#I wish I could have added Carol but I do not want to use Frank Cho art

[616witch]

random headers of wanda maximoff and her loved ones. from left to right; pietro maximoff, hank pym, janet van dyne, jericho drumm, lorna dane, the vision, crystal amaquelin, billy kaplan and tommy shepherd, steve rogers. made for a white tumblr background, 16by9 ratio.

❗❗ NOTICE ❗❗these were made based off available art. I know there are some characters I missed!!

[jerzwriter]

Tik Tok Tuesday - "Don't Go Breaking My Heart"

@potionsprefect thank you for giving me a little task that will take me away from the angst that is DTI tonight. Here's this week's Tik Tok Tuesday, one for Ethan & Casey is coming up tomorrow, I'm too tired tonight. lol

Objective: MC pretends to break up with their LI by text with a song. What song do they use and what is their LI reaction?

Book: Open Heart (Book 3 Timeline) Pairing: Tobias Carrick x MC (Casey MacTavish) Rating: Teen Summary: See Above Warnings: Cursing, References to sexual situations Words: 959 (plus texts)

Characters belong to Pixelberry Studios.

“So,” Casey quipped as she joined her friends at their table in Derry’s. “What nonsense do you wish to sign me up for?”

“It’s the latest Tik Tok prank,” Jackie enthused. “You have to do it!”

“OK, why do I have to do it? Can’t you do it yourself?”

“Yeah, well, if I had a significant other, I supposed I could.”

“But since neither of us does,” Sienna added, “You’re our victim… uhm, participant!”

“We’re offering you up as tribute!” Jackie grinned.

“You know I’m not into Tik Tok.”

“Precisely why this would work best for you,” Sienna enthused.

Casey let out a loud sigh. “All right! What is it that you’ll have me do? Dance like a chicken? Go up to the counter here and order a martini?”

“No, it sort of involves T, too,” Jackie advised.

“T?”

“Your boyfriend.”

“I know who T is, Sienna, but what does this have to do with him?

“OK, you have to text him a lyric from a breakup song, word for word, and see what he does.”

“Guys, that’s cruel.”

“No, it’s fun,” Jackie smiled.

“And you wonder why you don’t have a significant other? I’d like to keep mine, thank you very much.”

“Come on, Case!” Sienna pleaded. “It’s just for fun. Plus, Tobias has a great sense of humor. Where is he this morning?"

“He and Bryce went out to play basketball, then they’re grabbing lunch. They’re probably on their way to the court now.”

“Oh, and perfect. Let’s do this!”

Casey took out her phone shaking her head. “I don’t know how I’m letting you talk me into this.”

“Because you love us!” Sienna grinned.

“I may not anymore if this goes poorly! OK, what song do I pick?”

“I say Stay by Rihanna,” Jackie offered.

“Nah, he knows the lyrics. He’d probably call singing.”

“How about Call Out My Name?” Sienna asked.

“By The Weekend? Guys, T and I have sex with The Weekend playing in the background at least three times a week….”

“Too much information!” Jackie said, holding her ears.

“Wait, you only have sex three times a week?” Sienna gasped.

“Oh, God, no! It’s a minimum of three times that… but we don’t have The Weekend playing every time. Sometimes it’s Frank Ocean.”

Jackie shook her head in disgust. “I am never listening to either again!”

“Hey, you want me to do this stupid shit? You have to pay the price! Oh, I know! Carole King… old school... I don’t think he knows that.”

“What song are you going with?”

“It’s Too Late… You’re paying for Derrys, you know, and my mani/pedi later for doing this.”

“Deal!” Sienna squealed.

“What! I didn’t agree to that!”

“You did now, Jackie. Let’s go…. Oh, look, you’re in luck. He was out of the house before I got up this morning, so he texted to see how I was. That’s a good lead-in.”

Jackie slapped Casey’s arm, “You act like you’re not into this.”

“I may not be if my boyfriend turns around and actually breaks up with me because of this.”

“Pfft. Who else will bang him at least nine times a week,” Jackie laughed.

“She has a point,” Sienna shrugged. “Now, do it before you change your mind.”

“That’s it,” Casey sighed in disgust. “He’s going to dump me.”

“Oh, he’s not going to dump you!” Sienna giggled.

“This isn’t even fun,” Casey sulked. “I don’t like upsetting him.”

“WHAT?!”

“Oh, shit…” Jackie gasped.

“I knew I shouldn’t have… I have to call him!”

Casey frantically dialed his number, but it went right to voicemail.

“Guys! I can’t freaking believe this,” she said, getting teary. “Why did I let you talk me into this? UGH! He’s still not answering!”

“I’m calling Bryce,” Sienna said.

“GUYS!!!! I HATE YOU!!! Si, did you get Bryce?”

“No, he’s not answering,” she answered with a furrowed brow.

“Wait,” Jackie said, grabbing Casey’s phone. While looking at the text, she began typing into her phone.

“Jackie!” Casey said, near tears, “Give me that back. This isn’t the time to….”

“He punked you right back,” Jackie said, tossing Casey’s phone back at her. “He texted you the lyrics from You’ll Think of Me by Keith Urban.”

“What!” Casey said, grabbing Jackie’s phone. “That son of a….”

The second after Casey texed “YOU PUNKED ME!”, her phone rang and she answered to hear Tobias howling with laughter.

“Did you know all along?”

“NO! At first, I nearly had a heart attack. Luckily, Lahela’s mother is a Carole King fan, and he is up on all this Tik Tok bullshit.”

“And you know I wouldn’t know of Keith Urban.”

“Well, you should.”

“You listen to Keith Urban?”

“Hey, there is still a lot to learn about me, baby. If you’re sticking around, that is?”

“Of course I am! I love you.”

“I love you too, but….”

“But?”

“You know the little deal we have about practical jokes….”

“Oh, yeah.”

“I’m looking forward to the shit you’re going to have to do tonight, baby. It makes this all worth it.”

“Hmmm. Fine. But deep down, I’ll like it too.”

“I know, but I’ll like it more.”

“I’ll see you later.”

Then she hung up.

“What was that all about?” Sienna asked.

“We know we’re both idiots. So we made a rule to keep ourselves in line. We have a list of “favors” we have to do for each other when we fool the other with a practical joke.”

“Wait, what kind of favors?” Jackie asked.

“Naughty ones, Jackie. Very, very naughty ones. Do you want to know what I have to do tonight now?”

“No! No! Absolutely not!!! And I’m never involving you in anything like this again.”

“Well, I’m grateful for that!”

Permatags: @a-crepusculo @animesuck3r @annoyingmillenialnewbie @anonymousrookie @bex-la-get @binny1985 @bluebelle08 @bluerosesbloom @coffeeheartaddict2 @crazy-loca-blog @danijimenezv @darkswagamerpiratecowboyclown @differenttyphoonwerewolf @dorisz @genevievemd @jamespotterthefirst @jennieausten @kingliam2019 @lady-calypso @liaromancewriter @lucy-268 @mainstreetreader @parisa-kh @peonierose @potionsprefect @quixoticdreamer16 @rookiemartin @rosebudde @schnitzelbutterfingers @secretaryunpaid @sillydg @spookycolorpeanut @socalwriterbee @thegreentwin @trappedinfanfiction @txemrn @writer-ish @youlookappropriate @zahrachoices @kachrisberry @fayeswiftie @choiceskatie

OH Tags: @aishwarya26 @onikalover @peonyblossom @toadfrog26

Tobias Only: @icecoffee90

@choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

[illshowyourhurricanes]

Bah Humbug

This is an early holiday transitory one to help you move along from your craving for that distinct autumn smell to all things wintery! Originally set to be a feel-good drabble for @the-blind-assassin-12​ just because I adore her, it kind of got away from me and turned into a full-on one-shot! Special thanks to @something-tofightfor​ for taking the time to read and critique. Enjoy this big ball of fluff, courtesy of our very own Ryan Brenner!

No trigger warnings here, rated Disney movie G.

Word count: 2119

Tag list: @dylanobrusso​ @obscurilicious​ @the-blind-assassin-12​ @something-tofightfor​ @ms-delos​ @madamrogers​ @lexxierave​ @agent-bossypants​ @yannii04​ @gollyderek​ @carlaangel86​ @poindexted​ @maydayfigment​ @thisisparadisemylove​ @ladyofnaps​ 

If you’d like to be added to/removed from my tag list, just shoot me an ask! Hope you enjoy, and thanks for reading!

You hated Christmas carols. 

There was no valid reason behind it, but you loathed them, you didn’t want to hear about jingling bells, or sleigh bells ringing. You’d learned long ago that Santa Claus was always in town in the form of your parents and you were over hearing about a make-believe reindeer being bullied. And Frosty the Snowman? All snowmen melt. It’s science. Snow itself was something you never felt up to dealing with, and people wrote songs about wishing for it?! What idiots. 

The biggest predicament regarding Christmas carols was that they could not be avoided starting the first of November. Ghouls and goblins and an infinite amount of Avengers and Frozen Princesses were immediately traded in for ugly sweaters and Santa hats. It was American culture and you didn’t mind it…it was what came along with it that made you a Grinch. You couldn’t watch any TV without being harassed with commercials including some type of carol, and forget shopping. You were assaulted the moment you stepped inside a too-warm department store. You’d only run inside for three items, and upon stepping into the door, you steeled yourself for the inevitability. It would be a quick trip, in and out. 

Except the store was congested with so many people, your usual long strides you reserved for these kinds of atrocities was reduced to a slow, staggered creeping. The only thing worse than Christmas carols was Christmas carols playing when surrounded by people. 

You were in Hell. 

Finally, you were able to reach the shampoo aisle, a blaring speaker anchored to the ceiling directly above your head. It was impossible to tune the music out, and Frank Sinatra began crooning about being home for Christmas. But only in my dreams. It was one carol that brought a rush of warmth and comfort into your heart, followed by a pang of longing and a vivid memory. You missed him. 

