#Schubert the poodle

[101flavoursofweird]

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There’s the ‘Janice Quatlane and the Siren’s Song’ longfic that lives in my head rent free…

Three years post-Eternal Diva and a few months after the events of PL3, Mr. Whistler summons Janice to the prison he’s kept at to pass on a letter he’s received. The letter is regarding the condition of Melina’s old pet poodle (Schubert), who was given away to another family when Melina became too ill to look after him. The letter writer, one Serena Worthing, informs Mr. Whistler that Schubert needs to have an operation. Whistler hasn’t spoken to Janice since the events of Eternal Diva I know the novel implies the pair of them are still on conversational terms, but Janice needs this angst but Whistler asks Janice to go and check on Schubert…. in a seaside town halfway across England.

Janice goes for Melina’s sake (knowing how much she loved that dog) and she arrives in the seaside town of Sebri. There, Janice reunites with Schubert and Serena ‘Rina’ Worthing, Schubert’s current owner.

…If that sounds familiar, I did just summarise a fic I wrote a while back (Stray English Poodle) that basically serves as a prologue.

Rina is a local constable and the daughter of the town’s police chief. She reveals to Janice that tourists flock to Sebri in the hopes of seeing a legendary siren, and the townspeople really play into the legend. Rina’s younger sister, Cici (Cecilia) actually believes in the siren and she believes it might have something to do with their mother’s disappearance from over ten years ago.

Cici even wrote to the Professor Layton a few weeks back to ask him to solve the case! When Janice informs them that she used to be the Professor’s student, Cici is star-struck… but she is disappointed when Janice reveals that the Professor hasn’t been taking on any new cases lately, due to what happened with ‘Future London’ and the Mobile Fortress…

Cici asks Janice to solve the case, much to Rina’s chagrin. Janice isn’t entirely sure but she agrees to stay and help for a couple of days…

One day later, Carmine Accidenti crashes into town of course!Turns out Professor Layton passed the case on to him. Carmine and Rina do not get along.

Janice, Rina, Cici and Carmine team up to solve the mystery behind the siren and Mrs. Worthing’s disappearance… involving lots of angst for Janice as she deals with a resurgence of grief for Melina (doesn’t help that this woman she just met and might like is called RINA)! 

[washdayradionetwork]

Ten Records That Made Me Pull Over

Let's be real: Every music nerd worth the name has had way more than 10 of these. This is just the list I remember today.

"Records" because I hate it when people refer to excerpts from classical works as "songs", which they're generally not unless you're talking Schubert. Or Copland.

Can you dig it? I knew that you could. Here we go.

Guinnevere; Crosby, Stills and Nash: Seems to proceed out of Vince Guaraldi's "Cast Your Fate To The Wind", which I knew and loved. There's a little bit of Daphne DuMaurier's Rebecca, and her hapless replacement -- also known and loved -- here too. 

A song that has lost none of its power to haunt this listener, and inspire hope for the rescue of a woman trapped forever in the wooden memories of an inanimate object madder even than Guinnevere herself.

(What A) Wonderful World; Art Garfunkel, feat. Paul Simon and James Taylor: The instrumental arrangement was too elevator-friendly by half, but, oh, those voices! Nobody but Crosby, Stills and Nash was singing like this at that time, and that union was always touch and go.

Love Is Like Oxygen; Sweet: Could just as easily have been "Addicted To Love", which provoked the same reaction when I first heard it. And then, I saw that video .... So, Sweet takes it. There's just something about riff rock (Green River, Long Cool Woman, Dwight Twilley's I'm On Fire) that puts your whole day right.

Bonus: Slightly-delusional lyrics. Also, two great riffs in one -- that synthesized, French Horn opener, and the crunchy guitar. 

No apologies.

Stories We Could Tell; Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: I had seen this tour, and was still marveling that some New Wave cat (that'd be Bobby Valentino of The Fabulous Poodles) had sounded every bit as country on the fiddle as Roy Acuff. Then, they released a live version with Valentino as the B side of ... something, and I was done.

