#(that's a darker one with daniel and his self-harm struggles)

[watercolor-hearts]

As someone who lives and breathes hurt/comfort, I couldn't help but write a little something after seeing this video of Alex and George discussing Alex's injury. So yeah, nurse Russell is on the case.

Alex/George • 1036 words • hurt/comfort • first-aid • (a little bit of) angst • fluff • cuddles • they might be in love. might. • Ao3 link

-

Alex had just sat down a minute ago but now there was someone outside his hotel room banging on the door.

“What the hell?!,” Alex muttered under his breath as he stood up to open the door. He just wanted to rest until tomorrow morning; he wasn't in the mood for long chit-chats or parties.

“This is not normal!” George said, furiously, marching into Alex's hotel room with something in his hand Alex couldn't quite recognize at first glance.

“What's not normal?” Alex asked after closing the door.

“That your back was bleeding,” George said, opening the thing Alex hadn't recognized first but now knew what it was and his eyes went wide.

“Why did you bring a first-aid kit?”

“Because your back was bleeding, Alex,” George said without looking at Alex because he was busy packing out some things from the kit, “And it wasn't the first time.”

“God, George,” Alex laughed, “you're overreacting.”

“I'm not!”

“Georgie,” Alex sat on the bed in front of George, softly placing his hand on the driver's chin to lift his head to be able to look into his beautiful blue eyes which were now filled with worry alongside a little bit of anger, “I'm okay. It's not the first time, yeah, but it always heals for the next race. Patrick had already seen it and said I'll survive so no need to worry. Okay?

“Just—just let me—,” George gestured towards the disinfectant and the gauze pads lying on the bed, making it a holy trinity with the graze dressing next to them, “—please.”

“If that's what you want, nurse Russell,” Alex smiled, caressing George's cheek with his thumb, “then, please, patch me up. What do I need to do?” Alex asked, even though he knew what to do but wanted to let George do it how he wants to. If George wants to be his nurse, he can be, there's no problem with it. Alex has always liked comfort and care, especially from George. And George has always liked to provide it, especially to Alex.

“Okay, so, take off your T-shirt and then turn around or lie down on the bed, whichever is more comfortable for you.”

Alex nodded and took off his T-shirt.

“I'm going to lie down I think,” he said, looking at George, who nodded in encouragement.

“Please.”

And then when Alex made himself comfortable, George put a bit of a disinfectant on one of the gauze pads and moved a bit closer to Alex.

“Now I'm going to clean the wound with a bit of a disinfectant. I'll try to be as gentle as I can but I apologize in advance if it hurts,” he said, putting his free hand on Alex's shoulder to be able to take a closer look at the graze and its surroundings. It made him angry to see it because it wasn't normal to get an injury like this. Especially not every race weekend. Williams needed to do something. They can't make their driver injured and then expect the best performance from him.

“Don't worry, Georgie,” Alex said, smiling, “just go ahead and do it. I won't cry.”

“I know,” George smiled, too. “Okay, I'm going to do it now,” he warned and then carefully cleaned the graze and then the skin around it too. Alex didn't say anything, he didn't even flinch, just kept breathing steadily.

“Now I'm gonna put on the graze dressing, it should make it heal faster and not dry out,” George explained as he opened it and then carefully put it over the graze, softly patting the edges to stick. “One more thing and we're done,” he said and then leaned over Alex's back, placing a soft kiss next to the graze dressing. “This one is for the quick healing. Just to make sure. Your battle scar is now all patched up.”

“Special care from my personal nurse as I see.”

“Someone has to care about you. And they clearly don't. They just let their warrior to be in pain every race weekend,” George said with an angry and disappointed tone, packing everything back into the first-aid kit and then putting it on the bedside table. Alex turned around to lie on his side and face George.

“They care about me. It's because of my height. They can't really do anything about it,” Alex explained, reaching out to caress George's face and hair as the driver was lying next to him.

“If they cared, they would've found a solution. Changing your seat or putting some padding into your fireproof, or even just putting some plaster on to protect your skin.”

“Yeah,” Alex nodded, “maybe you're right.”

“I'm gonna go and talk to them tomorrow. They can't let this happen every time. It's not good for you, for your skin. It's not easy to bring good results when your seat rips your skin.”

“I'm gonna be okay, you've just made sure by cleaning it and putting a graze dressing on it. You can now let it go because we should sleep.”

“I just don't want you to be in pain,” George murmured, moving closer to Alex to cuddle him.

“I'm not in pain anymore. You're a good nurse, Georgie. It could be a good second carrier for you after retirement” Alex smiled, changing their position a bit so now he was the one cuddling George. George needed it more, it was clear. Alex held him close to his body, his naked torso radiating warmth towards George's face. It was nice for him to feel Alex this close. Alex was gonna be okay. It's just a small injury, George kept reminding himself.

“Maybe as your personal nurse, if you keep getting injuries.”

“Maybe I'll keep getting them so you can nurse me back to health every time,” Alex said, with a soft smile, kissing George's soft and a bit messy hair.

“You like it, yeah?”

“I always like it when you're here with me,” Alex confessed, fearing George could feel his heart racing in his chest because he was only a few millimeters from it. “I like you.”

“Maybe I like you too,” George murmured, looking at Alex for a moment before putting a soft kiss on his lips and then burying his face into Alex's chest, feeling the pounding of his heart on his cheek.

[deadcityhq]

CHARACTER INFORMATION: 

**CHARACTER NAME:** daniel molloy

**CHARACTER FACECLAIM:** luke brandon field

**CHARACTER AGE/DOB (if relevant/they’re not old af):** 72, december 11th

**CHARACTER PRONOUNS/GENDER IDENTITY/SEXUALITY ETC:** he/him / gaygaygaaaaay

**CHARACTER FANDOM (if relevant):** iwtv

**OC OR CANON:** canon

**CHARACTER TYPE (for example: werewolf, shadowhunter, warlock, demon etc):** vampire

**HOW LONG HAVE THEY BEEN IN NEW YORK/WHY ARE THEY THERE ETC:** well, it’s hard to say exactly how long since the night island is fairly close to new york - so it’s not all that difficult to be there. why is he there? because of the very obvious chaos that seemed to begin unfolding!

**IMPORTANT CHARACTER INFORMATION TO NOTE AND SHARE (this could be important headcanons for initial plotting, mini bios etc, supporting docs):**

it was 1973, daniel was 21, and he was navigating his way through the struggles of being a gay man in the early 70s, but also in being a curious and enthusiastic reporter. while having his own darker sides and feelings of shame, learning, listening and documenting those and the lives of other people he shared the world with became a passion of his.

daniel would travel the world, interviewing people, writing about their stories. but there was one interview in particular that would be life-changing for him. 1973, san francisco, he met louis de pointe du lac in a gay bar, and ended up returning to his apartment to interview him. but louis was not just a normal, mortal man, and daniel was introduced to the existence of vampires. the experience was a bit of a blur - blame drugs and vampiric influence, but after being held almost captive for a few days by the vampire armand, things seemed to get stranger. when out, travelling the world, he would notice armand following him, being in the same places as him, watching him… and this then developed into something else. first, a game of sorts, cat and mouse, but then something bigger, something deeper - daniel was completely enthralled by armand.

however, they’re messy of course, and after about 7 years, daniel left. not just fulfilling his ‘running away’ part of their little game, but for good. he was exhausted of begging, of being denied what he wanted with armand, and so he walked away.

now once again being alone, but this time with the loss of everything he’d had with armand, daniel went back to his old life, travelling the world, interviews, but also the drugs. what better way to block out the pain? to numb it? but of course, eventually, that lifestyle caught up to him, and while on the brink of death, armand came back to him, and in order to save daniel, turned him.

it’s after this that armand then leaves, and daniel spent two years trying to track him down, eventually succeeding.

**THREE AESTHETICS THAT REMIND YOU OF YOUR CHARACTER:**

stacks of tapes, names labelled with markers

the cherished amulet that never leaves his neck and stays safely tucked beneath clothing

chasing the thrill of danger

OOC INFORMATION: 

**MUN NAME/ALIAS:** alice

**MUN AGE:** 28

**MUN TRIGGERS:** detailed descriptions of self harm and suicide

[celiabowens]

Adult SFF edition

High/Epic Fantasy

The Lies of Locke Lamora: heist fantasy following a band of misfits! It has morally gray characters, fun banter but heartwrenching moments and a pretty complex plot. It’s a classic to say “if you liked Six of Crows and want to try adult SFF try this” and it’s probably true. 

Kushiel’s Dart: a political fantasy tome loosely inspired by Europe in the Renaissance. Pretty heavy on romance and erotica (with BDSM elements) as it follows a courtesan navigating the political scene. It has an amazing female villain.

