#again thank you travis moore

[f4nd0mlife]

[callmemana]

Deeper Than The Holler:

I fell in love with the self-insert x reader stories I have read from the Chaos Squad otherwise known as @bayisdying @cycbaby @dragon-kazansky @mrsjaderogers (my adoptive mama) @askmarinaandothers @callsignscupcake @mtnofgrace @altierirose and a special thank you to @switchbladedreamz for proof reading and to @sligheach-sidhe & @firefly-graphics for the dividers!

Leonard ‘Wolfman’ Wolfe x Amanda ‘Highroller’ Moore 🦋☂️

The Title is off of this Randy Travis Song

He knew the moment that she walked into the O Club for what looked for her shift that he was hooked. She wore the regulated uniform, a t-shirt with the O Club symbol small on the front on her left breast and then a large picture on the back. She also had a slightly dirty white stetson covering her yellow-like sunflower hair, and if the light of the club catches it just right, you can see streaks of red in it. Sat on the bridge of her nose were glasses, thick like a coke bottle, and in her right nostril, a rose gold hoop.

His eyes wandered her frame as she made her way to the bar to start her shift, he paused on her forearms. There, he saw two tattoos, on her left what seemed to be wording, most likely a quote, and on her right, a butterfly, with its right side flowers instead of its usual symmetrical wings. She was different than most women here in Miramar. You could tell by the way she carried herself she was from a small town, head held high, shoulders back. She had something to prove. What that was, he didn’t know but was willing to find out.

As he looked at her features and analyzed her, he realized that her shoulders were uneven, and one collarbone was higher up than the other. Once he had built up the courage to talk to her, he might ask about that. Hollywood must have followed his line of sight because he was nudging my arm and wiggling his eyebrow, “Pretty ain’t she Wolfie?” all I could do was nod, so entranced by her beauty, “Sure is Wood.” “Why don’t you go up and talk to her?” “Because we both know that I’ll say something stupid and lose my chance to talk to her.” “Never know if you don’t try.”

After a few beers, and much encouraging from Hollywood, Leonard got up from his seat and made his way to the bar to order another drink. “What can I get you hon?” She smiled at him while waiting for his drink request. “Two buds, bottle?” She nodded her head swiftly before turning her back towards him and walking away. When she came back with said drinks, “Paying for now, or on a tab?” “Tab, should be under ‘Leonard’” “We have a couple ‘Leonard’s’ here tonight. Got a last name I could search?” He nodded, “Yeah, Wolfe.” “Ok, you’re settled. Anything else I can get you?” Leonard leaned on the bar, “You know my name, but I don’t know yours.” She laughed, loud and contagiously, “Oh hon, I don’t date pilots.” “Then it’s a good thing I’m a RIO. Don’t you think?” She laughs again, moves her hair behind her ear, “I guess, but it doesn’t change the fact that your job is in a plane.” Leonard smirks, “You’ll break down eventually. They always do.” He turns away and goes back to Hollywood.

The next time he sees her, all of the squadron are sitting at a table and laughing about stupid shit. Leonard guesses that he’s staring at her for too long because the other pilots end up looking over at where he is. “Well I’ll be damned! Wolfie’s got a lil crush on the new bartender!” Laughed Maverick. “Grown men don’t get crushes, they admire.” “Grown men might, but you, Wolfie, you still get crushes.” Said Ron. “Ha-ha, Slide.” “Why don’t you go chat her up?” “He has, she laughed at him and told him she doesn’t date pilots.” “But he’s a RIO.” “I told her that too.” “Maybe she just doesn’t find your ugly mug attractive?”

“Alright, alright. Leave the cub alone. Maybe she’s lost that lovin feeling?” “First off, no. That shit doesn’t work.” “For you, maybe.” “Try a pick up line? You know what my dad always said, girls like guys who can make her smile.” “Have you heard this man flirt? It’s terrible! I don’t know how he got a girl before the Navy.” “I’m not that bad,” “Wolfie, the last female you talked to, literally laughed in your face at how bad the line was.” “Whatever, you guys are just assholes.” “Hey, if you’re going up there, get us another round?”

Wolfman nodded and made his way up to the bar, tapping his fingers on the smooth granite. “Hey! You’re back, what can I get you Leo?” “I am, could I get the boys and me another round?” “Sure, bottles of bud?” He nodded, “Yea.” She left to grab the beers and then came back, “So, are y’all celebratin’ or something?” “Um, yeah. We had a mission. We all made it back.” “Good to hear, hate to not be able to see your face every shift.”

His eyes widened at this confession. “Really, I thought you don’t date pilots?” She smiled, “I don’t, but I can see when someone’s attractive. I do have eyes Leo, they might not have the best sight though.” She said as she adjusted her coke bottle glasses up her nose. “I think they see just fine sweetheart.”

She laughs at him, “Of course you’d say that! I just complemented your looks!” “I don’t need to be praised for my handsome face to see that your beautiful.” “Oh, your one of those pilots huh?” “What kind?” “Overconfident and flirty.” “Overconfident? Sometimes. flirty? Always sweetheart.” He winked, she rolled her eyes at him.

She heard a holler from the other side of the bar, looked over and saw his friends wave and smile. She pushes the beers towards Leo a little more, “You better go before your friends have your ass for warm beer.” “I think they might deserve it, they’re dicks to me. They gave me shit for my flirting skills.” “Well tell them that they were right. You suck, but your cute and make me laugh. So, I guess it’s worth it.” She winks before turning away for another costumer. He smirks the whole way to the table with the drinks.

It’s another week or two before he sees her again. He doesn’t know her name, but feels like he’s close to gaining that privilege. Wood and he are at a table off to the side of the bar, so he can see her work. “Now that’s just stalkerish Wolfie. It’s like your completely smitten by her! Do you even know her name yet?”

He shook his head at his pilot, “You know I don’t. I just met her a month ago!” “Most guys would’ve already got her name and taken her out on a couple of dates! Grow a pair!” “She doesn’t date pilots! That’s what she told me our first meeting, Wood. What if I really don’t have a chance?” “Well, you probably don’t. I mean, you look at yourself in the mirror Wolfie? Not that great of a face.”

Leonard punches his shoulder, “Hey dude! You’re supposed to be my friend, support your friend!” “Wolfie, I can only do so much.” “Why do you say these mean things to me? I thought you loved me?” Wood laughs, “I say them because I love you Wolfie!” “You don’t act like it.” “I act like a brother, brothers love each other!” “Because they have too!” “Exactly, I have too! you’re my RIO, if you weren’t there I couldn’t make it back!”

Leonard folds his arms over his chest, leans back in his seat, and takes a pull of his beer. Wood slaps his arm closest to him and smiled, “Here comes your girl.” “Nice try, Wood. That might’ve worked the first couple of times, not not this one.” He heard her voice before he saw her, “Well I’ll be damned, if it ain’t that funny pilot!” “Actually, sweetheart. I’m a RIO.” “I know, I just like to mess with you.”

“Hi, I don’t believe we met. I’m Wolfie’s best friend and pilot, Hollywood.” “Hollywood huh? Seems pretty egotistical don’t you think?” “Well, what do you mean sweetheart?” She gives a little smile and waves her finger, “No. I’m gonna stop you right there, ‘Hollywood.’ You can’t call me Sweetheart, that’s Leo’s nickname for me, but you can call me ‘High Roller’ since we’re using callsigns.”

Both men have their jaws slightly opened and eyes widen, how did she know about callsigns? Leo left the bar later that night with Wood with more questions than answers.

The group of pilots made their way to a table near the back before picking one to come order the beers. “Hey darlin’, didn’t catch your name last couple of times I’ve seen you here.” She smiles sarcastically before slamming the beer on the counter, “That’s cause I didn’t throw it, ‘darlin’.’

“Well look at the sass on this one!” “You got some more than just sass comin’ if you ain’t careful buddy.” “I thought you southern belles were supposed to be kind and generous?” “Well, first off. I’m from the Midwest. Two, I am kind and generous to the people who don’t piss me off.”

“I’m sorry, we got off on the wrong foot. I’m Chipper.” “Nice callsign. What’s your actual name?” “Well you’re just full of surprises aren’t you? I’m Charles.” “I might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but I’m pretty sure y’all are tryna get my name to give to your boy?” The man now known as ‘Chipper’ chuckles, “You caught us. Can you please, just tell me ?”

She leaned in on the counter, “Nice try Chip, the only way he’s gettin my name, is if he plays for it.” “Should I tell him that or let him keep asking one of us to talk to you?” He smirks, “Let him keep guessing. It’s fun to watch him squirm.” She hands him the first round before checking on another patron.

As the guys made the rounds to get the beer for the table every couple of weeks and to talk, you gave each new pilot basic information about you. In passing, mentioning being a former pilot. Which they technically already knew, given your callsign. What was news to them was after a bad ejection, leaving you with a broken collarbone and ankle, you had to be discharged. All of the men repeated the information back to Leo while the others sat and planned out loud.

After many weeks of badgering and complaining about the plan, Leonard finally grew the balls and talked to ‘Sweetheart.’ “So, word around the bar is that you won’t tell them your name?” The blonde smirked and pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, “Maybe word is right. Whatcha gonna do bout it?”

“I think I’m going to man up and ask.” She shrugged, “Sweetheart, please, what’s your name?” “My name is Amanda, and before you ask what you’re gonna ask next, my answer is yes.” “Even if you don’t date pilots?” He smiled. “The thing, Leo, is that you’re not a pilot. I believe the first night we met you said that you were a RIO.”

“And I believe you said that I still worked in a plane.” She smirked, “I change my mind. I mean as a former pilot, we need RIOs right? To make sure we get home?” Leo chuckled, “Yeah, every pilot needs a RIO. Does after your shift work?” “Sure thing, Cowboy!” She kisses his cheek before going back to work, smirking as she hears the whoops & hollering from his friends at their table. Before she’s out of earshot she hears, “I hope you know, Sweetheart, that I’m going to love you deeper than the holler, just like Travis said!” He smiles, taps a little happy beat on the bar counter, grabs the beers, then turns around to his friends.

Forever 🏷️list: @bayisdying @mrsjaderogers @dragon-kazansky @switchbladedreamz @sweetlittlegingy

🏷️list: @luckyladycreator2

[thevindicativevordan]

After Brave and Bold announcement, the seemingly eternal discussion about Tim Drake, which had been going on for many years, has intensified again. Obviously, terrible sales of his ongoing and Damian's debut in DCU showed made it clear, that most of people have no interest in him as Robin, and neither Tynion, Zdarski and especially Fitzmartin can do anything about it. So, what do you think DC should do with him? What type of development would you choose?

Oh I'm a Damian fan through and through, so I'm watching Tim's big implosion with amusement. Some of his fanbase needed this reality check badly, you talk to them and it's like we're still in the 90s. Tim is the least popular Robin, has been since the New 52, and his coming out as bi didn't change that. His terrible sales are no surprise to me, LGBT leads have never done well in the direct market. Plus the art is hardly going to appeal to Tim's new LGBT fanbase, who want to see him be cute with an equally cute boyfriend. Rossomo is great but his art is not "pretty". Should've gotten someone like Travis Moore to draw the book.

What should they do with him? Get him out of the fucking Robin mantle, my God, why is this so hard? Red Robin is a bad name because A. it's not enough of a clean break and B. Red is Jason's color. Tim's color should be green, get him a name that works with that. Send him to college and out of Gotham, at this point I think he should be the solo hero of a real-world city. Somewhere on the West Coast like San Francisco or in the South like Dallas. That way you wouldn't have to build a new setting for him from scratch, and it wouldn't just be Gotham Lite like Bludhaven. Then get a new writer who can make people fans of the new Tim and his relationship with Bernard, or who has the courage to just end that relationship and either get him a new boyfriend, or pair him with Steph again.

Frankly I wouldn't even bother launching a new Tim mini/ongoing, he can't support one. Do Tim as Robin YA books, the YA crowd is much more favorable for LGBT leads. Zdarsky can have him guest star in Batman every so often to keep him from disappearing again, it's not like Tim can't be back in Gotham as needed thanks to teleportation or supersonic jets or whatever. But Tim needs to move on, your days as the "One True Robin" are over boy-o. Tim's not first in line to succeed Batman anymore and he frankly never will be. Time to give him the Nightwing/Red Hood graduation or put him on the bench for another year until someone has a great pitch.

[nightmareinfloral]

everyone say thank you to travis moore for drawing clark tits-out again

[striveattemptfail]

Better and Brighter | Timber, PG, 3k

Summary: A look at everything that happened between Tim and Bernard from Bernard’s perspective. Posted for Bernard Week 2022: Fill The Blanks. Warning: Discusses school shooting + canon death of a character, as well as canon cult activities, but is not overly descriptive for any of these. Contains spoilers for Robin (1993), Batman: Urban Legends #4-6, and “Special Delivery” by Travis Moore in DC Pride 2022. Read on Ao3

A/N: Listen y'all, I tried to get this out for the end of this past pride, and when I missed that I aimed for Timberversary, and when I missed that I tried shooting for Day 7 of @bernarddowdweek​​. Alas, Bernard did not wanna shut up and took what should’ve been a 700-word fic to 3k, so now I am posting this a week after the anniversary /o\

Thank you to @saturniiids​ for the exceptionally quick beta~! Shout out to the Lightbulb Moment server for listening to my bitching as I tried to finish this fic lol. All other mistakes are mine.

————————————————————

In hindsight, Bernard maybe should’ve been tipped off that he was at least a little bit queer when, on the dude’s first day of school, he checked out Tim Drake from head-to-toe.

“Your eyes are clear and you lack the telltale hemp-ish smell that would place you with the Heads.”

Dark blue eyes. Not quite as striking as the clear sky above us, but notable nonetheless. He smells like shampoo and fresh laundry—and maybe a little bit of sweat.

“You could be a jock—you look ripped enough—but then again there’s all those books to consider.”

Well-fitted tee over muscles that are clearly stretching the fabric. Perhaps an athlete with a secret?

“You are an enigma, grasshopper.”

This is a guy I want to know better, he thought.

“Name’s Bernard Dowd, by the way. Bernard, got it? Call me Bernie and I’ll have to punish you.” Bernard handed back the newbie’s schedule with a small grin.

He was met with an obliging smile and a flash of amusement in the newbie’s gaze.