*** *** ***

Summer had turned to autumn without you noticing. The air was cooler, less humid.  The days had grown shorter and there was a  buzz in the air. Sandals and sundresses were replaced with boots and scarves, and fuzzy socks became an indoor necessity. You knew this wasn’t just a cool snap when you heard leaves crunching beneath your feet as you reached your front porch, eyes scanning your yard quickly. How hadn’t you noticed until that moment that your grass had been blanketed in leaves in varying shades of fire:  rich auburn, burnt orange, golden yellow. Pausing as you looked, you heard a scuffling coming from behind your home, and you walked carefully around the perimeter of your home. A smile illuminated your face and adoration squeezed in your chest. Autumn leaves were gathered into two large piles, and Ryan was raking the remainder of what was left into a third heap as you approached him. 

“What are you doing, Ryan Brenner?” You tended to use his first and last name in situations like these, where you found him doing sweet things he never gave a second thought. His full name was beginning to replace the use of just ‘Ryan’ or, sometimes, just a shortened ‘Ry’. 

The rake he held in his hands stilled on the ground and he leaned his weight against it, his chest rising and falling quickly as he caught his breath. Raising his shoulders in a shrug, he glanced around your cleared back yard before his eyes landed on you, nothing but you. “Yard work.” 

His answer was quick and simple, obvious, and you laughed, the crunching of dead leaves under your feet ceasing as you walked closer and greeted him with a quick kiss, followed by one that you lingered in. “You’re supposed to be visiting, relaxing. Not doing my yard work,” you teased. “

You know I can’t stay still for long,” he smiled. Yes, all too well.  The thought alone gifted him with another kiss. “I’m sweatin’, Y/N,” he said in his his slight Southern drawl. He wiped at his forehead with the back of one hand, the other still supporting the rake. “

“Hmm, seems like I don’t care much, doesn’t it?” You pecked at his lips once more in a playful fashion. “Can the mention of food coerce you inside?” You raised your brows and caught his startling dark eyes with yours, walking backward for a few paces before turning around to retreat indoors. You had leftovers to heat up.  

*** *** ***

After dinner was eaten and the dishes were set out to dry, you opted to change while Ryan cleaned up with the help of a hot, steamy shower. You slipped out of your clothes and pulled on a soft pair of pants, an oversized sweatshirt you loved to sleep in, and a warm pair of wool socks. Settling onto the couch with a book, you sat sideways, your back against the sofa’s arm. You heard Ryan’s footsteps against the old wooden floor before you saw him. Yet when you did, your book was forgotten as you let your eyes linger over his form. His dark, overgrown hair was wet, brushed back from his forehead. Low on his hips were a worn pair of sweatpants, his feet bare and a t-shirt covering his upper half, and he was holding his guitar. You’d barely opened your book, but you closed it and set it aside, raising your brows and offering him a smile. 

“What’s the occasion?” you nodded at the guitar. Ryan chuckled and bent to kiss your hair before crossing the room and settling on the hearth. You knew better than to start a fire; it was something Ryan had unofficially made his duty when he was in town. You’d opted to use the heater for quick warmth when the two of you came inside. 

“Just another day, Y/N,” Ryan said with a smile. You couldn’t remember a day you hadn’t seen Ryan without a guitar on his lap or heard music wafting from another room; there probably hadn’t been a music-free day since you’d known him. “Got somethin’ special for you.”

You gave him your full attention as his tattooed fingers of his left hands settled on the strings and right hand began strumming. The tune sounded vaguely familiar, but it wasn’t until he started singing that you nodded in recognition, just before groaning in protest. Ryan only smiled, continuing on seamlessly with his rendition of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”. He knew Christmas carols weren’t your favorite, but he also knew that you wouldn’t mind as much so long as he was the one playing. 

The scowl didn’t stay on your face for long, however. Ryan had chose that particular song for a reason. You knew the time was coming for him to chase the trains again, just as the weather was getting colder and the first snow of the season was looming on the horizon. By the time the song came to an end, there was only a look of understanding on your face as Ryan’s eyes met yours, and he set his guitar aside. Swinging your legs over the side of the couch, you made your way across the room to perch on his lap and kissed his forehead before looking down at him, smiling halfway through your disappointment at his leaving soon. “I hated it.”

*** *** ***

 It had taken a full half an hour to grab a bottle of shampoo and a box of hot cocoa and pay for your items. You’d planned a full grocery shop, but every aisle in the store was congested with last-minute shoppers and you had far exceeded your Christmas cheer quota for the day. Ordering pizza for delivery had never sounded like a better idea, and by the time you made your trek through the parking lot, the last minutes of sunlight had passed. It was a full moon, the heavy clouds illuminated by the moonlight. They were ominous, a promise of snowfall at any given moment. It couldn’t be a more picture-perfect Christmas Eve, straight out of a mass-printed Rockwell painting. You idly remembered stacking more firewood beside the fireplace the night before, and mentally thanked yourself for a job well-done. If you didn’t have such a thick blanket of dead leaves between your driveway and the door, you’d make a run for it.

When you pulled into the drive and put your car in park, a small light caught your eye and your brow furrowed. During the time in your childhood where you had been certain you’d grow up to be an entomologist, you read ravenously and absorbed as much information as possible, most of which you remembered. You knew that fireflies hibernate in winter, and just as the thought jogged your memory, you saw the flicker again. Chalking it up to some form of reflection thanks to the light of the moon, you pulled your keys from the ignition, threaded your arm through the handles of the plastic bag that held your purchase, and steeled yourself for the assault of the frigid air. 

While making your beeline for the door, your vision caught another flicker of light, this one brighter and and not as brief. “What the…” you whispered under your breath, trying to decide whether to keep your pace steady or go against all common sense and make a run for it. Could this day get any worse? Could Christmas possibly be more of a pain in the ass? 

As you briskly approached your home, you squinted against the darkness and could vaguely make out a figure lounging on your porch steps. You’d remembered firewood, but you hadn’t remembered to leave a light on, and you were certain that this was it. You’d be starring in your very own television special, featured as the frozen corpse found in the snow just outside your home, and you didn’t know whether to laugh or scream when you heard a voice.

“Merry Christmas, darlin’.” 

You froze for a moment, mouth dropping open. You’d recognize that deep tenor and slight drawl anywhere. A light thud sounded as you dropped your bag in surprise, and you bent quickly to pick it back up. You made a run for it the rest of the way as Ryan stubbed out a half-smoked cigarette. There was your firefly.

Throwing your arms around him, you squeezed your eyes shut. “How was…?”

“Raleigh,” he reminded you, holding you close. He gently swayed back and forth, pressing a lingering kiss to your temple. “Lotta places to set up and play. Nice, mild weather.” He pulled back to look at you, his face holding a serious expression. “Not enough firewood for kindlin’. Not enough people honest enough to tell me when they hate my songs.”

You laughed, taking a step back and lacing your fingers with his. “If you’re itching to start a fire, you’re in for a treat. And I bought cocoa, the instant kind with the little marshmallows.” You shrugged apologetically, scrunching your nose as he reached for his pack and slung his guitar case over his shoulder. “I was wallowing. I couldn’t stand to walk around that store long enough to buy anything more than I had to, so instant cocoa it was.” You paused as you slid your keys in the lock, hurrying inside and ushering Ryan in as you flipped on the light switch. “Not to mention the Christmas carols.” Dramatically, you put on a fake shudder.

He shook his head wryly as he set down his things, gifting you a smile as he took the few steps to close the distance between you. Sliding his hands up and down your arms, his smile softened as he searched your face, pink from the cold. “You’re beautiful,” he said softly, leaning in and ducking his head to press a kiss to your lips. “I told you I’d be home for Christmas.”

Home. You weren’t one to dwell on the semantics of things, but with Ryan, you knew they mattered. He didn’t say he’d be here for Christmas or back for Christmas; he said he’d be home for Christmas, and here he was. There was nothing in that moment that could bring you down, everything in the world feeling perfect. The warm body next to yours was one the thing that you wanted, more than anything else in the world. 

“Merry Christmas, Ryan.” You finally returned the sentiment, closing your eyes for a few beats as you leaned your forehead against his. “Can I ask for a favor?”

He moved his forehead from yours, looking down at you with his dark, warm eyes. There was a glimmer there on the surface, and it warmed your heart. Ryan looked happy, and there was nothing quite like it. 

“Anything.” 

You grinned impishly, reaching up to pull his cap from his head, running your fingers through his thick hair for good measure. “Give me your best version of Jingle Bells.”

[fantasychica37]

Possible full names for the Dreemurr kids

Chara:

Birth name Charles (if pronounced “char-a” - there’s probably a similar girls’ name if Chara’s AFAB) or a name like Caroline (GLaDOS parallel!!!!)/Carol/Carrie/Carolyn (if pronounced “care-a”), alternatively Chara is AFAB and Greek and Chara was their birth name (Chara’s a Greek girl’s name apparently, it means “joy”!!!!!)

Chosen middle name Togore or Goriel (so they can be named like Asriel was as they’re as much Toriel and Asgore’s child as him and because those names both have the word “gore” in them - and Togore uses the opposite name elements as Asriel and is “toe gore” which I think they’d enjoy, but with “Asriel” and “Togore” being perfect opposites Frisk is a little bit of an awkward third wheel, although “Astor” for Frisk is a good solution, see below)

Alternatively their birth surname was Astor (they’re white and Astor is a European name) which they keep as their middle name so they can be named like Asriel and their name can be Chara A. Dreemurr (Chara, a dreamer) but that would take away the only middle name idea I have for Frisk so maybe not

Frisk - birth name Francisco/Francisca/Francesco/Francesca/Franziska Lee/Astor, chosen name Frisk Astor Dreemurr

Those first names all have the consonants in “Frisk”, possible origin of that name, also they mean “French person” and “France” is from “Frank”, a name of an ethnic group deriving from a type of spear they used, but the English form, Francis, is associated with a very peaceful and good saint - so either a peaceful loving person or “people of the spear”, which is the choice we make as we control Frisk

Astor because it’s a real last name that’s also a combination of Asgore and Toriel’s names, as though it were destiny (I headcanon that Chara grew up with abusive parents and Frisk was given up for adoption as a baby and grew up in the foster system and only knew lack of love, not active malice, so Chara was angry and hated humanity but Frisk was desperately determined to do anything to make friends - so Frisk might have cause to keep the surname Astor because they don’t hate their birth family since they never knew them and by keeping Astor they can be named like Asriel.) Also, if Chara’s middle name is Goriel, Frisk can be their opposite in middle names just like Frisk and Chara are opposites in many thematic senses. If Chara’s middle name is Togore, Astor is a combination of the first elements of “Asriel” and Togore” with an extra letter added, just as Frisk is a combination/mix/middle ground of Asriel’s and Chara’s worldviews with stuff added that enables them to break the barrier and break everyone’s old flawed mindsets. Finally, Frisk’s name would be Frisk A. Dreemurr (Frisk, a dreamer).

