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oohlordhealthisbike · 4 years ago

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Open for bootleg trading~

Hello all! I am posting my bootleg list here for now as a temporary list until I get my website up and running- I am open to trading! I’m mainly looking for any Cats production- preferably English or Dutch but any musical would be nice to have and expand my collection.

Addams Family - Broadway - March 12, 2010

FORMAT: .VOB w/o smalls

CAST:Nathan Lane (Gomez Addams), Bebe Neuwirth (Morticia Addams), Terrence Mann (Mal Beineke), Carolee Carmello (Alice Beineke), Kevin Chamberlin (Uncle Fester), Jackie Hoffman (Grandma), Zachary James (Lurch), Wesley Taylor (Lucas Beineke), Krysta Rodriguez (Wednesday Addams), Adam Riegler (Pugsley Addams)

NOTES: Video quality isn't the best, and audio is sometimes on the softer side. Still a very entertaining show.

Anastasia - Broadway - September 6, 2017

FORMAT: (VOBs w/ smalls)

CAST: Christy Altomare (Anastasia), Derek Klena (Dmitry), John Bolton (Vlad), Ramin Karimloo (Gleb), Caroline O'Connor (Lily), Mary Beth Peil (Maria Feodorovna), Zach Adkins, Sissy Bell, Lauren Blackman, Kyle Brown, Janet Dickinson, Constantine Germanacos, Wes Hart, Ken Krugman, Shina Ann Morris, James A. Pierce III, Molly Rushing, Nicole Scimerca, Johnny Stellard, Allison Walsh (Ensemble)

Aladdin - Broadway, 2014-Nov-05 (SunsetBlvd79‘s master)

Format: VOB + smalls (7.58 GB)

CAST: Adam Jacobs (Aladdin), Courtney Reed (Jasmine), Merwin Foard (s/b Jafar), Michael James Scott (s/b Genie)

NOTES: Beautiful HD capture of latest Disney Broadway offering. Great to see the changes from the Toronto tryout. Michael and Merwin do terrific jobs as Genie and Jafar.

Beauty and the Beast New Zealand April 2006 - Proshot

Format: .VOB w/ smalls

Cast: Jade Steele, Russell Dixon, Glen Drake, Rob Ormsby, Gladys Hope

NOTES: Only the first act & first part of act two!

Beauty and the Beast (Disney) - Broadway - July 27, 2007 (Unknown's video master)

CAST: Anneliese van der Pol (Belle), Steve Blanchard (Beast/Prince), Jamie Ross (Maurice), Chris Hoch (Gaston), David DeVries (Lumière), Jeanne Lehman (Mrs. Potts), Glenn Rainey (Cogsworth), Ann Mandrella (Babette), Trevor Braun (Chip), Aldrin Gonzalez (Le Fou)

NOTES: Two days before the show closed on Broadway. Good amount of closeups and good quality filmed from the mid-mezzanine; there is a railing issue for a while in Act 1 but the taper improves. 'Me', 'Gaston' and 'Be Our Guest' are all predominantly missing and recording stopped for some time after 'Gaston', which created a little jump in the timeline to where Maurice gets thrown out of the tavern. Still a nice video with great closeups of the last Broadway cast.

Beauty and the Beast - Music Theatre of Wichita (2016)

FORMAT: .VOB w/ Smalls

CAST: Catherine Charlebois, Thaddeus Pearson, Johnny Stellard, Steve Hitchcock, James Beaman, Katie Banks-Todd, Karen L. Robu, Lexis Danca, James Heinrichs, Timothy W. Robu, Tanner Pflueger, John Boldenow

Notes: Pro-Shot. Filmed using one camera on a tripod with excellent clear picture and sound.

Cats - Hamburg - August 21, 1999 (Unknown's video master)

FORMAT: MP4 (2.9 GB) CAST: Julia Howson (Grizabella), Stefano Bontempi (Alonzo), Sean McGrath (Admetus/Macavity), Daymon Montaigne Jones (Bill Bailey/Tumblebrutus), Donna Hagan (Bombalurina), Lachlan Youngberg (Bustopher Jones/Gus/Growltiger), Marie Dumas (Cassandra), Valentino McKinney (Coricopat), Juliann Kuchocki (Demeter), Marni Raab (Jellylorum), Nadja Solovieva (Jennyanydots), Clinten Pearce (Mr. Mistoffelees), Deon Ridley (Mungojerrie), Matthew Pike (Munkustrap), Werner Kraus (Old Deuteronomy), Adrianne Richards (Rumpleteazer), Siegmar Tonk (Rum Tum Tugger), Japheth Myers (Skimbleshanks), Angela Roczkov (Tantomile), Rebecca Sutherland (Victoria), Damian Kacperski (Pouncival), Tracey Packham (Sillabub) NOTES: very good quality for the time! Great audio as well.

Cats - Broadway Revival - August 13, 2016 (Unknown's video master)

FORMAT: .VOB w/o Smalls

STAGE: Broadway

CAST: Leona Lewis (Grizabella), Giuseppe Bausilio (Carbucketty), Kim Faure (Demeter), Lili Froehlich (Electra), Sara Jean Ford (Jellylorum), Eloise Kropp (Jennyanydots), Ricky Ubeda (Mr. Mistoffelees), Andy Huntington Jones (Munkustrap), Quentin Earl Darrington (Old Deuteronomy), Shonica Gooden (Rumpleteazer), Tyler Hanes (Rum Tum Tugger), Jeremy Davis (Skimbleshanks)

NOTES: Some people walking across the image for a few seconds during Jennyanydots and Rum Tum Tugger's number. Sometimes a head is visible but not obstructing the action. Almost no white-outs with very good video quality. Audio is very crisp as well. Filmed from a higher seat, but zooms are excellently done and fluent. Overal an amazing bootleg!

Cats - Sixth National Tour - March 15, 2019 (thehouseonsunset's video master)

CAST: Keri René Fuller (Grizabella), Phillip Deceus (Alonzo), Tyler John Logan (Admetus/Macavity), Devin Neilson (Bill Bailey/Tumblebrutus), Lexie Plath (Bombalurina), Timothy Gulan (Bustopher Jones/Gus/Growltiger), Mariah Reives (Cassandra), PJ DiGaetano (Coricopat), Liz Schmitz (Demeter), Maria Failla (u/s Jellylorum), Emily Jeanne Phillips (Jennyanydots), Tion Gaston (Mr. Mistoffelees), Tony D'Alelio (Mungojerrie), Dan Hoy (Munkustrap), Brandon Micheal Nase (Old Deuteronomy), Rose Iannaccone (Rumpleteazer), McGee Maddox (Rum Tum Tugger), Ethan Saviet (Skimbleshanks), Halli Tolland (Tantomile), Laura K Kaufman (u/s Victoria), Anthony Zas (Pouncival), Ahren Victory (Sillabub)

NOTES: Audio is soft in some parts and has a shaky camera. Good video though, nice zooms and high quality.

Cats 1998 Film - (Pro-shot).

FORMAT: MP4 CAST: Elaine Paige (Grizabella), John Mills (Gus the Theatre Cat), Ken Page (Old Deuteronomy), Rosemarie Ford (Bombalurina), Michael Gruber (Munkustrap), John Partridge (Rum Tum Tugger), Aeva May (Demeter), Geoffrey Garratt (Skimbleshanks), James Barron (Bustopher Jones), Jo Gibb (Rumpleteazer), Drew Varley (Mungojerrie), Susie McKenna (Jennyanydots), Jacob Brent (Mistoffelees), Susan Jane Tanner (Jellylorum), Phyllida Crowley Smith (Victoria). NOTES: pro-shot version of the musical. Multiple cameras and HD video and audio.

Cinderella - Broadway - March 2, 2013

FORMAT: VOB + smalls

CAST: Laura Osnes (Ella), Santino Fontana (Prince Topher), Victoria Clark (Fairy Godmother), Harriet Harris (Evil Stepmother), Ann Harada (Charlotte)

NOTES: Very good view of the stage, sometimes zooms are a bit slow but it's not bothersome. Very enjoyable experience.

Evita - Costa Mesa - December 14, 2013

FORMAT: (VOBs w/ Smalls)

CAST: Caroline Bowman (Eva), John Riddle (u/s Che), Sean MacLaughlin (Peron), Krystina Alabado (Mistress), Christopher Johnstone (Magaldi)

Kinky Boots - Broadway - May 26, 2017 (Opening Night) (Audio)

CAST: Brendon Urie (Charlie Price)

FORMAT: M4A

NOTES: Brendon is amazing in the role, the audio is not really HD, but it’s still really fun to listen to, especially for P!ATD fans like me haha.

Legally Blonde - Broadway - 2007-Oct-25

Format: VOB no smalls (4.11 GB)

CAST: Becky Gulsvig (u/s Elle Woods), Andy Karl (u/s Emmett Forrest), Richard H Blake (Warner Huntington III), Orfeh (Paulette), Kate Shindle (Vivienne Kensington), Nikki Snelson (Brooke Wyndham/Shandi), Michael Rupert (Professor Callahan), Haven Burton (Margot), Tracy Jai Edwards (Serena), Asmeret Ghebremichael (Pilar), Matthew Risch (u/s Kyle/Grandmaster Chad/Dewey), Natalie Joy Johnson (Veronica/Enid), Kate Wetherhead (Kate/Chutney), Rod Harrelson (u/s Carlos)

NOTES: Great capture of the two understudies in the role. Shot from the orchestra with amazing shots. Starts in the middle of 'Omigod You Guys'.

Les Misérables - West End - November, 2018 (NYCG8R's master)

FORMAT: VOB (with smalls) (SD)

CAST: Dean Chisnall (Jean Valjean), Bradley Jaden (Javert), Carley Stenson (Fantine), Amara Okereke (Cosette), Toby Miles (Marius), Elena Skye (Éponine), Samuel Edwards (Enjolras), James Hume (u/s Thénardier), Vivien Parry (Madame Thénardier), Logan Clark (Gavroche), Andrew York (u/s The Bishop), Adam Filipe (u/s Grantaire), Barnaby Hughes (Combeferre), Joe Vetch (Feuilly), Oliver Brenin (s/w Courfeyrac), Ben Tyler (Jean Prouvaire), James Nicholson (Joly), Andrew York (Lesgles), Adam Bayjou (Brujon), Ciaran Bowling (s/w Babet), Sam Harrison (Claquesous), Ciaran Joyce (Montparnasse), Adam Bayjou (Factory Foreman), Anna McGarahan (Factory Girl), Anna McGarahan (Crone), Sam Harrison (Bamatabois), Ben Tyler (Pimp), Barnaby Hughes (Fauchelevent), Adam Bayjou (Champmathieu), Ciaran Bowling (s/w Major Domo)

Les Misérables - The All-Star Staged Concert - December 2, 2019 (Closing Night) (Pro-Shot's master)

FORMAT: MKV (HD)*

CAST: Alfie Boe (Jean Valjean), Michael Ball (Javert), Carrie Hope Fletcher (Fantine), Lily Kerhoas (Cosette), Rob Houchen (Marius), Shan Ako (Éponine), Bradley Jaden (Enjolras), Matt Lucas (Thénardier), Katy Secombe (Madame Thénardier), Earl Carpenter (The Bishop), Raymond Walsh (Grantaire), Craig Mather (Combeferre), Vinny Coyle (Feuilly), Niall Sheehy (Courfeyrac), James Nicholson (Jean Prouvaire), Ciaran Joyce (Joly), Andrew York (Lesgles), Leo Roberts (Brujon), Stephen Matthews (Babet), Oliver Jackson (Claquesous), Adam Bayjou (Montparnasse), Gavin James (Factory Foreman), Celia Graham (Factory Girl), Tamsin Dowsett (Crone), Earl Carpenter (Bamatabois), Oliver Jackson (Pimp)

NOTES: The digitally released proshot, edited differently to the live cinema stream.

Les Miserables - Broadway - Feb. 17, 2007

FORMAT: VOB + smalls

CAST: Alexander Gemignani (Jean Valjean), Norm Lewis (Javert), Daphne Rubin-Vega (Fantine), Gary Beach (Thenardier), Jenny Galloway (Mme Thenardier), Celia Kennan-Bolger (Eponine), Ali Ewoldt (Cosette), Adam Jacobs (Marius), Drew Sarich (u/s Enjolras)

Little Shop of Horrors - Encores! Off-Center-New York City Center, 2015-July-1 (Opening Night) (NYCG8R's video master)

Format: VOB + smalls (4.21 GB)

CAST: Jake Gyllenhaal (Seymour), Ellen Greene (Audrey), Joe Grifasi (Mushnik), Taran Killam (Orin), Eddie Cooper (Audrey II), Marva Hicks (Crystal), Ramona Keller (Ronnette), Tracy Nicole Chapman (Chiffon)

NOTES: Opening Night filmed from the very back of City Center, so there is some spotlight washout that's never too bad and a head that's shot well around.

Phantom Of the Opera - US Tour - August 12, 2015 (Unknown master)

FORMAT: VOBs w/ Smalls)

Chris Mann, Katie Travis, Storm Lineberger, Jacquelynne Fontaine, Edward Staudenmayer, David Benoit, Anne Kanengeiser, Frank Viveros, Morgan Cowling, Mark Emerson, Eric Ruiz, Edward Juvier, Dan Debenport, David Foley Jr., Allan Snyder, Christy Morton

Spider-Man - Turn off the Dark - Broadway - October 14, 2012

FORMAT: (VOBs)

CAST: Matthew James Thomas (alt. Peter Parker/Spiderman), Kristen Martin (u/s Mary Jane), Robert Cuccioli (Green Goblin), Katrina Lenk (Arachne).

NOTES: Post-Changes

The Book of Mormon - UK & Ireland Tour - 2019 (Rumpel's master-RARE)

FORMAT: .VOB (no smalls) (HD)

CAST: Kevin Douglas Clay (Elder Price), Connor Peirson (Elder Cunningham), Nicole-Lily Baisden (Nabulungi), Will Hawksworth (Elder McKinley), Ewen Cummins (Mafala Hatimbi), Thomas Vernal (General), David Brewis (Cunningham’s Dad), Tre Copeland-Williams (Doctor), Johnathan Tweedie (Prices Dad/Joseph Smith/Mission President), Cleopatra Isaac (Mrs Brown), Jemal Felix (Guard), Lukin Simmonds (Guard), Alex James-Hatton, David Brewis, Evan James, Fergal McGoff, George Crawford, Isaac Hesketh, Jed Berry

NOTES: One of the best videos of this show out there. Recorded from the right wing, doesn't miss any action. High quality video and excellent sound. Kevin is a very good Elder Price.

The Book of Mormon - Chicago - December 23, 2012 (SunsetBlvd79's master)

FORMAT: VOB (with smalls) (HD)CAST: Nic Rouleau (Elder Price), Ben Platt (Elder Cunningham), Syesha Mercado (Nabulungi), Pierce Cassedy (Elder McKinley), James Vincent Meredith (Mafala Hatimbi), Christopher Shyer (Mission President), David Aron Damane (General)

The Book of Mormon - Broadway - March 1, 2011 (Preview) (NYCG8R's master)

FORMAT: VOB (no smalls) (SD)

CAST: Andrew Rannells (Elder Price), Josh Gad (Elder Cunningham), Nikki M James (Nabulungi), Rory O’Malley (Elder McKinley), Michael Potts (Mafala Hatimbi), Lewis Cleale (Mission President)

Wicked - Broadway, 2013-May-12 (Lanelle's master)

Format: M2TS (HD) - (24.02 GB)

CAST: Willemijn Verkaik (Elphaba), Katie Rose Clarke (Glinda), Kyle Dean Massey (Fiyero), Adam Grupper (The Wizard), Randy Danson (Madame Morrible), Catherine Charlebois (Nessarose), F Michael Haynie (Boq), John Schiappa (Doctor Dillamond)

NOTES: Filmed from the right orchestra, at a slight angle, but excellent quality. The taper originally released this as a blu-ray, 2-disc DVDs and 1-disc DVD, so make sure to get the version that best suits your needs.