A Darker Shade of Magic: probably the easiest way to approach adult fantasy. It has multiple Londons and a pretty unique magic system and concept, plus a crossdressing thief, knives and great banter. 

The Poppy War: grimdark fantasy (TW: abuse, self harm, rape, drug abuse), inspired by Chinese history. It’s adult, but follows younger MCs and the unique blend of different historical periods/inspirations makes it extremely interesting. The characters are extremely fucked up in the best possible way, plus the use of shamanism is awesome.

The Sword of Kaigen: if you liked The Poppy War you could like this one. The Sword of Kaigen is an Asian-inspired militaristic fantasy, with elemental magic, a badass housewife dealing with her past and hiding a sword in her kitchen’s floor. It has interesting and nuanced family dynamics and a great reflection on propaganda and the use of narratives.

The Priory of the Orange Tree: high fantasy, featuring dragons, a F/F romance and pretty complex world building. The author reuses typical fantasy tropes and roles in a fresh way. Very readable in spite of its length.

Empire of Sand: inspired by Mughal India, this one focuses on culture and religion and has great slow burn romance (TW: abuse, slavery). It’s pretty slow paced, but the payoff is great. Also a good "YA crossover”.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms: first book in a companion novel trilogy, following a young woman who finds herself at the center of a vicious political struggle, as she’s suddenly become the heir to the throne. 

Black Sun: first book in a new series by Rebecca Roanhorse, inspired by pre-Columbian societies and cultures. It mainly focuses on religious and political conflicts. TW for abuse, mild body horror and suicide (not very graphic). Nice inclusion of lgbt rep across the whole cast + one of the main characters is blind. Great world building!

Historical Fantasy

The Night Circus: perfect transition from YA to Adult for a reader, The Night Circus is a gorgeous historical fantasy romance. The author’s writing is amazing, the descriptions and the subtlety of the main characters’ relationship are to die for.

The City of Brass: political/historical fantasy tome featuring Middle Eastern mythology. It follows younger MCs (honestly another series that could be a good way to approach adult SFF) and has great character growth throughout the series. The first book has some more trope-y elements, but the payoff is worth it. 

The Golem and The Djinni: historical fantasy (if you loved The Night Circus you could like this one), following two mythical creatures as they navigate New York in 1899. Slow burn romance, rich descriptions, fascinating combination of Jewish and Syrian folklore.

Gods of Jade and Shadow: a fantasy bildungsroman set in Mexico during the Jazz age. Another great way to approach adult SFF as it follows a young girl on a life changing adventure. It features Mayan mythology and a god slowly becoming human.

The Ghost Bride: set in Malaya in 1893, it follows the daughter of a ruined man as she receives the proposal to become a ghost bride. Lovely setting, rich in culture and extremely atmospheric.

The Bear and The Nightingale: a coming of age story inspired by Russian folklore. Another great way to start reading adult SFF: it’s very atmospheric and fairy tale-like. Also frost demons are better than men.

Queen of the Conquered: first book in a fantasy duology(?) set in an alternate version of the Caribbean at the time of Scandinavian colonisation. It follows Sigourney, a biracial woman (her mother was a slave, freed by her father) and the only islander who is allowed to own and use kraft and therefore has a position of privilege, which she constantly abuses, while telling herself she’s doing it for the islanders’ benefit. The book is hard to read, because the MC is no hero and her POV can be quite challenging to get through, but if you’re up for it I’d totally recommend this. (TW: slavery, abuse, death).

The Lions of Al-Rassan: this one has minimal fantasy elements, much like other Kay books, as it reads more like an alternate history. Using Moorish Spain as a template, it deals with the conflict between Jews, Muslims and Christians. Much like Under Heaven and most of his historical fantasy it shows common people being swept up in dramatic events. 

Urban Fantasy

The Divine Cities trilogy: starting with City of Stairs, it follows a female diplomat and spymaster(!!). The whole trilogy features an interesting discussion about godhood, religion, fanatism, politics, without ever being boring or preachy. It has complex and rich world building and a pretty compelling mystery.

Foundryside: heist fantasy following a thief as she’s hired to steal a powerful artifact that may change magical technology as she knows it. Also, slow burn F/F romance.

Jade City:  a wuxia inspired, gangster urban fantasy. Great family dynamics, very interesting political and economical subplots. 

One for My Enemy: sort of a modern Romeo and Juliet, but set in New York, starring two magical gangster families. The female characters are to die for.  

Trail of Lightning: inspired by Native mythology and the idea of subsequent worlds. It has a kickass MC and a good mix of original elements and typical UF tropes. You could like this if you liked the Kate Daniels series.

American Gods: a classic of the genre, pretty much brilliant in how it reuses old mythology in a modern setting.

Retellings

Spinning Silver: a very loose retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, with a gorgeous atmosphere. It mainly follows female characters from different social and economical backgrounds and reuses the original tale to challenge the antisemitic ideas around the role of the moneylander.

The Queens of Innis Lear: fantasy retelling of King Lear, very atmospheric and gorgeously written. Slow paced, but very satisfying build up, lots of backstabbing and miscommunication. (heads up though, one of the MCs is coded as aroace and I found the rep pretty bad on that. The book does feature casual bisexual rep though, which was great)

Lady Hotspur: genderbent retelling of Henry IV, set in the same world as The Queens of Innis Lear. Lesbian and bisexual rep. Heavy on political subplots, features ambitious women growing into their roles.

Deathless: sort of a retelling of Koschei the Deathless set in the first half of the 20th century. Brilliant reuse of Russian folklore to weave together politics and history. It does have pretty brutal descriptions of war, morally gray characters, unhealthy relationships and overall a lot of mindfuckery.

Space Opera

A Memory Called Empire: space opera inspired by the Mexica and middle period Byzantium. It focuses on topics like colonialism and the power of narratives and language. It has one of the best descriptions of what it’s like to live in between spaces I’ve ever read. Also very interesting political intrigue and has a slow burn F/F romance (and a poly relationship recalled through flashbacks).

Ninefox Gambit: a Korean-inspired space opera with a magic system based on math. It’s honestly quite convoluted and difficult to follow, but it also features some of the best political intrigue I’ve ever read. Plenty of lying, backstabbing and mind games. It also features lesbian and bisexual rep and an aroace side character (TW: mass shooting, sexual assault).

The Light Brigade: militaristic space opera set in a not-so-defined future in which corporations rule Earth and space in general. The book follows a newly enlisted soldier as they go through gruelling training and experience the side effects of being broken down into atoms to travel at the speed of light. It’s a heavy book, featuring raw descriptions of war, and quite difficult to follow (non-linear timelines...) but it’s also an amazing critique of capitalism and political propaganda (TW: death, mass shooting).

Gideon the Ninth: pretty much lesbian necromancers in space. Very loose world building, but a fun mystery full of banter. Can be quite confusing in the beginning, but a relatively easy and fun way to approach science fiction.

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet: character driven space opera featuring a found family journeying through space. A fun read, that also deals with topics such as sexuality and race. Quite easy to go through, as the world building and plot aren’t particularly complex themselves. Also features a F/F romance. 

Science Fiction-Fantasy that I can’t fit anywhere else

Vicious: college roommates put themselves through near-death experiences to obtain super powers, only everything goes wrong. Follows a great band of misfits (and pretty much everyone is morally gray).

Middlegame: a brilliant and complex tapestry of alternate timelines, following telepathically connected twins trying to escape the alchemist that wants to use them to obtain godhood (TW: attempted suicide).

Piranesi: the long awaited return of Susanna Clarke, Piranesi is an odd, mysterious book set in a house with infinite rooms and endless corridors, apparently inhabited by only two people. 

Bonus Novella recs: novellas are amazing and don’t sleep on them!

The Empress of Salt and Fortune: an Asian-inspired fantasy novella, it gives a voice to people usually silenced by history. It follows a cleric (non binary rep) as they chronicle the story of the late empress, retold through objects that she used in her life. It focuses on bonds between women and the power that lies in being unnoticed.  

The Black God’s Drums: an urban fantasy novella, based on Orisha mythology and set in an alternate, sort of steampunk, New Orleans. 

The Haunting of Tram Car 015: alternate steampunk Cairo populated by supernatural entities. It has a compelling mystery, starring a great lead.

This Is How You Lose the Time War: epistolary set during a time-travel war, F/F romance and gorgeous prose. 

The Citadel of Weeping Pearls: a novella set in the Xuya universe (a series of novellas/short stories set in a timeline where Asia became dominant, and where the space age has empires of Vietnamese and Chinese inspiration), but can be read as a standalone. It’s a space opera featuring a disappeared citadel and the complex relationship between the empress and her daughter as war threatens her empire.

