#and faye’s is kind of a mix between the two

[idolsgf]

it’s the blorbos

i spent way too long making these please listen

also shoutout to @seriousames for sending me a song i sculpted most of ashari’s personality around, bless you <3

the cover photos are from @/nakdraws picrew you can find on twitter, they’re cute and i wanted consistency

[softsadsassysweet]

I have a lot of mixed feelings about Julia as a character and I whole heartedly believe that that’s the entire point.

This is a long one so buckle up buttercups.

I have so many questions for her.

Why didn’t she go with Spike when he left the syndicate?

Why did she doubt that Spike loved her?

Why reduce Faye to a messenger after revealing she knew who she was? Why not just have Faye take her to Spike?

Why did she apparently know so much about the Bebop crew, but still never sought out Spike?

What is the whole purpose of Julia as a character?

I relate to Faye and Jet, and their frustration if not their damn near resentment of her existence. From their perspective, she pulls Spike away from them. In Jets words, her name is “like a spell that unlocks a door”.

The audience, just like the crew, is robbed of any kind of access to her. Then before we can even begin to get attached to her, she’s gone.

We have a lot of beautiful poetry, stories, music, and references to classic authors like Hemingway in this series that act as echoes to possibly help explain the story. What if there are other story structures that aren’t as on the nose?

I was driving to Atlanta and listening to “The Great Gatsby”. The week before I had comfort binged Bebop. It all felt familiar and to me they echoed each other. The more I analyzed Julia, the more I saw parallels from the Great Gatsby. She reminds me so much of Daisy.

Just to break it down simply how I saw it:

Vicious would be fulfilling the role of Tom.

Spike in the role of Gatsby.

Julia in the role of Daisey.

The Bebop crew would be in the empathetic role of Nick Caraway.

In the Great Gatsby, the tragedy is told from Nick Caraways perspective. We get all of the context through him and what he sees and understands.

Similar to Daisy, the audience lacks a lot of empathy for Julia’s decisions because our perspective of the situation does.

In order to relate Julia to Daisey, I need to go into more detail about how I view Daisey from the great Gatsby.

Rather than viewing her as somebody who is obsessed with her money and no accountability, I actually see Daisey as a deeply flawed person and a victim of circumstance. I also believe she wholeheartedly loved both Jay and Tom.

She was ultimately a woman trapped between two men who were obsessed with the idea of her. She never got to be herself. She was never truly free.

I understand why we as an audience would see Gatsby as the obvious person for her to choose, but we have a biased view of Gatsby because Nick Caraway is our narrator. The harsh reality of it is that Gatsby was a criminal. He also didn’t accept Daisey for who she truly is. He was in love with the idea of her and who she was in his past. He couldn’t accept her evolving story and that she at one point she did love Tom.

In the wise words of Daniel Sloss:

“If you don’t love 100% of who I am, you do not love me.

You love an idea of me, which you have falsely fabricated in your head.

And it’s not my fault if I don’t live up to those expectations.”

When Spike asked Julia to run away with him she flat out said no and he shot back with “Yes you can.” That was a red flag for me. This appeared strongly to me as a romanticized one sided decision and that he wasn’t listening to her. He also gave her the information on how they were going to run away, he didn’t bother to include her on making the plans.

Just, YIKES.

Gatsby is an unreliable narrator for Daisy just like Spike is an unreliable narrator for Julia.

Julia saw one man who was abusive and controlling, and the other was seemingly good to her but not truly in love with her. And there’s a huge indicator that she doubted Spike really loved her, RIGHT HERE!!!

“Why did you love me.”

To me, Julia refused to have salvation in either of them.

Julia is an impressive character because she ultimately chose herself.

Daisy didn’t get the option of that choice. In my opinion, Daisey was practically trapped with Tom because he had her child and seemingly the most security. She also just committed a murder, and needed the protection. If she chose herself, of course Tom would have her arrested.

Spike and Vicious are two men who are impossible to say no to for different reasons. Julia (IN MY BIG FAT OPINION) chose loneliness over being someone’s idealization. Her inner strength made her truly alive.

“She was a real woman.”

On a more vulnerable perspective, I also believe fear kept Julia from Spike. In Jupiter Jazz there were some incredibly incriminate quotes said about her in a flashback.

Vicious: “Be careful when you’re with that woman.”

Julia: “All women are liars, don’t you know that?”

It seemed like Julia’s gift and what she provided to Vicious and the syndicate, was deception.

This visual in my opinion is an example of her deceptive nature. It feels incredibly sinister to me, not romantic.

Her hand on the back of his head weaving her fingers into Spikes hair feels like she’s snaring her way into his mind. His eyes are covered and most likely closed while hers are wide open. To me, doesn’t appear romantic. She’s in control. Julia sees what’s coming and Spike doesn’t.

I don’t know what Julia’s intentions were. Hell, we had more access to Daisey’s intentions than Julia.

Daisey wanted to be loved. But what did Julia want? I think her actions scream the loudest and this is my own personal opinion.

I believe Julia wanted autonomy.

Even if it meant being hunted, it would be her life. Even if it meant being alone, it would be her life. She wouldn’t be “free” on Vicious’s terms. She wouldn’t be free on Spike’s terms either. Julia chose a destiny that revolved around no man.

Julia chose herself, and that makes her a much more interesting and powerful character than Daisey.

I think however, did Spike surprise her. I think she did feel deep affection for him. I think when she saw him again she was full of regret. I truly feel her plea to Spike in the graveyard was genuine.

Her hand is closed, not ensnared in this moment. Her eyes are closed and she looks peaceful. She’s surrendered control.

Spike’s eyes are wide open and his expression feels hollow and apathetic. To me this indicates the power dynamic has switched.

Julia had a painful case of “what could have been” when she sees Spike again at last.

I think the graveyard was a huge turning point in her story arc. I think that was the moment she truly decided to belong to someone else.

And then after making the decision to be with him, their time is cut painfully short.

To me, she deserved better than just existing as an element of pining for our main character and then suddenly murdered to propel Spike’s arc.

But, Julia has had her own adventures and her own life for the past three years. She is a whole other story we’ve never had access to. She is a whole person outside of the Bebop crews’ perspective. There’s a lot of power in that unknown.

There’s a lot of power with Julia.

[sorrel-scribbles]

Thanks for tagging me! I am in fact a reader, though I can't promise I have any good recommendations for you since I didn't read anything amazing this year.

1. How many books did you read this year?

Only 30, unfortunately, school sucks.

2. Did you reread anything? What?

The entire Protector of the Small quartet, which I reread at least once a year because Kel is far too much a part of my personality.

3. What were your top five books of the year?

That's so hard because I didn't read a lot of really really good things this year, but if I had to rank them it would be 1) The Women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Dray 2) Jane Steele by Lindsay Faye 3) The Ones We Burn by Rebecca Mix 4) The Black Hand by Stephen Tally and 5) All Fall Down by Ally Carter (pretending it is a standalone)

4. Did you discover any new authors that you love this year?

Not exactly what the question is asking, but I read a lot of John Sandford. I don't particularly enjoy his work, but Lucas Davenport was the right flavor of mindless detective fiction for the month and a half when I was bouncing between ways to be sick. The character is misogynistic and kind of racist and I'm pretty sure Sanford has a thing for guns but the actual killers are interesting enough that it passes the time and there are some fun historical references.

5. What genre did you read the most of?

Historical Fiction. I am weak for books with 1940s women on the cover, what can I say.

6. Was there anything you meant to read, but never got to?

So many things. My TBR is 300+ books. The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn, the rest of the Skyward Series by Brandon Sanderson (I have only read the first two books), and Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley are what I would name if I had to pick though.

7. What was your average Goodreads rating? Does it seem accurate?

N/A

8. Did you meet any of your reading goals? Which ones?

I met my 23 books in 2023 goal, which is a thing my local bookstore runs (I get a prize), and I didn't set any other goals for this year, because I don't really find it to be helpful.

9. Did you get into any new genres?

Nope.

10. What was your favorite new release of the year?

The Ones We Burn by Rebecca Mix (which was actually released in 2022, but shhh it was the end of the year). It ripped my heart out.

11. What was your favorite book that has been out for a while, but you just now read?

War and Peace. I haven't finished it yet, but I started it this year, and it's lovely. It's so immersive, culturally and historically, the prose is beautiful, and I don't mind the plotless bits.

12. Any books that disappointed you?

Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverini. I've heard good things about her work, and I really liked the premise, but I just had a hard time getting into it. There were weird little anachronisms, and the way the characters talked about the persecution of women under the Nazis was off in a way I can't put my finger on.

13. What were your least favorite books of the year

I hated The Secrets of Latimer House by Jules Wake. It was extremely badly written. I also subjected myself to Twilight to win a bet. Bella is useless, Edward is abusive, and Stephanie Meyer is racist, but the prose is actually decent.

14. What books do you want to finish before the year is over?

Doing this on New Years, so my time is up lol.

15. Did you read any books that were nominated for or won awards this year (Booker, Women’s Prize, National Book Award, Pulitzer, Hugo, etc.)? What did you think of them?

Honestly, I have no idea. I would have to look them all up and check.

16. What is the most over-hyped book you read this year?

The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. I haven't actually finished it yet (50 pages in) , but I know it got really big on booktok, and so far I am finding it to be just ok. I wouldn't have read it at all except that it was free.

17. Did any books surprise you with how good they were?

No. I have a pretty good eye for my own tastes, and if I'm wrong, the book is usually worse than I thought it would be.

18. How many books did you buy?

I think 20, but I'm not 100% sure. A bunch were second hand though, so I didn't spend thousands of dollars.

19. Did you use your library?

Yes, of course.

20. What was your most anticipated release? Did it meet your expectations?

The only stuff I was looking forward to this year, I haven't read yet, so I can't weigh in.

21. Did you participate in or watch any booklr, booktube, or book twitter drama?

I watched a couple of withcindy videos about book drama. I don't follow it at all, but if anything has a long enough timestamp, I will eventually click on it.

22. What’s the longest book you read?

The Women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Dray. It was 574 pages.

23. What’s the fastest time it took you to read a book?

I read Siddhartha in like three hours.

24. Did you DNF anything? Why?

I DNFed four books: Secrets of Latimer House by Jules Wake, Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverini, Take the Key and Lock Her Up by Ally Carter, and Doc by Mary Doria Russel. Latimer House was just trash fiction, Resistance Women didn't feel in-period, Take the Key and Lock Her Up had a series of increasingly corny moments and a secret princess reveal that made me decide I was done with the series, and I disagreed with Russel's portrayal of Wyatt Earp so much that I quit reading it.

What reading goals do you have for next year?

Read at least 24 books, read one book a week this summer, and get caught up on my favorite series. I also need to find a better way to balance my light and heavy reads this year, because I read a lot of heavy stuff in 2022 that resulted in a lot of what I read this year being kinda trashy.

end-of-year book ask

How many books did you read this year?

Did you reread anything? What?

What were your top five books of the year?

Did you discover any new authors that you love this year?

What genre did you read the most of?

Was there anything you meant to read, but never got to?

What was your average Goodreads rating? Does it seem accurate?

Did you meet any of your reading goals? Which ones?

Did you get into any new genres?

What was your favorite new release of the year?

What was your favorite book that has been out for a while, but you just now read?

Any books that disappointed you?

What were your least favorite books of the year?

What books do you want to finish before the year is over?

Did you read any books that were nominated for or won awards this year (Booker, Women’s Prize, National Book Award, Pulitzer, Hugo, etc.)? What did you think of them?

What is the most over-hyped book you read this year?

Did any books surprise you with how good they were?

How many books did you buy?

Did you use your library?

What was your most anticipated release? Did it meet your expectations?

Did you participate in or watch any booklr, booktube, or book twitter drama?

What’s the longest book you read?

What’s the fastest time it took you to read a book?

Did you DNF anything? Why?

What reading goals do you have for next year?

[rocknrolloccultist93]

So I'm writing a Cowboy Bebop fanfic

ik this might not even be relevant to the few followers I have but I'M ACTUALLY DOING IT THIS TIME and I have a prologue that I'm really happy with. Title is a wip, but enjoy this teaser. Lmk if you'd rather see this published in full on AO3, or possibly Deviantart, I really don't like the formatting restrictions on Tumblr when it comes to fic writing so it probably won't be here, if you actually bothered to read this. Constructive criticism is appreciated ofc.

TW/CW: possible major character death? (I won't spoil it for you guys just yet), cigarettes, alcohol, weed (yes that kind of weed), depression, general trauma, spoilers for the end of Cowboy Bebop (PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF WHATEVER HIGHER POWER YOU BELIEVE IN WATCH THE SERIES (the anime, not the live action pile of garbage) IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY IT'S SO GOOD)

Prologue: Bebop Cowboy

“I’m dead, aren’t I?” Spike asked no one as he faintly made out the bleary outline of the familiar ceiling fan.

“If you were, you wouldn’t be here.” An exhale of cigarette smoke followed Jet’s words. A minute or two passed, and the stale air between them became too loud to bear.

“What am I then?”

“You know, you said it yourself,” Jet flicked his cigarette butt into a nearby ashtray, “you’re alive.” He didn’t notice the tears pooling in Spike’s eyes until they stained the bandage on his temple, his expression hardly changed. He’d never seen Spike cry, not even when the girls and the dog left and they thought they were all gone for good. “Listen, Spike.”

Jet’s thumb interrupted the tear track on Spike’s cheek, his warm bourbon breath was tinged with cigarette smoke. He’d been into his whiskey stash. -Hic-sniff- He couldn’t stop crying.

“I’m gonna call the girls tomorrow, so don’t die on me tonight, you hear me?” Jet’s words came out a little gentler than he was used to.

Spike couldn’t speak, as if his lips and his teeth held back all the blues and agony of his tired, ragged soul. He nodded, it was all he could do. Jet covered him with a blanket placed a box of tissues by his side, and left. He couldn’t bear to watch Spike cry himself to sleep.

“Ed, you there? It’s important-”

“Edward is here!”

“Arf!”

“What’s wrong, Jet?” There must have been a look on his face as he tried to find the words to break the news to the ever-cheerful Edward.

“It’s Spike, he’s…”

“Is he in trouble again…?”

“Well- no but… he’s alive, but barely, I don’t know if he’s going to make it.”

“Oh…”

An uncomfortable beat of silence passed before Jet spoke again, “so… if you want to see him, this might be your last chance.”

“Bebop is coming to Earth?”

“Yeah, is Faye still there?”

Ed nodded, and started typing on her computer, “She’s at Circus Circus in Old Vegas, been there for weeks!”

“That bad, huh? How about you?”

“Not far, mapping volcano fields in New Mexico with Dad-person!”

“Alright, I should be at the gate in about 12 hours, can you tell Faye to call? She won’t answer me. Tell her it’s important.”

“Mhm! And Jet… Give Spike a hug for me, pretty please?”

“Of course. Stay safe out there.”

“Bye-bye-!”

Jet sighed, and went to check on Spike. He’d still been asleep by the time he got up, but as he limped back to the main room he found him hacking up the bloody mucus that collected in his throat overnight.

“Careful, you’ll burst your stitches.”

Spike coughed weakly, “got a smoke?”

For some reason, Jet hesitated at offering him a cigarette. It just didn’t feel right, “how about something better?”

“Hm…?”

Spike was a little surprised when Jet placed a joint in his mouth. He’d smoked weed before, though it wasn’t very conducive to a bounty hunting lifestyle. Jet smoked it to sleep, but that was about the only use for it on a normal day.

“Should help with the pain,” Jet explained, and lit it for him. There was tobacco mixed in, Spike discovered when he took his first drag, likely to silence his cravings. He also silently counted it as payback for the whiskey. “Oh, and uh-” Jet carefully eased him into a hug, his tear-stained cheek against Jet’s. To the surprise of the latter, Spike returned the gesture with his good arm. “That’s from Ed, in case you don’t make it until she can see you herself.” Jet helped him into a sitting position.

“Where’s Faye, did she leave?” Spike tried to ignore the mention of his own mortality.

“Off like a bullet, as usual. Drowning her sorrows in Old Vegas, I hear.”

“She could have at least stayed until you healed, what if something happen- wait, how the hell did you even get me back here then?”

“Very carefully.”

Spike wasn’t sure how much time had actually passed, but a few drags of his spliff gave him a rough estimate, “…why?”

Jet bit his tongue. He really didn’t want to yell at Spike, not now, but he could at least pretend to believe anyone cared about him. After a few more drags, he answered, “same reason you asked about Faye, same reason you let a dog, a kid, and a woman with attitude live with us in the first place.”

