#Essie talks about country music

[bigtreefest]

ok idk if u watched prey 2022 but the co-lead dakota beavers is part of a band and his voice is so!!! they dont have a lotta stuff out yet but i learned that i like this style of country a lot <33

https://youtu.be/xESMn2q_48g?si=cWCFzX9iVUC_0xCH

usually i listen to more folk than country hmm but is there something like country folk?

Oh Brandy, I love this!! I haven’t seen prey 2022, but this song is such a vibe. The voice gives country, but the music gives folk for sure. But yes, totally a beautiful voice. And when it gets raspy😍. So it’s a very in between genre-wise, I’d definitely call this country folk. And tbh I love that zone.

I always identify folk as more story-telling and country as more instrument and vibe-based (and more sexual tbh this day and age), but if you look at the roots, I think country was derived from folk, right? Like if you look at 70s, 80s, and even some 90s country, it’s sooo similar to what we’d consider folk now. And I think we see that convergence a lot more. People are bringing folk back in towards mainstream music. Like literally anything by Lainy Wilson tells a very specific story, or there’s that new viral song. Or really, idk if you’ve heard anything by Ian Munsick, but his songs really border on folk-style with almost country instrumentals. To the point where those cuspy songs have inspired a lot of fic for me in the Outfa Nowhere AU.

One thing I will say is tumbleweed seems like a more serious song, though. I think some modern folk/country can hold a lot of humor, too, which I enjoy.

Thank you for sharing this! Pls never stop. Now here’s my contribution back to you:

You Look Like You Love Me

Barn Burner

[abluescarfonwaston]

Did someone ask for a quick and angsty immortal jaskier prompt? "It was supposed to be the music," he whispered, voice breaking. Heart breaking. "The songs. I wanted my songs to be remembered forever. I never wanted this."

Why would you do this to me anon. i’m already crying over the fact dandelion outlives everyone he loves. Major Character Death Warning. Obviously. Literally everyone dies. Uuuh also this kinda turns into Lambert/Jaskier at the end but like. They’re both Centuries old so nothing Happens.

When the wasting sickness swept through Lettenhove it killed his Mother and his Father and his Sisters and left him untouched. 

He was ten and the world was over. Except he kept waking up in the morning.

At thirteen a girl at Oxenfurt, Essi Daven, played her Lute in the commons and sang and had the most beautiful cornflower blue eyes. And for the first time in years he sang a duet with her and suddenly he was a bard and he had a little sister again. 

Maybe the world hadn’t ended. Maybe it finally restart.

At seventeen he met a man with white hair and seemly as many scars on his body as his heart and fell in love. Because Bards fell in love easily and he was impossibly easy to love.

The witcher plead for his life. Plead for them to let the bard go.

“No. Both of us or neither.” He was done outliving those he loved. At seventeen he was already done with that. “You kill him and let me go and i’ll destroy your mountain. Kill every last one of you in revenge.”

He’d leave behind a song. The one he’d written as a child and had swept the town more devastating than even the scarlet fever had been. It would live on past him. He would be remembered. The people he loved would be too. Toss a coin to your Witcher. The people he loved immortalized in song.

It wasn’t supposed to make him immortal.

“Give it a rest Jaskier.” Danity snapped. “It’s not you that has to be afraid of anything. No one ever touches a troubadour. For unfathomable reasons you’re inviolable.”

He’d still feared then. Chappelle could have had him killed. He was pretty sure he could die. Mostly he feared the pain. Or dying alone.

“When an old woman gets tired of life she walks into the woods without a weapon. The results are guaranteed.” He’d told Geralt when he’d moaned about how the world was changing and -more importantly- that he had no work.

Remember how I don’t even carry a knife when I follow you out on an adventure? No weapons at all. Ever. Just me and my lute.

He’d brushed death. A thousand times he’d almost met her. He followed Geralt- who was prophesied to always have death follow after him. You’d think at some point they’d meet.

Essi and Geralt fell in love on the coast. He wrote a ballad for them. About how their love was so powerful not even death could come between them.

He never played it. Not to anyone. He didn’t think it was actually about Essi and Geralt.

When rash appeared on Essi’s face in Vizima during the quarantine his hands shook.

“Not her.” He’d screamed at the gods. They didn’t exist of course. If they had then they’d abandoned them all long ago. “Not her.”

“Jaskier?” She shivered violently. “I don’t want to be burned.”

“You won’t be. You’re going to be fine.” He promised. Clutching her hand. “Promise Poppet. You’re going to be fine.”

The cremation fires blazed outside.

“I want to be buried in the woods. With my lute and-” She hurled mostly into the bucket. “My necklace. Please Jaskier.”

“Course Poppet. When you’re old and grey I will bury you out in the forest.”

“Thank you.” She clutched the little pearl. “For giving me him. I love him.”

“I never saw him happier than when he was with you Poppet.”

“What about when he was with you?”

“Oh come now.” He shifted her in his arms and moved the bucket a little further away. “You know me. I’m insufferable.”

“I love you Jaskier.” She cried as she shivered with less and less energy.

“I love you too Poppet.”

He carried her from the city. Into the forest. Her heart stopped beating before they arrived. He dug her grave and buried her with her lute and her pearl necklace.

With the pearl he’d given to her as a birthday gift. From him and Geralt.

When Regis passed it felt absurd. Humans weren’t supposed to outlive goddamn vampires in their fifth fucking century.

And then there was Geralt. Died in Yennefer’s arms along with her.

“It was supposed to be me.” He told no one as Ciri led their bodies out to the lake. “I was supposed to die with him.” Love so great not even death can part us.

But the story was never really about him was it?

Nenneke had a garden full of plants that grew under a crystal skylight. They didn’t grow anywhere else in the world anymore.

He’d asked Geralt about it. She’d said something about the sun and how it was changing. Apparently Geralt had asked why they all didn’t live under crystal skylights then, if it was so deadly.

“It’s already too late for us.” She’d said.

She talked liked the world was ending but the world ended all the time. And he still woke up in the morning.

Zoltan’s beard turned grey. He supposed he should have been thankful that Zoltan got to turn grey. It was better than most of the people he’d loved.

“How’s your fucking hair still Gold. You’re supposed to be getting old too!”

“I dye it.” He lied with a roll of the eyes. He’d stopped dying it years ago.

That winter he buried Zoltan too.

Golden eyes stared at him in confusion. “You look just like.” He started. His thin hair was grey. His wolf medallion gleamed in the sunlight that streaked into the bar.

“You’re one of the last Witchers i think.” He told him as the waves crashed outside. “Might even be the last.”

“Fucking hope so.” He sat down across from him and stole his beer. “Shitty job and a shitty life.” He squinted at him- which Jaskier knew was entirely unnecessary. He just forgotten to adjust his eyes. “What’s your name bard?”

“Dandelion.” He answered. It had been for the last century. “Yours?”

“Lambert.” He downed the drink. “You really think i’m the last? That worth a song? One of my brothers had a lot of songs.”

“Yes I suppose he did.” He waved for another drink. “And look what it got him.”

“Died surrounded by people who loved him.”

“Are you sure you know what a pogrom is?”

That got him a sharp toothy grin.

“I could write you a song but-” He was tired of burying people he loved.

“But?”

“I’m cursed you see.” It was definitely a curse these days. “I’ll live until the last of my songs is forgotten. I really don’t need anymore material.”

Lambert leaned forward curiously. “Doesn’t sound like a curse.”

“You don’t think it sounds like a curse?” He sneered. Lambert’s face faltered. “To outlive everyone you love?”

Lambert paused. Thinking. “Write me a song then. Play it just for me. So if my song’s the last we’ll go together.”

“And what’s my payment for this song?”

“Company.” Lambert’s grey eyes glittered. “You look like you need it.”

“Not as much as you. I bet you talk to your horse.”

“Well i know you do pretty boy. Heard you in the stable.”

He leaned back on the bench. “So what’s a Witcher do in a world without monsters?”

He shrugged. “Fish mostly.”

“I can do that. Once almost snagged a catfish the size of you. Got a djinn instead. Very bad deal honestly.”

“You expect me to believe that? I know about Bards and Ballads and how you’re all rotten liars.”

