#because the lyrics are REALLY FUCKING ACCURATE

[wordstome]

*David Attenborough narrating a nature documentary about exotic birds voice* “It seems Bucca’s currently working on kingdom come 3! Let’s take a peek in on her creative process.”

*the door opens to reveal me endlessly looping Hozier’s Blood*

BUT I LOVE THE VERY BLOOD OF YOU IT KEEPS ITS HEAT IN SPITE OF YOU OH THE HEART THAT BEATS TO KEEP YOU HERE WITH ME ALWAYS

*quietly shuts the door* “well. Let’s wish her luck.”

[moonysbookshelves]

The Cadence of Part-Time Poets

The Cadence of Part-Time Poets by @motswolo

Have been working on this 10 volume set for the past few months now, and they are finally complete. My Magnum Opus. I have peaked and probably depleted all of my brain power.

Thank you to @motswolo for writing such a beautiful story. My brain chemistry has been favourably altered. Will forever flinch when I hear Queen, The Beatles or Bob Dylan. Love to you from western Canada (west coast best coast lets gooooo).

I also posted a TikTok of these since posts here are limited and I love the insides as much as the covers, so if you wanna see between the pages, here’s that.

Also thank you @avisbindery for letting me scream and cry in your DMs while I read the fic. May you get some uninterrupted sleep now LOLLL.

Going to write a whole essay below about the ideas and details because uhhh I wanna yap bit!

So for starters, I wanted to make these binds look like magazines because of the epilogue where (spoiler) Tonya sees Remus in a copy of New Musical Express. But of course this fic is long, so I was like, what if I do multiple volumes? This very quickly spiralled into me painstakingly (finding publication-accurate fonts almost sent me to an early grave) recreating 10 different music-focused magazines from the 70s and 80s from scratch (thank you to Photoshop, Affinity, Procreate and Canva). Each volume features a unique cover, along with stylized typesets to match that display the songs for each chapter but in different designs. And then I went a little crazy and made a 45 sleeve and a cassette too, to really set the scene when I took the photos lol

While the covers display the dates pertaining to the contents of that particular volume (Sept 1975 for volume one, for example) I was thinking about what the magazines would say if they were really published when Marauders are traipsing about being spectacular and famous in the future. I sprinkled in details from the fic itself and fanon-ed it a bit, but that was the general inspiration :-) Tried to keep the photos used either faceless/obscured, or to use the fancasts on Mots’ Cadence master post. I also tried to use period-accurate photos but didn’t always succeed, so settled for photos of 4 member bands where I had to :”) But the general intent with the facelessness was that they could be implied to be Marauders. If you squint? lol. Just pretend. Pls.

Volume One: Based upon The Record Song Book. This magazine went on to inspire the typesets, since it publishes lyrics and such. The cover images are of Spacey Jane and David Thewlis.

Volume Two: Based on ZigZag, specifically the issue from July 1978 featuring Siouxie and the Banshees just because I thought it looked sick as fuck. I re-drew the abstract shapes and such in procreate. The cover images are The Clash and a young Gary Oldman. Lord he was foiiine.

Volume Three: Based on Trouser Press, November 1980. The cover images are a young Metallica, and my personal fav fan cast for James, Reiky De Valk. The film negatives are from a Bruce Springsteen tour, 1976.

Volume Four: Based on Gay Times (November 1984), a queer magazine from the UK because this volume contains Wolfstars first kiss hehe. Also hence Somebody To Love plastered all over the covers. The Front cover is Inhaler. The “4A” on this one is of course the boys’ dorm number, but I made the A the lambda symbol as this was a pride symbol in the 70s after Stonewall.

Volume Five: Based on Melody Maker. Front image is Alex Turner. All of the text on this one is pulled directly from the fic. The scene where they all drop acid and James jumps off the roof Almost Famous style had me hootin’ and hollerin’… until Tomny showed up hahaha :”)

Volume Six: Based on IT (International Times, Aug 1971). Front image for this one is Joy Division, and the back features Jane Asher for Lily

Volume Seven: Based on Record Mirror, June 1976. Front image is John Taylor of Duran Duran. Yum.

