#Fay Electrified

[tchaikovskyed]

Since we've been graced with our first mention of Morgan le Fay in the text, I absolutely have to recommend Catherynne M. Valente's short story, 'Under in the Mere', which is such an electrifying and experimental take on Arthurian legend that is really not often seen or referenced!

[borisbubbles]

Eurovision 2023 PRESHOW - part 3: the Borewhores

Time for my favourite part of any ranking - the songs that make me feel absolutely nothing. Hooray! These songs aren’t bad, but I don’t care for them. There a place for their entries at ESC, and that place is NOW!!! Bask in the glory of the grotesquely average! Or as I affectionally call them: the boring cunts. 

29. ITALY Marco Mengoni - “Due vite” Autoqualifier 

Whoever reads “Borewhore slaughter” in a BorisBubbles write-up thinks there will be an Italy write-up in the mix. Your thinking is once again correct! 😁

I don’t fucking know what to say about Italy anymore. I honestly feels like they’ve achored themselves down to send male-fronted mid-range emotional ballads, each new one just as dull and insipid as the previous one. L’essenziale, Fai rumore, Brividi, what’s the fucking difference, honestly? I’d say it’s the same old, but look at their entries in the last decade, and look at ALL of their San Remo winners since 2020. There was more variation amongst any four-year Italian stretch in the 60s, 70s and 80s, the time period where Italy were consisently one of the worst countries. 

Even as i’m sitting down to review this, my first instinct was “At least Marco’s handsome?” as a punchline and that says it all really? Italy fandom honestly IS barely about their songs and more about whoever (man) performs it, and what he looks like. The fucking halo effect that white mankind projects onto Italians is omnipotent and often earned, but so worth calling out in contexts like these. At least Marco IS handsome, I guess, the first *actually* handsome and charismatic Italian lead since Il Volo. No more “Protecc The Smoll Bean” nonsense. 

So um, the song. God, I don’t care how many silly Spaniards rank it absurdly high on their lists, “Due vite” is boring. I appreciate that it’s inoffensively competent but good grief, it and I do not align. WHY DOES IT HAVE SO MANY WORDS. I know that Italians are a loqacious lot and yap about anything, but this stereotype personified in ballad form frankly exhausts me. 

At least he’s handsome the fandom isn’t annoying about Italy this time around, I guess. 

Odds at Eurovision - ITALY

Aside from the Spaniards nobody seems to care about Marco. One may think this sets up an illusive Italian male flop but I’m not quite as easily fooled. Marco WILL come top 10. Look at this field, and tell me where the jury votes are gonna go towards. Italy will receive a decent mark here. That the fans are less vocal about Italy than they normally is merely an indicator that they’ll place somewhere in the lower half of the top 10. Maybe the Mengoni special of 7th place :-) 

Projected placement: 6th-10th (specifically: 7th) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

28. CYPRUS Andrew Lambrou - “Break a broken heart” Semi 2, slot #06

You know, sometimes the broadcasters easen job. Cyprus released a teaser for Andrew’s song before release, and although it lasted for THIRTY SECONDS it told us everything we ever needed to know about “Break a broken heart”, including what the remaining two and a half minutes would sound like. Great songwriting, y’all. 😃

Upon announcement though, I harboured a faint hope Andrew would just give us another “Electrify”, fulfilling his predestined role as this year’s hapless himbot with a basic club banger. Instead Cyprus imagined some dragons and sure, if you’re going to be basic there are worse directions to go. Doesn’t take away this is some lower-end ID song here to cash out another easy low-effort qualification into the usual 21st place. 

B L E R G H. 

Odds at Eurovision - CYPRUS

Andrew is Australian and less awful than little Victor Varicose Vein. So I think it’s safe to state Cyprus do better than Greece? They’re guaranteed one twelve from Greece and another one from Australia. That by itself puts them mathematically ahead of several countries in that semi. 

Like I honestly REALLY wish “Break a broken heart” were.. you know, good, because that would ensure Greece’s NQ while making Cyprus (which is a lock on PAPER) an even more secure qualifier. Sadlty, that’s not the case. In a fully just world though, everyone recognizes the “Break a broken heart” is just boringdull baggage nobody wants to take home with them, and both Cyprus and Greece get to hold hands as they sink into a sea of flop. Sadly that’s unlikely to happen in semi 2, unless ALL the other fringe qualifiers deliver something extraordinary.  Once in the final, Cyprus will beach themselves in a 21st-ish place (with votes from Greece and Australia ONLY), and nobody will talk about them ever again. ��

Qualifier Tier: B+ Projected placement: 7th-10th (semi), 19th-23rd (Grand final). 

---------------------------------------------------------------

27. UKRAINE TVORCHI - “Heart of steel” Autoqualifier

What a big pile of misery. Yes, YES, I am aware what country this is. Any of us would be highly delusional to believe Ukraine would go for something cheery at this present moment in time, but Krut and Finka were right there, on offer for the Ukrainians to take? We don’t have to like  Ukraine this year, surely? Yeah it’s TAKING A STAND!! AGAINST THE EVIL INVADER!!! but if it’s about resilience and overcoming odds, then why does it sound like a fucking funeral march hmm? 

For all its doom and gloom, I don’t dislike “Heart of steel” though. It is well-made and unique, which I can appreciate. But I also don’t give two fucks about it. It’s a far cry away from the usual high octane stuff Ukraine send. 

More than anything, “Heart of steel” feels like the end of success story for what is ultimately one of Eurovision’s best and most consistent participating countries. While it won’t happen this year, I’ve a feeling Ukraine will continue to send entries like these, with diminishing returns until they finally ruin their perfect qualification record.

At least they’re not winning this time around, but more on that in the next rublic:

Odds at Eurovision - UKRAINE

The expectations for Ukraine differ depending on who you’d ask, ranging from “winning back-to-back” to “they’ll flop and come bottom five”. I think the expectations are wrong.🙂  Ukraine will come top 10, but nowhere near a win. Eurovision is not a charity, but there there’s clearly going to be some sort of sympathy vote.. But I also feel like this will be limited to countries with a vested interest towards supporting Ukraine (the Baltics, Poland, Czechia). Most of the other casuals I believe will have moved on, more stingy with their money in a world where general prices have skyrocketed. 

In most countries the oro-Ukraine vote will be limited to the expats and refugees for the most part because, again, most of Europe has moved on and also because  “Heart of Steel” is kinda unvoteable oops. I can’t make a projection of how many points that’ll be, but I’d be surprised it Ukraine got more than a bunch of fives and sixes? That should still be enough for a good result overall, but not enough to come even NEAR the actual winning entries. 

Based on musical merit i would estimate a decent jury score as well, to further underline a good but not outstanding result in Liverpool. 

Projected placement: 4th-10th (prediction: 6th place) 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

26. ESTONIA Alika - “Bridges” Semi 2, slot #4

What a wild rollercoaster ride for an entry I fundamentally care very little about.  I went from not caring about Alika to lowkey stanning her to concluding that wait actually "Bridges” kinda sucks, so Estonia should be ranked lowish. Oops!

Idk, I think that *within the context of Eesti Laul* where it became immediately obvious (from the feedback I heard from actual Estonians) that Alika would win, I just... forced myself to like her?  I also had taken it upon myself that Ollie NEEDED to lose for his overrated ~emo boy with emotions~ nonsense (no, it doesn’t work better if disguised as a Linkin’ Park song.) by all means necessary. Bedwetters would be the ideal men for the job, but again since nobody in Estonia seemed to care about them (why? Were Ollie and Alika truly that more exciting? What a crazy country.), Alika was a decent alternative, or so I thought.

Once she actually beat Ollie, I gave Alika little thought until it was time for the bulk relisten. During that I concluded that “Bridges” kinda annoys me? For something supposed to be introverted, it’s loud and pungent.

The presentation at EL does NOT help it either, as it involves Alika angrily screaming about how SHE’S BUILDING UP A WORLD OF BREECHES (what does that metaphor even MEAN, btw?) with the panache of a crazy woman who was just dragged from a river. It’s like Iceland where I feel like there’s a “solid idea” but the execution is a sloppy mess. Unlike Estonia though, iceland have a very good song AND fun performer this year, so i’m willing to forgive their flaws. 🙂

So much for the ONLY female-fronted classical ballad in this year, huh?

Odds at Eurovision - ESTONIA

Estonia are one of several countries in the second semi that are on the cusp. As i’ve written before, 7 countries are very likely through to the final: those 7 are Australia, Lithuania, Austria, Belgium, Slovenia, Armenia and Cyprus (probably in that precise order). San Marino are dead, and Poland/Romania hang on by a sliver. EVERYONE ELSE has a more or less equal shot at the final three positions. Estonia’s advantages here are (1)  Alika’s powerful voice and (2) Bridges being the only classical ballad in the semi. Both of those things can help Estonia stand out and receive televotes, in a semi where their closest ally is Lithuania. 

