#honeybeeshepherd

[astrcloghy]

REQUESTED AESTHETIC

gemini sun, capricorn moon, sagittarius rising.

requested by @honeybeeshepherd

[kiramessa]

You know despite having never played it, I read most of your fc5 posts and I definitely supported you in your thirst, but I didn’t really share it. But the exact opposite has happened with rdr2 coz every time you mention Dutch or reblog pics I’m just sitting here like 😭💕😩👌😍💯 (also I haven’t read your fics yet because I have a bad brain that won’t settle on fiction at the moment, but I will eventually and I can’t wait).

fjakrfewoi IMO, RDR2′s male cast (well, most of ‘em) have an intriguing and appealing masculine vibe to ‘em. Like, romance novel-esque masculine vibe appeal. I am politely alarmed at this idea, because it shows a thought and care to detail (appearances, behaviors, tropes) that I did not expect in a game that is not a dating sim. I know I make jokes, but my tinfoil theory is that this was seriously something deliberate, that they had the words female gaze written on and underlined on a whiteboard somewhere. I wish I could sit down and talk with the writers more about the game, about what inspired them and where they wanted to take the story as opposed to (or to complement) RDR1′s tale of John confronting what remained of his broken family.

Appearances aside, I feel like Arthur’s behavior is the best example of that aforementioned gaze, but I wrote about that elsewhere (how he’s a male character who exhibits a nuanced masculinity of protection and strength and emotional vulnerability that [1] makes him safe and appealing for women, and [2] is, again, something you usually see in romance novels).

To return to the thirst–Dutch’s complexity as a character makes looking at him all the more enjoyable, as weird as that sounds? I didn’t think I liked the big brawny type ‘til this game came around and hoo boy, do I like it. And I don’t mean beefcake big, like what is usually on romance novels, I mean like… barrel-chested, broad-shouldered guys who also look like they have lil tummies I could poke. Also, the facial hair jdfksl

Dutch is dressed like a fuckin’ robber baron that comes from old money, yet prides himself on being some rugged outlaw. He listens to opera, reads Russian literature and non-fiction pining about the “American ideal”; he knows how to dance in a ballroom style, and is a fast-talking charmer who knows both how to bluster and spin a yarn, who gives grand, eloquent speeches–yet also sometimes talks like a man who lacks a formal education. He’s a bundle of contrasts and hypocrisy and, beneath all that bluster, is very much a broken man that clings to shards of sincerity and who he wants to be (his fixation on love, namely–which, again, is the trope of a romance hero [though is a bit more tragic, in line with Mr. Rochester or Erik from Phantom of the Opera)–rather than acknowledging who he is. He craves danger and risks, and indulges in creature comforts.

Which reminds me of a line from the Assemblage 23 song, “Awake.”

Paid the priceFor burning all the maps to warm myselfI threw their ashes to the wind

That song is great, btw:

Their whole album, Failure, was a fuckin’ marvel of early 00s electronica, so I highly recommend it.

I mention all this to point out that I think, perhaps, FC5 didn’t intentionally have such things in mind when it was crafting the Seeds, but it was something I and others were able to work our way into seeing in the story. This is by no means the “right” way to read that game or the Seeds, just one of ‘em. So it doesn’t surprise me that Dutch would click with you, a fellow romance buddy, since romantic tropes and concepts seem like a (potentially) intentional aspect of his characterization!

[fleetwoodmacarthistory]

@honeybeeshepherd probably. i guess all i can do is keep posting and hope i’ll get new followers!

[fyretrobarbie]

honeybeeshepherd respondeu seu post: this blog is run by smithers, lol, i love it sm!...

Smithers from The Simpsons, who was famously a massive Malibu Stacy collector and fan

Oh, I wish I was a collector x) Thanks for telling me!

[respectingromance]

What are My Fair Lady romances? I hear that term and I think “kind of mean mentor-like older confirmed bachelor hero upset and confused to realise he’s falling in love with much younger heroine ment-ee” and I need it like I need air to breathe. But it also occurs to me it could just mean romances where the hero gives the heroine some kind of makeover. And here I’ve been calling them “fairy godmother romances”!

Sorry I’m so late answering this. I seriously didn’t get a notification on desktop or mobile, so I had to get another message before I saw it. Dang it, Tumblr.

Okay, I’d say My Fair Lady romances might tweak your first description a little, but you’re mostly right. Sometimes there’s gender-swapping, generally the hero isn’t significantly older, etc. But it’s definitely the mentor-mentee vibe as opposed to a makeover situation. My Fair Lady romances tend to concentrate more on the teaching of manners over appearances. There’s usually a makeover, but it’s more than that.

Here are some to try: 

The Charm School by Susan Wiggs

The Proposition by Judith Ivory

Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare

Educating Caroline by Patricia Cabot (I LOVE THIS BOOK)

A Lady’s Lesson in Scandal by Meredith Duran

A Lady at Last by Brenda Joyce

The Making of a Gentleman by Shana Galen

A Perfect Bride by Samantha James

My Fair Billionaire by Elizabeth Bevarly

The Proposition by Judith Ivory

To Love a Thief by Julie Anne Long

My Fair Concubine by Jeannie Lin

My Unfair Lady by Kathryne Kennedy

[romtasticbookclub]

THE ROMTASTIC BOOKCLUB IS A THANG!!!

