#{ the eternal performer | violet }

[the-spawns]

Did one of those relationship chart things with the spawn siblings. (Mainly during their years of serving Cazador)

[shiraishi-kanade]

AWAKE NOW: an (almost) line by line analysis by yours truly, pt.1

If you've been following me at all, you probably know that Awake Now is my favourite An Shiraishi commission and that I always ramble how symbolic and incredible its lyrics are, among other things. Well, it's time for me to actually explain why I think it's so great!

This is part one tackling only in-game version; I'll later make an addition to this post expanding on the full version lyrics, because there is also a lot to unpack there and I don't want to do all what work in one sitting. Sorry.

[Disclaimer: for a quite a long time, the commonly accepted translation of this song has been facing criticism, and quite a lot of lines have been changed into what I believe is more accurate later. More corrections may be yet to come, but this post will use the translation available at 27.10 by Hiraethie, with edits by Violet and 25239x.]

Lazy Rainy My Soul is

now in a bad mood

From this new feeling called Lament

(New feeling called Lament)

The first verse of the song is referencing An's growing unease she experiences during the time of Bout to be Beside you; while she doesn't know why she feels that way at the beginning, a big emphasis is made on how she never felt that way before, because even having a partner is something that is a new experience for An.

The supposed relationship full of perfection

got complicated on its way

This line references the way An perceives her own and Kohane's partnership, as well as just their general dynamic: they started off strong but already faced some conflict during Singing in Sync, the very first event of VBS, during which An had to confront her overprotectiveness; now this relationship is starting to get even more complicated with An's anxiety and "hazy feelings" thrown into the mix.

Not only that, it's also important that this line went to Touya - who went through his own issues in his relationship with Akito.

Still staying passionate, I Try

A general callback to An's attitude to losing and having roadblocks:

🎧: I hate to lose, but I usually take a more positive approach to think and work harder to do better next time.

(btby episode 4, official tl)

As well as, in this particular situation, she only sees one way to get over her feelings: to stay passionate and keep singing. This line is later brought up again in Rekka with "My silence and passion, I kept them inside my heart" line.

It's not like you're the one at fault

This is An's admitting that Kohane is never at fault for making An feel the way she does; that she has the full right and ability to make progress and keep improving as much as she wants to, and An could never blame her for it. At the same time, An is bitter at herself for having these feelings at all, which we later see in WTWG.

Trip Step, I want to do that again and again

If we could light up the night together

For eternity, then...

An wants to be Kohane's partner and keep singing with her despite the anxiety she brought into her life. If we look at the phrase "light up the night" to mean performing and bringing excitement to people (which it very well could be, seeing the overall symbolism of fire and light has in VBS's story), it becomes apparent this refers to An wanting to stay partners with Kohane forever, especially considering these lines in the event itself:

👤: Have you found a good partner yet, An?

🎧: No, not yet... It's taking longer than I expected...

🎧: But I have a feeling that we're gonna be singing together forever once I do!

***

🎧: That she's [Kohane] the only one who can be my partner...

(same event, chapter 5)

An is willing to go to extreme length to keep being Kohane's partner - so they can "light up the night" together.

Falling in love with the sound of my wings

that I outstretched to the skies,

This line goes to Kohane as well as Touya, but refers primarily to Kohane's discovering her own talent and (rightfully) enjoying all the new experiences and emotions it has brought into her life. It's also a clever play on Kohane's name, seeing as if she had a kanji spelling instead of hiragana, it most definitely would have included the character 羽 - "wing" or "feather". This same wordplay is then later used in Hollow:

預かる背中のその羽が

azukaru senaka no sono hane ga

This is confirmed by the song's producer and the very same character is used in Awake Now, so it's very unlikely it's just a coincidence - at the same time, "outstretching her wings" definitely refers to Kohane gaining new abilities and exploring new opportunities with Taiga.

the flowers of my dreams start overflowing.

I’ll make them sublimely

beautifully bloom so,

Seemingly, An has gotten everything she's ever wanted: she found a partner and a team, and townfolk are starting to take her dream more seriously - but her feelings about Kohane are overwhelming and distracting her from that, even during practice. Even so, An is determined to make that relationship work.

The first line here also went to Kohane and Touya, likely reflecting how their dream was found somewhere later than An and Akito's was, so that development is even more spontaneous to them than to the first two.

don’t forget that I’m right next to you, okay?

This is both reassurance to Kohane that An will always be by her side and believing in her, and a plea by An for Kohane not to forget her as she keeps growing and moving forward, and for Kohane to keep An by her side. It's a very nice double edged sword of a line and probably one of my favourite ones in the entire song.

Also, it also has Akito in the background, which is just... *Gestures at Stray Bad Dog event*. And this moment in BTBY too:

🥞: She's having an effect on the rest of us, including me, which means you, her partner, probably have it worse...

🥞: You feel like you're getting left behind... Like I did a while ago...

Akito went through something very similar, though not identical - that's likely the reason he was able to notice An's worries and help her in the first place.

Even if our touching backs begin to separate

Kohane is starting to pursue training with Taiga outside of An's reach, and An is starting to bottle up her feelings about Kohane - they're no longer as emotionally close as they used to be, and that's okay. Might also refer to the difference in skill level that is not there yet but will become quite apparent soon: their touching backs begin to separate... Perhaps even going in different directions.

Awake Now

The name drop and the meaning behind the song title: An is now aware of the feelings she experienced back in Awakening Beat and the true reason behind it, as unpleasant as it may be.

This doesn't end with my longing alone

This is perhaps one of the most interesting lines in the song, as it's the one that has faced the most misinterpretation, previously being translated as "I will never stop yearning for you."

Nevertheless, a corrected translation makes a lot more sense. An refuses to be the only one "yearning" in her and Kohane's relationship; she wants to keep inspiring Kohane and make her go even further, for Kohane to keep yearning for An and her singing, too.

🎤: Since you want to be someone she can “respect and be proud of”, An, you want her to like and be excited by the way you sing.

(same event, chapter 6)

This later comes back as a major theme in WTWG:

🎧: (But you know what, Kohane?)

🎧: (I'm not satisfied with that.)

🎧: (I want to drag it out of you, too.)

🎧: (This new power of yours, all sorts of feelings you've never felt before, all of it, all of it!)

🎧: (I want to drag it out of you, with my song!)

(WTWG, chapter 7, tl by Lozy Bug on YouTube)

...and more throughout the same chapter. In other words, while Kohane's singing make An experience new feelings and emotions, An doesn't want to be the only one of the two this happens to - so... She starts working towards doing it right back at her. But in BTBY, this specifically refers to the "I want to keep singing with you forever" feeling, too.

In other words, even the game version of Awake Now is basically An's Shiraishi character arc condensed into one song; it breaks down the point of conflict in BTBY down to it's bare essentials, and expands on motives that will later come back in play over a year later - and that is why I consider this song to be the best An Shiraishi comm.

And we haven't even gotten to the full version.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

(so happy your bringing back the birthday takeover interactions for Rollo/Roro/Rolo/Lolo (i give up) i just want to remind you that I love you Miss Raven🫂)

HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYYY TO OUR DEAREST PRESIDENT!!! Ehem, excuse my volume, just doing my best to keep the joyous atmosphere.

I hope the decorations are all to your liking, the others and I have done our outmost to keep the room neatly decorated😌 Though... I couldn't stop those Night Raven College students, it was his idea not mine.

*points at NBC Vice President*

As for my gift to you~ Here~

*presents a tiny music box, when turned plays the instrumental to 'Everyone Go Yahoo!' by Neige and the Dwarfs from VDC*

And once again, Happy Birthday to you!

The wording on this interaction is a little confusing; I'm not sure if it comes from a general NBC mob, the student council aide, or another NRC student??? For ease of writing, I'm write from the perspective of a NBC mob. (Fun fact, the Snow White music box image I used for this post is a rare item that sells for several hundreds of dollars 🤑)

Rollo produced his handkerchief and coughed stiffly into it. “I understand what you are trying to communicate. There is no need to raise your voice. As for the decorations…”

He gave the looks a cursory glance—to give the impression of evaluating it.

There had been painstaking care in the color coordination of the balloons, streamers, and banners: Noble Bell College’s violet, maroon, and black, spackled with golden glitter. Confetti had made its home on the rug and crevices of the floor, and his desk and coffee table hosted platters of cake, bread, cheeses, and grapes. A large bell-shaped piñata hung overhead, waiting to be batted around. And flowers—flowers everywhere.

“… It is beyond my expectations,” he said carefully. Yes, it is beyond my expectations because I never expected this interruption to begin with!! “I must thank you and the others for organizing this celebration. I am humbled to have received such thoughtful attention.”

You flushed with pride at his praise, not recognizing it for the tailored politeness that it was: an act. Your president had always been cool, reserved, and controlled with his emotions.

His face subtly shifted when you presented him with your gift. A slight widening of the eyes, a tick in his jaw. This, you knew, was his “surprised”.

The music box was a marvel. Shaped like a sturdy coffin, it was painted in the earth browns of tree bark, the blues of halcyon skies, and the greens of open grassy fields. Detailed animals eagerly climbed up its sides, while a parade of seven dwarves adorned the lid. The craftsmanship—as much as Rollo loathed to admit it—was impressive.

When you turned the crank to demonstrate its song, the box sprang open, revealing a tiny prince and princess set spinning in an eternal dance. A familiar tune flitted out, at once nostalgic and cheery to the ear. Rollo recognized it immediately.

“This is that popular children’s song.”

“Yeah! It’s going though a huge resurgence in popularity right now. Have you heard the cover Neige and his friends performed of it? It’s sooo cute!!” you gushed.

“Cover?” Rollo’s brow creased. “I apologize. I’m not aware of what you’re referring to, this… Neige-kun character.”