Estonia is also disadvantaged however. The first and largest of these is that the semi has a very slow start, so someone will have to kickstart it. That will not be “Bridges” which is adding reverse alacrity to the already dull proceedings

Even worse, I believe the big kicker will be Belgium. Estonia are on DIRECTLY BEFORE them, which is a very bad spot to be in.

Also, being on fourth with a ballad is never good. 

ALSO, “Bridges” in its current state is shouty and miserable. 

There are several things Estonia need to rethink in terms of their staging and Alika’s styling, if their ambition is to do well, let alone qualify. Currently I think they’ll come close to the Q, but will narrowly miss it in 11th or 12th place. 

If they do make the final, I could see Bridges becoming one of those entries that Juries love to death and televoters don’t give two fucks about. Their result will be lower-midtable once they’ve passed the big old hurdle of “reaching the grand final with a ballad in a full televote scoreboard”. Qualifier tier: C Projected placement: 8th-14th (Semi), 14th-19th (Grand Final)

---------------------------------------------------------------

And that concludes those I find very very boring :-)  Next up are the decent entries. I’m not fully on board with them, but I understand why they’re liked. They bring something different to the table and I can appreciate that even if I’m not the target audience. 🙂

THE RANKING:

Part 1: The BAD entries (Switzerland / Croatia / Israel / Greece) Part 2: the IRRELEVANT entries  (Ireland / Albania / Netherlands / San Marino)

[prnanayarquah]

Official Launch & Nominees Unveiling For Central Music Awards 2023 Slated For Saturday, September 30 at Fays Lounge, Cape Coast.

New Post has been published on https://plugzafrica.com/official-launch-nominees-unveiling-for-central-music-awards-2023-slated-for-saturday-september-30-at-fays-lounge-cape-coast/

Official Launch & Nominees Unveiling For Central Music Awards 2023 Slated For Saturday, September 30 at Fays Lounge, Cape Coast.

Heritage Event Promotions, the organisers of the annual Central Music Awards have announced the official launch and nominees unveiling for the 12th edition of the Central Music Awards. This year’s launch and official unveiling of nominees is scheduled for Saturday, 30th September, 2023 at Fays Lounge located at Kotokuraba in Cape Coast.

The Central Music Awards, globally known as the first, biggest and best regional awards scheme in Ghana has contributed immensely towards the growth and development of musicians from the central region. The scheme has for the past eleven years, honoured, celebrated and awarded deserving and hardworking musicians whose works have contributed to the progress of the music industry in the central region.

Aside from the awards and honours, Heritage Promotions has since 2018 held successful music seminars and workshops geared towards providing an avenue for musicians across the 22 districts of the central region to meet, connect, network and learn new ideas, and strategies to excel in the mainstream music industry ahead of the official launch.

In line with the activities for the 12th Central Music Awards, the organisers on Saturday, 16th September, 2023 held an educative music seminar for musicians and industry players which had amazing speakers like Barrister Daniels, Kobby Kyei, Nana Gee and others.

The award scheme, as established by Candymania Entertainment in 2012 has grown from 10 to 38 categories since Heritage Promotions took over in 2018. The organisers in 2022 introduced five new categories to the scheme which include; the Brass Band of the Year, Masquerade Group of the Year, Live Band of the Year, Afropop Song of the Year and Songwriter of the Year.

Ahead of the big night, nomination entries for the 12th Central Music Awards were opened for two weeks, from Monday, 28th August to Saturday, September 16, 2023, which gave musicians and industry players in good standing and have released works from August 2022 to August 2023 the privilege to file

The launching is held together with the nominees unveiling to officially announce to the general public, the successful shortlisted nominees by the Board & Academy in respective award categories from the nominations filed by eligible musicians and industry players within the year under review.

Unlike the previous years where nominees were unveiled online, the organisers in 2022 partnered with Toppiard Event Centre for its official launch and nominees unveiling. In adding more glitz and glam to the Central Music Awards 2023, Heritage Promotions has inked a sponsorship deal with Fays Lounge as the venue for the official launch and nominees’ unveiling.

Similar to the music seminar, the official launch and nominees unveiling also create an avenue for musicians, artiste managers, media personalities, bloggers, promoters and social media influencers to meet, connect, socialise, and network in building their personal and business brands.

The launch comes with thrilling and electrifying performances from Koby Symple, Goddy Wan, Kwesi Taadi, Is Hommie, EK Nacosty, Kofi Fava, Myskal, Tiw Tes, Funky Kulture and many surprise performances from nominees.

Heritage Promotions calls on all Musicians and Industry players to turn out at 7:00 PM come Saturday, 30th September, 2023 at Fays Lounge for the official launch and nominees unveiling of Central Music Awards 2023. The Central Music Awards 2023 is proudly sponsored by Club 161, EN.AR Limited, nJet, BB Winery & Li-Quora and Fays Lounge.

  Source: Bismark Botchwey | Heritage Promotions

[froppy-butterflyfan2000]

Wings of Fate Part 2 - Showing more on how Pixtopia is functioning as a kingdom/empire in the Future AU. Vincenza Dolittle spending time with her cousin, Lilligant Diforestini but it ends up short when harsh words speak louder in a conversation. Meanwhile, Spinel is grounded for leaving the Lucitor Castle and his big sister wants to show him what their brother did. (3,757 Words)

Sorry if the title is not catchy. I hadn't think of a good title to calls this story. You might be wondering what is Arcobella is. Arcobella is a dimensions where two species, Star Cherubs and Rainbow Cherubs live. Arcobella and Pixtopia are allies. There will be an one-shot story in the future where the Pixie Empress and with her daughters, Vincenza Dolittle and Cordelia Dolittle making alliance with Queen Coloura Sparkle and Princess Spectra Sparkle of The Rainbow Cherubs Tribe from Arcobella. The Star Cherubs and Rainbow Cherubs are made by none other than @cooltmoney95. To learn more about them and their home dimension, Arcobella, send asks to him. Also, thank you @cooltmoney95 for helping me with the story and letting me know about how would Fluorite reacts to her children's flame ceremony, and using your characters and dimension.

This story also give me a chance for Future AU Jia and Vincenza's friendly interactions. Oh and the boots are inspired by a scene in the webtoon comic calls The Princess' Jewels.

I hope the readers enjoy reading part two. I have fun writing this story as much as Part 1.

Jasper belongs to @princess-lunalu.

Fluorite Gemshock (mention), Terra Brightglimmer (mention), Fay Electrified (mention), and Bijou Velvet are belong to @cooltmoney95. He also created the dimension, Arcobella.

Jia, Sol (mention as the phoenix), and Dai Tai (mention) belongs to @laylaylamode.

Calida and Seraphina (mention) belong to @katygorl.

Cordelia Dolittle, Vincenza Dolittle, Hypnos Diforestini (mention) and Lilligant Diforestini, and The Gemshock Triplets: Spinel, Tourmaline, and Padparascha Gemshock belong to me.

Wings of Fate - A Fire Nymph/Crystal Sprite Hybrid desperate to fly like the other sprites encounter the Captain of the Fifth Division Queensguard that may change his life after encountering her. (3,533 Words)

Astro Butterfly, Breeze Johansen, Corona Butterfly, Slick Spiderbite, and Scab Brimstone (All mention) belong to @kururu418.

Fluorite Gemshock, Waverly Voltaegeous (Mention), and Darcia P. Lucitor belong to @cooltmoney95.

Jasper belongs to @princess-lunalu.

Jia and Sol (Mention) belongs to @laylaylamode.

Calida belongs to @katygorl.

Vera Lucitor (Mention) belongs to @princesscallyie.

Cordelia Dolittle, Vincenza Dolittle, Spinel Gemshock, Wille, Hypnos Diforestini, and Lilligant Diforestini belong to me (All characters are mention, except for Vincenza and Spinel).

This is my first Tales of Mewni Future AU story I made. I am very proud of it. This take place not in the present of the Future AU, it is a past. When the third gen kids are young children. I could have write my ToM story revolving around Vincenza, her sister, a few members of the Fifth Division, and some of the casts from Tales of Mewni in Pixitopia. But I do not wants to waste the opportunity to write out fresh in my head before it is too late. So I add the mention of an events happening in Pixitopia in the present as an form of aftermath. In other word, a spoiler to the story I am still working on (So sorry). I hope to write part 2 of the story. Till then, I hope you all loves reading it.

[blackkatmagic]

Asdfghjkk even JON has a gossip gremlin inside of him when it comes to Dooku and Nico. Knol and Fay must be so proud 😂

For some reason I just pictured Aurra swatting Anakin away from Padmé with those electrified fly swatters and judicious sprutzing around of insecticide. It fits

Also am looking at the tags and cheering like you wouldn't believe, go Savage!!! Maul is going to be so grumpy when his brothers' relationships are what end up making him one of the prominent demons in town 🤣 Go demonic Prince Charming and Faerie Queen!

