#Nikki Nack

[sunset-peril]

Social Makeup Study - Hateno Village (HFS, TotK)

Village Structure

Leadership system: Eldership and a monarchy-like structure both appear to be used at once. An electoral system has become popular with some citizens, and Hyrule's monarchy has begun to restore itself, both further complicating the matter. Traditionally, Hateno used an eldership system exclusively, but Hyrule's sudden destruction 100 years ago brought elements of a monarchy (primarily that there is one leader who inherits the position).

Leader/Ruler: Reede Imperial (leader/mayor, under dispute), Link Hyrule (elder, under dispute, King of Hyrule)

Economy: As a former land of exile, Hateno is traditionally non-exporting. However, the village became known for agriculture and dye production after the Age of Burning Fields. Recently, the village has become a hub for textiles such as clothing and hats. The past century has brought significant changes in this area, which has also brought unease.

Demographics: Historically was 100% Pedigreed Wolfbred, although the modern village has a makeup of approximately 50% Wolfbred/Wolfbred Hybrid and 50% Hylian. This shift was also brought about in the last 100 years.

Beliefs and Afterlife: A Hylia-worshipping village. Wolfbred mythology depicts them having been created by the Twilight's interaction with their ancestor and believe that the Twilight became heritable through his line. Although the Twilight Realm is not an afterlife realm (nor was it intended to be), the Wolfbred still believe their ghosts will be returned to the Realm when their bodies fail because of their own Twilight, and believe that Midna created the Celaeno Orientalis constellation (a wolf-like constellation that appears over Hateno) as a replacement for the Mirror of Twilight to help their souls return "home". Due to the Mirror of Twilight's destruction, there is no way to confirm or deny this belief; however, it appears to have been reinforced by Link's successful command of both Wolfbred-like spirits and Hylia's Honor Guard (souls of past heroes) in battle.

Citizens

Link (Imperial) Hyrule: The last documented male Wolfbred, and the last Wolfbred born under exile. For this reason, he’s referred to as the last “Pedigreed Wolfbred”.  Champion of Hyrule/Hylians, despite not technically being Hylian, and beloved mate of Princess Zelda. Died during the Great Calamity, but not before becoming King of Hyrule. The first Wolfbred King since Kakku. Cause of death: fatal battle wounds. He was resurrected 100 years after his death, and reigns over Hyrule today with his beloved. The Sheikah crowned him King Sovereign before Calamity Ganon was sealed for good, as the throne would pass to whichever of King Rhoam's heirs/relatives was found alive first. Called "Grandpa" (sometimes written "Grandpaw") by his extended family. Has developed blindness in one eye as well as joint pain, two common signs of a Wolfbred's aging, and is technically retired from all soldiering.

Zelda (Esmerelda) Hyrule: The first Hylian to marry into the tribe in 10,000 years due to the exile, and mother of Hyrule's first (chronologically-speaking) Wolfbred-Hylian hybrid: Zelda Ivee. Said to be the only true Hylian who could speak the Wolfbred tongue fluently before the Calamity. The Sheikah's crowning of Link restarted the Kingdom of Hyrule, so this Princess hasn't seen a need to rush her ascension to the Queen's throne. Her temper was found to be of Wolfbred descent, as she is Karu’s descendant. A beloved teacher at the newly build Hateno Schoolhouse.

Zelda Ivee Hyrule: King Link and Princess Zelda’s beloved little girl and the new Princess Zelda. She is the first Wolfbred hybrid since her distant ancestor Karu, and her soul is over a century old despite her age of five. Her upbringing will likely shape the future of Hyrule, as her parents come from such different backgrounds. Current studies regarding her aim to identify whatever might trigger the aggressive tendencies her family tree is infamous for, so her exposure to such triggers can be limited. 

Reede Imperial: Leader of Hateno Village and descendant of Sydnei (Link's sister). He retains a strong desire to stay in tune with his heritage and prides himself on keeping Hateno just the way it was during the exile: a safe haven for the Wolfbred. He inherited the antagonistic tendencies of his family. Although he is generally a very peaceful, vegetable-loving man, he has recently begun to display aggressive behavior, and has gotten in a few fights. (Now that the villagers think about it, so has Link.)

Clavia Imperial: Reede's wife and the mother of Karin. Clavia is Hylian, but has been accepted into the Clan as if she was Wolfbred. While her daughter is in school, she spends time at Link and Zelda's, often helping tidy the place so the half-blind Link can keep his last good eye on his pup. Besides, she believes it does Link good to have someone other than Zelda to talk to.

Karin Imperial: Reede and Clavia's daughter, and a pupil of Zelda's. Currently, Karin is not affected by her family's tendencies. Purah aims to prevent exposing both her and Zelda Ivee to whatever causes those tendencies to develop. Although, considering how riled up their fathers have suddenly gotten, Purah and her fellow researchers may have to work fast to identify the cause and isolate it from the girls.

Sophie and Cece: A pair of Wolfbred-Hylian sisters. Cece is eldest. Their existence greatly influences modern Wolfbred-Hylian relations as Sophie is considered legally Wolfbred, while Cece is the first hybrid to not be legally Wolfbred, at least within the village. Surprisingly, Sophie is the more docile of the two. Cece recently moved back in after traveling the world to study fashion. Village opinions are mixed. Link and Sophie are friends. Link and Cece are not.

Ivee: Daughter of the family who runs East Wind General Store. It's rumored that she was actually named after Zelda Ivee, as Hateno thought she'd been killed in-utero during the Great Calamity.

Pruce, Amira and Azu: Family of Ivee, runs East Wind. Ancestor was a dear friend of Ordon, which strengthens the rumors about the origins of Ivee's name. Father, mother and younger brother, respectively. Azu has taken fondly to "protecting" the village, a tendency that often develops in Wolfbred males as they approach and reach puberty.

Tamana: A former Cucco rancher, and Teebo's mother.

Teebo: A very polite Wolfbred pup and Tamana's son. Has shown an immense interest in weapons and the warrior arts since he was very young, and now fills a slot on the day-shift Hateno guard. His apparently innate interest in warrior arts and protection have brought him and Link into a mentor-mentee relationship.

Medda: A tomato-raising farmer, and Aster's father. His wife passed many years ago, but he and his daughter seem to be doing well.

Aster: Medda's daughter. Loves tomatos and froggies, and recently moved next door to Link and Zelda.

Dantz, Koyin: A family of Wolfbred who live outside the town on a farm in the forest, completely devoted to the ways of their ancestors. Father and daughter, respectively.

