#yes and no! no and yes! she's two people!!!!! it's complicated!!!!!!!! forget the romance

[picory]

i really need to rewatch uwe before the upcoming season finale and properly gather my thoughts on it but i really really like the show! its goofy and cartoony style paired with a serious story about these warriors' souls stuck in an eternal war with the evil, the slight psychological horror of being used as hosts for said souls and almost completely discarded and disregarded (though it doesn't say too much about this, this is more my overthinking), the steampunk elements, the character designs, the voice acting... all of it. despite that i still have some irks with it, like the pacing. this show would've definitely benefited from having more episodes. for such a story heavy show 10 episodes doesn't feel enough. it worked with primal, genndy tartakovsky's previous show, because there was little to no dialogue there. it did an excellent job at making the viewer understand what was happening with mere facial expressions. but uwe characters have a lot to say, a lot to work out between each other. and it's clear tartakovsky wants to tell more. they need more episodes to do that. i hope the show gets renewed for a second season. i need everything that i'm extremely confused about to be addressed and cleared up

#the whole emmalinda thing! she's both of them and neither of them! which woman is taking the centre stage? #it's confusing. everyone calls her melinda. but she's not really herself #everytime she looks at her reflection emma's there instead. so emma is still in the ''backseat'' #this emmalinda has both of the women's memories #she's an enigma to me #dimitri while heavily influencing edred's behavior is just. not there. chilling the background. rolling with whatever (free him 💔) #alfie and seng? i have no fucking idea half the time. they're like emmalinda to me #this whole thing is so confusing.... we need to see the other hosts shining through more. not just emma. just a bit. please. for my sanity #i don't care for the romance. at least now that they are they way they are. emmalinda isn't just one person #so her being pinned with either edred or winston doesn't feel right to me. ''is she into edred? is she into winston?'' #yes and no! no and yes! she's two people!!!!! it's complicated!!!!!!!! forget the romance #it's fair to question their relationships status though considering everything (edred and melinda were lovers for eternity; #emma and winston were about to get married) #but man. whatever #WHY IS THE ELF KINGDOM JUST A FEW KILOMETERS AWAY FROM THE MAIN CITY. why are the elves that edred knew still alive #do they just live that long what the fuck #aelwulf is just going to be stuck pretending to be his brother for the rest of his life huh. that's fucked up. are they not gonna notice #this is a rambling mess isn't it. it's rare for me to go off like this in public i think. i usually keep that all in my head

[calisources]

𝐑𝐎𝐘𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆, 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐘𝐀𝐋, 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐒.

All sentences on this meme have been taking from different media and sources. They all touch on the topics of romance, difficult and forbidden love, mostly setting in the political schemes of war and peace and royal court. Change names, locations and nouns and you see fit. Some lines might have foul language.

Sometimes we hurt the ones we love, but hurting ourselves to avoid it doesn’t make it better.

Could someone treat you badly and still love you? 

Even so, in the midst of this complicated love, there is a holy union.

Love is complicated. It’s sticky. It’s bliss and it’s a mix of emotions. It’s not easy.

I hated him now because I has loved him then.

 I'm not like you. I can't afford to be reckless.

When have I ever, since the first instant I touched you, pretended to be anything less than in love with you?

Are you so fucking self-absorbed as to think this is about you and whether or not I love you, rather than the fact I'm an heir to the fucking throne? 

You at least have the option to not choose a public life eventually, but I will live and die in these palaces and in this family.

She wears a crown that never should’ve been hers.

Your wish is my command, my queen.

You can always leave my service.

Don’t you see, Diana? If I did that, I’d break not one but two hearts. For I know you love me, though you haven’t said it yet.

You do know me. I love you so much, it sometimes terrifies me.

You are going to regret that, Your Magical Regalness.

Just because I am  a prince doesn’t make my life a fairy tale.

So kiss the others for all I care, but don’t hold back with me.

You are enough to drive a saint to madness or a king to his knees.

He didn't marry you to become king. He became king because he wanted to marry you.

I know I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king.

 I believe we are what we make ourselves, and as such, you, Crown Princess, are nothing.

You, what are you? The brat of lucky parents who were related to a childless king.

Rule with the heart of a servant. Serve with the heart of a king.

There’s a fine line between gossip and history, when one is talking about kings.

You can't treat royalty like people with normal perverted desires.

We kings do develop a certain ability to recognize objects under our noses.

...alone is such a nebulous state when one is queen.

I respect you as my king, and I respect you as my father, but I do not respect you as a man.

You're the most important person I've ever met.  And I should have never met you at all.

Desires are what can most easily ruin us, lovely.

I find that happiness can always be recollected in tranquillity, Ma’am.

It's almost impossible for those who have had an intimate relationship to return to a formal one.

I question if within you is any magic.

You’re my princess, right? You were always going to be my princess, no matter what you were born.

The king is a saint and cannot rule, and his son is a devil and should not.

For kings, the world is extremely simplified: All men are subjects.

A king deserves reverence when being addressed.

Yes, she had abused her title and station before, but for minor stuff, not to steal a warship.

You are a king worthy of their allegiance . . . with a queen full of fire and promise.

When God calls you into His Kingdom, your way of life will reflect royalty if you serve Him with loyalty.

My royal status is both a shield that protects me and a sword that impales my heart.

You know, for a pampered princess, you have a certain gift for violence.

I have to be seen to be believed.

Kings needn’t raise their voices to be heard.

That is your very own myth. The idea that how you are born or the name you are given dictate the sort of person you really are.

I know that names have power. That is why I cannot let her forget hers. 

You’ll have to face it, Princess. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but soon enough. And you can’t be this scared when the time comes.

A bad king revels in his importance. A good one hates his office. 

Crowns belong to those that serve.

She was their witch queen, and they adored her.

Beatrice is going to be queen someday.

Kings are only kings because one ancestor was quicker than another to place a crown on his own head.

Queen, do not allow a commoner to dethrone you. Own that throne. You are royalty.

A throne won in blood will soon be drenched in it.

My mother once told me that everything is fuelled by either money or sex, because both lead to power.

Even when she's dethroned by hardship, she still wears the sun as a crown.

She holds a nation’s fate within her shaking hands. She wears a crown that never should’ve been hers.

My reign has been anything but traditional. Let’s not start now, shall we?

Oh honey, someday a real man is going to make you see stars and you won't even be looking at the sky.

Every girl thinks about growing up in a palace. Few ever ponder living in a cage.

Climb up the family tree of any of them high enough and you’ll find a commoner who dared to take a chance.

Am I forbidden to do what all may do?

My arrival saved the kingdom, while his only reiterated that his blood would fill the throne one day.

Slow down there, princess. How do you know what kind of first impression you gave me?

So none of the young men we encountered during our season gave you hot pants for them?

If stubborness were all that was needed to be a good queen, I'd rule the world.

I’d decided that I was going to stop dressing like a princess and start dressing like a queen.

Don’t touch me. Don’t tell me how beautiful my eyes are, how soft my hair is, how you love to hear my voice. Don’t. Don’t pretend you are falling in love with me. 

I know you are lying, and every word you say hurts even more. 

Before the wedding, and the bedding, when I will have to take you as my lord and husband?

I may not be a king or a queen, but I'll be damned if I'm not treated like royalty.

He is fragile, like a prince of ice, of glass.

It is natural that men are going to gather round me, hoping for a smile.

Men only treat women like princesses when they want to use them like prostitutes.

You can smile when your heart is breaking because you're a woman.

I can't sleep, I can't eat, I can't do anything but think about him.

Anyone can attract a man. The trick is to keep him.

To save my son, I would plot with the devil himself.

Only fools wait when their enemies are coming, to see if they may prove to be friends.

When a man wants a mystery, it is generally better to leave him mystified. Nobody loves a clever woman.

I wanted the heat and the sweat and the passion of a man that I could love and trust.

I am a fool to own it, but I am in a fever for your touch.

And you are the sort of mistress a man doesn't bother to marry. Sons or no sons.

#roleplay memes #sentence meme #( cali meme. ) #rp memes #rp prompt #rp musings #roleplay prompt #political scheme #royal schemes #royal betrayal #romantic heartbreak

[aihoshiino]

it's never going to come up in canon but i do often wonder a lot what the result of ai surviving and raising aqrb as their mother would have done for grsr's 'presence' in their lives and identities, so to speak. obviously both of them have differing and (in aq's case) complicated relationships to the people they were 'before', but how much of that is nature and how much of that is nurture (or lack thereof, i guess.......) is interesting to consider.

ruby pretty clearly straightforwardly thinks of herself as sarina 2.0 at least as of the last real interrogation of this aspect of her identity, but earlier in the series, we actually see her drawing more of a dividing line between the two identities, codeswitching between speaking as 'sarina' and 'ruby' particularly strongly at the start of the sweet today arc. i do think these aspects of her identity make sense in tandem - if she considers herself a continuation of sarina's wishes and dreams, i think it makes sense for them to both overlap and yet be differentiated in the way your past and present selves are at once different and the same.

aqua's r/s with gorou's identity is pretty messy and hard to fully nail down though i think that's in part because aqua himself doesn't know what the fuck to make of it, really. as a baby, we see gorou's personality much more prominently but once we timeskip to the twins' middle school days, the current aqua almost feels like an entirely different character. and in a sense, he is: he's lived a whole life's worth of time so far in a completely different body and brain, having interactions and relationships with people gorou amamiya would never have met in his life and occupying a totally different social role to his past self - i think it makes sense to call the sum of those differences 'aqua hoshino' and differentiate them in the same way as early!ruby does btwn her and sarina: the same, yet different. i do think aqua is intended to be read as separate enough from gorou as to be an individual person, just because a lot of things about him (in particular the aqkn and aqak romances) read Very Differently if he is intended to be an unbroken continuation of gorou's identity as opposed to a 14~18yo boy inheriting it. it's not that aqua concretely Is or Is Not gorou - both of these things are true at once and it's this lack of a yes/no binary and associated failure to compartmentalize as needed that seems to be one of the main causes of his Gorou Related Anguish

but!! all this stuff is infinitely more complicated by the fact that the twins were both traumatized by losing ai in their very early childhood. aqua in particular, as we later find out, was essentially retraumatized because gorou's guilt over his mother's death (+ his grief over sarina's, who he associated w/ai) was already floating around in his brain when all this shit happened. so how much of the current aqua is just the result of his personality naturally developing like that and how much is his brain getting fucking mgs4 microwave corridor brain blasted at a formative age?

then of course there's this smoking gun ass line

what does this mean, aka akasaka. i'm going to laminate you.

i do personally like to think that in an ai lives au, the twins ultimately do fully step into their lives as 'aqua hoshino' and 'ruby hoshino' without feeling beholden to their past selves - not abandoning or forgetting them, but making the most of this second opportunity as new people to purify their regrets and lay them to rest with love. this is mostly because i don't think either of the twins could ever sincerely and wholly accept ai as their mother w/o that compartmentalization and just considering that makes me want to scream cry throw up eat fiberglass blow up a building and smash breakable dishware.

i just want the hoshinos to be alive, together and happy and mentally well....................... is that too much to ask

#oshi no ko #oshi no posting #onk spoilers #nothing explosive but

[jksprincess10]

A small loan || Pedro Pascal x reader

Summary: Your boyfriend Pedro found your secret kink. 

TW: Age gap, unprotected sex, mask kink, dom!pedro

I feel like this isn’t as good as I imagined but I needed to get this out of my brain

You two had an agreement. He would leave for months for filming and came back eventually to his New York apartment, where you stayed for free. He gave you everything, in return, you were discreet and you took care of his home. You liked this freedom, liked being alone. As an introvert, you could stay in your-his office all day and write your silly little romance novels and give some writing lessons on the side to have some pocket money. You would spend nights exploring his bookshelves and imagine his voice reading aloud.

You liked this independence, yes, but a part of you always waited for him to come back. Of course, you would facetime at least once a week. More if you could. But you were young and he didn’t want the media on his ass for dating a younger woman, although he wasn’t as creepy as Leonardo Dicaprio. No, you were far into your twenties. Still, he didn’t want anyone to know, except close friends, and you were his little secret.

Your best friend knew, of course, she was the reason you two met.

It was Jessie’s book launching party. You two went to university together and you followed your dreams, always supporting each other and being honest with each other.

You hated those stupid parties and meeting new people, having to make small talk, but you went to encourage her. Jessie was showing you around to everyone like a cute puppy and eventually, you two stopped in front of Pedro. His face was familiar, but you didn’t know from where.

“Pedro, this is my best friend.”

He leaned in to leave polite kisses on your cheeks and you felt his beard scratching your cheeks.

“Nice to meet you.” His voice was soft, inviting.

“L-Likewise.” You responded, destabilized by his beauty.

“Y/N, you probably know him from The Mandalorian…”

“Oh.” That’s all you could say. This stupid show that inspired some smutty stories you wrote about mask kinks. You didn’t know it was him – hell, they never showed his face and you weren’t a big enough fan to dig deeper. But he was handsome. “Didn’t recognize you without the mask.”, you justified awkwardly.

And Jessie left you there to see other friends. You looked probably dumbfounded, but he laughed and it made your shoulders relax, leaving the tension and the awkwardness behind.

“You’re right, I look so much better with the mask on.” He sipped on his wine and you did the same. You felt his soft brown eyes analyzing your body in that light purple dress. You liked the attention he gave you.

“That’s not what I meant at all, you’re very handsome… I just didn’t expect to see you at a romance novel launch party.”

“I have my secrets. So, are you also a writer?”

You engaged in small talk that was, for once, comfortable.

Eventually, that night, you don’t know how, but you ended up in his hotel room, moaning his name as he was exploring your body.

You hung out more and more when he was in town, not only for sex, but for dates, until you came to this little agreement between you two. It was simple and complicated at the same time. You two had a life on the side, but you knew you loved each other, but-but-but no one could know. So many buts. So, you would watch him from afar, on various screens, until he came back to you in this cocoon you two created.

“Almost home. Got a surprise for you, sweetheart.”

You smiled at your phone and saved one last time your draft, before texting back:

“Excited to see what kind of surprise you got for me.”

Since he was – well, older, you had to teach him the rules of texting. Some days, he would just forget that texts existed and would call instead.

Soon enough, you heard the lock of the door turning. You moved from the couch and jumped in his arms. He groaned slightly, surprised, wrapping his arms tightly around you. Then, he pressed a soft kiss on the top of your head.

“Missed you.”

You got up on your toes to leave a kiss on his lips. “Missed you two, sweet girl.”, he whispered against your plush mouth.

You gave him some time to breathe and take care of his luggage, until you saw a bag that looked heavy. You tried lifting it up, it felt like… metal?

“Pedro, what’s that?” You were always to say his name the right way, the “r” rolling on your tongue.

He took the bag from you before you could see what was inside.

“Your surprise. And it’s not ready yet.”

Your mouth formed an adorable pout, but he didn’t flinch.

“Promise, you’ll get it soon. I just need take a shower first, I smell like… airplanes.”

“That makes no fucking sense.” You laughed.

“I know. But shush.”

“Can’t I come in the shower with you?”

He seemed tempted, you hadn’t touched in months and his body ached for you. But he said no, before disappearing in the bathroom and taking the mysterious bag with him. You waited on the couch, scrolling mindlessly on your phone. It was taking a long time, longer than usual, you thought. But you were patient because he asked. You were his good girl waiting to get praised by him for waiting.

After thirty minutes, the bathroom door opened, and you heard his steps – heavier than usual – coming to you. You lifted your chin to see him in full Mandalorian armor, helmet masking his curls and all.

“Oh.” Your chin dropped to your neck, and you tightened your thighs together.

“They let me… keep it since I asked. A small loan, since they’re making a new armor for season 3.”

His voice sounded deeper as it resonated against the metal.

“Pedro, don’t tell me you found my silly and dirty story-” You panicked.

He approached slowly. He looked taller, scarier. And the naughtiest part of you loved it. His gloved hand lifted your chin, fabric soft against your skin. You were faced with a visor, and you couldn’t see his soft, warm eyes. You were already breathless, and he was barely touching you.

“I did. It gave me a few ideas. So, the helmet stays on, unless you close your eyes. For now, I don’t trust you to keep them closed. Understood?” His voice was deep, dark. The same stupid voice he used in the show. Asshole.

“Yes, sir.”

You swore you could see him grinning behind the glass.

“Come with me.”

You nodded and did as he said, following him to the bedroom, although your legs felt weak. He sat on the side of the bed, still looking tall and menacing in this stupid stupid suit. His hands pressed your shoulders, and you went down on your knees in front of him.

“You will let me fuck your mouth.”

You nodded and you watched him as he undid the bottom of this stupid costume. A gloved hand grabbed the back of your head and pushed you towards his already half-hard member. You opened your mouth as he guided himself past the barrier of your soft lips. You swallowed against his length, sucking in your cheeks. His hips moved, slowly at first, but softness didn’t last too long.

“Good girl.” He praised in a low voice.

You felt yourself getting ridiculously wet as he hips thrusted into your mouth, fucking it harshly, using you as a vessel for his pleasure. You moaned against his skin and concentrated so you wouldn’t choke as the corner of your eyes filled with tears.

“Aw, I thought you could take more than that.” He cooed.

His cock slipped from your mouth, leaving you empty, his hand held you by the throat so you would get up. You knew, even though Pedro was “gone” for the sake of this little play session, he still cared about you and knew your limits.

“I’m sorry, sir.”

“Take a break. We have plenty of time to play.” He said as he trapped your hips between his strong thighs.

His fingers hooked the elastic of your shorts, before pulling them down. You felt already exposed under the dark gaze you imagined he had. You liked not knowing, not being able to read his face. Fingers covered in leather teased the hidden parts of you through the thin fabric, already soaking wet. You sucked in a breath.

“You’re such a pervert, aren’t you? You’re getting off on the kinkiest stuff.”

“I am, sir. B-But please…”

You grinded against his hand, wanting your lover to commit fully. A sound came out of his mouth that sounded like a low laugh, that didn’t sound like him.

“You’re pathetic.”

Slowly, his fingers came up to your mouth. You bit through the fabric to take the gloves off, freeing strong, manly hands. Once free, his fingers found their way back to your panties, he pulled them to the side, before slipping two fingers against your swollen and wet lips. You let out a pathetic moan as he worked his fingers slowly through your folds. Your legs were already shaking, and if he wasn’t holding the small of your back with his palm, you would be falling. His thumb found your clit and teased it, circling around it, as he inserted a finger in you.