Wicked - May 12, 2013 (Lanelle's master RIP WITH SUBS)

FORMAT: .MKV w/o Smalls, With English & Chinese Subtitles

NOTES: Warning- Moderate quality. Some quality of the original master has been lost through conversion from blue-ray to MKV. Has English and Chinese subtitles. Audio is great and video sometimes has some white-outs.

Wicked - Broadway - January 2nd, 2015 (unknown master)

FORMAT: VOB w/o Smalls

CAST: Caroline Bowman (Elphaba), Kara Lindsay (Glinda), Matt Shingledecker (Fiyero), Tom McGowan (The Wizard), Kathy Fitzgerald (Madame Morrible), Robin de Jesus (Boq), Arielle Jacobs (Nessarose), Timothy Britten Parker (Dr. Dillamond)

NOTES: The camera moves a bit but follows the actors well. Some parts are a bit washed out but the audio is good.

Wicked - Broadway, May 28, 2006 (Unkown master)

FORMAT: VOB w/o SmallsCAST: Eden Espinosa (Elphaba), Megan Hilty (Glinda) Derrick Williams (Fiyero), David Garrison (The Wizard), Carol Kane (Madame Morrible), Jenna Leigh Green (Nessarose)

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If you’re interested, please don’t hesitate to contact me! Like I said I would love any cats bootleg- especially the older ones in English and Dutch from like the 80′s till the 00′s. I am also looking for more diversity in my list- and I’m also looking for the classics- Dear Evan Hansen, Falsetto’s, some more Phantom Of the Opera, Mean Girls, Legally Blond, etc...

33 notes · View notes

rosierocks30 · 4 years ago

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Hidden: Ch.7

Chapter 7: Preparation

It was dark with a clear sky as the stars twinkle bright. A figure was walking down the streets to enter a late night pub. The stranger roamed his eyes to find his fellow colleagues who were gathered around the table having a drink and chatting.

He walked towards them then greeted them. “Good evening gentlemen. What have I missed?” The stranger chuckled as he sat down to join in the conversation.

“Ah Ricky, we were just talking about what had happened at the Court Hall. Apparently, Captain Levi and the prisoner are related. Who would have thought?! Nobody knows anything about the Captain of the Survey Corps. Not even his squad. That man is a crazy loner. A cousin of mine said he’s too good when it comes slaughtering Titans.” Another man spoke then took a sip of ale.

Ricky or Richard Adams was interested in what his friend said. He didn’t go to the trial. The man was occupied with important missions from his higher ups. “Who is this prisoner the Military police and Survey Corps captured?”

“He’s some foreigner from a country that’s across the ocean. What was his name? I think William Miles.” One of the men intervene the conversation.

William Miles. The Mentor Assassin? Why is he here? Huh, this is trouble. Maybe, the templars already begin their next phase. So there must be assassins roaming in the Paradis Isle. Ricky had joined the Templar Order five years ago. The Order had been here longer since King Karl Fritz came to this island and built the Walls to protect the Eldians here from the rest of the world. After all, they encourage the king to move here. This side of the world was untouched by Assassins. Looks like they finally came here to get rid of Templars, but the brotherhoods are small in numbers while the Order are growing bigger and stronger.

“I see. It’s such a shame I wasn’t there to witness.” Ricky glanced at the other man.

Richard Adams stayed for a while with his friends then he decided to leave to attend a different meeting. His hat covered his eyes so no one would recognize him. He stopped and double checked in case he was not being followed. He knocked in a certain code on the wooden door. The door opened enough for a man in his 40s to peak out. “Show me the mark of Cain.” Ricky pulls out a red cross symbol attached to a chain on his belt. The door man nodded and opened the door wide. “Welcome, my friend.”

Ricky smiled and entered the building. He followed the other templar to a dining room with several members seated already. He took his usual place to sit. Not long, their leader arrived and sat at the head of the table. His hood was covered until he removed to reveal light brown hair and pierce blue eyes. The leader looked like in his early 20’s.

“Hello gentleman, as you can see the Mentor Assassin William Miles has come to this island. We, templars, must be on our guard. There will be other assassins since Mr. Miles doesn't come alone. The Grandmaster blessed me to take charge, the Paradis Isle Order of Templars. Ever since the Marleyans sent their Titan shifters to invade here, we lost control; but don’t worry. We’ll take it back before the assassin’s take over. I will make sure they are annihilated once I become king by marrying the bastard queen.” The blue eyed man smirked.

The rest of the Templars cheered their leader. “Yes Lord Evans, we’re with you all the way!” One of the men said.

“But one of my intel's told me some interesting news. Her Majesty and Levi Ackerman are secretly married. Plus, Captain Ackerman is the grandson of Mentor Miles. He is known to be a bloodlust monster on the battlefield. The more reason it’s best to execute him. The Ackerman bloodline is dangerous. I can’t believe they are still alive and producing like varmints.” Lord Evans said with a venomous tone. His ancestor, King Karl Fritz who founded House Reiss, started the persecution of the Ackerman and the Azumabito clans that resided within the Walls.

“My lord, would it be best to have Levi Ackerman as our Subject 18. His DNA is something that Abstergo Industries would want to collect data. He shares the same ancestry of Desmond Miles. We can look further on the real secret of the creation of the Ackermans. We’ll use it to make an army for global power.” A brown haired man with dark eyes name, Patrick Summers speaks out.

“Hmm, if the grandmaster accepts this idea then I don’t see why not, but after we’re done using him; I will personally kill him.” Nathaniel wants to see Levi dead, but he’s a logical man and what his brethren points out is Ackerman's ancestry. With time and patience, he’ll get what he wants.

“Even though the company has Desmond’s infant bastard son, the baby is not old enough to begin to collect data from the animus. Ackerman is a perfect candidate to continue exploring Miles' bloodline.” Patrick resumed his explanation when he observed the way his leader’s expression gives off a displeasing look. Lord Evans may be logical, but only when he isn’t blind with his emotions and arrogance.

Patrick is an ambitious man that came from nothing. He joined the Templars for making a world a better place for people like him who are poor with no access to necessary things to live comfortably. People like Lord Evans are full of greed. The dark eyed templar will do whatever it takes to get to the top of the ranks.

Lord Evans stared at Patrick with annoyance while the rest of the men mumbles and agrees with what Patrick said. Both men never get along, they always one up each other of every opportunity comes towards them. Nate will make sure nobody like Patrick outran him.

“Gentlemen, Phase two is activated. This meeting is dismissed” Nate gets up and begins to walk out of the small room with his personal assistance.

“Sir, pardon me for being bold, but are you really going to tell the Grandmaster?” Nate’s assistant, Gilbert, whispers low. As the two men are now out into the dark street of Mitras, the nobleman turns to his assistant. “No, the grandmaster doesn’t need to know about that street rat connection to the mentor assassin. Gilbert, you have been loyal to me for many years. Can I trust you enough to do this mission for me?” Gilbert kneel on his knee to show his fealty to his lord. “Of course, my lord. You can trust me with any mission you give me. I’m always loyal to you until I draw my last breath.” He said.

“Only to me, right?” Lord Evans wants to be sure before giving the mission to his loyal servant and assistant.

“Yes my lord. Only to you forever.” Gilbert’s voice became soft and blushes. Nathaniel looks around to make sure no one is able to see. He helped Gilbert up to have him look into his eyes.

“Good because it will break my heart if you betray me, Gilly.” He grips gently on Gilbert’s chin to kiss his lips.

“I will never betray you, Nate.” Gilbert has a determined look to show his lover of his loyalty. “So who is it you want me to kill? I knew you too well. Is it Patrick Summers?”

“Summers does get on my nerves, but it’s not him. I’ll give you more information at home.” Both Lord Evans and Gilbert walk through the dark, quiet streets to get to home.

Meanwhile in Marley

A group of soldiers are doing their late night routine to prepare for the war against Paradis Isle or what they call the Devil’s Island.

The sounds of rifle guns and marching boots echo the fields of the military base. A dark haired man with rough facial features. His eyes are glancing at the marching soldiers.

“Sir, our soldiers look ready for the war.” Another man smirks from seeing how sharp and focused the Marleyan army looks.

“Yes, they are ready. We just need to be patient for the Commander-in-chief to signal us to invade Paradis.” The General observed his troops with pride. “Is the Warrior unit ready for the invasion?”

“I believe so, General Theo Magath. Would you like me to send a message to Deputy Chief Braun of the process of the Warrior Unit?” The Lieutenant suggested to the general.

“Yes, we need to be perfect and sharp. Those devil spawns are aware of us and the war that’s coming to them. It’s best to give a surprise invasion.” General Magath said. The lieutenant went to do as he was told.

On the other side of the base where the Eldian Units reside, Reiner Braun the Deputy Chief of the Warrior Unit is occupied writing a letter to his mother.

A knock on the door stops him writing. He looks up to see an Eldian comrade handing him a note. The Armored Titan grabs the note then reads it. He begins to reply on the paper. Once he’s done, Reiner gives back the note to the same messenger. When the messenger leaves, Reiner thinks about his former friends and comrades from Paradis Isle.

Soon things will get ugly when he comes face to face with them.

Paradis Isle

At the Headquarters of the Survey Corps, the Mess Hall is full of soldiers eating and chatting with their comrades. The Levi’s squad are huddled in their table whispering each other.

“You know the Captain and Historia didn’t explain how they became...you know.” Jean looks around then faces back at his friends. “Together and married.” His tone is low for only his friends to hear.

Armin stops eating his hot meal to speak. “Jean, it’s best we don’t bring it up here. Remember, this is supposed to keep hidden from everyone.”

“We can ask them when Captain Levi takes us to the palace later.” Sasha said while eating her breakfast. For years the gang learned to understand what Sasha said with her mouth full whenever she eats.

Everyone nods in agreement. “Yeah, Sasha is right. We can ask them later.” Jean said. He glanced at Armin who avoided his stare from being nervous he knew the relationship between Historia and Levi. After all Armin was one of the witnesses for the captain and the queen’s wedding.

While the members of Levi’s squad are eating and chatting, on the other side of the Mess Hall; the two figures who are sitting on the same table are having their own conversation.

“Wait? There are cities with lights everywhere?!” Hange looks amazed at what William said.

“Yes, it's common in majority places even towns have them.” The only thing that amaze Will was this island being isolated to the world for centuries and these people survived on medieval-like technologies.

“Yeah well, not here. We are way behind. So what else does your city have?” Her tone sounds like an excited child that can’t wait to hear good news.

“Maybe instead of telling you about New York City, I can take you to show what it looks like and the sites to see.” Again, Will can’t help it to flirt at this extraordinary woman in front of him. You don’t find women like Hange in many places.

An assassin like him needs a wife who understands what they're getting themselves into because the Brotherhood is lifestyle permanently. His late wife married him without knowing what she was getting herself into. Their marriage was full of arguments and resentments. William doesn’t regret marrying her. They had two wonderful and strong boys. At one point after losing his son, Desmond from Juno; he went into a deep depression and blamed everything on the Creed.

Now his passion and dedication to the Creed had ignited to return back to his fellow assassin and became the Mentor of the Global Brotherhood. This gives him the connection to find and meet his long lost grandson he learnt about many years ago. Will made a promise to his older son’s grave that he will be there for Levi. He understands his grandson will need time to adjust to him being there in his life.

Will may not know much about the queen, but she does have the spirit to be a member of the Brotherhood Assassins. The Mentor does want to get to know his granddaughter in law. Hopefully he’ll get the chance to do that without Levi getting overprotective with her.

“That would be awesome, but maybe after the war if I make it out alive.” She frowns at the thought of the upcoming war with Marley. If the Goddesses bless her to win and make it out alive, she will gladly go with William to visit his home country.

“A war? With who?” This caught his attention. He feels a bit concerned since his grandson is a soldier. Will can’t lose another member of his family again.

Hange pause a bit to contemplate whether to tell him or not. “I don’t if I should tell you-” William interrupted her.

“Please, I need to know why there will be a war soon. Levi is a soldier and I just finally found him. I don’t want anything bad to happen to him. I don’t know how many soldiers your nation has in the army, but it looks small not to consider an army.” He still looks concerned. Hange senses some pain in his voice when he mentions not wanting to lose Levi to the war.

“It’s Marleyans. We’re going to war with them. They had been preparing to invade our island just to take the Founding Titan while wanting to eradicate us from this world. To the rest of the world, were devils because the Eldians are cursed being connected to the Path. Our ancestor, Ymir, was the first Eldian to become a Titan by making a deal with the Earth Devil whoever that son of bitch was. So there’s 9 main Titans that an Eldian can inherit. The Jaw Titan, Attack Titan, War Hammer Titan, Armored Titan, Beast Titan, Cart Titan, Female Titan, Colossus Titan, and Founding Titan. A Titan shift of the 9 Titans has 13 years left to be alive until they die. If there’s no successor to pass it on the power of one of the nine Titans, a newborn Eldian baby will inherit once they are born into this cruel world. So nations in this continent hate and fear us. In ancient times, The Eldian Empire did use the Titans to conquer lands until one of the noble clans turned they’re back on the Empire and sided that Marleyans to defeat us. The king, Karl Fritz moved some of the Eldians to this island and built the Three Walls. He erased our people’s memories from the outside world. Through generations, we thought we’re the last humans, but when my late commander Erwin led us to the basement of Dr. Jaeger’s home, we found out the truth. Under Queen Historia’s rule, we learnt who’s the real enemy.” She paused to watch how William was taking all of this information.

“I see. If I was just an average man with a simple life, I would call you crazy, but I've seen crazy things. Who has the nine titans right now? Is Levi part of the curse?” His curiosity reveals from his expression.

“Few of the titans are in the possession of the nation of Marley. I think the Armor Titan, Cart Titan, Jaw Titans and War Hammer Titan. No wait Eren inherited the War hammer after the attack of Liberio he caused. He got the Founding titan, Attack Titan and now the War Hammer Titan, but he betrayed us to join with his brother who is the Beast Titan. His brother has followers called The Jeagerists. They kidnapped Historia. Your grandson was ready to go on a rampage to slaughter them. After all he is an Ackerman. They are a bloodline of warriors to protect the royal family until King Karl orders them to kill every Ackerman member clan. Few survived that’s why Levi and a girl named Mikasa are the last Ackermans in the world. They have titan genes as their the descendants of the first Ackerman volunteer to be the by product bio engineer of a titan in a human form. They don’t have the 13 year cursed and they’re strong and dangerous when they are triggered. I like to call them the 10th Titan.” Hange chuckles.

William Miles sighs from absorbing that Levi is basically a Superhuman. Levi had not just the Ackerman warrior blood in him but also the assassin bloodline too. It’s like Life itself had made this happen probably soon the world will need Superhumans to protect the world from either Juno and her followers or something else that’s not from this planet. The universe is much bigger. Anything can come and try to attack this small planet.

“You know if this remind me of the holocaust and the Nazis.” Hange was confused but intriguing.

“What are the holocaust and Nazis?” She asked.

Of course, he is aware how disconnected this side of the world is. They basically are repeating history. That’s something William will not let it happen. If he can get the UN involved to have this side of the world to make a peace treaty with the Paradis Isle. It will save countless lives. Also, the Eldians will be free from being annihilate from this world. The sad thing is it will take many years or centuries for the Eldians to be seen as human beings instead of monsters. For now stopping a war will start.