Sayge, Senna and Sefaro: Family running the Kochi Dye Shop. Sayge and Senna are devoted artisans, who are thriving with Hateno's new textile based market. Sefaro, however, is a much more studious soul who prefers to read history books at the schoolhouse. He's tried to badger Link into teaching him more sensitive history like the Great Calamity, Wolfbred Exile and Sheikah Fallout; currently to little-to-no avail. Perhaps when the little historian is older... or when other tensions in the village smooth over....

Prima: Said to be the prettiest Wolfbred after Midna Marie. May be related to Linky due to the strong facial resemblance to his mother, but is clearly not of the Imperial family.

Worten: Prima's husband. A Wolfbred-Hylian hybrid like his wife, which was seen as a milestone for the species (as hybrids had become distant enough to interbreed again)

Uma: An elderly Wolfbred-Hylian. One of the first hybrids to be born, and has lived since the Age of Burning Fields. Full of knowledge about the village and its history, with a priceless ability to see multiple perspectives for almost any conflict in the village. She usually attempts to soothe Link and Reede when they are riled, often with more success than their wives.

Hyrule's Final Stand Masterlist

[librarycards]

this is like completely out of nowhere, but do you have any music recs? literally anything, i just get the vibe you have good taste

haha sure, and I appreciate it! I'm going to include below some youtube links to favorite songs and albums by favorite artists of mine. hope you like them!

The Cranberries - you know. the classics, but I most recommend Bury the Hatchet (album - full playlist)

Tune-Yards - Who Kill (album) and Nikki Nack and i can feel you creep into my private life (yeah sorry you need to listen to All of them)

Leikelei47 - start with Acrylic!

My Brightest Diamond - two standout songs are Pressure and This is My Hand

ARCA - literally everything. she has mastered transcyborgism.

Janelle Monae - Dirty Computer, sure, but also the Mad masterpiece that is the Tightrope MV (and more!)

Willow - her range is just amazing. From ARDIPITHECUS to <COPINGMECHANISM>

Jewel - Pieces of You (album - also ft. the most iconic subtitle ever, 'what we call human nature in actuality is human habit' (this blew my mind when i was 10)

Emma Ruth Rundle - start with May Our Chambers be Full, a collab with Thou.

Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (album - full playlist)

Julia Jacklin - Pressure to Party is So Much to me. Body is, somehow, even More.

Moses Sumney - græ is immaculate. it is genuinely a perfect album. no notes.

Lady Lamb - Crane Your Neck is an incredible song. So is Arkansas Daughter, in a very different way.

There are others too, of course, but this is a start with some of my favs. Some that I like feel too ubiquitous to mention - MCR, Against Me!, Rihanna, Enya, Mitski. But there are those too!

[queersrus]

Breath Of The Wild Theme

names for characters from the legend of zelda; breath of the wild!

ak, akk, akka, akkal, akkala, aya, au, aug, al, ali, aliz, aliza, ash, ashe, ax, axy, axyl, aj, aji, akra, akrah, achne, ardin, ashai, aurie, ariane, amali, ami, agus, amira, aster azu, armes, anly,

bad, badd, baddek, bam, bamb, bambo, bamboo, ban, banji, bau, baum, bauma, baumar, bay, bayg, bayge, bee, beed, beedle, bol, bols, bolson, bri, brig, brigo, bai, baij, ben, benn, benny, bo, bosh, bot, botr, bore, botri, botric, botrick, bran, branli, blad, bladon boh, bohr, bohri, bohrin, bold, boldon, bree, breen, bar, barg, bargo, bargoh, blu, blud, bludo, blynne, barta, benja, babi bertri, bozai, bulia, buliara, bedoli, bazz, brokka, bugut,

cam, camb, cambo, chab, chabi, cho, chor, chork, chu, chum, chumi, chumin, chi, chiga, cal, cala, calam, calami, calamity, can, cann, canni, chuk, chuki, chio, calisa, caly, calyban, cara, canolo, cree, cecili, cleff, celessa, calip, clavia, chessica, cloyne, cima, cotera, cado, claree, cottla,

dab, dabi, da, dah, dmi, dmit, dmitr, dmitre, dmitri, dai, daim, drak, dug, dugby, damia, daz, dillie, dalia, danda, deltan, dina, dorrah, danton, dento, dunma, dorephan, dantz, darton, domidak, dorian,

en, end, enda, endai, ep, epo, epon, epona, et, ets, etsu, el, eld, eldi, eldin, essa, estan, emry, eryck,

far, faro, faroh, farosh, fy, fys, fyso, fyson, fi, fin, finn, fu, fugo, faron, fegran, frelly, frita, furosa, flaxel, falmark, finley, fronk, flavi,

gof, gofla, goflam, grey, greyson, gray, grayson glee, gleem, gleema, gran, grant, grante, glen, glend, glendo, gan, gano, ganon, got, gott, gottr, gottre, gotter, gom, goma, gomar, gai, gail, gaile, gale, gon, gong, gongur, gonguro, gonguron, gor, gora, gorae, grap, grapp, goro, goron, gar, gars, garsh, garshon, gartan, greta, guy, galli, geggle, genli, gesane, gruve, gaddison, garill, garini, giro,

hy, hyr, hyre, hyru, hyrule, hyl, hyle, hyli, hylia, hylian, hee, heehl, hes, hest, hestu, hud, huds, hudso, hudson, hesh, hesho, hag, hagi, hagie, hun, hunn, hunni, hunnie, hoz, hai, hait, haite, hal, halan, harlow, harry, harth, huck, hino,

ita, isha, izra, ivee, impa,

jan, jana, janna, jer, jeri, jerr, jerri, jerrin, ja, jen, jengo, jini, jora, jules, juan, juanne, juanne, juannelle, jogo, juney, jiahto, joute,

kab, kabe, kabet, kabett, kabette, kabetta, kan, kann, kanny, kap, kaps, kapso, kapson, kar, karso, karson, kas, kass, ken, keny, kenyo, ki, kil, kilt, kilto, kilton, ka, kah, kai, kaif, kaifa, ke, ke'nai, kash, kasho, kat, kato, katos, katosa, khi, khin, khini, kin, king, ko, kor, kori, korima, keh, korb, korba, korbah, kal, kala, kaso, kaa, kaam, kata, katah, katt, katta, kon, konba, kair, kairo, karsh, kay, kayr, kayre, kayra, kim, kima, kish, krane, ketoh, korok, kula, konora, kyra, kalani, kohm, kotta, kachoo, kaysa, kheel, kotts, kaneli, kayden, keye, kodah, karin, koyin, kiana, kinov, kampo, koko,

li, lin, link, lee, leek, leeka, leekah, lar, laro, larob, laroba, lon, lonn, lonni, lonnie, lat, lata, latan, loone, lukan, laine, lashley leena, liana, lorn lyn, lynd, lyndae, lester, laissa, ledo, laflat, laruta, lawdon, letty, leop, lasli,