Maul, with Eldra and Kilindi on either side of him armed to the teeth: Clearly I have the most fearsome lovers available in this backwater town.

Savage: *wanders in with one of the three fey monarchs*

Feral: *busy making out with [REDACTED]*

Maul: ......................I am absolutely beset by traitors on all sides.

[validgendersonlytm]

do u have any soft / webcore prnns ? ty !

I gathered all of these from old posts I’ve done! If you would rather I try and make some new ones, feel free to tell me that! I promise I wont bite your head off, lol!

Long post under cut!

Fea/feath/feather/feathself

Ca/cat/cats/catself

Ki/kit/kitty/kitself

Fu/fur/furry/furself

Lov/love/loves/loveself

Tai/tail/tails/tailself

Bo/bow/bows/bowself

Dre/dress/dresses/dressself

Cu/cute/cutes/cuteself

So/sof/soft/softie

aut/auto/autonom/autonomous

inn/inno/innovate/innovative

ele/elect/electric/electrifying 

po/pow/power/powself

ele/elect/electric/electronic

pro/prog/program/programing

mal/malfun/malfunct/malfunction

com/comp/computer/computing

di/digi/digit/digital

an/ana/analo/analogue 

mech/mecha/mechanic/mechanical 

Gli/glit/glitt/glitch

Bu/buz/buzz/buzzing

Ra/rad/raden/radio

So/sil/silen/silence

Radi/radio/silent/silence

ne/net/.ne/.net

Com/comp/comps/compself

Com/compu/computer/computerself

Gli/glitch/glitchs/glitchself

Mo/moth/mother/motherself

Moth/mother/motherboard/motherself (motherboardself)

A/ana/analog/anaself

Ana/analog/analogs/analogself

J/jpeg./jpeg.s/jpeg.self

.com/.com/.coms/.comself

Http/http:/http:s/http:self

Gif/gif./gif.s/gif.self

Ele/electronic/electronics/electronicself

Fae/fem/faem/femself

Fey/fim/feim/fimself

Fae/faer/faem/faerself

Fei/feim/feir/feimself

Fai/fair/faim/fairself

Fay/fayr/faym/fayrself

Faye/fayem/fayeir/fayemself

So/sof/soft/sofself

Clo/clov/clove/clover

Pa/paw/paws/pawself

Pa/pad/pads/padself

Be/bea/bean/beans

Toe/beans/toebeans/beanself

Fee/feet/feets/feetsies

Lov/love/lovel/lovelies

Smo/smol/smollness/smolself

Gli/glit/glitt/glitch

Bu/buz/buzz/buzzing

Ra/rad/raden/radio

So/sil/silen/silence

Radi/radio/silent/silence

ne/net/.ne/.net

[thecomicsnexus]

The Wild Hunt

HELLBOY: THE WILD HUNT DECEMBER 2008 - NOVEMBER 2009 BY MIKE MIGNOLA, DUNCAN FEGREDO AND DAVE STEWART

SYNOPSIS (FROM HELLBOY WIKIA)

Part One Following the events of Darkness Calls, Hellboy has been in Italy, with two sisters. While there he dreams.

Hellboy is in a clearing watching the funeral of King Dagda. He is told that Dagda was the last king of the Tuatha de Danann, and that soon all of his kind will leave the world forever. Hellboy sees Alice Monaghan, who last appeared as a baby in The Corpse, but wakes up.

The sisters give Hellboy a letter, and we see that the sister, like Harry Middleton from Darkness Calls, are in fact dead. The letter is from the Osiris Club, and Hellboy promptly heads back to England. In a ruined building he meets three men from the club. They say it has been hard keeping track of him, and briefly recount his adventures from The Island to Darkness Calls. They tell Hellboy that from time to time giants rise from their graves and that a hunt is setup to kill them again. This time six have appeared. They invite Hellboy to join them on the hunt, and he agrees.

Elsewhere in England, Gruagach has taken the box to the top of a hill in the midst of the fey creatures. He says that when the time is right the Queen will speak to the assembled army and gather a great host.

The hunt charges out on horseback to a bridge. One of the men in the hunt impales Hellboy on a spear and he tumbles into the river. The hunt master tells Hellboy that he should not have returned, and that a Demon will never sit on the throne of England. He then activates the spear and it electrifies Hellboy.

Part Two Hellboy lies impaled in the river bank. He yells out in pain and suddenly finds himself in a room full of dead knights. In the center sits a figure with a crown on his head and a red dragon on his mantel.

Hellboy wakes up in the river surrounded by the hunters now dead. A bird tells him that he was made invisible by a flower from the bird's mistress. Hellboy travels back to the giants, throws down the flower and attacks the giants.

Gruagach is approached by Astaroth, in the guise of an old man. Astaroth asks him why he is in the form of a boar. Gruagach tells his story including the events of The Corpse. Astaroth gives him a covered gold cup filled with the blood of an entire village. Gruagach pours the blood into the box, and a blood covered woman rises out.

Part Three Hellboy travels to Alice Monaghan's house in Ireland. Alice says that she started to see the fairies again. Hellboy says that he meant to come sooner after Dagda's funeral, but that he ran into trouble. Alice says that they have to go meet someone.

The woman sits on the box that once held her body. A witch approaches her and tells the Queen that the witches are hiding until they know what she will do. The Queen harms two witch who betrayed her, and forgives all other witches for leaving her in the box. She calls for an army of forgotten peoples to rise with her.

Hellboy and Alice travel to meet with Queen Mab. Alice tells Hellboy that there is going to be a war. She explains that it is Hellboy's fault because he wronged Gruagach, destroyed Hecate, and refused to be king of the witches, so that Gruagach raised a new queen. Mab appears and tells them that the new queen of witches only wants war and bloodshed. She explains that while on The Island the dead man took his blood and became the thing Hellboy was meant to be. Hellboy was sent to destroy the world, even if he rejects it. Mab says he cannot escape it, but his only chance is through his mother, and that he is bound to wear a crown and raise an army to oppose the Queen of Blood. A small creature appears as the issue ends.

Part Four Hellboy remembers back to the hunt when he slaughtered the giants and in the moment his horns grew back.

The creature introduces himself as Edmund and leads Alice and Hellboy between the worlds. On the way Alice asks Hellboy what it was like to be dead, but Hellboy does not really have an answer. Edmund asks Hellboy about a goddess who one lived under a tree in Leicestershire. Hellboy killed the creature in 1962 and her followers, small men, rise from the ground and attack Hellboy. Edmund calls Hellboy murderer and asks how many beings of power he has killed. The little men throw small poison spears and one hit Alice in the hand. Three birds arrive and scare away the creatures. The birds transform into three women say that their lady has medicine that can help and transport them to the outside of a castle surrounded by a moat of fire.

Part Five Gruagach sits with his head resting in the Queen of Blood's lap. She sees that her army is beginning to assemble. Gruagach says that he could serve her better if he was restored to his former power. She says that when the time is right he will be strong again and Hellboy will be his.

The bird women tell Hellboy that the castle has been under siege by demons for five hundred years. Hellboy goes to defeat the demon guarding the bridge. The demon throws Hellboy around, until one of the lesser demons in the moat of fire tells Hellboy his secret. Hellboy cracks the demon's ring and the assembled legions disappear.

Once inside an old man gives Alice a cup of medicine. Hellboy turns around to see the lady of the castle, Morgan Le Fey.

The Queen of Blood greets an ambassador from Jutland. He says that on the day of battle his king will fight at her side, and gives her a crown. She orders the ambassador to hammer the crown into a knife to kill his king and to make her an iron helmet in the form of three ravens. She says she will be known not as the Queen of Witches but as Goddess of War.

Part Six Hellboy, Alice and Morgan Le Fay sit at a table and talk. Morgan asks Hellboy if he knows who she is. Hellboy answers that Morgan is King Arthur's half-sister, and mother of Arthur's only son, Mordred. Mordred and Arthur killed each other in battle, and Arthur's remaining knights killed Mordred's three sons. However Mordred also had a daughter, and she lived producing a line of daughters, witches all. Morgan says that the final daughter was Sarah Hughes, Hellboy's mother. She explains that Hughes married the demon Azzael in 1574, and though she tried to repent on her deathbed, (as seen in The Chained Coffin, her human children were killed and only Hellboy remains as the heir to King Arthur and rightful King of Britain.

Morgan takes Hellboy through a door and into a hilly meadow. In the center in a small pool lies a sword in a stone. She tells him that because he died and lived again the noble dead of Britain will follow him into battle.

