#all this talent on the b and c string

[doublel27]

GMM you know what you need to do

Always the side piece, never the main event. It’s their time!!

Also they can eat

[running-with-kn1ves]

Hi lovely, to celebrate the new year! I was wondering if you could please do a fluff/smut with Cirden.

Does not have to be hardcore smut only a taste!! thank you so much 4 taking the time out of your day and writing we all appreciate your work.

A/N: took it in me to get this done before January ended!! putting this man in the spicy is so bittersweet b/c it feels so wrong (but so right). And thank you for your kindness!! Lord knows I've been needing some grace. Thank you for being so sweet I'm glad people actually see my stuff <33

CW: NSFW/SMUT, public(?) doing the dirty in the woods, hunting, elf X reader, established marriage

WC:2.8k

Gender Neutral Reader X Male Elf husband

"Raagghh. I haven't caught ANYTHING..." One of your arrows lands in the dirt, it's blade skinning against the ground before it fell flat. You couldn't even manage to stab a lizard that blundered past you, it's skittering body running as your arrow slumped.

"Don't get discouraged," Cirdan mumbled with unmoving lips, focused on the prey only a few meters in front of him. "It's only your first time with a bow and arrow."

He still managed to whisk away your heart in his crouched battle stance as you curled on the forest floor, his arrow flying as it released with a snap. The harsh squeak of a cottontail broke the silence of the ancient trees, a fatal jump being it's last movement before it succumbed to the ground in a helpless flop. Your husband moved forward without you to slice it's throat. You looked away in shame; he had been hunting for your dinners ever since your joint movement into the cottage currently a mile away; he had cut the heads off deer and ducks while you sat back and covered your eyes. You couldn't even shoot down a bird, not only from your poor aim but your heart lurched everytime you saw its feathered breast beat with life, its beak release a hymn of song. Every now and again you could garner the courage to help him defeather or clean the bones of his latest catch but when seeing their heads or lifeless eyes, it made your insides churn.

It was dispiriting, knowing you couldn't provide in the way he had learned to do since he was a child. But by Gods and Goddesses, did he not look fine holding that bow and pulling back its string, showing the strength in his chest and the unwavering focus in his grey-blue eyes. You memorialized the image in your head, toes scrunching deep in your sewn leather boots (created by cirdan and his many talents) with your knees pushed together, gaze focused on the ground.

"Whats wrong?"

You looked up from your place in the dirt and dead leaves, your spouse like a pretty ice mountain that you had to strain upwards to see. He placed three dead bunnies by their ears into the sack that was once on his back; if he were alone, he would've just carried them by hand back to the cottage.

"Nothing, I was just... thinking. It's beautiful out here."

You looked up at the canopy of trees, dappled light speckling between the small empty holes that neither branch nor bushy leaves covered to block the evening sun.

Cirdan bent down, placing his sack on the ground as a warm hand came to cover the top of your head. A calloused palm pushed your hair back, patting you with deadweight.

You couldn't see the rest of him with his gigantic arm in the way, his voice like an omniscient invisible God of the forest. 

"Don't worry if you can't hunt...I'll do enough for the both of us," His palm slid to your cheek in a messy fashion, attempting to be heedful of how firm his touch was, too used to handling his bow with untamed strength for the day. His hand was a pillow on your cheek as he pressed his thumb against your temple. "It's my job to take care of you."

He spoke as if mostly to himself, thin silver lashes disguising his eyes while he watches your lips with a small, almost unnoticeable quiver. But he didn't waver as you stared back, gaze running from his deep pupils to his strong nose bridge, down to his dripping jugular.

It was tension inside you and it was unbearable. It took choking yourself back to not scream "just kiss me, dammit!"

But elves weren't the hasty type,(especially your aloof husband), and you didn't know what Cirdan would think if you came forward so hungrily. Would he think you were just some lust-crazed old bat that replaced the careful spouse he once knew?

"Come, let's go back; the wind is picking up. I won't let you catch a cold."

The forest was all but blowing, a leaf tumbling every now and again but practically silent. And yet, who were you to argue with the seasoned elf who had survived in forests like this?

You took the outstretched hand cirdan put in front of you, allowing him to practically lift you to your feet as your bow held limply in your other hand with defeat. Alas, another day with no progress in conquering your woodland fear.

You let Cirdan lead you, following him past old oaks and emptied burrows, unable to keep your wide eyes off of him. It was nice, to distract your disappointed mind from your empty game sack to the hauntingly beautiful portrait of the manly elf before you.

"What is it?" Cirdan stopped, looking at you with those long locks covering his scarred eye, the other staring with a darkened brow.

"Nothing!" You'd repeat, looking away with your antsy feet bouncing, hoping he'd somehow read the growing need inside of you. And this carried on a countless too many times before you saw the clearing that led to the desire path back home.

What were you to say? That you wanted him here and now? That you wished he'd just smile and hold you and tell you to take off your hunting clothes and everything underneath as soon as you got back home? Yeah, right. As if the stoic beast that you married would be so forward, as hopeful and desiring as you.

You sneaked glances, learning better than before when aiming to witness the veins in his forearm that traveled to the hand interlocked with yours, the pants that fit his slightly toned ass just right. Gods, were you really so sinful? But, was it so wrong to want your husband, to think of him panting above you and his beautiful thighs encasing you with heartache and hunger?

Cirdan stopped again. You were about to tell him now this time you really weren't looking but he didn't face you, instead dropping his bag along with an unused set of arrows accompanying his bow.

"I think... I understand."

You tilted your head at him, maybe at a poor attempt to get him to look at your cute side.

"I'm supposed to do more than...be a a simple protector."

You would've pressed for more information, if it weren't for the oddly timed shove towards a nearby tree. Cirdan took the bag from your hands faster than you could ask "what the hell are ya doing," his sharp face only mere inches away and angled as if he was about to kiss you.

But maybe, that was just your imagination, your mind centered only on his smoothened pinkish lips.

"Is this what you wanted...?"

The elf brute inched down, nudging your nose with a deep exhale. His hands engulfed yours, holding them down at your sides as he pressed his lips snuggly to your cupids bow.

The sheer power of his face pushed your skull against the tree; along with it a warm, humid hand came from behind to press along the curve of your back. His pointer finger inched, massaging into your tailbone as the elf's thigh quickly entrapped you between he and the old oak.

That hand moved down to the waist of your hunting trousers, digging beneath them to reach more savory skin.

You almost jumped at the slight clutch of your left ass cheek, your husbands eyes shut as he rubbed his forehead against you.

Lost words were grumbled under his breath with a gentle rasp, his other hand leaving your fingers as they braced against the bark of the tree behind you.

"Cirdan-- wha," you tried to figure out what you were feeling, what the right thing to do would be. Which was, to tell him that this was not the right place, nor the right time. But that gentle nudge of his tented crotch against your leg made any thoughts of lucidity drift.

"Want you..." He spoke, barely above a hum. "Isn't this, what you needed? Looking at me, at my..."

"Don't finish that sentence," you warned, unable to meet his gaze as he softly squinted open his eyes. "Maybe so but--! Right here?? Right now? In the woods?! Even I'm not desperate enough to make us do it...here."

"No creatures come to the edge of the woods... too smart for that. We're too far away for any hunters to venture close enough." You could see even he wasn't one to normally suggest this idea; but if anyone knew this forest, it was him. "Besides, said I want to take care of you.. did you not think I'd follow through on that..?"

"But, wait, I mean-" you nearly whined, hardly able to contain yourself with the hand massaging your backside, the fat of his buldge grinding into your quadricep. He was almost as bad as the rabbits he so skillfully caught, their known libidinous currently rivaling his own.

It was still atleast a 15 minute walk back to the cottage when following the path directly back. Could you make it that long? If not, could you bare the anxiety of having him bend you over in the woods completely out in the open?

"I didn't know you were so... pent up." You choked. "I mean, you're not just doing this for me, right?"

Who were you kidding? He was practically rubbing on you like a fox in heat.

"Please don't make me beg." He looked at you directly, finding your lost-at-sea eyes that had been rapidly searching for any creature or holy figure nearby witnessing you and your husbands' immoralities. He wasn't whining nor desperate but rather asking you, to please, not make him put himself even lower at your mercy-- if that was even possible.

His directness caught you off guard; sure, you had been on the edge of ripping your clothes off and throwing yourself at him but-- to have him beat you to the punch?

You couldn't help yourself when he leaned in, his soft locks brushing against your shoulder as the tip of his pink tongue swiped your lower lip, his confidence having grown since the first time you made love to him in the dark.