You did a double take. “Wait, seriously? He’s, like, THE biggest celebrity right now! All the outlets call him ‘the fairest one of all’.”

“I’ve never heard of him.”

Your jaw dropped.

Rollo-senpai is such a workaholic that he doesn’t even know Neige at all?! What dedication…! I only wish I could work half as hard as he does!!

Your admiration for him kindled anew.

“Oh gosh… You’re missing out then, Prez! You need to give it a listen when you can. It’ll get the song stuck in your head all over again!”

“I find that I am not a fan of modern renditions of the classics.” Rollo offered a strained smile. “Perhaps I can give it a chance when I can find the time in my busy schedule.”

He doubted it.

[midnight-raven]

Futuristic Four ft Riley & Miguel as Sinner Demons

Idea inspired by Anon. Original ask here -> post

The Underworld; a dark and chaotic realm ruled by Xibalba, where the souls of those whom have sinned in their previous lives are sent to spend the rest of eternity.

Follow the lives of six demons as they try to live the rest of their eternal afterlife to the fullest.

(Closing off the rest of the post because of mentions of dark topics. Proceed with caution.)

⚠️ TW: Mentions of Death, Suicide, Slight Torture, and Mentioned Substance Abuse⚠️

If not a fan, please do not read ahead.

Thank you.

HIRO HAMADA

Age: 18

Alias: Kage

Species: Cybernetic Kabuki Demon

Cause of Death: Building Explosion

Hiro and his brother, Tadashi, were researchers in a lab that mysteriously caught fire. Hiro had made a deal with Xibalba, to spare his brother's life, even if the deal condemned his own soul.

Afterwards, Hiro was reincarnated as a demon in Hell. At first, he worked as a Bot Fighter for Yama in the Greed Ring, until Hiro decided to start an assassination business, to investigate those whose deaths were unnatural and unsolved.

VIOLET PARR

Age: 18

Alias: Dark Wings

Species: Harpy Demon

Cause of Death: Bullet to the Heart

Violet was a young super who was declared an enemy after she deflected a bullet with her shields and accidentally struck an innocent bystander. Shunned by her family, Violet lived a life on the run from the NSA, until she was finally cornered.

Reincarnated in the Wrath Ring as a Harpy Demon, Violets’ power grew with her rage, as she continued her path as a Vigilante of Justice. Vowing to never be hurt again, and to work alone.

WILBUR ROBINSON

Age: 17

Alias: Surge

Species: Electricity Demon

Cause of Death: Electrical Surge

Wilbur always knew he could never live up to his fathers golden legacy, which led him to reckless actions with dire consequences. This created a rift between him and his Dad, that could’ve been repaired in time… but it was too late.

In the Greed Ring, Wilbur was captured and used as a living battery for an underworld casino, and spent decades being drained of his powers towards the brink of death. Until he was saved by a vigilante known as ‘Dark Wings.’

PENNY FORRESTER

Age: 17

Alias: Renegade

Species: Camera Demon

Cause of Death: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

In her previous life, Penny was a popular actress, featured in many movies and gossip magazines. But beyond the spotlight, Penny was cracking under the pressure of her stardom and demanding agent. Until the day she took her own life.

Reincarnated as a demon with a camera lens for her right eye, Penny became a freelance photographer, to expose people's true colors. As well as making her first friend; her protective and loyal hellhound; Bolt.

RILEY ANDERSEN

Age: 17

Alias: Little Miss Sunshine

Species: Clown Demon

Cause of Death: Struck By A Car

Her parents would describe Riley as a ‘happy girl’ but everything changed after they moved. Riley became cynical, a shadow of her former self. And then one day, everything hit the fan.

Reborn in the seven rings, Riley became a special clown performer, with the help of her impish friends; Anger, Fear, Disgust, Sadness, and Joy.

MIGUEL RIVERA

Age: 18

Alias: De La Cruzcito

Species: Skeleton Demon

Cause of Death: Smoke Inhalation

Kicked out by his family at 15, Miguel tried to make his dream of becoming a musician true, but living on his own, Miguel had to take on certain jobs to survive. After a long day, Miguel fell into a deep sleep, not realizing a room nearby had caught fire. He woke up dead.

In his afterlife, Miguel got the opportunity of working with famous musician; Ernesto De La Cruz, who took the young boy on as his protégé. And as long as Miguel does everything Ernesto ask, he can live out his dream. And never have to return to his former life again. It’s worth it, right?

(Thinking about making a separate post for each characters to further explain their lives, afterlives and the sins they committed. Even maybe some Fanart for how I picture them.)

[localdorkincombatboots]

Opinion on Kankri (or Cronus)

Oof ill be honest it's been a while since a did a good examination of their canon characters

Let me preface this with the fact that each of them are supposed to be obviously recognizable as exaggerated stereotypes of different kinds of real people.

They're both problematic in their own ways, Kankri in his performative advocacy that only goes as far as correcting others and going on long rants about the implications of an issue and Cronus is his idolizing of the Greaser life and "nice guy" bs. But the thing is, they're literally eternally stuck as 19 year old ghosts, just arguing with their friends and alt versions of them and themselves. They don't grow or mature and they don't have any better perspectives to teach them better even if they were open to accepting that the way they act isn't okay. They each think the way they are is who they have to be in order to be an activist for Kankri or be cool for Cronus.

Are they great people trolls? No but again they're 19, dead, and stuck in a video game with an infinite number of other 19 year old versions of themselves and their friends.

But they do each play their own part in the story and when examining both the way that society was on Beforus and their narratives amongst their ancestors/dancestors they make sense.

For Kankri, Karkat, and Signless (who is literally Kankri but on Alternia), their major recurring thing is being treated differently by society because of their blood mutation. While Kankri doesn't have to fear being killed due to his blood color he does still face hella ableism because the society on Beforus believes lowbloods should be coddled due to their lack of power in comparison to highbloods. The trolls of the cancer sign always have to fight for themselves somehow as a reoccurring theme and Kankri's activism is his. Had he been able to continue growing and learning he could've become a better activist as he got older but because of the game he didn't and now spends eternity frozen as the same person.

For Cronus, Eridan, and Dualscar, their characters think of themselves as cool and better than others because of their status as violet bloods but in reality is regularly disregarded personally and not as worshipped as they think they should be. With the peaceful society of Beforus his "nice guy" bs was given more room to flourish bc he wasn't spending his time causing as much bloodshed and instead was focusing on how to make himself "cool" in a misguided attempt to get the attention he wants. Hussie himself has been quoted calling Cronus the worst character in homestuck and that's what he was created to be for the story. Had their session not started, could Conus have become a better troll some day? Maybe but we'll never know.

At the end of the day, they were both created to play a specific part and have a specific influence on the story.

Did I used to have fun back in high school shipping them? Yeah a bit but I grew out of that a long time ago. There's actually a Cronkri fic on AO3 that low-key still haunts me to this day. It can be a cute and fun ship if you wanna have fun with it. Are they good for each other? No but depiction does not equal glorification and it was through the exploration of characters like that going through some (tbh uncomfortable) stories that taught me some perspective on certain things and the only way to learn and grow as a person is to explore stuff like that. Plus it's okay to just have fun with silly bad characters I mean look at Vriska lmfao

Sorry that this turned into a whole thing but they're both characters that were intentionally written to be kinda shitty teenagers and too many ppl turn into real life Kankris trying to villify fictional characters.

[mischiefandmedicine]

Very Full - Chapter 16: The Night We Met

Summary: Melara returns home and reflects on her life.

Word Count: 3,244 words.

Chapter Warnings: Angst, sadness, talk of pain.

Soundtrack Link

This Chapter's Music Inspiration:

The Night We Met by Lord Huron

Very Full MASTERLIST

Previous Chapter

A/N: Reminder that I do not own the rights to the lyrics. Yes, I connect the story a lot to songs. I enjoy the idea of a life soundtrack.

Let me know if you would like to be added to the taglist!

In the shadowed corners of the Avengers compound, amidst the hum of ceaseless vigilance, there lingered a softer, more human melody. It was in these hallowed halls that Saoirse, young and wide-eyed, watched her Melara grapple with an existence that was at once both radiant and ravaging. Even at her tender age, Saoirse sensed the undercurrent of sorrow that threaded through her mother’s days, a silent partner to the chronic pain that never quite receded into the background. And her argument with Loki only seemed to make matters worse.

Melara, whose spirit was as vibrant as the music she conjured from the depths of her being, carried her affliction with a grace that belied the tears Saoirse often caught glistening in her eyes. The pain, a cruel tax levied upon her mother’s every breath, seemed to fuel a creative fire that blazed through the notes and lyrics of her songs. To the world, Melara’s music had soared, a phoenix rising with wings unfurled from the ashes of her suffering, gaining adoration and acclaim as it climbed the charts.

Yet, for Saoirse, the music was a double-edged sword. It was the lullaby that had rocked her to sleep, the anthem of her childhood. But it was also the siren song that heralded the slow unraveling of her mother. Melara’s melodies were spun from the threads of her agony, and they shimmered with a beauty that was heartrending. The more Melara’s fame grew, the more her songs resonated with souls across the globe, the heavier the toll it seemed to take on her.

Saoirse, though only seven, bore the heavy mantle of the silent observer from the comfort of their space within the compound. She had neither the words nor the means to articulate the helplessness that gnawed at her small heart. She could only watch, her violet eyes a mirror to the torment and triumph that warred within her mother.

The days melded one into the other, each marked by Melara’s fierce determination to rise to the demands of her flourishing career despite her condition. Her mother would smile, would perform, would shine under the spotlight – only to return to their quarters with a pallor that makeup no longer concealed and a weariness that sleep could not cure. Saoirse would listen to the soft sobs that escaped from behind the bathroom door, the sound muffled by the rush of water and the walls that stood between them. Occasionally, Saoirse could swear she even heard her father’s name escape from her mother’s lips in her sleep, a fever dream she had every night, no matter how good the day.

