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fillsta · 2 years

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How to explain Les Mis characters to your friends

Enjolras 'Enjy dearest', 'Enj':

Angry blond boy. "Eat the rich". Either gay or aroace. His celebrity crush is Robespierre. He may or may not have a crush on a specific wine lover. Also Aaron Tveit. That's it

Combeferre 'Ferre':

The 'hot' scholar. Rly likes moths I guess. Wears glasses bc he's smart and smart ppl wear glasses. Has done nothing wrong, ever. We love him .

Courfeyrac 'Courf':

Everybody's friend. Flirty, fruity bitch. Round and lovable. Possibly in a relationship with either Combeferre or Jehan. Marius' own personal extrovert. Keeps the group together. Portrayed by the Mighty, the Fruity Fra Fee.

Grantaire 'R':

Likes to drink. A lot. Bi bitch, hopelessly in love with a certain blondie. Hold-hands-before-getting-shot-to-death kind of crush. Rly good at history and philosophy. Cynic. Also, fandom decided that he draws<3. Big hobo energy. Ask the fandom about the actor in the 2012 musical and they'll shed tears

Jean Prouvaire 'Jehan':

Ah yes, the softie. Love poetry and playing the flute. Most likely smoke weed. Plant parent. Gender unknown. We love their hippie bullshit. I don't remember the actor's name but he was kinda cute

Bahorel 'Baho':

The fruity gym bro. Enjoys fistfighting. Possibly Feuilly's bf. Man bun and beard. Studies law but doesn't want to be a lawyer. Doodles instead. Gavroche's idol. His celebrity crush is probably Dwayne Johnson or sth.

Feuilly:

IwbavajsbJzkabzjsvs. We love him. He's pure and innocent. Orphan. Makes fans for a living. Really loves the countries of the world. Headcannoned as Polish. Enjolras' fav ho. Wears flannels. I'll stop here because oh boi I can go on for ages

Bossuet/Lesgles:

Bald guy. Wholesome. He's also extremely unlucky and Victor made sure that's his only personality trait. Polyamoryyyy. His bf is Joly, his gf is Musichetta. It's just... Bossuet, you know?

Joly:

Doctor? Yeah, did I mention he's a germaphobe? Poor guy. Eccentric asf. Carries a cane everywhere. Will wake up in the middle of the night to align his bed according to the earth's poles and shit. Yes, he has a bf and gf, as previously mentioned.

Gavroche 'Gav':

Best boiiii. Smol, like, 10-12 yrs old. Savage. Absolutely destroyed Enjolras when in an argument. Also managed to trick a skilled criminal once. Rip, he would have loved Minecraft. Eponine and Azelma's brother. Courfeyrac's instant son. Looks up to Bahorel.

Marius Pontmercy:

The Most Awkward Human Being. Like, fr. Courfeyrac's emotional support introvert. Possibly the only straight here but who knows??? Idk he's kinda close with Courf. Anyway Enj amd Ferre scare him. Especially Ferre. He somehow gets a gf??? Survived

Eponine 'Ponine' Thenardieur

Marius' side ho. Has a crush on him. Bit I think she's gayyyy. Or bi. There's no way she's interested in men only. Anyway, poor. Terrible household situation :(. Feminist. I hope she gets a gf in her second life. R had a smol crush on her but that was just a phase. She deserved better, like everyone.

Cosette Fauchelevent/Valjean:

Marius' main ho (how this guy manages to get bitches is beyond me). Cottagecore goth (is that a thing?). Adopted. Such a sweet gal. Eponine could also be her gf <3.

Montparnasse 'Parnasse':

Ah him. Okay this guy. He is s narcissistic but a good one. One day he looked in the mirror and said 'Wow im hot lets murder people' and so he did exactly that. Said criminal tricked by Gavroche. 'Dandy'. He's so cool I love him sm.

Azelma Thenardieur:

Poor girl doesn't get any development. She's just there. Survived. Is rly cool tho, trust me.

Jean Valjean:

Stole bread and went to jail for 19 years. Villain origin story. Then he stole from a child (which may or may not have been Feuilly but that's another story for another post) and he instantly went good. Became mayor and businessman. One of his employees died so he found her daughter and raised her. Survived for a while. Is supposed to be the protagonist lol. Wholesome grandpa

Inspector Javert 'Jav jav man':

Is his life's goal to arrest Valjean. I say enemies to lovers trope. Starts off as a bitch, tbh.

Fantine:

My poor girl deserved the world. Her bf got her pregnant and fled :(. She gave Cosette over to some strangers to raise her while she worked in a nearby town, sending them money for Cosette's expenses. That's a no no there but ok. Gets fired, becomes a prostitute, dies. So of any of you out there shame sex workers I'll choke u while u sleep.

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dolphin1812 · 9 months

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Marius is self-aware enough to realize that there's a very big gap between the poverty he's lived and what the Jondrettes are experiencing, and he's kind enough to wish he were doing more. He even thinks of the word misérable:

"They appeared very corrupt and very depraved, no doubt, very vile, very odious even; but those who fall without becoming degraded are rare; besides, there is a point where the unfortunate and the infamous unite and are confounded in a single word, a fatal word, the miserable; whose fault is this? And then should not the charity be all the more profound, in proportion as the fall is great?"

(And in French for the actual word: "Sans doute ils paraissaient bien dépravés, bien corrompus, bien avilis, bien odieux même, mais ils sont rares, ceux qui sont tombés sans être dégradés; d'ailleurs il y a un point où les infortunés et les infâmes se mêlent et se confondent dans un seul mot, mot fatal, les misérables; de qui est-ce la faute? Et puis, est-ce que ce n'est pas quand la chute est plus profonde que la charité doit être plus grande?")

While his empathy is commendable, it's also flawed. First, Hugo himself points out that Marius is feeling disproportionately guilty for "not doing more." The impulse to help others is a good one, but he's not the cause of their poverty. That's a societal issue, not an interpersonal one. The problem with his error isn't just that it makes him feel horrible about himself, but that it places responsibility on him (and other "good" individuals) to "help" the misérables through charity. And charity isn't without value! His charity in paying for rent once made a big difference to the Jondrette family, and the eldest Jondrette daughter was thrilled by his kindness in the last chapter in giving money for meals. But that's the limit of charity: it can be a short-term fix (missing rent once, needing a meal once), but it can't solve the broader problem of continual, crushing poverty. Just as Valjean/Madeleine couldn't address every problem in Montreuil-sur-Mer by being a benevolent mayor, Marius too is incapable of ending poverty just by being a good person.

Moreover, his "pity" and moralizing about the Jondrettes isn't entirely fair. It's true that poverty can force people into crime, as it did Valjean and likely did the Jondrettes. However, Marius' pity doesn't allow for lots of nuance or agency. There's a difference, for instance, between the actions M Jondrette and his daughters can take to alleviate their poverty because of their genders and ages, with Mlle Jondrette having considerably less power than her father. It's not that poverty hasn't forced their decisions, but assuming they're trapped by the "ignorance of poverty" (rather than being confronted with limited options, all of which are probably bad) is condescending, too. Considering the nuances doesn't provide clear-cut answers, either, but a bit more respect for the Jondrettes could allow for solidarity with them instead of simply pity.

#les mis letters #lm 3.8.5 #marius pontmercy #jondrette #marius is trying his best! but he's very self-conscious #and that makes it difficult for him to differentiate between a Marius Problem and a societal one

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llliiinnnaaa · 26 days

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Reprisal | Chapter Twenty-One

coriolanus snow x gaul oc

Summary: Ten years after the Tenth Hunger Games, Coriolanus Snow is under Dr. Volumnia Gaul’s wing as a Gamemaker alongside her niece. Unbeknownst to either of them, they’re both being prepared for a much greater task.

Warning: This story will contain explicit violence against adults and children alike (I mean, it’s Dr. Gaul AND Snow) as well as explicit language, and sexual situations.

***This fic is in no way, shape, or form, me endorsing or co-signing the horrific shit Snow does, nor am I trying to romanticize it. Also, apathy and will be the main driving force of any remnants of a relationship between my OC and Snow’s character. So if you’re interested in something very romantic and fluffy…it’s not gonna be this.

Thank you for reading, I hope you like it!

The days following their arrival in District Nine followed as planned.

Tawny retained her grip on her slipping mental wellbeing, facing the smiling, welcoming faces of the Mayor of District Three and District Six with the same stiff lip that only relaxed to offer a facade of cordialness in the disguise of a smile and gentle tone.

No more tirades of her brothers, nor threat of additional reparations, she merely acts as an accessory to the Capitol, allowing Snow to speak all on his own—which he silently thanked her for with a glint of his eyes in her direction at both stops.

Other than that, he hasn’t paid her any attention, nor has she paid any to him.

They don’t dine together, nor do they socialize with Mr. Marius in the main living quarters together. If Tawny enters the same space he’s in, she either immediately turns on her heel and flees, or he stands and dismisses himself.

His reasoning is merely keeping peace and proper conduct, acting accordingly as future President who cannot allow himself to be led by his prick.

Her reasoning is her bruised ego, feeling the harsh sting of his rejection.

For months it was him who chased her, fiending for the thrilling high she brought with her like a morphling addict chasing the next hit of paradise.

She had taken being wanted for granted, feeling hideous and undesirable the moment he turned her away, not looking at her since, unless on their Capitol dealings, and those looks are not personal the way she knew they could be.

Each night she calls home to speak to her mother and father, every other night she gets in contact with Pias, deliberately lewd in her words to provoke Snow—whilst also imagining whoever has the liberty of listening to the possibly recorded phone call turning bright with blush.

It always ends with her gushing about her love for her fiance—laying the lie on thick to disguise her disgust for the man that had taken part in killing her daughter—her brown eyes glaring at her former lover as he speaks quietly to his own significant other.

