#thestateofardadreaming

I've noticed that you have been blogging about Cartouche. What drew you to that story?

I hope you are doing well!!

Heyyyy!! Not all that active in the Dourif fandom these days myself, but i mean, you follow me, you've probably seen me still reblog the occasional gifset :p A whole lot of trivia about the guy and the movies he's in still occupies space in my brain rent-free after all these years, ain't getting rid of that at this point. Actually did a whole LOTR rewatch around last fall and got to see a projection of Return of the King with a live orchestra playing the soundtrack! It was so, so good <3 (did i cry when they brought on a lady to sing Into the West? Yes.)

The Big Cartouche Fanfic is currently on hold because i'm stuck on it, so i've been focussing on small oneshots! Still, if you remember anything about the fics i wrote back then, you know i never did much beyond very short-form stuff; it's still wild to me that i managed to stay focussed enough to get to almost 50k on the same project.

I've always enjoyed capes-et-épées stories (i guess the closest english term for that genre would be "swashbuckler"? I dunno that sounds more "pirates" to me"), but a lot of period pieces tend to focus more on court intrigues and rich people backstabbing each other, which tends to be less my jam*? The old Cartouche cartoon took this kind of setting i liked, and mixed it with more of a Robin Hood vibe! And they have a whole cute ensemble cast! It's also one of those rare-ish kids shows where the main characters are actual adults, and that probably drew me to it back then too. Falconi, the one character i draw a whole lot, has always kinda remained a bit of a comfort character to me; look back far enough on my blog and you'll find little drawings of him every couple of of years! He's a angry guy with a sad backstory, what can I say, im a simple man writing him a big stupid redemption arc has been very entertaining, i have feelings about it

* i say that, but i HAVE been reading a whole lot of History books for about a year now and the ones that include all the petty, ridiculous details about these people are My Favorites. PLEASE, Jean-Christian Petitfils, tell me more about the time Philippe d'Orléans whacked himself in the face with a tennis racket, this is the content i crave

Anyways, what lead to this current bout of absolute brainrot is i was reading up on the show, and then opened a few wikipedia pages for the couple of characters who are named after real people. Then on my birthday i went to the bookstore and they just. happened to have a very neat biography of Philippe d'Orléans?? (it's the Thierry Sarmant one, it has pictures) And now i have far too many books and know a whole lot of trivia about a very niche time period. It's been a good time! For me, anyways, because everyone else who knows me probably thinks i've been insufferable. It's the hyperfixation, babey!~

Archive moodboard for @thestateofardadreaming

28. First book that comes to mind, tell us about it. Rant

Winners Take All by Anand Giridharadas, because it’s literally right next to me since I’m reading it right now. Dude, the fact that this book has to exist makes me so angry. Not because it’s not good. It’s actually SO. DAMN. GOOD. But because it needs to exist. It deconstructs the phenomenon of the philanthropist billionaires who paint themselves the agents of change in a world that they, themselves, have created and benefit from. And how their change is just a charade of maintaining the status quo in a way that would benefit *THEM* while also giving them a good publicity hit and I just!! cannot!! believe!! so many of us have bought into their narrative and I’m just!! 

Anyways, excellent book, you should read it everyone. 

34. What do you do to mark your pages?? 

I mainly use bookmarks. If I don’t have one, then just whatever spare paper around me (receipt, plane ticket, movie ticket, w/e) will do. For hardcover books, I use the fold of the jacket to mark the pages which, I know, is sacrilegious. But I don’t mind when the book looks really worn out. 

Dear friend, I’m so glad you’re back and feeling good enough to write again. Truly happy. I was always wondering how you were but didn’t want to pry. I think your readers will be so happy to have an update that they will love a never ending chapter.

Hey there friend! I’ve missed you dearly!

This year has been a challenge for sure for me. But I am trying to get back on track as much as possible. So I decided to try get back with this story and revisit the all the feelings!

All right, I”m ready for this now.

First off, your mistake is rewatching season 2.  That’s shitty Miles.  We don’t talk about that Miles.  He’s terrible.  You need to go back to season 1 Miles.  Prime Miles Matheson.

Let’s look at some of his greatest hits, shall we?

First off, there’s his one liners: “A little place called shut up and stay here” “We’re gonna Shawshank our way out of here” 

I love his humor.  The way he covers everything with blanket sarcasm becase it’s his way of coping. 

But there’s other things:

Episode four, Plague Dogs.  He goes out of his way to save Charlie from an arrow in her eye.  And then they made their way back the diner where Maggie is dying.  And you can tell Miles is honestly broken up by her death.  LIke it hurts.  In a way he didn’t expect but he’s not used to things hurting.  So he holds Charlie.  Also “I’m here Charlie.  I promise i’m not going anywhere.”  

Then wen Nora gets shot.  A SMART MAN WOULD HAVE FUCKING LEFT HER..  But he doesn’t.  Doesn’t even think about it.  He steals a wagon and takes her to a drug dealer that has a serious axe to grind with him. He puts his skin on the line because he loves her.   Deep down in a way he can’t even adit to himself, he loves her so much.  Look how heart broken he was when she died.  How much it hurt ot leave her body there. It nearly killed him.

Miles Matheson is loyal like a golden retriever.  He never forgot about Nora.  Even when saving her was not the smart move, he went for it.  Because he loves her and he’s loyal to those he loves.  Yes, he does stupid things.  Because he’s an idiot.  but that doesn’t me he doesn’t love them or he’s not loyal.

He ran from Bass because Bass changed and he felt himself changing with Bass.  He was drowing and couldn’t remember how to swim.  Even when he tried to kill Bass, he didn’t.  I believe he deliberately misfired.  Because even if he didn’t like waht Bass was doing, he couldn’t hurt him.  So he ran but if you remember in the finale “We’re brothers Bass.  And as much as I hate that...that’s enver going to change”

Thank youuuuuuu.... Some of them are screaming to me to write something!