To Be Taught, If Fortunate: an incredibly heartwarming and yet meaningful novella about research and the meaning of it. It’s the tale of 4 astronauts on a crowdfunded mission to explore space, to observe and report without conquering. It’s written in lovely prose and is very casual in its lgbt rep.

The Deep: very good novella set in an underwater society built by the descendants of African slave women that were tossed overboard. It’s not an easy read at all, as it deals with trauma, both personal and generational ones. 

Bonus short story collections recs

A Cathedral of Myth and Bone: 16 short stories featuring myth, legend and faith, that mainly focus on women reclaiming their agency. 

The Paper Menageries and Other Stories: features plenty of different fantasy and science fiction subgenres. The Paper Menagerie in particular is an extremely moving tale.

Conservation of Shadows: science fiction-fantasy short stories that focus on topics like colonisation and the role of art and language. 

Graphic Novel

Monstress: series set in an alt 1900s matriarchal Asia, following a teenage girl who survived a war and shares a connection with a monster that’s slowly transforming her. (TW: slavery, death).

[aion-rsa]

Netflix’s Ginny & Georgia: An Excellent Show Undermined by its Race Problems

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Marketed as an updated and darker version of Gilmore Girls, the idea of this new mother-daughter duo show, Ginny & Georgia, is instantly appealing. Netflix’s new top 10 show is about 15-year-old Ginny Miller, played by Antonia Gentry, who often feels more mature than her 30-year-old mother, Georgia (Brianne Howey). When the family moves from Texas to a new town called Wellsbury in Massachusetts, Ginny isn’t too keen until she meets her super cute neighbor, Marcus, and his twin sister Maxine. But life is not so simple, and as secrets come to light, things get more complicated.

After finishing the show in 24 hours, I wish I could sit here and write about how compelling it is and how well it portrays that point in teenage life where you’re impulsive, awkward, and nervous as you try to figure out relationships and find yourself. However, while the town of Wellsbury is picture-perfect, Ginny & Georgia is not as it is undermined by a significant race problem, primarily how it deals with its biracial lead.

The show’s failure to deal with its lead character Ginny’s biracial identity makes it hard for me to love all the other great aspects of the show, as much as I want to. Ginny & Georgia’s exploration of coming of age, self-harm, LGBTQ+ relationships, sexual abuse, and being an American Sign Language family is compelling and something I wish was more present on television. Even criminal mastermind Georgia Miller, whose life is full of secrets, murder, and lord knows whatever else, is undermined by the shows tendency to only acknowledge Ginny’s Blackness when dealing with racism. Her race isn’t considered in any other regard, which suggests being Black is nothing more than microaggressions and discrimination, and that racism makes up the entirety of the Black identity. 

“If you had an ass, you’d be perfect”

Ginny’s experience of racism, mostly in the form of microaggressions, is plain for the eye to see, particularly in the comments made by Ginny’s new friends. When her friend Samantha (Romi Shraiter) asks her, “What are you?” and then plays it off as a compliment because Ginny is so “exotic looking,” Ginny’s response is silence. An equal response is given when the same friend fetishizes mixed-race babies by saying, “I’m going to marry a Black man so I can have adorable little mixed babies.” Beyond the fact that this comment is weird, and that the show is in many ways portraying a main character who is struggling with their biracial identity, the show normalizes racist comments by not having Ginny call out her friend. 

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Celebrating Black Voices in Anime with Funimation

By Daniel Kurland

It’s the same situation when Ginny straightens her hair, and Brodie, one of those characters who thinks they’re the funniest person alive but actually just fulfils that stereotypical teen drama douchebag role says, “If you had an ass, you’d be perfect. It’s weird that you don’t.” The use of comments like these in the show aid stereotypes and fetishizations of Black women as objects of desire and the idea that Black women, like me, who don’t have large bums are somehow less Black.

The show attempts to deal with this issue by having Ginny discuss it with her boyfriend Hunter (Mason Temple). Though it is a lovely scene because they start to discuss their experiences of being biracial, it does not address the fact Brodie has just used a racist insult, which is a common occurrence among Ginny’s friends. 

Both of these sequences undermine Ginny’s character, who, when we first meet her, is outspoken and strong as she calls out her English teacher for constructing a syllabus containing mostly white men. The show weakens its lead character when it portrays Ginny as someone who can’t have hard conversations with her friends. 

“Too unconventional”

A particularly striking aspect of the show is Ginny’s interactions with her AP English teacher, Mr. Gitten (Jonathan Potts). Her interactions with him are reflective of a situation most Black people have either experienced or heard about during their education, and yet the way the show handles it is somewhat messy. In Gitten’s first encounter with Ginny, he assumes she is not as well-read as the rest of her (predominantly white) classmates. This is continued when he states Ginny lost the writing competition because her essay was “too unconventional” when he really means it was too Black for him. Never directly discussing the issue Mr. Gitten has with her until the last episode, the moment is the closest Ginny comes throughout the whole show to dealing with the racism she receives, and yet it is one of the most unrealistic portrayals I have witnessed on television. 

Instead of trying to get the teacher punished, Ginny’s approach to dealing with the racism she receives is to blackmail him, saying she’d out him as a racist if he doesn’t give her a glowing college recommendation letter. I can only speak on my experiences as a Black woman who’s faced similar situations, but Ginny’s approach is naïve and an impractical reflection of what racism in school is like for minority ethnicities. The solution to racism is not blackmail. By Ginny choosing to blackmail him instead of telling the school so he can get fired or just have another teacher to write the recommendation letter, it makes her less honorable. 

Also, many of the comments Gitten makes are in front of the class and something he’s been doing for years as Bracia tells Ginny she’s had similar experiences with him. So surely he really wouldn’t have felt that threatened? All in all, Ginny’s approach to dealing with Mr. Gitten’s treatment is shocking and unhelpful as it suggests this is a useful way racism is dealt with. 

“Your bars could use a little work, homie”

The show’s failure to fittingly deal with its biracial lead’s struggles weakens the rest of the show, as it opens the door to messy scenes such as the heavily criticized “Oppression Olympics” scene where Ginny and Hunter throw stereotypes at each other, while Hunter fails to see how Gittens’ treatment of Ginny is racist. While the scene can be criticized for many things, it does well to highlight how all people of color can experience racism, but their experiences are not the same. While Hunter’s experiences are 100% valid, they are not comparable to what Ginny is going through in relation to their English teacher. Hunter’s accusations that Ginny is “causing drama in class” is him painting her in the stereotypical angry Black woman image because she’s calling out discrimination and using her voice. 

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Firefly Lane and the Problem with Aging up and Down

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The dialogue the argument uses is embarrassing, to say the least, with Ginny saying to Hunter, “Your favourite food is cheeseburgers, and I know more Mandarin than you do, you’re barely even Asian,” while Hunter says, “But I’ve never seen you pound back jerk chicken. The last time I checked, Brodie twerks better than you. And I liked your poem, but your bars could use a little more work, homie. So really, how black are you then?” The entire argument, which consists of stereotypes to prove who’s whiter, is extremely chaotic as it perpetuates this idea that you’re somehow less Black if you don’t know how to twerk or “pound back jerk chicken” whatever that means. And beyond the awful dialogue, the worst bit about it is the situation, which happens in episode 8, is never resolved. It is as if the writers of the show were saying racial identity is something two biracial characters “should” be struggling with, and instead of showing how they do, we’ll just throw this scene in and have them throw derogatory stereotypes at each other. The writing in the scene undermines what could have been a powerful moment which explored both Ginny’s struggle with her identity and the racism she’s experienced since she arrived in Wellsbury. Instead, we’re left with a frustrating scene that only reinforces the show’s inability to deal with a biracial lead character.

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While Ginny & Georgia is a delightfully chaotic show that for the majority of it will have you hooked and on the edge of your seat, its inability to deal with the lead character’s identity seriously undermines it. By not dealing with the microaggressions and discrimination Ginny receives, the show normalizes racism. If there is a season two, I hope the show gets a better handle on Ginny’s identity and what it means to be biracial. 

Ginny & Georgia is available to stream on Netflix now.

The post Netflix’s Ginny & Georgia: An Excellent Show Undermined by its Race Problems appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[archadianskies]

→ on Ao3

They had left it there to die. Simon dropped his basket, nearly tripping over the roots of the tree as he scrambled forward to reach the creature thrashing madly against its chains. A beautiful, otherworldly creature with slightly human features, large black wings and clawed hands and feet. 

The stench of burnt flesh was thick in the air and Simon didn’t need to touch the chains to know they were made of pure iron. The captive creature bled profusely from a bear trap clamped into its leg and a wide collar suffocating, burning , its throat while it clawed at it desperately. Its icy grey eyes were wide with terror, locking onto Simon and letting out a strangled cry. 