She knows when he’s overheard her phone calls, however, when he slams the phone on the hook and ignores her.

Little does she know he loses himself to his own hand in the privacy of the shower each night, imagining her wrapped around him tightly, sobbing his name as he punishes her for her ridiculous behavior that seemingly no one else seems to take notice of except him .

Because she only means for him to notice .

By the time they arrive in District Twelve, he’s seering at the sight of her.

Adorned in black—a distinct shade of it to express mourning, to be exact—she steps into the living quarters, black gloves adorning her hands, as a smug expression on her face as he eyes Coriolanus up and down.

“Are we attending a funeral?” He snips at her, Philo halting the sip of his tea as he watches the two of them.

“I’m wearing it in memory of your father.” She says, casually, wanting to add, Since you’ve forbade us from verbally mentioning those we love that the rebels have robbed from us, but deciding not to stoke him to anger.

“Go change.” He says flatly. “Something more uplifting.”

Glancing down at her outfit, severing her tongue between her teeth, she finally nods.

“Okay.” It’s nearly strangled leaving her throat in a polite tone, turning on her heels to go back to her room to change.

Instead, she shuts the door behind her and sits on the bed, taking in a few deep breath to compose herself.

She wants to go home, and the days are stretching by so slowly that she can’t fathom being trapped with him for another handful of them.

When their escorts of Peacekeepers come to collect them, Snow takes it upon himself to retrieve Tawny, hastily making his way to her door, only for her to open it before his knuckles can make contact with the wood.

It’s a red dress she wears now, with matching heels, the very color of the flag of Panem and the simplicity of it pleases him.

No muss, no fuss, no tantrums or petty statements to be made in her attire this time.

It’s just red.

“They’re here.” He says lowly, eyes still holding hers, deliberately working not to roam over her.

Again, she nods, refusing to speak anymore to him.

Commander Hoff is standing with a proud smile at the sight of Coriolanus Snow as he exits the train car—the nip in the air stronger than when they first arrived—Dr. Gaul and Mr. Marius trailing behind him.

Snow’s cold and stoic demeanor shifts when he sees the man, a genuine smile coming to his handsome face in a way Tawny hadn’t seen in ages from him.

“Mr. Snow.” Hoff greets him cordially, extending his hand to grasp ahold of his former Private.

“Commander,” Snow replies lightly, stepping aside to introduce Tawny and Philo. “This is Mr. Philo Marius, my exemplary apprentice through the last year as a Gamemaker, and this,” Tawny tenses when his hand holds at her back to usher her toward Commander Hoff once the man is done shaking Philo’s hand, “Is Dr. Tawny Gaul — one of our most prestigious Gamescientists in the Capitol.”

“It’s wonderful to meet you, Dr. Gaul. Truly a pleasure.” He nods to the woman and she forces a smile, replying swiftly, “Thank you. You as well.”

They’re escorted in a town car, snow that’s muddied from coal pollution littering the ground, making Tawny wish she had grabbed a thicker coat.

The car is imported from the Captiol surely, as District Twelve had never had anything so fine at its convenience, and upon squeezing in together, Tawny and Snow find themselves too close for comfort.

They smush into the backseat, his long, lanky right leg pressed smug against her left.

Shoulder to shoulder, tight and uncomfortable.

It’s as miserable for her as it is for him, her smooth skin exposed little by little the longer they sit as her skirt rides up her thighs more and more with each bump in the road or sharp turn.

And upon a sudden, abrupt stop caused by a railroad crossing, his hand leaves his own lap and grabs at her knee.

Upon the feel of his fingers gripped so tightly into her flesh, a shock rolls through her and settles between her legs, a familiar, dull throb growing more and more intense as his hand lingers on her.

No one has noticed, Hoff and another Peacekeepr up front while Philo sits on the left side of Snow, looking out the window with a curious gaze of the foreign environment.

Her breath grows heavier though she keeps it quiet, her chest rising and falling as he keeps his expression neutral.

Slowly, his fingers creep higher, causing to squirm just slightly, wishing she could wantonly splay her legs open and let him touch her however he pleases.

Only they stop on the inside of her thigh, barely at the middle of it, a near whimper leaving her when he pulls his hand away, a stroke of his ego occurring when she almost grabs his wrist to keep him.

But then she comes to her senses, forcing herself to regain her composure, and by the time they arrive at the Mayor’s home, she’s subtly gasping for fresh air as she practically stumbles from the car.

“Just a warning, Snow,” Hoff says, shutting the car door behind him. “Mayor Lipp hasn’t quite been the same since his wife’s death. She couldn’t handle the grief of losing their daughter and . . .” He trails off, unable to speak of her suicide.

A tug at Tawny’s heart somewhat surprises her.

“If he speaks out of turn, or appears inebriated , he may very well be.” Hoff finishes.

“Understood.” Snow nods.

The four of them step onto the porch of the large house made of white wood, Hoff knocking at the door.

While they wait, Snow glances at Philo and Tawny, the latter looking at him like a wounded puppy.

He nearly smirks, hoping to have gotten back at her for the times she has caused him to screw himself for relief.

The upturn of his lips fades, however, with the image of her desperately plunging her fingers in and out of her soaked cunt, tears rolling down her cheeks as she tries to deliver relief to herself.

Gritting his teeth together, he corrects the image in his mind, instead replacing it with that of his hand grabbing a fistful of her hair, her beautiful face in the mattress to muffle her screams as he bends her over the bed, buried to the hilt in her, forcing her to come until it’s painful, until she’s made a mess of the entire room, her own spent running down both of their legs.

They’d shower, rest briefly and do it all over again, no matter how sore they’d be, or fucked out she would get, crying but pleading for him not to stop, repeating how good he felt, how she was his.

The already uncomfortable tightness of his trousers since grabbing her in the car, turns painful.

For a split second, the blink of her eyes, she catches him looking at her.

The way he had during their affair, the lust, the want, the longing.

It’s gone as soon he reaches out himself and knocks on the door once more to hurry this ordeal along.

The door opens, leaving only the screen door between Mayor Lipp and the group of Capitol visitors.

He’s not even dressed, not truly.

A white tank top and his briefs.

Tawny averts her eyes from the sight of the man’s indecency.

“Mayor Lipp,” Hoff starts, cordially. “This is Coriolanus Snow, Dr. Tawny Gaul, and Mr. Philo Marius from the Capitol…they’re here on behalf of the unsettled nature of District Twelve before the elections.” He explains to the hazy Mayor, his drunken eyes lingering on Tawny before falling to Coriolanus.

“ You .” He points, lips nearly slurring the single word. “I know you.”

Anxiousness roots itself in his gut, flashes of the past he had worked endlessly to forget, to bury, seem to be dug up before his very eyes.

At least he assumes.

“You were a Peacekeeper when those rebels killed my little girl.”

Tawny eyes shift to Coriolanus as he somewhat feels a bit more relief.

“Yes.” He confirms, looking to Hoff.

Awkward silence looms in the air before the Mayor clears his throat and looks behind himself, stepping back to invite his company inside.

“Please, come in, just…excuse the mess.”

Empty whiskey bottles litter the home, stray laundry scattered here and there, to the extent that Tawny has to toss aside a shirt to sit on the sofa, blue eyes staring as she does so, looking up at him before he settles beside her.

“Would any of you like a drink?” Lipp inquires, holding another bottle that’s partly empty already.

“No, thank you.” Snow replies politely despite his distaste for the Mayor drinking so early in the morning.

No wonder so much has been able to happen right under their noses—the mayor is too drunk to pay attention to much of anything.

“Why are you here, again?” He asks, next, sitting with his bottle, rubbing at the back of his neck.

“Rebel activity has increased here in Twelve. With an election around the corner, the Capitol just wanted to establish a mutual understanding .” Coriolanus answers, raising his brows.

Again, Lipp glares at Tawny, then Philo, before settling on Coriolanus.

“The Capitol , or you , Mr. Snow?” He presses, wanting to muck through the formalities. “Being as you are the Capitol at this point.”

The future President is sitting on his couch and threatening him to ensure District Twelve doesn’t rebel.

“I’m only a candidate, Mayor Lipp.” It’s humble coming from him of all people, the faux humility to his tone nearly causing Tawny to scoff.

“Your fiancé doesn’t mind you showboating with his competition, Dr. Gaul?” Lipp shifts the subject, focusing on her.

Tawny can hear the skepticism in his voice.

“He’s endorsing him, Mayor Lipp.” She retorts sweetly, as if it’s all handled and thought through.

As if Pias won’t be infuriated with the decision to plant Snow at the head of Panem.

“Is he, now?” He asks, next, glancing around. “Where is he?”

“He had matters to tend to in the Capitol and was unable to join us.” It’s not a lie, not completely, at least.

“Hmm.” He leans back, drinking his poison straight from its dusty, blurry brown bottle as the fire in the hearth dwindles somewhat. “I hate to be a waste of your time, truly, but I assure you there is no matter of rebellion in Twelve. Not after my daughter.” He assures them blankly.

Tawny bites at the inside of her cheek, relating too closely to the way Mayor Lipp carries himself.

If she hadn’t had a reputation to uphold, she too would have fallen into a bottle and never climbed out of it after she lost Tullia.

It’s now that she somewhat spits in the face of Snow’s order of not getting personal as she stands and moves around the wooden coffee table to sit across from him, adding softly, “I understand, Mayor Lipp. Truly. It’s a horrible thing to lose a child to the hands of monsters.”

Coriolanus bristles at her words, glaring at her.

Mayor Lipp keeps his face stoic, stern, strong, for a moment.

Her empathy reels a twisted expression from him as his eyes squeeze shut, tears toppling forth.

Snow sighs out, rubbing his forehead briefly, trying to find how this will be explained:

Yes, the tour went wonderfully. Tawny had a heart-to-heart with the wealthiest alcoholic of District Twelve .