me, mee, meesh, meeshy, meg, megh, meghen, meghan, meghyn, mei, mil, mils, mi, min, mina, miph, mipha, mis, misk, misko, mae, mael, mog, mogg, moggs, mo, mon, mona, monar, monari, mony, monya, my, myt, myti, mij, mija, mijah, may, mayr, mayro, mir, mirr, mirro, molo, maca, mala, malanya, makure malena, marta, merina, muava, maike, maypin, moza, mary, monkton, modar, molli, mazli, misa, marot, muzu, mimos, manny medda, mubs, mimo, magda, mellie,

nat, nay, nayd, naydr, nadre, naydre, nadra, naydra, naz, nazbi, nad, nadd, naddo, naddon, neil, ni, nim, nima, nobo, nam, namu, namut, nami, namik, namika, noy, noya, neha, natie, nali, nellie, nobiro, nott, notts, nekk, nack, narah, nebb, nikki, numar, nanna,

om, oma, oman, owa, oz, ozz, ooh, offra, offrak, ozu, ozun, ozund, ozunda, oak, oaky, oaki, onya, olu, oliff, olkin, ollie,

pel, peli, pelis, peliso, pelison, pi, pika, pikan, pikang, pikango, pit, pita, pitar, plat, plate, platea, plateau, par, parc, parce, parcy, percy, py, pyle, peeks, pepp, padok, perosa, phanna, pokki, padda, pasha, pearle, ploka, pritana, pyra, palme, piaffe, pirou, pondo, ponthos, pedra, prima, pruce, purah, prissen, paya,

qua, quince,

reg, rega, regan, rev, reva, reval, revali, rho, rhon, rhond, rhonds, rhondso, rhondson, ri, rik, ron, ronn, rex, ru, rul, ruli, rob, robb, robbi, robbie, rudi, rhoa, rhoam, roh, roht, rohta, ruv, ruvo, rot, rota, rok, roke, rokee, ray, raym, russ, ram, rame, ramel, ramell, ramella, ro, rog, roga, rogar, rogaro, roha, rohan, roscoe, riju, reez, reeza, rima, risa, roma, romah, rotana, ripp, ropsten, raegah, rivan, ralera, reede, rhodes, rozel, rensa, rola,

sav, save, savel, savell, savelle, sher, sherf, sherfi, sherif, sherfin, sho, sor, sorel, sorrel, soreli, sorelia, spoon, spoone, si, sido, sidon, shaka, shakah, stam, stamm, sea, saas, shi, shir, shira, sham, shama, shamae, shor, shore, shora, shae, spri, sprinn, straia, suzum suzuna, shabonne, strade, sud, sudrey, saula, smaude, spera sumati, shaillu, sesami, selmie, saki, seggin, satty, spinch, sayge, sefaro, seldon, sophie, senna, symin, sebasto, sagessa, shay, shibo, steen,

tor, torr, tore, toren, tot, tots, totsu, totsun, totsune, totsuna, ty, tye, ten, tenn, tenne, tu, tut, tuts, tutsu, tutsuwa, tar, tarr, tarry, tarre, tarrey, tom, toma, tof, toff, toffa, tro, trot, trott, toh, tan, tank, tanko, tray, tash, tasho, tali, tera, tauma, teake, traysi, teba, tulin, tona, tottika, tula, torfeau, trello, tumbo, teli, tamana, teebo, thad, tokk, tasseren, trissa,

urb, urbo, urbos, urbosa, uma,

vol, volc, volco, volcon, villa, varke, verla,

walton, wabbin, worten,

yam, yamm, yammo, yo, yow, yowa, yowak, yowaka, yahsa, yu, yun, yuno, yunobo, yaido, yolero,

ze, zel, zeld, zelda, zy, zyl, zyle, zu, zum, zumo, zuna, zal, zalt, zalta, zo, zor, zoro, zoron, zorona, zooki, zumi, zuta.

list

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Dave Whamond

* * * * *

Time is Biden’s friend and Trump's enemy.

January 22, 2024

ROBERT B. HUBBELL

JAN 22, 2024

Trump's inexorable descent into incoherence and chaos continued apace over the weekend. Any moment now, it will become impossible for the media to ignore the spectacle. With Trump's rivals in both the primary and general elections highlighting Trump's inability to distinguish between his GOP primary opponent (Nikki Haley) and the former Democratic Speaker of the House (Nancy Pelosi), responsible media should be headlining the story.

They are not. Instead, it was up to Trump's political rivals to alert the American people to Trump's deteriorating condition.

What happened?

Over the weekend, Trump insisted that Nikki Haley was in charge of security at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Haley was not at the Capitol on January 6 and, as a private citizen at the time, had no role in providing security for the Capitol. (Trump has previously falsely claimed that former Speaker Nancy Pelosi oversaw security at the Capitol on January 6.)

Nikki Haley went on the offensive on the Sunday talk shows, saying

 “I don’t know if he was confused, I don’t know what happened, but it’s enough to send us a warning sign.” “[I]f you have someone that is 80 in office, their mental stability is going to continue to decline. That’s just human nature.” [Trump is now] just not at the same level he was at 2016. I think we're seeing some of that decline.

The Biden campaign also went on the offensive, producing an ad that collected a dozen Trump nonsense statements, highlighting the most recent mental lapse. Biden released the ad on his Twitter account, saying “I don’t agree with Nikki Haley on everything, but we agree on this much: She is not Nancy Pelosi.”

The video is here: “We agree on this much: Nikki Haley is not Nancy Pelosi.” It is worth your time to watch—and is (hopefully) a harbinger of a tougher tone from the Biden campaign.

Although major media covered Trump's most recent mental lapse, they took the opportunity to repeat Trump's baseless claims against Biden. The NYTimes described Trump's mental lapse, and then pivoted to Biden:

“Nikki Haley was in charge of security [at the Capitol on January 6],” he said. (She was not.) “We offered her 10,000 people, soldiers, National Guards, whatever they want. They turned it down. They don’t want to talk about that.”

Mr. Trump, 77, often attacks President Biden, 81, over his age and suggests that Mr. Biden is mentally unfit for office. “He can’t put two sentences together,” Mr. Trump said on Friday. “Can’t put two sentences together. He needs a teleprompter.”

Gosh! It’s almost as if the NYTimes is running interference for Trump's deterioration. A similar lapse by Biden likely would have resulted in somber reporting based on speculation by unnamed “inside sources” about invoking the 25th Amendment to remove the president due to incapacity.

