Quentin Crisp has always bothered. Painting his nails, wearing make up, criticising the royal family. He was a character. John hurt is magnificent as Crisp, who he had already played in 1975 in The Naked Civil Servant, an other great watch.

- A Single Man (2009). With Nicholas Hoult and Colin Firth. This film was a slap in my face. And it has, in my opinion, one of the greatest speech of all time, during a scene in the classroom :

"[...]Let's leave the Jews out of this just for a moment. Let's think of another minority. One that... One that can go unnoticed if it needs to. There are all sorts of minorities, blondes for example... Or people with freckles. But a minority is only thought of as one when it constitutes some kind of threat to the majority. A real threat or an imagined one. And therein lies the fear. If the minority is somehow invisible, then the fear is much greater. That fear is why the minority is persecuted. So, you see there always is a cause. The cause is fear. Minorities are just people. People like us."

-Pride (2014). [TRAILER] Bloody hell, that film. When we talk about lgbtq+ history, we often thing about the pink triangle and the holocaust, Reagan, Stonewall, AIDS and... fucking Maggie. Margaret Thatcher, the Iron Lady. Again, funny how the past is closer than we think, as I still have friends of mine talking to me about that period in British history that they lived through. The minors strike. The poverty, the crisis of the working class and the HIV crisis. But if you are looking for a film full of hope, from tears to laughter, this is the one. Bread and Roses. Bread, and Roses. And a message, which I believe is the essence of our community to this day : solidarity forever. After all...there is power in a union.

If anybody has other films to add, you are more than welcome to do so.

Love you all xx

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jesuschristtakethewheel · 4 years

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Wanna Bet?

Summary: “I bet you can’t go 24 hours without cussing.”

Warnings: Lots of explicit language. Very creative explicit language. Basically crack humor.

Word Count: 2178 (Officially the longest thing I have ever written)

This is for @navybrat817 and @stargazingfangirl18 ‘s writing challenge (i finished with 3 hours to spare lol) and the prompt that I used is bolded below. Although it isn’t smut, I really hope you enjoy!

It started as a bet, as most things do. You couldn’t believe the whole world thought Steve Rogers, also known as Captain America, was the epitome of chivalry and good manners. You guess people idolized the 40s as having chivalric gentlemen, who could do no wrong. If you went on national television and told everyone the all-American, patriotic Captain America said twelve variations of the word “fuck” in the last minute, not a single soul would believe you. It was honestly ridiculous and a bit naive of the public to think a man from Brooklyn in the 1930s, who served in the US Army, who had been standing up to bullies ever since he could walk, wouldn’t ever curse.

When you were preparing to meet Captain America for the first time, you understood that he would be different from what the media portrayed him to be. But you really didn’t expect that you would meet Captain America while he was cursing out a bag of broccoli. The fact that Captain America cursed wasn’t surprising to you, but the fact that Captain America cursed like a sailor -- very, very creatively and for the dumbest of reasons -- was, frankly, both hilarious and offsetting. You didn’t think you would ever be able to get the thought of Steve describing broccoli as “fuckin’ green dickweasels who’re making a mockery of actual trees” out of your head.

It was an hourly occurrence to hear new inventive curses from Steve, such as “wankhammer”, “fopdoodle”, “douchenozzle”, and “cockwaffle”. Your personal favorite was “fucktangular”, but “asstrumpet” was a close second.

_________

You knew two things: you were exhausted and the world was safe for now. Each step leeched the remaining scraps of energy from your body as you trudged, one step at a time, back to the Avengers Compound. The lingering slime from the aliens that attacked had made its way everywhere - inside your combat gear, in your hair, and even in between your toes. Every movement you made was accompanied by a cacophony of squelches, curses and groans, both from you and the other Avengers. Steve didn’t disappoint, commenting that “the arsebadger aliens could have been cleaner” while futilely attempting to wipe the slime off his shield, only managing to spread it even more.

Entering the elevator with the others, you leaned against the side rails and waited, transferring some alien remains to the elevator while doing so. Too tired to do anything, but too wired to sleep, you collapsed on the couches in the lounge and the others followed your lead.

“Fuck.” Steve groaned. Everyone turned to look at him and found he was sprawled like a starfish on the floor. The supersoldier had fallen off the floor. If you had the energy to do so, you’d be laughing your head off.