“Tim Drake.”

“Glad to meet you, Timmy.”

“Tim.”

His grin widened.

“See? We’re getting along already.”

And in less than five minutes of meeting him, Bernard had his arm around Tim’s shoulders.

It was a full assessment and glowing review—he should have probably picked up that this wasn’t exactly something a straight man would do to anyone, unless they were completely obnoxious.

(To be fair, Bernard knew he was pretty presumptuous back in high school. He wasn’t a jerk about it though.)

Time went on, and days at Louis E. Grieve blurred from one into the next. Classes and teachers and crushing on Darla from afar was his normal. Sometimes the only thing worth remembering about his days was Tim and the tall tales he came up with. Frequent absences and constantly marred skin was totally different from what Bernard was used to. Tim’s lies about being on the gymnastics team with friends from his old boarding school were easy to see through, but Bernard was a patient man and figured Tim would tell him what was going on eventually.

Patience was how he finally got the chance to speak to Darla, after all. (Well, aside from Tim’s crazy stunt confronting the giant jocks surrounding her.) Bernard knew she wasn’t into him, but he could be patient and wait for her crush on Tim to wane. Tim was smart and cool, sure, and objectively attractive to top it off (how did he find the time to work out?), but Bernard knew he still had a chance because Tim apparently had a girlfriend.

He was genuinely curious about the elusive “Stephanie” Tim so often talked about. She sounded almost too good to be true, and Bernard remembered calling him out on it.

“I’m happily involved with someone else,” Tim had reminded him.

Bernard resisted rolling his eyes. “So you keep saying, but where is this mysterious Stephanie Whatshername? Why have I never met her?”

It’s because she’s not real, he thought knowingly, or because “Stephanie” is actually a “Stephen”.

Bernard was a conspiracy theorist—he knew how to deduce things. But he was also a pretty chill dude, and he figured he’d let Tim know that the poor guy didn’t have to keep lying about a fake relationship just to cover up his sexuality.

He had patted Tim’s shoulder reassuringly. “If you got something you wanna tell me, then speak up. We’re buds. I’ll understand.” He gestured to himself. “We’re two modern, enlightened men in the new millennium, Drake. No need to make up imaginary girlfriends.”

This should’ve been another (rainbow) flag. He had always considered himself an ally—he was never a homophobic asshole—but maaaybe he could have picked up on why he was so adamant that he was really cool with it if Tim ever came out to him.

And, okay, he also had a thing for hot women. He could cut himself a little slack. Darla Aquista was the hottest girl at school; he would’ve admitted that even after his feelings about her changed from a crush to something more platonic. If he was being honest, she was still just as attractive once she got mystical powers and became Laura Fell. He also wasn’t lying when he said that Tim’s stepmom was hot—indeed, the Drake men were very lucky guys—and he still won’t apologize for sort-of ogling her when he had dinner at Tim’s place.

“Bernard, take my advice,” Tim had warned in a low voice. “You really need to stop talking, right now.”

He did, and he and Tim played the new Batman and Robin game Bernard got his hands on.

It probably should have tipped him off when he thought Tim’s angry pout was cute though.

————————————————————

Bernard lost himself when Darla died.

One moment he was walking the halls and the next he was in the nurse’s office because Darla had been shot.

He had never felt so helpless in his life.

When Tim left the room, armed with nothing but a bloody t-shirt and a wooden baseball bat, Bernard couldn’t even bring himself to stop him. It was obviously a suicide mission, but Bernard could do nothing but lock the door as asked once Tim left.

He found out later that Tim was the reason Darla even made it to the school. Someone (Tyrone?) said that Tim had acted heroically despite the madness around them. Bernard almost wished he could have seen it, seen Tim apparently kicking ass in action, but it wouldn’t have changed the fact that he lost a friend.

He saw Tim at Darla’s funeral, but he didn’t look like he wanted to see anyone.

And neither did Bernard.

He was transferred to a private school by the next week, and for a long while it was the last time he saw Tim.

————————————————————

It was after what happened at Louis Grieve that Robin—his Robin, the one before the girl Robin—was back in action. By that point, he’d never actually met Robin before, and he still vehemently believed that Batman replaced Robins with new orphans, but somehow Bernard recognized him. Something about the way this Robin moved, the way he immediately slunk away before anyone could even get a clear picture of him, that made Bernard sure it was the Robin he was most familiar with. The forums he frequented disagreed, but Bernard knew better.

He started to obsess over Robin—his Robin, not the new one, the smaller, younger one with a sword that showed up later—and the way he worked with the urban legend that was the Batfamily. He learned what made this Robin different, his quick movements and fighting style. He didn’t quite have the grace of one of the previous Robins, or the acrobatic strength of another Robin, or even the ruthlessness of the latest Robin. But there was an efficiency that was distinguishable to Bernard. He could think fast and follow through even when things went sideways.

This fixation filled his days. It distracted him from the pain of losing Darla, the shock of getting her back (sort of), the whirlwind of her leaving him again (though at least not dead this time), the blur that was his new life at a different school.

And it helped keep his mind off how much he really missed Tim.

Bernard missed messing around and playing games with him. He missed being able to talk for hours on end about the latest conspiracy theory he came across, even if Tim mostly just laughed at most of them. Bernard missed the easy way he could throw an arm around him or bump their shoulders together.

Again, in hindsight, all of this probably spoke volumes about his own sexuality. It was one thing to be inspired by Robin’s heroics and take self-defense classes; it was another to study Robin’s specific fighting style. It was one thing to miss a close friend like Tim after he switched schools; it was another to think about him all the time.

And Bernard did think about Tim. He thought about Tim a lot.

And because he was already familiar with forums and the vast wide world of the web, he took to the boards once more to figure out what the hell he was feeling.

It didn’t take long for him to realize he was bi. Girls were still plenty attractive to him, but there was no mistaking that he had affection for guys too.

(Or, at least, one specific guy.)

He came out not long after his revelation because, after everything that happened at Louis Grieve, he didn’t want to hold back anymore. Besides, if Robin(s) could fight every night against some of the most horrific rogues around, he figured being openly queer was a cake walk.

He was a man of the new millennium, after all.

He changed up his wardrobe and style, swapping his biker shades for ear cuffs; trimmed his hair down to a shorter, messy mop. He dated around for a bit, men and women alike. He even went to his school’s pride celebration.

Nothing stopped him from missing Tim and Darla (Laura, he had to remind himself, it’s Laura now) and how things used to be, but the changes helped. Investigating new theories (Robin-related or not), training in self-defense classes, discovering himself, meeting new people—it was his new normal.

Despite how busy he now was, it still took probably longer than it should have to get back in touch with Tim. Between the big adoption announcement into the Wayne family and becoming a shareholder in Wayne Enterprises, Tim Wayne definitely had public profiles online, but Bernard knew that his attempts to contact Tim through those accounts would’ve probably gone into a spam inbox before Tim could even see it.

Tim Drake was a little harder to track down.

Bernard was nervous about his search—so much time had already passed and the event that separated them was so traumatic. Would Tim remember him? Would he even give Bernard the time of day? What if things became too awkward between them? Would he look Bernard in the eye and only remember what happened at Louis Grieve? The answers left Bernard anxious with every page he swiped through, made him slow down as he scrolled past different accounts.

But Bernard wasn’t about to quit, and despite his worries, he still really missed his friend.

After some sleuthing around and hopping between social media profiles, he eventually managed to DM Tim on Pixtagraph. Bernard wasn’t even 100% sure if the account was active seeing as its last post was a few years ago, but it was the best lead he had, so he took a shot.

By some stroke of luck, Tim responded in less than a day, and the two of them decided to meet up for a casual dinner by the next week.

————————————————————

Reconnecting with Tim was—

—kinda amazing.

He was as smart and dorky as Bernard remembered him. He was still easy to tease and poke fun at, and still took Bernard’s jokes in stride. A little less sure of himself unlike when they were in high school together, but still just as driven.

(Just as cute too, if Bernard was being honest, but that would’ve been jumping the gun.)

Then the Chaos Monsters crashed their date, and more than anything Bernard wished he had contacted Tim earlier, if only so they could have spent a little more time together.

————————————————————

It was a combination of reading through discussion boards and talking to new friends that he learned about the Children of Dionysus. He might have made some peace with his sexuality and what happened in the past, but that didn’t mean he was set for the rest of his life.

It turned out a lot of other people felt the same way too.

It was—exhilarating. Letting everything go, having the pain focus his mind, being able to heighten his own pain tolerance during fights. It was called a “cult”, but Bernard only ever thought of it like a BDSM club, just less sexual and open to people his age. He thought that, while the leaders were a bit cold, they were still charismatic and persuasive, and he eagerly wanted to soak up their promises. He thought the “Chaos Monsters” were only overdramatic bodyguards who made sure everyone kept quiet about their little gatherings.

Stupid, he knew now.

And he was proven exactly how stupid that was when he was publicly kidnapped. The cult leaders decided he was going to be a sacrifice, and the Chaos Monsters were ready to oblige. He was incredibly lucky that Robin came in the nick of time, and Bernard very much learned his lesson about the slippery slope that was joining a cult.

————————————————————

After the whole ordeal with the Children of Dionysus, things got easier.

It wasn’t perfect. Missed dates happened more often than both he and Tim liked, but Bernard figured being a son of The Bruce Wayne was a lot to deal with. It was also clear that Tim was still hiding things from him, but just like back in high school when he spotted Tim’s scars and bruises, just like at Darla’s funeral, Bernard didn’t push. Tim was planning to stick around, and so was Bernard—he’d talk to Bernard eventually, or Bernard would coax it out of him.

He was patient with Darla (Laura); he could be patient with Tim too.

Bernard loved whatever time he did get with him. Between movie dates and diner visits, he enjoyed every moment he spent with Tim.

It was a bit weird, but in a good way, in the best way. They were getting to know each other again, but it also felt like they were falling right back into how things used to be.

Now with more handholding.

There was never a dull moment, and Bernard never knew he could be this happy, this comfortable with someone. He spent so long trying to make up for everything he lost since Louis Grieve, having someone—having Tim—to enjoy his time with...

He didn’t have the words to describe how lucky he felt.

————————————————————

Tim was late. Again. Bernard was very used to this. He would be more worried, if only because the reason why his boyfriend was late again was because of some rogue criminals blocking the streets by the Narrows.

Macro and micro robbery cutting the roads off from the parade. Will be late. Sorry. Sad face.

(Tim used text-to-speech to send his messages, Bernard had learned. Tim said it was because he usually got around on his motorcycle—which Bernard had conveniently never seen—but the written out emojis were kinda endearing nonetheless.)

Bernard typed out a quick response:

It’s okay. I’ll meet you at the park. Thumbs up. LOL. ;P

Tim sent back a middle finger (the actual emoji this time) and Bernard couldn’t help but laugh.

When Tim finally caught up to where Bernard was watching Gotham’s pride parade, the little speech he opened with was really sweet. He started recalling their dates, even the disaster that was Bernard getting kidnapped by Chaos Monsters; he talked about how their relationship had been a journey of discovery, not unlike Bernard’s own; and for as rehearsed as it sounded, Bernard could tell that Tim meant every word he was saying.

“—know how my life is, how hectic it can be. I was afraid I’d let you down. And I have. Repeatedly. And I’m sorry—”

He had half a mind to slap a hand over Tim’s mouth because he was rambling, but honestly Bernard was charmed by how nervous Tim was, and he wanted to know where his little speech was going.

“—want you to know I’m so happy to have you—”

Bernard was suddenly filled with warmth, and he was pretty sure it wasn’t because of the summer sun shining down on them. Between Tim’s words and the earnestness in his voice, all Bernard could feel how happy he really was, same as Tim.

“—which is why I’m giving you this.”

Tim held his hands out to present a white box, which Bernard took from him before flipping the top open with excited curiosity.

It was a cake, or at least three-quarters of one. The right side was pretty ruined. The text written in different coloured frosting was now cut off with the crumbled corner, and the rainbow sprinkles mushed together in the mess.

It was adorable.

“How did you know it was my ‘Fir Pri’?” Bernard smirked down at his gift, his heartbeat fluttering despite the mistakes. Sure, the cake was a bit destroyed, and, yeah, he’d already been to pride before.

But he loved it all the same.

He thought about going to his school’s pride celebration, really confronting the fact that his feelings for Tim and admiration for Robin wasn’t just friendly affection. He thought about his time in the Dionysus cult, and how close he got to losing everything, again.

As he examined the cake, Tim—of course—started babbling again. “It’s supposed to say ‘Happy First Pride,’ but it had a rough journey getting here.”

Bernard thought about how the years have passed for him, how they were once filled with loss and regret, then eventually enlightenment and discovery. He thought about how it all led to finding his way back to Laura, and Tim.

“And I baked it myself, so it wasn’t all that pretty to begin with, to be honest.”

Bernard shifted his gaze from the cake to his boyfriend, who looked sheepish and a little apologetic.

“It’s perfect and I love it,” he said with certainty, “flaws and all.”

He meant it too. Even though this wasn’t technically his first pride celebration, it was his first pride with someone he really liked.

It was his first pride with Tim.

And that was still pretty special all on its own.

He pulled Tim close, pressing his forehead against Tim’s, their noses almost brushing from the closeness. His smile twisted from amused to fond.

“It was definitely worth the wait.”

[stxleslyds]

ive also stopped reading nightwing issues bc of all the same reasons uve posted lol.

u know those recommendation lists like "if you read book X, you might like Y" ? do u have any similar recommendations for fans of nightwing who are just tired of his recent runs? can be fanfic, old issues/ runs, other fandoms!

Hey there! How have you been doing?

It sucks that you have also stopped reading Nightwing, I think that the fact that many people have stopped investing their time in that run is very telling of both Tom Taylor’s writing and DC’s approach to Dick and Barbara as individual characters.

I hope better times (and comics) come our way!

As for recommendations, I have some in mind right now, I will list them down below!

Other Dick Grayson/Nightwing books I enjoy:

Future State: Nightwing

This book was pure bliss, two issues of competent Dick Grayson, leader of the resistance and the great comeback of his mechanic tendencies!