“The Holocaust was one of the dark periods in mankind history. Jewish people were once being persecuted too. In Germany during World War II, the German leader, Adolf Hitler was a cruel man but powerful. He had conquered the continent of Europe. He and his party known as the Nazis were supremacist. They first segregated the Jewish people by creating ghettos for them. They were treated as low class humans until Hitler introduced The Final Solution. By sending them to a contraction camp to get them to do labor work until death or sending them into a gas chamber to kill the mass of the Jewish people.” Will stopped and thought about how this part of history had impacted him personally.

His mother was a holocaust survivor. His father during that time was an Assassin master freeing the Jews from the camps. He fought the Nazis soldiers. Some were Templars, but even the Templars never agreed what Hitler and his Nazis did to the people who did not like them.

His parents met when his father was on a mission to assassinate one of the SS Nazi top officers in the camp where his mother was in doing labor working. His father encountered his mother who was returning to her bunker from another brutal labor work. She didn’t snitch on him but has a curious personality which intrigues his father. Since then, they secretly met up until his father was assigned to another mission. For a couple of years they didn’t see each other. William remembered what his father told him how anxious and paranoid he felt when he couldn’t convince the women to come with him to be free, but she declined his offer. She had her family here and she would have guilt if she had escaped while her parents and younger siblings were still there as prisoners.

When the Allies won and break free the victims of the camps, his father began to search for his mother who was in love. When he saw a skinny boned woman with hollow cheeks, but her dark eyes were recognizable. He was so relieved she was still alive. His mother was looking hopeless from losing her family from the gas chamber. She was lucky enough that her group didn’t enter. His father made a promise to protect her and love her until death. It took a couple of years for his mother to heal physically, but the mentally it affected her. Will was born three years after the war was over.

Hange was disgusted and horrified what those Nazis did with no remorse. Will this happen to the Eldians if nobody stops Marley or other nations from this side of the world? No, she wouldn’t allow that to happen.

“That sounds like hell.” She frowns.

“I despise bigotry. My mother was a survivor from the Holocaust. She rarely spoke of it. All it reminded her was pain and terror. She had lost her parents and siblings. This is one of the reasons I’m passionate about being an Assassin. We believe in free will and give the people a voice against oppression society.” He said with passion.

“By assassinating?” She glances at the older man.

“Yes, well we are not just some common assassins. We have codes that guide us for centuries. Think of it like Jedi’s from Star Wars.” William chuckles.

Hange is confused from not picking up his reference. “Jedi’s? Star Wars?”

“Oh my poor soul, I forgot you haven’t been exposed to watching movies.” He sips his drink. “Thank goodness I have my laptop with me. I’ll introduce you to the world of Star Wars.”

The commander may not know what he meant but she is excited to learn more mysterious things. “Oh yeah I can’t wait. Levi should join us! And I’m sure the queen would love to see this Star Wars thing.”

“That’s a wonderful idea. I hope he will join us. He seems a grumpy child that doesn’t like anything.” Hange burst into a laughter which most of the soldiers looked at her like she’s a crazy person.

“Oh you define Levi just right. Don’t worry, Historia is very good at persuading him to do almost anything.” She grins wickedly.

“Alright, I’ll hold you on to that.” He smiles then his expression changes to seriousness. “The Brotherhood will be under your command as we are allies. We will win this war. You have my word, Zoe.”

The Survey Commander looks at the Mentor and nods with gratitude. “Thank you, William. I really appreciate it.” She smiles.

Both Mentor and Commander resume eating their breakfast. At least Hange now has an ally for Paradis. She can sleep better knowing this is better than having nothing or trying to gain alliance outside of the island.

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

Levi and Historia are having a quiet and peaceful breakfast in Historia’s chamber. The table is covered with platters of cut fruits, pancakes, bacon, sausages, and eggs. A pitch of fresh squeezed orange juice is in the middle of the table, but both Ackerman-Reiss couples prefer sipping a cup of tea.

“Oh Levi, say ah for me.” the queen is facing her husband with a strip of bacon in her hand.

The soldier is occupied reading the Newspaper from any suspicion clues from the Jeagerists. “Hm?” he stops to give his attention to his wife.

“No, who knows where your hands had been?” He glances back reading the newspaper.

Historia rolls her eyes. “My hands are clean, Levi. I just washed them before eating right now.”

“Tch, earlier they weren’t clean especially when you were touching yourself in your sleep-” Levi smirks as Historia begins to blush embarrassingly.

“It’s the pregnancy hormones’ fault and the dream.” She hmphed at him then looked away to hide her flushed face.

Levi couldn’t help it but to give one of his rare smiles at her. “Oh I’m aware. What an interesting sight to wake up in the morning.”

Historia was about to smack his chest, but with his quick reflects, Levi caught it to bring her hand to his lips and kisses gently.

“I thought they were dirty for you.” Historia forgot her embarrassment when seeing Levi being gentle and kissing her hand. This made her heart melt from his action. She is a very lucky woman to have such a man like Levi Ackerman who looks cold and aloof on the outside, but with Historia his walls drop for her to see the real him. A gentle compassionate protector who will go great lengths to make sure she’s happy and smiles constantly.

To Levi, Historia made him feel alive once again. All he knew was tragedy, but this pure angel brought him back to life. She’s the sun and he’s the wither flower.

The captain gently pulled his wife to him so she could sit on his lap comfortably. Once Historia sat on his lap, her arms wrap around his neck to lean in to kiss him softly. She loves being under his embrace. Her nose is hit with his scent of cedarwood and black tea leaves.

The queen giggles when her husband begins to kiss her neck softly. Levi let out a chuckle. Now his hand is on his wife’s baby bump to rub gently. He still can’t believe he’ll be a father soon.

Historia watches her husband eyeing on her growing womb. “Our baby started to move. It felt like butterflies swirling in my womb.” She places her hand on Levi’s so both of them can embrace as soon to be new parents.

“The brat better not start kicking me when we go to bed.” He mumbles. “I won't be able to explain Four Eyes about why my back aches.” Historia chuckles from Levi’s comment.

“You’ll be fine and I doubt the baby will kick you that hard.” She kisses his jawline affectionately. The older man moans softly as he enjoys her affection.

“Speaking of our baby, I was thinking...with the war coming soon, I think you should go to the country where Will- I mean grandfather is from. For your own and the baby protection.” His grey eyes stare a bit nervously at his wife. He knows Historia will protest and become stubborn to stay here.

“Levi, we talked about this. I will not leave you. I can protect myself and our unborn baby. Please don’t sent me away. I can’t be separated away from you. What if you don’t come back and leave us from this world!” The blonde woman feels tears are threatening to fall from her eyes.

“Historia please don’t make this difficult. This will be hard for me too, but I need you to be safe away from the war. The Marleyans will do whatever it takes to win even assassinate you, the queen, and our child. I can’t promise anyone to be safe around me if I lose you both! I wasn’t joking about annihilating anyone in my way. Fuck, I will come back to you once the war is over and be reunited as a family. I’ve talked to both my grandfather and Hange before coming here to spend the night with you. They agree it’s for the best. Us, Eldians, need their queen. We need you to be alive. You’re the symbol of hope.”

Historia buried her face on his chest. She cries silently from the thought of being separated from her soulmate. She wants Levi to be there when she gives birth to their first born child.

“It just hurts so much that you’re right. I’m scared, my love. You’re my strength. You say I’m your sun but you’re my moon, Levi” Her blue eyes widen from her speech.

“Baby, I will come back to you. With you and our kid being safe and sound; I know I can breathe a little to give my all into this war so I can be back with you under my arms. I just need you to cooperate with me.” He pleaded with his wife.

“Then as your queen, I command you to make sure you stay alive to come back to me.” Both their eyes are locked and Historia gives a commanding tone to him. Levi submitted willingly to kiss her hand. “As you wish, my queen.”

Historia cups her hands on to his face to press her lips onto his. “Protect your people, friends, and family. I will wait for you, my warrior.”

“I’m under your command, always my goddess.” He whispers.

Ever since the star-crossed lovers got together, a bond was created. It was strange but familiar. During the time their relationship was new, Historia invested her time to research. Now that Commander Hange knows about their relationship, she helps the queen to further the research of the Reiss and Ackerman bloodlines and the bonds that Ackermans were known for.

As time passes, their bond increases. Both are equals in many ways. Historia has been trying to find information on what Zeke had claimed this child she;s carrying will be the doom of the Eldians race. The queen had hired an intel to go to Marley and find this so-called prophecy. She did get a letter earlier when she woke up that this spy will come back home in a few days as he did find something on what she was looking for. It was best to read it in person. The queen of course will share with Hange since she knows how the Survey Commander will rejoice from learning new things.

The couple are still lost in their stares until a knock on the doors is heard. Both queen and captain break off their intense stare. They got off from each other. Historia was about to tell whoever it is to enter, but Levi gestured his head a no. “Not yet until you change something not too revealing.” His tone was showing possessiveness.

Historia looks down to see her night gown was too revealing especially for a queen that’s supposed to represent modesty and virtue. She looks at the door. “Who is it?” Her tone was authoritative.

Levi growls in annoyance that his wife is ignoring what he said. Plus, she better not dare to let whoever is on the other side of the door to enter or that poor soul will get their ass beaten. Shit, better not be that annoying Lord Ethan whatever the fuck his last name is.

“It’s Jean, Sasha, Connie, Mikasa and Armin, your majesty.” Jean said on the other side of the door. Well, at least it wasn’t that noble asshole.

“Give her a minute so Historia can dress up properly.” Levi cuts in before Historia says anything. The queen glares in annoyance to her husband. “You can be such a possessive jerk.” She said in a low tone while walking to her closet to find something that is modesty enough to have an audience in her chamber.

“You know I don’t like anyone staring at you like they see you nude already.” He leans to the ear to whisper huskily. His strong arms wrap around her like a treasure in his possession. Historia is used to his possessive side which she resumes browsing her outfits.

Levi removed her robe which fell on the floor. Her nightgown is transparent for him to see her nude body. “Levi, behave yourself.” Historia is trying to be composed and not cave into his seducing gesture.

“But I am on my best behavior, my queen.” He chuckles deeply. Levi enjoys how Historia reacts when he gets bold. “You look ravishing, especially you’re growing my seed inside you. Our offspring will be strong.” The young blonde realizes Levi is not Levi right now. His speech pattern and tone are indifferent.

She remembers one of the journals from the Reiss estate’s library mentioning one of the “side effects” of the experiment to make the Ackermans what they are now. The ancient journal said, when an Ackerman becomes awakened of their true potential; their beast or the titan that laid dormant in them until its activated. The queen did encounter Levi’s titan before, but she wasn’t aware why his personality had changed at first. Probably that’s one of the reasons why most Ackermans who were awakened, had intense headaches from fighting to be in control with their titan side subconsciously.

A Titan shifter like Eren, Zeke, Ymir, Annie, Reiner, and now Armin don’t have that because they are able to transform into a Titan. Also, what the journal mentioned, a titan shifter just needs a successor to live on. Whether the host gets eaten or a newborn baby is being born. Hange wasn’t joking about the Ackermans are the 10th Titan but their bloodline is what drives their existence. Her baby if he or she awakens their power, the titan within them will awake from their ‘sleep’. This titan is seriously insatiable.

“Levi, we guests are waiting on the other side of the door.” She can feel his hands traveling down to her thighs. Historia’s breathing becomes slow and heavy. Her body definitely wants more of his touch.

“They can wait more. I must have you again, my mate.” His nose buried on her neck to smell her sweet scent while feeling her up with his touch. Levi smirks from how wet Historia is from her cunt. His fingers insert further inside her. Her voice squeals while squirm a bit from his bold touch. He continues fingering her. “A-ah L-levi.” She moans.

“Call me, Iapetus.” His baritone voice rumbles. This made Historia weak on her knees. She wants him again, but unlike this thirsty beast; she can wait later.

“Alright then Iapetus, it’s nice to officially meet you. But like I told Levi, he can wait which means you can too, mister.” The queen grabbed his hand to pull out from her dripping wet core. “I mean it or both of you won’t get all of this.” She turns to face the possessed man. Levi’s or Iapetus’s eyes are not the usually grey-blue shade. His eyes are clear like glass and glowing. Under his eyes was dark and shadowed. Historia feels a bit intimidated by his appearance but she knows he won’t hurt her.

Iapetus growls at her in frustration. “You wouldn’t, my mate.” As she uses this sudden courage to stand her ground. “I will, so try me.” She smirks.

“Your body is begging for my touch, my queen. You have been insatiable earlier.” While Historia strips her nightgown off of her, Iapetus steps closer to press his body onto hers. Historia is now getting annoyed. Levi’s titan is so persistent. If it wasn’t for her friends stopping by to see her, she would have happily gone for another round of the day. Her hand pressed onto his strong chest to surprisingly push him away from her. Both parties were shocked by this sudden strength, Historia had possessed.

“Just for you being a naughty titan, you’re not getting anything for a while and that includes Levi getting the punishment.” The queen grabs a random dress to put it on. Once she is ready and presentable, her neck turns a bit to see Levi/Iapetus still flabbergasted. “Tch, you’ll get needy soon, mate.” Now a grumpy possessed Levi mumbles like a misbehave child when they know, they’re getting punished.

“Baby, these two fingers will do the job, just remember that.” Historia smirks again but leans in to peck his cheek. “Be good and maybe I will let you off your punishment tomorrow.” She uses her usual soft, sweet voice. “Now get fix yourself my love, your squad is here.” Historia walks away from him to go to open the doors for her friends to enter.

The chamber where Historia spent most of her time, was big. Her bedroom is further deep. The lounge is where she rests to have peace from ruling the island. On the left wing there’s her study room. So, her friends can’t see the bedroom unless they walked deeper into the living room to open another double door.

Before opening the main doors to let her friends in, the queen fixes her hair into her signature low bun. Finally, she opens the door and Sasha was the first to give her a tight hug. “Historia! We missed you. So are you gonna finish your breakfast?” The brown haired soldier sniffed from the smell of bacon and sausage, eggs.

Jean interrupts and looks at Sasha. “We just had breakfast not that long ago.” Sasha pouts like a sad puppy. “B-but it’s bacon. You can’t say no to bacon.” her mouth drools from thinking about the crispy grease strip of bacon.

Historia giggles from Sasha daydreaming over a bacon. “Sure, you can have some. It’s too much for Levi and I to finish.”

“By the way, where's the captain.” Connie said as he roamed his eyes to find his superior officer.

“Oh he’ll join us in a bit once he’s ready.” The queen pops her head out of the main doors of her chamber to ask a staff to bring a fresh brew pot of tea with several cups. She closes the doors and leads her friends to the living room wing so they can comfortably sit down on the couches. Sasha already has a plate full of warm bacon, sausages, and eggs with pastries and fruits.

“What brings you guys here? Don’t get me wrong, I am happy you are all here to visit. I feel you’re here for a reason.” Historia said. Just when one of them was about to say something, the door from the bedroom wing opened abruptly. Levi Ackerman is dressed in his Survey Corps uniform while fixing his cravat on his neck. His expression is still grumpy. He glances at his wife then acknowledges his squad with a tch. “You’re late, brats.” His tone was in his usual monotone. Then the captain sits next to his wife a bit to close. He crossed his leg over the other and placed his arm over Historia’s shoulders comfortably. There’s no point in hiding their relationship anymore in front of his squad. They know both Historia Reiss and Levi Ackerman are husband and wife.

The gang were still not used to it of seeing these two being too comfortable around each other. “We’re sorry, Captain Levi. We took a detour to get here.” Armin bows nervously while his comrades bow too. The room became silent until a soft knock was heard. “Oh right, I order tea for everyone.” She smiles. “You may enter Stephanie.” She called the staff’s name. The doors open and a middle aged woman carries a tray of tea sets. The staff bows to her queen. “Here is the tea you asked, You’re Majesty.” The woman placed the tray on the elegant marble coffee table. The staff notice there’s guests in the queen’s personal living room. “Good morning our nation’s heroes. It’s an honor to be at your present especially you, Captain Levi, Humanity’s Strongest.” The woman bathes her eyelashes at the captain flirtatiously.