“It’s alright! It’s alright stay still!” Simon hushed, soothed it, empty palms held up to show he meant no harm. “Shhhh, everything’s going to be just fine.” He reached out, cupping the creature’s cheek and feeling soft feathers and wet tears against his palm. “Shhhh…”

The creature had its sharp teeth bared in a scowl though it ceased struggling, as if trying to gauge whether Simon was simply bluffing before delivering a killing blow. He stayed that way for a while, hushing it, soothing it, with soft gentle strokes. After a while it closed its eyes and leaned into his palm, and Simon brought up his other hand to pat its beautiful feathered hair. 

“You’re very far from home. Your kind aren’t meant to be out this way.” He murmured, shaking his head. “The hunters would’ve waited for you to either tire yourself out or die from self-inflicted wounds before carving you up. Your claws and teeth are worth a fortune, let alone your blood and feathers. You’re lucky a silly little witch found you instead, hm?”

He left it briefly to fetch his fallen basket, sorting through the freshly picked greenery to select a few before he returned to its side. “Here, chew on these.” He offered a handful of leaves, trying not to stare when the creature opened its mouth and he saw just how terrifying those teeth were up close. It plucked the leaves from his palm with surprising delicacy, scrunching up its nose in displeasure once it began chewing. Simon laughed, giving it an encouraging pat. “It’ll make you feel better and numb the pain. I’m going to begin undoing these chains, but it’ll take some time alright? Iron is impervious to most spells but there’s still a few up my sleeve that will break them.”

The creature nodded in understanding, shifting a little so Simon could reach its neck properly. There was something incredibly humbling about that gesture alone; a powerful creature offering its neck for aid with the very real possibility of betrayal. Not that Simon would ever do such a cruel, heartless thing. Resting his palms against the collar, he closed his eyes and poured his magic into the unyielding metal, wearing it down until it cracked and crumbled to harmless pieces onto the forest floor. Immediately the creature touched its bare throat gingerly, wincing in pain. 

“I can make a salve for you back at my home, but first let me get the trap from your leg.” Simon pointed at its left leg, and the creature adjusted its posture so it could prop up its leg on one of the larger tree roots. Fae blood shimmered, unlike the rich velvet colour of human blood; it was thinner, slippery and shiny, and also worth a fortune. There were witches out there who practiced blood magic using fae blood, and it was darker than anything Simon would ever be willing to craft. The extraction alone, the process of obtaining fae blood, was already too horrific for Simon to agree to. The hunters would have made enough to last half a lifetime with the spoils of their kill. Would have, if not for a meddling little witch.

Simon hid a smile as the trap crumbled to dust, stepping back so the creature could ease its leg back into a comfortable position. It tried to stand and winced, unable to put any weight on it, and Simon rushed forward to place his hands on its chest, pushing it to lean against the tree.

“No no, don’t. It’s alright. Like I said, I can make a salve for your injuries.” He picked up his basket just as he heard a twig snap somewhere. “The hunters-”

The creature surged forward, wrapping its arms around Simon and kicking off the ground, powerful wings beating as it flew them to safety. Simon clung on for dear life, arms wrapped around its neck though he was mindful not to touch the thick ring of raw burned flesh. When he could finally bear to look down, he scanned the environment below, trying to place himself.

“There!” He pointed at a cottage at the foot of the hills. “That’s my home!” There was no smoke puffing up from the chimney, so his brother would still be in town. Thankfully. Simon wasn’t sure how he would be able to explain a large fae creature in their home to Danny. 

When they landed, he half expected it to dart back up into the sky and flee, but instead it tucked its wings to its back and hobbled after him. Simon ushered it inside and busied himself with lighting a fire and finding his mortar and pestle to make fresh salve. The warmth seemed to soothe it, and it was comical watching it lower its massive form into a hulking curl by the fire. It made a soft pleased hum, and Simon giggled before he could help himself. The air filled with the scent of crushed herbs and the crackle of magic as Simon wove healing spells into the mixture. With careful fingers he spread the paste over its raw skin, conscientious when it hissed in pain. 

“You’re alright, you’re doing so very well.” Simon hushed, setting the bowl aside and patting its hair in a soothing, repetitive gesture. “You’ll feel better in no time.” The last of the adrenaline finally wore itself out, and exhaustion overwhelmed him. The creature tipped its head, icy grey eyes looking over him before it slowly reached out and slipped an arm around his waist, pulling him onto its lap. It unfurled its wings carefully, tucking them around like a set of dark curtains as it cradled Simon close. Shifting, he pressed his ear to its broad feathered chest and found that its heartbeat had a tempo much like his own. Simon slept.

*~*

“I’m uh- I’m just going to sit here, far away, and you’re going to tell me why there is not only a fae creature in our house, but also why you are using it as a bed.” Daniel’s voice roused him from sleep, and his eyes snapped open, locating his brother sitting on a chair pulled to the far end of the room. He looked up, seeing confusion on the creature’s face most likely because he and Daniel were identical.

“I found it in the forest while gathering supplies. The hunters had chained it up to die.” Simon pointed at its throat, at the ring of salve he’d spread over its broken skin. “They used pure iron. It was either going to burn to death or kill itself trying to escape.”

“So you brought it home?” A cocked brow.

“So I brought it home.” Simon echoed stubbornly, and Daniel sighed.  

“You know that’s one of the princes, right?” The stunned look on Simon’s face spoke otherwise, and Daniel sighed again. “That’s the younger one. The Knight. He’s the bigger one with grey eyes. The Crown Prince has garnet eyes.” 

“Why were you out in the forest so far from your kingdom?” Simon tipped his head up, and the prince averted his eyes. “Wait, why do you know what their eyes look like, Danny?”

“...I...may have met the Crown Prince once, when I travelled through the mountain pass as a shortcut back from the mushroom caves.” 

“Oh, so you tell me off for bringing one home when you’ve already gone and befriended the other?” Simon huffed, and Daniel rolled his eyes.

“We just spoke briefly, I don’t think that counts as ‘befriending’.” Daniel avoided his gaze, arms crossed defensively across his chest. “He was just sheltering from the storm because the downpour would’ve made it hard to fly. Anyway the mountain pass is way closer to their kingdom than our forest. Still have no clue as to why the Knight would be snooping around here.”

“It doesn’t matter. He’s here and he’s going to stay until he’s well enough to stand again.” Simon rested his head back against his chest, and the prince hummed, curling one wing protectively around him. 

“His uh-” Daniel darted the prince a glance, only managing to hold that stormy grey gaze briefly. “His name is Ronan. The Crown Prince is Connor.” 

“Ronan.” Simon repeated with a smile, touching the soft short feathers at his hairline. Ronan chased the contact, pushing against his hand when Simon tried to draw it back. He laughed, threading his fingers tenderly into his feathered hair, touching the long thin pinions that mixed with the dark locks. 

“I am clearly interrupting something, so I’ll see myself to bed.” Daniel rolled his eyes, shaking his head as Simon squawked in protest. “I’m leaving before first light tomorrow, to make it to Ralph’s fields. He said the elderflowers are best harvested with morning dew drops, before they evaporate with the day’s sun.”

“More potent that way.” Simon added distractedly, scritching along Ronan’s scalp and laughing when the fae closed his eyes blissfully. “Be careful, then.”

“ You be careful. You’re the one with a prince inside our cottage.” Daniel scoffed, putting the chair back to the table and stalking off upstairs. 

“I think we’ll be just fine, hm?” Simon traced the long black talons on the ends of his fingers, and Ronan turned his hand palm side up so Simon could slide his hand into his. He’d get up to make them a late supper, eventually. For now he marvelled at how very soft he felt, and how Ronan’s chest rose and fell with each measured breath. A beautiful, deadly yet gentle creature- why would anyone think to destroy him for monetary gain?

 *~*

Having made good on his word, Daniel was long gone by the time Simon woke with dawn’s light. Ronan stirred at the movement, looking down at him with softness in those cold eyes. 

“How are you feeling?” Simon cupped his cheek, thumb rubbing over the sharp jutt of his cheekbone. Ronan touched his throat and made an uncomfortable face. “I’ll make you a nice soothing tea. That should help with the tightness, and then I’ll make a fresh batch of salve.” Briefly, Ronan tightened his arms around Simon’s waist before letting him go, trailing him to the kitchen as if reluctant to let him out of his sight. There was a loaf of berry bread covered with a tea towel and a scribbled note from Daniel reminding him not to skip breakfast before tending to the day’s potion orders. Silly Danny, Simon thought fondly, as if he’d ever pass up an opportunity to eat his baked goods.