“I thought you could do this all day, Mr. America?” Bucky smirked. He was the only one still standing, and wasn’t even looking at Steve. He was sharpening his knives in the corner of the room. Fucking supersoldiers with enhanced senses.

“Leave me alone, dickweasel.” Steve muttered, rolling onto his side while flipping Bucky off.

“Hey Cap,” you called, voice slightly muffled by the couch cushions. “You curse so often that I bet you can’t go 24 hours without cussing.”

“Capsicle can’t go an hour without cursing, let alone a whole day,” Tony said, grinning. “He’d never take the bet.”

Steve huffed. Everyone knew about Steve’s competitive streak. He would never back down from a bet. “It’s on. Starting at 12 tomorrow, I’m not allowed to use any curse words for 24 hours. I’ll be tracked by F.R.I.D.A.Y all day so there aren’t any complaints. If I win, Y/N has to do both of our mission reports for a month.”

You narrowed your eyes, knowing Steve was well aware of your tendency to procrastinate on or even forgo doing the mission reports entirely. “And when I win, you’ll allow us to get a team cat! And I get to name them.” You were met with groans from your teammates.

“But you always pick the stupidest names,” Sam said, crossing his arms and glaring at you. “Remember your plants? Who names a succulent ‘Eggboi’?”

Before you could respond to Sam’s slander of your naming abilities, Steve cut in. “Deal.”

_________

It was 11:59 am and the Avengers were gathered in a circle, surrounding you and Steve as you shook hands.

“I think I’ll name them ‘Le Ole Razzle Dazzle’. It has a certain ring to it, wouldn’t you agree?” You smirked. “Or Razzmatazz for short.”

Steve frowned. “First of all, that’s a terrible name. Secondly, you’re severely underestimating my self-control -”

“This bullshit’s coming from someone who jumped out of a plane WITHOUT a parachute,” Bucky interrupted. “Self-control, my ass.”

While Natasha was kind enough to cover up her laughter with a cough, no one else gave Steve the same courtesy. With tears in his eyes from the laughter, Sam announced, “The bet starts in three. Two. One.”

When it became clear that nothing interesting was going to be happening for the time being, everyone left to do their own thing, leaving you and Steve alone. You smiled at Steve as innocently as you could, fluttering your eyelashes to seem less suspicious. He just looked at you weirdly.

“You’re planning something.” It wasn’t even a question. You should have known Steve was too smart to fall for your puppy eyes. The fact you tried using the puppy eyes trick was quite ironic as you were planning on winning a kitten.

“Mayhaps, my good friend. But you can’t stop me.” You laughed as you ran out of the room, leaving Steve shaking his head at your antics.

Time for Phase Two.

_________

You held your breath - afraid that one wrong move would alert the enemy to your position. Slowly placing your hand on the metal grate in front of you, you peered through the bars of the vent to make sure the target was still in sight. Although crawling through the vents was a bit more Hawkeye’s style than yours, you needed to be as stealthy as possible.

Your mission was simple - subdue the target by any means necessary.

Lifting the grate slowly, you managed to lift it enough to pass through. There was a small clang as you moved, and you held your breath to make sure no one was looking or had noticed you before sliding feet first out of the hole. You were free-falling for only a couple of seconds, with your legs together, making sure to point your feet. Your arms were above you, hair floating above you. You couldn’t help but revel in the glimpse of weightlessness which made it seem like you could fly.

You landed, exactly as you intended, on your target’s shoulders, twisting until both yourself and Captain America were on the floor, with you on top. You hoped that wasn’t the last time you were on top of Steve.

“Jesus Christ! What the fu-” Steve stopped and took a deep breath, craning his neck to look at your smug face. “Fudge.” You pouted. “That was dirty, Y/N. I didn’t expect this from you.” You couldn’t believe he was using the patriotic Captain America gaze of disappointment on you.

Grumbling, you picked yourself off the floor and dusted yourself off. You extended your hand out to Steve who, after narrowing his eyes at you, took it. He was honestly right to doubt your intentions. As soon as Steve turned around, you took the liberty to smack his ass. Hard.

Steve whirled around with a wounded look on his face. “Y/N!” he shouted, hand reaching back to rub his butt. Seeing the innocent smile on your face, he huffed and walked out, completely ignoring the sniggers from the rest of the people in the room.

