#Piano di Marketing

[supportomarketing]

Una nuova voglia di Marketing

Da quando ho iniziato a parlarvi di marketing per aziende ad oggi è passato molto tempo. Ma le situazioni non sono poi tanto cambiate anzi si sono amplificate. Oggi molto più di ieri ogni tipologia di azienda ha necessità di prendere in considerazione la creazione di una politica di marketing. Ovvero di un sistema che sia in grado di presentare prodotti e servizi in un mercato non solo in…

[ilguna]

Can you do finnick odair with Marjorie by taylor swift for the piano sessions . Like finnick is grieving after reader dies in the sewers . I LOVE some good finnick angst

Ps I absolutely adore your work

☼ marjorie (Finnick Odair) ☼

warnings; swearing, death, death mention.

wc; 1.7k

notes; Piano Sessions: songfic, Marjorie by Taylor Swift.

--

District Four is haunted by the ghost of you.

Finnick knew it would be hard coming back here, which is exactly why he’s been putting it off for so long. He needed more time to come to terms with the fact that you wouldn’t be by his side when he did it. It helped that he wasn’t immediately released from the Capitol directly after the rebel’s victory.

There was a set time period for the victors from the Star Squad to recover from their adventure in the sewers. Whether it be from physical, emotional or mental wounds. In Finnick’s case specifically, all three. He nearly got torn apart by the pale slimy mutts if it weren’t for you, coming in to save him. Ultimately, losing your life for him.

It’s hard for him not to blame himself. He knows that’s not what you would want, it was your choice to jump in front of him. He wishes you hadn’t. He’s sure that he would’ve found a way to get out of there, and he’d much rather you be here, than him. You deserved to live. 

The vote that Coin conducted regarding another Hunger Games with the Capitol’s children delayed his trip home further. In fact, it set off a whole domino lineup that he’s sure Katniss never thought would happen. She knew there would be consequences, of course, she just didn’t take the time to think about how severe it would be.

Finnick voted no to the idea twice. Once for him, because he would never subject them to the years of torture he had to go through, especially since they had no hand in the Games. And one more time for you, because you would never have entertained the idea. 

In the end, it didn’t matter, because the vote went through. The same evening, Katniss was to execute Snow on live television, when instead she took the life of Coin for suggesting such a tasteless idea. This was when the dominos began to fall. Her actions caused another couple weeks of trial while they assessed her wellbeing. While that happened, an emergency election took place, where Commander Paylor took charge of Panem.

When Katniss was granted permission to go home to District Twelve, so was everyone else that was in Capitol custody. For the first time in Finnick’s life, he could go anywhere, do anything. Despite the fact that it should’ve felt like a weight was lifted off his shoulders, they felt heavier. When he imagined the light at the end of the tunnel, he always pictured it with you. Not by himself.

There were many people around Finnick that tried to support him. The most important of them being Johanna, who did tell him that he didn’t have to go back to Four if he didn’t want to. She wouldn’t mind it if he decided that he wanted to live with her for a little while, or even permanently.

With him being away for so long, he had to go home. He ached for it. The same way he ached for you to be in his arms, for you to kiss his face, for you to calm the rising grief in his chest for all the people you lost together.

Finnick’s never felt more alone.

He wasn’t sure what he expected when he stepped off the train a month ago, but it wasn’t the flood of memories that hit him while standing on the station. All of the times you’d gone to the Capitol together to mentor for the Hunger Games. How he held your hand every time while you carefully stepped off, because of the one time your foot slipped. His promise for it to never happen again.

It didn’t end there. It doesn’t matter where Finnick goes. It doesn’t matter how far he runs. He’s gone to the beach, and relived the picnics and the sunrises and the stargazes. The way you’d brush the sand from his skin, the minutes that never seemed to end when he had his eyes on you.

The first day he went to the market, he was met with all the sorrowed faces that frowned in his direction. Every single one of them knew how much you meant to him. If you were out of the house, usually he wasn’t too far behind, going wherever you went. If it meant he was able to spend more time with you.

It got worse when he returned to Victor’s Village, where he was met with a cemetery of houses that belonged to the victors that used to live there. With the rebellion, almost everyone had been wiped off the map by the Peacekeepers. And if not by them, then the rebels, who were afraid of the loyalists.

Besides Finnick, the only other victor that survived is Annie, but she lives with Katniss’s mother now. It was too painful of an idea for Annie to return here, she likely would’ve broken down completely. She can’t handle the memories the same way that he can.

He wishes he could say that he escapes reality in his house, that he’s able to pretend that nothing’s ever changed. And you’re still across the street, baking cookies with the door wide open. But his house is haunted, too. Finnick knew that one day he would regret inviting you to live with him at his house, when you had offered for him to move into yours.

He thought it wouldn’t be that big of a deal. Finnick never intended for the two of you to fall apart, he was going to hold you two together for the rest of your lives if you allowed him to. He never considered that an outside force would wipe you off the face of the planet forever.

He should have taken your offer, because maybe then it wouldn’t be so painful to stay here, in his own home. Maybe he wouldn’t be crying in his bed at night, clutching your pillow, begging for you to come back. For a sign that you’re still around, waiting for him.

You’re everywhere, you’re inescapable. Your favorite tableware is in his cupboards, the one that your family has been using for generations. The one that your kids were supposed to use as they grew up, and eventually take as they gave it to their own children.

Your favorite soaps are in his bathrooms, which he’s too afraid to use. He had to buy new hand soap to avoid using the one that you’d gotten. He doesn’t touch the shampoo and conditioner in the shower. He doesn’t even sniff the body wash that sits on the ledge of the tub. 

Your decorations are carefully placed throughout the house. You brought life to his kitchen, his living room, his bathrooms, his hallways, his bedroom. Pieces that he never would have thought to grab in the past, because he couldn’t see the point of having them.

Your favorite smell is embedded in the blankets on the bed you shared. With your preferred perfume still sitting on the bedside table, waiting for you to come back. It would bother Finnick when you would spray his side of the bed, but now he would give anything for you to do it again.

Your makeup is on the vanity on the far side of his room, the jewelry box is propped open, the silver and gold collecting dust because he doesn’t want to close it. And your clothes are still taking up half of his closet, which he resists smelling every hour of the day.

Johanna told him to get rid of all of it. Or, at the very least, bring it back to your house, but he can’t bring himself to do it. It’s yours. For a brief moment in time, this place was yours too. Even if your belongings are gone, your feet are still imprinted in his wooden floors. In his mind.

You linger.

There’s a trace of you in every path you walked, in every object you touched, in every person you talked to, and in every breath of air that Finnick takes. This becomes increasingly obvious the longer Johanna stays with him.

“Maybe you and Katniss should spend some time together.” Johanna suggests, arms crossed over her chest. She looks over Finnick. “I heard that she’s not doing very well either.”

Of course not. Katniss lost more than she probably ever thought she would. She went through with being the Mockingjay to free Panem, but more importantly, to keep her sister safe. The whole reason why she ended up in that position was because she didn’t want her sister to go into the Games. Now that she’s dead, not even her own mother will return to Twelve. And the person she loved hasn’t stepped foot back, either.

When Finnick tears his eyes from the pot of fake greenery in the corner to look at her, the scowl on her face smooths out.

“No gossip.” She breathes, arms unfolding. “(Y/n) would’ve scolded me by now.”

Finnick presses his lips together, wanting to keep the growing pressure behind his eyes contained. 

“You and Katniss got along though, didn’t you?” She asks. “I thought I saw you getting close while we were in District Thirteen.”

He nods. “We had a lot in common.”

“You still do.” She says, the expression on her face has changed once again. This time to concern. “Finnick, are you sure you don’t want me to stay?”

“I’m sure.” Finnick breathes.

If Johanna stays, then she’ll ultimately end up trying to erase the time you put into him. She’ll try to take his mind off of all the things he knows about you. How you loved the amber skies in autumn. The way you’d pull him into the freezing beach water, while he complained the whole time.

The song you’d hum on the way back to his house, holding his hand up until the very minute you got into the shower together. He should’ve asked you what you were thinking about, he should’ve listened to every word.

‘Cause every scrap of you would be taken from him.

--

this was part of my 3k celebration!!

[small-sinclair]

More Band!Au Sinclair HCs that no one asked for:

Au belongs to: @arkunder

Bo and Lester had a drinking contest on stage. Vincent was so disappointed.

They play rock-paper-scissors if one of them has to do an interview.

Ask Vincent about his hidden goldfish snacks! He has them hidden everywhere. He’ll just pull a little bag out of nowhere sometimes.

Bo is, indeed, in therapy. Not for drinking but for mental health.

They once live streamed Bo and Vincent playing chess for a charity event. They are both really good at playing.

Lester went off stage for a moment and came back with nachos. He didn’t play the drums for a set, so the twins did the heavy lifting.