Hellboy asks who the Queen of Blood really is. Morgan explains that she is Vivienne, also called Nimue, who charmed Merlin and took his power. She heard the call of the Ogdru Jahad and it drove her mad. The other witches killed her, but now she lives again, and only wants blood.

Hellboy has a flashback to when he killed the giants. He sees his potential to become the beast of the Apocalypse, but breaks off his horns denying that path. She tells him that with the sword he can save his people. Hellboy asks Morgan, now clearly a dead corpse, why she cares about the world. She responds that her son, Mordred, should have been king, but that Hellboy will be.

Part Seven Hellboy walks through Morgan's castle thinking about what he has learned. He enters Alice's room only to see Vasilisa standing beside Alice sleeping. Vasilisa admonishes Hellboy to be careful. Alice wakes up and asks Hellboy about the sword Excalibur, and why Hellboy did not take it. She asks him if something happened before he came to her house. He remembers the giants, but says nothing. Alice tells Hellboy about her dream. She stood in a room of noble knights waiting, in the center King Arthur stood and told her that she was bound to the sword and that she would be the first to see the new king crowned. She tells Hellboy that all will be ok if he takes the sword.

Hellboy hears howling and leaves Alive. Astaroth appears and tells him it is the wild hunt. The Demon mentions that some think King Vold rides at its head. Hellboy replies that some say it is the Devil, but Astaroth says Satan has been asleep for almost two thousand years. He tells Hellboy that one day he will travel to Hell, kill Satan and claim the crown of Hell. He will take up his father's sword and lead the army of Hell. He will break down the walls of Hell and create a paradise for them on earth.

Hellboy's shadow grows telling him that all this will happen. The shadow wears the crown of Hell and bears the sword of Hell. Hellboy fights his shadow, all the while Astaroth tells him he must take up Excalibur to prevent Nimue's holocaust of blood, and that the one sword will lead him to the other. His shadow grows to enormous size and beats Hellboy. Suddenly fire shoots out of Hellboy and in an instant Astaroth and the Shadow are gone. The fire disappears and Hellboy stands in the smoldering castle.

Part Eight Hellboy walks through the smoking castle looking for Alice. He enters her room to see her smoking corpse in what is left of her bed. Vasilisa appears again and asks why he did not pull out the sword. Hellboy tells her he is afraid of his own love of bloodshed. Vasilisa responds that Alice believed the sword would save him. Slowly Hellboy approaches the sword. Many creatures from Hellboy's past look on. Mab comments that Dagda should have lived to see this. Astaroth, Sir Edward Grey, Mohlomi, the Baba Yaga and Koku all look on as Hellboy pulls the sword from the stone.

Suddenly Hellboy stands, sword in hand, with Alice. She remembers nothing of their trip to Morgan's castle. Morgan sits at a table with playing pieces on it. Two skeleton armies face each other one black one white with a red figure in the center.

The Queen of Blood challenges Hellboy saying that even with the sword he is no match for her. Gruagach asks the be restored to his former power but says that she cannot do it. Enraged she rejects him and throws him out of the camp.

The members of the Osiris Club stand around a crystal ball watching Hellboy. Two try to call the Prime Minister but are shot by other members. The men explain that they are the original seven members from the club's founding in 1866 when Larzod appeared to them and told them to await the coming of a king. In the end they plan to cut off his right hand and use it elevate themselves. The original seven kill the remaining 'new' members.

In the mountains the sound of hammers are heard. A King is dead stabbed by a jeweled knife. A short man hammers at a mighty forge. Crying he lifts a helmet in the form of three ravens.

REVIEW

Not all my reviews happen in the order they come out... but I am just fresh out of reading Camelot 3000. So I feel like I am up to speed with the source material.

The one thing I don’t feel goes well in this story, is that we don’t get all the reveals until pretty much the end. And it is not a complete story (it is only a beginning), so, I don’t know... maybe a framing story could have distributed the information a bit better. The story is still good, especially if you binge the whole thing. I think it is lack of familiarity for me. Hellboy readers will probably enjoy the pace in this mini.

In a way I feel that the best happens in the future, as the story sets the board for a great war. So it doesn’t feel satisfying. It does, however, deal with very important information about Hellboy’s role in the world. So even if the main conflict doesn’t get resolved, at least we got a very interesting story.

Duncan Fegredo doesn’t have the same style as Mignola, but is similar enough to fool a few. I actually like his style, is a bit cleaner, but both are great at this.

I give this book a score of 8

[katymacsupernatural]

The Other Side of Reality Part 5

Dean Winchester x Reader

1100 Words

Story Summary: Y/N is a patient in an Asylum. Each and every day she noticed a handsome man sitting in the same place. Holding the same tattered book. Mumbling about ghosts, ghouls and vampires. Almost two months later, she finally gathers up the courage to go up to him. To listen to his stories. Little did she know her life would change forever as she began to wonder if there was a hint of truth to his stories.

Catch Up Here: Masterpost

Warnings: slight attempt at forced assault. Mental hospital

“Who were you talking to?” Devon asked you as soon as you stepped out from the back of the library. “I knew I shouldn’t have let you go to the library.”

“I have every right to be in the library,” you argued, immediately regretting the outburst.

Devon’s face turned red, his eyes nothing more than little slits as he grabbed your arm, pulling you out of the library and into a seldom-used hallway. Slamming you against the wall, he pressed his hand against your throat, trapping you there. “You will never speak to me like that again, do you understand me?”

You tried nodding, but he was holding too tight. Your eyes wide with fright, you grasped at his hand, trying to push him away. But his grip was like steel, and you couldn’t move him.

Struggling against his hold, you watched as his eyes flashed blue, just for a split second before turning back to normal. Just like you had seen the Librarians. “Did your eyes…,” you stuttered to a stop, immediately noticing how still Devon had become. “Wait, never mind. It’s just the medicine.”

“It better be,” he threatened. “Because there is no way my eyes would have changed color like that. Stupid mental people.”

Letting go of your neck, he stepped back. “Get back to your room. No stopping. You understand me?”

“Clear,” you assured him, rushing down the hallway, holding your hand to your neck. No doubt there would a large angry bruise there tomorrow. But the nurses were used to turning a blind eye. Many a time you saw a patient walking away with a black eye, or a limp. It was best to turn a blind eye away as well, even though it hurt your heart.

Devon shoved you into your room, slamming the door shut and locking you inside your room. You knew it would only be a matter of time before he was back, with another dose of the much-hated medicine. With your back against the door, you stared in dismay at the room surrounding you.

The walls were a stark white, only the locked cabinet and the small window your only decorations. A small dresser sat against the other wall, a picture frame the only thing on top. It was your favorite possession, one of the few things that gave you comfort. A picture of you when you were a girl, being held in the arms of your Mother.

You hated this room. It felt more like a prison, with Devon your guard. Perching on the edge of your bed, you rested your head in your hands. Thinking it was only going to get worse from now on. Devon would push and push, and you feared the worst would happen. The Doctor’s seemed to want you drugged most of the time, upping your medicine until you were comatose. On top of that was the strange blue eyes you hadn’t decided were real or not. And the voices inside your head. How they had changed from malicious and cruel to a language you couldn’t quite understand.

Then there was your relationship with Dean. If you could call it that. Going up to him in the library had been the bravest thing you had done while locked away in here. It had probably been the best, giving you the friendship that you hadn’t realized you had been missing. Sure, you weren’t sure you believed all of his stories completely, but you were drawn in by them. He had these moments of clarity where his sadness and heartbreak were so much that you wanted to pull him in for a hug. He was like your knight, riding in when you needed him the most. You just hoped that it wouldn’t get him into trouble one day.

Without any warning whatsoever, your door was shoved open, slamming so hard against the wall that the plaster cracked. “Dinner time!” Devon exclaimed, a tray in his hands.

“But I thought...what about the cafeteria?” You asked, hoping that you could have seen Dean during dinner.

“No cafeteria for you,” he answered gleefully. You could see he was quite happy about the fact, but you weren’t exactly sure why. “You are under house arrest. For as long as I deem appropriate.”

“But why? I haven’t done anything,” you started to argue, then immediately thought better of it.

Setting the tray down hard on your nightstand, Devon loomed over you, his hands resting on his hips. “Not yet. But the Doctor’s worried about you. He’s not sure making friends is the best thing for you right now. Rest and relaxation are what he’s ordered.”

“I’m to be stuck in this room?”

“For the most part. With just me for company,” he winked before sitting down next to you on the bed. Immediately your senses were on high alert, and you wanted to move away from him. But you didn’t, knowing the slightest move would anger him. “I think we could find a couple of ways to pass the time.”

Closing your eyes, you held your breath as his hand slid up your thigh, the warmth of his touch easily reaching you through the thin blue pajama pants you wore. “Please don’t,” you whispered.