“Love you too, Cap!” you called out after him. He just flipped you off.

_________

Steve was fed up with the bet. You had been provoking him all day, popping up at the most random times to cause chaos and get him to break. He bet you could give Loki a run for his money for his title as ‘God of Mischief’.

Sometime while he was training, you had snuck into his apartment and had rigged his bathroom door to dump a bag of flour on his head, so he literally could not take a shit in peace. Fuming, he punched a clean hole through his wall, which Tony was certainly not happy about, and tried to lay down on his bed before realizing that someone had replaced his bed with one that was too short so his legs hung off the sides. Steve had to take a minute to stop himself from giving you a piece of his mind.

That wasn’t all. Even Fury was in on the bet. On Y/N’s side. He had been called into Fury’s office under the guise of getting a new mission but was instead locked in the room with the song “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley blaring on the speakers for an hour. He ended up punching the window and jumping out of the building to escape the torture. It definitely was not one of his finer moments. Y/N was going to pay for what she did.

_________

There was only an hour left of the bet. Steve had survived a feather ambush, a cactus crowd, and a salt shaker stuck to his leg. (It was still stuck. He couldn’t get it off.) All things considered, Steve was feeling pretty smug, certain that he would win. But when he took one look at Y/N’s face, he immediately thought again.

Trying to escape, he speed-walked into the lounge, trying to escape from Y/N, but not wanting to be rude. Instead of an empty room, every single Avenger was there. Raising one eyebrow, Steve walked past Bucky, who smirked at Steve, and tried to open the door. When it didn’t open, Steve looked back at all of the smiling Avengers.

“Why am I being locked out?” All Steve wanted to do was wait out the rest of the bet in his room, but sadly, the Avengers were a bunch of nosy bitches who liked to bet on his life.

“Well, I didn’t want you to miss out on the main event,” you drawled, tilting your head slightly with an innocent look on your face as Steve slowly turned around and pouted.

“Just get on with it.”

You beamed, pulling out a tablet. “It will be my pleasure.”

The lights dimmed dramatically, leaving the room in darkness except for the spotlight, which shone directly at the corner of the room, where Bucky just happened to be leaning against the wall. Picking at his nails with a knife, Bucky was unbothered by the stares and the cameras pointed at him, taking his time to start talking.

“This is what I call the incident of a thousand seconds.”

Bucky didn’t even get two sentences in. “Absolutely not.” Steve wanted to curse up a storm. “No way.”

Natasha cut in. “Well, now I’m intrigued. Spill.”

“I’m just saying. You know exactly how to end this, pal.” Steve just glared. There was no escape. If Bucky put his mind to something, there was no stopping him.

“As you know, Steve respected one Peggy Carter.” Steve groaned loudly, shoving his face into his hands. “One day, Peggy wanted to ask Steve about some battle strategies, but it wasn’t the right time.”

“Do you really have to make puns about my misery?”

As if Steve hadn’t spoken, Bucky carried on. “Steve had just gotten back from a successful mission and was celebrating with the rest of the Howling Commandos. Peggy came by and asked Steve if he ‘had a sec’. And poor, poor, Steve. Without even thinking, he responded ‘Yes, I have a lot of--’”

“Oh fuck off, Buck.” The room spun around to face Steve, whose face paled. “No.” His eyes widened. “I didn’t say that out loud.” But, looking at Y/N’s grin, he knew he had messed up. “Fucknugget.”

_________

Steve wasn’t one to go back on his word. The next day, he signed the paperwork for Y/N to adopt a pet. He hoped that with Natasha going with you to the animal shelter, she would stop you before going too far, but he very much doubted it. The newest addition to the team was set to arrive any minute, and he could tell that Sam and Bucky were the most excited.

“And a drumroll please,” you shouted, always having a flair for the dramatics. Steve didn’t move an inch. Unbothered, you held up a gray kitten like it was Simba from the Lion King.

“Introducing… Princess Avocado Elizabegg Eggbert.”

Steve let out a wail of anguish. “Please. I’m begging you. Please change her name.”

“No.” Cuddling Princess Eggy closer, you made indecipherable high-pitched sounds at your new baby“Please?”

“You’re such a sore loser.”

__________

@tessabennet Thank you for reading this and encouraging me to finish!! :)

If you want to be added to my taglist, just shoot me a comment or an ask!

Reblogs, comments, and likes are all greatly appreciated.