“Don’t forget about fisherman and their tales.”

The boat leaked worse than an old drunkard but it was small enough and the lake calm enough that it didn’t make him sick.

“I could just kill you. Curse probably can’t fix decapitation.” Lambert offered with his stick in the water. He claimed were bombs they could use instead if they got desperate. Or bored.

He smiled and shook his head. “Give it a try.”

Lambert raised an eyebrow but pulled a silver blade from it’s sheath.

His pole reeled and the boat tilted to the side, plunging him and the sword into the water.

He laughed as the attempted to drag the monstrous fish to the boat. Lambert cursed and climbed in. Yanking at the rod until the line snapped and they fell back into the boat in a painful pile. Laughing.

He didn’t remember the last time he’d laughed.

“Sing me a song bard.” Lambert would request from under his floppy sun brimmed hat. “No else up here but me.”

“There’s an entire stone keep on the hill.”

“No ones lived there in centuries. No one can hear you up here but me.”

He frowned at the ruins on the hill. Lambert kicked him.

He grinned and for the first time in decades - sang.

Maybe. Maybe the world hadn’t ended. Maybe it had finally restart.

“What was this place called?” He asked as they wandered through the crumbled ruin, covered in moss and ivy.

“Kaer Morhen.” He said like the words hurt him.

They hurt him too. He laughed.

He laughed some more.

He couldn’t stop laughing until Lambert smacked him hard enough to see stars.

“I never got to come here. Geralt.” He caught the flinch but moved past it. “Never trusted me enough to even let me know which country it was in.”

“So you were his bard.”

He nodded as Lambert kicked a stone apart. “He was right not to tell me of course. But.” It still hurt that his best friend hadn’t trusted him with his home. He’d taken Yennefer here. But not him. Never him.

He didn’t deserve Geralt’s trust. A thief, a liar, a spy, a bard. It still hurt.

“Well a wolf finally took you here. Is it everything you fucking dreamed?”

He took it in. “Nah. It’s rubbish.”

Lambert smirked. “Yeah. At least that hasn’t changed.”

“You’re hairs getting grey bard.”

“What?” He nearly leaped into the water in his haste to look.

Grey strands streaked his beard.

“Thank you.” He cried. “Thank you.”

“Still owe me that song Dandy.”

He wrote Lambert a lot of songs. Performed for an audience of one.

“Are you really okay with the fact no one will ever hear them? I mean what’s the point in being immortalized in song if-”

“Yeah. Didn’t give a shit about the songs.”

“Hey!” He protested. Kicking him where he lounged in front of the fire. “They’re good songs!”

He grunted in fake pain. Wiggled out of range. “Did Geralt ever tell you why he liked having you around?”

“My charming personality I assume.”

Lambert snorted.

He sat down on the floor and poke him. “Don’t fall asleep. Tell me why you think he did.”

“No one tells Witchers bedtime stories.”

“Oh.” Lambert was halfway to sleep already. “Would you like one?”

“Yeah.”

“What you think happens after?” They were huddled together. Old and grey as a storm raged outside. “We die.”

“I gave up on gods when i was a child.”

“So did i.”

“Then.” He paused. Listened to the howl. “Whatever’s next at least neither of us is going alone.”

Lambert squeezed his bony hand. “What’s the chance we see them again?”

“Hm.” He pretended to consider. “Well we’re definitely going to hell so-”

“Like anyone we gave a shit about wouldn’t be.”

“Point.”

He closed his golden eyes. “Hey Dandy.”

“Yeah?”

“Sing me out.”

“It’d be my pleasure.”

And quite singing filled the drafty cabin until the song stopped.

The world ended.

And at long last no one woke up in the morning.

[mahalkitajohnnysuh]

JH (Part II)

Let’s mix it up a bit with some Jeong Jaehyun goodness here at MKJS! Yes, I’m making that abbreviation a thing. 

Since I like to tease what you’re going to be reading, here’s an adorable GIF of a younger Yoon Oh as a clue! 

Mahal ko kayong lahat! :) 

––

Summary: A continuation of this post, but this is also connected to this one. I manage to write stories that follow a timeline, but could never write them chronologically. It’s just the way it is, I guess? 

POV: Both are 2nd person pieces. 

Word count: 1,440 words 

Warning: More so a reminder – italics are also for song lyrics. 

Recommended listening: The first piece has a song mention; hence it will be embedded below. 

–––

Prompt #2: “Can I sleep here tonight? With you?”

You were having nightmares recently.

There was a tall, pale woman with long hair that has been chasing you in your dreams. Sometimes, you dreamt about your dead mother berating you, and then all the holes in her face will be replaced by crawling bugs.

When you had episodes like this, Johnny was the only one who could help you. He had a routine to calm you down – he prepared a glass of warm milk mixed with cinnamon and honey, then tucked you to bed, combed your hair with his hands, and most importantly, he slept beside you while tapping your thigh.

However, you weren’t in his apartment right now, and he wasn’t in the country too. He was back in his hometown for a much-needed vacation, and you didn’t want to bother him too much since you wanted him to reconnect with his family.

You were in Jaehyun and Taeil’s apartment for now as yours was being renovated. You didn’t know who to approach regarding your problem since you weren’t that close with them like the way you are with Johnny.

As you stepped out of your room to look for milk in the fridge, you saw that Jaehyun’s door was ajar. You tiptoed towards it, peeking to see what he was doing.

He was just on his bed, checking his phone with Jamie Foxx playing in the background. You noticed that his turntable was on, and the music was playing softly.

His room looked inviting for you to sleep in – at least good music is playing, and maybe you can fall asleep listening to Jaehyun talk about anything.

Other people might find your idea to be daring, considering male and female friends don’t just sleep in each other’s rooms. But since you got used to skinship because of Johnny, you noticed how different your friends (of both genders) treated you when you became a bit touchier with them.

They were more affectionate, and they understood you better even if you didn’t say anything.

You returned to the kitchen to prepare your drink, which you were glad that you have. There was also honey and cinnamon available, and you squealed at how things were looking great for you.

As soon as you were done preparing and drinking your milk drink, you gathered your courage to ask Jaehyun for a favor that you hoped he would agree to.

\\

“Jay?”

“Yes, Essie?”

“Can I ask for a favor?”

“Sure, what is it?”

“Can I sleep here tonight? With you?”

Your conversation happened while you were standing at his doorway, your voice as soft as possible so as not to wake up Taeil.

Jaehyun’s eyes widened at your question, and he had to stand in front of you to check if he wasn’t hearing things.

“Come again? Did you just say sleep here?”

You nodded vigorously as you felt your tears were about to fall at any time. You clutched the pillow that you held tightly and looked away from his face for a bit.

“Why, what’s wrong?” You felt his clammy hand pull you into his room, and you let yourself be led inside.

Both of you sat on his bed, and you covered your face with your pillow as soon as he tilted you to look at him.

“I’m having nightmares,” you mumbled into your pillow.

“About what, dear? Is it alright if you tell me?” Jaehyun gently removed the pillow on your face and led you to lie down with him on the bed.

You sniffed first before you shared your story, tears falling from your face as you recalled in detail the nightmares you were having.

Since you were so intent on telling your tale, you didn’t notice how intent Jaehyun was on listening to your story.

When you were done, that was the time you realized that you cried. You wiped the tears that wet his sheet, and he swatted your hand away from the marks you left. “It’s fine, Essie. I understand. Is there anything else I could do to make you forget about your nightmares?” He asked, taking one of your hands and squeezing it gently.

“My housemate has a routine for me,” you started, “and I’ve already done some of them though…” You looked at him shyly and saw an aloof expression on his face.

Was there something wrong with Johnny doing things for you if you were having nightmares?

“So, what else does your housemate do for you, then?” Jaehyun’s voice sounded stern, and you were slightly taken aback. That didn’t stop you from voicing out your request, though.

“Uh, he pats my thigh,” you tapped your upper outer thigh, “until I fall asleep. So basically, he sleeps beside me.” Your cheeks felt on fire as you said all of this, embarrassed at the things some people will do for you.

“Okay, got it,” His voice became soft again, and he shifted his body toward you. “Should I sing you a lullaby?”