Outsiders vol.3

Dick is flawed, he is a shell of the person he used to be and is going through an immense rough time. This book shows us just how much the nickname “golden boy” doesn’t work for him at times. Dick is deep down still Dick but he also acts like a dick. Judd Winick makes him bearable thanks to the team by his side but most importantly thanks to Roy Harper who makes the perfect companion for Dick.

Nightwing vol.3 (New 52)

Alright, I know, New 52 was shit for the most part but I truly believe that Kyle Higgins did an amazing job with what he was given. His Dick/Nightwing was very sad and lonely but he was a beast, he was competent, an excellent fighter and extremely resilient when confronted with terrible upon terrible situations. To me this is a wonderful run if you pull it away from the whole New 52 narrative.

Batman: Gates of Gotham

They really popped off when DC gave us this beauty with Dick!Bats. The art and story are really worth anyone’s time. It is story heavy but it really gives us a look on what Dick was able to do as Batman even without his Robin. Detective heavy stuff.

Batman: Prelude to the Wedding: Nightwing vs. Hush

Now, this issue might have the advantage of Travis Moore’s ridiculously gorgeous art but the story is quite good too. We get a look at just how important Dick is, was and will be to Bruce and we also get some “unreliable narrator” vibes from Dick. If it was intended or not, I don’t know, but I can still appreciate it.

Nightwing: Old Friends, New Enemies.

Well, this one is on the list because it has the recompilation of “Cheshire’s Contact”. Those amazing issues in which Roy Harper trusts Dick only with getting his daughter back. Very enjoyable and a story that I would love to see made canon again.

Batman: Prodigal.

That’s a solid book, it is a good book to read if you want to see a bit of how Dick did in his first time as Batman and that time with Tim by his side. Not only are we offered Dick!Bats but we also get to see a more “domestic” side of him. Alfred left the Manor with Bruce so all the chores have to be done by Dick and it is always a good reminder for people who are convinced that Dick is a “human disaster” and cannot attend his own needs.

Nightwing vol.2 (#140 to #153)

Tomasi’s turn on that roller-coaster of a book was a good way to end it. He pushed Dick/Nightwing’s status up in every single way. Dick was a protector, leader, detective and so much more. His skillset and will to be (and become) better were always there. If you are looking for some BAMF Dick Grayson this is the place.

Other books that don’t have Dick Grayson:

Yeah, I can offer you some marvel… don’t know if that’s your cup of tea but check then out if you feel like it.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2020) #6

You could read the entire run (it is complete), it is honestly amazing. It is a team book so you won’t find many of the issues to be related to a single character. However, #6 offers an in depth look at Richard Rider (Nova). Richard is a leader, a team player and an excellent hero, but just like Dick he tends to put a lot over his shoulders and take the blame for things that maybe he shouldn’t. This issue is all about him and how he deals (or not) with his demons and everything else in his life.

Black Widow (2020)

This (ongoing) book is a masterpiece, Kelly Thompson is someone that sometimes misses me with her takes but ever since she took a hold of Nat, she has only made her more badass and interesting. This is an assassin heavy book, yes. But the villains and storytelling would really please some Nightwing readers. Dick and Nat don’t have much in common but I am sure that this book will be someone’s favourite either way.

Spider-Gwen/Ghost-Spider/Gwenom

This is me pushing Gwen Stacy as much as I can when I am given the chance. This book might not seem like it will match your average Nightwing connoisseur but there three separate books of Gwen’s life kinda give us the perspective of someone who might be like you and me and got powers. Gwen grows into the hero life and herself. The Spider-Gwen runs might be a bit too teenage heavy but it takes a turn once Ghost-Spider comes into place. Gwen is faced with more responsibilities, moving away from home (a whole ass different dimension) and then… Knull, 2021’s biggest Marvel Comics baddie. She is extremely fun and a bit too forward at times, it can certainly be a hit or miss but I would say that she is worth the try!

Dick Grayson Fics: I have to be sneaky; I will link here two asks in which I was asked about Jason Todd fics and I ended up recommending Dick fics that have Jason in them or “Dick and Jason are/were friends” because those fics make me weak and I just can’t help myself.

I will link the first one here! and the last one that I made here!

I hope you enjoy some (or all) these recommendations. I tried my best to remember some of my favourite Nightwing books, I got my notes back at home so I might be missing some. Maybe @hood-ex can help you out and rec amazing Dick/Nightwing books, she is my favourite Dick Grayson connoisseur!

Thank you for the ask, hope you have a lovely week!

[moonundernostalgia]

Cuirous to ask: Best Artist for Dick Grasyon out of the following: George Perez. Scott McDaniel, Marcus To, or Bruno Redondo?

Oh Hi Dear Friend

And congratulations for being my first ask ever 😅 Thank you so much i always wanted to do this

Anyways- In My opinion the order would be like (my least favorite to my favorite)

4. Scott McDaniel

I always had a problem with his art...it's always so difficult to me to read the past Nightwing issues with his drawing and honestly i don't blame him,it's just....not my style (i think it's ugly 😔)

3.George Perez

Iconic when it comes to drawing the discowing suit,i love the way he draws Dick too,but it's also not my favorite,at least in my opinion there's nothing REALLY amazing about his art,is just simple,but the simple it is it's still iconic 😊

2.Marcus To

Ughhh i didn't know which one i was going to choose but in the end i put Marcus in second place ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ he did a very good job in drawing Nightwing and honestly i love his style so DAMN MUCH. Dick looks so adorable on them 😍

1. Bruno Redondo

I mean... 🌚

His art is probably the best thing about the whole Tom Taylor's Nightwing Run...he nails the expressions,the colors,Dick's hair,his costume,absolutely everything about his art is amazing and i live for it 🤧

Not to mention my iconic and beloved Travis Moore... (I love this dude oml)

Again Thank You so much for asking.

Thank you for coming to my pep talk. Have some cookies while leaving 🍪

[loquaciousquark]

Talks Machina Highlights - Critical Role C2E125 (Feb. 16, 2021)

Goooood evening good evening good evening, all! I hope you’re all staying warm and safe and dry in this chilly weather. Tonight’s guests: Travis Willingham and Laura Bailey. 

We open tonight with Travis ribbing Brian for his continuous remodel of his office space. Laura demands a second introduction of herself as she wasn’t paying attention during the first one.

Travis: “You’ve gotta love Julianne Moore. She’s the only actress who can cry and show you all her teeth at the same time.” I was listening pretty closely when he said this and I’m still not sure it had any context. 

Jester thinks there’s a strong possibility at least half the party will die against the Tombtakers. Fjord doesn’t think the odds are quite that high, but it will be dangerous. Laura points out that most of the M9 are also willing to sacrifice themselves for the rest of the party, so that changes their odds as well. Travis: “The game is not a stress reliever. It is not a stress reliever. I mean, it’s fun as shit, but it is stressful!”

Laura thinks Essek will give them a better chance. Travis: “A plus-one? A powerful plus-one, but a plus-one?” Did you see his reaction when we gave him the lowdown? Let’s be real: we kinda trust Essek. I got $50 that when we come back, he’s gone.” Laura is convinced he is trustworthy & wants to lighten his soul.

Jester spent so much time trying to bring out the Molly side of Lucien that to have him then betray them sucked. She knew that trying to bring the good out of everyone they met would eventually fail, but it stung that it was the most powerful one they encountered to first betray them.

She tries to talk about finger gestures during the answer as a reference to the HBO show “Raised by Wolves,” and Brian and Travis tell her to keep digging this hole she gets herself into about fingering. Travis: “Just get off the interstate at the next exit and turn right.” Laura, of course, immediately mimes turning a hard left, and they spent the next few minutes laughing at her inability to tell right from left and that even now she still has to hold up her hands to tell left from right.

Fjord is furious that they nicked the Bag of Holding. The loss of Vess DeRogna is bad enough, but he is genuinely IRL anxious about the loss of the Cloven Crystal. Laura points out that Fjord has also explicitly talked to Lucien about the deep sea creature patron he used to follow as well. He’s terrified one of Lucien’s scimitars is suddenly going to have a big eye sticking out of it. Laura suggests they’ll just succeed, bring back the city, and wake up Uk’otoa for the heck of it.

It was really rough to go from the Gelidon fight to the Tombtaker fight, especially since the first fight sent so well. Travis felt great that he initiated the dragon fight - he knew they had a far advantage in the numbers and felt that it was an open and shut case.

Laura does boggle that if Caleb hadn’t asked for that item from the Bag of Holding, they might have slept all night before realizing it was gone. They’re both relieved that they now know so much more about how the Tombtakers fight, especially the anti-magic cone. The most anxiety-ridden part was when they were trying to run and the TTs weren’t letting them. “You know when you don’t even have squares, when Matt’s black-tableclothing it, you’re in deep shit.” Laura had no spells left - she was so worried if she dropped the polymorph she would have had nothing left.

Travis: “Thanks for healing me, babe.” Laura: “You’re welcome, baby. It was ultimately a waste, though, because we took a rest immediately and you could just spend your hit dice.” Everyone laughs at Travis’s pain. She does say it was worth it in the moment since they didn’t know if they would be able to get away.

They joke that Laura’s just wearing the Fire Resist ring on a chain around her neck/Sprinkle is wearing it now to keep it safe since she’s not attuned to it anymore. It’s pretty hilarious!

Travis hoped that the TTs were originally actively looking for more acolytes rather than just having Caleb & Beau read the book. Otis needs to die. He’s relieved they have an idea of what all their blood rites do. Laura thought the time with them was fun, but it makes her retroactively wish that she’d dropped Zoran in the lava when they had the chance. Travis wishes they’d put a chime on the door of the tower.

Laura loved the tarot card reading, since Taliesin sent her really detailed breakdowns of the cards & gave her a real deck for Christmas. Taliesin told her she did a great job afterwards which she really appreciated, since she’s not sure what she’s doing. She does wish that she knew why Lucien seemed so nervous when she was talking about rebirth.

Cosplay of the Week! @clever_comics on twitter with a lovely Veth in her snowy lavender-colored outfit and pigtails.

Travis on confessing to Jester: “It FUCKING made me crazy!” He’s never been an instigator of campaign romances in the past, but because he loves Laura and was able to connect to her on that level he felt like it was a good challenge instead. He doesn’t think he could have done it with someone he wasn’t comfortable with. It was also important to him for it to be founded on real-game moments and after real-game time had passed, and he felt it was a very natural progression. Seeing the statues rip five years from her in such a benign situation made him realize that to let the opportunity pass wouldn’t have been worth it. He wishes he’d told Vandran what he meant to Fjord as well.

Laura loves that Fjord is becoming more confident as well. The post-Gelidon smooch took Laura completely by surprise since she’s finding Jester is a little surprisingly awkward with IRL affection, and she was surprised Fjord was the confident one there. “It’s so wonderful. It’s a matter of finding a way to get comfortable with it with her away from the Tombtakers.” Travis thought it was important to continue the “go for it” mantra. He notes that he’s pretty private about his personal life IRL, so it’s been a bit of a shift. It’s slower in a way - not a “you’re my one true love” kind of thing, more of a “let’s see where this goes and act on what you can” thing.

They were all “poopin’ in their pants” to get to go to Emon. The worst part was not getting to explore outside the tower since they had to leave again immediately. Kima is so cool, and Travis was actively trying to get Kima to come with them. Everyone boggles that they got to borrow Allura’s staff.

Laura only was thinking about the item-tuned-to-the-target-plane because she’d been texting with Liam trying to iron out their spell choices. She’s so relieved that they were able to get something tuned to the Sea from Allura.

For the most part, Laura knows what spells are the most useful for Jester, but every now and then she does get caught by major component requirements that she hadn’t noted. She wants to get another chalice for Hero’s Feast before they go into the Sea.

Dani points out that a lot of their allies right now are mages (no Kashaws, no Kimas, no Grogs) and they’re heading to a bad place for mages.

Travis has a sudden brain wave about all the TTs being from the Claret Order and wonders if they should investigate that before they pursue. I don’t even remember what that order is and I feel terrible!

Fanart of the Week! It’s a beautiful card by @crovyne on twitter of the Cree counterspell.

Laura really wants Brian to shave the sides of his hair and do Viking braids in the rest. I didn’t want to say anything out loud, but Brian’s hair is really looking pretty...pandemicky.

This is Dani’s four-year-anniversary of her start for Critical Role! Awww, Dani! You’re so short in real life.

Fjord is stoked that the Star Razor is a Vestige, and more now that he knows in-character what that means. It was great to see Allura react the way she did.

Jester doesn’t think they can really go to Nicodranas - they don’t have anymore time. Even more, Jester’s avoiding going home because she doesn’t want the Ruby to see that she got aged up/hurt on her travels.

Travis honestly assumes that the TTs are spying on them 100% of the time now.

Does Jester feel better now that the crest is away from Lucien? Yes, even though it’s gone off course. She thought dropping the crest where they were was a HORRIBLE idea and was appalled so many people were suggesting it. She saw the city with her own eyes, knows the danger of what’s coming, and if they had dropped it in flight she would have dropped with it and defended it as long as she could if that’s what would have kept them from getting it.

Travis thinks that if they can negotiate with Lucien, they should try. Everyone is super worried about Caleb’s and Beau’s new eyes and are fully anticipating they’re on a clock at this point. They wonder if it’ll drive up their exhaustion, allow Lucien to force them to fight against them, maybe make them willing slaves to the mysterious voice...they need to solve it sooner rather than later. 

And that’s all for tonight! New episode this Thursday - usual time, usual place. Stay warm, friends, and is it Thursday yet?

[krakenbait]

kraken bait 2: no stats just vibes

hello and welcome back to another installment of the kraken bait list, where i make random predictions about who i think is ending up in seattle come the expansion draft! i’ve got a special edition today, as i didn’t just do a few players. no, i did an entire mock expansion draft, with a player pulled from each of the 30 teams participating. i followed the expansion draft rules and had the help of corwin @chaos-hockey as my CapFriendly consultant (and solver of indecision), but for the most part, this is, as The Broadscast says, no stats, just vibes.

so without further ado, let’s get into it!

Anaheim Ducks: Danton Heinen 

thank @charliemashavoy for this idea 

Arizona Coyotes: Lawson Crouse 

i don’t know many yotes players, so might as well pick one whose name i at least recognize

Boston Bruins: Jake DeBrusk 

corwin and i went back and forth on this one a little. it was between debrusk and trent frederic, but corwin as the bruins fan said frederic was too good to give up

Buffalo Sabres: Anders Bjork 

this slot was occupied by taylor hall until he got traded, so why not the guy hall got traded for?