Stop Draggin' My Heart Around; Stevie Nicks, feat. Tom Petty: This was smart, it was lean, it was tough, and it boasted a frontwoman.  It's impossible to state how different it was from anything that had come before.

The Köln Concert; Keith Jarrett: A lot of water under the bridge, and a lot of soulless, brunchy imitators can't rob this record of its beauty or its power. A magnificent achievement that captivates from the first few notes. Like being lost in the storm-tossed ocean without ever drowning.

Bury My Lovely; The October Project: Kate Bush without all the silly, rich-girl trappings. Completely, utterly, and appropriately serious, yet just as utterly without pretense.

The Water Music Suite No. 1 in F major, HWV 348: VII. Bourree, Georg Friderich Händel; Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Gerard Schwartz, cond.: Improv, baroque style, courtesy of virtuoso oboist, Alan Vogel. 

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry; The Holly Cole Trio: A musical banquet of country, jazz, gospel, and old-style hymn singing. The lonesome streak that runs a mile wide through all those genres makes it work in a way some cheap, exploitative "crossover" hit never could.

Tennessee Blues: J.D. Crowe and The New South: From the first, halting notes of the banjo, this George Jones cover announces an unshakable soul sickness of the kind you can only catch when you're forced to act all homey in a place that makes you feel homeless.

[wenttworth]

concept: yoi musician au

ahdfjksal ki T that’s my weakness

sososo let’s think. For my own ease they’re both pianists (though they each play quite a few other instruments)

Yuuri has had traditional training and so plays very correctly, and because of that typically sticks to the classical and baroque eras. He finds it difficult to show his own interpretation of pieces when he’s performing, so classical/baroque is what he’s most comfortable with. Any interpretation possible he just copies what Celestino does. His performances are therefore a bit lackluster (nerves don’t help either). 

People in the community are low-key aware of him as talented, but not awe-inspiring, until Phichit starts uploading videos he’s taken surreptitiously when Yuuri is just messing around (Phichit is a jazz musician and can play just about any instrument he gets his hands on to a certain level). 

Viktor, seemingly, has no flaws and no difficulty with any pieces or any eras. He was entered into competitions by his instructor when he was a child and the instructor saw his potential, and grew in popularity from then. Now, he is generally considered the best musician, not just for his talent but for his interpretation of every piece he plays.

(Hot on his heels is Yuri, who has a habit of changing to improv halfway through pieces, much to the annoyance of Yakov. He had a deal with Yakov that until he was eighteen he would follow pieces to the letter. Viktor overhears this deal and says that if Yuri is considered the best child musician worldwide without improv he will let Yuri open one of his concerts. Yuri’s considered the most talented child musician worldwide by the time he hits his fourteenth birthday.)

What people haven’t been noticing is that Viktor is losing inspiration and any love for playing, but knows that as soon as he stops playing he might as well lie down and let himself die, because apart from Makkachin it’s all he has. So he carries on, and slowly people become less and less impressed as he gets older.

(The whole Yuuri idolising Viktor happens as in canon--Yuuko shows a twelve year old Yuuri the video of Viktor at a young musician of the year competition and Yuuri promptly puts his face everywhere on his walls and collects every magazine that even mentions him in passing, pesters his parents until they also get him a poodle, in private practices every piece Viktor’s ever been recorded playing and making exact copies.)

So, Yuuri’s dream is to compete against Viktor (low-key, because of the absolute fanboy he is, to play the same piano as Viktor). He finally gets the chance at the international piano competition for outstanding amateurs in Paris with Mozart’s sonata in C, but, having had news of Vicchan’s death, almost can’t complete the piece. Viktor (ever the patriotic) plays Rachmaninoff’s 6 Moments Musicaux, Op. 16, according to the judges, the best it’s been played since the composer himself.