Levi leans to pour a cup of warm freshly brewed tea then leans back next to Historia as he sips his tea. He is aware the staff lady is flirting with him, but he doesn’t give her any attention. On the other hand, Historia was not pleased her staff was being too bold trying to get her man’s attention. She tries to be as composed and mannerly as a queen should. Her friends can feel the awkward situation in front of them. Thank you, Stephanie. You may leave now.” Her voice cracks a bit from hiding her jealousy.

Levi pretends being oblivious. He low key wants to smirk at his wife. She feels how he felt earlier. Even he was possessed a while ago by his titan named Iapetus. He is a real douchebag since Levi is also being punished from Iapetus being needy and disobedient. Tch, he needs to keep that beast locked in. He’ll get him into trouble in the future especially HIstoria now can manifest strength. It could be from either the bond or maybe from their baby.

Already the lady had left and he could hear his squad and his wife chattering. How long does he zone out? It doesn't matter. He listens to their conversation while sipping more tea.

“So, Captain and HIstoria, you said yesterday you guys will explain a bit how you two end up together. I don’t mean to sound disrespectful but the two of you are the last people I ever imagine being together. You are completely different people and your age gap is almost twenty or fifteen years difference. We’re happy for you, but it will take time for us to grasp.” Connie speaks out. Some of his comrades nod in agreement.

Historia understands what they mean. If someone had told her that she would be married to Captain Levi Ackerman of the Survey Corps and pregnant with his child, Historia would be in horror while laughing in disbelief. Probably, Ymir would say something snarky then becomes in a sour mood.

Ymir. She hopes her close friend is alright across the sea. As long Ymir is alive and safe, Historia can be at ease. Someday, She’ll see her and tell her how grateful to have Ymir in her life.

“We’re not much different as we thought.” Levi said as he placed the tea cup on the coffee table.

“Let's just say we have a similar parallel background upbringing as children.” Historia said then took a sip from her tea.

“So, what questions do all of you have been dying to ask?” The captain interrupted since he doesn’t want their childhood upbringing being asked. That’s too personal for him not ready to share with anyone beside Erwin, Hange, and now Historia.

“When did you two got married? You could’ve told us. Well, at least Mikasa and I. So we could have been your maid of honors. Aww, I bet you had looked beautiful in a wedding dress!” Sasha excitedly asks questions while still stuffing her mouth with food.

“Oi Braus, finish your food then talk. We barely can understand.” Levi scoffs at his subordinate.

Sasha swallows her food then apologies to the captain. “Sorry, sir.”

“Don’t worry Sasha, I understood you.” Historia smiles.

“It wasn't a planned wedding. Two days ago, we tied the knot and Armin and Commander Hange was with us to be our witnesses.” Historia added.

Her friends stared at Armin who nervously chuckled. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t tell you guys since it was supposed to be a secret until they are ready to expose their relationship status.” He explains to the squad.

“Don’t give Arlert a hard time, brats. I ordered him not to say anything or he’ll face punishment for disobeying his superior officer.” Levi glares at his comrades who were ready to hound the poor blonde guy with questions.

Mikasa has been quiet the whole time until she finally said something. “I know you don’t need anyone’s approval, but I’m glad that you both are happily together. Captain, I suggest don’t hurt my best friend or I will come after you.” She glares at her captain. When the younger Ackerman met Historia or back then Krista, they were bedmates. Sometimes they along Sasha, Annie, and Ymir, have nightly girl talks about the boys in their cadet years to combat fighting positions.

Historia smiles in gratitude. “Thank you, Mikasa. This means lots from you.” She’s happy that her friends are aware of her marriage with Levi. The queen quickly glanced at her husband. He was glaring at Mikasa from her threat just a second ago. The blonde haired woman wonders why both Ackermans had bad blood with each other.

She will need to ask them both alone when opportunity comes. This needs to stop. Levi and Mikasa are family, probably distant cousins or something. It’s understandable there’s some family who are needed to cut ties with, but with communication Mikasa and Levi will amend their dislikes to each other.

“Also, we want to tell you that I’m pregnant. Almost three months along.” Historia said as her hand holds onto Levi’s.

“Congratulations! Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl?” Connie then Sasha said.

“It’s too soon to tell.” Levi peeks at the baby bump that’s under Historia’s loose white gown that usually she wears in public.

“Yes, we’ll probably have to wait until I reach five months.” Historia pat her stomach.

For a couple hours everyone continues talking and sipping tea. Levi told his squad it’s time to go since Historia was getting sleepy. The pregnancy made her feel exhausted. At first, she tried to fight off but the fatigue won. Once her friends had left, the queen already plowed on the bed to cuddle her pillow. Her husband joins her to spoon her. Both lovers embrace each other.

Levi admires the way his wife looks when she cuddles with him. “You were joking right about my punishment?”

Historia groans annoyed, then grabs a pillow to hit his head. “No, I meant it, mister. Now let your cute wife sleep.” She huffs then turns her back to him to try to sleep.

“Oi woman, you have been moody today.” He grabbed the pillow to toss it aside. “I notice you tried not to snap at the lady earlier. You’re cute when you get jealous.” He chuckles.

“Pfft don’t remind me. I don’t like how she admires you too much.” She turns a bit to look at Levi.

“It just makes me think, why do you fall in love with a girl like me?” Her blue eyes glimpse insecurely at him.

“Stop this. I hate how you thought low of yourself. You are the woman of my dreams. Our child will be beautiful and courageously strong like his or her mother.” His lips brush on her temple spots to leave kisses.

“You’re one of a kind, Historia. I should be the lucky one. Not in a million years, I would have imagined myself having a wife and soon to be a father.” He leans to her baby bump to kiss softly.

“Who would have thought a former thug from the Underground City turned into a captain of the Survey Corps is a husband to a sexy but also pure queen.” Levi continues kissing her belly. He can feel her hand stroking his raven hair.

“And who would have thought a royal bastard girl from the countryside that joined the Survey Corps that became queen is a wife to a handsome but also strong and soft captain.” She glances at Levi with a soft smile.

“See we go so well together, my queen. We’re meant to be.” His baritone softened.

“For eternity, my king?” She whispers enough for him to hear.

“For eternity.” He promised to her.

A/N: Sorry, this chapter took so long to finish. Last week, I was busy preparing for Thanksgiving with my family. Anyways, here it was chapter 7. Tell me guys what do you think? Don’t forget to leave a review and for my AO3 , leave a kudos please uwu. Thank you for your support, my fellow readers! Love you all. Until next time with a new chapter.

#rivahisu #levihisu #Historia Reiss #Levi Ackerman #fanfic #crossover #assassin's creed #Aot #snk

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lets-talk-appella · 6 years ago

Text

i’m nobody’s but yours

Chapter 13/25 - Chloe

Summary: Beca is straight as an arrow. 100%, totally, completely straight. Except for one problem that 100%, totally, completely changes everything: Chloe Beale.

Title borrowed from Calum Scott’s “If Our Love Is Wrong.”

Word Count: 5k

Rating: M (for dark themes, homophobia, masturbation, and eventual smut in later chapters)

AO3, FFN, and below.

“Chlo? Where are we going?”

“Shh.”

“Not one hint?”

“Shh.”

“Is it going to be horrible?”

“Do you want me to tape your mouth shut?”

“Can you do that without taking the hood off?”

Chloe takes her eyes off the road momentarily to look to her right, where Beca sits buckled into the passenger seat with a Hood Night hood over her head.

“If you keep complaining, I can always get my handcuffs,” she grins, expecting Beca to dissolve into a mess of awkward sputtering.

Instead, Beca shoots back, “Save those for later.”

The speed of the response is shocking and more than a little arousing. It makes Chloe’s grip on the wheel tighten and her foot press more firmly against the accelerator, sending her car zooming forward through traffic and closer to their date destination.

Chloe supposes she should have known better than to goad Beca; over the past week, Beca has become more comfortable with making quips like that. Chloe’s normally the flirty one, but having Beca flirt back has been enthralling.

It’s been a week since their first date. They haven’t kissed. They haven’t told the Bellas, they haven’t had a lot of alone time, they haven’t labeled their relationship, and they haven’t kissed.

To compensate (because sometimes Chloe feels like she’s going to die if she doesn’t touch Beca), she might brush by Beca closer than strictly necessary so their bodies can touch. Or her hand will find Beca’s thigh under the table at dinner and rest there. Or Beca’s head will fit itself against her shoulder while they cuddle under a blanket at Bella Movie Night. They’ve done that before, but now with the added bonus of linking their hands under the blanket.

Touching Beca is intoxicating. She needs it like she needs air to breathe.

Chloe pulls into the parking lot of their date destination, biting her lip to keep herself from squealing in excitement. It’s somewhere Beca never would have gone by herself, and she hopes Beca won’t totally hate her for this, but she knows that they’ll have fun. Once Beca takes a second to process, anyway.

She finds a parking spot between an SUV and a smaller car, then pats Beca on the knee.

“Don’t take off the hood yet,” she warns.

“But –”

“Let me help you out and we’ll take it off outside so you can get the full effect.”

“Oh, joy,” Beca deadpans, but Chloe knows she’s just putting on a show. By the way Beca’s right knee bounces, she can tell Beca’s excited, too.

With a final smile at Beca, even though she can’t see it through the hood, Chloe jumps out of the driver’s side and hurries around to Beca’s passenger door. She takes a quick look around before opening the door – it would put a bit of a damper on their date if some good Samaritan were to call the police on her for hauling around a person with a hood on their head. After making sure they’re relatively alone, Chloe opens Beca’s door and takes her right hand.

“Okay, just climb out,” Chloe says. “I’ll make sure you don’t trip.”

Beca grumbles but unbuckles her seat belt and allows Chloe to guide her slowly out of the car. Chloe is sure to keep her hand protectively between Beca’s hooded head and the frame of the car – Beca getting a concussion would also put a damper on the date.

Once Beca is completely out of the car, Chloe steers her by the shoulders so that she’s facing the building they’re parked in front of.

“Ready?” she asks.

“This is a kidnapping,” Beca complains, but Chloe can hear curiosity in her tone.

“A sexy date-kidnapping,” replies Chloe, grinning when Beca’s shoulder muscles tense under her hands. “Here we go!”

Smoothly, Chloe lifts the hood from Beca’s head and moves so she can see her face. She watches Beca blink, first at the brightness of the day, then in confusion as she registers the letters on the side of the building, proclaiming Ricky’s Roller Rink and Arcade. A symphony of emotions cross Beca’s face: first recognition, then surprise, then horror, which finally eases into exasperation.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“Chloe. No way.”

“Yes!”

“I’ll die!”

“I’ll catch you,” Chloe promises, crossing her heart.

“I’ve done this, like. Twice,” Beca groans.

“I know. I’ll hold your hand.”

Beca rolls her eyes, and Chloe already knows she’s won. “I took you on a nice, stable grounded picnic, and you’re doing this to me? Making me rollerblade?”

“Well…” Chloe hedges, taking mercy on Beca. “It’s really more the pizza and arcade that go with the rollerblading. We’ll only do that part if you want to.”

“Oh!” Beca stops, surprised. She seems to think for a second before shrugging, if reluctantly. “Well. In that case, I guess it’s fine. For the pizza.”

“Aca-awesome,” Chloe smiles, then laughs when Beca rolls her eyes.

She reaches down to link their hands together and, pretending she doesn’t notice Beca’s furtive glance around the lot, leads them inside the building.

They’re greeted at the welcome desk inside the front door by a teenage boy, maybe sixteen or seventeen, dressed in the arcade’s brightly-colored polo and wearing a neon orange hat with the name of the rink splashed across the front of it in black text. He has braces and a smattering of acne across his cheeks, but that doesn’t stop him from grinning at them enthusiastically when they walk in.

“Welcome to Ricky’s!” he greets. “What kind of ticket would you like?”

“Um,” Chloe replies, scanning the display behind him. “Let’s go with the couple’s special. That includes laser tag, right?”

Beca’s hand tightens around her own, but the teenager doesn’t even bat an eye.

“Yep, the couple’s special comes with laser tag, a pizza and drinks, five arcade games, and a set of rollerblades. Is that all?”

“Sounds perfect,” Chloe smiles, digging in her purse for her wallet.

“I can –”

“I’ve got this, babe,” Chloe cuts off Beca’s attempt to chip in on the tickets. This is her treat.

“Uh – thanks,” Beca replies, looking at her a little strangely.

Chloe pays for their arcade passes, then they turn to survey the building. It’s massive, set up in a sprawling design that probably only makes sense to the preteens who frequent it on the weekends. The roller rink is on the far side, taking up almost the entire right half of the building. A dining area with a pizza stand and a pop bar separate the rink from the scores of arcade games placed haphazardly in what might be a rectangular pattern. Beyond that, a doorway with a sign proclaiming “Laser Tag” set up above it seems to branch away from the main arcade area. Thankfully, for a Thursday afternoon, the place is relatively empty, with only a few older-looking teenagers running around.

“So,” Chloe breathes, suddenly nervous. “Is this an acceptable second date?”

Beca looks at her, her expression giving nothing away. “Well…” she starts seriously, before her face splits into a wide grin. “Only if you’re ready to have your ass kicked at air hockey!”

“In your dreams,” Chloe scoffs, and then they’re off.

Chloe knows Beca is a competitive person – you don’t co-lead a world-renowned a cappella group with someone and not realize how competitive they are – but she had no idea that competitive spirit bled over into something as simple as arcade games. She soon learns, though.

Because they have five arcade games to play with their tickets, they first decide on air hockey, foosball, Skee-Ball, and Dance Dance Revolution; Chloe is horrible at foosball, but wins the game of Skee-Ball, and they tie at Dance Dance Revolution. That’s when, instead of choosing a game they haven’t played yet, Beca insists on a second round of air hockey because she lost the first time.

“Alright,” she says seriously, cracking her knuckles and rolling out her shoulders while Chloe tries not to giggle at her. “This game is it. This is everything. Whoever wins this becomes Grandmaster Champion of the Universe.”

“Oh?” Chloe asks, arching an eyebrow. “I noticed that rule didn’t apply when you missed all but two cups during Skee-Ball.”

“Didn’t count then,” Beca insists with as much dignity as she can muster. “This is, like, the tie breaker. Of everything.”

“Okay,” Chloe says, deciding not to point out that even if Beca wins this game, they’re still technically tied evenly in arcade game wins.

Beca waggles her eyebrows grandly and, with all the seasoned confidence of an air hockey pro, drops the puck onto the table and nearly knocks it into her own goal.

“I meant to do that,” she insists when Chloe laughs. “Throw you off guard.”

“Mmm.”

Once Beca does successfully start the game, she plays with an intensity that Chloe has only seen her display on stage of their bigger performances. Her eyes are zeroed in on the puck, tracking its every movement, and she moves her paddle with grace and agility, concentrating so hard on the game that Chloe doesn’t think she’s even aware of the way the tip of her tongue pokes out from her mouth.

It’s kind of hot.

That is, until Beca’s fingers, dangling over the edge of the wall and into the “rink” area, are smashed by a poorly-aimed puck from Chloe.

“Fuck! Ouch, shit, dammit –”

“Are you okay?!” Chloe exclaims, running around the table to get to her. “Here, let me see –”

She pulls Beca’s hand into both of her own, examining it for damage, just in time to register the telltale clunk of the puck dropping into her unattended goal.

She looks up from Beca’s (red and bruised-looking) fingers to see a supremely smug look on Beca’s face.