You nodded, and he closed the small gap between you by pulling you to his chest. He surprised you when he sang an obscure Beatles song which he tweaked a bit.

Half of what I say is meaningless

But I say it just to reach you, Essie

Although the original song was played with the guitar, he decided to sing it a capella while patting your thigh.

You felt sleep creep into your system as he hummed some parts to make the song longer.

“Thank you, Jay,” you mumbled as coherently as you could.

You weren’t able to hear his reply as slumber completely enveloped you.

If only you fought it for a few more seconds, you could’ve heard him say, “Anything for my dear.”

///

Prompt #26: “Do you have more pillows?”

There should be at least four pillows on your bed, but right now, you only had three. One of them was missing, and you didn’t know where it went.

You were about to sleep, but the absence of your fourth pillow bothered you. “Where could that be?” You grumbled to yourself, slipping on your bedroom slippers to search for it all over the apartment.

You were currently staying in Jaehyun and Taeil’s apartment as yours was under renovation. Taeil was already knocked out from his schedule and spared his room for your search. You checked the sofa if it was there and frowned when it wasn’t.

You thought of bothering Jaehyun but felt a bit shy since it was already late in the evening. You know that he’s a night owl, but you didn’t like bothering other people at this time. However, you also know that you couldn’t sleep without that extra pillow, so you gathered all your courage to knock on his door.

When he opened it slightly, you saw that he wore his silly headband again. “Yes, Essie? What can I do for you?”

“Do you have more pillows?” You asked, peeking at the small space behind him. Too bad his bed wasn’t in plain sight – you could’ve checked easily if he has a spare that you can borrow.

“Uh, yeah,” he responded, now opening the door fully. You stepped in and looked to your right immediately. Jackpot – his bed was on that side. Your eyes widened at what you saw.

It was the fourth pillow you were looking for.

“What…is this doing here?” You grabbed your pillow from his bed and squeezed it.

“Essie, you slept in here last night. Don’t you remember?”

You closed your eyes to jog the memory in your mind, and he was correct – you did sleep in his room last night since you were having nightmares for the past few days. Now you weren’t sure if you were cured of that though.

“Oh, right. Sorry, my bad. Thank you for that,” you turned on your heel and faced the door, “I guess I’ll get going then.”

“Are you sure you’re okay? You can sleep here again if you want,” Jaehyun’s response made you bury your face in your pillow.

“No, it’s fine. I appreciate your gesture, but I think I can manage now.” You faced him again and gave him a thumbs-up.

“Okay, if you say so. Night Essie,” he said, kissing your cheek before you exited his room.

As he closed the door gently, you stood dumbfounded outside.

“Night night Jay,” you whispered, hoping that it was loud for him to hear.

When you didn’t receive any response, you took it as your cue to return to your bedroom with your pillow.

–––

FIN

[mordoriscalling]

The Second Waltz (pt. 1&2/5)

(This story is inspired by what I talked about in this post as well as the fic “Defiance & Destiny” by  letmetellyouaboutmyfeels) 

Wanda Pankratz observed the centre of the ballroom with rapt attention, her cornflower blue eyes twinkling. She watched the two figures dance together with such an astounding harmony that all the other pairs stopped in their tracks and stared at them. When the man dressed in black twirled the man in blue in the air, the Countess de Lettenhove’s lips curled into a pleased grin. She shared a look with her husband Alfred, then spoke to the witcher standing next to her.

“Mister Witcher,” she said, “I think it’s a match.”

Eskel of the Wolf School inclined his head with an amicable smile and answered, “So it seems.”

***

“Which one is better?” Jaskier asked his sisters as he raised a white and a red doublet in the air.

“The red one,” Essi answered. The very same moment, Priscilla replied, “The white one.”

In the privacy of the room, the two ladies snickered inelegantly, and Jaskier snorted in amusement. “Always so helpful, my dears.”

“Glad to be of service,” Priscilla deadpanned, then returned to scribbling verses in her notebook, leaning back against the chair by the desk.

Jaskier watched her closely, searching for any indication of sorrow on her face, but his older sister’s expression revealed nothing but concentration. It had been a long time since she had composed anything, and Jaskier was relieved to see her write again.

“Why bother asking, brother dear?” Essi sang, effectively breaking Jaskier out of his grim contemplation. She got up from her seat at the edge of the bed and danced over to her brother’s side, singing on, “true beauty cannot be stifled by even the foulest of garments.”

The Viscount de Lettenhove smiled at his sister younger warmly. “Oh, my sweet Poppet –”

His words were cut off by their mother entering the room. Lady Wanda Pankratz swept her gaze over her son’s bedroom, taking in what had to be at least half of her son’s considerable wardrobe laid out on every surface available. She smirked knowingly and addressed Jaskier, “I advise you to dress well tonight, Julian.”

“Why, mother, I always dress well.”

The Countess rolled her eyes. “Exceptionally well, then,” she corrected herself, then began walking around the room, looking at each doublet with scrutiny. “We’re expecting some special guests,” she said.

“Special guests?” Jaskier and Essi asked.

Wanda Pankratz offered no response as she took an exquisite blue doublet with silk floral embroidery from where it was draped over a chaise long. Handing the piece of clothing to her son, she said, “Wear this one. You look dashing in it.” Jaskier’s mouth was already opening, so she rushed to add, “Yes, as you do in everything, my dear.” She let out a sigh, regarding her middle child with fond exasperation. “You’re my son, after all.”

Jaskier grinned and kissed her on the cheek. “The talent and the looks are all from you, dearest mother.”

“The knack for attracting trouble is from father, though,” Priscilla remarked.

Lady Pankratz chuckled but didn’t deny it. She gazed at her children – all three looking back at her with wide blue eyes, same as hers – and her heart swelled with love and pride. Priscilla, Julian and Essi Pankratz were known as some of the best bards in the country. The three of them were exceptionally gifted in the area of musical talent and wordsmithery, and each one possessed a quality that made them even more remarkable. Priscilla had a truly angelic voice, Julian was an extraordinary performer, and Essi’s songs were poetically unparalleled. It was no wonder that most Witchers on the British Isles wished to enter a partnership with one of the Pankratz siblings.

Wanda Pankratz, however, a retired legendary bard herself, allowed only the best of the best anywhere near her children.

“I must ask you to at least try not to attract any trouble tonight,” she said, “This ball’s going to be important.”

“Important how?” Jaskier inquired with a bemused frown.

“And who’s coming?” Essi pressed.

“You’ll see,” their mother replied, an enigmatic smile on her lips, then walked out of the room.

Jaskier and Essi stared at each other, curious and confused, then directed their gazes at Priscilla, who kept scribbling, suspiciously unmoved by the whole situation.

“Who’s coming, then?” Jaskier asked. His older sister didn’t seem to register the question. “Priscilla?”

Priscilla hummed. “I don’t know,” she answered, not even glancing up from her notebook.

“You must know something,” Essi insisted.

After a moment of expectant silence, Priscilla sighed in resignation, her shoulders slumping. She closed the little book in her lap and finally looked at her siblings. “I do not know their names,” she said, “I’ve only overheard mother talking to Miss Hughes. Two more guest rooms needed to be prepared, for two gentlemen and two ladies.” Her posture stiffened. “I also accidentally found out that father has been corresponding with Kaer Morhen but–”

Jaskier and Essi gasped.

“Witchers?!” the young Viscount exclaimed, his whole demeanour already buzzing with excitement. 

“At last!” Essi gushed, “Maybe I’ll finally partner with one! Oh, I’ve been waiting for –”

“Do not long for what you don’t know,” Priscilla cut in harshly, “The Path can be gruelling and deadly, and there’s little glory in the life of a witcher.”

Essi and Jaskier sobered immediately. They looked at their older sibling – who sat in the chair rigidly with a far-away look in her eyes – and their hearts ached for her.

“We won’t talk about it, then,” Jaskier said gently.

“No!” Priscilla protested, “please, don’t stop for my sake.” She bit her lip. “I simply... don’t want you two to end up the way I have.”

The Viscount and his younger sister shared a look.

“That witcher is the greatest fool in the world to have done what he did,” Essi proclaimed with a fierce glint in her eye.

