#IM DOING ALL THE PIANISTS(me)SERVICES | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

calebwittebane · 5 months ago

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im ngl i have a strong urge to look into when and where theyre doing it this year, and become the stoners. as in just like tagging along this way. except as a veteran. who knows, maybe if i dont appear completely off-putting, theyll let me carefully approach them. cuz i have to keep in mind i dont have the charisma and courage of the woodland stoners. but if the students accept me into their flock, i may share some knowledge with them. some wisdom. of course all of the above hinges on logistics. i dont have a car, and i dont have anyone whod come with me because it would be unwise of me to just do this all on my own, and i have an ill cat at home. so this is all just a fantasy. a fantasy that involves sleeping in a hammock, or in a very dingy cabin, man those things were made of goddamn cardboard. also it always made me feel like one of those sickly insane pianists from the 19th century with my agonies and ailments, cuz besides the fact all the food was making me sick i also was mentally doing real badly at times probably because of sensory overload which i knew i couldnt easily decompress from as i had enough sense not to like wander off while unstable and dissociating. but oh what a thrill. like overall.

like yes im making it sound like in many ways it was a bit of a harrowing experience but... thats kind of the point. first of all im Always Suffering so i just kinda take that into consideration and roll with it. second of all, i like it when things are a little shitty. when they have that dinky unpretentious charm. when the accommodation is cheap and to put it charitably nothing fancy. when theres just so much you can complain about and laugh about, and its fine, because no one expected anything different. when you feel like a bit of a seasoned warrior for enduring it all. when you can joke about it all later. when the simple act of trying to make dinner becomes a fun social ordeal of struggling and laughing because everyone brings in like whatever one or two potential ingredients theyve got and you gotta improvise and brainstorm ideas and at the end youve got a big pot of Mysterious Stew and it turns out to be crazy good. and best enjoyed around a fire that just keeps dying and needs to be poked continuously, with some beer to go with it, or maybe even some cheap wine if youre nasty. if youre kinky. some people love luxury... but luxury unnerves me. maybe some of that is just that i never quite allow myself to relax, but when things are too nice i just feel like an intruder. i feel like im about to stumble around breaking things and making everyone uncomfortable with how raggedy and unpolished i am. good hotels unnerve me in no small part because theres the staff, cleaning and tidying up, and some people dont mind that and just leave generous tips, but to me the whole thing is just kind of inherently mortifying. the implication of me as the recipient of a service. the imbalance. you know what im saying? the best Hotel Experience ive had was when my wife booked a hotel for a night before their departure and it turned out to be SO shitty and in the middle of nowhere and with a view of some overgrown fields and piles of rubble and without even a cafeteria and without Anything and there were no other guests and the whole place had an unsettling vibe and the bathroom was awful and the sink didnt work properly and there was a hole in the door. it was amazing. we laughed so much about it. we bonded so much over how hilariously shitty it all was. there was nothing to eat so we ordered from the only place we could, we got some falafel wraps delivered, and ate it outside while smiling and laughing.

all in all... since im already rambling my head off. i wonder what this all represents for me. i am, indeed, a hermit, exemplified by the fact i currently have no irl friends aside from my flatmate and my sibling and my wife (so id honestly classify the above as my family, than Friends, for multiple reasons) and the fact that social interactions kind of hurt me mentally and physically (unless its my wife whom i never tire of being around). and yet i do crave, with all the inconveniences that come with those, very earnest and down to earth social experiences; in fact, particularly those that involve improvisation and a level of survival/coping with less than ideal circumstances, not Perilous mind you, just kinda shitty in a way thats fun to complain about and work around and bond over. is this that non-sexual kink people were talking about? <- She Is Making A Joke.

god i miss those compulsory summer plein air courses my school did that were like two weeks of staying in extremely dingy summer cabins near a lake or something and painting all day and night and sustaining ourselves on noodles and cigarettes. like by the end of it i was exhausted sore smelly starving covered in mozzie bites sick of everyone and with mild food poisoning, but it was such a blast nonetheless especially since back then i still had irl friends. like it was just such a good time especially when these two random ass stoners just showed up cuz theyd been backpacking in the woods and they just sorta joined us. they slept outside in their hammocks and during the day they just hung out with us and borrowed some paint and cardboard so they could paint too. the restrooms in the main admin building of the campground were Scary Bathrooms From Fallout. there was one person with a car and she drove her ancient bmw like a maniac but this way you could obtain groceries in town which was otherwise quite the journey on foot. there was a military base nearby and that was scary. good times good times. That Was Life Before Covid......

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lena-in-a-red-dress · 5 years ago

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I listened to the OUAT soundtrack at work again-- you know what that means:

Another SC/OUAT crossover bunny.

Lena is trying to get back to the city when her car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. There hasn't been another car in hours, and her cell doesn't have service, so she starts walking back along the way she came, towards the town she passed on the way up. Before long it starts to rain, and when she sees a pair of headlights coming towards her, she's so relieved she forgets to be wary of strangers.

Especially when this stranger is pretty and blonde with the kind of smile that makes Lena's insides feel kind of toasty, in spite of the chill.

Though her savior is heading away from town, Lena accepts a ride to wherever she's heading, and she sits miserable and wet and sniffly in the front seat of the rusty pick up.

Not exactly the kind of steed she expected for her knight in shining armor.

At first things are normal. They get to chatting, superficial stuff at first, but then the conversation turns deeper, so naturally that Lena barely notices. They learn that they're both heading for Metropolis, Lena for home and business, Kara as the destination of a cross country road trip. They learn that they're both orphans, and more strangely that neither of them have any parents of record.

But the moment they start riding together, things start to feel a little... off. Kara's on a road trip up to Metropolis, and isn't too familiar with this area, but there's something about the road bends and mist clouds in front of the highbeams that just isn't right.

"I don't suppose you know if we've taken a wrong turn?" she asks her soaked passenger, who mutely shook her head. They haven't taken any turns since they started.

Despite their disquiet, they press on. The eerie mist melts away under the graying blue of a New England sunrise, and they each heave a sigh of relief when they see the broad welcome sign of a town.

Storybrooke, it's called.

Huh. Lena doesn't remember seeing it on the map. Still, the town is quaint when they reach it, if slightly more Derry than Pleasantville. With empty streets and a giant clock that doesn't work, it barely seems inhabited, but there's a man walking a single Dalmation, and a line of cars is parked in front of a diner further down main street. Granny's, if the neon sign on top of it is any indication.

Kara pulls in as well. "I dunno about you, but I need a strong cup of coffee after that drive. Care to join?"

Tempted, Lena nibbles her lip, but ultimately shakes her head. "I'm going to try finding an auto shop. The rental is going to need a tow."