Growling, he pushed you down so you were laying sideways on the bed, his hand coming up to rest possessively on top of your breast. “You are mine. My possession to do with as I please. No one here will help you. Not the Doctor, not Dean. You might as well get used to it. Or not. I don’t mind a fight.”

Leaning down, he pressed his lips to your neck, his hand kneading your breast hard enough to hurt. His other hand moved down, sliding below the elastic of your pants. Your eyes squeezed shut, you tried to ignore it.

But as his hand slid into your panties, you could feel this rage growing inside you. A white-hot rage that had your skin boiling. Bright white lit behind your eyes, the hair on your neck standing tall. “What the…,” Devon started to say, noticing the change in you as well.

“Leave me alone!” You screamed, pushing at his chest with your hands. Strength like you had never known before lifted him easily from you, crashing him into the opposite wall. Standing up, towering over him, you felt electrified, stronger than you had ever felt before. You weren’t that scared, cowering girl anymore. The voices were loud, but they no longer scared you. You understood them, your eyes widening slightly as you heard Dean Winchester’s name whispered over and over again. “Do not touch me again!”

“You crazy bitch!” Devon yelled at you, rushing through the door, slamming it and locking it behind him. The lights flickered, and as suddenly as the power had consumed you, it was gone. Extremely tired, you fell back on the bed, wondering what had just happened.

Dean/Jensen Tags: @15wiishes @acreativelydifferentlove @adoptdontshoppets @a-girl-who-loves-disney @akshi8278 @all-will-be-well-love @anokhi07   @biawol @bebravekeeponfighting  @brindz30 @colette2537 @crusadedean    @haelyn @ikeneasul11 @imascio08 @its-not-a-tulpa @just-another-winchester @keikoraventeller @lauren-novak @librarygeekery @mirandaaustin93 @mlovesstories @msimpala67 @pisces-cutie @ria132love @ruprecht0420  @shadowhunter7 @sizzlingbearpolice​ @sleep-silent-angel @sortaathief @superseejay721517 @thegrungequeer @thewinchestergirl1208 @torn-and-frayed​ @wonderfulworldofwinchester 

Other Side of Reality Tags: @crazysocklovingfangirl @letmedrainwiththestars @raven1aris @spnbaby-67 @karouwinchester @demondeanismybaby @wxxnks @closetspngirl @omnia-pod @soullessdemontrap @musiclovinchic93 @pie46733 @yes-this-is-doggo @maydayfigment @choosemyname @nervousmemzie

Forever Tags: @16wiishes​  @alexwinchester23​ @algud​ @amanda-teaches​ @andkatiethings​ @andreaaalove​ @angelsandwinchesters​ @anspgene​ @artisticpoet​ @atc74​ @be-amaziing​ @bemyqueenofdarkness​ @bohowitch​ @buckysmetalgoddamnarm​ @bumber-car-s​ @brooke-supernatural16​   @camelotandastronauts​ @chelsea072498​  @darthdeziewok​ @destiels-new-girl​  @dslocum89​  @docharleythegeekqueen​ @emmazach​ @emilicious-7​ @emoryhemsworth​ @ericaprice2008​  @esoltis280​ @essie1876​ @generalgoldfishldrm​ @gh0stgurl​ @goldenolaf25​ @growningupgeek​  @heyitscam99​ @highfunctioning-soiciopath​ @hms-fangirl​ @hobby27​ @horsegirly99​ @ichooseeternalplaces​ @i-hear-crazy-calling-my-name​ @imboredsueme​ @internationalmusicteacher​ @ithinkimadorable-67​ @iwriteaboutdean​  @jayankles​ @jensen-gal​ @just-another-busy-fangirl​ @karlee-fay-my-wayward-son​ @keelzy2​ @kittenofsarcasm​ @leanbeankeane​ @lifelovelaughangell123​ @li-ssu​ @littleblue5mcdork​  @lowlyapprentice​ @luciferslucille​ @maui137​ @mellowlandrunaway​ @mersuperwholocked-lowlife​ @mogaruke​ @nanie5​ @natashacamillaus​ @newtospnfandom​  @offbeatwriting​ @percussiongirl2017​​ @pilaxia​ @pizzarollpatrol​ @plaid-lover-bay25​​ @randomparanoid​ @roonyxx​ @ronja-uebrick​ @rosegoldquintis​​ @roxyspearing​​ @samanddeanmyheroes​ @sandlee44​ @shamelesslydean​ @sillesworldofwriting​ @sgarrett49​ @skyewardolicitycloisdelena91​ @smoothdogsgirl​ @spnbaby-67​ @spn-dean-and-sam-winchester​ @spnwoman​ @sunskittlex​ @starry-chaos​ @superbadassnatural​ @thebikiniinspector​ @theflameontheinside​ @thing-you-do-with-that-thing​ @thisismysecrethappyplace​ @tina8009​ @totallovelesson​ @tunadean​ @vvinch3st3r​ @walkslikesummeractslikerain​ @whimsicalrobots​ @wildlandfox​ @winchesterbrothers-inc​ @winchesterxtwo​ @winchester-writes​ @yourvoiceislikearose​ @zombiewerewolfqueen​

[angelaiswriting]

Strong | Vladimir Ranskahov x reader

[i missed making my banners]

✎ Pairing: Vladimir Ranskahov x reader

✎ Requested by Anonymous: Could I request a fic (any length- 100 words and it would make my entire week tbh) where Vlad finds out how emotionally strong and mature the reader is, even though she’s been through hell like him?

✎ A/N: a thousand times sorry for the long wait! Hopefully you’re still able to see this, since you were on anon and probably don’t know I posted your request haha This was an amazing concept, but I feel like my rendering wasn’t that great ? Hopefully you still enjoy! 💛

✎ Warnings: none that I can think of, just me being my boring self and my story not making much sense wtf is this story?

Word-count: 1,189

Strong.

If there was one word Vladimir would use to describe her, that would be it. And even if he had spent years by her side, he was discovering this just now. They had spent the whole night making love and now she had managed to fall asleep. And as he stared at her face, at the way the faint light of the early morning seeping in through the lace curtains of the bedroom played with her features, that thought struck him the same way Petya groaned ‘holy fuck’ when he remembered something he hadn’t done but had been supposed to do.

And so, holy fuck. Holy fucking fuck.

He didn’t know what had triggered that realization because at that moment, even though still fierce, she looked like the most fragile China doll. And he now remembers how that thought clashed with her Matryoshka-like essence: she had so much hidden inside her, so many nuances and past events unknown to him and experiences and so many worlds, that she couldn’t possibly be fragile. She had to be strong, almost made out of stone to be able to keep all that inside and not be broken by what he couldn’t see below the surface. Still, he stared at her face, at her eyelashes, trembling with each and every moment of her eyes below closed eyelids and suddenly the fear of crushing her overwhelmed him.

Holy fuck.

The strength of that realization left him breathless for a couple of seconds, and unable to think for a couple of minutes. And as his brain restarted itself, he drank her in as though that was their first meeting, as though an invisible veil had vanished and he was now really seeing her for the first time. Even in years to come, he wouldn’t be able to tell what, exactly, had triggered that awakening, just that one moment she was in black and white and the next she was a new world in full-color and that he still had much to learn. One moment she had simply been his lover, and the next some new and unreachable creature, something way above him and, at the same time, still at his level, so similar and yet so different to what he was.

It was disarming because it almost felt like he didn’t know her at all. All the little things he knew about her–the way her smile would twitch when she was amused, or the way she hummed along to the radio as she cooked, her love for wrestling and pets and the smell of rain–it was almost as though those things didn’t really matter. It was the tip of the iceberg and only that short and insignificant tip stood above the water and for a second Vladimir found himself scared–almost terrified–of dipping below the waves to see what floated underneath. Still, it was an electrifying fear, something that wasn’t really there because you were excited to see the creatures hidden in the deep darkness, almost the same way he and Tolya had used to venture out into the outskirts of Moscow to see the world outside the big city.

For a moment he thought he’d see everything the moment the tips of his fingers would touch her neck, but he was disappointed and relieved that nothing happened, that the only thing welcoming him was the warmth of her skin.

Holy fucking fuck.

He noticed a scar he had never noticed there: thin, two, maybe three inches long, the difference in texture almost unperceivable with that of the skin of her neck. It was an old one, of this he was sure, but just by the touch, he couldn’t tell how that cut had been made.

A shiver ran down his spine, pulling at his skin, and his shoulders trembled, the hair at the nape of his neck stood up at its roots. It was as though he didn’t know her at all, and at the same time as though he knew her better than he knew himself, better than he knew Tolya or better than he had known his Moscow.