“Indeed,” Jaskier agreed readily, “my dear Prissy, he should’ve come after you to grovel and beg you to return to him the moment he let you go.”

Priscilla was the first of the Pankratz siblings to partner with a witcher. Four years ago, already known for her talent at nineteen years of age, Priscilla was invited by Coën of the Griffin school to enter a partnership with him. Overjoyed, she agreed. Her family had no objections, for Coën seemed to be a wonderful match. A well-mannered, chivalrous intellectual – the perfect witcher for their perfect Priscilla. She chose the stage name of Callonetta and departed with Coën for the Path.

Whenever a letter from the eldest Pankratz sibling arrived home, it always spoke at length about the joy that Priscilla found in being Coën’s bard. As Callonetta’s first songs about the Griffin witcher started circling around, her verses about him showed a deep understanding of his person. Her words were soft and full of gentle love, but Priscilla always claimed in her letters that they were dearest of friends, never betraying anything else about the nature of their relation. Her family didn’t pressure her to say anything more about it – her well-being mattered to them the most and she did seem genuinely happy on the road with Coën.

At least until the day a year and a half ago, when Coën almost got fatally injured during a hunt and sent Priscilla away.

She still refused to talk about it. Every time the subject of witchers was brought up, Priscilla’s usual lively and radiant countenance stilled into a firm, guarded expression. She didn’t allow anyone to see her hurt, even now, as she was among her siblings.

“If only it was so easy,” she replied.

Jaskier sighed. “Well, no matter,” he said cheerfully, “witchers coming or not, we’ll have a wonderful time, won’t we?” He started dancing around the room, swaying to the music which only he could hear. Humming a melody under his breath, he began singing, “we shall dance and drink, and not sleep a blink.” He waltzed over to Essi, took her by the hand and spun her around. “We shall put Joy herself to shame,” he sang on, “and again make history forget Valdo’s name.”

Essi laughed and Jaskier twirled her again. He kept dancing with her and singing increasingly ridiculous verses until his younger sister was giggling hysterically and Priscilla finally smiled.

TBC

Part 3

***

A/N: Tagging @siriusly-the-best-bi as requested! :D I’d like to update every two days, so part 3 is coming on Tuesday. Jaskier and Geralt will actually meet and dance together! (I have to write more than 1k words just to get them to dance, apparently xD)

[stinkle-mcfuckwit]

My OCs!

i needed to make a list anyway so i thought i would share

feel free to send asks if you want to meet or chat with any of these guys!!

please send asks because i suck at writing dialogue and it would really help::

The Angel’s Curse (one of my better gomens fics, i promise i will try to update soon once exams are over)

Essie-   Snarky, sassy demoness with a tigress as her demonic animal. basically everything Crowley tries to be, but she’s actually good at it (oof), antagonist turned protagonist, rebellious, likes punk music, leather and dark lipstick

The Magician and the Hunter (an original story, god knows when i’m actually gonna start it instead of just messing with the idea)

The Hunter-   dusty old coyote of a man. v lonely but he has a hard shell, a cynical old warmonger who witnessed the world blown to oblivion by nuclear war and now has no faith in anyone, himself or otherwise. His idea of fun is shooting the mutated animals that still live in the devastated city he calls home.

The Magician-   he’s very mysterious, young in appearance but is in fact immortal. feels most at home in the Victorian age of London, wears nineteenth-century magician’s clothing. Kind of influenced by Christian Bale in The Prestige. He’s got a kind heart, one of his favorite things to do is conjure flowers out of thin air and give them to children on the street. Doesn’t talk much, has a sense of humor that comes out every now and then, wears a mask that looks like a fox. Loves reading old novels with a cup of tea.

FACTION (another os, this one i’ve been toying with for about a year now.. still haven’t started it yet...)

Arís-   young (17, i think) protagonist of the story. Son of a highly respected military tactical advisor and late soldier. Intelligent, strong moral compass, loyal. Just wants to do what’s right, fairly serious except when he’s with his best friend, Rynn. seems strong and stoic, but really is scared out of his mind and has no idea what he’s doing. kinda needs a hug.

 Rynn-   Same age as Aris, fun-loving, looks like a cinnamon roll, will shank you if you try to hurt her or anyone she loves. Loves a good dirty joke, usually the one to start trouble and then kick its ass. very strong, very fierce, 10/10 would let her step on me with nine inch heels. Oh, and she’s the other main protagonist

Adelind-   Arís’ badass mom (the military one.) She’s got this air of regality about her, plus a hint of “i-could-shoot-you-in-the-head-and-not-bat-a-mascera-laden-eyelash.” She will stop at literally nothing to do what she thinks is right--no matter who or what stands in her way. Ever since she lost her wife (the soldier one) she’s been working harder than ever to make sure the wars are ended as soon as possible...  

Cora-   Adelind’s late wife. Very soft and gentle, the only reason she became a soldier was to protect her family. Her death shatters Arís and drives Adelind mad with grief. *wink*

Sam Aleshilny   (pronounced ah-leh-SHIL-neh)- a Polish man with a beard and greying hair pulled back in a bun. Kind and tough, with a scar over his left eye that no one knows how it got there. He’s wise and courageous, knows when the best time to crack a joke is, has seen some shit is his life but he’s still optimistic. 

Zuri Mchezaji   (pronounced ZUHR-ee mm-cheh-ZAH-hee)- beautiful Tanzanian woman and Sam’s wife. Usually has her hair pulled back and covered with a hand-made blue and gold headscarf. very caring and matronly, but comes across like a lioness if she has to. And don’t even think about being sad near her because she WILL tell you dirty jokes and dig up funny stories about Sam until you smile.

Anton Creedi Brelar-   my personal favorite. He’s in his twenties, tall, awkward, has the most pure and innocent grin. very nervous and easily spooked, basically a puppy in political leader’s shoes. oh and he’s also a literal genius, runs an entire country. he’s not very self-confident but he’s much stronger than he thinks and a fantastic leader. 

[ificouldflytotheclouds]

1. shuffle

I’m using iTunes on my phone so the songs will be limited

Long live - Taylor Swift

Me and My Broke Heart - Rixton

Wolves - One Direction

2. last songs listened to

Talk Fast

and two HSM songs bc I was watching a yt video on why hsm2 was the best (it’s not). Songs that stood out were gotta go my own way and scream.

3. three songs you were recently obsessed with

Pre Youngblood: Lie to Me

Non 5sos back in the spring I was really into Strawberries and Cigarettes by Troye Sivan and Know You by Essy

5. three songs you wish you could forget (because listening to them hurts)

Breathe - Taylor Swift

If I wasn’t in love with Spaces by 1D that song and happy little pill by Troye gives me feels but I wouldn’t want to forget any of these songs.

6. three songs you wish you could erase from history (because they're terrible)

The Katy Perry song with her playing basketball in the mv swish swish???

All about that bass *pukes*

Happy (it was fine the first few times but it makes me go insane now, I also associate it with Minions, f Niall for making that our wwgtm video smh)

8. three songs that remind you most of summer and vacation

On the top of my head

Best friend - 5sos, Tequila - Dan + Shay (let be real all country music is summer music), outspace by G

9. three songs that get you in the Christmas Mood

Michael Bublé’s entire Christmas Album, Oh Hanukkah Oh Hanukkah (don’t ask I’m not even Jewish), & Pachelbel's Canon (canon D)

10. three favourite songs from movie or TV series soundtrack

I don’t want to be gain degraw

I’ll be Edwin McCain

Hear you me jimmy eats world

I’m starting to fade and not dying to answer the rest but here are some of my answers 😬

[janeaddamspeace]

Children's Books About Fascism and Racism Build Resilience and Understanding #JACBA Newsletter 25Aug2017

11 Kids' Books That Will Help Them Understand the Struggle for Racial Equality

"That's why I was happy to come across this list of books to help kids understand the fight for racial equality from ReadBrightly. Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich offers 11 suggestions, divided by age, beginning with The Other Side, by Jacqueline Woodson, about segregation, and We March, by Shane W. Evans, about the 1963 March on Washington. I'm going to start with Separate Is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh, because my son and I have already been talking about school segregation, and Lillian's Right to Vote by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Shane W. Evans, because we've also talked about voting and the Voting Rights Act. There are also books for older tweens and teens and a graphic novel by Congressman John Lewis."

