#as for the question of how they got these songs in the 70s well-

[wittymumbledon]

this is objectively the funniest thing i have made (based on the chaotic result of shuffling together my bill and ford playlists)

if a future employer somehow sees this i am sorry for your eyes

[tigerqueen767]

Helluva Boss Season Finale

So a homophobic client shows up and tells IMP to kill her husband for leaving her for a man and cheating (possibly.) IMP attempt to try and kill him but then Blizto can't do it cause of his feefees and cause he sees himself in that man. Forget that Blizto has killed many people for petty reasons before (Spring Broken is a good example, he literally killed tons of random people, many of which were probably gay, just because of a bet) and forget that he chastised Moxxie for doing the exact same thing (weird how Mox didn't bring that up honestly) NO, you can't criticize this gay man because he's so cute and gay. That's the message Viv is sending.

The moral of this episode is that if you criticize Stolas and Blizto's relationship, you're homophobic. Wowww... Just wow!

It couldn't possibly be because these two have absolutely no chemistry and only know eachother because of sex. It couldn't possibly be because Stolas made a creepy and predatory deal with Blizto. It couldn't possibly be because Stolas is a terrible person who lied to his daughter and is written terribly. Forget that Stolas risked his life for his fuck buddy when he should have stayed with his daughter. Forget that Blizto never wanted a serious relationship until now just because that's what the writers want. Forget everything I said and just sit back and watch Blizto and Stolas dance on the balcony since it's the only thing Viv cares about.

Stolizt is the only thing Viv cares about. That's what this episode proves once and for all. Their relationship is the only thing that had any meaningful continuity in season 1. Everything else was episodic material.

Maybe in Season 3 we'll focus on other things but it won't make up for the trainwreck of a Season this was.

Now, because I don't just want to be negative, let me talk about how this Season could have been 1000 times better. Let me offer a fix.

This Season would have been great if it split it's screen time 70-30 between the IMP stuff and the Stolas stuff. Let every member of IMP shine in their own episode. It's not like there isn't enough time. Explore Millie's prejudice against Hellhounds (cause we all know she doesn't respect Hellhounds.) Explore Millie's wrath and how it might help and hinder her. It might lead to devastating consequences depending on who she chooses to fight and why. Shoot first and ask questions later is not a good principle and I feel like that's exactly what she does. Have Loona and Via actually hang out! Show us how her timidness and introversion make that relationship start off rocky. Show us how she changes from a person who can barely hold a conversation in the Queen Bee episode to a person that would have a bunch of friends over for Sinsmas. That development WAS. NOT. THERE!!

Have Moxxie actually confront his fears. It looked like he was about to fight his dad but then he got tazed and his wife did all the work. Why? Have him stand up to Blizto finally and make Blizto respect him. Cause Blizto does not respect him. Look at the way he talks to him in Season 2 and tell me this is respectful. Plus, in the episode Truth Seekers he only congratulated Moxxie for killing well. That's it. He respects the work he does but not who he is as a person. That could have been explored in Season 2. That would have been a great arc.

As for Blizto show more of his relationship between him and his sister. Blizto brought Barbie up again in the finale and it sounds like they really want us to care about her character but she wasn't even in the flashback episode. In order to fix the flashback episode, get rid of Stolas! Don't make a flashback that includes Stolas at all. Just make it about life in the circus performing with Blizto, Barbie and Fizz.

And instead of a giant special episode about Fizz and his terrible boss how about an episode dedicated to Stolas and Via's relationship. Why not write a song about how they've lived their lives over the years. Show us what it was like to BE her.

I'm getting tired of writing now. I hope you enjoyed reading this, at least a little.

[hotvintagepoll]

Please take my humble offering of propaganda for bisexual icon ✨️Jeremy Brett✨️ and his early career! <3

... in Hamlet (1959) Look at his hands and his neck gahhh

... as (a naive but very charming) Freddy Eynsford-Hill in My Fair Lady (1964) who certainly knows how to wear a coat

... as a dashing D'Artagnan in The Three Musketeers (1966/67) (Duelling is no problem! XD)

... aaaand several other photos of which I couldn't pinpoint the specific dates but I think they must all have been taken before the 70s!

Well, I couldn't even submit half of the pictures - *cough* Dracula *cough* Sherlock Holmes - I had on my mind as I discovered they were taken after 1970, and this man got only more unnecessarily handsome with age. (Take it from me, I'm both asexual and faceblind, and he regularly makes me question both. XD) Also, he was just the kindest, sweetest human being. ❤️ He would certainly be extremely flattered to win this poll and possibly burst into song to the slight embarrassment of everyone around! :D

I used several of these for the propaganda field but I found the tone of this whole ask so delightful that here, let's all enjoy it together.

Jeremy vs Charles

[burr-ell]

Your “nepotism baby” analysis of Bells Hells feels SO ACCURATE. It honestly helped me finally pin down why, exactly, I hate Ashton so much. They’re not a real punk, they are a rich kids’ idea of what punk is meant to be. Just poorly adopting the anti-establishment persona without any of the substance that makes punks great.

So I want to push back on this, for two reasons. One, the implication of "a rich kid's idea of what punk is meant to be" suggests that the "rich kid" in question is either Ashton or Taliesin, and neither is fitting here. Regardless of how frustrating Ashton can be, they have had a difficult life and grew up impoverished; they do have legitimate grievances with institutional authority. Now Taliesin himself seems to have grown up fairly well-off based on everything we know about him, but he became involved in genuine underground scenes as a teenager and young adult; Ashton is explicitly based on an amalgam of difficult roommates Taliesin has had, punks he personally knew, and punks who were depicted in The Decline of Western Civilization, Part 3.

That last bit leads into my second issue, and it's one that I don't think you're entirely unaware of, but I'd be remiss if I didn't say anything. Punk has a reputation online, particularly on Tumblr, of being purely about hope and love and rebelling against oppression with an edgy counter-cultural aesthetic (this is part of why Across the Spider-Verse's depiction of Spider-Punk, who to be clear is a great character, got so popular). By contrast, The Decline of Western Civilization, Part 3 is a 1998 documentary about gutter punks in Los Angeles, and it is, by all accounts, an incredibly depressing film that ends with one of the interviewees dead and another awaiting trial for his murder. There was a punk-to-skinhead pipeline throughout the 70s that led to the Dead Kennedys song "Nazi Punks Fuck Off", and while that phrase has become popular in repudiating far-right punks, it would not still be in use today if they didn't still exist. A lot of the ideas in punk about rebellion and freedom and nonconformity can and do manifest as principled fights against authoritarianism and oppression, but just as often manifest...at best as the guy in the housing collective that refuses to do chores, at worst as someone who thinks espousing white supremacy is countercultural because people get offended by it and then becomes a Nazi for real.

Don't misread me, I completely agree that Ashton is an idiot and a narcissist (the description that Taliesin himself gave him), but let's not springboard off of that and No True Scotsman our way into mythologizing punk. Ashton is, in fact, depicting a lot of the substance of punk—namely, the ways it can help make you worse as a person.