"Okay, sure. How about I order you a cup in fifteen minutes? That way it'll be warm when you're finished."

Lena smiles. "That'd be great. Thanks."

"My pleasure."

The grin that accompanies the pleasantry warms Lena better than any coffee as they go their separate ways. Lena finds the auto shop just a few blocks down, but its door is locked and the windows dark, with no phone number or hours in sight.

Well, if anyone is going to know how to get hold of the car guy, it'd probably be someone in the local greasy spoon.

So, she makes her way back up towards the diner, but let's her feet carry her past it and on towards the library and the massive, unmoving clock.

Within the library there's no one to interrupt her casual browse through the stacks, nor prevent her from straying towards the elevator in back. At the press of a button the doors rattle open, and Lena enters with a mind towards heading up-- the clock calls to her, like every other broken thing in need of fixing.

She expects a lock of some kind to stand between her and her goal, but none appear. She steps onto a platform and climbs the short curving stair to where the exposed guts of the clock sit still and lifeless.

Lena intends to only look, and see if maybe she could spot the problem. But before she knows it she's peeled off her still wet coat and is elbow deep in oily grease, taking cogs off and on with the help of a toolbox left on the landing.

She's just putting the last piece back in place when a voice from behind her causes her to jump.

"Who are you?"

Whirling, Lena fumbles to catch the broad cog she nearly drops. She finds a sharp-featured woman with short dark hair standing on the stairs, glaring at her.

"And what are you doing up here."

"I noticed your clock wasn't working, so I--"

"Thought you would fix a priceless historical town artifact?"

Lena grits her teeth, grimacing. "Let me guess," she drawls. "You're about to tell me the clock hasn't worked since the exact moment of the great flood and the frozen hands stand as a monument to those who died."

Marching up the last two steps, the woman surprises Lena by allowing a smile. "No. This thing hasn't worked in..." The woman frowns for a moment, thinking. "Living memory."

She seems surprised by that fact. But then she tilts her head, and pegs Lena with a hard stare. "I was going to say that you took more initiative than any of the 1,200 residents in Storybrooke." She smirks. "So, did you?"

"I have no idea," Lena answers honestly. "Im good with my hands, but to be honest I've never seen a clock quite like this. It's fascinating."

She shrugs, and slots the last cog onto its peg. They watch it for a moment, and Lena fiddles for a moment more, but nothing happens. Oh well.

Lena plucks a dusty rag from the toolbox and wipes her hands.

"I'm Lena." The hand she offers is still visibly grimy, but the woman shakes it anyway.

"Mayor Mills."

Her hand is warm and strong in Lena's, and Lena can feel the press of every finger-- the kind of handshake she's found among painters, pianists, flutists. It's the grip of someone good with their hands, and an artist besides.

"What brings you to Storybrooke?" the Mayor asks. "Despite how it looks, we're not exactly a tourist town."

"Car broke down," Lena supplies. "Caught a ride in with another driver who was kind enough to pick up a miserable woman in the rain."

"And where's she?"

Lena studies the woman. "I never said they were a woman."

"Rain or not, you don't seem the type to get in a car with a strange man."

"She's waiting for me down at Granny's," Lena concedes with a smile. She glances at her watch. Oops. Her coffee is definitely cold. "I should probably get back to her, actually-- back to meet her, I mean. Before she thinks I hitched out without her."

The mayor watches her with a scrutinous gaze as she reclaims her coat. Lena gazes back, folding her coat over one arm. "You asked what I was doing up here... is it common practice for the mayor to come up to a broken clocktower?"

A shrug answers her. "I don't know about other mayors, but I do. I spend quite a bit of time up here, actually."

"Why?"

That same confusion from before reappears, crinkling the woman's brow, as though it were the first time she'd ever had to think about it. "I'm not sure..." comes the soft reply. "The quiet, perhaps."

Oddly, Lena feels like she understands. As a child, she'd spent countless parties seeking shreds of solitude in shadowed corners, a habit that persisted through boarding school and then college. Even now, she'd been drawn to the quietest spot in a silent town.

The mayor seems as unsettled as Lena, who lets it go with an awkward smile. "Well, sorry again for just letting myself in, Mayor Mills. Thanks for not arresting me for trespassing."

"That would be the Sheriff's job, not mine," Mayor Mills quips as she leads the way back to the elevator. "And lucky for you, Storybrooke happens to be short a sheriff."

Lena grins. "My lucky day."

The mayor walks her all the way back to Granny's, and their conversation continues easily. For all her cool affect, Mayor Mills is magnetic, quick and astute in a way that Lena thinks would do well in a board room.

By the time they reach the diner, Lena finds herself itching to know more. Not the way she wants to know Kara better, who she wants to drink in from head to toe and savor every taste. No, Lena wants to know Mayor Mills in the same way she wanted to fix the clock-- like her story is a puzzle Lena needs to tease apart, untangling knotted threads to reveal a tapestry.

Before she can even try to bid the mayor farewell, Kara comes bounding out of the diner to meet her. Her smile seems unperturbed by the fact Lena has stood her up for a good half hour.

"I've been talking to Granny-- she owns the diner-- and she says she also has a bed and breakfast down the road. She has a room available we could take!"

Lena stares, and Kara flushes. "I mean, she has a room available, if-- if you... I didn't mean to-- actually, why don't you take it? I can camp out in my truck, no problem. Or, I mean, I could leave, if you don't need that ride--"

"For the love of god, stop talking," Mayor Mills cuts in sharply. "Any more digging and you'll find yourself halfway to China."

The words are biting, and while Lena thinks she detects a hint of amusement, Kara colors even deeper, and swallows thickly as her bright eyes dim and avert themselves to her shoes.

"Got tired of bullying citizens already, mayor?" drawls a leggy brunette with red streak in her hair. Her skirt is as short as Lena's were, once upon a time, and the blotchy rips and tears in her fishnets scream fuck you as loud as her tone. "Had to move on to the tourists?"

"Dismissing petty grievances isn't bullying, Ruby," the Mayor returns glibly. "That's just good government."

"Won't be so petty when it's your yard that spotted mutt is shitting in."

"I didn't mean to assume we would be sharing," Kara murmured, leaning in to speak low enough only Lena could hear. "I'm pretty sure it's a single anyway, so really, I don't mind spending the night in the truck."

Lena regarded her for a long moment, absorbing the picture of her with her scuffed boots worrying the gravel underfoot and her hands fisted in the pocket of her hoodie. Now that the sun has fully risen, Lena finds Kara all the more alluring, with the sun glinting against strands of hair that were impossibly near the same color.

Feeling crusty by comparison in her slowly drying clothes and scraggly damp hair, Lena’s a little surprised that Kara wants to spend a single second more with her.