Read More

Each Kindness written by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis 2013 Awardee

From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun by Jacqueline Woodson 1996 Awardee

I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This by Jacqueline Woodson 1995 Awardee

Lillian's Right to Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Shane W. Evans 2016 Awardee

We March written and illustrated by Shane W. Evans 2013 Awardee

Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and her family's fight for desegregation, written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh 2015 Awardee

How to Talk to Your Kids About Charlottesville

American Anti-Racism

THE YOUNGEST MARCHER By Cynthia Levinson Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton (Picture book; ages 5-9)

This picture book about Audrey Faye Hendricks, a 9-year-old girl who marched in Dr. Martin Luther King's Children's March and was jailed for a week, shows how one child overcame fear and joined in the fight for justice. In my original review, I wrote, "Levinson and Newton keep her story bright and snappy, emphasizing the girl's eagerness to make a difference and her proud place in her community."

The Fight Against Anti-Semitism and Nazis

THE WHISPERING TOWN By Jennifer Elvgren. Illustrated by Fabio Santomauro. (Picture book; ages 5-8)

This picture book with a graphic novel sensibility tells the story of a young girl, Anett, whose family is harboring Jewish refugees in a Danish fishing village. Anett brings food to the mother and child hidden in her cellar, and helps guide them to boats on one moonless night. The title is derived from her suggestion that the whole town whisper directions to the pair to ensure they don't get lost. Though the book was originally suggested for the 7 to 11 age range, our reviewer, Elizabeth Wein, said it felt appropriate as an introduction to the Holocaust for younger children.

NUMBER THE STARS By Lois Lowry (Ages 8-12)

This Newbury Medal-winning novel, told from the perspective of 10-year-old Annemarie Johansen, tells the story of the Jews who escaped certain death in Denmark in 1943. When word gets out that the Nazis intend to round up all the Jewish people in the country, Annemarie and her family save her best friend, Ellen Rosen, by pretending she is Annemarie's sister and helping her make it to a fishing boat that will bring her and her family to safety in neutral Sweden. It's a novel grounded in dark historical truth and yet full of hope.

WE WILL NOT BE SILENT The White Rose Student Resistance Movement that Defied Adolf Hitler By Russell Freedman (Ages 10-14)

This nonfiction account, aided by many archival photos and materials, tells the story of the German teenagers who banded together to fight secretly against the Nazis, rallying their fellow citizens by writing and distributing thousands of leaflets denouncing Nazi atrocities. "We are your bad conscience," they said to the Nazi leaders. Freedman tells their story of resisting with words effectively and concisely.

Read More

We've Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March by Cynthia Levinson 2013 Awardee

We Shall Overcome: The Story of a Song written by Debbie Levy, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton 2014 Awardee

Whispering Town written by Jennifer Elvgren and illustrated by Fabio Santomauro 2015 Awardee

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry 1990 Awardee

We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler by Russell Freedman 2017 Awardee

Freedom Walkers by Russell Freedman 2007 Awardee

Kids at Work: Lewis Hine and the Crusade Against Child Labor by Russell Freedman 1995 Awardee

Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery by Russell Freedman 1994 Awardee

Not Just Stories: Six Children's Books For Fighting Fascism

Terrible Things: An Allegory of the Holocaust, Eve Bunting: As difficult as it is to talk to kids about genocide, this book makes a case for speaking up when it looks like neighbors are in danger.

Read More

The Wednesday Surprise by Eve Bunting 1990 Awardee

Enlisting young adult fiction in the battle against racism

Book Riot editor and "Here We Are" author Kelly Jensen posted a request on Twitter last Friday: "My 33rd birthday is next month, and between now and then, I'd love to see 33 classroom literacy projects completed. Up for the challenge?"

Many of the teachers Jensen highlights write about their desire to create diverse classroom libraries. They've asked for funding to buy "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas, "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon, "Brown Girl Dreaming" by Jacqueline Woodson, books from Scholastic's "Dear America" series.

"It makes a huge difference when students have books that let them know they're being seen - that their perspectives and voices matter," Jensen said. "It's huge what kids will take with them from that."

Read More

The New Uniform of White Supremacy: Interview with Susan Campbell Bartoletti

"What we see in a lot of images coming out of Charlottesville are these very clean-cut-looking young men," says Susan Campbell Bartoletti, the author of They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group and Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow. "They're putting the face of a gentleman on values that are, in my opinion, anything but gentlemanly."

Toward the end of our conversation, Bartoletti points out a particularly chilling antecedent to the uniforms seen in Charlottesville. She directs me to Nazi propaganda: posters of clean-cut white men towering over people and, in one, shoveling aside presumably Jewish and black men. Several posters show the Nazis dressed in white button-ups and khakis. The resemblance is haunting. "And they didn't hide their faces either, did they?" Bartoletti asks rhetorically.

Read More

Kids on Strike! by Susan Campbell Bartoletti 2000 Awardee

Growing Up In Coal County by Susan Campbell Bartoletti 1997 Awardee

11 books to help you talk to your kids about race and racism

Books you can read with your kids to start the conversation on race and racism

-A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams - After their home is destroyed in a fire, Rosa, her mother and grandmother save up to buy a comfortable chair for all of them to enjoy. A heart-warming celebration of a loving family.

-One Green Apple by Eve Bunting - Farah feels alone at school, even around all her classmates. She listens and nods but doesn't speak... because she doesn't know the language. But on a field trip to an apple orchard, she discovers that many things make the same noises they did at home. As the class combines all their apples in the cider press they discover that mixing all those different things together makes one delicious drink.

-Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson - Clara is a seamstress in the Big House, and dreams of a reunion with her Momma who lives on another plantation. Then she hears two slaves talking about the Underground Railroad, and she figures out how to use the cloth in her scrap bag to hide a map of the land - a freedom quilt to guide the way.

-Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson - I put this on every book list I possibly can because it is beautiful and insightful and eminently readable. I read it as an adult, but I'd say it's suitable for anyone from fourth grade up. Woodson write about growing up in South Caroline and New York in the 1960s and 70s. She talks of the remnants of Jim Crow laws, and her growing awareness of the civil rights movement.

-The Whispering Town by Jennifer Elvgren - When people in a small Danish fishing village shelter a Jewish family during the Holocaust, they must get the family safely to the harbor to board a fishing boat and get to neutral Sweden. They devise a plan to communicate without attracting attention and risking the family's safety.

-Number the Stars by Lois Lowry - When the German troops begin their plan to "relocate" all the Jews in Denmark, Annemarie Johansen's family takes in her best friend and hides her in plain sight as part of their family. The book shows how the Danish Resistance smuggled almost the entire Jewish population of Denmark - close to 7,000 people - across the water to Sweden. It deals with an unimaginable tragedy but the hope and love of the people in the story make it a good book for middle-to-older elementary schoolers. It's one of our favorites.

Read More

Amber Was Brave, Essie Was Smart written and illustrated by Vera B. Williams 2002 Awardee

Music, Music for Everyone written by Vera B. Williams 1985 Awardee

Steamboat School, written by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Ron Husband, 2017 Awardee

Girl Wonder: A Baseball Story in Nine Innings by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Terry Wideners, 2004 Awardee

Shutting Out the Sky: Life in the Tenements of New York 1880-1924 by Deborah Hopkinson 2004 Awardee

A Band of Angels: A Story Inspired written by the Jubilee Singers by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Raúl Colón, 2000 Awardee

Hundreds Rally in Lexington Vigil in Solidarity With Charlottesville

"You realize that you don't have a choice sometimes. You've just got to speak out. You've got to stand up and speak out," noted Lexington Mayor Jim Gray.

Kentucky Author George Ella Lyon sang a song during her time at the microphone.

Read More

You and Me and Home Sweet Home by George Ella Lyon and Stephanie Anderson 2010 Awardee

10th National Conference of African American Librarians

The 10th National Conference of African American Librarians is hosting an array of children's authors now until August 13 at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta. Headlining the group are authors/publishers Wade and Cheryl Hudson.