Saoirse understood, in her own way, that her mother was fighting a battle that went beyond the physical. Melara was striving to leave a legacy, to carve out a piece of eternity through her art, perhaps to defy the impermanence that her illness whispered of in the dark hours.

Yet, for all her mother’s strength, there was an ever-present shadow that lurked behind the smiles and the curtain calls – a specter that grew bolder with each passing day. It was a shadow that Saoirse, young as she was, recognized as the harbinger of loss. Try as she might, Saoirse’s magic was not strong enough to summon her own father to rescue her mother from the torment.

The compound, with its heroes and its healers, became the stage upon which Melara’s dual life played out. And in the midst of it all was Clint, the quiet sentinel who watched over both mother and daughter. His presence was a constant, a reminder of the life that continued beyond the confines of fame and pain.

In those days, the compound was more than a refuge; it was a witness to the cost of greatness to the price of a mother’s love, and to the silent understanding of a child who saw too much too soon. It was a place where Saoirse learned the language of unshed tears and unspoken fears, where she came to understand the resonance of her mother’s music, and where she first glimpsed the inexorable approach of an ending that seemed written in the stars.

In the wake of her tempestuous farewell to Loki, Melara found herself adrift in the quiet aftermath, her emotions as raw as an open wound. The Avengers compound, once a bastion of strength and solace, now echoed with the hollow remnants of her shattered connection. It was there, following a shared song with Clint, whose empathetic ear and gentle strumming offered a semblance of peace amidst the silent chorus of her own heartbreak.

But the respite was fleeting. The next day, the call to return home to Wisconsin, to the roots and the reality of her life before the grandeur of stages and the acclaim of crowds, loomed over her. It was a homecoming tinged with disquiet, a journey back to the origins of her dreams, now colored by the fatigue that clung to her like a shadow. She would return to the place where she met Loki, the place where Saoirse was born, and above all, the place where she had fallen in love with the disjointed family that they had created.

The flight back to Wisconsin, though, was a quiet affair, Melara’s gaze often drifting to the clouds beyond the window of their private jet, lost in the thoughts she could not voice. Saoirse, ever perceptive, nestled close to her mother, sensing the unease that vibrated through her. With a tenderness that reversed their roles, Melara soothed her daughter, her gentle caresses and whispered assurances painting a veneer of normalcy over the canvas of her anxiety as Saoirse laid her head in Melara’s lap.

Evelyn, the matriarch whose wisdom and love had shaped Melara into the force of nature she was, awaited them at the airport. Her keen eyes, missed nothing, noting the telltale signs of her daughter’s weariness. With Saoirse in tow, she offered a warm embrace, her words for her granddaughter laced with a knowing that spoke volumes.

“She looks tired, doesn’t she?” Evelyn whispered to Saoirse, careful to keep her observations from reaching Melara’s ears. It was a dance they had perfected over time, a way to acknowledge the struggle without adding to its weight.

Saoirse, nestled against her grandmother, merely nodded looking up at her, her young heart aching with the understanding that her mother’s vibrancy was dimming, the flame that had once burned so brightly now flickering uncertainly.

The return to Wisconsin was bittersweet. Melara’s smile, as she breathed in the familiar air, was genuine, but it was a joy tempered by the knowledge of what – and who – she had left behind. In her mother’s house, surrounded by the artifacts of her past, including the one picture anyone had of her with Loki and Saoirse, Melara seemed to walk the line between gratitude for her roots and the restlessness of a soul that had tasted the stars.

As night fell, Melara tucked Saoirse into bed, her voice soft and soothing as she sang Saoirse’s Asgardian lullaby for what seemed like the millionth time. It remained a part of their bedtime routine as a mother’s promise to her child that, no matter the storms that raged, her love would remain an unshakable fortress.

Evelyn watched from the doorway, her heart heavy with the silent knowledge that her daughter was battling more than just the exhaustion of travel and the demands of fame. There was a deeper weariness in Melara’s eyes, one that spoke of battles fought in the depths of her soul, of love lost and the relentless march of time.

As Melara kissed Saoirse goodnight, her touch lingered, a silent prayer that the dawn would bring renewed strength and clarity. And in the quiet of the house, as the echoes of Melara’s lullaby faded into the night, the three generations of strong women found solace in the shared sanctuary of family, a bond that time, distance, and even the gods themselves could not sever.

Melara and Evelyn retreated from the sanctity of Saoirse’s room, heading for the living room that was steeped in the soft glow of evening. They settled into the well-worn couch, an island in the midst of family photos and mementos of a life rich with memories. Evelyn’s gaze, filled with the weight of unspoken concern, found her daughter’s weary face.

“Love, you’re pushing yourself too hard,” Evelyn began, the words wrapped in the warmth of maternal care, yet firm with the insistence of one who knows the toll of overextension. “As a widow who raised two kids by herself, I can tell when someone is overdoing it. Why not stay here for a while after the concert? The compound isn’t going anywhere.”

Melara’s laugh was a shadow of its usual mirth, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of a cushion. The layers of makeup did little to mask the tell-tale signs of fatigue that her mother’s keen eyes so easily discerned. “Mom, I’m fine,” she lied, a practiced smile dancing on her lips. But Evelyn was not to be dissuaded.

 “I can see it, Melara. The way you move, the hollowness in your eyes. Something’s not right, and I think you know it too,” Evelyn pressed, her voice a tender yet unyielding force. “Do those fancy Avengers doctors even know what they’re doing?”

The dam within Melara cracked, her defenses waning in the face of her mother’s astute observation. She could not fight with her mother. “I’ve been feeling drained, mom. The pain is never-ending now and even sleep has become a stranger to me,” she confessed, the veneer of strength crumbling.

Evelyn reached out, her hand enveloping Melara’s. “Singing shouldn’t be a crutch, love. It’s your gift, but it should not be done at the expense of your health.”

Melara’s eyes, so often a wellspring of determination, now glistened with the sheen of vulnerability. “It’s the only thing besides Saoirse that’s keeping me going. If not for the music, I’d have nothing to counter this…this endless ache.”

They sat in silence, the generational divide bridged by a shared understanding of suffering and the solace found in art. Evelyn, her heart heavy with a mother’s love, sought the words that might anchor her daughter to the shores of rest and recovery.

“Think of it this way: you need to be with family. We can take care of you too, Melara. Let Saoirse spend time with her cousins, let her feel the roots that ground us all. The world can wait, but this,” Evelyn gestured to the walls that contained the essence of their family, “this is where you can heal.”

The conviction in her mother’s voice was the balm Melara hadn’t known she needed. It was a permission of sorts, an affirmation that stepping back from the limelight was not a retreat but a necessary respite. After moments that stretched like lifelines, Melara nodded, acquiescing to the wisdom her mother offered.

 “Alright, Mom. We’ll stay a while,” she agreed, her voice a murmur that carried the weight of her world.

Evelyn pulled her into an embrace, one that spoke of homecoming and the quiet strength that the bonds of family provided. Melara allowed herself to be held, to be comforted in the arms that had always been her sanctuary.

As the night deepened around them, the two women remained in the living room, their conversation a delicate dance of hope and healing. And for the first time in what felt like an eternity, Melara allowed herself to imagine a life not dictated by the demands of burgeoning powers, but by the simple rhythms of home.

With the stillness of Evelyn’s Wisconsin home, under the watchful gaze of family history, Melara and Evelyn forged a new understanding, an agreement that anchored Melara to the present, to the promise of days filled with familial love and the gentle respite of her mother’s house. It was a promise of tomorrow, a vow to face the uncertainties not alone, but with the strength of generations that flowed through their veins.

After much talking, the comforting words and the warmth of the embrace from her mother, Melara excused herself under the pretext of needing fresh air, but the truth was, she sought solitude with the night. The porch, bathed in the soft glow of the moon, became her refuge, the guitar her only companion as she settled into the wicker chair that had known many such nights.

Her fingers strayed over the strings, a familiar song bubbling to the surface, one that spoke of love, loss, and the bitter sweetness in between – a song that Loki had once said captured the essence of the stars. As she began to play, the melody filled the silent expanse around her, the notes a poignant echo of the life she had built and the love that still lingered in the recesses of her heart.

I am not the only traveler, Who has not repaid his debt. I’ve been searching for a trail to follow again, Take me back to the night we met. And then I can tell myself, What the hell am I supposed to do? And then I can tell myself, Not to ride along with you. I had all and then most of you, Some and now none of you. Take me back to the night we met. Haunted by the ghost of you, Oh, take me back to the night we met. When the night was full of terrors, And your eyes were filled with tears. When you had not touched me yet, Oh, take me back to the night we met. I had all and then most of you, Some and now none of you. Take me back to the night we met. Haunted by the ghost of you, Oh, take me back to the night we met. But as the song progressed to the last notes, thinking of Loki and their epic story, a sudden sharp twang cut through the melody. Melara paused, looking down in the dim light to see a string snapped, its frayed end the result of the tension that had built unnoticed. A wry teary smile touched her lips – the guitar had its limits, it seemed. Her fingers brushed against the broken string, and she flinched; the metal was unexpectedly hot to the touch, as though her own inner turmoil had transferred to the instrument.

The broken string, the heat from her touch – they were more than just physical occurrences. They were metaphors for her life, for the path she had walked upon, where the fire within her threatened to consume not just her own peace but also the things, and the people she cherished. She was losing control.

A wave of emotions crashed over her, the memories of Loki’s face against the backdrop of stars upon his throne, the sound of his voice, their last conversation – it all rushed back with a vengeance. The song she played, once a calm to her soul, now felt like a dirge for something she feared was slipping away. The heat from her fingers, a cruel reminder of her condition, and the fire that burned within her – sometimes a beacon, sometimes an uncontrollable inferno.