"You're going to stay?" she asks.

"Oh, well... it didn't look like you found any help with the car, and I'm not in any rush, so I figured I'd stick around until you had a ride worked out. Unless-- if you'd rather I left..."

"No," Lena says quickly. "No, I wouldn't."

Just like that, Kara's features return to life with a giant smile to put the sun to shame. Wow.

Lena clears her throat. "And for the room, I guess I wouldn't mind, if...."

"Don't be ridiculous."

Mayor Mills turns back to their conversation as though she'd never left. Over her shoulder, Ruby saunters up the steps into the diner, throwing a blind middle finger over her shoulder. Lena struggles to keep a smile off her face.

"There's no need for anyone to share," the Mayor continues. "You're welcome to my guest room, while your..."

"Kara," Kara supplies.

"While Kara takes the room at the B&B."

Now it's Lena's turn to flush. "I couldn't impose--"

"If it were an imposition I would have offered." Somehow, it feels like a scold.

Shooting a glance towards Kara, Lena receives an unhelpful shrug in return. "All right. I'd be happy to pay for the night--"

"Provide me some decent conversation over dinner," Mayor Mills allows, "and we'll call it even. You'd be surprised how little stimulation one finds in a small town."

Lena accepts with a nod. "It would be my pleasure, then. Is Kara invited?"

The mayor's features freeze, confirming that the invitation had been meant for Lena only. But before a hollow inclusion could be offered, Kara pipes up.

"Oh, I actually have plans for tonight," she says. "I was talking to some of the locals while I was waiting, and Mary Margaret-- one of the teachers at the local K-12-- invited us over. I already accepted for me, so I guess I'll just tell her you have somewhere else to be."

"Mary Margaret," the Mayor observes, her tone edging on snide. She pinches a tight smile in Kara's direction. "Yes, I daresay you'll both be in good company."

It doesn't sound like a compliment. Before either of them can respond, the mayor continues.

"I'll show you to the house, and let you use the en suite to wash up. I might even be able to scrounge up some dry clothes for you."

Lena allows herself to be led away. "That... would be amazing. Thank you."

Shooting one last glance over her shoulder, Lena offers Kara a sorry smile, and earns a little wave good-bye in return. Looking comfy and warm, Lena's new friend looks at home in this small quiet town.

Lena thinks maybe she could be at home here too.

But first, a shower.

#supercorp #i have some general ideas about the logistics of this world #but basically the important bits are that kara/lena are foretold #both related to storybrooke #both fated to save the world #sorry but emma doesn't exist in this world #ask me if you wanna know more #this ended up be way longer than i wanted #but it gave me an excuse to spend more time with my kitty before bed so #have at it #personally i think this idea would be better than actual ouat #but that's just me #i'm totally biased

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manjasiberwriter · 5 years ago

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Snippet time!

Something to cheer us all up in these gloomy times. Enjoy.

“Goddamnit!”

Again the piano music died as abruptly as if Mr. Kirsch had put it to the guillotine.

Garvanos flinched.

Mr. Kirsch looked as if at any moment a blood vessel in his face would burst “You two! Like cats! Bad cats! Here!”

Both of them scrambled to get to him and now Beljajew interestingly seemed to fear Mr. Kirsch's wrath.

Mr. Kirsch, entirely unimpressed by the display of obedience, shuffled though his folio and then threw a few sheets towards the piano. “Play!”

The pianist took a glance at the notes, shrugged and then started.

The notes were low, heavy and grave, reminding of a funeral.

Garvanos recognized it in an instant. And of course he sang “Mia-a-u!”

The music was instantly drowned out by a wave of laughter. Deborah Santelli had both hands over her mouth.

“Ha,” Beljajew sneered, “you're told something about cats and you start meowing?”

“Oh, know already?” Mr. Kirsch asked and handed them their own sheets.

Garvanos didn’t have to look at it to know that it indeed was the Duetto buffo di due gatti.

He suppressed a grin. Especially when he saw the face Beljajew was making, eyes growing wide, shaking his head in disbelief.

“Go! Over there! You practise!” Mr. Kirsch ordered. “Half hour! Is easy, half hour is enough!”

Beljajew's mouth opened in protest.

“Go! Study!” Mr. Kirsch bellowed, “Go!”

Sighing they settled down in the wings. Garvanos decided to be cat number one and he went through his part for a little, but since he was familiar with both parts he had time to watch Beljajew dig into the work.

“You wanna go through it?” he finally offered in an admittedly not whole-hearted attempt to smooth things over.

Beljajew raised his head. Garvanos got the distinct feeling that the boy very much wanted to rip his throat out.

“That’s a no? Alright, I'll... I'll be over there.” He quickly retreated to another corner and sat down, humming the melody to himself, practising how the individual Miau's should be drawn out.

More often, though, he looked up, glancing to Beljajew, who was focused on his own sheet music, mouth moving, head softly rising and falling in an imitation of the movement of the music.

And he was smiling. Grinning, even. His shoulders moved as if he was chuckling.

“Scimia! Alexej! Come here!”

Their half hour was up and they rose and came back out on the stage.

Mr. Kirsch stared at them. “Now then! You two! Sing!”

He waved and the piano music started, the notes dripping through the air, softly collecting and pooling around them.

Garvanos quickly started his first “Mi-iau”, drawn out, serene and soulful, his voice carrying. It would have been suitable for an aria based on Hamlet's great soliloquy, but alas.

(for the full experience - just watch the video below. Just watch it.)

youtube

Usually at this point I would comment on how my novel "A song for ghosts" is available as an ebook for 4,49 and put the link here, since, well, I am a writer and I do enjoy writing, but I also enjoy the prospect of someday paying my bills writing.

However, I am not the only one concerned and affected by the corona virus. If anything, since I have a dayjob as an office drone I might be relatively safe from any long-term effect of this.

The same cannot be fully said for small independent bookstores. Prinz Eisenherz, a queer bookstore in Berlin, is still open, but I can't imagine times are easy for them or will be for a long time, even after this pandemic is dealt with.

In times like these we need to support one another more than ever and while buying "A song for Ghosts" directly in my epubli shop supports me it supports, well - just me. (and the folks at the epubli service.)

So - pick your local queer or regular small bookstore. Check whether they have an online shop and an ebook service. Buy your books there, not just "A Song for Ghosts", any book that tickles your fancy. (You're killing two birds with one stone, even. You help out a local business AND in case of a print book you avoid amazon's potentially stretched out delivery, since books are "not essential" and amazon is a meddling mega corp).

Please help these independent stores survive though this crisis.

And please, for the love of everything, stay. The fuck. Home.