Volume Eight: Based on Rolling Stone. More vibes than anything for this one, but the quote still makes me laugh.  Front image is of Matt Hitt. Can you tell I photoshopped a cell phone out of this one? IDK. This photo just screamed ‘Remus’ to me so I had to use it. The back image is an old cigarette ad, but the photo is taken in Shepherd’s Bush.

Volume Nine: Based on Fusion magazine. Front image for this one is once again Inhaler. Oops. Back cover is our gals. Images are Jodie Foster as Cherry, Brenda Sykes as Mary, and Goldie Hawn as Lottie.

Volume Ten: Based on New Musical Express. You know why :”) These are all victims of fanon, but this one especially. I wanted it to be NME instead of the re-invented logos I’d been doing for all the rest, as I wanted it to look like the magazine the Sister gives to Tonya. I referred to an issue of NME from October 1979 for this and layered in fic references where it made sense to. The cover image for this one is (I think) Cigarettes After Sex. This issue also contains all of the B-Side chapters, and the Marauders song lyrics too just for fun :)

Slasher Chick: This is just my take on what Sybill’s zine could’ve looked like. Prob way off but I just wanted to have fun with this one since I had no cover to reference lol. The zine contains her little write-up and the interview, lifted straight from the fic :")

ok yap sesh over byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee lmfaooooo

[dearsubong]

if choi su bong ✞ was your baby daddy .ᐟ

about ✧ headcannons about choi su bong being your baby daddy. a lot of sfw/not much nsfw

warnings ✧ 18+, nsfw, smut, fluff

an ✧ this was going to be headcannons of nam gyu dae ho jun ho and in ho too but i was too lazy and need to post 😩

SFW

in pregnancy, he’s gotten softer and stopped everything, trying to stop his addiction and stop going out all the time. for you. for your baby.

he would watch those youtube videos and tiktoks about ‘how to relieve your pregnant wife from pregnancy’ or similar subjects.

he secretly came up behind you and held your heavy belly. you gasped at the unexpected touch but felt relieved as you felt the weight come off your body.

“that’s nice, su bong.” your head falls back to his shoulder behind you and sigh deeply. he smiles at your satisfaction.

“i’m glad, babe.” he murmured against your ear.

you really said ‘i can fix him’ because when he’s around you, he’s putty.

and yet, around others, he’s still strict but jokes around.

in public, when you and him are having a walk or in the mall to eat and/or shop, his arm is always around your shoulder, telling everyone around him that’s you’re his with just his eyes and eyebrows, raising them up and down when some guy looks at you.

with his friends, he DEFINITELY brags. he would just yap about your pregnancy to them about 3 quarters of the time. other quarter is that he isn’t there. he’s taking care of you ♡︎

after chul was born, he’s gotten a lot more protective even thought he already was extremely protective before him.

he would teach chul some of his lyrics, the most popular, ‘bang bang bang’ with little finger guns.

you knew that because a random time when chul ran up to you and wanted to show you something. he had did that same thing his appa taught him.

chul put up finger guns and saying, “bang, bang, bang!” before running off—a bit obviously to his father—giggling. “let’s go!” he yelled before running into chul’s room. you felt like you were taking care of su bong as well.

NSFW UNDER THE CUT

even when you were pregnant, that didn’t stop him from fucking you.

he’d pound your fucking brains out, dumbifying you. he would try to be gentle since you still have a baby bump.

sometimes, when you wanted to please him, he’d let you ride him. although, you’d get tired a bit quickly so he held you up and fucked into you upwards.

but when he got you to give him a blow job, oh, he’d thrust his dick so far down your throat that his dick was bulging out of your neck.

he’s only trying to feed his unborn baby ♡︎

if you miss a drop of his cum, he’d pout and whine about you trying to starve your unborn baby.

“babyyy! he needs to be fed.” he argues even though he already swallowed a dump of his sperm in your throat.

you would fuck when chul was in the other room. yeah, you two were loud, but who cares? not like chul would understand.

yeah, no…

one dinner time, he mentioned it.