#shamelesshoesforchris #steve rogers x reader #steve x reader #avengers #marvel #steve rogers #steve #crack humor #crack #tw swearing #swearing #writing #my writing #this is my type of humor

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talesofafangirlwithadvr · 3 years

Text

Jan/Feb 2021 Picks

HELLO! It’s been a while, but I’M BACK!! Life has gotten a lot busier as I started Grad School this January. So, I feel it may be tough being on time with future Monthly Wraps like I’ve done in the past with working on my MFA, and my job. I’m going to probably do more seasonal wrap ups when I get the time. I also think I’ll be posting more individual posts as I watch an episode. Because even with a busier schedule, there is always time for TV and there’s so much I want to talk about!

You know the drill. Spoilers are coming.....

You’ve been warned :)

WANDAVISION

I want to start off by mentioning that I have not watched this week’s episode yet. So the last one I saw was EPISODE 6 with Halloween in the late 90s/early 2000s.

THIS SHOW! OMG.

I didn’t know what I was signing up for when I watched the first episode and I have been blown away. It is such a cool concept and I love the fact that everyone who watches it is confused. There have been so many interesting theories out there and I am so curious what is going to wind up being true. I love all the nods to old sitcoms and TV shows as well as all the MCU Easter Eggs. (I mean they got X-men’s Quicksilver-like WOW.) It feels really Black Mirror at times with the breaking of the fourth wall. I will never be able to shake the feeling I got in Episode 3, when Vision reversed. (And then I saw a bunch of videos with him looking at the camera as Wanda looks at the TV. Eww I don’t like it, but it’s such a good move on their point.) I love the outside plot as well and the characters who were previously side characters in other MARVEL movies. The love for Jimmy Woo is astounding and I’m here for it. I’m glad it’s Friday, so I can watch the next episode. I’m just upset that we’re so close to the show ending. The next Disney Plus Marvel shows better be just as good. Wandavision set the bar high.

NANCY DREW

If you’ve visited this page recently, you know I have a very strong love for this show. It is the only one I am still watching religiously on the CW and I am tuning in the night it airs. (That is HUGE for me.) IT IS JUST SO GOOD AND I DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START....

2x05 just aired, which would have been the season 1 finale before COVID and I have it saved on my DVR to watch again. There’s just so much I want to relive and catch that I missed the first watch through. It would have been SUCH A GOOD FINALE, but I’m happy that we can continue with new episodes starting next week. And with the way it ended...there’s so much I need to know!! I’m just curious how fast they’re going to develop certain plots. I love the Drew Crew and how they are a family. Each character is so well developed and their chemistry is great. I love learning more about each of them and watching them develop. My favorite character is definitely Ace. I love all his witty lines and how he is opening up more to the group as well as to us, the audience, as we get more of a look into his personal life. I enjoy all of his scenes with his dad and specifically liked when they were celebrating Shabbat. (I am also here for the Nancy and Ace content. I gush more about this on my other blog: lydia-whogowith-stiles. Check it out if you want to hear more.)

THE WATCH

When I watched the Christmas special (or was it New Years? and why does that feel so long ago) of Doctor Who, BBC America kept advertising a new show called the Watch. Due to the extensive amount of commercials, I decided to tape the first two episodes (which premiered back to back) to see what it was all about. I was unaware that this series is based on the book series created by Terry Pratchett. When I came to see if people were talking about it on Tumblr, I saw that a lot of people didn’t like it because of how drastically different it was. As I was unfamiliar with the original, I can’t compare. The TV show was eight episodes and I just watched the last one that aired this past Sunday. I definitely liked the first half of the season more (I noticed my mind start to drift as I watched later ones), but thought the finale was good. I really enjoyed how they incorporated the theme song. I didn’t realize the connection earlier and now can’t stop humming it. (I don’t know if there will be another season or not.) I enjoyed the characters and how it was like nothing I’ve seen on TV before. It got me thinking a lot about blending genres. I would still recommend checking it out.

