#shellcollector

As Shell says, this imagine requires a fair bit of context - basically, it’s the Battle of Hernani but instead it’s CATS (2019). 

Imagine...

You take so long getting ready for the premiere that you're almost late. It's hard to do a subtle, stylish-yet-obvious cosplay of every single CATS character, but you think you've pulled it off.

Rolling up to the cinema, you join the group of Tommy's friends. You know he'll be watching from the shadows somewhere, so you gotta do him proud. You had vaguely hoped that some of the cast would show, but they're conspicuously absent. It's a shame; you did want Francesca Hayward's autograph. Maybe Tommy can hook you up sometime.

The atmosphere inside the cinema is palpable. All kinds of tensions are running high. There's your own mixture of excitement and extreme arousal, plus a far pricklier energy coming off the rest of the crowd. You're well aware that some of the people are here to hatewatch, and you're ready for them. They can do whatever they like, they aren't going to ruin this for Tommy.

Once inside the auditorium, you and the rest of the group take your seats in the front row. Your heart is pounding fast with excitement. You've all been waiting for this for so long and it's finally here. The musical on the big screen at last, with such a star studded cast ! How you're going to control yourself when the heartthrobs appear onscreen is a mystery.

The lights dim. The movie is about to start. You grip your armrests. You have come into battle and you're determined not to go down without a fight. The crowds be damned, this is a masterpiece.

And dear lord, what a battle it is. There are so many times you come close to losing. The palpably sensual moment where Jason Derulo looks like he's going to lick Francesca Hayward's foot almost tips the audience over the edge. It takes a lot of cheering Taylor Swift to drown out the jeers that she incurs and Idris Elba's undeniable nakedness causes a bit of a stir. Rebel Wilson unzipping her own skin causes another ripple, as does the moment where she eats the cockroaches with human faces.

By the halfway point, you're shaking with a mixture of passion and fury. How can people be so disrespectful? How can they fail to appreciate art that is so brave, bold and honest? How are they incapable of being moved by the sweet notes of Memories? You'd understand slight moments of confusion - the movie does, of course, make some significant deviations from the stage production - but they don't seem to appreciate any of the changes. Mr Mistoffelees is so much more sensitive, and his budding relationship with Victoria is so beautiful. Memories makes you sob buckets. By the time of Judi Dench's closing address, you feel as if you have traversed the entire spectrum of human emotion.

As soon as the credits begin to roll, you and your comrades leap to your feet to frantically applaud. Tears have smudged the whiskers painted on your cheeks. Around you, the rest of the audience sits there and just laughs. As if it were all a joke! As if you were nothing more than a spectacle! As if this movie, this film, did not show something brutally honest about the feline condition!

@shellcollector replied to your post “Which tv/movie version of Les Misérables do you think was the most...”

I SO want SOMEONE to release the silent film on dvd/online because it's GOOD and I need other people to have watched it too!

favorite thing about them: Fundamentally he can’t actually make himself not care even though he tries very hard. He’s attracted to and admires what he lacks, rather than just immersing himself totally in apathy. In short that, unlike fanon Grantaire, he’d never belittle Enjolras and what he believes in, and wouldn’t be capable of doing so.

least favorite thing about them:He’s a complete asshole. Even people who know he’s an asshole seem to forget just how much of an asshole he is. He sexually harasses women, like, in the text. A lot of people got upset over him making a gross joke about Cosette in BBC les mis? But that is definitely… the kind of joke he would make even if in canon he makes fun of Marius in kind of the opposite way. And yeah it’s super uncool but so is Grantaire.

favorite line:“Vive la République ! J'en suis.”

random headcanon:Grantaire’s dad is a mathematics professor and just desperately trying to get Grantaire to, like, acquire an actual career, be able to support himself after they are gone, et cetera. Like his parents care about him a lot and are trying their best for him.

unpopular opinion:The premise and characterisation of at least 95% of fics featuring Grantaire would work better and make more sense with a different character, and most people who write him are actually not interested in Grantaire the original character.

song i associate with them:  I mean you already know THE Grantaire song is Stray Italian Greyhound

But you had to come along didn’t youRev up the crowd, rewrite the rule bookWhere do I go when every ‘no’ turns into ‘maybe’

So what do I do with this?This sudden burst of sunlightAnd me with my umbrellaCross-indexing every weatherman’s reportI was ready for the downslideBut not for spring to well upThis feeling calls for everything I can’t affordTo knowIs possible now

Austin says that the difference between them is that Lazer Ted is fundamentally a Good Boy, and Snitch Nightly... isn't

Charm!!!! I have nothing useful to offer you because literally Everyone knows more than me about this and the only thing I can think about is the naked drug parties which I THINK is PROBABLY not what you're shooting for, but hey I'm gonna write this comment anyway just to say hello!!!

   I’m sorry about his reaction, but I’m glad you’re figuring out something that helps you! Good luck <3    

@shellcollector replied to your post:                   Personal mini-rant over a conversation I just had...                

   oh god I’m sorry about this but yeah, it’s actually FINE to just take this time to get better