[fallen5t4r]

How I Perceive James Potter + Headcanons

Appearance:

ೃ࿔₊• | The most defined dimples ever

ೃ࿔₊• | Has a beauty spot under his eye (it’s one of his favourite features abt him)

ೃ࿔₊• | Hit his growth spurt before most of the other guys and gradually became one of the tallest guys but then the others hit their growth spurt and was no longer the tallest

ೃ࿔₊• | Smiles so big you see his gums

ೃ࿔₊• | Has the fullest eyebrows - his mum taught him how to thread and shape them

ೃ࿔₊• | His hair is long enough to touch his neck - he went through a phase where his parents would buzz his hair bc it was so hard to manage so now that they don’t he’s really attached to it

Personality

ೃ࿔₊• | The kind of popular kid you just can’t hate - teachers hate him only bc he distracts the class but they genuinely love him as a person

ೃ࿔₊• | He’s just happy to be here tbh

ೃ࿔₊• | Peacekeeper who puts so much unnecessary stress on himself trying to solve everyone else’s problems

ೃ࿔₊• | Can not say no to somebody for the life of him

ೃ࿔₊• | Has a super strong moral compass which sometimes overrules his logical thinking - thinks before he acts

ೃ࿔₊• | The most hopeless romantic

ೃ࿔₊• | Believes in soul mates

Music Taste

70s

ೃ࿔₊• | The Clash - lives for Rock the Casbah and Should I Stay or Should I Go (it’s popular for a reason)

ೃ࿔₊• | The Beatles

ೃ࿔₊• | Cher - he’s a sucker for soul bearing songs and pop in general, the dark lady album is his shit

Modern

ೃ࿔₊• | Boyz 2 Men

ೃ࿔₊• | One Direction - he was a WRECK when Zayn left

ೃ࿔₊• | The Strokes

ೃ࿔₊• | Backstreet Boys - I want it That Way is his go to karaoke song, black and blue is his favourite album but millennium is a close second he’ll say he loves every album if you ask him to pick a fav

Style

70s

ೃ࿔₊• | Lived in one specific pair of jeans because lily taught him how to embroider a small sun at the bottom of the left leg

ೃ࿔₊• | Beatle boots during the school year- he loved how platform boots looked but realistically he would’ve broken his ankles trying to walk in them, he’d never admit that last part publicly tho

ೃ࿔₊• | Polo shirts

Modern

ೃ࿔₊• | Jorts that go past his knees

ೃ࿔₊• | Was against socks showing out of shoes but now he loves it and feels weird when you can’t see his socks

ೃ࿔₊• | Because of the above he wears the randomest socks that say stuff like “dino-myte” with a bunch of dinosaurs and just random colours

ೃ࿔₊• | Lives eats breathes the sandwich method

ೃ࿔₊• | Does daily fit checks

Relationships

Romantic

ೃ࿔₊• | Lily - is the Agape type of love meaning it is unconditional, the purest form of love based off mutual care and compassion, it is a love that makes you want to put this person before yourself it is selfless and goes beyond physical wants

ೃ࿔₊• | Regulus - is the Pragma type of love meaning practical in greek, a long lasting love that has been built and will continue on patience and understanding, a willingness to grow both as a pair and an individual, less like a blind love and more conscious.

Platonic

ೃ࿔₊• | Sirius - Philia and Storge type of love, a combination of admiration between friends harboured over the years and the unconditional love of family, both born from consistent presence in one’s life overcoming the joys, sorrows, failures and successes and still remaining a life buoy in one’s grand ses of life

More Headcanons

ೃ࿔₊• | His mum is guatemalan and his dad is pakistani and they speak a combination of spanish and punjabi at home

ೃ࿔₊• | At some point went to sleep under the invisibility cloak and his parents almost tore the house apart trying to find him in the morning

ೃ࿔₊• | He cried when iron man died in avengers end game and still hasn’t moved on

ೃ࿔₊• | Posts everything on instagram for memories

ೃ࿔₊• | Goated at fortnite

ೃ࿔₊• | Keep this guy away from a dance floor because he is about to out serve everyone

ೃ࿔₊• | Whenever he got a question wrong in class he’d whip out the “english isn’t my first language” card knowing full well all languages he speaks are equally fucked

ೃ࿔₊• | stopped doing the above, when a teacher proceeded to ask a follow up question in spanish, which he also answered wrong

[tbb-appreciation-week]

PABU'S FESTIVAL OF LOVE 2025

Info, Rules, and F.A.Q.

Tomorrow, I'll send the first batch (no pun intended) of prompts to those signed up (join here!). This is how I picked them.

In one word: randomly. I made several lists (with over 70 prompts in total), divided by types and ratings, and put them in a picker wheels. I left everything to chance. Specific lists aren't that long (about 6 prompts each).

It means that two (or more) people could get one repeated prompt. But like most of you selected a unique combination of prompt types, nobody got both prompts the same. And it wouldn't matter if you did; y'know, the "Two Cakes!" scenario.

Once received, you have a month to work on the prompt(s), and will be due on February 14th, 2025.

When uploading your content to your Tumblr blog, be sure to mention this blog and add the event hashtags: #pabu's festival of love 2025 and/or #PFoL 2025.

Any relationship is acceptable (platonic or romantic) among the Bad Batch, as well as other clones. Of course, original characters and readers are acceptable.

PLEASE BE DILIGENT WITH YOUR TAGGING (both by mentioning the blog and putting on the necessary tags, especially concerning NSFW). That'll ensure that your post will be reblogged on this blog.

I'll do my best to reblogged everyone's posts, but if I miss yours, please let me know. Just give me a few hours before you panic 😆

If you want, you can also add your work to the Ao3 Collection (closed at the moment, but I'll open it in due time). Use the same event Tumblr tags when posting to the archive. When adding the tags, it might appear tbb-appreciation-week's Pabu's Festival of Love 2025 (Star Wars) on the dropdown. That's the canonical tag for the event. You can click on it, but it's way too long and complicated for anyone to remember, so don't worry about it. By me, being connected to high places, I'll make sure that however you tag it as, it'll be attached to the right place.

If you are posting NSFW fics or art on Tumblr, I ask that you use the Keep Reading break to hide the NSFW portion of your work; and please, give the proper warnings. On Ao3, please use the correct rating and warnings as well.

In this place, we're all for minding our own business, Ship And Let Ship, Kink Tomato, and all that, so everyone is free to create whatever they want. Participants are expected to hold judgment of others and their works to themselves, even if they don't agree with or find it repulsive. This event isn't for you if you disagree. Harassment to participants for any reason is NOT TOLERATED!

Show support to other participants by reblogging, leaving likes/kudos AND comments. If an author or artist has asked for constructive criticism (not the same as a comment, and with constructive being the keyword) you may give it. However, refrain from giving any of the unsolicited kind, as it is discouraging for the author or artist.

But most of all, HAVE FUN!!! This is a lay-back event, to show love for our favorite characters.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you all come up with!

If you have questions, send me a message to the ask box or a DM, either in this blog or my fandom blog @nimata-beroya.

Thanks for reading, and happy creating!

Mod Mare ❤

--

PS: There's one person who signed up on Jan 10 and didn't leave their URL. I don't know who you are but I need you to contact me ASAP! Otherwise, I won't be able to send your prompts. HINT: You requested songs!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is [fill the blank] allowed?

When in doubt:

And how about…?

Yes, that, too. Give total freedom to your creativity, and don't worry about whether or not it's allowed. Most things are okay, barring anything inciting or glorifying harassment, hatred, or discrimination of any kind.

Do I have to use both prompts?

You can use one or both. It's up to you.

Can I post late?

Yes, that's totally fine; I understand that real life gets in the way sometimes. I'll also reblog posts from latecomers.

So, when should I post?

According to your time zone, during the day at the most convenient time for you, on February 14th.

Will you reblog my post?

Yes, I'll reblog everyone's posts during the day. If I miss yours, please let me know (but wait a few hours before you do).

Can I combine PFoL's prompts with other creation challenges?

Absolutely! If you have a bingo card to fill or another event to complete, go for it. That’s like shooting two mynocks with one bolt, using one of Crosshair's reflective disks!

Can I upload/repost my work to other social media platforms?

Of course! You can post your own content wherever you like. Additionally, I’ve created an AO3 Collection to archive any work posted there. (It's closed right now, but I'll open it in due time)

If any of the prompts fit well for an existing fic/art I am currently working on, can I use it?

If you are currently working on this fic/art with Valentine's Day in mind, the answer is yes. In the case of using a work retroactively (meaning: already published and complete), then please, don’t.

Where can I post my work?

Post where and however you want. You don’t have to cross-post it to Tumblr. Just keep in mind, if it’s not on Tumblr, I won't be able to add it to the blog archive. You can post a just link to anywhere else you've posted if you don't want to put the entire work in your blog.

Do I have to finish a fic I started? Can I post a work in progress?

Yes, you can post WIPs. And you’re not obligated to finish it. It'd make me happy that this event prompt you to create something longer. Let's appreciate the Bad Batch all year around!

Is co-creating allowed?