ZOEY’S EXTRORDINARY PLAYLIST

I was VERY excited for this show to come back. I loved the first season so much. It’s just such a heartfelt show and it helped me survive the early parts of quarantine. So far, this season I am noticing how detailed the musical performances are. Mandy Moore is doing an AMAZING job. The choreography is *chefs kiss* I also feel like the song choices have been great and not always the ones I think that would be picked. We are getting to learn more about each character and watch Zoey and her family as they continue life after losing Mitch. I am here for Mo and Max’s restaurant. I think the concept would be so cool in real life. Who knows maybe we’ll see one now. (Max’s rendition of ‘Numb’ was amazing. I’ve never heard the song like that and I think it might be one of my favorites of the season so far.) I hope Max and Zoey get back together by the end of the season. It did feel fast, so I do understand why they had to break up, but it still makes me sad that we watched them get together and then it was taken away from us. The last episode before the break was so powerful and I think the show did an amazing job applying real world issues into their plot. It did not feel forced at all and brought so much awareness. Upset we have to wait so long for a new episode.

SECRETS OF SULPHUR SPRINGS

Are you looking for a good mystery, but don’t think Disney Channel can provide it? Think again. I have to say, when I started watching I was not expecting this show to be a part of my monthly picks. It pleasantly surprised me. The show involves the mystery of a young girl, Savannah, who went mysteriously missing at camp back in the 90s. Apparently, her ghost still haunts the hotel that was on the camp grounds to this day. Then Griffin and his family buy the hotel with intent of fixing it up and reopening it after all these years. The people in the town think they’re crazy because of its past. But there’s something more going on with Griffin’s dad as well as some of the other adults in the town. They know something about Savannah’s disappearance, but aren’t saying anything about it. While this is a kid’s show (and only half hour episodes) it has been interesting to see where the story will go. I’m sure I am imagining much more intense things for her disappearance than what actually happened. It’s also not super cheesy or have bad acting, which is refreshing. (I really feel Disney Channel has gone down.) Either way, I don’t know how many episodes are left to air, but I think we’re pretty close to the end. If you’re looking for a quick, entertaining mystery I would highly recommend.

MISS SCARLET AND THE DUKE

And here come my period pieces (ironically both from Masterpiece/PBS this time). I know last year I felt like I watched a lot of historical watches at the beginning of the year. We’ll see if that continues to happen this year too. It does serve as a nice escape. Plus, these are some really good stories.

Miss Scarlet and the Duke is a part of Masterpiece Mystery on PBS, although it aired on a different network in the UK. It is (another) mystery series (shocking I know with that title!) It follows Eliza Scarlet who has a nose for mystery, but as a woman living in the Victorian era does not have any rights except for being a wife and mother (two things she would rather not be). When her father dies (apparently from a heart attack...emphasis on apparently), she takes over his Private Investigator business. Much to the dismay of long time family friend William “The Duke” who is a Detective Inspector for Scotland Yard. Eliza is often in his office as she gets arrested for being places she shouldn’t or trying to get information out of him. This element of Eliza having to work in a very male dominated Victorian society is one that I feel I haven’t really seen on a TV show. I really like her dynamic with William. There’s always that feeling of “will they won’t they,” but I don’t feel the show just focuses on that. The mystery is the heart of it all. This last week’s episode was REALLY GOOD. As we got to find out more regarding her father’s death. I hear a lot of people want a season 2 and I am right there with them. This show deserves it.

ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL

Another PBS Masterpiece watch. I love this show, so much more than I was anticipating. It is so heartfelt and makes me so happy and in a good mood after watching it. It follows James Herriot who has recently graduated from veterinary school, but is struggling finding a job. Then he gets a call from Siegfried Farnon’s veterinary practice in Yorkshire. Siegfried is known for having a harsh demeanor and temper, so the assistants he hires don’t often last long. Spoiler alert, that should be pretty obvious, James does. The cast of characters are so lovely and I like all their relationships with one another. The show takes places in the 1930s and I realized I don’t often watch things in this era, so that has been fun to explore. The sets and locations are BEAUTIFUL. In the episodes, we often get these amazing shots that sweep over the exterior and I want to travel to Yorkshire like tomorrow. (See more escapism, it’s great.) The main plot follows everyone interact in the town and watching James become a more confident and experienced veterinarian (which I decided I could never do after watching). I heard that it has been renewed for a second season so that is so fantastic.

