#I highly recommend it if you're into more romantic songs :]

[c00kietin]

not much drawn today except for this fellow who I shall redesign soon :3

[ironstrange1991]

You're The Only Good Thing In My Life

Pairing: Doctor!Strange x Fem!Reader

Synopsis: It's Stephen and Y/n's last night of vacation and she decides to claim him as hers before give him back to the world.

Word Count: 4,2k

Warnings: SMUT: unprotected p n v sex, oral with male and female receiving, creampie and cum eating. There is also a bit of jealousy implied.

A/N: This fic was inspired entirely by the song of the same name by the band Cigarretes After Sex. For total immersion I highly recommend listening to it. It's absurdly romantic, a bit sad (?), but very smuty. Hope you like it and have a nice reading.

There were few things in the world that truly left you in awe. One of them was Stephen, of course. The Eifel Tower, the mountains of the Scottish Highlands and the beach at night.

You could stay all night watching the waves hitting the shore, the foam forming on the sand, the smell of the sea air. Of course, all this was very beautiful in daylight when the sea reflected the blue of the sky and the waters shone like liquid sapphire, but at night the sea was endless and mysterious. The blue turned into black crowned by layers of gray foam.

There was nothing more beautiful than that, unless there was a storm on the way. The night sky clear with storm clouds that brings lightning and the sound of thunder in the distance announcing the arrival of heavy rain. That was without a shadow of a doubt one of the most beautiful things you could imagine and it was also the scene in front of you as you sat on the steps in the backyard of the house that Stephen had rented for you to spend a few days on vacation.

After you fought with him because he wasn't paying attention to you, he surrendered and decided to redeem himself with the indecent proposal of taking you to the beach and obviously you accepted.

It was seven days where you barely left the house. That's when you got out of bed. Stephen made sure the house was stocked with everything you needed and even when you wanted something that wasn't there, he always made sure to get it for you within a minute. Of course, being a sorcerer and traveling through portals helped with the task.

But of course you couldn't complain. You had the man you loved by your side all the time and you didn't need to share him with Wong or those annoying spell books. You could spend the whole day curled up in bed or sprawled on the sofa, you could swim in the sea, make love whenever you wanted and as often as you wanted. There in that house you were sure you had experienced paradise and you never wanted to leave.

Yet there you were sitting on the stairs, your bare feet in the sand, listening to the sound of the waves and watching the storm brewing and the lightning cutting across the sky and your chest was heavy knowing that you would have to leave the next morning and return to the reality of your work, as well as sharing Stephen with all the tasks he needed to do for Wong, for the Avengers and for the world.

For a whole week Stephen was just yours and now you needed to give him back.

Of course he could see you were sad. You had been lively and talkative all week and particularly that night you were sitting there quietly alone. You wanted to shake that feeling away, but it wasn't exactly an easy thing. However, when you heard the sound of footsteps approaching and felt Stephen sitting on the step behind you and pulling you to lean against his chest, you sighed, letting yourself be comforted by the only person capable of comforting you.

You closed your eyes for a second, feeling him kiss the top of your head, but you remained silent.

"A storm is coming." He said in your ear, making a point of rubbing his goatee against the back of your neck and as expected, your entire body tingled and he let out a satisfied hum.

"This always works." He pointed out, running his hands through your hair and holding it in a ponytail and then brushing his chin against your skin again. You shivered at the sensation and let out a small chuckle.

"May I ask what you're thinking?" His voice sounded low.

"That I love the beach at night."

"Hmm."

"And that I don't want to leave."

He held you in his arms and something in that hug made you feel that he shared with you that desire to stay there, just the two of you together, free from all routine worries.

"You know we can come back whenever we want." He promised.

"But you can never take a vacation. There's always something you need to do."

He stroke your hair gently and brought his nose closer breathing in your scent. He continued stroking your hair, but didn't say anything.

"What's the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?" You asked, genuinely curious as you watched the night sea.

"You naked in my bed." He teased making you giggle.

"I'm serious, Stephen."

"What makes you think I'm not?"

You chuckled "Okay. Besides that."

He thought for a minute and then hummed to himself as if remembering something.

"The first time I went to Kamar Taj the Ancient One showed me things I had no idea could exist. I was terrified, but those images never left my mind."

"Were they beautiful?"

"Scary, but very beautiful."

You nodded thinking for a second. "I think this is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." You pointed to the sea in front of you. "Like this."

"You mean it's not me?" He teased and you grabbed his hand that was firmly around your waist and brought it to your mouth and gave it a small kiss before leaning your face into his palm closing your eyes and confessing.

"You're the only good thing in my life."

He sighed, cupping your cheek and making you turn to look at him. When you did, his eyes were like fire, darkened by what you couldn't tell if it was desire, love, or a combination of the two.

"I promise I won't let work come between us again. I love you. I've never loved anyone but you and I never will."

"Hmm. That's lovely, but as much as I'd love to believe, you can't promise that, Stephen. You're Doctor Strange, the world needs you all the time."

He shook his head. "I don't care. You're the only one that really matters to me."

You smiled, knowing full well that things were more complicated than that, but you decided to let it that way even if just for the night.

You let yourself be pulled towards his lips, surrendering to his hungry kiss and as if the universe was conspiring with you, a thunder resounded louder than the others and the lights went out plunging you both into the gloom of the night lit only by the constant lightning.

Stephen chuckled on your lips and you felt your entire body tingle at the sound. That was the effect he had on you.

"We should go inside before it starts raining." He suggested nibbling your lip, but you shook your head getting up, hiking up your dress to straddle him, sitting back on his lap and wrapping your arms around his shoulders, kissing him again, much harder this time, while grinding yourself in him.

Stephen wrapped you in his arms, surrendering to the kiss with a hum.

"I want you to take me, Stephen. Make me yours."

He smirked glancing at you. "Here on these stairs? What if someone sees us?"

You hummed while giving small kisses on his neck and making his skin prickle.

"There's no one around and to be honest I don't care at all. I just want to be yours."

You lowered your lips to his bare chest, kissing and nibbling, sucking on the skin to mark him. Inhaling his delicious scent. Between your legs, you could feel him hardening. The delicate fabric of your panties and his shorts were the only thing stopping you.

Stephen lolled his head back, sighing, but his grip tightened on your waist. "Oh sweetheart" He moaned "You always get what you want from me, don't you?" He held your chin making you look at him.

"It must be because you think I'm adorable." You smiled proudly feeling his cock twitching beneath you. You were always surprised by how quickly you could get Stephen into that state.

"You have no idea." His lips searched for yours again and he started to move you harder on his lap. His kiss becoming more and more desperate as his desire increased, making him impatient.

"I need to be inside you." He asked between your lips.

You stood up, reluctant to separate from him for even a second. Stephen pulled down the shorts he was wearing and kicked them to the side. You pulled down your panties and let them fall and pool around your ankles, kicking them next to his shorts and Stephen grabbed your hand pulling you back closer to him.

You straddled him and raised your arms for him to take off your dress. The damp wind of the stormy night made your skin prickle and your nipples harden. Stephen grabbed one of them and twisted the other with his fingers, making you whimper and grab a handful of his hair. Your hips moving back and forth making his cock poke into your folds and giving you both just a glimpse of relief.

When he got tired of playing with your nipples, his lips moved up your collarbone, his beard scratching your skin deliciously. He stopped at a point just below your ear and sucked hard on the skin, marking you and making you let out a little moan. He brought one of his hands between you, finally touching you where you needed him the most. His heavy sigh showing his satisfaction at finding you absurdly wet for him.

You pulled him back to your lips as he entered you with two fingers. He moved them in and out slowly, teasing you and making you moan against his lips, feeling the familiar electricity course through your body as the desire increased.

You whimpered still between his lips and he hummed in response knowing full well what you wanted because it was exactly what he wanted too. He grabbed his cock and gave it a couple of jerks and patted your thigh. You raised your hips enough so he could direct his cock at your entrance, but first he ran the tip through your folds, smearing it with your abundant slick and only then placed it exactly where you wanted it.

When you let yourself sink into his dick you felt the delicious stretch that you craved so much. Stephen stretched you so perfectly, his cock felt like it was made especially for you and you never got tired of that feeling and never stopped being amazed at how he made you feel. As if making love to Stephen was the only thing in the world you were sure you were made for.

Stephen groaned at the sensation, grabbing a handful of your hair and pulling you back to his lips, kissing you with the characteristic desperation of when he gave himself over to his own pleasure. You had barely moved and he was already pulsing inside you, begging for his release. You leaned on his shoulders and began to slowly move up and down, gyrating your hips sensually and surrendering to your own pleasure. Stephen wrapped one arm around your waist and grabbed your ass cheek, squeezing it so hard you knew he would leave purple fingerprints on your skin.

"Fuck yes" He moaned making your whole body tingle. "You feel so good, sweetheart. You always feel so fucking good."

You let out a low hum, hiding your face in the crook of his neck, wrapping your arms around his shoulders, your fingers tangling in his hair, pulling it lightly as the pleasure increased.