Losing himself to the mindless routine of brewing tea, Simon let his thoughts stray to his guest. What was a prince doing so far from home, so close to a town bustling with mortals ready to cut him down? And why was he nothing like the terrible tales told when they were children, of feathered beasts with no humanity, no mercy? Beasts that brave hunters slew to keep the town safe, wearing their feathers as a warning to keep the others at bay. If they were beasts, why did one shelter so harmlessly with Danny, passing hours with him with no violence between them? Why did this one touch him so gently, with hands that were meant to rip and tear and destroy? 

Meticulously pouring out the peppermint and honey tea, he passed Ronan a cup before pouring one for himself. The bread slices toasted crisply on the embers, and the smell of berries filled the kitchen with sweetness. They ate and Simon watched him, that looming creature of feathers and claws, picking up a mug with the greatest of care and sipping it between nibbles of toast. 

“Thank you.” Ronan whispered, voice scratchy and low. 

“You’re very welcome. Here, let me put more salve on your iron burns.” The prince tipped his head up, and Simon smoothed fresh paste over the now pinked skin, pleased that today it looked far less angry than yesterday. His leg looked better too, and he could put some measure of weight on it, though not for long. 

“Your poor brother will be worried, won’t he?” Simon frowned, knowing that if he failed to come home, Daniel would be distraught. “You should probably fly home tonight, after nightfall so the hunters won’t see you.”

Ronan nodded, mouth open to say something before a loud knock interrupted him. Without even thinking, Simon raised his voice. 

“Coming!” He winced, so used to answering the door for customers picking up their orders that he completely forgot he was meant to be harbouring a fae creature from sight. “Quick! Go upstairs, they mustn’t see you!” Shooing him away frantically, Simon waited until he disappeared upstairs before wrapping a shawl around his shoulders and opening the door. Three hunters looked at him with false pleasant smiles.

“Good morning, sir.” They removed their hats, heads inclined slightly in greeting. “Won’t bother you for too long. See, there was a beast we trapped in the forest and it seemed to have escaped.”

“Bound it in iron we did.” One of them added gruffly, eyeing Simon suspiciously. “Only a witch could’ve unmade those shackles.” 

“I am not the only witch who lives in this town.” Simon tried his best to sound like Daniel, to channel his irritated, unimpressed demeanour. 

“No sir, but you are the closest to the forest’s edge.” Another refuted with a cocked brow. “And witches that brew with fae blood craft the most potent, powerful potions.”

“You are sorely mistaken if you think I would ever slay a creature just to bleed it for use.” Simon hissed, the rage very real in his veins. Before anyone could get another word in, an arm slid around his waist from behind, and a very bare body pressed up against his back as a chin came to rest on his shoulder. Simon felt his cheeks burn.

“Who are these people, love?” Ronan growled, voice a rough scrape, face mostly hidden behind Simon’s head as he pressed a kiss to his hair.

“Hunters.” Simon tried his best to keep his voice light though his cheeks were flushed. “Thought I had something to do with freeing a creature they trapped in the woods. But I wasn’t anywhere near the woods yesterday, gentlemen. I had company over, you see.” They averted their eyes, suddenly losing their gruff intimidating behaviour in favour of embarrassed contrition.

“A-ah, sorry sir. We’ll be leavin’ now.”

“Yes, sorry to bother you both.”

“Have a nice day.”

Ronan reached out and shut the door in their face before Simon could reply. He whirled around to find a very large , very unfeathered , very naked man instead of the fae creature he’d been tending to that morning. Quickly looking away, Simon took a few deep breaths.

“Right. Um. Clothes. I will fetch you some clothes.” Simon said aloud mostly for his own benefit as he pointedly looked anywhere else instead of fixating on his not-so-fae-looking guest. Unable to help himself, because he was of course a mortal of flesh and blood, he glanced over only to find Ronan still standing there, an amused quirk on his lips as he regarded Simon coolly. Simon swallowed thickly and headed upstairs. 

 “I didn’t know you could do that.” Simon sat opposite him at the table as Ronan, now fully dressed, sipped on another cup of honey tea. He shrugged, expression mischievous. “At least you threw them off my tail completely. They’ll never suspect it was me now.”

The long workbench was populated with orders written on little slips of paper and bundles of herbs, plants, and flowers as well as rows of labelled bottles. A fat, well loved tome rested right in the middle. 

“The day’s only just beginning and you can’t fly home until it’s dark so how about you lend me a hand, hm?” Simon suggested, reaching over to rest his hand over his. “I could use some help with all these orders.”

The prince, Simon learned, made for an excellent assistant. He was precise and patient, quick to learn and obedient when given a task. The house filled with all sorts of smells, some sweet, some sour, some happy, some bitter. Simon wove his magic into each potion, each balm, each tonic, each salve. They paused for a lunch of garden vegetables and leftover beef pie Daniel had baked yesterday. There was something so easy about it all, something so calm and domestic about working side by side, about  eating across from each other. He wished it could last, but he knew it mustn’t. When the sun dipped below the horizon, Simon steeled himself for the inevitable parting. He packed a small pouch with a tin of salve and a little sachet of herbal tea.

“It’s best you get going now.” Simon offered him the pouch. “Make sure to apply this twice a day, and there’s some herbal tea that you can mix honey into, for your throat.”

Ronan undressed, Simon quickly pivoting for privacy and there was the unmistakable thrum of magic in the air. When he turned back around, the feathered fae prince blinked slowly at him. He followed him outside and slipped the cords of the pouch around his wrist, before curling against his chest briefly.

“I suppose this is goodbye, then.” Simon tried not to let the sadness seep into his voice. Ronan wrapped his arms around him tightly, and Simon embraced him in return. 

“Not goodbye forever.” He whispered, small smile on his handsome face. “Just goodbye for now.” A promise sealed with a kiss pressed to his lips.

Simon stepped back and watched him crouch down before leaping up into the air, wings unfurling for flight. He watched him soar high above, higher and higher until he vanished above the clouds. Heading back inside, Simon touched his lips with a smile, cheeks flushed with delight. Just a goodbye for now.

*~*

(Ronan looks like feathered Howl Jenkins.)

[noiseartists]

The Corrupting Sea- Therapy In Sound

 "Libraries gave us power" the Manic Street Preachers used to sing. The internet has given us power too. Meet Jason Lamoreaux. Label owner, journalist, musician.

What is your music about?

In 2015, I was unethically dismissed from a job that I deeply loved and was invested in. As someone who deals on a daily basis with anxiety and depression and has no health insurance, I had to find a way to deal with the fallout that was healthy and not harmful. I had recorded some music around 2007 and had released a single on an Australian compilation, but the album I recorded was lost. So, at the end of 2016, I begin to record again as an outlet for my anxiety and depression. It was, in a way, therapeutic. The results of those first sessions was my third album Symphony Of A Radical. I had shown a few of the tracks to Frank Lenz (Starflyer 59) and he really encouraged me to put them out there.

I think another sort of “inspiration” for my work has been just world events, the insanity of what is happening in my country and the corresponding ignorance of so many in the U.S., and some personal narratives about trying to deal with all of it and find some peace. So, I hope to communicate sound stories that have some narrative freight to them but allow the listener to sort of plug in their own experiences throughout the music.

Musical Work

In 2017, I released a trilogy with the albums Samatta, Resist, and Symphony of a Radical. These were my first releases to go out into the world. I’m 45 years old and I just felt that I had finally found a voice with my music and was able to put myself out there. In my youth, I had too much self-doubt and hesitation, so I suppose my age helps with me not being so worried about what people think.

I think much of what I do is anti-ambient, if that makes sense. So many of my ambient artist friends or ambient artists I read talk about their work in terms of serenity or contemplation or meditation. My music isn’t that. There are tracks where I am struggling to find that but much of my music comes from rage, anxiety, depression, agitation, and conflict. I mean, if you met me, you wouldn’t get this impression from me. I’ve been told that my music is sort of an alter-ego. That’s true, I think. But it’s also my therapy. It’s where I dump the things that aren’t healthy in relationships. I guess I weep into my music in a way.

In terms of the albums, I guess I will leave that to the audiofiles in discussing each one individually. I will say this. The stuff I am producing now has really changed in tone and I think quality. I’m really excited about the release of Somnambulate in Jan/February on Katuktu Collective as well as the Aural Canyon album I’m working on that will hopefully be released later in the year. So two new full-lengths are forthcoming in 2018. I also have two other albums. One is called Reflections and it was mixed and mastered by Paul Saarnak of The Beremy Jets while the other is called System Shift and it was mixed and mastered by Toby Crate Art of The Emerald Down. Both did incredible jobs on the mixes and I can’t wait to find both a home. I also have an EP coming out on Silber Records any day now. It’s in the 5 in 5 series where the artist can only produce 5 minutes of material over the course of 5 tracks. I made 5 one-minute tracks and I think it turned out rather well. I’m happy with it at least.