Also confirmed are Kelly Staring Lyons (Ellen's Broom & One Million Men and Me) and Atlanta's own, illustrator R. Gregory Christie, a recent Coretta Scott King Book Award recipient and Caldecott "Honor Winner" for the book (Freedom in Congo Square).

Read More

The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth & Harlem's Greatest Bookstore by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie 2016 Awardee

Angelina Jolie animated by Taliban tale made in Ireland

Based on the bestselling children's novel by Deborah Ellis, The Breadwinner tells the story of Parvana, an 11-year-old girl living under the Taliban who gives up her identity to provide for her family.

Nora Twomey, of Cartoon Saloon, directed the film, which was co-produced by Aircraft Pictures Canada, Melusine Productions and Jolie Pas Productions. It also received funding from the Irish Film Board.

Cartoon Saloon is Ireland's most successful animation company, having been twice-nominated for Oscars for The Secret of Kells (2010) and Song of the Sea (2015).

Read More

I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark, written by Debbie Levy, illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley, 2017 Awardee

We Shall Overcome: The Story of a Song written by Debbie Levy and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton 2014 Awardee

Live Event: Big City Book Club at the Billie Holiday Theatre

This special Bed-Stuy edition, at the recently renovated Billie Holiday Theatre, will feature a discussion of "Another Brooklyn," the best-selling novel about coming of age in Kings County in the 1970s. Ginia Bellafante, the Big City columnist, will be joined by Jacqueline Woodson, the book's author, for a lively conversation.

Read More

Each Kindness written by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis 2013 Awardee

From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun by Jacqueline Woodson 1996 Awardee

I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This by Jacqueline Woodson 1995 Awardee

Abenaki expert to make Plattsburgh stop Adirondack author will host storytelling session at Plattsburgh Public Library

Author Joseph Bruchac is coming to Plattsburgh on Aug. 22, bringing with him stories from a culture that dates back to the 1600s.

Bruchac will visit the Plattsburgh Public Library on Tuesday to sign copies of his books, sing traditional American Indian songs and tell stories from Abenaki culture.

Read More

The Heart of a Chief by Joseph Bruchac 1999 Awardee

Library Chat: Grab some books and find out why world's social problems are happening

Your public library has materials for all ages, including materials that will help you start a conversation with children and open the door for them to understand any kind of difficult issue at a level that is comfortable for them and for you.

The award winning free verse work "Brown Girl Dreaming," by Jacqueline Woodson, suitable for adults and children, might be a good place to start.

"Separate is Never Equal" by Duncan Tonatiuh is available as an audiobook and as a short video of the book. This picture book work discusses the fight to end school segregation for agricultural workers in California in the 1940s. Or, for a more regional experience, or introduce a piece of family history, you could pick up "Baseball Saved Us," about Japanese internment, by Ken Mochizuki.

If you are embarking on a road trip you might download the audiobook "Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans" by Kadir Nelson, who also penned a number of works for a variety of ages.

Read More

Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson 2012 Awardee

The Village That Vanished written by Ann Grifalconi and illustrated by Kadir Nelson 2003 Awardee

Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and her family's fight for desegregation, written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh 2015 Awardee

Hear author Francisco Jimenez speak on 'Migrant Experience' in Redlands

The Redlands Adult Literacy Program at the A.K. Smiley Public Library invites you to hear Francisco Jimenez, who wrote the autobiographical book "The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child."

This year, more than 150 local literacy tutors, learners and community members have read Jimenez's book and were moved by reading of the obstacles Jimenez overcame in his quest for an education.

Jimenez will speak on "The Migrant Experience: A Personal Story" at 6 p.m. Sept. 7.

Read More

The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child by Francisco Jiménez 1998 Awardee

Detroit Museums Examine the Riots That Changed the City

The story of Detroit's July 1967 riots is, in some ways, a tale of two cities, one black and one white. Now, 50 years later, three neighboring museums here are revisiting that fateful summer with exhibitions that portray and explore the riots in sharply different ways.

Erin Falker, an assistant curator at the museum, said that they chose to place "Flag for the Moon: Die Nigger" by Faith Ringgold, a distortion of the United States flag from 1969 that spells out the racial epithet in its stripes, across from the khaki-colored "Patriot" by Jeff Donaldson, from 1975, and "Weight" by Mr. Phillips, from 2001. Ms. Falker said the grouping highlighted the remembrance that, on the night of the raid that sparked the riots, the club was having a party for African-American soldiers returning from Vietnam.

Another goal at all the museums is teaching millennials and other young people to make connections between the past and present. The Wright's curator of exhibitions, Patrina Chatman, a Detroit native who was a teenager during the riots, said art with Black Lives Matter elements mixed with earlier civil rights references reminds young people that "history is repeating itself."

Read More

Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky by Faith Ringgold 1993 Awardee

Protest Art: What Is It Good For?

As Jerry Saltz has noted, there have been a number of exciting politically engaged exhibitions around New York City right now, and more coming soon. The curators at the Whitney Museum dug around in its archive to put together "An Incomplete History of Protest," from which this slideshow is drawn. It opens August 18.

Faith Ringgold (b. 1930), Hate Is a Sin Flag, 2007.

Read More

Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky by Faith Ringgold 1993 Awardee

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The Jane Addams Children's Book Award annually recognizes children's books of literary and aesthetic excellence that effectively engage children in thinking about peace, social justice, global community, and equity for all people.

Read more about the 2017 Awards.

[theprettiestshit]

Survival of the LIT-est: Pepper.b Talks with Lit Bklyn

   My name is Denequa Williams, Brooklyn-bred. I would describe myself as an honest, outspoken, funny, adventurous, spontaneous, heart on the sleeve wearing, professional dreamer who was not always comfortable with who I was. It took some time to acquire this confidence that was once the mask for my insecurities and uncertainties. I am a firm believer in being honest with yourself and never allowing someone else’s thoughts about you to alter your spirit. I love to get dressed up. I believe in fairy tales, trusting your instincts, speaking on the phone for hours, loving hard, & forgiveness. I have a potty mouth. I believe in second chances. I make my own rules. I can be silly sometimes and really serious other times. I love to take pictures. I don’t trust people easily. I am a rebel at heart. I am a sucker for flowers and candles. I love sour candy. I’ve learned to see the beauty in all things. I prefer to listen to music rather than watch tv. 90’s R&B, old school reggae and occasional trap music to be more specific. JayZ is my favorite rapper. I listen to Lauryn Hill’s Unplugged at least five times a week in its entirety. I love LOVE. I believe it is the healer of all things. Everyday I am learning more and more about myself. I actually have a few hidden passions, lol, I enjoy writing, cooking, and photography.

Was curating candles your dream job?

Surprisingly, curating candles was not always my dream job. I just knew that I always loved candles and wanted to take a try at creating my own product. I have always been a creative person with a million ideas, lol. I have a few dream jobs, I’m just getting started. Curating candles is actually paving the way for everything else that I wish to accomplish. 

What is the best part about owning your own business? 

The best part about owning my own business is that I am in control of my voice and my vision and it has been a complete joy watching it come into fruition. I also enjoy meeting and connecting with the people who support my brand

What are 3 mandatory tools you think a person owning a small business needs ?

3 mandatory tools that I think a person owning a business needs are a laptop, passport, & business cards. A laptop to conduct your business affairs (email, skype, etc.) , a passport to see the world and get inspiration for your business, & business cards because every person who owns a business needs it.

If you were a candle scent what would you be and why ?

If I was a candle scent, I would be my “HOME” scent, which is a mash up of lemon sugar and vanilla. It’s warm, calm, memorable and inviting, kind of like me

Who’s your Muse ? 

My muse are my parents. I admire their work ethic. I am a product of excellence. Both immigrants who migrated to this country with practically nothing. They have taught me and showed me first hand what hard work and sacrifice look like and for that I will forever be grateful. I have no other choice but to be excellent because I had the best examples

What perfume do you wear most often ?

My perfume that I wear most often is Tom Ford “Tobacco Vanille", and Elizabeth & James “Nirvana”

What is your go to manicure color & why ? 