You opened your mouth greedily, nearly starvingly so as you wrapped your arms around his broad shoulders. How could you say no, when he asked you so genuinely, when your groin ached to be caressed by him?

With the confession of your open mouth and the lewd noises of your labored breaths, Cirdan moved quicker than with the normal diligent pace he tended to do everything with. In a split second your leg was wrapped around his hip, his large hand rubbing gently at the front zipper of your trousers, reaching in deep between your legs to get a good cup full o' you. 

You couldn't just ignore the cries of his loins as he lunged forward, desperate for your affection. You undid the two buttons holding the elf's own wood-colored slacks up. They drooped only slightly to show the clean grey of his happy trail, your palm digging in to reach for the stiff piece that craved a special touch.

It slid out so easily, his tip warm against your wrist. You couldn't help but watch him leak just a bit, slightly hard as a thin vein pulsed under your thumb.

"Gods please...I said t'not make me beg." He muffled in your ear, taken aback uncharacteristically as you stroked with the intent to milk him for all he had.

It was so cute and fat, the small grey-white hairs of the front of his cock leading down to his crowned jewels, making you appreciate the differences between humans and elves. His pointed ears twitched upward as he practically foamed at the mouth against your neck. A gentle palm came to push your shoulder against the tree with simplicity.

Without unzipping, cirdan shifted to pull your pants and undergarments down to your knees; in a matter of two seconds he managed to strip you half naked. Your hand was pulled away from the elf, interlocked instead with his fingers as your bare thigh was hoisted further up against his naked hip.

His chest pressed up against you as he slowed to get inside, looking at you with glazed over, hooded eyes. He didn't look away, he couldn't. There was something about the sweat at the corner of your brow, your slightly ajar lips that kept him going, entering inside of you with raw cock and raw determination, awaiting to see that expression of nearful ecstasy that would wash away all the neediness you had been experiencing.

You didn't know how he could do it, stare at you so intently without any break away while you sweated under his gaze. If he wasn't currently bottoming out inside of you right now, you would've felt like you were under interrogation. You both huffed simultaneously once your hole swallowed up the entirety of him, your right leg limp over his thigh as he pressed you up further against the tree.

"Feel okay?" Cirdan panted, and you could see he was barely keeping himself at bay. What a gentleman, controlling himself from fucking you blind-- not that you would've minded the latter, of course.

You responded in turn by grinding down on him, rolling your hips forward to have that needy, hungry and achingly thirsty spot become just a little farther quenched.

It was difficult to not throw your head back and scream, feeling so warm and full as you gripped the back strands of the elfs hair.

With the time you had spent with him you realized Cirdan wasn't much of a grunter, preferring unconsciously to huff and pant and wordlessly suck through his teeth when he was inside of you. If you were lucky, you'd get to see him furrow his brows in exasperation, frowning as if he was concentrating hard on something important and not just from rocking into you. The challenging part about being his first lover however, was that he was still learning not to finish in the first few seconds of plunging inside.

"Ill.. n'take care of yo..u" he muttered, lifting your hips as your bare ass scraped against the bark of the tree. "Take care so good..."

You would've laughed at his drunken fervor if you didn't find it so endearing, the urge to stick your tongue into his heated cavern of a mouth washing over you like a wave.

Cirdan accepted the kiss greatfully, placing a hand behind your head to grace your thump against the tree. You could hear the branches shake, a stray dead leaf falling on the top of your head as he rutted forward, your own pelvic floor pushing against his thrusts. The elf's nose smushed against the side of your own, lips practically consuming one another as his lashes brushed your cheek. Sweat formed on your back dripping to your legs, but you didn't care. It felt too good, your senses only focusing on where he was caressing or what would be next, the cold breeze reminding you that you were still outside.

That fear remained in the back of your mind, your eyes occasionally opening and scanning the forest that you could see beyond Cirdan. But there was nothing, nothing but the trees and dead fallen logs blocking pathways.

Your kisses drifted away as you saw a hunched over deer, somewhat 10 paces away with its head burrowed in a bush.

Cirdan slowed, the deep drilling inside of you now merely a thick discomfort of occasional thrusts. He could feel you were getting lost in your worry, your grip on his shoulders loosening.

"Ma’sal’shiral," he grabbed your chin, turning you away from the fear of the forest. "Going to make you feel love unlike any creature has known;" he kissed you with wet lips, giving you breath and teeth. "So please, don't turn from me."

The horrible ache in his eyes, the twitch inside of you-- for how torturous it was for yourself, it was just as bad for him. You would've apologized, turned the mood even further south into sourness if he hadn't begun rocking again, holding your back to keep your sensitive skin away from the tree. He huffed into your cheek, pressing hard up against you as he cherished everything he could touch. The deer that once took over your thoughts was now pushed to the edge, your eyes half-shut now that all you could feel was the depth of your husband, his precum mixing with the heat of your hole. The crude sound of skin on skin, the slight slap of elf balls hitting your ass-- it nearly sent your mind into overdrive.

And even with the pain of tree bark rubbing against your skin, the stench of petrichor and sweat in your nose, you wouldn't trade this moment for anything.

This might even be better than the bed... Okay, maybe not. But that didn't matter with Cirdan so far inside of you he huffed with inclination, tempting to keep his orgasm at bay.

[r0ckgoblin]

Would that I- bella ramsey xreader

“true that i saw her hair like the branch of a tree”

summary: bella is a person of many trades, your favorites just so happen to be when they play guitar and sing. you have always admired this about her, as any friend would. b/c you and bella have always been supportive of each other’s interest, they always come to you first when he’s written a song or learned a new one. why would this time be any different?

a/n: idk how to write summaries… but anyways enjoy:) (p.s. hc wise, i think they listen to hozier…yea she definitely does)

warnings: unproper grammar(maybe) how i've passed all my lit classes i will never know. probably not fully proofread, i miss the smallest things smh

*all pronouns for bella used*

you wiggle the key into the stubborn door of bella’s apartment, eventually winning the fight against it. opening the door you’re met with the sound of guitar strings being plucked and you smile softly. setting your bag on the kitchen counter you begin wandering around looking for your best friend.

“hey bels?” you call out.

“in here” he says from the sunroom.

you laugh softly grabbing a small throw blanket from the couch.

"hi" you smile, bending down to hug her, finding it a little difficult due to the guitar in their lap. the smell of old spice wonderfully clouds your sense of smell as they reach up to hug you back. the two of you gently sway for a few seconds before you pull back to adjust yourself next to him on the small couch, covering your legs with the blanket.

"how was your day?" he asks smiling over at you.

"it was good, slow, it was just a lot of cleaning up some scenes" you exhale recalling your most recent project, a movie you had been working on for the last few months, one only the people a part of it and the people closes to you knew about. acting was stressful sometimes, but the final project was always worth it, and that's something you and bella could both agree on.

"those days are inevitable, but i believe in you." they say as the lean back to rest their head on your shoulder. this caused you to blush a light pink color, luckily, he couldn't see your face at the moment. you didn't know what it was but lately you've been feeling certain ways about your best friend, and you were scared you wouldn't be able to hide those feelings for much longer. the only thing stopping you was the incessant fear of losing her friendship if they didn't feel the same way.

after moments of peaceful silence bella breaks it be jolting up excitedly. "oh! i learned a new song!"

"really? show me!'' you smiled mirroring her excitement. for as long as you've known bella your favorite thing about them has been her ability to play guitar and sing. they were so good at it, and it seemed to be a big passion of his as well.

"of course! you're going to love it, it's a hozier song" they beam at you holding eye contact waiting for your reaction, which didn't take long because you immediately grinned so big.

" you learned another one? which one?!" you question with giddy.

"you'll have to guess."

"c'mon that's no fun" you whine putting on a fake frown.

"you'll live" she jokes.

"okay, fine go." you pout resulting in a laugh from her.

she plucks some cords before playing, listening to them intently. you just stare at him in awe. before you know it, you're hearing the first notes of hozier's "would that i". you gasp in amazement, and they let a small laugh leave their mouth, somehow without losing focus. as if it couldn't get any better, he also starts singing the words along with the music.

you feel your eyes water, you have no idea why that would be happening. was it the emotional toll of being in love with your best friend, someone who you've watched grow into a beautiful and talented human being? the fear that if you were to express how you feel, it could all turn against you, and you lose the one person who means the most in the world to you? or maybe it's just because the song is so beautiful? its defiantly the song.

you got so lost listening to his voice and the way the sun setting through the window made their skin glow and made his hair shine like honey. shit you were head over heels.

by down you had drowned out her voice due to your staring that you didn't even realize they had finished. not until they're talking directly at you. you blush a little realizing you 100% got caught staring.