[daimonclub]

Shopping coolest stores

Harrod's London Shopping coolest stores, best shopping stores in the world with also online websites, plus some useful quotes to better understand the human shopping philosophy. It is truly an amazing and special feeling when you see something beautiful in a shopping mall or online shopping site and you get it for yourself. I feel really proud and happy when I can buy some stuff for me. Shopping is no less than therapy. You might have heard people saying I have just had retail therapy. The kind of happiness, excitement, and satisfaction that comes with shopping is real and undeniable. Shopping enables you to try new brands and products and have many new experiences. Also, consumer demand increases the competition in the market, which contributes to the growth of economic activities. Governments are deemed to succeed or fail by how well they make money go round, regardless of whether it serves any useful purpose. They regard it as a sacred duty to encourage the country’s most revolting spectacle: the annual feeding frenzy in which shoppers queue all night, then stampede into the shops, elbow, trample and sometimes fight to be the first to carry off some designer junk which will go into landfill before the sales next year. The madder the orgy, the greater the triumph of economic management. George Monbiot Happiness is not in money but in shopping. Marilyn Monroe

Galeries Lafayette Paris For me, shopping is a way to unwind. Stacey Dooley Shopping is my cardio. Carrie Bradshaw I always say shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist. Tammy Faye Bakker I need these cashmere gloves because it’s winter… and I have hands. Rebecca Bloomwood I love shopping. There is a little bit of magic found in buying something new. It is instant gratification, a quick fix. Rebecca Bloom Christmas shopping! I can do all my Christmas shopping here! I know March is a bit early, but why not be organized? And then when Christmas arrives I won’t have to go near the horrible Christmas crowds. Sophie Kinsella

Destiny Usa New York Shopping is better than sex. If you’re not satisfied after shopping, you can make an exchange for something you really like. Adrienne Gusoff Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice. Dave Barry I shop, therefore I am. Heather Chandler Shopping is a woman thing. It's a contact sport like football. Women enjoy the scrimmage, the noisy crowds, the danger of being trampled to death, and the ecstasy of the purchase. Erma Bombeck Show your confidence. Show you’re not afraid. Go to restaurants. Go shopping. Rudy Giuliani Men are like shoes. Some fit better than others. And sometimes you go out shopping and there’s nothing you like. Janet Evanovich

Amazon store Buy what you don’t have yet or what you really want, which can be mixed with what you already own. Buy only because something excites you, not just for the simple act of shopping. Karl Lagerfeld I love shopping. There is a little bit of magic found in buying something new. It is instant gratification, a quick fix. Rebecca Bloom I think, they should list shopping as a cardiovascular activity. My heart never beats as fast as it does when I see a reduced by 50 percent’ sign. Sophie Kinsella The odds of going to the store for a loaf of bread and coming out with only a loaf of bread are three billion to one. Erma Bombeck Recreational shopping is the shortest distance between two points: you and broke. Victoria Moran Shopping is actually very similar to farming a field. You can’t keep buying the same thing, you have to have a bit of variety. Sophie Kinsella

Aliexpress store For some, shopping is an art; for others, it’s a sport. Pamela Klaffke The quickest way to know a woman is to go shopping with her. Marcelene Cox. Shopping is a bit of a relaxing hobby for me, which is sometimes troubling for the bank balance. Rebecca Hall I went window shopping today! I bought four windows. Tommy Cooper I like my money right where I can see it: hanging in my closet. Carrie Bradshaw I did a lot of shopping for her in Tokyo because the colors here are very conservative. A shopaholic would have a coat in every color and lots of accessories. Sophie Kinsella

Milan fashion chamber Italy If a man doesn’t fit, you can’t exchange him seven days later for a gorgeous cashmere sweater. Rebecca Bloomwood The only consolation I had was buying things. If I bought some pretty thing it cheered me up for a while. Iris Murdoch Never give up on something you really want. However impossible things seem, there’s always a way. Sophie Kinsella One good thing about Christmas shopping is it toughens you for the January sales. Grace Kriley There are 17 more shopping days until Christmas. So, guys, that means 16 more days till we start shopping, right? Conan O’Brien Christmas is the time when kids tell Santa what they want and adults pay for it. Richard Lamm

Christmas markets in the world Style Strategy is about shopping smart, staying chic, and making it all last. It’s about showing women how to shop for value without compromising style. Nina Garcia From a commercial point of view, if Christmas did not exist it would be necessary to invent it. Katharine Whitehorn Xmas Trivia: Before it became a major shopping holiday, Christmas is believed to have had a ‘religious’ meaning. Andy Borowitz I’m a last-minute shopper. I end up at the mall or somewhere on Christmas Eve. It’s a shame. Brad Paisley If I have free time, I want to go to the beach, walk around a shopping mall, go grocery shopping. Live a little bit of life. James Wan I still believe in the Holy Trinity, except now it's Target, Trader Joe's, and IKEA.” Jen Lancaster

Best Chinese Watches They said I was a valued customer, now they send me hate mail.” Sophie Kinsella Shopping is really complicated if you are a girl. Helen Salter I've no idea when I'm going to wear it, the girl replied calmly. I only knew that I had to have it. Once I tried it on, well... She shrugged. The dress claimed me. Isabel Wolff Whoever said that money can’t buy happiness simply didn’t know where to go shopping. Bo Derek Women usually love what they buy, yet hate two-thirds of what is in their closets. Mignon McLaughlin If men liked shopping, they'd call it research. Cynthia Nelms

Original T-shirts When I shop, the world gets better, and the world is better, but then it's not, and I need to do it again. Sophie Kinsella For in some ways the world was like a shopping centre, and he himself was a doubtful customer, often ineffectual, being talked into buying things he didn't want, things indeed which nobody in their right mind would want to buy. Margaret Mahy The saving of money is usually the delaying of the wasting of money. Mokokoma Mokhonoana Once a culture becomes entirely advertising friendly, it seizes to be a culture at all. Mark Crispin Miller Always be polite to possible murderers: that was the twenty-four-hour-shopping philosophy. Kate Griffin Hanging onto a bad buy will not redeem the purchase.” Terence Conran

Diagonal Mar Barcelona The wise find pleasure in using a product until it is no longer usable; the foolish, in replacing an old but still usable product with a brand new one.” Mokokoma Mokhonoana COVID-19 may be the final nail in the coffin of the traditional store model as the isolated people of the world switch to internet shopping. Steven Magee Shopping: one of my favorite pastimes. Adrienne Posey Therapy is a good grocery store. Adrienne Posey When deciding what to buy, remember that some things are easy to buy - but then we have to use them. If they're not used, they don't enhance our lives; they just contribute to guilt and clutter. Gretchen Rubin In this era of oversupply and super-abundance in fashion, one doesn’t need more. Well, definitely not more of things...whereas we all could use MORE of wisdom, education and ethics of consumption. Anastacia Plastinina

The Rockefeller Center New York The need for social interaction ... is very much a part of why women shop. All our interviewees commented at some point that social interaction was part of the shopping experience. Stella Minahan ...I get home and there's a box on my front porch. My serotonin surges and Jeff Bezos is a rich man because he knows how much we all just love to get a present, even if it's a present we bought for ourselves. Caroline Kepnes If shopping helps them to forgive you, I think you won't find an easier and cheaper way to be forgiven. Sarvesh Jain Happiness is not having what you love, it is loving what you have. Amit Kalantri Paying or having paid for something often makes it seem necessary; or better, more important, or more useful than it is. Mokokoma Mokhonoana I hate department stores. They're too bright, too loud, and too crammed full of junk that nobody needs. Whenever I'm forced to spend time in one I start thinking about how consumer culture is just one long, expensive, planet-killing distraction from the fact that we're all going to die eventually. Karen M. McManus

Black Friday Shopping Our caring about what others think about us is one of the pillars of the economy. Mokokoma Mokhonoana When unmoderated materialism is the world's norm, consumer is the product, product does the consuming.” Abhijit Naskar During the shopping process, Amazon’s AI offers suggestions of items that it predicts you will want to buy. The AI does a reasonable job. However, it is far from perfect. In our case, the AI accurately predicts what we want to buy about 5 percent of the time. We actually purchase about one of every twenty items it recommends. Considering the millions of items on offer, that’s not bad! Ajay Agrawal Happiness is all too often pursued through the use of a credit card. Mokokoma Mokhonoana For most people who board, the experience of shopping or acquiring is so overwhelmingly rewarding that it erases all thoughts of consequences. Randy O. Frost Consumerism is based on the illusion that you can fill spiritual or emotional emptiness with physical products. Mokokoma Mokhonoana

Cyber Monday Shopping Just because you purchased something costly doesn’t mean you have to use it every day to feel its worth. Sarvesh Jain There are two ways to shop, one is to try until you find exactly what you’re looking for. Or second, find something that feels good and hope that you’ll like it along the way. Sarvesh Jain You can also read: Facebook market Fashion quotes Black Friday Day Cyber Monday Thanksgiving Day Story Chinese watches Tennis bracelet history Parnis watches Tevise brand watch Lige brand watch Hot flash sales https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONe6AU_uaUc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcyP-zA3HjU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0Q-l9WIGjU Read the full article

[withlovewriting]

Mixed Drinks and Smoke Rings 22: A Personal Kind of Poison

Chapter Twenty-two: A Personal Kind of Poison

Bittersweet ecstasy that you got me in, Falling deep, I can’t sleep tonight, And to make me feel like I’m out of my mind, But it’s alright, it’s alright, Nothing ever gets me high like this, I pick my poison and it’s you, Nothing could kill me like you do, You’re going straight to my head, And I’m heading straight for the edge, I pick my poison and it’s you

Summary: New to town, you didn’t need a friend, you needed a dealer. Thankfully, a girl from your Narcotics Anonymous meetings knew just the guy.

Characters: Fezco (euphoria) x Non-descriptive Reader

Words: 3,292

Chapter Warnings: Talk of drug use, Protective!Fez activated, very very brief mention of domestic abuse, lil bit of smut

Series Warnings: Addiction, sexual themes, cursing, abuse (various), smut, drug use, teenagers being fucking idiots. 18+ only, minors DNI

Previous Chapter:

Next Chapter: 

Masterlist

taglist: @iamasimpingh0e​ @chelseagirl77​ @zeida​ @f8talism​ @alanis-altair​ @purplebtsmagic​ @fuckrigthoff​​

​

Inhaling a deep breath, you tried fruitlessly to force your eyes open, but it felt as though the communication between your brain and body was defective. No matter how much it begged to push your body up and find a glass of cold water, your arms remained limp around you.

Deciding that even the pathetic attempt of opening your eyes was too strenuous, you hoped that if you gave into the desperate need to sleep, you'd wake up feeling better. Calming your mind, you barely took in the muffled sounds of scratching from the wall next to you as sleep gripped you, dragging you back under.

"The fuck you mean she ain't come back?"

Fez's voice was uncharacteristically loud as he paced in front of the sofa, his mind moving faster than his feet.

Shrugging, Faye watched him with uninterested eyes, "I dunno, we were talking, and then she left and just... hasn't come back yet."

"Did she say where she was goin'?" Rubbing his hand over his head, Fez struggled to swallow the lump that had crawled up his throat, his chest feeling unnaturally tight. Fez wasn't about to tell a practical stranger all about your issues, but he was worried.

"I don't know. She just said she had to go-"

Ash pushed himself from the wall where he was watching silently, his eyes holding the burning heat of a raging fire as his tone lowered, making him seem much older than he usually did, "I swear to God if you or that fucking bitch you call a boyfriend have done anything to her-"

"Why would I do anything? I don't even fucking know her."

Fez ignored the two, phone already pushed to his ear as he waited for Rue to answer. After speaking to her, he could tell she was high but believed her when she said she hadn't seen you.

He wasn't sure if that made him feel better or worse.

Your eyes shot open, a sharp gasp rippling from your throat as your wobbly arms forced your body upright.

You weren't sure what caused your sudden awakening, only that your lungs burned as they tried to heave in oxygen, almost as if you had been holding your breath for too long.

Even though your mind was hazy and felt clogged with cotton wool, your flight instinct kicked in before you could even recognize it. Standing on cooked spaghetti-like legs, you stumbled toward the door, your shoulder colliding with it first.

"Hello?" You panted, twisting the doorknob in your weak grasp. When no one responded, you began to pound on the door, fists banging as your body flooded with panic. You didn't know where you were, or who you were with.

"Let me the fuck out, asshole. I swear to God-"

"Calm down, sweetheart," A soft voice came from the other side of the door as you heard the lock click before the door was pushed open.

Stumbling back a little to avoid being hit by the door, you held onto the edge of it, leaning your weight on it as your legs began to shake. Looking over to Laurie, her soft blue gaze calmed you a little, giving you a moment to catch your breath before leading you toward the couch where you'd sat upon your arrival earlier.

She returned, holding a glass of water, and sent you a small smile as she sat in a chair. Her eyes remained on you as your own gaze fell to the fish tank, the calming blue helping to settle your thumping heart. Sure, you didn't know Laurie, but you thanked your lucky stars that it was here you woke up, and not somewhere much worse.

"Why... Why did you-"

"Lock you in the bedroom?" Laurie's eyes hardened slightly, raising her eyebrows at you, "Sweetheart, don't take this the wrong way... But I'm not gonna trust someone who takes drugs to wander around my apartment willy-nilly, am I?"

Your eyes fell to your lap where you held the glass, the condensation slowly dripping onto your thigh.

Before you could reply, she continued, "Not that I'm insinuating that you're stupid. Because that would be a very stupid thing to do, but I'm sure you understand my hesitance at letting you roam around here unsupervised."

Swallowing, you nodded your head slowly, your brain still feeling like it was rolling around inside your skull. Taking a deep breath, you tried to repress the urge to snuggle back into the sofa and go back to sleep. Your eyes felt heavy, and you could feel a familiar itch beneath your skin that could only be scratched by one thing.

"I, uh... Thanks for everything, Laurie. Really. But I should probably get going now."

"Gonna go bail your Dad out?" You nodded, placing the half-empty glass onto the coffee table, "Just remember what I said, alright?"

Nodding, you sent her a meek smile, "You call, I run. Got it."

"I'll be seeing you soon, sweetheart. Oh, before you go, you left this on the table."

Taking your phone from her outstretched palm, huffing out a sigh when you realized the battery had died. Great.

Bruce Jr walked you out, his distrustful eyes glued to your back as you slowly walked across the parking lot.

Despite your legs feeling like lead, and your feet tripping over themselves, you made your way toward the station, intent on releasing your father as soon as possible.

Fez left Ash to open the store, telling him to take Faye, and despite the annoyance of his younger brother, the boy agrees without much push back.

Unsure of what to do, where to go, or even where to start, Fez tried to push down his panic. He'd tried ringing you, only to be greeted by your voicemail. After helping his Grandma with her personal care, Fez tried again, sighing when the stupid automated voice returned, annoying him enough to actually leave a message.

When he was unable to find any clues to your sudden disappearance, Fez decided his best bet was to drive around town and make a stop at your place.

He knew it sounded ridiculous, but the images of you hidden under your bed, hands over your ears as you tried to block out the noises from the party were burned into his brain. He wasn't about to leave you alone right now. Not ever, if he had to.

After handing over the payment, your pockets felt a lot lighter, but the heavy feeling in your chest remained.

Your father had been released, court date in tow, and you had both quietly walked home.

Kicking a stone as you sent your father a sideways glance, you felt suffocated under the blanket of silence, needing desperately to break it.

"I uh... I haven't cleaned the house much so I'm sorry for whatever state you're about to walk into-"

Before you could assure him that you would clean up as soon as you both returned home, he shook his head slightly, "It's fine. I don't care. I made the mess so..."

You didn't quite have the guts to tell him that whatever mess he had caused had been hidden by the ridiculous parties. Groups of strangers flood your house, uncaring about the state they left it in. Even your older friends didn't hang around long enough to help clean up, and you weren't in the state to bother.

The house, to you at least, felt like a physical representation of your mind. It was somewhere you should've felt safe, at home, but there was no peace to be found between the splintered furniture and shattered photo frames.

Broken.

Hearing a car door slam, your head jerked up, heart beating wildly against your chest when you recognized the young man who had exited the vehicle.

"Fez, what's-"

"What the hell is he doin' out?" The boy's back was ramrod straight, shoulders wide as he looked down upon your father.

"Hey, Dad, why don't you head on in? Get some rest on a real bed."

He nodded but didn't return your timid smile, his eyes remaining downcast to avoid any contact with the burning blue of Fez's. You watched him in silence, wringing your hands together until he was inside the house, already feeling Fez's disconcerted gaze turn to you.

"He was released on bail this morning," You muttered, eyes still watching the now closed door, "He's on curfew, and he's been clean this entire time. He-"

"You bailed him out?" Fez's voice finally garnered your attention, his eyes watching you like a hawk as you blinked at him a few times.

Clearing your throat, you shuffled on your feet, "I found a Bail bondsman. They... The interest is decent enough that I can pay it back no problem."

Fez's tongue rolled over his bottom lip as he shook his head, ignoring the slight pain from the constant biting of his lips, "You think I give a shit about the money, Ma? What he if he does this again?"

Scoffing, you ignored his pleading look as he moved closer, his hands gripping your shoulders as he dipped his head to catch your eyes, "What if you ain't as lucky next time?"

"I need to give him one last chance, Fezco," your voice was meek, "For my sake, as much as his. He's-"

"Your Dad, I get it. Really, I do," Fez's grip on your shoulders softened as they slowly traced down your arms, finally linking with your hands, "But I swear to God if he even thinks about hurtin' you again-"

"I know, Fez. I know. But please, just trust me."

Shaking his head, he placed a kiss on each of the knuckles on your right hand, "It ain't you I don't trust, Ma. I just... I don't like the idea of you here with him, alone."

"It won't be all the time, Fez. But I just... I can't leave him here alone. He really wants to make a go at being sober, and the only way I can make sure that happens is if I'm here to monitor him."

You felt like a huge fucking hypocrite, supervising your grown-ass father to make sure he didn't fall off the wagon before sneaking up to your own room to fill your body with whatever drug you had.

Maybe it was just your genetic predisposition to substance abuse, your DNA holding onto the 50% you inherited from your father that meant you could never live a life without some kind of addiction. When you couldn't get your hands on drugs, you charged head-first down a slippery slope with alcohol.

Maybe your father's present was your future. An unhappy family life with a partner who couldn't stand to be around you, a kid of your own who was out of control and falling down the same well as you had. Maybe, you shared more than just a last name with the man. Maybe, it was inevitable, your future set in stone from the moment you were conceived.