With a sigh, she set the guitar aside, the silence more fitting company to her thoughts. She wrapped her arms around herself, the night air cool against her skin, a stark contrast to the warmth that still radiated from her fingertips. In the quiet of the night, with the broken guitar string a tangible representation of her fractured reality, Melara looked up at the sky, allowing herself to grieve – for what was and what could no longer be.

In the stillness of the night in her hometown, on the porch of the house where she had grown up, Melara made a silent vow. A vow to fight, to hold on, not just for Saoirse or for the music that defined her, but for herself. Because even with a broken string, the song was not over; the melody remained, waiting to be reborn from the ashes of the moment.

As she rose to return inside, the porch seemed to hold her for a moment longer, the night whispering its own silent song of resilience. Tomorrow, she would face her mother, her daughter, and the world. But tonight, she faced herself, her own heart, and the haunting melody of a love that refused to be quelled by distance, duty, or the ravages of time.

***

Loki, his features softened by the cosmic dimness that surrounded them, turned towards Saoirse, a question in his eyes, mirroring the brightness of the stars above. “Why,” he began, his voice carrying the stories he wished to tell of Melara, “did you find yourself drawn to the shadows, listening in on your mother’s solitary moments?”

Saoirse, reflecting the resilience she had inherited, met his gaze with an unflinching honesty. “The shadows were where the unspoken truths lay hidden,” she replied, her voice steady. “In the light, Mom was invincible, the star that outshone the darkness. But in the shadows, she was human, vulnerable. I needed to understand her, all of her, not just the brilliant façade she showed the world.”

Loki considered her words, a flicker of understanding crossing his features. “And what did you find in those shadows, daughter?” he asked, the title ‘daughter’ hanging between them like a bridge over the vast chasm of time they had lost.

“I found strength, even in her tears,” Saoirse said. “I found that the same fire that burned in her music burned in her spirit – it hurt her, but it also made her Melara Grace Brandt…my mother. I eavesdropped not to uncover secrets, but to know her heart. To hear the lullabies of her soul that weren’t captured in her songs.”

Loki’s expression softened, the mask of the god slipping to reveal the father beneath. “You carry her fire,” he observed, the pride evident in his tone. “And her heart. You are as much a part of her story as she is of yours.”

Saoirse nodded, a silent acknowledgment of the bond they shared through Melara. “Her music was her legacy, but her struggles, her quiet moments, they were her gifts to me. They taught me that even stars feel the cold of space, that even the brightest light can falter. I needed to see her humanity to accept my own.”

The god of mischief, known for his silver tongue and grand tales, found himself at a loss for words, once again, at the hands of his beloved daughter. In his daughter’s revelations, he saw the reflection of Melara’s essence, the very things that had drawn him to her in the cosmic dance of their lives.

 “Then you have seen what many fail to see in a lifetime,” Loki finally said, his voice carrying a reverence that was rare and true. “You have witnessed the entirety of a person, the light, and the shadows, and loved them all the same. I hope that someday you will see the same in me.”

Saoirse, with the wisdom of one who has been beyond the veil of illusion, simply nodded. They sat together, father and daughter, united in their understanding of the woman who had changed their worlds forever. In the silence, filled with the music of the cosmos, they found solidarity, a moment of peace in the tumultuous narrative of their lives. For they both knew what came next.

---

Taglist: @mischief2sarawr

[dickarchivist]

I have an ask for Ghost!

How different does the galaxy look with cybernetic eyes? Are colours different? Duller or brighter? Do you see things or notice things you didn't notice before because cybernetic ones pick up more? Or do they pick up less? Can you still cry with them or have they (or the acid attack) affected your tear ducts so you can't cry? Is it harder to sleep with them? When you get tired and your eyes go dry, is it really sore? Do you have to use cybernetic eye drops to keep them moist?

.... Okay, that was more than one question, but I'm a curious lass! No need to answer them all or in much detail! Also one more question, do you like hugs? I want to hug you but will only do so if you like them!

(@eternal-transcience)

Ghost chuckles, folding his arms over his chest and shaking his head, a light blush on his cheek.

Ghost: Let's start with the easy stuff first, shall we? I do enjoy a good hug. I believe the best huggers in the 404th are Athena and Specter, but I wouldn't discount myself.

As for the tears, yes, I'm still able to cry. This is largely thanks to the two clones that performed my surgery, Wraith, and one not of the 404th. Commander Repeat of the 418th, General Valka's daughter, General Cree's battalion. They constructed tear ducts for me, patching what they could from my originals. It's not required for my cybernetics to function, but it's more comfortable to have moisture.

For the rest... it's different, for sure. I catch things I wouldn't have before, colors are more vibrant, and there's abilities I hadn't had with my natural eyes. Night vision, heat sensing, ultra violet. I can focus like a camera, zoom in far away, close up. I notice I don't get eye fatigue anymore, that light sensitivity in headaches isn't an issue. It's strange to say I miss that...

But as for sleeping, no. It's not any harder to sleep with these as it was with my natural eyes. Though, my dreams are more vivid now.

Thank you for the interest, my dear.

[incorrect-bridgerton-family]

How would Michael Stirling rewrite the eternal classic "Stacy's Mom" for Violet? Also how would he perform it?

Hello! I base this blog off of the Netflix series since I’ve only read a few of the Bridgerton books. So I am not very knowledgeable about Michael Stirling to make jokes about him until whenever he is introduced on screen.

But what I do know from in the fandom is that he’s a pretty sexual man so Magic Mike is coming to mind for this performance 😅

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

14th March >> Mass Readings (USA)

Thursday, Fourth Week of Lent - Proper Readings 

(see also The Man Born Blind on previous Sunday)

(Liturgical Colour: Violet: B (2))

First Reading Exodus 32:7-14 Relent in punishing your people.

The LORD said to Moses, “Go down at once to your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, for they have become depraved. They have soon turned aside from the way I pointed out to them, making for themselves a molten calf and worshiping it, sacrificing to it and crying out, ‘This is your God, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt!’ The LORD said to Moses, “I see how stiff-necked this people is. Let me alone, then, that my wrath may blaze up against them to consume them. Then I will make of you a great nation.”

But Moses implored the LORD, his God, saying, “Why, O LORD, should your wrath blaze up against your own people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with such great power and with so strong a hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent he brought them out, that he might kill them in the mountains and exterminate them from the face of the earth’? Let your blazing wrath die down; relent in punishing your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, and how you swore to them by your own self, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky; and all this land that I promised, I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage.’“ So the LORD relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 106:19-20, 21-22, 23

R/ Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

Our fathers made a calf in Horeb and adored a molten image; They exchanged their glory for the image of a grass-eating bullock.

R/ Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

They forgot the God who had saved them, who had done great deeds in Egypt, Wondrous deeds in the land of Ham, terrible things at the Red Sea.

R/ Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

Then he spoke of exterminating them, but Moses, his chosen one, Withstood him in the breach to turn back his destructive wrath.

R/ Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

Gospel Acclamation John 3:16

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.

Gospel John 5:31-47 The one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope.

Jesus said to the Jews: “If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true. But there is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true. You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf. But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. But you do not want to come to me to have life.

“I do not accept human praise; moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[music-is-love-90]

A/N: Hi! I'm not dead!

Yeah, life got hard there for a bit, but I have not abandoned you. I'm not promising regular updates just yet, but I am writing again and hope to get back up and running. Hope you like this slightly shorter chapter, but it gets us to where we're going!

Ch. 29:

Preparations took on a frantic speed as Edwina and Lord Morrison’s wedding approached.  Kate was dragged into meetings at the palace and trips to the modiste as her sister’s wedding began to almost take on a life of its own.

The only bright spot was the ring she now openly wore on her finger.  She would find herself staring at it, completely enraptured by the way the light played across the stones.  She often had to force herself to look away as the ring Anthony’s father had given his mother caught her in its spell.  Once, Mary had caught her in a moment of enrapture and had burst into tears, alarming Kate greatly until she calmed enough to explain that she was just so happy for her eldest daughter that she almost couldn’t stand it. 

It had taken ages for both of them to calm down.

Kate sighed as she snuck out of the parlor where an intense conversation about flowers was taking place and she found herself in the peaceful silence of the gardens.  One more minute in that room and she would have started screaming.

“Once we’re done with this spectacle, it will be your turn.”

She turned to find Lady Danbury had followed her out.

“Yes, but mine will not include opinions from the Queen of England, which is a fact I am eternally grateful for,” She told the older woman with a smirk.

“I think you’re underestimating Her Majesty’s interest in the Bridgerton family,” Lady Danbury cautioned her.  “But her opinions will most likely be more subtle at least.”

She linked her arm with Kate’s, and they headed down the path.

“Have you found a dress maker yet?” she asked the younger woman and she shook her head with a sigh.

At Anthony’s urging, Kate had begun considering what parts of the Indian traditions she had grown up with to incorporate into an English ceremony and she had decided she wanted to wear a sari.  She hoped to commission one that would resemble the one her Amma had worn at her wedding and Kate had been forced to sell to help fund their trip to England, but finding a dressmaker in London that could handle such an order had proved difficult.

“Well, we have time,” the matron assured her.  “In the meantime, we need to speak of your sister.”

It took all of Kate’s self-control to only sigh and not groan.

“We cannot allow it to seem like you two are at odds,” Lady Danbury continued, ignoring Kate’s sigh.  “Your sister’s refusal to speak to your fiancé lends itself to rumor and inuendo.”

“I do not know what you expect me to do.” Kate replied, annoyance creeping into her voice.  “Clearly Edwina no longer cares for my counsel.”

“Be that as it may, this wedding must go off without a hitch.  The Queen has been quite forgiving with your mama, but I would not trust in her largesse a second time.”

Kate nodded and they continued their walk in silence for a time.

“How go your lessons with Lady Bridgerton?” Lady Danbury inquired and Kate smiled brightly.