FATE: THE WINX SAGA

The first things I heard about this show was how disappointed everyone was in how they decided to adapt the Winx Club show from their childhood. On this I can agree, but I decided to watch the show anyway. I pretended that it was something new entirely and I have to say I enjoyed it. Of course, there were parts that bothered me and then I had to remember it was a teen show, so angst would be annoying. I think overall it was too short (and should have at least 8 or 10 episodes), but I’m happy that they were able to conclude the main plot well. (Although we did get that cliffhanger, but it is exciting that it was released the show just got renewed for a second season the other day.) I really liked Silva-mainly because it was great seeing Thomas from Downton Abbey in something else. I also enjoyed seeing Jacob Duchman in more things. It was a surprise to see him in Medici and I am just happy he is adding more to his IMDB.

Quick and addicting watch. Add it to your queue. Just forget it’s supposed to be based on something else.

BLOWN AWAY SEASON 2

Continuing with the Netflix picks, one of my FAVORITE picks from 2020 got a season 2 and it is already on Netflix! That’s right Blown Away season 2 is now available. I seriously loved the first season of this show SO MUCH! Glass blowing is such a magical process and I am mesmerized every time I watch it. It felt weird starting this show with all new contestants, but then Alex came back as a guest judge and I was so happy. It is just as addicting and I cannot wait to see who wins this season. I am just trying not to rush the episodes.

VIOLETTA SEASON 3 UPDATE

I know you were all dying to know...

After taking a hiatus from watching during the holidays, I have gotten back into watching the Disney Channel telenovela on Disney Plus. I am now on episode 68. Things are really starting to happen and I am finding myself getting sucked in again, which makes me happy. Episode 60 (pictured above) had A LOT happen and really was a turning point for the second half of the show. Can’t wait to keep watching. Some really awesome songs from these last set of episodes.

AND NOW FOR MY NOT LOVING IT PICK:

LEGACIES

This third season has really disappointed me so far. As I’ve previously discussed on this page, it feels like they are just reusing previous plots from the last two seasons when there is so much more they can do. There was so much promise for this show and I loved the Vampire Diaries and Originals so much, that it’s sad to see Legacies miss the mark. I wish they gave Hope more storylines that didn’t revolve around Landon. She is such a strong character and is SO POWERFUL. This is something we rarely see and it shouldn’t only be shown to save a guy (multiple times). Their couple plot is continually doing the same thing. I want to see a lot more development with this show over this season to keep me watching. I am actually happy that there isn’t a new episode until March 11th. (That’s saying something...)

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transparenttriumphzombie · 3 years

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Christine Jorgensen (May 30, 1926 – May 3, 1989) was an American transgender woman who was the first person to become widely known in the United States for having sex reassignment surgery. Jorgensen grew up in the Bronx, New York City. Shortly after graduating from high school in 1945, she was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II. After her military service, she attended several schools and worked; it is during this time she learned about sex reassignment surgery. Jorgensen traveled to Europe, and in Copenhagen, Denmark, obtained special permission to undergo a series of operations beginning in 1952.

She returned to the United States in the early 1950s and her transition was the subject of a New York Daily News front-page story. She became an instant celebrity, known for her directness and polished wit, and used the platform to advocate for transgender people. She also worked as an actress and nightclub entertainer and recorded several songs. Jorgensen often lectured on the experience of being transgender and published an autobiography in 1967.

Jorgensen was the second child of carpenter and contractor George William Jorgensen, Sr., and his wife Florence Davis Hansen, and given a male name at birth. She was raised in the Belmont neighborhood of the Bronx, New York City. She later described herself as having been a "frail, blond, introverted little boy who ran from fistfights and rough-and-tumble games".

Jorgensen graduated from Christopher Columbus High School in 1945 and was soon drafted into the U.S. Army at the age of 19. After being discharged from the Army, she attended Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, New York,[5] the Progressive School of Photography in New Haven, Connecticut, and the Manhattan Medical and Dental Assistant School in New York City. She also worked briefly for Pathé News.

Returning to New York after military service, and increasingly concerned over, as one obituary later called it, a "lack of male physical development", Christine Jorgensen heard about sex reassignment surgery. She began taking estrogen in the form of ethinylestradiol and started researching the surgery with the help of Joseph Angelo, the husband of a classmate at the Manhattan Medical and Dental Assistant School. Jorgensen intended to go to Sweden, where the only doctors in the world who then performed the surgery were located. During a stopover in Copenhagen to visit relatives, she met Christian Hamburger, a Danish endocrinologist and specialist in rehabilitative hormonal therapy. Jorgensen stayed in Denmark and underwent hormone replacement therapy under Hamburger's direction. She chose the name Christine in honor of Hamburger.