Yes, absolutely! Encouraged, even. Not just the usual writer-artist or co-writing collaborations, also any kind of medium combos: fic-podfic, fic-playlist, art-art, etc.

Is there a min/max limit on word count?

None. If you want to write a 100-word drabble or a 50k fic or anything in between, it's all up to you. You're the only one who knows how much time you can dedicate to it and how high/low your level of inspiration/energy is. You can even write a snippet for a fic you'll write later when you have the time/energy. Remember that this is lay-back-type of an event. Do as little or much as you want/can.

How do I tag triggers?

Just tag the word/phrase, e.g., blood; main character death. (DO NOT add "tw" either at the beginning or at the end. That makes it harder for readers to block the right tags). Here it's the list of the most common warning tags you should use when appropriate.

Also, it would be prudent to add warnings in the post's body, giving the readers another layer of protection before they do the actual reading.

Can we @ you?

Yes, please DO! It's the safest way for me not to miss your posts. I'll also be following the #pabu's festival of love 2025 and #PFoL 2025 tags, just for good measure.

What are the forbidden topics for our writing?

As I said before, anything goes, EXCEPT anything inciting or glorifying harassment, hatred, and discrimination of any kind against anything or anyone. THAT WON'T BE TOLERATED. For anything else, please tag your trigger warnings properly. And keep in mind Tumblr’s policies if you are posting it here (or the policies for whatever other site you use).

Can I cross post on other blogs?

Yes, sure. That's fine. You can also post different works to different accounts under different names, without posting them everywhere at once.

[happinessismusic]

Gwen Stefani turns over a new leaf, or petal, on her fifth solo album, Bouquet. Known for her work in ska-punk with No Doubt and later pop, she’s been a bonafide hitmaker for decades. But this album plays a very different tone.

Bouquet isn’t about synths or loops—the way modern pop has been heading for years—but is far more organic. It feels more more mature; even, at times, folky. Judging by the cowboy hat she wears on the cover, you might presume it will be influenced by country, but that doesn’t really tell the whole story.

Bouquet draws on a range of sounds, from Americana to ‘90s pop-rock and ‘70s rock. With her unique and instantly recognizable voice, it’s not really any of those things.

What makes the album refreshing is how Gwen Stefani keeps her identity rather than trying to become someone else. While the songs may not be like today’s pop hits, they sound like her. Whether hubby Blake Shelton’s influence rubbed off at all is another question, but it would seem he had at least a little influence.

Stefani pulls no punches on opener “Somebody Else’s,” which seems to put former husband and Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale on blast.

“Leavin’ you saved me, my God/ Look at me blossom/ You’re somebody else’s problem,” she sings.

Despite the pointed lyrics, the overall message is actually one of hope and recovery from a difficult circumstance. It’s upbeat and fuses acoustic and electric guitars with a Fleetwood-Mac-esque quality. Far more hopeful is the title track, which has a little a Southern charm and swagger, though it’s not a full-on country song.

Keeping with the optimistic tone, “Pretty” sticks with the acoustic-driven Americana sound. The lyrics are pretty straightforward, but the simple yet effective hook has an infectious quality.

“I never felt pretty ’til you loved me/ But now I feel pretty lucky,” she sings.

On the quieter “Empty Vase,” Stefani’s delivery is subdued and intricate. Lyrically, she weaves in flower imagery throughout the record, continuing that here as well as on the following track, “Marigolds.” The latter has a ‘90s pop-rock energy and an acoustic-driven bounce. It’s a quick and punchy track that restores the upbeat momentum. Similarly, “Late to Bloom” adds a dose of a country kick to it.

Power ballad “Swallow My Tears” offers an interesting fusion of the more organic sound with a throwback vocal delivery and lyrical style that calls back to some of Stefani’s prior solo work.

“I stay one step ahead of the pain/ I keep an umbrella when there’s no rain/ I got my guard up when there’s no war/ Don’t know what I’m fighting for,” an introspective Stefani sings.

Acoustic ballad “Reminders” is, at least musically, the most traditional country song here, with a warm vocal tone. The final two songs on the album, “All Your Fault” and “Purple Irises,” may be the best of the bunch. Both capture a pop-rock personality with big choruses and add a touch of folkiness. They’re memorable, with big harmonies and a dynamic melody. Shelton makes an appearance on “Purple Irises,” and his voice complements hers.

Bouquet is a more mature turn for Stefani, and the sound may take longtime fans by surprise. Stefani seems to be comfortable in this space. It’s an album not defined by pop bangers, opting to give Stefani the space to spread her wings.

[euripidestrousers]

What are your big wolfstar hc?

Ooh good question!

I tend to change my hcs based on the AU I'm writing, but i am not exaggerating when I say these little freaks are Always on My Mind so I have an ungodly amount of canon-themed hcs. Here we go:

- Remus is one of the only people Sirius cuts a fair amount of slack. Sirius has high standards and expectations of others but he has a huge Remus-shaped blind spot, so will find reasons to excuse Remus' sometimes shitty behaviour. He has heart shaped eyes for his gangly, sly, avoidant attachment style man.

- Remus sleeps like an absolute log, anywhere, anytime. Sirius has always been a light sleeper, wakes easily, and doesn't sleep much.

- They kept their casual fucking-turned relationship secret until well after graduating. The only ones who knew were James, Lily and Peter. Lily was the first one to figure it out because poor James had been in the trenches, so used to his friends' flirting that he didn't even clock it anymore. It brought Lily and Sirius together because he had someone to talk about it with, the first person he'd met who wasn't a casual homophobe about it, and was sympathetic.

- Second to this! James and Peter weren't always rainbow flag waving allies. They were teenage boys in the 70s - they'd drop casual homophobic comments all the time before finding out about their friends. Sirius joined in sometimes to hide it from James (he never cared what anyone else would think but he was secretly afraid of losing closeness with James), and Remus went very quiet whenever this happened. James was surprised at first when he found out but came around within minutes and apologised for being a thoughtless dick when he was younger.

- Peter most definitely used Remus and Sirius' tumultuous relationship against them. Remus was very avoidant about coming out and Sirius, while not his highest priority, resented having to hide. They bickered about it and Peter would often throw a spanner in to make their fighting worse.

- Sirius' hair is a good indicator of his mental health. While he's not vain he tends to keep it neat and out of the way when he's in a good place mentally. When he's fighting inner demons he lets it go and Remus knows this. He uses it as a Sirius-meter, and knows when it's starting to get long and unkempt to gently pry into what's going on with him.

- They do the crossword puzzles together most mornings (when Remus gets up in time)

- Sirius is fantastic at baking although he only did it once or twice for Lily's birthday (per her request). Remus is the cook for both of them, although when Sirius isn't there he sustains himself on tea, biscuits and deeply suppressed anxiety.

- Sirius is a singer when he's in a good mood. Remus adores coming home to hear his deep voice belting out a mix of muggle and wix songs because it means Sirius is in his happy place. Sirius is a serenader - it starts as a joke but there's a soft look in his eye when sings while he spins Remus around the kitchen. It's one of Remus' favourite Sirius-isms

- Sirius jokes about Remus' lycanthropy to make light of it. He can be a bit callous and insensitive about it at times, but his candour does make Remus feel less like a monster.

- They are god-awful at communicating as they're both rather private, skeptical people. While it's something they have in common and respect about each other, it makes for difficulties in a relationship.

- Sirius is a Nightmare when he's bored so Remus has a mental Rolodex of thought-provoking questions to stop him from wreaking havoc (or just being annoying). As soon as he sees the restlessness starting, he casually brings up that new law about to pass in the goblin senate, and how it might affect non-human creatures in the wizarding world. He still hasn't recovered from the time Sirius got bored and took apart his record player to see how it worked and he's not getting caught out again. This is also one of the reasons why Remus is in Sirius' top 3 favourite people - he always has something interesting to say and will happily debate for hours. Sirius is hardly ever bored around him.