My go to manicure color is Starter Wife in Essie, I love this color because it’s soft and girly and it’s like the perfect powder pink. 

What are 5 items you need to create an ambiance ? 

My 3* items that I need to create an ambiance in no particular order are candles, comfy pillows, flowers.

What’s your skin regime like, Whats your favorite skincare line? 

My favorite skin care line is skinBUTTR, I use their cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. I also love Africa Miranda’s facial elixir.

What’s the last song you listened to while commuting or driving ? 

The last song I listened to while commuting is JayZ’s “What More Can I Say”

Talk about some collaborations you've done:

The collaborations that I have done are with Mia Ray (Glam-Aholic Lifestyle) & Mikey Likes It (Hip Hop themed ice cream shop). Both doing extremely well. Funny thing is with the collab with Mia, I never even met her, or even heard her voice over the phone. I was just a huge fan of her work ethic, and her hustle. Her vibe is sort of infectious. I had purchased one of her wallets and shared a flatlay (photo) on social media. She loved the image so much that she reposted it, that’s how she found out about LIT. She made a purchase, & I woke up one day to a friend request from her on Facebook & was tagged in a 28 minute long review of the candles. I literally started crying. I mean I know that I created a dope product. But to have someone I didn't know, someone I don't even have a relationship speak so highly of something I created was next level. A few weeks later, she reached out and asked if I did collabs. Although I knew eventually I would branch out and do it, my first collab had to be with Mia. I’m super big on energy, I went with my gut and it felt right. It felt genuine. The trust was there on both ends. I created two scents for her “Rose Ray”(rose scented) & “HU$TLE” (sweet & floral scented).

For the Mikey collab, I created two scents from their number one selling flavors “Ice Ice Baby” (Vanilla) & “SoHo” (Southern Hospitality/Butter Pecan) This was an absolute honor to be able to collaborate with a brand that I not only support but also respect. Some thing has got to be said when you are happy about your job, and that’s the vibe I get every single time I walk into Mikey Likes It. Mikey is big on community as well as customer service. I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with him. 

If you could do an upcoming collaboration with someone you admire who would it be ?

If I could do an upcoming collaboration with someone I admire, it would definitely be Elaine Welteroth of Teen Vogue. She is an inspiration to women, to people of the world. I love what she is doing with her voice and her platform. She is unafraid, unapologetic, and a complete badass.

Most exciting moment for LIT Brooklyn in 2016:

My most exciting moment for 2016 was seeing a product that I created in the December Holiday issue of Essence Magazine & also sitting on the infamous gold couch in the RocNation office getting my picture taken by THE Lenny S.

Something you are looking forward to doing in 2017: 

In 2017, I am looking forward to being on ‘Oprah’s Favorite Things” list *speaking it into existence*

What was your favorite childhood hobby ? 

My favorite childhood hobby was doing crossword puzzles in the Sunday newspaper.

If you could leave a small message for Women what would it be ? 

If I could leave a small message for women, it would be to follow your dreams and don’t allow anyone to hinder your spirit. Understand that as women, we are multi-faceted individuals that are capable of doing anything that we put our mind to. Also, stay in your own lane, it shouldn’t be that easy to get caught up with what other people are doing, or what other people are saying about you, that’s not your business! Lastly, get comfortable with being alone, it’s when you are alone that you can truly focus on yourself & your craft, and continue to get better and be greater.

[discographyofalifetime-blog]

BAND: ANTHRAX

COUNTRY: USA

EN: Now is finally time to talk about the second love in my musical life after punk music and every shades of it: Thrash Metal... and this is probably the band that stands between the lines of this 2 genres. Yes, they surely are too much metal for being considered Punks, but I think that at the same time, they are the most hardcore punk influenced band known in metal worldwide. The first time I heard of them was in 2001 when I was watching tv news about  the fact that in the USA there were found some letters with anthrax on them sent to some journalists and politicians. It was a big trouble for the nation but I've never heard that word before so I asked to my parents some explanations..but the thing that I remember the most is that on tv they were saying that for this reason, America's government decided to take all of the album from a metal band called “anthrax” off every stores of the country. That thing pissed me off. I've no idea if this band was good or bad but surely that decision was far beyond stupidity. By the way, I didn't pay attention to them for years until when in 2006 they were coming to play a show at the rock club near where I live (TEMPO ROCK) than I remembered the name and a friend of mine, that was already a fan of them, asked me if I want to go with him and I said “Is also close to home so..why not..”. The show was really intense, I was just 18 and probably that was my first metal show. They were metal but they were playing so fast and with not many guitar solos.. they had lovely full-speed-palm mutes and that bald/bearded guitarist jumping all around the stage exciting the crowd..obviously he was Scott Ian and Still today I consider him one of the most punk rocker into the metal scene. After that show I started to listen to them a bit..well at least knowing some of their songs, they have been the first milestone metal band I felt in love with after the two gods (Metallica & Iron maiden). But to be honest, I really started to love them a few years later..like 2009. That period, my love for metal was finally coming out and Anthrax were a great connection from where I belong to what I was going to discover. They were There is this endless war between who loves the former and current singer Joey Belladonna, and who prefers the other singer, John Bush. Well, fuck you..this time I am not part of this one because I really love both, even if their style is totally different. And I am one of the few who likes the album where Bush sings on songs written in the Belladonna's era. They love what they do and you can see the fun on stage when they play live..They are different from the most of other metal band that come to the stage always acting angry and tough..Come on, you are doing the best job on the planet, everyone in the crowds dream about your lifestyle for years (obviously including me) and you act like you ar not happy of this privilege? Well FUCK YOU. (that's one of the things that always remind me how punk rock will always be the best music ever..for many many reasons). I saw them live again with the big four and that was a huge deal for me because at that time I was truly in love with each of those band. The only thing I hated in that day was: 1) we were in a parking lot and the temperature was around 35° and that Anthrax played at 4.30 pm with those 35° so I had to chose between Survival or dying into the pit....i did both of them but I can say survival mode at 75% and pit at 25% just for the songs that I love the most. I also have to say that I don't like very much the albums that they did after a long break on writing records but they are coming to Europe playing “among the living” entirely..and that is my favorite album from them...so you know you will see me in the pit.