Lee because it can be either Asian or European in origin (and black and Native American people can have European surnames), thus giving Frisk the maximum number of possible ethnicities - I’m confident the reason Frisk looks ambiguous is that they’re supposed to look like you but 4′10″ and with a certain hair length - and also because when people hear Lee they think Asian and it’s a joke about how Frisk’s appearance, which was designed to be perfectly ambiguous, also happened to wind up looking like if a racist person drew an Asian

Also Lee because 1) if they made Lee their middle name it sounds like a first or a last name so is the perfect middle name and 2) if their middle initial is I or A (Astor, perhaps) they’re Frisk A. Lee or Frisk I. Lee which sounds like “Friskily” (a la the joke about Chara’s middle name being “Cter”, which I will include in this post as soon as someone proves to me that “Cter” or “Ter” (middle initial C) is a real name somewhere in the world)

Kris: birth name Kris P. Lee (”crispily” - the thing about “Lee” being for multiple ethnicities and Kris looking ambiguous applies here as well as to Frisk) or Kris P. Bacon, with Kris probably being a nickname for something; chosen name Kris Togore Dreemurr because Kris would also enjoy “toe gore” and because there is no third Dreemurr child Kris can have the opposite middle name of Asriel without blocking anyone out

Asriel - birth name Asriel Dreemurr, chosen name Asriel Chris Dreemurr

Middle name Chris to fit in with humans on the surface who have middle names - especially human royalty with long names - and to expand his name after he’s been through so much and grown so much, and to pay tribute to Chara and Frisk as “Chris” is like a combo of their names)

Alternatively the long form of “Chris”: Christopher or Christian (so all his names don’t come from other people - he chose a middle name that was part derived from the names of other people but also part unique), and here’s a rationale behind each name

“Christopher” is “Christ-bearer” and Asriel bore a heavy burden to give the monsters salvation

I as a Christian often joke that the reason Asriel isn’t suffering a soulless eternal fate worse than death in Deltarune is because God’s in Deltarune (there’s a church) and God would never let anyone be a zombie in lonely torment and unable to be truly happy for eternity, and I guess the corollary of that is that if Christianity was in Undertale Asriel could be saved, so!

Even without that line of reasoning, the reasoning behind “Christopher” would be an endless reminder of Asriel’s suffering, which he may or may not want (some people wish for scars to prove they survived, while other people wish them gone, for example), and a Christian is someone who believes in hope and mercy and love and that things will always get better, and in miracles.

For example (not that Asriel knows this - he doesn’t know his world isn’t real, thank goodness), you could be faced with people who want to kill you and be nice to them instead of attacking back, and by a series of miracles have it always work - and then find that because you were nice to everyone it will by “chance” set off a series of events that leads to enough people being together in one place for the villain to have enough power to absorb enough souls to break the barrier and get you your happy ending! (I also think that if Asriel and Chara were saved, it would be because Asriel used all that soul power to do it! I mean it’s the power of a god, right? And don’t gods create souls and give people life in most religions?) The creator of the world made us the promise that the angel Raphael made to the boy Tobias (yes that was his name I’m not making this up) in some apocryphal Old Testament book: “Do what is right and no harm (well, no permanent harm, even if you die 128 times like me) shall come to thee.”

The Dreemurr children in every universe try to get free king suite or whatever tickets to the fancy hotel called the Waldorf-ASTORia because of this (and in Undertale, it’s because they’re actually royalty so they deserve the king suite and free room service, right? No? Darn it)

(@askroyalchildren, I’m not trying to say my ideas are better than your middle name ideas you came up with, but what do you think?)

[likos064]

The Reasons Behind the Musings

The following exchange takes place in the comments, but I thought I’d repost it here because it explains a bit about my motivation to post Musings of a Newbie. I would also like to apologise for not responding to the other answers I have received. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. It was really kind of you.

I thought I’d explain a bit more why I chose the questions I did and respond in turn to your answers.

Every question is motivated by a specific complaint that I saw on my dashboard during season 11 of The X-Files. One continuous complaint was how many horrible things have happened to the characters, especially Scully, since the beginning of the show. The reason why I asked about the ensemble cast is because I believe that some of the abuse heaped on the characters is due to the size of the cast. When John Doggett and Monica Reyes joined in seasons 8 and 9, they were tormented quite badly as well. And every time the focus turned on Skinner he had to endure all sorts of torture. However, quite a few were upset when they found out that one episode of season 11, Kitten, would primarily focus on Skinner and his back story. And the addition of the characters Einstein and Miller was mostly met with disdain. 

Furthermore, you pointed out one downside in that the actors became exhausted with the amount of work they had to put in due to the limited cast. It also meant that they couldn’t easily pursue other projects while doing the show, and had to be nearly paranoid about possible injuries or illness. Some of it was mitigated with the use of cell-phones in season 2, as David revealed while they did press for season 10 - both didn’t always have to be available at the same time. However, some storylines were directly motivated by the actor’s availability e.g. Scully’s original abduction being due to Gillian’s pregnancy and the delivery of Piper, Mulder becoming an absentee father due to David leaving the show, and Scully staying behind with William, despite the the clear threat against the child, due to Gillian’s contract for season 9.

2nd R: A pattern that shows up continuously on my dashboard is that when the show doesn’t provide what people want - mostly lack of confirmed romance, no kissing etc., or the storyline goes in a direction that is less than desired e.g. continuous storylines centered around Scully’s fertility and reproduction, they will attribute it to the lack of female input. Therefore, I was curious as to what that would mean in practice. The current commentary is too abstract for me to understand what is meant. However, I do agree that a more diverse and inclusive writing and directing pool would lead to a more welcoming working environment, and The X-Files certainly worked as a springboard for a lot of careers e.g. Alex Gansa & Howard Gordon - Homeland, Frank Spotnitz - The Man in the High Castle, Vince Gilligan - Breaking Bad, and Better Call Saul. 

3rd R: I will have to disagree with you when it comes to FOX being willing to end the show if Chris Carter wanted to. As I mentioned before, there was a plan for a movie franchise, even if it did not come to pass, after season 5. There were also attempts to end everything in season 7 e.g. closing up the storyline with Samantha, getting rid of the Cigarette Smoking Man, and season 8 e.g. forcing Mulder permanently, at the time, off the X-Files, tying his storyline and motivation to William and giving Mulder and Scully one perfect moment of happiness in Existence, which is probably the least cliffhangery season ending we’ve received. FOX ordered one more season, as the numbers went up again following David’s return, when Mulder came back from his abduction. David’s contract had already ended and he was not willing to extend it, while Gillian signed up for both season 8 and 9 at the same time to achieve parity in pay. Chris Carter was set to leave, however, he stayed for Gillian, whom FOX demanded complete her contract. At the moment FOX has still not said whether there will be one more season or not, though I suppose after their acquisition that is now up to Disney. Thereby not saying that Chris Carter doesn’t have a monetary gain in continuing, however, as far as I can tell it has never been solely up to him as to whether there will be more or not. At a Paley conference in conjunction with the second movie, I Want to Believe, he explained the difficulty in planning when you never know who will be available to you in terms of writers, directors, and actors. Furthermore, they never knew if they were going to get another season.

Last R: While I agree that there was lack of women involved in the show there are still quite a few that could have commented. True, there were only two female directors during the original run, one in season 7 and one in Season 9 Episode 7 John Doe, as you already mentioned, and at that time David wasn’t around in any official capacity. However, the reason I used Joel McHale and Robert Patrick as my examples was because they spent a comparatively short time on the show. Robert Patrick got added in Season 8 and made 40 episodes, with his last being Season 9 Episode 19-20 The Truth. Annabeth Gish as Monica Reyes appears in Season 8 Episode 14 This Is Not Happening, and appeared in 26 episodes during seasons 8 and 9. She would have had a couple of episodes with both of them together, and she was there for both Season 9 Episode 16 William and Season 9 Episode 19-20 The Truth, when David was on set as he directed the former and came up with the original story together with Frank Spotnitz and Chris Carter. She was also there for season 10 and 11. Joel McHale only had two episodes in season 10 My Struggle I and My Struggle II, and one in season 11 My Struggle IV and he still commented on it. Martin Landau was only in The X-Files: Fight the Future and had only scenes with David and still compared them to Spencer Tracy and Kathrine Hepburn. 

Furthermore, there were a few recurring female characters. Sheila Larken as Margaret Scully joined in Season 1 Episode 13 Beyond the Sea and has a total of 17 episodes through seasons 1-5 and 8-10. She is also married to R.W. Goodwin who worked on the X-Files during its Vancouver years as a co-executive producer, executive producer, director and writer. Melinda McGraw as Melissa Scully joined in Season 2 Episode 8 One Breath for a total of 4 episodes, her last appearance being in Season 5 Episode 6 Christmas Carol, though David was absent as he was promoting Playing God with Angelina Jolie. One might even count Megan Leitch, the actress who portrayed Samantha Mulder as an adult. Her first appearance was in Season 2 Episode 16 Colony, and her last Season 7 Episode 2 The Sixth Extinction II: Amor Fait making it four episodes in total. Admittedly she had hardly any scenes with Gillian, but she was in episodes where they both appeared. Or even Rebecca Toolan as Teena Mulder, who also first appeared in Season 2 Episode 16 Colony, and came back in episodes through seasons 2-4 and 7 with Season 7 Episode 11 Closure being her last episode, bringing her up to ten episodes. 