“Shouldn’t have let your guard down,” Beca grins, nodding at the score. She’d won with the last goal.

Chloe huffs in mock annoyance; if Beca can still get a goal with her uninjured hand and brag about it, she’s not badly hurt.

“Cheap move!” Chloe protests. “You distracted me!”

“You’re the one who smashed my fingers!”

“Shouldn’t have dangled them over the edge like that,” Chloe says, then follows with, “I’m starting to care more and more about your fingers lately.”

The shock and understanding that flash across Beca’s face make losing the game totally worth it. With a wink, Chloe leans in and presses her lips against the more bruised-looking fingers on Beca’s right hand.

“Yeah, well,” Beca huffs, apparently recovering. “That helps.”

“I’m glad,” Chloe grins. “So, Grandmaster Champion of the Universe, you wanna get some pizza?”

As if on cue, Beca’s stomach rumbles loudly.

“Great,” Chloe says, taking that as an answer. “Let’s go order.”

They walk over to the dining area and put in the order for a cheese pizza, and while that’s cooking, Chloe manages to talk Beca into trying a couple laps of rollerblading.

The rink is wide open, apart from a couple of teenagers still zooming around it. Chloe leads Beca to the side of the rink, where they pick out their skates. Chloe tries not to laugh when Beca has to hunt for a size small enough to suit her.

When they have the skates in hand, they go to the little outcropping in the blading area and strap them on. Once they’re both ready, they sit, Chloe waiting for the go-ahead from Beca that doesn’t seem like it’s going to come. Beca’s not saying much, which raises a red flag in Chloe’s mind.

“Hey,” she says, resting her hand over Beca’s for a second. “We don’t have to, if you really don’t want to.”

“Hmpf,” Beca grumbles. “First you smash my hand, now you’re gonna strap wheels to my feet and expect me not to die.”

“I won’t let you fall. I promise,” Chloe reassures her quietly.

Beca’s expression softens. “I know you won’t,” she says. “I trust you.”

Chloe isn’t quite prepared for the warmth that washes over her at that simple phrase. It shouldn’t trigger that much emotion, maybe, but the way Beca says it and the way she looks at her makes Chloe think that when Beca said it, she meant a different three-word phrase.

“Okay, right,” Chloe says, trying to shake that from her mind. “Let’s, uh, try it. We’ll go slow.”

And they do go slow. Beca’s left hand never leaves Chloe’s right as they half-skate, half-wobble around the rink two, three, four times, until Beca’s movements smoothen and she becomes more confident with every stroke. By the fifth lap, though, the man working the pizza stand is waving them down, and Beca looks too relieved at the idea of getting the skates off her feet for Chloe to be able to justify continuing.

They wrap up their final lap, find that same outcropping in the rink, and pull the skates off their feet in favor of their regular shoes before heading over to collect their pizza. Beca grabs them a table, across the dining area from a group of four teenage girls, and they sit to eat.

“See?” Chloe can’t resist asking. “That wasn’t so bad.”

Beca shrugs, pizza in hand. “It could have been worse. Thanks for not letting me fall,” she adds more sincerely.

“Of course,” Chloe answers. “We can’t have any more injuries.”

Beca flexes her hand, checking it for damage. “I think I’ll survive,” she grins, then takes another bite of pizza.

Chloe’s just about to reach for her third slice when one of the teenagers from the larger group across the room arrives at their table.

“Uh, hi,” the girl says a little awkwardly. “It’s my friend’s birthday, and we wanted to play laser tag, but we’re two players short. Would you like to…” she trails off, gesturing toward the laser tag area.

Chloe looks beyond the girl at the three others sitting at the table, all watching them carefully. She waves in their general direction, not sure which is the one with the birthday, before checking with Beca.

“I’m okay with that if you are?” she asks. “We have the ticket for it, anyway.”

Beca glances toward the girls, too, then looks down at the pizza.

“After you’re done eating,” the girl says in a rush, turning a little pink. “You don’t have to –”

“No, it’s okay,” Beca interrupts. “We’ll do it on one condition.”

The girl nods enthusiastically and Chloe waits, not sure what Beca’s going to say.

“Take a picture of us?” Beca asks, extending her phone to the girl, whose eyes widen.

“Sure!” she agrees enthusiastically. “Oh, I’m the best with Instagram and finding filters, I’ll make you two look so good…”

She rambles on, but Chloe’s stopped listening. She’s too focused on Beca moving her chair closer to her, pressing into her side. When Beca wraps an arm around her waist, Chloe sinks into it so naturally that it’s like they’ve been doing this for years rather than barely a week. Beca’s hair tickles her cheek, but Chloe refuses to pull away. She just smiles for the camera, already knowing she’s going to make Beca send that to her so she can make it her new lock screen.

The girl takes multiple pictures from multiple angles, all the while assuring them they look “super cute,” and hands Beca back her phone with a smile.

“Thanks,” Beca says, scrolling through the pictures quickly to check them.

Looking over her shoulder, Chloe has to agree with the girl; they look good together.

“So…” the girl prompts, and Chloe stands to get to-go boxes for their pizza. They could have finished the last two slices, but it’s pretty obvious the girls at the table are impatient.

She and Beca join them, make introductions, and file past the arcade games to get to the laser tag area. There, another teenage employee explains the rules and splits them into teams: two of the girls plus Beca on the Blue team, and the other two plus Chloe on the Red team.

“You’re going down, Beale,” Beca hisses under her breath as the clock times down to start.

“Nope,” is all Chloe says, knowing it’ll only make Beca even more competitive. Sure enough, Beca huffs a laugh and starts bouncing in place, full of energy.

The buzzer goes off and Chloe steps inside the dark maze, blinking so her eyes adjust to the blacklight filling the room; she glances down at herself, the whites in her clothing and shoelaces glowing in the semidarkness. It’s confusing, at first; all she can do is keep moving, hearing the five other people with her shuffling along behind the maze walls. At one point, one of the girls on her team flies past in front of her, and Chloe has to stop the knee-jerk reaction to aim and fire at her own teammate.

But then, rounding a corner, she sees a one of the girls on the Blue team crouched and peering around a wall, her back to Chloe. Grinning to herself, Chloe raises her laser gun and aims. Before she can fire, though, something latches onto the back of her vest and tugs, and she’s sent careening backward with an inelegant squawk of surprise.

“Shh!” Beca laughs, her teeth bright in the black light as she pulls Chloe into a corner of the maze. “You’re gonna get their attention!”

“Is this a plot?” Chloe asks suspiciously. “Are you trying to make my team lose?”

Beca grins and shakes her head, looping her arms around Chloe’s waist to pull her closer. “Nah. I just wanted to say hi and didn’t think it was fair to shoot from behind... like you were about to do.”

“Yeah, I’m not above that,” Chloe admits casually, heart fluttering at the proximity to Beca.

“Clearly,” Beca agrees, then speaks even more softly. “Those photos of us are really nice.”

“They are,” Chloe says, hands landing on Beca’s hips. The thought of where this might be going makes her feel like she needs to steady herself.

“And, earlier,” Beca continues, whispering now, their faces only inches apart. “I liked when you called me ‘babe.’”

“When?”

“At the desk. When we came in.”

“I didn’t even notice,” Chloe breathes honestly, her eyes dropping to Beca’s slightly parted lips.

“I liked it.”

Beca’s leaning in then, until she’s so close that Chloe’s not sure if the pounding pulse she hears is her own or Beca’s. Chloe closes her eyes, shivering when she feels Beca’s breath ghosting over her lips. Their noses nudge together, sending a thrill through Chloe’s body. All it would take is one final tilt in from either of them, and the entire world would shift.

With a shaky breath that Chloe can both hear and feel, Beca closes the distance.

Beca’s lips are soft and warm against hers. They’re both still, lips just touching, until Chloe pulls back to lightly rest her forehead against Beca’s.

“Bec…”

Chloe’s not sure who leans forward this time, but then they’re kissing again and everything else is wiped from her mind. Beca’s lips grow more direct and she changes the angle gently, and Chloe can hardly believe that this is Beca, finally kissing her, but when she reaches forward to rest her hands on Beca’s waist, the solid presence reassures her until she’s giving in completely. Chloe tilts her head more into it, parting her lips to make the kiss softer, warmer, and drawn-out, nestling Beca’s bottom lip between hers.

A sound leaves Beca then, just a little hum in the back of her throat, not quite a whimper but almost, and it makes Chloe’s hands tighten on Beca’s waist. She feels Beca’s hands trace up her arms, dancing over her collarbones to rest lightly on either side of her neck. Leaving tingling, twitching skin in its path, Beca’s left thumb traces under her jaw until Chloe’s certain Beca can feel the fluttering of her pulse.

Beca’s lips turn more insistent, pressing even closer. One of Beca’s hands slides into Chloe’s hair, cradling the back of her head. This time, Chloe’s the one to make a noise, a breathy gasp that makes Beca chuckle against her lips. Chloe’s hands slide around Beca’s hips, tracing up her lower back until they encounter the laser tag vest.

Chloe’s not sure how long they kiss. A few seconds, maybe a minute at most, but when the kiss reaches its natural end and she pulls away, her head is spinning and she can’t stop smiling. Beca’s smiling right back, the flush on her cheeks visible even in the semidarkness.

Chloe steps away carefully, her hands dropping from Beca’s sides. Her lips tingle where Beca had kissed them, and she wants more than anything to continue it, but they are still technically in public with a group of teenagers running around somewhere in the laser tag maze.

She feels like she should say something, but doesn’t know what.

That’s when Beca, grinning cheekily, lifts her laser gun and shoots Chloe point-blank, making her vest buzz and light up.

“Gotcha.”

***************

“Wait, why’d you swipe no on him, he was cute!” Stacie protests, peering over Chloe’s shoulder.

“Eh, not my type,” Chloe dismisses, scrolling through some brunette’s profile next.

“Cute isn’t your type?” Stacie asks sarcastically.

“Guess not,” Chloe snaps back. She’s tired of this stupid app. She swipes no again.

“Ooh, her!” This time, Stacie practically pounces on Chloe to get her to swipe yes on an admittedly very attractive blonde woman.

Chloe swipes no and closes the app. “Look, this is stupid. I’m really not into anyone on here.”

“How?” Stacie asks with wide eyes. “Chloe, you’ve been single for as long as I’ve known you. That’s… like three years. That’s insane.”

“I date,” Chloe replies defensively, crossing her arms.

“Okay, you go on dates. That’s different from dating.”

“I – there’s no one I’ve liked.”

That’s only partially true. Yes, she hasn’t really clicked with anyone, but that has nothing to do with their own shortcomings and everything to do with the fact that they aren’t Beca.

“No one?”

“Nope,” Chloe replies, standing from the couch. “Listen, I’m pretty tired, Stace, I’m gonna head up to bed.”

No matter how hard she tries, no matter how many dates she forces herself to go on, Chloe can’t shake her feelings for Beca in favor of a stranger. It’s just not going to happen.

“But –”

“Good night!” she interrupts, heading for the stairs and hearing a soft, “Night,” thrown at her retreating back.

She deletes the app a few days later, despite the large number of unread messages in her inbox from both guys and girls. It doesn’t matter how many of them she could have tried to date; no stranger can replace the increasingly powerful feelings she has for Beca.

***************

“Bye! Happy birthday!” Beca calls, waving after the group of teenage girls. Chloe smiles goodbye at them, though she’s still not entirely sure which of the girls’ birthdays it is. She carries their leftover pizza in her right hand, her left intertwined with Beca’s. Like the boy at the welcome stand, the girls didn’t give them a second glance for holding hands and acting like a couple.

After the girls are gone, Beca looks at her, eyes alight. “Blue team kicked your team’s ass.”

Chloe grins back and replies, “Only because you distracted me.”

“Excuses.”

Chloe bumps her shoulder into Beca’s, both laughing as they make their way to Chloe’s car. Chloe feels like she’s glowing from the inside out; their second date had been just as wonderful as their first, perhaps even more so, with the kiss.

“Beca! Chloe!”

Chloe stops dead in her tracks, dropping Beca’s hand instantly at the familiar voice. A dense dread settling deep in her stomach, she turns in time to see Beca’s dad, Warren, and his wife Sheila climbing out of their car in the row adjacent to where she and Beca are parked. They’re both smiling, not looking at her with anger or suspicion, so they must not have seen her and Beca holding hands.

“Shit, fuck –” Beca swears softly beside her, then, more loudly, “Dad! What are you guys doing here?”

Chloe winces; she hopes the panic in Beca’s voice is only obvious to her.

Warren and Sheila walk over, weaving between a few parked cars to draw closer to them. Beca shifts her weight, putting distance between her and Chloe; Chloe hears the scuff of pebbles under her feet, acutely aware of every inch newly separating them.

“Don’t sound so pleased to see us,” Warren says with a smile when they’re near enough. “We’re here for a Barden faculty event.”

“At a roller rink?”

“Well, Beca, even us old people can have fun sometimes.”

Chloe glances at the ground, the muscles between her shoulders tensing in response to the strain she feels pouring off of Beca in waves. Chloe’s desperate to reach out and touch her, but she knows she can’t.

“How’re you, Chloe?”

Warren’s question startles her. “Good,” she replies hastily. “Great. You guys?”

Sheila nods, looking around the parking lot. “We’re good, all good. Are the rest of the Bellas still inside?”

Chloe’s blood turns to ice. There’s no way they can lie.

She tries to shift even further from Beca without Sheila or Warren noticing.

“Uh, no,” she replies, thinking quickly. “We figured – that is, Beca and I – figured we could use some, uh, captain bonding time. You know, just prepping things for when Emily takes over,” she finishes, gesturing vaguely.

It doesn’t really make sense – there’s no need to bond as captains now that they’ve graduated, and exactly what “prepping” they could do at a roller rink is beyond Chloe – but Warren and Sheila don’t question it.

“Right,” Warren nods grandly. “I suppose Emily will be taking over, now.”

“Yep,” Beca replies, her voice clipped. “It’s all very… is there anything else, or…?”

Warren’s eyebrows draw together and he looks at Beca quizzically. Chloe wishes a hole would open under her feet and drag her down and out of this situation.

There’s a pause, then out of nowhere, Sheila asks, “Have you heard anything from Jesse?”

Chloe’s stomach jolts.

“What do you mean?” Beca asks quickly.

“Well, you know. I mean, he was always such a nice boy.”

“I…”

“It’s just a shame to let the good ones go, you know. I don’t want you to regret anything,” Sheila says, leaning closer to emphasize her point.

Chloe closes her eyes briefly, hoping it looks like she’s shielding them from the sun.

“It’s for the best, the breakup,” Beca replies firmly. Chloe reopens her eyes; from Beca’s tone, she can tell Beca’s struggling to remain calm. “He’s still my friend, but that’s it.”

Sheila purses her lips. “Well. I’m sure if you asked, maybe he’d be willing to be more than friends again. He’s good for you, Beca.”

“I’m really okay.”

Sheila’s eyes narrow at the icy tone, then turn on Chloe. Chloe swallows, hard.

“And what about you, dear?”

“Sheila…” Warren clears his throat, looking embarrassed, but Chloe can tell Sheila still expects an answer.

Chloe forces her face into what she hopes is a polite smile. “What about me?” she asks, nervous.

“Are there any men in your life?”

Pebbles shift again where Beca stands as she moves another inch away. The anger radiating from her small frame tastes sharp and metallic.

“Oh, no, no men for me…” she tries to answer without placing inflection the “men” part.

“Really?” Sheila’s eyebrows lift. “Honey, with your looks, you should be able to get any cute boy you want.”

From the corner of her eye, Chloe sees Beca look down at the ground.

Chloe doesn’t know what to do but try to laugh it off, panic mounting in her chest by the second.