The three brothers had the world’s hottest soup to see who can eat more. No one was surprised when Lester won.

They actually love playing catch! They have baseball gloves and a ball they bring. Before a show, they play catch and chill.

Vincent has a base that looks like a mermaid tail.

They went to a nursing home and played for an elder fan. She was 97 year old and loved heavy metal music. She died a few days after later. In honor of her, Vickey wrote a song and named it after her: “Lilith”.

One time, someone passed a fiddle to the stage and Bo took it. He opened up the case and started tearing into it. The crowd went nuts.

They have sibling tattoos. Bo has a sun, Vincent has a moon, and Lester has a star. It’s on their back.

Bo once sung in French during a song out of boredom. The girls and the gays went nuts.

Vincent likes smoking lavender cigarettes.

A kid placed a flower crown on Lester’s head. He nearly cried.

During a meet and greet at a convention, Bo held a crying baby and calmed them down to let the staff member take a little break.

Whenever they go to award shows, Bo wears his black suit and tie; Vincent wears a three piece suit with a Vincent von Gough themed tie; and Lester is in his finest blue jeans, shiny cowboy boots, a nice plaid, and wears his Luisiana belt buckle.

During an outside show, Lester came on stage with an opossum in his arms. Where did it come from? No one knows.

Whenever Vincent goes out to do charity work and Bo comes with him, the twins like to have fun! They’ll color and play with the kids, let them draw on their arms, and put things in their hair. At the end of the day, they do a group photo with everyone they spent time with and hang the photo in the bus. Vincent puts one in his base case.

Bo has an emotional support stuffie named Snuffles. It’s an alligator.

Vincent stopped the show and hopped off stage. Someone brought their cat and he wanted to pet it.

Speaking of cats, whenever they do an outdoor show, Vincent found a kitten stuck in the sound system under the stage. He crawled under the stage and brought them out. Shes named Soundwave and is loved by Jonesy and the fans.

Bo loves playing the piano before the show starts. He’ll come out in his heavy metal outfit and sits next to the keyboard and play classical music like Mozart.

On Saturdays during the summer, they take the day to go to farmer markets and pop-up sales in the little towns by the city. They wear ‘disguises’ when they go. Some people are able to figure them out, some don’t.

When Louisiana flooded, the boys went back home and helped cleaned up the town (I’m assuming Ambrose is still an alive town). Bo helps rebuild houses and sheds, Lester helps cleaning the mud and the muck along with returning any loose critters to the DNR for recovery, and Vincent cooks d and pass out food at a crisis center. If they have to, they’ll give blood.

SIDE NOTE:

Whenever they go home to Ambrose, everyone treats them normal as if they’re not famous. It gives them some space to breathe.

They don’t stay for too long, maybe a weekend or a week. If they stay longer, Bo is down at the garage, Vincent is in the art and hobby store, and Lester cleans up the roads and road kill. They also take this time to help their next door neighbor, Mr. and Mrs. Lane. They’re like grandparents to them.

They live in their own house while Trudy and their father are in the house from the movie. Because Trudy doesn’t approve of them doing this, she doesn’t visit them, and Victor ignores them.

[her-acts-of-cruelty]

huge rhrn spoilers!!

this is my review. :3

if you spot any mistakes, let me know! curious to see what other people thought

this is long btw... and broken into sections in no particular order.

1. marketing

i, like many other fans, saw the teaser dropped and assumed the movie wouldn't be out at least until the end of the year, as par the tradition with most movies. However, this isnt movies, in fact i think forge released this movie at the perfect time for a couple reasons. the first beingo that the release date was on Litha, also known as the summer solstice. the reason this is significant is that many ceremonies for this holiday include celebrations with large groups, something that RHRN provided. I felt like this really added to the aspect of attending a "ritual". another reason forge was quite smart for this is that the hype for people around the world to see what happened at the Kia Forum hadnt died down yet. this worked in his favour, considering this sudden drop brought up the attention again.

i really liked that they used Father Jim Defroque as a marketing tactic. Especially considering it connected festival goers at Download to feel connected with fans that weren't there. The use of Jim's posters at download was very fun too, and fitting they got vandalised due to non-ghost fans assuming it was a real priest. for me that added to the authenticity that he's a real person that is very serious about protesting this movie!!!

i also liked the experimentation going on, even if it doesnt go to plan (problems with the jim video drop), the fact that these new mediums are being tested out allows room to figure out kinks and try them again in the future. it added to the interactive element, and made me forget tobias existed, and that this was a very real band and there were very real things going on that i had to be weary of.

2. Music

One thing i did notice is the improvement in quality compared to their previous live album, Ceremony and Devotion. Obviously theres a big change in vocals, i was very surprised that Copia's vocals seemed a lot more high pitched than what i had remembered.

the easiest comparison i can make that's accessible to everyone right now here Rite Here Rite now's Absolution, and Ceremony and Devotion's Absolution. most notably for me was the backing vocals and the presence of this growling and sinister tone, that i really enjoyed. the overall quality is definitely there too, i'm not certain on the specifics but i know for a fact there was a very different set up this time around, compared to C&D.

if you have ghost live, was such a haunting moment. theres many little elements, the backing vocals, the gorgeous piano, and the incredible cello players had a huge part in making this version sound the way it did. the amount of passion and emotion here reflected the message of the song, there was a sense of unity that i felt really stood out.

Its also worth talking about The Future is a Foreign Land. oh my god i cried when i heard this for the first time. this song really encapsulates that sort of bond-esque era of music, undeniably it had that 60s ring to it. It did also remind me of Magna Carta Cartel (more so than subvision, i dont think subvision has quite the same sway as this specific song). i know some others have pointed this out and i'm glad.

from a story point, this song is really interesting. considering we previously had no context of how nihil responded following the events of kiss the go-goat, it was kind of cathartic to know that he did genuinly feel bad for his actions. more about this in the use of animation though.

For tobias forge, this song was really interesting. i felt like it was a bit too blatant having the mention of 2024, i guess it felt like it was implying that from that moment nihil knew that thqt was the year copia would take over as head of the clergy, or at least that seestor would die. which wouldnt make sense? i dont think? idk comments are on, share what you want.

3. Animation/mixed mediums

i wasnt sure how the animation element would tie in with the movie when i first saw it announced, but honestly i think this was the best way to do it. while i was a bit disappointed to see nothing new from liz fenning and justin andrews, the decision to lean into the comments of ghost making scooby doo music and using that artsyle was very fun.

i also felt like this was a time effective way of explaining the events post kiss the go-goat. seestor's idgaf attitude was amazing, im so glad that this didnt fall back on letting nihil get the girl in the end. characters dont have to get back together, and im glad they didnt. this felt more real and more personal, the two of them only sticking around to work and to make sure their children grew up to serve their duties.

the overlay during year zero was so fucking cool. i think its clips from swedish black comedy "Häxan" but i could be very very wrong. this made me very happy though, i wasnt expecting this and was a nice way to throw in some references to swedish media, especially one that also enjoys making fun of the fear around witchcraft and satanism,

4. the ghouls!!

suspiciously well behaved. did not expect that. i was a bit disappointed that we didnt see that much of them and that they were so well behaved??? what happened to my feral creatures???

as per usual, their perfomances were amazing. the backing vocals sent me to heaven, i think best example of this is during mary on a cross, or kaisarion. Seeing Phantom and Dew show off their silly skills was very fun, love me a man that can become a pretzel while he serenaded me with songs of satan. while i am upset that we lost Aether, im glad his replacement is bringing some silliness to his role and seeing his growth with the band had been really rewarding.

i will say cirrus's reaction to seestors death did get me. like damn. youre right this is sad. i think also seeing someone die is actually quite shocking, we dont really know much about seestors relationships with the ghouls so theres not a whole bunch i can add.

im so glad they werent unmasked, i feel like that would've ruined the mystery of what ghouls look like. and i mean not as performers but as fictional creatures. everyone has their own version, similar to how Vessel from Sleep Token keeps on his mask to allow the audience to project onto him.

hearing rain's voice scared the shit out of me. i forgot he knew how to do that.

5. the off stage segments

i am so glad this is how the movie was broken up. what comes to mind for me is copia and nihil in the box just before if you have ghost. this was a gut punch of a moment for me, for a deadbeat parent to just decide they want to be there all of a sudden, because your other parent is bothering you? i did appreciate that big drop of "oh yeah actually i had three songs oops anyway deep breaths loser youre on"

the sudden drop of something like that is insane, and nihil being so smug about it, knowing that he's been keeping that quiet for so long just aaaaaah. but also i get why it was kept quiet, considering how personal the Future is a Foreign Place is to him.

it was at this point i began to cry. and i did not stop crying at this movie, even past the credits.

i did love that there was like no real chemistry between copia and Ashley. like yes, she has a job to do, and copia is known for being useless around women. and also like, theyre co-workers, they dont need to have romantic relations. i liked that!!

i am going to jump to the ending. post encore after the hot air balloon scene. i will not be spending much time on this because my dumbass really believed that copia would just float away into space and thats the movie over.

seestor's death was so unexpected. but i think it made sense. i have mixed feeling about her, mainly the whole "lol yeah i told my 55 year old son i was his mum last month and now ive decided to parent" but thats mainly it. she has a job to do, and she does it well. shes also just the baddest bitch in the world.

i was crying at her dying. and then hearing Copia's pathetic cries had me choke at the emotional whiplash as my friend laughed at me. and i laughed at copia because what the fuck was that noise bro.