(By the way in case you wanna purchase "A Song for ghosts" but none of your local bookstores offer ebook services - you can order it here and help out a cornerstone of the queer scene in Berlin. ... just sayin'.

#writing #a song for ghosts #snippet #duetto buffo di due gatti #Prinz Eisenheerz Buchhandlung #buchhandlung Prinz Eisenherz #support small businesses #down with amazon

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it-all-went-wrong · 4 years ago

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I Told The Truth

Lottie: Oh shit, I’m so sorry! * I scurried to the small alcove, crouching down beside the now laughing man. I was trying to hide my smile but the sound was infectious and he brushed me away with a shake of his head as he stood and sat back down on the bench in front of the piano. He was really, really pretty and that was not anything I needed right now, not in the slightest.* I’m still sorry. I’m Charlotte Davis, my Aunt said you needed a piano player for services but if you’re here, I have no clue why she said that. You’re really, really good. *The paradise may have been a bit much, but it was honest at least; I wasn’t one to compliment musicians unless I had meant it, I’d seen far too much downfall from that in the past.*

Dec: * To say I had been thrown off my game was an understatement; I’d always been fairly unflappable, another great consequence of being the baby of six, but even I had my moments. I declined the woman’s attempts at assistance with a laugh, more at myself than anything else, and fiddled with my scarf as I settled back down on the piano bench, my fingers trailing across the keys again* We actually do, I can’t play during services. *It was an understatement but felt accurate anyway.* I’m Declan O’Connor, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Davis. Please sit, I’d love to hear you play if you don’t mind? *I wasn’t quite able to get up before she settled beside me, blowing out a long breath before running through a quick set of scales; I could smell the rain that was thundering outside of the windows as she warmed up, and my gaze bounced from her fingers on the keys to her face as she looked at the music open on the stand with a grimace.* Not a fan of Amazing Grace?

Lottie: I think it’s pandering and overdone, but not the worst there is. * It had been a bit since I’d shared a bench with anyone, and I wasn’t going to complain in this instance, odd as it was. The piano was old but well-tuned and meticulously cared for; whoever was in charge of the miniature here was very, very good.* It’s Miss Davis, although my students do the same thing. It’s Charlotte or Lottie, I’m good with either. *Running through the songs I knew by memory, settling on one that may have been the least appropriate for a church, humming under my breath.*

Declan: * Making a mental note of the young woman’s preferred name, I was about to speak again when she started to play. The song was familiar of course, it was something of a modern classic, although perhaps one that shouldn’t be played in a church. I think, when it came to music, He would be forgiving as long as the intent wasn’t to cause any malice. And really, she was a beautiful player so I couldn’t, and wouldn’t complain. I could just barely hear her humming along under her breath, the words familiar after giving numerous covers and endless repetitions of the original. The slight hesitancy to sing had intrigued me and I paused for the briefest of moments before I started singing along, keeping time with my heel.* It goes like this, the fourth the fifth, the minor fall, the major lift, the baffled king composing hallelujah….

Lottie: *It took a lot to surprise me, it really did, especially when it came to singers but holy shit. Declan was good. Like…really fucking good, like I’d been on Broadway with people who couldn’t sing like that good. I’d missed a few notes fawning like a goddamn idiot, and forced myself to focus, chiming in on the second verse.* Your faith was strong but you needed proof, you saw her bathing on the roof, her beauty in the moonlight overthrew you… * It was almost organic, in a strange sense, and I hadn’t found myself lost in music like that in a long, long time. It was easy, and almost weirdly instinctive, to harmonize as the song continued and when it finally came to the crescendo at the end, and the last note finally died off in the air, I stilled my hands and closed my eyes, ignoring the goosebumps that had popped up on my arms. There were moments, for me anyway, where music, truly good, pure, HONEST music, played or sung for no other reason that the utter joy of it, was better than any high that I could have ever experienced; this moment, as the silence slowly fell in in old church smack in the middle of nowhere, Georgia, was one of them. Swallowing heavily, I gave a tiny laugh, opening my eyes and glancing at Declan. The tips of his ears were read and it was endearing as all hell.* Well shit, Dec. You can play piano, sing LIKE THAT, and you’re pretty hot. That begs the question of what exactly are you doing HERE?

Dec: *If I was a man who believed that God actually looked down on music, and even judged us on it, I might have held back but, he has created all of us in his image, and that includes musicians. It had been a very long time since I had considered myself one, at this point, I was a Priest first, as it should be, but that love, the fact that I did have what I considered a gift from Him, wasn’t something that I was ever ashamed of, although I didn’t indulge in singing much outside of my car and mass. It wasn’t until after the last note had died off, drifting and then disappearing into the vast expanse of the sanctuary, that I came back to myself, such as it was. Miss Davis’s words, and her blatant assessment that held something more than she said, had me shaking my head with a laugh as I realized she had absolutely no clue who I was but then again, I hadn’t exactly told her either. * Thank you, that’s very kind on all counts. And I’m here because it’s where I was sent. *Shifting slightly, I unwound my scarf to reveal the stiff collar at my throat.* I go where I am needed, and Father Matthew, bless his soul, passed not long ago. Someone at the archdiocese in Boston knew someone here and well… *I trailed off with a shrug and glanced over at Miss Davis who looked a bit startled, her cheeks pink.* Sorry, I forgot about the scarf and just assume people know.

Lottie: You’re a priest? You’re a legit priest and I’m not being like… punked, right? *Running my hands through my tangled hair, I give a resigned laugh even as my face warmed as Declan- FATHER Declan- shook his head with a smile..* You’re a priest and I just told you that you're hot. It’s true, by the way, but oh my god. The day was going so well too. *I couldn't help but laugh, a longstanding nervous habit, and glanced at Father Declan out of the corner if my eye. He was smiling.*

Dec: I'm an actual priest, yes, you're not being punked, I assure you. And you did, which I'll take as a compliment, thank you. *I couldn't help but smile, despite myself; vanity and pride were not normally in my wheelhouse, but I was human and it was nice to hear, I couldn't deny that no matter how much I wanted to. I wouldn't lie, even to myself and so I changed the topic easily.* It can still be a good day, Miss Davis. I promise I won't hold it against you. Now that we've got all of that out of the way, we still need a pianist until Edna is able to recover from her injury. Would you be interested? We can't pay you, but I can promise all of the mediocre coffee and breakfast casserole you could want.*It was a genuine offer, and one that I could always make; there was a sense of community within my small congregation, and the after-service coffee and refreshments always brought a delightful spread, only some of it questionable, as well as whispers of gossip that I tried my best to tune out.* What do you say, Miss Davis?