The most recent development has been a collaboration with Jon Attwood (Yellow6) and Daniel Land (riverrun, Daniel Land and the Painters). We’ve started exchanging stems and things are moving forward. Really excited about how this project turns out. I’ve also started working with Josh Richardson (Flavor Crystals) on a potential ambient album. We will see where that goes.

Tell us about the artists you have worked with

All of the artwork on my albums so far have been my own photos. I really love taking pictures and working with imagery, so I’ve been excited to share my visual work with others in this medium. My dear friend Paul Lewis has designed all the covers using my images and has done an incredible job. I’m currently working with Garett Wood, another friend of mine, who will do the images for the Reflections album. His photography is amazing. I’m also hoping to work with Christy Romanik who has been a favorite photographer of mine for ages. I’m shocked I haven’t used her photos yet. Look up both photographers because their work is just so amazing.

I’m beginning to work with Jeff Ryan (Myopic) who is a Dallas based artist. He is the mind behind the project called Myopic and has been the drummer for St. Vincent, The War on Drugs, and others. He’s currently in The Baptist Generals and Motorcade. I’ll be recording a live video with him for Noise Artists. I’ve also done a remix for City of Dawn who is an ambient artist out of Texas. We are hoping to do some collaborative work. I’m also in the middle of a collaboration with Jon Attwood (Yellow6) and Daniel Land (riverrun, Daniel Land and the Painters). I’m super excited about how these will all turn out. The kind of creative challenges one encounters with others can really push limits and make one think outside one’s box. It’s really exciting.

Two of my newer albums that don’t have labels yet have recently been mixed and mastered by Paul Saarnak and Toby Crate Art. They did an incredible job and I can’t wait for the world to hear those. I’m also working in collaboration with Jon Attwood and Daniel Land. I’m also working with Josh Richardson of Flavor Crystals on something. We will see where that goes.

 What are your goals as a band, artist, record label owner, artistically/commercially ?

I think my only goal with The Corrupting Sea has been to record my music and put it out there. Actually constructing the tracks and getting an album out were the beginning. I’m not sure I expected to end up recording more let alone put out 3 albums in one year. Now I’m hoping to play live soon and the live videos with Myopic are sort of the beginning of that process. I started Somewherecold Records for that purpose even though I’ve put out other artists. Then my goal was to put an album out on another label because I couldn’t afford to keep doing it myself, at least not the way I wanted. That will happen beginning next year as Katuktu Collective puts out Somnabulate. It’s been pretty amazing actually and beyond anything I expected in the long run. I guess now I just want to keep going and be able to make my own music. I do have an Aural Canyon album planned for next year as well.

 With Somewherecold Records, I simply want to put great music out there for people to support. If only more people would, you know? Running a label is fraught with instability simply because of how people view art and music now. Either people have no disposable income, or they just refuse to buy music anymore. It’s really a sad situation. I’m always shocked when artists do art for a living because it’s so incredibly difficult to get people to support artists these days.

Who would you want as a dream producer and why?

John Fryer. He’s worked with so many bands I admire and I would love to see what he does with my darker stuff. He’s just a consummate musician and, having talked to him, I feel he would respect my sound and not try to take over.

What are you trying to avoid as a band, artist, label owner?

I guess being too repetitive as an artist. I don’t want to do that for sure.

As a label owner? I guess I’m going with the flow there. I really would love not to go into massive debt, which I can’t do. It would simply mean the end of the label if people don’t purchase music.

Explain your songwriting process, who starts? How does it evolve, is it organic? Is it discussed?

Well, since this is my project, it’s just me and my instruments. Basically, I hunt for sounds and textures that inspire me or lead me to a basis for a track and then I build from there. This can be the manipulation of standard midi tracks, found sounds that I use as samples, or guitar lines and melodies. I like when things just flow. Of course, they don’t always, but I mostly come up with very improvised free form work. I describe myself as a sound shaper rather than a musician.

In 2017 there is no new or old music to a 17 year old with internet access. Discuss.

I guess that, what you mean by this is, young people have everything at their fingertips. Well, I think there are pros and cons to this entire issue. I guess the best thing about this is that corporate radio can’t tell people what to listen to anymore. Radio stations that are broadcasting through FM or AM are kind of obsolete. There are, of course, a few exceptions like college radio stations that aren’t shackled by the likes of Clear Channel. There are also great online stations like DKFM (of which I am a part) that really allow DJ’s to shape their shows and play what they feel is the best new music out there. In this way, listeners can find programs and DJ’s that introduce them to music they seem to like on a consistent basis. Stations that play the same crap over and over again need to be phased out and, in my opinion, people should just stop listening to those stations. The cons are a product or consequence of the pros. Yes, we have access to everything but that is also a down side. There is just so much great music out there that finding artists can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Further, I think that young people have really lost touch with the wonderfulness of the album. Artists shape their tracks into a whole project, not simply singles, but streaming culture really has gotten young people away from listening to whole albums and really taking in the entire message of an artists in that period of time.

Lastly I would say that people have all but stopped buying music. Streaming services are killing music really. The one thing any fan can do that is good for a musician or band is buy their CDs, Cassettes, Vinyl, and Merch. It does WONDERS. This idea that music should be free is a horrible product of the degradation of art and artists and people can only fight that by buying the music directly from the artists or labels they are on, especially if the label is small.  

Why do you make the music you make? Is it in you? Is it a choice?

Like I said above, my music has been my therapy. I think it was in me all along and I really didn’t know. It was strange once I actually let it out there. It was like a flood of music came out of me. I have this really strong memory of myself when I was about 17 years old. I was at my house alone and sitting at my parents’ upright piano. I would hold down the sustain pedal and just play chords and let the reverb tail just fade out. I would close my eyes and just soak in it. I had never heard of ambient music at the time. I’d never heard Eno or any of the jazz, ambient artists prior to this period. This would have been around 1989 or 1990. I’d been learning bass and guitar for some time now but no one ever told me that what made me feel most at home musically could be music. In hindsight, I really wish I would have recorded that stuff and went with it on my own but I had no conceptual framework or know how in terms of recording anything.

As I got older, I encountered stuff like shoegaze music through my writing at Somewherecold. This would be like 2002 and after. I’m a late-comer to the scene. Anyway, there’s a track on The Prayer Chain’s Mercury album that really sparked my interest in ambient music in a way I hadn’t encountered before. Eric Campuzano from The Prayer Chain and The Lassie Foundation and so many other bands came out with his solo project Charity Empressa and I had found my musical home in a way. Experimental and ambient, Charity Empressa opened a musical world to me that I had not encountered before. I started buying all of Eno’s albums and so much more. For me, this is the awakening my 17-year-old self longed for. It wasn’t until 2006 or so that I started to explore my own creativity in this regard and now I’m going at it full force. I suppose it’s no longer a choice but an urge or a longing to express myself.

Describe your palette of sound.

Well, I work mainly with drones and guitar sounds. My palette runs the range of found sounds to flat, untextured drones. Whatever serves my expression at the time, I will use and attempt to shape into something a listener can experience. As I’ve moved forward, I’ve gained more tools to work with. For example, my earliest work was all guitar and bass. I owned no pedals. I only used VSTs with the guitars. In order to create drones, I would detune a guitar or mute strings and then blow fans on the guitar to make a long, droning rumble or ambient sound. I think it worked well and people can’t really tell that’s what I’m doing when it’s happening. Since then, I’ve had a really cheap midi-controller, which I used on my first three albums. Now I’ve upgraded that along with my DAW. I’ve also gained some guitar pedals along the way. More are forthcoming. It’s simply a matter of finding the funds and moving forward. The thing is, I know what I want and how much I want. I’m being very, very selective in the pedals I attain because it can become a financial black hole and I don’t want that to happen. I’m just not in a place financially for that to happen. So, as I’ve become more and more familiar and attune to my own sound, I have targeted particular pieces of equipment for my sound arsenal. We will see what 2018 brings in that regard.

Your music is instrumental, would you like guest vocalists? Who would be your dream guest vocalist?

I have always toyed with the idea of having someone come in and lay some kind of vocal, spoken or sung, over the top of my crazy compositions. Seeing what a vocal artist would do would be fascinating. Some dream vocalists would be Rachel Staggs, Krissy Vanderwoude, Justin Bowsher, Daniel Land, Rebecca Scott, Christie Simpson, Kristie Capua, Preston Maddox, and Adrienne Snow.

Which of your albums are you the most proud of? Why?

I think, of the ones currently out, Samatta is my favorite because it has tracks I like to return to more often. I think “I Love You Over the Moon” and “An Ode to Paul Saarnak on His 44th” are my favorite tracks of the trilogy. They both express a brightness that usually escapes me or I find ethereal as I try to grab it. I also think that my ability to record and use my tools had made a rather large advance with that album. Given that I’ve completed six albums, I think my favorite (which everyone else hasn’t heard yet) is the one I did for Katuktu Collective. It’s called Somnabulate and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it. All of the new albums have different flavors to them, so we will see what people think once they are out in the open.