Calgary Flames: Matthew Tkachuk 

i’m gonna throw them under the bus- this one was all corwin. it seems pretty unusual to me that the flames would leave tkachuk exposed, but hey, weird things happen, i guess

Carolina Hurricanes: Brock McGinn 

this slot was originally occupied by haydn fleury until he got traded. finding a replacement was a bit tricky since i don’t know a whole lot about the canes depth type players, but corwin and i settled on mcginn

Chicago Blackhawks: Dylan Strome 

one of my original kraken bait picks! (thanks @jakejuentzel) corwin argued with me on this one (they thought it should be adam gaudette), but again, no stats just vibes

Colorado Avalanche: Ryan Graves 

i like gravy a lot, but with the avs defensive depth, he’ll definitely be exposed. however, he’s a good enough player that seattle taking him is a good possibility. from one of my favorite teams to another!

Columbus Blue Jackets: Boone Jenner 

similar deal to the canes. i originally had one of the goalies here, but apparently elvis isn’t eligible for the expansion draft, and i also don’t really know the jackets roster. corwin tossed out jenner and i said sure

Dallas Stars: Jamie Oleksiak 

don’t have much commentary here. the vibes are right

Detroit Red Wings: Christian Djoos 

isn’t christian juice just wine? (i’m sorry i’m sorry)

Edmonton Oilers: Tyson Barrie 

another original kraken bait! it just seems right

Florida Panthers: Mackenzie Weegar

i do not know the panthers at all and neither does corwin, but i recognized this name and decided to go for it. i will take advice from a panthers consultant for the next edition of this list if you are upset

Los Angeles Kings: Trevor Moore 

i don’t know who this is but it seems right enough

Minnesota Wild: Matt Dumba 

i kind of protested this one a little because i like dumba as a player, but i could see him getting exposed and taken by seattle

Montreal Canadiens: Jesperi Kotkaniemi 

it took me three tries to spell that right. oops.

Nashville Predators: Juuse Saros 

corwin and i disagreed on this one again. i thought saros would be the goalie the preds protect since he’s significantly younger than rinne, but corwin argued the preds like rinne too much to leave him exposed (not that i could see seattle taking rinne), so i gave them this one

New Jersey Devils: Nathan Bastian 

OUCH OUCH IT HURTS the idea of nate being separated from mikey in the expansion draft is painful. but i was having a tough time thinking of the devils expansion draft situation so corwin tossed out a name. to quote them, “ron francis doesn’t care about your feelings!”

New York Islanders: Sebastian Aho 

the inferior sebastian aho gets shipped to seattle. it makes sense.

New York Rangers: Kevin Rooney 

it just seems right for this former devil to rejoin the cryptid gang with the kraken.

Ottawa Senators: Victor Mete 

i don’t know a whole lot about him aside from the fact that the habs let him go on waivers, but he seems like the kraken bait type

Philadelphia Flyers: Nolan Patrick 

again with the controversy! and again i’m blaming corwin. this seems kind of far-fetched to me, but they were adamant, so...

Pittsburgh Penguins: Brandon Tanev 

maybe he’ll find some more ghosts in seattle

San Jose Sharks: Mario Ferraro 

sharks fan friends i’m sorry! it feels right though. (and just imagine how good @18minutemajor‘s kraken drawings would look...)

St. Louis Blues: Jacob de la Rose 

i could not tell you who this is. i am also accepting blues consultation

Tampa Bay Lighting: Blake Coleman 

pickles to seattle has become my favorite kraken bait theory of late and i am not getting off this boat anytime soon

Toronto Maple Leafs: Travis Dermott 

i don’t know much about the leafs so i’m trusting corwin’s judgement here

Vancouver Canucks: Jake Virtanen 

this slot was originally occupied by adam gaudette before he got traded, but i feel like virtanen has equally the right vibes

Washington Capitals: Vitek Vanecek

the only thing i really know about the caps roster is that they’re old as dirt, so this seems about right

Winnipeg Jets: Laurent Brossoit

i’m still a little iffy on this one but corwin and i couldn’t think of anyone better. i think we can do better on the goalie situation for the next go-around though...

and that is that for kraken bait: no stats just vibes edition! 

i will probably do another list soon, maybe around the end of the regular season, so if you have strong kraken bait opinions or just know a team that i don’t, drop me an ask or a DM and i’ll cite you as a kraken bait consultant on the next list!

[rainy-day-gracie]

Lego House

OMG this took a while to write but I’m very proud of the finished product :) special thank you to @aperrywilliams for helping me write it !!

Request for Reader and Spencer to be dating when the finale of season nine happens. 

Slight changes to the episode, but I tried to keep it as close as possible !

MASTERLIST

__

I'm gonna pick up the pieces And build a Lego house When things go wrong we can knock it down

“Preacher’s not answering,” Spencer said with a grim look on his face. 

“Keep trying, we need to tell him we know he didn’t do this,” Blake ordered from the front seat. 

“If Preacher thinks he’s cornered, he’s going to fight his way out whether he’s guilty or not,” I looked to Spencer, who had a worried look in his eye. 

“And when he does that, who knows what could happen,” Spencer patted my hand gently before trying the Preacher again. 

We pulled into the parking lot of the Mexican restaurant, Lorenzana waiting by her police car. 

“He’s been in there a good five minutes now, haven’t seen any movement yet,” she turned toward us, her hands on her hips. 

“What about patrons?” Spencer asked, pulling out his gun. 

“It’s closed.”

“How many entrances?” I asked, examining the rundown restaurant. 

“Two it looks like,” Lorenzana answered, her tone seeming cold towards us. For some reason it rubbed me the wrong way. 

“Question is, is he alone?” Blake wondered. 

Spencer placed a soft hand on my shoulder, offering me a small smile. “It’ll be okay,” he murmured so only I could hear. 

A bad feeling ran down my spine, and I couldn’t shake the worry weighing on my shoulders. 

“Guys, I’ve got movement, we should move in now Sheriff,” an officer called over to us. 

“Actually, we’re better off establishing the perimeter first, so we can open up a line of communication,” Spencer answered, one of his hands resting on my shoulder. 

“Alright, but Reid, we need to get around-” Coleman was cut off by a high pitched gunshot, and I saw a dark figure run out the back way of the restaurant before we ducked under the vehicles. 

“Shots fired, shots fired!” I yelled, aiming my gun in the direction the shot came from. “Came from-”

“YFN!” Arms wrapped around my waist as it turned into a shootout, and a pelting sound came from behind me. 

Spencer seemed to collapse on the ground in slow motion, and I had only begun to process the situation before I was pulled behind the door of the car. 

“Spencer’s down, pull him over!” I yelled to Morgan, and Morgan dragged Spencer out of the line of fire. 

“Hey, hey, just try and stay calm,” I whispered to Spencer, pressing my hand against his neck to stop the bleeding. “Stay calm, stay calm,” I was mostly just whispering to myself. 

Blake appeared at my side, trying to assess the gunshot. “Go help the others,” she said to me. 

“No, I’m not leaving him, Blake,” I answered, not even looking as she left to get a medic.  

A man walked past us, holstering a standard law enforcement gun at his side. “The hell...” I murmured.

“Go... go,” Spencer forced out. 

“No, Spencer, I’m not leaving you,” I lifted his head up enough to look in his eyes. They were glazed, unfocused. 

“Go.” 

Tears bit at my eyes when I kissed him on the forehead. “I’ll see you soon, okay?” I felt him nod slightly, and I left to chase the guy that walked past. 

He glanced back, and ran when he saw me chasing him. “FBI! Put your hands on your head!”

The man stopped and turned towards me. “You want me to put my gun down?” He asked with a sick smile. 

“Yes please.” I said, not once lowering my own gun. “Are you a cop?” 

The man dropped his gun lazily, kicking it to the side. I approached him to put on handcuffs, and he grabbed my arm, slamming my chest into a gated fence. “You should’ve just left alone, bitch,” he hissed in my ear. 

I still had my finger on the trigger pointed at the empty alley beside us. I fired the gun three times into the alley before he let me go, sprinting into the dark and disappearing. 

One of the officers found me, still breathing heavily by the chain link fence. “You need to get back to your team, one of yours is in trouble,” the officer said, and I took off running past him. 

My three words have two meanings There's one thing on my mind, it's all for you

The ambulance had just left the restaurant when I finally found my team. 

“Where did you go?” JJ asked, looking at my disheveled appearance. 

“Tell you later,” I murmured to her, wary of the officers surrounding us. “Let’s get to the hospital.”

The waiting room was worse than being at the restaurant, the smell of antiseptic overwhelming and the fluorescent lights seemed to burn my eyes. 

“He’s going to be okay,” Blake muttered, wringing her hands together. 

“I never told him I loved him,” I said absentmindedly. She looked over at me, rubbing my shoulder like a mother. “What am I going to do if he dies and I never told him I loved him?”

“Anything yet?” JJ walked into the waiting room, her FBI jacket slung across her arm. 

“No,” Blake and I said grimly. 

JJ sat, figeting anxiously. “Spence would’ve read like two books by now, maybe even three-”

“He pushed me,” I said simply, cutting JJ off. “He pushed me out of the way and now he’s on the table.” Tears brimmed my eyes, and I put my head in my hands. 

“It could’ve been any of us and he would’ve done the same thing, that’s just the person he is,” JJ reached for my hands, peeling them away from my face. “Do you know he wants kids?”

I smiled sadly, tears starting to fall down my cheeks. “Yeah, a boy and a girl, Sebastian and Evelyn. He loved the Little Mermaid as a kid, so he wants the name Sebastian after the little red crab. As for Evelyn, that’s what Diana would’ve named him if he were a girl.” For a moment, I let myself be swept away in that memory. Spencer looking so handsome in the early morning light, us just talking sleepily before work about anything under the stars. 

Blake smiled with me. “That’ll be the luckiest kid in the world.”

“No doubt,” JJ added. 

And it's dark in a cold December, but I've got ya to keep me warm And if you're broken I'll mend ya And keep you sheltered from the storm that's raging on now

I was lost in the dream of having kids with Spencer when reality crashed on me again. “What if he-” 

“YFN, he’ll make it.” JJ said, almost like a command. 

“I mean, he has to,” Blake reassured. 

I gave a short laugh. “I’ll kill him if he doesn’t. We just... we have so many plans for the future. Traveling, eating new foods, reading books together... I’m so scared we won’t get to do any of that anymore.” 

The man with the law enforcement gun came to my mind, and as I was about to tell the others Garcia’s heels clicked into the room, Cruz following close behind. Garcia pulled JJ into a hug. “Garcia, you made it.”

Her forced light tone offered little comfort. “Yeah, turns out we’re not the only ones connected, he knows somebody with a plane,” she explained, hugging each of us as she spoke. “How is he?”

“Still in surgery,” Blake answered heavily. 

“Y’all can see Agent Morgan now,” a nurse told us, showing us to Morgan’s room. “He’s been asking for a YFN?”

I practically ran into Morgan’s room, and he immediately snapped to attention. “How’s Reid?”

JJ sighed. “He’s still in surgery.”

Morgan grimaced, trying to take off the flimsy hospital gown. “No, what are you doing?” Garcia demanded. 

“You bet your ass I’m not just gonna sit around here, guys c’mon, get me outta here,” Morgan replied crankily. 

“Actually you are, just hang on a second,” Cruz said, explaining himself to Morgan’s death glare. “Just until we figure out what’s what, catch me up.”

“The three victims inside were dead before the shooting started, lividity had set in and there was no blood spatter.” Hotch answered curtly. 

“They weren’t killed there,” Rossi started. “Preacher’s car was clean, so there’s no way he transported bodies in it.”

Cruz nodded. “So you were right, he was being framed, but by whom?”

“The answers in the victims.” Hotch said. “Belinda Clark and Jessie Moore were both tied to prostitution like the others. Travis Henson was a regular at the Pool Hall but he didn’t work there.”

Hotch explained how the Preacher felt cornered and decided to shoot his way out, and that made me think of the first shot. The high pitched whistle that started this unfortunate series of events. 

“Guys, I don’t think he was the first one to shoot.” Morgan spoke up. “Whoever set him up was there.”

Cruz furrowed his eyebrows. “That’s ballsey, what makes you think that?”

“The high pitched whistle. The one that killed Coleman... why did you ask me in here, Morgan?” I spoke, looking straight at Morgan. 

“Did you see anything while you were with Reid? He said something about a man walking past and you chasing him when we were in the ambulance.”

The breath seemed to leave my lungs. “A man... with a law enforcement weapon in his hand. I chased after him, but he pinned me against a fence before he took off.”

The faces of my team seemed to darken. I seemed to be in a daze when Morgan explained the difference in bullets in his vest and the one that killed Coleman. 

This is really bad. 

While the team decided to find Dinah, I settled back in my seat next to Blake in the waiting room again. Garcia sat next to me, holding my hand as the team filed out on their own duties. “He’s going to be okay,” She murmured. 

After what seemed like hours, a doctor entered the waiting room. “Agents?”

I looked up to the doctor warily, terrified of what he might say. Blake shot to her feet. “How is he?”

“Incredibly lucky...” Relived tears streamed down my face that I didn’t even pay attention at what the doctor said after that. 

Spencer is okay. Spencer is okay. 

The doctor looked between Blake and I. “Another thing, he’s still asleep, but he keeps calling for a Kit Kat... we didn’t know what to make of that.”

I laughed through my tears. “That’s me... I was a Kit Kat for Halloween this year, so that’s his nickname for me.”

The doctor nodded, a slight smile coming to his face. “You can see him now.”

Blake and I stayed on the doctor’s heels, her calling the team that Spencer was alright. 

Even in his sleep, he still thought of me.  __

I'm out of touch, I'm out of love I'll pick you up when you're getting down And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now

Garcia placed little figurines of Doctor Who characters on Spencer’s table with a bright smile. “It’ll be so great if he wakes up, and this is the first thing he sees.”

I smiled, sitting on the end of Spencer’s bed. “He does love his nerd things. That’s also one of the things I love about him.”

“Good doctor will always make him smile,” Blake added.