The thunder rumbled again and with it a fine rain began to fall, but you didn't care about it, in fact you received the cold drops with pleasure, as if they had some magical quality capable of making you even more eager for each other.

Stephen grabbed your ass cheeks with both hands and started helping you with the movements, thrusting up and moving you on top of him with more force and speed.

"Oh god, Stephen..." You moaned, lolling your head back and surrendering to the growing pleasure. Stephen took advantage of the fact that your breasts were on display for him and buried his face between them, nibbling and sucking on your skin. His groans and grunts getting louder and louder as he got closer to his release.

The rain intensified, washing you both with cold water and making you shiver and your hair stick to your back. Stephen's skin, however, was still as hot as before, he was always so warm, and the hot and cold sensation only added to your pleasure. Everything felt perfect, as if nature itself was blessing the love you were making. You closed your eyes, surrendering to the moment.

"Look at me, sweetheart." Stephen demanded. "I want to see when you cum on my cock. I know you're close. I can feel it."

You opened your eyes and bit your bottom lip. You loved knowing that Stephen had complete control over you. That he knew you so well to the point of recognizing each of the signs your body showed him.

"You're so fucking good, Stephen. Cock feels amazing." You praised feeling the knot tightening in your stomach.

Your movements became faster and equally clumsier, the sensuality giving way to the desperation of the search for the sweet release you craved so much. Stephen took complete control, moving you on top of him and thrusting up against your movements and you could both feel yourselves being dragged to the edge, and as the sensation grew dangerously close to unbearable, another sensation took hold of you with the same proportion, a love so great that it seemed like it would make your chest break in two. You doubted anyone could love someone more than you loved Stephen.

"Oh shit, sweetheart, I'm so close. Tell me you can feel it. Don't wanna finish before you."

You cupped his face between your hands, making him look at you and taking back control, putting more force on your hips and moving back and forth, letting the delicious contact of his pelvic bone and hair rubbing against your clit be the final trigger that would pull you into your ecstasy.

And without you needing to announce it, you came hard and the strong contraction of your walls squeezing his cock was enough to pull him along with you and when he finally got there he kissed you like never before, with a little desperation , but with a love so great that it didn't need to be verbalized, but he did it anyway, murmuring on your lips how much he loved you, how special you were, and how nothing in the world could take you away from him.

Your body was shaking on top of his and you didn't know if it was from the force of the orgasm, or the way you were feeling or simply because of the cold rain falling on you, but either way, Stephen wrapped you in his strong arms and carried you inside while outside the rain intensified.

The two of you ended up in the shower together, the hot water was welcomed by your cold skin and although you hated washing your hair at night, you didn't have much of a choice.

Stephen soaped himself quickly and took the lead, taking the opportunity to soap your back, being extra gentle while doing it and giving small kisses in the back of your neck.

"Do you think this will ever subside and we'll become a normal couple?" He asked surprising you. You turned to face him and let the hot water rinse the shampoo from your hair.

"And what would a normal couple be?" You asked, putting some shampoo in your hand and lathering his hair. You needed to stand on your tiptoes to reach his head and he could very well bend down, but instead he preferred to see you struggling because it was adorable. His words.

"You know, sex once a week, sometimes less. Good friends, but not so good lovers." He explained.

You'd be lying if you said you didn't ask yourself the same question sometimes, but you decided to be completely honest in your answer.

"I can't predict the future, but the way you made me feel out there..."

He waited for you to finish what you were saying, but you just pulled him forward, letting the water rinse his hair and dedicated yourself to applying conditioner to his hair and yours.

"What..." He insisted and you sighed cupping his cheek.

"I love you so much. Too much. Sometimes I feel this love crushing my chest or threatening to break it in two and it's a feeling so strong that I know I need to get it out of here and put it somewhere else otherwise I feel I'm going to explode. When we have sex it's like I'm putting my love in the right place. So, I don't see us having sex once a week because where would I put my love?"

You grimaced realizing the whole thing made much more sense in your head then when you said it out loud, but Stephen smiled.  "You're adorable indeed, you know that?" He said pulling you to his lips and kissing you softly.

"You know you can place your love on me whenever you want, don't you?" He teased and you slapped his shoulder.

"Shut up! You were the one who asked."

"And I liked the answer." He defended himself.

You pulled him to your lips, kissing him harder this time, letting the water rinse off what was left of the conditioner, wrapping your arms around his neck and jumping into his lap, wrapping your legs around his waist.

Stephen barely had time to turn off the shower and you were already grinding yourself in him. Maybe that was what made him so crazy about you, you were insatiable and he was the perfect match for you.

He threw you on the bed and filled the room with countless candles he conjured. He lit them with a complicated gesture of his fingers lighting up the room, and then crawled over to you with a beautiful smile on his lips that made your heart flutter.

"What do I do with you, Y/n? So much fire!"

He ran his lips over your breasts and your collarbone, moving them up your neck and stopping at your chin, leaving you with your mouth open, waiting for the kiss that he maliciously denied.

"Be my firefighter." You rasped and he giggled right in your ear, the baritone making your entire body tingle.

"No, I don't want to put out this fire." He said biting your earlobe and making you swallow thickly and squeeze your thighs together.

"Tell me you love me.” He asked, his eyes fixed on yours, his hands running down your body, his fingertips ghosting your skin.

"Again?"

"Yes, again and again and again." He traced your neck and collarbone with the tip of his tongue and moved up to your chin, biting it.

"I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you so much..." He interrupted you with a hungry kiss and his hand finally reached where you needed him most. Your legs spread scandalously for him and he dipped his fingers in your folds.

"Look at this! So fucking wet for me again."

You closed your eyes, delighting in the touch of his slender fingers. They penetrated you and you began to move your hips against his hand much to his delight.

"I want your mouth." You asked through gritted teeth, desire barely letting you think straight. "Please."

He nibbled on your lower lip and increased the movements of his fingers.

"Want me to eat you, uh?"

You swallowed thickly, “…and I want you in my mouth too.”

He hissed, putting his tongue in your mouth and sucking yours hard. "...So fucking dirty, sweetheart."

But you knew he loved everything about you, you both loved each other in equal measure.

He rolled to the side and turned so you had access to his cock and turned you on your side, putting his head between your legs and diving into your folds. You moaned loudly, but you were eager to take his cock in your hand and put it in your mouth, delighting in the sensation of sucking and being sucked. You doubted that there was anything better in the world.

One of Stephen's many qualities was that he, unlike many men, had no problem getting dirty between a woman's legs. On the contrary, he took pleasure in it. When he gave you oral, it wasn't just his mouth he used, he used his nose, his chin, his goatee. Everything he could use to give you maximum pleasure and that night it wasn’t different.

He sucked your entrance, licked your wet folds, nudged his nose to your clit and sucked your juices, spitting them back out, making a mess. He loved it as much as you did and when he finally started sucking your clit and penetrating you with his fingers, you felt your body becoming weak.

It was how Stephen made you feel most of the time, weak compared to the strength of the love you felt for him.

You used to be outrageously loud when Stephen was eating you, but all your moans were muffled by his cock in your mouth.

You loved Stephen’s cock and he knew it, he was very proud of it. The way you constantly sucked him made him lose control of his actions and you loved watching him get lost in his own pleasure knowing that you were responsible for making him feel so good.

You started by sucking his head and then ran your tongue down his entire length, leaving it completely wet with your saliva, just the way you liked it. Your hands gently massaged his balls, eliciting a muffled moan from him while you flicked your tongue in his frenulum, licking and sucking the special spot and making him squirm with pleasure, but at no point did he stop eating you, on the contrary, his pleasure only made him more eager to give you more pleasure and the thing worked perfectly.

When you finally started to actually suck him, the two of you were close and the wet sounds you made were so arousing combined with the sound of the rain that seemed to get heavier and heavier outside.

You took him out of your mouth to breathe and gave him a couple of jerks before going back to sucking him and this time you went all the way down letting him go to the back of your throat.

Stephen stopped the suction on your clit with a pop and moaned loudly.

"Fuck sweetheart, swallow my cock... gonna make me cum." He rasped giving your ass cheek a hard slap and resuming his work with even more desire.

His words only served to push you forward and even though your eyes were watering, you continued sucking him and fucking him with your mouth, feeling him pulse and start to spill into your mouth as his mouth made you see stars.

You came together in each other's mouths and you both rolled to the side, lying on your backs, trying to regulate your breathing and recover.

"I think we outdid ourselves tonight." He said impressed and you both giggled until you stopped and felt silent.

"I don't want to go home." You confessed, sitting down. Stephen had his head resting in his hands, the position leaving his biceps visible. He seemed like a god to you. You doubted that a man could be more beautiful than your boyfriend.

"I don't want to share you with the world. I want you to be mine alone."

He sat up and caressed your cheek, tucking a strand of your wet hair behind your ear gently.

"I'm yours. No matter how hard I work or what I have to do, at the end of the day all I want most is to come back to you."

"But it's not like being here." You pouted and he smiled reassuringly.

"Then we'll come back here as often as you want. I can arrange that. Ask Wong to take over some things for me, pass some tasks on to other masters."