- Neither of them are jealous lovers. Remus' self-worth is in the toilet, so if he sees someone flirting with Sirius he just feels miserable and spirals, thinking about how Sirius can do so much better than him. Sirius is a fiercely loyal person so he never flirts back and thinks Remus' self-image issues are ridiculous. On the odd occasion that someone flirts with Remus, Sirius rather enjoys it because a) it's ammunition for teasing and Remus will go bright red when he brings it up, and b) Watching Remus eventually realise he's being flirted with is prime entertainment - he fumbles and blushes so hard and almost takes out whoever's around in his haste to flee. It's priceless. Also - Sirius is extremely self-assured and knows his partner is hopelessly gone for him and would never cheat. Trust is extremely important to them both.

- Remus is extremely unpleasant around the full moon. He's got all sorts of aches and pains, has trouble sleeping properly, fatigue, and nausea issues. It makes him irritable and snappy. Sirius is incredibly patient with him and gives him space. He doesn't take Remus' mood to heart and occupies himself while Remus wallows. He's always there when Remus finally emerges from his misery to pitifully request a massage or a pain potion, and is uncharacteristically soft with him during the full moon period.

- Sirius. Cannot. Stand. the way Remus runs away from problems. It's his biggest pet peeve and it's a source of some of their biggest fights.

- Remus is mostly vanilla-aligned but is open to trying whatever new thing Sirius comes home with, smiling giddily and clutching a new toy or book with a spell he wants to try out. Occasionally Sirius will strike gold and find a kink Remus is wild for (ahem, praise kink), and is horribly smug about it

- Sirius is hopelessly gone for Remus' feigning innocence, lying through his teeth act. He doesn't understand it, but seeing Remus lie point blank to someone's face with those big, trustworthy brown eyes, sends him off-the chain, I-need-to-fuck-this-man-right-now-wild and he has no clue why. Remus is aware of this.

- They are mostly switchy but will go for months at a time with a preference for topping/bottoming. When Remus is feeling particularly insecure he tends to want to be fucked intimately, face-to-face, where he can see every twitch in Sirius' face, can catalogue the evidence of how much Sirius adores him. Sirius is just happy to be along for the ride because this way he can completely blanket Remus and grind slowly, swallowing every one of Remus' whimpers and broken moans as he fucks him slowly and thoroughly. Sirius can't get enough of taking him apart, finding his limits, anything that breaks Remus' finely tuned composure.

- Sirius is awful at apologies when they're younger. He has trouble admitting or even seeing his wrongs. After becoming an animagus he finds that it's much easier to apologise as Padfoot. After a fight he'll go for a rage-fuelled long walk or bike-ride, and cool down. When he's said or done something he regrets, he'll come home as Padfoot, tail drooping and wagging hopefully, big grey eyes fixed on Remus. He'll sidle up to him and just stare, wagging his tail. Remus knows exactly what he's doing but it's impossible to stay mad at him like this and he begrudgingly accepts that it's Sirius' way of apologising. It's not the healthiest communication tactic but they're not perfect. Once Sirius receives a begrudging head scratch, he changes back to his human form and acts like they never fought. It's annoyingly effective.

- Remus absolutely loathes flying on Sirius' motorbike. He begrudgingly admits it's hot to see Sirius dismounting, windswept, leather jacket donned, but god help him he'll do anything to avoid joining him on that death-trap. The only upside is that when he gets cajoled into riding, he can wrap around Sirius like a squid, burying his face in his back, and it's the only way it feels even slightly safe. Sirius secretly loves when Remus does this, and although he doesn't know what cute aggression is, it makes him want to squeeze Remus until his head pops off.

- Sirius is The Garbage Bin of the relationship. Oh you're not gonna finish your dinner? Pass it on over. Random assortment of treats Remus can't finish? Munches on them instead of meals. He often forgets to eat so he gets what he can when he can - ADHD eating style. Remus is the sick Victorian child, 'i can't eat too much dairy or I'll die'. Takes one bite of an apple and feels sick, Sirius, come get your snack, boy.

- Neither of them ever wanted kids but they both like children, which is a surprise to both of them. Given the chance, they are the Coolest Uncles, although Remus is cagey about their relationship and insists they're just best pals that live together until Harry is old enough to call bullshit, and Sirius just shrugs like 'yeah, he's weird about it. If you ask him about it he'll run away to Turkey. I'm working on it.'

Wowwww okay I have so many more but I have to stop somewhere. I hope you don't regret asking this question anon! You have opened Pandora's box

[vriskabot]

do you have any davris headcanons?

i saw this ask the instant it came in and i could not believe my EYES. trust when i tell you ive been typing FURIOUSLY in the meantime okay. okay headcanons. -dave has always been a little genderweird and vriska putting makeup on him when she was bored one night unlocked his third eye and now he cant stop putting red shit all over his eyelids -vriska has also always been genderweird and you can see where im going with this. -she steals his clothes ALL the time -he pretends to hate it when she gets her disgusting $5 perfume stink all over said clothes but you know he loves that shit (and she knows it too) -flaming bisexuals -once theyve been together for a while they are THE most "i am going to have the longest silent conversation with someone across the room you have ever seen in your life" -they both think they can read each other like a book but in truth its only about 60-70% accurate -the inaccuracies are always funny as fuck though and 9 times out of 10 its some entirely off the wall MADNESS due to their upbringings they think is entirely normal. the conversations that directly follow these revelations are legendary amongst the extended crew and every single one thats happened in a public memo has been screenshotted by basically everyone they know -speaking of which. i dont think they dm for basically anything ever. they either have conversations right in the GC (sometimes in the middle of other conversations, which karkat fucking HATES, especially when they flirt with each other) or they speak in person/over the phone. no in between -they flirt with each other all the time and its disgusting but its incomprehensible to literally everyone else. vriska tells dave she found some gnarly roadkill and sends coordinates and dave is like "babe stop not in front of everybody" -she used to send pictures too but that got shut down real quick and now thats really all she dms him for -i dont think vriska likes it for the same reasons dave does but he did absolutely get her into the weird and wacky world of vulture culture. dave likes the wet specimens the most but vriskas a fan of bones and taxidermy -speaking of which. this is more vriska/troll-centric but i love the idea of vriska being able to eat bones. dave gets the same schoolboy "oh my god this is so cool" kick out of it every single time -im well aware that music is a time thing but i genuinely cannot comprehend a world wherein vriska is not a music girlie. this definitely did a lot of the heavy lifting in The Early Days because when youre emotionally constipated sometimes you gotta let a song do the talking FOR you -vriska 100% introduced dave to crunkcore and he got way more into it than she ever did. he listens to 3oh3 religiously -dave samples vriska on his tracks all the time because she CANNOT shut the fuck up. he also likes taking pictures of her but even after years together he still kinda keeps those to himself and gets flustered when she finds one -man i just really love the idea of them being fucking obsessed with each other. they rag on each other ALL the time because thats just how they feel the most comfortable being affectionate but at the end of the day they snuggle up all soft and quiet and just enjoy being with somebody who understands how hard it can be to even allow that to happen in the first place -they ARE super casually affectionate with each other though, even in group settings. i dont think theyd like grand pda like kissing or saying 'i love you' in public but personal space just doesnt really exist for them. they hang off each other and sling legs over laps all willy nilly -they also stim on each other. dave likes to play with her hair while hes talking and vriska likes to play with his hands/fingers when shes bored this post is so LONG i could keep going for days. please always ask me about davris, especially if youve got more specific questions!!!

[literallyjusttoa]

Hey guys! I'm putting out a call for my commissions again for two big reasons: One, Emergencies have caused me to be low on funds when I wasn't expecting it, and that kind of sucks actually. Two, I have a project that I've been dreaming about for years but have actually been able to start working towards in the last couple of months, but to finish it I need to not be living paycheck to paycheck for like a month at the very least, which brings me back to point one :(. I will talk more about the big project under the cut, bc I think it's something you all might really enjoy!

But for now, I will link my commission sheet: Here (It's also my pinned post)

And my new Ko-fi!: Here for if you just want to donate, which would be literally incredible and I would owe you my soul actually.

Ok now for big Project Time!!!