"You his kid, baby. You shouldn't be monitoring shit. Look, Im'a stay with you tonight, alright?"

"I'm not sure he'd-"

"Ain't gonna give two shits if he likes it or not."

And Fez did stay with you, spending the day at your home, only leaving once your father was snoring a few rooms down. During the time he'd have to head to the store or a deal, he'd drop you off at his place, telling you both your father and yourself needed space. Plus, school would be starting back up soon, and you couldn't afford any time off. Not if you intended on going to any half decent colleges, anyway.

You understood his point, but the real reason you agreed, was that familiar itch under your skin once more, knowing Faye had exactly what you needed to scratch it.

"I need a job," your father argued, sitting at the breakfast bar, "I can't have a curfew if I don't have a house to be in."

Shaking your head, you still thought it was much too early, "I can get a job. It's no problem, I'm sure Fez would happily-"

"It won't pay the bills," he sighed, looking up from his cup of coffee, "I know I've fucked up a lot these past few years. But I'm trying to do better -- for both of us -- and I'm not about to let you drop out of high school just to pay for my shit. This is my next step, and I'm ready for it."

This wasn't the conversation you'd expected to have with your father the night before returning to school, and whilst it most definitely wasn't the worst one you've ever had, it still worried you more than you'd like to admit.

Your father not only had a DUI on his record, but also a possible aggravated assault charge. No one -- especially not in this type of town -- would hire him. And, from previous experience, your father didn't cope well with rejection.

He'd been doing so well recently, and sure, it wasn't exactly long, but he was trying, and that was all you cared about. Being laughed out of every place in town could very easily sabotage your father's recovery, and you knew damn well this was his last chance. If he didn't end up in prison, he'd end up dead.

You weren't sure which would be worse.

It wasn't long after that he went to bed that you decided an early night might make the nausea swooshing around your stomach settle. Between the first day back and your father's stubborn attempts at finding work again -- plus he reminder that you guys did in fact have bills to pay -- you felt on edge, your nerves getting the best of you as you tossed and turned in bed, struggling to find comfort.

A sharp knock at the window scared you half to death, even though by now you should've been expecting it. When Fez couldn't spend time with you during the day, he'd often clamber into your room through the bedroom, and despite the handful of times he'd done so, he was no closer to being any more graceful.

"I have school tomorrow," You sighed after sliding open the window and moving aside so he could practically fall in, "I was gonna get an early night."

"I ain't stoppin' that, Ma. Just wanted to come check on you, make sure you're good," placing a soft kiss to your temple, he mumbled against your skin, "I know you, you freakin' out a little, right?"

Relaxing in his warm embrace, you barely nodded as you released a long sigh. Fezco was the quiet, observant type and more often than not you'd forget that he knew exactly how to break you walls down, brick by brick, before you'd even noticed.

Placing a soft kiss on his lips, he relaxed into you, his mouth moving slow and steady, despite your attempts at accelerating the pace.

You hadn't taken anything today, despite the anxiety of the looming school term nipping at your heels. You were too preoccupied biting your nails and shaking your leg. The urge, the need was there, but you tried your best to ignore it. With your fathers new decision, you wished you'd taken something. Anything.

But, you were piss-pot dry. Luckily for you, the boy whose shirt was crumbled in your fist as you guided him toward your bed, had lips lined with heroin, a sweet, delicate addiction that you didn't mind admitting.

If this was a drug, you had no problem with the 'Junkie' label.

"I didn't come over jus' for this," Fez whispered as your lips left wet, open kisses down his jaw, a deep moan slipping from his mouth as you sucked against his pulse point, excited to see the purple bruise eventually bloom, so distinct against his freckled skin.

"I know," you mumbled back, sliding onto his lap as he perched on the side of your bed, "but I'm very glad you did."

"Your dad's home," he half-halfheartedly sighed, like that had ever stopped him before. Sure, he might despise the guy, but he was still respectful of other people's houses, especially when it came to fucking their daughters. God knows if it was some guy sneaking into his daughters bedroom, looking to get his rocks off, he'd kill the little bastard.

"He's already asleep," you giggled, noting that despite bringing the subject up, he didn't stop his hands from traveling down your waist, gripping your hips as you ever-so-lightly rocked against him, "so long as you're quiet, he'll never know."

Fez couldn't contain the huff of laughter, trying his best to not let it turn into a grunt as you pushed against him a little harder, "Me? Damn Ma, I'm pretty sure last time you's was about to wake up my Grandma."

Stopping your motions, you pulled your lips away from his throat, sending him a glare, "Fez, right now, I really don't wanna think about my dad, or your Grandma."

His brilliant blue eyes were heavy with lust as he nodded in agreement before reconnecting his lips to yours.

It didn't take long for you to undress each other, only breaking contact when your tops were pulled from your bodies, causing a fairly awkward exchange of kisses as you both bent to pull down your bottoms.

His hands left soft trails down your back, holding you near as you rode him, and if you were any closer, you were certain your souls and body's might just merge into one.

A sharp jolt of his hips pushing up into you caused a high pitched moan to bleed from your lips, a sound that only seemed to spur him on as Fezco continued, quickening his pace and only releasing your back to roam his hands down toward your ass, squeezing a cheek in each hand as he used them to pull you down onto him harder and harder, until the soft, breathy moans of his name fell from you lips and he rolled you over, his arms closed around the sides of your face.

He kissed you harshly, melting your lips together as he swallowed your moan, orgasm causing your legs to shake around him, the desperate pleading only making his own orgasm hurtle forward. Thrusting once, twice, thrice more, he quickly pulled out of you, his hand fisting around the base of his leaking, red cock as he painted your pelvis with his seed, his low moans sending shock waves through your body as you watched him reach his high with doting eyes.

Fezco might not have been the standard boy-next-door, nor the typical jock type, but he really was beautiful. The best kind of drug that was available.

His strained breathes slowly turned into soft sighs against your neck as he let his body go limp on top of yours, sheltering your hot, sweat-layered body from the cold night air from the open window.

Taking a moment to press gentle kisses against you clavicle -- his beard somehow both tickling and scratching you -- he finally pushed off, "I'll get somethin' to clean up with."

It didn't take long for his return, a damp hand towel in his hand as he wiped his remains from your stomach before doing the same to himself and throwing the towel somewhere behind him,

"You gonna be good tomorrow? Need a ride or anythin'?"

"Nah, it's fine. I'll walk." you snuggled into him, knowing his departure was looming ever closer.

"Ain't no girl of mine gonna be walkin' nowhere."

And true to his words, although you awoke in a cold bed, his car sat outside the front of your house bright and early that morning.

[columboscreens]

for the new episodes what are your top 10 favorites?

what really constitutes a good reboot columbo for me is mostly how much it captures the spirit of the original run while still being true to its time and true to the character. if i watch it back and wish they'd made it 20 years prior, i consider it a solid romp.

that said, almost all of them are bloated and overlong. much to the detriment of the show's quality, ABC really preferred 120 minute runtimes to the original default runtime of 70 minutes. the ones i list here suffer least.

without further ado, if you're going to watch columbo in the clinton years, here are

COLUMBOSCREENS' TOP 10 COLUMBO REBOOT EPISODES

10. death hits the jackpot: low budget and absolutely ridiculous. columbo gets his badge stolen by a chimp. it's a blatant and far less clever rendition of greenhouse jungle. that said, rip torn kills it, and seeing him go head-to-head against columbo makes it worth watching. also the series' only halloween episode!

9. caution: murder can be hazardous to your health: george hamilton puts on his murdering hat once again as some sort of homicidal john walsh in an entertaining lampoon of america's most wanted. not the strongest episode, but plenty of fun. one thing i do prefer about the later episodes in general is that they're far more diverse; in this episode we're treated to the villain's primary staffer being a young, vibrant black woman with a prominent speaking role. as pictured above, columbo wanders into a sex shop and utters the word "porno". make of it what you will.

8. ashes to ashes: kind of dull, very bloated, and overly silly, with a whimsical sprinkle of ethnic stereotyping. however, watching patrick mcgoohan slaughter rue mcclanahan with a Mortuary Baton is rather fun in a surreal way. the typical chemistry between the two leads is there in spades. we get to see columbo get kidnapped, cringe at a bad funeral medley, and receive an estimate as to what he'll look like once cremated. overall a reasonably enjoyable watch.

7. sex and the married detective: lots of people have mixed feelings on this one, including myself, but i like it more than i don't. i love seeing the series boldly confront sex in a more open era. it's oddly intimate, and seeing columbo initially flustered at the sexual openness of his female adversary is pretty endearing! his rapport with this murderer is very enjoyable to watch, and i truly love that final scene where they're just conversing frankly by an open fire. for some reason columbo hurls himself onto a big ornate orgy bed when he's sure nobody is looking. honestly, aside from the cringey tuba march and the weird scene where he's yelling and going bananas at the russian cleaning lady, i thoroughly enjoy this episode.

6. agenda for murder: once again mcgoohan shines in this episode, and as he's the sun to falk's moon, so does our leading man. the chemistry between these two is in full force and really makes this plot, largely a frankenstein of like three different columbos, seem fresh and new. there are a few eyebrow-raising plot holes--surely a lawyer and political actor of his stature would know who columbo is--and while bite marks remain legally admissable in court, today they're widely acknowledged to be of dubious veracity in terms of evidence. but this episode's murderer catches on to the whole thing rather quickly, and if you really just want an episode that feels like a good old fashioned columbo, look no further. i also just love watching columbo peck away at computers and fax machines.

5. it's all in the game: many dislike this one, but i’m particularly fond of it because it examines the fabric of columbo’s character in a meaningful, intimate, and unique way that we don’t often see as the audience, and i love episodes like that. the emmy-winning performance by faye dunaway almost goes without saying and adds rewatchability points; her chemistry with falk really emulsifies the script and makes the story believable. for once, his usual rhetoric doesn’t really get him anywhere with a suave little minx trying to kiss him into submission every five minutes–especially considering his lack of concrete proof for most of the case. thus, he has no choice but to play her game to get what he wants, letting her believe that her wiles are working to save her a prison stint, all while remaining professional and unwavering in pursuit of his true goal. what makes it interesting is that for the first time there appears to be a real mixture of business with pleasure, a real, visible struggle with his feelings and the nature of what he’s doing. could've been a little less on the nose and i could always do without the swells of music telling me how to feel, but that's a critique for almost every episode in this era.

4. rest in peace mrs. columbo: a solid and compelling story that strays from the beaten path and actually works, arriving from a natural curiosity about the consequences of columbo's ostentatious takedowns. if some smug little dwarf of a cop threw your loved one's ass in jail, wouldn't you want to knock him down a peg by poisoning his wife? the second half of this episode ramps up exceptionally well--we see firsthand the lengths to which the lieutenant is willing to go for the mrs., and to me, that alone is worth the watch. the restaurant exchange with roscoe lee brown is phenomenal, helen shaver is outstanding, and this episode’s gotcha is, to me, one of the best in the series, period.

3. columbo likes the nightlife: lots of people aren't a fan of this one, but i love this episode because it truly harks back to the older run after a string of hard to watch outings in the 90s where columbo acts painfully cartoonish. even the aspect ratio is a return to form! this comparatively grittier and more down to earth story whips falk back into shape, even as he's clearly approaching retirement. i love his weird old man behavior, digging in toilets and manhandling corpses. moreover, i have a big soft spot for all the trappings of the early aughts: bluehaired alt girls with hot topic fishnets and livejournals, techno warehouse raves, and steve schrippa.

2. columbo cries wolf: the script is definitely a little weak in some spots, and doesn't seem quite as intelligently written as much of the original run. that said, this episode is one of my favorites because of how much of a straight-up blast it is to watch. it's not only total 80s eye candy--columbo smokes pensively in a helicopter above LA, then goes to the mall in a corinthian leather-clad limo surrounded by a bunch of big-haired sex nymphs--the plot itself is actually solid. ian buchanan, as a prelude to his twin peaks performance, is deliciously smarmy. the runtime is filled well for the most part, and falk is in top form. this episode has a special place in my heart because it's the only time we see columbo wholly and very publicly thwarted, albeit temporarily, and it's only because he's simply unacquainted with the level of media brain rot necessary to even conceive of the scheme that entraps him. and i find that beautiful.

last but not least................................

1. columbo goes to college: god, i love this episode. you'll notice this one regularly tops other people's lists, and i'm no exception. not only does falk totally nail columbo, the plot is interesting, tightly-written, and the episode doesn't suffer from being as long as it is. columbo squaring off against two 90s-flavored Whatever Talk To The Hand I'll Just Use My Dad's Credit Card spoiled young assholes was a marvelous idea, and theyre written well to boot. the two leads do a fantastic job, we get a bobby culp cameo, and the production is a smashing success. practically 70s-tier.

so there you have it. honestly, most of the reboots are decent tv to watch, and all of them have scenes worth seeing. but if you're looking for episodes that at least approach the caliber of classic columbo, these are the ones i keep in my pocket.

[the-antiapocalyptic-man]

Thoughts on your version of the Titans?

so the Titans occupy an odd space in the headverse, and that mostly has to do with the specific way their relationship to Young Justice is changed, with the original YJ team predating the first modern Titans team

(I’m gonna discuss the Teen Titans and Titans together since I kind assume that’s what you meant anyway)

I think by this point I’ve got two posted Titans line-ups: the classic animated series grouping (though Dick is already Nightwing by that point) and the older “Lost Era” Teen Titans consisting of Bumblebee, Mal Duncan as Guardian, Hawk, Dove, Omen, and their eventual sixth member, Coagula. This team actually equates to the original canon Teen Titans, who are now the basis of the headverse Young Justice in its earliest incarnation. They fought guys like Mad Mod, Ding Dong Daddy, Mister Twister, and Hallucinatra and generally exist closer to groups like the Doom Patrol than to the Justice League proper.

Which established the running them of the headverse Titans: Young Justice is more sidekicks, legacies, outgrowths of the existing Justice League structure basically. The Cyborg era Titans are backed by the League and Dick splits time between both groups--meeting his eventual partner on the Titans, natch--but they’re not attached to the existing league members as mentees or direct successors, though many of them will pass into the League’s ranks in later eras.

So I guess for example, the Young Justice Line-Up during the early Cyborg Era would be:

Lara, M’Gann, Artemis, Wally, Jackson, and Jason (replaced by Tim after his murder)

while Cyborg’s team would be

Vic, Kori, Rachel, Gar, Dick, with Terra briefly joining the team before leaving to take over as Markovia’s sitting monarch following her brother’s assassination

From there, YJ develops a lot like both “The Team” from the cartoon and the Wonder Comics era team with a mix of the same members, barring a few who end up with the Titans and vice versa.

The Titans slowly move towards more independence from the League and starting to operate as their own and even with their own legacies in some cases. This would be similar to the Titans Academy era in Canon, barring some...choice I’m not happy with and won’t be adapting (like the Red X thing, which I have a different endgame for).

In the post-Crisis era, the Titans are probably Crush, Roundhouse, Brick, Skitter, Solstice, Inertia (the Bar Torr version of Impulse, here more explicitly alien, maybe even a White Martian? idk).

There’s also a break off group lead by Jason, equating to Generation Outlaw but essentially a separate Dark Titans group, formed out of the Ma Faye Gunn Home in Gotham after Jason returned home and established himself as Red Hood.

[ascnsion]

▋   plots please.    𝙁𝙍𝙊𝙈  @handpickedriot​  . .  . ┖ send 'plots please’   ┒

➊ Noh-Varr and Faye  — SPACE. Need I say more? Probably should. Two space farers should easily find some common ground. While it’s been a hot minute since I watched Cowboy Bebop, Noh can be easily crash land into Faye’s universe instead of Earth-616. Cue space shenanigans and futuristic world building. Alternatively, it could be Faye who finds herself on Earth-616, and Noh the more than willing guide as they both try to figure out a place in the strange planet.

➋ Frank and Jason  —  Guns. Violence. Death. The severity of it all really depends on your depiction of Jason or what point in time you write him during, but honestly this match up could be really, really interesting. Two extremely skilled men with missions on their minds. Are they similar enough that they get along, even enough to take down a villain they both have in common. Or is it their similarities combined with their differences that causes more explosions than harmony. The two of them could be brought together by simple means . .  taking down the same person/corporation/group, or their loves ones being impacted in a way which forces their hands together. I can also see Frank heading over to Gotham to clean up some of the scum that continues to surface time and time again. I can also see Jason venturing to Hell’s Kitchen when Bullseye or The Hand leave a nasty calling on Jason’s doorstep.

➌ Remy and Harley  —  We both know the kind of mutant and man Remy is; he isn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with less than savory persons, often with a grin on his lips. I think the interactions between these two can range from casual to heavily action based with some serious plotting. I definitely see a heated but comedic duo between these two. Plenty of butting of heads, plenty of jokes, and one common goal. What could bring these two together if not accidentally? I can see something as simple as Remy going to Gotham to steal something of fantastic worth, or I could see Harley and Remy being dragged into a shit show of a common enemy. Maybe one of their lives depends on the other (begrudgingly), maybe their loves ones go missing, and their enemy’s calling card brings them together. Hmmm.

➍  Dorian and Remus  —  Not sure if you’re Remus is book or movie centered; either way it would super easy and enjoyable to insert Dorian into the wizarding world. He could keep his backstory relatively in tact where being alive for so long has opened his eyes to other worlds. When you could have anything in the world, it’s only a matter of time he would stumble upon the wizarding world especially since he isn’t entirely normal. It could be pure luck paired with Dorian’s innate curiosity which leads him to discovering the world of witches and warlocks, or Death Eaters catch wind of an immortal man and intend on bringing some havoc to the muggle world in search of Dorian’s secrets. I could also easily modify Dorian’s backstory to place him within the wizarding world. He dabbled in heavy dark arts, perhaps mixed in with muggle science, and achieved immortality. A former student of Hogwarts, a myth regarding immortality, and rumors circling about his alliances with dark forces. Where does Remus fit in? The fight against evil or reuniting with an old friend.