It: Ora è finalmente giunto il momento di parlare del secondo amore della mia vita musicale dopo la musica punk e ogni sua sfumatura, ovvero il Thrash Metal ... e questo è probabilmente il gruppo che si trova tra le righe di questi 2 generi. Sì, essi sono sicuramente troppo metal per essere considerato Punks, ma credo che, allo stesso tempo, sono il gruppo più infuenzato dal punk nel mondo delle band metal così note. La prima volta che ho sentito parlare di loro è stato nel 2001, quando stavo guardando il telegiornale e parlavano circa il fatto che negli Stati Uniti sono stati trovati alcune lettere con l'antrace su di esse, inviati ad alcuni giornalisti e politici. E' stata un gran casino per la nazione, ma non ho mai sentito quella parola prima così ho chiesto ai miei genitori qualche spiegazione … ma la cosa che ricordo di più è che in tv che stavano dicendo che per questo motivo, il governo degli Stati Uniti ha deciso di togliere tutti l'album di una band metal chiamata "antrace" da tutti i negozi del paese. Quella cosa mi ha fatto incazzare. Non ho idea se questa band era buona o meno, ma sicuramente tale decisione era ben oltre la stupidità. Tra l'altro, non ho prestato attenzione a loro per anni fino quando nel 2006 stavano arrivando a suonare al rock club vicino a dove vivo (TEMPO ROCK) mi ricordai del nome e un mio amico, che era già un loro fan, mi chiese se volevo andare con lui e mi son detto che "è anche vicino a casa  perché no ..". Lo spettacolo è stato davvero intenso, ero solo 18enne , probabilmente,  era il mio primo concerto metal. Erano metal, si, ma stavano veloce e con non molti assoli di chitarra .. avevano un sacco di pal mute a velocità super belle e che quel chitarrista barbuto e pelato saltava su tutto il palcoscenico  continuamente gasando la gente. Ovviamente era Scott Ian e ancora oggi lo considero uno de più punk della scena metal per attitudine personale. Dopo quello show ho iniziato ad ascoltare loro un po...beh almeno da conoscere alcune delle loro canzoni, sono stati la prima band metal alla quale mi sono appassionato dopo che le due divinità (Metallica e Iron maiden). Ma ad essere onesti, ho iniziato ad amarli pochi anni dopo..circa nel 2009.In quel periodo, il mio amore per il metal stava finalmente uscendo allo scoperto e gli Anthrax erano un ottimo di collegamento tra ciò a cui appartenevo (ed appartendo) e quello che stavo per scoprire. C'è questa guerra senza fine tra chi ama l'ex e attuale cantante Joey Belladonna, e chi preferisce l'altro cantante, John Bush. Beh, fanculo ..questa volta io non sono parte di questa guerra perché mi piace molto entrambi, anche se il loro stile è completamente diverso. E io sono uno dei pochi che ama l'album in cui Bush canta canzoni scritte nell'era del Belladonna. Essi amano ciò che fanno e si può vedere il divertimento sul palco quando suonano live..Sono diversi dalla maggior parte delle altre band metal che vengono sul palco atteggiandosi sempre arrabbiata e duri..Cazzo, si sta facendo il lavoro migliore sul pianeta, tutti i fan sognano la tua vita per anni (ovviamente me compreso) e ti comporti come non fossi felice di questo privilegio? Bene Fottiti. (questa è una delle cose che sempre mi ricorda come il punk rock sarà sempre la migliore musica di sempre..per molte molte ragioni). Ho visto di nuovo loro live con i BIG 4 e che è stato una figata enorme per me, perché in quel momento ero veramente innamorata di ciascuno di tali band. L'unica cosa che ho odiato in quel giorno era: 1) il concerto era in un parcheggio in un parcheggio e quindi la temperatura era intorno a 35 ° e che Anthrax hanno suonato alle 16:30 con quelli di 35 ° così ho dovuto scegliere tra la sopravvivenza o di morire nella folla .. ..Io ha fatto tutti e due, ma posso dire modalità di sopravvivenza al 75% e pit al 25% solo per le canzoni che amo di più. Devo anche dire che non mi piacciono molto gli album che hanno fatto dopo una lunga pausa dalla scrittura, ma stanno venendo in Europa in tour suonando interamente “among the living” che è il mio album preferito da loro .. .quindi sai che mi vedrete nella bolgia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlLn0UicWrM

[mahalkitajohnnysuh]

A Preface on What’s to Come

So I’m writing this almost a month since my home country declared a community quarantine (which has now become enhanced and will last until the end of the month) due to the current pandemic. I could’ve done this earlier, but given how everything felt (and still is) chaotic about the situation, I had to prioritize some things and compose myself first before coming here.

Now that’s out of the way, I am writing this to serve as an introduction to what’s going to unfold in this blog a few days (or weeks) from now. I don’t want you, my dear reader, to go into this blindly, so this primer will consist of three parts that I advise you read first before I get to post my fics. Without further ado…

I.  Why I Stan Who I Stan, aka Why I Love Johnny Suh

He wouldn’t be the name of this blog if I didn’t love him, right? But he wasn’t my first bias in the group at all. So let me take you back to the beginning, which was in late 2019 where I rediscovered SHINee. I was already in a nostalgic kick then, listening to my anime soundtracks and J-Pop a few weeks earlier. When I saw my friend and officemate’s SHINee compilation in her hard drive, I had to copy it since I think I’m ready to listen to them again. I don’t know if other Shawols experienced this but it felt painful to listen to the group after Jonghyun passed away. Although the rest of the boys still carried on in making more music, it took me until last year to fully move on.

Anyway, listening to SHINee led me to rediscover and love K-pop again. I became immersed in Taemin’s solo work – yes, I am almost three years late to MOVE but I would still love to perfect its choreography – and it was love at first listen to KEY’s solo album. After all, they were my next two biases after Jonghyun.

Since their solo works were not enough to satiate my K-pop hunger, I learned that Taemin was going to be a part of Super M and that opened more boy groups to me. I learned of EXO (I pretty much ignored them when I was in college because I am pretty loyal to SHINee and Super Junior at the time) and NCT because of this supergroup that was going to debut in the States pretty soon. I even set my alarm to watch their debut stage in LA on YouTube because I’m that excited for them!

So at first, Mark was my bias in NCT, followed by Ten. If you concluded that I have a thing for English speakers, then yes, maybe that’s the case why they appealed to me more than the others (except Taemin, of course, he will always be my favorite). Then one thing led to another, which means I fell into an NCT hole of watching their videos on YouTube. One of the first ones I watched was their Buzzfeed interview and Johnny’s humor struck me the most. I watched more, and then I realized that hey, I want to be friends with this guy; I think we’ll get along well.

Since I only have my childhood best friend to talk to about my renewed K-pop obsession, I told her I was going to write fics again. Being the supportive person that she is, she read them and commented on them once she was done. And yes, I am going to share those with you and I hope you’ll let me know what you think about them.

There was a line in one fic that caught her attention, prompting me to write about the character and Johnny being best friends who eventually fall in love with each other. I took on her challenge, and the more that I wrote, the more that I fell for him. I watched more videos of him too so I would be more inspired to write. That worked since I was able to write a fic (or two!) every day while I didn’t do anything at work.

I don’t want to call it a slow burn because I knew it took me a couple of weeks to fully fall for Johnny. Let’s just say he grew on me in a short period and you’ll read more about that in the fics to come.

So as early as now, I’m going to warn you guys that most of my fics will have lengthy introductions too because I like to explain myself a lot.

II.   When Y/N Gets a Real Name

The first fics I wrote started with just Y/N. My childhood best friend, who continues to serve as my audience, didn’t mind it initially but then gave me the suggestion to give Y/N a name. She added that a play on my name would be nice and Y/N eventually became Essie. Since I go by J here, I’ll leave you to assume what my real name is which will eventually be revealed anyway since that’s her real name too.

You may also assume that the fics are a manifestation of my delulu dreams and let’s be honest here – aren’t most, if not all, fics that way? Especially when there’s Y/N involved, don’t you agree? Since I have been writing these fics for almost six months now, Essie has developed into a character of mine that is similar to me and at the same time, an annoying person who irks me sometimes. I’ll get around to that but for now, I feel she is more than just a projection of a fangirl’s deepest, darkest desires.

I hope you won’t mind if she is the subject of affection for the fics unless stated. But for now, she’s had her way with the boys – and yes, the fics aren’t all about her and Johnny.  

P.S. My childhood best friend was one of the first characters to have a name in my fics and it’s also one of Kai’s many nicknames. If you are a true EXO-L, then you’d know that in a heartbeat. I find it cute because that’s also one of her many nicknames and her bias in the group is Kai, so…I live to please.

III. Purpose and Other Things You Need to Know About This Blog

The main purpose why I put up this blog is to share my works with everyone. I just don’t want to be limited to my childhood best friend, you know?

And to be honest, I have written for a lot of fandoms but my fics never got to see the light until now. I don’t know why I suddenly feel so confident to share them this time but I hope that they will make you feel things – whether that’s happy, sad, giddy, loved, or whatever – and you can let me know what you think. I would appreciate it if you can give constructive criticism, and of course, I would love it if you’ll share your favorite parts. I often re-read my fics for inspiration and most of the time, they crack me up because I would have never thought to write something about this or that.

This is also not strictly a Johnny and Essie blog since it will also feature other K-pop groups that I am a fan of. In short, expect appearances from other SM Entertainment boy groups as well. Johnny and Essie aren’t the only pairings here since I also love other NCT members but not as much as I love my gentle giant. Since you already know my first bias, then you’ll get to read about my bias wrecker soon.

The fics are also not in chronological order because I don’t work that way. I write what I think of and things build up from there. So if I post something about Johnny and Essie being friends on one day and then have them as a couple in the next, don’t be surprised. Maybe once all scenarios have been written, then I can piece them in proper order.

I may not be able to update daily because I have to focus on my day job first. But I will still try my best to post here as often as I could and interact with you guys.

So if you have further questions that you think I have not covered, then let me know through the comments.

Here’s to a fluffy, cheesy, and sometimes smutty reading experience!

Mahal ko kayong lahat! :)