I am in the process of editing and revising my first Youtube video! This has been an on and off dream of mine for like 7 years at this point, but I've finally taken the plunge and gotten to work on a channel. I wanna talk about all sorts of fandoms (including the riordanverse ofc) With videos ranging from plot and character analysis, to trends in fandom culture in general, to fun little ranking videos and speedpaints. All around, I just want the channel to be a fandom hive, where everyone can find something they enjoy.

I already have PNG's created of my sona to use as assets (And I have a sparkly new sona, the one in the pic above!) and I have two finished scripts, with the first one being fully recorded as well! One for my first video, which will be a retrospective on Gravity Falls, and one for a video about the Percy Jackson TV show, the inherent differences between TV and books as mediums, how I think the TV show could improve, and the things I think it got perfectly. I also have a bunch more ideas, such as:

BIG Trials of Apollo video essay, with a focus on how the books and the fandom have effected me over the years.

Ranking all of my favorite characters from all of the media I've been a fan of over the years (This would be over 70 characters)

Explaining the Iliad, but make it funny (with a side of Troy apologia)

Reading Lore Olympus and pointing out how it deviates from myth (the things I'm willing to do for you people /j)

Canon vs. Fanon, where I compare a characters canon characterization with their fanon counterpart and try to figure out how things turned out the way they did.

And more, but I don't want this post to be 5000 words long.

Now here's the big question. As I said in the part above, I'm struggling a bit now money-wise. And I really wanna make this project work, but there's also, you know. Tuition. Rent. Food. Stupid other adult stuff. So if anyone is amenable (and this is totally up to demand, I don't wanna pressure anyone into doing anything!) I was also thinking of maybe making a Patreon. Now, I'd have to do research for this, bc I wanna make sure anyone who signed up would get the right rewards and really get the bang for their buck. I'm pretty sure there's not gonna be much interest in this rn, cuz like, I'm not that big of a blog oof. But if anyone is interested! Here are some of the perks I would definitely be implementing! (sry it's another list)

Early access to videos, and behind the scenes looks at art assets and video creation

the ability to request topics for videos

Patrons names being shown in the videos. And higher tiered patrons getting custom chibis that will be shown in videos as well (and given to the patrons obv)

This ones a bit complicated, but I want to create a cover of a song that has to do with each video to play during their outros. So like, for the gravity falls video, I'm gonna record a quick cover of the Disco Girl song from the show. Only a small section of the song would be in each video, but patrons would get access to the full covers, and be able to request songs to be covered.

Discounts on commissions

A monthly speedpaint that would be exclusive to patreon. Patrons would be able to vote on what the drawing would be.

All of these ideas I'm 100% sure I want to add to a patreon if I make one, but obv there could be more that comes up later. I'm just gauging interest on this idea rn, so let me know if that's something you'd be down to sign up for! Maybe I'm jumping the gun here but I'm just really excited to create and give back to the community and aaahhhhh

Now, no matter what, I'm gonna have this first video out by mid-September at the latest. Because stupid money troubles are not gonna stop me from making this a thing dangit. So look out for that, I'll link the vid here when it releases! But I am just really stressed rn and any support would go a long way towards making this dream come true. And on that note, one more sappy real talk if I am allowed it?

If you've read this far, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. This community and fandom is truly incredible. My blog is about to reach 5 years old, and I've never seen a group of people so accepting and creative and just fun to be around. You guys have truly changed my life, and I wouldn't have the courage to try for this if I didn't have the support you've given me. I know this is super dramatic for just trying to make a youtube channel, but making a place where I could just talk about all the nerdy and overly specific things I care about and share them with the world is something I've wanted for my whole life. You guys gave me that with this blog, and if this channel works out, it'll be thanks to you, so you'll have given it to me twice. I don't have the words to express how much I love this community and all the incredible people in it. So even if you can't support, just know that being here for however long you have been, whether it's the whole five years or the last two days, has done more than you'll ever know. You guys are the best, thank you for everything <3

[ivanttakethis]

A STAR IS BORN: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH “THE STAR OF SEASON 39” TOV

At the top of Season 39’s leaderboard with 77 points, Tov once again sat down with ALIEN STAGE MAGAZINE for an exclusive one-on-one interview!

————————————————————

Hi Tov, how have you been? I believe some congratulations are in order for your top score!

Tov: Thank you. I’ve been well. It’s nice to see you again.

So tell me, what was it like to earn the highest score of the season so far?

Tov: It was definitely unexpected. After Khoi won his round with 70 points, I was just hoping for somewhere in the top three or five. I didn’t think I would match his score, let alone surpass it. But I guess the audience really liked my performance.

When you saw your final score up on screen, what was going through your mind?

Tov: The shock is what hit me first. I was still trying to catch my breath from singing, so it took a minute for me to register what I was seeing. And then I just kept staring at the screen and thinking: “Is this real?” “Is that really my score?” I was so overwhelmed, I didn’t know if I wanted to laugh or cry.

Let’s talk about your last minute song change for Round 10. We’ve all been dying to know what led you to make the decision to switch so late. What was your thought process? Were there outside influences?

Tov: No, nothing like that. It was a personal choice. I lost someone very important to me in Round 7, and I wanted to honor him with my performance since he never got the chance to see me sing. But the song I originally chose didn’t feel right as a tribute.

I spent most of the time between Round 7 and Round 10 searching for the perfect piece, and only came upon Cosmic Love the night before. It fit so well that I did whatever it took to sing it, even if things were a bit rushed. I wouldn’t change anything about how the performance turned out.

Many are now calling you the “Star of Season 39”. How does that make you feel?

Tov: It’s an honor that people think so highly of my singing and I’m very grateful for their support. But now there’s also a lot of pressure to be as perfect as possible. I don’t want to disappoint anyone.

These next few questions come from some of your fans!

First up, BlueBluBleu asks: “Your outfit in your first round was so inspired! How do you plan your look before a performance? What goes into that?”

Tov: Thank you. My guardian would probably talk your ear off about our process. We started concept work on the outfits right after I was confirmed as a contestant for Season 39. I told Cassio that I wanted all of the designs to fit within the theme of stars and constellations. From there we went through several draft iterations trying to represent a different elements associated with that theme: stars, the night sky, the moon, meteor showers, things like that.

We also tried to incorporate the mood of the songs I planned to sing and the emotions I want to evoke in my performances in the fabric colors we chose. Everything we’ve done has been very intentional.

My first outfit was meant to resemble the night sky. So we started with a midnight blue dress as the sky itself, and then sewed on the diamonds as the stars. Cassio and I chose diamonds specifically so they would catch the lights and twinkle when I was on stage. It came together beautifully.

After I won Round 10, we got right back in the studio to work on my second round dress. It’s a different style from my previous one, but it is truly stunning and still fits my theme.

Next, a question from M00N: “Of the 13 remaining contestants, who are 3 you'd love to sing with and why?”

Tov: I’m very biased about this one, but I would love the opportunity to sing a duet with Himei. She’s one of my oldest friends and we haven’t sung together since our Anakt Garden days, so it’d be like stepping back in time and reliving simpler days. Our voices harmonize well together too. I think My Clematis would be a great song choice. It speaks to our relationship in a way.

I’m also biased on my second choice as it’s another close friend of mine. I’d love to sing with Nyx. He’s such a talented bassist and composer. It would be an honor to sing one of his original songs with him on stage. I’ve been wanting to for years now.

My last choice would be Cirrus. Their performance in Round 1 was absolutely captivating. Something about their voice has stuck with me, even through all of the subsequent rounds. It’s haunting, but in a good way. Great for songs with a slower tempo. I think I do well with slower songs too. Maybe we could do a ballad together?

And finally CastorKyo4Evr asks: “Which round so far, outside of your own, did you find the most inspired?”

Tov: I really enjoyed Round 4. It was our first duet of the season and it really got me thinking about all of the possibilities duets could bring to the table. There’s a lot of creativity and cooperation that goes into a joint performance and I found it very inspiring.

Himei and Min’s performance was also very high energy. The song choice played to both of their strengths so the audience got the best out of both of them. I think it really represented what ALIEN STAGE is all about: putting on the best show possible.