(As I want Yurio to compete against Yuuri at the Paris competitions the year after they’re all a bit older as the minimum age is 18. So Yuuri is 25/26 and Viktor 29/30. It’s not like age is an issue until arthritis sets in anyway my piano teacher was playing and teaching me until she was in her 70s and got me pretty far)

HoweVER at the banquet post the competition finals Yuuri gets steaming drunk and almost forgets that everyone else is there and starts playing one of the pianos. From experience, it helps to be at least a little drunk when playing Satie so that’s probably what he’s playing lmao. But, this then becomes an improvised piece, which some of the other competitors then join in with to play improvised duets. When Viktor finally (screws up the courage lolol) joins in, it’s the best Yuuri’s ever played in his life and Viktor is amazed and a little in love. Afterwards, Yuuri grinds on him (ffs yuuri) and tells him that if he ever needs a break from competing he should teach him, or maybe move to Japan and teach him at the same time as competing and Viktor is basically sold.

(Well. His dick is sold. His brain still needs to check that it’s a good idea.)

Yuuri falls into a depression after that, and blows the rest of the competitions, doesn’t qualify for any more finals, and goes back to Japan with his tail between his legs and not realising that his idol is currently pouting in Russia from being ignored by the man who grinded on him then promised to call but never did (the number was written on his hand and he washed it away without paying attention). For the rest of the competition season Viktor is playing distinctly gloomier songs rather than the upbeat, uptempo ones he usually played (pettiness at its highest; he really had to dig into his repertoire to find the gloomy ones).

Yuuri shows Yuuko the Rachmaninoff that Viktor had played during the finals, with Viktor’s interpretation (only better, because he doesn’t feel as empty as Viktor did when playing it). Triplets do a good job and upload it, and Viktor flies round the world being propelled by his dick and lands naked in the onsen (ffs viktor).

I’m going to assume that ice castle becomes ‘piano castle’, in which there are soundproof rooms and concert grands. Yuuri has a piano himself, but it’s an old scuffed upright which he only uses when he first tries out a piece or when the mood strikes him when he’s at home.

They settle into a sort of routine and Viktor is fairly disappointed to begin with; sure, Yuuri plays beautifully but not with much emotion, and he’s also apparently terrified of Viktor (even though Viktor can see the way Yuuri looks at him when he thinks Viktor isn’t paying attention).

As he’s trying desperately to get Yuuri to open up, Yurio arrives with the vengeance of a thousand angry men, because Viktor hasn’t fulfilled his promise and has also released a statement to the press that he is taking an indefinite break from performing and competing. The competition is, like in canon, a ruse, and Viktor gives Yurio a Schubert, which he isn’t pleased with at all, and Yuuri Debussy’s Valse romantique (this one is the closest I can find to how I play it the rest just...don’t sound right to me lmao). He gives them just under a week to prepare for performing.

(Yuuri isn’t aware, but he and Viktor slipped into parts of this piece at one point during their improv session)

And ya Yuuri wins the onsen on piano match and that’s the first arc of the anime I guess XD

(I’m thinking Yuuri’s pieces at the finals will be Liszt’s La Campanella and Liebestraum no. 3)

also think how visible the rings will be

[101flavoursofweird]

A series of fics starring Janice, Melina and Melina’s mischievous pet poodle, Schubert.

Starring: a hopeless lesbian, her diva crush/best friend, and the chaotic canine that controls their lives. Also features: a desperate misguided father seriously Whistler what are you doing?, an Italian detective-wannabe, and an animal-loving business tycoon.

[101flavoursofweird]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Layton Kyouju Series | Professor Layton Series Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Janice Quatlane/Melina Whistler, Janice Quatlane & OC, Janice Quatlane & Oswald Whistler, Janice Quatlane/OC Characters: Janice Quatlane, Melina Whistler, Oswald Whistler, Professor Layton OCs, Schubert the poodle (OC), Serena Worthing (OC) Additional Tags: Femslash February, the dog does not die Series: Part 6 of Two Divas and a Dog Summary:

Melina says goodbye to Schubert… and Janice reunites with him, years later.

[101flavoursofweird]

Heads Up 7-Up Tag Game

Tagged by the amazing @samcybercat, thanks!