After a moment of quiet, Garcia spoke up. “It’d be really weird if he wakes up and we’re all - woo - staring at him, so... I’m gonna go stand over here.” Her heels clicked over by the window, and Blake had a sad look. 

“I know you two are close,” I said softly to Blake. “He really admires you by the way.”

Blake smiled, glancing at me from her chair. “Sometimes we have book club at the coffee shop, and you are all he talks about. He barely even comments on the book next to him, he’s always so eager to talk about how wonderful you are.”

If only he knew how wonderful I thought he was.

Spencer’s POV

YFN’s voice called me from downstairs. “Spencer! We need to get the kids to school or we’re all gonna be late!”

“Coming, Kit Kat!” Sebastian pulled on my blazer as I fluffed my hair in the mirror. “What do you need, little man?”

“Daddy, I don’t wanna be late for school, I need to correct the teacher today!” Sebastian whined, and I picked him up and slung him over my shoulder. 

“Don’t worry, I used to tell my mom the same thing and look at me now.”

YFN shot me a look as I met her at the bottom of the stairs. “How is it that the same exact thing happens every day? You get caught up doing your hair and I’m stuck making breakfast.” She passed me my leather satchel, and I grinned. 

“That’s why you married me, because of my hair, right?” I gave her a peck on the lips, opening the front door behind me. 

“Gross! That’s inappropriate!” Evelyn squealed, running out to the car. 

YFN’s eyes turned sad. “Spencer, I never married you.” The home around us disappeared, dissolving into darkness. Sebastian, who was slung across my shoulders playfully, vanished. YFN and I stood in darkness, all traces of light or happiness gone. “I never married you... because you died before I got the chance.”

Reader’s POV

All of a sudden, Spencer’s eyes opened, and he looked around, slightly panicked. He calmed when he saw me, sitting on the edge of his bed. 

“Oh my God,” I gasped, hesitant to hug him. 

“Come here,” he whispered, and I embraced him awkwardly around his shoulders. “I dreamed about you, Kit Kat.”

Tears feel down my face into his hospital gown, and I let go with a smile. “I know, you were talking in your sleep.”

“Welcome back, Reid,” Blake said, and I quickly backed away, letting the two friends have their moment. 

Garcia ran off to grab food, and I sat back in my chair. Relief spun in my heart, but I couldn’t shake the feeling something was wrong. 

Blake said goodbye to Spencer, and he turned his head to me. “You should go too, I’ll be fine. The team needs you.”

I rolled my eyes at his suggestion. “Hell no. I am not leaving you, ever. You should know that by now, Spencer. So don’t even try to talk me out of this.”

Spencer smiled softly, looking to Garcia with the tray of hospital food. “Okay, juice, broth, or jello?”

“Jello, my favorite!”

I'm out of sight, I'm out of mind I'll do it all for you in time And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now 

Spencer and I talked quietly while Garcia typed away on her computer. 

“What dreams were you having... about me?” I asked softly, sitting on the edge of his bed. 

Spencer’s gaze trailed off, the way they did when he was remembering something. “We were married, and had two kids, Sebastian and Evelyn. We were late for work, or to drop the kids off at school when... all of that disappeared, and you said we weren’t married because I had died... before we got the chance.”

“Oh, Spencer...” I held his hand lightly, looking him in the eyes. 

“I was thinking maybe when this is all over... we could talk about that some more,” his palm was slightly clammy, and my heart was beating so fast that words weren’t forming. 

“Um.... yeah, yes, yeah... I would love to talk about that some more, with you.” A smile came to my face, and I  prayed that Garcia couldn’t hear us across the room. She looked up from her computer, seeing the full cup of jello still on the table. 

“Hey, eat that.” She ordered, causing both of us to chuckle. 

And if it's dark in a cold December, but I've got ya to keep me warm And if you're broken I'll mend ya And keep you sheltered from the storm that's raging on now

After a few hours, Garcia had gone to get coffee from the cafeteria. She was practically running when she got back, her heels clicking against the tile. 

I was about to ask her what was happening when she put her phone to her ear again. “Okay, I did that. Now what?” She paused, and I heard the sound of Morgan’s voice on the line. “Yes, yes, I can do that. I can do that.”  

I glanced over at Spencer, half asleep in the bed. A sinking feeling welled in the pit of my stomach. 

Garcia continued talking to Morgan, looking over at the wheelchair. “Um... yes.” Another pause, and her gaze shifted to Spencer. “That is not gonna be easy.” Another pause, and her face changed to something like fear. “Oh my God, what? Okay.”

“Oh, Jesus, we cannot catch a break,” I murmured, leaning my head against the wall. 

Garcia hung up, and looked to me with big eyes. “I’m gonna need your help. Bad cop down the hall.” We sprung into action. 

I rubbed Spencer’s shoulder, waking him up as Garcia readied the wheelchair. “What? What’s happening?” He murmured sleepily. 

“You need to get in the wheelchair, Spencer.”

His face went from confused to annoyed. “Will I die if I don’t?”

I rolled my eyes, helping him sit up in bed. “I don’t know, but I don’t wanna find out, c’mon. I’m sorry.”

Spencer grumbled, cautiously swinging his feet out of the covers. I held him up around his waist, and he leaned against me for support. We turned, and I awkwardly placed him in the wheelchair. He held his wound with a grimace. “Some bedside manner they have here.”

I wheeled him out of the room and down the hall, Garcia walking briskly ahead of us. She slyly pulled the fire alarm, and I caught a glimpse of an officer in a corridor before we passed him quickly.

“Oh, shit,” I breathed, wheeling Spencer outside the building. 

“Language,” he joked. 

I'm out of touch, I'm out of love I'll pick you up when you're getting down And out of all these things I've done, I'll love you better now 

After a couple hours, we were let back into the hospital. I wheeled Spencer back to his room while Garcia called Morgan beside me. 

“He is gone. They’re letting us back in.” She paused, listening to Morgan. “I lost a couple karma points, but, uh-huh, I did it.” I smirked at her phrase, and Spencer looked like he wanted to kill me. 

“This sucks,” he muttered, and I had to keep from bursting out laughing at his comment. 

We got him back in his bed with much groaning and struggle, and I couldn’t shake the feeling the worst wasn’t over yet. “You okay?” Garcia asked softly. 

“Yeah, I’m just really tired.”

“Of course you are, you need to get some sleep,” Garcia commented sweetly. 

“Beauty rest for pretty boy,” I joked, trying to lighten the mood. 

A doctor walked in, and Garcia and I looked at each other questioningly. “What’s the problem? He already had his meds an hour ago.” I said, looking back at the man holding the syringe. 

“Yeah, post-op antibiotics,” the man said, not looking any of us in the eye.

“Yeah, he had those too,” Garcia questioned, glancing from me to Spencer. 

“Which ones?” Spencer asked, reading the label on the syringe. “Carbenicillin? No, that’s not right. I have a severe reaction to beta lactams. I can’t have that.” Panic crept into his voice and I knew something was really wrong. 

The man took a small glance at his clipboard, putting it aside nonchalantly. “That’s not in your chart.”

All three of us looked to each other with wide eyes. The man stuck the needle into Spencer’s IV bag. “What are you doing? What are you doing?” We both tried to pry the needle out of Spencer’s arm, and Spencer quickly slapped the needle out of the man’s hands. 

The man bent over, revealing a gun tucked into his waistband. 

“Garcia, give me Spencer’s gun!” I reached behind me, praying she knew what I was talking about. 

She did. Garcia placed the gun into my hand, and I aimed, pulling the trigger right as the man pointed his weapon at Spencer. 

The man fell, and we all released a breath we all had been holding simultaneously. 

“Let’s never do that again,” I said, exhaustion from the night taking over me. 

“Agreed.” Spencer looked at me, a relieved smile coming to his lips. “Thank you for saving me.”

I smiled with him, dropping the gun on the ground. “Just returning the favor.”

He spread his arms as much as he could, and I leaned down to give him a hug. “Let’s get married,” he said, and we both laughed. 

“Sure,” I answered, pulling away with tears in my eyes. 

We suddenly remembered Garcia standing right behind us, looking like she was about to pass out.

“Oh my God,” she said simply. “My ears are ringing so bad that I don’t even care that he just proposed to you.”

Spencer and I laughed, knowing that this nightmare was finally over.

TAG LIST : @squirrellover1967 @yomama-umbridge @vixengustin88 @tiktokslut @ sknnymnne @pinkdiamond1016

[midnight-star-world]

The Ultimate Countdown 2020 Year-End Part 1 #53 to #27

So today I will be bringing you all 53 songs that became a number 1 on any of my weekly list.  Those list are CMT (Country Music Television), the Billboard Country Music Airplay Charts, & even my MSR (Midnight Star Report).  So this will be counting down #53 to #27.  So let's get started right now.

Number 53 belongs to Cole Swindell - Love you too late. Number 52 belongs to Matt Stell - Everywhere but on. Number 51 belongs to Hardy featuring Lauren Alaina, & Devin Dawson - One beer. Number 50 belongs to Parker McCollum - Pretty heart. Number 49 belongs to Chris Lane - Big, big plans. Number 48 belongs to Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Stefani - Happy anywhere. Number 47 belongs to Morgan Wallen - More than my hometown. Number 46 belongs to Jameson Rodgers - Some girls. Number 45 belongs to Ingrid Andress - More hearts than mine. Number 44 belongs to Russell Dickerson - Every little thing. Number 43 belongs to Russell Dickerson - Love you like I used to. Number 42 belongs to Locash  - One big Country song. Number 41 belongs to Florida Georgia Line - I love my Country. Number 40 belongs to Tim McGraw - I called Mama. Number 39 belongs to Gabby Barrett - I hope. Number 38 belongs to Kane Brown featuring Nelly - Cool again. Number 37 belongs to Jason Aldean - Got what I got. Number 36 belongs to Jason Aldean - We back. Number 35 belongs to Chris Janson - Good vibes. Number 34 belongs to Brantley Gilbert & Lindsay Ell - What happens in a small town. Number 33 belongs to Luke Combs - Even though I'm leaving. Number 32 belongs to Ashley McBryde - One night standards. Number 31 belongs to Justin Moore - Why we drink. Number 30 belongs to Maddie & Tae - Die from a broken heart. Number 29 belongs to Travis Denning - After a few. Number 28 belongs to Lady A - What if I never get over you. Number 27 belongs to Miranda Lambert - Bluebird.

And that's a wrap for this part of the countdown.  Thanks goes out to both the Billboard Country Music Airplay Charts, & CMT (Country Music Television) for doing their weekly Country Music Song Countdowns.  And thanks goes out to you for taking the time to read this weekly list.  See ya all next time where we will countdown #26 to #1.

[roswelldetails]

RNM 2x06 - Sex and Candy

EPISODE SUMMARY:

Maria’s (Heather Hemmens) investigation into her mother’s disappearance leads her and Alex (Tyler Blackburn) to the home of a mysterious boot maker named Travis (guest star David Anders). Meanwhile, on her journey of self-discovery, Isobel’s (Lily Cowles) night out leads her into the arms of someone unexpected. Finally, after making some major scientific strides, Liz (Jeanine Mason) is dealt a devastating blow. Geoff Shotz directed the episode written by Rick Montano & Vincent Ingrao (#206). Original airdate 4/20/2020.

DETAILS:

Max and Isobel's fight:

Lights start flickering when Max starts getting aggressive and then get brighter as he gets more worked up.

The first attempt to expel it seemed like he was causing an earthquake.  He blew out all the windows in the gym, knocked Isobel down, and there was shaking.  But it didn't seem to go beyond that room - no damage is seen when Michael arrives or around town.

Note, after the earthquake thingie the lights go out 

His hands are doing the electric power thingie and THEN he also grabs the lightning.

I think Isobel used her telekinesis to stop it and then push it away, which seemed to work...but if so then why couldn't Noah do that last season? 

Was it the sheer volume of electricity? There was definitely MORE than with Noah.

Michael uses his telekinesis to manually reset Max's heart.  This is very smart of him. Note that he's using his own heart/pulse to get it right.

They are using the antidote to Liz's serum to try to heal Max's mind. 

Michael says that they've been giving him antidote injections for three days (time jump).

Three days of antidote and no new memories for Max.

Isobel remembered her blackouts within a few hours of getting injected with the antidote in 1x10.

Note: Liz hesitated using the antidote this way in 1x10 because Isobel could still be dangerous and they didn't know about the 4th Alien yet.  There doesn't seem to be a similar hesitation with Max. Because Liz trusts him more? Because him forgetting her is more personal? It's not like there isn't a chance that Max is still dangerous…

Maria arranged a Mexican market in the Pony parking lot to subsidize her income.

Buffy the Beagle is Forrest's dog!

Maria comments that the meteor shower makes animals act strange. And humans too.

Forrest and Maria are organizing an open night mic at the Wild Pony.  Free drinks for performers.

Maria clearly approves of Forrest and Alex getting to know each other.  She smacks Alex for his awkward flirting.

The bootmaker's farm is about an hour outside of town.

The Science:

Kyle and Steph are watching a "surgical separation of craniopagus twins".

Craniopagus Twins = twins attached at the cranium/head. (Aka not a heart surgery).

"Did you know, ever since 1947, twin births in Roswell are higher than the national average? Maybe it's aliens."

Speaking of awkward flirting…. "You're just my favorite person I can't stand."

The Spanish:

Le cambio una bolsa de chiles para mi papá...for the free fries next time you come to the Crashdown.

Liz is bartering.  She says basically, I'll trade you a bag of chiles for my papa for free fries next time you come to the Crashdown. 

Note, the captions for this are wrong and use the Spanish word for grasshoppers instead, but you can clearly hear Liz say chiles. Thanks to @rosaortecho for pointing that out to me.

Max says:

I'm trying to eat clean. Uh, tiene carne seca sin como se dice, preservativos.

He's trying to say, basically, does the jerky have preservatives. 

Quiere carne a sin preservativos?

Basically, you want meat without condoms?

Lo siento. Uh, no lo entiendo.

I'm sorry, I don't get it.

Él quiere decir conservantes.

He means preservatives.

Gracias. Estoy embarazado.

Thank you. I'm pregnant.

Michael asks Max who he's texting. Max says everyone has been messaging him but Cameron is the only one who hasn't responded, which isn't like her.