Laurie Holden as Marita Covarrubias was introduced in Season 4 Episode 1 Herrenvolk and became fairly recurring during season 4 and then appeared more sporadically during seasons 5-7, her final appearance was in Season 9 Episode 19-20 The Truth for a total of ten episodes. Veronica Cartwright as Cassandra Spender appeared in Season 5 Episode 13 Patient X to Season 6 Episode 12 One Son making it four episodes. Mimi Rogers as Diana Fowley joined the cast in Season 5 Episode 20 The End and came back for a few episodes during season 6-7 until her final appearance in Season 7 Episode 2 The Sixth Extinction II: Amor Fati totalling 7 episodes.

There were also a number of female writers. The first being Marilyn Osborn who wrote Season 1 Episode 19 Shapes, followed by Sara B. Cooper as Sara B. Charno who wrote the episodes Season 2 Episode 12 Aubrey and Season 2 Episode 21 The Calusari. Kim Newton wrote Season 3 Episode 11 Revelations and Season 3 Episode 22 Quagmire, the latter with some assistance from Darin Morgan e.g. conversation on the rock. Valerie Mayhew and Vivian Mayhew wrote Season 4 Episode 6 Sanguinarium, Jessica Scott wrote Season 5 Episode 9 Schizogeny, and Dr. Margaret Fearon who wrote the story for Season 10 Episode 6 My Struggle II together with Anne Simon, the latter who worked as the science advisor in 1998 as well as during the revival. 

Kristen Cloke wrote Season 11 Episode 7 Rm9sbG93ZXJz together with Shannon Hamblin as well as worked as an actress as  Melissa Rydell Ephesian in Season 4 Episode 5 The Field Where I Died and she is married to Glen Morgan who was a writer for season 1, 2 and 4 and came back for season 10 and 11 to both write and direct. Karen Nielsen was a script coordinator for season 10 and 11 and wrote Season 11 Episode 9 Nothing Lasts Forever, and she is the one who rather gleefully announced that the whispering between Scully and Mulder was between Gillian and David and would not be revealed.

In season 11 both Carol Banker and Holly Dale directed, episode 6 Kitten and episode 8 Familiar respectively, even if Carol Banker’s episode mostly focused on Skinner. But she was also a script supervisor from season 6 to season 9, and an actress as Carol in Season 7 Episode 17 all things, which admittedly once again had less of David.

One of the reasons that I find it so fascinating is that the shipping fandom, those compelled by David and Gillian’s chemistry to pair up Mulder and Scully is mostly comprised of women. But when it comes to the show, the men seem far more impressed. Almost enamoured, or maybe its envy. Maybe they wished that they had that kind of connection with someone. Maybe we all do.

[sydneysageivashkov]

So, a prompt! :) Gremma + Tinsel

All The Lights Are Shining

Emma and Graham get ready for their first Christmas. (Merry Christmas, everybody!)

“So neither of you have anyChristmas decorations,” said Henry, staring at them both sceptically.

Emma exchanged an amused glance with Graham, trying to tampdown on the laughter that was threatening to bubble out. “Sorry, kid,” she saidwith a shrug. “Neither of us have had anyone to celebrate Christmas withbefore.”

It was their first Christmas: the first with Henry, thefirst with each other, the first with her parents and the first since the Cursebroke. Emma’s experience with Christmas amounted to the unhappy, oftenhalf-hearted ones at the homes as a child. She didn’t know what Graham’sChristmases had been like under the Curse, but she couldn’t imagine they had beenmuch fun, either.

Henry huffed. “Then we have to fix that, obviously,” he said. “We need everything! Lights! Tinsel!”His eyes went wide and he urgently added, “A tree!”

“We’ll get everything,” said Graham, reassuringly. He tippedhis head, considering. “Doesn’t Mary Margaret make decorations with you all?”

Henry grinned. “Heaps. I’m going to make a list,” hedeclared, standing up and scampering away before Emma had a chance to sayanything else.

Emma turned to Graham, finally letting out the laugh she hadbeen holding in. “Well, looks like we’ve been given our mission for the next fewweeks.”

“Looks like,” agreed Graham. He was all fond amusement, softsmile and relaxed posture. Emma ached a little to see it: there was a time,after he’d first gotten his memories back, when he had been skittish andanxious. But Regina wasn’t a threat anymore and Storybrooke was starting tosettle into some sort of normality again, and peace for Graham had come withthe calm settling over Storybrooke.

She hesitated. “Was there anything like Christmas in the otherworld? Some kind of winter holiday?” She paused. “Was there even winter?”

“Your mother is literally called Snow White,” pointed outGraham, and she had to huff out a laugh at that. “I think there was, but I wasnever able to celebrate it.” Emma nodded; she knew all about his early life, separatefrom humans, and she doubted Regina would have let her favourite toy have funat a party.

“Do you want to?” she asked.

Graham was silent for a moment. He drummed his fingers onthe table, obviously thinking deeply. “I don’t have to,” he said, “but I willif you want to.” Emma opened her mouth but he beat her to it. “It’s your heritage,Emma. You can get to know it if you want to.”

“I’ll think about it,” she said, finally. “I’ll talk to MaryMargaret, first. I don’t even know what it is.”

-

Neither Emma nor Graham had ever had to pick a tree out intheir life, which meant it was probably for the best that they had both Henryand a farm-boy-turned-prince-turned-cop on hand to help pick one out.

David and Henry were both inspecting all of trees veryseriously. Graham was on one side of Emma, looking faintly bewildered, and MaryMargaret was on the other, looking indulgent. Emma was somewhere between thetwo. Her knowledge on Christmas tree hunting came mostly from the Christmas specialson TV, but her father and son both appeared to be taking it far more seriouslythan any television character had.

“Graham!” called Henry, turning to wave the man in questionover. “You need to learn all this.” Graham looked at Emma, who looked back athim and shrugged. Henry at Christmastime, she was quickly learning, could be aforce of nature.

“Henry’s teaching you both the ways of Christmas?” askedSnow, voice amused.

“He’s called it Operation Claus,” answered Emma, earninglaughter from her mother. “I actually want to ask you about what it’s like…”Emma shifted her weight uncomfortably. She never knew how to refer to the worldof her birth. Even after having been there, it still felt unreal. “What it’slike over there.”

“Well, we didn’t have Christmas or Christianity, obviously,”said Mary Margaret. “But we did have a winter holiday that’s a little like thesecular Christmas, I suppose. It was about coming together in the depths ofwinter and holding back the dark.” She brushed a piece of hair off her face,smiling slightly at the memory. “It wasn’t like the Middle Ages here, whereevery day was a struggle – magic was pretty easy to come by, after all – but wintercould still be hard. So we came together in the middle of winter and usedlights and colour and laughter to drive back the dark. We didn’t use trees, butwe used candles like we use lights here, and we used any bit of colourfulfabric or plant that we could get our hands on.”

Mary Margaret looked like she could go on, but before shecould, Henry had scampered back over to them and looked up at Emma. “Do youthink Santa is real?” he asked.

Emma blinked. “Santa?”

“Well, if all the fairy tale characters are real, why nothim?” said Henry.

Emma opened and closed her mouth several times before shefinally found the words to say, “I really wish I could say he’s not.” Henrynodded, and hurried back over to David and Graham.

Emma turned back to Mary Margaret, who was smiling at her. “Ithink if you want to celebrate our holidays, too, your Christmas decorationswill just about cover it.”

-

They had the tree. They had all the decorations. Now therewas just the struggle of putting them up.

Henry had organised all of the tree decorations into neatpiles and was now sitting next to them, blinking up at them with well-practicedpuppy dog eyes. It was enough to crack Emma right then and there. “Alright,kid,” she said, and his face lit up. “Where do we start?”

Emma spent the next hour being bossed around by Henry, Christmascarols crooning in the background. Hanging a red and gold bauble from a branchhalf way up, she ducked under Graham’s arm as he started winding tinsel aroundthe tree. He brushed by her as he went, and she smiled at him over her shoulder,feeling warm all over.

Was this was it wasusually like? she wondered. A happy Christmas. A calm Christmas. She’dnever known it before. She glanced at Henry, Santa hat jammed firmly on to his head,and then to Graham, shuffling his way around the tree, and wondered if any ofthem had.

She was just going to have to make it the best Christmas,then, she decided, and turned up Frank Sinatra singing about the snow.

“We need more tinsel up,” announced Henry, once the tree wasfinished. He patted the pile of red tinsel still sitting on the bench. “Let’s putit around the walls.”

Emma raised her eyebrow at him. “And how are we going to dothat?”

Henry sucked on his candy cane thoughtfully. “Stickytape,”he decided.

Graham shook his head. “That just damages the walls.” Helooked overly thoughtful for someone wearing reindeer antlers, but eventually suggested,“Tak?”

“We can give it a go,” agreed Emma, Henry already hurryingoff the retrieve some. He arrived back, split it in half, and handed one eachto Emma and Graham, beaming at them the whole while.

Emma and Graham set off sticking the tak to the wallthroughout the room. Emma retrieved the tinsel from Henry and she threaded italong the wall, Graham supporting the end. She pushed the end of the tinselagainst the last of the tak and nodded to Graham.

“Do you think it’ll stay up?” he asked from the other end ofthe room, where he was stretching to hold the tinsel firm against the wall.

“One way to find out,” she said, and they let go together,watching the tinsel expectantly. She almost had time to breath a sigh of reliefbefore the tinsel on Graham’s side slipped off the wall, landing and tanglingitself in Graham’s antlers.

Henry started giggling at the sight, and Emma had to take adeep breath to contain her own laughter. “Very funny,” grumbled Graham,although he unable to hide the smile tugging at his own lips.

“Here,” said Emma, going to untangle the tinsel.