Alrighty, peeps. This bookclub is TOTES GONNA EXIST!

I’ve had enough people express interest that they’re down for a video/text romance bookclub, so here’s the deets!

1. GROUP BLOG I’ve just created our Romtastic Bookclub group blog and you should be getting an invite to join soon. If I’ve overlooked your name, or you’d like to join, please message me so I can add ya to the fun! This is our landing spot where we can post thoughts, quotes, reactions, etc. while we read the month’s pick. No one is obligated to post, it’s just for us peeps who wanna chat throughout the month before the club meets.)

2. CLUB MEETING: WHEN The Romtastic Bookclub will meet on the first Saturday of the month at 6 pm Central time...? This is negotiable and open to discussion because we all have different schedules. I’d like to pick a time and date that works well for most of us, so PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR FEEDBACK! :)

3. CLUB MEETING: WHERE The Romtastic Bookclub is going to be a Google Hangout. Up to 10 people can video chat at a time and so far we have 33 people who are interested. Each month I’ll rotate the 9 other video chatters, so everyone will have a chance to video if they want. Everybody else can chat along in the Hangout’s text chat. If you don’t want to video chat that month, or only want to participate via the text chat, that is totally ok. Just let me know.

4. CLUB MEETING: HOW You will need a Google account in order to participate in the Hangout. As a result I will need your Google name or email attached to your account so I can add you to the Hangout conversation. Please message me with this information either on my @diehard-fangirl​ blog or on the group blog. (Also hug yourself every time I said “Google,” “Hangout,” or “blog,” lol.)

5. CLUB MEETING: WHAT Every month I’d like to rotate through different subgenres. For simplicity’s sake, I’ll choose our first Romtastic Bookclub pick. I do want to open this up for voting so everyone in the club can have a voice in what we read. I just gotta figure out the best way to do this. DECISIONS WILL BE MADE SOON!

6. NO PRESSURE! Being a member of the Romtastic Bookclub in NO WAY obligates you to participate every month. If you can’t make it to the Hangout or you’re not interested in that month’s book pick, or life gets too busy, NO WORRIES! This is just supposed to be fun, so no stress!

7. I’M A NEWBIE IDIOT! I have NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE OH MY GERD!! Hosting a bookclub, doing a Google Hangout- this is all new for me, so I’m nervous am probably gonna screw up. Please be patient with me as I fake my way through our first few months of the club. I suck, but yall don’t, so IMMA GET THROUGH DIS WITH YA!

8. Das it.

I’ve tried to think of everything that anyone could ask, but I suck. If I left out anything or you have any questions, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO MESSAGE ME! You can also post questions on the group blog. I’ll be posting this on both my diehard-fangirl & on Romtastic Bookclub.

Here’s a cute puppy GIF for reading through this wall of text!

Tagged peeps:

@nitelotus​ @sallux​ @kellyneedscoffee​ @msfehrwight​ @mariaslozak​ @skyewardswan​ @ameliafeministpeabody​ @romancypants​ @psychoblk​ @gallaxiard​ @puncturedbeauty​ @galatea-wannabe​ @thebooklrandtheduke​ @unhappy-mordred @lettingthewaterholdmedown @j9moore @stormy-reads @believingfairytales @not-your-average-romance @prettyharam @angelicsweetiew @youtransfixmequite @romcomkdramafan @thecrankyagnes @brenda-is-reading @blueangel91​ @mfred​

For some reason I can’t tag @thebabeontheback @tess-etc @Honeybeeshepherd @princessnerf-herder @unfriendly-black-hijabi so I’m going to tag them specifically in the tags. 

ETA: I’ve tagged everyone within the actual Tags of this post to hopefully make sure everyone sees it.

[bebemoon]

look for the name: MELISSA

@honeybeeshepherd

zimmermann embroidered cutout linen mini dress w/ balloon sleeves

jacquemus “santon” wide-brim straw hat

alexander mcqueen by sarah burton three-buckle black leather ankle boots w/ heels of rosebuds

alexander mcqueen metal and carnelian crystal beehive choker, s/s 2o13

gisou by negin mirsalehi floral and honey aroma hair perfume

[kiramessa]

honeybeeshepherd replied to your post “greasyjohnmarston replied to your photo: far cry 5...”

But what do you search for? Do you have specific things in mind? And how do you think of them in the first place? Or do you search themes and just see what comes up?

oh, sorry. i guess my first answer wasn’t that helpful :( sorry @greasyjohnmarston

I usually search for x fandom thing + aesthetic (ex: Bloodborne aesthetic, Red Dead Redemption aesthetic, Sansa Stark aesthetic). If my moodboard is for a fandom thing specifically, I kinda grab whatever works for it. If it’s for a specific character or ship, then I’ll add things like faceless couple photography, kissing, red aesthetic, etc. Stuff that’s just a bit more specific.

Pinterest is pretty good at giving you things that are like what you want, and then you can click on a picture and it’ll show you even more that’s like that. So it’s really just a matter of clicking through ‘til you find what you need.