“I guess… just busy, you know,” she says, fighting to keep her tone even. “With Worlds, and... and I’m applying for internships different places around the country,” she replies, hoping Sheila will take the hint and ask where she’s applied.

“Ah,” Sheila nods. “Right, I’m sure once you move on out of this town, get settled, then the dating will pick up for sure. Between you and me,” her voice drops to a stage-whisper and she grins conspiratorially, “they make them better out there than they do here.”

“They make them okay here,” Chloe replies without thinking, feeling Beca’s wide eyes on the side of her face.

“I’m sure,” Sheila nods amicably.

Warren clears his throat more loudly and makes a show of checking his watch. “Well, I think we should let you girls go. I’m sure you’ve got plenty of – um, bonding activities planned,” he smiles at them.

Chloe hopes her answering laugh doesn’t sound as hysterical as she thinks it might.

“Bye, Beca,” Warren nods at his only child, placing his hand on Sheila’s back to steer her toward the entrance to the roller rink. “Chloe, until next time.”

Beca makes a sort of grunting noise, and Chloe tries for a smile, her cheek muscles feeling stiff. They watch Warren and Sheila go. It’s only until they step inside the roller rink that Chloe realizes she’s holding her breath; she lets it out in a whoosh, the start of a headache mounting in her temples.

She turns to Beca, mouth open, though whether to apologize or ask if she’s okay, Chloe isn’t sure. But the look on Beca’s face, equal parts mournful and exhausted, traps Chloe’s voice in her throat. Beca shakes her head, looks at the ground, and without a word, goes to Chloe’s car and climbs into the passenger seat.

Chloe stares at the car dumbly until her body catches up with her brain. She lurches forward, numb inside, and gets into the driver’s seat, closing the door and muting the world outside.

It’s silent in the car. Chloe doesn’t know what to say.

She risks a glance over. Her chest throbs at the sight; Beca’s leaning her head against the glass of the window, eyes locked on something outside.

Have you heard anything from Jesse?

Well. I’m sure if you asked, maybe he’d be willing to be more than friends again. He’s good for you, Beca.

For the first time, Chloe understands what dating Beca might mean for both of them.

Chloe’s hands grip the wheel so hard her knuckles are white. She can’t bear to look at Beca, scared of what she might see, terrified that their first kiss might be their last.

She starts the car, and, leaving the radio off, backs out of the parking spot, and drives toward the exit.

#bechloe #bechloe fic #my writing #beca mitchell #chloe beale #pitch perfect fanfic #i'm nobody's but yours #chapter thirteen #fluff ahead!#and a little angst #sorry??#except not really

73 notes · View notes

animemadonnafans · 2 years ago

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List of Studio Albums/E.P. That I Have Listened To

First Sessions-2001-Norah Jones

shock/denial/anger/acceptance-2004-Rick Springfield

Why-2016-Taeyeon

Mannfred Mann’s Earth Band-1972-Mannfred Mann’s Earth Band

Bat Out of Hell-1977-Meat Loaf

Osmium-1970-Parliament

Chicago III-1971-Chicago

Children of the Future-1968-Steve Miller Band

A Whole New Thing-1967-Sly and the Family Stone

White Heat/White Light-1968-Velvet Underground

Lips on Lips-2019-Tiffany Young

The Piper at the Gates of Dawn-1967-Pink Floyd

Ray Charles-1957-Ray Charles

Marquee Moon-1977-Television

Deep River-2002-Utada Hikaru

Bon Jovi-1984-Bon Jovi

R.E.O. Speedwagon-1971-R.E.O. Speedwagon

Machine Gun-1974-The Commodores

Liquid Tension Experiment-1998-Liquid Tension Experiment

Request-1987-Mariya Takeuchi

Hesher-1996-Nickelback

Roxy Music-1972-Roxy Music

Lionel Ritchie-1982-Lionel Ritchie

Nervous Breakdown-1979-Black Flag

Jealous Again-1980-Black Flag

Six Pack-1981-Black Flag

Friends-1968-The Beach Boys

Tellement j’ai d’Amour-1982-Celine Dion

Rush-1974-Rush

It’s Better If You Don’t Understand-2010-Bruno Mars

Enter-1997-Within Temptation

Solid State Survivor-1979-Yellow Magic Orchestra

The Beatles-1969-The Beatles

Mr. Magoo Goes to Jail-1994-Wesley Willis

Spirit-1968-Spirit

Green Onions-1962-Booker T. and the M.G.'s

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones-1990-Bela Fleck and the Flecktones

8th Wonder-1981-Sugarhill Gang

Pretzel Logic-1974-Steely Dan

Styx-1972-Styx

Talking Heads: 77-1977-Talking Heads

Ten Kai/Astral Voyage-1978-Kitaro

The Crossing-1983-Big Country

Hybris-1992-Anglagard

Ricky Martin-1991-Ricky Martin

Both Sides-1993-Phil Collins

Dance Into the Light-1996-Phil Collins

Testify-2002-Phil Collins

The Message-1982-Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

On the Strength-1988-Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

James Taylor-1968-James Taylor

The Blues Alone-1967-John Mayall

Mr. Fantasy-1967-Traffic

Taj Mahal-1968-Taj Mahal

0 notes

dictionarywrites · 6 years ago

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mmm so just some tock-ups, right

there are two very main differences between the a-team and the b-team.

firstly, like, just the lives they lead on Earth are completely fucking different. out of the a-team, three out of eight of them have already received confirmation of alien life and come face-to-face with aliens; Ian has faced actual dinosaurs; Ed, Lionel, David J. and Orian have all faced very complex, violent crime on some level or another. Except for Ed and to a lesser extent, Lionel, none of them lead an “average” life.

for the B-team, they are primarily average dudes with average skills. Jack B. is just coming off a hugely traumatic alien invasion that has destroyed his planet as he knows it, and he is aware that he will probably only be alive for as long as he is on Sakaar; Hatch, Donald and Ricky have all crossed paths with very strange things, but like... They’re mostly leading their normal lives now. Jack H. comes from a universe where very odd things exist, and he does report on them, but it’s not evil or nasty - it’s just a part of a strange world.

because the A-Team is comprised of highly-specialised people, most of whom play big parts in saving or causing wide-spread damage in their respective areas, the games the Grandmaster likes to play with them are very different to those he plays with the B-Team, who are just... guys, for the most part.

i just have some tock-ups bc i want to contrast?? the mundaneness of the b-team with the a-team, and also think about like?? how different the two sets are

The A-Team:

ages range from 28-66

Lionel: 28.

New Jersey: 32

Ed: 33

Nick: 36

David J.: 40

Ian: 41

David L.: 44

Orian: 66

re: relationships:

Ian: committed relationship with Ellie Sattler & Alan Grant. Three kids: Kelly the eldest, then Michael and Alex.

NJ: single. virgin. No kids.

Lionel: committed relationship with E.L. Effective spouse. No kids - one cat, named Mark Savage.

David L.: married, currently trying to repair relationship with Constance Spano, his wife. No kids.

Nick: single-ish. On/off thing with Sylvia Pickel. No kids.

Orian: married. Will not share details. Three children: Crosby, Rachel, and Miranda.

Ed: married, but stagnant. No kids.

David J.: married, but mostly bangs other women. One daughter, Miranda.

re: sexuality:

ID as bi: Ian.

ID as hetero: David L., Nick & Ed . David J. IDs as hetero initially, but way down the line will ID as gay.

ID as gay: New Jersey, Lionel, and Orian.

for occupations, you have:

a mathematician

a neurosurgeon/musician (and part-time cowboy)

a satellite technician

two private detectives (nick having become a PI after the events of vibes, and Lionel having been an accountant before swapping careers)

an aerospace engineer

an attorney-at-law/cocaine mogul

a crime boss that rules most of LA

and they come from:

Lionel: lives in LA, originally from Utica.

NJ: hails from Fort Lee, NJ.

Ed: LA, born and raised.

Nick: grew up in Gettysburg, PA. moved to the West Coast and curated a museum in San Diego.

David J.: LA, born and raised.

Ian: native of Lansing, Michigan.

David L.: Boy of Manhattan. Very much a New Yorker - shame that New York is, um, mostly gone now.

Orian: LA, born in LA, will die in LA.

B-Team:

ages range from 26-58

Jack B.: 26.

Michael: 31

Jack H.: 33

Donald: 43

Hatch: 43

Ricky: 46

Zach: 57

Jerry: 58

re: relationships:

Jack B.: married to his wife, Nancy, who is also gay. They have a sibling-like relationship. Jack is a virgin when he arrives on Sakaar. No kids.

Michael: very single, and very happy about it. No kids.

Jack H.: in a committed relationship with his writing partner, Gil. No kids.

Donald: single. No kids.

Hatch: married happily to his wife, Lindsey. They have one daughter, having lost the other in an accident.

Ricky: married happily to his wife, Kate. No kids.

Zach: single. No kids.

Jerry: in a committed-ish relationship with sugar baby (of sorts), Lisa. No kids.

re: sexuality:

ID as bi: Donald, Zach, Ricky and Jerry. Michael isn’t a fan of labels, but would loosely place himself under this umbrella.

ID as hetero: Hatch.

ID as gay: Jack B., Jack H.

for occupations, you have:

a poet

three journalists, one of whom is an editor & producer

a high school science teacher

antique dealer

a detective for the NYPD

a teleshopping TV producer

and they come from:

Jack B.: New York.

Michael: Big New Yorker.

Jack H.: New York.

Donald: Texas, originally from Michigan.

Hatch: Southern California - drives around a lot, lives in the country.

Ricky: Los Angeles.

Zach: New York, born and raised. Very passionate about NYC.

Jerry: New York, born and raised. Very passionate about NYC also.

Zach and Jerry will definitely argue about which of them loves NY more.

#as defined by dictionary #the game of intersections #dictionary writes #long post for ts

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doyourememberrocknrollradio · 3 years ago

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King Holiday (Long Version) · King Dream Chorus · The Holiday Crew

Released on January 13, 1986, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which was first celebrated as a national holiday in the United States on January 20, 1986. All proceeds from the single were donated to the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change.

Featuring - El DeBarge, Whitney Houston, Stacy Lattisaw, Lisa Lisa with Full Force, Teena Marie, Menudo (Charlie Masso, Roy Rossello, Robi Rosa, Ray Acevedo, Ricky Martin), Stephanie Mills, New Edition, James "J.T." Taylor, Kurtis Blow, The Fat Boys, Grandmaster Melle Mel, Run–D.M.C. & Whodini

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orphantosoke · 3 years ago

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Frederick Peterson Jr.: Tai-Chi Jitsu

Soke Grandmaster Frederick Peterson Jr. is the founder of American Tai-Chi Jitsu Self Defense which is a combination of Jui-Jitsu, Judo, Gung Fu and Filipino Escrima.

He has been inducted into five international Halls of Fame with Platinum awards in two Halls of Fame in 1988 and two in 1999 and he was inducted into The Masters Hall of Fame in 2000.

Chronological History of Qualifications and Experiences

1934 – Began boxing in Cincinnati, Ohio as a lefty lightweight in the same gym with boxing legends: Ezzard Charls, Floyd Gibson, David Clark, Sam Birch, Newsboy Seal and John Smith.

1943 – Enlisted in the U. S. Navy. There was trained in the art of Jagaro Kano Ju-Jitsu (Judo) by the “First Marine Raiders”, who were trained by Master James Metose. Served in the Solomon Islands such as, Guadal Canal, Invasion of Bougainville and a few of us were sent to the Philippine Islands.

1945 -1965 – Became the Lightweight Champion of the Americal Division Smokers in the South Pacific, (Boxing). Served on ten (10) naval ships and four (4) naval air stations, shore patrol and prisoner chaser over six (6) years, all during 21 years of military service. Played Judo at most of these naval assignments.

1947 – 1967 – Continued Judo training under several Japanese instructors and under such teachers as Sensei Rubio (U.S. Army CIA Agent) at Luter’s Park in Compton. CA. Earned Black Belt finally as Assistant Instructor to Master Sensei John Ogden, Long Beach, CA. Gung-Fu training under Great Grand Master James Sharp and Dr. Hugh McDonald in Compton, CA.

1967 – Started officiating at open and traditional tournaments all over the USA from San Francisco to New York. Associations were AAU, USAKF, USAKA and USKA. Holds the distinction of being the center official along with four (4) others, who could not break a tie during the Kata Performances (three times each) of Sifu George Chung and Sifu Stewart Quan. Both received Grand Championship awards. This was held in San Francisco.

1971 – Combined all training and experience over the years and founded Tai-Chi Jitsu Self Defense. Opened and taught at my first academy, Salvation Army, Building in Compton, CA.

Frederick Peterson Jr. has been a Boxing official in the Amateur Association (USA Boxing), since 1967 having officiated such pro, fighters and champions as Oscar de la Hoya, Sugar Shane Mosely, Fernando Vargas and brother. Larry Mosely and brother, Young Macho Comacho and many others as Amateurs even during several USA Olympic trails, Colorado (2), Lake Placid, New York (2), Kansas (2). Retired in 1999.

Frederick Peterson Jr. has referred and judged Amateur Kick Boxing for a few years and still at present state of California: Timekeeper for Professional Boxing.

Having trained hundreds of students over the years, Frederick Peterson Jr. has a number of Black Belts disciples including: Dr. Daniel Lane John and Richard Towels – 5th and 3rd degree respectively. Ricky Green – 4th degree. Tom Hardy – 3rd degree.

Willie Elam, Big John Robinson, Marvin Knight and Peter Fenny – all 2nd decree. Angelina and brother, Oscar Kesane, Pili Tutuvanu, Cesar Rojas (Skater with the Roller Derbys), Sgt. Michael Brooks (Los Angeles Police Department), Robert Williams, Henry Wilson, Jowel Schlicter, Andre Bey, Fred and Kelvin Floriman (father and son) – all Black Belts (Shodan).

Frederick Peterson Jr. tutored and or has been a part of the promotion of the following Black Belts:

Terry Wilson – 4th degree (’92 AAU JUI JITSU Silver Medalist)

Master Culpepper – Chief Instructor of Tai Quan Do, Long Beach, California and Open Tournament competitor.

Danny Bonadouche – Master Culpepper’s student (actor, TV, Partridge Family)

G.A. Sankara Frazier – Chief Executive Officer, Circle of Discipline, Inc. in Minneapolis, MN. Ranked degree Grand Master and instructor under Soke Grandmaster Frederick Peterson, Jr.. Currently have four (4) students, under Mr. Frazier, who are black belts/sash that teach and continue to learn at the Circle of Discipline, Inc. Also, USA International Amateur Boxing Coach and Professional Boxing Coach.

Worked with other Black Belts from the BKF system, such as Sifu Shulaman, Grand Master Nat Moore, Richard Gomes, Master James Sharp and in several California Dojos.

Frederick Peterson Jr. has been inducted with top honors in five (5) southern California Martial Arts Halls of Fame throughout the years of 1998 – 2000.

November 25, 1988, Frederick Peterson Jr. was certified by southern California Karate Association, Judan Chuck Farley. President and Judan Jimmy Bartell, consultant, promotion to 10th degree Black Belt (Judku).

Certified to “Soke” when inducted into the World International Global Hall of Fame in San Diego, California under Dr. Soto in 1999.

From 1987 through 1991 Frederick Peterson Jr. was Grand Champion in Masters Point Fighting (Kumite).

Frederick Peterson Jr. has referred, judged, and worked as a timekeeper for the California State Athletic Commission for both Muay Thai and Kickboxing events.