"so what do you think?" she ask not making eye contact.

"i loved it," you smiled,

"thank you so much." he grins, and you swear you see faint pink on their cheeks.

"i, um-", you go to say something, but you stop yourself.

"what was that?''

"i uh... i should get back to my hotel.''

"just stay here'' she says but its more of a begging question.

"no, i can't, ive got an early morning and we both know i'm not quiet in the mornings, i wouldn't want to wake you that early.'' you try and lie.

"y/n please'' he begs, grabbing your hand giving you those big brown puppy eyes.

"i'm sorry.'' you shake your head.

they tug you closer, your chests touching. they stare you in the eyes, you notice her give a quick glance to your lips. you in return look to theirs.

"there's something uh... i've mean meaning to tell you," they exhale nervously, "and i really need to get it off my chest. this um..." they swallow hard, "this is harder than i thought."

"shut up" you say with a fake serious tone.

"what i haven't even gotten to what i wanted to say." they knit their eyebrows in confusion.

"you don't have to, if it's what i think it is, i already know," you smile, "because i want to tell you the same thing."

"y/n-"

"i like you, like REALLY like you okay!"

"i-" they were speechless. you two just stared back at each other, waiting for the other to speak.

"i like you two, like reeaallyy like you." they smile wide.

you smile and release a breath of relief, resting your forehead on theirs. you two stay like that giggling back and forth.

"can i kiss you?" they speak up.

"of course." you smile.

she then softly presses their lips to yours, grabbing your face, she deepens the kiss making it more passionate but soft. his hands travel to your hair gently brushing it while your hands find the small of their back caressing softly. this goes on until your both pulling away for air, laughing breathlessly.

"so... stay the night?"

you laugh hugging them as they spin you around like something out of a movie.

the rest of the night you spend cuddled on the couch watching your favorite movies until you're both passed out in each other's arms.

a/n: AAAAHHH LETS GOOOO!!!! so BAHAHAAHAH this took longer than i wanted and it's not even as long as i wanted it:( anyways here it is, i hope you really enjoy it. there will hopefully be more in the future:) feel free to request, also let me know if my replies are off bc i clicked on one of my post and it says my comments are turned off??? idk, but my asks should be on:) love you! have a great day/night!🫶

[gingerjunhan]

heyy!! i was wondering if you can do a jiseok imagine where he teaches reader how to play the guitar! something really domestic and fluff

i absolutely love your writing btw !!💗

☆彡 ahh such a sweet request! Thank you anon! Fair warning, I don’t have experience playing the guitar (although I’d love to learn), so if things here aren’t exact that’s why. Hope you’re having a great day, and tysm for the love! 🩷

word count: 841 | pronouns used: none | genre: established relationship, domestic cuteness | cws: none!, lmk if I missed any :)

You were laying on Jiseok’s bed, doom-scrolling through TikTok. At the foot of his bed, Jiseok was practicing his guitar- strumming away at a tune you didn’t recognize.

“What’cha playin?” You asked in a sing-song tone.

“I’m trying to think of some ideas for some new songs.” He admitted, not looking away from this hand on the neck of his guitar. “Shh… don’t tell anybody.”

You laughed lightly at him and turned your phone off. “You’re so talented,” you stated. “I wish I could do that.”

He finally looked at you fully. “Do what?”

“Play the guitar. I mean, look at you. Everything you play sounds so good, and you’re able to write entire songs on your own.”

Jiseok fought back a smile as an idea popped into his head. “I could teach you.”

“What?”

“I could teach you how to play the guitar. I have more than one. I could give you lessons.”

You thought about this for a second. If you were being honest with yourself, you would feel pretty embarrassed if Jiseok tried to teach you how to play the guitar and you ended up being terrible at it. Then again, you would rather be terrible in front of him than an instructor.

“Okay,” you agreed. “I’d let you teach me.”

Jiseok’s face lit up. “Great! Then it’s time for your first lesson at Jiseok’s guitar school!” Jiseok takes off his guitar strap and hands you the instrument. “For lesson one, I’m just going to teach you some basic chords.”

You nodded your head as you put on the guitar strap and placed a hand on the neck of the guitar- mimicking the position that Jiseok had only a few moments prior.

“Okay,” Jiseok began. “You have six strings on a guitar, and each one is tuned to a different note. From the top down they’re E, A, D, G, B, and E again.” Jiseok pointed to each string as he announced its matching letter. You must’ve made a face, because Jiseok chuckled at you. “If you forget, you can just ask me again. I won’t mind.” You nodded at him, and he continued on. “Each of these little lines on the neck of the guitar,” he ran a finger over them once again, “indicate different frets. What string you press down on each fret determines what note you’ll play.”

You studied the neck of the guitar, only being a little distracted by the sight of Jiseok’s hands. You took a deep breath to bring yourself back to reality.

“Okay, I think I’m good.”

Jiseok smiled at you and scooted closer. “It’s time to learn your first note! We’re gonna start with C major.” You nodded once again and turned your attention towards Jiseok’s hands. “You’re going to put your pointer finger on the first fret of the B string.” You stared at the strings, trying to remember what letter went where.

“Which one was the B string?” Jiseok laughed and reminded you which string was which, and you finally put your pointer finger where it was supposed to go.

“Next you’re going to put your middle finger on the second fret of the D string.” You stretched your fingers across the neck of the guitar and did so. “Lastly, put your ring finger on the third fret of the A string.” You once again did as you were told, and you looked at Jiseok for the next instruction. “And now…” he began to root through his pockets, eventually pulling out a guitar pick. You couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped your lips as he handed it to you. “You play!”

You held the pick in your right hand as you strummed over all six strings. A soft, somewhat sour note played. You grimaced to yourself, wondering what you did wrong.

“That wasn’t bad!” Jiseok sounded oddly happy for you, despite you just playing a sour note. “You just need to press down on the strings harder. Here, let me help.” Closing any gap that might have been left between the two of you, Jiseok wrapped his arms around you, placing his own hands on top of yours. His right hand wrapped lightly around yours while his left hand mimicked your finger placements, helping to push down your fingertips into the guitar strings. “Try it again,” he spoke softly to you. You could feel his breath on the side of your face. If he wasn’t flush up against you, you’re sure a shiver would’ve run down your spine. You used your joint hands to strum the keys again, and this time an actual sound quietly emitted from the guitar.

“How was that?” You asked, turning your face towards Jiseok. He turned towards you also, your noses almost bumping.

“Perfect,” he said with a smile. You could see it in his eyes that he was proud of you for doing something that you thought was so simple. He took your closeness as an opportunity and gave you a kiss on the tip of your nose. “You’re an expert already.”

[cherrylng]

Muse Disc Guide - The Resistance [STYLE Series #004 - Muse (August 2010)]

The Resistance

IN MUSIC Having established themselves as a stadium-class national band in the UK, their fourth world tour took them to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. They conquered five continents. Having gone as far as they could musically with their last album, it was interesting to see what direction Muse would take next, but this time they decided to venture into new territory by self-producing without using an outside producer.

So far, each album has evolved to become more dense, more exaggerated, more massive, more dynamic, more varied…… at times it leaves the listener shaken, wondering, "Can they pull it off this far!?" How far will they go without a third party to stop them? This album, which we greeted with such expectations and a touch of anxiety, was surprisingly clear-cut with its finish.

After a barrage of songs that mastered electronic elements in a modern way, such as electro-glam (1/ Uprising), 80s-style synth drums and piano with a gorgeous chorus (2/ Resistance) and R&B-style electropop (3/ Undisclosed Desires) that reminded me of Depeche Mode, the following song (4/ United States Of Eurasia (+Collateral Damage)) turned into a magnificent and grandiose rock opera. The Arabic music-like interlude with piano and strings in the middle of the song is full of power! This was a result of making use of their experiences in the Middle East. The final section leads into Chopin's Nocturne No. 2, a development that might not have been possible if an outside producer had been present. Similarly, the last three pieces are three-part rock symphonies by Matthew. His classical taste is on full display.