“The twisted part…” He trails off, having to let a few sobs out before collecting himself once more, the sight lodging a lump in her throat. “...We never truly found the gun…or the person responsible.”

Nausea rises at the back of Snow’s throat at the words, Hoff meeting his gaze with an expression of remorse—guilt, perhaps, for not being able to bring forth justice for Mayfair.

The look only confirms to Snow that his expression reads that of sympathy, as well.

Not impending doom of being randomly found out ten years later.

“Mr. Snow’s Presidency will prevent anything like you and I have suffered to happen, again. So many believe that the reason tragedies such as this occurred was due to too much leniency from our former Presidential cabinet.” It’s a soothing promise, Snow leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees as if wanting to hear her brag about him closer up.

Philo sits silently as Tawny goes on, shamelessly stroking Snow’s ego as if it’s a form of foreplay they’re all bearing witness to.

How protective he is, how vigilant , how she doesn’t fear having more children in the future because she knows they’ll be safe in a Panem guided by Coriolanus Snow …that their daughters’ deaths won’t be in vain because every moment Coriolanus will spend as President will be dedicated to honoring them, keeping their memory alive in every executive decision made.

Hoff nods with each word, fully in agreement as Coriolanus had been his star pupil, his most diligent and thorough.

She sells him, peddles him, as convincingly as a high-dollar Capitol whore peddles high-dollar cunt.

Once their visit has come to a close, Mayor Lipp has his bottle set aside, shaking Coriolanus’ hand, thanking him for taking the time to visit—clearly not understanding that this was all mandatory—and he hugs Tawny.

It’s excused due to his liquor-fueled daze, but the ride back to the train is even heavier than it was on the way.

Snow’s floating from how perfectly Tawny spoke of him.

Floating so effortlessly, in fact, that he completely ignores the opportunity given to call home, deciding to blame it on the snow interrupting phone lines—should Livia ask tomorrow night—stepping directly onto the train, following closely behind Tawny.

She sheds her coat, stretching and yawning simultaneously whilst kicking her heels off.

“I am freezing.” She declares to Snow and Philo. “I’m about to get a hot shower and then I’ll be back for dinner.”

“I’m so exhausted I might just do the same and go to bed.” Philo retorts, walking with her until he reaches his own bedroom.

Coriolanus needed something to do to keep himself from barging in to shower with her, ultimately deciding to go to his own bathroom and scrub himself of the pollution and snow.

Once he’s finished, he eats what he can, gathering a roll to offer her for his behavior earlier in the morning—his behavior the last few days, actually.

Tawny’s plucking the pins from her hair she had used to keep it from getting wet when a knock at her door pulls her attention away from herself, tying her robe around her before sliding the door open.

Coriolanus extends the napkin-wrapped roll to her, only for her to raise her brows and glance from it to him.

Knowing it’s more-so a front, an excuse to come see her, she accepts it and steps aside, not a word between the two being spoken as he reaches around her and slides the door shut, locking it.

She sets the roll aside, once more reaching her hand up to pull another pin from her head, only to find it’s stuck in her hair.

Wincing, she pauses, trying to configure how to pull it loose without breaking any strands.

“Allow me.” He offers, stepping behind her before she can argue, gently untangling the raven hair from the silver, doing so with each one left until her hair is free.

“Thank you.” She whispers, her voice catching in her throat from holding her breath throughout the process of him touching her so gently, carefully.

“I suppose I should be thanking you, too.” He speaks lowly, his breath fanning her neck as he moves her hair to one shoulder, causing her brown eyes to flutter close, the hitch in her breath bringing a smirk to his lips as his hands reach around her waist to pluck the belt of her robe loose. “Speaking so highly of me.” He continues, fingertips running across her skin to catch on the silky fabric at her shoulders.

It pools at their feet, his palms smoothing down her arms, his lips pressing to her shoulder.

His cock engorges when she grinds her ass into his crotch, her head resting on his shoulder as she assures him, “I meant every word of it,” while his hands grab at her breasts, fingers rolling over her nipples teasingly, causing her mouth to fall open.

“You want me to be President?” He knows her answer, the mere power in the possibility has her legs squeezing together to aid some form of friction, his right hand sparking at her skin as it descends between her legs, circling her slick clit, her hand grabbing his wrist as she fervently nods, whining out a pathetic, “Yes,” before biting into her lip.

“Aren’t you sweet .” He grins as he holds back his own groan as he looks down at the outline of his cock against the plump curve of her ass.

He steps back from her just enough to get his hand between them, freeing his length to run it along her wet folds, the thick tip of it having her reaching between her legs to try to angle it into her, the pinch of it pushing a hiss from her as he grins.

It’s a cute attempt, angling herself once more, Coriolanus’ chest rising and falling as he grabs her hips, watching her try to stuff him into herself. After the third time of discomfort despite her throbbing, slickend cunt, he chuckles, grabbing a fistful of her hair to pull her back against him.

“You can’t take it, yet.” He speaks it in a taunt, as if it’s a reminder she’s forgotten—as if the months spent apart has rid her of the details of their time spent together.

His tongue and teeth leave a sweltering path in its wake on her neck, her hand reaching behind her to wrap around him, his length slippery from her attempts, the action stalling his own movements as she once more rubs her thighs together and pleads in a sultry tone, “Make me take it.”

His teeth scrape against hers as his grip in her hair only tightens, Tawny turning to face him, wrapping around him the moment he grasps at her, her legs snaking around him, her arms capturing his shoulders, her greedy mouth assaulting his own.

#coriolanus snow #coriolanus snow x oc #coriolanus snow smut #coriolanus snow x gaul oc #young!coriolanus snow

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breadvidence · 6 months

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'58. Ah, boy. Took me a couple weeks of off-and-on watching to get through this one. Like, today when I realized I still had forty minutes left after the fall of the barricade, I thought to myself, "You know, I haven't bleached the shower enclosure yet this month. The cat room really could use a sweep. I need to feed out the old dubias." And I went and did all those things instead because they were more engaging of tasks than watching this film. I previously categorized Les Misérables adaptations as "good", "bad good", and "good bad", but now I'm gonna have to add an "indifferent bad" bucket. Unless you are hardcore invested in watching every available adaptation, I'd say this one's fine to skip. Really—I will not rewatch and I've seen BBC 2018 twice. A few thoughts:

The version I watched is a poorly done English dub, and as such I won't speak to the acting overall. Seems unfair. That being said, this is the butchest Marius—Giani Esposito brings to mind Michael Maguire's Enjolras.

The subtitles also have their troubles, which breathed a moment of comedy into the watching experience when the closed captioner misheard "Grantaire" as "Combeferre" and impugned the latter's honor, identifying him as the one getting drunk on the day of revolution. Somehow they also mishear "Mabeuf" as "Laroche"—I'm ninety percent certain this is their ears and not mine.

Danièle Delorme's Fantine is given room to be furious and bitter, spitting on Javert as well as Valjean, mocking the idea that she had easy access to the mayor to plead her case—it's the film's best moment, IMO.

Éponine has a nice lunch with Valjean and Cosette and is gifted a new dress in a sequence that brings to mind clumsily done but sweet Cosette/Éponine fanfics.

'58 makes several alterations that I am indifferent to (see: combining II.III.VIII-X and II.V.I-V) on the principle that every adaptation needs its room to breathe, but what the fuck is up with Javert being the Toulon warden's son, Thénardier being an actual sergeant, and Mabeuf a revolutionary? Those are backstory changes that have significant repercussions to understanding the characters—and they're not repercussions really played out by the film. Granted that Thénardier as a sergeant is played for laughs, so it has some function.

Javert asks Valjean "What made you save my life this morning?" and gets the merciless response "You really don't know why? I pitied you." Brutal. Don't blame the guy for jumping in the Seine. (More seriously: the film implies that Javert has had some kind of awakening here, seeing those he has previously ignored or persecuted, twitching when a poor man flees his presence—perhaps there's a flowering of pity—it's a breath away from being an interesting interpretation of the character.)

#les misérables 1958 #les mis

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someone-you-do-not-know · 3 months

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No, but Julien Sorel (Stendhal's The Red and the Black, 1830) is so babygirl. Poor little meow meow. Scrungly. Blorbo. All of those. He's such a Tumblr sexy man, and no one gets it, because no one is sitting down to read the 500+ pages of boring nothing plot and vapid, unlikeable characters.

I know this.

And yet, I must shout into the void. My man, my idiot boy, he thinks he's so special because he can recite the Bible in Latin. And oh, look, those from his village agrees, so the mayor lets him teach Latin to the kids, so he can save up money and go to seminary school to become a priest. Everyone loves him (except his family, they always mistreated him) – some love him a bit too much.

So what does he do? He starts a love affair with the mayor's wife. And it's such a silly one too, every touch, every look, everything you can imagine is just so sentimentally romantic. She is pure and good. He is very bad™ at flirting, playing mind games and following a bunch of rules of his own making, instead of being genuine. But another girlie is in love with Julien and tells the world of their village about their love affair, so Julien is sent to seminary.

Here, you'd think this fucking nerd could keep his nose down in his books, but no. He had to go and get involved with a Jansenist, who then leaves, leaving Julien exposed to anyone who disagrees with Jansenism (hint, that's most people in France of that time). However, before he leaves, he helps getting Julien set up as a private secretary.

Wouldn't you know it? The man Julien is secretary for is not only involved in a plot to reinstate the former royalty to power in France, and has a daughter. Is she beautiful? Julien doesn't think so, but she has charm.

So he fucks her in the carriage. Or does he? Would you believe him if he said so? What if the narrator is for once telling the truth, and nothing happened? Who knows? Point is, he and Mathilde start a very stormy courtship and love affair, and although Julien, the dumbass, loves her, he also still loves his milf. Two timing motherfucker. Can't commit for shit.