Since you scored the highest in Row 1, you’ll be the opening round for Row 2. Does that change anything for you, in comparison to your first round?

Tov: It does change things. The field is narrowing, which means the stakes will be higher. Lark didn’t have the chance to perform in Row 1, so he’s a bit of a wildcard to me. I’m not sure what to expect from him.

Then there’s also the added stress of being the opener. I must confess that I’m a bit nervous. But I’m sure Lark and I will both do our best to make Round 17 memorable for everyone.

What do you have planned for your next round? Will you still be singing for that important someone?

Tov: I’m always going to sing for him. But I’ll also be singing for other people who are important to me too. I hope they’ll be listening.

No hints on what’s to come. You will have to wait and see.

Tov returns to the stage with fellow contestant Lark in Round 17 of ALIEN STAGE Season 39!

————————————————————

This interview took place after Post Row 1 - Tov’s Log.

While Tov isn’t known for being overly talkative, Cassio taught her from a young age how to handle media and public relations matters.

She’s kind of like how Ivan was in his Outstanding Pupil Award interview, very good at coming across as pleasant and sociable.

Notice the difference between how Tov presents how things happened versus how they actually happened 👀

She knows she needs to spin this story and convince the AREPH that she’s not a threat.

The important people she planned to sing for in Round 17 were Nyx and Himei. But we all saw how that went…

Thank you to @lookatmysillies for the fan questions!

Khoi belongs to @junebluues.

Himei and Tallis (not mentioned by name, but we all know) belong to @lookatmysillies.

Nyx belongs to @rockwgooglyeyes.

Cirrus belongs to @yunoftheclouds.

Lark belongs to @kamersona.

[franklyimissparis]

wait i'm new here why does everyone think something happened in india

hi! welcome! everyone is mostly speculating but there’s a few things we know abt the india trip/specifically the aftermath of it that leads us to know that something went down (regardless of whether or not there were romantic/sexual undertones to it):

long story short, paul left india early with jane asher, his fiancé at the time, and john stayed. john was notably deeply depressed and suicidal at the time of the trip as well. and things were reportedly never the same between them.

there are quotations from geoff emerick about how the lads were fundamentally different after india and, though they wouldn’t speak about it, he got the idea that something had happened that changed things within the group and made those relationships icy.

there’s also a scene in get back where john and paul are speaking about india when john mentions “what were we doing… who was writing all those songs in your room” and then mimes fellatio to a microphone 😭

michael gerber wrote at hey dullblog this which i think summarises fans’ questions/theories about what happened between them nicely:

“Sometimes I think the inciting incident was something external, something private that happened in the world—John and Paul started having sex, or stopped, or talked about it, or stopped talking about it; perhaps something powerful happened inside the friendship at the core of the Beatles. One of them said or did something, and the other guy got mad, or felt betrayed, or something.”

honestly i can’t do all the elements at play justice as well as other people can but i would HIGHLY recommend listening to another kind of mind’s pizza and fairytales series which focuses on john and paul’s relationship in the 70s and what led up to all of this, as well as their sexualities and john’s mental health issues. episode 4 discusses the india trip and theorises what went down in a very thoughtful and comprehensive way :))

(and this is the article that quotation comes from, it’s just one opinion tbh but it’s an interesting take)

[yuseirra]

I've actually become really.. Even more confident with my hikaai analyses (until I get proven wrong..haha) hear me out on why I feel this way, okay?

In the latest chapter, it was revealed that Ai's boyfriend is someone who offers things for Ai, and falls into ruin because of it. He believes there is some kind of destiny for himself. That much, we can all agree with, huh?

If that’s the case, then "Fatal" is this person’s song.

In that case, I’ve already secured the basic points if this were a test, and now I’m just waiting to collect the extra points!

It’s not really about me trying to convince myself...this is really true!

From the start, I always predicted that Hikaru’s breakdown only happened after Ai’s death. The question was never whether he fell apart, but rather how much. He’s always been such an ambiguous character whose exact actions were left unclear.

I got this part right, and honestly, it was the most important part. It wasn’t this person who harmed Ai. (So actually, Aqua’s target for revenge is no longer this person. It’s easy to miss this since the story moves so quickly.)

It’s also confirmed that he was originally a genuinely good person. This part was validated when the god herself confirmed he had a noble and refined soul.

This means Hikaru is not the kind of person who falls into ruin just because something bad happens to him. It was Ai’s death that led to his downfall. In fact, considering everything this character has been through, this makes him closer to "kind," and his mental fortitude is incredibly strong. The idea of him being "noble" aligns well with this. So, ultimately, this confirms that the personality depicted in the flashbacks(the movie arc) is accurate to his true character.

If this is the case, it also explains why Ai liked him so much and wanted to save him, making everything fall into place.

Now, the only question that remains is whether he will actually be saved or if he will remain a terrible criminal. (And honestly, this is the same situation the character was in before the movie arc—it’s like we’ve come full circle. However, now there’s the added advantage of two key pieces of information: Ai wanted to save him, and he really was originally a good person.)

To be honest... I feel like we need to see how the character himself acts before we can properly judge him.

It’s similar to judging a real person.

I feel it’s still too early to jump to conclusions just from seeing a text that goes he's a terrible guy who's killed a lot of people. There hasn’t been a single image of him doing anything specific yet... So, while we can take it into consideration, it is only when we get more detailed flashbacks or scenes where the character himself expresses his own thoughts, that will likely confirm everything.

Given that everything I predicted so far has been right(I really, really did get so many things accurately), it feels highly likely that the story will go the way Ai hoped, with this character being saved.

I’ve been following closely, and I've noticed that even in his "ruined" state, this character still shows a lot of kindness. Plus, he’s an actor and just as much of a liar as Ai was, so you have to really pay attention to interpret him correctly. You can’t just believe what you see!

Right now, I’ve scored over 70 points out of 100 if this were to be a test, but I feel confident that I’ll end up with over 90.

Since we’ve already established that he didn’t hurt Ai and that Ai genuinely wanted to help him, this means there’s a strong narrative push in that direction, and my conclusions about the character are likely to be right, which makes me feel even more confident.

If "Fatal" really is this character’s song, then yes, the emotions in that song—desire, disappointment, despair—are definitely present.

But surprisingly, the song has much less selfishness or possessiveness than one might expect. So, I felt like it wasn’t such a bad kind of love, which is why I’ve depicted that couple so much.

It’s a love where you give and give, without expecting much in return. You just want to hear their voice, to catch their gaze, to have them comfort your pain again. The lyrics even mention that their "fatale" belongs to "no one". It’s a kind of selfless love where you want them so desperately that you can’t live without them, while offering up everything you have, but asking for so little in return. This is a very devoted love. If it were one-sided, it might feel overwhelming or creepy, but with Ai and Hikaru, it’s mutual.

If you look at Hikaru’s actions in Chapter 160 (his testimony is likely the truth, even if Tsukuyomi’s stated goal is real, that kind of motivation would only arise after Ai’s death.) It means this person didn’t have confidence that Ai loved him, so he desperately craved her love in this way. That makes it pitiful. He makes a pass to be Ai's lover, in my book. He seems like a good person. And I take love VERY seriously... haha... I believe love isn’t about receiving, but more about giving. It’s about giving without regret... The narrators of "Mephisto" and "Fatal" embody this a lot.

They don’t ask for much from the other person while giving everything they have. That’s the kind of love Ai’s boyfriend has. What he gives may be a question,(or questionable) but I doubt Ai would have failed to notice a guy capable of harming Ruby(their own daughter for goodness sake) or involved in serial killings... haha. Plus, if he’s described as once having been "noble", a person like that probably wouldn’t cross that final line. Ruby didn't, and I find Ruby having taken after his character quite a bit, they make the same expressions. There’s a higher chance he kept his boundaries intact.

Things will unfold the way Ai wanted them to. The things this person has actually done are quite different from what’s been said about him.

He’s not someone who acts strongly or aggressively—he’s too gentle for that. It’s not that he’s pretending to be kind while having a foul heart; rather, I see he’s pretending to be dark when he’s actually not, which is why his true nature shows through.