While the continued bias against Biden is maddening, time is Biden’s friend and Trump's enemy. The more Trump talks, the more obvious it becomes he is unfit for the presidency. His vocabulary is shrinking, his off-script remarks are descending into a stew of right-wing code words, and people are walking out of his rallies.

Here is a small sample from a speech on January 17 in New Hampshire:

We’re . . . going to place strong protections to stop banks and regulators from trying to debank you from your—you know, your political beliefs, what they do. They want to debank you, and we’re going to debank—think of this. They want to take away your rights. They want to take away your country. The things they’re doing. All electric cars.

On Sunday evening, Trump even mispronounced the name of his likely vice-presidential pick as “Elise Step-a-nack” (referring to GOP. Rep. Elise Stefanik). Again, the Biden-Harris campaign quickly released a video-clip of Trump mispronouncing Stefanik’s name.

Trump claims he will take the witness stand on Monday morning in the second defamation trial E. Jean Carroll. (The trial is about the amount of damages only.) It would be insane for Trump to take the stand. Judge Kaplan is a sharp, no-nonsense judge who will not allow Trump to ramble incoherently.

If Trump takes the stand, I predict he will storm out of the courtroom (from the stand) or be ejected by Judge Kaplan. Moreover, if Trump takes the stand, E. Jean Carroll will be able to introduce rebuttal evidence that she has chosen not to offer in her case in chief.

But Monday’s court proceeding is only the first of dozens of opportunities for Trump to self-immolate in the upcoming legal proceedings. And given that the Biden administration has finally taken the gloves off, the American people will get a clearer view of Trump's rapidly deteriorating mental state.

And there is widespread discussion on social media of other physical infirmities and ailments that are afflicting Trump. The major media has yet to report on those issues, so I will refrain from doing so until the rumors pass the fact-checking process in a major newsroom.

What’s next?

Democrats are understandably anxious about the attacks on Biden’s age. But he has risen to every occasion and passed every test. And he is a normal, decent, regular person. If you haven’t watched his recent interview with Conan O’Brien about Biden’s 1960s classic Corvette, you owe it to yourself to do so. Trump, on the other hand, is a narcissistic, hateful bully who views people as disposable objects to advance his interests.

In this campaign, time is on our side. Things are getting worse for Trump—and will continue to do so. Meanwhile, the economy continues to improve under Biden’s stewardship. So, let’s hunker down for the long fight ahead and recognize that we have the momentum, the better candidate, and the truth on our side.

Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter

[norteenlinea]

TUNE-YARDS anuncia edición de lujo de ‘Nikki Nack’ por su 10º aniversario

http://dlvr.it/TBDFsP

[spotifyreleasegaydar]

Creatures of Habit by Kiltro is one of my all-time favorite albums if you think you'd be into contemporary Chilean folk music with an indie rock edge. Another favorite of mine is Nikki Nack by Tune-Yards; avant-garde synthpop with some very experimental instrumentation. Lastly, the album that got me somewhat into country was Ingénue by k.d. lang. I know you didn't ask, but if you need an album that proves not all country is Christian Nationalism, then here's one about queer longing.

Hearing the music discourse on this site I decided to ask anyone who finds this post to recommend me any and all music, singles, albums and/or artists, so I can listen to it because I'm really passive on finding music and I want to broaden my horizons.

Just... not anything country.

Yes, I know I'm proving the point!

I don't like country, okay?

[sinceileftyoublog]

Tune-Yards’ Exuberant Vulnerability

BY JORDAN MAINZER

The thrill of a Tune-Yards show usually comes from watching Merrill Garbus build up and deconstruct songs using live recording, sampling, and loops. That “live” aspect, and the sonic warts that come with watching imperfect humans play instruments and through sound systems subject to randomness and failure, is what I find myself missing most from “the real thing” when watching the COVID-era livestreams, especially ones that are immaculately produced, mixed, and mastered before reaching a larger audience. Fortunately for us, last night on Noonchorus, Garbus and bandmate Nate Brenner rolled with the format and succeeded wildly.

For one, they took full use of having a camera that can do tricks with the push of a few buttons; it swirled and circled around Garbus’ face as the band opened with “hypnotized”, a standout from their great new album sketchy., making me realize why they called the show Party in a Can. (I could imagine being rolled in a giant can listening to the beautiful cacophony of drum machine samples, synths, and guitars.) For “Look at Your Hands”, Garbus broke the 4th wall and was handed a plastic arm from someone on the other side of the camera, which she carried around and used to hit her sample pads, like an even more absurd version of David Byrne’s American Utopia stage production. The camera was also able to reveal more of Garbus’ pedal wizardry, zooming in on her feet as she trigged samples and processed sounds, an electronic counterpoint to the raw, acoustic power of her booming voice.

I figured that since the performance would be less than an hour, it would act as a pseudo release show for sketchy., and Garbus and Brenner did play the warped, harmonic, shadowy “homewrecker”, bop “sometime”, and moving “hold yourself”. Though sketchy. is in this listener’s ears a welcome return to form from the far-too-electronic-leaning missteps of I Can Feel You Creep Into My Private Life, I was glad to hear the tracks that made Garbus break out as a creative force in the first place, like whokill’s bursting “Powa”, arpeggiated and exhilarating “Bizness” and the handclap hopscotch jam “Water Fountain”, whose namesake foundation was collecting donations from the livestream. (Garbus started the Water Fountain Fund after the release of nikki nack; it financially supports organizations dedicated to all sorts of water-related issues.) And there was also a moment where Garbus started humming on top of a skittering techno beat--“It sounds kind of like ‘Idioteque’,” I thought to myself [Editor’s note: It was], even going so far as to recontextualize some of the more dance-and-disco-heavy songs on Private Life.

Perhaps the most enlightening moment of the livestream, on the other hand, was the post-show Q&A, where fans had the opportunity to do my job and ask Garbus and Brenner questions about topics like their rhythm-driven songwriting, approach to album sequencing, how each of them specifically composes to sound off-kilter on purpose, and their hobbies outside of music. (Garbus gardens, while Brenner’s become an expert plant identifier--and watches a lot of basketball.) The thought-provoking final question had Garbus think about the very beginning of tune-yards, Bird-Brains, the debut album she recorded on a hand recorder mixed with a shareware assembling program, whose environmental limitations led to her now trademark percussion-dependent sound. At the time, she lived in Vermont and was nannying, unsure of what she wanted to do with her life and suffering from depression, wondering whether the music she was making was worth anything, affecting her own self-worth. That, according to Garbus, was the biggest fear she had to overcome when creating the Tune-Yards project, one that she overcame by simply succumbing to the joy of making exuberant, physical music. Brenner asked her whether this fear is still there, and Garbus said while it’s less, it is. Listening to her share her vulnerability, I thought about the band’s closing performance of “hold yourself”, a song whose restrained hip hop drum beat and soulful horns match the sentiment in the bridge: “We all have doubts / We all have rage / We all have trouble being brave enough to turn the page / But we will.” As the song broke down, Garbus ran circles around the room belting the chorus, “Hold ourselves now / Yes, we will hold ourselves now.” So, yes, while the fear’s still there, Tune-Yards is still overcoming those fears for Garbus.

sketchy. by Tune-Yards

[artistotaku91]

More Sonic Gals!^^

[panicsimmer]

Teen-a-day CAS Challenge Day Twenty-six: Furture Olympian!