“eomma, appa, what were you two doing last night?” you and su bong froze, looking at each other, deciding who should respond.

you hurriedly replied first. “oh, we were just—talking. sorry, we’re we loud?” you blush.

he nods. “all i could hear was ‘a-ahhhh, su bong! right there!’ and a lot more. who’s su bong, eomma?”

chul didn’t know yours and su bongs name yet.

but you and him were shocked at the mimic. “accurate.” su bong replies amusingly. you slap his arm and his pouts, whining dramatically.

at times, when he’s really needy and horny, he’d fuck you in the kitchen, on the counter. all while chul was watching a cartoon in the living room, too glued to the show to even bother to you and him.

you would try to be quiet as hard as you can, covering your mouth, muffling what could’ve been loud moans and—

taking the back shots so well ♡︎

[studioeisa]

like a python 🧊 jihoon x reader.

jihoon doesn’t know how many years of pining he has left in him.

★ rockstar!jihoon x reader. ★ word count: 2.5k ★ genre/warnings: alternate universe: non-idol. jihoon-centric, childhood friends, yearning... so much yearning, young k makes a cameo, jihoon is a bit lame (affectionately), cussing/swearing. mentions of alcohol, food. ★ footnotes: got7 dropped winter heptagon and it's all i can think about. wrote this in one sitting as a show of gratitude to @chugging-antiseptic-dye for introducing me to these boys. haven't done a song fic in a hot minute, but for lee jihoon and got7? anything. shoutout to igot7_MarKP on twitter for the english translation of the lyrics.

🎧 now playing: python by got7 — i know i'm an icon, watch me with the lights on; but she got a hold on me like a python.

▸ MUSIC IS HOW I'VE BEEN VENTING NOW... OVERSEAS, I'M SELLING OUT.

It’s pretty surreal to Jihoon, being in a room with some of the biggest names in rock.

In the past hour alone, he’s met Alex Turner, Dave Grohl, and— holy shit, is that Hayley Williams? Jihoon is getting dizzy, and it’s not only because of all the secondhand smoke he’s inhaled since he got to the Rolling Stones afterparty. 

The best of the best. That’s what the invitation had boasted. It was the scene’s most coveted event, and Jihoon somehow made it to the guest list. 

Unbidden, your voice nags from somewhere in the back of his mind. You’re the best, Jihoon-ah. 

He shakes his head, like he’s physically trying to get away from the thought of you. This had been happening a lot more as of late. Fleeting moments wherein he’d imagine how you would react, what you’d say. 

But Jihoon always catches himself. He snaps himself out of it and goes back to recording, goes back to performing. 

God, he needs to get it together. He’s starting to regret saying ‘no’ to the cigarette Ely Buendia was offering him earlier. 

(In Jihoon’s defense, he didn’t smoke often. He didn’t want to fuck up his vocal chords. He had a one-cigarette-a-year rule, and he wasn’t about to use it now. It was only January; who knew what else the year would throw him?) 

Jihoon is contemplating some other vice— maybe he can go grab another beer— when he feels a tap on his shoulder. At the sight of who came up to him, Jihoon immediately folds into a bow. 

“There’s no need for that,” Younghyun says, equal parts amused and embarrassed. “We’re all the same here, yeah?” 

Jihoon pulls himself to his full height. “Not… really,” he says lamely, and then he immediately launches into mumbled apologies when he realizes how he might have sounded. 

It wasn’t that Jihoon thought he was better than his peers. Hell, he knew that he was the least important person in the room. That’s what he meant; they were not all the same, because Jihoon still had a long ways to go. 

Especially when compared to rock icon Young K, who is— gracefully— taking Jihoon’s awkwardness in stride. 

“You’re holding up a lot better than me,” Younghyun muses. “At my first afterparty, I threw up on Rupam Islam.” 

“No.” 

“Yes, unfortunately. He was very nice about it, though.” 

Jihoon lets out a stutter of a laugh. He’s never been a fan of small talk, but he clings to it now like a lifeline. “Does it get easier?” he asks. 

Younghyun’s eyebrows raise. “Throwing up on rockstars?” 

“No, no–”

“I was kidding,” Younghyun says in between chuckles. His expression is a little more pensive when he goes on, “I can’t say for sure that it gets easier, but you learn to deal with it.” 

You learn to deal with it. Jihoon can almost laugh at just how accurate that is. It seems applicable to every aspect of his life— including missing you. 

Jihoon winces. Younghyun notices. 

The older man doesn’t comment on it, probably thinks it’s something else entirely. Younghyun doesn’t flinch away, either, when Jihoon nervously says, “Can I ask you another question?” 