It’s true that Ai found and fell in love with a genuinely good person, and they had a period where they were happily together. So I can already see the story heading towards him being saved after being broken by her loss. Ai wants to save the boy who's been deeply suffering and is straying far off after what's happened to her. That's the narrative the story is heading towards, it's the most natural path and I see it coming. Ai is right. She found someone REALLY sweet and he got destroyed, so she wants to help him get back to the way he was.

I’ve gotten the overall structure right, and now I just need to collect the extra points :)

[thebreakfastgenie]

I got a little ranking request for you: What are your Top 5 best and Top 5 worst Billy Joel music videos?

Omg okay. This is so hard!!!

Top 5 best:

Turn the Lights Back On

This is the one that makes me the most emotional. It's not even the AI younger versions of him, although those are great, but the old footage they put in at the end. Oh my god. It gets me every time. And when he turns the page from Famous Last Words at the beginning.... it gets me every single time. It's really beautifully made and I'm so glad we have it.

2. The Longest Time

This is a nice simple concept and I really love it. The old age makeup is a little goofy but it's worth it to me. I love seeing the band singing together in this one! The lyrics are romantic but the video is about the group of friends and it's nice.

3. You're Only Human

Billy Joel called this video terrible but he's just mean. It's cheesy but it makes it work. I think the cliche of homaging It's a Wonderful Life actually helps, because it doesn't take itself totally seriously. I like the narrative videos, which he would hate, but too bad. This is the only song of his that I enjoy significantly more with the video. He's great in it! He gets to ham it up and be silly and then he does the scene where he takes the kid to see the cops informing his parents that he's dead and he gets that look on his face. My heart. Playing the Piano Man riff on the harmonica is such a perfect touch. It really personalizes it and takes it from being a straight It's a Wonderful Life scenario to being a message from Billy Joel himself.

4. Pressure

This one is a really great example of surreal music videos that raise more questions than they answer. I think it's just really well-done and the effects are cool. It has some funny little easter eggs too, like "William Joel, age 29, occupation computer software."

5. A Matter of Trust

This is more of a performance video, but it has just enough narrative setting to it to make me interested. I like the rehearsal concept, even if seeing him play a guitar is weird. The comedy beat with the lady yelling at them to shut up is fun. Everyone in the street stopping to listen is predictable but it works. And the cameo from Christie and Alexa is adorable. "Okay girls, A Matter of Trust!" my heart!!

Honorable mentions that I adore but didn't make this list because I think these 5 are better: Keeping the Faith, She's Right On Time, Uptown Girl, We Didn't Start the Fire, Tell Her About It.

Top 5 worst:

Zanzibar

I don't even know what's going on here. He's released two other animated videos in recent years and those are both pretty good. This one is just weird.

2. Piano Man (1985)

I don't think either Piano Man video should exist, but between the two of them this one is worse. I hate how literally it interprets every line, I hate how brightly colored it is. I don't know if it's supposed to be comedic or it's just 80stastic but it's not dark and gritty like the song is in my head. This video represents everything he's ever said is bad about videos. I have my own extremely clear vision of the piano bar in my head from the song and this is getting in the way. Among the reasons this one is worse, it's very obvious when you look at him that it was filmed in the 80s, not the early 70s. His hair is completely wrong.

3. To Make You Feel My Love

There's no point to this, they just needed a video because they put this out as a single with Greatest Hits Volume 3. It works slightly better for Hey Girl.

4. And So It Goes

I have nothing against this it's just completely pointless. It doesn't add anything to the song. The only good part is the shot of his hands playing.

5. The Downeaster "Alexa"

I just don't like how it's edited and I really want this song to have a better video.

The only ones on the worst list I really feel strongly about are the first two though!

And then there's Sometimes a Fantasy which is both the worst and the best.

There's a video limit but I can link it.

I honestly think it's pretty well made and I really enjoy it but it's weird and it makes me feel a little gross. It just... is.

Thanks for the ask!

[yuespropagandablog]

Hello esteemed mutual. If you are reading this, then that means my propaganda is working. But you might still have questions, so I am here to answer them.

What is Hedwig and the Angry Inch?

My favourite musical.

It's a musical made by John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask. You are kind of part of it! You are going to a concert of a rock and roll band called Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The lead singer is a genderqueer artist from East Berlin called Hedwig Robinson. Together with her husband Yitzhak and their band members, she's touring America (or whatever country you're in) in order to get recognition for her work. The band is actually sort-of-stalking the well-known rock artist Tommy Gnosis, whose more successful tour is playing at a bigger venue close by. During the show Hedwig explains to you why she is following Tommy Gnosis. Tommy stole her songs!

During the show, Hedwig tells you about her past as a little gay boy in communist East Berlin, her botched sex change and move to America, how she met Tommy, and how Tommy ultimately betrayed her.

What makes this show so different from others?

I think the reason why this show feels more like a gig than a musical at points is because the show got developed in the band scene, not in the theatre scene. John Cameron Mitchell would perform as Hedwig during gigs in clubs and she premiered in the punk-drag scene. Fun fact, Tommy Gnosis was supposed to be the main character, since he was based on John's own life. Hedwig, in turn, was based on John's babysitter who was also a prostitute. But Stephen Trask urged John to expand on her character and make her the focus of the work, and boy, I'm glad that happened.

The music is also based on androgynous 70s glam rock, inspired by artists like David Bowie, Lou Reed and Iggy Pop. Hedwig tells you this in the show. There's an oven involved. Back when Hedwig and the Angry Inch was performed as a drag act, she would sing rock covers instead of her original work.

She also yaps a lot. The show can be insulted by calling it "a play with songs". It's around 1.5 hours long and there are only 13 songs (depending on the production). My dad's review of the show was "Ze ouwe hoert heel veel" and to this day, no review has encapsulated the show in a better way. Thanks dad!

There's no intermission. It's a one-act show.

Hedwig is probably one of the most god-awful people you've ever met in your life. She's rude, condescending, verbally abuses her husband Yitzhak, blackmails her band members by confiscating their passports, and spits into the audience at times. This show is wild. Honestly, when I first heard of this show, I wasn't sure I would like it, but I was pleasantly surprised. The reason I got to know this show was because Darren Criss took over the role on Broadway. To this day, this is the only bootleg that I gave a standing ovation when I first watched it, which made me look really funny, standing there, clapping, in my parents' living room.

No show is the same. Hedwig often improvises, based on the actor's choices. I think Darren Criss once said that his Hedwig has been called the sweetest version and also the rudest version in the same run. The actors also tend to joke about other Hedwig actors and about themselves. Taye Diggs, who's black, apparently started the show with "The bitch is black and there's hell to pay" or something similar and Lena had an absolute zinger with "Darren Criss, all the privileges of homosexuality and none of the responsibilities". And of course, I know Darren from Glee, and the "Lea Michele, please stop believin'" joke was too good. I think the interactivity also works really well. When I saw Darren in the role, there's a moment where she asks how people would describe her hair. An audience member yelled "Supermegafoxyawesomehot!", which was just a joy, especially since Lauren Lopez and Joey Richter from Starkid were in the audience.

And in case it wasn't clear: yes, this is the show that made me fly to Los Angeles for the weekend, just to see it. The setting also changes, since the space is part of the show. Again, you go to see the band Hedwig and the Angry Inch wherever. I saw her in the Pantages Theatre, with Tommy playing a show in the Hollywood Bowl. There were a lot of jokes about LA. These obviously don't show up in the Broadway bootlegs, where she played in the Balasco Theatre, with Tommy playing in Times Square.

Oh, and no, this show is not about the owl from Harry Potter.

Is there a trailer?

For some fucking reason.... no? Like, this show doesn't even have show clips. Why are there no show clips? Really, it's been 11 years since this show was on Broadway. Why is there no damn footage of this? I also cannot find any "official" show clip from the off-Broadway run.

Thank fucking god for regional theatre. I haven't seen these productions myself, but they look good.

Leeds Playhouse:

Olney Theatre Center:

(Neat, that's Mason Alexander Park, who was the understudy during the Broadway tour. They walked past me at stage door and I was too nervous to stop them. I regret that to this day.)