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1999fashion · 4 years ago

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nhạc rap là gì

Rap Việt đang là một trong những từ khoá hot được cộng đồng mạng tìm kiếm nhiều trong năm nay. Những tên tuổi mới nổi gần đây như Ricky Star, Dế Choắt, Lăng LD, Tlinh… trở nên hot hơn bao giờ hết. Do đó, thể loại nhạc Rap cũng trở nên thịnh hành hơn trong làng âm nhạc. Và nếu như anh em cũng là một fan cuồng của thể loại âm nhạc đường phố đầy hấp d��n này, thì chắc chắn sẽ không thể bỏ qua bài viết này.

1. Rap là gì

Rap là viết tắt của 3 từ Rhythm – And – Poetry, là một hình thức nghệ thuật trong văn hoá Hip hop của người Âu Mỹ từ rất lâu. Cách thể hiện của thể loại Rap khá độc đáo và mang những đặc trưng riêng biệt, bằng cách trình diễn thông qua lời nói hoặc hô vang ca từ, lời bài hát theo vần điệu, kết hợp với tạo hình thu hút và bắt mắt.

Nhịp điệu của Rap không có cao độ hay trường độ, mà chỉ phụ thuộc vào cách đọc nhanh hay chậm tuỳ ý của Rapper. Đồng thời, mỗi Rapper có một giọng điệu riêng biệt khác nhau và vì thế, rap cũng mang sự đặc trưng và riêng biệt của từng nghệ sĩ.

2. Nguồn gốc ra đời của Rap

· Rap bắt nguồn từ nước nào

Không ai biết chính xác về sự ra đời của nhạc Rap. Tuy nhiên, có một nguồn gốc về nhạc Rap được khá nhiều người công nhận. Đó là Rap được khai sinh từ nhiều thế kỉ trước tại vùng đất ở Tây Phi. Trong lịch sử của người Tây Phi, tồn tại những nhà lịch sử học kể câu chuyện của vùng đất họ với những nhịp trống đơn giản. Phong cách này gần giống như nhạc rap như chúng ta biết ngày nay.

Sau đó, khi người châu Phi bị đưa đến châu Mỹ và bị ép làm nô lệ. Một cách để họ đương đầu với cuộc sống khổ cực của chế độ nô lệ tại đây là hát. Cụ thể, chúng đã bắt đầu trở nên phổ biến tại khu ghetto tại Hoa Kì. Đây là khu tập trung nhiều người nghèo, nô lệ, người da màu bị miệt thị và các tệ nạn xã hội, băng đảng. Sống dưới sự bất công và phân biệt chủng tộc của Mỹ thời bấy giờ, Rap được xem là linh hồn giúp người dân nơi đây nói lên tiếng lòng của mình. Đồng thời, đây cũng là thứ duy nhất giúp họ quên đi thực tại về cuộc sống nghèo hèn, bần cùng của mình.

· Sự ra đời của nhịp lặp trong rap

Dần dần, Rap trở nên phổ biến hơn ở Mỹ. Chúng bắt đầu được chơi rộng rãi khi có DJ ở New York lấy các bộ gõ từ nhạc disco, soul hay funk để tạo ra được nhịp nền lặp đi lặp lại. Từ đó, nhiều người công nhận rằng DJ Kool Herc được coi là người khởi xướng ra thể loại này. Bởi trong những buổi tiệc tùng học sinh của ông vào những năm 1970, ông đã sử dụng hai bàn đĩa xoay đĩa của mình để tạo ra các vòng lặp, chơi nhịp lặp đi lặp lại và kéo dài phần nhạc đệm của bài nhạc ra. Trong buổi tiệc đó, ông cũng nhận ra cần một người giữ cho đám đông luôn phấn khích và nhiệt huyết, ông đã mời người bạn của mình là Coke La Rock làm việc đó. Và đây chính thức là lúc mà nhịp lặp của Rap được ra đời.

· Xu hướng Rap bắt đầu phát triển

Ở quận Bronx, tiểu bang New York, làn sóng yêu thích Hip hop không dừng lại. Những năm 1970 sở hữu những cái tên DJ huyền thoại như Afrika Bambaataa và Grandmaster Flash. Trong suốt khoảng thời gian đó, DJ đã trở thành hiện tượng mới trong âm nhạc. Cũng trong khoảng thời gian này, rất nhiều nghệ sĩ và nhóm nghệ sĩ ra đời. Có thể kể đến như Kutis Blow, nghệ sĩ nhạc rap đầu tiên kí với Mercury Records vào năm 1979. Và hai nhóm nhạc The Fatback và Sugar Hill Gang cũng phát hành những album chính thức, luôn nằm trong top 40 Billboard trong suốt những năm sau đó.

Vào những năm 80, DJ Grand Wizard Theodore bất ngờ sáng kiến ra hành động “cào cấu” và kĩ thuật thả kim (needle drop) không những đưa rap lên tầm cao mới mà còn tạo ra sáng kiến mới cho DJ chơi nhạc.

· Kỷ nguyên vàng của nhạc Rap

Vào những năm 1984, vần và rap vẫn còn khá đơn giản. Nhưng dưới sự phát triển của kĩ thuật âm thanh, một thế hệ Rapper mới được sinh ra với cái tên “the Golden Era”. Vào kỷ nguyên này, các ca khúc hay album ra mắt đã mang màu sắc, âm điệu và hướng đi của nhạc Rap hiện đại. Nhịp dày đặc hơn, hát nhanh hơn và công nghệ lấy mẫu cũng tăng vọt. Đồng thời, nó cũng trùng hợp vào giai đoạn lời bài hát trở thành một hình thức phản đối mạnh mẽ, tập trung vào những bất công của xã hội Mỹ lúc bấy giờ. Điển hình nhất có thể kể đến hai nghệ sĩ nổi tiếng Melle Mel và Duke Bootee.

· Sự chia rẽ trong cộng đồng rap bùng nổ

Đến những năm 1990, có một sự chia rẽ mạnh mẽ trong cộng đồng Rap, đó là sự khác biệt về phong cách và nội dung giữa bờ Đông và bờ Tây. Ngoài những khác biệt trên, có một sự tồn tại của những cá nhân cụ thể gây ra sự rạn nứt này, đó là Tupac Shakur và The Notorious B.I.G. Sau những vụ lùm xùm cùng những tranh cãi nổ ra, những tên tuổi mới lần lượt ra đời như Jay – Z và Snoop Dogg trở nên phổ biến ở cả hai bờ biển và giúp nhạc rap vượt qua thời kì xung đột này.

Cũng trong khoảng thời gian này, đã có rất nhiều nữ Rapper ra đời. Vượt qua định kiến về nữ giới thời đó, những nữ Rapper như Salt – N – Pepa, MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Da Brat, … đã giúp dòng nhạc này một lần nữa được lột xác trong giai điệu ngày càng tốt hơn và dần tiến tới thời kì cực thịnh của mình.

· Sự gia nhập của nhiều Rapper trẻ

Từ năm 2000 đến nay, công nghệ trực tuyến và những tiến bộ công nghệ mới cho phép tạo ra nhiều bản nhạc với nhiều sắc thái hơn, nhiều cảm xúc hơn. Đồng thời hỗ trợ những phương pháp lấy mẫu, triển khai nhịp và phương pháp phân phối nhạc. Cùng với đó, sự gia nhập của các Rapper trẻ tuổi đã tạo ra nhiều ý tưởng khiến cho dòng nhạc này trở nên gần gũi hơn, dễ tiếp cận hơn và trở thành một trong những thể loại được yêu thích nhất trên thế giới.

3. Đặc trưng của Rap

Rap làm nên khác biệt lớn so với tất cả các dòng nhạc khác có lẽ chính là nguồn gốc xuất phát của nó là ước vọng khác khao, là thể hiện bản chất cá nhân mạnh mẽ. Do đó, đối với rap, ngồn từ sử dụng thường rất phóng khoáng và không bị gò bó ở một giới hạn nào cả. Chính vì lẽ đó, nhiều khi người sáng tác cũng thêm vào vài câu chửi thề hay ho.

Khi biểu diễn, các rapper phải thể hiện được các kĩ thuật trong câu từ một cách nhuần nhuyễn và chất riêng biệt của họ. Và đặc biệt, phải chú ý tới nhạc lí nhiều hơn để hoà thanh của bài không thể phá vỡ, hay bị ngang phè phè, nghe không bắt tai. Thông thường các rapper sẽ sử dụng một số các cách sử dụng câu chữ điêu luyện như sau:

Sử dụng lối chơi chữ, so sánh, ấn dụ, gieo vần, dùng từ đồng âm, chửi tục ác ý, bẻ gãy ca từ trong battle/dissing, …Thể hiện theo cách flow. Tức là kết hợp câu từ, cách gieo vần, điểm nhấn trên nền nhạc một cách vừa hợp lí, lại vừa độc đáo và sáng tạo.Lên nội dung/chủ đề muốn truyền tảiThể loại freestyle. Nghĩa là có thể ứng biến tức thời qua cách rap trên nền beat cho sẵn.

4. Rap và Hip hop có gì khác biệt?

Trên thực thế, Rap và Hip hop là hai khái niệm hoàn toàn khác biệt. Hip hop là một nền văn hoá và Rap là một phần của văn hoá đó. Văn hoá Hip hop bao gồm lời nói (MC), nhịp (DJ), điệu nhảy đường phố (breakdance) và nghệ thuật tranh phun sơn (graffiti art). Còn rap bao gồm lời nói (MC), nhịp (DJ) và sự truyền tải (giọng điệu và tốc độ trong những điều được nói ra). Có thể nói Rap là một phần không thể thiếu của văn hoá Hip hop. Do đó, việc mọi người nhầm lẫn và đánh đồng hai khái niệm này là điều có thể hiểu được.

5. Các huyền thoại Rap trên thế giới

· 2Pac

Không thực sự nổi tiếng toàn cầu, nhưng bất cứ ai nghe Rap Mỹ đều biết đến 2Pac. Không thể phủ nhận rằng anh là Rapper số một và là một trong những người có công lớn trong việc đem nhạc Rap đến toàn thế giới. Trong thời kì chia rẽ, 2Pac là trụ cột bờ Tây, quê hương của Gangsta Rap, đối lập với Notorious B.I.G là trụ cột bờ Đông. Trong sự nghiệp của mình, anh đã có hơn 75 triệu album bán được trên toàn thế giới, tính đến năm 2007. Anh cũng được tạp chí Rolling Stone xếp thứ 86 trong danh sách những nghệ sĩ vĩ đại nhất mọi thời đại.

· Notorious B.I.G

Đối đầu với 2Pac, là Notorious B.I.G, người trụ cột bờ Đông. Trong quá khứ, hai nghệ sĩ từng là đôi bạn thân thiết. Trong cuộc chiến, 2Pac và Notorious B.I.G đã liên tục đấu qua đấu lại bằng các bài Rap. Sau này, việc cả hai cùng bị ám sát đã giúp các Rapper hai bên nhìn nhận lại sự mất mát vô bờ của cuộc chiến và bắt đầu có xu hướng làm hoà, kể cả các nghệ sĩ từng tham chiến như Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg hay những nghệ sĩ trung lập như Eminem, Jay – Z.

· Eminem

Về tên tuổi, chắc chắn Eminem hiện tại đang là Rapper được biết đến nhiều nhất và được gọi là "Ông vua nhạc Rap". Sinh cùng thời với 2Pac và Notorious B.I.G. nhưng Eminem không thành công sớm như hai Rapper này. Con đường của Eminem chông gai hơn bởi anh là một Rapper da trắng. Bởi khi ấy nhạc Rap được xem như là âm nhạc của người da đen.

Dù thành công có phần muộn màng nhưng Eminem lại là người thành công vang dội. Anh đã bán được trên 172 triệu album trên toàn thế giới, vượt xa 2Pac, và là một trong những nghệ sĩ bán đĩa chạy nhất mọi thời đại, sánh ngang với Michael Jackson, The Beatles và Backstreet Boy.

Eminem được tạp chí Rolling Stone xếp thứ 83 trong danh sách những nghệ sĩ vĩ đại nhất mọi thời đại và đã chiến thắng đến 15 giải Grammy. Eminem cũng có được 1 giải Oscar nhạc phim cho bài "Lose Yourself" trong phim 8 Mile dựa trên chính cuộc đời của mình.

· Snoop Dogg

Một những những Rapper chơi ngông nhất làng nhạc Rap không thể không kể đến là Snoop Dogg. Anh là một trong những Rapper lão làng cùng thời với 2Pac, cũng là một Rapper bờ Tây rất hăng hái trong cuộc chiến. Anh cũng là một nghệ sĩ thành công dưới sự nhào nặn của Dr. Dre. Anh đã được 7 lần đề cử giải thưởng âm nhạc Grammy dù chưa từng giành giải chiến thắng.

· Kanye West

Sự nghiệp của Kanye West khởi đầu với hãng đĩa Roc – A – Fella của Jay – Z và là một Rapper theo trường phái New School thực thụ với phong cách nhạc Rap truyền thống. Kanye West hầu như không bán đĩa mà bán bản thu kĩ thuật số. Và anh cũng là một trong những nghệ sĩ tiêu thụ được nhiều bản kĩ thuật số nhất mọi thời đại.

6. Nhạc rap tại Việt Nam

Các nghệ sĩ nhạc Rap tại Việt Nam được phân thành các thế hệ như sau:

· Thế hệ F1: 1997 – 2005

Lịch sử rap VN bắt đầu từ việc khai sinh với track Vietnamese Gang – Thai Viet G x Khanh Nhỏ. Nhưng trước đó các bài hát do nhóm Heart2Exit (chuyên hát thể loại RnB/Soul hoạt động tại hải ngoại) với những đường flow tuy đơn giản nhưng hiệu quả chính xác trên nền nhạc beat đó có thể gọi là Rap bắt đầu được xuất hiện. Vào năm 2005 Khanh Nhỏ đã mang Vietnamese Gang đi thi trong cuộc thi rappers trẻ thế giới và được đánh giá cao về flow và cả chất nhạc.

· Thế hệ F2: 2006 – 2008

Trong khoảng thời gian 2006 – 2007, văn hóa Hip hop du nhập trở nên không còn xa lạ với giới trẻ Việt Nam. Với sức lan tỏa rất lớn, hầu như trong playlist của các bạn trẻ không chỉ là các bản nhạc pop và có cả những tracks rap như Tuyết Yêu Thương – Young Uno, Tiểu Thuyết Tình Yêu – Andree x Lee7 x It’s Lee, … Trong giới Underground nhiều rappers mới đã bắt đầu lộ diện và hình thành những tổ chức rap mới.

· Thế hệ F3: 2009 – 2012

Nổi tiếng nhất trong thế hệ này là nhóm Joker’s Rule (Mr. A, JayTee, Mr. T, Elli’an, Bueno, Rin – các thành viên từ 2 nhóm cũ là X4 band).

· Thế hệ F4: 2013 – 2016

Trong giai đoạn này rap VN đón chào nhiều nhóm rap mới hoạt động mạnh như: Hazard Clique theo style Hardcore Rap (gồm Pain - 1 rapper đến từ Tây Ban Nha, Cam - á quân cuộc thi RhymeFes, Black Murder - quán quân 2 mùa giải Rap-Up), Sài Gòn Smoking Gangz a.k.a SG.S.G a.k.a SG Smokers (gồm D.C từ FSR, Khoa Wzzzy, LC King, Kent BC, K.SI), DC GanG + SG Prider đến từ tổ chức SPR, SK Family ở Hà Nội (Zugi, GoldFeezy, Monkey Dope,...).

· Thế hệ F5: 2017 – nay

Trong những năm gần đây, sân chơi dành cho các rapper Việt ngày càng được mở rộng. Cụ thể, trong năm 2018 với nhiều cuộc thi được tổ chức, rất nhiều nhà đầu tư và nhà sản xuất về rap xuất hiện. Bởi trước niềm tin mãnh liệt rằng Rap đang quay trở lại, thậm chí là trở lại mạnh mẽ hơn trước đây rất nhiều thông qua những gì nó đang tồn tại trên thị trường âm nhạc hiện nay.