"You promise?" You asked hopefully.

"I promise." He smiled and then remained silent for a minute, when he spoke again there was a certain emotion in his voice.

"You said something out there that made me think."

"What?"

He smiled "That I'm the only good thing in your life."

"You are."

He held your chin between his thumb and index finger. "You were the best thing that ever happened in my life, sweetheart."

He kissed you softly and continued "We were meant for each other, it just took us some time to find each other. But now that we're together, nothing will keep us apart. Definitely not my work."

You smiled "So you don't think we'll end up like those couples that only have sex once a week?" You teased making he chuckle.

"Never."

Reblog please! Leave a comment if you liked it. Interact! I will love to read all of your comments and opinions. It inspires me to keep writing ;)

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[fairuzfan]

Hi! I wanted to ask you if you personally think arabic is a difficult language to learn if you're only fluent in english? You've made me want to learn it, and I want to know how hard you consider it and if you have any tips. Thanks!

hello, thanks for asking. honestly arabic is kind of structurally different than english in ways that i think might be a little difficult for english speakers if you don't have exposure to different language structures but I think it's totally possible to get somewhat casually fluent in it.

something to keep in mind is that the arabic you learn in school is not the same exact arabic you speak. there are different dialects according to different regions and countries and the arabic you speak in school is the "proper" and "academic" version. you don't really speak that way (what we call fus ha) in everyday conversations and it might be confusing if you listen to different regions. it depends on what you plan on using the arabic for!

I still need to take arabic classes to understand most academic arabic readings because I know mostly 3amy (what we call everyday speak), specifically Palestinian medani (city-folk). My mom speaks very very thick fellahi with her mother that I cannot totally understand. And that's still within Palestine itself. I've been trying to expose myself to more fellahi, though.

if you want to learn to read and write, it think its a lot easier than learning to speak if you're on your own. if you can find an arabic teacher (if possible!), then i would highly recommend reaching out to them and letting them know your goals.

if you want to learn arabic because you want to sing along to songs, I think that could be an avenue you learn in! different songs have different styles of speaking, sometimes they're overly proper and romantic style with fancy words that even I have trouble with and then some are just really fun and colloquial.

i'm not sure if any of this helped at all, i kind of gave a non-answer lol. if someone does have further tips, please feel free to add on.

[bonebabbles]

Riverstar's Home Finished

It's a good book in the last 5 chapters. It's a bad book in the first 23.

THE GOOD:

It pumped the breaks BIG TIME on Clear Sky's ridiculous "redemption arc," giving him the space to be the fantastic, greedy villain he functions best as.

The dialogue is written very well. It's been pointed out to me that generally Kate Cary writes good dialogue, and it really shows. There are some excellent lines and quotes in this book.

This scene between Tall Shadow and River Ripple is superb.

Riverstar's arc is handled competently. It's a story about learning to balance peace and self-defense, and not lose what makes him special in the face of Clan pressure.

Night, Riverstar's deputy, is a woman who remains his platonic friend. This is a very low bar but it was cleared.

Arc is a positive portrayal of an adoptive parent, though it is only mentioned briefly. Riverstar thinks highly and lovingly of him.

Gray Wing being angry tutorial tips every time Riverstar died was funny.

Clan cats being able to create rafts and use willowbark as binding is now canon

The ending action is commendable. The struggle over the bridge was compelling, and excellently showcased both Riverstar as a unique perspective who handles conflict in his own way, and Skystar as a xenophobic dictator who uses his religion to justify his greed.

THE BAD:

So many characters come out of nowhere, they are introduced endlessly.

Which especially sucks because those intros aren't terrible, but you don't get the chance to see their traits in action.

A lot of Riverstar's most interesting traits have been removed, or are not complimented by the story.

For example; in Chapter 19 he starts having an identity crisis about who he is and what makes him special; but because he's frustrated and lost about this for several chapters, you just get Grumpy Riverstar until he has his epiphany while fighting Slash.

MOST of this book is recap that destroys a MASSIVE draw of the character by making him less mysterious.

For example; Turns out he couldn't swim until the second book of DOTC, he hasn't been in this territory longer than the other cats, and he spent 6 months locked in a house doing nothing.

It's a real slog and PACKED with filler. God it's boring. The first 18 chapters have nothing to do with the last few and 5 more are dedicated to traveling.

They managed to brutally kill another female character (Flutter) in an arc already notorious for its misogyny, give her no speaking lines before that death, and forced blubbering romantic pining onto a character who was popular in large part because he didn't have that.

His new mate, Finch (later Finch Song), appears suddenly in chapter 24, three quarters of the way through the book, and they fall in love at breakneck pace. She's pregnant 4 chapters later.

Finch also ends up giving up everything she loved, her whole life, including her friends and family, to follow Riverstar home and give him biokittens so he can finally get over Flutter. (they dont even name a kid after her)

Final rating: 4/10 Should have been a novella

It's not as fucking awful as Onestar's Concussion or Leopardstar's Hernia. It is a readable enough book and does have a solid ending, but you could skip more than half of the book and miss nothing.

Fans of Riverstar will probably be disappointed by the pointless retcons, but will enjoy the last 10 or so chapters when he's true-to-form. The original content that's worth reading would have fit just fine into a novella.

If you want to read it but aren't interested in a DOTC recap, I would recommend just reading the Tall Shadow/River Ripple scene I linked above and then starting from Chapter 19 onward. I wouldn't buy this one unless you're a dedicated Riverstar fan, or don't plan to read DOTC and want to use this book as your only experience of the main arc.

[mikunology]

Mikunology Reviews: Boku wa Hatsune Miku to Kiss wo Shita (2013) (Pt.2)

Alright, here we are with Part 2, where I will chat about the album's second half! Let's get to it!

Part 1 here

Ii, Er Fanclub: I think anyone who vaguely knows of Mikito has heard this one, if it's not ROKI. XD This is another more goofy, fun track about Rin and Gumi being fans of Chinese culture. And I love it! It's a great song, the back-and-forth between Rin and Gumi is so fun to sing along to - the inclusion of actual Chinese words is really fun as well. The drums are great here too. There's not really much I can say on this one that isn't just regular praise?? I highly recommend checking out it's PV by the wonderful Yori and Ryuusee! (Actually, I do have one comment I want to make: unpopular opinion, but I like this original Rin & Gumi version a lot more over Giga's Miku & Len mix. The goofy charm of the original song just jives with me more, although Giga's tuning is stellar.)

Wednesday Blue: This is another remaster, this time of one of Mikito's much older Miki originals. This is more typical rock'n'roll-style track, and it's a bit noisier than Mikito's usual fare. Unfortunately, I do think it's my least favorite on this album: it's a bit…all-over-the-place, compared to Mikito's later work? The Miki vocals are clearer and a bit better than the original NND upload, but they're still notably clunky in some places which can kinda take me out of the song. That said, the song as a whole isn't bad or anything, and it's actually pretty catchy after a few listens - it's just kinda clear this song was written by a less experienced Mikito. (Not to poke fun - everyone starts somewhere!)

Setsuna Plus (Momentary Plus): And here we are, back to Miku Dark again. This song is a bit more abstract in terms of lyrics, I think, but I still find myself coming back to it. There's not much I can say about this one either, honestly? Other than that it's good and that I like it - it has that usual great atmosphere again. However, I do have a slight criticism, I think - as much as I love the way Miku sounds here, I think this song could have done with a bit more powerful vocal instead, after hearing a few covers with characters like Amaga Eru (who can be pretty loud in her base voicebank).

Sarishinohara (Distant Fields): I remember not being too keen on this track at first for some reason? I don't know what was up with me because this song is really lovely XD This is a rock song about the forbidden love between a boy and his best friend and classmate, who has become an idol (and since idols can't date, she can no longer see him). There's such a tragic, melancholic feel to this song that really gets across the pain the boy is in, both in that he can no longer be with the girl despite her being "everywhere", in a sense, both in the instruments and in Miku Dark's vocals. Personally, I find this to be my favorite in the "Sarishinohara" trilogy, since 1) I think the melody is a bit easier to get into compared to the others and 2) just the sheer vibes.

Secret DVD: Ah, this one…the spicy one. A more straightforward rock track with a bit more "vanilla" Miku voice instead of Miku Dark, about doing sexy things. I actually like this one quite a bit despite the mature subject matter - it is pretty catchy, and the guitars are really good here. There's a part in the second verse where there's a harp-like strum and it's really satisfying. I also gotta say, something I always appreciated about Mikito's more sexual songs is that they're usually written in a manner that actually makes the act sound romantic rather than…well, you know. XD (*looks at REOL and Umetora*) I recommend this one for the music alone even if you're not into the song lyrically.

Salad Banya Cauda: Now for something completely different! XD This is one of the very few completely album-exclusive tracks, since I believe all of the tracks on this list have been released with PVs with the exception of this and Gariben Hirose no Shouri. This isn't really a rock track at all - it's a cute little folksy-type song with more acoustic instruments and simple Miki vocals (with the exception of some electric guitar between verses). I like it, though! It's a cute song, it makes you feel like marching through some sunny trees to find some berries or some adventure. However, I do think it can come as a surprise given the vibe of literally everything else. I think you might enjoy it, still!