“F-Fuck… C-Can I…”

He let out a small “shush” as he kept working on teasing you, inserting another finger. He fucked you with two fingers, curling them, as his thumb kept caressing that sweet spot on your anatomy. That’s all it took to send you over the edge, and you tried to stay up as he guided you through your orgasm. It pitiful how fast you came, but you were so hungry for him.  

“Good girl.” He praised. “Now, you want to try again?”

You nodded before dropping to your knees and you took all of him in. This time, he didn’t thrust in your mouth, and he let you go at your own rhythm, even though he seemed impatient. He occasionally let out slow groans as you bobbed your head up and down, coating his member with your sweet saliva. You went faster as you heard his pleased sounds and when he was done playing, he stopped you, pulling your hair.

“Better.”

You looked so good on his knees for him, makeup already fucked. He could’ve cum already, but he wanted to last longer for you.

“Aren’t you hot in all of this?” You asked, fingers caressing the armor on his chest.

The helmet nodded.

“You can take it off, y’know?”

Slowly, you helped him getting him out of the costume, revealing tan, golden skin and patches of curly hair here and there. Your fingers hooked the bottom of the helmet, but he shook his head.

“Not yet.”

You pouted, even though you were the one who fantasized about this in the first place. You just… really missed his face, that you hadn’t seen in person for months. His strong hands pulled you on top of him as his back touched the mattress. You leaned in, kissing the defined line of his neck and sucking on the skin. You wanted him to know he was yours. You wanted everyone else to know so bad.  Suddenly, his hand smacked your ass cheek. You let out a little cry of surprise.

“Bad girl. No hickeys.”

So, you found something else to negotiate about.

“I’ll keep my eyes closed and you can fuck me from behind.”

He groaned, letting out a swear word. The simple thought was so hot to him.

“Fine.” He sighed.

You sat beside him on the bed and put your hands over your eyes as he took off the helmet and carefully put it aside. He was so sweaty under it, dark curls wet with sweat and his forehead glistening. He manoeuvred your small body so you would lay on your belly, face burrowed in the  soft pillows.

His hands positioned on your ass, he entered your walls, already strong and rough. You bit into the pillow as he thrusted in and out of you, fast and hard. You tried to be silent, but soon enough, you were screaming as he hit that spot inside of you. Your walls tightened around him and without a warning, you felt warm liquid shooting in you.

He turned you around to face him as you kept your eyes closed. You felt him gently cleaning you up.

“You can look, sweet girl.”

You opened your eyes and smiled as you saw his face. His curls were going in every direction possible; his face was shiny with sweat and god this stupid smile was placed on his lips. You pulled him closer to give him a long kiss, delicate fingers grabbing the back of his neck.

“Was it better than your story?” He asked teasingly.

“Frankly, yes. And I’ll write more of it.”

His laugh filled the room.

“Can’t wait to read it, love.”

#pedro pascal x reader #the mandaloria/reader #pedro pascal

[sweet4nothing]

One thing I absolutely loved? The romance and how they went about breaking down Yonas first love and building up her second without completing invalidating the former.

I mean it’s impossible to downplay the importance Suwon played in Yonas life. He was her first love, someone who cared for her and loved her; who was there for her when her mother died.

And whatever feelings I have for Suwon (and I have a lot of very complicated I want to kick you in the shin mister feelings lol) I don’t think that affection and love he showed hak and yona was fake. I just think he’s scarily good at compartmentalizing (again I have thoughts and feelings on this). But yes he cared for her - I just don’t think it was in the way Yona cared for him.

I think Suwon gets flustered and confused when it’s brought up because he really has never put much thought or care into romantic love - I think when he said he doesn’t get it he means it. Sometimes I wonder if it’s because of the crimson illness but I think this is just Suwon. He loves Yona, bonded deeply with Hak (the chapter were little hak offers his hand to suwon with yona on his shoulders and suwon is all happy about it and calls him his big brother hurts even more because they were so happy back then).

And then there’s hak. Steady, dependable and completely in love with a princess who only has eyes for one person. (And it’s funny because while I think Suwon does probably know her the best, Hak sees her the best. He understands who she is and who she could be.) but he loves so much thats he’s okay with that because it’s his two favorite people and if they’re safe and happy, defending them and their kingdom would be his greatest honor.

But then suwon does the unthinkable. And it breaks and they break and you see yona piece herself back from that new reality. But her feelings don’t just go away. She keeps that hair pin because it was from him and because despite everything he did and everything she feels … a part of her still loves him. But little by little those feelings do change … and while it may not be that she’s in love with him, the love she felt for him as someone who was important to her is still there. (You almost wish suwon was just some crazy villain - but even yona recognizes the need for him). But her giving up that pin … it wasn’t just her giving up her love, it was moving forward from the ghosts of that night.

And then there’s the Hak and Yona of it all - it starts off slow, so slow you wouldn’t even really notice it but little by little her eyes stray to him more and more, she becomes aware of him and his presence and it’s not over the top the realization that she loves him … it just simply fact. And the way he shares his feeling for her? And the kiss she just like plops on him like nothing? The total and complete malfunctioning of his brain because what? (Chapter 225) Yona thinking that it was never like this was suwon, that she feels like she can’t breathe around hak, that she forgets how to speak? Like kill me now lol and then it’s just natural from there. They are in love and that’s how it is - though while the kisses and affections are lovely I do feel like there needs to be at least one big moment between them.

Also damn I can talk lol

#akatsuki no yona #hak and yona #hak x yona #hakyona

[starry-eyed-steve]

Some of you are really pissing me off, especially on twitter.

Maya never said Robin shouldn't get a gf, she voiced her concerns that Robin getting a gf would be the center of her character, and she's right to be worried.

Stranger Things branded itself as a show where friendships are the most important thing. However, over the years in the show and fandom, romantic relationships are mostly at the focus.

Jonathan, as soon as he started to date Nancy never saw an independent character arc until s4 where he wasn't with her. His character is simply a sidekick to Nancy. He doesn't grow, and his arc is mostly about Jancy. Like his struggles of being financially not well off or taking care of Will and his mom are swept under the rug. The major conflict in s3 was more about Nancy and how unsupportive Jonathan was as a boyfriend, instead of commenting on his social status and problems.

Steve, as soon as he was around Nancy again, ditched everything else. His relationships, which he created throughout the seasons, were tossed out the window. Even his scenes with Robin were suddenly all about love or Stancy. It's so tiresome because his character thrives the most when he's with Robin and the kids. There is no real balance for his character, which is upsetting. So I get some complaints about Robin being a cheerleader for a straight relationship (which was so ooc s3 Robin would never) instead of focusing on her character outside of romance in s4. The Duffers have simply no idea how to write relationships, platonic or romantic, at this point. Which again is exactly what Maya is concerned about, that Robin's platonic relationship with Steve will suffer even more because either of Robin prioritizing her romantic relationship, or Steve prioritizes his relationship over friendship. (Or both and they simply forget about each other)

Nancy, despite what the fandom says, is the least affected by those relationships, at least in the show. She has the most agency and always gets her plot outside of romance, and she is not as defined by her relationships as her romantic partners are (in the show). She's known as the investigator who is super smart and badass. However, she is still not allowed to have friends, besides the two that were mentioned in s2. Her romantic partners will become the most important people in her life. I kinda liked her friendship with Robin, but the fandom took it and made it into a romance, proving again that romantic relationships are the center of characters or are seen as more valuable and meaningful.

In s3, Mike's character was focused around El. He barely had time with his friends. El only gained another friend after temporarily breaking up with Mike. And again, in the beginning of s4, it's all about her romance, not so much how she misses her friends. Did she even write letters to Max and the party?

With Will, it's complicated. He's a gay kid discovering his sexuality and trying to live with that, so it's understandable that his arc is about romance/love. However, he also got majorly sidelined after s2, like does he have anything else going on besides that? What about discussing his trauma or focusing on other relationships besides Mike. Like I would have loved seeing him actively bond with El or hang out with Dustin (we never get to see them together)

Dustin has an independent story arc each season because his girlfriend isn't there with him, which allows him to have outside relationships and interests.

Lumax is the only couple that has some balance, like they are together, but the relationship doesn't define them like other characters. Both Lucas and Max make time for their friends and talk about other stuff. I would still argue that Lucas definitely deserves more character development and a more independent arc from Lumax. His struggles as a black kid often get sidelined in favor of the romantic plot.

So yes, Maya's fear that the show would make Robin ditch everything for romance is valid because it's happening all the time, especially to the teens! For example, even if the show develops the friendship between Nancy and Robin, the fandom would make it romantic. Like people cry as to why Maya can't promote the friendship between Nancy and Robin, when the majority of the fandom doesn't view it as platonic, and Maya knows that as well. Sidenote: It's also super annoying that as soon as a lesbian character hangs out with another girl, she automatically has to like her romantically, especially if she shows romantic interest in another character. (I have so many problems with Ronance, but that's not the point rn).

I don't want to see any Vickie slander either. The argument that this relationship is rushed or bad rep because it's more in the background is stupid. On the one hand people complain all the time that the cast is too big but when characters only get a few minutes of screentime to act as a love interest for a minor main character like Robin, it's also wrong. Plus, I literally don't want to hear that Vickie isn't much developed when people had no problems shipping Will with Gareth, who had just as much screentime if not less, and they never even met. You never gave Vickie a chance because she's a bisexual girl who shows interest in a sapphic relationship. Why are the standards so impossible high for lesbian/sapphic relationships? A dude literally has to look at one of the guys or be remotely cute and bam, the fandom comes up with thousands of headcanons.

Lastly, I don't want to see any Stobin or Steve slander. Steve is the first person to celebrate when Robin gets with Vickie, so Stobin is not the problem when it comes to Rovickie. A lot of people complain that Robin's character is all about Steve, and I sincerely think those people probably never had a best friend. Like my bff and I were super inseparable during our teen years, people legitimately thought we were either siblings or dating lmao, like my grandma asked if I was a lesbian because all I did was hang out with girls, esp my bff. If Steve isn't allowed to be happy for Robin's romantic relationships or isn't allowed to give her any advice in that department (and vice versa), are they really bffs? If you're not at least a little bit invested in your friendships with others, how can you even call yourself their friend? Robin caring about Steve, hanging out with Steve, literally wanting to combine with him, is just her having found a person that understands her. It's not making a lesbian character all about a guy (that's particularly the take when it comes to the ronance ship as Steve has history with both characters). I saw some takes that Steve is the only one benefiting from Stobin, as if Robin never gains anything from that relationship. Like Steve makes her comfortable, to a point she told him her biggest secret. He can handle her rants, he drives her around, and he listens to every problem because Robin can be fully herself around him. They are both gossiping and having fun, and most importantly, they understand each other because they share the trauma of being tortured in a Russian bunker like I need you all to get a grip quickly. Robin would hate a lot of you for shitting on Steve because that's her bestie if you like it or not. I'm also all for aro-ace lesbian representation. If you think a character is less gay because they focus on friendships or don't have a desire to date, that's a you problem.

But again, Maya never said Robin shouldn't date. The show simply shouldn't lose sight of the platonic relationships as well.

I also want to add that Stranger Things as a show in general would not suffer so much in both the romantic relationship and the platonic relationship department if they would give us more episodes. The main characters don't have a chance to branch out and meet others because of limited time. So when one of them gets a love interest, it's perceived as rushed because we are on a time crunch (especially if it's for Robin bc people wouldn't throw such a fit if Steve gets a gf last episode). And as I mentioned earlier, people already don't like the huge cast, so it's hard to add new characters with depth. So we are forced to have all the characters cross date/befriend, which also removes conflict in general because we don't have options and the fandom is mostly all about everyone gets along and everything is fine and dandy. Because be for real most of the teen characters in the main cast wouldn't be friends given their drama and history with each other. If we had 20 episodes, everything would be better, I guarantee you.

(In general, I want to say I'm not a fan of most ships in the show or fandom, and I think a lot of them would be better as friends even if I'm skeptical that they would genuinely get along after everything. Especially the teens don't have many strong friendship bonds and could benefit from forming platonic relationships over romantic ones. The only ships I truly respect are Lumax, Byler (if done right), Rovickie, Jancy if they get it together, and Jopper.)

#robin buckley #steve harrington #nancy wheeler #jonathan byers #will byers #vickie stranger things #stobin #platonic stobin #rovickie #rockie #stranger things #maya hawke #sandra says stuff

[sirensskai]

My Ripp Grunt headcanons

It was about time I put them all in one place because as you can tell I’m obsessed with him and have a lot😭 Some of them might make no sense whatsoever or sound weird or are probably me just projecting but who cares lol. If I forget any or think of more I’ll add them later. Also it’s going to be really long…

Anyway… “So Kai, how much do you like Ripp???”

Me:

Birthday

I have come up with a birthday for Ripp. December 13, 1988. (Yes I know December 13 is the same date as Taylor Swift lol.) He is a Sagittarius (that’s canon but that’s why I picked that birthday). I see sims 2 Strangetown as starting in 2005 and he was age 16-17 back then. He’s a year and several months younger than Tank and 4 years older than Buck.

Height

Kind of short for a guy, about 5.5. Tank and Johnny are significantly taller and he hates it.

Identity

He is bisexual and transmasculine. Maybe non binary too, specifically a non binary man (like a demiboy or something.)

Ripp has always been attracted to all genders. He doesn’t really care about that (can fit pansexual too.) He is open to seeing multiple people at once so is polyamorous too. Which can be one way of explaining the romance aspiration. And yes, he has a crush on both Ophelia and Johnny.

He is transgender and knew something was up from an early age. Like a lot of transmasc people he went down the “tomboy” to trans pipeline. He didn’t fully realise what being trans meant and that that was what he was until he was about 14 though. Ripp chose his name himself, idc. He thought it was cool.

Johnny and Ophelia were very supportive of him being trans. He had them at school when the bullies found something new to pick on. As was his mum Lyla who he is very close to. Buck didn’t fully understand at first because of being really young but is still very supportive. (Also Buck ended up becoming Rebecca and is transfem herself but that’s another character headcanon lol) Lyla helped him start HRT.

General Buzz though… I don’t see General Buzz as entirely transphobic. I think he’s the kind of person to prefer having sons, but is still weird about Ripp being trans. He is kind of against it at first but gets used to it. He would also want Ripp to be a man in the “right” way (based on a Tumblr post I saw.) He messes up pronouns sometimes but at least tries. He still thinks Ripp is a fucking lazy ass disappointment overall though 😭 “yeah you are trans or bi, whatever, but you are still my worst son ever.” I think he would be more concerned if any guy Ripp dated was an alien over the fact they were a guy (oops, he already has a crush on Johnny Smith.) General Buzz’s conflicting views about Ripp with Lyla also contributed to those two’s strained relationship. He sees a lot of Lyla in Ripp, in both appearance and personality and he hates being reminded of her.

Tank was in a similar position of getting used to it over time. Didn’t mean he stopped wanting to beat his ass all the time though. He had some internalised stuff he had to deal with himself though (being his own person with his own wishes and also, gay.)

Ripp took Lyla disappearing very hard, especially since she was the one helping with his transition. He was on his own. Things got complicated because General Buzz was still kind of unsupportive. Ripp snuck out for several days to get top surgery by himself and General Buzz was very angry about that.

Personality

He’s a very sweet person overall. He’s friendly with almost everyone and hates conflict, but if he is confronted he loves taking the piss out of them. He’s very positive most of the time despite his terrible life. Very talkative and can go on and on. Tries to make a joke and lighten the mood with just about everything, including himself, even if he does go too far sometimes (which he instantly feels bad about if he makes someone sad.) Definitely swears a lot which his father hates, but he loves annoying his father.

Relationships

I don’t think he has a bad relationship with his father and Tank forever. They make up at one point and maybe they don’t become really close but they at least get along somewhat again (no horrible PSP ending in my sims game.)

He was very close with Lyla, probably the most out of all three of Lyla’s sons so he was devastated when she left, and even more so when he found out she died. One of the few supportive people in his life and she was gone.

Him and Buck (or Rebecca later) are very close due to them both having a strained relationship with General Buzz. Rebecca looks up to Ripp a lot. Also they end up both being transgender which they make a joke out of later. “I can’t believe we’re both Grunts and trans.)

He’s been friends with Ophelia and Johnny since middle school. He hangs out with them a lot and prefers being with them to being at home. He loves being an idiot with Johnny but is sweet with Ophelia. He fell in love with Ophelia first then Johnny.

He met Lilith after she also ran away from home. The two became close because of that. They love poking fun at each other. He’s afraid Lilith will make fun of him if he tells her he likes her (but Lilith likes him too.)

Self insert time, he’s really sweet around Lana. Ripp talks a lot and Lana barely talks at all due to their extreme shyness but he doesn’t mind. He cares for them a lot. He is the most calm and gentle to them and loves listening to them ramble about their interests. He might want to marry her.

Music Career

Ripp was always interested in music, mostly rock music but he is open to other genres as well. I see him as being very into Nirvana. He started playing guitar at school with Johnny Smith, covering their favourite songs. Lyla got him own guitar, and he also started writing his own songs, uploading them to MySpace or something.

At one point he runs away from home and gets a trailer for himself. Away from his father, he has a lot more freedom to do what he wants with his life. He’s still working at the gas station and going to a lot of music labels and he eventually gets signed to one. He has his first major song released through them.

Ripp is the lead singer and guitarist in a band as well as a soloist, with Johnny Smith, Lilith Pleasant and Mercutio Monty, the last two he meets and befriends at one point. (Idk what to name this band yet lol.) Johnny also plays guitar, Lilith is the bassist and Mercutio plays the drums.

His music style is very diverse. And I’m also going to base them off Lana Del Rey albums and songs because why not. His very early work is very acoustic. The first ep and debut album he releases has influences of grunge, surf rock and psychedelic rock. A lot of guitar sounds. And whatever sounds come out of AKA Lizzy Grant.

He goes through some tough things in life which is why he takes a break between his debut and his second album. The sound of this album is quite different. Still guitar heavy but also very slowed, dark and psychedelic. Probably some of his most depressing songs ever. Definitely has a song calling out General Buzz. His Ultraviolence era. It’s a little bit of a concept album too, there’s some sort of storyline throughout. He wears black eyeliner on stage.