“Ask away,” says Younghyun. “I’ve got nothing better to do.” 

What is Jihoon doing? He doesn’t know either, but it’s either this or fight off the urge to run through a pack of Marlboros. “How do you cope,” he starts slowly, “with… feelings?” 

A beat. Crap. Jihoon realizes he definitely could have phrased that better, because Younghyun is now looking at him with an expression of mild confusion. 

Jihoon backtracks. “You— we— go through a lot in this field of work. Like, a lot. And you— fuck, fine, I’m— grateful for it, really, I swear. But there’s just… so much other things, too, aside from the gratitude. How do you cope with those?”

Jihoon knows he probably looks and sounds like a trainwreck in his bid to be deliberately vague. By some miracle, Younghyun at least seems to understand what Jihoon is trying to say.

Younghyun’s lip quirks to one side as he thinks of his response. The silence stretches uncomfortably long, but then he gives an answer that’s the last thing Jihoon could have expected. 

“I write,” Younghyun says. 

Jihoon blinks once. Then twice. 

“You write,” he repeats, and the former nods. 

“It’s all in my discography. The anger, the heartbreak, the love.” Younghyun raises his shoulders in a shrug. “I’ve written nearly 200 songs, and all of them are just— that. Questions. Answers to questions. Feelings and stories.” 

It’s so simple, so obvious. It’s like a glaring traffic sign, like something that every musician should know and do.

Put it in a song. Perform it for thousands and leave the muse none the wiser. Profit. Lather, rinse, repeat. 

Jihoon had done it a fair amount of times, but never had he considered putting you to pen and paper. The prospect of it makes something in his chest thrum. 

“I—” He clears his throat. “I think I have to go, sunbaenim. It was nice seeing you.” 

A hint of humor glints in Younghyun’s eye, like he’s somewhat aware of the fact he’s witnessing something unravel. “‘Younghyun’ is fine,” he chirps. “And it was nice seeing you, too, Jihoon. Take care of yourself.” 

The words— take care of yourself— are supposed to be a platitude. To Jihoon, it feels like a tall ask. 

▸ I'M TOURING THE WORLD BUT I'M MISSING THE ONE WHO HELD IT DOWN.

Jihoon is exhausted. 

As much as he wants to say that he’s never been this tired in his life, it’d probably be a lie. He’d make the claim, hit the road, then end up crashing out saying the same damn thing. He’s seen this film before; he knows how it ends. 

He falls back on his hotel bed after his shower. A low groan escapes him, and he sends up a silent prayer to all the higher powers there are. Thank you for sheets with a 300-500 thread count. Thank you for air-conditioning. Thank you for warm showers and Listerine. 

Despite his fatigue, Jihoon can’t just go to sleep. Post-show adrenaline always took a couple of hours to wear off.

He briefly contemplates his options. Write a lyric or two? Watch a shitty Netflix movie? Stare out the hotel window until his eyes can’t stay open anymore? 

None of the above, it seems, as he reaches for his phone. 

Jihoon has never been active on SNS; he just couldn’t bring himself to care about things like TikTok trends or Twitter ‘beef’. It’s a constant thorn in his PR team’s side. There is one thing that he bothers to check, though, and God forbid he deny himself the simple pleasure of some good ol’ fashioned pining. 

He’s been on your Instagram page enough times that it’s the first thing that shows when he goes to the search bar. It’s the only thing that shows, really, which gives some pretty good sense of where his head is at. 

Your profile loads. There’s no new post, no recent story. Jihoon is both disappointed and relieved.

No news is good news, he thinks to himself as he leisurely scrolls through the photos he’s already seen a dozen times before. You, feeding sidewalk cats. You, sipping tea at a cafe. You, in all the places that were once Jihoon’s, too. The beaches, the hiking trails, the restaurant in your shared neighborhood. 

Jihoon opens that particular post. Even though he’s watched your life in squares for the better half of the past three years, this is the one photo that always has him feeling a pang of… something. 

Because Jihoon can imagine it— being at that restaurant with you. The two of you had discovered it together, had pooled your measly school allowances to afford the bokguk and ganjang gejang. 

He imagines being there with this older version of you, being the one snapping the picture that’d find a spot on your feed. He can see it so clearly in his mind’s eye that if he really, really tries, it begins to look more like a memory than a daydream.