AND SHE DIED IN HER HEELS??? girl is serving cunt in the afterlife thats C-U-N-T spells CUNT

finding out copia has a twin (?) was also very shocking, id always assumed he was named Copia becauses hes a copy of his dad, not because like... hes one of two??

Post credits had the entire audience gagged. firstly, seeing copia out of his red tracksuit and wearing his fancy new suit that came with being promoted to Father Imperator (or frater imperator, as some have dubbed him which makes sense and is fair) had me yeowling like a cat being dragged to the vets. Tears were over by this point, i was so proud of him. and happy that forge didnt lie, copia dient die he just now is the real one in charge.

the does also shine a light on how papa doesnt actually have any power, he's just a pawn for the clergy (secondo spitting out im a marrionette??? hello??? he knew full well that he was never the one in charge which is insane. but also fitting for him as a person).

if you're still reading i am very impressed. heres where i put the conclusion;

in conclusion, for Forge's first movie, this was AMAZING. For a band that was originally meant to be scary, its nice seeing them be silly and lean into the things people joke about. they're self aware, and they're fun. i really hope there are future installments and that we get an expansion on the lore (tv show when???)

thank you for reading, here's to Papa V and making new memories!

[socialfilter]

personal headcanons about sadie and abigail because I can (and because I can’t stop thinking about it):

• sadie’s security company eventually extends to a coffee company. she sends abigail coffee on a monthly basis.

• I like to believe sadie’s personality is a mixture of Ellen from The Quick and The Dead (1995) and Idgie from Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) - AKA that girl is stubborn as sin.

• abigail is not a morning person (unless coffee is wafted under her nose)

• sadie 100% visited abigail when she had her little girl (i have a wip about this that i shall not abandon)

• abigail writes to sadie every few months or so but feels they’re very boring because her life doesn’t change much. sadie loves them (and doesn’t correct any spelling mistakes)

• abigail, like her son, becomes an avid reader - but she loves the pictures of a herbology book.

• sadie, despite what some people might think, is quite the woman of culture. she can speak a few phrases of most of the languages found in the saint denis market and regularly converses in conversation down there.

• abigail, surprisingly, knows some louisiana french (I have this fun little hc she’s from like, the Deep South before her parents died - and her language faded as she grew up)

• abigail names her baby girl ‘elizabeth’. john wanted to add a middle name but abigail didn’t want her to grow up with a fancy name so people didn’t get ‘fancy’ ideas. still, her middle name is informally like her mother’s. elizabeth roberts marston.

•abigail braids sadie’s hair in the mornings. when it comes to the blood on sadie’s clothes, that’s sadie’s job.

• for her birthday, sadie buys abigail a set of clothes like her own. abigail loves them.

• abigail is the only one that knows sadie has nightmares about the night at adler’s ranch. she comforts her every time.

• sadie and abigail visit the ruins of the ranch once. when sadie discovers that jake has no grave, abigail gifts sadie a flower in a locket - something she can keep with her forever.

• on the ride to copperhead landing, sadie has to ask abigail to stop crying because she can’t bear the sound of it. it breaks her heart. still, she remembers their early time in colter and comforts her the best she can.

• if john had died on that train, sadie would’ve looked after abigail and jack and gone with them anywhere - no questions asked.

• I absolutely love to think that abigail and sadie have this inevitably doomed kind of love. sadie knows she can’t have abigail but loves her anyway. she’d do anything for her, even when she knows it’ll break her heart. abigail knows she loves sadie but knows her heart belongs to john - still, forcing her to decide upsets her greatly. this is always going to be ‘one of those things’ and they’ll have to leave it in the past or in another life, where it belongs.

• sadie returns to the ranch after john’s death. it’s been years and abigail is mostly bedridden with illness and grief, but sadie stays until she passes. when jack buries her, she never returns.

• abigail convinced sadie to play the harmonica while she plays the piano. it happens only once in their time together.

• sadie teaches abigail how to ride horses like a true cowboy (and takes her to relay races)

• abigail is secretly a smoker. sadie is not so secret.

• I like to think sadie and charles keep in touch.

• abigail and sadie don’t often talk about their past in the gang. the memories they recall the most are ones of the night in colter and of their dear friend, arthur.

• when john returns to copperhead landing, sadie only cries when she learns of arthur’s death.

• abigail only keeps in touch with sadie and mary-beth from the old gang. she occasionally hears from tilly but nowhere near as often.

• sadie once spends an entire book tour as mary-beth’s appointed bodyguard.

• sadie eventually, after hanging up her gun as a bounty hunter, becomes a dealer in horses and transport goods.

• abigail is ridiculously good at making daisy chains. tilly and mary-beth taught her.

• the clothes that sadie wears at abigail’s wedding are abigail’s (surely this one is just canon).

• when sadie returns from hanging dog ranch, abigail is the first to see her and helps her wash the blood off in the nearby stream. sadie refuses to talk about it. abigail already knows.

• sadie and abigail have that kind of relationship where they can just say a million things with just their eyes.

• “I will protect her” sadie vs “touch her and I’ll kill you” abigail

• “I will protect her” abigail vs “touch her and I’ll kill you” sadie

• sadie isn’t a big fan of poetry - however she will list off things she’s read for abigail’s sake. abigail loves it.

• john is extremely aware of his wife’s affection for sadie. he doesn’t blame her and he’s smart enough to know not to stand in her way. still, sadie respects his boundaries.

• let me remind you this is what you wanted! sadie vs you were all I wanted! abigail

• sadie is not a natural mother. like john, her relationship with jack is a little awkward, but the feeling is there. it’s more of a tentative friendship rather than a guiding one.

• in more intimate moments, abigail draws illustrations she remembers on sadie’s skin. plants, animals, herbs. anything she can think of. she loves counting sadie’s freckles.

• sadie has a poncho made by abigail. it’s blue.

• ‘young and beautiful’ is from abigail to sadie like,,,,heavenly.

• ‘poison and wine’ = angsty but heartbreaking goodbye sadigail

this is all I can think of…for a part one? I don’t know. discuss.

(I need to make them a playlist)

[loneworldgazer]

noooo! don't turn me into a marketable plushie!!

about: trigun guys with a reader who likes to make plushies

a/n: tiny vash (this is also short cause i was impatient to post this limau (lmao) )

pairings: vash x reader, wolfwood x reader

vash

best believe he does a little squel when he sees your works

he ADORES all of the little animal, fruit, veggie, whatever you make plushies you make and squeezes the living hell out of it in excitement

if you like gift giving, he will gladly show it off, keeping them on his bags as keychains, putting it on his table, hell even on his ears if he wants to feel silly

he's also the type to send those good morning messages with the small plush that you made sitting right next to his plate of eggs and bacon

and when you make a tiny version of him, he thinks he died and went to heaven (not literally though i haven't read the manga bro isn't dead right)

it is the most cutest fcking thing he has ever seen in his life, you even got down to the shade of his hair and coat!

for funsies, you would defitenely make his gun and he would scream if you added something that could make tiny him hold it

he would hug you and the plushie at the same time to thank you

he will cherish this gift forever

just know if anybody ever sees it and mskes fun of it, he'll just say that they don't have a wonderful, most coolest person to make plushies for them and fake cries to make fun of them and run off to giggle

gives it silly nicknames like vashie or vash the junior

wolfwood

would grip the ever living shit out of your plushies as if they'll respond

he thinks it's a cute hobby (and that you're cute too

i see him as a guy who just fucks with it, you do you

would buy you materials if you ever run out and you would panic every single time if you think you're running out but a new fresh batch (the exact same colour too!) would pop up in your sewing basket!

he doesn't admit this though, he thinks he's slick

he keeps some in his pockets and gives them to children if they're in need of a small companion/ cheer them up

very much suprising you when kids come at your doorstep to thank you for the plushies and they would grin in thanks

but his favourite one is the tiny version of him, how adorable

he places it into his pocket like it was his kid and brings it everywhere, so if he ever wants to pull out a cigeratte to smoke, he would always have to push away tiny him deeper into his pocket to get at his box of cigerattes

calls it little guy

knives

he doesn't have a need of plushies, it clogs up his space, he finds it useless

second chill guy? he doesn't care at all of what you do and he doesn't bother with your gifts, keeping it into a basket at first

until you made effort in creating a tiny version of himself to which he scoffs in amusement

and hey!! there's detachable blade coils, isn't that fun???!?!?

you have to look at him closely for a reaction, just a tense constipated look of focus on what you've done, intricate details of his suit means he kinda likes it (he doesn't want to admit he finds this action cute whether friend or spouse, it was nice to receive something that was really worked hard on especially when it was him, literally)

there was also a slight twitch of his lips, a quick lift at the end like he wanted to smile but he didn't want to give you the pleasure

(he find your methaphorical droppy ears on your head funny, what a meanie)

he keeps it on his piano, although he finds it bothersome when it falls face flat because of the piano's vibrations or his tiny him blade coils making it heavy on the back, he still likes keeping it close

he goes through that same basket of what you sewed for him and gradually the plushies you thought he threw/dump it elsewhere were now popping up in every corner of the house as decoration (atleast there was some use..? right?)

vash calls it little nai (knives doesn't do nicknames)

[city-of-ladies]

You have probably already heard of the famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. But did you know that he had an equally talented sister who was sidelined?