Meet Nikki Nack, Active, Self-assured, Nikki is a figure skater who dreams big! She wants to be a gold medalist and head the the olympics! (totally based off the Disney classic ‘Ice Princess’)

[crybabyboyscout]

Whats your favorite band/artist?

Favorite band is tune-yards, I would literally not be alive if I hadn’t heard the Nikki Nack album. And favorite artist is any Black femme in rock, metal music

[librarycards]

ok i wanted to do the ten albums of me thing!! so here’s a mix of albums from my youth™ (top 6, in order of first engagement) and some of my absolutely foundational/constitutive albums today (bottom 4)! 

viva la vida - coldplay

love is dead - kerli

lungs - florence + the machine

be not nobody - vanessa carlton (++ harmonium)

the electric lady - janelle monae (++ metropolis: the chase suite ed.)

sia - 1000 forms of fear (++ we are born)

lush - mitski

transgender dysphoria blues - against me!

nikki nack - tune-yards (++ i can feel you creep into my private life)

touch up - mother mother

i feel like for all of them, but especially my childhood selections, this is most representative of the artists I listened to, not just albums individually, which is why you see my bonus/alt albums there! 

ok anyway. i tag @llleighsmith @flakyseasalt @dykemettaton @punkkwix @transcaffeinated @gardenbi @neopetsuser @bee-structure @pf2e @terrestrialmollusc @despite @virgo-dicks @angellore @nemesissy @butchfatty and anyone who wants to, pls say i “tagged” you so i can see what you choose!!

[ashleyswrittenwords]

Correlation Doesn’t Imply Causation

Another Zelink Oneshot

Commissioned by @truffeart :)

Post-BOTW fluff with needless angst mixed in

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

It took time for the people of Hateno to warm up to the presence of the Princess with the blood of the goddess. They were folks of the countryside where the strangest occurrences had been the occasional Goron traveller or the time a youngster swore up and down that one of the cattle could speak. Miffed hadn’t covered their wonder when the mysterious young man who had brought the decaying house by the cliffs brought home a wide-eyed blonde who suspiciously met the description of the fabled princess. 

The man had only stayed in the house for short periods of time, typically buying out Pruce’s stock of arrows and visiting the odd scientist at the peak of the village. A wild, insatiable heart for adventure was something to be expected and the older gossip mongers suspected he would bring back a woman from his travels. What they hadn’t expected was his bashful admittance the day after to Ivee and her mother that he was last century’s fallen hero, that Calamity had been vanquished, and that Princess Zelda was resting in his house.

When one person knows something in Hateno, everyone does.

Initially, it was something Zelda worried extensively about. One-hundred years. Would she be out of touch? Even worse, would they see her as a monster? During her excessive ramblings, the latter question made Link do a double take and immediately steer her off the topic. He had been awake for a little over a year and reassured her that the people of Hateno were harmless, but for the first couple weeks he didn’t dispute her flimsy excuses to stay in the home when he went out on short errands.

Actually, he was very supportive of her. Link’s love for cooking had turned into more of a passion and he had easily taken the mantle of the house chef. She could tell he allowed her to do menial tasks like dicing onions so she could feel helpful, and it worked. While out to gather ingredients for meals, he brought back gardening and sewing supplies to supplement her time; even taking her measurements and returning with three colorful Hateno dresses.

And Zelda was thankful, so thankful that after two weeks she let Link introduce her to the people he knew. She had slinked a couple paces behind him, uncomfortable by the stares once they reached the main road. Amira, the wife of the general store owner, had laughed during their brief introduction, “Nack was going around spreading rumors that you glowed in the dark. I don’t suppose that’s true?”

With a wobbly smile, Zelda affirmed that it hadn’t been true. The day got easier after that. People realized they weren’t going to witness anything other than a socially anxious girl and went about their chores as if nothing happened. Of course, she also dissuaded formal titles and told them she wanted to be a normal person for as long as possible before piecing together the kingdom that had already been underway by the Sheikah.

The days went by slow, but the months sped by her. Before she knew it, Link had woken her up to the smell of herbal tea and fruitcake - sweets in the morning had always been her guilty pleasure.

“Happy three months,” Link said with a hum as he set out some plates.

Blearily, she smiled and took a seat at the table to watch him work. “Has it really been that long?”

He barely nodded. “Official this evening.”

She observed him from behind. A soft hum smoothed over their silence and she allowed herself to enjoy this less guarded Link. He talked more often. It seemed to come naturally to him now.

Zelda let herself melt into the wooden chair and thanked herself for making patterned seat cushions. It wasn’t uncommon that she took in her surroundings, comparing what she lost to what she has now. Materially, it was a deficit but never did she feel so complete. There was no real goal other than to just be. 

They ate in a comfortable silence, both still wearing what they slept in.

When noon rolled around, she disappeared upstairs to pull on a deep green dress with sewn in flower patterns and jotted down a list of items to pick up from East Wind. 

“Do you not wish to accompany me?” she asked, tying a rupee pouch to her belt. There wasn't any accusation in her voice, merely simple curiosity due to his affinity to keeping by her side. And, admittedly, she did enjoy his company.

“As much as I do,” he grumbled shortly as he tapped the Sheikah slate repeatedly. “Impa sent a letter last week that travelling merchants were having bokoblin issues in the mountain pass.”

Link wore his riding trousers and a simple Hylian tunic. Without words, they had both understood that she had claimed his Champion tunic to sleep in after days of mending. Her heart sank, it meant the shrines weren’t working today and he would need to ride horseback.

He seemed to read her mind, reaching to thread his fingers passed her ear and through her shortened locks. A commonality after she decided thigh-length hair wasn’t practical anymore.

“I should be back at nightfall. Will… you be okay?”

It was a question born of genuine concern despite the knowledge that she was fully capable of cooking and caring for herself, but he needed that affirmation for himself and she was fully willing to allow him that. When she nodded, he pulled away and she mourned the loss of warmth. Zelda forced the corners of her lips upward. The sight reassured him.

“Be careful,” she chided once he packed a small bag and swung onto his horse. Link looked down at her, grinning as if he knew something she did not. “I mean it. Don’t do anything rash.”