Lottie: Well, with an offer like that, how can I refuse? *I couldn't help but laugh, playing a brief snippet of a U2 song and earning a chuckle.* As long as you don't have a problem with an atheist sitting in on your service and there is cream and sugar for that coffee, you've got yourself a deal, Father. *The words were accompanied with an offered hand for a shake and it was granted with a grin.*

Dec: I'll even throw in some flavored creamer and a homily about Charlie Brown just for your heathen soul. *I didn't often get the opportunity to joke, many of the members of my church were older and held clergy in high and somber esteem, and so the easy conversation was more than slightly welcome. Sifting through the selection of sheet music, I pulled out the selection for tomorrow's services and handed them over. Outside the sound of the rain lightened against the windows just a bit, and I stole a glance past the stained glass.* I don't want to take up too much of your day and it sounds like the storm is easing up a bit if you wanted to try and stay a bit drier.

Lottie: *Accepting the music with a smile, I follow Father Declan's gaze and wrinkle my nose.* I think Im already in that mess, but Im sure you have important duties to finish before tomorrow. *Gathering up the music and tucking it under my coat, I give a smile.* I'm gonna hold you to that Charlie Brown, Father. *Giving a small wave, I head back down the aisle and out into the rain, flashing back to my car as the skies opened once again, just as I closed the door. Cranking the stereo, I scrolled through Spotify unto Leonard Choen's voice filled the car, and I sang along the whole way home.*

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bakubitch · 7 years ago

Note

YO. IM EMBARRASSED I KNOW REQUEST ARE CLOSED BUT HEAR ME OUT. Pffffft I'm laughing real hard I had no service at the time (I sent the ask) sooo wasn't on Tumblr lately and typed at sonic speed and I guess autocorrect thought rioki/friend was more fitting for my sentence! I'm sorry for the confusion I fixed it!!! Can I have a scenario where todoroki spots his s/o or friend playing the piano and singing? He thinks it's amazing but realizes they're crying . Gimme the fluff*****

Fun fact: Requests opened shortly before you resent it with a clarification.

Warning: Spoiler for Provisional License Arc

Itwas in the late afternoon when the sun was already starting to slowlyset, turning the sky into a mix of burning, vibrant, warm colors. Theonly sound that echoed through the halls were his own footsteps andthe reason behind the fact that he was still wandering around theschool was catching up, as he did not pass the provisional licenseexam including Bakugou. Several injuries of today’s training werecovered up with bandages and all kinds of different sized patches allover his face to his arms, upper body leading to further – itdefinitely was not pretty but Todoroki did everything in hiscapabilities to finish successfully.

Thebuilding seemed so different when it was void of teachers andstudents walking through it ever so loudly yet by no means lifelessand cold. The remaining sunrays that were shining upon it gave off awarming and welcoming atmosphere that he was unable to put intoactual words.

Peace that he found in the current state of environment wasinterrupted by the sound of a melody that was playing a tad furtheraway from his standing point, his feet slowly stopping theirmovements because as he was continuing his path, it became louder andclearer. „Someone is still here?“, the bicolorhaired male mumbledsoftly to himself. Not sure why but perhaps out of curiousity theywere leading him towards the source in a pace that matched with theaudio with his figure ending up in front of a certain and so normal school room. The small signread: „Music room“. The closer he got, the more aware did hebecome of a familiar voice that mingled shyly into the sounds ofgentle notes leaving the instrument, his ears were catching foreignphrases that his english abilities could not precisely catch up with. Involuntarily his handslipped carefully to the handle before sliding it slowly to the side and assoundless as possible open, questioning himself if that was reallynecessary and if he should better not interrupt them - to leave instead.

��Inthe moment I was born, I wouldnt stop screaming. Saying that I wantedto fade away and disappear.“

Yet there he stood,surprise taking him lightly back from the person that was currentlyrevealing themself as an utterly amazing vocalist and pianist.Todoroki’s features softened a little bit at the sight, relieved thatit was them and not some stranger sitting there with their fingersgracefully moving over the keys. Sometimes music reveals more thanany words could ever do – so far the male has heard and now was thetime to acknowledge that statement as he watched, heterochromaticeyes being locked by their sole presence.

Hewas able to catch several of those… Sadness. Frustration. Grief.Anxiety and a few more – things, that his friend would never show ontheir face in front of others. It struck him in odd places. And evenif his English was not what you may call perfect in the least, heunderstood. Todoroki Shouto understood.

„Eversince the day has stopped, I had always been searching. For the oneI’d someday meet. For the you that has to leave.“

Insome way he found it beautiful. Just this whole image that took placein front of him was astonishing yet why did he feel so awful at thesame time? Was he currently invading their personal space by standingthere without their knowledge? They didnt seem to have noticed him.And somehow he could sense that it would come to an end soon, therefore hedecided to let them finish, remaining in silence - what should he do after that?

„With this endlesspain in my heart tearing me apart but also you beside me. Cantyou see how happy Id be, Id smile and Id say -It was all for thebest you see-“

Therewas barely an accent audible in the way they sang the words, theinstrumental becoming more present as their fingers pressed harder.Their voice started to tremble, to waver, he realized as his handshad formed into clenching fists from the wave of emotions washingover his being.

„As the world infront of me melts and fades away, I only have one thing to say.These miracles flooding me wont make it go away. Because I canstill hear your voice calling out my name.“

Andwith the final verse a few more notes followed and finally, as ifthey held it all back for who knows how long, they cracked, breakingthe flow.

„Hey, is italright if I keep calling out your name.“

A small pause before inhaling shakily, they slowly removed themself from the piano, putting their hands into their lap before leaving a heavy sigh.„(Name)“,he called out, watching adoringly how their body flinched at hissudden barge-in but he didnt care… He couldnt care any less. Theirbody shifted on the stool to turn towards his direction – yes, right now they definitely needed someone beside them. There were indeed tears running down their cheeks, streaming downtheir chin to finally fall off into their lap – surprise writtenall over their face at his appearance. And it was still nonethelessjust… So beautiful.

„Youwere amazing.“

Eyeswidened at Todoroki’s statement as their lips started to tremor evenmore than before. The male let out an uncharacteristic huff – a reallysmall smile gracing his features. „Shouto… Thank you..“, theysobbed as he steadily walked up to them.

Admin Shiro

#todoroki shouto #bnha imagines #mha imagines #boku no hero #bnha #mha #boku no hero academia #my hero academia #bnha scenarios #mha scenarios #scenarios #僕のヒーローアカデミア #僕のヒーロー

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mochabeesnuts · 7 years ago

Note

For the ting (go skkrrrrrat) thing. All of them

*yells* Da ting go skkkkrrrraaa, papakakaka Skivipipopop and a poopooturrrboom Skrra, tutukukututoom, poompoom

1. selfie

HNNNG OK UH. UGH. HRM. FINE. A;JKFG

hnnng asdfj;klad aNYWAYS

2. what would you name your future kids?

im not sure honestly, i feel like its one of those things where i have to meet them first. and honestly i dont think about it too much because i plan on adopting so chances are they’ll be old enough to already have a name. idk, im not picky about age. i feel like its going to be one of those things were i’ll just. know which kid needs me and that will be that.