This is her story. 

A child prodigy 

Maria Anna “Nannerl” Mozart (1751-1829) was born in Salzburg, Austria, to Anna Maria Mozart (née Perti) and composer Leopold Mozart. She was thus immersed in a musical environment from early on.

She began learning music at the age of 8. Like her little brother, Nannerl was a child prodigy and excelled at playing the harpsichord. But she wasn’t supposed to make a living out of it. Her musical education only aimed at increasing her value in the marriage market. 

Between 1763 and 1766, she toured Europe with her brother. Nannerl was 12 and Wolfgang 7. They gave concerts in no less than eighty cities. Contemporary praised Nannerl’s musical abilities, calling her a “wonder”, “prodigy” or “virtuoso”. She could indeed play the most difficult pieces “with precision, incredible lightness, with perfect taste”. She was sometimes even billed first. 

End of an artistic career 

Nannerl helped write down some of her brother's compositions and wrote her own as well. Wolfgang was supportive and encouraged her. He frequently asked for her opinions on his work. She sent him at least one piece and he called it “beautiful”. Her father said nothing of it.

A musicologist made the hypothesis that Nannerl could have written two of Wolgang’s concertos for violin. Sadly, as far as we know, none of her music survived. 

Nannerl, who referred to herself as an "obedient daughter", stopped touring and performing in public at 16. It was now time to prepare for marriage and her father now focused only on Wolfgang's musical talent. 

A loveless marriage 

Nannerl was 33 when she ultimately married an older aristocrat who already had five children from previous marriages and whom she didn't love. She had three children with him. She didn't completely give up on music and kept giving piano lessons.

After her father’s death, Nannerl managed to garner all of his estate. Her relationship with her brother became strained and their correspondence ceased after 1788.

Preserving her brother’s memory 

Wolfgang died in 1791. Nannerl later encountered Franz Xaver Niemetschek’s biography of him and was deeply moved by it, learning of the difficult conditions he spent the end of his life:

“Herr Prof. Niemetschek's biography so completely reanimated my sisterly feelings toward my so ardently beloved brother that I was often dissolved in tears since it is only now that I became acquainted with the sad condition in which my brother found himself.”

She later helped Georg Niklaus von Nissen (who had married her brother’s widow, Constance) in writing a biography of Wolfgang by lending him an important collection of letters.

Nannerl became blind at the end of her life and died in 1829 at the age of 78.

Her fate leaves us wondering what she could have become in a more supportive environment and what her music could have sounded like. 

Feel free to check out my Ko-Fi if you want to support me!

Further reading:

Gault Philippe, "Mozart : Sa soeur Maria Anna, dite Nannerl, a-t-elle composé certaines œuvres signées Wolfgang ?"

Laleu Aliette de, Mozart était une femme : histoire de la musique classique au féminin

Melograni Piero, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: A biography

Milo Sylvia, "The lost genius of Mozart's sister"

Solomon Maynard, Mozart: A life

[thegianpieromennitipolis]

'900 - di Gianpiero Menniti

IL POTERE DELLE IMMAGINI

Nel lessico cinematografico il "primo piano" rappresenta la ricerca d'introspezione, la psicologia del personaggio che emerge dal testo narrativo.

Lo spettatore rimane colpito da un'espressione, uno sguardo carpito che lascia intuire l'emozione del protagonista.

Così, i volti di Hollywood hanno influenzato, fin dall'infanzia e per sempre, l'esperienza estetica individuale.

La fiction si è trasformata in psiche vivente.

[pizzettauniversale]

Ciao, cosa hai studiato per occuparti del tuo attuale lavoro? Ti leggo e seguo da sempre con molto piacere e ho capito tu sia nell'ambito dello spettacolo/cinema

Allora io ho studiato al Dams, cinema.

In ogni caso io prima ho lavorato in un’agenzia di marketing e comunicazione e adesso lavoro da un’altra parte. Sono attualmente anche direttrice di produzione dell’Umbria Film Festival, quindi la settimana del festival ho lavorato dalle 9 alle 18 in smart per il mio attuale lavoro e dalle 18 alle 2 di notte per il festival più tutti i mesi prima di organizzazione. È un mondo dove è difficile entrare se non hai conoscenze e contatti, ma chissà cosa riserva il futuro per me, intanto già da questo festival si stanno aprendo altre porte di cui non dirò niente per scaramanzia. Quindi piano piano, passo dopo passo sto entrando nel mondo del cinema e dello spettacolo facendomi un culo di Cristo e mi tengo l’altro lavoro finché non sarò sicura di fare il salto e abbandonare tutto perché comunque devo pagare bollette affitto macchina e sfizi miei.

[evita-shelby]

From the Secret Ask List for Eva, please?

15) Will your OC ever retire? Do you see them making it?

24) Can they play any instruments? If so, what do they play?

26) What flower do you associate your OC with?

thanks for the ask 🖤🖤🖤

15) technically when we meet her she is a retired spy, field nurse and military advisor (and all that at age 24!), her retirement is spent being the socialite her family always intended her to be lol

but this woman never retires, she will rule high society with a glamorous fist and fuck with the stock market because divination based insider trading isn't a punishable offense until she dies at age 100 and something.

24) Eva can play the guitar, the harp and the piano. not in like a great kind of way, but enough to teach her kids. she cannot sing for shit(because sadly adria arjona didn't inherit ricardo arjona's musical talent) though.

26) Black Dahlias, just very elegant and dark and native to mexico

[dustedmagazine]

Fay Victor — Life Is Funny That Way (TAO Forms)

Photo by Deneka Peniston

If Herbie Nichols is remembered at all, it’s as a jazz composer and a pianist, not as a songwriter. In the decades since his death he’s carved out a small legacy with musicians like Roswell Rudd, the Clusone Trio and Misha Mengelberg recording albums with his material. These are the records that do the heavy lifting in carrying his music on; Nichols own The Complete Blue Note Recordings (Blue Note, 1997) is a bulky three-CD set that's out-of-print and goes for a premium on the secondary market.

Never a recording success in his short lifetime, Nichols paid the bills by working a variety of gigs: he taught piano, penned articles and poems for magazines, and accompanied singers. Throughout this he was writing music at an almost frantic pace: about 170 compositions, some with lyrics. And even if you don’t know Nichols’s name, you’ve probably heard his most famous one: “Lady Sings the Blues,” a song that Billie Holiday turned into a standard. When Nichols died in 1963, writer AB Spellman noted he’d never had a year where he supported himself solely on his own music.

In recent years, New York based jazz singer Fay Victor has developed her interest in Nichols music with her Herbie Nichols SUNG project. Life Is Funny That Way is the result of these years of work: she’d added lyrics to a set of Nichols’s songs, fleshed out arrangements on others. Over 11 performances, she’s backed with a jazz quartet and brings this music — some of it never recorded in Nichols’s lifetime — to life.

It opens with “Life Is Funny That Way,” a song starting with Victor and sax player Michaël Attias together. When they get to the chorus the band joins in with a nicely swinging groove. Immediately you can hear the chemistry between Attias and Victor: they almost play in unison, his notes mirroring her singing. The other players (Anthony Coleman on piano, Ratzo Harris on bass, and Tom Rainey on drums) create a nice backing for Attias and Victor to branch out on.

Conversely, Coleman and Harris are all but absent on “The Bassist.” It opens with an understated drum solo by Rainey: light rolls, gentle cymbal taps. He builds up until Victor and Attias join in together, again acting as two leads that are mostly playing in sync. But when Victor starts scatting, her and Attias start trading riffs and playing off each other.