Violet, as she insisted on being called, had invited her for tea several times now to begin teaching her the duties she would need to perform when she took her place as Lady Bridgeton at Anthony’s side.

Lady Bridgerton.  She would be Anthony’s wife in just a few short months.

She couldn’t help the smile that always broke across her face when the thought crossed her mind, but she quickly schooled her features this time as Lady Danbury raised her eyebrow.

“Well,” she replied, “there is much I need to learn, but Lady Bridgerton is an excellent teacher.  I am sure she will bring me up to snuff.”

“I have absolute faith that you will do very well in your new role,” the matron told her confidently.  “I have scarcely seen a woman more well suited to the role of Viscountess, even amongst the Ton who should be raised to handle it.”

Kate blushed at Lady Danbury’s praise and they fell once more into companiable silence.

“Kate!”

This time she did groan as she stopped to wait for her sister and Lord Morrison caught up with them.

“Kate, the Earl is taking us to a play tonight!” her sister announced as they joined the two women.  “Isn’t that lovely?”

“It is, Bon,” Kate replied with forced patience.  “Unfortunately, I will not be able to join you.  I am already promised at Hastings House tonight for dinner.”

“Surely the Brigertons can spare you for one evening?” Edwina said, annoyance clear in her voice. 

“One should keep one’s engagements as often as they can.” Lady Danbury interjected blandly.  “And Her Grace is not known for her patience in being snubbed.  Your sister is doing the proper thing to ensure her future familial harmony.”

“My sister is always quite proper,” Edwina said in the same tone, making Kate glare at her, which she ignored.  “Very well.  Enjoy your dinner, Didi.”

She and Morrison continued on and Lady Danbury linked her arm with Kate’s once more.

“One more week,” she told her under her breath, “and then it is your turn.”

Kate signed and nodded, letting her lead her down the path once more.

~.~

Kate was genuinely surprised when Edwina agreed to her mother's suggestion that the three of them hold a Haldi ceremony the night before the wedding.  Her sister had seemed so utterly uninterested in including any of her father's Indian heritage that her easy acceptance was shocking, but Kate chose to capitalize on her acquiescence and quickly gathered the supplies they would need.

For a while, it was as if nothing had changed between the two sisters as they went through the ritual.  They laughed and joked and teased just like they had when they were children in Bombay and for the first time in months, Kate felt like her sister was truly her sister again.

There was a lull in the conversation as Mary and Kate spread the turmeric paste across Edwina's arms.

"Are you happy, Bon?" Kate found herself asking softly.

"Of course, I am, Didi!" her sister responded instantly.  "I am going to be a countess!"

"But do you love Lord Morrison?" her sister pressed.  "Does he love you?"

"He is marrying me, knowing I have no dowry, Kate," Edwina said, annoyance creeping into her voice.  "Surely this means he esteems me.  All will be well."

Kate nodded, backing off.  Anthony didn't want anyone to know where Edwina's dowry came from, fearing how it would look before they were married.  Edwina would know after the wedding and everything would be fine again.  She would have her wish to marry as she thought a Diamond should, and she would be happy.

Kate had to hold to that hope.

"How did you know you Appa, mama?" Edwina asked suddenly, surprising Mary.

"I suppose I knew when I saw the way he looked at me," she replied slowly, both girls listening to her with rapt attention.  "But it was more how the world went quiet when I was with him.  The way his soul seemed to dance with mine, the way we settled into each other until there was no place to hide, nor any desire to do so.  It was the moment I realized I was willing to give up everything just to stay with him, that was when I knew."

Kate couldn't help but think of Anthony, of the way the world went quiet during their stolen moments in the woods, when he simply held her in his arms.  The way dancing with him was as easy as breathing.  She had abandoned every plan for the future she had ever made for him, knowing that the life she would have with him would be far greater than any she had ever dreamed of alone. 

She realized she had stopped coating her sister as her mind had wandered and she shook herself, glancing at her sister to find her deep in thought.

"Bon?"

Edwina started and seemed to give herself a shake.

"That is just how I feel with Lord Morrison," she told them brightly.  "I think I am to be very happy with him."

Kate decided to let that go.

~.~

The morning of the wedding dawned bright and chaotic.  As Kate came to consciousness, she could hear the dulcet tones of her sister, yelling on the other side of the house, and she fought the urge to burrow into her blankets and refuse to come out.

It was going to be a long day.

There was a knock at the door and Kate lifted the blanket off her head with a groan before calling for her maid to enter.

“This arrived for you this morning, Miss.”

The young girl set a large bouquet of orange and pink tulips on the table and Kate crawled out of bet to pluck the note out as the girl began readying the room for the day.

Next time, it will be our turn. I’ll see you in a few hours. A. Bridgerton

Kate smiled and set the note next to her bed.

“Kate, are you still abed?!”

Kate looked up at her sister, who was glaring at her from the doorway. 

“We will be leaving for the palace shortly and you’re still not ready!” her sister shouted, making Kate wince.

“I was just admiring my flowers, Bon,” she told her soothingly.  “I will be ready shortly, don’t worry.”

Edwina glanced at the flowers with a sniff before striding out of the room.  A moment later, Mary took her place.

“This is going to be one of those days where everyone accosts me in my room before I can even dress, isn’t it?” Kate asked dryly.

“You should be used to it by now.” Mary shot back, but her smile took the sting out of her words.  “We are running behind, though, so do make haste.”

“Yes, mama.” Kate agreed easily.  “I will be ready as fast as I can be.”

Mary left and Kate quickly began getting ready.  Within the hour, the bridal party was packed up and on their way to the palace where they final preparations for the day would take place.  When they arrived, they were quickly bundled off to the rooms that would be theirs for the day and introduced to the veritable army of servants who would be helping them.  Lady Danbury was quickly called to the Queen’s side and the Sharma women worked to dress and primp Edwina.

As Mary helped Edwina slip on her dress, Kate routed around in the various chests they had brought with them, looking for a specific item.  She finally located it as Edwina wandered over to her side of the room.

“Didi, what are those?” she asked, looking over Kate’s shoulder at the bangles in her hands.  “I don’t think I’ve seen those before.”

“They were my mother’s,” Kate told her.  “I brought them with us from home.  I had faith that this Season would be a success.”

“They are very beautiful,” Edwina said shortly.  “I’m sure they’ll look lovely at your wedding.”

Kate sighed and stood up, turning to take her sister’s hands in hers.

“I want you to wear them.”

Edwina stared at her.

“I know things have been…difficult between us lately,” Kate continued.  “but you are my sister and I love you and all I have wanted was for you to be happy.  If you believe this is the path that will lead you to your greatest happy than I will celebrate it as a blessing, just as I hope you will do the same for me.  So,” she pressed the bangles into her hands, “wear these as a sign of my blessing and know that I wish you every happiness in the world.”

Edwina stared at the bracelets, her eyes bright.

“I know you only want what’s best for me, Kate,” she said softly.  “I couldn’t ask for a better sister…” she shook her head, “but these were your Amma’s.  You should wear them.”  She pressed the bangles back into Kate’s hands.  “I know the Earl is not the one you would have picked for me, but I am glad you can put that aside and try to be happy for me.”

Kate wrapped her sister in a hug.

“All I have ever cared about is your happiness, Bon,” she whispered.  “That is all I have ever wanted.”

Edwina pulled away, taking Kate’s hand and slipping the bangles onto her wrist.

“I am happy, Didi,” she told her.  “I am marrying an Earl and I will be a countess.  What reason would I ever have to be unhappy?”

With a bright smile, Edwina turned away to continue her preparations and Kate sighed, playing with the bracelet on her wrist.  Finally, she turned back to her own preparations, sending out a small prayer that all would be as her sister believed and not as her gut told her it would be.

~.~

Anthony came down the stairs at Bridgerton House to find utter chaos.  He grabbed the back of Gregory’s coat as he ran past and plucked Hyacinth’s ribbon out of his hand.

“I was doing her a service,” his youngest brother grumbled as Hyacinth took the ribbon back from Anthony and stuck her tongue out at Gregory.

“Please try to remember that we have spent a considerable amount of time teaching you how to behave as upstanding members of this family, at least in public,” he told them with a sigh, releasing Gregory.

His two youngest siblings nodded solemnly for a second before Hyacinth kicked Gregory in the shin and they were off again.

“It’s adorable you thought that would work,” Daphne said, reaching up to press a kiss to Anthony’s cheek.  “Best to just them run themselves out and pray that they mature a little bit in the months we have left before your wedding to Kate.”

“That’s not encouraging, sister dear,” he said, returning her kiss.  “Where is your lout of a husband?  Kate will be annoyed if we’re not all there to support Miss Edwina.”

“He is already attending Lady Danbury,” she replied.  “He’s promised to check on Kate and will join us at the chapel.”  She was distracted by a moan from Colin, who was laying on a bench as Benedict grinned at him.  “What is wrong with him?”

“I do not care as long as Benedict undoes it.” Violet said as she joined them.  “This day is important to your future sister and you will behave.”

The last part was said at an increased volume that made Colin moan again and Benedict attempt and fail to look contrite.

“Yes, mother.” Her sons agreed easily.

She purposely turned away as her second born handed her third born a flask.

“How is Kate?” she asked, addressing her first born.

“Well, as far as I know.” He replied, pressing a kiss to her cheek in thanks. 

“It will be your turn next,” she told him, straightening his tie with misty eyes.  “Kathani will be such a lovely bride.”

“I quite agree,” he said, taking her hands in his and lowering them away from his neck.  “Though I know we both desire a…less ostentatious event when it is our turn.”

“A simple wedding in Kent,” his mother agreed easily.  “Well, as simple as the wedding of a Viscount from his ancestral seat to a woman who shares blood with a Maharaja can be.”