3. do you miss anyone?

mm i miss my dogs at home. but i get to visit soon so!

4. what are you looking forward to?

im looking forward to january and seeing my friend. im also looking forward to next semester and getting a fresh start. also the possibility of getting a cat soon

5. is there anyone who can always make you smile?

heheh yeah there is

6. is it hard for you to get over someone?

y.u.p. jesus fuck

7. what was your life like last year?

um. it was hard. and painful. but it was a learning experience and i think im stronger for it

8. have you ever cried because you were so annoyed?

yes

9. who did you last see in person?

uhh i saw my roomie like a half hour ago when i was walking home

10. are you good at hiding your feelings?

i used to be a fucking master at it. cant tell if i miss that skill or not

11. are you listening to music right now?

yup! trying to find some new songs to listen to regularly

12. what is something you want right now?

i dont know actually

13. how do you feel right now?

i feel... mm i feel kinda peaceful. i feel like a lot of weight has been taken off of my shoulders but i still have so much on my plate. but i have a clearer mind to work on those things now so it’s a start

14. when was the last time someone of the opposite sex hugged you?

umm i got a hug from my dad on friday. if dad doesnt count then um.. hm... *squints* a long time

15. personality description

passionate. when i feel something i feel it strongly. whether its good or bad its fucking there and i almost always act on it. i dont hesitate but i try to be as considerate as possible. i try to be a people pleaser. and im also very determined. heheh, look at that i managed not to make that negative, kinda happy with that tbh.

16. have you ever wanted to tell someone something but you didn't?

yes, just once i think. i told someone it was ok that they were leaving me and that it was ok they were breaking my heart instead of telling them how i actually felt. i wanted to say it, but i knew that making them feel worse for it wouldnt do either of us any good. so i kept my feelings to myself.

17. opinion on insecurities.

we all have them. a lot of them. and they overwhelm even the best of us at times. whether we choose to or not we wear them on our sleeves and theyre one of the hardest things to fight against because our greatest and strongest enemy is ourselves. being your own greatest friend is fucking hard, and insecurities play a large role in that.

18. do you miss how thing were a year ago?

no. i dont. i was sad and lonely. i didnt feel like i belonged anywhere. but thats not true anymore, and id never want to go back to that.

19. have you ever been to New York?

nope!

20. what is your favourite song at the moment?

i have a few songs that i love a lot rn but mmm i can put down the one that i relate to a lot today? Machine by misterwives is a big mood for me rn and its nice the other hella big mood and this one has been putting the biggest smile on my face is salt by bad suns

21. age and birthday?

18 about to turn 19! my bday is november 30th :D

22. description of crush.

theyre human. they work hard and theyre passionate about what they love. a complete and utter dork that gets excited and can go on an on about what they find interesting and i can honestly listen to it all day. theyre sweet and silly and creative and smart as hell. theyve been there for me through so fucking much and we’ve both hit our low points and shown darker sides of ourselves but despite that we’re both still here yknow? and that, idk that means something to me. because anyone can stick around through the bright and beautiful stuff, the easy parts. but it takes someone special to be there and still just, want to be in your life even when shit hits rock bottom.

23. fear(s)

im honestly not sure. i never really have been.. i mean.. hm. idk. spiders maybe. but lately theyve bugged me less. usually instead of freaking out if i see spiders or bugs now i just help them get outside so i dont think that counts anymore.. idk. im sure im afraid of something, everyone is. i just.. dont really know what it is. one of my friends said i may be afraid of the unknown which is possible. *Shrugs*

24. height

5 ft 9 in!

25. role model

dont really have one

26. idol(s)

nani the fuck this is the same question

27. things i hate

i HATE people that treat customer services like shit. i hate lying and i hate high school drama(tm). i also hate eggplants.

28. i'll love you if...

you be yourself

29. favourite film(s)

the chronicles of naria, httyd 1 and 2, little mermaid, anastasia, inkheart

30. favourite tv show(s)

how i met your mother, stranger things, kekkai sensen, your lie in april, brooklyn 99, firefly, voltron

31. 3 random facts

1. ive jumped off a cliff

2. jellyfish can produce asexually as well as sexually. they can clone themselves!

3. mitochondria is still the powerhouse of the cell

32. are your friends mainly girls or guys?

girls

33. something you want to learn

i want to learn more about marine biology, i miss it

34. most embarrassing moment

mm wasnt the most embarrassing and it was actually kinda funny but its recent-ish so.

last year in instrumental rep class we were at the concert hall and this pianist was playing for us on stage, pro and fancy from out of country and everything. and i hadnt been getting much sleep so when she started playing all this slow and pretty music i passed tf out. problem was. i was sitting in front of my entire class/all my friends. and apparently just as she finished a song i started laughing in my sleep just like a mumbly “heheheh” but it was deadass quiet so EVERYONE heard it. and when someone nudged me awake like, everyone was looking at me but i didnt know why. and i went the entire fucking class not knowing it had happened and it wasnt until after the class ended and the performer got off stage that everyone burst out laughing and told me what happened. they fucking called me chuckles for a week lmao

35. favourite subject

music, photography, english, marine biology

36. 3 dreams you want to fulfill?

1. i want to be successful enough that i can repay my parents for everything theyve done for me

2. i want to be the composer for a big name film

3. its.. dumb but i just really want to be in a happy relationship. a real one. its probably not the best thing to want as a dream but ill be real, ive been in love with the idea of love ever since i was a kid and that never really went away, just my chances in believing it’s something that will happen in my life.

37. favourite actor/actress

hmm i probably have one but its not coming to mind

38. favourite comedian(s)

kevin hart

39. favourite sport(s)

i love watching ice skating, love participating in swimming. used to do it competitively

40. favourite memory

ahh its hard to pick one plus this feels a bit personal!

41. relationship status

single as a pringle.. which doesnt make sense because pringles come in packs but it rhymes so fight me ok

42. favourite book(s)

inkheart, chronicles of narnia, my sister’s keeper

43. favourite song ever

what’s up by 4 non blondes, also 7 layers by dotan

44. age you get mistaken for

early 20s

45. how you found out about your idol

bruh

46. what my last text message says

hnnng its “Good night, I love you mom!” sdfj;lkgsd

47. turn ons

ive answered this a few times before

48. turn offs

ive answered this a few times before

49. where i want to be right now

mmm, im happy where i am for now i think.