[elitegymnastics]

Q: What is this?

A: It’s a flyer for a virtual fundraiser on June 4th that Elite Gymnastics is playing. You can access the show at quietyear.com

Q: Hasn’t Elite Gymnastics been inactive for like, ten years?

A: Yes. This is the first Elite Gymnastics performance of any kind since November 30th 2012, at the Horn Gallery at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. 

Q: Why did Elite Gymnastics stop playing shows?

A: Elite Gymnastics started out as me (Jaime) and a bunch of my friends agreeing to help me play my songs live back in 2009. I made a lot of weird demos in GarageBand and my friend Dominique Davis from the band Dearling Physique got tired of watching me sit on them. So, he booked me to play at a show he was curating as part of a small local music and arts festival called Clapperclaw. For several months that’s mainly what EG was. At some point the focus shifted to making recordings rather than playing shows, to participate in the emergent culture of new music distributed via MP3 file-sharing. The lineup winnowed to just me and Josh Clancy, who began creating digital EPs that we posted on this Tumblr page as ZIP files full of MP3s accompanied by a PDF of artwork. This is the incarnation of the group that most people are familiar with.

This was before Patreon existed. If Bandcamp was around, we’d never heard of it. Though MP3 file-sharing culture and file transfer sites like MediaFire and MegaUpload allowed anyone to distribute music freely across the world via the internet, it was still pretty difficult to get people to pay you for it. I think it was for this reason that a lot of internet music back then featured a lot of sampling. A lot of artists’ first forays into the world of DAWs and production took the form of mash-ups, bootleg remixes, and DJ mixes. Artists like Animal Collective, MIA, Kanye West, and Daft Punk for whom sampling was a pillar of their creative process were extremely influential. Elite Gymnastics was no exception - the first song of ours to gain traction online was “Is This On Me?” which made no attempt to hide the fact that it heavily sampled Faye Wong’s “Eyes On Me.” The fact that it was so difficult to make money off MP3s pushed people to make different creative decisions than they would have otherwise. It was sort of a free-for-all.

Eventually, all of this started to change. The major labels started getting a lot more aggressive about trying to destroy MP3 file-sharing culture. Platforms like MegaUpload were raided and taken offline. The replacements that sprung up to replace them were increasingly infested with ads and malware. Corporate platforms like YouTube and SoundCloud adopted Content ID filters to prevent the proliferation of copyrighted music there. Blogs and private torrent trackers being taken down meant thousands of hours of labor were wiped out in an instant. Some of the best archives of the history of recorded music ever created were destroyed without hesitation. Even the most devoted participants lost the will to keep repairing and re-making the stuff that cops and record companies kept obliterating.

Josh and I both dreamed of being able to make a living as musicians. We still do. Back then, we were willing to accept a lot of changes in order to make that possible, which seemed necessary. A lot of the stuff that we were great at just didn’t make any money. Once, we were asked to do a remix of a song called “Sa Sa Samoa” by the band Korallreven. I did the remix by myself, which was normal for us, and Josh was so inspired by it that he spent a week working non-stop to create a video for it. People loved it - the day the video dropped, Pitchfork designated the song as a “Best New Track” and New York Magazine wrote about it in their “Approval Matrix.” The video led to a ton of exposure, but from a financial perspective, it just did not make sense to put that much effort into promoting a remix of someone else’s song. The stuff we were personally excited by just seemed to have less and less to do with what actually makes money.

A lot of internet bands during this era began to palpably shapeshift in an effort to succeed in music as a career. Artists who’d first attracted notice for sample-based bangers they made on a laptop started posing with vintage hardware in their press photos and trading in their laptops for live bands and recording studios. It became harder to distribute DJ mixes or mash-ups that contained copyrighted music in them. Influential bloggers either closed up shop or were absorbed into the traditional music industry in some way. Feeds that once touted bizarre songs by laptop-toting weirdos with no industry connections started to become populated mostly by artists with labels and publicists. The bottom rungs of festival lineups started to consist mostly of new major label signings who have lots of money to spend on stage production but not much in the way of grassroots fan enthusiasm or media buzz. 

Internet music and what people tend to refer to as “indie music” split off into two separate streams. Today, there’s a pretty intense firewall between internet culture and whatever you want to call the culture of vinyl records, mid-sized indie labels with publicists, and positive reviews from the few remaining websites that still pay people to write about music. I call it “publicist indie,” “lifestyle techno,” or “prestige electronica” depending on whether or not the music features guitars and/or vocals. The recent online kerfuffle about NFTs really emphasized this split. The worlds of digital illustration and game development campaigned aggressively against mass adoption of cryptocurrency - if you saw any Medium posts explaining crypto’s environmental issues, chances are they were written by someone from those fields. Every new announcement by an artist that they had minted an NFT was met with a swift and vocal backlash from fans. Though I’ve never really been much of an Aphex Twin fan, it was still pretty startling to look at the replies under his NFT announcement tweet and see hundreds of furious people announcing that he was now dead to them. That’s an artist who has seemed more or less unimpeachable for most of my life up until this point! All of that seemed to change in an instant.

There is a massive disconnect between the insular world of the industry establishment and the cutting edge of online counterculture. We saw this again a couple of weeks ago with the online response to the crisis in Gaza. We saw passionate advocacy for Palestinians from games journalists and developers much more often than we saw it from musicians. This is a very serious problem for music! I do not believe it is possible to please both sides - that is to say, I do not believe it is possible to be part of internet counterculture and the industry establishment simultaneously. The music industry is too conservative, too compromised, too corrupt. If it weren’t for the ocean of valuable copyrights that labels are sitting on, most of them would be bankrupt within a year. If the industry was forced to live or die based on how they handle what’s happening right now in the present, it would most assuredly die. The only people who don’t realize this are those who are being paid to stay ignorant. 

Josh and I did not know this back then. From where we were standing, it looked like internet culture and established media industries were on track to converge. A career in the arts seemed genuinely, tantalizingly possible, right up until the moment that it no longer did. 

In my case, I had really been struggling up until that point. My life had been this ongoing sequence of evictions and hospitalizations, and it seemed to be getting worse, not better. I donated plasma twice a week to pay for groceries and while I was sitting there with a giant needle stuck in my left arm for an hour I would see my picture in The Fader or my songs being recommended by one of the Kings of Leon on Twitter or whatever. Music seemed like the only thing the world thought I was any good at. It felt like my only chance at a peaceful, happy life was somewhere out there in a world I could only perceive through a laptop screen. 

Gender, for me, was a big factor in all of this. The more invested in the craft of songwriting I became, the harder it was to repress or ignore my gender stuff. At that time I’m not sure I even knew what the word “transgender” meant - I just knew that when I showed up at a venue wearing a skirt, no one would talk to me or look me in the eye, and that reading about people like Anohni or Terre Thaemlitz or on the internet made me feel like if I could get out of Minneapolis maybe I could find a place where people would accept me. The internet was like, a pretty toxic place for someone in my position. When I tried to find people to talk to about what I was feeling, nobody tried to tell me to read Judith Butler or ask me what pronouns I preferred. The internet was just like, overrun with predators who just wanted to fetishize me and exploit me. Music seemed like the only way I’d ever have an actual life as myself. I was desperate for that. I was well and truly desperate.

Between all the big changes that were happening to us individually and the music industry moving farther and farther away of the anarchic free-for-all of MP3 file-sharing culture, the strain on us just got to be too much. We stopped trusting each other. We became the unstoppable force and the immovable object, crashing haphazardly against one another’s resolve in a dazzling display of youthful futility. Our partnership ended, and after finishing out the remaining live shows on the calendar by myself, I retired the name “Elite Gymnastics” and started making music on my own under other names. That was that.

Q: Why is Elite Gymnastics coming back now, then?

A: Over the years, Josh and I eventually started talking again. Though there was a lot we did agree on, and potential future projects were discussed, nothing truly felt right. We haven’t been in the same room since Summer 2012, and we’ve both changed a lot since then. We both have other projects and we’ve both developed other ways of working since we stopped working together. It’s a pretty big commitment to put all of that aside in order to join your fortunes together with someone you haven’t seen in a decade.

Recently, Josh decided to leave Elite Gymnastics. His reasons are his own, and I was very surprised by his decision, but after having had time to adjust, I’m really grateful to him. I had kept these songs at a distance for many years, because it seemed foolish to allow myself to get too attached to songs I didn’t feel like I was allowed to think of as mine, if that makes any sense. The songs felt like casualties of a conflict that I had to bury in the ground and try to forget about. Being able to embrace them again felt like re-growing a severed limb or having a loved one come back to life, almost. Feeling like it was safe to love these songs again made me feel whole in a way I didn’t expect to. I became really excited by the prospect of revisiting them, so that’s what I decided to do.

Q: Does this mean you’re going to put RUIN back on Spotify?

A: No. Taking the record off Spotify was the right thing to do. That record was only ever intended to exist during the era of MP3 piracy. I never envisioned a world where the music industry would be so aggressive about policing the way that copyrighted music is allowed to exist online. If we hadn’t opted to take the record down when we did, someone would inevitably have forced us to. If you want to hear those specific recordings again, you’re going to have to do it the way we originally intended: by downloading MP3 files from the internet. Try SoulSeek.

Q: What’s next for Elite Gymnastics, then?

A: Here’s the situation currently. There is no Elite Gymnastics music available to stream or purchase in an official capacity anywhere on the internet. It wouldn’t really be possible for me to put the old stuff on Spotify or Bandcamp now because of all the samples. Like I said before, it was a different time. Those records were created to thrive on a past version of the internet that no longer exists. They weren’t designed to be compatible with the 2021 internet.

Technically, Elite Gymnastics didn’t ever release a debut album. We had EPs, a compilation, and a remix collection. We didn’t make an album, a record that existed as the distillation of all that experimentation that contained all of the songs that fans of the EPs would want to hear, all in one place. It’s like we did Good Fridays but stopped before we made My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

So, I am currently working on the first Elite Gymnastics album. If you were following my stuff as Default Genders, you may have noticed me posting demos on my SoundCloud page from 2015-2018 that were all eventually reworked into the album Main Pop Girl 2019. The album I am making is taking that approach to all the old EG songs, including some unreleased stuff. I’m collaborating with others on some songs and I honestly feel like it has resulted in some of the best and most exciting music I have ever been involved with. It is a drastic reinvention, but iteration and reinvention have always been a big part of what I do. I want to make something that feels like the culmination of everything that came before, and so far, I think I’m succeeding.

Q: When will I be able to hear this new music?

At a virtual fundraiser on June 4th, 2021, where there is a suggested donation of $10. You can access it at quietyear.com

[spikelovesjulia]

Title: Julia Calls Me

Rating: Explicit

Fandom: Cowboy Bebop

Pairing: Julia/Spike Spiegel

Language: English

Chapters: 1/?

Words: 5419

Tags: Romance, True Love, One True Pairing, Getting Back Together, Established Relationship, Obsession, Trust Issues, Abandonment Issues, Codependency, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Healing, Explicit Sexual Content, Oral Sex, Making Love, Cohabitation, Domestic Fluff, Domestic Bliss, Bounty Hunters, IN SPACE!, Slice of Life, Family Dynamics, Cooking, Shopping, Hanging Out, Roommates, Friendship, Female Friendship, Male Friendship, Male-Female Friendship, Developing Friendships, Financial Issues, Relationship Advice, Character Study, Character Development, Personal Growth, Fix-It, Post-Canon Fix-It           

Summary: Having rid themselves and the world of Vicious, Spike and Julia return to the Bebop to start their new life together. Jet welcomes them with open arms. Faye has to adjust to the situation but she's trying. Basically, Spike Spiegel gets everything he ever wanted.

Notes: This is the story of Spike and Julia reconnecting as lovers and partners. But also having to wade through the deep emotional pain of having been apart for so long. I’m warning you now, this will be an EXTREMELY sexual fic. They will be going at it quite often. There will be a lot of needy desperate sex of all kinds. And a lot of Spike Spiegel being Spike Spiegel except now he has a girlfriend. 0.o

Chapter 1: I Got a Woman

“It’s really, really not much.” He told her with a self-deprecating laugh. Kicking himself for not bothering to get a decent bedspread or fucking sheets at any point in the past three years.

She smiled at him, her hand coming to caress his arm. “Whatever it is, it will be just fine.”

He opened the door to his room. There it was. Dingy, poorly lit, windowless. The drab bare walls of the Bebop not helping one bit. The one table he did have was cluttered with his belongings. The one chair in his possession draped messily with clothes. The small chest of drawers by his bed held a lamp atop it, among a collection of this and that. Then there was his bed. Big enough to fit two comfortably yet lumpy, worn, with a puke green bedspread flung on top, and bunched up sheets underneath. He had not been expecting company. Least of all that he would have her back in his life. In his room. In his bed.

“It’s cozy.” She told him politely, then smiled. “Maybe it just needs a woman’s touch?”

“Oh, it certainly needs that.” He agreed, returning her smile and nodding his head.

“I’ll be very happy here.” Her eyes sparkled. “As long as I’m with you.”

 Are you? Are you finally with me? After I waited for so long?

“Make yourself at home.” He offered casually as he closed the door and followed her.

She began removing her coat, he was quick to help. It joined whatever was strewn over the chair. He’d almost lost her. Lost her for good. Everything inside him roared back in fierce desperation when he thought of it. He couldn’t afford to waste his chance. Their chance. He could never lose her again. Never.

A quiet moment lingered. It was electric... what hung in the air between them. They both could feel it. Then he was pulling her into his arms before he had so much as given his body permission to move. “Julia.” Her name escaped his lips. It was a prayer. A plea.

Smoothly he drew her in, as if he did this sort of thing all the time. And yet once their lips met, his need destroyed whatever sense he had left to him, as he claimed her mouth. Claiming was the only way to describe it. How he kissed her. He took. And he took. And he took. His tongue thrust deep and dancing with her own.

That he had been deprived this. That he had endured it for so long. That she had finally returned to put an end to his suffering. All of it transformed him into a man he could hardly recognize.

She moaned into their kiss and it was like a balm to his torn and tattered soul.  

Love me again. Like before. I want it like before.

He just kept kissing her. No pretense of restraint. The sweetness of her lips calling to him. Maddening him until all he knew was lust and desire. All he wanted was to be lost in the bliss of her love. The bliss of her body.

 Be with me. Complete me.

“Like that.” She encouraged, panting, almost crying out. “Just like that. Spike, please.” He started kissing down her elegant neck.

It was surreal. He had the woman of his dreams in his arms, saying please because she wanted to be fucked by him. How had his luck turned so drastically? Not two days prior he would have sworn he was cursed. Targeted by syndicate assassins. A liability to the few friends he had. The woman he loved lost to him for years.

His hands adroitly undid the buttons of her dark burgundy blouse. It was almost comical, how quickly his fingers moved. But honestly, the thing would have been ripped off her body if it hadn’t been one of the only articles of clothing she currently possessed.

The maroon lace of her bra clung prettily to her gorgeous breasts. Luscious and delectable in their beauty. His breath caught in his throat. Fuck he had missed them. Yet for this he slowed down. Because she deserved to be enjoyed. She was made to be enjoyed. She was so beautiful. Her golden curls shining in the dim light of his room. Her blue eyes bright and filled with need. His mouth so hungry for her. He had to taste everywhere.

He went for it. Burying his face between her breasts and nuzzling. Inhaling as deeply as he could. Her scent was like a drug to him. His hands coming to play with her pretty nipples. He could see them through the lace. He loved them. Love to suck on them. Taste them. To tease them gently with his teeth. He kissed across the swell of one breast and then the other. Adoring them. Such pretty tits. They were perfect. Round. So perky. Just what he liked. He heard himself moan. It was a sound he hadn’t made since he’d had her last. Nearly four years ago.

“You haven't changed at all.” He said burning the image of her in his mind.

“You’re too kind.” She told him in that sultry voice that beckoned to him. Then gave him an inviting smile.  

This is real. He told himself. She is real. She is here. But it still didn't seem possible. He felt the creep of an irrational terror. What if he woke to find it all a dream? But the fear left his mind as soon as it came. She was in the process of removing the pants she wore.

Those legs. That body. The only reason he hadn’t gotten that bra off her yet was because he needed to see her in the bra and panty set. So, the panties did match then. They were the same maroon lace. Classy. Sexy. Not something she wore with the intention to provoke necessarily, but the lady provoked. The dark brown-red color contrasting so beautifully against the glow of her pale skin.

There had always been something dreamlike about her. He remembered that. Remembered the moments where he could not believe that she was real. How was it fair someone so beautiful should exist? And how was he to bear it? Was he to go mad because of her? Had he? Why else would such a beautiful creature exist, if not to drive men to ruin with her beauty?

Yet if that was the truth of it, he couldn’t bring himself to care. He just wanted and wanted.

The bra had long overstayed its welcome by then. He needed to see her body. It took him half a second to unclasp the thing with one hand. He pulled it off her and flung it to the floor. Her clothes belonged strewn on his floor mixed with his. Quickly discarded in the heat of passion.

She laughed. “Still good at that, I see.” Did she think he’d had practice in their time apart?