“So, not simple at all?” Benedict quipped, taking his flask back from Colin.  “Given that Queen with definitely be in attendance?”

His mother reached behind herself to swat at him.

“We’ll discuss the plans and see what we can do as soon as Miss Edwina is happily married.” She assured her eldest.  “Now, we should go.  I’m sure Kate would like you nearby.”

Daphne, Benedict, and Colin all snickered at their mother’s carefully bland face and Anthony glared at all of them.

“I am disinheriting all of you.”

His siblings just ignored him.

~.~

Kate snuck out of the dressing room and took a deep breath, closing her eyes and leaning against the wall.

“Yours will probably be worse, you know.”

She cracked an eye open to glare at Simon.

“I am considering dragging Anthony to Gretna Green just to avoid it,” she told him crossly.

“I do not think it would take much to convince him,” he told her, leaning against the wall next to her.  “But I believe your mama, my saintly godmother, and my current, your future, mother-in-law would ban together to murder you both, which would, in turn, upset my wife.”

“God-forbid.” Kate said dryly.

“Exactly,” Simon agreed with a laugh.  “So, for the sake of our family, I implore you to grin and bare what ever they throw at you.”

“Fine,” she huffed, fighting off a smile of her own.  “Speaking of, where is your lovely wife?”

“She’s coming with the rest of the clan,” he replied.  “I have arrived early to lend my support to Lady Danbury.”

“And yet you are here with me, hiding in a side corridor,” she teased.  “Hiding from the Queen, are we?”

“Oh, indubitably.” He agreed easily.  “I think she is still slightly miffed that I married Daphne, stealing her away from her royal nephew.”

“I wish I had been here last Season.  It sounds like it was fascinating.”

“I am very glad you weren’t,” Simon replied seriously.  “I did not behave as a gentleman should and I would rather have your respect.”

“You have it,” she assured him with a soft smile.  “I am quite looking forward to calling you brother.”

“And I calling you sister.” He cleared his throat.  “How is your sister?”

“Perfectly content to be standing in the light and excited to be the next Countess Morrison,” Kate replied with a sigh.

“You still disapprove?”

Kate shrugged.

“My opinion does not matter, which has been made clear to me.  She believes this is the path that will bring her the most happiness, so I must trust her judgment.”

“You can’t protect her forever.”

She smiled sadly.

“That doesn’t change the fact that I want to.”

“You and Anthony really are perfect for each other.”  Kate laughed and he reached out to squeeze her arm.  “You are a good sister, Kate.  I don’t have any practical experience with siblings, but I have spent enough time around Anthony to know what a good one looks like.  You are a good one.”

Kate smiled up at him, her eyes bright.

“Thank you, Simon.”

The Duke squeezed her arm once more before letting go.

“There you are.” They both turned to find Lady Danbury striding towards them.  “Miss Edwina is demanding your presence, Miss Sharma, so make haste.  And you, good sir, will come with me to distract Her Majesty.”

“Of course, my Lady.” Simon replied dryly, leaning down to kiss her cheek.

“You are lucky I adore your son, Your Grace.” She told him, refusing to be mollified.  “Get on your way.  I will follow shortly.”

Simon bowed to the ladies and took his leave.  Lady Danbury took a moment to look over Kate critically before allowing her face to soften.

“Have courage, Miss Sharma,” she told Kate softly.  “Just a few more hours and you will be free.”

With that, she turned and left Kate alone, wondering if she was referring to freedom from her wedding duties or freedom from Edwina.

~.~

Kate spotted some of the Bridgertons on the grounds from the window of Edwina’s dressing room and wished she could join them, but Edwina was ready and all there was to wait for the service to begin.

“Kate.”

She turned to see her sister holding her veil out to her.  On her head sat the Morrison Family coronet and Kate took the veil to attach to it as Edwina turned around.

“Are you ready, my darling?”

They two sisters turned to see Mary in the doorway.

“You look so lovely, Edwina,” she told her tearily.  “You both do.”

She spotted Kate’s bangles and her smile grew brighter.  “I hope you plan on wearing those at your wedding in a few months.  I’m sure your Amma would be just as happy for you as I am.”

“Is everything ready?” Edwina asked her, bring her attention back to her younger daughter.

“It is,” she told her.  “Are you ready?”

“I am.”

She walked over and took Mary’s arm, allowing her to lead her out as Kate followed behind.

“Let’s give the ton a wedding to remember and show them who we truly are.” Mary said, kissing Edwina’s cheek as they reached the chapel doors.

“Let’s,” her daughter agreed.

Kate smiled brightly at her sister as the music began and she began her trek down the aisle.  As she neared the front, she spotted the Bridgertons seated in the first few pews.  Anthony caught her eye, lifting his eyebrow and making her smile brightly.  She let out a small giggle as Benedict elbowed his older brother, making Anthony glare at him as she reached the altar.  She quickly schooled her features, nodding to the Earl, before taking her place.  She caught Anthony’s eye again and he gave her an encouraging smile.

The music changed and the congregation rose as every eye went to the back of the chapel.  Edwina glided down the aisle serenely on her mother’s arm, looking the perfect vision of a happy bride.  Finally, she joined them at the altar and Kate took a deep breath.

“Miss Edwina, you look lovely.” Morrison murmured, making her smile beautifully.

“Thank you, my Lord,” she demurred.  “I am happy you are pleased.”

“Please be seated,” the Archbishop began.  “Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God…”

Kate let her mind wander as she played with her bangle.  Her gaze moved across the congregation before landing on Anthony and she couldn’t help but imagine what their wedding would be like in a few months.  Would he wear the morning suit traditional to an English lord, or could she convince him to wear a sherwani to match her sari?  Either way, he would be the most handsome groom she had ever seen, she was sure.

Anthony caught her watching him as her fingernail caught in the clasp of one of the bangles and, before she could stop it, the bracelet slipped off her wrist.  She watched in horror and embarrassment as it hit the ground loudly, bouncing down the steps and rolling across the floor until it came to a stop at Anthony’s foot.  The church fell silent as he leaned down to pick it up. 

“I think I shall keep this safe for now, Miss Sharma,” he announced with a wicked smile that made Kate blush before shaking her head fondly.  “Please continue, Archbishop.”

A chuckle ran through the assembled crowd, including a smirk from the Queen, as Anthony’s smile turned soft.

I love you, he mouthed at her, slipping the bangle into his coat to rest above his heart.  Kate returned his sentiment with a soft smile of her own before turning back to the altar.  She was unsurprised to find Morrison glaring at her, but her sister quickly stole her focus.

“Bon?”

Edwina was staring at Anthony, her face paler than Kate had ever seen.  At her call, her eyes snapped to Kate, staring at her as if she had never seen her before.

“Miss Edwina, are you ready to continue?” the Archbishop asked her, but Edwina just kept staring at Kate.

Morrison huffed, taking Edwina’s hand and pulling her to face him.

“Answer His Grace, please, Miss Edwina,” he ordered, but she just stared at him.

“Bon, are you alright?” Kate asked, moving forward as she started to become worried.

“She is perfectly fine,” Morrison answered shortly.  “Miss Edwina, you are embarrassing yourself.  Repeat after the Archbishop.”

“I – “ Edwina broke off, her breathing becoming low and shallow.

“Bon, do you need to sit down?” Kate asked, concern lacing her voice.  She glanced at Anthony and he quickly got to his feet, heading towards her.

The noise of his shoes seemed to startle Edwina, bringing her back to herself.  Her gaze spun around the room before focusing on Morrison.

“I need a moment,” she announced.

And then she ran out of the room.

[idontlikerattlesnakes]

In defense of drag:

Drag is an incredibly important art form, as are all subversive forms of expression. However, this is especially important to a historically marginalized community of which I am a part, and I will not stand silently by as it is needlessly targeted and regulated by fear-based ideology.

Dolly Parton is Drag. Liberace, Eddie Izzard, Freddie Mercury, Elton John, Harry Styles and soooo many other cultural icons have played with society’s boundaries of gender expression with impunity due to some other asset they’ve offered or privilege they’ve been afforded.

Your local drag performer is no different. Neither is the 12 year old who secretly plays dress up with their sister’s clothes, or longs to express themselves in their own unique way. Their freedom to follow that impulse is just as important to the culture at large. The damage that is done by sending a message that their self-expression is harmful, unwelcome or indecent is far greater than attending a drag story time or being exposed to the art form in mainstream culture.

I’ll admit that I was once turned off by drag because of the discomfort it espoused. It was initially unsettling seeing men subvert the societal box imposed upon them. It seemed dirty and vulgar, and I wanted nothing to do with it. It evoked the shameful feelings of internalized homophobia that I felt as a child when I overheard my parents being chastised for letting me play with dolls or take ballet.

The very sight of it made the toxic masculinity that had been insidiously pressed upon me my entire life bubble up from my gut in a suffocating pall. I’m not ashamed to admit that I once felt that way so others who still feel that discomfort know that it’s okay to feel it at first - that’s sort of the point.

I’m eternally grateful that I had a dear friend basically force me to watch RuPaul’s Drag Race from the beginning, and to say it changed my life is an understatement.

It enriched it.

Becoming a patron of drag not only broadened my worldview but also enhanced my sense of humor, beauty, and whimsy. There is nothing like the awe-inspiring experience of seeing an exquisite drag performer like Violet Chachki up close and personal, or literally rolling on the floor in uncontrollable laughter from the brilliant comedic offerings of Jinkx Monsoon or Bianca Del Rio.

Drag fearlessly and fabulously plays with the foibles of this unruly thing we call society. In the words of the infinitely wise RuPaul Charles, it engages the “tenacity of the human spirit”.

I’m no longer ashamed to admit that I was that 12 yr old boy who made dresses out of blankets and strutted the imaginary runway in his bedroom. There was absolutely nothing sexual or pathological or perverted about it - it was innocent and pure self-expression. It’s also important to note that these harmless impulses arose naturally, not due to any exposure. It wasn’t until much later that I learned about the drag community. How much easier my adolescent years would have been if I could have seen society validate that, even in the smallest way. I no longer find it dirty or twisted or wrong.