And okay, I did see one other version, namely the Berlin one with Sven Ratzke:

And even though there are no show clips of the Broadway version, there is a Tony Awards performance. I am obsessed with this performance. You should totally watch it.

Who have played Hedwig?

Many people.

On Broadway, Neil Patrick Harris, Andrew Rannells, Michael C. Hall, John Cameron Mitchell, Darren Criss and Taye Diggs have played her. During the Broadway tour, she was played by Darren Criss, Lena Hall, Euan Morton and Mason Alexander Park. I have also seen videos of Michael Cerveris and Anthony Rapp in the role. Also, to show the duality between Hedwig and Tommy Gnosis, the actor who plays Hedwig also plays Tommy.

On Broadway, Yitzhak, the other prominent role, was played by Lena Hall, Rebecca Naomi Jones and Shannon Conley. Hannah Corneau also played him during the Broadway tour. The role was originated by Miriam Shor.

Oh... and... uh... unfortunately for me (and the rest of the world), Riverdale did Hedwig and the Angry Inch for an episode and it was god awful, apart from Casey Cott as Hedwig, so shout out to Casey Cott.

What is the whole gender fuckery about?

So, buckle up, folks.

One of the themes of this show is gender fuckery. Often, Hedwig, the female character, gets played by a man, and Yitzhak, the male character, gets played by a woman. This is no hard rule, but it often happens. It's to sort of fuck with the perception of gender. No matter how these actors are presented, Hedwig is still a woman, Yitzhak is still a man.

But is Hedwig a woman?

Is she trans? Is she a drag queen? Is she something else?

There was some controversy around "cis man playing trans woman role", and gosh, that is another can of worms. There's a lot to be said about that rule in general, and yes, I very much agree with the idea that trans roles should be given to trans actors, but Hedwig isn't a trans role. John Cameron Mitchell calls her genderqueer, not a trans woman, since Hedwig's gender transcends gender. She is more than a woman or a man. Not only that, John was hesitant to call it a trans story, because Hedwig gets mutilated. It's a botched and illegal sex change, and she was forced into it. Equating transness to body mutilation that is forced upon someone is Not Good, so her story doesn't speak for the trans community.

Unfortunately, many people equate any form with gender fuckery to being transgender, which is why these discussions on "cis man playing trans woman role" still happen and it's kind of unfair and BOY, a can of worms! I'm telling ya!

That being said, people are still open to see it as a trans story, even if it wasn't intended that way. And many trans people care deeply about the story and the gender fuckery it displays and it's very valuable for that reason. Not to talk about the awful Riverdale episode again, but that was one of the reasons many were a bit awry about the show doing Hedwig and the Angry Inch, cause many didn't think Riverdale could treat the trans overtones and importance with respect, because it's Riverdale. So even though Hedwig isn't necessarily trans, her story isn't necessarily a trans story, and therefore the person portraying her also doesn't have to be trans, it's still often seen as an important show for trans people, and that is welcomed and should be respected.

From what I have gotten, the gender fuckery, however you interpret it, is there to make people think about gender, gender expression and gender binary in general. John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask are both non-binary as well. Also, as I mentioned, she premiered in the drag scene. Hedwig and the Angry Inch technically started out as a drag show. Drag in itself is also about gender fuckery and expression.

Lastly, I personally like an intersex reading of the show. I once spoke with an intersex artist who really resonated with the forced aspect of the gender change and the body mutilation, and it was inspiring to see how Hedwig, despite all that happened to her, still embraced her own gender identity and found comfort in herself. That interpretation really changed how I looked at this show.

All of this to say: take it how you will.

Is there a proshot?

Of course not :)

But there's a huge array of bootlegs from the Broadway version, and there are also some Off-Broadway/regional ones. Tootin and bootin.

I prefer movies!

Well, you're in luck! There is a movie version, created and directed by John Cameron Mitchell himself. The movie pretty much tells the same story, so this isn't like other movie musicals where the movie strays from the source material in sometimes outlandish ways. Hedwig is played by John Cameron Mitchell, and Yitzhak by Miriam Shor. Stephen Trask is also in it as Skszp.

The big difference, though, is that you are no longer part of the show. That makes sense. In the stage show, you are going to a concert of Hedwig and the Angry Inch and she tells you her life story. In the movie, that no longer works, so instead, the movie follows Hedwig on tour and in different venues, she talks about her story to the audiences of those gigs. And we see the events she tells about through flashbacks. It’s show, not tell, cause Hedwig cannot tell us, cause we are no longer part of it. You're no longer in a theatre with her.

Another big difference is that Tommy is not played by John. Instead of an actor playing both Hedwig and Tommy, they're played by separate people, since film is a different medium and it works better. That does lead to an interesting change for the ending, but I will not delve into that, because spoilers! Talk to me after you've seen it.

The movie does include Phyllis Stein, Hedwig's manager. In the stage version, she's dead and Hedwig laments a lot about her. In the movie, she's very much alive and she's hilarious. Unfortunately, they did cut most of Yitzhak's background. Boooo! Hasn't he suffered enough?!

Have a trailer:

Are there content warnings?

Oh boy. Crude and sexist language is in here. Also, not all characters like gender fuckery, so there are some assholes here. There's the whole body mutilation. That isn't seen, but it's referenced to a lot.

There's also blatant antisemitism at multiple times. I said before that Hedwig is a terrible person who verbally abuses her husband, and she is also quite xenophobic towards the characters from the Balkans. And ya know, casual racism. Oh Hedwig.

There are also some lines that some read as pedophilia. As in, some think Hedwig was sexually abused by multiple people, even in her youth.

There are also a lot of flashing lights, so this show definitely isn't epilepsy safe.

Are there German characters in Hedwig and the Angry Inch?

Yes, Hedwig herself is German! Sorry for the bad German accents, though.

[kindlingkeen]

hi! i was reading through my bookmarks and decided that because today is so special (happy death day jason todd <3) i might as well share some, so here we go:

The Whale by chucklesbuckles - it's just jason in blackgate having fun torturing a new prisoner. the guy has a truly miserable time. talia shows up at one point. it's a fun read but not for everyone

There is no milk! by chucklesbuckles - red hood!catherine au, this one hurt my feelings a lot

(chucklesbuckles also has a few jayroy fics, i don't read for that ship but i know you do, so)

Silent Song by Sparkypants - bruce tries to save his kids and ends up dooming them in a different way. it's heartbreaking but so good, i couldn't look away. all the batkids feature but duke and jason most prominently

A Most Dangerous Game by Balrog_Roike - the end of this is just the red hood being very cool and badass and menacing, very fun

The 70 Days After Groundhog Day by Ptelea - dick-centric but jason's the one who went through the time loop. some really good dick and jason moments. i think what stood out to me most was how the author built dick's civilian life (he's not a cop! he teaches self-defense at a shelter! it suits him so well!) and gave him friends and acquaintances outside of his family and the caped community

This One's For Keeps by whaleofatime - about dick and jason being brothers and them talking about their relationship with bruce. so so good

okay this got long so we'll stop there. i hope you enjoy! and if you've read all of these then maybe some of your followers will have something new to check out. looking forward to what you have planned next for Asymmetrical Warfare and i hope you have a good day!

Anon, you are a gem, thank you so much for sharing your fic recs. 💙 I’m sorry I didn’t get your ask answered on Jason’s death day anniversary, I had a busy couple of days. 😔

I’m excited to go through these. The only title I recognize is The 70 Days After Groundhog Day by Ptelea (you’ll need to be logged in to ao3 to access this one), which I quite liked. I read it a while ago, but the passage below stuck with me (it’s not at all the focus of the fic, which ends on a happy note, but it made me feel so sad for Jay):

At the Cave, a quick stop in the car, Bruce rising from his chair. Jason turned to him and said, "You need to tell him, not me. He gets from questions to action faster, when you say it," and Dick would have expected those words to be spat out bitter, but they just...were, like the fire that was burning Jason up wasn't leaving room for anything else.

Thanks again for your ask, anon!