“But he looks so Christmas-y like that!” protested Henry,and Graham made a face at him over Emma’s shoulder. Emma hid her face in Graham’sneck for a moment, unable to contain the smile. She took a moment to get herexpression to a more respectable level of amusement before she finisheduntangling the tinsel.

“Thank you,” whispered Graham, kissing her quickly.

She smiled, tugging at his antlers. “Anytime, SheriffRednose.”

-

“Ready?” asked Graham. Emma glanced at him in the mirror,leaning against the door in the tackiest Christmas sweater Henry had been ableto find.

“Almost,” she replied, tugging a fluffy Santa hat on. MaryMargaret and David were holding a Christmas party for the whole town. Emma hadnever been one for Christmas parties before; it was just one more changeStorybrooke had brought. “I wanted to do one thing, first.”

Graham raised his eyebrows. “What’s that?”

Emma picked up a candle from her dresser. “Mary Margaretsaid that in the Enchanted Forest, they’d light candles to hold off darkness,”she explained. “I wasn’t sure if she meant metaphorically or literally, but Ithink Storybrooke needs all the help it can get.”

Graham snorted. “I can’t argue with that.” He pulled herclose as she went to pass. “Is that all it is?”

She took a deep breath. “I’m not a superstitious person, butit’s nice to have the reassurance.”

Graham nodded, keeping hold of her hand as she led him tothe kitchen. She retrieved the matches from the drawers and lit it on secondtry. She held it over the candle. It was a plain candle; big and white - more than enoughto last a few Christmases. The wick caught light and she watched the flame fora few moments.

“Merry Christmas, Graham,” she whispered. Graham stood behindher and slid his arms around her torso, his jaw brushing against her hair. Shecaught hold of his clasped hands with one of her own.

“Merry Christmas, Emma,” he murmured.

[everlarkficquestions]

Masterlist: Based On - Songs

This masterlist features fics based on or inspired by songs. Some fics have been named after songs. To simplify the masterlist, we listed the performers who sang the songs. We realize that some of the songs may be written by songwriters, and not the performers. All rights are reserved to the songwriters/performers who wrote the songs that inspired these fics.

Please make sure to read the tags and summary before diving into the fic. Some stories may feature subject matter which is not to everyone’s tastes.  In addition some of these fics may be incomplete and not updated in a while read at your own risk.

As with all masterlists, if you know of a fic that is not on this list, please, please let us know (by sending a fanmail or an ask HERE) and we will add it.  Please also let us know if you spot any inaccuracies.  Thank you!

Fics Inspired by Songs

Complete

Empty Gold - Pearl46Fever (“Empty Gold” by Halsey)

Fishing in the Dark: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 - pookieh (“Fishing in the Dark” by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band)

Hello - peetabreadgirl (“Hello” by Adele)

In the Wee Small Hours - titania522 (“In the Wee, Small Hours” by Frank Sinatra)

Light A Fire - titania522 (“Light a Fire” by Rachel Taylor)

My Head is an Animal - LittleEvilIsa (“My Head is an Animal” by Of Monsters and Men)

Touch My Body - lupita86 (“Touch My Body” by Mariah Carey)

Miner's Daughter - PrincessGriffey (“Farmer's Daughter" by Rodney Atkins)

Once Upon a Pop Song - oywiththepeetaalready (Based on Taylor Swift’s album “1989”)

Whiskey lullaby - AngelsandTributes123 (“Whiskey Lullaby” by Brad Paisley)

Incomplete

Abeyant - ETNRL4L (“Something New - Axwell/\Ingrosso)

Fastest Girl in Town - SassyEverlarking (“Fastest Girl in Town” by Miranda Lambert)

Walks In the Meadow - mastersilurian (“Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane, and “Sweet Disposition” by The Temper Trap)

Arms - The-Girl-with-the-Books-323 (“Arms” by Christina Perri)

I'll look after you - beholdthestars (“Look After You” by The Fray)

Just a Kiss - Go Zips 28 (“Just a Kiss” by Lady Antebellum)

Seize Me - simplyabbey (“Famous” by Puddle of Mudd and "Shackled" by Vertical Horzion)

Slow Dancing - monpretenduevie (“Slow Dancing” by Lucero)

Speak Now - DistrictMockingjay (“Speak Now” by Taylor Swift)

Stay - Pearl46Fever (“Stay Stay Stay” by Taylor Swift)

Tangled Up In Blue - sunfishdunes (“Tangled Up in Blue” by Bob Dylan)

The Call - PM Addict (“The Call” by The Backstreet Boys)

You Found Me - Mrs. Peeta Mellark 74 (“You Found Me” by The Fray)

21 - BloodRedJam (Based off Adele’s album “21”)

One-Shots

A Drop In the Ocean - StarsCloudsHawkeye (“Drop in the Ocean” by Ron Pope)

Adventure of a Lifetime - lupita86 (“Adventure of a Lifetime” by Coldplay)

All American Girl - just-kiss-her-peeta (“All American Girl” by Carrie Underwood)

All I Ask - HPfanonezillion (“All I Ask” by Adele)

All I want for Christmas - crazydreamerforever (“All I Want for Christmas is You” sung by Mariah Carey)

All Over the Road - court81981 (“All Over the Road” by Easton Corbin)

Alone Again - Totally-Not-Addicted (“Alone Again” by Alyssa Reid)

Angels Fly - animallover0109 (“The A Team” by Ed Sheeran)

Answering Machine - domUNIQUE (“Austin” by Blake Shelton)

Because of You...I Am Afraid - ETNRL4L (“Because of You” by Kelly Clarkson)

Begin Again - sparksofarevolution (“Begin Again” by Taylor Swift)

Best I Ever Had - paradise_joshutch ("Best I Ever Had" by Gavin DeGraw)

Be Still - Lawi01 (“Be Still” and “Look After You” by The Fray)

Between Us (formerly The Cloth That Feels Like Love Itself) - titania522 (“She” by Charles Aznavour)

Both of Us - WritingForHugs (“Both of Us” by B.O.B. and Taylor Swift)

Bring Him Home - sparklydandelion (“Bring Me Home” from Les Miserables)

Cheers Darlin' - mirzimonstein (“Cheers Darlin’” by Damien Rice)

Dark Blue - optimus-pam (“Dark Blue” by Jack’s Mannequin)

Dark Side - Jamie Sommers (“Dark Side” by Kelly Clarkson)

Daylight - PM Addict (“Daylight” by Maroon 5)

Drunken Confessions - gobletgirl (“I Think I Want to Marry You” by Bruno Mars)

Ex to See - oywiththepeetaalready (“Ex to See” by Sam Hunt)

Fallin in Love at a Coffee Shop - jlala (“Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop” by Landon Pigg)

Fast Train - VanillaMostly (“Fast Train” by Solomon Burke)

Feel - Neverland014 ("Please Don't Say You Love Me" by Gabrielle Aplin)

First Train Home - it-was-always-read (“First Train Home” by Imogen Heap)

Flowers in the Window - amelinazenitram (AmelinaZenitram) (“Flowers in the Window” by Travis)

For the First Time - Nico-lovin-4ever (“For the First Time” by The Script)

Forever and Always - Fluffy the chicken (“Forever and Always” by Parachute)

Geeze, you're something to see - LizzieOktambe (“Home” by Edwin Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros)

Get the Girl - sponsormusings (“How You Get the Girl” by Taylor Swift)

Girl on Fire - xNightLight13 (“Girl on Fire” by Arshad)

Going through the unimaginable - NurturingSilence (“It's quiet uptown” From Hamilton by Lynn-Manuel Miranda)

Goodbye, Gale - altogetherten (“Hello” by Adele)

Gravity - Jamie Sommers (“Gravity” by Sara Bareilles)

Groovy Kind of Love - titania522 (“Groovy Kind of Love” by Phil Collins)

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - NotAnIslander (“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane)

Hello - honeylove90 (“Hello” by Adele)

Home - MajorGodComplex (“Arms” by Christina Perri)

Home Alone Tonight - ohmypeeta (“Home Alone Tonight” by Luke Bryan)

How Strange, Innocence - andthisisthewonder (“How Strange, Innocence by Explosions in the Sky)

I Can't Make You Love Me - bookgirl318 (“I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt/Bon Iver)

I better Speak Now! - chocolate-chip-cookie-monster (“Speak Now” by Taylor Swift)

I Don't Think My Heart Could Take Much More - TragedyIsTheKey (“3am” by Busted)

If I Die Young - pip117 (”If I Die Young” by The Band Perry)

I got the girl - pookieortega (“I Got the Boy” by Jenna Kramer)

I’ll Be - littleevilisa (“I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain)

I Wish You Would - jennagill (“Track 7” by Taylor Swift)

If You Don't Know Me By Now - titania522 (“If You Don’t Know Me By Now” by Simply Red)

If You're Reading This - chelzie (“If You’re Reading This” by Tim McGraw)

Innocence - Katannamionestorm (“Innocence” by Avril Lavigne)

Jueves - Janethonfire (“Jueves” by La Orega De Van Goh)

Just Another Student (He’s Not) - ohlovelyvampires (song by Melendi)

Kiss Me Again - sunflowerslyf (“You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This” by Toby Keith) *

Last Goodbye - Abagail_Snow ("Last Goodbye" by Jeff Buckley)

Lay Me Down Tonight, Lay Me By Your Side - loveoverpride (“Lay Me Down” by Sam Smith)

Like Real People Do - PatronusDawn (“Like Real People Do” by Hozier)

Lines - swishywillow (“Antebellum” by Vienna Teng)

Long Distance Dedication - famousfremus (“Listen to Your Heart” by Roxette)

Make Me Feel - notanislander (“You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman” the Carole King classic sang by Aretha Franklin)

Make Our Gardens Grow - fairmellarky (From the opera “Candide”)

Midnight Confessions - famousfremus (“Midnight Confessions” by The Grass Roots)

Mine - A Battle Inside My Heart  (“Mine” by Taylor Swift)

Mine - just-kiss-her-peeta (“Mine” by Taylor Swift)

Missing You - javistg (”Missing You’ by Tina Turner)

Moments - This Tiny Miss Anna (“Moments” by One Direction)