Các rapper Việt đang được coi là gương mặt vàng của những năm vừa qua phải kể đến Đen Vâu trong ca khúc "Ngày khác lạ", "Đừng gọi anh là idol", "Anh đếch cần gì nhiều ngoài em"; JustaTee, Osad, BinZ, … hay Karik với bài hit đình đám “Người lạ ơi”.

Rap dần dần trở thành một phần của đời sống âm nhạc Việt với chất phóng khoáng và tự do. Có thể thấy Rap đang dần có sức hút mãnh liệt hơn đối với giới trẻ. Nhưng ta vẫn phải biết rằng Rap có quay trở lại và chiếm thế trên thị trường hay không, tất cả còn nhờ vào những thế hệ trẻ có đủ tài năng và bản lĩnh đưa Rap Việt lên tầm cao mới. Vì gu âm nhạc của Việt Nam trước giờ vốn là Pop-ballad nhẹ nhàng sâu lắng, việc thay đổi thị hiếu cũng như là sở thích âm nhạc của một cộng đồng là điều không dễ dàng. Nhưng không gì là không thể nếu những tài năng trẻ xuất hiện với một cá tính mạnh, một bản sắc riêng, nhưng vẫn đậm chất "Việt".

Nguồn: nhạc rap là gì

#1999fashion #1999fashion.com

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phgq · 4 years ago

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Surigao chess players eye semis slot in online tilt

#PHnews: Surigao chess players eye semis slot in online tilt

SURIGAO CITY – Although struggling to make it to the semifinals, the all-solid Surigaonon team known as Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates is proud to represent Mindanao in the first-ever professional chess competition in the country. Currently occupying the ninth spot, the Surigao woodpushers are vying for the last eight slots in the semis round of this 24-team rivalry nationwide under the first Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) in Asia, the country's second professional league after the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). "It's very unfortunate that we're trailing behind at the ninth place though it's still a long way to go, for we still have at least nine remaining team matches to play. In our hearts, we're deeply honored to represent Mindanao, along with the Zamboanga team, in the inaugural season of this professional chess league," Arena International Master (AIM) Rey Urbiztondo said Saturday. Fully aware of chess renaissance after Filipino-turned-US citizen Wesley So upstaged anew Classical World champion Magnus Carlsen in their recent international chess tussle, Urbiztondo noted that Surigao's participation is mainly in the hope of helping to boost chess' reputation as the Filipinos' new favorite sport during the pandemic. A dark horse entering the tough challenge, Surigao yielded in the early round to championship-favorite Caloocan but with Urbiztondo scoring a big upset win at the expense of International Master (IM) Barlo Nadera on Board 7. Surigao team's victories worth six points for the ninth place came from its head-on duels with Cagayan Valley and Quezon province in the north, and Iriga (twice), Palawan, and Cebu in the South. In the last nine rounds, the Surigao gems are to play against Mindoro and Palawan on March 6; opposite Toledo and Cebu on March 10; and versus Iloilo and Lapulapu on March 13. Its final three rounds will be against Negros, Zamboanga, and Camarines.a Also at the forefront of Surigao's quest for glory are former national junior champion FM Vince Alaan and Haifa, and Israel Olympiad veteran FM Cesar Caturla. Completing the team are Tyrone Alaan, Jayson Salubre, lady chess player Jessa Mae Lisondra, seniors (60 above) Joselito Serna and Allan Diez, and homegrown bets Cyrus Donasco, Marcelito Penera (recently replaced by Rogelio Canoy due to poor signal), and San Dro Ladion. "The core of this team is built around 30 years of friendship. So, we'll fight it out, win or lose," Urbiztondo said. Asia's first Grandmaster Eugene Torre and many-time Philippine Open champion GM Joey Antonio Jr. led a stellar cast of Filipino chess stars in the PCAP tourney, alongside fellow GMs Mark Paragua, Banjo Barcenilla, Darwin Laylo, Ino Sandorra, John Paul Gomez, Mark Paragua, Roland Salvador, Oliver Barbosa, and candidate GM, Ronald Dableo. More than 50 other titled players are also taking part, led by International Masters Jan Emmanuel Garcia, Paulo Bersamina, Oliver Dimakiling, Ricky de Guzman, Cris Ramayat, Angelo Young, Marvin Miciano, Barlo Nadera, Joel Pimentel, and returning IMs Domingo Ramos, Rolando Nolte, Vince Alaan, Chito Garma and Eric Labog. (Lynde Salgados/PNA)

***

References:

* Philippine News Agency. "Surigao chess players eye semis slot in online tilt." Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1132792 (accessed March 07, 2021 at 02:41AM UTC+14).

* Philippine News Agency. "Surigao chess players eye semis slot in online tilt." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1132792 (archived).

#Philippines #News #Filipino #Pinoy #Tourism #Politics #Culture #Editorial #Environment #Society #History

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zmediaoutlet · 7 years ago

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hello there. could you make a proper post about ragnarok? your tags are teasing me & i wanna know what you liked about it. personally i was vibrating with excitement throughout, it was so good. after all the dark, boring marvel stuff, finally some quality fun. everything a blockbuster should be, done right. (with enough brothering to warm my samndean heart)

hi there, anon, I’d be delighted. Though coherent film reviews aren’t really my business, this movie was just–supremely delicious enough to make it happen.

THOR: RAGNAROK spoilers below.

Vibrating with excitement is a great way to describe the experience of seeing this movie, and for that I think we need to start with a little background. Anyone who reads my tags on a regular basis knows that, truly, #taika waititi is my hero. Why, though? Well, to start with, he is a genius, and what he’s a genius at is a particular kind of comedy. A lot of people say that there’s a particularly New Zealand sense of humor to his films–not being a Kiwi I don’t know that I could say, either way. However, if you’re a fan of Flight of the Conchords or Rhys Darby, you can hear the echoes of that comedy style throughout his work. It’s whimsical, clever, self-deprecating, ranges from surrealist to subtle. What it is not, ever, is mean-spirited. Sometimes there’s a light jab to the ribs, but it is always, always given with a quirk of a smile. Such a refreshing thing, especially given how… cruel comedy can be, in the wrong hands.

What’s more important than his skill with comedy, though, is the way he’ll layer in real, true feeling–and never makes it schmaltzy. If you’re forced to watch a “feel-good family film” from a lesser director, there will be ‘funny’ moments (often based in personal humiliation and mockery), there will be brief drama (usually melodrama), and there will be moments of poignancy where everyone realizes that they really do love each other, after all. Puke. Contrast here Waititi’s masterpiece–yes, screw you, it’s a masterpiece–Hunt for the Wilderpeople. This movie is genuinely, laugh-out-loud funny–and it also made me cry, genuinely, at the same time that it made my whole chest full and warm with sympathetic joy. The man knows how to layer in emotion with his humor in a way that doesn’t make the audience feel cheaply manipulated. When Ricky Baker earns his happy ending at the end of Wilderpeople, your face hurts from smiling and your eyes are wet, and–if you’re me–you feel grateful, to be treated like an adult by a director. Such a joy not to feel dragged along like a simpleton, not to feel like the script was written with crayon. (No spoilers for Wilderpeople, but if you’re reading this and you haven’t seen it, you fucking should. I think it’s streaming on Amazon right now.)

So. Then we came to Thor. I didn’t have high hopes for the character’s franchise after Thor: The Dark World (though I did like that movie more than most people, it seems). However, as soon as Waititi was attached, my immediate reaction was shock and then a thrill, and holy shit, did he deliver.

We open in medias res with Thor at the height (so far) of his power, and immediately you can feel the change from the previous films. Under Waititi, Chris Hemsworth is allowed to be… fun. Thor has gotten some jokey moments in his previous appearances, but generally speaking that pretty brutish brow is crumpled and weighed down while he muscularly grimaces about whatever the latest tragedy is. Leaping directly into this film, with that Thor jovially chatting with a skeleton and then just oozing pure arrogance at this absurd comic-book malevolent baddie, even as he dangles absurdly at the end of a chain–yes, I thought, yes. This is exactly what I wanted. The entire cold open of the film broadcasts so hard what we’re about to get into–yes, we’ll be watching Thor beat up minions, but it won’t be tedious as it so often is with these superhero jaunts. The use of The Immigrant Song just cements it, as Thor grins and jockeys and wins, as he always knew he would, perfectly choreographed to the riffs.

We could have lingered tediously here, too, but no–again, we’re shown how good it can be when a great director knows what the movie is actually about. The action scene unfurls and the script swings along loose-hipped, casual, knowing we can keep up. We’re introduced off-handedly to Skurge, with more of that lovely semi-absurd Kiwi humor, and those of us who recognize his name might raise our eyebrows knowingly–but the foreshadowing here tells us otherwise. He’s not a bad guy, not really; he’s just a person, beautifully humanized with his ineffective little boasting, just trying to do his new job. Our hero blasts forward, and again–here we are in pretty Asgard, and things are bright, loose, funny. The casting of the characters in Loki’s little play is joke enough on its own (and hallelujah to those three for agreeing to do it!), but here again: we’re given all the information we need to know about the background of the key relationship without going into tedious flashback, and while the emotion is dropped in as a joke we remember how intense it was, at the time… all while Thor watches, almost grim, and unsurprised, so the character development continues in the background.

I won’t go beat-by-beat with the script–though, christ, I could, you can feel Waititi’s hands all over it, smoothing and shaping and improving–but it really is impressive. It does its job, setting up for where we know we’ll need to go with Infinity War, but unlike some of the more boring entries in the recent MCU (and I am looking directly at you, Doctor Strange, no matter how fun your cameo is) this movie actually stands alone. It’s a cohesive story, fun diversions aside, with a single goal, and the reason it works is that Waititi knows what this story is about–and it is not about the larger MCU, not at all. It’s about family.

Hemsworth does a great job with his Thor this time around, better than he ever has. He’s not a bad actor, by any means, but he was previously given very little to actually do. His best moments, by far, were in those scenes he had with his little brother–and here we come to Tom Hiddleston, aka the reason the Thor franchise works at all in the first place.

I want to say that I am not a Loki!girl. Apparently they’re somewhat creepy. That said, one of the biggest coups in the entire MCU is the casting of Hiddleston as Loki–and, likely, the fact that Kenneth Branagh held the reins in the first Thor appearance, so the Shakespearean nature of the character could really be shaped for the franchise’s future. A wild-haired trickster villain, all bronze silly horns and green-and-black drapery, could have been purely preposterous–but from the first scenes with Hiddleston as Loki, he was more than that. One of the best single moments in any ‘superhero’ movie is the moment in the first Thor where Odin reveals Loki’s parentage; it’s beautifully subtle, heartbreaking, as Hiddleston casts his eyes to the side and breathes out, Laufeyson. That’s it. That’s the moment where everything cracks apart, and it’s done so very, very well. The heartbreak of that leads to the conflict in Thor, to Loki’s vicious appalling hurt in The Avengers, to the near-insanity and raging grief in Thor: The Dark World. Here, Waititi pulls back, which is the right move–Loki’s well of betrayal is still deep, but it’s been long enough that we’ve seen it, we’re kind of done, and while it still motivates his behavior we get the sense that Loki, too, is tired of it. He’ll fight his brother because they are not brothers, because that’s what they’ve always done, and yet… you can see the desire for reconciliation, lurking under the surface. The change in Loki gives Hemsworth’s Thor something fresh to work with–not only a heartbreak, not only a long-frustrated love, but finally his little brother. We can see the long history echoing back and forth between them, both the good and the bad of it. They smile at each other, even as they roll their eyes and fight and get frustrated, and it’s like coming home.

When I give writing advice, my first and biggest piece is always: what is your story about? I said before that Waititi knows this, and it’s what makes the movie work. There’s not really a B-plot–the whole story, all of it, is about the Odinson family, specifically about how Odin’s actions have reverberated through millennia. There’s a strong undercurrent thematically of imperialism, of the strong oppressing the weak, of thoughtless power crushing everything in its path (look to Jeff Goldblum’s [incredible!] Grandmaster, or even to Hulk, for echoes of this)–but it comes through most clearly in Hela, Odin’s first child, who learned his lessons of to the victor go the spoils far too well. In Hela we can see the biggest warning of what could have happened with Loki–power untrammeled, viciousness, the unloved child cast aside and made to hate. But again–this is a story about family. Hela runs roughshod over Asgard, desperate to rekindle her campaign of destruction–and what do we see, elsewhere? Thor and Loki, mistrusting each other, but working together. Thor gains his own allies, and Loki gains his, but ultimately the day is saved by the two of them, working together.

It’s not a novel idea. A disproportionate amount of good heroic fiction is about the good Many taking on the evil One, The Lord of the Rings being almost an Ur-example in modern fantasy. Personal supremacy is generally the trait of evil characters, while good folk seem to succeed entirely based on the Power of Friendship, the narrative rewarding them for sticking together with Handy Coincidences and usually a last burst of strength to take out the enemy. That’s certainly the case here… sort of. Valkyrie folds to Thor’s winning smile and dons her armor to finally avenge her fallen sisters; Bruce Banner makes the decision to sacrifice his self, to let Hulk back out, to save the helpless folk of Asgard. Loki sacrifices his freedom and a comfortable position at the Grandmaster’s side to help his brother. Thor makes the most visible sacrifice–expecting to lose his life, he instead loses his eye (connecting him back to his not-so-sainted father)… and thereby gains massive, massive power. What’s fun, though, and what separates this movie from its more tedious brethren is: this isn’t enough. We don’t have to sit through a forty-five minute slog of Our Heroes fighting together against Hela. They fight, certainly–and immediately realize that they will never, ever be enough to beat her, and so they sacrifice the biggest chess piece of all: home. It’s a big move, though relatively safe–audiences may like looking at Asgard, but they certainly don’t have their hearts leap in their breast when its safety is concerned. It’s not like we watched Earth blow up–no offense to Douglas Adams.

Still. Even as Asgard shatters and Hela (presumably) expires, we’re reminded: home isn’t a place. It’s people. Trite? It ought to be, particularly in Idris Elba’s somber tones. It isn’t, though, because Waititi earns it. We love Korg, and Maik–who’s not dead! (Hooray!) We’re proud of Valkyrie and Bruce. Even poor, doomed Skurge, who we knew couldn’t really be all bad, from his very first seconds on screen. This team that has been assembled is truly a team–more so than the Avengers, despite all the fanfiction that was written to the contrary. For me, the heart of the movie is the moment when Loki comes to Thor, affixing his new eyepatch, and there’s no great swell of music, there’s no hug, but when Thor tosses the little bauble, expecting it to pass through Loki like through so much ephemera–it doesn’t, because Loki is solid, and here, and home. Family.

The beautiful colorwork and clever camera movement and soundtrack choices (the return of The Immigrant Song as a capstone to the movie’s theme made the hair on my neck stand up even as I laughed out loud with delight–and it’s doing the same right now, even just remembering it) and all the excellent jokes, and everything about Jeff Goldblum and his cranky henchwoman–they’re really just icing on an exquisitely made cake. The bones of the film are solid, because they were put in place by a creator who knows what he’s doing and has the confidence to pull it off. (And hats off to Marvel/Disney, for letting him do so.)

In conclusion: Taika Waititi is my hero.

#thor #thor: ragnarok #writing #film review #long post #maybe too long for you anon #but i'm glad i wrote it #because it's good to pin these things down #i didn't even *begin* to get into the shipping side of things #much less the mythological implications re: godhead etc #but still #script analysis is fun all on its own #anonymous #--can't believe i forgot to tag #taika waititi is my hero

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