The question didn’t slow him down as he gazed at the most beautiful pair of tits he’d ever seen. Fuck. They really were perfect. Delicate and yet so proud. Right in that sweet spot. Not too big, not too small. Just exquisite. Taking a nipple into his mouth he began to suck greedily. She tasted so damn good. The sweet bud pebbling evermore against his needy tongue.

What about her? Had she been with anyone? No. He wouldn’t think of that. Yet jealousy was already blooming in the pit of his stomach. If she had, he didn't want to know. It didn't matter anyways, he reminded himself.

He suckled harder. That made her cry out. Baby, that is but a taste of what I have in store for you. He used to be able to get her all riled up and then have her mewling like a sweet little sex kitten. He needed that again. Needed it like he needed oxygen.  

His hands went to her panties. “Not so fast.” She warned. He could feel himself pout. She laughed, but fondly. “I’m down to my panties and you have yet to remove a single article of clothing. How is that fair?”

“Well, if you want me that badly.” He said to her cockily, loosening his tie before pulling it off and discarding it with swagger.

“That’s a start. Keep going.” She ordered. He grinned at her, tossing his blazer off and then undoing the buttons of his shirt.

It was a rush, discarding his shirt and being naked from the waist up before her. She liked his body. At least she had. She’d kissed nearly every inch of him and murmured sweet nothings about how handsome he was. It had genuinely made him blush at the time. He knew he had. She’d teased him about it plenty.

 And now? What about now, Julia?

As if right on cue she moaned for him. Coming to him. Putting her hands on his chest. Touch me, Julia. Touch me. His mind begged, even as she was. The caress of her finger tips a delight to him.

“You’re so beautiful.” She told him.

“Nah, that’s my line.”

“What is?”

“You’re so beautiful.” He repeated looking straight into her pretty eyes. She gave him one of her special smiles. The windy smile. No longer teasing, but genuine and touched. He loved that smile. It was treasure to him. He needed that smile. “I never stopped loving you.” He told her. Pulling her in for another hungry kiss. Holding her in his arms. Loving the feel of her against his skin.

There. He’d confessed. Say it back. Say it.

She took his face in her hands tenderly, looking up at him. “I never stopped loving you.”

Then he kissed her. Just kissed her and kissed her, because god knows what he would have said if he hadn’t.

His hands slip lovingly down her body, until he was caressing her beautiful buttocks. Sneaking both hands under her panties, he lovingly kneaded those gorgeous cheeks. He did it slowly. Sensually. Taking his time and enjoying the smoothness of her ass. He was going to kiss all over it.

“Pants.” She instructed him. “And don’t think I haven’t noticed this.” She said before caressing his raging erection. He groaned a little. It just felt too good. He’d been rock hard and twitching for ages now. Hell, he’d already been stirring since before they made it to his room.

“Oh that.” He chuckled. “I’m just happy to see you.”

“I’m happy to see you too.” She said as she undid his belt. He loved it when she did that. When she needed him so badly, she had to strip him herself.

But he was quick to remove the remainder of his clothing on his own. His orange striped boxers weren’t exactly the kind of thing he wanted Julia to see him in. He added new briefs to the ever-growing list of things he had to upgrade as soon as possible.

Yet he felt no shame in being completely naked in front of her. Naked and deeply, deeply aroused. His hard cock jetting out and straining at her desperately. This was natural. How they were meant to be. Just a man and a woman in love. About to make love.

“It’s even bigger than I remember.” She said to him. Heat and arousal in her voice.

“Trying to stroke my ego?” If she was, she’d been successful. He was all too pleased by that last comment.

“I thought you’d enjoy being stroked.”

He chuckled again. “Well, yes. Now, about those panties.”

He was already advancing on her. Forcing her to back onto his bed.

Once he had her where he wanted her. He went in for the kill. Pinning her to the mattress.

His heart ached wonderfully. As if it were beating for the first time in years. And yet the sorrow and longing of the long empty span of their time apart still resided deep within his chest. The sting of it lingering.

He kissed her. Kissed her like his life depended on it. Because it did.

What did anything else matter now? She was with him. Finally.

Then he was kissing down her body. Running his tongue down her neck, down her throat. Her head hung back giving him all the access he could want. Her body arching into him. Begging him to take her. He kissed along her clavicle and down further still. He took a nipple into his mouth. Couldn’t resist. Kept suckling while his fingers played with its twin. Then switched. He lavished them with his ardent and undivided attention. His hands coming to cup both of them at once. He was so greedy, and she was so beautiful.

“So. Fucking. Sexy.” He whispered before his mouth was hungrily at her breasts again. She whined, already panting heavy.  Then he kissed the underside of her tits, kissed down, down, down her flat tummy. Stopping to lick her cute belly button. Then it was time.

He moaned loudly. They were soaked. They were soaked through.  

He buried his face between her legs, only a strip of wet lace keeping him from what he most desired. “You smell so fucking good.” He said nuzzling his nose against the trembling pussy just underneath the gossamer barrier. Her scent was intoxicating to him. Just when he thought he couldn’t get any more desperate for her, he did.  

He kissed her heated sex through the lace, darting his tongue out and running it long her crease and up to her clit. He sucked at her there. Through the lace. Fuck, he needed this.

He never forgotten the taste of her. Every time he’d come in the years they’d been apart, he’d had the memory of that taste in his mouth. Every single fucking time.

“Spike.” She pleaded. But he wasn’t letting up.

He raised his eyes to see her tits bouncing as her body thrashed about. He loved that. Loved everything about her.

Did she remember? Did she remember how he used to eat her pussy? How much he’d loved doing it? How he’d do it all the time? That he loved it when she was coming against his tongue, against his mouth, against his face?

He was pulling the panties off before he knew it.

Goddamn. Undressing her had always been like unwrapping a present.

And there was Julia in all her beauty. He gave himself a moment just to look at her. To drink her in. To feast upon the mouthwatering sight of his lover.

Julia had the most perfect pussy. The fucking prettiest, the tightest. The lovely pinkness of her so alluring to him. She was a literal goddess. The idealized embodiment of feminine perfection.

As if she could hear his thoughts, she opened her legs wider for him. Bending her knees and planting her pretty feet firmly upon the mattress. It was like being granted entrance into Eden.

So pink, so womanly.

He was the one panting now. His arousal near unbearable. His cock twitching wildly in anticipation. It must have been written all over his face how much he enjoyed this. She was blushing. Rose dusting across her cheeks. It pulled at his heart how lovable she was. How lovely.

He smiled at her before he began kissing down her inner thigh. Kissing adoringly. Making each kiss a promise. To love her eternally. To love her faithfully. To be good to her in every way.

Being like this with her again made him feel joy.  

And she was enjoying herself too. That he could tell. But there was an eager nervousness about her. She wanted him! And yet… Are you worried, my love? About pleasing me? No woman has ever pleased a man the way you please me. You think that could ever change? All the planets and all the stars could crumble into nothingness before it did. And even then, it wouldn’t.

He locked eyes with her and licked his lips deliberately.

Then he spread her folds apart with his fingers, so he could see inside of her. I could come just from looking at you, Julia.

“You’re the most beautiful.” He told her. Then went in to kiss what was his.

He licked her. Moaned against her wet folds. It was just as good as he remembered. Fuck. It was. Or better. It was even better. He kept licking. Losing himself in it almost immediately. It’d always been like this. He’d always had an animal reaction to the scent and taste of his woman. It made him wild. He loved this pussy. Lived for it. Would die for it.

“Spike…” She cried. Her hands going straight into his hair. That’s it. Keep saying my name. Pull my hair if you want to. Just keep your hands on me and my name on your tongue.

“You like being licked like that?” He asked but didn’t wait for a response. The answer was quite obvious. He just did it again. And again. And again. Making her cry out from the pleasure of it every time. He really couldn’t give less of a fuck if Jet or Faye heard. “So sweet. You always taste so fucking sweet.” He told her between mad licks and swirls of his tongue.

“Spike.” She was chanting. “Spike. I want you.” He smiled into her pretty pussy as he kept going at her. Just going at her.

 You have me. You’ve always had me. From the first. I was yours from the first.

He changed his tactic suddenly. On impulse. Maybe he wanted to draw it out a little bit more. Spreading her wide he licked inside her as deep as he could. He swirled his tongue again very deliberately and got exactly the response he wanted.

She screamed in pleasure. One hand immediately coming to clamp over her mouth, to keep herself quiet. The other still in his hair. Holding him in place. As if she had to.

Deftly he brought his index and middle finger into her opening and slid them in. He felt the overwhelming tightness almost immediately. Fuck. Maybe he should have started with just the index. It was like she’d never been with a man before. That both excited and offended him deeply.

She was fucking wet too. He’d licked up as much of that honey as he could get, savoring it on his tongue before swallowing.

He began retreating when she let out a protest. “Don’t.” He stopped pulling out. Stayed still as he listened to her labored breaths. His cock aching for her as he imagined what it was going to be like. “Keep going. Please, baby.” She’d called him “baby”. They really were together again. He didn’t know why, but that somehow made it official. He was her boyfriend. Her lover. Her man. It was real. Maybe because he’d always loved it when she called him sweet things. He loved to be dear to her.

“This pussy is just too tight, love.” He informed her. Two fingers still inside her, filling her. His thumb coming to work on her clit. “I’m going to have to do something about that.”

He missed the dirty talk. They used to say all kinds of deliciously filthy things to each other when they were in the mood.

“Are you trying to stroke my ego?” She asked seductively between pants.

“Not your ego.” He said curving his fingers up inside her just right

She gasped very sharply. He began pumping into her.

“That good?” He asked, his thumb still playing with her clit.

“Yeaahh.” She let out in the sexiest sob-moan he’d ever heard. Oh, Fuck. You’re going to be making that sound over and over again tonight. “I’m just adjusting.” She added breathily afterwards, as if embarrassed. “It’s… been a while.” Has it? How long, my love? Months? Years? He told himself to fuck off.

Nothing was going to ruin this for him. Nothing.

He watched hungrily as his fingers played with her. Fucking her. Stretching her. He could do this for hours. He had. So many times. Desperately, he went back to licking at her clit as his fingers fucked into her.

Come for me, Julia. Let that beautiful pussy come for me. Just let go and be mine.

It wouldn’t be long. She was already squeezing him with her thighs and bucking into him. Yes, baby. Like that. I wanna feel it. He switched from licking to sucking on her clit.

And there it was! There it was! Multiples! Right out of the gate. He took it all in, triumphantly. Wanting it so badly. Going back to eating her out like a mad man. Come all over my fucking face, baby. I need it. I’ve wanted you like this, exactly like this, the whole time.

Each climax had quite the exuberant release. Pouring from her scrumptiously in the most erotic way imaginable.

His left hand quickly slipped down to grip the base of his cock, otherwise he would have been shooting his load on the bedspread. You can make me come just by letting me lick you, Julia. If I let myself, I would.

He should have rubbed one out quickly beforehand. It was going to take effort not to blow it immediately. But he wasn’t a boy. He was going to fuck that delicious pussy like a man, no matter how fucking tight she was. She wasn’t anywhere near done coming for the night.

Fuck. Her gorgeous body was still writhing wildly. Her desperate sobs bringing him so much pleasure. What number are you on now, baby? Was that the third or the fourth?  

When she started jolting, he knew it was time to stop. He needed to give her a moment.

He sat up so he could watch her. She was so fucking sexy. She’d just pulled her knees up to her chest as she rode out the last of her orgasms, her feet pointed, and toes curled. Her head flung back in ecstasy. Her sensual moans resounding through his room. They don’t make porn this hot, Julia. Just look at you. And he was looking. He saw a devastatingly beautiful woman laid out on his bed. Her gorgeous long blonde hair tussled about. Her spectacular body in an extremely erotic position. Her sex on full display and trembling. Her thighs glistening with her own desire.

I just licked every inch of that pussy. I want to do it all over again. I want to taste that pretty little rosebud just a bit further south too. He wanted to, so badly. But he could only grip the base of his cock for so long. He NEEDED to be inside her.

Grabbing at his bed spread he used it to clean up. When they were together last, she didn’t seem to realize how special it made her, how desirable. That her body would respond that way to him was so arousing, so gratifying. She’d been shocked when it happened the first time, and he’d lost his mind at the pure eroticism of it. So sexy. It had become an addiction, making her body do that for him.

“You good, beautiful?” He asked softly. His hands coming to pull her legs apart.

Blue eyes opened to look at him. She was stunning.

“Only you could make a woman come like that.” She told him. It was both a compliment and a rebuke.

 I’ve only ever done that with you. Would only ever want to do it to you.

He grinned. “Only me? Why I’m just a humble bounty-hunter, ma’am.”

“Come here, Space Cowboy.”

He did so eagerly. Loving how playful she was being with him now. With the stress of having their lives threatened at every turn no longer hanging over their heads, they could pick up right where they had left off. Like you never left me at all.

“Julia.” He moaned as he came to settle between her legs.

Suddenly, her arms were around his neck and she was pulling him into a kiss. So far, he’d been the one to initiate, this time it was she who led. His arms were around her instantly as he returned her kisses passionately. So passionately. Matching her pace yet letting her guide him. She flavored their kisses. Taste yourself on my lips, my love. On my tongue. Know how sweet you are.

He loved that her hands were on him again. She ran them down his biceps appreciatively before bringing them to caress his back.

“Spike.” She called for him so desperately, though he was right there. His face millimeters from her own. “Make love to me.” It wasn’t the sultry seductress that was urging him to take her. It was the woman laid bare. The need thick in her voice, yet something more vulnerable shown in her eyes.”

“Like this?” He asked, lining up his cock with her entrance. She gasped. So, did he.

“I need you inside.” Oh, that’s all I want. All I’ve wanted for years and years. He started sliding in the tip. Just that felt like heaven. Fuck. The way that pussy sucked him in was beyond ecstasy. Now that she’d been properly prepared, he fit inside her so perfectly. Like they were made for each other. I was made for you, my love. My body was made just for you.

He groaned loudly. Too, loudly.

“Tight.” Was all he could say for himself. She smiled. There was the windy smile again. He smiled back at her. Loving her. Losing himself in her eyes. “You really are as gorgeous as I remembered.” He whispered as his hand stroked her cheek. Her smile deepened so beautifully that his heart melted in his chest even as his body struggled against the bliss of their union. The stretch of her over his cock giving him a pleasure he could scarcely handle. His body nearly overwhelmed by the sheer delight of it. But he held on. Fought manfully against the urge to succumb to it. Nothing else could ever feel this good.

He gave them time, caressing her with hands that had craved to touch her for years. With fingers that had longed desperately to stroke her golden hair. Kissed her with lips that had prayed for her return each and every moment they had been apart.

In turn, she clung to him. Moaning softly into his ear. Kissing him there. She’d told him once that she loved how he filled her. How full he made her. Do you love it still? Having me inside? I’ll make you love it.

Kissing her hungerly he began to thrust. They moaned together. There was a desperate need within him to just devour her. To take her, and take her again after that, because he wanted her so much. Like simmering water coming to a full boil, the passion of it became overwhelming. Too much steam. Too much heat. Too much need. He was at her breasts, kissing and suckling them madly, as he picked up the paste. Thrusting into the excruciatingly delicious tightness of her. Again, and again, until he had her at the peak of her desire. Until he was in great danger of reaching his own.

He wasn’t sure when he’d done it exactly. But at some point, he’d pinned Julia’s hands above her head. He held her down like that as he fucked her. Really fucked her. Thrusting hard and precise. Hitting the right spot over and over again. You think I forgot how to fuck you, my love? You think I’d ever forget something like that?

She was just moaning, sobbing. Chanting “yes” desperately. Then needily calling out his name.

“I know, my baby.” He’d whispered in her ear as he kept up the unrelenting pace. “It’s so good. It’s so fucking good.”

Then her hips began to jerk as her body was hit with wave after wave of pleasure. She let out a string of cries that sounded like he was doing something quite alarming to her. A thrill of masculine pride ran through him at that. Is it that good, love? Can it be anywhere near as good as what you're doing to me right now?

Holy fucking shit. He was truly the most blessed man to have ever lived. His cock getting milked by the tightest, wettest, hottest pussy. With one last thrust the scorching, blinding pleasure of it took him. Took him completely. His body shaking with the full force of his orgasm. He spilled his seed deep inside her. Coming like his body was trying to make up for lost time. Fuck, it was intense. To the point of being more than he could take. Only she could make him come like that.

Of the two, he was the louder, the most desperate. There was no helping it. He was only a man, and there was only so much he could take.

Minutes later, still panting and near delirious from the pleasure of it, he laughed a little. Out of joy. Because he was so happy. In a way that he had not been in forever. There had been a part of him that had long given up hope that this would ever happen again. He could not stop from smiling as he kissed her. Kissed her so soft. Kissed down her neck. Snuggled so close to her. Holding her. He saw that Julia had tears in her eyes. But they were a response to the physical exertion. Julia was like him. She never cried.

Guiding his head to rest on the crook of her neck, she hugged him tightly to herself. Wrapping her legs around him to prevent him from pulling out. I would stay like this forever, Julia. If I could. Tenderly she caressed him. His hair, his neck, his back. Soothing him so gently.

 My love, you truly have returned to me at last, haven’t you?

Julia began to sing to him then. The way she had before. The way she had that very first time. He remembered waking up sore, battered and bandaged to the voice of an angel. A beautiful angel that nursed him and tended to him with such care.

He'd already been in love with her then. Sick with love for her. Had stumbled desperately to her door in hopes that he would see her face one last time before he died. But he hadn't died. She'd saved him. And when he was with her, had the privilege of spending time with her, got the taste of having some of her attention just for himself… he'd never recovered from that.