More Than This - LiveLifeToIt'sFullest47 (“More Than This” by One Direction)

My Darling - shady66730 (“My Darling” by Eminem)

New Beginnings - professional9100 (”We Don’t Talk Anymore” by Charlie Puth) 

No One Ever Said It Would Be This Hard (The Scientist) - addictedtopeetamellark (“The Scientist” by Coldplay)

Nothing - The Other Everdeen Girl (“Nothing” by The Script)

Nothing at All - Commodus (“Without You” by Three Days Grace)

One Thing We’ve Got - passionately_curious (“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” by Deep Blue Something)

Ode to Sleep - joshs-left-earlobe (“Ode to Sleep” by Twenty One Pilots)

Ours - CaptainCaboose (“Ours” by Taylor Swift)

Partition - flythroughflames (“Partition” by Beyonce)

Piano Man - Girl With The Dandelion (“Piano Man” by Billy Joel)

Poison & Wine by spectacularmadness (“Poison & Wine” by The Civil Wars)

Prim’s Plan Part 2 - mega-aulover (”Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran) *

Quarters - atheredmind (“Classy Girls” by The Lumineers)

Question - Lawi01 (“Question” by The Old 97's)

Real - stacylk (”(You Make me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” by Aretha Franklin) 

Remind Me - pookieh (“Remind Me” by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood)

Reunion - ohalaskayoung (“Same Auld Lang Syne" by Dan Fogelberg)

Same Old Lang Syne - JLaLa *

Samson - colonellestrade (“Samson” by Regina Spektor)

Settle Down With Me - paceismyhero (“Kiss Me” by Ed Sheeran)

Should Have - Historywriter2007 (”When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars)

Sing - xpriordeen (“Sing” by Ed Sheeran)

Small Bump - liveinthemusic (“Small Bump” by Ed Sheeran)

Something - Peettamellarrk (PeettaMellarrk) (“Something” by The Beatles)

Speak Now - coalcompressedtopearls (“Speak Now” by Taylor Swift)

Sweetest Devotion - HPfanonezillion (“Sweetest Devotion” by Adele)

The Hardest Thing in This World is to Live in It - skittles12393 (“Who Am I Living For” by Katy Perry)

The one who got away - letthefirespread (“The One Who Got Away” by Katy Perry)

The One Who Takes You Home - titania522 (“One Last Time” by Ariana Grande)  

The Only Exception - javistg (’The Only Exception” by Paramore)

The Night Before - Historywriter2007 (”The Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran) *

Theif of Hearts Part 3 - mega-aulover ( “Say Something”, by Great Big World and Christina Aguilera) *

Their Whiskey Lullaby - BlackCat46 (“Whiskey Lullaby” by Brad Paisley)

These Days - chele20035 (“These Days” by Rascal Flats) 

They'd Loved Her First - ETNRL4L (“I Loved Her First” by Heartland)

This Goodbye - Winter'sFangirl (“This Goodbye” by Beth Crowley)

Tied Together With a Smile - XxYesterdayTodayTomorrowxX (“Tied Together With a Smile” by Taylor Swift)

Touch Love - setoutwithme (“Touch Love” by Yoon Mi Rae)

Troubled Waters - katnissdoesnotfollowback (”Bridge Over Troubled Waters” by Simon and Garfunkel)

Until the Morning Sun - Littleevilisa (“Love Again” by Pentatonix)

Untitled - mellarksloaves (“Learn My Lesson” by Daughtry)

Untitled - peetamellaark (“Have You Ever Seen the Rain” by Creedence Clearwater Revival)

Untitled - peetamellaark (“Sad Beautiful Tragic” by Taylor Swift)

Untitled - perksofbeingpeeta (“I Know Places” by Taylor Swift)

We Are Young - Jgem87 (“We Are Young” by Fun)

When the Darkness Comes - hinkeeverlark (“When the darkness comes” from Colbie Caillat)

Where Do Broken Hearts Go - titania522 (“Where Do Broken Hearts Go” by Whitney Houston)

Who You Are - Jessie J - empty inkwell (notoneforreality) (“Who You Are” by Jessie J.)

Wildest Dreams - AreWeInTheClearYetGOOD (“Wildest Dreams” by Taylor Swift)

With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds - andthisisthewonder (”With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds” by Explosions in the Sky)

You Are in Love - thegirlonpeetamellark (“You are in Love” by Taylor Swift)

You Are What You Are - Abagail_Snow (“Judie Blue Eyes” by Crosby, Stills & Nash)

You Belong With Me - stellaris demon (“You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift)

You’ll Know - abbythebear (“Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac)

You Will Be Loved - JWhite0 (“She Will Be Loved” by Maroon 5)

Titles Named After Songs

Complete

Your Presence Lingers - HPfanonezillion (“My Immortal” by Evanescence)

Incomplete

A Wicked Game - itsmorgan (“Wicked Game” by Gemma Hayes)

Fascinating New Thing - flippedstargirl (“FNT” by Semisonic)

Heathens - ellembee (”Heathens” by Twentyone Pilots)

SORROWFUL ANGELS - MegaAuLover (”Sorrowful Angels” by Patty Loveless) 

The Match and the Rock - HPfanonezillion (“The Match and the Rock” by Bastille)

The Tigers Come at Night - shesasurvivor (starkist) ( “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables)

One-Shots

found the place to rest my head - loveleee (“Found the Place to Rest my Head” by Florence & the Machine)

I Just Come Here for the View - Diaphenia ("Your Body is a Weapon" by The Wombats)

Is it the look in your eyes, or is it this dancing juice? - grangered (“Marry You” by Bruno Mars)

I've come to talk with you again - shesasurvivor (starkist)  (”Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel)

Lost in My Thoughts - booksrockmyface (“Lost in My Thoughts” by Kelly Clarkson)

Miss Misery - Abagail_Snow (“Miss Misery” by Elliott Smith)

Radioactive - Arabeth_thea (”Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons)

Rain will Make the Flowers Grow -  shesasurvivor (starkist) (”A Little Fall of Rain” from Les Miserables)

Slumber On, Baby Dear - shesasurvivor (starkist) (”Slumber On, Baby Dear” an old US Civil War lullaby)

The Time of My Life - norberts_mom (“Time of My Life” by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes)

The Voyage Home - burkygirl (“The Water is Wide” Australian version of a Gaelic folk song)

When You Go Through The Valley - dracoisalooker76 (“Be Still” by The Fray)

Completed: 2/26/2017

Updated: 7/26/2018

*Added 7/26/2018

[notesfromthepen]

The Chronicles of the king of Richmond

I came across some shit today that I had to share. Something too funny, dark, and ridiculous to keep to myself. But I had to figure out a way to first, get my hands on the material, and then how to give the context needed for it to be fully appreciated.

First I should start with the characters involved. We are a trio. Me, Joe, and the 'king'. I'll refer to him as the 'king' (with a lowercase 'k') because he wanted to remain anonymous, for several reasons, that should become clear later. 

Joe is, by far, my best friend in here and we've been pretty much inseparable for years now, (we were bunkies twice at another facility). Some of you may have read previous posts about him. We are very different people, which is often the case with really good friends. But there is no doubt that our bond is, almost entirely, built on our shared sense of humor. A sarcastic, brutally honest, self deprecating, anything for a laugh, sense of humor. 

A sense of humor developed since childhood surrounded by witty, smart-assed, assholish mentors and peers. It can be a harsh environment to grow up in, but there is a purity to be found there. An accountability and brutal honesty that is humbling and real. There are no aires allowed to survive amongst friends with no fear of giving offense. No bullshit is left uncalled, no lies left un-confronted, and no opinions restrained. Nothing is sacred and everything is mined for a laugh. 

Basically we talk a lot of shit.

Nothing bonds me to another person more instantly than a similar sense of humor. Since coming to this new prison Joe and I have found a fellow, flawed, degenerate asshole, willing to laugh at himself and judge others for the sake humor. 

This, is the so called 'king of Richmond.' His majesty is a large guy, about 6'1 and 240 lbs. of slightly chubby, bearded, man beef. He's well kept and neat in appearance (aside from his portly build). He's got some charisma and charm at his disposal and makes decent use of it when needed.

The king, however, has a glaring flaw, as do most of us. He's a raging addict, whose life is lived for, and run by, an incessant need for opiates. This adds an interesting but constantly problematic dimension to his life behind bars. The perpetual need to produce the money for his lifestyle is a constant story line. Most of his fundraising is done over the phone. Preferably through manipulation, but he's not above blatant begging from people in the free-world. Family members, friends, exes, and a sugar momma round out his fundraising Rolodex. 

A few days ago, Joe borrowed his Majesty's tablet to listen to his music, and being the stand up friends we are, we wasted no time before invading his privacy. We opened his 'sent email' files and struck gold. Dark, hilarious, sad, revealing gold. What we found was email after email of mental and emotional manipulation in a quest to fund his lifestyle. That's the sad part. The hilarious part is witnessing the level of shameless groveling, damage control, and clumsy begging, our friend is willing to stoop to. 

After an intervention filled with embarrassment, ridicule, and some tear inducing laughs from all parties, I gained the 'kings' permission to post some of the gems. 

But first a disclaimer: If any form of self-respect or sense of shame is something you're expecting, then prepare yourself, because you will find neither in these emails. Also, I wanted to maintain the "purity" of the emails as they were originally written, so I left the misspellings and incorrect grammar. However, for the sake of read-ability, I added some commas and periods here and there. Other than that they are all original text, with the exception of my commentary, which will be in [brackets].

So without further adieu, I now present to you: The Chronicles Of The king Of Richmond.

Sugar Momma

The following correspondence was sent to the kings sugar momma. As her title would imply she is his main source of income. His "Go-To". She works at McDonalds and has had the unfortunate luck to be in  "love" with the king for roughly a year now. This letter is the most recent and well into the travesty that is their "relationship". This email is more focused on making excuses for begging than actual begging, but stay tuned they get worse.