Gariben Hirose no Shouri (A Geek's Huge Victory): OK, back to rock - this is the other completely album-exclusive track, and honestly? I've come to like it quite a bit. It has that signature nice Mikito J-rock vibe, with some lovely Gumi tuning to go with it. There's not much I can say about it that I haven't said for other songs on this CD, though? Just more of the same good stuff, I suppose. XD However, I really like the end part, where Gumi starts singing some "lalala"'s - something I like about Mikito's rock songs is that some of them feel like they could be played at the end of movies or as ending themes to anime episodes, and this is definitely one such song with the way it plays out.

Sayoko: Ah, this is another famous one. Sayoko is a soft J-rock track about severe depression, and once again uses Miku Dark - I think this is a really brilliant use of her, though, it really fits the song's theme since Miku sounds so melancholic and tired here. The melody is again a bit more understated, but it also really fits. I'm running out of things to say about the music itself XD I really think this song has a great calming vibe to it, despite the sad lyrics…I think someone could find it a great comfort, especially if you relate (like me!).

kiss: Finally, the last track, and the single collaboration on this CD: featuring the great Vocarock producer keeno! Together, he and Mikito form Mikeeno! (I love it when producers do that.) Predictably given their respective work, this is a slow, calm rock ballad about love. Now, I'm not the hugest fan of rock ballads? But I really love this one: the lyrics are really sweet and wistful, the lead guitar is perfect and Miku Dark returns to the gentle sound usually associated with both these producers. If you really like songs like "glow" or the slower songs I've already talked about on this album, you'll definitely love "kiss".

And that, my pals, is the whole CD! Yeah, all in all, for a first album, I think this is an amazing start for Mikito-san and an absolute must-listen if you are an enjoyer of Vocarock. Sure, he isn't the hard-rocking 164 or Utsu, but the soft and atmospheric yet fun and lively tunes by Mikito are incredibly worth hearing. Thanks for reading my first album review, please let me know if you enjoyed it ;v;

now if only I could get this album physically orz

[3leafstem]

9 people you'd like to get to know better

oh i did not expect this, hello. tagged by: @humanoidluv who I love to consistently see on my dash.

three non romantic duos: Keeping it to mostly DC because the other ones I'm thinking of are incredibly niche: I will always and forever adore Dick and Wally's friendship. Dick and Jason are my favourite brother duo, especially Robin Jason which I don't see too much of. Sam and Frodo. Just them. Endlessly supportive best friend characters my beloved. You only die 85% of the time.

a ship that might surprise others: Kinda none? I don't follow too many romantic ships that aren't mainstream. Can I say Manwe and Ulmo from the Silmarillion? I don't think anyone here will know who I'm talking about.

last song: Something in the Orange by Zach Bryan. I tend to play it a lot while writing.

last film: I think it was watching the Birds of Prey Harley Quinn movie with Icee? But I also watched Where the Crawdads Sing recently with my parent, and I highly recommend it! I cried.

currently reading: The Silmarillion by Tolkien, Babel by R. F. Kuang, Batman/Superman: World's Finest, Tom Taylor's 2016 Nightwing, uhhh then just a few random Flash and Supersons issues here and there. I'm between novels for the most part. Usually I have five going.

currently watching: Oh boy. With Icee I'm watching Titans, Harley Quinn animated series, and Young Justice. Flash TV show with my mom. Then Teen Titans, Justice League, Justice League Unlimited, and that's probably it, but there very well could be more. And it's all DC. You can clearly see the current fixation.

currently consuming: gummy vitamins

currently craving: dark chocolate. constantly. and also the desire to finish at least one thing I start.

Don't really have many people to tag... Icee I know you very well but @impawsiblecat you're my go to for these. Fawn I don't want to pressure you out of lurking, so I won't tag, but if you see this, it's up to you <3 @minty-tea-soup! If you'd like to, go ahead. I think this train has been kinda DC centric, but that's entirely irrelevant.

[adharaantheia]

I've mentioned before that I love to dedicate songs to the Gods, so here's some songs I associate with the Gods that I work with (it all makes sense in my head):

Lady Athena:

^᪲᪲᪲ Labour - Paris Paloma;

^᪲᪲᪲ Paper Bag - Fiona Apple;

^᪲᪲᪲ Girl With One Eye - Florence + The Machine;

^᪲᪲᪲ The Great War - Taylor Swift;

^᪲᪲᪲ The Moon Will Sing - The Crane Wives;

^᪲᪲᪲ For me, even if Lady Athena is the Goddess of Wisdom, I also think that she's the type that would like songs that carry rage or deep meanings. I want to have more songs to her playlist, but I only put songs that I think matches the Gods (in my opinion. Lady Athena helped me a lot to understand that it's okay to feel anger at how we are treated in the society, especially if you are a minority. So even if these songs talk more about feminism, Lady Athena protects everyone equally, and she too feel rage when we are being mistreated, being a woman or not. ^᪲᪲᪲

Lord Eros:

^᪲᪲᪲ So High School - Taylor Swift;

^᪲᪲᪲ Feelings Are Fatal - Mxmtoon;

^᪲᪲᪲ Love Me Again - V;

^᪲᪲᪲ Somebody To Love - Queen;

^᪲᪲᪲ Serendipity - BTS;

^᪲᪲᪲ Lord Eros' playlist is filled with love songs, and I think it's good because I'm too used listening to melancholic music, working with him made me see that loving people is something that I do without any effort. Lord Eros may be for romantic love, but he helped me see that I have so much love to give, and in the right moment, I will be loved in the same energy that I love. His playlist gives me hope for the day that I will find my only one. And I think I need more love songs that aren't only Taylor Swift songs haha ^᪲᪲᪲

Lady Aphrodite:

^᪲᪲᪲ Riptide - Vance Joy;

^᪲᪲᪲ Brooklyn Baby - Lana Del Rey

^᪲᪲ 007 - Tabber feat. Syd;

^᪲᪲᪲ Invisible String - Taylor Swift;

^᪲᪲᪲ Clara Bow - Taylor Swift;

^᪲᪲᪲ I love the playlist I made for Lady Aphrodite, it has romantic songs but also songs that make you feel pretty. Lady Aphrodite is helping me not only in my love path, but also to find beauty inside me. Lady Aphrodite was the first Deity that I worked with, but we spent some time without working together and now she's back in my life. The song that most represent her to me, is Riptide, I don't know why, but every time I listen it reminds me of her. Maybe it's the comfort and the pure love this song is, but for me it's totally Aphrodite's vibes ^᪲᪲᪲

Lord Apollo:

^᪲᪲᪲ Which Witch - Florence + The Machine;

^᪲᪲᪲ Here Comes The Sun - The Beatles;

^᪲᪲᪲ The Archer - Taylor Swift;

^᪲᪲᪲ Would That I - Hozier;

^᪲᪲᪲ Long Story Short - Taylor Swift;

^᪲᪲᪲ Lord Apollo's playlist is, by far, the most intimate I have between the Deities. And no, I'm not picking favorites or something like that, is just that Lord Apollo has been in my lowest moments, he heard me cry and ask myself why I was still alive because of how much I was suffering. His playlist is filled with songs about all type of feelings, if I'm still alive, is because of Lord Apollo and how much refugee I took in music. I asked Lord Apollo if he wanted me to make a new playlist for him, because his was filled with sad songs, unlike Lady Athena's that has songs about strength, Lord Apollo have songs about melancholy. And I was surprised that he said no, maybe it was because every song has a meaning to us, either way, Lord Apollo's playlist have a special place in my heart^᪲᪲᪲

Let me know if you guys want me to share more songs that I associate with the Deities! By the way, I'm addicted to Wait For Me (Reprise) of the Hadestown musical, I swear that this songs always give me chills.

Also, every song can be associated with the Gods because it's more about your relationship with them and the feeling you have than about the song alone. And I highly recommend having playlists for them! It's a devotional act but also something for you to cherish when you're feeling insecure.

For example, when I'm feeling insecure to go out alone, I put Lady Athena's playlist because it gives me strength to not back down.

Anyway, hope you guys have a great day, stay safe, drink water and if you're feeling like it, do some tarot. Maybe the Gods have something to say to you today!

[greycatmusic]

Album: Ocean Rain

Artist: Echo & the Bunnymen

Year: 1984

If you're into 80's alternative music, then this record probably needs no introduction, but even if you're not familiar with it, there's a pretty good chance that you've at least heard its sixth track, "The Killing Moon", which is by far the band's most popular song.

Ocean Rain spends its 37-minute run time drifting between sounds—some songs existing in the realm of new wave and post-punk, others taking on a theatrical chamber pop sound. While for most pieces of music this might make for a somewhat disjointed listening experience, Echo & the Bunnymen manage to tie it all together with a through line of string sections and gloomy atmosphere. These orchestral moments, arranged by Adam Peters, manage to feel massive while never stealing the thunder from the core musical DNA of the band, only coming through to help illuminate the romantic aura and the melodies that they support.