The relatively unprocessed infusion of all three tastes from the trio balances the overall ups and downs of this album, which is generally dominated by mid-tempo songs, except for (6/ Unnatural Selection) and (7/ MK Ultra), where the heavy, intense guitars explode into a gallop. The album became a worldwide smash hit, to the surprise of the band themselves, who said, "We did whatever we wanted." —Sumi Imai

-

2009 Hit Albums

Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga were the stars of the 2009 scene. Michael was scheduled to perform 50 shows of 'This Is It' at London's O2 Arena from July 13th, 2009, but died suddenly on June 25th. While the world was in a state of surprise and sadness, the documentary film of the same name, featuring rehearsal footage, became an unprecedented blockbuster hit. Meanwhile, the momentum of 'The Fame', released by Gaga in 2008, continued unabated, and the eight-track 'The Monster', released in 2009 as a coupling (A/ The Fame Monster) to the reissue of 'The Fame', was also a big hit, including 'Bad Romance' and 'Telephone' with Beyoncé. Beyoncé and other female artists were also in high spirits, with Grammy winners Taylor Swift (B/ Fearless) and KE$HA constantly making noise on the stage. It was also in 2009 that Susan Boyle, a plain middle-aged Scottish woman, attracted attention on the popular audition programme ‘Britain's Got Talent’ and made her long-sought album debut with ‘I Dreamed a Dream’.

Among rock bands, U2 (C/ No Line On The Horizon), Pearl Jam, Green Day, and Jets released new albums one after the other. Among young artists, Animal Collective's (D/ Merryweather Post Pavilion), The Horrors, and Grizzly Bear attracted attention with their new releases. Among solo artists, the young UK singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini's (E/ Sunny Side Up) and Canadian Michael Bublé's (F/ Crazy Love) were big hits. The latter in particular appealed to a wide audience and was a huge success, topping the album charts in the US, UK, and other countries.

-

IN LYRICS

Inseparable from this album is George Orwell's 1984. (2/ Resistance) is about forbidden love under surveillance and information control, and (4/ United States Of Eurasia (+Collateral Damage)) about perpetual war to maintain the power of the rulers (the title is taken from American political scientist Zbigniew Brzezinski's 1997 book, The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy and Its Geostrategic Imperatives). Both clearly follow the world of '1984', but in fact the lyrics can also be seen as a reference to the ‘crisis of the moment’ in the sense that they illuminate the geopolitics of post-9/11, with today's controlled society in which individuals and their information can be monitored from every angle, from CCTVs to satellites on the ground and eventually the internet network. The lyrics can also be seen as a reference to the ‘current crisis’. (1/ Uprising) and (7/ MK Ultra), which deal with mind control, also encompass a similar worldview, but at the same time Matthew tries to present a critical perspective on the crisis and hope by confronting the unshakable will and love that lies beyond it, in a situation where the ‘individual’ is being lost. This is the deeper meaning behind the song titles ‘Uprising’ and ‘Resistance’.

"Love" is also the warp of the lyrical universe, with occasional moments of overt expression. In an interview with Q magazine, Matthew says, ‘It's a personal song about me and my girlfriend’ (3/ Undisclosed Desires), which is a typical example of this. The song is Muse's version of a ‘hymn to love’, a sublime love song.

When I heard the news that Muse were to perform with U2's The Edge on stage at Glastonbury in 2010, it occurred to me that ‘The lyrics of both bands share a common language of “protest” and “love”’. Matthew's world will continue to grow in scale within the time axis of ‘now’. —Abe Kaoru

-

YEAR 2009 January - US Airways Flight 1549 made an emergency landing in the Hudson River in New York, but the captain's quick thinking brought all passengers and crew back safely. It was dubbed the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’. February - Japanese films 'Departures/Okuribito' and 'La maison en petits cubes/Tsumiki no Ie' won double awards at the 81st Academy Awards. March - Samurai Japan [aka Japan's national baseball team] won the World Baseball Classic. April - H1N1 influenza outbreak in Latin America, followed by a worldwide pandemic. May - Twitter, the internet chat service, becomes a worldwide phenomenon. Muse also announced the title of a new song in the works on Twitter. - The jury system (saiban-in in Japan) came into force. June - The H1N1 influenza alert level is raised to the highest, Phase 6. - Michael Jackson's death sent shockwaves around the world. He was 50 years old. July - Longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century. In Japan, it could be seen in the Tokara Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture and elsewhere. August - The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) won an overwhelming victory in the 45th general election for the House of Representatives. September - Muse's 5th album 'The Resistance' was released. It reached No.1 in 20 countries, including the UK. - To celebrate 10 years since the release of their first album, the band played a two-day open-air show at ‘The Den’ in their home town of Teignmouth. It was the first time in 12 years that the band had performed in their hometown, and the triumphant return of the national stars was a major event for the whole town. - After performances in Germany and France, the band travels to the USA to take part in U2's 360°Tour. October - European tour begins. - US President Barack Obama receives the Nobel Peace Prize. - Rio de Janeiro is chosen to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. November - Chris joins the testicular cancer charity ‘Movember’. December - Muse travels to the USA for performances in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

Translator's Notes: We're... actually not done here yet. We still have their live DVDs to cover.

[jfk-blown-away-blog]

Hey I saw your guitar music post and liked it and you seem really skilled in that so l have a question if you don't mind...

I wanna learn to play like that. I currently have no knowledge beyond like Day 1 of piano (that I accidentally absorbed 5 years ago from friends playing). I don't even know if electric guitar and acoustic(?) guitar have transferable skills or not. I'm also left-handed.

I don't have any great instructors where I live, so if I choose to get involved in a course it'll have to be a trial and error process.

Anyway, my question is this: is it possible to just pick up an (electric?) guitar and learn on my own through online (free) resources?

Short answer is basically yes, there are plenty of self taught players who learned in a pre-internet world, so I don't see why you or anyone else wouldn't be able to learn nowadays.

Longer answer:

So I started out taking lessons at the young age of 8 years old. Having an actual physical guitar teacher in the same room as you is a really great experience for learning how to play. I do highly recommend it if it's a possibility, but I also know that there are endless amounts of online resources if that's just not an option. An important thing to note with guitar is that while there are some techniques that don't translate between acoustic and electric guitars, most of the time you'll be able to play both even if you only learn one type. Also, keep in mind that I have been playing off and on for the better part of 18 years and I don't consider myself amazingly talented. While I do have a great grasp on most of the necessary skills for playing, a lot of my "skills" come from a bunch of experimentation and fucking around and finding out. I'll also mention that music theory is something that I have recently been trying to implement more into my development of playing, while not necessary for making music, it is something I want to be more knowledgeable about. On the topic of previous music experience, you mentioned having a very small amount of piano experience, I never had any lessons for any other instruments, but I can still use the music knowledge from guitar to play other instruments to some degree, like all the midi keyboards I have and the pump organ. I also have messed around with banjos and a trumpet, and of course bass guitar is very simple to pick up after learning traditional 6 string guitar. The most important things to learn for casually playing are all the open chords (A.K.A cowboy chords) A (there is no open B chord in standard tuning) C D E F and G. The major and minor "blues scales" shapes. As well as the regular major scale shapes. In standard tuning of course. I would also recommend following that up with learning the E and A string bar chords. Then start messing with open tunings after developing all those skills in standard tuning.

Hopefully that wasn't too much of a ramble and I thoroughly answered your question.

[likeadevils]

2004 Lover Diaries Transcripts

Feb 14, 2004- Wyomissing, PA

Today was Valentine’s Day — but seriously I never would’ve known. I don’t have a boyfriend or a crush — There’s no point in even acknowledging V-day when you don’t have those key elements. So, I woke up and perfected/tweaked this song I wrote yesterday called Someone Loves You — It basically says that no matter what you’ve done or where you are in life, somewhere someone loves you. I wrote another one called Outside — It’s about being left out in the cold and being — well, an outsider. I don’t know if it’ll go anywhere, but it made me feel better.

Apr 20, 2004- Hendersonville, TN

I <3 SCHOOL! Today was the talent show, it was @ 9:30 am in front of the whole school. I was toward the end. When it was my turn, I sang Beautiful Eyes on my 12-string koa. It went well. I got a standing ovation and everything. After school, Mom and I went into Nashville and met at the label. I played Angelina and Beautiful Eyes for them. They told us that we have to pay for any demos we make before the deal … We didn’t know about that. Afterward, we went to RCA Cafe. The people who played were really good and I want to write with a girl named Liz Rose who played.

Nov 5, 2004- Hendersonville, TN

Hey, Yesterday was Friday, and instead of going to the movies or something I fell asleep. I needed it! This last week was CRAZY. Ok, so Capital Records doesn't think I'm ready right now and I could get a deal right now with them, but not the deal I would want. So on the other hand, there's Scott Borchetta, who we met w/ at Universal. And you know, I really loved all the stuff he said in the meeting, and he stayed for the whole Bluebird show. And he's SO passionate about this project. I think that's the way we're gonna go, I want to surround myself with passionate people. I'm not sad about Capital, b/c I don't want to be lost on a big label, like with RCA. Taylor Swift

(2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 & 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2016 & 2017)

[basingstokemercury]

Album liner of "Come All Ye Fair And Tender Ladies" (Pernell Roberts, folk/country, 1963).