“I know,” he breathily said, “I won’t.”

The manner in the way he spoke sounded like her nagging had caused him great exhaustion, which elicited a playful swat at his leg. 

“Tonight?” she said, sounding more like a statement than a question.

Unwavering cobalt eyes fixated on her. A chaste nod. They didn’t say much more by the time he secured the reins in one hand and urged the horse into a slight trot. Soon he was over the bridge and down the road. By the time she retrieved her basket, he had long disappeared into the Hateno woods.

Autumn made herself known in the tree leaves that were displaced by Zelda’s steps and the chill that bit her cheeks. She fell in love with the season all over again. Ivee’s voice was clear as day once she stepped on the village road. Two people on horseback road passed her towards the inn up ahead. They politely nodded to the woman as she shouted out today’s discounts and carried on their way.

Ivee grimaced at their backs and stiffened at Zelda’s footsteps. Suddenly, with a bright smile, she twisted around to ring out a warm invitation.

Zelda offered a weak wave when the greeter’s face fell. “Sorry.”

The store owner’s daughter waved her apology away with a sigh and continued sweeping away fallen leaves from the doorstep. “Don’t be. Dad’s been on me more about getting newcomers in before the first snow.”

“Is business bad?” she asked, taking a glance about the area. There were more people than usual. 

“Quite the opposite, it’s our busiest season,” Ivee pursed her lips in thought before gesturing towards the door with a scowl. “He’s always like this. Thinkin’ we’re missing out on customers if I don’t lose my voice by sunset.”

Zelda’s shoulders bounced with silent laughter as Ivee leaned back on her heels to wipe sweat from her brow.

“I saw Link leave not too long ago,” the brunette raised her brow. “Seemed to be in a hurry.”

A shrug was Zelda’s answer as she said, “I suppose Kakariko is having a monster problem and, well, you know how he is.”

She grinned wryly, “Can’t ignore a damsel in distress?”

The basket swung with Zelda’s idle swaying and she rolled her eyes. “Oh, no,” she considered, then remembered why she came by. “Have the truffles been restocked?”

“I’m afraid not,” Ivee pouted, “I tried to save some yesterday before they sold out again, but Dad nearly lost his head.”

“I appreciate the thought, Ivee,” Zelda hummed in contemplation. She’d have to do something else for dinner.

The woman looked down, then hazel eyes shot up to hers with an idea.

“Nikki’s daughters go truffle hunting down in the lower forest. Such troublemakers, those girls,” Ivee mumbled the latter notion under her breath. “But now that moblins aren’t as much of an issue, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if you tagged along.”

“I’d love to, but Link has still been wary about me straying too far from the village. I’d rather not give him a heart attack.” And Zelda wasn’t too keen on wandering far without him; the Yiga were still active on the roads outside the village. Until now, they were careful to keep a low profile.

Ivee sighed and leaned on her broom. Wistfully, she smiled, “I wish I had a protective husband like you. You would think I could find a respectable man already, but everyone our age in this town has the maturity of a child.”

The basket in Zelda’s hands froze mid-sway. “I beg your pardon?”

She didn’t seem to notice the change in the blonde’s body language and went on to stare off, “Link is so protective of you. Zelda, you’re lucky to have snatched up a man like that early on. I’m starting to think I’m either horribly unlucky or Calamity Ganon made them extinct.”

Surely her ears weren’t mistaken. 

Husband?

Snatched up?

The woven wood splints of the basket handle dug into her palm, but she carefully guarded her expression - a testament to her upbringing. 

“There’s plenty of agreeable men in the village garrison,” she said, trying to shrug off the odd feeling. “I can make Link put in a good word for you.”

Ivee quirked her lips to the side, “I don’t know, Zee… but honestly I have nothing to lose. Will being into soldier types make me as smart as you?”

They laughed it off and Zelda politely excused herself with a slight stiffness. From East Wind, she picked up grains and milk while making sure to leave a good report to Pruce of Ivee’s behalf. On her way out, Pruce chuckled.

“Send my regards to your better half!”

Her brows scraped the highest reaches of her forehead, but Zelda quickly reeled herself in and sent a bright smile behind her. As she walked down the road with the sales shouting of Ivee behind her, she felt the shock of their assumptions settle into a stark warmth against the chill air.

There were several variables that insinuated… a very misconstrued aspect of her relationship with Link. The tips of Zelda’s ears flared. But, no, she was a scientist and understood that correlation did not mean causation. It could simply be an assumption drawn from Amira and Pruce’s household only. 

“Zelda!” 

She jumped at the hiss, spinning towards its direction and coming face to face with Nikki. The woman gripped her wrist and dragged her around the corner of a house. Then, Amira popped up from behind a barrel.

“You’re good!” she loudly whispered. “He didn’t notice.”

“Who didn’t notice?” Zelda said, making Nikki momentarily panic when her voice was too loud for her liking. The antics of the two women were fairly normal, but this situation was entirely new.

Amira, who was glaring around the bend, appeared again with shifty eyes. “There’s a man going around asking nearly every woman on a date.”

Nikki puffed out her chest victoriously. “You’re lucky. He got distracted by the innkeeper’s daughter. He kept going on about boots. His boots this, his boots that. My goodness, he’s fortunate he didn’t pull that on me. My Nacky would have let him have it.”

“O-Oh,” Zelda exchanged glances between the two of them. “Thank you.”

“Absolutely, darling,” Amira proudly declared. “We wouldn’t want Link running around trying to find the man who wanted to steal you from him, now would we? It’d be bad for business.”

Before Zelda knew it, she was nodding vehemently. “Yes, I know what you mean.”

She most certainly did not know what they meant. At all. Quickly, she bid them a good day and began her way up the slopes to the Sheikah lab. Despite Amira and Nikki’s warning, the boot man never appeared to steal her away.

Purah’s squeaky voice was heard above the ticking of gears as Zelda pushed open the doors. Calculating brown eyes met hers, “I was wondering if you’d ever visit me.”

“I was here yesterday.”

She still appeared to be a child, but Zelda noticed she was taller than the prior day. From her stool, she squinted down into the cavernous body of a small guardian. It had long been deactivated by Link before he defeated Calamity Ganon, and Zelda was set to use it for a better purpose than rotting in a junkyard. 

The Sheikah waved her off, “Did your potion make only my mind older because I distinctly remember Symin being the only one here.”

Symin barely looked up from a diagram, “She was here for four hours, Purah.”

All the scientist did was hum a tune. Zelda helped herself to the desk space she had occupied a day before. Scattered across it were miscellaneous notes in Zelda and Purah’s handwriting. Small illustrations were more prevalent in Purah’s more recent studies. At least her physical form was growing older and the blonde was quick to scribble down her observations. 