His words are in "quotes" and my commentary is in [brackets]. Some are comments and some are translations of his bullshit, what he really means.

KOR 11/24  “listen, I wasn't insinuating you were fat, and honestly I wasn't trying to hurt your feelings. [he definitely was] I was giving you an example of how you could save a few bucks, so maybe out of the kindness of your heart [or from my incessant guilt laden begging] you could send me a few. Belive it or not, its rough in here, and sometimes I need money to survive in here. [Let's make one thing clear: The constant stress of his habit and the debts he accrues makes his time infinitely more difficult than it needs to be. So more money isn't the solution. It’s the problem.] That's what I was saying. I've been down for 5yrs Jenn and pretty much aint had much help, except from a few. [Just a little context. I get 50$ a month. This jackass spends 300$ a week]. We were together a long time. we broke up when I was in here, so yeah its a little different than if you were just some ex. I shouldn't exspect [too bad they don't give out money for misspelled words] it, but I would hope”. 

“I guess I wasn't who I thought I was to you. [what a word-smith]. I might have put you through a lot of shit, but you sought me out. Remember that. You knew who I was. [Yeah, so you deserve everything I put you through.] Everyone did. I was the king of that town [AND THERE IT IS! The self proclaimed king of Richmond...Oh I can't tell you how embarrassed for him, angered at him, and ashamed to call him my friend I was when I read this!] not to try and sound conceited but I was, [OK. You can't say you’re not being  conceited and then double down on your brag. BTW Richmond has a population smaller than most elementary schools. So it was a small 'kingdom' to say the least] and now no one has my back. it sucks, out of everyone, I hoped that you would have, but no!! [I hope he had a neck brace on when he wrote this. This guy can go from bragging to groveling so fast that it causes whiplash]. When we broke up I wanted you to be happy and get married and do what ever. [He ran out of ideas! That's his limit of things he could conjure up that would make her happy: 2] I just wanted you to still be there for me [AKA: support my habit] and if roles were reversed Jenn, you would have 50 every month and my family would probaly even send you money and that's the proven truth. [From probably to proven truth in half a sentence?]  And you know it, so that shit hurts me, let's just remember who's the one locked up!! I'm the old me again [king?] and I'll remember all my real friends, that were there for me, when I get out in 3 in a half years.[Yeah but will they remember you?] Not long at all. And the thing with frank, [Oh yes! Thankgod he's back on the whole Frank thing! I wish I knew his address I'd send him a bottle of whisky!] belive me, I heard stories, a few. [Yeah and they haunt his dreams] but regardless, I love you, just wish you were kinder to me. ...The king”

[That's his cleanup? Someone get him a neck brace]

KOR 12/6 [Damage control] “baby, funny you say sober honestly, but no i totally understand. im sorry if it feels like sometimes I take you for granted.[by sometimes he means 'all the time'] let me try to explain [please do], in here if you don't get in a constant routine and try to make things repetitive, the time will do you, not you do the time. [A vague prison saying he heard someone say in here once and thought it sounded cool] if that makes sense [it doesn't.], its not my intentions to make it carry over into our relationship [but if it does I'm willing to live with it] I'm sorry [that I have to do this song and dance to get money]. and I fully intend to check myself and let you know how special you truly are to me [and by 'check myself' I mean I'll continue doing the exact same amount of drugs, if not more. and I'll show you how special you are by kindly taking your minimum wage paycheck]. The money you send me is for me to live comfortably in here [get high], that means getting things done that I need to get done while I'm here [I mean, these drugs aren't gonna do themselves.] and 90%, is the food and shit i need to survive [but mostly drugs]. We are already at a disadvantage because I only get 75% of what you send, which sucks [it would be much more efficient if I could put 100% of what you send me up my nose]. And they rip us off on prices on the food as it is. So I'm sorry, but i want you to fully understand you are my baby girl [creepy] and when i get out, roles will reverse and I'll be the provider and you'll live real comfortable [said with his fingers crossed], except when I come home every night and blow that back out bitch!!!! [and theres that winning charm I mentioned! what a smooth operator] I love you. [He doesn't] I got to go to the doctor at 9:30 [Ironically its 'his' back that's blown out] so I'll call you after count [to beg for more $]. I love you [again he doesn't]. if that eases your mind [It shouldn't] I love you!!! [and one final lie to cap off this masterpiece.]

Ex-Girlfriend

These next three are to his ex-girlfriend. She's somewhere down the list of reliable donors, but desperate times call for desperate measures and being a dope fiend in prison means, constant desperate times.

KOR 11/23 "So happy thanksgiving! [Now that the pleasantries are out of the way] So I havnt had any money lately, so no stamps but I just got some anyways [2nd sentence in and already caught in a lie. Clearly if he sent this, he has stamps]. Yeah I heard all about you and Carol's argument, and Dan and Josh messaging, and you jumping in on their message, and Dan cutting into you about being a shitty ex (/friend) [OK, I have to translate. First of all, this email seems to be sponsored by unnecessary commas. I guess some people were attacking her on Facebook for not sending the 'king' an adequate amount of money] Most I agree with. [Especially the money part] You havnt been there for me Jennifer [how dare you!]. I belive you have kinda done me wrong [how do you sleep at night?] and other people believe that too [so there!]. Im not saying your wrong for living your life [but you are] and going and being with someone new [because there's no way he's cooler than me]. but you can look out for the man [I use the term man loosely] that looked out for you since you were just a baby! [???? what???? creepy! actually I need to go ask him about this one.. OK he said he meant when she was 18] When I have asked for money in the past, you deny me [who the fuck do you think you are an ex?]. Hell, I'm broke right now [and that's your responsibility]. I can't get money. [But regardless I incessantly ask for it? Blatant lie no.2] uncle only sends me 50 a month and that ain't shit, that's hygiene a month. [Who calls their uncle uncle and not my uncle? What is he an orphan from the 1800's?] You don't keep money on the phone Jenn. I don't care who your new man is [again, not cooler than me], if you truly love me, you can talk to me. And 50 dollars, every couple of months ain't shit Jenn [trust me its nothing! I blow through it in no time]. So I and everyone else just think your wrong for that [OK, now he's literally speaking for everyone. Which is strange because I don't remember giving him my opinion on how much money his ex should be spending on his habit]. I will always have love for you. I just wish you would treat me with the respect I deserve [but have in no way earned]. I've been down 5 yrs and havnt got no more than 100 dollars from you. i basicaly took the rap and I get no respect. [Now he's doing his Rodney Dangerfield impression? what's next, Dr Vinnie Boombatz? (look it up)]  That's fucked up!!!!! well I thought, since I finally got some stamps I can finally reply. I wish you would start respecting me as someone you love!!! 

'The King of Richmond' (The realest you've ever known!)”  [That last part is 100% real. I almost died laughing when I read this! The realest? No comment I can muster will be adequate at dealing with the ridiculousness of this sign off. What a heavy handed attempt to sound like a cool guy. Remember, this is to an ex-girlfriend! No way does playing the cool guy ever work on an ex. She's been in the bathroom after you. She's smelled your shit. Also remember that the whole point of this email is to beg for money! Oh I'm so glad I'm friends with this silly degenerate!]

KOR 11/24 “what? really I thought we just made it through everything; [Im going to say we and then make you feel bad for a bunch of shit you needed] your rent to your sister, the presents for the babies, your phone you needed [you know, the trivial shit]. I thought we got through it baby? [You mean to tell me the babies got my drug money?] I owe a 100$ and I don't even got a noodle right now. Thank god for you, because my brother doesn't give a fuck if I rot in here [because be knows the real me] and everyone else apparently don't care. [Possibly the most poorly crafted sentence in the history of writing, and now down to business] We can do 100 and then 50. [Tell the babies and your sister to fuck off! I have needs.] So I can eat off the 35 from the 50 for the rest of this month [hope I confused her with all the numbers and poor grammar] cause the only thing I have is 2 soaps [just to be sure, one more number]. so work with me on this and I will make that last to the first OK! [In no world, was he able to make it last until the 1st] 

[And now back to the unwarranted guilt trip:] I thought you were done with all the present buying and rent.You even had a b-day!! [So there's really no excuse for not feeding my addiction. What are you selfish? Use your b-day money!] Which I think you needed to let loose a little anyways. [You really earned it, putting up with my begging and whatnot] I love you babe. I'll call you after count were supposed to have a blizzard today F U N!!!!!” [Bringing it all together with a little sarcastic humor? NICE!]

KOR 12/5 "Really Jenn? Don't think you can shame me for [well, anything but specifically] expecting a little money every once in a while” [you should know by now that shame is not a factor!] "Its not hard to skip going out to eat or buying that extra shirt, [extra shirt?Clearly he could only think of one good example to save money.] to throw me a little extra dough. [yeah, just go hungry and topless] I didn't bring Josh or Dan into this. [This whole exchange is about his friends and sugar mamma shaming Jenn for not sending home enough money] They did that on their own. They told me the conversation they had with you. I just agreed. I also didn't tell Carol to do that. She did that after her and Josh had a conversation about what had happened. Another thing is Jenn, don't kid yourself, I blew through a 35,000 dollar [insurance] check taking care of us, making sure we had a good time and 2 to 3 thousand every month up until i did that year in county (jail) [Yeah, I was a great provider until I got arrested! And by provider I mean cashing an insurance check]. So don't cry to me about a couple hundo [that's right, he's too cool to say hundred] and your fucking Ford Contour. I think your being rude, and you tried your damnest to fuck frank. [OK this is where it goes off the rails. He couldn't wait to mention the whole frank thing so he just shoehorned it in the conversation] I heard. [I'm confused, was she successful in her 'dam nest' attempt to fuck ole Frank?] That's funny [is it?], not that I care [well, I'm convinced. Nothing screams 'I care and it hurts so much' like saying I 'don't care'], cause I do have a good girl (a ride or die bitch I wish I always had) who does take care of me and keeps money on the phone and keeps me in touch with everyone [but only when I beg and grovel]. I'm in prison still pulling bitches [WOW!!! first of all he's definitely not and more importantly that's the most pathetic attempt at intended jealousy]. my point really isn't to brag, that's not what im trying to do. [It is] I'm just saying, its possible to still have a life and support someone in prison. even a little. you have just made NO effort at all and that piss people off and me. cause McDonald's checks weren't supporting our sort of lifestyle sweetie!!!!!! so I guess I wish you would change, but I doubt it. Anyways, happy to hear your grand ma is doing good. and next time you write, attach a stamp.” [OK, he's always good for a ridiculous ending but this one takes the cake. Let's examine: He spends 90% of this letter guilt tripping, berating, talking shit to, and begging for money. Then, literally in the 2nd to last sentence, he mentions her sick grandma's recovery? I have ask him how he carries around such big balls without a limp! And if you're still naive enough to think that he's done, you clearly don't know the ‘king’.]