The next album is experimental, a little bit of the style of his first album back with the guitar but also some trap beats in there. If I could describe it in a Lana Del Rey song it would be Freak Like Me Demo. Also the most horny album. Bisexual anthem in there though.

The latest album I’ve imagined for Ripp (idk why I’ve imagined all these albums for a sims 2 premade, please help) he explores pop. Lust for Life era (I’m still drawing that, I have a vision.) It’s a lot more uplifting than his previous work and it changes the world. Also somewhat of a horny album too. He dies the ends of his hair purple.

Ripp moves to Del Sol Valley at one point when he becomes a celebrity and gets a house in the pinnacles.

He is definitely very popular in terms of being attractive. There are people making thirst TikToks of him and writing self insert fanfiction and everything. (Couldn’t be me. /s) Some fans are really obsessed with him. To the point they would leak his unreleased music and post it everywhere which is unfortunate but some of them are so good (I’m writing a fic based on this.)

He also does campaigns and advertisements and things as part of being a celebrity, there’s a billboard or magazine cover somewhere where he’s modelling underwear 🙏 And he also hopes it annoys his dad if he sees it and recognises his face lol

His social medias would be hilarious and he would also own terrible people.

Other random hcs

I think Ripp was an unplanned child. Lyla was happy to have him but General Buzz not so much, he kind of hated Ripp from day 1.

He was a “problem child” at least in General Buzz’s eyes and also the schools he went to where he had behaviour issues and struggled to focus. His dad made him see a psychologist. He’s autistic (or aspergers back in the late 90s-early 2000s, also I don’t think General Buzz is the most up to date) and has ADHD. I don’t think this helped with General Buzz already seeing him as a disappointment. Ripp gets really fixated on music (both certain artists and creating it) or certain tv shows or very unconventional things that are kind of uncomfortable for some people. Like literally just the subject of woohoo interests him and he wants to know everything about it lol. I think he fixates on philosophical stuff too like death and the purpose of life (another thing that can lead to some uncomfortable conversations.) Very unlike the stereotype of autism because he’s really outgoing and social too, but it is a spectrum.

I think he shows a lot of affection through touch.

Really dark hc but… 😭 Although he pretends it doesn’t, I think the terrible relationship he has with General Buzz and Tank, as well as Lyla disappearing and dying did really affect him. Has depression and some self esteem and emotional issues and fears abandonment. He has considered *unaliving* before. Also a weird relationship with food. Although he has max interest in food, and he eats a lot of food (but mostly junk food) he grew up with the pressure to remain thin. The dark period of his life between his first two albums involved that and he may have abused substances too. I’m a terrible person, I’m sorry 😭. The romance sim part of him might have spawned from craving the love he didn’t get at home. He feels undeserving of a real relationship but deep down that’s what he actually wants.

I am sorry to him for giving him all these traumatising hcs but I can’t help myself. He was bullied in his school years 🥲 The psp secret of him being afraid of toilets from “one too many swirlies as a child” is to do with this. Tank was involved too maybe, but I don’t believe it was all down to him and he’s a terrible person. With the trans headcanon, I think he was picked on by both boys and girls. Girls didn’t like him for being “weird” and boys would go out of their way to hurt him for trying to fit in with them.

Due to General Buzz being in the millitary, he travelled to a lot of places and moved around a lot prior to going back to middle school in Strangetown. I think he would become interested in different cultures and pick up some words of different languages. He lived in Tomerang at one point.

Ripp is kind of feminine. He isn’t afraid to like “feminine” things and he loves jewellery and painting his nails.

He has a brow piercing and a septum.

He gets a sleeve tattoo.

Has rarely ever cut his hair in his life, he lets it grow really long and he doesn’t care. He would hate for all of his hair to just be chopped off (and that’s also what his father wants)

Smokes, both cigarettes and weed. Tries to stop smoking the cigarettes later on though. Him, Johnny and Ophelia get stoned together and sometimes Lana if she’s willing.

He’s quite arty (his canonical one true hobby is set to arts and crafts.) Spends a lot of his time drawing anything from animals to horny “anatomy” pictures because why not. He takes art when he attends college.

Ripp is a great father. Idc about that romance aspiration, just because he has that doesn’t mean he’s a deadbeat father 😭 Like I’ve said before, that sounds like Don Lothario but not Ripp. His nice points are too high for that. Also being like his own dad would be the last thing he wants to be. He really cares for any kids he has, and the people pregnant with the kids. He would be a really fun dad, maybe a little permissive. Basically the opposite of General Buzz (and also how I think Lyla was.) He also cares for people in general instead of just wanting woohoo out of them.

Ripp is left handed. Sims 4 actually set him up as left handed for me lol. Left handed guitars are unavailable to him to start with so he’s forced to learn right handed 😰 But later on he gets a left handed guitar and plays amazing.

He has a tooth gap.

Cat person. General Buzz, Tank and Rebecca are all drawn to dogs but Ripp is the only cat lover 😭 He gets a havana or a maine coon (or both.)

I think Ripp fits the pleasure aspiration more than the romance aspiration to be honest. An aspiration that involves some romance but also not being a total sleaze and wanting to relax and have fun sounds more like him. It fits Lyla too (another reason why they were so close is that they had very similar personalities.) Another aspiration that fits is popularity, he’s just a very friendly person who loves making friends.

Songs that remind me of Ripp:

#sims 2 #ts2 #Ripp grunt #I hope you enjoy this entire essays worth of headcanons #I’m literally insane about him #my headcanons #Ripp Grunt autism at it again #SoundCloud

[north-blue-hearts]

Famous Last Words

CisFem Reader x Trafalgar Law

CW: Violence, swearing, mature themes, erotic romance, angst, creative use of devil fruits, this story is still in progress, I will add content warnings as needed.

Chapter 2: Sleep

The evening out wasn’t any different than any other after-work venture. Nami and Vivi kept you in the middle of the conversations, and Robin joined all of you about an hour in. Zoro was there from the start, and Franky showed up with Robin. Sanji showed up with Luffy, and once Luffy was there he seemed to key into your shaky mood.

Luffy decided to talk to you about all sorts of things, and asked you questions when you were up for it. His uncanny ability to know how to navigate complicated emotions without prompt was almost unsettling, but appreciated. It didn’t hurt that you kept sliding your appetizers over to him.

By the end of the evening Zoro was giving you a ride home, while Luffy rambled on about beetles in the backseat. When Zoro parks you realize you’re having a hard time leaving the truck.

“Nami said it was a bad day.” Zoro offers. “Want us to come up with you? Not to stay, just, you know.”

“If… if you don’t mind, actually, yes.” You admit sheepishly. “Last time I… My window was broken, and my place was trashed. It’s just a hard day.”

“No worries. C’mon Luff.” Zoro says evenly as the three of you pile out of the truck and head up a couple flights of stairs to your apartment.

Zoro takes your key and opens the door, stepping inside first, Luffy close behind. It was easy to forget that the two of them had very physical jobs. Zoro was a freelance bodyguard – he’d get hired on for events and such because he had local-level knowledge that was invaluable, and he was an expert fighter. Luffy was one of the bouncers at Shakky’s bar, which was probably the rowdiest and most successful club in the entire East Blue.

You came in behind them, and were deeply relieved to see that nothing looked out of place. Nothing even felt out of place, which was a welcome feeling.

“You want me to check the bedroom and bathroom?” Zoro asks quietly. He looks relaxed, but he always looks relaxed, once you know what relaxed looks like for him.

“I’m not uncomfortable with it, if that’s what you’re asking.” You answer, setting your bag down. “Everything looks good so far, but if you want to be ‘better safe than sorry’ about it I won’t stop you.” You admit, smiling as Zoro steps into your bedroom.

Luffy turns to you with a smile. “False alarms are the best.” He admits with a grin, stretching idly. “But fights are fun too,” he admits with a sigh, looking at least a little disappointed that there wasn’t someone in your apartment for him to fight.

“Fights are best outside my home.” You say with a smile, patting Luffy’s shoulder as Zoro comes back out into the living room. “All good?”

Zoro nods. “Nothing’s out of place.” He smiles a little. “Rest well, Caddy,” he says, using Luffy’s nickname for you.

“Drive safe,” you offer as the two file out of your apartment. The door closes behind them and you sigh a little into the empty air.

It’s been a good year. You’ve settled into this life well, but it never seemed to get easier hearing a name that wasn’t yours.

It was like you were friends with people in someone else’s stead. Arcadia was the one they cared about, the one they protected, the one they checked on to make sure she was okay.

And you weren’t Arcadia. You were little more than an imposter. Trading lies to protect yourself, and if you stopped lying, you’d be relocated by the Marines, and taken away from the friends you had.

The friends you loved as yourself, as (Y/N).

Your heavy heart carried you off to bed, and a few thick tears carried you off to sleep.

You slipped so heavily into sleep that it was almost like you’d fallen through your bed and into a dream. So quick was the shift from awake to dreams that it took you a moment to even realize you were sleeping.

It was the shifting backgrounds that gave it away, from the alley that you’d never forget, to the face that you’d never be free from, to a name you hadn’t heard in two years, to the sea. To a ship. A wide dirigible. Your dream world shifted and shuffled through years of memory and background before it settled on a wide span of water.

You stood on the ocean, the waters calm and steady, almost like glass. There were a few clouds in the sky, fluffy and sparse and of little concern. A soft wind ruffles your hair and brushes along your skin, warm and gentle.

The peace gives way a little, to the vast solitude. The horizon is flat and unchanged in all directions. You’re alone. Isolated. Safe, in a calm and careful place, but there was no one else here.

Here you were (Y/N).

With a sigh you sit on the ocean, laying down, sprawled out as you look up at a painfully blue and beautiful sky.

“So shut your eyes.” You murmur the words softly, the song wandering through your dreaming thoughts, and shut your eyes as you lay on the ocean.

You’ve always joked that you can’t carry a tune in a bucket, but your voice in your dream knows better than you. “Kiss me goodbye.”

“And sleep.” You close your eyes and wonder idly if you can sleep in your dream, and dream within that dream. Something at the back of your mind seems to believe you can, that you have before at least woken up within a dream to only wake up truly after.

“Just sleep.” Maybe all of life was just a dream. You’d wake up one day to find yourself-.

Something brushes along your back. A tender touch. There’s no desire to pull you under, just a finger tracing down your spine. Your eyes snap open and you turn over.

The ocean is dark, and the creature beneath you is indistinguishable from the waves, save for a hand, flat against the water, seemingly unable to reach beyond. You line your hand up, marveling a little at how small it is by comparison, and how warm the hand feels despite the seemingly impenetrable wisp of water between you both.

“Nice to meet you.” You say softly, wanting nothing more than to be able to push past the water and reach deep.

Golden eyes look up at you, shimmering in the water, and there’s something in them that makes your heart flutter. You put your other hand against the water, kneeling on the ocean, and a moment later another hand presses against yours.

Frustration knits your brows, and you lean back smacking the water off the sides of the hands pressed against it. The splashes of water from your impacts are more irritating.

“If you’re going to act like water, then act like water!” You growl, smacking your hands down again one last time before you sigh in frustration.

The hands on the other side shift, and realign with yours. You can see the flex in the fingers, as though they want to wrap around yours and the frustration you’re feeling is shared. You smile softly, pulling your hands together a little so you’re not stretched out, and the other set follows your movements easily.

“Hmm... can you hear me? Move a hand away if you can hear me.” You prompt and one hand disappears into the darkness for a second before returning.

“Good… good, then I can finally tell someone.” You say, tears welling up in your eyes. “I can tell someone who I am, and it’s okay, cause it’s a dream, and no one will get hurt for it.”

You tell the sea creature everything. Your name, what you saw, how your world changed. You talked about your travels, where you ended up, how you hated the name you had to go by, and how aggravating it was to have nicknames for it. Especially when you knew those names came from a place of love.

You talked about your new friends, and how much they cared about you, and how scared you were to lose them, and the hands against the water flexed and pawed, offering what comfort they could.

“Sorry,” you mutter softly when you’re done, talking, your tears having dripped into the ocean. “I’ll talk about happier things next time.” You offer with a soft smile. “Maybe next time I’ll be able to hear you.”

The pointer finger on each hand extends, and cross over one another to make an ‘X’ and you chuckle. “I see, you’re denying me the pleasure of hearing your voice.” You tease. “Ah, but I’m going to hear a nice voice soon. My friends got tickets to a concert in a few weeks.”

“That’ll be a distraction, at least.” You sigh, poking at the water for a bit.

“Can you see me?” You question after a moment’s silence, and see the hands form a circle. “That’s not fair. I can’t see or hear you. I can’t reach through the water.” Your cheeks puff in a mock pout before you let the air out as a rude sound from your lips.

You could swear you heard a stifled laugh, but the ocean rotated suddenly, and you woke up.

You sat up in bed, a rushed feeling of water crashing over you just as you woke up making your body move before you aware of it. Sheets were tossed, and you nearly bucked yourself over the edge of the bed, managing to turn away from the edge and flop onto the mattress instead of falling off.

A dissatisfied groan seeps into the mattress as you notice the first few rays of morning light sneaking into the room. You considered turning your back to the window and grabbing a few more moments of precious sleep, but before you could move your alarm went off.

You grunt into the mattress again, pushing yourself up onto your knees with immense will. You squint at the light coming in, silently cursing it for waking you up, before you reached over and turned off your morning alarm.

The glassy reflection of water as you trudged through your morning routine, made your heart feel lighter and heavier at the same time. You traced your fingers along the tension of the water in the bath, remembering the warmth that had met you in your dreams. Disconnected and vivid, surreal and so real at the same time. You often remembered your dreams, but none of them had quite been like last night’s.

The phrase ‘man of your dreams’ came into your mind and you laughed, nearly choking on the toothpaste. Spitting paste into the sink you turn the water on and shake your head.

“Hanging around Nami and Vivi last night has put strange thoughts in my head.” You muse. You were happy for the two of them, and perhaps a little envious of how well they complimented one another. Franky and Robin were a couple as well, but not soul mates. The two certainly seemed to be though, and apparently they’d talked about what they’d do if they did meet their soul mate.

Love was messy business, requiring communication and effort. Sometimes you could do everything right and still have it fall apart – which was what happened to your last relationship. That’s what had made it hard. Nothing had been monumentally bad, but what was needed just wasn’t there – not for either of you.

If he had been your soul mate; no, you shake your head tossing the useless thought aside. The what ifs were long gone. You were here, as Arcadia, alive despite the odds, and surrounded by good friends who made sure your apartment was safe, and you were okay.

That had to be good enough for now.

#Famous Last Words #Trafalgar Law x reader #x reader #reader insert #trafalgar d water law #band AU #Soul Mate AU

[nightmarecait]

Do You? A bloodweave/ tav fic

Hello good people.

I just finished up my very smutty, light on plot fic about my tav, Gale and Astarion having some just amazing sex in the wizard tower.

This really is just pure porn so be warned lol. No real warnings here, yes that's right I wrote something that's not dark fic.

Have fun

Ara was in the kitchen preparing the boar for cooking. She had done the uglier prep in the field, skinning it, getting the guts out. Now she was just chopping it into manageable pieces with a cleaver Karlach had given her. She was still in Avernus most of the time, but her and Wyll managed to pop back to the material plane every so often. The cleaver was apparently enchanted and had belonged to some torturer devil. The infernal tool seemed content to butcher boars and deer instead of souls. Once the boar was properly cut up, Ara washed her hands and went to the library where Gale was curled up in his favourite chair reading.

               “Your turn.” Ara kissed him on the cheek. Gale smiled softly.

               “Ah, is my huntress done with her spoils?” Ara blushed.

               “If you mean the boar is portioned and ready for you to enchant it to not spoil and get dinner started than yes, I am.” Gale returned the kiss and made his way to the kitchen. Ara snuck a peek at the book he was reading. Another romance, she rolled her eyes. Calling Gale’s books romance was generous. So many of them involved helpless maidens being rescued by dashing knights. She couldn’t really see the appeal. Still, she could never resist taking a peek. She opened the book to the marked page and started reading. Gale was about halfway through this one.

               “The court wizard couldn’t help but blush as the barbarian strode into his chambers. ‘I had to come see you. I do not know what things are like here, but in my home, we don’t just forget a kiss like the one you and I shared the other night.’ The wizard was trembling. ‘It was a mistake. I may have room in the castle, but I am no noble, and among your people you are a prince.’ The barbarian closed the distance quickly, picking up the wizard in his sculpted arms. ‘What kind of prince would I be if I couldn’t convince my people to accept the one, I love?’” Ara’s eyes widened; it got rather graphic after that. That was normal for these books, but the inclusion of two men certainly wasn’t. Ara set the book down. She knew Gale was bisexual, they both were. But Ara was quite happy with her wizard, he was so much more than she had ever dared to hope for. Ara sat down in the chair.

She couldn’t help but think of not long after her and Gale got together, after she broke up with Astarion. He hadn’t taken it well, Ara had even offered to date them both, but Astarion had been very clear. He wouldn’t be in a love triangle. Of course, Ara had later found out it was more complicated than that. She had been cleaning up after supper at the camp when she heard voices in the woods. Taking her bow and a dagger she had gotten closer, until she realized she knew the voices.

“So, she’s the love of your life, is she? And what am I?” Astarion’s voice was sharp, but he was clearly hurt.

“You could have told me you were…. Fucking both of us.” Gale sounded hurt too, but angry.

“Oh, I would have if I knew you two were all lovey dovey for each other. Is it so wrong that I wanted some fun and you were so willing?”

               “Actually yes, Astarion. You lied to me. To both of us. I know… I know you’re hurting but you don’t get to be mad that your… toys fell in love.” Ara could see them now, she saw Astarion step back, hurt.

               “I never thought of you that way. I just… I… why couldn’t one of you choose me?” Astarion ran off at high speed.

               “Astarion, wait!” Gale called. Ara came out of the bushes then. Gale sighed. “How much did you hear?”

               “Enough. He’ll come back. We can talk then.” They did talk when Astarion came back. There was a lot of reassuring, that they both still cared about him. After that night they hadn’t talked about it since.