Beyond that, however, Zelda grew relentlessly distracted. Any progress was dashed when she remembered how they referred to Link. Three desperate attempts to read through the same paragraph were thwarted by the time she slammed the book shut, unable to get the notion of being married out of her head.

Husband. Husband? That would make her his wife, logically. But what wasn’t logical would be the ability to fathom this idea in the first place.

“Symin,” she suddenly said, catching the larger man’s attention. He swiveled a bit in his stool to face her.

“Do you need another reference?” He was referring to the Guardian mandible in his lap.

Zelda shook her head before choosing her words carefully. 

“What are your thoughts on marriage?”

“Um,” Symin wrinkled his nose and gazed up at the ceiling above. “Uh, I have very little on the subject. Why ask me?”

“Don’t hit on my assistant, Zelly,” Purah’s voice echoed from within the Guardian body she was dismantling. “I’ll tell on you to Linky.”

That made Zelda place her hands on the table and partially stand. The metal parts lying on her skirt clattered to the ground. 

 “So, you think we’re married too?” She was louder than she usually was with a tone of finality. 

Symin nearly gawked, “You aren’t?”

“No!”

“You aren’t?” Purah echoed, popping her white head of hair out of the sea of wheels and cogs.

“Purah you should know this!”

“Zelly, you must know old women don’t poke their noses into other people’s business! Consider it an educated guess.”

Zelda groaned, falling back into her seat with her head in her hands.

The researcher’s assistant beside her shifted awkwardly in his seat.

“Well,” he started, then stopping and starting again. “It must have been another dramatization when the story began spreading across Hyrule.”

“What’s the story say then?” she said, defeat in her stature and embarrassment on her cheeks. “I might as well know how it was told.”

Purah had fully reemerged now, her clothes stained from oil. She wriggled onto the table. “Something something, before the Princess’s birthday,” she sang, “the goddesses something something and under the watchful eye of Hylia they eloped or whatever.”

“We eloped?”

“I don’t know!” Purah threw up her short arms. “That’s what the bird said!”

“Look,” Symin steered her away from his mentor. “Maybe it’d be best if you got home and explained it to Link before he hears it from someone else.”

She considered it. He was right. Zelda should rip the bandaid off early on, then the awkwardness could pass faster.

Right? 

“I will say, I was hurt that I wasn’t invited,” Purah pouted, handing Zelda her basket. “But remember that when there’s a real wedding.”

She didn’t have the emotional energy to argue at that point.

It had been hours since she had ascended the cliff and now the impending sunset brought dropping temperatures. The clouds over the sea hadn’t lightened her mood either.

By the time Zelda returned home, night had fallen outside and it caused her to assume that Link was wise enough to spend it in Kakariko. He knew she didn’t like the thought of him riding past dusk.

She waited until small bubbles manifested over the sea of oil and melted the butter for her mind to wander. It wasn’t… imposterous to make inferences based on their interactions. After all, they had known one another for over one-hundred years (with all minor happenstances abiding). Perhaps it was only natural that they developed their familiar bond.

Zelda had difficulties with darkness and he, with sleep, so it wasn’t an uncommon occurrence that she made herself a space amongst his makeshift pallets by the hearth, nor him in her bed in the loft. How many times has that happened?

Many times. Most nights.

The heat on her face was quickly blamed on the simmering risotto base. Gradually, she stirred in the rice and spices, copying the movements she’s seen Link do before. 

Besides, sleeping together - no, merely sharing the same proximity - was born of necessity. There were plenty of activities a married couple performed that they didn’t. Nikki and Nack called one another the most egregious nicknames. Zelda nodded to herself, stirring the contents of the pan with fervor. That was something they never did.

They were comfortable roommates. Who slept together on the occasion.

And who shared lingering touches when words didn’t suffice. 

She was wary to confess the feelings she harbored for those small moments when he’d brush the side of her cheek and down the length of her hair; the only times she regretted her dubious haircut. And maybe she did enjoy the opportunities to remind him to shave by cupping his cheek in her hand. Thrill wedged itself in her heart when he leaned further into her touch.

Discomfort sat at the bottom of her stomach. Zelda frowned deeply. The familiar sensation of impending disappointment ebbed at her.

The door at the head of the room clambered open, revealing the sheets of rain falling from the heavens. Boots stomped a couple steps on the hard-wood and the door shut more gently than it opened. 

“I’m sorry,” a chilled, but deeply familiar voice said. “I’m late.”

Zelda sat back on her haunches, taking Link in as he peeled off his sopping cloak. His shoulders shook as the rain had long set into his clothes.

“Link,” she whined. “Hylia above, what have I told  you about riding in the rain? Especially in this weather!”

“I know,” he grinned wryly at her from across the room. “And I nearly rented a room, but then goddesses told me you were cooking tonight.”

She would have chastised him further and ran to grab him an extra change of clothes, but her previous thoughts pounded in the back of her brain and the steady bubbling of risotto kept her in her place.

“You’re too much for me,” she huffed, barely looking at him. “Can you check to see if this is done?”

Suddenly, his breath was right next to her ear. “I’ll move out anytime you want me to.” 

A pause.

“It’s perfect, Zel.”

Her hand stilled in its stirring. There went the nickname criteria.

Zelda caught his eye and his amused expression deflated slightly. She blinked, “This is your house.” 

A small crease formed between is brow. “And?”

“And,” she emphasized, “you’re going to catch a chill in your own home if you don’t change.”

Link didn’t move immediately and she could feel his stare, but eventually he relented to her nagging. She could hardly hear him shuffle about the room once his boots were removed. When Zelda pulled the pan from the fire, he was descending down the loft in a simple cloth shirt and trousers.

“Did I do something?” he said, idling by the foot of the stairs.

That had made her brow furrow and her frown to deepen. 

“No,” she nonchalantly answered, throwing down a potholder on the table with more force than needed.

He eyed her from the cabinet and pulled out a couple plates.

“I am fine,” she copied his stare and could tell the question was on the tip of his tongue. Still, he held her gaze from across the room. Zelda pressed the appropriate silverware onto the placemats.

“Link, stop that. I’m fine.”

When he closed the distance to put the appropriate plates on their mats, he hadn’t yielded to her reassurances and took note on the way she stepped away to give him extra room.

Annoyance wormed into Zelda’s chest and she dimly noticed that this manner of interrogation was used before.

“Have I done anything?” Link asked again, genuinely this time. “Because I’m sorry if I worried you.”

It was a wonder how this was the same man who could take on three lynels at once. She only knew because she’s seen it. The fire was there when he stared down Ganon after a year of waking up from a century of slumber, it hadn’t stifled the flame in his eyes. But now, he was careful with her. The blue of his eyes was soft, gentle and fully willing to apologize when there was nothing he did wrong.