 I can't do anything but be in love with you, Julia.

Her voice was so beautiful. He felt whole. If only for a moment he was. Cradled in her arms. In her warmth. In her love. How had he ever survived without this? How?

 ***

Were they finally done?! Some people were trying to sleep around here! She kept her pillow over her head. Who knew when they’d start up again?

Of course, this would happen, she told herself bitterly. She’d known that. She’d known it from the start. Of course, he would go to her. And of course, he would want to be with her.

She’d liked her too. At first. Now she didn’t know what to think about her. That Julia.

She supposed that’s what he liked. A dangerous, beautiful blonde that was refined and didn’t show much skin. You’d think she’d be chased with how conservatively she dressed, but she was clearly anything but. Julia was a woman that went to bed with her lover when it suited her. Let him fuck her wildly with no concern of who heard. She was the kind of woman that had her lover wrapped around her finger, and with very little effort on her part. As if it were the natural state of things, and maybe it was... for that type of woman.

One thing was obvious though, Spike was utterly seduced by her. Had been since the time he had seen her last. Years ago. How was she so powerful?! In a perverse way, she was honestly impressed.

Maybe she just loved sex and was really good at it? She certainly enjoyed it. Her moans had been loud enough. What had that idiot been doing to her anyways?

But his were the worst. Whatever he’d been doing, he was having a great time.

 That bastard.

[ckret2]

Chocolate Pudding

Venom accidentally loses the symbiote’s newest spawn and turns NYC upside down trying to find it.

Meanwhile, a four-year-old girl prods a pile of chocolate pudding.

This fic was written for Day 1 of @symbruary, prompt: "symbisona/symbiOC". Due to the fact that I am not a four-year-old girl, this is an OC, not a sona. This fic is not yet proofed due to the fact that I wrote it on my phone in a five-hour haze of symbiote-loving hyperfocus.

You: "Hey, where does this fic fit into Venom's comic continuity?" Me: *makes a wiggly hand motion*

###

"That should hold Spider-Man for a little bit," Venom said to themselves as they swung away from the collapsing parking garage. "If it doesn't outright squash him like the bug he is! Ha! But no—fate has never been so kind as to smile upon us that way. This is but a short reprieve, during which we can—"

There was a sensation inside their brain like a sticker peeling off of its backing as symbiote and host's consciousnesses separated. Uh-oh. Eddie.

"Hm?" Eddie tilted his head, as though to better hear the voice in his head. "What's wrong, my love?"

Think I dropped a baby.

"What?!" Venom nearly crashed into a skyscraper. They cracked a window and then clung to it as Eddie's heart leaped into his throat. For them to drop a poor innocent baby, especially at these heights, because that accursed Spider-Man had been hounding them—When had they been holding a baby—?

Not human, the symbiote quickly clarified. One of mine. Ours.

"Oh!" The panic drained out of Eddie; and then immediately returned. "We had a baby?! Where? When?"

Don't know; wasn't paying attention. Near Times Square?

"We'll have to hurry. Any kind of miscreant could pick it up there!" Venom kicked off the building, swinging back in the direction they'd come from.

###

Faye leaned over as far as she could with the teacher's vice grip on her hand, stretching her chubby brown fingers toward what looked to her like a pile of iridescent chocolate pudding sitting in the street just next to the curb. She couldn't quite reach it with how tightly the teacher was holding her hand.

The pudding reached back toward her.

The teacher's attention was split between watching traffic for a safe point to herd her charges across the street and scanning the sky to make sure the super villain that had crashed the children's home van wasn't looping back with Spidey to terrorize the square again. She glanced down once to make sure Faye wasn't about to fall off the curb, looked back at traffic, belatedly registered that she'd seen the fidgeting four-year-old reaching toward some nasty gutter gunk, and looked down again. "Faye! Don't touch—"

But there was no gunk. Just Faye, standing straight up, looking around in a startled daze like someone had just dragged her out of a daydream by setting off a party popper in her face.

The teacher didn't have time to worry about it—Faye was probably just stunned from the recent super fight—and the light had just changed. The teacher hustled her charges across the street.

Faye saw a woman passing the other way with bright neon green cornrows. She reached up and patted her own cloud of bouncy black hair, then twisted around in her teacher's grip to look back over her shoulder at the woman with the colorful hair, seeing how the braids zigzagged like lightning down the back of her head.

Little patches of bright green bloomed in Faye's hair, thread-thin tendrils mixing in with her natural hair. They wrapped around her hair like ivy weaving through a trellis, then wove the strands together, starting from her hairline and moving back. By the time they reached the other side of the street, five wide black-and-green braids inexpertly meandered back and forth over her head and dangled down to her shoulders.

It took the teacher two blocks to notice.

###

"We've turned the whole city upside-down," Venom lamented, sitting morosely atop an office building with their chin in a hand. "A whole week, and no sign of our youngest progeny! Where could it be? Hiding in the sewers, cold and alone with only rats and strays to meet its needs for sustenance and symbiosis?"

The dinosaur-people would know if so, the symbiote pointed out. They would say. Yes?

"That's true," Eddie said, relaxing slightly. "They know your scent, they'd know your child's too. Still, we should let them know to be on the lookout for one and to let us know if they find it." He tried to remember the nearest sewer entrance that wouldn't require them to pry up a manhole cover in the middle of a city street, and shot out a tendril to a taller building to swing them in that direction. "I just hope someone far fouler hasn't seized our innocent offspring," he said. "A criminal, a corporation, or, worse—an agent of the government."

###

The children's home's top social worker—certified agent of the government—watched through a partially cracked window as the four-to-six-year-olds played outside. She held her phone to her ear with her shoulder, listening to the hold music.

Faye tripped while running around between the faded playground equipment. The social worker saw her push herself up, rub her cheek vigorously, and inspect her scratched up bloody knee. Faye scrubbed the dirt off the scratch, and when she pulled her hand away the scratch was gone.

The social worker let out a low whistle.

The hold music stopped and the social worker sat up straighter. "Hi! Yes, this is... oh, hi, I think I spoke to you a couple of days ago." She laughed politely. "Yes, this is about the—Yes. Faye Fletcher. I was wondering about the uh, the procedures to enroll a child at Xavier's Institute if the child doesn't have legal guardians? I understand sometimes legal parents give up guardianship of their children to your institute, I don't know if the procedure is different if she's already a ward of the state—" The social worker fell silent a moment. "Four years old." She listened, then nodded. "Uh-huh. I see. See, our concern is—we don't have anyone on staff trained to help with, uh, gifted children, and since our grant doesn't allow us to hand gifted children to potential foster homes or adoptive parents unless they've passed a certification course—uh-huh. Oh, no no, I think it's great to make sure the parents are prepared, but it's—yes. It's going to make it harder to place her."

She listened a moment, watching the children outside play—a couple of the kids were pretending to be dogs, running around on all four and chasing after sticks other kids threw. The teacher on duty rushed over to stop them from putting the sticks in their mouths. Faye chucked a couple of sticks, but by this point there were more stick-throwers than pretend dogs to chase them, and hers were ignored.

"Oh, uh..." She checked her legal pad. "Nothing dangerous, so far. Shapeshifting. She keeps dying her hair, braiding and unbraiding it, and changing her clothes. I—yeah, the clothes shape-shift. They look like real clothing until they start shifting. And I just saw her patch up a wound, so self-healing. Mhm—no, while I was on the line with you, just in the last couple of minutes. I'm watching the kids play outside. Did you see the video attachment on my email? Of her braiding and unbraiding her hair?" She nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, kind of like Medusa. That's what I was thinking."

She listened to another question. "No, the children aren't afraid of her—I think they're jealous of how she can 'play dress-up,' they call it. They—Oh! I should mention, she picked up an imaginary friend around the same time her powers developed. She calls it Chocolate Pudding. Some of the other kids say they've seen Chocolate Pudding, they think it's a ghost. That scared them."

The menagerie outside was expanding beyond dogs. One girl had started running around flapping her arms, cawing like an eagle; the teacher on duty had her hands full trying to keep the girl from climbing on the play equipment and jumping off. One boy yelled "I'm a dinosaur!" and started stomping across the playground with exaggeratedly large steps; a couple more joined in.

The social worker shrugged. "I don't—Chocolate Pudding could be anything, as far as we can tell. None of the staff has seen any such beast. We don't know if it's some sort of... of shared psychic hallucination? Or a shape-shifting trick she hasn't shown us yet, or just the kids being imaginative, or..." She trailed off. "Mhm. We don't know what to make of it."

Another kid yelled "I'm a dragon!" and charged at the first dinosaur, hissing loudly. Another cried, "We're a unicorn!"

"If she's not a fit for the Institute yet, then are you connected with any children's homes in the NYC area qualified to deal with gifted children? We don't want to foist her off on another home, but if she develops something that we don't have the support system to—" The social worker dropped her phone.

Faye was covered head to toe in a bubblegum pink second skin with a long mane of curly rainbow hair stretching down her back. Her eyes had been replaced by some cross between oversized anime eyes, multifaceted insect eyes, and sparkly rainbow-refracting diamonds. From the center of her forehead protruded a six-inch wicked-looking pearlescent horn.

They playground anarchy screeched to a halt as every child stared at her.

Bouncing on the balls of her feet, Faye grinned at them with wicked-looking pearlescent teeth.

Without breaking her gaze from the window, the social worker groped on the floor for her phone. "I've, uh, got something else you'll want to know."

The other children started screaming.

###

Peter Parker was awoken in the dead of night by a set of glowing white eyes. "What in the—!"

"Don't scream. We're not here to f—" Venom blocked Peter's foot. "We said we're not here to fight!"

"You're in my apartment!"

"You say that like we haven't been here before!"

"Yeah—usually to fight!"

They considered that, and shrugged. "Not this time. We're here—against our better judgment—to begrudgingly ask you to help us protect an innocent."

"At—" Peter looked for his clock, realized he'd knocked it off his bedside table in his flailing, and finished, "at whatever-it-is in the morning?!"

Venom shrugged again. "We couldn't sleep."

"You couldn't sleep, oy..." Peter rubbed his face. "Okay. Okay, just—is this going to require me to get out of bed?"

"No. Just to be vigilant."

"Yeah, yeah, all right. Vigilant's my middle name. Ol' Spider-Vigilant-Man." He rubbed his eyes. "What is it?"

Venom's face peeled back, exposing Eddie's shadowed face. "We lost a child."

"Oh." Peter spent a couple of seconds trying to muster up as much basic human empathy as he could after being dragged out of an extremely peaceful sleep. "I'm, uh... I'm so sorry. Was it—sorry, I'm trying to figure out how this works—was it a miscarriage, or...?"

"No! I mean we lost it. We dropped it somewhere around Times Square a month ago." With great indignation, he added, "While defending ourselves from you."

"Defending, you're the one who—" He flopped back and rubbed his eyes again. "Ugh. Okay. So are we—are we talking about another Carnage here? Please say no."

"That depends on the human with whom it's bonded. Assuming it found a human at all."

"Well—wow—in Times Square? It could've landed in a tourist group and be in China by now."

"That's why we need your help!" Eddie said, jabbing a finger uncomfortably close to Peter's chest. "You move in circles we don't. The Fantastic Four, the Avengers—we can search for our child in New York's underbelly, but your web reaches much higher. We need you to be on the lookout for it. And if you find it, find us. We are qualified to deal with it—whether it can still be raised as a hero, or is already corrupt and needs to be put down."

"Rrright." Peter pushed Eddie's hand away. The symbiote stretching over Eddie's knuckles briefly clung to the ridges of Peter's fingerprints. Yuck. "You sure you don't just want me to—y'know—turn a flamethrower on it and let you know when the problem's solved?"

"No!" And Eddie was gone, hidden again behind a mass of snarling fangs. "We don't know yet that it's another Carnage! We will judge it. If there's any innocence left in it, we want to—to try to save it."

At another time, Peter might have argued against the wisdom of "saving" a parasite for any reason—but it was half past can't-see-his-clock a.m. and he was tired. "Okay," he said. "All right, you got it. If I find a bundle of bouncing baby bile, I'll—uh—track you down, I guess—"

"Leave us a message," Venom insisted. "At the bell tower. Where you were divorced and we were wed. We'll check there nightly."

Divorced. Peter let that word echo nightmarishly in his head a few times. "Got it. Bell tower."

"We'll be waiting." With that, Venom climbed off Peter's bed and vanished into the night.

They'd been gone for half a minute before Peter asked, "Did you break in through my window?"

###

The workers at the children's home just didn't know what to do with Faye.

They'd made what adjustments they could. They'd switched out the alarm clock for a radio alarm in her room when its shrill buzzing made her scream in pain and caused strange neon colors to ripple across her skin, and later they hurried her outside under a jacket when an older kid pulled a fire alarm to the same effect. The door buzzer from the entrance that prospective parents used—which played through speakers along the whole length of the main hall and was audible from nearly the whole building—had the same effect, but they didn't have the budget to replace it with a different bell. They'd had to turn off the buzzer completely and tape a note to the door telling visitors that the buzzer was broken and asking them to knock, with a number underneath to text if nobody heard the knock. They were doing the best they could to help Faye.

But they didn't know how to handle biting. Bad enough when the normal kids did it—normal kids didn't have inch long daggers in their mouths.

"Faye, sweetie," her teacher said gently, "you hurt Martin very badly. You know that, don't you?"

Arms crossed tightly, staring at her lap, kicking her feet, Fay nodded sullenly. She'd hidden her face behind a layer of tie-dye rainbow skin without a mouth, which she'd taken to doing (colors subject to change) when she didn't want to talk.

"I'm not mad," said the teacher, who was more terrified than anything, "but I need to to understand why."

"We're hungry." Her voice was muffled behind the mask.

That was the worst possible answer. "Faye, you can't—you can't eat your friends."

"Yes we can."

"You shouldn't," the teacher said quickly. "I saw you pushing your lunch around instead of eating it today. Wouldn't you be less hungry if you ate your lunch? Then you won't want to hurt your friends?"

"It was mac and cheese! We don't want mac and cheese!" She kicked her feet more agitatedly.

In danger of getting kicked in the knees, the teacher scooted slightly back. "What do you want for lunch?"

Faye slammed her hands down on the edge of her seat and her mouth peeled open like a zipper, revealing three rows of fangs, and roared, "Chocolate Pudding wants chocolate!"

The teacher stared at her, mouth open. Already knowing this was a fight she was going to lose, she said, "Faye, honey, a growing girl can't live on dessert—"

She started wailing.

###

"Are you good with kids, Peter?" J. Jonah Jameson asked.

"Oh, yeah, kids think I'm pretty cool," said Peter, thinking of all the little Spider-Mans he'd seen wandering around last Halloween.

"Great. Got a human interest story we need a couple of pictures for," Jameson said. He passed over a piece of paper with an address and several names. "Underfunded orphanage stuck with a mutant girl."

"'Stuck with'? Hey, now—"

"Not like that. Their funding isn't good enough to let them add a specialist to their staff, and the only two places in the state that are qualified to take mutant kids are overcrowded. I'm hoping if we whip up some public furor over this poor kid we can get 'em some donations—maybe shame legislature into increasing funding all around." He pointed at Peter. "So I want you to make Miss Fletcher look cute as hell, got it?"

"Yessir." Relieved Jameson wasn't asking him to vilify an orphaned child, Peter looked over the address.

"And see if you can get her to uh... 'play dress-up' for the camera." Jameson waved a hand vaguely. "They said it's some sort of shapeshifting? We won't use 'em if they're weird enough to rile up the anti-mutant crowd, but if it's cute maybe it'll tug a few heartstrings and film's cheap. Just get some normal shots as well."

"Will do!" Peter headed out the door, plotting his subway route to the children's home.

An hour later, Peter was standing alone in the children's home playground, wondering if he should leave a tip with the FBI for the Anti-Symbiote Task Force... or leave a note for Eddie Brock.

Which one did he trust to treat a preschooler better?

###

The teachers were practically crawling up the walls.

Faye was literally crawling up the walls.

And camouflaging with the wallpaper.

And tipping over bunk beds.

And kicking through wood doors.

And tearing up furniture with her unicorn horn.

Most incidents were the result of normal four-year-old rambunctious play, or the expected tantrums that came from being tired, hungry, or overwhelmed. But normal play and tantrums attached to super strength and a fluctuating array of sharp spikes were disasters waiting to happen. It was a miracle they hadn't had any more incidents as bad as Martin's hospital stay.

Half of Faye's diet was chocolate bars now. They didn't know if that was making things better or worse.

The last thing the head social worker needed was to open the door to her office and be greeted by the sight of Venom—whose muscles looked even bigger in person—sitting in one of the chairs usually reserved for prospective parents, one foot hooked over the other knee, grinning like the world's happiest shark. "Hello," he said.

The head social worker gaped. Venom stared expectantly at her. She whispered, "Hi."

"My other and I are looking to adopt," Venom said cheerfully. "Or, more precisely, to reclaim custody. We have reason to believe one of our children was mistakenly put up for adoption. A terrible error—we've been searching frantically for our darling child for weeks!"

The social worker mentally ran over the various manifestations of Faye's "mutation," working back to the day she's come home with green hair—and her teacher had shakily recounted the close encounter between their van and a super fight. "Oh."

Venom's smile twitched wider. "I see you know who it is! Is it our family resemblance?" His teeth gleamed hideously white as he gestured toward her seat behind her desk, as though commanding her to be seated so they could begin negotiations.