Wildly curious who he was texting though.  It's not like he's a social butterfly. His mom? The sheriff? Who? As I pointed out to some friends the other day, he spent his 21st birthday getting trashed with his SISTER. This is not a trait of a guy with lots of close friends.

Just as another note, Michael says he ghosted her. When exactly was that? Yes, Max ran out on her in the middle of a handy in 1x03, but they addressed that the next day.  She "broke up" with him in 1x07, but they were still good right up until she left town. 

Isobel:

"Does he seem different to you?"

Alex and Maria playing "Never have I Ever" in the car. Good way to do background on characters.

Maria has never cheated on a boyfriend

Alex has never been in a real relationship. Not even "Kellie Sommer-something".

Alex says that whenever he was with a woman he was trying to disappear.  Except for Sophomore year after Battle of the Bands. Seven Minutes in Heaven in Haley Moore's hall closet. Alex and Maria kissed and it was Maria's first kiss (and boob graze).  She always thought she'd marry Alex. Had to come up with a new plan after he came out. 

Alex says "I did too."

"Kissing you in that closet was the first time in my life that I enjoyed touching someone."

Max picks up Liz for their first date…

Just as a note, Save Tonight was the opening song in the pilot of OG Roswell. During the "oh, Max Evans is staring at you again." exchange between Liz and Maria.  So, it might go well with new beginnings or something ;-)

The Science:

"Psychogenic amnesia limits retrieval of stored memories, but if we light up your limbic system and gustatory cortex with some familiar signals…"

"Your milkshake might bring all my memories to the yard?"

**Note, second reference to this song in the context of Liz bringing Max milkshakes. First was in 1x06 by Isobel. Hmm. 1x06 and 2x06… maybe they should crack this joke in 3x06 too.

"Sometimes when people wake up from comas they have different personalities, different tastes even…"

Everything you ever wanted to know about psychogenic amnesia:

But, my main takeaway is that it's a specific type of amnesia where there's abnormal memory function but no brain damage or other clear cause of it.

Limbic system:

Basically the part of your brain that stores emotion, behavior, and long term memory.

Gustatory cortex:

Basically the part of your brain that processes taste.

Maria compares Michael to Chad because he starts fights and lies.  Alex disagrees and lists ways that he was doing good things:

He lied to protect his family from Alex's family.

He shouldered the burden of a murder he didn't commit for ten years so that Isobel didn't have to.

He pushed Maria away to protect her - which might be a good thing too because of all his baggage. 

First Date:

Max went to Ranch camp one summer and dislocated his shoulder while trying to read Lord of the Rings on horseback. #nerd. 

Liz references the gala as not their first date, but there was also the desert in high school.  I guess she doesn't count that either. 

Side note: Cam and Liz talked about him peacocking in 2x03, but that kinda felt out of character at the time to the Max we knew.  This Max DOES seem like he's peacocking a bit. Got dressed up, taking Liz horseback riding. He admitted to trying to one up whatever they did together before. Just an interesting (to me) observation.

Liz looks panicky when Max suggests truth serum (because Science!Liz probably could make truth serum), but once she realizes he means whiskey she's like, "oh yes, that's fine." Oh Liz… 

Diego details:

They were engaged just last year

Liz left without saying goodbye

Bioengineer 

They were working together on the Denver study

They would come home and keep talking about work

He had ideas to help improve it

They both spoke The Science

He pushed her to get better at The Science

When the funding was cut she realized she loved the work more than him

Liz couldn't figure out how tell him that so she packed her things in the middle of the night, hit the road, changed her phone, and blocked him on Facebook.

**This is the first time LIZ has mentioned social media. Interesting given the crap Maria keeps giving her about it!

Travis and fresh warm milk. What is up with it??

"Nice ring. Does it keep you from burning up in the daylight?"

David Anders introduces himself as Travis.

Just as a point of interest, Maria researched enough to find the bootmaker, figure out where he lives, but she didn't get his name??? 

Vampire Diaries/Originals reference.

Travis says he can't help with car stuff.

The milk was from a cow named Jennifer.  He milked her for the last time today. (Creepy).

Weird contradictory statements from Travis:

"You're the best thing I've seen in a long time."....

"Mm, I'm sorry. So many customers and all their ugly faces get all sewn up and stitched together in my mind."

"Yeah, that's the woman that bought them boots. While back. Nice lady. She paid cash."

Second reference to animals behaving strangely during a meteor shower:

"Meteor shower's got my girls singing a bit off key tonight.  Jennifer, she likes a good lullaby."

"Okay this guy is going to turn us into skin suits." (OG reference? Or just general sci-fi?)

Meteorchella at Planet 7 (Coachella-style party during meteor shower?) with any excuse to add sparkles!

Kyle says he's at Planet 7 because he's trying not to hang out with people from high school.

Isobel says she's trying to have fun without feeling like prey.

Don't think the details of Kyle/Isobel dancing matters all that much, but as a point of amusement I'll share that in the panel on Tuesday night they shared that Lily whispered something different to Trevino on every take...And they got progressively dirtier to the point that she finally felt like she crossed a line and profusely apologized.  Also the lick was a Lily addition. 

Max's confession about killing the drifter:

Kind of an interesting thing, comparing the first version of the drifter story in 1x06 to the 2x06 version. 1x06 was more dramatic, but 2x06 was more personal, I think. 

1x06

"There are moments that define our lives, and there are moments that divide our lives. Incidents that separate us into two different people: who we were before and who we will be after. Forever…One day we were children and the next we were something else. I was a killer. Michael an accomplice.  And Isobel...Isobel was broken."

2x06

"I killed a man once, on a camping trip. This drifter came out of nowhere, attacked Isobel.  I wasn't even thinking. I killed him. With this. I arrest people who kill people. Most of them usually regret what they did. You know, you can just tell that they're forever broken. It's like a piece of them dies with their victims. So when I could feel that darkness, like I had to kill, I wanted Isobel to let me die. Because I couldn't risk hurting even one innocent person. Cause life just wouldn't be worth living."

Kind of an interesting narrative choice to confess to murder on a first date and then have the girl just brush it aside. 

"No, it just hit me why you're so happy and idealistic, and I feel like an idiot. You are that way because you don't remember me. It's a clean slate.  It's like when you got out of the pods with whatever memories you had erased it's probably for your own good."

"Last I heard you were the love of my life."

"Your cohorts, they left out some details. Cause if you had your memories I'm positive the worst thing that's ever happened to you is connected to me. And I can't bear the weight of making you remember that again."

**Note, second time this has been implied.  Last time was by Michael in 1x08 regarding the alien symbol.

"...it's gotta have some connection to us right? Maybe it was something we saw somewhere before the crash."

"Sorry, are you, Max Evans, acknowledging that we must have had lives before we hatched out of the pods? You never want to talk about home."

"Hey, Roswell is home. Look, I'm sorry man. You're right. I've spent a lot of time not talking about where we come from or why we're here.  Keep thinking I can pretend the past away and just be normal. But if Isobel's blackouts are some alien thing, then I need to know more. Okay, and this symbol? That's all I have to go on. I mean don't you think it's strange that we don't have any memories? I mean, no parents, no language. We weren't infants, man. We were seven."

"I just figured our memory faded. Over 50 years in those pods. Maybe it was just time. Or maybe whoever put us in those pods doesn't want us to remember."

Travis and Trevor's house...with added bonus of his ring that Alex comments on.

Leather ribbons/strips on the wall are for (from?) Hayley and Gertrude. More cows, I presume. 

There's also a framed Purple Heart on the wall next to a photo of Travis?

"War really messes with a man's mind.  Gets it all twisted up.

Timeline issue!! Alex says Mimi was missing for 3 weeks, but according to the clearly established timelines in 201-203 it was 4 weeks (or a month ish).  I wrote about this here:

Maria put her jacket on a scarecrow to trick Travis. And did she leave it there?

(Answer: yes. She doesn't wear it for the rest of the episode. Smart of her, actually).

Michael sees Trevor come out of the house and is about to shoot him. Maria immediate knew it wasn't Travis and threw herself in front of Michael's gun

Trevor shoots Travis.

A bullet from the Crashdown shooting falls out of Max's journal.  Does it look like it has blood on it? Or maybe just ketchup? If it's THE bullet it would make a lot of sense that he kept it hidden - evidence that Liz was shot. See this comparison between one of Wyatt's bullets in 1x02 and the one Max finds in 2x06

"Sorry about my twin here. He's had a rough go."

"Combat does not make you an axe murderer."

"No, it wasn't the combat. It was the R&D. If a paramilitary group ever asks you to take part in a study, you run the other way. He showed up a few weeks ago. Locked me up out back. Lucky y'all showed up when you did. Gave me a chance to escape."

R&D is a military acronym for Research and Development. (Aka...The Science.)

Priscilla - the cow Mimi's boots were made from.

This is literally the only direct information gained about the boots from this little sleuthing excursion. 

Well, and that Mimi paid cash, which isn't like her.

Side note - I didn't really know what Paramilitary meant, so just in case any of you are also not good with military stuff, Paramilitary groups are like private armies. Like, I dunno, the private security firm that Jesse and Cam discussed in episode 2x04. 👀

Male doctor operating on Steph clearly states:

"All right we're approaching an arterial junction."

A female doctor replies and its less clear.  What I hear is...Blood gasses are back? Anyone else hear something that makes more sense than that?

He replied something like...the stint through here

She says something about pH levels.

Max admits that he didn't know what would happen when he decided to bring Rosa back.  He just wanted to fix the worst thing that ever happened to all of them.

"I can't believe we were Shyamalan'd by an evil twin."

I think Alex is referring to the twist ending? Or maybe just the insane axe murderer stuff.

M. Night Shyamalan wrote and directed the Sixth Sense, Signs, Split, etc…

During this scene is the first time we see Michael's tattoo… it's on his arm. I struggled with getting a cap of it, but I know there are gifs going around.

I had every intention of detailing the dialogue in the trailer scene, but before I could get to it, Carina posted the script, so I didn't think it was a good use of my time. Here's the script:

The next morning, Alex calls the Sheriff from outside the trailer for an update.

The Sheriff tells him that Travis and Trevor burned their home and ran...weren't caught by the sheriff.  Which means we may not have seen the last of them.

The Spanish:

"Oh my God. Dios mio, Max. I took off your pants before I even said I love you. I'm some kind of zorra."

Dios mio basically is Oh My God! So Liz really was spiraling. She went, "Oh my God, Oh my God..."

Zorra - female version of Zorro. Basically a vixen, bitch, prostitute… the internet has all sorts of fun words that it translates into. 

"I call this one Visceral Werewolf Part 2, dedicated to my boy Chee Chee, may he rest in peace."

Can we have more Bert? Bert is the best. Also kudos to his goofy friend who is wayyy too excited about this.

Forrest's slam poem:

Locked up for days,

Time slipping away,

On my knees I would pray to break free from this cage.

But bargaining for keys, you forget hidden fees.

And wishing for what you’re missing ain’t the same as living the dream. 

And now I’m fighting to stay on this side of the cage.

Even though I know a part of me wishes I’d stayed. 

Ain’t no prophet or rebel or savior or devil

Could have predicted, fought, cheated or leveled. 

A life with potential that’s squandered, 

A comfortable cell is a question I ponder. 

Am I a free man or a prisoner wanderer?

Max's memory flash:

Young Max, chained to the ground as described in 2x03. 

Max looks scared.

He's dressed all in white like the 1947 aliens after the crash (As shown in 1x12 and 2x03).

He's in a cave or something like a cave. 

Holes in the wall are glowing an orangey red color.

The ceiling is like the alien ship material with the alien symbol in it.  

A figure approaches from behind him, bends down, and places a hand on his shoulder.

It mirrors the figure approaching Nora in 2x03 and touching her shoulder before burning the military men...probably the same person? Noah? The stowaway? Someone new?

After the figure touches Max, he looks at the hand, and then a red glow lights his face.

MUSIC:

1. Xocoyotzin Herrera "Esperanza"

2. Jose Luis Lepe "La Carreta"

3. Eagle Eye Cherry "Save Tonight"

4. Lousiana Red "I Done Woke Up"

5. Whissell "Magnetic"

6. Stop Dead "Alchemistress Dance"

7.  Orville Peck "Turn To Hate"

8. Kim Petras "Close Your Eyes"

9. Orville Peck "Queen Of The Rodeo"

10. Moontricks "The Fall"

11. Years & Years "Hypnotised"

12. Jordan Critz Feat. Birdtalker "Through Your Eyes"

This time I couldn't find the Whissell and Stop Dead tracks on spotify - however the Stop Dead track is referenced at being by Chelsea Dawn in the closed captions.  Which I did find. Trying to confirm this. Let me know if anyone else had better luck!

[nicoleknows-nothing]

Here are the standings of all of the NHL Players who will be competing in the Fortnite SuperGames Duos Tournament today [4/16/20]

IF THEY HAVE TWITCH CHANNELS I WILL LINK THEM BELOW! (note: some players may have a Twitch handle but may not stream!)

SIXTH PLACE (59 POINTS) Jack Roslovic (Winnipeg Jets): https://www.twitch.tv/jroslovic Brendan Lemieux (New York Rangers): https://www.twitch.tv/48horse

TENTH PLACE (47 POINTS) Zach Hyman (Toronto Maple Leafs): https://www.twitch.tv/zach_hyman Alex Nylander (Chicago Blackhawks): https://www.twitch.tv/ZeZee92

11TH PLACE (46 POINTS) Brett Pesce (Carolina Hurricanes) Anthony Bitetto (Winnipeg Jets): https://www.twitch.tv/abitetto7

13TH PLACE (42 POINTS) Tyler Bertuzzi (Detroit Red Wings): https://www.twitch.tv/Bertuzzi17

21ST PLACE (31 POINTS) Vince Dunn (St. Louis Blues): https://www.twitch.tv/vincedunn Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis Blues)

TIED 22ND PLACE (30 POINTS) Trevor Moore (LA Kings): https://www.twitch.tv/Trevmoore08

TIED 22ND PLACE (30 POINTS) Zach Aston-Reese (Pittsburgh Penguins): https://www.twitch.tv/Sweatypits_

31ST PLACE (24 POINTS) Matt Nieto (Colorado Avalanche): https://www.twitch.tv/nieto83 Nathan Mackinnon (Colorado Avalanche): https://www.twitch.tv/lildogg29/

36TH PLACE (22 POINTS) Patrik Laine (Winnipeg Jets): https://www.twitch.tv/patsyuk29/ *note: Patrik’s twitch is not listed on the Twitch Rivals website but I follow him and knew his handle

40TH PLACE (19 POINTS) William Nylander (Toronto Maple Leafs): https://www.twitch.tv/wnylander88 (thank you @hockeylvr59 for the link!)