The origin of that thought would always be as unknown as that of his first realization of the early morning and his gaze traveled down the side of her neck, over the skin and swells of her breasts, the dip of her collarbone. When he looked at her, he somehow knew there was no running away from that relationship just as he knew there was no way he’d reach the bottom of the iceberg that was her life. He’d never know what lied down there, how thick the ice was, how dark the water got, and what monsters swam underneath the irregular base. Still, he knew the ice was thick, the water dark and the monsters much more alike to his than he’d ever consciously realized.

His eyes traveled from her kiss-swollen lips to her closed eyes and he thought that maybe that was what had drawn him to her and her to him. That had been the invisible force pushing them towards each other. He had always thought they weren’t just miles but worlds apart, so different they were still together just because of a thin but steely thread. Now, with the umpteenth holy fuck of the night, he felt like there was much more to that than it caught the eye.

She felt huge, and not in a physical kind of way, but rather in a sort of metaphysical kind of way. It was like standing in front of a mountain and you were so small you felt insignificant, lost, a child in the world of giants, almost like when he had learned at school that the universe was much bigger than he could ever imagine and it didn’t matter if man had set foot on the Moon: no one would reach its outer edges.

Holy fuck. Holy fucking fuck.

Is this how relationships fail? Because one is too blind to really see the other? Because you live on prejudices? And every effort to get to know the other simply scrapes the surface of a world too vast to fully comprehend?

Volodya didn’t know where that sudden fear had abruptly come from or why it felt the need to come into existence. But as he stared at her, raptured, still lost in his thoughts, overwhelmed by those sudden realizations, he couldn’t help but feel terrified by that possibility. And once again he felt small, so small it almost faded into insignificance, and she was a giant, an unreachable goddess, a master of strength, able to hide anything to the world.

When she opened her eyes, he didn’t even notice at first. He was staring at her hairline almost as though it could give him the answers he didn’t know he had ever needed. But when her fingers weaving through his hair startled him, tearing a sleepy chuckle from her throat, he smiled at her. And her eyes felt like an entirely different and new thing, almost as though he was seeing them for the first time as well.

Feed me with your feedback, I really don’t know what this story is but it kinda made me want to sob ? even if it’s not that great ? Vladimir Ranskahov makes me emotional, I’m sorry

TAGS (to be added/removed shoot me an ask. Same goes for ‘Bratva’)

Everything: @idhrenniel @saibh29 @fuckthatfeeling @aya-fay @pebblesz892 @toomanyfandoms96 @mblaqgi

Bratva (aka people not on the lists but that might still be interested): @sweetvengeancee @theranskahovs @brobachev

[ireadyabooks]

5 Of Our Favorite Book Betrayals!

Is there anything better than a good book betrayal?

We can’t help but obsess over treacherous tales where you never know which characters can be trusted. It’s one of the many reasons we’re totally hooked on The Traitor’s Game by Jennifer A. Nielsen, book 1 in an electrifying new series, where hearts and loyalties collide in a game of trust and there’s a constant clash between believe and deceive. 

In honor of the recent release of The Traitor’s Game, here are 5 of our all-time favorite book betrayals! 

1) Mare Barrow’s in Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

2) Tally Youngblood’s in Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

3) Nova Artino’s in Renegades by Marissa Meyer

4) Amy Dunne’s in Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

5) Daisy Fay Buchanan’s in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

[thisisheavynews]

ROMEO AND JULIET Featuring Indie Rock Band The Family Crest

The Family Crest, The Den Theatre and Jacaranda Collective are happy to current the Chicago premiere of ROMEO AND JULIET: A Spectacular Retelling of The World’s Greatest Love Story, Shakespeare’s timeless story cinematically reimagined utilizing stay music carried out by indie rock darlings and NPR music favorites The Family Crest, whose distinctive and sweeping orchestral sound completely scores essentially the most well-known love story ever advised.

The solid consists of Alex Quiñones (Romeo), Halie Robinson (Juliet), Bailey Savage (Benvolio), Kade Cox(Mercutio), Dan Lin (Tybalt), Susan Fay (Nurse), Jess Ford (Friar Laurence), Terence Sims (Capulet), Ashlea Woodley (Lady Capulet), Gaby Labotka (Prince), Julie Brannen (Dancer), De’jah Jervai (Lady Montague, Dancer), Michael Gee (Montague, Dancer) and Manisha Mahaldar (Dancer).

Directed by Sam Bianchini with choreography by Julie Brannen, this progressive mixture of actors, dancers and stay music by The Family Crest will play a restricted three-show engagement from November 7 – 9, 2019 on The Den Theatre’s Heath Main Stage, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are at the moment accessible at www.thedentheatre.com, in particular person on the The Den field workplace or by calling (773) 697-3830.

Somewhere between a rock live performance and a basic Shakespearean play, ROMEO AND JULIET finds new life by enigmatic staging, partaking choreography and an emotionally expressive soundtrack. Treated as get together friends, the viewers is dropped into the center of this sensational epic in an immersive evening that seems like a music video come to life.

The night options favourite hits from The Family Crest, (a few of which may be heard of their iconic Tiny Desk live performance), mixed with never-before-heard tracks from their upcoming album, The War: Act II, which debuts in 2020. The grandiose, symphonic sounds of those classically educated musicians gives the inspiring soundtrack to the acquainted story and paints the image prefer it’s by no means been seen earlier than.

The collaboration between The Family Crest, The Den Theatre and Jacaranda Collective creates an excellent recipe for a particular occasion. They welcome you to hitch this unforgettable expertise.

Pictured: Kade Cox (Mercutio) in a publicity picture for The Family Crest, The Den Theatre and Jacaranda Collective’s world premiere of ROMEO AND JULIET: A Spectacular Retelling of The World’s Greatest Love Story. of Photo by Audrey Palumbo.

The manufacturing staff up to now consists of Emily Smith (scenic design), Alon Slotter (lighting design), Gaby Labotka (battle choreography) and Amanda Jean Grissom (stage supervisor).

PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Dates: Thursday, November 7, Friday, November eight and Saturday, November 9

Times: Doors open at 9 pm; present at 10pm

Tickets: $33. A restricted variety of VIP tickets can be found for $60 (VIP Tickets embrace premium mezzanine desk seats, a digital album of The Family Crest music from the present, together with three new tracks off the not-yet-released TheWar Part II, and a signed collectible poster). Tickets are at the moment accessible at www.thedentheatre.com, in particular person on the The Den field workplace or by calling (773) 697-3830.

Pictured: (left to proper) Ashlea Woodley (Lady Capulet) and Terence Sims (Capulet) in a publicity picture for The Family Crest, The Den Theatre and Jacaranda Collective’s world premiere of ROMEO AND JULIET: A Spectacular

About The Artists

The Family Crest (Music) The brainchild of composer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Liam McCormick, orchestral indie rock band The Family Crest was began as a recording undertaking in 2009 with co-founder John Seeterlin (bass) as a last launch earlier than bowing out of the business. Instead of leaving music, they had been impressed by their friends to got down to reinvent how a band could possibly be created, beginning The Family Crest with an audacious and daring imaginative and prescient of cultivating a musical group. “We always liked making music with people – getting a bunch of people together and singing. So we put ads everywhere,” says McCormick. “We posted on Craigslist, distributed flyers, and emailed old friends from school.” The consequence was higher than the unique duo imagined, with over 80 folks credited on their first recording and over 500 musicians credited all through their catalog.

Beyond the core band of McCormick and Seeterlin, Anthony Franceschi (drums), Laura Bergmann (flute, piano, percussion, vocals), Owen Sutter (violin) and George Samaan (trombone), over 500 “Extended Family” members take part on recordings, stay reveals and throughout the creative spectrum. Known for his or her jaw-dropping stay performances, The Family Crest has toured extensively domestically and internationally, garnering the assist of followers and the press alike. Bob Boilen of NPR’s “All Songs Considered” mentioned of The Family Crest, “Seeing is believing. Liam McCormick is a knockout singer, you simply must hear him live… There’s a decent chance you’re about to discover your favorite new band.”

The Family Crest has launched three full-length albums and three EPs, together with their critically-acclaimed breakout Beneath the Brine, which SPIN journal known as, “…a masterfully arranged epic… sharp strings, galloping percussion, and an ambition wide enough to swallow you whole.” Most lately, the band has been releasing items of their present musical idea album collection, The War. “The War represents the next version of The Family Crest,” says McCormick, and certainly, the album reveals a band extra in tune with its personal large-scale Baroque eclecticism. Jim Vorel of Paste Magazine described their first providing, The War: Prelude to War, as “A sound so big, it feels like it could collapse in on itself at any moment to form a black hole… One thing is certain: These guys are just as explosive as ever, and these songs are going to bring the house down in a live setting.” The War: Act I, the second installment within the idea collection led to comparable sentiments as EARMILK said, “The Family Crest deliver complex arrangements with such confidence that each varying sound produced is done with effortless intent and is never perceived as an afterthought… a stunning explosion of color and emotion and just another reason why I’m continually captivated by this group.” They are at the moment slated to launch the following chapter within the collection, The War: Act II in 2020.