Transcript below image.

HOW A FOLK SINGER GETS THAT WAY...

by the co-star of the "Bonanza" TV Show

At the age of 32, two and one-half years ago, I bought myself a guitar along with Pete Seeger's instruction book and record. Very painfully, I learned to play - not too well by any means, but enough to chord and accompany myself for folk songs. I can't possibly describe the joy and sense of accomplishment when my fingers finally behaved themselves and formed A, E and B-7. (Then a whole new world opened up with C, F, G-7, A-7, D-7, etc!) I was born again! However, I ran into a problem... if I played Chunk! Chunk! Chunk!, I sang "Chunk! Chunk! Chunk!" What to do? Well, it's like when the tourist came to New York and asked a little old lady, "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" She replied, "Practice." I did and it's richly rewarding. Aside from acting, the thing I enjoy most is singing and - most of all - folk songs. Of course, next to singing folk songs, listening to folk songs… especially when performed by people like Odetta, Joan Baez, Bob Gibson, Pete Seeger, Jack Elliott, Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly, Big Bill Broonzy, Lightnin' Hopkins, Barbara Dane - and, oh, so many others that it would take the backs of three album jackets just to list them. Although I realize that folk songs, singers and records are exceedingly popular, I know there are also a lot of people who are not familiar with this area of music. I know that most of you who pick up this album will do so because of the television series I'm associated with. But what I'm hoping, more than anything else, is that you also pick up something new in the way of music appreciation. I highly recommend all of John and Alan Lomax's books of folk songs and, most essentially, the folk song magazine "Sing Out." What a rich heritage we all have in this form of music. When I sing a song like Woody Guthrie's Pastures of Plenty, my problems in life seem a bit unimportant compared to the problems of other people. I quickly realize just how un-unique I am, that we all face many problems of daily living, and singing about them seems to make it all a little easier to take. That's why folk songs and folk lore were the basic source of material for this album, and I'd like to thank Steve Sholes for asking me to do it, Neely Plumb for his infinite patience and guidance, Jim Malloy for his engineering seal, Perry Botkin, Jr. for his perceptive arranging "pointing", and last of all - but far from least - Dick Rosmini. Dick, in my opinion, is a talent to be reckoned with. Besides being an extraordinary six or twelve-string guitarist, banjo player and folk singer, he also writes beautiful songs and adaptations, notably - in this album - Alberta and Mary Ann. Richard, thank you for making this such a rewarding and exciting experience! PERNELL ROBERTS

[creepy-feathers]

Could you do KageKao please? A-Y, Thanks.

A: Aftercare | What is their aftercare like after a heavy round of tickling?

Kagekao loves a good time, but he also knows when to stop his antics and settle down a bit for another person's sake. This isn't any different from the way he behaves after going down on someone hard or for long periods. Depending on how affected the victim is, his aftercare could range anywhere from a couple teasing pokes and a lighthearted mock to giggling gently and stroking their back until they catch their breath, asking if they're okay. He isn't a monster—he's not gonna push his 'lee too far, and if he does, he'll feel bad about it for a long time.

B: Bondage | How do they react to bondage, do they enjoy it and if yes, what is their favorite pose?

As much as Kage loves to be the one pulling the strings, he can also step back and let other people take the lead when they really want to. And honestly? He doesn't mind bondage at all—in fact he kind of loves it (although you'll be hard-pressed to get him to admit that).

He's the sort of person who either needs to be completely in-control or completely vulnerable and helpless. There is no in-between, and that's why positions that 100% disable him from fighting back even a little bit are best. He can squirm and snicker all he wants, but he ain't getting away.

C: Chase | What are their chances in a chase, both as a lee and ler?

Ha. Haha. Lemme tell you something: if he wants you as his prey, he's gonna get you, there's no 'maybe'. With his super demon speed and the uncanny skill he has for climbing walls and ceilings, no amount of running will save you from him. That being said, he'll definitely play with you first, make you think you're outrunning him, make you think you're escaping—then he'll catch up.

Same goes for if he's being chased. If he doesn't wanna be caught, he won't be caught, but he'll definitely make you think you're winning for a time just to hear your grunts of frustration when you realize he's toying with you.

D: Death Spot | What is their most ticklish spot?

It is really hard to successfully tickle Kage, which is why most assume he isn't ticklish at all. But, here's a secret—he does have his weak points. They're just difficult to get to, especially if he and the person seeking those points aren't romantically involved or in like, because that's really the only time he'll let them get that close to him.

The first and most accessible area is his stomach. He's super talented at hiding how sensitive it is, but only for a few moments. The next place is his back, but not just anywhere on his back, no: you have to be precise. You have to target the spot between his shoulder blades, right on the spine. The back of his ribs can elicit some interesting reactions too, but it isn't guaranteed. Lastly, his feet. He will absolutely lose his shit and he will definitely hurt you, even if he doesn't mean to. That's why it's important to ensure he can't move.

E: Expression | How do they express their wish to tickle/be tickled?

He just does it lmao. There usually isn't a warning: if Kagekao wants to tickle someone, he will tickle someone. Sometimes, if you pay close enough attention, you'll catch him staring, as if thinking up a game plan, contemplating his urges, or merely to creep you out.

And he does enjoy being tickled, but as I said, most don't do it because he either pretends not to be ticklish or is too scary and no one wants to risk having a demon on their back. Plus, he's just amazing at gaining and keeping the upperhand, so he doesn't really give anyone a chance to tickle him. It's like a challenge to him—can they manage to get him or will he continue his reign of being the best tickler? In the case he has a particular urge to be tickled, he'll just randomly initiate a tickle fight and tone back his defenses in the hopes his target will reciprocate.

F: Fight | What is their behavior in a tickle fight like?

Can be rough and ruthless or sweet and playful, it depends on his opponent and what started the 'tickle fight' in question. He never attacks out of genuine anger, so he'll always have mercy...eventually.

G: Gentle | How do they react to gentle tickles?

If it's like a feathery touch or a timid poke or something, he really won't do more than flinch or grin. Light scratches, however, send him (especially if it's in his Top 3 Spots).

H: Habits | As a lee/ler or both, do they have specific habits when it comes to tickling?

He has claws. Best believe they're his main tool. No amount of layers will save who he chooses to use them on.

On the 'lee side, he's big on making fun of the 'ler and teasing them, no matter how hard he's laughing. Daring them to do their worst.

I: Interrogation | How well would they handle a tickle interrogation?

Squirmy, struggling to stifle his laughter, promising that when—not if—he gets out, they will regret messing with him. Solid as steel for the first few days, but eventually exhaustion weighs him down, and his body just wants a break, so he might give up the information, especially if it isn't extremely important.

J: Joy | Their absolute favorite thing about tickling?

Sharing laughter, bonding, the physical contact, the closeness. All of it, he adores. Wouldn't trade the experience for anything.

K: Killer Move | As a ler, do they have special skills to use against their lees and drive them crazy with?

C L A W S . Also has this infuriatingly flustering habit of teasing his 'lee, mocking their laughter, making fun of their reactions. Giggling at their fruitless attempts to get away or return his gestures. But mostly his claws. He knows just how to use them too. They make people ten times more sensitive, I swear.

L: Laughter | What does their laughter sound like when they are tickled?

His voice is really demonic and broken—kinda like an old VHS recording, with hints of hellish entity and Japanese accent. The volume of his naturally loud voice intensifies the longer the attack goes on, and he'll spew incoherent sentences in his native tongue while cackling and hiccuping. It's funny, watching him unravel.

M: Mornings | Their tickle behavior during mornings?

Kage wakes up every day with the instinct to wreak havoc on someone, so he's definitely sneak-attacked a few people who were trying to eat their breakfast in peace.

N: Nights | Their tickle behavior during nights? 

This is when he's most likely to pounce. It's been a long day, all he wants to do is enjoy life and unwind. He normally goes after individuals who desire the same thing, but when he's feeling particularly masochistic he'll seek out someone grumpier just for the amusement of it.

O: Online | Text messaging and social media, do they have some kind of online tickly behavior to tease their lee or ler with?

He really only uses his phone to text his housemates, so not really? He might send out an "I'll get ya" every now and then, but that's it.

P: Partner In Crime | If they were to go after a lee and accept the aid of a tickle partner, who do they prefer to join hands with and why?