All I can see now is courage and truth.

For those of you traditionalists who are still clutching your theoretical pearls I will leave you with this - I simply do not enjoy or connect with the great American sport of football.

I’ve given it the ole’ college try! I’ve gone to games, had friends and family members explain it, even tried to follow fantasy leagues and betting pools in order to understand the appeal.

After thorough investigation, I can pretty confidently say that it’s just not my bag. However, I can’t stop the fact that football is simply everywhere. It’s on TV when I go out to eat, it’s the daily conversation topic of my co-workers, it’s the event that completely took over my city a few weeks ago.

I can still acknowledge and respect how important it is to some people, not to mention the Herculean athletic stamina and strategy required by its players.

That said, if I were in some alternate universe where legislation was introduced to regulate the right to have tailgate parties, middle and high school football teams, and /or publicly celebrate this fundamentally American sport, I would be in full support of appealing it. I would fight for the existence of something that is important to a large swath of society—even if I cannot understand or connect to it.

To put it simply:

**YOU DON’T HAVE TO ENJOY OR ENGAGE WITH DRAG TO SUPPORT IT**

However, denying others the right to do so or attempting to eradicate/control it in public spaces sends a very scary and pointed message to people like yours truly. It also denies the simple fact that our society is a rich tapestry made up of many vastly different interests, tastes, and communities.

These things simply MUST be allowed to be expressed freely, otherwise we start toward a very slippery slope of a society where maybe something that you love and cherish will one day be deemed unfit for the mainstream culture.

I implore you to keep an open mind, and listen to those who are speaking up about this.

We are good, we are valid, we are important. So much of the culture you enjoy originated in queer/marginalized communities. Please allow us our freedom to keep creating - I can assure you that you would not like to live in a world without it.

[the-spawns]

Violet

Age: 137 (Looks 30)

Species: High Elf

Pronouns: She/Her

Gender: Female

Sexuality: AroAce

Strengths

• Strong Singing Voice, Cunning

Weakness

• Trickster, Self Absorbed

Aurelia was a former performer who played the lute while Violet sang as the two traveled the Sword Coast.

Eventually, the two would be invited to perform at a local tavern in Baldur’s Gate.

Both Violet and Aurelia traveled there excitedly, playing throughout the night. Eventually, someone approached them, offering them a place to stay and payment to perform more.

That ‘someone’ was a true vampire named Cazador, and as soon as the two were alone with him, he turned them into his spawn.

[afpwestcoast]

Meow Wolf, Santa Fe, NM, 5/26/23

Amanda Palmer returned to Meow Wolf seven years after playing an epic show with Jason Webley for the Grand Opening. This time she had Brian Viglione in tow as the Dresden Dolls opened a 3-night stand at this amazing venue. To get just the merest hint of how unusual this venue is pay attention to the backgrounds in the photos below.

I bumped into Amanda cruising the gathering crowd in her pre-show kimono and when asked what she was doing she replied, “I’m looking for a victim.” “For what?” I asked.

“My affection.”

Alrighty then. I generally just go with stuff like this and it (usually) becomes clear (eventually).

The Meow Wolf exhibit The House of Eternal Return was open until 10:00, and the performance venue is part of the exhibit, so doors for the show were at 10:00 and the show didn’t start until 11:00. This meant that Amanda, who had been wrangling Ash all day, was very tired by the end, but it didn’t seem to impact her performance much, although there was less intra-song banter than usual.

As has become customary of late the band ripped through the first five songs of the set with hardly a pause, and overall the set was tight in spite of some technical difficulties. Brian sang backing harmonies more often than typical and Amanda experimented with some echo reverb on her mic during select sections of several songs with mixed results: in some places it enhanced the ambiance of the song, but in others it was a bit distracting. Overall it was a solid kick-off to this short residency.

Annotated Set List:

Good Day Brian started on guitar before switching to drums, but Amanda crashed and burned on this one almost immediately, forcing them to start over. They finished flawlessly and continued to torch through the set without looking back.

Sex Changes

Gravity

Bad Habit

My Alcoholic Friends This was the first song I noticed Brian singing harmony in places.

Some piano tinkling seemed to tease Missed Me, but just as it seemed to maybe start to morph into something else Brian announced that one of his tom-toms was dying and had maybe 2 more songs in it. Amanda responded that the low G on her keyboard (or her “low G string,” as she called it) was also giving out. They basically shrugged and soldiered on.

Welcome to the Internet (Bo Burnham cover) This song was dedicated and sung to Sam, the 22yo (dubbed Sam the Zygote) who was the victim Amanda had chosen during her pre-show prowl.

Missed Me F’real this time. At one point a stray drumstick flew over Amanda’s head and Brian tried to blame the sound guy, but Amanda wasn’t buying it.

Mrs. O

Delilah (featuring Veronica Swift)

Whakenewha (pronounced Fuckin-A-Fa) Right at the start of the song Amanda noticed someone in the audience filming and asked them to stop, but rather than stop the song and speak to them she sang her admonition to the tune of the song, and then started the song over from the top without missing a beat.

War Pigs (Black Sabbath cover)

Amsterdam (Jacques Brel cover) Amanda continued her tradition of singing this one from the balcony, but it was a little odd in this case because the balcony had windows. Because everything about this venue is a little odd.

Mandy Goes to Med School with just a soupçon of “Careless Whisper” by Wham! as has become tradition.

(commercial to buy merch and, most importantly, join the Dresden Dolls eMail list for info on upcoming shows - a full tour was promised once the new album is done)

Coin-Operated Boy Through some musical alchemy this song transformed into “Never Tear Us Apart” by INXS - complete with kazoo solo! - before morphing back.

Half Jack 

——

Girl Anachronism This song turned into a bit of a hot mess as Amanda first mangled the chord progression, and then later the lyrics, resulting in two stops and restarts. My advice would be to just power through. Girl A is not some delicate shrinking violet of a song that needs precision. It is a powerful enough song to cross the finish line with a flat tire, some blown pistons, and flames shooting out the engine. Just go for it!

Sing

Photo Gallery:

The Dresden Dolls take the stage!

Amanda!

Brian!

Delilah!

Amsterdam!

[riotmusicinfo]

RIOT MUSIC Holiday Season Selections

Less than two weeks remain on the 2022 calendar, once again Christmas, cold air, and the new year simultaneously encroached on us once again. Feels like we just put away our Christmas decorations yesterday, and yet a whole years’ worth of RIOT MUSIC spurged forward before we realized it; Debut international performances, new trainees, an end of the year Christmas hurrah in Akihabara, it’s been quite the year at RIOT MUSIC HQ.

Much like in western countries at least, we’re beginning to hear Christmas music in our convenience stores and advertisements have slapped on all the Holiday bells and whistles. That got us to thinking, hey we make music and while we don’t have Yuka Nagase singing Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, not a small number of our songs fit the upcoming season. We figured we could wrap a bundle of them together, put a nice bow on it, and call it our Christmas present to you. Here’s a few of our Holiday season recommendations!

Note: While Christmas is celebrated in Japan, New Years Day is the biggest family holiday of the year and the most quintessential part of the Japanese “Holiday Season”

Could-Be Christmas Classics

No, none of the RIOT MUSIC family has covered Mariah Carey’s hallowed “All I Want For Christmas Is You” but we have a few songs that capture the Christmas spirit: That special feeling December 24th and 25th installs in all of us, and especially what it’s like to be a kid seeing what Santa left for you under the tree!

Yuka Nagase - Chicken Rice

You don’t have to be fluent in Japanese to hear the word “Christmas” in the opening longs. Yuka Nagase sings a thoughtful song that takes place during Christmas day, one that weighs the want for excessive presents against what’s actually necessary to be content: Something to meditate on during the Holiday season.

Cocoa Domyoji Mezase Pokemon Master

Pokémon. No matter whether you were a kid 20 years ago or a kid now, you wanted Santa to leave something Pokémon in your stocking. Whether it’s colored Red & Blue or Scarlet & Violet, Pokémon brings people joy and that’s what Christmas is all about. Let Cocoa Domyoji’s cover of this Japanese Pokémon classic take you back to simpler, warmer times.

Miona Sumeragi - Moonlight Densetsu

Another tune that just brings us right back to younger selves, Miona Sumeragi’s cover of the eternal “Sailor Moon” theme song “Moonlight Densetsu” maintains all the magic you could ever want. The more you listen to it, the more your heart makes all the Christmas lights and decorations around you sparkle!

Ring In The New Year

New Year's Day, not Christmas, brings families together for a brief but joyous time of togetherness, feasting, and splendor. New Years itself does not just sum up in one day however, but doubly serves as a period of self-reflection and self-determination for what you want to change in the upcoming year. To that end, we’ve gathered a few lovingly crafted and performed songs we think may help you figure out your resolutions and face 2023 head on!

Miona Sumeragi - Suteki Da Ne

An equally refreshing and haunting ballad composed by the many, the myth, the legend Nobuo Uematsu, “Suteki Da Ne” which originally graced ears within the confines of “Final Fantasy X,” imbues a kind of cleansing to anyone that hears it. Its rejuvenating powers combined with Miona Sumeragi’s own wholesome desire to nurture her fans makes this cover a great way to help wring out year end resentments and start anew.

Iori Matsunaga Sparkle

An uplifting tune originally by RADWIMPS and utilized to great effect in “Your Name.” the song’s slow yet constant charge forward gives the listener strength and courage to put their fears aside and tackle whatever needs to be tackled. Iori Matsunaga herself is known for a warmth to her gentle singing that gives ease to her listeners, and the combination makes for a great way to start the year.