She obtained special permission from the Danish Minister of Justice to undergo a series of operations in that country. On September 24, 1951, surgeons at Gentofte Hospital in Copenhagen performed an orchiectomy on Jorgensen. In a letter to friends on October 8, 1951, she referred to how the surgery affected her:

As you can see by the enclosed photos, taken just before the operation, I have changed a great deal. But it is the other changes that are so much more important. Remember the shy, miserable person who left America? Well, that person is no more and, as you can see, I'm in marvelous spirits.

In November 1952, doctors at Copenhagen University Hospital performed a penectomy. In Jorgensen's words, "My second operation, as the previous one, was not such a major work of surgery as it may imply."

She returned to the United States and eventually obtained a vaginoplasty when the procedure became available there. The vaginoplasty was performed under the direction of Angelo, with Harry Benjamin as a medical adviser. Later, in the preface of Jorgensen's autobiography, Harry Benjamin gave her credit for the advancement of his studies. He wrote, "Indeed Christine, without you, probably none of this would have happened; the grant, my publications, lectures, etc."

The New York Daily News ran a front-page story on December 1, 1952, under the headline "Ex-GI Becomes Blonde Beauty", announcing (incorrectly) that Jorgensen had become the recipient of the first "sex change". This type of surgery had previously been performed by German doctors in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Dorchen Richter and Danish artist Lili Elbe, both patients of Magnus Hirschfeld at the Institut für Sexualwissenschaft in Berlin, were known recipients of such operations in 1930–31.

After her surgeries, Jorgensen originally stated that she wanted a quiet life of her own design, but once returning to the United States, the only way she could manage to earn a living was by making public appearances. Jorgensen was an instant celebrity when she returned to New York in February 1953. A large crowd of journalists met her as she came off her flight, and despite the Danish royal family being on the same flight, they were largely ignored in favor of her. Soon after her arrival, she launched a successful nightclub act and appeared on TV, radio, and theatrical productions. The first of a five-part authorized account of her story was written by Jorgensen herself in a February 1953 issue of The American Weekly, titled "The Story of My Life" and in 1967, she published her autobiography, Christine Jorgensen: A Personal Autobiography, which sold almost 450 thousand copies.

The publicity following her transition and gender reassignment surgery became "a model for other transsexuals for decades. She was a tireless lecturer on the subject of transsexuality, pleading for understanding from a public that all too often wanted to see transsexuals as freaks or perverts ... Ms Jorgensen's poise, charm, and wit won the hearts of millions." However, over time the press was much less fascinated by her and started to scrutinize her much more harshly. She was often asked by print medias if she would pose nude in their publications.

Knox and Jorgensen after being denied a marriage license, April 1959. After her vaginoplasty, Jorgensen planned to marry labor union statistician John Traub, but the engagement was called off. In 1959 she announced her engagement to typist Howard J. Knox in Massapequa Park, New York, where her father had built her a house after her reassignment surgery. However, the couple was unable to obtain a marriage license because Jorgensen's birth certificate listed her as male. In a report about the broken engagement, The New York Times reported that Knox had lost his job in Washington, D.C., when his engagement to Jorgensen became known.

After her parents died, Jorgensen moved to California in 1967. She left behind the ranch home built by her father in Massapequa and settled at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles, California, for a period of time. It was also during this same year that Jorgensen published her autobiography, Christine Jorgensen: A Personal Autobiography, which chronicled her life experiences as a transsexual and included her own personal perspectives on major events in her life.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Jorgensen toured university campuses and other venues to speak about her experiences. She was known for her directness and polished wit. She once demanded an apology from Vice President Spiro T. Agnew when he called Charles Goodell "the Christine Jorgensen of the Republican Party". (Agnew refused her request.)