And I mean that. He can't commit. Not to one girl, not to a profession, not to anything. That's what the title is about too – the red is the military, the black is the priest robes. He started the latter, but actually ends up in the former, but we're not that far yet.

Then he participates in the plot, but see, Julien Sorel is a special kind of idiot, so despite how he wants to be on the inside of such a thing, he'd love to have all the secret info, he doesn't fucking realise what he's doing. He gives the last heir to the French throne a message that was so secret he had to recite it from memory, AND DOESN'T REALISE HE'S HELPING A LEGITIMIST PLOT. "Lol, I'm just helping my employer and feeling blue because my gf doesn't love me," licherally, how stupid are you, boy?!

Anyway, the whole secret legitimist plot fails (duh, France doesn't have a king today) and is written about in a way that you, just like Julien, don't really know what the fuck is happening, and it just seems like boring politics.

Now Julien, he's not disinterested in politics (he's just a foolish boy who doesn't grasp the intricacies even when they are slapping him in the face), but, see, he has the Marius Pontmercy complex. He's in a world after Napoleon, but wants to live during Napoleon. Many such cases. But Julien, he doesn't just wish he could've supported Napoleon, no. He views himself as the modern day Napoleon, yet with all his ambition, he never manages to do anything at all. Lots of good things are offered to him, true love, humble but good work, but no! He only wants glory. Yet, he never snatches it for himself.

His second conquest (third, really, but who's counting the girl he only seduced to get Mathilde? Not me) has many results. They almost get married. She is pregnant. He is knighted. Maybe not in this order.

Now, The Red and the Black doesn't have much that happens, so I haven't cared about spoiling, but the next part is actually a spoiler.

So, anyway, Julien dies, because he's too stubborn to live. Both women who loves him plead for him to live, but he chooses to die, because he can't see a place in society for him, a lowborn man with wit, but remember, he's also very stupid. He's the clever kind of stupid, and just like with the whole rest of his life, he is hypocritical and can't make up his mind on anything. He could have tried to live, just as he could have tried to commit to anything, but he never did. But no, instead, he wants to be a martyr.

At the very end, he realises his own laziness, his own tendency to copy paste from others, and his true, first love cements (this is after he has shot her and she survived). He sees himself as better, and in death, he is perhaps better. But he's also dead. Even his death is a copy, since he dies by guillotine, like so many others before him.

In the end, I do love him. he's a ridiculous, silly fella, his head has so much air in it that he could fly, and whether you read the ending as a condemnation of his inaction or as a diagnosis of French Restoration society's distaste for young men of the people, Julien Sorel compels me in a way like few other characters.

He's blorbo from my book.

#the red and the black #stendhal #being silly #tw death #classical literature #french literature

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lenievi · 1 month

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Wanted to gather my thoughts, so here they are re: bbc!Javert's arc related to Valjean saving people when Javert is around. And some other related thoughts. Not that organized, but well...

From Javert's POV, he watched Valjean save a guard, a guy under the cart, Fantine, Champ, (Cosette), and finally Marius.

In Toulon, Valjean saves a guard's life, after failing to kill him, but that's beside the point; funnily enough Javert didn't notice that Valjean did it on purpose because he wasn't watching at that moment, so he only saw him saving a life. And because he did, and Javert went ??? he called him to his little torture chamber and his first question was: Why did you save his life? Javert thought Valjean did it to get a reward, to be released, because why else would a convict save a life, right? Plus, he thinks Valjean did it to ridicule Javert. He's just looking for reasons, and makes it personal. Javert singles out Valjean, because he doesn't understand him, because Valjean's actions don't make sense to him, because Valjean disregarded his authority - Javert was in charge, he was giving orders, and his men failed and Valjean "won"; he makes up an imaginary contest in his own head and thinks he's superior. And if he was a criminal? He'd be better than Valjean too.

When Valjean saves Fantine from getting arrested, Javert asks: What exactly does this woman mean to you, Monsieur le Maire? because again, he can't wrap his head around why he would do that, why he would risk the mayor's reputation to help a prostitute (if there wasn't something between them). And to cross Javert. Again.

At this point, he has three instances of Valjean saving someone (the guy under the cart is the third one, which happened before Fantine). But because Javert is so wrapped in self-hate and Valjean-hate, he doesn't actually process what it means, exactly. He just knows that Valjean would save a person in need, even if that person is unrelated to him, even if they have no connections. And so he sets up a trap with Champ and the trial in Arras.

(I do believe his "you astonish me" was genuine, but then he suppressed it and continued with his "gotta uncover Valjean" and did not process it)

The thing about this adaptation is that Javert didn't ask Madeleine to ask for his dismissal; Javert turned in his resignation to Madeleine. But Madeleine's not in charge of the police, the only thing that Javert did, imho, was to resign from his position as the police inspector in Montreuil. He didn't resign from the police force. So even if Valjean didn't bite and fall into his trap, Javert would just have to leave Montreuil (and wait for a different opportunity, which would be harder since "Jean Valjean" would be imprisoned, and Javert’s own career might be postponed). But I digress. (I could also be wrong, but this makes the most sense to me.)

When Valjean does come forward, Javert is elated. He was right from the beginning, and that's pretty much his only thought. He doesn't stop to think what it says about Valjean, he just wants to see him in chains again. And he does, and he's happy. Javert relocates to Paris, gets promoted, and probably lives a pretty content life for two years. Like in the book, he probably even forgot about Valjean because he was behind the bars.

And then, Valjean makes a comeback. Javert makes his whole department believe that Valjean is very dangerous (a note: Javert believes this. He thinks Valjean is dangerous and he's also afraid – among other things – of him and his strength) and they spent time and resources on catching him. And Javert fails and loses Valjean for 10 years. And since then, nothing can satisfy him, nothing can give him pleasure. He's lonely and depressed and his failure, the fact that Valjean is at large, haunts him, and his obsession gets worse. He makes a picture of Valjean in his head, believing that he's laughing at him and mocking him. "I shall never be at peace until he’s back in chains."

Gorbeau House happens. Javert gets worse to the point where he even ignores his job, but isn't even aware of it because he connects Valjean with the revolution in his mind. It all makes sense in his head. There's nothing in his mind but Valjean. When he catches him, everything will be fine again. Everything that has been lacking in his life is the fault of "Valjean being free". That is Javert's mindset. Has been for 10 years in this series. Not only does he project his self-hatred but also his self-worth on Valjean.

Barricade happens. Javert genuinely believes that Valjean would kill him. And Valjean lets him go, and Javert doesn't get it. And he finally starts to think and processing, but it was only after he saw Valjean saving Marius that an even bigger shift happened.

Javert: That young man… is he a… particular friend… of yours? Would you say he’s… dear to you? Valjean: Quite the contrary. If he lives, he intends to rob me of all my happiness. Javert: And yet you… are you insane? Valjean: No, I don’t think so. Are you?

Once again, Javert sees Valjean saving someone. Once again, he asks him why? Who is Marius to him? Is he close? Is he dear to him? He's choosing the words carefully, not because of jealousy (even though that subtext is fun too, but not the primary one imho), but because he wants to believe that Marius is someone Valjean cares about. Because if he is, then yes, it makes sense because people save those they're close to. But Valjean tells him that no. That Marius's someone who will rob him, cause him harm. And he still saves him.

From Javert's POV, saving the guard in Toulon brought Javert's wrath. Saving the guy under the cart gave Javert ammunition. Saving Fantine risked the mayor's reputation (and gave Javert more ammunition). Saving Champ cost Valjean his freedom. Letting Javert go meant that Javert could still continue his hunt and it would cost Valjean's freedom again. And now, saving Marius is also detrimental for Valjean himself.

Javert finally understands that Valjean is a good person who helps those who need it. He is a person who redeemed himself. The image Javert created in his mind was a lie. All that Valjean has done in his life, as Madeleine, was good and genuine. And Javert? He wasted years and years on a man who did not exist.

Javert: Are you insane? Valjean: No, I don't think so. Are you?

Javert: I let [Valjean] go. Rivette: An act of clemency? Javert: An act of madness.

And I just genuinely enjoy his character.

#les miserables bbc #les miserables #javert #jean valjean #valvert #the book is the book. the bbc 'verse is the bbc 'verse #yes i am aware that probably 80% of this is why people don't like this version? but i enjoy how broken he is #and i like the dynamic between javert and valjean #and idk his character just makes sense if you treat the series as its own thing #i completely get that this type of character might not be everyone's cup of tea tho

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neverregretthyfall · 11 months

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AcTUM's Les Misérables

A few days I made a post about our local university adapting Les Mis for stage. Yesterday I went to watch the premiere and I really enjoyed it! It was super good and very engaging, the actors were fantastic and you could feel that they definitely read the brick as well. Unfortunately the pacing moved very fast and I think those not familiar with Les Mis might have gotten a little bit lost on occasion. All in all, I can definitely recommend going to the other two performances (June 17th and 18th) if you want to experience it for yourself.

Check out their website or their Instagram for more information (all in German).

Below you will find extensive notes on the stage play, keep reading if you’re curious ….

Technicalities: Modern AU, unspecified locations (just capitol city, smalltown, etc.), duration 2.5h (incl. intermission). The main message of the play was acceptance, tolerance and to show kindness to others.

(I will not rehash every plot-related detail that remains unchanged from the book, because otherwise this would get thrice as long)

‘Montreuil-sur-Mer’ (the smalltown) arc

We opened on JVJ being the mayor. He is the boss of a soup kitchen and to ease us into the story he talks to a new worker about his past. Unfortunately I cannot remember now if he really opened up about his own experiences or if he claims this happened to ‘a friend’.

Fantine is a recovering drug and alcohol addict and now works at JVJ’s soup kitchen. Due to her addiction she was forced by the court to give up Cosette into foster care (to the Thénardiers).

A letter sent to her by the court reveals her past to the colleagues and forewoman and Fantine is subsequently fired.