Occasionally, the band slows things down to a crawl, giving Victor a chance to stretch out and sing a slow ballad. “Bright Butterfly” has Harris bowing his lines, giving a thick and fuzzy background for Attias and Victor. “The Culprit Is You” has a similar approach, but with Coleman’s sparse piano and little pushes by Rainey’s drumming. It lends this performance a nice smoky, late-night vibe where you can almost see the spotlight closing tight onto Victor as she stretches her notes. And on “Lady Sings the Blues,” Victor’s voice has a bright, almost warm quality as she leans into Billie Holiday’s lyrics.

The band occasionally gets a chance to shine too. Late in the record, they play “Twelve Bars” as a slow mood piece, with Coleman bouncing around his piano as the rhythm section whips up a swirl of noise behind him. It’s one of the more angular pieces here, showing Nichols’ more outside style. He wasn’t just a straight ahead bop pianist.

Life Is Funny That Way offers a nice primer on Nichols: music that’s alternately challenging and straight ahead, close enough to the tradition to seem familiar with enough twists it can catch you off guard. It’s a good way to dive into his music. Let’s hope Victor’s project isn’t a one-off.

Roz Milner

[raging-violets]

Re-Introducing Big Time Rush OCs - The Jacksons

Hi @happinessismagicc! We saw your question to @partiallypearl here and wanted to answer your question about giving more info about Rhuben. At the same time we realized that some more people have been liking our BTR/OC stuff that may not know who the Jacksons are so we decided to make a post to reintroduce them! Sorry for the long wall of text ahead! Tagging @ceruleanmusings and @witchofinterest as well!

First thing to know is that we've written the Jacksons as multi-fandom OCs since 2004ish or so (we believe) but they're probably them most well known in the Suite Life fandom but even more so in the Big Time Rush fandom where we've written them since 2010. I think exactly a few weeks after seeing BTAudition.

The Jacksons are an Australian-Japanese-American family consisting of Riley, Rhuben, Patrick, Noah, and Sydney Jackson. They are a band called the DarkElements in their home of Australia who have had major success but are trying to break further into the American market. They are contracted/employed by Rocque Records to work with Big Time Rush and quickly get sucked into Big Time Rush's hijinks and craziness while changing their band name to Jax. Through shortly after they meet the boys, the boys find out they're being abused by their manager/foster father Robert, as their parents died when they were young.

Riley Rose Jackson: 16 (S1), 17 (S2), 18 (S3), 18/19 (S4)

Riley is the oldest of the Jacksons and it shows in her leadership of their family dynamic and of their band, despite only being a few minutes older than her twin, Rhuben. This is evident in the way she tends to play parental role to her siblings. She's outgoing, outspoken, stubborn, witty, charming, courageous, flirty, and, honestly, a bit of a jerk with a temper to match; the more positive side of her qualities being seen once Robert is arrested for abuse and she can be her true self. She protects her heart as much as she protects her family; fiercely. Riley is the most adventurous and mischievous of her family, always looking for a good time, which tends to get her in trouble. She reads people really well and can see right through people and their motivations quickly and will brutally call people out to their face without a thought and without a blink. But as much as people see her flaws, they see she just wants to be liked and is an amazing friend. She plays lead and rhythm guitar (sometimes bass) for Jax, sings lead and backing vocals, plays the piano, writes songs, and is the stylist for her band as well as Big Time Rush. She is close to all of her siblings but especially Rhuben and Patrick.

Ship: Kendall. Right when they first meet each other there's a spark between them that everyone sees and no one can deny. They bond over enjoying guitar and sports (him hockey, her baseball and surfing) but she keeps him at an arm's length from her out of fear. He is one of the main drivers of the guys and others figuring out hers and her siblings' abuse and want to save them...because his father turns out to be Robert's lawyer (of which he harbors a lot of guilt over). He at least insists that if they're going to be co-workers they should be friends to make things easier and she cautiously does. It's clear to everyone around them that they like each other, but with her distance, Kendall sets his eyes on Jo. It's not until season 2 where their friendship grows into them being best friends that Riley consciously realizes she goes to the Palm Woods and Rocque Records more without her siblings to hang out with Kendall that she has a crush on him...and feels guilty about it. Primarily in that he's with Jo, who is her best girl friend, but also because she knows he likes her, too. So she sticks to being his best friend...and gives him multiple mixed signals in the process. After Kendall breaks up with Jo in season 2, they grow even closer to each other through season 3 and almost get together, but Lucy arrives to where Kendall pivots to her after thinking that Riley doesn't like him/rejected him. By this point all of their friends and family continuously talk to the two of them that they like each other but they both insist they're only friends and the other one isn't interested (with Kendall dating Jo and going after Lucy while Riley continues to give him mixed signals). Through their friendship they continuously toe the line between being very close best friends and flirting with each other until Riley gets tired of him jerking her around and directly confronts him over his feelings for her, to which they admit their feelings for each other in a yelling fight during BTSurprise/BTDecision. However, they don't officially get together until BTCamping where Riley has a manic fit that Kendall saves her from. Season 3 and beyond, they have a great relationship as they take their friendship within it seriously and have a lot of respect for each other and are willing to help each other through their father issues and hard pasts. But when they fight, they can fight. They always makeup and forgive each other well, but they can have some really bad fights. As friends, she and Kendall hang out and talk a lot; they are always excited to tell each other stories about tour or their day, and she has a habit of giving Kendall advice with his problems and have him open up to her without him realizing it's happening. Key Notes: Loves to surf and spends a lot of time at the beach, has 1000+ nicknames for Kendall, has bipolar disorder, signified by the color red

Rhuben Skye Jackson: 16 (S1), 17 (S2), 18 (S3), 18/19 (S4)

Rhuben is the dreamer of the family and while she and Riley have the same sense of energy, she's seen as more introverted than her twin. This due in part to her ambition at being the best at anything she does that she'll disregard others' feelings - aka, she can really experience tunnel vision. Stepping in as a mother/father figure and taking care of/helping to raise her brothers is always a top priority for her. This also means she's known to keep her anger, frustration, and hurt feelings to herself before it reaches it's peak and she let's it all out in a single explosion described as a "verbal demolish" - carefully and purposefully using her words to "make people hurt" in retaliation for those that hurt her; compared to Riley's quick and blunt honesty in the moment. Perfection is something she strives for. She is ambitious, confident, spunky, coy, playful, and a risk taker but is also impatient, self-centered, and petty. Music and dancing are her life so it's not hard to find her working on a drumbeat or working out some choreography. She is the peacemaker of her family and is always up for a good time. She plays the drums for Jax, plays piano, writes songs, sings lead and backing vocals, has an interest in music production, and is the choreographer for Jax and Big Time Rush. Closest with Riley and Noah.

Ship: Logan. Riley, Rhuben, and Logan first meet as kids when the Jacksons briefly lived in Texas before they moved to California and Logan moved to Minnesota. Logan had always insisted that he knew DarkElements/Jax the band over the years, but no one believed him. They reunite when the Jacksons start working with Big Time Rush and Rhuben helps with choreography – specifically with Kendall and Logan who are not as confident with their dancing. Logan wants to jump back into their friendship but finds Rhuben more serious and standoff-ish then she was when they were kids. They both have a drive to succeed, ambition to reach heights with their careers, and a realistic look on life. With his dream of being a doctor, he’s one of the first to notice the Jacksons’ excuses for their injuries and how they acted around Robert. The two slowly rebuild their friendship over Logan’s first two years in LA. Through season 2, they are each other's sounding boards for their frustrations, insecurities, and needing the hard truth told to each other - making sure not to throw it in each other's face even in arguments. It's Logan's overall growing confidence through the swagger app, and how close they had gotten that helps Rhuben realize her crush on him. BTCrush/BTRocker/BTReturns has him start to realize he was building feelings for Rhuben as his brief interest in Lucy, crush on Peggy, and Camille method acting for “Spy High” made him start to notice how similar it is to Rhuben’s true nature after Robert is out of her life (Peggy), her over all look/style (Lucy), and her coy and alluring personality and love of life (Camille as Mila). Talking around admitting their feelings for each other, Rhuben tells Logan that nothing will happen between them if he continues to be indecisive about Camille and running to her with his problems. She is crushed upon seeing his obsessiom with Camille's tackle in BTReturns, and guilty for not being truthful to Camille as she is one of her best friends but still supports their on/off relationship. Logan looks towards understanding where his commitment issues come from and decides to take a step back from relationships until he’s figured it out. BTCameo has Rhuben finally breaking down upon seeing how Coco.0's Dara’s stepmother forced her to restrict her food (and slapping Kendall) and reveals to everyone her eating disorder (except James who she told in BTPromKings) and Logan supports and assists with her recovery; though it is rocky as he first is very heavy handed with "the literature" before realizing how she wants to be supported. His unwavering support solidifies her feelings for him as all in all Rhuben just wants to be loved in spite of people knowing the good, the bad, and the very ugly parts of her life and her past. They start dating in BTRides when they realize they’re trying to hold onto how their relationship was as children and not looking at it as the teenagers they are due to the safety they felt in childhood, leading them to take the leap into uncharted territory of a true serious relationship. Key Notes: Has an eating disorder, dancing is her life, signified by the color purple.