50. favourite picture of your idol

ffs

51. starsign

Sagittarius

52. something i'm talented at

music, photography

53. 5 things that make me happy

1. my friends

2. my plushie/soft things

3. music

4. rain

5. the fact that each new day is a chance for something new. idk why but that fact has just made me feel better a lot

54. something thats worrying me at the moment

my friends. theyre all going through a lot and i want to help but i can only do so much

55. tumblr friends

you know who you are bbs

56. favourite food(s)

this is always strangely hard for me to answer. theres an udon place back at home though that i can safely say is my fav.

57. favourite animal(s)

jellyfish, dolphins, dogs, cats, sea turtles, jorunna parva (sea bunnies), dragons

58. description of my best friend

i have a couple. both are kind and passionate as fuck. theyve been there for me through thick and thin and i wouldnt trade them for the world. theyre also going through so much fucking shit rn and i want to be there for them as much as i can

59. why i joined tumblr

because all my homestuck trash friends had one and convinced me to make one. i didnt know wtf to do on this hellsite for a solid 4 months

60. ask me anything you want

you gotta ask me anything you want my dude lmao, just pop into my inbox with whatever question you want to ask and i’ll answer it honestly

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annashipper · 8 years ago

Text

JT Anon - I guess my MET invite was also lost in the mail

A little off topic from the delightful pub visit, but someone on @gatorfisch mentioned SH circle promoting things like “yummy mummy” blogs and mum and me fashion style things, going to art and play openings of friends, promoting themselves on IG etc etc. They said that all her pals do this, and the fact that she doesn’t suggests she is not in it for fame

I think all the things that nonny mentioned is actually very interesting. If I were advising SH, I would have advised her to do exactly that. She could have had herself a nice little career out of this. A blog about her busy life as an artsy mummy in London. Inches about what its like being a woman in theatre, how she gets productions done. A fashion blog, some guest editor pieces. All things she could have done to promote herself and her brand in actually quite a nice way. if that had been the SH branded to us, I may have found her interesting. instead we got this mess of a brand which is nothing but a wet sopping drag. I digress, ive already done the “SH brand is a drag” submit

The nonny suggested that because we don’t have those things, that SH then clearly isn’t the gagging for flashes famewhore her brand has made her out to be (don’t blame us PR, this is how you packaged her). I would like to counter that thinking for a second. it is my opinion that SH very much wanted that type of attention, and just simply was not talented enough to make it happen, and eventually it became clear that the people who could have offered her that type of branding were not interested in her/ didnt find her saleable.

The thing is, SH very, very much did try to trade off her husbands name in order to brand herself. I personally think she went the wrong way, and eventually she couldn’t pull it off due to lack of interest and talent, but the lack of blogs and art gallery opening does not mean SH wasn’t very much trying to build a brand for herself.

The guardian article. SH DID try to do inches and articles about herself and her supposed area of expertise. Just like the “mum about town” contributions to lifestyle papers, mags, and blogs, SH attempted to write about her chosen art in a very similar way. The problem is she plagiarised her information. Aside from being weird that an Oxford grad would need to do that, it means she actually is not capable of producing anything on the topic on her own. She doesn’t have her own valuable perspective to lend to the arena of opera that can be marketed and garner interest. Hence her one and only time contributing. She doesn’t not have a weekly or monthly because she isn’t branding herself off BC. She doesn’t have one because she tried and couldn’t do it.

I have my own theories as to why we don’t have SH on a pub IG account. I think we will get that soon enough. Don’t be fooled though, her friends make sure she is on IG and marketed on there when she needs to be. Her brand has very much been promoted on IG. If you don’t think pics of her shopping in paris at specific fashion boutiques, old art gallery shots, the wedding details sent out on IG ,weren’t meant to cultivate a very specific image of SH as a wealthy woman who spends thousands of pounds on clothes and is involved in arts communities in multiple areas, then i have a bridge to sell you. They make sure she is on IG and the pics they want are avail when they want them avail. Once she isn’t as restricted (and i don’t mean by some corporation like Disney), we will get a SH IG.

Fashion blogging. She may not blog herself, but we have had marketed to us SH the fashion….whatever… many times now. It was made very public that she was supposedly a model. They even went so far as asking small time model reblog blogs to circulate what seems to be her only one official shot a few times the week that was being discussed. That ridiculous ossman (was that his name? the designer who should be legally barred from wearing sunglasses because he created that cheap bargain rack orange monstrosity she wore). The trashy titty pic she had accompanying her one interview (before you all shout body shamer, I looooove me some titties. All shapes and sizes. I found SH shots lacking in class. #myopinionbro)

Multiple articles about her sartorial choices in the paper. I particularly liked when they shouted demure at us. “SHE IS DEMURE IN HER DEMURE BLOUSE WALKING DEMURELY NEXT TO HER HUSBAND AS SHE DEMURES DOWN THE STREEt W THE BABY DEMURELY”. There have been many many many one offs about her clothes.

I could go on. All of that is to say that SH really did try to utilise various media to brand herself during this whole thing.

Im being totally honest here, IF SH had had a blog about being a woman in the arts, in a difficult niche area like opera. If she had an IG of her at gallery openings and operas. If she had a weekly or monthly in a paper or lifestyle mag about fashion, incorporating high end fashions that still work for busy moms on the go, if she had written a book about being married to a man nominated for an oscar, how to be a busy mummy around london w her own career and dealing w that. If she had been on daytime TV segments promoting childrens wear. If she had been involved in lots of childrens charities directly, beyond just getting a full shot of the last season dress she was paid to be seen in. if she had done all that? i actually may have found her interesting. I personally would have said “huh, ive not read the perspective of someone who is involved in opera specifically. Oh! she wrote about being a woman and a mom while maintaining her role in the arts! ill check that out. is that her on daytime TV? ill leave that segment on. who is this? oh its a book by the opera director. wow she has two kids so close together, maybe ill read her book. she how she "does it all”

Those are actual ways she could have attempted to brand herself.

Don’t get it twisted. SH DID, VERY MUCH, try and brand herself w articles by her, articles about her, media supporting events she was involved in. The problem is, no one was interested, she couldn’t continue any of it, and she just didn’t get an audience interested.

Personally I kinda wanna read about a whip smart, funny, artistic business mummy living in a major metropolitan city juggling kids and it all. I wonder where I could get that kind of content. I would purchase that.

J also didn’t get invited to the MET T anon

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

All of this talk about blogging and article writing has me thinking back to a couple of Spinsie’s submissions (I really miss Spinsie by the way, but nothing has happened in more than 5 months, so I guess that explains why she’s abandoned us so heartlessly) regarding an alternative route Weirdo might have taken to brand herself as someone the general public could actually become interested in.