To me, the most defining quality of Ocean Rain, much more than any specific genre, is that every song on the record sounds straight out of a movie soundtrack; which makes it no surprise that the song "The Killing Moon" would eventually go on to gain a cult following for it's inclusion as the opening song in the 2001 film Donnie Darko. I like to imagine that somewhere in Liverpool, in some story boarding notebook, there exists an Ocean Rain film that never came to be.

I consider Ocean Rain to be a masterpiece, and I truly cannot recommend it highly enough.

Favorite song: The Yo Yo Man

[eggcatsreads]

May Reading Wrap-Up

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Favorite Read of the Month:

Master of One by Jaida Jones and Dani Bennett (GR review)

Rags is a thief until he's caught by the Queensguard and forced to find an ancient fae relic for a sadistic royal sorcerer. And now he's forced on a journey to find the rest of these relics so they can save the world before it's destroyed.

Y'ALL. THIS BOOK DOES NOT GET ENOUGH LOVE AND THAT IS A CRIME. THIS CAME OUT IN 2020 AND THERE'S NOT EVEN A WHISPER OF A SEQUEL IN THE WORKS??? HELLO??? MORE PEOPLE NEED TO READ THIS SO THERE'S ENOUGH HYPE FOR THE AUTHORS TO CONTINUE THIS SERIES.

This is the queer fantasy adventure we've all wanted and it's been slept on. (Personally, I think it's the cover and the name keeping people from picking this book up.) Trust me, this book is PHENOMENAL. If you have ever read a fantasy adventure with some romantic tension in it, and thought "okay but what if it was gay?" then THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU.

The best way I can describe it is if Crier's War and Realm Breaker had a baby. If you haven't read both of those books (what are you doing?) I'll try to describe the vibes. It's Crier's War in that it's a queer fantasy story where the protagonists are practically fighting against society itself to correct the corruption throughout the realm, where solving this won't be an easy fix - as well as it standing in the way of the romance, where two people from different worlds try to come together anyway and overcome the obstacles. It's Realm Breaker in that it's a found family adventure story where you collect more and more characters along the way as they have to fight to save the realm before it's destroyed. It's the love of my life in that I stayed up until like 6am to finish it in one sitting.

READ THIS BOOK. PLEASE.

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

Other Five Star Reads:

Painted Devils by Margaret Owen (GR review) (series)

Let’s get one thing straight—Vanja Schmidt wasn’t trying to start a cult.

If you haven't read Little Thieves yet, what are you doing? Read that, read this (the sequel), cry at the ending, and then wait with me with baited breath for Holy Terrors. While you're at it, read Margaret Owen's other book series, The Merciful Crow. She's a fantastic author.

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

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang (GR review)

Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars: same year at Yale, same debut year in publishing. But Athena's a cross-genre literary darling, and June didn't even get a paperback release. Nobody wants stories about basic white girls, June thinks. So when June witnesses Athena's death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she steals Athena's just-finished masterpiece, an experimental novel about the unsung contributions of Chinese laborers to the British and French war efforts during World War I.

R. F. Kuang is a PHENEMONAL writer, and in this darkly humorous memoir from the white women who stole the manuscript for her famous Asian-American author "friend" when she died, you won't be able to stop to take a breath before you realize you've finished the book in one sitting. In an impressive twist of expectations, R.F Kuang's self-insert character ISN'T the main character - she's the one who dies.

Instead, we're stuck inside June's ("Juniper Song's") head as she complains about the unfairness of political correctness and how only minority authors are getting the big breaks now, and no one supports her work because she's white. So when her friend dies unexpectedly in front of her one night, she takes the opportunity to steal her book and pass it off as her own - and it's a cultural phenomenon of a book - until her fraud comes to light. Her response to all of this will keep you on your toes until the last page.

Also R.F. Kuang has a trilogy called The Poppy War which I HIGHLY recommend reading. She's also written Babel, which while I liked, academia focused books aren't my forte. However, reading all four of these books can kind of lend some insight into Yellowface, as R.F. Kuang takes the criticisms she's faced and turns it around to mock them in this book, and there were a few moments I laughed out loud because I knew EXACTLY what book and where a certain criticism came from. It's not required, but if you were interested at all in these books, I recommend them before Yellowface, if you can.

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

The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison (series)

When the young half-goblin emperor Maia sought to learn who had killed his father and half-brothers, he turned to an obscure resident of his Court, a Prelate of Ulis and a Witness for the Dead. Thara Celehar found the truth, though it did him no good to discover it. He lost his place as a retainer of his cousin the former Empress, and made far too many enemies among the many factions vying for power in the new Court. The favor of the Emperor is a dangerous coin. Now Celehar lives in the city of Amalo, far from the Court though not exactly in exile. 

Thara Celehar my beloved. I would die for you, you sad gay wet cat of a man.

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

Rest of Books Read Under the Cut:

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Grief of Stones by Katherine Addison (series)

Thara Celehar continues to be a sad gay wet cat of a man, as we watch him go on his little adventures and solve crimes.

Babel by R.F. Kuang

1828. Robin Swift, orphaned by cholera in Canton, is brought to London by the mysterious Professor Lovell. There, he trains for years for the day he’ll enroll in Oxford University’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation—also known as Babel. The tower and its students are the world's center for translation and, more importantly, magic. Silver-working—the art of manifesting the meaning lost in translation using enchanted silver bars—has made the British unparalleled in power, as the arcane craft serves the Empire's quest for colonization.

Dragonfall by L.R. Lam

Long ago, humans betrayed dragons, stealing their magic and banishing them to a dying world. Centuries later, their descendants worship dragons as gods. But the gods remember, and they do not forgive.

Tbh this might have been 5 stars if the main character wasn't so vanilla that he'd see a half dragon/half man hybrid saving his life and didn't immediately want him, and instead went to hide and think about it. SIR. WHAT.

Also it's the classic enemies to lovers, one has to kill the other and the other doesn't know it, betrayal love stories we all love. Except gay. And with dragons. So better.

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

Seven Faceless Saints by M.K. Lobb

In the city of Ombrazia, saints and their disciples rule with terrifying and unjust power, playing favorites while the unfavored struggle to survive. After her father’s murder at the hands of the Ombrazian military, Rossana Lacertosa is willing to do whatever it takes to dismantle the corrupt system—tapping into her powers as a disciple of Patience, joining the rebellion, and facing the boy who broke her heart. 

Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina

Anna Horn is always looking over her shoulder. For the bullies who torment her, for the entitled visitors at the reservation's casino...and for the nameless, disembodied entity that stalks her every step--an ancient tribal myth come-to-life, one that's intent on devouring her whole. With strange and sinister happenings occurring around the casino, Anna starts to suspect that not all the horrors on the reservation are old.

Our Hideous Progeny by C.E. McGill

It's 1853 London. Frankenstein's great niece Mary Saville and her husband, Henry, are trying to follow in his scientific footsteps and become renowned paleontologists. But after finding clues to her great uncle's disappearance, Mary's luck may just change. She constructs a plan that will force the scientific community to take her and her husband seriously; no one will be able to ignore them after they learn to create life.

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

Books read so far this year: 59

How I rate books.

[alatabouleau]

Storytime (I hope someone finds this as hilarious as I do):

So, a few weeks ago, I held a little devotion[1] for my church's youth group. In said devotion, I cited the X-Men-cherik-fanfiction "Wrap me up, unfold me" by hllfire (https://archiveofourown.org/works/27035512/chapters/66002938) which I can only highly recommend, it's a "Jane Eyre"-inspired AU, in which Charles is basically Jane Eyre and Erik Mr. Rochester, only that Erik has a Jewish background and Charles a Christian one and even though both are not really practicing, Charles has still a lot of religious guilt during the beginning of his romantic and sexual relationship with Erik. This is where Erik declares the following quote:

"It always baffled me how your people are more scared of the Devil and hell than scared of disrespecting God. You don't live to honor God, you live to escape punishment." This is what I used in said devotion for I found it rather poignant and sadly, quite true. So I talked about how our faith should have better reasons than that and so on, not central to the story. Anyway, yesterday, I was sitting in the youth service of my church when suddenly, the co-priest starts talking about my devotion and then quotes me quoting said quote. Then goes off about this and talking about something else, but I just want to record the fact that he thusly quoted unknowingly from a story about two men falling in love. And this is the story of how a quotation from a very gay fanfiction made its way into a Christian Sunday service. XD

( [1]basically a sermon without service, you're just saying some words, then sing one or two songs and you're done)

[misslauwie]

I really really do think Jimin got great taste in songs and some may say that its JK's signature to use lyrics as a way to connect to the fan. But I do think this is a similae trait that Jimin has... Maybe once you get along so long, you pick up each other traits / habits?

Just watched Jimin's W behind the scene. While it leaves me wanting for more because I do think that its highly curated by Jimin... I came away with a gold mine. He made a song recommendation Honne.