Jorgensen also worked as an actress and nightclub entertainer and recorded several songs. In summer stock, she played Madame Rosepettle in the play Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad. In her nightclub act, she sang several songs, including "I Enjoy Being a Girl", in which, at the end, she made a quick change into a Wonder Woman costume. She later recalled that Warner Communications, owners of the Wonder Woman character's copyright, demanded that she stop using the character; she did so, and instead used a new character of her own invention, Superwoman, who was marked by the inclusion of a large letter S on her cape. Jorgensen continued her act, performing at Freddy's Supper Club on the Upper East Side of Manhattan until at least 1982, when she performed twice in the Hollywood area: once at the Backlot Theatre, adjacent to the discothèque Studio One, and later at The Frog Pond restaurant. This performance was recorded and has been made available as an album on iTunes. In 1984, Jorgensen returned to Copenhagen to perform her show and was featured in Teit Ritzau's Danish transsexual documentary film Paradiset er ikke til salg (Paradise Is Not for Sale). Jorgensen was the first and only known trans woman to perform at Oscar's Delmonico Restaurant in downtown New York, for which owners Oscar and Mario Tucci received criticism.

She died of bladder and lung cancer in 1989, four weeks short of her 63rd birthday. Her ashes were scattered off Dana Point, California.

Jorgensen's highly publicized transition helped bring to light gender identity and shaped a new culture of more inclusive ideas about the subject. As a transgender spokesperson and public figure, Jorgensen influenced other transgender people to change their sex on birth certificates and to change their names. Jorgensen saw herself as a founding member in what became known as the "sexual revolution". Jorgensen stated in a Los Angeles Times interview, "I am very proud now, looking back, that I was on that street corner 36 years ago when a movement started. It was the sexual revolution that was going to start with or without me. We may not have started it, but we gave it a good swift kick in the pants."

In 2012 Jorgensen was inducted into the Legacy Walk, an outdoor public display which celebrates LGBT history and people.

In 2014, Jorgensen was one of the inaugural honorees in the Rainbow Honor Walk, a walk of fame in San Francisco's Castro neighborhood noting LGBTQ people who have "made significant contributions in their fields".

In June 2019, Jorgensen was one of the inaugural 50 American "pioneers, trailblazers, and heroes" included on the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor within the Stonewall National Monument (SNM) in New York City's Stonewall Inn. The SNM is the first U.S. national monument dedicated to LGBTQ rights and history, and the wall's unveiling was timed to take place during the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.

Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, during his earlier career as a calypso singer under the name The Charmer, recorded a song about Jorgensen, "Is She Is or Is She Ain't" (The title is a play on the 1940s Louis Jordan song, "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby".)

Chuck Renslow and Dom Orejudos founded Kris Studios, a male physique photography studio that took photos for gay magazines they published, which was named in part to honor Jorgensen.

Posters for the Ed Wood film Glen or Glenda (1953), also known as I Changed My Sex and I Led Two Lives, publicize the movie as being based on Jorgensen's life. Originally producer George Weiss made her some offers to appear in the film, but these were turned down. Jorgenson is mentioned in connection with Glen in Tim Burton's biopic Ed Wood (1994), but Jorgenson is not depicted as a character.

The Christine Jorgensen Story, a fictionalized biopic based on Jorgensen's memoir, premiered in 1970. John Hansen played Jorgensen as an adult, while Trent Lehman played her at age seven.

In Christine Jorgensen Reveals, a stage performance at the 2005 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Jorgensen was portrayed by Bradford Louryk. To critical acclaim, Louryk dressed as Jorgensen and performed to a recorded interview with her during the 1950s while video of Rob Grace as comically inept interviewer Nipsey Russell played on a nearby black-and-white television set. The show went on to win Best Aspect of Production at the 2006 Dublin Gay Theatre Festival, and it ran Off-Broadway at New World Stages in January 2006. The LP was reissued on CD by Repeat The Beat Records in 2005.

Transgender historian and critical theorist Susan Stryker directed and produced an experimental documentary film about Jorgensen, titled Christine in the Cutting Room. In 2010 she also presented a lecture at Yale University titled "Christine in the Cutting Room: Christine Jorgensen's Transsexual Celebrity and Cinematic Embodiment". Both works examine embodiment vis-à-vis cinema.

The 2016 book Andy Warhol was a Hoarder: Inside the Minds of History's Great Personalities, by journalist Claudia Kalb, devotes a chapter to Jorgensen's story, using her as an example of gender dysphoria and the process of gender transition in its earliest days.

Jorgensen, Christine (1967). Christine Jorgensen: A Personal Autobiography. New York, New York: Bantam Books. ISBN 978-1-57344-100-1.

#trans history #transgender woman #transgender #trans pride #postop transwomen #1950s #transisbeautiful #transwoman

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