But he’s not in Busan, not even in Korea. He’s in the United States instead, where he has ten stops before heading to Canada and Europe. 

Sold-out stadiums. Thousands upon thousands of adoring fans. 

All the food that he could possibly want, and yet it’s pufferfish soup and soy sauce crabs that he’s looking for. 

Every person that he could possibly have, and yet. And yet. 

Jihoon huffs out a frustrated exhale. He’s tired, which he swears makes him delusional. 

He casts his phone aside, blissfully ignorant to the way his finger double taps his screen as he does. 

Halfway across the world, your phone pings.

woozi_universefactory ✓ liked your post. 

▸ I'VE BEEN RUNNING BACKWARDS, RUNNING BACKWARDS LIKE A MARATHON.

The push notification glaring up at Jihoon looks a lot like a bomb that’s about to explode.

Jihoon feels like it’s a bomb, because he refuses to believe that after over a year of absolutely nothing, you’ve messaged first. You’ve messaged first. 

He double, triple checks his calendar. It’s neither of your birthdays. It’s not a holiday, either. Is it Chuseok? No— that doesn’t make sense. 

“For fuck’s sake,” he chides himself under his breath. It’s a text. Nothing more, nothing less.

Jihoon opens the notification. 

And then his heart just. 

Stops. 

You’d sent two messages— the first, being the post that had him spiraling last night. It’s the proceeding message that has Jihoon hoping the ground will swallow him whole. 

Stalking me, Jihoon-ah? 

Holy shit.

Jihoon types out at least three different messages, from Are you a fly on my wall to Is there a new Instagram feature I don’t know about to What happened to “hello, how are you”? 

In the end, he only sends back a single question mark. When he opens the offending post, he immediately sees his transgression. 

Jihoon hadn’t liked the photo before last night. He didn’t like much posts to begin with. How— When— 

His phone pings. He’s never been so thankful that he mostly opts to get room service for breakfast, because the squeak that he lets out is definitely not very rockstar-like. Jihoon fumbles, and he ends up opening your DM before he can psych himself up for it. 

LOL. Playing dumb doesn’t suit you, you say. 

Damn you and your ability to render him speechless. Jihoon wonders if he can get away with not responding, with getting back to you a couple of days later and blaming his work. 

Except. 

Jihoon’s fingers slowly move across his screen. 

It was a good post, he says. 

It was a post from a year ago, you answer. 

So? He throws in an emoji of a man shrugging for good measure. Jihoon never uses emojis, but he can make some exceptions. 

Your respond, So, stalking. You were stalking me. 

Jihoon knows he’s digging a hole for himself, knows he’s going to stay up several nights thinking of just how stupid he is. If he were a stronger man, he’d pull the plug on this conversation and that’d be it. You wouldn’t bug him. He would maybe write a song about this moment. The world would go on. 

But he can hear you. 

In the messages, in the words on his screen. He can hear your voice, the way you’d smile or laugh or tease. How you’d say his name in that sing-song tone he once pretended to hate. 

He hears you in your messages, and he’ll live with the secondhand shame if it means that he gets to keep on listening. 

Not stalking, he shoots back. Just checking in. 

Ah, you say. Because you missed me?~

Despite himself, he scoffs. You’ve always been so shameless. It didn’t matter to you that he was WOOZI the rockstar; to you, he would always be Jihoon who lived three houses down. 

As if, he says to your teasing.

You don’t respond anymore. You don’t even read the message, because Jihoon doesn’t see the little ‘Seen’ under his last message.

He waits for it for a minute. Then five minutes. Then seven minutes. He stops checking at the thirteen-minute mark, because he likes to believe he’s no longer a high schooler with a raging crush on the girl next door. 

He’s a grown man. He’s WOOZI, for Christ’s sake. 

He can’t keep coming back to you.

▸ I GAVE YOU MY TIME WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH; ALL OF MY FEELINGS, SWEPT UNDER THE RUG.

Except he does. 

WOOZI may not want to. WOOZI may be the bassist writing songs about the past in hopes of leaving things in the past, but Jihoon is a different story. 

Jihoon texts you the moment he lands in Gimhae International Airport. Jihoon stands outside your front door— definitely jetlagged, probably in need of a shower— with his luggage in one hand and his phone in the other. 