               Gale returned from the kitchen and smiled.

               “I knew you’d steal my chair. Can I at least have my book?” Ara handed it back.

               “I took a peek. I… it made me think about when we were on the road together. The whole... love triangle situation.” Gale pushed another chair over and sat down next to her.

               “Ah. I’ve found myself thinking about that night too. I swear if I had known…” Ara held up a hand.

               “But you didn’t. And I didn’t. So there’s nothing to be sorry about. And anyway, I was willing to try and make it work.” Gale nodded.

               “At the time I thought it would be best to just… cut him off. We’re still friends, he lives here and I’ve never minded that at all.” There was a pause. “Do you ever miss being with him?” Gale whispered. Ara smiled softly.

               “Do you? I mean… I liked him for a reason. But I love you. More than anything in all of Faerun.” Gale smiled.

               “I feel the same way about you. And you’ve always been more… open about sexuality than I am. So I don’t know. But… I agree, I liked him for a reason.” The two sat there holding hands until Gale got up. “I need to go check on the roast.” As soon as he left the room Ara sprinted up the stairs to Astarion’s room. Unlike the rest of the tower the suite was pitch dark. Luckily Ara’s elven heritage let her see in the dark, the only thing her bastard father was good for.

               “Astarion… are you in here?” She heard a gasp and then a thunk, followed by swearing.

               “Can you please knock? I just hit my damn head. Give me minute.” Ara walked further into the dark, she saw that Astarion was next to his bed which was set into a cubby in the wall. That’s how he hit his head. Ara turned around when she saw him putting on his trousers. So… that’s what he had been doing in bed. “What do you want? The sun doesn’t go down for hours yet.” Ara turned back around.

               “Sorry, I didn’t know you were…” Astarion waved a hand.

               “Forget it.” Ara nodded. She reached out and cast cure wounds on Astarion’s head. “Thank you. Now what is it?”

               “Well, Gale and I were talking…” Astarion interrupted.

               “That’s all you two do. When you’re not having very loud sex right above my head.” Ara blushed.

               “We were talking about you. Specifically about… the break up.”

               “Break ups, if I recall correctly. Are you two feeling guilty again? I’ve forgiven you both. And you forgave me, so we don’t need to talk about it.” Ara sighed.

               “Just let me talk. We both… Look. I don’t think Gale has been with another man besides you since before Mystra. And as much as neither of us were in it for something… real you were the first person I ever… came back to.” Astarion was silent. “I think maybe we were all too hasty. I want to try this again. The three of us.” Astarion rolled his eyes.

               “And compete with two people so in love that they can barely go two hours without saying it? Try again.”

               “Stop being a bitch! I care about you. I love you, even if it’s not the same way I love Gale. Do you really think you live here because we pity you?” Silence. “Shit. You do think that.” Ara slapped Astarion on the shoulder.

               “Hey!”

               “You are our friend. We half expected you to turn us down. This suite with the black out curtains, the enchanted parasol so you can go outside, you think we did all that out of pity? I love you, Astarion. And I think Gale does too.” Astarion stepped forward and kissed Ara on the cheek.

               “Thank you. Now what was your plan? I know you; you always have some plan.” Ara smiled.

               “I was thinking that tonight. We could surprise Gale. I’ll bring him upstairs after dinner, and you’ll be waiting for us.” Astarion smirked.

               “Mm. Will I already be naked?” Ara giggled.

               “Maybe next time if this works out. I don’t want to scare him.”

               “Well maybe I do. Fine, we’ll do it your way. I’ll be upstairs waiting for you and your wizard.” He leaned in to kiss her gently, testing the waters. Ara kissed back, wrapping her arms around him. Astarion moaned into the kiss. “Mmm you really mean it.” Ara nodded, kissing him again.

               “I really mean it. See you tonight.”

               Dinner was delicious as always. Gale was as good a cook as he was a wizard. Ara carried the empty dishes into the kitchen. Gale mumbled a spell and the water in the basin heated up to the right temperature. Ara smiled as she got to work washing up.

               “When I’m done here, I’ve got a surprise for you. Upstairs.” She winked. Gale’s eyes went wide.

               “Oh, a sexy surprise? Wonderful. That’s my favourite kind.” He kissed Ara on the cheek. She giggled.

               “You liar. Your favourite surprise is caramels from that chocolate shop in Baldur’s Gate.” Gale blushed.

               “I can have two favourite surprises, can’t I?” Another quick kiss. “Well come and get me when it’s time.” Ara nodded; it was too bad Gale didn’t know any ‘clean dishes’ spells. He said that didn’t exist. The ancient wizards must have had someone to do it for them.

               Finally with the dishes done Ara ran to grab Gale, taking his hand and pulling him out of his chair.

               “Gods, you’re so heavy.” Gale chuckled.

               “I am perfectly average. You happen to be on the small side.” Ara grumbled. Stupid small frame.

               “Come on, don’t make me carry you.” Gale got up and kissed her.

               “Lead on, my beloved.” Ara led Gale up the stairs to their bedroom. Astarion was just outside, leaning on the door frame. “Astarion? What are you doing up here?” Gale asked, puzzled. The vampire rolled his eyes.

               “I’m your surprise, you magical idiot.” Astarion closed the distance between them and kissed Gale deeply. There was a moment of shock but soon Gale was returning the kiss with equal desire. Ara smiled, gently leading the pair into the bedroom. Astarion gently pushed Gale onto the bed, letting him go. Gale gasped.

               “Oh… this is a good surprise.” Ara giggled as Astarion pulled her into a kiss, deft fingers unlacing her trousers and lifting her shirt off.

               “You always were so beautiful, darling.” He yanked her trousers down. “Make sure Gale gets a good look at you.” Ara blushed, she stepped over to the bed and sat down with Gale. He didn’t waste any time, taking her nipple into his mouth. Ara moaned and her head fell back. Astarion grinned. “Oh, I’ve wanted to see this for a long time. It’s been torturous hearing you two up here and having to make do all by myself.” Astarion quickly undressed and got on his knees, pushing Ara’s knees apart. She let out a gasp when his tongue found her clit.

               “Oooh. Oh, gods you two are going to kill me.” Astarion chuckled before returning to his task. Gale pulled back and took off his robes.

               “We should have done this a long time ago. I… I must admit that I’ve thought of it often.” Ara pulled him into a kiss.

               “Maybe we’re all idiots then.” She laughed. Astarion made a noise.

               “Speak for yourself.” He slipped a finger inside Ara. “Mmm, do you think I can please you both at once?” Without waiting for an answer Astarion moved to take Gale’s cock in his mouth.

               “Oh, by the weave!” Gale threw his head back. Ara laughed.

               “Mmm so he’s better at that than I am?” Gale moaned and kissed her.

               “Mmm not at all, my heart. It’s just… different. You run so hot, and he so cold.” Ara nodded, shuddering as Astarion slipped another finger into her. They kissed again, Gale’s fingers moving over her stiff nipples. “Mmm, I never get tired of seeing you like this.”

               “And I never tire of seeing you like this.” Ara rand her hand over Gale’s stomach, the illusory abs having faded. “I wish you’d stop using magic on yourself like that.” Gale looked away.

               “We can’t all be supremely confident.” Gale was cut off by another moan. “Oh, he really is good at that.” Ara nodded in agreement.

               “He’s very good at this too.” Astarion pulled off Gale’s cock and smiled.

               “You two are so nice to me. And yet here I am, untouched.” Gale rolled his eyes.

               “Then get up here.” Astarion joined them on the bed, with a snap of Gale’s fingers it became large enough for three.

               “Perhaps magic does have its uses.” Astarion took Ara’s nipple in his mouth, nipping just a little. She gasped.

               “Mmm maybe you can show Astarion what else magic can do for him.” Gale smiled wickedly.

               “Oh, I think I can manage a little concentration.” Gale waved his hand, and a ghostly mage hand took hold of Astarion’s cock.

               “Oh!” He cried out. “Oh fuck, that feels so good.” Gale chuckled as the hand did its work. Ara pulled Astarion into a kiss, her tongue probing his mouth, flicking at his fangs. Astarion broke the kiss, lips trailing down Ara’s neck. “Mmm, sorry darling. I’m going to have to leave you for a minute. You simply can’t provide what I need at the moment.” Ara looked at him, puzzled. Astarion turned to Gale. “This spell of yours is wonderful. But I need you to fuck me.” Ara and Gale both laughed.

               “I think I can accommodate you.” The mage hand disappeared causing Astarion to whimper at the loss. Ara made room for Astarion to lay down.

               “Gods, you two do things to me. I can’t remember the last time I’ve felt so desperate.” Gale positioned himself over Astarion, he whispered a spell and slid a now slick finger into Astarion’s hole. The vampire moaned. “Alright you’ve convinced me. Magic is incredible.” Gale chuckled as he added another finger. Ara kissed Astarion as she lazily teased his nipples.

               “You look so good like this. So ready for him.” she whispered, lips trailing down his neck. Gale slid in and moaned.

               “Gods, you’re tight.” Astarion gasped.

               “Oooh. I should have let you fuck me back then.” Astarion tried to move closer to Gale, desperate for some movement. Gale smiled and leaned down for a kiss, gripping Astarion by the shoulders as he started to move. Gentle at first, slowly. Astarion let out a whine.

               “Gods, Gale. Fuck me properly damn it!” Gale laughed and started to move faster, snapping his hips back and forth. Astarion moaned happily. He reached out for Ara. “Mmm, I want to taste you again.” His hand wandered between her legs. “Here.” Ara smiled and climbed up on top of Astarion, her pussy hovering above his head, her mouth just above his cock. Ara let out a moan as Astarion started to lick her folds. She lifted her head to kiss Gale.

               “Mm, watching you fuck someone else is fun.” Gale laughed.

               “I must admit I’m a bit excited to watch you suck his cock.” Ara obliged, letting her mouth sink over Astarion hard, aching cock. She could feel him shudder as she did. It was like a scene from one of Gale’s books. The human wizard fucking the high elf with the half elf on top. Ara ran her tongue around the head of Astarion’s cock, it felt good to feel him shivering under her. She gasped and arched back as Astarion speared her with his tongue, his nose pressed into her clit.

               “Oh, I’m not going to last much longer.” That only caused Astarion to speed up. She groaned and leaned against Gale as she came undone. Gale kissed her gently.

               “Mmm, Ara… I love watching you like this. He’s playing you like a lute.” Ara moaned.

               “Oooh, it’s not fair. How are you two lasting so long?” Gale chuckled.

               “Oh, don’t worry, I don’t think I’ll be lasting much longer at this pace.” Ara kissed Gale again before lifting herself up and turning around.

               “What are you doing?” Astarion asked. Ara giggled as she sat down on his cock, leaning back against Gale. Astarion let out a strangled cry. Ara leaned down over him for a kiss, swallowing his moans and whispers.

               “Gods, I’m close. Really close. As good as you feel on me you might want to get up.” Ara laughed and lifted herself up and off his cock, taking it in her hand.

               “I’m getting close too. Should I pull out?” Gale asked. Astarion hissed.

               “Don’t you dare!” Gale laughed and slammed into Astarion. Astarion shuddered and let out an inhuman growl as he came spraying all three of them with his cum. Gale followed soon after, falling against the bed as his orgasm shuddered through him. Ara bent her head and licked up some of Astarion’s seed, she ran her fingers through it, offering them to Gale. Gale took her fingers in his mouth, licking them clean. Astarion moaned as he came down from the high of pleasure. “Gods, I didn’t mean to make that noise. I sounded like a bear.” Ara giggled.

               “I thought it was hot. You don’t have to hold back for me.”

               “Or me.” Gale added, out of breath. Astarion chuckled, he leaned over and growled low in Ara’s ear. She moaned and pulled him into a kiss. Gale chuckled as he pulled them both closer. “I think I’ll leave the bed this size. For next time.” Ara smiled and kissed him on the cheek. Astarion was beaming.

               “Oh what have I done to deserve you two? Now that we’ve started we might never leave this bed.” Ara laughed.

               “We’ll have to eventually. But… not right now.” Her fingers danced over Astarion’s still twitching cock. His eyes went wide as he gasped.

               “Oh, gods! I might never leave this bed since you seem intent on killing me.” Gale smiled and ran in his fingers through Astarion’s curls.

               “We don’t intend to kill you, my love. Only make up for lost time.”

#baldur's gate 3 #astarion #gale of waterdeep #my tav #ara kethra #fanfic #smut

[weonlyneedfour]

"Well, I was robbing casinos back then, of course. I wasn't going by Countess Foxbite at that time, no fancy name or mask, didn't need em, just had to look the right amount of rich and stupid to get wherever I wanted and work some extra "magic" if the place was segregated, and not forget to pack the six-shooter in the purse just in case it was one of those nights." "Sure, I'd been around the block. Diamonds, train robberies, cattle rustling, done most of em, but running casinos to the ground is what I liked the most, only part of it I still miss. It was the civil solution to getting them out of Foxhole Boulevard and the not-civil ones looked more appealing every day. They get a legal pass for robbing folks blind every hour of every day, so playing by their rules and being better at it is only fair game. They called on Lady Luck's name, but it was I who was sweeping her off her feet and taking her home to treat her right, and she repaid those nights with a few decades extra for me. "Can't be ungrateful, I suppose, but if I had much patience for men I might have tried romancing the Grim Reaper instead."

But word on the street then was that Edward Triton, the, pardon my language please, pigfuck pimp bastard that ran Toulonville for 20 years, had heard of these rowdy little crooks making noise around town, muscling on his territory. Some loud fat guy from New Orleans was fencing expensive goods he’d acquired overseas and not paying tribute, and I hardly have to tell you Prince Pavonini loved his character every bit as much then as he did until the end of his life." "But it wasn't just us two. Some amphibian monster woman from who-knows-where out of town was going around beating up and kicking his men out of establishments, think she ate a couple of arms too many, and there was this other new one then, messing around with policemen, like sending music boxes to the stations or hijacking the police radio broadcast with uninterruptible music and leaking stuff to the press and public radio that implicated the cops and Triton."

"The former was the first Sally Manda, first that I knew anyway, lost count of how many times she regenerated or cloned herself after a point, and the latter was Legato Sphynx. That was how they met, they and Pavo had a, complicated relationship back then. Well I guess it never stopped being complicated, marriage always overcomplicates everything, never had the patience for that nonsense, but anyway -" "Triton had gotten fed up with us one day, rounded us all up to torture and kill us, send a message across town that he was not to be messed with. Conveniently for us, the poor old man just happened to die of a heart attack that very night. Legally ruled in the papers and everything, go figure." "I can't tell you who did it. It was dark, there was a fight, then we were breathing and he was not, that's all there is to it. You might not believe me, but none of us claimed credit for it. We knew whoever did would be next." "Well no, we didn't get much choice in the matter. None of us wanted it, but it was either taking Triton's throne or dying at the hands of his mob. "The Carnival Court of America" was our idea, the name was Pavonini's little flourish, stealing the Camelot Circle's abbreviation and making a mockery out of it, tell the "white hats" what we thought of them. We'd formed the Carnival Court, split up all his old territories and assets among ourselves, and got everyone to join in or stay out of our way." "Back then, we made a hell of an impression, everyone wanted to grab a mask and a name and jump in on it. Cause suddenly, we didn’t have to take shit from the mafia or the triads or the cops, and do you know how liberating it is to not have to be scared of the cops anymore? It was like we were all immortal for a while there."

"Yes, it was a stupid idea, what else were we supposed to do? You think becoming a "hero" was a choice for people like us then? You don't know how lucky you have it."

"I don't…okay, maybe I do miss them, it's never nice being the last to leave the party. We, Pavonini and I had a fight, the last time I saw him. We talked about you. About what it was like, after he rescued you and brought you here, I moved in when Katrina happened and the pub became a shelter that needed tending to. I mean, four years, me, him and Gloria, trying to raise an orphan who can climb walls and rip through steel when he gets cranky. And you were just so angry, I was worried for you. I was afraid we were hurting or using you, cause we're "black hats". Can't tell you how much I hate that stupid name, but... It's what we do." "I knew Pavonini still wanted to fight this stupid war and was running out of time, that he blamed himself for everything and he sure as shit wasn't innocent but - I, look, the point is that he just couldn't let go. Of that life, of those games, of all that class warfare and hatred he got embroiled in. Of Sangrier. Sangrier is an addiction and I was the first to go cold turkey, and they all should have - Listen to me. I know how you feel, and I'm telling you got to let it go. You are not going to find anything in that auction. You are going to get yourself killed over nothing." "Pavonini is dead, Sangrier is invincible, and you got a DAMN good thing going on with those Emancipator people you're running with, seriously, don't throw that away. Please. For me and Gloria's sake, Marco -"

"I'm sorry, auntie Hazel."

"- Don't die the way he did."

*click

#we only need four #hero forge #superheroes #supervillain #oc #weon4 #the vulturine #helen hazel #countess foxbite #prince pavonini #legato sphynx #sally manda

[the-rewatch-rewind]

Another special guest episode!

Transcript below the break

Jane

Hello and welcome back to The Rewatch Rewind! My name is Jane, and this is the podcast where I count down my top 40 most frequently rewatched movies in a 20-year period. Today I’m going to be discussing number 21 on my list: Disney’s 2007 fantasy comedy Enchanted, directed by Kevin Lima, written by Bill Kelly, and starring Amy Adams, James Marsden, and Patrick Dempsey.

In the mystical, animated land of Andalasia lives a fair young maiden named Giselle (Amy Adams). She finally meets her dream prince Edward (James Marsden), and seems destined for the happily ever after she’s been wishing for, but there’s a complication: Edward’s power-hungry stepmother, Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon), will lose her throne when he marries. Refusing to let that happen, Narissa pushes Giselle through a portal to the live-action New York City, where she runs into divorce lawyer and single father Robert (Patrick Dempsey). Robert doesn’t quite know what to make of Giselle at first, but as they become better acquainted the two very different people start to care for and learn from each other.