Patrick Bailey Jackson: 14 (S1), 15 (S2), 16 (S3), 16/17 (S4)

He's the jokester of the family and is the older and more outgoing twin to Noah. He likes to make people laugh with a silly joke or a tinge of stupidity but in general likes to make people smile. He'll be the one to cue up Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way" in karaoke but sing Weird Al's "Ebay" instead. But don't let his comedy fool you, he's actually very intelligent and uses his sense of humor to hide how angry he is inside at how his life turned out as well as the pressure Robert puts on them for the band. He enjoys surfing and working out and wants nothing more than to have a good time and to party. He doesn't always think before he speaks, which can either be hilarious or cringy. Patrick plays the bass for Jax (and sometimes guitar), sings lead and backing vocals, plays piano, writes songs, and enjoys coming up with concepts for music videos. He's closest with Noah and Riley.

Ship: Katie. He likes her as soon as he meets her...and has no idea what to do with it. He likes girls and has kissed them many times before, but has never had a girlfriend. So he has no idea what he's doing with Katie and they try to figure out all of their firsts together. But that doesn't mean he doesn't know how to flirt, he flirts with her a lot (often calling her 'sweetheart') but then seems not to know what to do after. They often shyly state how much they like each other...but get stymied on moving forward until they finally kiss and start dating. Kendall isn't happy about it and tends to try to intimidate Patrick but Riley quickly calls him out on it. *(Key thing to note is that in our fics we've aged up Katie from 10 to 13). Key Notes: Has IED, loves to surf, can't read music, signified by the color yellow. Can harmonize the fastest. Is the screamo singer of the band. Can imitate most voices. Wears glasses (mostly contacts. Noah does not.)

Noah Liam Jackson: 14 (S1), 15 (S2), 16 (S3), 16/17 (S4)

Noah is the quietest and most mature of the Jacksons, but that doesn't mean he won't quickly jump in and join his siblings or the guys in their hi-jinks and adventures. He doesn't need a lot of attention but is quick to point out when he's being overshadowed or overlooked, often becoming very strong in himself when needing to speak up for himself, which can shock others who mistake him for being a pushover. He's very sarcastic and deadpan, but is the one most people to go when they need someone to listen. He plays the drums for Jax, sings lead and backing vocals, writes songs, plays piano, and often is the one to come up with the melodies for their songs. Is the "product tester" of the band: He can re-work and edit lyrics, gives a different POV for choices on music video edits and style choices, etc. He is closest to Rhuben and Patrick.

Ship: Lizzie Zevon (OC). The younger sister to superstar Dak Zevon, Lizzie is the life of the party. She was one of the first people in LA around Noah's age that he and his siblings befriended and semi-worked with. She's very talkative, fun loving and just as easy going as she portrays herself to be on social media. Lizzie is the type of girl that pulls anyone and everyone she wants into her world and make them feel like the only person there. And her project was getting Noah to just simply talk to her – mistaking his being quiet for being shy. Noah has liked her from the beginning, and often would ask her to be his date to contracted social outings like award shoes and appearances when it called for a date, but didn’t exactly know how to cross the bridge into dating someone, (as he had girls usually take the lead in that area and he wasn’t using his sisters’ relationships as a roadmap, no offense to them) until Lizzie got impatient and kissed him. A conversation was never really had about their feelings for each other or asking each other out on a date, they were just together after that point. A true Noah move; with as little fanfare, attention, and drama as possible. She does have moments of wondering if he even likes her since he doesn't say it much, but he points out his actions prove he does. Key Notes: Patrick needs him more than he needs Patrick, has selective mutism, compared to his quiet nature he sings beautifully and has a very loud laugh, signified by the colors silver/gray/white. Enjoys solitude as much as being active and doing something fun. Doesn’t need/want attention all that much, which is why he doesn’t have a problem being “in the back of the band” but also doesn’t want to be overlooked. Due to being quiet, it means he’s taking in everything around him: he pays attention to people, their feelings, a great listener and the best person to go to for advice – some advice sounding wiser than his years.

Sydney Adrian Jackson: 10 (S1), 11 (S2), 12 (S3), 12/13 (S4)

Being the youngest of his siblings, Sydney tends to be spoiled and is fairly smug about it. He knows he's the favorite of the family. He's also smug about how much smarter he is than everyone around him. As he grows older he has a sense of arrogance to him but it is offset by his sheer friendliness. He knows he can get away with it until he's knocked down a peg. Nevertheless, he is incredibly sweet and likes to spend time with the people he likes. His genius level intellect (he's part of MENSA) makes it that he doesn't have friends his age and he's lonely due to that. So when he meets the boys he latches onto their hi-jinks very fast, often figuring out how their plans will go wrong long before it happens, but going along for the ride anyway. He plays piano/synthesizer, violin, and rhythmic guitar for Jax, sings backing vocals, writes songs, and tends to lean more towards the business side of their band, often projecting what ventures and promotions and sponsors will be better for them. He is close with all of his siblings but is also close with Kendall.

Ship: None Key Notes: Has panic attacks and separation anxiety, may be somewhere on the spectrum but we haven't decided yet, signified by the color blue. Is the only member of his family with dimples in his cheeks.

[justforbooks]

Marcello Gandini’s cars were made to stop the traffic. The Italian designer, who has died aged 85, created supercars for the super-rich, and such exotic machines as Lamborghini’s Miura and Countach, Alfa Romeo’s Montreal and Maserati’s Khamsin were guaranteed to draw crowds of admirers when parked outside the grand hotels of Monaco, Rome or London.

As the chief designer of the Bertone company, he also worked at the more modest end of the market, creating the little Autobianchi A112 and the original version of the Volkswagen Polo, and restyling the British Mini for the Italian Innocenti firm. For those wanting a miniature supercar, there was Fiat’s two-seater X1/9, a striking little wedge with its four-cylinder engine mounted transversely behind the cockpit, mimicking the location of the Miura’s mighty V12.

Gandini designed for the space age, renouncing the smooth curves that defined the aesthetic principles of his predecessors. To him the Miura, which first appeared in 1966 and which many consider the most breathtakingly beautiful car ever made, was a flawed compromise. “The audacity was made acceptable by the sweetness, by the flow of the design,” he said. “Nobody rejected the Miura. There was immediate consensus. Even more than it deserved. I was at the beginning of my career and I didn’t have enough autonomy to be able to do exactly what I wanted.”

The Countach, altogether more extreme, even outlandish, was closer to his ideal on its unveiling in 1974. Sightings on the streets of London gave rise to the rumour that the width of its huge tyres made it the only car in the world that could not be wheel-clamped by parking wardens.

“For me,” Gandini said, “it represented the dream. It took years before it was totally accepted. Some people liked it straight away, but most, including journalists, took a long time. So much so that it remained in production for 17 years.”

Born in Turin, Gandini was the son of a pharmacist who, after the arrival of five children, had abandoned his first career as a classical composer and conductor. It was hoped that Marcello would become a concert pianist. There were piano lessons from the age of four, continued when he went to a Salesian boarding school at eight. But as a child he dreamed of cars and when, during his days as a student, his parents gave him the money to buy a Latin textbook, instead he spent it on a book called Motori Endotermici (Endothermic Engines) by Dante Giacosa, the great designer of the highly successful prewar Fiat 500 “Topolino”and its 1950s successor, the ubiquitous Nuova 500. His course was set.

At the age of 25, Gandini approached the celebrated Turin coachbuilder Nuccio Bertone, who gave him a job in the design studio. Soon he would take over as the firm’s chief designer from the prolific Giorgetto Giugiaro, who had drawn up the Maserati Ghibli and various handsome Alfa Romeos before leaving to start his own business.

Sometimes Gandini seemed to exist in the realm of the “concept car”, prototypes that explored new ideas without restraint, displayed at motor shows in much the way that Parisian couturiers produce extreme designs for the catwalk. The four seats of the unique Lamborghini Marzal, for instance, were upholstered in silver leather, while its bodywork and fittings made use of a hexagonal motif. The famous vertically opening “scissor doors” of the Countach were first seen at the 1968 Paris Motor Show on Alfa Romeo’s one-off Carabo.

Gandini was said to be responsible for around 200 designs. Among them were two mid-engined classics of the 1970s, Ferrari’s Dino 308 GT4 and the Lancia Stratos. The dramatically wedge-shaped Lancia won the world rally championship three years in a row between 1974-76 in the hands of Sandro Munari and Bjorn Waldegaard, while Munari also won the Monte Carlo Rally three times in a Stratos.