Think about it though JT. Can you imagine the hours it would take for her to actually find the British equivalents for the products / services Kim Kardashian is pushing through her blog? And if she were trying to copy Gwyneth Platrow and trying to promote a lifestyle as the latter does with Goop? It sounds exhausting!

Anyway, the poor interns working for SHC have enough problems trying to push the image of Weirdo being a theatre director / opera director / model / actress / clown / playwright / singer / curator / theatre operator(!) / plagiarist...errrrrrrrr... I meant one-hit-wonder-editor for The Guardian / pianist / equestrian / puppeteer (have I forgotten any of her multiple discarded career paths?)

Shame on you JT. Have some compassion for the poor interns!!! :P

Now, if you want to get serious for a second, if there’s one moment I always go back to when it comes to how much of a famewhore Weirdo is, I don’t have to go any further than the way she smiled for the paparazzo during the Rent A Pilo pap walk in NYC. The only reason I won’t post the picture is because I don’t want @gnanon to lose her glunch when she reads this post.

Enough said.

#JT anon

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noseydewdrop · 4 years ago

Text

Training week in Hamamatsu Japan

I stepped off the shinkansen in the twilight of the city lights and into the Hamamatsu station exit terminal. It was like an airport. Clean white marble walkways and walls with shops embedded in them. There was a pianist playing on what was a beautiful stage disguised as a hole in the wall. “Kawai” was plaqued next to his podium and I guessed the brand of the piano and at the time I thought nothing of it besides how beautiful the music sounded. People stopped and we shared feelings and some even recorded him. I rounded the corner in a rush to find the nearest restroom and I noticed a really elderly Japanese woman with a cane, and a woman which appeared to be her daughter. She was walking very slowly but had a very healthy and happy expression. If I had to guess she was 100 or really close, It made me think of my grandmothers and how they are both 94 this year and how healthy they are for their age. It warmed my heart to witness their interaction.

As i left the station the feeling of clean air in the deep purple sky came over me, the last minutes of light before darkness. The nighttime was noticeably different coming from the biggest city in the world, to the biggest city in a more rural prefecture. I pressed on to find my hotel with my heavy backpacks. For the first time since leaving America, I noticed a group of foreigners in the lobby of my hotel, and immediately fell into my introverted shell. “Maybe they wont think im here for training too” since I was wearing a mask and have been mistaken for being native countless times. My bags were under a net off to the side, which had bells as a security measure if anyone tried to get to them. In my struggles of checking in using Japanese, and attempting to grab my bags without permission, I don’t think I came off anything less than Gaijin to them. It was extremely embarrassing.

The rest of training felt less stressful everyday. I met people naturally from all over the world. I’ve never been in a group of people so culturally mixed. I felt the strange feeling that I am actually representing America for once, and that was so weird. I’ve come to learn the perception of Americans is so different than who I actually am. Most people only know Trump or famous actors and musicians so generally I feel so welcome to people thinking I would be as boisterous as the president. But I have met a few people like that here.

The morning of, I had no idea what to expect besides the serious covid measures set in place. It was the first time everyone had to wear masks, and I think that really helped me feel more comfortable. There were about 40-50 new teachers. We were put into groups of 4-5 trainees based on region and were assigned a facilitator that would coordinate group demos, luckily we didn’t have to do anything in front of the entire group if we didn't want to. The day was broken up with multiple lectures on how to instruct, practicing what we learned and feedback. The first 2 days was ES and the last 3 were JHS and living in Japan preparation. I took so many notes it felt like I was back in biology class in college, it felt weird since some people didn’t take any. I just like being as prepared as possible I suppose.

I was SO unprepared the first day of training. Naturally I was very shy and soft spoken. I am not someone who can improvise and feel comfortable in any situation but honestly its the best way I learn, being thrown in with the sharks. The improvement I made throughout the week was drastic and my facilitator told me I really reminded him of when he first started teaching in Japan 10 years ago, and that the kids would love me. That really gave me the confidence I needed to feel at the time. I still had no idea what to expect.

In between training days consisted of resting in the hotel room, studying Japanese and exploring the city. I learned Hamamatsu is the city of music in Japan and its where Yamaha music, Suzuki and Honda motorcycle companies were founded. It’s also famous for unagi which was way to expensive for me to try. At night on the main street there were many guys standing outside the restaurants they worked trying to get us in but when they realized we can’t speak well we were left alone for the most part but they were a bit more pushy. I really like the city vibes in Hamamatsu but its no where near as massive as Tokyo. A much less crowded city felt so different than what I was use to, yet everyone emanated a very friendly vibe much different than in Tokyo.

Friday came and gone and we were left to enjoy the weekend with very lenient corona precautions. Most teachers went out drinking but I decided to stay in for the night as I was so mentally exhausted from the week. I ended up flipping through the channels around 8pm in my hotel bed and Kiki’s delivery service was playing. I watched it in Japanese for the first time without subs and my childhood self was so happy. My week couldn't have ended any better.

The next day we had a health check and we were told to meet at the station at specific times. I didn’t see the time sheet they posted the day before but luckily my friend snapped a picture of it. Apparently during his checkup an hour before mine, his group was approached by a man with a clipboard and he was trying to get them to sign up for a group and get their personal info, one of them said it was very sketchy sounding. I felt fortunate to not have anyone with that description approach my group. Since it’s a pretty big station, I’ve heard many people wait around to approach a touristy/foreign person and try to sell you something or what not. All the people I’ve talked to were really friendly and nice to me. I can’t help but feel I avoided most of those weird interactions due to my appearance. Phew.

The next day was the last day before all the trainees disburse throughout the Kansai/Chubu region. I dreaded the thought of catching an early train to meet the person to help me with my apartment setup at 10am. Luckily it was only an hour by shinkansen (and it was paid for by the company), so I went down to the lobby, shipped my bags with Yamato (their luggage delivery service is amazing), and met one of my closest friends so far in Japan. He’s from the UK and I’ve never talked to him during training but somehow he ended up in the group in front of me, even though he is living in the same town as everyone but 1 person in my 4 person group. We bonded over cultural differences and experiences the entire train ride. I kept thinking before moving here I only had 1 friend from the UK before, and how there is so much to learn from everyone I am closest to here.

We were rushed off the train in east Shizuoka and parted as we were meeting at opposite sections of the station. I arrived 20 minutes early to drop off my pocket WiFi rental at the nearest post office.

It was rainy with a fresh scent away from the city, it felt like home but without the petrichor of the forest.

#japan #draft #hamamatsu #training week #march 2020

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