Jihoon acts like it’s the world’s biggest inconvenience when he tells you, “Come on, then.” 

The two of you get the crabs and soup. He refuses to talk about his time away; he contents himself with listening, like he always does, and you fill the silence with babble. Your desk job, your parents’ nagging, your hobbies and side hustles. 

“Probably not as interesting as your life,” you joke after a particularly long-winded anecdote about a delivery rider who got your address wrong. 

Jihoon neither confirms nor denies the statement. He only raises one eyebrow and gives you a wordless gesture with his hand. Go on anyway, he’s saying, and you take the cue. 

The meal ends. Jihoon invites you for coffee. Then ice cream. Then a walk. 

“This is very suspicious.” 

Jihoon can’t help it; a snort of laughter escapes him at your words. “Can’t a guy take a friend out to lunch?” he asks humorlessly. 

“And dinner,” you note. 

“And dinner, yes.” 

“And dessert.” 

“And dessert.” 

The two of you are taking the long way home. There’s something to be said about how Jihoon drags his feet, about how you walk like you’re not on borrowed time. Even your conversation moves like you’re beating around the bush.

There is an elephant in the room and Jihoon is done pretending that it’s not there. That it hasn’t been there since the day you two met in primary school, since the first time he held your hand as a teenager, since he became a musician and every song he performed became about you.

Jihoon doesn’t know how many years of pining he has left in him. 

“Are you dying?” 

Your blasé question draws a bark of laughter from him. “Jesus, no,” he says. “Do I have to be dying to want to see you?” 

You don’t answer right away. Jihoon once again has that feeling that he’s said something wrong, something loaded, but you save him from overthinking when you respond with, “You wanted to see me?” 

There it is. That teasing tone, that hint of a smile. 

You bump your shoulder against his. “You missed me, Jihoon-ah. Admit it.” 

And Jihoon is done, Jihoon is tired, Jihoon is still yours after all this time.

“I did,” he finally, finally says. “I missed you.” 

[lesmisshippingshowdown]

Hello and welcome to the Les Mis Shipping Showdown!

That's right, we're bringing ship brackets to the Les Mis fandom! The Shipping Showdown is an all new, 5 round contest intended to answer some of the internet's greatest questions, such as "is E/R's dominance really as overwhelming as AO3 statistics would have you believe?", "what is the fandom's all time favourite Les Amis pair the spares combo?", and "what would happen if we tried to Jurassic Park the ship wars of 2013 back into existence 12 years later?". Ignore that last one, maybe.

The Final and Third Place Playoff are currently in progress!

Click here for information about Steal Off 2 - submissions open at 00:01 BST (UTC +1) on Monday April 21st.

Special rounds between particularly iconic matchups may occur at a later date if they do not get a chance to face off in the bracket proper.

CURRENT BRACKET BELOW:

Please see below the cut for FAQ, rules, and mod details:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Who is responsible for all this? Great question! The Les Mis Shipping Showdown is the brainchild of @lonelyroommp3, with invaluable assistance including graphic design, bracket seeding, and wildcard suggestions from @glindalesbian. We are both veterans of the Les Mis fandom, and although it's not been either of our main fandoms for a while we're both still filled with love and nostalgia for both the work itself and the memories the fandom and its myriad shipping messes evoke<3

Q: Woah, wait! How did you decide upon these specific ships? 29 of the ships are - as far as it's possible to accurately sort these things on AO3 - the 29 most popular romantic relationship tags in the Les Misérables (All Media Types) fandom category. This sorting method isn't foolproof, and if we've missed something major we can only apologise! If you bring to light a really notable ship that we've missed, it may get included as part of a special round at a later date if demand is sufficient.

In addition, between the two mods we have chosen three wildcard entries based on such scientifically rigorous selection criteria as "one of us personally shipped this back in the day", "we remember this being really popular but the AO3 stats don't seem to reflect that", and, in one case, "we thought it would be really funny." It is up to you, dear reader, to try and figure out which ship fits in each category.

For the sake of transparency, a couple of ships have been excluded because they have significant overlap with another, more popular ship. For example, both Joly/Bossuet and Joly/Bossuet/Musichetta have AO3 works in the hundreds, but including them both felt a little redundant, so we made the executive decision to just include the more popular combination of the above characters.