A car, Gandini believed, was not a work of art – “but it has in common with art the ability to generate emotions”. He played down the significance of his innovations. “I didn’t invent penicillin,” he said. “These are just ideas that came to me.” After leaving Bertone in 1980 to set up his own studio, he worked on many projects, including industrial and interior design.

The father who had wanted him to become a classical pianist finally overcame his disappointment at Marcello’s choice of profession when he was taken for his first ride in a Miura. “Only then,” his son said, “did he understand that I knew how to make other notes sound – those of engines.”

Gandini is survived by his wife, Claudia, with whom he lived in a restored abbey at the foot of Monte Musinè, outside Turin, their son and daughter, Marco and Marzia, and three grandchildren, Lucrezia, Costanza and Pietro.

🔔 Marcello Gandini, car designer, born 26 August 1938; died 13 March 2024

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[cursedvibes]

I love the extension of Riko's experiences on Okinawa and the close connection to water throughout it. The piano music throughout also beautifully underlines it. We've had a lot of water imagery in the anime already, particularly the OPs and EDs, these fits neatly into that theme and also the current happenings in the manga (Culling Game players being swimmers and the whole thing being connected to a migration of fish). It's a sign of transition and change, but as we see later, it can also swallow you up, isolate you and suffocate you. It is beautiful and tempting, but can soon turn into danger and pull you away.

The flickering exit sign is a bit on the nose, but still a nice addition, especially since the faulty light could symbolize that this freedom Riko currently experience and which she later tries to further pursue is false. She will never have these experiences again and she never even had a chance at pursuing this life. One way or another she would have died and this is all only very fleeting.

Having Riko's recollection of her life so far take place underwater was a really nice motive. She was isolated, the experiences are sort of distant like how noise gets blocked out in the water. I first thought placing her in the deep sea would have been more fitting for this instead of this clear blue and lovely water, but the bottom of the ocean would have been a little too extreme. The bottom of the ocean would be Tengen and where she was headed. Like this she can still see other people, she just has trouble interacting with them. If she had gone to Tengen, she would have been completely cut off and trapped in almost complete darkness.

On that note, it's so exciting to finally see the Star Corridor animated!! My absolute highlight in this arc and what I've been waiting for for ages. It didn't disappoint. Like in the trailer, I'm still surprised by modern and well it looks, it gave me a more brittle impression in the manga, especially the houses. Like someone used to live there, but now they're abandoned. These look a lot better and maintained, remind me a bit of the market stands in Spirited Away. Well lit and inviting, but nobody is there. Maybe Tengen turned the lights on for Riko, but this almost makes it look more empty. You expect life and people, but there are none.

The tree looks bigger than I thought while watching the trailer, which I'm really glad for. Being lit from below in the darkness, it left such an impressive first impression. I like the music choice here too. You have the dark droning in the background like the hum of monks, which never leaves and then add onto that the light flutes and shamisen(?), which gives it a more traditional feel, like you're transported back 400+ years. But you also always see the walls surrounding the whole place, giving it something claustrophobic and also the impression of a time capsule. I could go on for hours. This is the closest I'll get to seeing Tengen animated and in colour for several years...

[untitled5071]

yo idk if you're still taking requests but could you write a smth about Lisa taking the creature to see a ballet. i had this realization that the creature died before Tchaikovsky was even born and i think it's criminal that he never heard of the nutcracker, swan lake or even the 1812 Overture (where Tchaikovsky used actual cannons 💀). it could be any of his ballets btw ^_^

You had me at Tchaikovsky, I played violin for ten years and he's one of my favorite composers, though I've never seen one of his ballets, a mistake I'll have to rectify soon. Regardless, I hope you enjoy!

🪦🪦🪦🪦🪦🪦🪦🪦🪦

It was a gift for both of them, really.

As a general rule, they were very big on date nights; every day they were together was bliss, but they loved finding new things to experience together, new ways to celebrate the strange second chance at life they were given.

Luckily for them, the smallish city they had settled in after Brookview offered a plethora of activities, from checking out different restaurants, going ice skating in the winter and having picnics in the park in the summer to walking around different craft fairs and farmer’s markets to examine the wares of local artisans.

They thoroughly enjoyed every endeavor as long as they did it together, but by far one of their favorite things to do was attending concerts and dances, their shared love of music and dressing up for special occasions making those dates extra meaningful.

So when Lisa surprised her husband with two tickets to a traveling ballet troupe’s production of Swan Lake, neither could contain their excitement at the thought of the upcoming event.

Creature had discovered Tchaicovsky’s work after he had found a book of sheet music in a thrift store while they were shopping for new clothes, and he had spent the next several days learning as many of the pieces he could on the keyboard Lisa had bought him for their anniversary. The sound wasn’t nearly as good as it would have been on a proper grand piano, but it sufficed, his talent overcompensating for the poor quality of the instrument. Lisa loved to dance to it, and when the event was announced, she knew it would make the perfect date night for the two of them.

But first, they had to get ready.

They stood together in front of the cracked mirror in their rented apartment (Lisa insisted it stay that way, since it ‘reminded her of old times’), Lisa applying a pale shade of foundation to cover her more stubborn burn scars and her husband adjusting the lapels of his suit jacket, humming one of Tchaikovsky’s more nationalistic works-a piece called “Marche Slav”-to himself as he went. Lisa joined in, and though the rhythm was mostly wrong, her husband beamed and sent a praising smile her way.

She caught his eyes, and neither of them could resist leaning in for a kiss, one of those several they already had and would continue to share that day, just like every day since Lisa's resurrection.

They parted from their kiss, and Lisa giggled when she realized some of her foundation had rubbed off on her husband's chin, and she reached out to wipe it away with a thumb, cupping his cheek as she did so.

“I don't think that's really your shade, honey.”

Her husband smiled, holding his hand on Lisa's to keep her there for a moment before releasing her and letting her continue her cover-up job.

Normally they wouldn’t bother; they were both proud of the physical quirks that came with being the living dead and city folk had a tendency to overlook things. But since they were going to be out with the refined public, they both chose outfits that would cover their more….inhuman traits, with Lisa donning a long black velvet dress and opera gloves, and Creature opting for sleeves that covered the stitches on his right wrist and a hairstyle that covered his left ear.

Once they deemed themselves ready, they posed in front of the mirror, Lisa taking a picture with a Polaroid camera she had purchased second hand at a flea market. She waited for it to develop before hanging it up on the designated photo wall in their miniscule living room, covered floor to ceiling in polaroids from different date nights over the years, their smiling faces looking down on them from all angles, all reminiscent of other nights spent enjoying each other's company.

Like the others, this night promised to be a wonderful one.

Neither of them felt particularly hungry at that moment (a consequence of being undead and also their pre-show excitement) so they walked to the theater with Lisa hanging off of Creature's arm, the two giggling and speculating about what they were about to see all the while.

The lobby of the theater was crowded, and the couple clutched each other close as they shuffled their way through the mass of bodies. They skipped the massive drink line and the somehow longer one for the women's restroom, and they presented their tickets to the usher, who showed them to their seats.

They were at the front of the balcony, and Creature helped his wife into her seat like a proper gentleman before he took his own, and he leaned into her space as they read the same program, their heads resting together as they looked over the extensive list of performer and crew names.

Lisa looked up at her husband, a twinkle in her eyes.

“It looks like we're in for quite the treat tonight.”

Creature smiled back, nuzzling his nose against hers briefly.

“Any night we spend together is a treat, my love. This one just comes with a show.”

Lisa giggled, but she didn't have time to respond before the lights dimmed and the first round of applause started, which both of them joined. The curtain rose on the stage to reveal a yard outside of a castle where a grand party was taking place, numerous dancers moving to Tchaikovsky’s jovial score in perfect sync. Lisa ‘ooh’ed quietly under her breath, and Creature’s heart swelled as his wife scooted up in her chair slightly, wanting to be closer to the performance.

The festivities continued, the prince was given his weapon and as he ran into the woods after the flock of swans, Lisa rested her head on her husband's shoulder, lacing their arms together as they settled in to enjoy the rest of the performance.

As expected, the music was impeccable and the dancing was breathtaking, and by the time the titular waltz began and the enchanted swan maidens began their graceful steps, both undead lovers were fully entranced in what they were seeing, their full attention turned towards the stage, though Creature did keep sneaking glances at the hidden orchestra pit and wondering what it would take to be a part of one.

Before they knew it, the show ended, the dancers receiving well-earned and rapturous applause during their final bows. Lisa and Creature were on their feet with the rest of the audience, and when the crowd began to disperse, they sank back into the plush red armchairs of the theater while they waited for the waves of people to leave and make their own exit easier.

And, as they usually did to pass the time, they talked.

Creature immediately launched into a passionate tirade about the orchestration and skill of the people tasked with delivering it, throwing around musical terms Lisa didn't fully understand but nodded along enthusiastically to anyway, delighted to hear that her husband had adopted her penchant for passionate ramblings.