And can I just say Wow. Maybe his raw feelings are expressed to his choice of songs or movies. You just need to dig deeper and be more proactive about it. It just makes me think again that Jimin is all abt layers. He makes you work for it and if you are attentive enough, smart enough then you will find meanings in his words and gestures. I know there is a well known saying that he has the tendency to say things just enough while not revealing any information. But if you read between the lines and care to dig deeper you will find gold mines.

Ok lets start with his song recommendation by Honne. Went off to my Spotify and immediately played Honne's songs and can I just say wow - Jimin really is a romantic and soft person. Two songs somehow clicked in my mind after listening to Honne: 1) Location Unknown and 2) Day One.

Location Unknown. The first I think kinda resembles his activities after the group hiatus where Jimin is busy with his own stuff (read: preparing for his solo album). In "location unknown" he expressed that hes away right now but he will be back and hes hoping his loved ones will wait for him. & lyrics below just resonates so deeply with regards to his activities and maybe his precious relationship.

I wish I knew where I was

'Cause I don't have a clue

I just need to work out some way of getting me to you

'Cause I will never find love like ours out here

In a million years

A million years

Note that somewhere in the W interview he also revealed that during the making of his solo album that he felt lost and he went to the members to look for comfort. Doesn't the above lyrics somewhat give more colors to the things he said verbally?

Day One. Somehow when I listen to this song I feel hes relating to his members. The love of his life and arguably his most solid support system. You need to go back to what he said during Festa 2020 when he said that he wants to continue the days of them being the 7 together. Also when he said during Festa 2022 when he said he views himself as Jimin of BTS and not comfortable of viewing himself as a single unit. And somehow the lyrics below feels like a tribute to the members and army to a certain extent. Read lyrics below and tell me if as army you dont feel touched.

You'll always be my day one

Day zero when I was no one

I'm nothing by myself

You and no one else

Thankful you're my day one

Thankful you're my

I got lucky

Finding you

I won big the day I came across you

'Cause when you're with me

I don't feel blue

Not a day goes by that I would not redo

Maybe im bias. And I do admit I worship the ground that Jimin walks on. But I decide to be unapologetic about it because I value myself enough to know that I got great vision and taste. And Jimin really is striking all the Ts and dotting the Is in the inspirational box.

Another is movie recommendation: Reborn Rich. The remarks Jimin made here is that he made that recommendation because everyone is watching it. & it seems that the main character (MC) is having a hard time. But after watching a few episodes of Reborn Rich, I do draw some parallels to Jimin in a certain way. The MC comes from an unpriviledge background where he was basically being looked down but manage to use his knowledge and brain to turn the situation around to those whom oppress the MC. So far rings a bell to the BangTan story in the early days and their current success? Remember in one of the Festa, Jimin also said he made his own way. A similar plot unfolds in the "Reborn Rich". MC do have key characters whom will help him along the way. No spoilers but the ending also shows how Jimin values family relationship.

The key with him (not that Im professing that I know him) is to dig deeper and read btw the lines. And I swear even if those are your own inferences, Jimin is a gift that keeps giving. You will find meanings, good ones, in what he chooses to share.

#ThankYouJimin

With Jimin til The End.

[allthemusic]

Week ending: 18th August

Again, one song, and by an actual musical legend, this time. I can't remember if we've had any Sinatra, yet, but I do like him, generally. He's got a good voice and is generally a classy bet. So I'm cautiously optimistic, here, though I haven't ever heard of the song...

Learnin' the Blues - Frank Sinatra (peaked at Number 2)

Oh, this is already in my liked songs, okay. Huh. I guess I did hear it and like it at some point. Well, that bodes very well!

Starting the song, we're in a very jazzy, swung big band mode straight away. It sounds very glossy, very glam, very American in a strange way. If you imagine a Frank Sinatra song, you're imagining this exact vibe. Peak Sinatra-ness.

When the lyrics kick in, they're also very Sinatra. Particularly, they would fit on an album like In the Wee Small Hours. Which makes sense, since the album came out at basically the same time as this. This wasn't on the album, but it could have been - it's all about late-night loneliness and heartache. Certainly the imagery at the start, of how The tables are empty, / The dancefloor's deserted, / You play the same love song, / It's the tenth time you've heard it, could fit perfectly on the album. It's also giving vibes of One More for My Baby, another song I really like (and highly recommend!)

This all spirals into a song that's really Frank singing about an unhappy love affair - it's not ever made clear if it's unrequited love or some other kind of breakup or heartache, but it's all about how when you're unhappily in love you can't get away from it, and whether or not you're home alone or out on the town, you feel sad and lonely, and find yourself learnin' the blues. It's also a silly little bit of sound-painting, but I love the blues notes on that specific line. It's the sort of nerdery that makes me happy.

In other "lyrics-that-could-only-have-been-written-several-decades-ago" moments, I do like that line about how The cigarettes you light / One after another / Won't help you forget her. What a 1950s image. I'm anti-smoking generally, but damn, if this isn't a dramatically glamorous image. Health-wise, terrible. But on a purely aesthetic level, excellent.

I'm also appreciating the contrast between how miserable our protagonist is in lines about Nights when you don't sleep / Wearing out your shoes, and the instrumentation, which keeps it light. It's not that it sounds happy, per se, but it does lend the situation a certain elegance, when you're getting little jazzy marimba twiddles and swinging brass smouldering away underneath.

Yeah, I like this. I also enjoy the idea of the blues as a music born from heartbreak. It plays into an idea that we'll keep seeing (and that you can trace back at least to Romantic poetry, and honestly probably to courtly love poetry and the troubadours) of the tortured poet, whose lyrics come from personal tragedy and unhappiness. It isn't a narrative that is going away any time soon, and I'm enjoying Frank low-key leaning into the performative misery of it all.

I mean: The nights when you don't sleep / That whole night you're cryin' / But you can't forget her / Soon you even stop tryin'. That's some high-quality angsting, and I love it. So melodramatic, and so pretty about it.

Yeah, big fan of this one. Good job, past me, for liking it!

Favourite song of the moody swing bunch: Learnin' the Blues

[ugly-anastasia]

Friday, November 3 -- Everyone’s a Critic: Write ten reviews that your character would leave for books on Goodreads, movies on Letterboxd, or something similar! Include their star rating. 

ANASTASIA TREMAINE'S DIARY, 2002

This book is now going to be for movie reviews!!! I have decided that I am going to be a journalist and to be a journalist you have to have bye-lines. I am going to be a critic which means you are the one who tells people which movies are good and which are not. So we are starting off with the best movie ever, Anastasia.

ANASTASIA (Five Stars)

This movie is the best movie. It's about a girl named Anya and she has the prettiest hair and she thinks she's an orphan in France but really she is a princess and her name is actually Anastasia!!! And her family died in the war but she survived and now she has to learn how to be a princess. And this boy Demitri falls in love with her (he's SOOO cute) and there's this scary wizard guy but she defeats him in the end. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone.

THE SWYNLAKE PRIMARY WEEKLY NEWS, 2003

Film Review: What A Girl Wants (Reviewed by Anastasia Tremaine)

THREE STARS

This film was very unrealistic. Amanda Bynes and Colin Firth both had an excellent performance, and the song by Christina Aguilera was very good as well. However, it really doesn't make sense that Henry Dashwood did not know he had a daughter all this time and then as soon as she shows up he just stops caring about his actual stepdaughter-to-be so that he can spoil this girl he's never met before. I think Daphne was actually the villain of this movie. But it still gets three stars for the sountrack. Also the costume department did an excellent job.

THE SWYNLAKE SECONDARY SUN, 2004

Film Review: The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (Reviewed by Anastasia Tremaine)

TWO STARS

This film had many good qualities. It showed how many important duties Princess Mia had to learn in order to run a country. It also had some very good performances by Anne Hathaway, Chris Pine, and of course Julie Andrews. However, the end of the movie was a huge mistake. Andrew was a perfectly good option for Mia to marry and she put on this whole big fancy royal wedding only to humiliate him at the altar. I get that she was in love with Lord Nicholas, but she should have let Andrew down more nicely. Or maybe just married him. He was a perfectly nice person. For that, I have to give it a score of two stars.

THE SWYNLAKE SECONDARY SUN, 2009

Film Review: 500 Days of Summer (Reviewed by Anastasia Tremaine)

ONE STAR

This movie was so awkward. I'm sorry, but it's so unattractive to pine after the same girl all summer when she obviously isn't into you, and she's not even that pretty. Get a life, Joseph Gordon Levitt! Ugh. Embarrassing. If you like this movie, you're probably a loser too.

THE SWYNLAKE SECONDARY SUN, 2013

Film Review: The Great Gatsby (Reviewed by Anastasia Tremaine)

FIVE STARS

An absolutely gorgeous film. Leonardo DiCaprio is a genius, as is Tobey Maguire. The visuals were stunning and I adored Lana Del Rey's contributions to the soundtrack. One must wonder: where are the modern men who will rise to this level of romance and grand gestures? Perhaps we can all learn something from this masterpiece of a film.