This episode I will be joined by my dear friend Sophie Lesher, who made the art for this podcast and is also an enthusiastic Enchanted fan, so I knew I needed to have her on to talk about it with me, and we had a very fun conversation about this movie and Disney movies in general. But first I’ll give you the breakdown of when I watched this movie, since I tend to forget to do that when I have guests. Obviously Enchanted wasn’t out yet when I started keeping track, so I know I hadn’t seen it before 2007, when I saw it once, then four times in 2008, twice in 2009, once in 2010, twice in 2011, twice in 2012, once in 2014, 2015, and 2016, and once in each year from 2019 through 2022. It is perhaps a surprisingly romantic movie for my aromantic self to have seen 19 times, but it’s so entertaining and well done that the emphasis on romance doesn’t really bother me. So without further ado, let’s talk about it!

Hi, Sophie!

Sophie 

Hi, Jane! 

Jane 

I'm so excited to have you.

Sophie

Thank you!

Jane

Not only did you make the wonderful podcast art, but you also came up with the name for this podcast. 

Sophie 

That is true. 

Jane 

So it is wonderful to have you on The Rewatch Rewind.

Sophie 

Thank you for having me. I assume that you asked me to talk about this movie in particular because I am a princess. 

Jane 

Yes. You are the most princessy person I know. 

Sophie 

It's funny because my partner, who has asked that I mentioned them in this podcast, was telling me last night when we were watching this movie that she thinks I'm the closest thing to a Disney Princess she knows which obviously she's biased, but I do have a certain kinship with Disney princesses, and Giselle is probably… Is she the first live action one? 

Jane 

Well, I mean, do we count Mia Thermopolis? 

Sophie 

Well, true, she is Disney and she is a Princess. But I don't know if she's a Disney Princess because she doesn't sing and she doesn't have a talking animal companion. Unfortunately, Fat Louie does not say anything. He gives sass. I will give him that, but he doesn't communicate verbally his feelings, but yeah, I think there has to be like a musical component to it as well.

Jane

Yeah, that's fair.

Sophie

I don't know, there's like a list of requirements. They also have to like, I guess technically she saves Genovia. Because she doesn't abdicate her throne. 

Jane 

Yeah, she saves… saves it from the… the Baroness and Baron. Who just wanted to be on a postage stamp.

Sophie 

The the postage stamp! Yeah! 

Jane 

OK. But we're here to talk about Enchanted.

Sophie

Yes.

Jane

Which came out… six years after Princess Diaries, I think?

Sophie

Mm-hmm!

Jane

So I remember that I saw Enchanted in theaters twice.

Sophie

Oh! Lovely.

Jane

And the first time I was like, this is amazing, but also kind of sad because it was like exactly the kind of thing that I would have wanted to write if I was going to write a movie. And I was like. Oh dang it, they already did this.

Sophie

Ugh, I hear you!

Jane

Because it's just such a perfect combination of, like all the things that were great about particularly the Renaissance…

Sophie

Right

Jane

…Princess movies and the like, classic Princess movies and just sort of with a modern twist, and that was… it was everything I wanted from a movie. 

Sophie 

It's funny because I was thinking, and I wrote this in my notes, I like that it takes what was kind of funny about movies like Shrek in the like tongue in cheek. We're like, you know, turning the classic Princess story on its head a little bit and like poking a little bit of fun, but not in a mean way. What I think- I don't particularly like Shrek, but its downfall to me is that it it gets a little mean. Like you know, you're stupid for liking these fairy tale stories, and I think Enchanted does so nicely the like making jokes, making references but also being like fairy tales are great and it's OK to believe in happy endings. And one thing that Giselle teaches the characters in the movie – Morgan doesn't really need this education because she she's already a believer. But she makes a good point of being like it's, you know, it's OK to live in reality and have hard times, but you can also believe in happy ever after and dreaming. And you know, there's things to hope for. 

Jane 

Yeah, yeah, very much so. I think that the thing that makes Enchanted so great is that it's like sort of making fun of the tropes and turning things on their head, but in a very loving way.

Sophie

Right.

Jane

It's very like, we love these stories, here's a way we can kind of mess with them a little bit. But still like-

Sophie

Yes.

Jane

Yeah, they're still great. So that's what makes it great. I mean, we could just end the podcast here. But anyway, so how did you get introduced to it? Because I just thought with my family the first time. I remember my uncle was there the second time I saw in theaters. 

Sophie 

Oh, that's nice. Yeah, if I remember correctly, this is a movie that my parents saw without me, and I'm not sure exactly how this happened because my parents are not Disney people and they're certainly not really musical people, although my dad did musicals in high school, but they saw it probably because, like Amy Adams was in it and, you know, they're fans of actors. And they were like, oh, this is great. This is something that Sophie would love. And then I was like, absolutely not. I'm never going to see it because this is something that my parents recommended to me. And people who know me know that I've talked about my parents… did not have the best track record of introducing movies to me. There were several movies they showed me that either were very much not my style or I was too young for, so I'm not sure exactly when I decided that I was gonna bite the bullet and see this movie, but I didn't see it when it first came out. But it is everything that I love. It's a musical. It's funny, it's very sweet. It's got the family element to it. So yeah, when I eventually did see it, I loved it, but I haven't seen it very many times because I came into it sort of late. 

Jane 

Yeah, that's fair. I I still can't believe it's… what it's 16 years old now?

Sophie 

Old enough to drive. 

Jane 

Ridiculous.

Sophie

That's horrifying.

Jane

Yeah. Oh man. So one of the things that I absolutely love about this movie that I've noticed more and more the more times I rewatch it, is all of the Easter eggs and like little references to to Disney movies. I know that when I saw it the first time, I was with my brother, who is like the biggest Little Mermaid fan, and as soon as we see Roberts secretary, he was like, “It's Jodi Benson!” and like, he immediately recognized her. So that's fun that we get the voice of Ariel gets a pretty big part. I noticed in the credits Paige O'Hara's name. And she was the voice of Belle.

Sophie

Yeah!

Jane

And it took me so long to find her. But she's like in the, like, soap opera that they're watching. 

Sophie 

I think she's credited as like the soap opera vixen or something, which is very funny because I hadn't noticed her until you pointed it out to me. And then I was looking for her and I when I found her, when we watched it yesterday, the line that she has is like, “How could I ever love someone who doesn't love themself?” And I thought that was so funny because that's very much Bella's arc in Beauty and the Beast.

Jane

Yeah, exactly.

Sophie

And then you just get like a close up on the actors face and he's like, you know, look into camera like on the Office. That was very funny. 

Jane 

It was great and also like if you listen to the background music, it's very like it sounds like the Beauty and the Beast music right there, and I think it's great cause, of course, Alan Menken did the music in this movie, and that's perfect because he did so many of the best…

Sophie

He’s fantastic.

Jane

…the best musical Disney films, and so that's great, yeah. And then there's also just like other really quick things, like when Edward is watching the news and he finds out where they are, like the reporter says the address of the building. She says her name is Mary Ilene Casalotti, which is like a combination of Mary Costa, Ilene Woods and Adriana Caselotti. 

Sophie 

Oh, that's lovely. 

Jane 

The like voices of the original princesses. It’s just, very quick, fun little thing. 

Sophie 

Yeah. Well, and of course, where he goes to look for her is at Bella Notte restaurant, which is where they were.

Jane 

Right. 

Sophie 

So yeah, I've I've written some of them down, like in Happy Little Working Song, when Giselle is on the floor scrubbing, there's little bubbles, which is a very iconic scene in Cinderella. There's lots of Snow White references with the apple. And Narissa obviously has a dragon form, which is like Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty. The ball ends at midnight and she has to eat the apple before midnight, which is Cinderella. The opening, of course, has the the beautiful like story book animation where the story opens, which is very iconic like early Disney. 

Jane 

Yes! And the narrator of the beginning and the end... 

Sophie 

Of course is our Queen Julie Andrews. 

Jane 

Julie Andrews. This does count as one of the four movies that made it to the list that she's in. She's just barely in it, but…

Sophie

Oh perfect.

Jane

But yeah, I love that. 

Sophie 

There are a couple of Sound of Music references. There's a lot of Julie Andrews references because there's a Sound of Music reference, obviously, when Giselle makes the dress out of the curtains. There's also when they get to Central Park before the big song, How Does She Know? She spins around in the middle of Central Park and she has her arms stretched out wide, which is obviously the opening of Sound of Music. And then the woman with the bird seed is charging to feed the birds, which is a Mary Poppins reference. So there are a couple little Julie Andrews Easter eggs in there, which is very fun. 

Jane 

Yeah, big part of the reason why I love this movie. It's really it was really made for me specifically is what it felt like. 

Sophie 

Correct. Yes, they should have just said in the opening credits: for Jane. This is for you. 

Jane 

Yeah, that's really what it felt like. 

Sophie 

Yeah, it's great. 

Jane 

And then Amy Adams is, like the perfect…

Sophie

Yeah

Jane

…Disney Princess and she she's so versatile, like everything I've seen her in, she's amazing, and she's played characters that are completely different from this, but I think this might have been like one of the first things that I actually saw her in.

Sophie

Mm-hmm.

Jane

But it was just like, she is a Disney Princess in this, like, she perfectly personifies that and I I love that so much. 

Sophie 

And not like she's- Giselle, is very exaggerated, obviously, because, you know, they're trying to harken back to the early, like, very emotive princesses. But it's never- like even though she's super expressive and very naive, it's never like…grotesque or like, foolish looking like she's very believable, as you said in this role. Yeah, it's really impeccable casting. 

Jane 

Yeah, again because it's like it's definitely got some parody elements to it, but it's like it's still saying, these princesses are real people. And I think that it's interesting that like because obviously it's making fun of the whole idea of, like, you meet and you get married immediately, but that doesn't actually happen in any of the Disney Princess movies. Like, nobody immediately gets married right after they meet.

Sophie

Right.

Jane

And I think that a lot of times, especially like with Cinderella, Cinderella has like such an unfair reputation of like, it's like, oh, yeah, she just does chores and waits around for a man. But if you actually watch the Disney Cinderella like she has so much agency and she's like very strong in like breaking away from her… situation and like her horrible, abusive stepmother and and I feel like with this movie it's kind of doing that. It's like saying, like, Disney princesses are stronger and cooler than you think they are, and like Giselle is really cool, but it's like they've been like that the whole time. And this is just taking it to the next level. 

Sophie 

Well, yeah, and I just saw an interview clip with Ilene Woods the other day, who was, as you know, the voice of Cinderella, who was talking about that. And she was just like, if you look at the movie, Cinderella has never, she never says, “Oh, and I want to find a Prince. And you know I'm going to the ball with this express purpose.” She has no interest in the Prince. She just wants to go to a party. She wants to get out of her disgusting situation for a little bit and have you know a space to relax. And she's been dreaming about not finding a Prince, but going to the castle. She wants to travel. She wants to be away from her oppressive situation, and it's just happenstance that she finds this man and decides, you know, this is someone that I want to explore a partnership with. 

Jane 

Yeah so I think that this movie is sort of an answer to the people who criticize Princess movies. And I mean it is explicitly saying like we are turning this on its head like especially when when she's fighting the dragon at the end. That's like, this is a twist. Like usually it's the Prince who does this.

Sophie

Right.

Jane

But I think Disney princesses were always strong. And so I think that this was such a good way of showing that.

Sophie

Yeah.

Jane

Oh, also going back to the references, I do think it's amazing that Idina Menzel is in this movie and so like it's sort of a retroactive… like, she hadn't been in Frozen yet.

Sophie

Right.

Jane

But like now, Elsa is in this movie too, which is so cool. 

Sophie 

Although I will say it is heart wrenching that they had Belle, Ariel and Elsa in this movie and not a single one of them got a chance to sing.

Jane

Yeah!

Sophie

And then I mean, I know we're not talking about Disenchanted, but the song that they gave Idina to sing and Disenchanted was… weak. 

Jane 

Yeah, it's not the best song in that movie. But I did… I feel like there was an interview with Idina Menzel where she said that she was happy that she got to…

Sophie

Just straight act?

Jane

…just be in this movie and not sing because she was like, “I knew I wasn't just cast for my voice. It's like I was cast for acting too, which is cool.” She's very fun to watch in this movie. 

Sophie 

Oh, absolutely! If we can… if we can take a moment to talk about Nancy, I feel like watching this movie when you're a kid is very different. One thing I think this movie does not do particularly well is have, you know, female friendships and… and not pit people against each other because while Giselle tries to steer away from it, I do think there is an element of jealousy between Nancy and Giselle for obvious reasons. But I- it's you know, that's not my favorite thing and I wish there could have been a way to have them, you know, have this…conflict over this, you know, love square situation without it turning into, like Nancy feels threatened by Giselle. But I think growing up is realizing that Nancy was never the villain in this movie. And I I love her character. I love everything about her from. The first line she has when she shows up at Roberts apartment, she's like, “Hey, girlfriend!” Like,

Jane 

“Ready to kick it?”

Sophie

I love it!

Jane

So funny! Yes! 

Sophie 

I love her so much! 

Jane 

Well, and I think that like one thing is like, yeah, she feels threatened by her initially, which is fair because she walks in when-

Sophie

Right.

Jane

…she's, like, naked…

Sophie

Correct.

Jane

…on her boyfriend.

Sophie

And she's like, “Who the hell is this?”

Jane

But I- one thing that I really love is that, at the climax, when Giselle is unconscious and Edward is trying to kiss her and it doesn't work, that he's like, “Ohh, it must be you!” and Robert’s really hesitant, and that Nancy goes, “Kiss her, it’s okay.”

Sophie

Mm-hmm.

Jane

And I love that so much. Like she recognizes, like, OK, clearly you guys have something like, I'm going to be fine with it rather than fighting, and I love that! 

Sophie 

Right. 

Jane 

And I I love that at the end she's just kind of like, “Oh, she left her shoe,” and then gets that great moment with Edward and, and that she gets a happy ending too. 

Sophie 

Yeah and she gets to be spontaneous for once, cause you sort of get the feeling that Nancy has, like, been this strong sacrifice you know, “I'll do whatever you want in order to make other people happy” kind of person? Like, she, you know, she's never really fought with Robert about like, “why am I not being like, more integrated into yours in Morgan's life?” And now she gets to, like, run away to Andalasia, and just, like, leave all of her responsibilities behind and have this fun adventure, which seems to have worked out for her because ten years later they're still together, so... 

Jane 

Yeah! Well, and Robert is very wary of anything romantic because he was so heartbroken when his first wife left him.

Sophie

Right.

Jane

And so like he… he… when he's talking to Jodi Benson, he's like, “I want to be very practical. Like we don't need all of that stuff,” and it kind of seems like Nancy does want that, but she also like respects that he's not into it and and is like, that's OK. But she gets really excited when she gets the doves and is like, “Oh, it's so roman’ic!” I love that she says “roman’ic.” 

Sophie 

I know I love, I love Idina, like bringing her whole, like Long Island upbringing into this character. It’s very fun.

Jane 

Yeah, it's weird that I love it so much because it's so romantic, and I'm not like that into romances usually. 

Sophie 

Right. 

Jane 

But, I don’t know, I think that the way that this is done is so interesting that like everybody thinks they're on a certain path and then…

Sophie

Right.

Jane

…they're like, oh, actually, the way I thought this was going to go is not how it's going. 

Sophie 

Well, yeah, and it's all about, you know, making sure that it's the right person for you and making sure that there's not only comfort because I think Robert does have to get uncomfortable in order to be with Giselle. But there's there's more of a cohesiveness. He's not, like forcing Nancy to give up part of her personality in order to be together. They're just like compatible. So I do think that that doesn't necessarily have to be about romance. It's about being with the people that make you feel the most like yourself, which could be, you know, a message for all relationships, not just romantic ones. 

Jane 

Yeah. Well, and I, it almost feels like Robert was suppressing part of himself.

Sophie

As well, yeah.

Jane

Yeah. So I think that Giselle helps him let go of that and be the true version of himself. 

Sophie 

You get the sense like he mentions… because Morgan is what 6 or 7? 

Jane 

Yeah, I think she says she's 6. 

Sophie 

And he mentions that he and Nancy had been together for five years, so he'd only, like, been apart from his wife for like, a year at this point and had a baby. So from Morgan's, you know, infancy to her first birthday was the only time that he was ever without a partner. So I think there is an element of his relationship with Nancy where he was just like, emotionally healing, and now he's mostly healed or, you know, on his way to recovery. And he is able to be his full self with Giselle, which is sort of sad, you know, in terms of like Nancy not getting his full personality. But I do think it worked out for the best. 

Jane 

Yeah, and it's it's almost like… she was OK with being there for him and when he needed somebody but recognizes by the end of the movie that she wasn't getting what she needed out of that relationship and…

Sophie

Right.

Jane

…that being spontaneous with Edward would be better for her.

Sophie

Right.

Jane

And like you say, apparently worked out because they're still together in the sequel. 

Sophie 

Yeah. Which is good. I hope they're happy. 

Jane 

Yeah! Definitely! I and I love that, that everyone gets to be happy… except for the villain.

Sophie

Right.

Jane

But even the villain sidekick gets sort of a little bit of a redemption. 

Sophie 

Yeah, Nathaniel is a published author at the end of the movie. That's very fun.

Jane

Yeah!

Sophie

Although in fairness, it's, you know, it's not Nathaniel, it's Peter Pettigrew in my head. And it's not, it's not Prince Edward, it's Corny Collins. Although you know James, James is great in whatever role he does. 

Jane 

James Marsden was the perfect Edward for this.

Sophie

Yes.

Jane

When was Hairspray?

Sophie 

Hairspray was the same year. 

Jane 

Okay, yeah, because I feel like I definitely saw this first. 

Sophie 

So yeah, I saw Hairspray in theaters, so…

Jane

Ohh.

Sophie

I think I like went with some of my camp friends cause we had been listening to the Hairspray soundtrack all summer, and then when it finally came out, we like, went to see the movie together. But yeah, James Marsdenn is fantastic and I I will say, as a lesbian, he's very dreamy.

[Jane laughs]

Sophie

He is, as you said, perfect casting. 

Jane 

Yeah, he just he looks like a Disney Prince. Like, he's perfect for that. And I also like a lot of the classic Disney princes, like, didn't even get a name, so he's more developed than most of them…

Sophie

Yeah.

Jane

…as a character. 

Sophie 

And he has a full nose, unlike the Prince in Snow White, who just has nostrils. 

Jane 

Yeah, that Prince doesn't have a name. The Prince in Cinderella doesn't have a name.

Sophie

I know.