She didn't budge. "Please," she said, "don't hurt anyone here. All we have here are children, and they've already been through so much—"

"Madam, we would never!" Venom placed a hand on his chest, over the head of his white spider symbol. "We are a protector of the innocent! And who could be more innocent than poor, sweet children longing for a family, and the kind-hearted staff that care for them?" He paused. "But we're not leaving without our child." He gestured again toward her chair.

This time, she thought maybe she should take it.

As she sat, Venom asked, "What have you been calling our child?"

"Her name is Faye Fletcher."

For a moment, this answer seemed to puzzle Venom; but then he said, as though talking to himself, "Ah, yes; quite right. She must mean..." He leaned forward slightly, fixing the social worker with what she could tell even with Venom's blank white eyes must have been a piercing stare. "And what has Faye been calling her other?"

###

It was the fastest and most wildly illegal adoption in the history of the NYC Administration for Children's Services. The terrified social worker informed Venom of the thirty hour parenting class most parents were required to take before adopting a child, as well as the five hour supplement for parents taking in mutants—although at this point she no longer had any idea whether that information would be at all helpful for Faye—and Venom reassured her so sincerely that he would attend the first class he could find that she actually believed him.

Even if he didn't go, she was sure he'd have a better idea of how to care for Faye than any of them did. And that instinct was only reinforced when he suddenly lifted his head and turned toward the door as though he'd picked up a familiar scent a full fifteen seconds before Faye came barreling into the office.

With reflexes so fast he almost looked like a blur, he dropped to one knee and spread his arms just in time to catch Faye in a great bear hug, the both of them wearing identical fangy grins. "We knew you'd still be an innocent," he said, holding her out by the shoulders to take a good look at her, taking her in from horn tip down to pink feet. "Unicorns are always innocent. Isn't that what you are, a sweet little unicorn?"

Faye giggled, sounding like a girl her age should for the first time in days.

When they left, Venom carrying Faye Fletcher Brock (and Chocolate Pudding) in his arms, he'd grown a gleaming white unicorn horn to match hers.

###

Fic also available on AO3, link in my description. If you enjoyed the fic, I’d appreciate a reblog or comment!

[buns-with-a-book]

Reflections and Illusions

For Day Six of DMCWeek2020, the prompts chosen this week were Family and Belonging! They’re subjects quite close to our leading lady Cassandra. Cordelia and Anastasia (and the idea for this fic) are all from @furyeclipse

Fandom: Devil May Cry Characters: OC, Dante, Vergil, Nero (minor role), Kyrie (minor role), Credo (cameo) Tags: @nimnox​  @astral-space-dragon​ @harlot-of-oblivion​ @queenmuzz​ @i-write-fanfics-to-procrastinate

Summary: While on a mission, Cassandra hears her name and goes into a strange portal. What she finds is a world she dearly wants but cannot have.

“Jeez, all I wanted was a nice birthday-” Cassandra swiftly dodged out of the way of the demon’s attack. “And you come along to ruin it!” The demon, taking the form of a large black dog, snarled at her. “Come on, you terrible little doggie!” The demon dog let out a ferocious roar, leaping forward. She twirled out of the way, Failnaught impaling itself into the demon’s flank and ripping open a large wound. The demon hit the ground hard, turning into dust. Cassandra spun the sword-cane in her hand, sighing.

“Not how you wanted to spend your birthday?” Dante asked with a cocky grin.

“What gave you that impression?” She huffed. “This stuffy old mansion...jeez, it’s a terrible place for a birthday. Come on, let’s find Nero and Vergil and go get our pay. Maybe that local pizza place is still open at this hour-”

Cassandra…

A voice, strangely siren-like, called for her. She paused and looked around, visibly confused. She looked to Dante, who looked just as confused as she was.

“What’s the matter?”

“I...I just thought I heard someone calling for me.”

Cassandra...

Cassandra closed her eyes, shaking her head. “Maybe I should go take a look around. Just in case there’s something...you know, suspicious. You go find Vergil and Nero.” Dante nodded, silver eyes glancing around. Cassandra nodded at him before dashing off. The sound of the voice calling her was northward, she could feel it. As she dashed through the halls of the abandoned mansion, the call of her name seemed to become louder, a ringing in her head she couldn’t ignore.

Cassandra...

She dashed out the back door, looking around. The grounds were visibly overgrown from decades of neglect. Her eyes fell upon the greenhouse, windows broken and frosted from disuse. She walked over to the greenhouse, carefully opening the glass door. Planters had been thrown out, leaving nothing but a dirt floor. At the other end of the greenhouse, however, was what looked to be a mirror of some kind. It’s stone frame was covered with plants, both in motifs and actual plants. It’s reflective surface shone brilliantly, as if it was untouched by time. Cassandra slowly stepped forward, boots crushing glass and dirt underneath her. As her reflection appeared in the mirror, it seemed to...wobble? Her hand carefully rested on the glass…

And went right through it.

She yelped in surprise, pulling back her hand. She looked at her hand, noticing nothing wrong with it.

Cassandra…!

The voice was more insistent now, overwhelming her senses. Following the call, an intense ringing drowned out everything. She held her head, Failnaught clattering to the ground. The agony pounded at her skull, like a terrible awful migraine she only heard tales of from old women. She stumbled, her foot caught something, before her body fell onto the mirror’s reflective surface.

CASSANDRA!

She half-expected her body to hit the glass, piercing her skin and leaving a nasty cut. To her surprise, her body hit warm grass. She slowly opened her eyes, finding what had once been a gloomy overcast dusk was now a bright sunny day. She let out a pained groan, her head still throbbing.

“My little star!” A voice, a painfully familiar voice, made her eyes snap open. She looked up, seeing someone that should be dead staring back at her: her own mother, Stella Sagefire.

“Mother…?” She whimpered as she felt oddly cool hands help her on her feet. She looked past her, seeing Dante happily grilling like a dad (well he was an uncle, that was close enough). Nero and Kyrie were sitting at a table, happily chatting about something. Next to Nero was Cordelia, beaming at Nero like he was an older brother. Vergil was sitting next to Cordelia, but his eyes were firmly focused on Cassandra. Next to Kyrie was a man she only saw in pictures, her older brother Credo, relaxed and at ease. Her gaze returned to her mother, her hair tied up in a messy bun, strands of golden blond framing her face and clear blue eyes. It looked as if she had never been so deathly sick at all.

“Cassandra!” A second voice, another familiar voice that only made her heart ache as a more youthful woman that was near the same age as her mom stepped forward: Anastasia Faye. Her bright seafoam green eyes stared at Cassandra in worry. Her dark brown black hair went down to her mid-back. A lavender colored ribbon was tied in her hair, similar to how Cordelia put bows in her hair, but her bow was on the left side of her head compared to Cordelia keeping it centered on her head. She wore a rose gold trimmed strapless black dress that went down to her knees and brown boots to match. A necklace around her neck like V's old choker but, instead of a tooth, it was a small charm from outside the walls. She never did find out where she got it from.

“It’s your birthday, Cassandra.” Stella gently explained. “Do you not want to attend your own birthday party?”

“I...I mean...I…” Cassandra lowered her head. Something was wrong, she could feel it in her core.

"Cass sweetie, you getting overwhelmed again? You tripped over your own two feet again." Anastasia chuckled softly as she ruffled her hair. "Hmm no bumps, you're fine."

“I don’t feel fine.” She muttered. What was it that was so wrong about it? She missed her mothers so dearly, she had loved them so, but they were dead. They couldn’t be here, not in this mirror world.

You could just stay here with your mothers, in this perfect world.

That nagging feeling prodded at her, almost tugged on her insistently in her mind. She could stay, with ghosts and echoes all around her.

"You alright there, Sleeping Beauty?" Anastasia asked. She could hear the concern in her voice.

“No, this is all wrong.” She pulled away. Already, the world was starting to fade around them, mixing together like a bad watercolor painting. Despite that, Stella and Anastasia remained clear and pristine in her vision. “You’re dead. You two, you died, you can’t be here!” She didn’t stop the tears from falling down her face, she couldn’t.

Anastasia sighed softly and put a firm hand on her shoulder. "Cassandra, look up at me please." Cassandra let out a soft heaving noise, slowly looking up at Anastasia.

"I made Anastasia bend the rules a bit, again.” Stella admitted sheepishly. “I know that I promised last time I wouldn't but this time, I needed to do it for an important reason: so that your mother and I can see you free and happy, far from Eternis Brillia, happy with the azure Son of Sparda and free from that sorry excuse of a boy Draco. I'm also guessing you found Cordelia as well."  

"I'm happy that my Magpie found her way home to you." Anastasia added. “And you’ve found your self confidence again. Make sure that the azure boy knows how much you love him and how happy you are being at his side.”

"I got to finally see you again Cassandra. I'm proud that you've grown up into a confident lady."

Anastasia pulled Stella and Cassandra into a tight warm hug, kissing her head softly. “Happy Birthday Cassandra, please ever don't forget how much we love you. Before I forget, please tell my little magpie, you got her gift.”

“Her gift?” Cassandra asked tearfully. The world around them was nothing but darkness, with only her two mothers still clearly before her. Anastasia kissed the top of her head and smiled softly. Cassandra swore she felt something at her neck, arms hugging her close. “Mom...Mother...tell me, what do you mean?”

“A happy family. People who love her dearly, no matter what.” Anastasia murmured. “And it was something we wanted for you as well.”

“Cassandra, my little star, you cannot stay here.” Stella said, her voice grim. “You have to return back to the azure son, to your family, to our little magpie.” Her and Anastasia’s hand rubbed away the tears that streaked down her face. “Because we weren't strong enough to live, but you are.”

“Mom, Mother, don’t go-” Cassandra suddenly heard the sound of glass shatter before she fell backward, away from the rapidly disappearing images of her mothers. Faintly, she saw her tears fly into the dark abyss...or were they hers?

We will always love you.

She expected to hit the floor, for her arms to be cut by shattered shards of mirrors, but strong arms, Vergil’s arms, caught her and held her up. She blinked, watching as Nero and Dante stared at the remains of the mirror, weapons aloft. The mirror was now just stone and glass on the floor. Nero rushed to her side.

“Mom, are you ok?” Nero asked worriedly. Cassandra nodded, letting Vergil help her onto her feet. “What was that?”

“...a trap. It’s an illusion mirror, from Eternis Brillia. I suppose the last owner was an adherent of the Earthfaith.” Cassandra breathlessly explained. “It was still effective...I…”

“You what?”

“...I saw my mothers.” She said, trying not to cry. She had enough of that for a while, at least. Her gaze rested on the broken mirror. “It wasn’t real. They’re dead. They died years ago.” She took a deep breath, feeling Dante rub his hand against her shoulder. “That’s what the mirror does: it lures you in with what you want the most and traps you in it’s illusions.” A quiet fell between them, all eyes on the broken trap at their feet.

“Hey…” Dante broke the quiet, trying to sound easy-going, as if nothing had happened short of a job well done. “How about we get a pizza?”

“A pizza, Dante!?” Vergil growled. “That’s the last-”

“No no no, I...I’d like something stupidly greasy right now to take my mind off things.” Cassandra looked up to the trio. Dante beamed at the sound of Cassandra taking his side of things. Vergil scowled at the decision before seeming to relent. Cassandra took one last glance to the broken mirror, the damp air silent. It couldn’t be real...right?

And yet, as her hand reached up to realize that a new Rhodonite necklace now hung around her neck, she suddenly wasn’t sure if everything in the broken mirror was illusionary.

[fortysevenswrites]

3 and 19 for the fanfic asks 💕

3. Do you prefer canonverse or AUs?

I’m kind of an *insert ‘both is good’ gif here* when it comes to fic, but definitely leaning toward canonverse. I’m a little pickier with my AUs and really need them to be at least grounded in canon, personalities intact.

19. What’s your favorite character headcanon?

Which character hahahahaha? Okay here we go....

Karen Page: Karen hasn’t had a good night’s sleep since before her mother died, but it’s only after she reconciles with Frank and they start talking about their shared traumas that it gets easier. Having Frank in her bed helps too ;-)

Frank Castle: Frank doesn’t actually hate Matt--he respects him as a fighter, but can’t stand his moral code because it’s so opposed to his own “do what needs to be done” mindset. He does not like how Matt treats Karen though. Also, he and Elektra do meet and become murder friends. Karen and Matt both have no idea how to make sense of that.

The Lieberman Family: The reason why Frank didn’t call the Lieberman’s during TPS2 (LIKE HE SHOULD HAVE) is because after David was reunited with his family, he and Sarah made the most of their reunion and they had another baby (a girl named Faye Diza, for both Frank and Dinah), and Frank was not about to put them in danger again, especially not with a baby in the mix. Leo and Zach think it’s SUPER weird that they have a sibling with such a massive age gap, and they choose to ignore the how and why of it all happening—that’s what therapy is for anyway.

Our girl Kim Hart: Even though she doesn’t have her power coin anymore and is technically retired, she can still morph thanks to the Crane powers. She also still heals quicker than a normal person, which seriously helped her gymnastics career. And yeah, she did feel a little bad about it, but not bad enough not to compete.

Tommy Oliver: After reluctantly un-retiring in Dino Thunder, he does go looking for Kim and they rekindle their relationship and live happily ever after.

Tommy & Kim: After Zordon sacrificed himself at the end of the Space season, Tommy calls Kim, the first time they’ve talked in years, and they talk all night. They don’t entirely clear the air, but they do make clear that things would be different if they weren’t living on opposite sides of the country.

The entire Power Rangers in Space team: because they revealed themselves publicly to save the world, they’re the most famous rangers on the planet, and serve as a go-between between PR teams and major media outlets (you can really see me putting my PR hat on for this HC hahaha), especially when a new team comes along.

Ashley Hammond (PRiS): She splits time between Earth and KO35 because she, duh, is dating an actual alien (who is a human, because earth is not the only place humans live)

Astronema/Karone (PRiS/PRLG): After her tenure as the pink ranger in LG, she goes back to traversing the galaxy, using her sorcery powers for good (also, her abilities as a sorceress were not tied to her being evil) and there are MANY a crisis that she has stopped in its tracks before it could get as bad as the situations the Power Rangers have to take care of.

Cassie Chan: After the Space season, Cassie serves as Earth’s ambassador to the other planets in the system, which she does yes, because someone with space experience needs to do it (and Ashley’s too busy vacationing with her boyfriend on KO-35 and the other rangers are heavily involved with Earth’s recover), but also because it’s the only way she can think of to track down a wayward Phantom Ranger--who she ultimately does find, and they live happily ever after, splitting time between Earth and a recovering Eltar.

Y’all...I have SO many Power Rangers HCs

And because I recently finished From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series and have some Geckos and Fullers on the brain...

Kate Fuller: Even though she wasn’t in control of her body when she was possessed by Amaru, she still retains Amaru’s sword-fighting skills (which, let’s be real, Seth is a BIG fan of) and her ability to sense Culebras when they’re nearby. She also doesn’t even bother with the guest room they set up for her when they get back to base at Jacknife Jed’s, and crashes with Seth in his room. It’s platonic at first, but they both can’t sleep without knowing the other is nearby since they both have terrible nightmares about the other dying—also since Seth wasn’t there when she did die, he has nightmares that embellish on what really happened, and since Amaru tried to drain Seth’s soul, Kate sees those nightmares too.

Seth Gecko: Seth feels like he SHOULD feel like it’s weird that Kate is sleeping in his bed especially after everything that happened leading up to them parting ways in Mexico, but then he remembers that he doesn’t give a fuck about what it may or may not look like, and having her in arm’s reach is better than any alternative (like her sleeping two rooms down, or her leaving with her brother after Matanzas, or you know, not being alive anymore, period). Also, Seth has bad anxiety, pretty much ALL the time, and it takes a while for him to reconcile the fact that his real life actually is one where he gets to rob banks and run a criminal empire with Kate AND Richie together, and it’s not like, a really awesome dream or something.

Richie Gecko: Richie LOVES picking up new and random skills from the people he feeds off of, including sleight of hand, how to throw a perfect spiral with a football, and accounting, so he can handle the books for both the legal and extra-legal sides of their enterprises. He also is the only one to work out of the lower levels at Jed’s because Kate refuses to go anywhere near Malvado’s old offices, and Seth doesn’t like being down there because it makes him think about how he got screwed over by Sonja and Kisa almost died.

Kisa: Kisa ultimately decides to embrace her role as La Diosa, and travels the country helping Culebras find their way. She sends the most wayward ones she finds to the Geckos, which Richie appreciates and Seth does, but refuses to admit it, because she and Seth have built up a semi-antagonistic understanding, where they don’t LIKE each other, but they appreciate the others’ skills. Sometimes she does creep in on his dreams to make sure he’s treating Kate right, which he is NOT a fan of at all, and usually leads to Seth yelling at Richie, demanding that he call her and tell her off. Of course, that gives her the chance to catch up with Richie, which is exactly what she wanted. She and Richie do eventually get back together, once they’ve both grown up a little bit and grown into their new lives.

Send me a fic ask

[fayewonglibrary]

Faye Wong's metamorphosis (2002)

When discussing singers, we always immediately think of their representative songs, their singing style, and their status. These points are not only determined by the direction chosen by the record company but also by the singer's own conditions.

But when Faye Wong is mentioned, I want to make a more appropriate analysis of her.  It is difficult to find only one or two words that can summarize Faye Wong. From Wang Jingwen to Faye Wong, with the return of individuality and independence, coupled with the combination of traditional and avant-garde music, Faye Wong today has been forged and Faye Wong today is still changing.