“No,” she said, forcing herself to match his demeanor because it wasn’t fair for her own troubles to affect him. “No, you haven’t.”

His follow up question didn’t need a voice.

“I heard something in town and,” she stopped to let her stiff shoulders sag. “I don’t think you’ll like it.”

Gods, she sounded like she was a child about to admit to breaking something. As she said the words, she realized that the idea itself hadn’t bothered her. What had bothered her was his potential reaction. 

Zelda could say they were friends, even close friends, but lovers? Spouses? The pull of her heart at the thought scared her.

Disappointment. There would be disappointment in his eyes that would leave her  to hurt.

“They think,” she paused. He tried to take her fidgeting hands in his, but she pulled away and left him dumbfounded. Zelda didn’t like that expression at all on him, only making her more flustered in what to do. 

“Who?” His tone was gentle, like calming a spooked horse.

Zelda breathed in a large breath, “This morning. Ivee and- and Pruce and… Nikki and Nack...”

She trailed off, searching the floor and Link for words.

“The townspeople?” 

Tentatively, she nodded, not quite able to spit out what she needed to say.

Now, he was fully confused. “What do they think? Zelda, I promise you they don’t judge you for what had happened.”

The Calamity. Of course he would be thinking she was worried about that with how aloof her mannerisms suddenly were. Assuming he guessed right, his small frown upticked to sympathy.

“They’d never pin that on you. If anything, they warmed up to you more than they did to me.”

He began to tell her about the odd stares he got when he began reconstruction of the house. All the stories that would typically make her laugh, but all she could do with stare at their feet.

“They think we’re married!”

The words that flew from her were unequivocally hers yet her ears could hardly believe it. Link’s lips fell into a small “o” as he took a step back. Shock barely registered on his features, and it made her regret saying anything at all. She hated the way his eyes left hers.

Unsure of what to do, she watched him pace to the opposite wall and back. Never did he meet her gaze in turn for the rafters above. A hand brushed through his damp hair.

He swallowed the remnants of his tales, more softer with a certain disbelief, “Married, huh?”

Her quiet response affirmed him.

If this had been any other situation, she would have poked fun at the way he was behaving. Nothing about him exuded the certain confidence he so often employed in front of her. Lucky was a word she would have used if she managed to confound him like this.

“Ivee was the first to mention it in passing,” Zelda placated. “I thought it was a simple misunderstanding until Pruce then Nikki then Amira until…”

“Until it wasn’t so simple,” he finished for her. She smoothed a piece of hair behind her ear with a nod.

They fell back into a quietness. Some of Link’s shock gave way for, what she assumed, a reluctant acceptance.

The risotto was growing cold and neither had the stomach to point it out.

Zelda wasn’t ignorant about her feelings. However, she knew she was a coward. Before the Calamity, she had an understanding of why his name suddenly filled up the pages of her diary. Back then, Link had a silent charm to him that let her be herself for a short moment. It enraptured her. But she also had an excuse to never admit it. 

Now, she had nothing to hide behind. No Calamity Ganon was going to drag her away from the man who was obviously embarrassed to be seen as her husband.

“Married?” he asked again, as if she hadn’t confirmed it for the umpteenth time. He was leaning against the table with his hand rubbing his neck.

“Yes, Link,” she was growing frustrated. “They think we’re… you know.”

Then, he looked up. “Is that a bad thing?”

Link’s eyes swept the room at her startled reaction. “Well,” he said with a raised brow and a small shake of his head. “If you’re completely against it then I am too, but-”

Then, to her absolute surprise, he shrugged. “It’s not horrible.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying,” there was defensiveness in his voice, “that other people assuming I’m married isn’t the worst rumor in the world.”

Now Zelda was thoroughly convinced he had stumbled upon a pub on his way home. “You do realize that it would mean I would be your wife.”

His shrug was more grandiose this time. “And I would be your husband.”

By then, the room was much dimmer. The fire lacked wood and Zelda hadn’t had time to think about lighting candles. She could make out his features, but could hardly read them.

“So, you’re not mad?”

Link wasn’t leaning on the table anymore. The action made her feel closer to him. 

“Why would I be mad at you?”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Not at me. The rumor.”

There was hesitation in his movements, but he crossed the little amount of space between them. “Honestly? It makes sense why more people haven’t outwardly hit on you.”

That comment made her let out a short laugh.

“But no,” he said; she could hear his smile. “I’m not mad… not at all.”

Link’s approach was slower than usual, but she opened up to his enticing pulls that evolved into a gentle embrace.

There were many doubts Zelda harbored. Most old, some new. To her, they were indistinguishable. Yet, all were forgotten, if only for a little while when he held her close in his arms.

When she bunched the cloth of his shirt in her hands, she felt him shiver. 

“You’re going to catch a cold,” Zelda muttered.

All he did was hold her closer. 

[somethingvinyl]

Decade in Review #5: The Best Albums of 2014

Every day for the last 10 days of the 2010′s, I will post my personal top albums for each year of the 2010′s. Today, 2014!

1.     St Vincent, St Vincent 2.     Against Me!, Transgender Dysphoria Blues 3.     Tune Yards, Nikki Nack 4.     Shellac, Dude Incredible 5.     AJJ, Christmas Island 6.     Gabriel Kahane, The Ambassador 7.     Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn 8.     Jack White, Lazaretto 9.     Nickel Creek, A Dotted Line 10.  Beck, Morning Phase

Honorable Mention: Leonard Cohen, Popular Problems; Kate Miller-Heidke, O Vertigo!; Broken Bells, After the Disco; Behemoth, The Satanist

St. Vincent’s fourth record was self-titled because it was the best representation of who she was so far: and how! I saw her on this tour, and it’s a highlight of my lifetime of concert memories. Laura Jane Grace of Against Me! came out as transgender and put out an incredibly meaningful and personal statement of an album. Tune Yards hit my radar for the first time in 2014 with a joyously unhinged record, and Shellac put out a predictably great album of angular noise rock. AJJ sang more about the world than the self, with intriguing results. Gabriel Kahane struck a Sufjan-like balance between folk singer-songwriterism and modernist classical composition, and banjo heroes Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn delivered exactly the genre-bending folk album we were all hoping for when we heard they’d gotten married. Jack White’s second solo album was even better than his first, though nowhere near the heights of the White Stripes, and Nickel Creek’s reunion made for another great album of progressive bluegrass tunes. Beck’s Morning Phase, like Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs in 2011, won Best Album at the Grammys and caused everyone to wonder who the hell he was. (Come on, guys, he’d only been making essential music for 20 years.)