As she is now out of a job she turns to do illegal sex-work; they used some real cool shadow-play to show that, really enjoyed that part!

During this time she gets sick and is then caught by Javert, who wants to send her to jail for illegal prostitution. Fantine really panics then because she fears with a prison-sentence the court will never allow her to see Cosette ever again (!!)

The Arras plot is condensed to JVJ monologuing at the hospital with Javert overhearing him. While trying to arrest him, Fantine grabs a vase and knocks Javert unconscious (heck yeah, go Fantine!!). She then passes away from a combination of exhaustion and illness (one of the occasions that probably left non-fans super confused lol)

JVJ takes Fantine’s scarf as a memento and disappears …

Transition of dead Fantine rising and singing a song (aria) to Cosette (it was beautiful and very touching, I was super close to crying)

After getting Cosette from the Thénardiers, JVJ gives her Fantine’s scarf <3

‘Paris’ (the capitol city) arc

In true Marie (aka our Marius) and Cosette fashion they just stared at each other in the park, to shy to talk but really wanting to. Cosette then got called away by JVJ and accidentally left the scarf on the bench. Marie took it and vowed to find her again.

Marie studies law (as expected) and is an orphan (which she revealed super late).

Éponine is crushing hard on Marie, even reading a law book to impress her <3

Gavroche was super cool, he sang, made jokes, got the best one-liners and dabbed lol.

They included all of Thénardier’s aliases and he discovered the advantages of doing the ‘grandparent scam’ lmao.

Amis are introduced by running through the auditorium protesting, whistling, etc.

They are primarily fighting for queer rights (!!!)

Amis Count: 6/9

Named: Enjolras, Grantaire, Courfeyrac, Joly

Unnamed: one of the actresses said something very Combeferre-vibe-y, so I just decided that’s her then, lol; the other one I have absolutely no clue, Marie said to her at the barricade that she still owed her some money, which would make me think it’s Courfeyrac but he was played by somebody else, so alas, it shall remain a mystery ….

We got the ‘You don’t believe in anything / I believe in you exchange’.

Grantaire’s red waist coat was replaced by a huge-ass Enjolras-inspired tattoo on his chest, which was absolutely fantastic.

Making Marisette queer really improved the story, and especially Marie’s arc. Now Marie had a concrete reason for joining the Amis at the barricade (fighting for her rights).

We got super close to Cosette actually joining the fight, but in the end she didn’t unfortunately …

Lamarque’s funeral got replaced by a demonstration for queer rights, as expected the demo turns violent due to police brutality.

The Amis sang both a protest song and later – during the barricade fight – a drinking song (very DYHTPS and Drink with Me vibes)

Joly got very bad stomach ache when the fighting started but obviously he would never abandon his friends :')

When Javert got revealed as a spy, Enjolras threatened to shoot him and you could see how badly her hands shook (possibly an easter egg to ‘He could be your brother / He is’ ?)

Amis fought back bravely against heavy armoured police but alas, they did not make it this time either, rip …

permets-tu was fully included, long live the republic and handholding inclusive (!!)

Javert died via gun to the head.

The ending was super hopeful, during the four months Marie recovered in the hospital, queer rights improved and the biggest surprise of it all: JVJ survived!!

End Quote (paraphrased because I cannot remember the exact wording and I also have to translate it to English): “Freedom is a right but it's also a privilege that was bought with the courage of others!”

Various notes on appearances:

Thénardier looked straight outta the 70s (sans hair), fantastic outfit, 10/10

Enjolras wore a lime-green pantsuit and she looked absolutely excellent

The Amis had different coloured fabrics across their wrists, which I am pretty sure combined to the rainbow flag

Joly wore make-up and nail polish

unknown person at the demo: incredible hippie-look, also 10/10

Éponine had her hair up in some super cute buns decorated with violet ribbons <3

Gavroche gave hipster child vibes

Marie wore chic pants and top (she looked both elegant and laissez-faire)

Cosette wore a black pencil skirt, combined with a violet top and the pink scarf

Javert wore a very nice long black coat and a fedora

JVJ blending in with the rest and wearing a simple sweater/shirt combination

Courfeyrac wore simple slacks and a patterend shirt-top

Grantaire had a very revealing thin shirt/blouse thing going on combined with an orange/red scarf

Well, that's it! Thank you for reading up until this point. If you get the chance, please go watch this stageplay or check out their other works <3

#les mis #les miserables

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victoriansimmer · 1 year

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With a net worth of nearly 130,000, the Lawson family lived quite comfortably in their new estate.

Heir and master of the house, Nathaniel was only one promotion away from reaching the top of the law career. He was well-liked, donning 12 friends. However, despite the fact that he could easily have thrown his hat in the ring for mayor, he never dreamt of that kind of limelight.

In their spare time, Nathaniel and his wife Beatrice have both been writing novels. Beatrice reached the top of the dance career years ago--as a Sorbonne-trained ballerina. Now, only days away from elderhood and with every single skill maxed, it was almost time to retire.

With their eldest son Marius away at Cambridge, the younger boys Theodore and Archibold were feeling the pressure of living up to steep expectations. Marius was always a star student, and moved away to Cambridge with many scholarships. Archie, in particularly, often found himself cracking under the pressure with a near-constant red aspiration meter.

Although their family didn't own a coveted bookshelf of learning, Theo and Archie at least had two career rewards to help them skill. Even so, it is unlikely they will attend university with more than 3 skills beyond level 8. Although they are far from the prodigy of their older brother and heir, each will leave home with an inheritance of 40,000 simoleons. If they find equivalent marriage matches, they will enter the social world staunchly in the upper class.

The Lawsons employed two maids, who were always running, trying to keep up with the heaps of laundry and cleaning tasks. It was no easy job to work for such a large and wealthy family, but they certainly did their best.

Marvelously, Nathaniel aged up into an elder. His own father, Renaud, never made it to elderhood as he passed away during the tuberculosis epidemic.

Beatrice and Nathaniel are the same age. While Nathaniel was excited to enter elderhood surrounded by family, Beatrice waited until the sun set, aging up in solitude and privacy.

Step-father Maurice O'Neilly is only a few years older than Nathaniel and Beatrice. While he wasn't particularly their favorite sim, he is able to enjoy his life by playing whist with Beatrice most evenings.

Before long, Nathaniel has released his second novel, with moderate fanfare.

And Theo was granted admission into Cambridge, with three scholarships.

Although his family would miss him, it is time for him to move out, his inheritance safely tucked away until after university.

Later that evening, Beatrice and Nathaniel celebrated their golden anniversary, completing Beatrice's lifetime want.

It was a social event for the decades, with roughly 15 of New Whitby's finest and wealthiest in attendance.

Nathaniel, however, was threatening another plague to the town.

Everyone who's anyone was there, including the Holloways, Prices, and Averys. Marius and Jasper both even came for a visit all the way from Cambridge! While most guests enjoyed the merriment of the bustling drawing room...

Some, like the Averys, found the seclusion of the back parlor more to their taste.

Flora Elmstone and Carolina Grundstrom enjoyed a riveting game of whist.

And the whole party gathered together to toast the happy couple. Nathaniel and Beatrice were overwhelmed by the love surrounding them.

One thing was certain, the social scene of New Whitby would be quite different if it weren't for the affluence of the Lawsons.

#sims 2 #historical sims #victorian sims #victoriansims #newwhitby #sims2 #medievalsims

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ifwebefriends · 2 years

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Gravity Falls Rewatch: The Finale S2E21 Weirdmageddon 4: Somewhere in the Woods

Aw man series finale, it’s been a long road y’all

Love that recap Soos

Pacifica and Robbie could be good friends I think

Those tapestries remind me of A Link Between Worlds

How much did Alex have to fight to be able to say “suicide mission” here?

“You would have seen him for the scam artist he is” that’s actually a great point ngl

Finally! The metal plate in Ford’s head came back!

“Surprised you didn’t recognize it” yeah it was different before huh?

The pain in Ford’s eyes when he points the memory gun at Stanley I-

Stan’s character development arc ending here is just mwah

STANLEY BADASS MOMENTS STANLEY BEING THE BADDEST BITCH EVER MOMENTS STANLEY BEING UNAFRAID IN FRONT OF A LITERAL CHAOS DEMON MOMENTS

THAT PUNCH WAS FUCKING SICK BRO FR AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

HELL YEAH BILL GET FUCKED DIE AND GO TO HELL BITCH

Okay I think the Stan vs. Bill fight is my favorite scene in Gravity Falls it’s just so fucking epic and cool I love it

I’m kinda disappointed that the Zodiac didn’t play a larger role in defeating Bill but the way it played out is so satisfying I almost don’t mind

The frown on Ford’s face when he finished erasing Stan’s mind I :(

“You’re our hero, Stanley” BRO I 🥺🥺🥺🥺

Aww Stan not recognizing Soos must have hurt Soos a lot :(

Tourist Trapped apparently happened on the second day that Dipper and Mabel were in Gravity Falls

The old mayor showed up as a zombie!!

Robbie’s parents still being creepy!

“None of us really understand what just happened, and none of us want to.” Lmao true

Blubs and Durland ship confirmation wooooooo!

HELL YEAH FUCK THE NORTHWEST PARENTS AND THEY DUG THEIR OWN GRAVE!!!

“You’re only going to have one pony now” okay so I guess Pacifica likes ponies (was she an MLP fan?)

I kinda want to see a spin-off series about what McGucket is getting up to in the old Northwest mansion

“Town hero Stanley Pines” bro I- 🥺🥺🥺 okay

Bodacious T stuck!!! I’m actually happy for Toby!

So if the birthday party is on their actual birthday, then Dipper and Mabel’s final day in town is August 31st

Gideon is trying to be normal!! I’m happy for him!

“I have everything I wanted” DUDE

Pacifica is friends with them now!!!