49TH PLACE (14 POINTS) David Pastrnak (Boston Bruins): https://www.twitch.tv/Martialapple250 Jake DeBrusk (Boston Bruins): https://www.twitch.tv/jdebrusk/ (Jake’s link not listed on Twitch Rivals Website but again, I follow him) PLAYERS WHO WERE ELIMINATED DURING QUALIFIERS INCLUDE: Travis Konecny (Philadelphia Flyers) Lawson Crouse (Arizona Coyotes) Frank Vatrano (Florida Panthers) Riley Stillman (Florida Panthers) Carter Verhaeghe (Tampa Bay Lightning) Tyler Johnson (Tampa Bay Lightning) Eric Robinson (Columbus Blue Jackets) Rasmus Andersson (Calgary Flames) Johnny Gaudreau (Calgary Flames)

[stxleslyds]

NIGHTWING VS HUSH

I did read it and I loved it! In fact, I loved it so much that when the trade came to my country, I bought it even though its cover has Joker and Harley in it (and I do not like any of them). Travis Moore’s art might be one of the biggest factors of my love for that issue but many things from it were just right!

First of all, it was really nice to see both Dick and Clark being presented as the closest friends to Bruce, because they were the ones coming up with his bachelor party. I am always here for Clark and Dick content! It even got better when we were told that Dick came up with the idea for the “party”, Bruce seemed really happy and content with that pocket dimension where basically the only thing that he could do was do some fishing. It just seemed adorable to me.

Hush as a villain can sometimes come off as boring but I think they did something really good and interesting when Hush and Dick found themselves stranded in a creepy dimension.

While I will always see Dick and Bruce as a son/father duo I also really like the idea of Dick and Bruce being friends as Dick grew up. And because of that I really enjoyed Hush feeling especially mad at Dick for having “taken” his place in Bruce’s life.

Dick is written beautifully, he is serious and doesn’t let Hush play games with him. I love it. I would have loved to see more of this Dick Grayson, you know? The perfect mix between adorable, kind, sweet, badass, serious and smart.

This issue, brings to light in very subtle ways how much of a good man Dick is. He is just the best and in this issue he proves it more than once, when he knows exactly what Bruce would like for his “party”, when he carries Hush’s body to safety even though it was very far away and Hush continuously threatened to kill him...

When that guy decides to help them by saying that they needed to go “somewhere that reflects where your identity is strong and distinct” and Dick chooses Wayne Manor I feel like that was a clever decision. (It wouldn't be the first place that comes to mind for Dick specifically but he needed a place for both of them to be strong).

As Dick explains to Hush why he brought them there, Hush begins to question why Nightwing knows so much about him and why would Wayne Manor could be of help to Nightwing himself. Dick really makes Hush loose his cool completely and I like to think that he had thought that would happen.

When Hush unmasks Nightwing, Dick isn’t troubled at all, he is all cool and ready because he knows exactly what to say. And he destroys Hush by telling him exactly what he doesn’t want to hear.  He tells Hush the truth, that even when Hush was just Tommy, he was never truly there for Bruce, he tried so hard to be like him that he forgot to be there for his friend, and that’s why as time passed Tommy and Bruce became more and more estranged.

If I weren’t already in love with the writing in this book, the twist that Dan Abnett gives us next would have made me go insane out of love for this story.

This might be me, but Hush revealing that he transformed his face to be an exact copy of Dick’s only proves that Dick is the MVP in the Bat-Clan (Dick-Family rise up!). Hush literally says that what he wanted “to go back to being his (Bruce’s) best friend again. So, I did it. Mr. Grayson. I practiced my art... I’ve become you, Dick Grayson”

Hush wanted to be important to Bruce again so he “became” Dick Grayson, that validates every theory/idea that we have had that Dick is Bruce’s (as well as others) support system and safety net. “His true confidant. Always there. His best friend.”

Dick Grayson’s power!!! Listen, I don’t care about Bruce and Dick’s relationship all that much, I still think that Bruce is a horrible father but my love for this book has nothing to do with Bruce, it has everything to do with how important Dick is written out to be for Bruce. How much value Dick’s love and they way that he cares for people has. In very few pages this story gives me (and maybe other readers) back that feeling of Dick being represented as the absolute best thing that happened to Batman and DC comics.

I know, it sounds like I am hyping up the story way too much but that how I felt when I first read it and I, right now, can only agree with my past self.

Anyway, let me go back to the issue, after Hush reveals his new face those scary faceless things get in Wayne Manor but Bruce also manages to open the dimension rift back up.

And here Dick shows us once more how much of a good man he is, he not only tries to reach for Hush as he is being attacked by those weird people but after he crosses the rift he asks if Hush was able to make it back with him! I mean, this man is just too precious!

Now comes the kinda sad but also adorable part, when Dick wakes up after having passed out in Bruce’s arms (when he went through the rift) he hears Bruce and Clark talking and that’s when he finds out that Clark will be Bruce’s best man at his wedding.

Travis Moore, I love you. His Dick Grayson is pretty, yes, but it is also full of emotion, his eyes are full of hurt but he still manages to look soft as if to hide how hurt it makes him that Bruce didn’t choose him. I love it, have I said that before?

And when Dick notices that he made Bruce feel uncomfortable he does his best to make him comfortable again! His eyes and his body language change... Travis Moore is a master at drawing emotions in characters and how those emotions change, it is honestly impressive, if someone doesn’t like the plot of this issue, the art, I am sure, makes up for it!

Dick looks so soft and relaxed, he even apologizes for things that aren’t his fault, he goes out of his way to make sure Bruce doesn’t feel bad for not choosing him as his best man and then procedes to tell Bruce that he would like to like to hang out with him as soon as he can because he felt guilty about them having distanced from one another.

I know, him blaming himself for things that aren’t his fault and him trying to comfort others when he didn’t do anything wrong to begin with, isn’t something that should be praised (and I am not doing that) but it’s in character for him. It is, because he is selfless and wants his family to be happy and comfortable.

(Just to be clear, I don’t believe for a second that Dick was the one that put “distance” between them, in canon it has always been Bruce, either Bruce couldn’t handle that Dick spent more time with the Titans or he pushed Dick away with his horrible attitude, but Dick is the one doing the talking and sadly Dick can sometimes come off as an unreliable narrator because he tends to take the blame for things that aren’t his fault or, at least, not completely his fault).

So yeah, those were my thoughts on Nightwing vs. Hush! Thank you for the question @chainusser​ ! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

[dustedmagazine]

Dusted Mid-Year Exchange, Part 1: Activity to Jeff Parker

Irreversible Entanglements

Six years ago, newly moved to Tumblr, we looked for a fresh take on the mid-year best-of list idea, partly to be contrary, partly because some of us had no interest in writing about the same records over and over again. After some discussion — well, a lot of discussion — we decided to turn our mid-year feature into a sort of secret Santa exchange. We’d each nominate two records and each review two records, but, here’s the kicker, they wouldn’t be the same records. We’d trade with our fellow writers, and if it meant that we had to listen to music way out of our comfort zone, so be it.

Since then we’ve had smooth exchanges and rough ones – last year’s was especially testy, but what can you do with such an opinionated bunch—but it’s become a favorite annual event. This year was no different, except that no one was truly revolted by their assignments.

Unlike some years, there was no clear dominant pick, though Six Organs, James Elkington, Makaya McCraven/Gil Scott-Heron, Cable Ties and Irreversible Entanglements all got multiple votes.

We’ll split our individual album write-ups into two posts. Today’s covers records by artists from Activity to Jeff Parker. We’ll get to the rest of the alphabet tomorrow. On the third and final day, we’ll post writers’ lists. Participants included Tobias Carroll, Tim Clarke, Justin Cober-Lake, Andrew Forell, Ray Garraty, Jennifer Kelly, Arthur Krumins, Patrick Masterson, Ian Mathers, Bill Meyer, Jonathan Shaw and Derek Taylor.

Activity — Unmask Whoever

Who picked it? Tim Clarke

Did we review it? Yes, Tim said, “This music strains at the leash, held tightly in check by the motorik rhythms, while gaseous synths seek to permeate all corners of the soundscape.”

Ray Garraty’s take:

You wouldn’t know that it is a debut album, but then it’s a super band, so that doesn’t count. Vocalist Travis Johnson’s delivery reminds you a symbolist poet reciting some lines from his notebook, neither singing nor reading. Despite referring to violence in song titles and lyrics, this music is as far from violent as it can be. It’s too self-conscious to even carry symbolic violence but when on ‘Earth Angel’ the vocalist with the hook “I wanna fuck around” almost breaks into a scream, it turns into a whisper instead. It’s these small details that unmask the outfit’s postmodern disguise and show that Activity is the real deal, not a half-baked pastiche.

Decoy with Joe McPhee — AC/DC (OtoRoku)

Who picked it? Derek Taylor.

Did we review it? Yes, Derek said, “Decoy is a working group and a heady amalgam that recalls a dream fusion of Atlantis-era Sun Ra, Keith Jarrett’s marathon electric stand with Miles at the Cellar Door, and Larry Young circa his Blue Note moonshot Contrasts, while still relentlessly retaining its own flight plan.”

Jennifer Kelly’s take:

Wow. “A/C” is impressive enough with its wild unfurlings of trumpet and sax, its woozy meditations in bowed and plucked stand-up bass, its incendiary organ bursts, all rooted in jazz, but touching on the hot, experimental outposts of rock and soul and R&B, too. But the second side, “D/C,” is even more exciting, as the tumult of sounds gets more fevered and McPhee breaks out in song. Who can blame him? You want to join in. It’s a mind-bending swirl that boils up and over the edges, heady, excessive and exhilarating. So glad I got to hear this, Derek, and it reinforces the benefits of trading favorites, i.e. finding music that is way out of your normal circuit but, even so, exactly what you need.  

 Sandy Ewen — You Win (Gilgongo)

You Win by Sandy Ewen

Who picked it? Bill Meyer

Did we review it? No.

Andrew Forell’s take:

Experimental guitarist Sandy Ewen appears as much concerned with space as sound. On You Win, she treats her instrument as pure object to explore the minutiae of its potential. Patterns emerge like communications from distant galaxies or the gradual shift and warp of old buildings. The 5 tracks scrape and rumble as occasionally identifiable guitar sounds — feedback hum, plucked strings — flicker from the mix. Best heard through headphones, You Win demands concentration lest one misses the nuanced denaturing and subversion of Ewen’s work, which is as fascinating as it is challenging.  

Fake Laugh — Dining Alone (State 51 Conspiracy)

Fake Laugh · Ever Imagine

Who picked it? Tim Clarke

Did we review it? Yes Tim said, “These sharp, funny, warm-hearted songs are immediately endearing, yet shot through with bracingly sour ingredients.” 

Andrew Forell’s take:

Dining Alone, Kamran Khan’s latest album as Fake Laugh, is a collection of pastel Day-Glo bedroom pop songs that breeze by leaving barely a hair ruffled in their wake. Khan has an ear for a melody, a wistfully pleasant voice and a talent for arrangement that make this album an enjoyable listen but there is a nagging feeling that he is holding something back. Tracks like the finely wrought “A Memory” and Supertramp update “The Empty Party” stand out but Dining Alone feels like an intermediate step on which Khan tries out ideas and seeks a way forward although there is enough here to be optimistic about what might come next.

 Field Works — Ultrasonic (Temporary Residence)

Ultrasonic by Field Works

Who picked it? Justin Cober-Lake

Did we review it? Yes, in a May Dust, Tim Clarke wrote that “Stuart Hyatt’s latest compilation in the Field Works series is an absolute beauty — and timely given it’s being released during a pandemic whose origins may be linked to bats.” 

Derek Taylor’s take:

Most of the listening that I do in the service of reviewing music revolves around discerning who’s, what’s and how’s. Those sorts of taxonomic identifications feel superfluous, not to mention futile when navigating the music on Ultrasonic. Sources I mistook as aquatic (“Dusk Tempi,” “Echo Affinity,” “Music for a Room with Vaulted Ceiling,” and “Indiana Blindfold”) are subterranean, specifically the echolocation emissions of bats. Harp and piano sounds dapple “Silver Secrets” and “Sodalis” as instrumental signposts, but they’re outliers in a program that feels largely electronic and beyond the scope of scrupulous inventory.  

The closest, if admittedly antiquated, genre descriptors I have for these ecology-minded creations are ambient and new age. A seraphic, celestial quality suffuses most of them with sweeping washes of tonal color layering over more definable rhythms and progressions. The combination curiously reminds me of a distant temporal relic that served as childhood gateway to this sort of territory, my father’s vinyl edition of Ray Lynch’s Deep Breakfast. It’s another feeble attempt at a compass point and evidence of how difficult it can be to escape the ingrained habits that influence personal musical consumption.

The Giving Shapes — Earth Leaps Up (Elsewhere)

Who recommended it? Arthur Krumins

Did we review it? Yes. Arthur said, “You feel like you’re being carried into a dream, familiar yet strange.”

Ian Mathers’ take:

There’s just something nice about a record where, a few minutes after putting it on, your partner suddenly remarks “you know, this is very calming”. It’s not that the work of Robyn Jacob (voice, piano) and Elisa Thorn (voice, harp) is soporific or somehow uninvolving, more that there’s a somehow centered kind of deliberateness with which they approach these songs that feels oddly reassuring. The way their voices often echo lines (or slightly altered lines) back at one another can feel vaguely Stereolab-ish, but rather than the coolly pulsing, layered grooves (and transient noise bursts) of that outfit, the simplicity of the arrangements here feels direct and clean and often comforting. But it’s the type of comfort that lets you see the difficulty you’re trying to tackle head-on, not the comfort that swaddles you away from having to deal with the world. It’s more bracing than lulling, in other words, and frequently beautiful at that.

