not quite an internet readalong

[effex]

* Princess Project update - I've resolved Al, Jasmine, and Genie's backstory to my satisfaction, done a ton more research, and am in the process of plotting the overall arc and individual 'episodes.'

I've... also turned Pride Rock into a gay/queer club (with Zazu and Timon as rival drag queens ((Zazu is also the manager)), Nala as assistant manager and occasional bartender, and Simba ((pansexual and fiercely in love with Nala)) as the too-young owner with a vision. Chicha ((Emperor's New Groove)) djs there on Saturday nights). It was originally set dressing for a Rex/Hernando side story I was entertaining myself with, but at this point it's so developed I might as well use it in the main piece.

wishfulclicking, I'm so sorry, this probably isn't what you had in mind when you asked if the Lion King was going to be included.

* I'm rewatching Buffy - currently halfway through season 2 and mostly enjoying the heck out of it (aside from the race!fail and culture!fail and lookwe'retalkingaboutrapecanwehaveacookienow!fail). The last (and first) time I watched it was my freshman year in college - I had a friend who told me 'wait until you get to the fourth season - there's somethings that happen with Willow that I really think you'll relate to' - thus continuing the 'everyone knew I was queer before I did*' trend.

* There was a football game last night! I won't talk about who won because zanzando might not have seen it yet, but. There's always the commercials. Which were, for the most part, really terrible. Really, really terrible, and misogynistic, and buffoonish. To counter that you can see the Planned Parenthood response to Focus on the Family's spot here, Racebending.com's response to The Last Airbender's spot here, and rm talks about one of her favorite ads of Superbowls past over on her linkspam.

* My personal favorite Superbowl ad (I'm admittedly biased on a number of fronts):

* Another ad (not Superbowl related), totally unexpected and beautiful:

* And today's music video of choice:

* or what felt like everyone. To be fair, nepenthe totally didn't know, she just laughed for a long time when I came out and then was very supportive.

Comments

[wishfulclicking]

That description of Pride Rock has me so excited. I love The Lion King and I can't wait to see what you do with it. Is Mufasa dead in this one too, is Scar still himself?

Warning: Info Dump

[effex]

[nods] Mufasa's still dead, yes. Scar's very much himself (although I've got to find another name for him) and in prison. Way I see things: Mufasa, his wife, and Scar (and probably a number of others) all immigrated to the States from Kenya when they were young adults. I'm not sure what exactly Mufasa did for a living, but he did it well enough to own his own business and become an influential community leader. Scar was, as always, insanely jealous and arranged to have his brother killed by the Hyena gang... and then things get shaky - did Simba see? Did Scar try to kill him as well? Did he run away? Etc.

Regardless, Simba ends up living with Timon and Pumba, Scar runs the business into the ground, and the Hyena's destroy the neighborhood. After they turn 18, Nala discovers that Mufasa actually left everything to Simba (Scar's been lying about it) and goes out to drag him home. The cops are called in, there's a huge trial, shenanigans ensue that are connected in various ways to the main story. In the end, Scar's in prison, Simba's left with a failing business in a ravaged neighborhood, and thanks to the media attention there's a lot of noise about 'gentrifying' the area - particularly from the liberal/hipster/white/queer communities.

And Simba's all 'look, I can't be who my father was, but this neighborhood is important to us and we can't lose it. I've been on the outskirts of that community (via Timon and Pumba, who may or may not be a couple, idk), I know how they think, here's what we're going to do...' and four years later Pride Rock is a hot night spot, the center of a rebuilt neighborhood, and a strong community advocate (particularly for immigrants and queer people of color).

Re: Warning: Info Dump

[wishfulclicking]

That entire storyline sounds amazingly awesome. I just did jazz hands at my screen.

[waywren]

I am LOVING the Princess Project developments! I cackled myself off the seat at Timon and Puumba--that's gonna be AWESOME. *hugs Simba*

[effex]

:D It's a lot of fun to write - the idea of Timon as a drag queen and Puumba as his longsuffering boyfriend/best friend/roommate/whatever thrills me.

[waywren]

Indeed, it is TOO PERFECT. *loves*

[zanzando]

1) The Princess Project - I am *so* in love with this. *flails*

2) Aww, thank you for not mentioning who won! I even steered clear for once, and remained un-spoiled. That interception! Awesome. :DDD

3) Waah, Jen Kwok love! ♥♥♥