Sam Bianchini (Director) is a director, actress, author and producer who has labored in LA, NYC and Chicago on each the stage and display. She started her skilled profession within the storefront Chicago theatre scene at 17, whereas acquiring her BFA in Acting from Roosevelt University’s CCPA, which formed her creative voice and provocative, clever and heartrending fashion. She went on to obtain her MFA in Acting from UCLA. Since then, Sam has been writing, appearing and producing immersive and awe-inspiring items of theatre and movie. A meticulous eye, consideration to rhythm, and musicality of emotion are essential staples of her distinctive route. Recently relocating residence to Chicago, Bianchini’s achieved voice and daring imaginative and prescient carry recent concepts and electrifying storytelling to the Chicago Theatre scene. Select West Coast credit: Romeo and Juliet (LA and SF), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Cherry Orchard, Down within the Face of God and Talking Blues (director). Select Chicago Credits: An Ideal Husband, Crumbs from the Table of Joy, The Nebraska Project, My Name is Rachel Corrie (director) and Mad Like Us (director). TV/Film: Chicago Fire, The Next Big Thing (movie), Lost Angeles (author). www.sambianchini.com

Pictured: Dan Lin (Tybalt) in a publicity picture for The Family Crest, The Den Theatre and Jacaranda Collective’s world premiere of ROMEO AND JULIET: A Spectacular Retelling of The World’s Greatest Love Story. of Photo by Audrey Palumbo.

About The Companies

Artistic Director Ryan Martin opened The Den Theatre in 2010 with a single theatre area. Seven years later, The Den boasts 5 intimate and distinctive theaters on two flooring starting from 50 – 200 seats, in addition to two further areas primarily used for courses and rehearsals. The Den can be outfitted with two bars enveloped by a endless discipline of lounge area for audiences and like-minded tradition hounds to drink, speak, learn, watch, assume, pay attention and stay. The Den is residence to 5 resident theatre firms together with First Floor Theater, Haven Theatre Company, The New Colony, Broken Nose Theatre and Firebrand Theatre. Hundreds of different firms from Chicago and past have additionally known as The Den residence, using its theaters, studio area and simply convertible cabaret area to accommodate a stream of programming, together with performs, musicals, movie screenings, classical and jazz performances, dance, improv and stand-up, seminars and talking engagements. For further data, go to www.thedentheatre.com.

Jacaranda Collective is a multi-media manufacturing firm shaped upon the precept of making artwork to discover each the battle and the great thing about existence, with out claiming one Truth. Just because the Moon isn’t seen in full, we acknowledge and rejoice all phases of Life, whereas permitting the viewers a secure area to navigate their very own private panorama. At Jacaranda, we aspire to encourage your perception in magic, and your potential to create it.

Jacaranda Collective burst onto the Chicago theatre scene earlier this spring with their knockout manufacturing of My Name is Rachel Corrie, produced at The Den Theatre. The firm arrives as a passionate and provocative addition to Chicago’s storefront phases. Spearheaded by creative director Sam Bianchini and affiliate creative director Halie Robinson, Jacaranda combines huge, energetic imaginative and prescient and placing storytelling with precision and care. Bianchini and Robinson got down to make theatre that could be a present to the viewers. For further data, go to www.jacarandacollective.com.

Pictured: Bailey Savage (Benvolio) in a publicity picture for The Family Crest, The Den Theatre and Jacaranda Collective’s world premiere of ROMEO AND JULIET: A Spectacular Retelling of The World’s Greatest Love Story. of Photo by Audrey Palumbo.

from Heavy News https://thisisheavynews.com/romeo-and-juliet-featuring-indie-rock-band-the-family-crest/

[oumcartoon]

2017-2018 FELLOWS PRESENTATION SERIES

The Mad Cartoonists of Cairo

The Dangerous World of Middle East Censorship and the Emergence of Arab Comix

Jonathan Guyer

Wednesday, September 13 | 4 PM Sheerr Room, Fay House, 10 Garden Street, Cambridge

Jonathan Guyer is a journalist focused on the politics of art and literature in the Middle East. For the past five years, he has researched Arabic comics in Egypt, interviewing scores of artists and translating hundreds of cartoons from Arabic. He is also a contributing editor of the Cairo Review of Global Affairs, a policy journal published by the American University in Cairo.

At the Radcliffe Institute, Guyer is writing a book on the new wave of comic art that has electrified the Middle East and North Africa over the past decade. Through close examination of graphic narratives and conversations with artists, his project aims to address longstanding questions around the limits of free speech, the role of satire as a form of dissent, and the politics of art in authoritarian states.

Guyer has written for Guernica, Harper’s, Los Angeles Review of Books, Le Monde Diplomatique, The New Yorker, New York Review Daily, New York Times, The Paris Review, and Rolling Stone, and is also a regular contributor to Public Radio International’s The World. In 2015, he wrote widely about the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris, including a cover story for Nieman Reports, which was recognized by the Society for Features Journalism. His research has been supported by fellowships from Fulbright (2012-2013) and the Institute of Current World Affairs (2015-2017).

This event is free and open to the public. 

(Top image: covers of issues 0 to 12 of Tok Tok, the Egyptian comix zine.)

[theresabookforthat]

Princess Diana

Today, August 31st, 2017, marks the 20th anniversary of the death of Princess Diana, her boyfriend Dodi Al Fayed and their driver, Henri Paul, who all died in a car crash in London. Princess Diana left behind two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, who were 15 and 12, respectively. The British Royal Family set up a 20th anniversary memorial at Buckingham Palace with Diana’s personal items, most of them were selected by William and Harry. Last month, HBO and ITV (UK) aired the documentary “Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy.” William says he still feels the shock of his mother’s death. He recently said in a BBC documentary: “I still have shock within me. You know, 20 years later. People go ‘shock can’t last that long’ but it does. You never get over it. It’s such an unbelievably big moment in your life that it never leaves you, you just learn to deal with it.” When she died, Prime Minister Tony Blair called Diana “the people’s princess” because she was so beloved. Diana Spencer’s legacy of generosity and kindness endures.

 FEATURED TITLES:

 REMEMBERING DIANA: A LIFE IN PHOTOGRAPHS foreword by Tina Brown

Twenty years after her death, this dazzling photography collection, with a foreword by bestselling author Tina Brown, celebrates Princess Diana’s poignant life in more than 100 iconic images. For the millions who adored the People’s Princess, this lavish book presents Diana Spencer’s life in glorious color.

  WHO WAS PRINCESS DIANA? by Ellen Labrecque, Jerry Hoare, Nancy Harrison; Ages 8 to 12,

A shy twenty-year-old girl stepped out of a horse-drawn coach and into the world spotlight, capturing the imagination of millions as a real life fairytale princess. Although the storybook marriage didn’t have a happy ending, Diana learned to use her fame as a way to champion charitable causes near to her heart. Learn how Lady Diana Spencer became the People’s Princess as she takes her place in the ranks of the Who Was? Series.

 DIANA: FINALLY, THE COMPLETE STORY by Sarah Bradford

An icon remembered in death as vividly as she appeared in life, Diana, Princess of Wales, is one of the most enduring personalities of the twentieth century-and one of the most enigmatic. With exclusive access to all those closest to Diana, Sarah Bradford casts aside the gossip and lies and takes us to the very heart of the royal family to separate the myth from the truth of the Diana years.

 THE DIANA CHRONICLES by Tina Brown

Years after her death, Princess Diana remains a mystery. Was she “the people’s princess,” who electrified the world with her beauty and humanitarian missions? Or was she a manipulative, media-savvy neurotic who nearly brought down the monarchy? Only Tina Brown, former Editor-in-Chief of Tatler, England’s glossiest gossip magazine; Vanity Fair; and The New Yorker could possibly give us the truth. Tina knew Diana personally and has far-reaching insight into the royals and the Queen herself.

 For more on these and related titles visit the collection, Princess Diana

[midtnmusic]

Interview with Deep Fayed

Interview with Deep Fayed

Deep Fayed is the brainchild of Chicago guitarist and songwriter, George Wundsam. The moniker Deep Fayed has grown to define who he is as an individual and artist. As for the music, it embodies a wide range of influences and emotions that help shape the electrifying songs. The groove-based, progressive hip-hop vibe that has defined Deep Fayed over the years has evolved with its creator and become…

[abernathywrites]

sample 005.

daisy fay [au verse]

"Oh, no."