  Irreversible Entanglements — Who Sent You? (Don Giovanni/International Anthem)

Who recommended it? Andrew Forell.

Did we review it? Yes. Andrew Forell wrote, “Who Sent You? is an extraordinary statement lyrically and musically.”

Bill Meyer’s take:

I’m inclined to agree with Andrew Forell. When I first encountered the vocal-focused free jazz of Irreversible Entanglements in 2018, I was more taken by the band’s focused exchanges of energy onstage than I was by their self-titled debut LP as a listening experience. But its successor steps up their already powerful game by easing up just a bit. They’ve let more air and variety into the surging rhythms and interweaving horn lines, opening up space for vocalist Camae Ayewa’s words to land with even more impact and staying power. Ayewa, who also records as Moor Mother, is more of a poetic declaimer than a singer or rapper, and her expressions of cultural memory and existential survival in the face of remorseless racism and economic terrorism boom over the music’s ebb and flow with inspiring authority. While her words are always applicable, this record sounds like it was made to be heard in a time of plague and revolt; when people ask in years to come what record sounds like the middle of 2020 felt, a lot of people will hold up Who Sent You?

  The Jacka — Murder Weapon (The Artist / EMPIRE)

Who recommended it? Ray Garraty

Did we review it? Yes. Ray Garraty said, “this album confirms Jacka’s status among the greatest fallen soldiers of hip hop.”

Tim Clarke’s take:

Despite being a posthumous release whose title refers to the artist’s tragic death by shooting back in 2015, Murder Weapon by Bay Area rapper The Jacka is a surprisingly cohesive listening experience, largely thanks to the lush palette of old-school samples employed on many of these tracks. From the aching strings on early highlight “Walk Away” via the swinging funk of “Can’t Go Home” to the children’s choir on “We Outside,” there’s a warmth and humanity to this sad story that honors the artist’s memory.

 Ka — Descendants of Cain (Iron Works)

Who picked it? Ray Garraty

Did we review it? Yes, Ray said, “Descendants of Cain, Ka’s seventh album combines the epic bleakness of the Old Testament with Brownsville’s hopelessness.”

Tobias Carroll’s take:

Shamefully, this is my first exposure to the music of MC and producer Ka; it’s his sixth album overall, and I’ve got some catching up to do. For an album with a title and cover art that could just as easily fit on a doom metal album, what surprised me was how focused this all was. The album flows beautifully, with music that fits somewhere between sinuous soul and the art-damaged Americana heard on, say, Matmos’s The West — with a handful of cinematic samples topping it off. It’s a perfect match for Ka’s voice, which manages to be textured and beatifically smooth all at once. Some albums paint a picture for the listener; this one is wholly immersive.

Matt LaJoie — Everlasting Spring

Everlasting Spring by Matt LaJoie

Who picked it? Tobias Carroll

Did we review it? No

Ray Garraty’s take:

Matt LaJoie’s technical verbosity is on the spot here, as all the man-made sounds can be mistaken for something Nature produced out of its vast resources. Everlasting Spring is like a small water spring which flows and flows but can’t eventually flow into a river, being forever condemned to be just this spring. Everlasting Spring lasts almost for an hour (if we count a bonus track), and it’s six minutes for every string LaJoie’s guitar has. Not many men can admire nature for that long. The whole album has that New Age-ish feel, when you can start listening to it from any track, and nothing will change in your views on it.

Maybe it does give a good mimesis of what spring sounds like but we still need a change of weather from time to time.

 Mamaleek — Come & See (The Flenser)

Come and See by Mamaleek

Who recommended it? Jonathan Shaw

Did we review it? Yes. Jonathan said, “Their dominant textures are still harsh and confrontational, vocals are still howled and shouted. But there are riffs. There are melodic structures.”

Justin Cober-Lake's take:

As black metal, Mamaleek would hold their own, but there's a persistent work to stretch boundaries here. Come & See keeps a core mix of sludge and anger, but the group's inventiveness keeps the album consistently surprising. The group finds brighter tones than anticipated, even while moving away from metal more toward alt-rock at times, and post-rock at others, and generally finding expressions that require a hyphen. An occasional breakdown touches on jazz or finds its roots in rock 'n' roll. “Cabrini-Green” functions like a suite — track the movements and break the track into its separate pieces — even as it avoids a sort of linear sequence. “Elsewhere” (and, indeed, much of the album) turns out a demented history of hardcore. The record probably won't find much of an audience outside of the metal scene, but listening past the obvious trappings reveals a wealth of influences and a complexity that makes for intriguing listening across genre strictures.

 Jeff Parker — Suite for Max Brown (International Anthem)

Suite for Max Brown by Jeff Parker

Who picked it? Arthur Krumins

Did we review it? Yes. Arthur said, “Following the looped, electronic and eclectic New Breed, Jeff Parker’s latest album expands into an even greater range of off-kilter sonic experiments.”

Tobias Carroll’s take:

Before this year, my knowledge of Jeff Parker’s music came largely from his work with Tortoise. And that’s far from a bad thing; Tortoise is a fine band. But hearing Parker push further into the realm of jazz with Suite for Max Brown is its own form of delight, where precisely-played melodies meet instrumental virtuosity. It’s an eminently listenable album, and one where I’m still noticing new moments of subtle beauty in the mix.

[gottagobuycheese]

Tag Thingy

Thanks @silent--sonata for indulging my terrible sleeping habits XD

(fyi this will probably be unnecessarily long and rambly, so it’s going under a cut (EDIT: whelp the song list got a little out of hand, I’d apologize if I were even remotely sorry)) 

Rules: Answer 17 questions & tag 17 people you want to get to know better  

Nickname: Cheese (or Lactose Wedge, or Dairy Product of Unspecified Origin and Purpose)

Zodiac Sign: Gemini! 

Height: 160.5 cm/5′3″ (Bubbles I refuse to believe you’re actually that much taller than me) 

Hogwarts house: Somewhere between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff allegedly, both of which I’d be honored to get sorted into, but honestly I’d just be stoked to get sorted at all 

Last thing I googled: I think it was something along the lines of “how to speed up audio playback in GarageBand,” but but my train of thought was derailed before I actually looked at any of the results so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (and on a related note, thanks again for the magical audio editing @imperiousheiress!)

Song stuck in my head: The end credits to Legacy of the Wizard (which is SUCH a jam, thank you for enlightening me @jessicafish) Following and followers: 227 (goodness just looking at that number is stress-inducing) and...104?! When the HECK did you all get here??? I think just last summer I was happily floating about in the 50′s. Anyways, to anyone I have not said hello, hello! Hope you enjoy your stay, and I am sincerely sorry if you expected Quality Original Content, or even just regularly scheduled other people’s content. Sadly, neither of these things tend to happen here. 

Amount I sleep: During the school year it’s usually anywhere between 30 minutes and 6 hours (DON’T EVEN START BUBBLES YOU HAVE NO RIGHT), usually landing in the 3/4 hour ranges if I’m smart about it, but now that I am on Unofficial Break, it’s usually at least around 6 hours (except today was 3 because Avatar is an excellent show and the weirdos in this house have regularly scheduled breakfast at 9-something every morning). Sadly my sleep schedule can only be forced to tolerate normalcy for so long before careening back in the other direction, so we’ll see if this is just a blip or if we’re back to normal mid-Atlantic Ocean hours!

Lucky number(s): I wouldn’t say these are necessarily favorite numbers, but I do like 2 and 9. But come to think of it, second attempts at Official Things do tend to go better for me than first attempts, so maybe there’s some merit there after all! Dream Job: Don’t think I’m really cut out for dreaming anymore, haha (unless you are a theoretical future employer in which case I am Extremely Full of Ambition and Passion). The bed-adjacent metaphor has been made, and not to brag, but I can sleep on pretty much any surface. Currently studying my Not Favorite aspect of STEM (was there ever a favorite or did I just like being good at things sometimes) and learning how to People™ properly (and also learning a gazillion convoluted drug names like what the heck dude, did you just fall asleep on your typewriter coming up with these), so I’ll take whatever place hires me and pays me enough not to depend on my parents for everything, I suppose. In an ideal world, that would entail a job where I could make friends, and even more importantly, a job where my shortcomings would not cause Massive and Irreparable Harm, but I don’t think this line of work really meshes with that last one, so I guess I’ll either have to get my shit together™ extremely soon or fake my death, adopt an alias, and flee to a completely new place with no ties whatsoever before trying to get another, less high stakes job. 

(Though I guess, less cynically, I like helping people well enough? And stories are fun! Maybe there could’ve been something with that. Not that there still can’t be, mind, but there’s still a long way to go between Here and There)

Wearing: Black shorts. Navy t-shirt. Brown some-specific-kind-of-jacket-I-forgot-the-name-of jacket. Is it summer? Is it fall? Am I in middle school? Who can say, but they are COMFY so sadly I have no cares to give

Favourite song(s): way way WAY too many to list here, and I do not have them all organized in a handy playlist separately, but to name a few (and these are not necessarily the MOST favorite okay, it doesn’t mean I don’t love stuff not on this list, it means you can’t force me to pick between my children and I am going to find at least one quick thing from a few things I like before I need to hit post and go back to looking like I’m being studious, and also things I think you should listen to right now, but for everything I’ve linked assuming I mean the whole OST), here’s a spam of links in no particular order: 

LoZ Wind Waker - The Great Sea (aka the epitome of optimism) 

Undertale - NGAHHH!! (I was about to link more but then I realized it’d be the whole soundtrack lol) 

LoZ Breath of the Wild - Hateno Village (Night) 

A:tLA - Peace (bad call BAD CALL NOW I HAVE EMOTIONS) 

Legend of Korra - Final Scene/Ending Theme (MISTAKES WERE MADE MISTAKES WERE MADE) 

Kung Fu Panda - Oogway Ascends (I feel like I’m taking you on a whole little album journey now XD) 

PMD: Explorers of Sky - Dialga’s Fight to the Finish (aka the Gotta Shower Fast song) 

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Pursuit ~ Cornered (aka the HURRY UP AND PACK UR SHIT YOUR FLIGHT LEAVES IN THREE HOURS song) 

Apollo Justice: A New Trial Is In Session (very underrated soundtrack imo) and also Apollo Justice: Telling the Truth (because these two are very closely associated in my head and it’s getting harder and harder to narrow things down so maybe I should stop lol) 

Your Name: Katawaredoki (in which I am forcibly thrown heart first into the bedroom of my second apartment at approximately 12-something A.M.) 

Digimon Adventure 01: Butterfly (MASSIVE 90′s childhood anime feels, and also Last Summer Before Everything Went to Shit feels (on a general scale I mean, not personal)) 

Pokémon: Lugia’s Song multitrack cover by Jordan Moore (would that I could have a talent of that musical talent) 

Pokémon the First Movie: Tears of Life (great now I’m on a Pokémon music spiral GUESS IT’S CHILDHOOD NOSTALGIA HOURS NOW) 

PMD: Blue Rescue Team - Farewell and Run Away/Fugitives (you CANNOT make me choose between these guys okay, my brain WILL explode, and whoops now I want to link the whole ost) 

Palette by A Dear Friend (wink wonk) 

Pokémon: Alpha Sapphire - Fortree City (wow talk about mood whiplash)

Detective Conan: Main Theme (I can’t find the specific version since there are so many, but it’s a Good Theme) 

Super Smash Bros.: Brawl - Opening Theme 

Pokémon Colosseum - Relic Forest 

Song for Lindsay by Andrew Boysen Jr. (oh great now it’s time for marching band feelings I guess)

Mt. Everest by Rossano Galante 

Deltarune - Field of Hopes and Dreams and A Town Called Hometown (orchestrated) (aka the Lots of Work To Do song) and You Can Always Come Home and Don’t Forget (hey guess what I wrote a bunch of fake extra verses for) (also it looks my pathetic attempts at narrowing things down are getting even more pathetic so I’ll wrap up soon XD) 

 Guild Wars 2 - Fear Not This Night (never actually played this myself but my friend got me addicted to the music) 

Lord of the Rings - May It Be (Enya) (aaaand now I miss choir, THANKS BUBBLES) 

Lion King - Can You Feel the Love Tonight (Multilingual) by Travys Kim (aka how I remembered how fun these things are) 

Original Song by Anonymous  

(The urge to add all the other songs I’m not adding is so strong but I’ve got so much work to do so just assume I mean all Nintendo music from any game I’ve played, all Ghibli movie music, every musical I’ve ever heard, and even more) 

Random fact:

Apparently as early as the 17th century, you could guess that a child would have a shortened life span if their foreheads tasted salty. Yes, there is a specific reason, and yes, you may already know what it is, and thankfully no, that life span projection no longer holds true, assuming access to Modern Medicine! 

Favourite Authors: Okay I have not read enough various books of enough various authors to be able to answer this, so I’m just gonna go with a few books instead. They are not necessarily all-time favorites, but I enjoyed reading them very much at the time and more often than not go back to them for comfort reads: The Martian, any of first three Harry Potter books, and The Rise of Kiyoshi. (That last one’s not really a comfort read but I am drowning in Loving Kiyoshi juice so here we are)

Favourite Animal Noises: Certain kinds of birds (UNLESS it’s some ungodly hour of the morning and you’re trying to sleep)? Ooh, and crickets! 

Aesthetic: A slob, but like...a comfy slob. An incredibly disorganized hermit who is happy to mill about in the uncontrolled entropy. (Are we talking about what aesthetic I give off, or what I like to look at, visually? Because I like space, and water, and mountains, and forests, and forests ON mountains, OOH and forests on mountains at night where you can see space, perhaps reflected in a body of water. Or just water, idk. Different things are pretty to look at at different times)

WELL THAT ONLY TOOK FOREVER SORRY FOR THE OBSCENE LENGTH 

@pachelbelsheadcanon @averybritishbumblebee @shingeki-no-korra @sailorlock @yeswevegotavideo @soultheta @queenerdloser @ifeelbetterer @rogueofdragons @peppervl @amadness2method @mutalune and anybody else who wants to do this! This isn’t seventeen, and I don’t know if any of you have already done it/been tagged, but I hear people moving around upstairs so that means this break is over XD. And ABSOLUTELY no pressure to actually do this, this is pretty much just me wishing you well! (and YOU of course, my dear reader! I hope everything’s going all right, or if it’s not, that it does soon)