It is rumored that next year’s new album will be a “concept" album. When it comes to concept albums, I can't help but be reminded of "Fuzao" which was met with mixed reviews at the time but now it is considered as Faye Wong's classic. For fans, the acceptance of different music concepts requires a process. To this day, many people still cannot accept such an alternative Faye Wong. For this reason, ever since "Fuzao", Faye Wong's fans have split into two groups. One group strongly supports the "Sky" album and was delighted to hear Faye Wong perform songs such as "Red Bean". The other group advocated "Fuzao" and were brought to tears by "Fable". Zhang Yadong once said that it is difficult to produce an album for Faye Wong because there are too many surface issues to take care of. Because of this, "Fable" had to treat the first five songs as a unit and then include "Love Letter to Myself" which is like adding on to a delicacy made by a gourmet chef. Some people like the main dish and some like the side dish.

Simply, every evolution of Faye Wong can be regarded as a swing between mainstream and alternative, which is also in line with the law of circular development. With each reincarnation, Faye Wong obtains the maturity of a metamorphosis by becoming more refined and more atmospheric. Faye Wong is a comprehensive contradiction. And it is Faye Wong's natural sound quality, extraordinary singing skills and amazing music comprehension that dominates all of this, all of which are important, winning Faye Wong the right to freedom in the music kingdom.

Under Faye Wong's near-perfect vocal control, her excellent singing skills are like a martial arts master in Jin Yong's writings. He doesn't need to raise his breath or adjust his breath, and his smile is invisible. This is why so many people like Faye Wong's songs. Because they will feel a kind of heartfelt shock. Faye Wong's gentle sighing can touch the most sensitive nerve in the listener's heart. Some netizens describe Faye Wong's singing as "natural without decoration". 

There have been too many comments about Faye Wong’s growth in music. Here I just want to highlight a few songs representing Faye Wong's different musical styles. 　　

1. "Faye’s Rouge":  R&B Faye Wong. R&B is not a new genre of music in foreign countries, but in the Hong Kong and Taiwan music industries at that time, it was undoubtedly the beginning of the trend. Today, R&B is about body language and a way for many singers to move their hips to a strong rhythm. It was refreshing to experience Faye Wong's style of R&B. It is worth recommending the chorus of this song.

2. "I’m Willing": Affectionate Faye Wong.  I always believed that the simplest orchestration is actually the most suitable for Faye Wong. With a simple orchestration, Faye Wong’s subtle and affectionate lethality is fully utilized. Faye Wong’s voice is naturally suitable for performing songs like "I'm Willing" and "Reserved". The simplicity and transparent sound quality make it easy to grasp a hold of people's fragile emotions. Similar songs include "Devotion",  “I Only Want to Keep A Promise to You”, and so on. 　　

3, "Exit": Rap-style Faye Wong. In the “Please Myself” album, Faye Wong's future music path was revealed. But the rap style was never revisited, so  "Exit" is a rarity in Faye Wong's albums. In 1994, at that time, it might have been odd to hear rap style songs, but it is popular now.

4. "Sky": Undoubtedly the classic, ethereal model, mainstream masterpiece of Faye Wong. A nearly perfect song that takes full advantage of Faye Wong's tone and breath control. The sound engineer must have had a fever. Some musicians have commented on Faye Wong's "long breath" and this song is an example.  Speaking of the use of breath, I cannot fail to mention the song “Miss You Night and Day" which was released earlier than "Sky”. I don’t know if you have heard the live version. The ending note of the word “you" is inhuman, it’s almost beyond human ability. And furthermore, Faye Wong changes the key midway. Please note - try it yourself and you will know how difficult it is.  I have always had a question about Faye Wong’s album production for the past two years. Why didn’t they use Faye Wong’s long-lasting breath strengths when choosing songs? It can only be heard in "Fly" in 1998 and "New Tenant" in 2000. 　　

5. "Fracture": Psychedelic Faye Wong. Faye Wong’s proficiency in the use of breath makes her very familiar with the performance of such genres. I personally think that Faye Wong’s psychedelic style began with the "Mystery” album which had a touch of psychedelic color. As for "Fracture", although the lyrics are amazing, the expression of the song is also profound. This song is actually a very difficult song because the singing is extremely important and it cannot be too fast or too slow. To sing the lyrics indifferently, but also let the listener enjoy it, Faye Wong achieved it. 

6. "Anesthesia":  Decadent Faye Wong.  Faye Wong's 1997 album was filled with decadence, from makeup to song selection. "Anesthesia" is undoubtedly a classic of decadent style. From then on, we will hear a languid detachment in Faye Wong’s singing from time to time. This may be related to the singer’s mood and feelings for Dou Wei at that time. Having fallen into a state of stalemate of not advancing or retreating, the singer's helplessness is subtly revealed through her singing. This decadence and languidness reached its peak with "Can’t Wake Up" in 1998. 　　

7, "Bored":  Rock and roll Faye Wong . Faye Wong's rock style is a kind of soft rock without deafening heavy metal. But she uses a rock voice to interpret a kind of doubt and rebellion. "You're Happy, So I'm Happy" on the same album is also the embodiment of rock style. "Wings of Light" in 2001 was more of a punk style.

8. "Red Bean":  Rational Faye Wong. In the middle stage of her career, Faye Wong's expression of love songs was obviously very different from her early days. It went from affectionate to rational. Whether it was "I Don't Want To Be Like This Either", "Mortal World", "Red Bean" or "The Moon at that Moment", you couldn’t find this feeling in her early days. Faye Wong's early interpretation of love songs was a very pure, very true infatuation. It was replaced by a touch of heartbreak and rationality. If Faye Wong’s early love songs were expressing girlish feelings, then Faye Wong at this time had undoubtedly experienced emotional ups and downs and lamented fate. She had not given up on love and she had a rational attitude towards these feelings, but she was not without complexity. In her singing method, Faye Wong began to use the stagnant sound in her throat, which was obviously disappointing for those who appreciated Faye Wong’s pure sound quality. However, songs like "Red Bean" can no longer be performed in the original way. When Faye Wong always lost some people, she gained the love of others. The record company did not intend to plug "Red Bean" but because the fans on the Internet responded strongly, the company made a temporary MV and it immediately became a hit song. 　　

9. "Cambrian Era": Elegant Faye Wong. Faye Wong's music style is actually traceable. When she makes a certain style of album, look back on her previous album and you will find the shadow of this style. In "Sing and Play", Faye Wong began to play with the opera genre on “Face”, which attracted attention. After laying the groundwork, "Fable" began to brew. Faye Wong sang pop music with an operatic vocal method. Such an attempt was not only a great challenge to the singer's singing skills, but she was also the only one in the Chinese music industry to attempt this. You can find the fusion of classical and pop music abroad, usually in the form of duets. For example, Celine Dion’s collaboration with Julio Iglesias achieved success. Faye Wong did it all by herself in "Face". In songs such as "Asura", Faye Wong started to try a direct fusion of two completely different styles of music. Faye Wong used her years of music skills to try to blur the boundaries between the two. This attempt is undoubtedly an attack on the standard. Of course, this will be criticized by some. But Faye Wong's courage and musical achievements will be cemented in the history of Chinese pop music. "Faye Wong 2001" seems to be a mainstream album, but it actually contains the latest achievements of Faye Wong's fusion of two forms of music.  “Wandering Red Dancing Shoes” is more like an exquisite opera story. Faye Wong 2001 is far more calm than the Faye Wong in "Fable", and has a more mature grasp on the song style. But for those who only listen to pop music, when listening to this song from a different angle, perhaps it is too artistic. 　　

10. "One Way Street": Faye Wong, the bard poet. Faye Wong has displayed excellent control over rhythm, intensity, and tone. From the early "Undercurrent" and "Cold War" to today's "One Way Street", Faye Wong has always embodied a kind of poetic feeling in many songs.  I have seen reports that Faye Wong is not very satisfied with the collaboration with Wu Bai. In fact, this is caused by the difference in music concept and style of the two artists. After listening to Wu Bai’s “The Person Who Weeps Bitterly" and "Wanderer’s Love Song", you will know that Wu Bai’s style is more focused on the direct expression of emotions and giving people a feeling of joy. Whereas Faye Wong is more restrained and more focused on the atmosphere of song expression and pays more attention to perception.  Therefore, if "One Way Street" was expressed by Wu Bai it may have been a heavy outburst of anger and rawness. But when interpreted by Faye Wong, it is calm and carefree.

When we explore Faye Wong’s music, we find the development and the growth process of Faye Wong’s mind. The latest Faye Wong is always the best because she has the enterprising spirit of continuously learning and integrating in her music. The media, the public, not to mention music fans, always anticipate her next album in advance. 

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

SOURCE: NETEASE // TRANSLATED BY: FAYE WONG FUZAO

[weeb-alcove]

2019 English Playlist

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL77pv5URcE8b4_k9_GQYZoQYz_HhRDP2D 

In English: 

“99″ - Barns Courtney

10ft - Eileen Yo

5 Seconds of Summer Babylon Easier Lie to Me  Teeth

88rising History Midsummer Madness ♪ from their album Head in the Clouds II ♬ Breathe I Love You 3000 II Indigo Strange Land These Nights

Affection - Between Friends

Aftertaste - Whethan

Ain’t Goin Back - Russ

Alan Walker Are You Lonely Different World Do It All for You Lily  On My Way Play

All Fall Down - Johnny Glenn & Ally Hills & Just Juice

All Over Again (remix) - Lost You & Michael Moawad

Another Summer Night Without You - Alexander 23

Aphrodite - Rini

Ariana Grande Esta Noche ♪ from her album thank u, next ♬ bloodline in my head NASA

Arms Around You - XXXTentacion & Swae Lee & Lil Pump

Ava Max Freaking Me Out (Bingo Players remix) Not Your Barbie Girl So Am I

Bae - Trevor Wesley

Bars and Melody Lighthouse (Dave Winnel remix) Waiting for the Sun

Bazzi Caught in the Fire Focus Mine Myself No Way!

Beat of My Drum - Powers

Benee Evil Spider Find an Island Glitter  Monsta Want Me Back  Wishful Thinking

Better Not - Louis the Child

Big Sean Berzerk Single Again

Billie Eilish everything i wanted  When I Was Older ♪ from her album WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? ♬ 8 bad guy bury a friend ilomilo  my strange addiction wish you were gay  xanny 

Birthday Party - AJR 

Break Your Heart - Taio Cruz

broken - lovelytheband

Caffeine and Dopamine - Keepitinside

Camila Cabello Find U Again  Señorita  ♪ from her album Romance ♬ Bad Kind of Butterflies  Liar My Oh My Shameless  Should’ve Said It

Cardi B Money Please Me

Catch Feelings - Henry Young & Zachary

Céline - Gallant

Cemetery - Coin

Chanel - Frank Ocean

Chase - Aaron Carpenter

Cherry Cola - Kuwada

Cigarette - offonoff & Tablo & MISO

Clairo Sofia Throwaway

Close to Me - Ellie Goulding & Diplo & Swae Lee

Cold - Boy In Space & unheard

Come My Way - Plvtinum

Conan Gray Generation Why Greek God  Maniac The King 

Creep - Radiohead (GAMPER remix & Dadoni & Ember Island)

Crush - Lucian & Tiffany Day

Crying My Eyes Out - Stephen Puth

Crystal Dolphin - Engelwood

Dangerous Love - Justice Carradine

David Guetta Better When You’re Gone Blame It on Love

Daya Insomnia Left Me Yet Wanted

Don’t Be Gone Too Long - Chris Brown

Don’t Lie to Me - Lena

Don’t Start Now - Dua Lipa

Eric Nam ♪ from his album Before We Begin ♬ Congratulations  Love Die Young

Everything - TobyMac

Eyes Wide Shut -  Glades 

Falling - Trevor Daniel

Fine - Rufus

Finneas I Don’t Miss You at All  Let’s Fall in Love for the Night

Fitz and the Tantrums Hand Clap Out of My League

Flower - Johnny Stimson

Friends - Feyde

Funeral - Miguel

G-Eazy 1942 Nadie Como Tu 

Get Away - Ed Black

Giants - Becky G & Keke Palmer & Soyeon & Duckwrth & Thutmose

Glass Animals Life Itself The Other Side of Paradise 

Greyson Chance Boots Shut Up

Halsey Eastside Graveyard

Heart in Tokyo - Good Gasoline

Heartstrings - STVN & Jenna Carlie

Her - Alex Aiono

Hey Violet Better by Myself Queen of the Night

High School - Umi

Hometown Smile - Bahjat

Honne  Crying Over You  Day 1

How Do You Sleep? - Sam Smith

IDK - Bruce Wiegner

I Fall in Like Too Easily - Ashton Arbab

I Feel Love - Suggi

If I Can’t Have You - Shawn Mendes

If You Need Me - Julia Michaels

If You’re Over Me - Years & Years

I Heart You - Baby Ariel

I’ll Be There - King Henry & Sasha Sloan

ILYA - Fly By Midnight

In Betweenin’ - Austin Brown

Indiana Massara Apology Smoke in My Eyes

i think i love you (but i dont like you) - push baby

It’s Not You It’s Me - 6LACK & Bea Miller

Japanese Denim - Daniel Caesar

Jaymes Young Infinity  Northern Lights 

Joji Sanctuary  Test Drive Yeah Right

Jonas Brothers Only Human Sucker

Juliet - Sebastian Javier

June - Sage Charmaine

Just My Luck - Tia Ray & Kehlani

Kailee Morgue Go to Sleep Headcase

Katy Perry 365 Harleys in Hawaii

Kiss Me Thru the Phone - Soulja Boy

Lalala - Y2K, bbno$

Last Hurrah - Bebe Rexha

Lauv Drugs & the Internet I’m So Tired

Lava Lamp - Dandi

Left to Right - Marteen

Lennon Stella La Di Da Polaroid Workin’ on It

Lifeguard - iamnotshane

Lovefool - The Cardigans

Love Me Wrong - Allie X & Troye Sivan

Love You Like That - Dagny

Madison Beer Fools  Hurts Like Hell

Maggie Lindemann Friends Go Would I

MAGIC! Girl at Coachella Lay You Down Easy 

Make You Mine - Public

Mango Love - Shawn Wasabi & SATICA

Mask - joe.k

MAX Love Me Less One Two Things Worship

Middle of the Night - Monsta X

Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince - Taylor Swift

MØ Blur Don’t Leave Kamikaze Nostalgia  On & On  Red Wine 

Mona Lisa - Valntn & Peter Fenn

mxmtoon Blame Game Prom Dress

My Family - Karol G & Migos & Rock Mafia & Snoop Dogg

Nobody - Emilee

No Sleep - Martin Garrix & Bonn

Nostalgia - The Beamish Brothers

NOTD Keep You Mine Romantic (NOTD remix) So Close

Ocean Man - Ween

October - Alessia Cara

Oh Wonder I Wish I Never Met You Super Love

Only You - Cheat Codes & Little Mix

On the Low - Justin Park

Pardon Me - Dion

Permission - New Hope Club

Pharmacy - Isaac Dunbar

Pink - No Rome

Post Malone ♪ from his album Hollywood’s Bleeding ♬ A Thousand Bad Times Circles Die for Me  Goodbyes Take What You Want 

PRETTYMUCH Blind Solita

Quinn XCII U & Us Wayback (remix)

R3HAB All Comes Back To You Don’t Give Up on Me Now Lullaby This Is How We Party

Raincoat - Kieron Lee & Chloe Ho

Rebels - Ivy Adara

Red Sippy Cup - Ellis G & Tristen the God

Rei Brown Picture Frames Real Love

Rescue Me - OneRepublic

Right Now - Nick Jonas & Robin Schulz

Rolex - Ayo & Teo

Roots - Galantis & Valerie Broussard

Roxanne - Arizona Zervas

Ruel Free Time Real Thing Younger

Say It to My Face - Maty Noyes

Selena Gomez Bad Liar I Can’t Get Enough

Sick Thoughts - Lewis Blissett

Skeletons - keshi

Speechless - Dan + Shay

Stay Home - Faye Risakotta

Sugarplum Elegy - Niki

Summer Love - Hyu

Summer Time High Time - Cuco & J-Kwe$t

Summertime in Paris - Jaden & Willow

Suncity - Khalid & Empress Of

Superfruit - Maude Latour

Sweet Little Lies -  bülow

Swimming in Your Feelings - Haven

Talking Loud - Jennifer Zhang

Tell Me - Mika-Intersection

tell me how you rly feel - adam&steve & Lostboycrow

Tessa Violet Bad Ideas Crush

Thank You - Junny

The Chainsmokers Family Kills You Slowly Takeaway

The Vamps All Night All the Lies Can We Dance  Just My Type  Middle of the Night Missing You  Somebody to You  We Don’t Care 

Think About Me - dvsn

Tired - Jasmine Sokko

Tomorrow Tonight - Loote

Virtual Reality - ieuan

Waste My Time - Grace VanderWaal

Why Don’t We Come to Brazil I Don’t Belong in This Club I Still Do Mad At You  Unbelievable  What Am I (Casualkimono remix)

Why Don’t We - Austin Mahone

Why Haven’t I Met You? - Cameron Dallas

Woke Up Late - Drax Project & Hailee Steinfield

Yellow Hearts - Ant Saunders

Yoandri All the Way Bravo Cherry on Top It’ll Be Ok Only You

You & Me - Marc E. Bassy

You Got Issues - spring gang & Amaranthine

Young the Giant Apartment  Cough Syrup

Zayn Rumors There You Are

In French:

Tous Les Mêmes - Stromae

In Spanish:

Rebeca - Mc Livinho & Gerex & Maejor

Teléfono - Aitana (remix with Lele Pons)

Electronic:

Monster Gambling in Tokyo - Idealism

Sorry I Like You - Burbank

Sunset Lover - Petit Biscuit