Jane

We do get Prince Philip in Sleeping Beauty. He gets and he gets to fight a dragon. So he's good. The Beast doesn't have a name… 

Sophie 

Yeah. We just have Phillip, Eric, and I guess technically Aladdin. 

Jane 

Yeah, but he's like the protagonist. So like, that's a little bit different. 

Sophie 

Right. Aladdin and Flynn are royal by marriage, not by blood. 

Jane 

Yeah, well, and I've heard arguments that in Aladdin, it's kind of gender swapped and that Jasmine serves the function of a Prince. 

Sophie 

Of the Disney Prince, yeah.

Jane

Yeah, so…

Sophie

But she's not a prize to be won. 

Jane 

She's not a prize to be won. But, anyway, so yeah, so I think that they did a great job with the Princess. Great job with the Prince. Great job with making them not end up together and that that made sense. 

Sophie 

Well and like… it's funny, I thought of you when I listened to the first song, because the line in I've Been Dreaming of a True Love’s Kiss is, “For lips are the only things that touch.” That's that's very ace-coded. That's like, “No, we're not going to do anything else.” 

Jane 

[laughs] Yeah. 

Sophie 

“You can kiss me, but no tongue. And we're not gonna do anything else.” 

Jane 

[still laughing] That's a good point. Ohh yeah, that's funny. Yeah, well, and there's a little bit of that, like throughout the movie of like, after Nancy finds them together, and Robert’s, like, “She thinks that you and I?” and Giselle’s like, “Kissed?!?!?! [gasp]” And he's like, “Uh… yeah, definitely… that.” And then there's the part when they're shopping, and Morgan says, “You know how boys are: they're only after one thing,” and she says, “What?” She says, “Oh, I don't know,”

Both

“No one will tell me.” 

Sophie 

Well, good! No one should have told you the first thing, six year old!

Jane

Yeah!

Sophie

What is- Who is talking to you? Like, who is her babysitter? Because they need to be replaced. 

Jane 

Also, that is… that is a very weird scene.

Sophie

Yes.

Jane

When Giselle comes in and Morgan's by herself in the apartment. 

Sophie 

Like, how did Giselle get in? Why is Morgan alone? How does she know where the AmEx is in the drawer? ‘Cause that's not something you tell the six year old because they don't have impulse control. 

Jane 

And where all the good stores are. 

Sophie 

Yeah, and the weird like product placement with the Elie Tahari, why is this the store we're going to? Yeah, they went to too many stores. That whole thing was very weird. And then, like, did she not get the memo that it was a costume ball?

Jane

Right!

Sophie

She's the only person in there who’s not dressed like a Renaissance fair person. 

Jane 

And I'm like, is that because she thinks those clothes are normal and so, like, the clothes she's wearing are like…? 

Sophie 

Right. Like, her dress-up clothes, yeah. 

Jane 

Yeah, that's the only thing that I can think of because I'm like, that dress is completely inappropriate for that ball. 

Sophie 

Yeah, from when Giselle and Roberts say goodbye to Narissa turning into a dragon is a very draggy… Like, I I love Giselle and Morgan shopping together. I think that's very cute. The dialogue is weird. And then there's like that weird song that is also out of place at a Kings and Queens Ball. 

Jane 

They say it's a waltz and it's not in 3-4 time and it's very weird. Like, I mean, I like that song by itself. 

Sophie 

Yes, but it does not fit in the scene at all. 

Jane 

Yeah, I don't really understand what they were doing there. Well, and based on the bloopers - because I have the DVD, I've watched the bloopers many times - it seems like Robert and Nancy were supposed to have some dialogue while they were dancing that ended up getting cut because you see them like doing that and messing it up. So I feel like they just couldn't understand how they were going to get through that transition. 

Sophie 

Yeah and like I get that they had to have some sort of weird convention for Giselle and Robert to dance together. But like, how is this the pinnacle of your dance? It's not a waltz. It's a weird song, and then you're having strangers dance together? Because ostensibly, you didn't, like, come as a group.

Jane

Yeah!

Sophie

So you just have to ask a random person to dance with you for like the Kings and Queens Waltz. That’s very weird.

Jane 

Yes, but and it's also like. The song is about how we're so close to reaching our happy ending, but not, and so it's like, are you supposed to be dancing it with the person that you really want to be with but aren't like it's it's very uncomfortable… 

Sophie 

This is only for people in a love triangle or love square, and you can only come with the person that you don't want to actually be with. But you're keeping it a secret. 

Jane 

Yeah, so then you're dancing this dance with someone that you're secretly - or not so secretly cause now everybody knows - in love with so, like, everybody goes home from that ball fighting. 

Sophie 

Everyone's like, OK, divorced. I mean, it's a great place for Robert to show up because he's a divorce lawyer. 

Jane 

Oh yeah, there you go. Yeah, that's that's really why he wanted to be there. He found out what it was for, and he was like, this is where I'm getting all my clients now.

Sophie

Yeah exactly.

Jane

I think a lot about the couple that was like getting divorced at the beginning and then, like, Giselle talked to them and they were all together and like, do, do they have a long term relationship or do they like does that last for like a few days and then they go back to fighting? 

Sophie 

Yeah, that would be good to know. I hope they made it work. Phoebe and Ethan. There's some weird like… like I get that Giselle's naive I get that she was, you know, raised by forest creatures. But there are some, like, very uncomfortable racial and other minority group moments. 

Jane 

When she grabs her hair, yeah. 

Sophie 

She's like “Ohh so beautiful!” Like, no, don't do that. 

Jane 

I kind of feel like because it's Giselle, like she would have done that to anyone. 

Sophie 

Yeah, it's just it's not in the best taste. 

Jane 

Yeah, I agree. 

Sophie 

And then there's the scene at the beginning where the person walks underneath her dress.

Jane

Yeah.

Sophie

And she's like, “Oh, Grumpy!” and it's like, did we need to do that? Was that necessary? 

Jane 

Yeah, it's a little… it's a little, uh… uncomfortable and like I get, I get the point they were trying to make, like that she's just naive and doesn't understand the real world. 

Sophie 

But like there could have been something else where she was like, oh, this is, you know, fairy tales… like she could have been like talking to a mirror and it like not responding and everyone was like, what is wrong with this girl? 

Jane 

Well, I mean like the knocking on the castle billboard thing kind of does that.

Sophie

Yes!

Jane

Like, that's funny.

Sophie

Yeah.

Jane

That… that works. 

Sophie 

Although I have never seen a seedy casino in New York City, I don't know if they were confused as to where they were. If they thought they were in Vegas, but they're actually in New York. But yeah, that was very cute. 

Jane 

Oh, maybe they were just advertising very far away or something. But yeah. Yeah, no, I think that part's funny. I also- it's so interesting how the animals still respond to her song in the real world. Like, why is that? Like nothing else works the way she thinks it will, but... 

Sophie 

Yeah, one thing that my partner pointed out when we were watching it is how does Narissa still have her magic? And also, where does she go? Like, well, first of all, she catches fire spontaneously. She spontaneously combusts when she falls off the tower. I'm not exactly sure how that happens, and then she just disappears. Does she also fall into the sewer grate? And if so, then she's still there when Edward and Nancy go back.

Jane

Ohh yeah…

Sophie

But she just like disappears. She falls into the ground and then Boof into sparkles so I don't… I don't know what happens to her. 

Jane 

Yeah, I don't either. I I don't really understand how she's able to again still have her powers, but maybe because like she controls the portal between the worlds? 

Sophie 

Maybe. Andalasia is a very interesting land because they just have a portal in the middle of the castle courtyard, and then they also have, like wands that grant your innermost desires just lying around. 

Jane 

The wands can pull magic through the portal somehow. And yeah, the sequel is confusing. It's like in this one they don't explain some things, but to a certain extent, you can just suspend disbelief. Be like, OK, because magic, like whatever. It doesn't matter how this world works. And then in the sequel, they're like trying to get into how the world works, and it just doesn't really make a lot of sense. 

Sophie 

No, they don't have time for that, which is fine. I like the sequel. 

Jane 

Oh yeah, me too. 

Sophie 

It's just they weren't really sure what track they wanted to go down. I did like and I noticed this on this rewatch. And Nancy, I guess is like a designer or seamstress or something, cause when she gets the dove flowers, she's like at her studio or whatever. And then I guess Giselle takes that over and turns that into Andalasia Fashions or whatever it's called at the end of the movie. So that was that was nice. That was a little bit of tying up of loose ends, which I thought was lovely. 

Jane 

Yeah, they really do take over each other's lives very well. Because like Nancy goes to marry Edward and do exactly what Giselle was going to do.

Sophie

Right.

Jane

And Giselle takes over her business, I guess. But and it also makes sense because she clearly knows how to sew because she can make dresses out of curtains in like, no time. 

Sophie 

Right. Yeah. Giselle's wardrobe is pretty incredible. Unfortunately, we don't… The the blue dress that she makes out of the curtains is gorgeous, but she also has the like… it's the dress that she's wearing I guess the day that they say goodbye. So she wears it on her date with Edward.

Jane

Mm-hmm.

Sophie

Which, by the way, he's wearing like $100 worth of New York branded merchandise. I don't know where he got the money for all of that. 

Jane 

Well, that's what I was thinking the whole time that that Edward and Nathaniel are there is like they're like eating out and like, they're staying at a motel like, I mean, I know they're not going to like, super fancy expensive things, but how do they have any money at all? 

Sophie 

Still, I mean Chinese takeout in New York is like 80 bucks. 

Jane 

Yeah so like they did they like because I'm sure he had things that were extravagant on him. Did he just like trade them in and be like here, take this shiny thing? Like I don't... I don't know. They don't explain that at all. 

Sophie 

Although we do, we do see Nathaniel doing some odd jobs, like he's somehow in the kitchen at Katz's deli when they have the confrontation with Pip?

Jane

Oh yeah.

Sophie

Because that's where they are, which is one of my favorite places in New York. That was really fun. So he's like working in the deli and then he becomes a cab driver somehow… 

Jane 

And he's like selling caramel apples. 

Sophie 

…when he also does brown face… Yeah, well, yeah, he's he's at the he's at the popcorn vendor when he tries to poison Giselle with the caramel apple. Yes, and then he's working at the Italian restaurant. So he's, you know, he's he's a Jack of all trades. He's getting that bread. 

Jane 

Do they pay him after just like a few hours of work? It's like, “Thank you! Here's some money!” 

Sophie 

Maybe he, like, pretends to be an immigrant and they pay him under the table in cash or something, I don't know.

Jane

Ohh.

Sophie

But yes, it's better if you don't think about it too much. 

Jane 

Which I guess is true of most Disney movies, like a lot of them if you really analyze it’s like wait, this doesn't make any sense, but like, it’s fine, it's fine.

Sophie

Yeah.

Jane

If you’re just focusing on the main story, I feel like it works really well things. Things tie together nicely. 

Sophie 

Yeah. Let me see if there's something else… In Happy Working Song, she rhymes “la-da-dum” with va-cu-um.” 

Jane 

Oh, I love that. 

Sophie 

Which is a great rhyme. 

Jane 

Yeah that song is amazing. 

Sophie 

That's very underrated. I feel like the first song and How Does She Know get all of the play, but Happy Working Song is really fun. I think that's one of the ones that's got the most like inside jokes and references to other things. 

Jane 

Yeah, because there's so many, especially Princess movies but also like Mary Poppins, where they just like, clean really quickly…

Sophie

Right.

Jane

And like, so it's sort of like, yeah, Disney princesses have this power of just being able to clean an entire house in the time it takes to sing one musical number. 

Sophie 

Correct As much as I feel like there's really no point to having Narissa in this movie – like, I think we can agree that the real villain of this movie is capitalist society - the elements of having Narissa is very funny, like she's sort of like a discount Yzma because at Katz’s when she like appears in the pot of soup, she's like, “I'm boiling in here,” which is a hilarious line. I love that.

Jane

Yeah.

Sophie

And then I'm not sure if this is true, but King Kong feels like the only movie that they referenced that's like, not a Disney property, cause Narissa does kind of King Kong on the…

Jane

Oh yeah.

Sophie

…whatever building when she's a dragon, but the other Easter eggs that I caught were all like Disney. 

Jane 

Yeah, although I don't know that Disney owned Sound of Music at the time that this movie was made, I don't think they'd acquired Fox yet. 

Sophie 

Oh, OK. Well, that makes a little more sense. I want to know, going back unfortunately to the don't think about it too hard. I don't know why Narissa cares if Edward and Giselle aren't together anymore. Because by the time she goes dragon, they've already decided not to be together and like her whole point was like, “I can't let Edward be married because then he's going to take over the throne.” I don't know why she's still pissed. 

Jane 

I think that like she's mad because everybody's happy for Giselle and she's like…

Sophie

Ohhkay.

Jane

She's like, “No, I want to be the center of attention!” 

Sophie 

OK, well, that's fair. 

Jane 

“This did not go how I planned. I’m mad. You should be scared of me because I still have power.”

Sophie

Okay, I’ll take it.

Jane

Also, doesn't Edward say that he's gonna dethrone her and exile her? 

Sophie 

Oh, because she because she tried to kill Giselle, maybe. 

Jane 

Yeah I think that he does say that. I think that that's why. Her objective has changed, clearly. And now she just wants to kill everyone. 

Sophie 

Now she's just mad. Yeah OK, well, that's, you know, that's reasonable. I'll take that. 

Jane 

I also love how punny she is when she's a dragon. There's so many, just like she keeps going and it's just like love it, love it so much. Love those punny villains there. 

Sophie 

They’re so much better when they're funny. You know they're not just angry. Yeah, I do, I do love that this movie allows Giselle to be… like, you know, I said her touching the black woman's hair made me feel uncomfortable. But she is very like body positive because she when she sees the statue in the lobby of Robert’s building the like, you know, it's like a big statue of a naked fat woman and she's like, “Oh, she's so” like she has to stop and look at it and be like, “She's so beautiful,” which is like, that's so nice! Like she's, you know, she's very inclusive of of everybody when she sees beauty and things. 

Jane 

Yeah! Well, and she wants to talk to the like old homeless man. 

Sophie 

And he like smiles without teeth. And she's like, “Oh, your smile is lovely!”

Jane

Yeah!

Sophie

She really does see beauty in in all things. 

Jane 

Yeah, and I think that that's something that that is sort of underrated about those types of characters of like they are very naive and don't don't look into things, but it's like it's so great to be able to see beauty in everything, and the things that other people dismiss or don't want to look at, and being like, “But-

Sophie

Yeah.

Jane

“These are people. These are other beautiful things.” Yeah, I really love her attitude. Just about life and she's just seems like she's so happy.

Sophie

Yeah.

Jane

She can turn situations around that don't seem like they're going very well, and like she's she is surprised when the like rodents show up to help her clean, instead of her normal friends. She's just like, OK. Cool.

Sophie

Yeah.

Jane

These new friends!

Sophie

Yeah.

Jane

Like she sees beauty in the cockroaches, rats and stuff.

Sophie

Mm-hmm, yeah.

Jane

And the line about “So friends, even though you're vermin.” 

Sophie 

Right. 

Jane 

OK. 

Sophie 

Yeah, and it's, you know, I think she's a really positive person, but not like a toxic positivity?

Jane

Mm-hmm.

Sophie

She'll still listen to your problems, and she'll still, you know, try to make you feel better if you're sad. Like I love her relationship with Morgan. Because, I mean, you know, I'm also a non-biological parent to a six year old girl, so that's like particularly moving to me at the moment, but she's someone who's very lonely and looking for, like, companionship and someone who understands. Because I think as we said earlier, with Robert, like dealing with his grief, he doesn't have the capacity really to deal with anybody else's emotions. So Giselle is a really nice person to have in her life to, you know, not just try to paper over the pain, but sit with her and actually try to make her feel better and remind her that, you know, there are good things as well as bad things in life. 

Jane 

Yeah, well, and I think, like, Robert even says, “We don't talk about it. Like, we don't talk about her mom.” And it seems like Morgan really wants to. And like Giselle, is willing to talk to her about it, which is really nice. 

Sophie 

Yeah, like asking her, “Do you miss her?” And “I'm here for you if you want to talk about it.”

Jane

Yeah.

Sophie

Which is, I think really important.

Jane 

Yeah, it is good that she's not just like, “Everybody should be happy all the time.” It's like, we should address these things that people need to talk about and don't just push down the sad emotions. That's a good point.

Sophie

Yeah.

Jane

She's a great character.

Sophie

Yeah.

Jane

I love what they do with her in the sequel too. I think that that's such an interesting thing to have her like, slowly becoming evil, but trying really hard not to. 

Sophie 

Yes, like she's aware of it and she's like, “No, I don't wanna do this!”

Jane

Yeah.

Sophie

Yeah, I love that. One thing, cause I relate a lot to Giselle, I love the scene where she and Robert are having their like first real fight. And she's like, “You're making me so…” And she, like, can't name the emotion. And then she realizes what it is, and she's, like, “Angry!” And she's so excited about it. The first part is very me, like, not being able to admit it, but I would not be excited about being angry. But she, it's like it's this new, exciting thing for her, which is really fun. 

Jane 

Yeah, well, because earlier we've established like, because he says he's angry and she's like, “Angry???” He's like, “Have you heard of it?” 

Sophie 

“I don't know what that is!” 

Jane 

She's like, “I've heard of it…” like, she's never been angry before, and so then she's like, “Wow, this is this is interesting! Now I’m angry!”

Sophie

Yeah.

Jane

And then she, like, punches him or something. “I’m ANGRY!” He's like, “Are you OK?”

Sophie

[laughs] Yeah

Jane

[laughs] Oh man. Yeah, there's a lot of really great moments in this movie. That's How You Know is like one of my all time favorite musical numbers in a movie. And I a lot of times when I watch this movie I go back and rewatch that scene a few more times because it's so good. 

Sophie 

It's a truly perfect scene. I have no notes. 

Jane 

It’s amazing. It's like just so great how all these different groups of people come together and do this amazing dance number. 

Sophie 

Well, yeah, it's it starts and he's like, please, please do not sing in public. Please do not sing to me in public. And then the guys on the steel drums and they're like they know this song too?! Like, where did you guys? And he's like there's more like how how did you all learn this song, which is very funny. And then it he just, like I there's nothing I can do. It's gonna be a musical number. And then just it goes on and on, and there are so many fun little… like, like the old people. We love to see actors over 40 getting work. 