His bestie Zero, of course. They've pranked others together many times—why should this be any different? Although he'd definitely do the tickling himself and get Zero's help just holding the person down, since she can be pretty mean and he doesn't want to give the 'lee any bruises.

Q: Question | Their response to the question ‘are you ticklish’?

Cocky pose, mischievous tone. No fear or reluctance whatsoever. "Come over here and find out, why don't you~?"

R: Role | Lee or ler, what is generally their main role?

'Ler, unquestionably. He just has that dominant, playful energy and loves making people laugh (even if it is unwillingly sometimes).

S: Safeword | If they were to suggest the safeword for a tickle session, which word will it be?

You want him to stop, you gotta yell, "Kage is King, and he's a handsome king, and his pranks are really funny, and I will never criticize his amazing ideas ever again." If you can't recite the whole thing, too bad, he ain't stopping. (Just kidding, but it's comical watching you try to say it without breaking into more hysterics when you think your sanity depends on doing that very thing.)

T: Teasing | Their most favorite methods of teasing their lee/ler?

Telling them exactly what he's doing and when he's doing it and cooing things like, "Wow, what a cute squirmy thing you are", and "aww, look at you, can't get away, how sad." Very gifted with his words.

U: Unusual | Do they have some unusual tickle spots? Where?

A place literally nobody knows about—even Kage himself—is his ears/neck region. The only person who would ever find out about this is his s/o. This area would draw out the tiniest chortles from the demon boy; sounds he didn't even know he was capable of. And it'd be fricken adorable too, he'd be jerking his head and hiking up his shoulders, tenderly pushing his s/o away, too startled to genuinely fight back. Not that he really wants to.

V: Victim | As a ler, who is their favorite lee and what makes this person their ultimate victim?

He and Liu go at it pretty often. He also likes messing with Cody (of course) and Sally, and even Zero on occasion. She never takes it personally and just takes her revenge in other ways.

W: Word | What is their reaction to the T-word? Can they say it out loud or do they get embarrassed?

Literally has no problem with it whatsoever. If he finds out you do, however, you aren't hearing the end of it.

X: X-Over | In a crossover AU, which other fandom character would be a fitting tickle fight opponent for them and why?

Peter Pan. Hear me out: the dude can fly, Kage can climb. They're both playful, charismatic, mischievous, and stubborn. Kage would definitely win in the end, but Peter would put up a good fight. And afterward, they'd conspire to jump Captain Hook.

Y: YOU | Any personal self or reader-insert tickle fantasies / headcanons to share with this character?

Capable and creepy enough to be a horror movie villain, but he'd just run around chasing people with wiggly fingers and attack them at random intervals for a few minutes at a time before letting them leave and starting the chase all over again.

[terrence-silver]

So, you had me howling at the idea of PretendVirgin!Terry in his thrift store couture, making himself out to be the world's most sexually attractive monk. Here's what I want to know: how would he play it out in the end, when he inevitably 'loses it' to Beloved? Would he take the act all the way, playing the part of the nervous, blushing innocent, pretending to fumble around and have no idea what he was doing, even going so far as to have Beloved take the lead and show him what to do? Or, alternatively, would he drop the act at the last second and ravish Beloved, chalking it up to him some legitimate-sounding nonsense about flow state and him being just that in-tune with his body from living in such an abstinent way? Just wanted to hear your expanded thoughts. 🤣 Simply too amusing.

Ravish beloved? How would he justify it? It's the chakras getting unplugged!

Dirty jokes aside, I think Terry would play this out for as long as the situation allows him to because a) It is fun b) a great social experiment c) he gets to see exactly who beloved is when the power levels are artificially flipped d) it is hot.

It is hot to mess with people. It is hot to pretend. It is hot to get away with bloody murder. And yes, it is hot to act the innocent goodie-two-shoes and the role of the noble, abstinent warrior-monk in the making when that is pretty much the last thing Terry Silver is and he knows it --- maybe that's why it is so damn amusing to him too. Anything that is mischievous, nasty, lurid and schemey is right up his alley and I think he'd actually enjoy and get a major kick out of pretending he's fumbling around, ashamed of his partner's nudity, his own nudity (in spite of being with ease with bodies in the context of martial arts), intimacy in general, the function of human organs or even what to do with them. He's just a shy, humble, hard done by Sensei downtown who lives in a semi-renovated, neglected dojo that has seen better days and who has dedicated years of his life to training...and not much else. Might even act the absolute saint by saying he never wanted to tie anyone to himself in any sense because he hasn't had his ''life financially together enough'' to deserve that yet if this a Terry Silver pretending to be poor and you might be there wondering --- wow, what a self-sacrificial martyr this dude is? He wont even have casual, no strings attached sex because his business is still taking off and he doesn't want to impose on potential on conquests? It is just too unfair, Terry says. People deserve better. He can't offer anyone anything. He isn't putting himself down. He is just honest. So he claims. A man must know himself.

What the heck, you might think!?

Handsome, abnormally kind, ridiculously considerate, a talented fighter, a returning veteran and he's sexually obstinate by choice? If he didn't exist, one would have to quite literally invent him. And that's because he is absolutely invented and a figment of Terry's own imagination who utilizes every bit of willpower not to chortle out loud every time he makes himself deliberately blush because he spotted a patch of your skin. Maybe a bare shoulder. Does he want drop the act and go in for the plunge and actually take beloved prematurely? Oh, sure. His whole entirely being craves it and it takes a magnitude of control for him not to. But the endgame of every ploy is only as rewarding as the process that led up to it.

[reellebowski]

MONDO INVITES YOU TO PEEL BACK THE LAYERS OF THE GLASS ONION SOUNDTRACK ON VINYL

Austin, TX – December 12, 2022 – ​​Mondo, in partnership with Netflix and Cut Narrative Records, is incredibly excited to present the vinyl release of Nathan Johnson's brilliant score to the latest Benoit Blanc mystery GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY, debuting on Netflix on December 23.

Audiences who were lucky enough to have seen the film during its special theatrical sneak preview have already discovered that this highly anticipated sequel is nothing short of epic - and much of that is due to the gorgeous, sweeping score by Nathan Johnson. Johnson keeps intact the delicate balance that made KNIVES OUT such a clever score, never undermining the danger that is around every corner, but also brings an intoxicating romanticism to every gorgeous landscape. It’s playful, and sinister all at once.

"This release stands confidently next to previous Nathan Johnson vinyl soundtracks in our catalog,” says Mo Shafeek. “Housed in an appropriately ‘layered’ package featuring prop replicas and easter eggs, this is an essential collectable for fans of Rian Johnson's on-going mystery series."

The package, carefully constructed by Jay Shaw and Mo Shafeek, pays homage to the film's central mystery in multiple ways. Pressed on 2x 140 Gram Crystal Clear vinyl, and housed in a die-cut jacket, with an acrylic o-card, and multiple inserts, the GLASS ONION soundtrack on vinyl will be available for pre-order at MondoShop.com on December 14 at 12pm CT.

In the follow up to Rian Johnson's smash hit Knives Out, Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) travels to Greece to peel back the layers of a mystery involving a new cast of colorful suspects. Returning to the franchise he began, Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Rian Johnson writes and directs Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and assembles another all-star cast that includes a returning Daniel Craig alongside Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline with Kate Hudson and Dave Bautista.

When Rian began writing Knives Out, he asked Nathan to create a unique sonic palette for the world inhabited by debonair detective, Benoit Blanc. Inspired by murder mysteries of a bygone era, Nathan turned to slippery woodwinds, dissonant pianos and eventually the jagged string quartet that would go on to become the film’s audio signature while simultaneously redefining the sound of the modern mystery.

GLASS ONION - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 2XLP

Music by Nathan Johnson.

Package design by Jay Shaw and Mo Shafeek.

Pressed on 2x 140 Gram Crystal Clear vinyl.