Explain the story behind the trilogy?

The trilogy of albums I put out happened in a very organic way. I most certainly didn’t plan a trilogy from the get go. In fact, I thought Symphony of a Radical would be it. I never imagined I would set out on a journey that would span three albums. Part of that had to do with the fact that Symphony was in another person’s hands and that person was supposed to mix and master it. Well, it never happened for whatever reason. While I waited, the tracks for Samatta kind of coalesced and I decided to give that album life first while I waited. I taught myself the DIY version of mixing and mastering and put that out there. There was a good reception and while that was sort of getting into people’s hands, Resist came together. I call the albums a trilogy because they really do speak to a 2 year period in my life as one thing happened after another. Getting let go from a job I adored, seeing my country devolve into a racist mess, watching family members make horrifying decisions politically, coming to terms with massive financial instability, and so much more fueled all three of these albums. They are all kindred spirits in a way. Somnambulate, my next album, feels so different to me because it is, I don’t know, coming from a different place. I guess some people will say it sounds exactly like me. Most artists hear different things about their music than the fans. I think the sound files I sent about each individual album really complete the picture so I will stop here.

Thank you so much for taking the time to feature my project. It really means a lot to me.

Your presence on the web

Social media: I really only have a Facebook page for the recording project. That might be a bit odd and I need to remedy that as more people listen to my music.

https://www.facebook.com/TheCorruptingSea/

 Video: Currently, The Corrupting Sea videos are housed at the Somewherecold Records Youtube Channel.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgxWQV9Ty9ZbqtxDK3zr5TA

 Listening / buying your music: You can find the 2017 trilogy at the Somewherecold Records’ Bandcamp page.

https://somewherecoldrecords.bandcamp.com/

 I did an interview with When the Sun Hits not long ago: http://whenthesunhitsblog.blogspot.com/2017/09/interview-jason-lamoreaux-of-corrupting.html

 Where to find your work?

All of my current releases can be found at the Somewherecold Records’ Bandcamp page: https://somewherecoldrecords.bandcamp.com/

However, I have future releases coming out from Silber Records, Katuktu Collective, and Aural Canyons. All of these are amazing labels I think people should be paying attention to and, well, you can keep an eye out for my own releases soon. https://katuktucollective.bandcamp.com/

https://silbermedia.bandcamp.com/

https://auralcanyonmusic.bandcamp.com/

[snarkyoracle]

ACTIONVERSE #2 FEATURING STRAY

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Writer(s): Vito Delsante Artist Name(s): Sean Izaakse, Lee Gaston, Carlos Cabaleiro, Wilson Ramos Jr. Cover Artist(s): Sean Izaakse (Cover A), Wilson Ramos Jr. (Cover A) Orderable Variant Cover by: David Golding (Cover B), Carlos Cabaleiro (Cover C)

“The Rottweiler Years” continue! Stray is getting close to finding the shooter, but his future collides with his past as he recalls the first mission of the TeenAegis! Retailer incentive action figure cover by David Golding (Infested Earth) and classic homage variant by Carlos Cabaleiro (The Golden Guard)!

32 pgs./ T / FC                   $3.99 

AMERIKARATE #7

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Writer(s):  Brockton McKinney, Corey Kalman Artist Name(s): Daniel Arruda Massa Cover Artist(s): Devin Roth (Cover A), Bill McKay (Cover B), Tom Whalen (Cover C), April O’Neil (Cover D) Cover A  – Regular Cover (unlimited): Devin Roth  Cover B – Movie Poster Variant (limited to 1500): Bill McKay Cover C – RoboSam Variant (limited to 1500): Tom Whalen Cover D – April O’Neil Cosplay Variant (limited to 1500) 

Roll over, RoboChump, there’s a NEW cyborg in town! Cynthia and Sam finally confront the mastermind behind the cybertheft crime wave that has left the city’s knees shaking in its city-boots —but the shocking revelation of who it is shocks their karate-socks off! It’s robo-kills versus karate-skills the most action-packed issue of the comic book that critics are calling “the most action-packed yet!”

32 pgs./ M / FC                   $3.99 

DANGER DOLL SQUAD #1 

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Writer(s): Jason Martin, with Dan Mendoza and Bryan Seaton Artist Name(s): Winston Young Cover Artist(s): Celor (Covers A-B), Dan Mendoza (Covers C-D), Winston Young (Covers E-F) Cover A – Celor Main Cover (unlimited) Cover B – Celor Risqué Variant (limited to 2500) Cover C – Dan Mendoza Variant (limited to 2000) Cover D – Dan Mendoza Risqué (limited to 2500) Cover E – Winston Young Variant (limited to 2000) Cover F – Winston Young Risqué (limited to 2500) Cover G – Blank Sketch Variant (unlimited)

Our three most popular Danger Zone titles: Zombie Tramp, Vampblade, and DollFace come together to form the all-new Danger Doll Squad! When each girl’s deadliest foes merge together, our terrible threesome must enter “the black room”, a virtual reality inside cyberspace, to do battle against Necro Magic AI!!!

The biggest Danger Zone crossover event starts here, with covers by the artist of each series (each with their own risqué variant as well)!

32 pgs./ M / FC                   $4.99 

DOLLFACE #10

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Writer(s): Dan Mendoza & Bryan Seaton Artist Name(s): Dan Mendoza Cover Artist(s): Dan Mendoza (Covers A-B), Zoe Stanley (Covers C-D), Jessica von Braun (Covers E-F) Cover A – Dan Mendoza (unlimited) Cover B – Tattered & Torn variant cover (limited to 2000): Dan Mendoza Cover C – Zoe Stanley Pin-up variant cover (limited to 1500) Cover D – Zoe Stanley Pin-up Tattered & Torn variant cover (limited to 2000) Cover E – Jessica von Braun Pin-up variant cover  (limited to 1500) Cover F – Jessica von Braun Pin-up Tattered & Torn variant cover (limited to 2000)

Lila continues her self journey as she comes across a good witch, hidden in a deep fog.

Retailer exclusive coves are available, please contact bseaton@actionlabcomics.com.

32 pgs./ M / FC                   $4.99

HERO CATS #19

Writer(s): Kyle Puttkammer Artist Name(s): Andy Duggan Cover Artist(s):  Andy Duggan Inks: Brandon Page Colors: Sigi Ironmonger

“Winter is here.”

32 pgs./ E / FC                   $3.99 

      Hero Cats: Midnight Over Stellar City Volume 2 TPB

Writer(s): Kyle Puttkammer Artist Name(s): Alex Ogle (inks, letters) Cover Artist(s): Alex Ogle

Midnight’s past may be troubled, but his future looks even darker. After a prison break at the Taurus County Jail, chaos erupts on the streets of Stellar City. Now Midnight and his fellow Hero Cats must stop Dr. Ross Rex and his relentless quest for power.

96 pgs./ E / FC                   $11.99 

    INFINITE SEVEN #8

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Writer(s): Dave Dwonch Artist Name(s): Arturo Mesa (Pencils), Geraldo Filho (Colors) Cover Artist(s): Arturo Mesa (Covers A-B), Michael Calero (Cover C)

This is it! The issue you’ve been waiting for! War has been declared, and the Infinite Seven are UNDER SIEGE!

32 pgs./ T+ / FC                   $3.99 

KID SHERLOCK VOLUME 1 TPB

Writer(s): Justin Phillips Artist Name(s): Sean Miller (Pencils), Lesley Atlansky (Colors) Cover Artist(s): Sean Miller 

John Watson is nervous being the only dog at his new school, Baker Elementary. But when he takes an interest in fellow student, Sherlock Holmes, the two become unlikely, and sometimes contentious, friends. Together they deal with bullies, track down lost toys, investigate stolen playground equipment, and even face an unseen threat terrorizing the school halls. All the while Watson tries to help Sherlock make friends with his fellow students and Sherlock tries to help Watson become a better detective. Collects KID SHERLOCK 1 – 4.

128 pgs./ E / FC                   $14.99

MIRACULOUS ADVENTURES OF LADYBUG & CAT NOIR #4

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NOTE: COVERS PENDING APPROVAL Created by: Thomas Astruc Written by: Thomas Astruc, Mélanie Duval, Fred Lenoir Bryan Seaton & Sébastien Thibaudeau Artist Name(s): Brian Hess Cover Artist(s): Brian Hess (Cover A), Tony Fleecs (Cover B) Letters by: Justin Birch Edited by: Nicole D’Andria and Bryan Seaton

The Trash Krakken Part 3 The final chapter of Ladybug and Cat Noir’s New York adventure! Can the superheroes of Paris survive New York City and the Trash Krakken that wants to tear it apart?

