All Things Sad Become Untrue

I have seen The Nutcracker more in the last few years than the entirety of my life before the pandemic, I think. I've become closer to a friend who goes every year without fail. (I may need to break away from this, 'cuz it's enjoyable, but I don't actually need to see the same show Every Single Year.)

I have idle thoughts about a Nutcracker AU because my mind tends to drift off and fanfic everything.

Like... Victorian America and a big house and a party, like the ballet. Only the kid isn't a young girl and the daughter of the house, but Steve Rogers and he's the orphaned son of the nurse who saved the lady of the manor. So the family feels responsible for him, but also, he's so scrawny and sick, they figure they're helping him spend his last few years peacefully.

And the nutcracker isn't the treasured gift but sorta an 'oops, we need a present for this kid.' Steve doesn't realize this, he's ecstatic, admiring the painting of the object. He's artistic and appreciates fine woodworking. He goes to bed with his nutcracker clasped to his breast. It's Victorian times, so he wears a white nightgown that hangs to the middle of his calves. He dreams that the nutcracker comes alive. Picture Bucky with the white ballet tights clinging to the sculpted muscles of his thighs, wearing a blue-gray satiny shirt that matches his eyes with silver epaulets on the shoulders, the Winter Soldier nutcracker.

The two dance around the living room, by the huge Christmas tree festooned with sparkly ornaments, the only light the moonlight shining in. Steve feels so wonderful, as he leaps into his nutcracker's arms and is caught and swung around. His white nightgown floats around his thin legs, catching on his partner's tights.

Different possible endings: the Mouse King or a sorcerer? Transform Steve into a nutcracker, tall and proud. In the morning, the family find both nutcrackers and are perplexed, did Steve steal one from somewhere else? If so, why did he leave both? Did he run away? They place the nutcrackers together on the fireplace mantle and eventually forget about the orphaned child that they didn't really want, but every Christmas Eve (full moon?), the nutcrackers come alive and Steven and Bucky dance around and have adventures with the fairies. That feels sorta old-fashioned fairy tale ending, mysterious and romantic but a little sad.

Or Bucky transforms into a person, and in the morning, Steve wakes, wondering why he's so warm, and rolls over to see Bucky cuddled in bed with him. He invents a story about a strange, lost boy, and the family is a little 'sigh, another one?' but accept him. And the two grow up and are happy together for the rest of their lives.

New cat is suddenly molesting me as I try to type this, I think she wants dinner early.

Thor: Ragnarok keeps playing on TV and I see bits and pieces when finding something to watch, making me think how much I love Valkyrie, partially because Tessa Thompson is so cute and personable, but also the character is such a male trope that women rarely get to play. I love the switch-up.

She's Han Solo, she's multiple Humphrey Bogart roles. She's disillusioned, cynical, and out for herself, and even before we see the flashback, you know that she was hurt badly when she was younger, a disappointment that helped create that shell. She lives a little outside normal society, keeping herself isolated. But of course, there's the heart of gold underneath and she comes to the hero's rescue when it's critically needed.

Women just don't get to play this role. Or if they have the basic characteristics of being hurt, cynical, and slightly isolated, they're prostitutes. They're not warriors who come swinging a sword. Possibly they help by distracting the bad commandant.

I love Han Solo and Humphrey Bogart, I love this trope. I love seeing a woman be tough and find herself again and be a hero. Huzzah!

Have I done the picture right this time? We shall see! (No, it's all small. Well, click on it and it gets bigger.)

You know... I'm gonna watch it. I'm gonna give it a try. But omg, that ad looks like 'Star Trek 90210.' I have such an OMGWTF reaction to it.



The trailer appeals to me more.