IMDB, FIFTY SHADES OF GREY (2015)

by user annieratesfilms

FIVE STARS

I don't know what all the feminist uproar about this movie is lol. If Christian Grey wanted to give Ana all these things and fly her around the world, he should be allowed to. It's called being romantic. No wonder people say chivalry is dead, it's because every time a man tries to be romantic people rip him apart. Personally, I found this movie hot. Just saying. Call me a sexist if you want but I'm literally a woman.

IMDB, HEREDITARY (2018)

by user annieratesfilms

ONE STAR

This movie was just disgusting disturbing and made absolutely no sense. Completely unnecessary nudity and way too many weird scenes with the miniature houses. I thought this was just going to be a normal scary movie about ghosts but it turned out to mostly be about the mom having a mental breakdown. So disappointing.

IMDB, THE MENU (2022)

ONE STAR

by user annieratesfilms

Extremely disturbing, zero redeeming qualities. The characters got punished for being rich (by being murdered) but the chef was clearly also very rich and famous so it was totally hypocritical!!! I especially felt bad for the girl who said she went to Brown and got murdered for that. There were no positive characters in this movie and I don't even know why I watched it.

SOUTH SWYNLAKE HOMEOWNERS IN IT TOGETHER NEWSLETTER, JUNE 2023

Movie Corner!

Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse: Three Stars

As some of you may have heard, there is a new animated Spider-Man movie out! However, I would like to warn everyone that just because it is animated does not mean it is appropriate for children. While it has many inspiring messages, it also has some poor role models for children. Gwen Stacey has a truly awful haircut and is very disrespectful to her father. Also, there is a Spider-"Punk" character who has a very negative attitude. Enjoy the movie on your own, but maybe don't bring the kiddos!!!

SOUTH SWYNLAKE HOMEOWNERS IN IT TOGETHER NEWSLETTER, JULY 2023

Movie Corner!

Barbie: Three Stars

This movie was so pretty! The costumes were gorgeous, the sets were amazing— it was like stepping into Barbie Land for real!! Margot Robbie did an AMAZING job. However, I will say that it is a little more anti-men than I was expecting. Just takes things a bit too far at times! Not a good message for children! And there are quite a few scenes that your little girls will probably be bored watching. So overall it was a bit of a letdown. However, it is still a pretty good movie, I just think it could have been better. It should have been more positive and cheerful, as a movie about Barbie! Just my opinion :)

[theonlywayisinward]

May your life be an act of love: 30 ways to date yourself

As I'm about to turn 30, I thought it would be a really fun idea to list 30 ways to date yourself, all of which I've been doing this year.

To keep it nice and brief (or not 😉), I'll just dive in:

Meditating. Devoting time to centering and grounding yourself on the daily is maybe one of most productive, yet relaxing ways to love yourself. It has become one of the most crucial aspects of my life and a non-negotiable. If you've never tried it, do it like yesterday. You go into it as one person and leave as another. It's life-changing.

Reading. Read uplifting and inspirational books. I personally recommend any book by Brianna Wiest, who has honestly inspired me to start writing again. I think the best thing you can do to really date yourself is stimulate your mind through books.

Taking your supplements. I think this one is completely underrated and often overlooked. But really dating yourself involves paying attention to what your body and your mind need and the best way to really ensure this in addition to your diet is through supplements.

Eating nutritious foods and staying hydrated. What you put in your body DIRECTLY affects the way you feel. What you eat will affect your mental health as much as it will your physical health. Focus on prioritizing a wide variety of vegetables to help increase diversity in your gut microbiome, which will ultimately lead to a healthier, happier you. The staying hydrated aspect of it is a no-brainer. Drink your eight cups. Just do it.

Exercising. Particularly strength training. It not only helps you feel good and look good, but exerting physical strength also stimulates your mind as it promotes mental strength as well. The whole "your body will only go to where your mind will let it" thing is real. It's all connected.

Going for walks. Yes, the term "hot girl walks" is a thing. Aside from the fact that you're being active, walking is huge for mental health benefits, and it's primarily why I do it.

Following a skincare and oral hygiene routine. Taking care of your skin is so crucial for feeling good. After all, you have to look at yourself in the mirror everyday for the rest of your life-- don't you want the face staring back at you to look vibrant, hydrated and supple? I also highly suggest that in addition to maintaining proper oral hygiene, you whiten your teeth. Your smile will thank you.

Listening to podcasts and audiobooks. Where do I even begin, you can find a podcast or an audiobook for absolutely anything. If you need inspiration or motivation-- go to audible, listen to a Ted Talk, go on Spotify, etc. You'll thank me later.

Making playlists. This one in particular has been a game changer. I don't know where I would be without music. I have a playlist for everything. From breakup bops, to work playlists, to non-sentimental, groovy mixes, to cooking music, you name it.

Buying flowers and burning candles. I personally think everyone should buy themselves flowers. I mean Miley didn't write that song for nothing. My personal bliss is coming home with flowers from the market, lighting a candle, and just taking in the beauty of doing something romantic for myself. I've done it while in a relationship, I've done it while single. And I'll do it forever.

Shopping for new clothes. Simple-- A hot, new wardrobe to channel your inner Goddess? Say less.

Getting massages. This one is self-explanatory but what better way to date yourself than giving yourself the gift of relaxation? If you have some money to spend, I can't think of anyone more deserving of being spoiled by you than you.

Solo beach dates. All you need is a blanket, the cute playlists you've made, headphones and yourself. Wine sold separately.

Writing in a journal. It doesn't have to be a journal either, it can be a random piece of paper, your planner, or even Tumblr (yup, shout out to this platform), but writing out your feelings doesn't only work as a sounding board to help give structure to all the mumbo jumbo in your brain, but it gives you relief and clarity.

Practicing gratitude. Write down at least 3 things you're grateful for everyday and watch your life change.

Cooking. If you like to cook like me, you will find taking the time out of your day to try out new recipes incredibly therapeutic. If you don't know how to cook, what better time to start than now?

Taking up a new hobby. For me it's writing. But for you it can be anything from learning how to crochet, paint, taking up tennis, swimming, etc. Diving into a hobby keeps your mind and body focused; it keeps you entertained, and it opens you up to more creative thinking.

Dressing up and getting dolled up. Maybe get a nice blowout or curl your hair, put on some perfume & try out a new lipstick that catches everyone's eye and just step out of the house. Studies show that your Queen era starts with a solid makeover. I don't make the rules.

Watching uplifting tv shows. If you're currently single, you will never have as much time as you do today to do literally whatever you want, so binge some cute tv shows. I suggest Sweet Magnolias, Firefly Lane, New Girl, etc.

Taking fitness classes. Self-explanatory. Try yoga, pilates, cycling, maybe Crossfit? Whatever it is you want to try, now is the time. And who knows, you might just meet some new people, form a new friend group, meet the love of your life? Maybe, maybe not. But you'll get hot either way.

Feeling your feelings. In my personal experience, when any feelings arise, I allow them. Resisting prolongs them. No better way to date yourself than allowing every emotion into your space and accepting it as part of your human experience. You heal faster this way.

Spending time with friends. Nothing better than being around great energy to really make you feel your best. A good support system is everything.

Affirmations. Changing your inner dialogue at a subconscious level will subsequently change your entire life. Pick some positive affirmations and repeat them everyday, multiple times a day.

Dancing. Go out dancing with friends, take a Zumba class or any other dancing class of your choice. I personally think dancing is one of the most liberating forms of self-expression, so I do it as much as I can and I always feel amazing afterwards-- highly suggest it.

Traveling. Nothing better to help expand your perspective and broaden your horizons than experiencing new cultures, a change of scenery, and trying new food (if you're a foodie like me).

Spending time with family. Family over everything. Feel the love all around you when you're with the people who truly care about you most and revel in it.

Diving into work. Simple, excel at what you're already good at. Take on that extra project, work harder for that promotion, get a side hustle, etc. Not only will you be occupied, but you will increase your finances which will allow you to keep spoiling yourself.

Painting. Another form of therapy. If you don't want to write or talk about how you're feeling, paint it. Abstract art can help you get your feelings out while keeping the privacy component. If you want to be the only one who knows what your masterpieces really mean, learn to make abstract art.

Prioritizing sleep. Sleep hygiene is SO crucial to well-being. Buy the luxurious bed sheets, put your phone away 1 hour before bed, starfish in your bed to your heart's content, and get those 8 hours of sleep. Your body will love you, and your mental health will thrive.

And last but not least-- Cutting off ties with people and situations that don't contribute to your growth. This one's maybe the hardest one but walking away from what no longer serves you is top tier. Nothing more empowering than saying "no" to whatever situation or person is not bringing out the best version of you. Trust me. You will feel peace, relief, and pride. Thus entering your Queen era.

[dwellerinroots]

crocus— do you have any significant dreams that you remember? what were they about?

azalea— what is the most recent song you listened to? how do you feel about it?

snowdrop— would you say that you have been in love before?

If you're up for it!

I am, in fact, up for it! Questions answered with pictures of flowers, all below the cut!

Crocus in the wild of the Alps (6), Karl Gercens crocus— do you have any significant dreams that you remember? what were they about?