32 pgs./ A / FC                   $3.99 

MEDISIN #5

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Writer(s): Jeff Dyer and Mark McKeon  

Artist Name(s): David Brame (Pencils), Joaquin Pereyra (Colors)  

Cover Artist(s): David Brame (Covers A and B)

  

“First Do No Harm” Chapter 5 Ethan Sharp knows the true identity of Malady, and now he faces his adversary face to face. As the secret history of medicine and super heroes is revealed, Dr. Linden struggles to save one of the doctors and Olivia’s fate is decided by the reckless Crimson Crow. The penultimate chapter is here as MEDISIN races to its thrilling conclusion! 

32 pgs./ T+ / FC                   $3.99

MIRACULOUS: GUITAR VILLAIN

Writer(s): Zag Entertainment Artist Name(s): Zag Entertainment Cover Artist(s): Zag Entertainment Arranged and Adapted by: Cheryl Black and Nicole D’Andria

Jagged Stone can no longer tolerate the provocations of an arrogant young singer called Mr. XY. Akumatized by Hawk Moth, Jagged becomes Guitar Villain, the most rock’n’roll… and loudest super-villian in history.  Ladybug and Cat Noir, both fans of Jagged, will have to go with the rhythm to save Mr. XY from Guitar Villain’s very special punishment… Let’s Rock!

64 pgs./ E / FC                   $4.99 

MIRACULOUS VOL. 5 LUCKY CHARM

NOTE: THIS IS A PLACEHOLDER COVER Writer(s): Zag Entertainment Artist Name(s): Zag Entertainment Cover Artist(s):  Zag Entertainment Arranged and Adapted by: Cheryl Black and Nicole D’Andria

Hawk Moth continues to terrorize the citizens of Paris by using his akumatized victims to wreak havoc. Ladybug and Cat Noir take on Princess Fragrance, who uses her magical perfumes to brainwash people. Then they face off against Darkblade, who creates his own army of knights and tries to take down City Hall. Finally, the duo spends a day at the zoo fighting Animan, who can shapeshift into any animal he chooses.

SPOTS ON, CLAWS OUT!

Collects MIRACULOUS #13-15.

192 pgs./ A / FC                   $9.99 

MISBEGOTTEN: RUNAWAY NUN #2

Writer(s): Caesar Voghan & Eric Granger Artist Name(s): Casey Bailey Cover Artist(s):  Justin Case

The Pope orders the kidnapping of the Lord’s body double from the Harlequin Island. Father Elano makes his way to the Domus Mariae, the carrier-turned-abbey. Motley gladiators and augmented Steampunk Templars clash. And Klaudette: the one-eyed geisha blood trafficker from the replica ghetto enters the mix.

32 pgs./ M / FC                   $3.99 

  NORTHSTARS VOL. 1: WELCOME TO SNOWVILLE HC

Writer(s): Jim & Haigen Shelley Artist Name(s): Anna Liisa Jones Cover Artist(s): Anna Liisa Jones

Join us for the magical adventures of Holly, the daughter of Santa Claus, and Frostina, a Yeti Princess, as they explore the mystical wonders of the land of Polaris. In this first volume in a series of oversized keepsake hardcovers, Holly and Frostina journey to the subterranean city of Undertown to investigate trouble in Troggie Town. There is an evil force scheming right below Snowville, and it threatens Christmas itself!

48 pgs./ E / FC                   $14.99 

PUPPET MASTER CURTAIN CALL #1

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Writer(s): Shawn Gabborin Artist Name(s): Daniel J. Logan (pencils/inks) , Yann Perrelet (colors) Cover Artist(s): Daniel J. Logan (Cover A), Yann Perrelet (Cover A), Robert Hack (Cover B), Kelly Williams (Cover C), Andrew Magnum (Cover D), Gene Jimenenz (Cover D) Cover A – Daniel J. Logan (pencils/inks), Yann Perrelet (colors) Cover B – Robert Hack (pencils/inks) (limited to 1500) Cover C – Hand Painted Cover: Kelly Williams (pencils/inks/colors) (limited to 1500) Cover D – Kill Cover: Andrew Mangum (pencils/inks), Gene Jimenez (colors) (limited to 1500) Cover E – Photo Cover (limited to 1500)

The final chapter of Action Lab’s epic Puppet Master story starts now! Everything from the past two years comes to a head as the demon god Anapa makes one final play at world domination… with Andre Toulon’s puppets standing by his side!?! With the new, big budget film set to be release in 2018, this is the PERFECT jump on point for new and old fans alike!

Variant covers limited to 1,500 copies each.

32 pgs./ M / FC                   $3.99

PRINCELESS: RAVEN, THE PIRATE PRINCESS YEAR 2 #1

Writer(s): Jeremy Whitley Artist Name(s): Xenia Pamfil Cover Artist(s): Xenia Pamfil

High adventures on the high seas are back!  With her crew restored from their run-in with her treacherous brothers, Raven is ready to reclaim what was stolen from her. But first… DANCE PARTY!  Raven promised she would confess her love for Ximena, but Sunshine has other plans.  Who will end the night dancing with whom?

32 pgs./ A / FC                   $3.99

  ROSCO: ALIEN WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER

Writer(s): Aaron Humphres Artist Name(s): Aaron Humphres Cover Artist(s): Aaron Humphres

Join alien wildlife photographer Rosco and his robot assistant Vincent on a cosmic safari of epic proportions. This book chronicles Rosco’s expedition to planet Grangawa in search of strange aliens to capture on film.

32 pgs./ E / FC                   $9.99

SHINOBI: NINJA PRINCESS – LIGHTNING ONI #2

Writer(s): Martheus Wade Artist Name(s): Martheus Wade (Pencils/Story), Janet Wade (Inks), Gene Fayne (Colors)  Cover Artist(s): Martheus Wade and Gene Fayne 

Who said words can never hurt you? While the powerful Lightning Oni continues his search for the young ninja, Shianndrea Toshigawa, the kunoichi has to quell a rumor that she maliciously attacked one of her fellow sword sisters during an unauthorized training session. While Ai and Shainndrea get to the bottom of the incident, ninja team leaders, Kim and Turra, go on the hunt for a possible traitor in their ranks.

32 pgs./ E / FC                   $3.99 

TOYETICA #3

Writer(s): Marty LeGrow Artist Name(s): Marty LeGrow Cover Artist(s): Marty LeGrow

Only an hour after they get their new accessories, Sweetina fights a horse, Vince fights his conscience and Bunnard tries everything to avoid fighting Nebulara! Meanwhile, Trixie and Polly set out to stop Minky from throwing away her identity…and end up discovering a huge school secret.

32 pgs./ E / FC                   $3.99

  VAMPBLADE SEASON 2 #8

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Writer(s): Jason Martin Artist Name(s): Marco Maccagni Cover Artist(s): Winston Young (Covers A-B), Marcelo Trom (Covers C-D), Timothy Weaver (Covers E-F) Cover A – Main Cover (unlimited) Cover B – Risqué Variant (limited to 2000) Cover C – Artist Variant (limited to 1500) Cover D – Artist Risqué (limited to 2000) Cover E – 90s Variant (limited to 1500) Cover F – 90s Risqué (limited to 2000)

Vampblade’s adventures with Zombie Tramp and DollFace conclude… wait, no they don’t! This issue leads directly into the new Danger Doll Squad crossover mini-series, also out this month!!

This Danger Doll Squad tie-in features 3 covers (regular, artist, and 90s style), each with a risqué variant as well!

32 pgs./ M / FC                   $4.99 

ZOMBIE TRAMP #40

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Writer(s): Dan Mendoza  Artist Name(s): Celor Cover Artist(s): Mendoza (Covers A-B), Xenia Pamfil (Covers C-D), David Harrigan (Covers E-F) Cover A – Dan Mendoza Main Cover (unlimited) Cover B – Dan Mendoza Risqué Cover (limited to 2500) Cover C – Xenia Pamfil “Besties” Variant (limited to 2000) Cover D – Xenia Pamfil Risqué “Besties” Variant (limited to 2500) Cover E – David Harrigan Artist Variant (limited to 2000) Cover F – David Harrigan Artist Risqué Variant (limited to 2500)

Janey’s biggest battle yet comes to a close. Can she survive her mentor Xula’s might? Can Xula survive Janey’s wrath??

Features 3 regular and risqué variants, including two covers from series creator Dan Mendoza (DollFace)!!

32 pgs./ M / FC                   $4.99 

  October 2017 Solicitations: Action Lab Entertainment ACTIONVERSE #2 FEATURING STRAY Writer(s): Vito Delsante Artist Name(s): Sean Izaakse, Lee Gaston, Carlos Cabaleiro, Wilson Ramos Jr.