$50

Tracklisting

SIDE A

1. Theme from Glass Onion

2. The Puzzle Box

3. Andi’s Theme

4. An Anonymous Invitation

5. Ground Rules

6. Ms. Birdie Jay

7. The Infraction Point

8. Dinner is Served

9. This is Not a Game

10. The Scene of the Crime

SIDE B

1. Trapped

2. Lights Out!

3. Time to Finish This

4. Blanc’s Plan

SIDE C

1. Snoop

2. Motive & Opportunity

3. Something’s Off

4. Perjury

5. Ransacking

6. A.B.

SIDE D

1. The Center of the Onion

2. Peeled Back

3. You’ve Got Nothing

4. Glass Onion String Quartet in Bb Minor

5. Burnt

6. Disruption

7. Theme from Glass Onion (Revisited)

Visit the Mondo official site & social handles for more information:

Website: MondoShop.com

Twitter: Twitter.com/MondoNews

Facebook: Facebook.com/MondoTees

Instagram: Instagram.com/MondoNews

About Mondo

Mondo is an expanding enterprise with a passionate love of film, art, music and pop culture, best known for creating limited-edition posters, vinyl soundtracks, premium collectibles and games. Based in Austin, Texas, the team collaborates with an international network of talented artists and creators to produce the highest quality products inspired by licensed properties and original IPs. Over the last decade, Mondo has partnered with leading entertainment brands along with dozens of independent studios and filmmakers from around the world. Find out more at mondoshop.com

[dastodia]

c. / @swahnn

What does one do when faced with paradox memories? Those of which are yours, yet are not. Why does a past life stick to your skin even if you've been washed of it's sins? Perhaps sharing similar hobbies between each incarnation is normal-- expected, even. At times Dan Heng wishes could simply forget, and others he wishes he knew much more ( why hadn't Dan Feng kept some sort of journal? Would make things so much less bothersome instead of having to rely on vague dreams to recall what he had done ).

Well... what he does remember may be a good spot to start to see if there's anything else of importance locked in his subconscious ( he doubts it- forced molting has left him a mess both mentally and physically- but better to try than not at all ). There is an image of silk ribbons and pure white garments with the sound of stringed instruments accompanying some hand movements with what looked like dancer fans in hand.

Curiosity is driving him insane-- he needs to know more of what that elegant vision was, and for some reason, the only method that comes to mind is to try and.. learn how to dance---- okay, listen. Sure it sounds wild and a little ridiculous, but he's grasping at fading echoes here.

❛ I apologize that my r e q u e s t comes unprompted, at d i s c o v e r i n g that you have a talent for it.. dancing, I mean... ❜

It's already awkward enough to ask a favor of someone you're barely acquainted with, but something tells the raven that he should still tread carefully ( though that could be him worrying for no reason-- listen it's his job to be concerned and cautious ).

❛ Not looking to impress a partner, no. Just... wanting to b r o a d e n my horizons.

...Would it h e l p if I tried to pretend that were the case? As in, would it be the most e f f e c t i v e way to learn? ❜

[lennart11412]

1Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. 2She came to Jerusalem with a very great [a]retinue, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart. 3So Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing [b]so difficult for the king that he could not explain it to her. 4And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, 5the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers, and his entryway by which he went up to the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her. 6Then she said to the king: “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. 7However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard. 8Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom! 9Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness.”

10Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great quantity, and precious stones. There never again came such abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. 11Also, the ships of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought great quantities of [c]almug wood and precious stones from Ophir. 12And the king made [d]steps of the almug wood for the house of the Lord and for the king’s house, also harps and stringed instruments for singers. There never again came such almug wood, nor has the like been seen to this day.

13Now King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired, whatever she asked, besides what Solomon had given her according to the royal generosity. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.

[fellowshiphq]

P I N E

name: utp

age: ~300 (appears 30+)

gender: utp

pronouns: utp

species: elf

kingdom: gil galea

commitment level: 2

proficient skills: survival & martial weapons

fc recs: fabien frankel, adwoa aboah, idris elba

A B O U T

pine has been around for a long time and their name has been etched into legend. but those memories feel like a fading dream and pine has worked hard to shed their reputation and lead a new life. after faking their own death over a century ago they've found freedom in the wilds of gil galea. they owe their allegiance to no one but when they see people suffering or in danger, they have a hard time staying out of it.

S P E C I A L - S K I L L S

over the years pine picked up many skills. but they've done a poor job keeping in practice with most of them. the skills they've maintained are the ones most relevant to their current lifestyle as a ranger. they've managed to last this long due to their survival skills. they are talented at following tracks, hunting, and predicting weather patterns. their skill in combat with a longbow and longsword is rusty but in time they could pick it back up.

S T A T S

dexterity: +1

strength: +2

charisma: 0

wisdom: -1

intelligence: +1

constitution: +1

C O N N E C T I O N S

MAGNOLIA - pine has made it their personal mission to keep an eye on all of the rulers of every kingdom in the land as well as their heirs. magnolia seems to be a step in the right direction but pine is always suspicious. they don't know if they should tell the truth and mentor magnolia personally or if they should remain pulling the strings from the background like they have been since magnolia was born. HICKORY - hundreds of years ago you fought them in a great battle and won. out of the kindness of your heart and hope for the future, you spared their life but forced them to renounce their powers and position in the cult of ohgra. you've been keeping an eye on them since then just to make sure they never fell back into old habits. they haven't noticed you yet. you're just proud at how long they've gone abstaining from the seductive pull of powerful dark magic. MAPLE - you've seen how they watch you with wide eyes and mouth agape. you know they know who you are. it's been a long time since you've been recognized and it's both flattering and frightening. you want to shed the responsibilities of your reputation, but it's a burden you can't seem to shake. you know they'll reveal your identity sometime and you'll have to be the person that your reputation demands.

this character is currently OPEN. they are written by TBD.

Post

[indouloureux]

no bc that drabble about soft sex with eddie has done something to me augie-

i had a (basically prophetic) vision of riding eddie and like holding his hands like that way where ur fingers are linked and ur like FULLY holding his hands and ur fingers are in between each of his and its just so cute and you both can't stop smiling and lszidufhlifuisjks

(i think the brain rot has finally gotten to me, babe)

-jorj👻

18+ mdni NO BECAUSE i told myself i wouldn't write other things until i finished this 20k fluff BUT

somehow bauhaus's third uncle had moans and grunts and skins slapping now. it had eddie's delirious groans, your high-pitched whimpers and the applaud of your flesh as you bounce on your lover's lap with all the vigor you've mustered.

"that's it, baby," eddie's head throws back against the couch, his hair sticking to his bare chest, an ophidian curl covering the demon right above his heart. he watches his cock disappear in and out of your gummy cunt, his hairy thighs sticky with your mixed arousals. "keep bouncing that pretty body,"

you do. with your hands on his shoulders, fingers loosely tangled in his disheveled mullet, your own hair moved to one side over your left collarbone that just makes the right side of your face so ethereal with the glisten of your sweat; eyes scrunched in ecstasy as your plump lips exude moans that eddie finds himself getting harder if possible.

"fuckin' ozzy, eds," ozzy, his own term for god in his own blissful moments that you'd picked up from him. your boyfriend smiles in his heavy gaze, lips lazy and yearning. "feels s-so good."

your head throws back, presents him his own purple-yellow art work created by love bites and starved sucklings. and he finds himself leaning up to press ever-so chaste kisses onto your neck, riding his lips up to your collarbone until he finds your wet lips.

he kisses you. feverish, hot, amorous. in that frenzied moment, he kisses you like you're in a field up a hill beneath the morphing clouds. with blooming flowers tickling your ankles and the ruffles of your dress grazing his knees exposed from his ripped jeans; like you're not both naked, covered in slick and producing wet squelches from your wild sexes. no, he kisses you, righteous in his own want.

"you look beautiful, honey," he murmurs against your soft skin, finds comfort in it. "like...a slayer. slayer of dragons and all men. you've slayed my heart actually. kept it all to yourself riiight after."

"how–c-can you talk so—...so casually while i'm fucking you?" you laugh incredulously, eyes shut with your eyebrows joint into concentration and forced energy.

"its a talent, i guess," he kisses your temple. "i can be blissed and talk about how beautiful you are at the same time, you little devil."

"thought i was a slayer?"

"you can be a lot of things. a lot of things but you're still you, huh. you, the one that i love," he tucks your hair behind your ear, sees the small dollar-store pearl earring that he bought you and swoons.

you sigh against him. "such a sap, babe,"

he kisses you again.

eddie's hands roam from your waist up to your tatted arms, inked drawings he put on you himself that he traces with his thumb until his fingers slither up to find yours and lace them together.

he pries your lips apart in a soft click, a string of saliva coming with because despite the doting moment, you still are cock drunk. you lazily grin at him, flashing him your pearls that makes him turn liquid and melts back into the backseat of his couch, taking your hand into his and placing them on his chest.

even in moments that don't burn in corybantic lust, he finds himself falling deeper for you. with the sun shining through the trailer blinds and gives you an incandescent glow, his thumbs trace your knuckles, eyes drooping when you clench around his cock and he moans. you smile tiredly, bringing your joint hands up to your lips and kiss its back, before you rest them back to his chest.

he feels you clench a couple more times before you cum onto him and he spills his hot seed into you, moans joined when he kisses you again just because, your hands laced like a delicate silk ribbon, sitting between your bodies to remedy your aching limbs.

reblogs and feedback are appreciated <3

[impostoradult]

I finally figured out why it feels like Supernatural murdered a unicorn (AKA why you need to STOP telling me to watch Black Sails)

I’ll start by saying, everything everyone else has been saying CERTAINLY bothers me: 

- the queer-baiting - the bury your queers - the undermining of Dean’s character arc  - the wasted opportunity for a certain kind of overall narrative closure - the flat out disrespect to Misha Collins and Jensen Ackles

 All of that bothers me tremendously. 