Dipper and Mabel got some thoughtful gifts :)

Soos gets to run the Mystery Shack!!! I’m so happy for him!!!

Awww that empty attic room makes me sad

“Candy and Grenda, thank you for being my people” the callback to Double Dipper I-

Stan and Ford both saying “can it Soos” at the same time they’re getting along again!!!!!

Wendy and Dipper are still close friends!!!!!!!! I love that for them!!!

The twins and Stan understand each other!!!! Even with Stan’s weak attempt at an abrasive facade!!!!

“Ready to head into the unknown?” “Nope! Let’s do it” BRO BRO BRO AHHHHHHHHHHH

Before the twins came Stan didn’t have any family but now he has his brother back and a good relationship with the twins

I love how the first episode started with a Dipper narration and the last episode ends with a Dipper narration I am going feral

Melody is working with Soos at the Mystery Shack!!!!

Stan O’ War II!!!

COOL END CREDITS LETS GOOO

Dippers 3 and 4 hanging out!

Grenda and Marius hanging out together!!!

Dipper and Mabel live in Piedmont, CA

Amazing show, incredible show, outstanding show, love it love it love it, even more then when I was young

#this isn’t the end of my rewatch!#I’m going to watch some post canon stuff and then make a retrospective post #bubbles rewatches gravity falls #gravity falls #weirdmageddon #weirdmageddon 4 #gravity falls finale

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e350tb · 8 months

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Gravity Falls - The Matchmabel - Chapter VI

Chapter VI: The Cafe De La Mabel

The morning sun shone down on Greasy’s Diner, and Mabel was already hard at work.

Lazy Susan hadn’t taken too much convincing to allow them to use the place - Stan had had to promise another date, but a single awkward evening was a fair price to pay for Dipper’s happiness. Inside the diner, the gang was now setting up - tables were being moved, decorations were being hung, and even lighting had to be set up.

Mabel walked through the diner, hands behind her back, inspecting the process. Soos and Melody were hanging pink decorative bunting from the roof, while Candy and Grenda had moved one of the tables to the centre of the room, ready to be set up for the date. Mabel walked over to them, putting her hands on her hips.

“How many forks are we gonna need?” she asked.

“Well, this is fine dining,” mused Grenda. “I think twelve each.”

“Thirteen,” suggested Candy. “Just to be safe.”

“Does Marius know?” asked Mabel. “You could ask him!”

“Oh! Of course!” Grenda pulled out her phone. “Give me a sec…”

She walked off.

“We’re gonna need some pictures on the walls,” said Mabel, scratching her chin. “Pictures of romantic places - like Paris, and Venice, and Cleveland.”

“Cleveland?” Candy tilted her head.

“Oh, and we’ll need flowers!” added Mabel. “Does anyone sell them around here?”

“Ooh!” Soos called down from his ladder - he was attaching a banner to the front door. “Sprott sells wildflowers!”

“Can’t we just pick our own?” Mabel asked. “I mean, we are in the mountains…”

“Sprott’s are premium, dude.”

“What makes them premium?”

Soos and Melody exchanged looks.

“Because they say premium on the box?” shrugged Melody.

“That’s how it works in video games,” Soos agreed.

“Can’t argue with that logic,” nodded Mabel. “Candy, finish setting the table and then start on the sound system! I’ll be right back!”

She walked out the front door, finding Stan outside. They had managed to rent him a black tuxedo and bowtie, and for some reason they’d also decided he needed a fake moustache, which he was fitting under his lip now.

“Never thought I’d need one of these babies again,” he muttered to himself.

“Grunkle Stan my man!” exclaimed Mabel, snapping her fingers as she walked over to him. “Looking good!”

“Thanks,” replied Stan. “But when we get them together, I’m using that sweet Northwest money to buy a butler. I think I’ll call him…”

He pondered for a second.

“...eh, I dunno, just something not French.”

Mabel thought for a moment.

“Hans.”

“Hans it is!”

“Anyway, I’ve gotta go find some flowers,” said Mabel. “Practice your people-serving skills while I’m gone!”

She ran off.

“I promise nothing!” Stan called after her.

-----

Sprott’s farm was a short walk from the centre of town, and the combination of the sun and the breeze made it a pleasant little stroll. Mabel hummed as she walked along, a spring in her step as she approached her destination.

Shortly before she reached the gate, however, she passed a small newspaper stand by the side of the road. Her brow rose when she saw the awkward-looking figure sitting behind it.

“Thompson?”

She walked over.

“Yeah,” replied Thompson. “I’ve been working here since they fired me from the movie theatre.”

“You got fired?”

“Yeah.” Thompson looked at his feet. “Abuse of power.”

Mabel blinked.

“Yeah, that tracks,” she replied. “So, they got’cha workin’ for the Gossiper, huh?”

“I wish!” Thompson ran a hand through his head. “I couldn’t even get a job at the High School Newspaper. This is the Daily Faller.”

“The Daily Faller?” Mabel picked up a copy. “Hmm… ‘Gnomes Ate My Father?’ ‘Mayor Tyler’s Secret Bone Farm?’ ‘Is Old Man McGucket a Cannibal?’”

“It’s Mr. Northwest’s new tabloid,” sighed Thompson. “They pay a buck an hour but it’s the only job I can get!”

“Ooh, local gossip on page seven!” Mabel turned the pages.

“Please buy one, if I move enough I might get a pay raise,” pleaded Thompson. “I need that extra buck an hour, they’re gonna take my van…”

“What?!”

Mabel’s eyes widened as she read the little column in the paper.

“Local Bad Boy Robbie Valentino has ditched his girlfriend to focus on his career?” she exclaimed. “He’s maintaining a steady affair with his bassist? That can’t be right, I set them up!”

“Oh yeah, they broke up a week ago,” said Thompson. “I think Wendy said if she ever saw Robbie again, she’d annihilate him. I still hang out with him though, I really need friends right now…”

“But… but even after the love potion wore off, they were happy!” Mabel clutched her head. “It was a good match!”

“The love what now?” asked Thompson.

“I… I have to pull this off, Thompson!” exclaimed Mabel. “My reputation as a matchmaker is at stake!”

She sprinted off, still holding the paper.

“Wait, no, bring it back!” called Thompson. “You didn’t pay for…”

He sighed and sat down.

“What has my life become?” he muttered.

-----

The late afternoon sun lit Greasy’s Diner in a golden light, the wooden surface appearing a brilliant rusty red. Mabel had gathered everyone outside, and was pacing up and down in front of them like an officer reviewing her troops.

“Alright, troopers!” she declared. “Dipper and Pacifica will be here at exactly six o’clock. Run me through what will happen!”

She pointed to Stan.

“Mabel, haven’t we already been through…”

“RUN ME THROUGH!”

Stan jumped.

“Alright, alright!” He rubbed his head. “I take them in and get them seated, setting them up with water.”

“And what kind of water?”

“Sparkling,” replied Stan. “Because it’s… fancier?”

“Exactly.” Mabel snapped her fingers. “Candy, what music do you play?”

“Romantic,” replied Candy, snapping to attention. “But not too romantic. 80s love songs, Billy Joel, Paul McCartney…”

“Great!” Mabel turned to Soos. “Soos, what’s our first course?”

“Gazpacho Soup,” replied Soos. “Nothing can possibly go wrong with gazpacho soup!”

“And?”

“Breadsticks.” Soos narrowed his eyes. “All the breadsticks.”

“Good,” said Mabel. “After the soup comes out, Stan refills the drinks. Then we get the main course, which is…”

“Chicken and bean enchiladas,” replied Abuelita. “And rice on the side.”

Mabel blinked.

“I thought we were gonna go fancier…”

“No,” said Abeulita. “My kitchen, my rules.”

There was a long silence.

“Ooookay then,” said Mabel. “Once they’re finished eating, we come to the main event - the big romantic dance! Grenda?”

“We want total darkness except for the spotlight and the strategically place disco balls,” said Grenda. “Plus a slight fog from the fog machine to enhance the romantic atmosphere.”

“And then…” Candy narrowed her eyes. “...we hit them with Deline Cion.”

“Dang straight!” Mabel pounded her fist into her palm. “And when they come out, I’ll have the whole town to cheer them on!”

She checked her phone.

“5.15!” she exclaimed. “Dipper should be back soon! I need to get him ready!”

She jogged over to the golf cart, which was parked nearby.

“Remember your places, people!” she called. “Tonight, we’re making love!”

She floored the gas pedal and sped off into the distance.

Candy and Grenda exchanged glances.

“She could have phrased that better,” said Grenda.

-----

Ford’s car bounced along the road towards the Mystery Shack, the trunk filled with sacks of strangeshrooms - as was a trailer that had been attached to the back. (Ford had had to run back to the Shack to get it earlier that morning.) Dipper was leaning against the window, looking out at the trees going by.

“You know what?” he said. “That was pretty fun, considering most of what we did was pulling up wild mushrooms.”

“Well, if you’ve got time tonight, we can continue the testing in my lab,” suggested Ford. “We barely scratched the surface last night, there’s hundreds more to try…”

“I’m gonna have to say no,” sighed Dipper. “I’ve really gotta catch up with this college application.”

“Why?” asked Wendy. “It’s still gonna be there tomorrow, dude.”

“Because mom wants it done by the end of the week,” replied Dipper. “So it has to been finished tomorrow night.”

“Just tell her Stan’s internet went down,” said Wendy, shrugging.

“I…”

Dipper trailed off, looking ahead. Mabel was standing in the middle of the Mystery Shack parking lot, grinning widely and holding up a nice dress jacket - the Goodwill tag was still attached. Dipper gulped and inhaled deeply.“...I suddenly have a very bad feeling about tonight.”