Q: Are platonic/familial/queerplatonic relationship tags included? What if I like a combination of characters in a given match up, but only platonically? All my love to the non romantic relationship dynamics in Les Mis - after all, "to love another person is to see the face of God" is a lyric that intentionally does not specify a type of love! However, to keep things streamlined, this poll is specifically about romantic/sexual ships. Whenever you see a match up, assume you are being asked which combination of characters you personally would prefer to see depicted in a romantic relationship and/or sucking and fucking.

Q: Can I submit propaganda? Where should I do this? Yes! You are welcome to add propaganda in the reblogs of any given poll, or send asks or submissions to this blog. However, if your propaganda is in the form of a new fanwork (fic, art, etc) it may be of more use as a steal - see the link above for more details!

Q: Can I share this blog/contest/specific polls outside of Tumblr? If you're sharing on a small scale with a discord server, individual friends without Tumblr accounts, etc, please go ahead! We would, however, politely request that if you are lucky enough to have contacts who are, or have been, involved with professional productions of Les Misérables in any capacity that you do NOT share this competition with them directly or go shouting about it in places they are likely to see it, no matter how funny you think it may be to try and get some organic propaganda off the US Tour's 2nd cover Grantaire or whoever. Some of us are fujos in the sheets and actual theatre professionals in the streets, and we'd prefer to keep those two streams of our lives as separate as possible. Please respect this!

Q: You've used my fanart in a post and I don't want it in there/it's been credited incorrectly. If this happens to you, please let us know via asks ASAP with a link or clear reference to the offending post & artwork, so we can either remove your art or amend the credit accordingly!

FURTHER RULES

We were both around in this fandom in 2013 when people were in the actual trenches about certain ships, and we know this can be a testy subject. We also think a bit of healthy competition and ship warring is fun from time to time, and the Les Mis Shipping Showdown is not intended to be a totally sanitised arena where we take everything super duper seriously and everybody has to be really really niceys 100% of the time. However, we do ask that good taste and interpersonal respect is considered:

You're free to fight about ships until the cows come home, but please refrain from personal attacks on other users in any arena related to this tournament.

Any hate speech in propaganda, notes of official tournament posts, asks/submissions, or any posts about the tournament brought to the mods' attention will NOT be tolerated and will result in an instant block (+ the offending account being reported if deemed necessary).

We've both seen shipping tournaments play out in other fandoms and know that it's absolutely impossible to avoid botting & vote rigging. However, any cases of the above that are deemed excessive, malicious, or generally against the spirit of the tournament may result in a match up being aborted, repeated, or, in extreme cases, a ship being permanently excluded from the tournament. This also goes for poll stealing - egregiously low effort works or those which seem designed to exploit loopholes in the scoring system to get as many points as possible may be marked down or disqualified. Just be normal pleaseeeeeee

[brattaire]

Ok I think I can be more coherent on my thoughts now from Les mis yesterday

First up I forgot how much Valjean gets the shit beaten out of him in the first two songs. Rip my guy

The bishop? Incredible

We had Emily Fink as Fantine and she was INCREDIBLE! I don't usually cry during I dreamed a dream but man that got me.

The confrontation 100/10 Colin Anderson Valjean and Nick Rehberger Javert are insane. My race is not yet run always gives me chills and this did not disappoint

Master of the house. Oh my god I could write a whole post on this song. The Thenardiers were so good. Matt Crowle was fucking hilarious. Kyle Adams cameo going THRU it they fed him his own vomit???? I was in tears. Also him and that woman 100/10 good for him (and her)

Bye bye Baguette will live rent free in my mind for the rest of my life

Enjolras??? I would follow him to my death too.

Eponine is INCREDIBLE! Also I met Mya Rena Hunter after the show and she was really nice! But oh my god her and Marius. And she's really badass. And her voice yall.

Ok red and black. There's SO MUCH! Enjolras 100/10 once again would follow to my death. Grantaire fucking around the entire song, prancing around the stage and I think he sat in multiple people's laps? Also long hair Grantaire was an amazing choice whoever did that you're a genius. Staring longingly at Enjolras in between fucking around. Book accurate Grantaire for the win.