But there has been something else rather ineffable about this that has left a horrible taste in my mouth that I couldn’t quite pin down until last night. Bear with me, if you will, because this will require some set-up. 

*** This is not the first show to ever disappoint me in a spectacular fashion, nor will it be the last, I suspect. And one of the ways I’ve always coped with that disappointment was to remind myself that there will be other stories, other characters, other chances to get it right. (”It” being any number of things from just pure narrative emotional coherence to not burying your queers to not stringing along your queer audience and then yelling fuck you to them on the way out) 

But somehow that assurance -- that there will be other stories, other characters, other chances to get it right -- has rung particularly hollow in this instance, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on why until yesterday. 

I kept asking myself, why do I still have this feeling, deep in the pit of my stomach, like something was lost here that can never be recovered? 

Because something was lost here that I am doubtful can ever be recovered, and I don’t think I’ve seen anyone else talking about this aspect of it at all. 

***

A few months ago, TV critic Maureen Ryan did a great interview piece with Mike Schur (of Parks & Rec/The Good Place) discussing the death of long-form TV in the streaming era. They explore how the longer seasons and longer runs of traditional broadcast/cable TV provided an opportunity to tell particular kinds of stories that you simply can’t when seasons are 8-10 episodes and series typically run 2-4 seasons (thanks Netflix).

One key thing we’ve all lost in this new era of highly condensed TV storytelling (and of prestige TV narrative styles)? The traditional (several season’s long) slow-burn/will-they-won’t-they romance. Not only is there simply no longer the time or space to write such romances, it has also come to be seen as hacky, manipulative, cheap, artistically impoverished, low-brow, a embarrassing vestige of the era before TV became art™. 

Everybody is trying to be Fleabag now. No one wants to be Frasier. (”It’s really more like a 10 hour movie” they all like to brag)

Obviously TV still has romances, even ‘drawn out’ romances. But ‘drawn out’ in 2020 is like 2-3 seasons, maybe. More commonly it’s like half a season. Take Schitt’s Creek. The number of episodes between when David and Patrick first meet and when they first kiss? Seven. Seven episodes. Half a season. If you watched it live, it took less than 2 months for them to move from introducing that dynamic to consummating it. And I’m not bagging on Schitt’s Creek; I think the David/Patrick’s story is very lovely and well-written. 

But Niles & Daphne (Fraiser) had to wait 7 years and over 150 episodes before they finally got there. Josh & Donna (The West Wing) had to wait 6+ years, and 145 episodes. Mulder & Scully (The X-Files) had to wait 7 seasons and 143 episodes. Booth & Bones had to wait...you see where I am going with this. 

And my point is (and I can’t believe I never realized this explicitly until now): there has NEVER been a queer slow-burn/will-they-won’t-they romance of that type on TV ever. EVER. 

I’m going to say that again, because I think it bares repeating:

There has never been a queer, slow-burn/will-they-won’t-they romance that fits the 100-150 episode paradigm of delayed gratification on TV. 

Not ever.  

I can’t think of ONE example  Not a single, solitary one. And I know queer TV pretty well. Arguably the closest we’ve ever come is Legend of Korra, and that ran 50 episodes, a THIRD of the length of old school will-they-won’t-theys like Booth & Bones or Josh & Donna. 

Queer people have had a fair number of canonical romances on TV by now, even fairly long running ones. But we never got a primary/front-and-center romance that you had to root for for 100+ episodes before you got any kind of canonical consummation.

That is a particular kind of TV experience that queer people and queer characters were just 100% shut out of until it was too late. And because of how the TV landscape has changed in the last 10 years, I don’t know that that opportunity will ever come back around in our lifetimes. 

***

Dean and Castiel are/were a legacy of an earlier era of TV, an era that still contained the possibility for a will-they-won’t-they of that particular mold. There were other shows that could have also filled this gap at one time - Rizzoli & Isles, OUAT, House MD, etc. But one by one all of them were killed off, their queer romances unrequited, until Supernatural was the only one of its’ generation left standing. 

And they should have acknowledged that they were a species about to become extinct. 

There are plenty of other valid and compelling reasons Supernatural should have gone full Destiel, don’t get me wrong.

A) It would have been the most emotionally satisfying ending to the series and to those characters (and that would have been reason enough). 

B) It would have stopped the manipulative queer-baiting of the (disproportionately queer) fanbase (and that would have been reason enough). 

C) It would have been queer representation of middle-aged men, of bi men, of queers who came to their queerness later in life (and any/all of those would have been reason enough). 

D) It could have been a glorious subversion of the bury your queers trope, considering how often they’ve died and been resurrected (and that would have been reason enough). 

But point E) on this list is the reason this one hurts in a singular way that no one even appears to be acknowledging. 

Almost all of the other wrongs and missed opportunities contained in this Supernatural debacle have the possibility of being rectified (at least to a degree) elsewhere. I can and I likely will get more bi male characters from TV as time goes on. I can and likely will get more middle-aged queer characters. I can and likely will get more queer characters coming to their queerness later in life, and starting queer romances later in life. I can and likely will get more queer characters who aren’t killed cheaply and prematurely. I can and likely will get more genre TV shows with sprawling myth arc plots that are resolved in a coherent, satisfying way. I can and likely will get Misha Collins and Jensen Ackles involved in other projects that value their work and their talents. 

All of those other things are at the very least POSSIBLE, and many are even likely. 

But a queer 100-150 episode slow-burn romance a la Mulder & Scully or Niles & Daphne or Booth & Bones? That is the one baton Supernatural dropped spectacularly that no one else even has the possibility of picking up again for the foreseeable future. (They don’t even write those types of romances for heterosexuals anymore!) 

Seriously. It was a TV unicorn. And rather than letting it run wild and free, they stabbed it with a rusty nail. 

***

Given the monumental shifts in the TV landscape that have occurred in the last decade, I don’t know that TV will ever go back to the slow-burn/will-they-won’t-they romance spanning 100-150 episodes. Today it is a miracle if you can get ANY show to last longer than 50 episodes in the first place. 

And that is the piece of this that makes it feel (to me) like they murdered a unicorn.  

Because queer people have gotten a lot of things from TV, and they will get a lot more as time goes on. But that one? That one could very well be a totally extinct species.

That is the larger missed opportunity here that has left this feeling especially hollow and destructive. That is the thing that makes me balk when people tell me to go watch Black Sails or Pose or whatever other prestige TV show is doing this representation ‘better.’ Because that’s not really the loss I am mourning here. I KNOW there is ‘better’ representation elsewhere.  

But the will-they-won’t-they/slow-burn romance is a qualitatively unique thing that queer people literally just never got. Ever. There is no substitute, no alternate, no other show I can turn to with that kind of build-up and pay-off for a queer couple, and there probably won’t be in my lifetime. Not unless the TV industry undergoes another monumental evolution similar to the streaming revolution that shifts the incentives back to telling those types of stories again. 

All those shows you want me to displace Supernatural with? None of them can give me the one thing I uniquely wanted (and could have gotten) from Supernatural. THAT ALTERNATE SHOW DOESN’T EXIST. It doesn’t exist. And I have no reason to hope it will ever exist in my lifetime. 

So stop telling me to look somewhere else; you don’t understand what made this one a unicorn. 

***

Addendum: The only other possible show that could perhaps fill this gap is It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (re: Mac/Dennis). But I’m hesitant to say it exactly meets that criteria, for a number of reasons:

1 - It’s far less serialized relative to Supernatural and (except for a handful of stand-alone episodes) very little of the story is grounded specifically in Dennis/Mac’s romantic dynamic (unlike SPN, where it is absolutely central to much of the narrative)

2 - IASIP is fundamentally satirically in nature/tone which makes it much harder to have genuine romantic pathos (not impossible, but harder) 

3 - All the characters on IASIP are fundamentally crummy people who you aren’t exactly supposed to root for. Which doesn’t mean a romance between two of them can’t have its value/charm/worth but it’s not the same as when it is between characters who unequivocally deserve nice things/happy endings