Rules: Post seven sentences from your latest WIP and then tag (up to) seven people to do the same.   An extract from a new Janice/Melina I’m writing, because the only thing I can write for Femslash February is tragic lesbian divas…

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“I just— want him to remember me,” Melina sobbed. 

“Of course he’ll remember you,” Janice said, though she wasn’t entirely sure about that. Poodles were one of the smartest dog breeds— as Melina had frequently reminded Janice— but how good was a dog’s memory, really?

Melina didn’t need to hear that right now, though. 

Janice held Melina as tightly as she could without hurting her. She wished she could absorb all of Melina’s pain and her grief. 

She regretted every time she had wished Schu would leave them—

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Tagging: @asa-liz, @theriveroflight, @yoshi-g-teh-first, @mitsybubbles, @nebulousboops, @multiversal-madness and @lutiaskokopelli and anyone else who wants to do this

[101flavoursofweird]

Me: I lack motivation to write. The character interactions feel bland and usually consist of them sitting around a room talking. I want Character A to talk about their trauma, but not TOO much. I want them to heal as well. We need some levity in the scene-

Also me: Give them a DOG.

[101flavoursofweird]

A series of screenshots for your consideration.

[101flavoursofweird]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Layton Kyouju Series | Professor Layton Series Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Janice Quatlane/Melina Whistler, Hershel Layton & Janice Quatlane, Janice Quatlane & OC, The OCs are a dog and a butler Characters: Janice Quatlane, Melina Whistler, Carmine Accidenti, Schubert the poodle Additional Tags: Two divas and a dog - Freeform, Humour, Fluff, Misbehaving dogs, Onesided Janice/Melina…? Series: Part 5 of Two Divas and a Dog Summary:

That morning, Melina had contacted Janice with a request… or rather, a mission: Take Schubert to the dog groomers.

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Notes: I wouldn’t say Janice or Melina are OUT OF CHARACTER but I’ve added to what little we learn about their characters in the movie. Eg, Melina is a hopeless romantic and somewhat (unintentionally) spoiled rich girl. All these hijinks feel like something out of a goofy/tragic romcom. But who cares, our narrator is a lesbian, and the underdeveloped PL female characters need some personality traits other than, ‘Graceful… Patient… Selfless…’

There’s only many times I can write, ‘She held her hand over her heart.’

[101flavoursofweird]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Layton Kyouju Series | Professor Layton Series Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Janice Quatlane/Melina Whistler, Janice Quatlane & Carmine Accidenti, Melina Whistler & OC, Janice Quatlane & OC Characters: Janice Quatlane, Melina Whistler, Carmine Accidenti - Character, Professor Layton OC, Schubert the poodle (OC), the oc is a dog - Character, You don't necessarily need to read the previous entries in the series, All you need to know is that Melina has a dog, And Janice has a crush on Melina, Carmine does not have TIME for crushes Additional Tags: University, Gressenheller University, Dogs, Misbehaving dogs, Eternal Diva, Possible Eternal Diva spoilers, Fluff, Humour, Janice and Carmine were classmates - Freeform, This is canon now Series: Part 4 of Two Divas and a Dog Summary:

Melina visits Janice at Gressenheller.

[101flavoursofweird]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Layton Kyouju Series | Professor Layton Series Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Janice Quatlane/Melina Whistler, Melina Whistler & Alphonse Dalston, Janice Quatlane & Alphonse Dalston, Alphonse Dalston & his dog, Two divas and a dog Characters: Melina Whistler, Janice Quatlane, Alphonse Dalston, Professor Layton OC, Schubert the poodle (OC), Prince Azure Dalston Additional Tags: Dogs, Misbehaving dogs, Eternal Diva, Eternal Diva spoilers maybe, Fluff, that’s all this is, Humour, ”Melina you bimbo!” Summary:

Melina can’t keep up with her pet poodle, Schubert. Luckily, she and Janice meet a fellow dog-lover who offers them advice.