A soft and airy cry left a petite blonde in one exhale, though it was kept quiet—as if she had intended for it to be said in confidence, a worry kept solely between her heart and her mind. And as she crumpled into the seat of the taxi, it was almost believable that she didn’t want to draw attention to herself—which, of course, left the tall and slender brunette that sat only inches away feeling both miffed and amused simultaneously. This was her unlikely friend: her self-absorbed, self-pitying, lavish-living friend.

This was Daisy Fay.

Examining her nail beds with disinterest, Jordan’s eyes flickered from the chipped polish (and she chastised herself once more; do not have your nails done only to pick up a putter a moment later), to the face of her friend who was trying oh so hard to play the role of a lost girl who didn’t want attention (an attempt at which she was failing), and the glittering lights of the party that went on (loudly) just beyond the gates of the mansion they were now so precariously placed in front of. She thought she heard the droning on of the taxi driver for the two women to exit the vehicle, but she actively ignored it.

“What in the world is it, Daisy? You were so excited to come before.”

The blonde bit into the flesh of her lower lip, looking on at the guests as they zealously made their way into the party. This was what she wanted. This was what she had pined for. A party, but not just any party—a Gatsby party. The ones that were chatted about in all circles, in all social syndicates—the ones where mafioso and politicians and celebrities and civilians all gathered without invitation on the simple knowledge that a celebration—celebrating what, one would never know—beyond the wildest man’s imagination would be occurring. And who knew that one simple fact would bring it all crashing to the ground. ”I’m dressed horribly.” Daisy lamented after a moment, her voice thick with threatening tears. (Jordan couldn’t tell if they were feigned or otherwise.) “Are you out of your mind?” Her friend argued, a playful elbow jabbing her way. “You’re a vision, as always. In fact, I plan to swiftly abandon you the moment we walk through those doors, so that it’s less likely that you’ll show me up.”

A smile cracked onto the beautiful woman’s features, but she shook her head. “But isn’t it just depressing, Jordan? Everyone is dressed so colorfully. I haven’t seen a single person in black. They’ll think I’m a widow. And what widow would mourn at a party? Oh, it’ll be terribly confusing, and I’ll get those looks—those you-should-leave-you-don’t-belong glances and you know just how awful—…“ Jordan’s raised hand silenced Daisy, whose lips closed slowly and whose eyes drifted to follow the various guests running towards the party. Blues, pinks, greens, reds. "You’ll only stand out. Everyone will follow you with their eyes, the same question tugging at them—just who is that lady in black? And furthermore, Daisy; you should know better than to compare yourself to a widow. You’re scarcely in your twenties, and no widow would dare walk out in lipstick like yours, wearing a necklace strung with both pearls and diamonds. Stop being silly.”

And as always, a barrage of compliments was all it took to have Daisy once again all smiles, a sultry word of thanks tossed the driver’s way as Jordan callously tossed bills into the passenger seat of his car, an extra dollar falling with it—a dry "For your troubles" leaving the athlete’s lips.

The party was everything that Daisy could have imagined and more. The music of the band—though she swore there was more than one, playing the same songs to amplify the sounds—hummed in her chest, her heart positively vibrating with it’s electrifying sound. All over, the heat of excited bodies clung onto her, each face new and unique and so, so very interesting. The smell of alcohol and sweat and the sea filled her, lifted her, enriched her. She laughed and sang and danced and in those stolen moments was no longer Daisy Fay or the soon to be Misses Thomas Buchanan but simply a woman—no, a girl who could embrace the riches of life. Her disillusion, her anger, her doubt in happiness (both hers and that of the world) faded in the instant she became a guest to the lucrative Mister Gatsby.

And where that man was, she began to wonder as she sipped a glass of champagne delicately, her body draped carelessly over the cool stone of a balcony. The guests had taken over the mansion as well, and it wasn’t long before Daisy found herself in a gloriously beautiful room, spinning round and round to admire the artwork on the ceiling before claiming to need air. Jordan stood next to her, though a man several paces away and still inside the mansion’s walls continued to urge her back to dance.

“Imagine, that all this is real.” Daisy uttered after a moment, her warm chocolate eyes curiously looking after a green light in the distance, wondering what it could be. “We don’t have to imagine, Daisy—we’re living it!” Jordan retorted more loudly than usual (her usual demeanor following a few drinks), a laugh escaping her. Daisy simply hummed in response, her tongue darting out and drawing along her upper lip, tasting the champagne. “But isn’t it funny?” She finally spoke, not daring to look at the woman beside her. “That here we are, in a stranger’s home, drinking his liquor, dancing to his music, exploring his home, enjoying his company, and yet he’s…” Her free hand grasped out at the air, her soft hands finding nothing. “…Invisible.”

When her words received no answer, she tore her gaze away from the night to see Jordan scurrying out of the room with the same man, her uproarious laughter surrounding Daisy, acting as a remnant. She, too, exited the balcony, finding the air away from the guests suddenly chilly. The music still thrummed through the walls, and soon the blonde found herself swaying along slowly, her circles small and planned, her feet moving in precise, graceful motions. Her head tipped back, and cornsilk dripped from her scalp, her features serene for just a moment.

And then she laughed.

Though she could not understand why, for some reason if she had not laughed in that moment, Daisy was quite certain she would have cried.

[jazzworldquest-blog]

USA: New York Jazz Stories Bernard Purdie, David Haney, Ken Filiano and special guests: 12 Houses OrchestraJoe's Pub Febuary 22, 2020

New York Jazz Stories Bernard Purdie, David Haney,  Ken Filiano and special guests: 12 Houses Orchestra

Joe's Pub Febuary 22, 2020

Ticket Price: $20

Doors at 9pm

Show at 9:30pm

Tickets now on sale

 Pianist and composer David Haney and legendary drummer Bernard Purdie will bring another performance of NewYork Jazz Stories to Joe’s Pub.  New York Jazz Stories combines swinging, electrifying music, featuring Bernard Purdie and company along with some highly entertaining stories retold by David Haney. These are real storiestold directly to Haney, transcribed and brought to life with a soundtrack by “Pretty” Purdie and friends. "Haney and Purdie fit together like interlocking parts of a jigsaw puzzle. The drums gives a center to the piano's drifting improvisations and the piano creates fantastic shapes about the drum foundation. These two makes a really strong and fascinating team." -Cadence Magazine BERNARD PURDIE, the world’s most recorded drummer, was born June 11, 1939 in Elkton, Maryland as the eleventh of fifteen children. Purdie moved to New York in 1960 and soon after recorded his first hit with King Curtis. This led to his engagement with Aretha Franklin in 1970, which marked the beginning of an unparalleled career. Since then, Purdie has worked with a vast array of artists, such as Paul Butterfield, Larry Coryell, Miles Davis, Hall & Oates, Al Kooper, Herbie Mann, Todd Rundgren, and Cat Stevens, as well as regularly producing his own solo albums. DAVID HANEY studied composition with Czech American composer Tomas Svoboda and piano with jazz pianist Eddie Wied. As music editor for Cadence Magazine, David interviewed over 60 jazz artists for the Jazz Stories project. The following artists have worked and recorded with David: Roswell Rudd, Julian Priester, John Tchicai, Steve Swell, Roy Campbell, Bud Shank, Wolter Weirbos, Han Bennink, Andrew Cyrille, Bernard Purdie, Marvin Bugulu Smith, Gerry Hemingway, Dylan Van de Schiff, Buell Neidlinger, Dominic Duval, Adam Lane, Michael Bisio, Paul Blaney, Perry Robinson, Johannes Bauer. As a leader, Haney has over 20 albums on CIMP-USA, Cadence-USA, SLAM-UK, NoSe-So-Argentina, La Gorda-Argentina, and Canada Jazz Studio-Canada. Ken Filiano (born 1952) is an American jazz and orchestral bassist based in Brooklyn, New York. Since the 1970s, Filiano has played or recorded with Anthony Braxton, Fred Ho, Nels Cline, Bill Dixon, Fay Victor, and others. Filiano is on the teaching roster at the New School in New York. He teaches master classes in bass and improvisation and has a private studio in Brooklyn. Ken is a member of the Creative Music Studio. Twelve Houses Orchestra Matt Lavelle, conductor, reeds, trumpet Mary Cherney- flute Chris Forbes-piano Art Baron-Trombone Ben Stapp-Tuba Charles Waters-Alto sax Ras Moshe-Tenor sax Claire Daly-bari sax Claire Du Brunner-bassoon Evan Crane-bass Jack DeSalvo-guitar Matt Lambiase-trumpet Cheryl Pyle-flute In 2011 Matt Lavelle created the12 Houses Orchestra, comprised mostly of musicians he has collaborated with over a 20 year period in New York City. The 12 Houses have performed thirty-five concerts in New York City as of March 2016. Currently the 12 Houses have an every Sunday residency at Nublu in downtown New York City, and have a book of over 50 compositions. This Spring of 2016 the 12 Houses released their debut album on Unseen Rain records called Solidarity.

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