I actually keep a (semi-irregular) dream journal! But I'll choose to consider this one a comment on recurring dreams for that reason. A lot of dreams about various ways the world ends that are cosy, but are basically the same dream over and over (I choose not to read too much into them). Far less humorously (or depending on whom you ask, more,) I've had a repeated dream of dying trapped under cold ice floes? Apparently, it's not uncommon among my family, either, mysterious... Anyway, I have it once or twice a year. Watch as I bite it in a desert or something, bahahaha! And I used to dream regularly about - hmn, I could be harsh and call it a very generic fantasy setting, or kind and call it a young Dwells' wistful desire to be isekai'd away. There was enough story throughout the dreams (characters in recurring roles, I was usually watching through another character who might have been me, and might not) that I could probably wring a story out of it, but - I like to let it lay as a memory I'm fond of. If you're curious, I'll go through the details later..!

P4100834, John S. Quarterman

azalea— what is the most recent song you listened to? how do you feel about it? HEH, what a question. I listen to so much music that I actually - much like my reliance on hugs (physical or ephemeral) to get through the working day, did you know the average human body needs music to live? A fact, proven by empirical data, most likely.

Just going by 'most recently listened to,' I'm not entirely sure if it's accurate to call this 8-bit, but a chiptune rendition of Wolf at the Door that I somehow had on my digital audio player (because I refuse to use modern phones, like the curmudgeon I guess I am). I think 'Optimistic' would've been better suited for the workweek, but what do I know, bahaha... Apparently there's a fairly large argument about radiohead in the musical world, which was why I'm content to just devour all music and enjoy it even-handedly. It's good, and thematically appropriate. I'll take it.

The last track I listened to while doing writing, Ashes, by Dilate. A real two-disc wonder, which is unfortunate because both albums of theirs (his? I think it was basically one guy!) perfectly nail the two sides of my science-fiction aesthetic, aha. Cyclos is grim, militaristic, and feels like it's always lurking menacingly out of reach (but promising wonderful, unknowable things); and Octagon mixes ambient sound to create a feeling like drifting on frozen clouds. Both albums are good, would highly recommend if sci-fi ambient is your jam.

Finally, track I to last night while thinking about bird...

All the music in Nier/Automata is good, but I just really love A Beautiful Song, and piano instrumentals are a favourite. Truth is, I'm more a fan of an older game by the same writer/designer called Drakengard, but it seems to have largely been forgotten to the mists of time.

20, Britt Willoughby Dyer (for Gardenista) snowdrop— would you say that you have been in love before?

Mmn. I think I'd say I've been in genuine, heart-over-heels romantic love twice, and an unflinching platonic love once. The kind of love that - in all cases - feels so awful after you swear you'd never want to ever feel it again, and instantly regret thinking about it because you miss it. Simultaneously, I don't regret any of those loves. Though neither of the romantic loves really turned out, I learned more about myself through them, and hopefully the same for them. And I miss my best friend every day, so it goes. Love is far more beautiful then it is terrible, but it takes me awhile to warm up to it; I'd say I'm - despite coming across as a very romantic person - mostly aromantic. I just do the best I can to treat people fairly and with the same care I'd hope they'd treat others, and it often comes across as a bit more. In both cases, it took me some time to really reciprocate, but when I fall in love, emphasis on fall, bahahaha!.. I don't know if that's how I want to end this one, though. When I think of love, I think of all the parts of it. I think there's a tendency to say 'well, if love isn't easy, it's not real love,' but - love is more then just a relationship. It's doing the best you can for one another, and being able to help the person you love (or people, but I can't really imagine that outside of fiction, honestly) through their most difficult days. I still wonder if I'm capable of doing that much, and I think it's the sort of person I aim to be. Quick edit, VERY important, I am also deeply in love with a bird (fictional) and that is DEFINITELY the point to close on, nailed it

[beloveddawn-blog]

9 People You Want To Know Better

Currently Reading: it's a webcomic, but I'm gonna put Countdown to Countdown here. Iris is 💜💚💛, and Lillium is great for him. The world is absolutely *fascinating*, too!

Last Song I Listened To: dunno. The radio is the soundtrack to my life. The last one I remember cranking was Might Love Myself by Beartooth (highly recommend it. It's a rock ballad about the sense of euphoria when you have that breakthrough and are able to embrace and love yourself) and the last one I searched was Brenda Put Your Bra On (which is my new favourite Trailer Trash Anthem, but is much more niche in a lot of ways). The last one I heard live was Journey's Wheel In The Sky, since they were my last concert.

Currently Watching: Sailor Moon R. My bestie and I are working through it together. That's our trade off: I can correct her on Doctor Who on occasion and she now has opinions on several different animes.

Current Fic I'm Reading: I took a random notion for an older Tony/Bucky fic recently where they're roommates while Tony is in college after Tony forgets hooking up with Bucky while drunk. I just randomly remembered that Bucky wore mesh underwear in it and decided to hunt it down.

Current Brainrot: (I agree it's a bit enhhhhhh to use specific terms related to diagnosis I don't have to simply denote enthusiasm) I've got a set of OCs that originally belonged to a one shot who have spawned a whole world now. The bit I'm working with now is where the romantic lead, an obsessive sociopath, murders five people in assorted creative ways. And he's not just the protagonist, he's actually the good guy. It's not my strength at all, so I'm excited for the challenge of it.

Favourite Colour: Red, though I usually wear blues or purples. Red washes me out really badly and makes me look sick

Relationship Status:

For real though, I just started a new job and my on-call schedule was exhausting even before. We'll see how this shapes up in the new year.

Last Thing I Googled: 🤣 I was trying to learn the chemical composition of sparklers and gave my computer syphilis. It's in the shop now. And yes, this is related to the sociopath and his murder plots.

Song Stuck In My Head: Bad Man by Disturbed. I heard it recently and now it's unpacked it's bags and set up a grocery order.

(Also, if you're interested, Sabaton did a song version of In Flanders Feild on their The Great War album)

Favourite Food: Tomatoes. Just tomatoes in general, although currently I've taken a liking to slicing them, then sprinkling with garlic and feta.

Dream Trip: I've knocked a few off the bucket list and the next up is Japan, tentatively scheduled for Spring 2025.

Tagging (no pressure): @minnieeeworld @negativefouriq @dennydraws @stesierra @artistvicky @erithel @ikimaru @ganondoodle @slimylittlemaggot

And anyone else who wants to participate. I wanna see what all people will rec!

9 People you want to know better

Huge thank you to uhhh *checks drafts* @words-after-midnight - their post here, @bluberimufim - her post here, @touloserlautrec - his/their post here

Currently reading: City of Bones by Cassie Clare. I never read it during it's peak when I was literally the right age demographic and I feel like I missed out. It's not the strongest writing in the world but I am enjoying it so far. It's been interesting to go back and reread a bunch of "older" YA - like pre-2016-ish. There is so much more filler, banter, character moments than in the post-2016 stuff, especially post-2019. Like it was right around that time that publishing shifted to the "everything has to advance the plot and be super fast paced" mentality. And tbh... I like the old stuff better. It spawned larger fandoms with more staying power - I mean, how many post-2019 booktok popular books have more than 100 fanfics on AO3? I think I'm not the only one who misses the slower, more character focused YA.

Last song I listened to: Avril Lavine's Keep Holding On was on the radio while I was driving home from work. 10 year-old me knew all the words. 20-something me still does.

Currently watching: I haven't watched any TV or movies is so long oh my gosh. But! I did go see murder mystery play with my friend last Friday night!

Current fic I'm reading: [do I confess to having a secret whump blog here? My anxiety is pretty bad rn. Which means I have been devouring and regurgitating whump like no tomorrow. I have read and written so much holy]

Current hyperfixation (changed from obsession because I don't use that language. I do, however, have ADHD): yeah... uhhh... whump.

Favourite colour: Green, specifically the shade of the underside of a maple leaf caught in the sun. But I am also very partial to any rich blue or pink.

Spicy, sweet, savory, or salty? A little bit of everything. I like it when dishes are made with really high-quality ingredients that speak for themselves and don't need to be disguised with sugar, spices, or salt.

Relationship status: *cries in single* where meet men in my city????

Last thing I Googled: hypothermia whump... yeah... (also apparently I googled the word lapel to make sure it meant exactly what I thought it meant)

Song stuck in my head: OH I am the QUEEN of getting shit stuck in my head! I once had "In Flanders Fields" the POEM - not even a song - stuck in my head in both English AND FRENCH. It wasn't even November... Currently, it's the "I had a little turtle, his name was tiny tim" song... it's been days help

Favourite food: Kiisseli (a Finnish stewed berry dessert.) I am also partial to a very juicy steak.

Dream trip: I wanna go to Ireland so bad. But I need to know some Irish person willing to teach me harp techniques first.

Gently tagging (you don't have to answer all of these. I just chose to combine three tags in one): @nacricissa *ahem*, @malapertmarquess, @ditzydisko, @dyrewrites, @toribookworm22, @steh-lar-uh-nuhs @blackrosesandwhump, @beloveddawn-blog, @unhingednovelist