#gravity falls #dipper pines #mabel pines #soos ramirez #abuelita ramirez #grenda grendinator #candy chui #grunkle stan #thompson gravity falls #wendy corduroy #ford pines #dipcifica #OR IS IT?#writing

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hermes-whistle · 1 year

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LES MISERABLES 22/23 CAST REVIEW

Wednesday, November 30th, 2022

ACT 1

Cast:

Nick cartell-Jean Valjean

Hayden Tee-Javert (Temporary Replacement)

Haley dortch- Fantine

Matt Crowle-Thénardier

Christina Rose Hall-Madame Thénardier

Hazel Vogel- little Cosette

Cora Jane Messer- Little Eponine

Christine Heesun Hwang- Eponine

Addie Morales- Cosette

Gregory Lee Rodriguez-Marius

Devin Archer-Enjorlas

Kyle Adams- Grantaire

Gavroche- Harrison Fox

Look down

-It looks like Valjean was about to tussel with the other convict

- javert has a very sassy walk, as he should

- when he's giving him the ticket of leave they both hold onto it longer than someone straight would💅

-once the convicts and everyone leaves its only Jean and javert on the stage, javert glances at him and then leaves

On parole/the bishop

-Jean stealing from petti garvis (which is later played Gavroche) was included it's when he says "the dirt beneath their feet" I believe

-otherwise I don't really have much to say on parole most of the time it is the same so-

-bishop comes behind him like hey girly and touches him on the back, making Jean move away

-from what I had heard nick carnell doesn't usually go all out for the flIGHHHHHT, but he does now and it's high

- when the bishop gives Jean the bag he pushed it away, only for the bishop to put it back in his hands

Valjean soliloquy

-WHATHAVEIDONESWEETJESUSWHATIHAVEIDONE

-"my life was a war that could never be won" was yelled

- it was really fast at first and then got slow (that's what she sai-)

-he held up the ticket at "I am reaching but I fall"

-he sounded a bit like Jon robyns when he started as jvj

-"begIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN" was held for so long

At then end of the day

-the transition into the factory women is really cool

-fantine is the tallest

-when fantine gets her letter she's standing away from the other girls but the male workers are walking past her, being snarky

-foreman goes over to her and starts pulling on her skirt

- ofc the gorls start fighting and Jean comes in and ZAMN THAT MAYOR FITTT

-fantine is still tall, taller than Jean but he was actually short to a lot of people

-when he leaves, he stops halfway up the stairs listening, which is at the same time she is talking about Cosette. Some foreshadowing it seems

- once fantine is thrown out she lays on the ground for a few moments, really letting it soak in with the audience as the factory women who read the letter went off stage laughing

I dreamed a dream

-beginning of the song she's sitting as if she's telling a story to someone, she keeps on having a sad smile

- she uses her hands a lot during the number

- "he took my childhood in his stride" was more sad than angry

- again as much as I loved the performance there wasn't a ton that stuck out to me this specific part since it's been performed so many times in similar ways

Lovely ladies

-the 3 men ofc come out with their parts while the rest of the stage is dark

-as soon as the prostitutes start singing the stage lights up on the staircase

-fantine has a green shawl now

- ima be honest I was trying to find the Cosette and ep actresses during this number so I wasn't paying that much attention to fantine at the beginning

-I love the prostitute with the hat and red dress, she's also the one that talks to fantine the most

- when fantine comes back with her hair chopped off, it's almost not that noticeable?? Maybe because I was sitting farther away but it looked like it was just in a bun (which probably wasn't the case since she had a lot of long hair and wouldn't of have been able to pull it back like that)

-the foreman is her first 'customer'

- they still kept it as the prostitutes singing the beginning of "Come on captain, did you wear your shoes?"

-fantine doesn't sing her part until "easy money"

Fantine's arrest

-Probably the fight that looked the fakest

-ima be honest again I was watching javert in the back because he came out on stage way to early and had to play it off

-Jean was hanging around in the back watching

- javert's baton skills are kinda 🏃‍♀️

-"this prostitute attacked me😧😧😧"

-javert tauntingly lifts fantine's chin with the baton while saying "save your breath, save your tears"

-when Jean is on the floor by fantine She is grabbing him per normal, she's honestly death gripping him

- the way they drag her off- they don't even bother lifting her anymore, they drag her by her arms off stage

Runaway cart

-before Jean lifts the cart he takes off his coat, looks around, sees javert, and then hesitates before lifting the cart up

- after that whole thing javert had picked up his coat and hat

-he helped Jean up after holding his hand for like 20 seconds

- javert continues to hold his hand until he gives him the coat

-then of course they had their whole gay conversion

- javert held onto jeans hat until "he couldn't run forever, no not even Jean Valjean" HE GAVE HIM THE HAT WHEN HE SAID JEAN VALJEAN IDK THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL, it's like he was addressing him as it too

Who am I

-Ngl I was focused on how fine he looked

- javert was at the court (which is probably normal but shh)

- nick was really good at holding his notes as jvj like okay pop off king

Come to me

-the bed is on the side of the stage

-fantine doesn't get out of bed anymore, she just sits up and reaches out

- "where the children play" and "see her when I wake" where very light and softly sung

-the light got brighter on her when Jean laid her down

-you could see javert in the shadows for his entrance

The confrontation

-The chain hit the floor when he says chaiiinnnn which was satisfying

-they where very in tune with each other, vocally and blocking wise

-to the point where when then turn their tailcoats kinda fly a little bit at the same time and it looks snazzy

-MYRACEISNOTYETRUUUUUNNN

- ofc Jean strangles javert with the chain for a few seconds which was a little sus

-javert was coughing and gasping while Jean was singing to fantine

-he got up very quickly then ran at him, he ended up running into his side back which I'm sure didn't feel good

-he actually lifted up Jean a little bit and I thought he was gonna KO his ass for some reason

-there wasn't any chair breaking either

-just Jean knocking javert out

Castle on a cloud

-little Cosette just💔

-she's just adorable and I feel bad for her

-you could hear her sweeping

-madame came in with a bucket and threw in down on the ground, making Cosette go back to taking the stools of the table

-eponine comes skipping in, she's standing on the table across from Cosette

- ep points at Cosette who was holding the bucket, Madame then says the line "still there Cosette??"

-Madame mocks Cosette when she says "Please do not send me out alone"

Master of the house

-Thénardier was laying on top of the inn set apparently, him sitting up was a shock💀

-I love the inn ladies

-there was so much happening

-SHOUT OUT TO THE WOMEN WHO WAS PEGGING HER MAN AT THE TOP OF THE INN‼️‼️‼️(implying it ofc)

- Feathers came out of the 1820s version of a blender

-really loved the number but there was so much going on to the point where it's hard to remember

Waltz of Treachery

-Cosette is pulling her bucket, she accidentally tips it over and covers her face out of frustration

- I think nick becoming a father in real life really showed in his moments with Cosette

- he's got a very light voice while they are singing the la la la la laa

-when they get back to the inn Cosette was already hiding behind Jean

- madame came over and started trying to seduce him, causing him to pause and look at the audience looking completely done

- Jean had placed his bag by Cosette who was holding it while sitting

- Thénardier went over and dragged her by them, Jean instantly sat up straighter

- Thénardier picked her up at "if she hadn't so often been ill" , Cosette was literally straight as a plank. But then as they mentioned the medicine she went limp and put her hand over her head

-when Jean starts on his part after that he's on his knees singing to Cosette "Cosette shall have a father now"

-once they leave he gives her the doll and coat, she instantly hugs him, he hesitates but hugs her back

- then they did their little dance before men yelling came onto stage he quickly picked her up and left

Look down/Paris at your feet/the robbery

-everyone loved Gavroche

-Enjolras and marius run through the people, you can probably spot marius a mile away since he's t a l l

-they stand on these blocks now instead of the barricade looking things

-the set seemed very clustered

-BEFORE OUR BARRICADES ARISEEEEEEEEE

-eponine is watching marius from a distance

-she then goes up behind him, he turned around at the exact moment causing her to run into him

- marius seemed very nervous talking to her

- she took his book at "I know a lot of things I do" and trailed the book down his torso, he grabbed her arm after a few seconds

- she yEETED his book while he was in the middle of "I like the way you always- *book gets thrown* …tease"

- Cosette was giving to the poor women while Jean was off talking with someone else

-cosette was on the way back to Jean when marius ran into her

- marius helped Cosette up by taking her hands, he was gonna kiss her hand but let go when he saw Jean

-Jean walked with Cosette and he death glared at marius

-Cosette and Jean separated again to different sides of the stage

- once montrapzee ran up to Cosette with the knife marius pushed him away and got in front of her, she was very close behind him. God I just love how much of a simp he is

-ITS JAAAAAAAVEEEEERRRRRRT

- javert came over to Valjean, helped him up as normal, then looked at him for a few seconds then let go

-Jean checked Cosette if she was hurt instantly then they ran off

-the way marius just 🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️ in the background

-Marius eventually ran off, you could tell because he ain't quite at all

- Thénardier was smooching up to javert at "it was me who told you so😗"

Stars

-pretty scene overall

-stars personally is a pretty boring number to me I'm sorry

-still good vocals

Eponine's arron

-all of these sets are really pretty

-"what's become of me" sounded very pretty

-you can always tell when marius shows up by the sound alone

- HE RAN INTO THE FUCKING WALL

- I DON'T THINK IT WAS PLANNED EITHER

-eponine was giggling half way through the number due to that

-you could tell that they are besties though

Red and black

-Hottie enjolras

- Grantaire's hair is half up half down

- "marius your late🙄"

-marius is still the tallest of the cast

-i zoned out half of it on accident

- grant wrapped his arms around marius at "Is Marius in love at last?"

-enj was sitting on the table, clearly dealing with them

-when grant got up on the table and swing his bottle around for "here he comes in just like Don juan" he was air thrusting very close to the back of enjs head💀

- marius snatches the bottle, and grant jumps off, puts his hand ontop of enjs head as support to get down

-Grant and marius start acting like they are sword fighting

-when enj is thrown the bottle, grant runs into him and quickly backs up like whoops

-when marius goes up on the stairs for his part grant gets on the other table which made enj look over at him like 'seriously??'