Jane 

Yes! Again from special features on the DVD, they talk about how especially the old guys that like have the flowers?

Sophie

Mm-mm.

Jane

Some of them were chimney sweeps in Mary Poppins, and like in the West Side Story movie and like they were, like, iconic dancers in their time. 

Sophie 

Oh, that's so fun! 

Jane 

So it's fun to like, get to have them show up in this movie too. 

Sophie 

Mm-hmm! Yeah, and then you have the brides. And you have the people in the canoe. 

Jane 

Yeah, there's like, a mariachi band. 

Sophie 

Oh yes, the mariachi band. 

Jane 

And that all the like workers that are like flipping around and… 

Sophie 

Yes, the blue jumpsuit guys. 

Jane 

Yeah, in one of the interviews on the DVD, Amy Adams is like, “That is the most scared I've ever been on a set was people flipping right in front of my face and I just had to stand there smiling.”

Sophie

Oh no.

Jane

But yeah, there's a great special feature on the DVD of like how that number came together and just showing all these different groups of people rehearsing. 

Sophie 

That's so cool. What I want to know is what day of the week is this? Because because Morgan went to school, so, like, it's got to be a weekday. So what are all these people doing in the middle of the work day in Central Park? Um, I do, I love the German festival. I love like the Maypoles and stuff.

Jane

Oh yeah.

Sophie

And then one thing I thought was funny is Rapunzel wasn't a Disney movie yet, but I think it would be… well, Princess and the Frog came next, but I wonder if they were, like, working on Rapunzel at the time, and that's why they had the girl in the park do Rapunzel?

Jane 

Yeah! Oh, yeah. That's that's a good point. I also love that moment when when Robert, just like smiles and puts his hands out really sarcastically. Like, “Fine, I'll participate in this!” 

Sophie 

Yeah, that's a really fun number. 

Jane 

Yeah, just it just keeps getting better. And then like, right at the end, Robert’s actually getting into it and then he catches himself. He's like, wait, what? 

Sophie 

It's like, no, this is not no. I'm not supposed to do that. 

Jane 

And I think it's… it's just, it's such a great way of imagining, like how you could do a musical number in the real world, cause in Giselle's world in Andalasia, people just burst into song and there's magically music and it just happens. 

Sophie 

Well, and everybody knows the song which is… you know, that's how they show that Giselle is like becoming more comfortable in reality is when Edward is like singing to her. And he's like, “…and now you…” 

Jane 

And it's weird because she it's not like it was a conscious choice for her to not be singing because she seems really surprised. He's like, “You're not singing.” And she's like, “Oh, I, I’m not!” Like I think that that's really interesting that like showing that originally it was just so natural to her that she couldn't help herself. And now she's sort of like, oh, “I guess I would normally be singing now and I'm not.” And yeah, it's it's a great way of showing that and that Edward, even though he spends quite a bit of time in the real world too, he never gets to that point.

Sophie

Right.

He's never at all considering, like, changing. He's like, “We're going back to Andalasia. That that's where I belong.” 

Sophie 

Right. And it's also, it's the perfect line because he's like “you were made…” the line is “you were made to finish my duet” and she's like “but I'm… but that's not that's not me” like, “you need to find somebody else” and then they go on their date that she's, like, trying desperately to extend so they don't have to leave. And she's like, realizing like, this is not… it doesn't feel right…

Jane

Yeah.

Sophie

…anymore. 

Jane 

Yeah, it's so interesting how then, like, Narissa picks up on that and tells her that the apple will make her forget. It's not like, oh, this apple will make all your wishes come true or like whatever, it’s just like, it will make you forget that you ever met Robert. It will make you happy to go back with Edward, and that's what she wants at that moment because she's like, I have to go back. 

Sophie 

Because otherwise I'm going to be sad here. Yeah. 

Jane 

Yeah, it's it's, it's good, it's good! The writing is good! The acting is perfect! It's just it's a… it's a good movie! 

Sophie 

It's great. 

Jane 

I also really enjoy… I I think some of the Pip stuff gets a little bit… tedious and like I don't love it, but I do think it's very funny how he keeps trying to get Edward to understand him, and he doesn't understand him until the end when he speaks in rhyme.

Sophie

Mm-hmm.

Jane

Because like the whole time Edward is trying to interpret it into a rhyme, and then like at the end he says a rhyme and he's like, “Oh, of course, I get it. Why didn't you say that in the first place?” And it's just so funny. I don’t- It's like there's no reason why that should be, but it's very funny. 

Sophie 

I love Pip. I think in Andalasia, Pip, like, talking in a New York accent is how I imagine all animals inner monologues, are just like, very gruff. Like, “Hey, I'm trying to be walked here!” But also, they're just so many, like, little like, if you're not paying attention or if you're not, like, focusing on what it is, it's not as funny, but, like… Nathaniel crucifies Pip? On a… on a pants hanger? And then puts the do not disturb sign around his neck, like that's… and then he zip lines with the hanger, like everything about that sequence is so funny and yeah, him like, very like Scooby-Doo-esque, like, contorting his body into like being Giselle and then being Nathaniel and Edward's like, “What are we talking about if not me? Like, I don't… I don't know how to… I don't know how to focus on anybody else.” 

Jane 

He does the whole thing of like acting out the poisoned apple thing, and then Edward’s just like, “You’d die without me here!” It's like, uh… how did you…? 

Sophie 

We're not focused on you right now, buddy. 

Jane 

And then Nathaniel is so like, he's so funny in that too, because he knows exactly what Pip is saying. And he's just, like, very worried about it, and then is like, “Oh, he's not getting it. He's not getting it. It’s fine.” 

Sophie 

Right, but still he tries to, you know, suffocate Pip in the popcorn box, and... 

Jane 

Well and he's gonna… he's gonna kill him with a dinner knife too. Like, I'm like, I don't think that's sharp enough.

Sophie

Yeah.

Jane

But yeah, I think that that's… well and especially compared to some of their other like… “live action” animals that they've done more recently, like Pip actually looks pretty good in this movie. 

Sophie 

He doesn't have to look like an actual chipmunk. I mean, he looks like a chipmunk. He doesn't have to be, like, hyper realistic. Flounder in the new Little Mermaid – because that just came out – is very creepy. He doesn't need to look like that. 

Jane 

Why would they make them that creepy? I haven't seen it, but I'm, I’ve seen the like... 

Sophie 

…the promo pictures. Yeah, it's just like I, I I don't know who this is for really, because like we- talking about our six year old, like, we really wanted to take her because you know, it's a, it's a black Ariel and it's really…impactful. And, you know, my partner wants to see it because she loves underwater and mermaids and stuff like that. And as, you know, a black woman, she's interested in seeing it. And we, you know, offered our child to take her. She was like, “No, it looks scary,” which, like, valid.

Jane

Yeah!

Sophie

It does. But then I don't… I don't know who this is for then because it's like, it's not an adults movie because it's still the same story.

Jane

Yeah.

Sophie

But the visuals are creepy. 

Jane 

I mean is it just counting on people that grew up watching the animated movie will want to watch it? But I'm like, you can still watch the animated movie! 

Sophie 

Correct. And there are three of those. 

Jane 

Yeah. If I want to watch Little Mermaid, I'm gonna watch the 1989 movie that launched the Renaissance. I'm not gonna watch this live action one. Although I did see that there was a very cute thing with Jodi Benson and Halle Bailey.

Sophie

Yeah.

Jane

Jodi Benson was endorsing her, and kind of like, “It's so great that you get to do this too” kind of thing in the- 

Sophie 

Yeah Jodi has been lovely, and her dress at whatever like premiere was really gorgeous. I just think she's a class act. She's good in whatever she does. She's obviously great in her little role as Sam in this movie, but she's also the voice of Thumbelina. She's also the voice of Ariel. 

Jane 

She's the voice of of the tour guide Barbie in Toy Story 2. 

Sophie 

Yes, she does so many things. 

Jane 

And I think Barbie in Toy Story 3 is her too.

Sophie

Oh cool!

Jane

Also so like she sang, like Bible songs on CD's that I had growing up. 

Sophie 

Oh my God! 

Jane 

So like, I listened to her singing… it's like “Songs from the Beginner’s Bible.” There's like these Bibles with like stories that are distilled down for like preschoolers? And so they would like they had songs that were kind of based on those Bible stories that Jodi Benson was singing. So I like, think of her as as the voice of my childhood in these like random songs.

Sophie

Aww.

Jane

There was this one song about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego that I loved as a kid, and I like made up this whole dance to it. 

Sophie 

That's one of the most Jane things I've ever heard. 

Jane 

Yes. So Jodi Benson also sang the song of my childhood.

Sophie

Okay.

Jane

I think it was right before The Little Mermaid II came out, which I don't remember exactly when that was. But like, maybe like early 2000s

Sophie

Two thousand…ish?

Jane

Yeah, right around then. So she was like performing at a mall near me and like, my parents took us, my siblings and me, and they didn't tell us that she was going to be there. They were just like, “We're just going to the mall!” and then like, she was like performing. And…

Sophie 

Oh my gosh! 

Jane 

So my brother was really little and really into Little Mermaid. And so so we had seen her perform.

Sophie

Wow!

Jane

Because I remember she was talking about Little Mermaid II, and like explaining what it was going to be about. I just remembered that she said like that Ariel and Eric have a daughter, and so someone asked, “Is she a mermaid or is she a person?” And and Jodi Benson said, “Well, she's both!” It's funny, I have this memory of Jodi Benson specifically promoting Little Mermaid II at this random mall near my house, so... 

Sophie 

That's so fun. Well, it's funny. So we just moved into a new building, as you know. And our new building has a pool and the pool just opened yesterday, and they have, for whatever reason, because residents are not allowed to have like big pool floaties or anything, but they have these inflatable dolphins in the pool. And first there was one and my partner decided that his name was Eric or [screeches and clicks like a dolphin as Jane laughs], um, in in dolphin language, but Americanized to Eric. 

Jane 

Right. 

Sophie 

So then we found a second one. So I was like, well, if his name is Eric, then his girlfriend has be Ariel. And then there now there are two little ones. So we said, Ariel, Eric and Melody, and then the other child one is named Andante because we thought that that would be a good name to go with Melody. So we named them, we named our little pool dolphins yesterday, a little Disney, a little Mamma Mia. 

Jane 

Yeah, perfect. Which you know, I love both of those things, so…

Sophie

Right, exactly.

Jane

Yeah Mamma Mia 2 did not get enough views to make it on here because it's too new. But I have seen it many times considering it only came out a few years ago.

Sophie

Yes.

Jane

But yeah, and The Little Mermaid did not make it into my Top 40 either, but we get to talk about it a little bit. It's still a great movie. I think some of the best songs in the Disney canon are in that movie. 

Sophie 

If only you had started keeping track at birth. 

Jane 

I know, right? 

Sophie 

Maybe you would have made it. 

Jane 

Yeah, well, I definitely didn't watch it nearly as much as my brother did.

Sophie

Yeah, that's fair.

Jane

But there will be more Disney to come on here. 

Sophie 

Did you have a favorite Princess, Jane? 

Jane 

Um… yes, it it would have been Belle.. 

Sophie 

That makes sense. That tracks I was going to say maybe either Belle or Pocahontas because I know you liked Pocahontas. 

Jane 

I did really like Pocahontas. I think I really liked Pocahontas because I really liked John Smith's hair. That was like the thing that I really liked about that movie when I saw it as a kid.

Sophie

That’s funny.

Jane

And now I'm like, that movie is kind of very problematic, but...

Sophie

Yeah…

Jane

It has good songs though. 

Sophie 

Yeah. I think I was very anti-Pocahontas because I grew up in Virginia, so I was very anti-Felicity Merriman, the American girl and anti-Pocahontas, because I was like this is… no, I learned about this in school. I'm not interested. My favorite Princess was Ariel, and I had Little Mermaid pajamas, and I very distinctly remember, like being in the kiddie pool as a child and like, doing the like doing cobra pose essentially?

Jane

Oh yeah.

Sophie

In the pool and like being like, “Oh my God, I look so cool!” And I'm sure I looked like a drowned rat, just like trying to flip my hair back and pretend like I was balancing on a rock. But now I think it's probably Cinderella or Rapunzel. I mean, I I still love Ariel, but I think, yeah, I think Cinderella has edged her out as I've gotten older, which is for a lot of the same reasons that we like Giselle because she's just very kind and soft spoken and she's not denying that she has issues. But she is willing to work through them, which I think is really powerful. 

Jane 

Yeah, definitely. I was not into the Disney Cinderella because I grew up watching the Rodgers and Hammerstein Lesley Ann Warren Cinderella?

Sophie

Yep.

Jane

And so I was like, “That's the good version and the animated version is the bad version,” which I don't know why. They they can both be good. Like there's so many versions of Cinderella. 

Sophie 

Yeah, I think there are so many different Cinderellas to choose from. There's Ilene Woods. There's Lesley Ann Warren. There's Julie Andrews. There's Brandy, which is a one that I love. There's Lily James. Which is another one that I love. Yeah, I think they're all so different. I think, you know, it's it's hard for there to be a right one because they're…

Jane

Yeah!

Sophie

They're just all really special. 

Jane 

You get all the modern retellings of of Cinderella too. There's just been so many versions of that story. So back to Enchanted, it's nice that it's like a combination of all of those fairy tale stories. I do think it's it's very funny the part when when they're having the weird conversation when they're shopping, and Morgan's worried about having a stepmother. And Giselle’s like, “They're not all horrible! Edward has one!” It's like, um that's not a good example. 

Sophie 

“I've never met her, but I'm sure she's lovely.” 

Jane 

And then she immediately, like, shows up and is like... 

Sophie 

Trying to kill you. 

Jane 

Yeah, it’s like, umm…that was not a good example of a good, good stepmother. And then that in the sequel they talk about that whole thing even more that like because she's the stepmother she must be evil. It's just very interesting.

Sophie

Yeah.

Jane

But anyway… so… we’ve talked about a lot of things that weren't all directly connected to this movie. 

Sophie 

It's tangential. That's fine. 

Jane 

Yeah, because the thing is that like, when my brother and I were younger, we wrote this story called Taking Over the Disney Castle and we like, made it so that all the Disney characters were living in this castle together and it was run by the Beast from Beauty and the Beast. 

Sophie 

Certainly the best landlord Disney has to offer. 

Jane 

There was some villain… I think there were actually several villains that had, like different plots to try and kill the Beast and take over the castle.

Sophie

Oh my gosh.

Jane

And so then it was like all these different characters from all these different Disney movies were like together. And it was, it was like, basically fan fiction. But it was just like, silly. And we actually like, had printed it out and got it bound and it was like in the elementary school. Library for a little bit.

Sophie

Oh my gosh!

Jane

And so that would have been like, not too long before this movie came out. And so then when it came out, I'm like, “Wow, this is, like, basically what I've wanted to do is, like, combine and all the Disney stories. But this makes way more sense than our story.” [both laugh] And also we had like one of Ariel's sisters, be important in it except the name that we gave her was not actually the name of one of the sisters. 

Sophie 

Well, she could have been in the new one because they changed all the names of her sisters, which is fine. They're like, named after the seven seas, I think… is the point? But, you know, nothing comes between me and my starts and ends with A sisters. 

Jane 

Right! I do wish the sisters were better developed. We get a little bit of that in the third one.

Sophie

Mm-hmm.

Jane

But anyway, talking way more about Little Mermaid in this conversation than about Enchanted, it seems like. 

Sophie 

You would think Jodi Benson played the lead in this movie. 

Jane 

Yeah. Jodi Benson is the best part of any movie that she's in. OK, the one thing that I don't understand is why does Giselle put that fish in her mouth? 

Sophie 

I wish I knew. I also… so OK, so the lore that they talk about and Disenchanted is that she was like a foundling and the forest creatures raised her. So I guess that makes sense as to like, A why she has a kinship with animals and B maybe why she doesn't know a lot of fish, I guess?

Jane

Yeah.

Sophie

I mean, I don't know what kind of water situation was like in the forest. I don't know if there were a lot of like freshwater fish, but what I don't understand is, like, why she's so trusting of humans then, if, like Edward is the first human that she's ever met. 

Jane 

He must not be. Like she must have met other humans at some point, like, cause she's aware of humans. 

Sophie 

Right. She she can speak English.

Jane

Yeah.

Sophie

That's one of those things. Like, you can't examine that plot hole too closely. 

Jane 

I mean, I guess she has no reason not to be trusting of humans because she's never been betrayed by one except for her parents, I guess? I I I don't know. There's so many mysteries in this movie.

Sophie

So true.

Jane

But yeah, you just you can't think about it too hard. And like, why would there be a portal that goes through a manhole in the middle of the street? Like...

Sophie

Right.

Jane

I don't know. But it doesn't really matter. The point is, it is, and that meant that Giselle and Robert found each other. 

Sophie 

Yes, that is true.

Jane

And they're happy.

Sophie

Happy ever after. 

Jane 

Forever and ever. I do think it's really funny whenever someone just says “forever” that she has to add “and ever” like, is there a forever that's not and ever? Like there's different levels of forever? 

Sophie 

It's like, just to be sure. Just so we're on the same page. 

Jane 

Yeah, I don't know, but yes, I love her. She's such a great character. And…

Sophie

Yeah.

Jane

…that really makes the movie. I feel like that we really needed a really good Giselle at the center of the movie and it's perfect. Amy Adams is the perfect Giselle.

Sophie

Yes.

Jane

So good job, Amy Adams, if you're listening. You did almost as well as Jodi Benson. [laughs]

Sophie

[laughs] Yeah.

Jane

Okay, is there anything else you want to talk about before we wrap this up? I feel bad that I don't have more interesting things to say, but it's just it's it's truly just a great movie. 

Sophie 

It is it's…it is fantastic. No, I think we covered everything that I wanted to talk about anyway.

Jane

Okay!

Sophie

Thank you for having me on. 

Jane 

Well, thank you so much for being here and uh, yeah, if if you want to come back for a future movie, that would be great. We could talk about something else later. 

Sophie 

I am always happy to be on your podcast, Jane. 

Jane 

Well I'm very happy to have you.