“--and the violins in the Allegro giusto were absolutely phenomenal, the dynamics were–what’s wrong, Dove? You're thinking so loud I can practically hear it.”

Lisa chuckled distractedly, falling silent for a moment and staring at the stage. He ducked his head down to hers and placed a finger under her chin to turn her gaze his way, but all worry about what she was pondering over dissipated as she blurted out,

“Would you still love me if I was turned into a swan?”

He couldn't help it; the bluntness of her farcical statement made him chuckle, and the adorable pinch of her eyebrows wasn't helping matters. He pulled her close, holding her to him and placing a kiss on the top of her head.

“Of course I would, darling, I would love you in any form. If you were turned into a swan I would move to the lakeside so you could swim happily, and I would read you poetry as you did. I'd help you chase away anyone you wanted to terrorize–because let's be honest, my love, you would be an absolute menace–I would find you the best things to eat that you could still digest and, if that still wasn't enough, I would find a way to get myself turned into a swan too so we could be together that way, since I never wish to be apart from you, regardless of the measures I would have to take to do so.”

Lisa watched him deliver his impassioned answer with wide and lovestruck eyes, and the last words were barely out of his mouth before her lips were on his, and she was kissing him with an endless gratitude and adoration.

And of course, he reciprocated in kind.

By the time they parted the crowd has mostly cleared out, giving them an unobstructed path towards the exit. Creature got up first, stretching a bit before offering his arm to Lisa with a wink and a fond smile.

“Shall we go, my dearest? I do believe there is a warm bed waiting for us at home, as well as a keyboard that is dying to be played.”

Lisa blushed and took his offered limb, slipping her arm in the crook of his and leaning her head on his shoulder.

“Lead the way, honey.”

They left together, still linked by their arms and chatting quietly amongst themselves as they continued to absorb the wonderful experience they had just had.

As they passed under the lights of the theater marquee and turned in the direction of home, Creature leaned down and kissed Lisa's cheek, savoring the blush that blossomed across his wife’s face.

“What was that for?”

He smiled, his eyes soft and tender.

“I just wanted to thank you for this night, my beloved Lisa. I'll never forget it, as with all of the time we spend together.”

She hummed affectionately and squeezed his arm tighter as they strode down the city street in tandem.

“No, thank you, darling. I can't wait to see what we do for the next one.”

[springsheep]

War of Faith Notes Ep. 1 - 10

Ep 1 -> Wei Ruo Lai's intro, stock market

shen jinzhen the sniper appears.

Shen Jinzhen meets Wei Ruolai (rickshaw), Li Qin in pastel pink is soo pretty

Wei Ruolai sneaks in through the roof hahaha

Wei Ruolai is given a coat, goes to do the exam for Central Bank

Ep 2 -> Wei Ruolai doing the test (the fire).

Wei Ruolai interview with the Shen guy.

Poor Wei Ruolai, failed the interview becuz of his background

Wei Ruolai sneaks into Shen's party, sees Shen Jinzhen playing the piano. Wei Ruolai watches from afar.

Wei Ruolai tells Shen Tunan he has solved the Kunseng riddle.

Ep 3 -> Wei Ruolai is accepted!!! yesss

Wei Ruolai don't drink too much!! Shen Jinzhen watching them. Wei Ruolai: I'm really not a communist.

Wei Ruolai eating and drinking so much hahaha, Wei Ruolai is a bit drunk, playing violin.

Wei Ruolai's friends (from the "slums") celebrate his job.

Wei Ruolai's weird grandpa friend: In the financial world, it doesn't matter who can make more money or who can make money faster, what's important is, who can live longer. You win, when you don't lose.

Congyun doesn't like Wei Ruolai... hmmm

Shen Jinzhen infiltrating a hotel to kill someone. Shen Jinzhen 好帅啊啊 wearing pink dress tsk tsk so pretty

Wei Ruolai using binoculars to monitor the stock exchange

Lin Qiao Song interrogating Li something

Wei Ruolai understands what Mr. Shen is doing (I don't grr)

Ep 4 -> that guy's name is Lin Qiaosong.

Oh no, i think the Lonely Star is Wei Ruolai's brother... Secretary Huang is evil. Wei Ruolai learning how to identify real vs fake coins.

那个姓黄的再欺负我宝贝啊。hmph

Aaaaah poor Wei Ruolan, his brother got shot and fled to his apartment and he's bleeding everywhere. Wei Ruolan is begging his brother to go to the hospital...

Aaaah poor wei ruolan... wang yibo's crying is so infectious damn it.

Wei Ruolan buries his brother. Wei Ruolan's bro is supposed to bring the gold for the Communists. Wei Ruolan after seeing the gold: =_=

#poor Wei Ruolan's bro who only lived for 4 episodes

Ep 5 -> secretary huang is a biatch

Wei Ruolan thinks of his bro. Shen Jinzhen eats with Lin QIaosong.

Wei Ruolan stops the rich guy from emptying the vault. The Zhang guy was holding him at gunpoint grrr....

Shen Tunan arrives in time to save him (I'm starting to ship these two damn it)

Wei Ruolai posts the newspaper ad, will meet the handler.. aka Shen Jinzhen...

fuckfuckfuck Lin Qiaosong cracked the code also!!!! Fuckfuck

Ep 6 -> Shen Jinzhen and Wei Ruolai pass by each other, Shen Jinzhen scolds him to save him from Lin Qiaosong.

Shen Jinzhen fails to contact Wei Ruolai with the password, Lin Qiaosong starts to suspect Shen Jinzhen

so... the bro's name is Wei Ruochuan.

Li Shengda attacks Wei Ruolai, tells him his brother is a communist.

exam time (Wei Ruolai please get good grades arghs)

Shen Tunan (to Secretary Huang): Do you want him to leave or stay?

Ep 7 -> Everyone compete against Huang Congyun. Someone needs to kick him off his high horse (someone aka my baobei ofc)

Wei Ruolai: Secretary Huang said I need to be on standby for you 24 hours, so I missed some classes...

Shen Tunan glaring at Huang guy lololol

Wei Ruolai Vs. Congyun.

Wei Ruolai is so hardworking argh

He's been studying late into the night. Wei Ruolai wins (ofc)

Li SHengda acting bitchhh Wei Ruolai nooooo don't believe himmmmmm

Noooo Wei Ruolai told him about the 20 gold bars. whyyyy

Wei Ruolai suspects Li Shengda (thank god omggg)

Li Shengda is a piece of shit.

Ep 8 -> Wei Ruolai meets the correct handler.

Wei Ruolai swears revenge for his brother.

Li Shengda is killed (finally).

Shen Jinzhen is happy.

Lin Qiaosong wants to convict Wei Ruolai of being a Communist, but LOL Wei Ruolai is prepared. He 1) called the the police to report Li Shengda before, and 2) "turned himself in" by writing a report.

Shen Tunan looks so pleased lol, Lin Qiaosong is pissed obviously.

Everything is under Wei Ruolai's control (dis boi got plans hahaha).

Shen Tunan protecting Ruolai hahaha. Shen Tunan: I'll bear the consequences.

Mr. Kang is mad at Lin Qiaosong. Poor guy... he got whipped.

aww shen tunan's wife doesn't want to leave him.

Ep 9 -> Lin Qiaosong has a wife(?) girlfriend or something. She's upset to see his wounds. (I thought this guy was single).

Wei Ruolai 真的有本事啊

Wei Ruolai has photographic memory(?) Shen Tunan is preparing to make some big moves, tells Wei Ruolai to memorize the imports and exports blablabla.

The Central Bank is making big moves (tarrifs), people protest the Central Bank.

Shen Tunan (to Wei Ruolai）： It might be dangerous by my side, are you afraid?

Wei Ruolai expressed his thoughts, Shen Tunan praised him. halfway to sucess for the tariff reform.

Wei Ruolai asks for a gun from the Qian gang.

Mr. Qian: It's okay, i'll give you an axe instead. It's made of Manganese Steel. Wei Ruolai: =_=

Wei Ruolai visits a club(???) following the Zhang guy. Wei Ruolai what are you planning...? ohno don't kill him

Wei Ruolai stole Zhang Mingquan's gun and starts writing smth? and dismantles the gun and tries it out.

Ep 10 -> Su Cishu's acting ('nonono')

The Shen family's so cuteee lol and the Shen siblings bickering hahaha

Shen Jinzhen gave her brother a bulletproof vest.

Zhang and Yu want to assassinate Shen Tunan...

fuuck Shen Tunan is late for the tariff voting event, Wei Ruolai is gonna make a speech on his behalf (to delay the voting, cuz STN isn't there yet).

Damn an angry Wei Ruolai is shuaii hahaha

Wei Ruolai is making an impromptu speech letsgooooo

Shen Tunan is shot(?) in the arm. He fainted after the voting is finished.

Shen Jinzhen and Shen Tunan's wife are worried.