- "Grantaire put tHE bottle down🙄🙄🙄🙄"

- Enj was very gentle with Gavroche, he lifted him in the air in front of him for a few seconds (like how Russell Crowe as javert did basically)

- Enj put up his arm when he sung "they'll Come when we call" I think it's just how he's able to hit the notes though since he did it 3 times

Do you hear the people sing

-to tHE STREETS

- the visuals are so pretty

-grant is holding Gavroches hand the whole time when they were in the back

-The one barricade boy who sings on top of the set that gets spinned around sounded really good

-enj wrapped his arm around grants shoulder for a few seconds during that

- when they start walking again Enj is either holding a gun or a flag I don't remember

-but grant and Gavroche are in the front following now

-during this ep and marius run out on stage, they talk, marius looks very concerned. Then he runs off only to come back 2 seconds later because he's confused and then ep drags him off

In my life

-God I love the lighting and THE SETS AGAIN

- Cosette runs in giggling

-"can people Reaaaallly fall in love this fast?" It sounds like she was asking the audience

- Addie has got to have the poofiest dresses for Cosette I've ever seen

-her dress is also more off the shoulder than how it usually is

- I love how it's more of Cosette just rambling

-Jean comes in through the gate then locks it again

-during one of her lines he booped her nose

- "in your eyes I am just like a child who is lost in the woods" for some reason I had thought the line was "I am still like a child" but I was wrong

-you can hear ep dragging marius again, they sound like a stampede, they hide behind the pillars that hold the gate

-after Jean and cosette go in marius runs out to the other side of the stage singing per usual

- "eponiNE your the friend who has brought me here :DD" they then hugged, lifted her up, and spin a little bit during that line which was cute cuz besties

- watching marius try to climb the gate-

- while singing 'there is someone who touches my life' he was sitting on top of the fence gate thing for dear life

-you could see Cosette's shadow in the window which was a little sus

-marius then gets down, grabs a rock and yeets it at her window

A heart full of love

-cosette opens the door and stands there like bro what are you doing here

-marius's voice cracked, Cosette went like 😟😃😀 and then went back in the house SLAMMING THE DOOR SHUT LOUDLY

- marius started having his crisis then when walked to the bottom door, Cosette came out at the same time almost running into him

- I think this is one of the cutest HFOL I have ever seen, they really did act in love unlike some other actors where it seems very forced

-once eponine comes out the lights get a bit dimmer on Cosette and marius

-ep looks over as they kissed

- both of them giggle and cosette pulls him off stage, making him nearly trip

The attack on rue plumet

-ep was blocking the main door most of the time

- Thénardier was holding onto Cosette's balcony railing, trying to get up there while saying his lines

- her threatening them was so girlypop

- the sound of marius running alone could scare the gang away (no I'm not gonna stop bringing this up)

-Cosette was very gentle helping eponine up

-they locked the gate on Cosette per normal

-again nick becoming a father irl really showed again

- Cosette was frantically looking around while making up the lie

- "Cosette my child what will become of you,,," sounded really dark or sad, I don't know how to describe it

-when Jean is going on his rant Cosette and marius now talk by the fence not the gate

One day more

-one slay more, another day another Yass queen

- ep on the right stage of the side by marius I think that's how it's always been tho

-Enj has the brightest spotlight, he does the whole show

-lowkey thought someone was gonna run into javert on accident

-THE BARRICADE PEOPLE WEAVING WHILE MARCHING WAS SO COOL

-jean now had a limp when he walked back on stage

-the way they sound at the end, chills

#les miserables #us tour #review #les mis #nick cartell #hayden tee #Haley Dortch #Matt Crowle #Christina Rose Hall #hazel vogel #Cora Jane Messer #Christine Heesun Hwang #addie morales #Gregory Lee Rodriguez #Devin Archer #Kyle Adams #Harrison Fox #Les miserables us tour

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vickyvicarious · 10 months

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I am waiting for the new voicemail from my friend Jonathan while reading Les Miserables what's your impression and favorite characters so far?

I'm so sorry, this ask came in May 23... But hey, at least events have swung back around to the point when we are waiting for another Jonathan voicemail! (and wondering... will we ever hear from our good friend again, or did he not survive the climb/vampires/wolves/etc.?) So, at least it's still kinda topical!

I read Les Mis once before, back when I was twelve or thirteen, I'd say? So I'm going into this with a basic idea of the plot, but most of it has been fun re-discovering and I'm really only remembering moments as we get to them at best. I think one thing I'm noticing especially is how well Hugo writes this certain type of punchy line. I keep noticing it. He builds up a longer scene, paragraphs or sometimes even into chapters long, and then crystallizes an idea with a very short sentence that carries a strong emotional weight to it. Often this undercuts whatever was being said before, or at least provides a new perspective that changes how you view it. I could try and dig up a couple examples, but I'm sure you know what I mean, it has been happening a lot!

As far as the actual story goes, it's once again really engaging and interesting, but so far at least in a way where I don't typically feel a huge need or ability to verbalize my interpretations so much? I've really been enjoying reading others but I just haven't done too much myself. Part of that is because I'm so hazy on a lot of the story while others aren't and part is most of my meta brain being caught up in Dracula at the moment and part is probably even it coming in daily without any breaks but also I'm just... I dunno, enjoying the ride more quietly I guess.

That said, I absolutely love Jean Valjean, and Fantine, and while I don't feel like I really know teenage Cosette yet I want to make sure she's safe and have so much love for her as a child that it carries over. I noticed a lot more details about Javert that really inform his character and actions (his own criminal family background, the layers of power in his relationship with Valjean when he was mayor and after, etc.) that I definitely missed age 12, which make him way more interesting to me. In contrast Marius is honestly not super interesting to me? I definitely felt awful for him learning about his father (and for his father of course) but so far it's probably the least emotionally engaging part of the book for me. I guess Waterloo was at times a little more of a slog since there weren't characters in the vast majority of that section who we knew personally, but otherwise, eh. So far all the younger characters haven't fully made their impact, to be honest.

#les mis letters #replies #anonymous #oh but in side characters: sister simplice is so loyal #and fauchelevent GOT TO ME in the chapel

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dolphin1812 · 10 months

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The title of this chapter ("Poverty a Good Neighbor for Misery") sums up the gap between Marius and the Jondrettes. He's certainly poor, but they're truly misérables. The horrors of their circumstances aren't explicit here, but we get them through an indirect comparison. They're not cast out on the street because Marius digs into his savings to let them live in the Gorbeau House a little longer. The house itself isn`t great, and while Marius is able to pay their rent, doing so basically eliminates his savings. The Jondrettes, then, must be unable to pay any unforeseen expense. Moreover, Marius is looked on with suspicion in public places because he seems poor and is usually lost in thought. If his presence is already considered questionable, what might the Jondrettes face?

(We've already seen a possible answer to that question. Before adopting Cosette and after escaping prison, Jean Valjean was chased down by the authorities whenever he was around too many people because his shabby clothes and constantly frightened demeanor made him seem suspicious. Maybe the Jondrettes don't look as scared as he did, but their obvious poverty would still be an issue).

Marius' isolation is still deeply sad. Although he could be limiting his meetings with Courfeyrac and Mabeuf because he's very introverted (which is a fair reason), it could equally be an issue of time, money, and/or pride. It's nice that his father's old companions reached out to him as well, but unfortunately, poverty and pride keep him from seeing them often. His resignation (thinking of the issue of clean shoes "without bitterness") is upsetting as well, suggesting that he still thinks this is simply how he should live.

His politics have also gotten more abstract. To Marius, the July Revolution was enough (I think the fact that this is what first began to push Mabeuf into misery should be an indication that Hugo disagrees, but Hugo's basically disagreed with all of Marius' political positions so far). His life is decent enough that he doesn't think about politics that often, too; his initial Bonapartist fervor was mainly due to anger at his grandfather and grief for his father, so as he distances himself from that, he's becoming less political and closer to Mabeuf's stance. I think this section sums it up:

"To speak accurately, he had no longer any opinions, he had sympathies. To what party did he belong? To the party of humanity. Out of humanity he chose France; out of the Nation he chose the people; out of the people he chose the woman. It was to that point above all, that his pity was directed. Now he preferred an idea to a deed, a poet to a hero, and he admired a book like Job more than an event like Marengo."

His ideas aren't wrong, exactly. Hugo outright states that this is what people should strive for, as Marius is consistently on the side of the least fortunate. The problem is that these are "sympathies" and not "opinions." His ideals are right, but he has no plan to get there, and his personal charity towards people like the Jondrettes, while admirable, isn't going to cause social change (as seen with Bishop Myriel, Mayor Madeleine, and so on). Marius' politics, in a sense, return us to the issue of work that Hugo discussed two chapters ago. While Hugo's praise of work and condemnation of idleness there was uncomfortable, as it placed work as a measure of moral value, his note that Marius' contemplative nature could sometimes be bad because it could cause him to slip into "idleness" is similar to his problem here. Marius shouldn't have to be an activist to have good morals or anything, but from a political perspective, being a good person doesn't suffice, and Marius isn't seeing that because he's focusing on dreaming more than acting. I wish Hugo had framed this issue in a less moralizing way, since Marius is a good person here. He's just not great politically. This probably wouldn't be as much of a problem if he weren't in the political part of the book. His "sympathies" wouldn't be as glaring if they weren't contrasted with the severe consequences of politics (the July Revolution that he's OK with causing Mabeuf's problems) and with those who are more active than he is (Les Amis).

#les mis letters #lm 3.5.5 #marius pontmercy #he and mabeuf really would have had a great time in book 1 of les mis #but unfortunately for them they're in book 3

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