Sophie

Thank you!

Jane

Thank you very much to Sophie for that delightful conversation, and thank you to everyone else for listening. I had so much fun overanalyzing this movie, and I hope you all did too. And with that, we are now halfway through my top 40 list! All of the movies to come are those I’ve seen at least 20 times, so when I started this I thought about just talking about the 20 movies I watched at least 20 times in 20 years, but I’m glad I decided to talk about numbers 21 though 40 as well. I feel like I’ve already learned so much about myself and movies and storytelling from this project, and I’m so grateful to have you listeners along on this journey with me! I hope you’ll enjoy the top 20 list. Next up is another fairytale-inspired story from the 2000s, and I will be joined by another special guest, so stay tuned for that. As always, I will leave you with a quote from that next movie: “Look, I think it’s only fair to warn you that I’m practiced in the ancient art…of origami!”

#enchanted #disney #amy adams #jodi benson #the rewatch rewind

[helenarasmussen87]

Random thoughts on characters

Putting it under the cut because I have *feels* about this.

So I've gone full tilt again into Naruto because it's honestly been tumultuous for me for a long while. I got depressed and turned to the series again. Reading and writing for it and somehow Tiktok decided I really need to know about Boruto, so yeah.

I have a complicated past with Naruto. My ex was a gasligthing dick and for him, Naruto was a childish series that had no value. As did fanfiction. He basically hated that I got joy out of something so simple.

Another ex LOVED Asuma and the series and it actually helped me look at it in a more positive way. But I didn't go back until a couple of years ago and found that I loved it SO SO Much.

So now that I'm revisiting the series and I have to admit that I ignore canon and Boruto. I was expecting the couples to happen, but I have to admit that I HATE how Sakura got shit on.

Sakura should have had a brilliant character growth arc. She had so much potential to be a second Tsunade. And instead she's Sasuke's wife, patiently waiting for him and being a single mom.

I get that our man is the Shadow Hokage, but his ass can't park itself in Konoha to at least not forget his own daughter? It's like the bare minimum...And we're supposed to believe hints that this is a great love story? Uh no. It's toxic and Sakura needs to love herself.

Sakura is pushed to be the rehab for a broken man. I love Sasuke, but the last thing he needed was to get involved with a woman who loved the idea of him rather than who he could be. The man needed to be by himself and get over his grief and get his redemption done.

(I also think that Naruto and Sasuke could have helped each other in this by travelling together. Naruto is one of the few that got him and saw him. But I digress)

She deserved more than to pine for a man who needed to get his shit together. And yes, I know the books are out...And they do read like paint by the numbers bad romance novels. Having read enough of them before, I knew exactly where things were supposed to go.

And I have heard and read "Well, fifteen years can change people!" It's true that people do change to the point that they don't recognise their partners. They aren't really on the same level and they are very different people.

You can fall out of love with someone and you don't have to stay with them. I know because I married young and I eventually left. It took me moving halfway across the world and basically having a war of attrition for years to get my divorce, but I did it. And having this perspective is why I'm like "Oh honey, no."

I won't say that Sasuke abuses Sakura. I don't buy it. What I do buy is that they are toxic together and forcing a life that neither of them really want. Sasuke loves having a family. Sakura loves that she got her entry into the Uchiha clan.

(I also find it kind of weird that this guy wanted to continue his clan and only has one child? I know that he supposedly gave up the dream...Which absolutely makes no sense in regards to his character. He loved his clan. He loves his family. So why not have more kids? You supposedly love this person and you have a clan to renew...so why only one kid? Naruto had two in contrast to him.)

The other thing is that you can enter a relationship when you're so full of turmoil and trauma bond with a person...And wake up years after and see that this is not where you're supposed to be. Yet not want to change the status quo and stay. Even though it's not the life you saw when you started? Yeah. That's how these guys feel.

Also, the romance isn't organic. Asuma and Kurenai was offscreen, but we knew how much they loved and respected each other. Temari and Shikamaru also had the best romantic trajectory since it grew organically. Hell, even Minato and Kushina who are fucking DEAD got an organic love story.

(Not listing NaruHina, because they have their own issues going in, but at least they got their weird development)

The major problem was lack of development and how they kind of got smashed together. I also will take Kishimoto's assertions that they were supposed to be together always with a grain of salt. Maybe because I'm older and was socialised female, but it looks to me like the man is backtracking and keeping them together out of spite. And because he's so shitty at writing female characters.

I'm quite skeptical that he had it planned. Considering the sheer amount of planning for different story aspects and the sheer amount of emotion we get in different dynamics...Kind of hard to buy.

Compared to Fruits Basket where we got hints right away of Kyo and Tohru, Yuki and Machi...We got lukewarm hints of Sasuke feeling the same for Sakura. I mention Yuki and Machi because Yuki himself was very, very reserved and traumatised as Machi herself was, there were enough hints for everyone to go "Oooh."

With Sasuke...It was always Naruto. And Sakura.

(Kind of like me and you, and your friend...Steve)

Demon Slayer had Iguro and Mitsuri, who had hints...and got a heartbreaking scene that they both wished for something they knew wasn't going to happen. Going even further back, there was X/1999 with Kamui and Kotori.

Point is that Sakura deserved better than to be shoved into a toxic supposed happily ever after.

Sasuke also deserved better.

End musings

#musings #character meta #naruto series

[rubywolf0201]

[SPOILERS FOR INTERVIEWS WITH MONSTER GIRLS]

*WARNING*: If you haven’t read Volume 6, 7 and/or 8, it’s best if you don’t read this review.

All good?

With that out of the way, I would like to spell out my thoughts regarding the chapters within Volume 6, 7 and 8:

- I didn’t expect Takahashi to be the younger bro. Quite surprising really. Need to learn more about Takahashi tho 😞

- His niece is apparently a uni student yet Takahashi is in his early 30s, flashback even go as far to reveal that it’s implied that Yoko was born when Takahashi was around middle school-high school meaning that his older bro could’ve been twice of Takahashi's age or something like that.

- We got complicated science stuff regarding dimensions and whatnot but honestly I just want to learn a little more about Takahashi.

- Which we did for what tidbits we learn such as that back during his middle school-high school days, he was moderately build and that along the lines, he started working out because of wanting to be seen as approachable to the students.

- Oh and he is in his early 30’s.

- For the demis, we see Sakie having quite a bit of bonding with Kurtz and it gives me fuzzies cause I want to see those two interact more (yes don’t judge me I’m weak for the intergenerational friendship trope)

- For Hikari, we get to see that she is affected by the succubus power and moments with Hikari in the manga/anime can never go wrong.

- Yuki's resolve of wanting to be a teacher because of the many people she has met and Sakie giving Yuki a speech on how it should be the latter’s destiny is just SO GODDAMN POWERFUL & HEARTWARMING! I literally almost cry in the inside because of this scene.

- Machi. Holy moly. It was one emotional moment for her because of how bittersweet it is. We get to see her confess her crush to Takahashi due to Kaoru (I’ll get to her later) persuading that she should be upfront has a tense kind of feeling. Takahashi didn’t know how to respond to it and after a talk from Sakie about it (despite viewing her one sided subtle rivalry with Machi), he decided to tell Machi about how he feels. We don’t see a full convo on who it went but just a bunch of panels of Machi moving her head (meaning it’s private) and after Takahashi confesses that he likes Sakie, we then cut to the scene where Machi tearfully told Hikari and Yuki about what happened and we see all three girls hugging out and crying together. Kaoru feels a little guilty about this and apologize to Machi about what happened but instead of being angry, the dullahan told Kaoru it’s fine and the latter joined the hug out.

- This got long but I’ll keep this short. The way Machi's school crush was handled was excellent as it didn’t resulted in a badly-handled drama where it made characters OOC nor did it result in a pointless love triangle between two teachers and a student (thank the goddess it never happened).

- That being said, it didn’t mean it’s the end of the world for Machi as she had other things going on for her like studying to be a researcher and her friendship with Hikari and Yuki. In a way I’m thankful for Petos on handling Machi's character as a whole and that for her, romance isn’t an end all be all since if you focus on other things, it can lead to a happy ending such as how other characters noted that Machi has steeled her resolve.

- Onto Kaoru, a demi from Okinawa, who is based on a tree spirit that reads mind. I think she is an awesome addition and while we may not see much of her in later chapters, I think it’s nice that she is the catalyst for making Machi realize her feelings for Takahashi and trying her best to not let the dullahan down. Also her friendship with the main Demi girls rock as well. Oh and don’t forget the dimension moment she has it’s quite funny even if it lasted for a few panels or so.

- We also get to see Machi’s family as well. We learn from both parents that ever since they found out their daughter is a dullahan, they tried that very best to support her in any way they can and are grateful for both Hikari and Yuki's friendship with Machi.

All in all, even though I skipped the later volumes, I get a feeling that Vol 9, 10 and 11 (if I can get my hands on them) would be great and I want to see how the final chapter goes as well.

#rubi’s post #interviews with monster girls #meta #spoilers #review

[annakie]

I posted 5,290 times in 2022

That's 2,510 more posts than 2021!

152 posts created (3%)

5,138 posts reblogged (97%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@dailyflicks

@mst3kgifs

@sci-fi-gifs

@startrekgifs

@trekdaily

I tagged 5,266 of my posts in 2022

#star trek - 851 posts

#taskmaster - 531 posts

#star wars - 465 posts

#mst3k - 368 posts

#mystery science theater 3000 - 336 posts

#mass effect - 232 posts

#our flag means death - 217 posts

#ofmd - 216 posts

#critical role - 199 posts

#picard - 156 posts

Longest Tag: 128 characters

#i bet like 80 percent of my followers will filter this post because i mentioned so mmany things that they could have blocked lol

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

This was one of the funniest things I’ve seen all year.

128 notes - Posted August 5, 2022

#4

Watching the Orville is just sighing deeply and saying “Welp, I guess I ship this middle-aged doctor and mother of two with this robot now.”

149 notes - Posted July 27, 2022

#3

It has been one week since The Orville season finale, less than a month since I started binging the entire show, and I just keep thinking about how this show gives Penny Johnson Jerald, an actress who is 60 years old, the most romantic and in-depth romance arc, and one of the best characters on the show as Claire Finn.

She’s an incredibly competent Chief Medical Officer, a mother of two, and yet also she isn’t defined by just either of those things. 

She’s literally called the “wisest” person on the ship and people go to her for advice, but also she has her platonic emotional needs met by her strong friendships with the other women on the ship, as well.  They hang out, they give her advice when she needs it, they are there for her as much as she’s there for them.

And she’s seen as a desirable woman by three different male (or at least male-coded) characters throughout the series.  Yes, one of them is basically played for laughs as he’s, well, a blob, but Yaphit still very much cared for her and nearly sacrificed himself for her child. 

She’s not just “empathetic ship mom”, though the show takes her struggles with motherhood seriously as well, and the show gives her children some interesting storylines as well.

And she falls in love, has an incredibly complicated and compelling romance that is taken seriously by the show despite its unorthodox nature.  The questions that do come from others about this romance come from a sincere place of caring after some very weighty things happen concerning Isaac in the plot, and not things like “Don’t you think you’re too old for this kind of thing?”

Half of the possibly final episode is centered around Claire Finn and her romance with Isaac, her happiness, her family, their wedding.  There are so few shows I can think of that treat their older, “empathetic mother” character as such a whole person, and I think it’s one of the big things that drew me into The Orville so quickly, and made the experience of watching it so spectacular.

183 notes - Posted August 10, 2022

#2

Other Shows Season (Possibly series) finales: DRAMA! GUNFIGHTS!  EXPLOSIONS!!  WORLD (or universe) ENDING STAKES!!

The Orville: Two aliens have a re-commitment ceremony and then a lady marries a robot. Also, there’s an egg salad sandwich.

184 notes - Posted August 4, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Hey, let’s not forget about our buddy Coppy on this, his 7th birthday.

527 notes - Posted April 1, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review #it's super depressing to me that i posted a TON of mass effect content and got so few notes on them #basically making me give up on posting mass effect stuff tbh #honestly considered just closing up fybioware for awhile #and the few orville things that i posted and some were just shitposts did kinda well #but tbh most of what i actually posted this year outside of mass effect photosets and those 5 things were just personal posts so #this makes sense #also shocked i had like 30 posts untagged #also whats funny is my longest tag ALSO applies to THIS POST

[sijalmk]

Writers! Attention. Not everything should make sense.

An advice I see everywhere is, make sure everything makes complete sense. It is true and yes, plot points, subplots, the story structure, the plot twist and all these major points must make sense. However, sometimes it's better if few things don't make sense and be completely out of the blue and here is why.

Stories are like real life even if you are writing fantasy. As we make everything to sound realistic and believable sometimes we forget that even in real life sometimes things happen for absolutely no reason at all. Now let's say you're writing a fantasy and of course things gets messy as the conflicts rises, characters are going crazy and people don't know what the hell is going on, things might happen and no one knows why. For example a death of one of the characters. Now I know in a previous post I said a death of a character should make sense but not all the time. If you're writing about a war for sure some would die for no reason other than they didn't see the arrows coming, or five armed warriors attacked an individual. But if you're writing romance, don't just go around killing people. Sometimes when things are going well an ex would return and fuck things up. It happens. Look at real life and you will see many things happen for no reason no matter how hard you try to justify for the universe.

But how to do it? Now this is a point where many of us screw up. I know it happens randomly but let's be real, we can't throw random shit around.

To do it right, remember this doesn't happen frequently and even if something now doesn't make sense in a week or two, years even, it would make sense. Same with fiction. And this is a mystery element but let's stick with the Not Making Sense. And that's by not making the event the central point but it should make the goal more complicated to achieve. Let's say your MC has a mission to finish but he gets into a car accident. Or she was about to confess her feelings to the love interest but was held back by someone needed help, or she heard him talk on the phone and misunderstood. Shit like this happen in real life but of course not all the time.

Now be careful, don't overdo it because it would make the story frustrating to read and then readers would hunt you down. Count this as an element to make the goal a little more difficult for the MC which is exciting.

#writeblr #writeblr community #writing blog #writers of tumblr #writing community #writing advice #writing tips

[reviewting]

So I Married an Anti-fan

It has been a minute. I am finally writing again. I have lost all motivations to write and just watch movies and series without thinking of writing the reviews. I am trying to get back to writing but it’s been hard. As usual, I’m going to talk a bit about the series here before jumping in to the ratings. It was a wholesome series and I love how they are communicating well in the series, but there are still things to talk about.

Score

Storyline : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (7/10)

Plot : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (7/10)

Pace : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (9/10)

Acting : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10)

Rewatch value : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (8/10)

I would recommend this series to people who are looking for a lightweight romance. It has little comedy, a little family content, and just overall wholesome. I mean, it's not going to be a kdrama without tears, right? So yeah there are going to be some teary moments, but not too bad that you'd get annoyed with them. This series was not on my radar and was never going to be on my radar until I saw a Tumblr post talked about how the couple in this drama know how to communicate well and then I was immediately sold.

Anyway, back to the kdrama at hand. People who have read my previous review posts might know that I rarely watch romance kdrama because I can't deal with the whiny female character and the plain toxic male character. I love how both main characters (mcs) in this series are good people (well, essentially). Sure they have their huge misunderstandings and hate each other's gut at first but they also have conscience and can emphatise and sympathise well with each other. They are likeable as humans, that is what I was trying to say, really. The series itself is no brainer, there was no complicated arc that begged to be solved. The character developments were good, not just for the mcs, but for all the people involved in the story. So I thoroughly enjoyed the watching experience. While the ending gave me a little satisfaction (kdramas need to improve their endings) it still needs a lot of work to resolve and conclude everything that I have watched from episode one to the last. It didn’t feel like a cliffhanger but I didn’t feel resolved either.

Storyline

Geun-yeong (GY) is a hard-working journalist but her boss treated her unfairly until one day she was assigned to attend a press conference (of some sort) for a kpop star, Hu-jun (HJ). Upon meeting, both parties have quite a good impression towards each other. Of courser until a drunk GY stumbled upon a secret meeting between HJ and another girl. After a huge misunderstanding happened, GY ,who is a hot-headed woman, threw one of her shoes at HJ face and GY action went viral. GY got fired from her workplace and asked HJ to make things right so she can get her job back (by protesting outside HJ agency). HJ refused to acknowledge the whole thing until a reality tv producer/director approached him. The same producer/director approached GY and offer her a huge amount of money (she was in a dear need of them). Reluctantly she agreed and it was a whole drama about convincing HJ to join as well. Well the reality tv is about GY and HJ living together in a house as a married couple. Marriage is not something that two people who hate each other usually think as a problem-solver. The story evolved from that and more and more problems came their way, work-wise, and other family/friends problems.

Characters

HJ is a hard-working man. He's a person that does not forget where he came from. Very dedicated person and you'll just love them as a kpop star. He is also a good friend but just don't betray him because he can outsmart you. He has a very complicated background (family and friends), so the story mostly revolve around this. They are the ones who bring problems to him.

GY is a really nice and kind girl. She is a yes man at some point, but she can actually stand her ground once she finds herself being cornered or treated poorly. I like that about her. She is also closed to her parents and is really wholesome with them. I love their interaction with each other, typical parents and daughter relationship. She also has a round of supportive friends. Very sweet, cute, and reliable friends I might add.

HJ's friends (JJ and In-hyung) are problematics. They were close with each other but business happened, this is why i always said never mix business with friendship. A lot people find In-hyung annoying, but I don't. I just think that she's very lost and just need to get the hell away from everything. She is always fighting a losing battle, so I think she just needs to find other dreams because we can't have everything in life, right? I did not mean she should give up, she just need to find other things first before getting back to being a kpop star. To be honest, contrary to other people, I find JJ annoying. Why can't he just get off everyone's ass and let go of his grudges. It was toxic and unhealthy for him haha.

GY's friends are as cute as I said in the beginning, I need to find more friends like them, so supportive. Lovely.

GY and HJ's families are different and HJ's fam is quite nonexistent so that means HJ has more family problems than GY. It is so sad that this man has so many problems in his life and GY and his work are the only steady presence in his life.

Where to watch

iQIYI

Viki

#reviewtingseries #reviewtingkdrama #so i married an anti fan #movie review #choi tae joon #choi soo young #enemy to lovers