[Our royal highness still has enough balls, and not enough shame, to ask this poor girl to attach a return stamp so she can continue this charming and fulfilling correspondence with her incarcerated ex-boyfriend. And now its clear how he became the king of Richmond: By sheer clumsy manipulation, a ruthless disregard for self respect, the freedom of movement that a spineless body provides and a fortitude willing to stoop to any low to accomplish his goal to get inebriated. The same way presidents get elected in this country. At any cost he would take the crown and he did. Without ever being to Richmond, I can say this with confidence: Anyone who would make him king and pay tribute to his court, truly deserves his rule. What a spectacular asshole the king is and I count him as a flawed degenerate of the worst degree. But I also count him as a friend…]

[theworstbob]

the thing journal: 6.4.17 - 6.10.17

capsule reviews of the seven+ pop culture things i took in last week. in this post: solid state, the untouchables, in-ter a-lia, noenemies, the beautiful game, more issues than vogue, let’s not be friends, looper, the last man on earth, and selma

1) Solid State, Jonathan Coulton: This was a very good album of nerd-leaning alternative-rock songs made by a very smart individual who has been making those songs for decades. I feel like, in this capsule, I'm doing the thing where I'm saying "it fulfilled my expectations" as a piece of criticism, when this album was not made with my expectations in mind? I'm gonna do it with the Flobots review, and I'm doing it here, and I'm not sure how much that statement has to offer y'all, because a) you don't know my expectations, and b) this album was not made with my expectations in mind. It's why I think overrated/underrated are bullshit nothingwords, y'know? I can tell you this album did everything I wanted it to do, but it doesn't tell you what I actually thought of the album. What happened is, I thought this album was Very Good, and then I didn't have much to say beyond that, so I threw in the thing about what I wanted, and that sounds like I'm saying something when I'm actually saying nothing. So: this album was Very Good, and then other words until the paragraph looks as full as I want it to be.

2) The Untouchables, dir. Brian de Palma: There's nothing like the sense of relief which comes from finally seeing one of those movies with a dozen all-time quotes you've been hearing for years and years. Like, I can't remember any specific instance of my father using a line from this movie in place of advice? But I'm sure it happened, and I am thrilled to understand him better. This is just a solid film, this would be one of those films I'd watch if I had basic cable and it came on while I was flipping channels. Brian de Palma knows how to direct a B+ movie, and Sean Connery is fucking amazing as the wizzened Chicago veteran, like half the reason this film has so many iconic lines is his delivery. I am about to say something blasphemous, given I am trying to tell y'all I'm a film nerd, and say I didn't like the score? It's Morricone, I know, I know, he's great, but I think the film loses something by scoring this film about Prohibition-era Chicago with a standard orchestral score. I feel like jazz should have figured more prominently into the equation.

3) in-ter a-lia, by At the Drive-In: I have no idea why I listened to this album, to be perfectly frank. I like "One-Armed Scissor," but with all the music that has ever existed being immediately available to me at my leisure, I could have picked up the At the Drive-In album with "One-Armed Scissor," I believe it is called This Station Is Non-Operational, though that might just be a line from "One-Armed Scissor" I thought was cool. I am not a hardcore fan of this band and didn't need to listen to their reunion album. I didn't need to hear lines like the poetry book of the balding dude with dreadlocks, "How many bites do you think it takes to get to the cyanide tooth" like ugh, being howled wildly over abrasive guitar tracks, just loud and fast and never stopping. I didn't have a pleasant time with this one.

4) Noenemies, by Flobots: The most surprising thing about this album is that it isn't just Flobots saying "I told you so" for 50 minutes.That would've been my move, given that, after 2016, I started to listen to the Flobots songs I thought were way too left for me and saying, "You know what, fuck. I should've listened. I'm sorry. I get it now. Please help." It's an album that doesn't yet know how to get unstuck from the mire, but is absolutely certain that the mire is the only obstacle in their way, that justice will prevail and the good people will win. It's not my favorite album of all time, but it's exactly what I wanted and needed from a Flobots album in 2017.

5) The Beautiful Game, by Vulfpeck: As far as albums I listened to because someone played one of the songs in a donation message on a Twitch stream, this was decent! I think reading the summary of this band's history colored my opinion on it, because it does sound like a couple of white kids who met in college, discovered they both loved Kanye West, talked about the old-school samples on his tracks, actually took the time to listen to those songs, realized they loved those songs as well, and decided to make those songs. It's a pretty OK album, maybe I wouldn't have paid $3.50 to convince 200 strangers they should listen to it, but OK enough backing for a bus ride.

6) More Issues Than Vogue, by K. Michelle: I think I might have the least to say about this album than anything else this week. It's an eminently enjoyable pop/R&B album that doesn't give you a lot to chew on, but does give you a lot to love. And while I know that the challenge of the Thing Journal is to get me to think about the pop culture which I experience, you gotta sometimes recognize when an album has such an infectious charm and tight production and solid vocal work that thinking about it might distract from the experience it wants you to have, that you should just listen to the thing because it wants you to hear it. It's an album of great joy, and I'm glad I got on its wavelength in time to let go and enjoy the hell out of it.

7) Let's Not Be Friends, by The Girls!: On the bus the other day, I was looking up Lydia Loveless, because I knew Lydia Loveless was right up my alley but hadn't actually listened to any of her stuff beyond her AUdiotree session, and in looking up and adding all her albums to my library, I discovered she had a sister in a punk band with an exclamation point in their name, and "female-fronted punk band with an exclamation point in their name" checks off three things I need from a band to love them, so I knew I was gonna love this, which is why I listened to this before any of that Lydia Loveless nonsense. I fucking loved this album. I love anything that's 12 tracks of pure, joyous punk/rock with a tinge of '50s-pop influence and no shortage of eternal teen angst. It bums me out that this is the only full album listed on their Wikipedia, and that they haven't been active on any sort of social media I could find for nearly a year. I need more of this in my life. (Also: I have now listened to 20 2014 releases! I actually hit a point where I felt I was caught up on my queue and, needing new things to listened to, am gonna go back and fill in the gaps in my musical experience, starting with 2014. Like, I've listened to all the punk things, I know I covered that ground, but that year and all years in music have so much more to offer beyond what I was looking for, and I'm stoked to finally listen to offerings such as Beyonce's self-titled, Anderson .Paak's Venice, and 2NE1's Crush.

8) Looper, dir. Rian Johnson: As someone who spends most of his time either yelling at his past self for the poor choices that put him in his present situation or making choices with little to no regard for how they impact my future, I loved that scene in the dinner, where JGL and Bruce Willis are basically doing that, Bruce Willis sternly warning JGL of the mistakes he'll make and the need to find the woman in China, and JGL being flippant and focused solely on the present danger being brought by Bruce Willis.I also have made respect for, in that same scene, Bruce Willis saying, "Look, we could sit here for fucking days trying to figure out the science, but fuck that, 100% fuck that." I assume the time travel makes sense and am mostly unconcerned with how it works, so thank you, movie, for being a movie! I do kinda wish the film had done more with the concept of chasing your past or future self, the film goes somewhere and then stays there for an hour, and like it's still a pretty decent movie, Rian Johnson has no shortage of imagination or skill, but it didn't need to be a movie about time-travel if you were just gonna put one of the characters in a barn the whole time? But, whatever, solid B+. Dope film. Not a lot of complaints. (Perhaps because I watched it between the hours of 2 and 4 AM Saturday morning because MY LIFE IS TOGETHERRRRRRRRRRRR and might need to rewatch this at a more reasonable hour?)

9) The Last Man on Earth s1, cr. Phil Lord & Christopher Miller: I love how unafraid this show is to let its characters be horrible fucking people. At no point after the first episode does the show let you feel anything like sympathy for Tandy; he just does awful thing after awful thing, all in self-interest, and always making things worse for the small community. (And he drags everyone down with him! He corrupts Todd, he tricks Carol into abandoning Tucson for him, he goads Phil into leaving him in the fucking desert. No one on this show is good, but that’s in no small part due to Tandy’s influence. (Also, as you can tell, I loved when the show just switched to calling him Tandy. Like, minor initial resistance, and then he was just Tandy.)) It's such a fascinating concept, the idea that one of the last people on earth is an anti-social monster, and I can't believe that a broadcast television network aired this experiment. I'm bummed I've been missing this for so long but stoked to finally be beginning this journey.

10) Selma, dir. Ava DuVernay: For the longest time, I was watching this film, trying to figured out why everything looked so muted. Every shot was filled with earth tones, reds and browns and greens always, and it looked like they left it just a couple notches above sepia, and while I was never removed from the film, it was in the back of my mind the whole time, what is the reason for this choice. And then near the end, when they added in the archival footage that was sepia-toned, it hit me: it was trying to be two notches above sepia-toned. It wanted to have that feel of the archival footage, a matter of historical record, but it also wanted to root itself in something modern, because this is very much a modern story. We still see horrible acts of police brutality, we still see black people being denied the right to vote, we still see out government leaders doing nothing but wishing these people would stop bothering them. Or, perhaps it goes for half-sepia because sepia is typically associated with nostalgia, we color over our memories of the past to make it better, but they leave some color in there because there's no making the past better in this instance. It's a remarkable film, and one I bet won a thousand Oscars! I don't see how it couldn't!