Suzuna Nagihara - Kumosuki no Uta

A powerful, forlorn ballad, Suzuna Nagihara’s original “Kumosuki no Uta” isn’t the type of song to give you the warm fuzzies. Though, if you sit down with it and let it meet you, it will help you look at yourself objectively to figure out what to cut away and what to overcome in the coming year.

Iori Matsunaga Romance no Kamisama

Just a fun way to start the year!

Snowy Sensations for the Season

That final part of the Holiday Season is the whole “Season Part”! Once you put aside the familial warmth of Christmas and New Years, you’re left with the cold of winter. When you’re lucky, fresh-fallen snow pretty up your surroundings for a day or two, but you can only enjoy that so much before your fingers numb and toes numb up! Earth’s most hardcore season, here’s a small selection of RIOT MUSIC tunes that strike at the highs and lows of Winter.

Cocoa Domyoji Endless Story

Not inherently a winter song, but considering “Endless Story” comes from the “Nana” movie sung by a band from Hokkaido, it essentially counts. It’s also a song every millennial in Japan knows for good reason. Let Cocoa Domyoji simultaneously slow things down and amp things up and take on an Endless, forlorn, journey through the snow.

Yuka Nagase - Snow Jam

Yuka Nagase’s “Snow Jam” cover is chill in exactly two ways: The first, just listen to it, it is chill as heck. A nice mood piece, great for cozying up inside and piping done some hot chocolate with. Great for cuddling up with your biggest blanket. It’s also chill in, that, it’s a snow jam! It’s a jam about snow! What’s more winter than that!?

Suzuna Nagihara - Yuki no Hana

As pretty and idyllic snow leaves a landscape after its had its frosty way, the cold can be bitter and brutal. Perhaps weird humans brave that cold to marvel at snowflakes and snowscapes. Suzuna Nagihara’s cover of “Yuki no Hana,” a song that captures the allure of snow right in its title, touches on both the beauty and bitterness of the winter snow.

We hope this adds a little bit of Japanese flavor to your Holiday season, no matter what Holiday you’re celebrating! Everyone who made it this far with us, thank you very much!!!

[hvbris]

𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐎 & 𝐕𝐈𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐓 @multipleoccupancy

Right. Even if it felt like an eternity had passed, it had only been a day. Violet was living two lives: one during the day, and one at night. "I see," she replied, trying to keep a neutral voice. But she was picturing her other self, performing some bizarre and dark ritual, and the thought made her nauseous.

Theo seemed enthusiastic about answering her questions. She remembered what her dad had told her, about knowledge being dangerous. She thought about Sloane's empty eyes and cheerful laughter, and she thought about the heart in Theo's living room. Maybe that's his plan, she thought to herself, maybe he wants me to become insane, like him. But she listened anyway. What else could she do? She had asked.

And his answer was extensive. So much so that she felt dizzy by the end of it, full of information she didn't understand. She felt as if he had filled her mind with strange words, and was shaking her head just for the fun of it. It all rattled inside. "The magic comes from Wiley," she assumed. She didn't like that. She didn't like that at all.

"I don't know what an Outer God is," she admitted, "or an Elder God." She wasn't even sure she knew what a Great Old One was. 'Wiley' was a mystery to her. A sketchy, terrifying question mark. A little frown rippled at the surface of her face. "The monster in Ophir was a servant? A servant of whom?"

She shouldn't be asking all those questions. She knew it, and she was annoyed at how hard it was for her to refrain from asking them. Curiosity was a difficult trait to tame. It was like a wild animal, and Theo seemed happy to feed it. But the hand that fed it could also make front door disappears. Be more careful, she reminded herself.

"The same service I asked you about earlier," Theo answered honestly as she spotted the date on the calendar, looking over to it to make sure there was not another one he was supposed to be doing anything about, but his scheduling was of course well known to him. "You've missed it, it was a few hours ago."

He cast a little look to her on the scatter-brained comment but didn't follow it up, just a curious consideration as to whether or not she was mocking him. "Amulets when bound to you are of course hard for anyone else to steal and no one else can use them." She would have to cast the ritual, no one else would be able to use up the amulet for her. Until she used them, the amulet would stay with her.

"I'm glad you understand," he answered her for her acknowledgement, even in lying that he had believed he was helping her. It was in part very true but as ever he had ulterior motives and getting her to do both an amulet and a ritual had earned him a lot of praise. He could do more in time but for now he had to settle on her not trusting him. He could build that back up.

"It's called an Olprit Aldon," an answer for what the symbol was, "it just means summon light." Simple enochian by his understanding but then again if she wanted answers she was about to get a very real lesson as he put the cup of ginger tea down in front of her and sat at the table, mirroring how she had been sat with her father in the early hours. "You see there's a circle, what looks like two legs, four arms and something like the Rebel symbol from star wars?" He beamed, "but above it there's a rising sun? That's your light symbol."

He cracked a smile to himself and prattled on as the runes were something of a special interest to him, more so as the inadvertent jeweller for The Network and beyond. "It's all very easy when it comes down to the basics, you need to work out where the magic comes from," which deity, "and work from there. There are universal signs like the rising sun, a lightning strike, but there are more complex ones too and ones with different meanings. There's those of the Outer Gods, The Great Old Ones, some signs mean Elder Gods or the marks of their servants where you can evoke their energy or summon them, like in Ophir." He had been sure to finish what he had started and watched as he revealed a secret of the universe to her, that there were more than The Horned One out there.

[niconote]

RELEASE LISTENING PARTY Thursday, October 24th at 6pm Libertine Records Shop Forster Str. 51, Kreuzberg, BERLIN

Release Launch Party • New Lp on NIM/Big Doings

NicoNote invites you to a COLLECTIVE LISTENING SESSION of the new album  REGOLA  suite in 9 frames inspired by Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) LP Limited edition 200 vinyl & digital on New Interplanetary Melodies / Big Doings 

We'll listen to the record together, followed by a Q&A. Sharing listening in the same space. The new immersive electronic project REGOLA encourages emotional and deep listening. 

[NIM014] NICONOTE - REGOLA LP vinyl 140 gr  Released by New Interplanetary Melodies & Big Doings Conception, Voice, Dramaturgy by NicoNote Sound design by Demetrio Cecchitelli Recorded and produced at Marzi Recording Studio, Italy Produced by NicoNote Dream Action

Italian-Austrian sound artist NicoNote (Music From Memory, Mille Plateaux, Rough Trade) presents new album, a conceptual work of hypnotic, immersive electronics & transcendent, experimental vocals: REGOLA inspired by the mythic medieval composer Hildegard von Bingen. REGOLA (Italian for ‘RULE’) is a record that calls for a contemplative form of deep listening, a time-dilating experience in which the polyphonic voices of NicoNote ascend, opening up a portal into an archaic, eternal past, where lost sounds coalesce with future revelations. Nine visionary and ritualistic soundscapes harnessing the voice as an instrument of transcendent expressive power; a visceral, timeless exploration of human natur ‘REGOLA’ is an enveloping masterwork that opens up an atemporal space for suspension, listening, and newly liberating states of mind.

‘'Vaporous vocals joined by gothic beats worthy of Dead Can Dance. [Nicoletta] Magalotti uses a gnarled, Diamanda Galás-like voce di strega (witch voice). The sound design is as rapturous as the poetry – cavernous & driving, swirling with gritty, industrial cosmic dust'' The Wire

This fusion between modern classical music and experimental electronica whips up a storm. The ambiance together with light airy vocals make the atmosphere much bigger then what you hear at first, overhead above the melodies of the electronic music is a wondrous humming that goes into overdrive.  There’s a warmth that lures out a cascade of emotions.’  Repartiseraren

‘The composition of ’REGOLA’ has a very high quality. From ‘REGOLA I’ the rhythmic pulse begins with rising bass waves.  The second movement uses field recordings and spoken word, ‘REGOLA III’ leaves enough space for the fade out, numbers five and six are almost pop-like, while track seven is the trippy climax’ The Gap Mag (A)

NicoNote is an alias created by Nicoletta Magalotti (I/A) in 1996, an artist active in the fields of music, theatre, art installations, radio and beyond. A researcher equally attuned to the club and the theatre, NicoNote is engaged in sound art and performance as well as storytelling and dramaturgy, and has amassed an extensive discography. Her vocal research is influenced by her encounters with teachers like Yoshi Oida, Gabriella Bartolomei, Roy Hart Theatre, Akademia Ruchu, François Tanguy. In mid-80s, she was the voice of Violet Eves, a band that played a prominent role in Italian new wave. She has collaborated with musicians including Enrico Gabrielli, Stefano Pilia, DJ Rocca, Wang Inc, Elisabeth Harnik, Howie B, Solistenensemble Kaleidoskop and more, and has worked with several directors including Romeo Castellucci / Socìetas Raffaello Sanzio, Patricia Allio, Maurizio Fiume, Fabrizio Arcuri, Francesco Micheli, Luca Scarlini and Silvia Costa. In the 90s, together with DJ David Love Calò, she created Morphine in Cocoricò, the first Italian chill-out room, a place of radical musical and performative experimentation. She has toured internationally and her output has been released on labels including Rizosfera, Rough Trade, Music from Memory, Mille Plateaux, DSPPR, Cinedelic and others. She conducts vocal masterclasses regularly and works with venues and institutions including Tempo Reale, Florence and Accademia Kataklò in Milan. Syntonic is her monthly show on Radio Raheem.NicoNote recently contributed to the experimental music theatre production 'Buffalo Gals, Won't You Come Out Tonight', based on Ursula K. Le Guin's eponymous utopian fable. Directed by Silvia Costa. Featuring music by the Solistenensemble Kaleidoskop ensemble alongside composers Andrea Belfi & Wojtek Blecharz. Performed at Radialsystem, Berlin.

photo: Valentina Solfrini 

PR: unsunghungermusic