GRANTAIRE AND GAVROCHE! Fucking killed me. I'm still not over it. After DYHTPS they're pretty much together the rest of the show and god they fucking kill me. Grantaire protecting Gavroche multiple times. Bruh

You guys Marius and Cosette are so awkward and adorable. Cosette disappearing in the window and Marius "I'm doing this all wrong" sad puppy face. Eponine in the background god.

ONE DAY MORE! The song of all time I'm not even kidding.

Ok ok I'm gonna write less now but

On my own and a little fall of rain broke me. Once again Eponine was incredible. Gavroche being the one to notice that she's dying in Marius' arms and once again Grantaire comforting him, and the rest of the barricade turning to watch.

Grantaire guarding Javert oh my god. I would pay actual money to know what he said to Javert.

DRINK WITH ME! Oh my god. Everyone giving a cheer when Grantaire starts because they think he'll say something funny, and instead he says that. The change in attitude. Him and Enjolras. Gavroche comforting him. Afterwards they're in the corner of the stage and and you can see them hugging.

Bring him home was incredible. Again. Chills.

I could also do a whole post on Gavroche's death. First of all Grantaire is pulled away from going after him and just stands facing the audience. The look on his face. You hear a gunshot and then silence, and then Gavroche climbs back up and there's so much relief and Enjolras is holding his shirt to pull him down and then he gets shot. Enjolras catches him. Grantaire walks over and gestures for Enjolras to hand him the body and then is holding Gavroche until the final battle.

Final battle bruh. Grantaire kissing Gavroche's head, laying him down, and then going to the barricade. He and Enjolras' moment. Enjolras climbing the barricade and falling forwards when he's shot. I'm pretty sure I heard "long live the republic I am one of them" Grantaire being the last to die. The theater was completely still and silent afterwards.

The fucking cart carrying Enjolras' body made me audibly say what the fuck. Javert looking at Gavroche's body.

Empty chairs at empty tables. The choreography was incredible I feel like it's usually just them standing there but it was more with candles and stuff. Yes I was crying.

the wedding/beggars at the feast. Once again Thenardiers are amazing. Kyle Adams as the wedding guy once again prancing around stage. Amazing dance moves. BATF is one of my favorite songs. Lyrics changes to "this one's a queer I might try it too" and Thenardier dancing with a man. Insane.

And then I ugly cried my way thru the epilogue

Afterwards I met Mya and Kyle and they were SO NICE! I made a joke post about screaming crying throwing up on IG that Kyle reposted and then he was screaming crying throwing up in our pictures and I was laughing my ass off. He's really funny. Mya was so nice! Her and my friend were talking because they're both Mya's and both have septum piercings lmao

I'm very tempted to go see it again before it leaves

[xuchiya]

"complete my heart." || kim hongjoong ||

| genre: non!idol hongjoong. fluff. | mentions: rain. break-down car. confession.

It was one of those nights when the city felt eerily still, with only the distant hum of traffic and the occasional honking car breaking the silence. You were just about to drift off to sleep when the blare of a car honk jolted you awake. Glancing at your phone, the clock read 3:06 AM. Only one person would be up to something at this hour—Kim Hongjoong.

You quickly grabbed your hoodie and slipped on your customized Jordan shoes, courtesy of Wooyoung, who had proudly bragged about matching the colors to your favorites. The drizzle outside hinted at the heavy rain to come. As you climbed into Hongjoong’s car, you could tell he was up to something, his usual confident demeanor replaced with a hint of uncertainty.

The cityscape blurred by as you drove, the two of you enveloped in a silence that grew more palpable with each passing minute. Occasionally, you’d glance over at Hongjoong, wondering what was on his mind. The tension in the car was almost suffocating.

Unable to bear it any longer, you finally broke the silence. “Just tell me what’s on your mind before we find ourselves stranded here in the middle of the skyway because you forgot to pump some gas—”

As if on cue, the car jerked to an initial stop, causing your heart to race. Hongjoong quickly yanked up the hand brake, his face a mix of frustration and guilt. You huffed, muttering a 'told you so'.

“I know… I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the rain now pelting the car.

You turned to the window, watching the raindrops race down the glass. “You never go beyond the skyway…” your voice trailed off, more of a statement than a question.

Hongjoong sighed, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. “I wanted to talk to you, but I didn’t know how,” he admitted, his usual confidence crumbling. “I’ve always been sure of my feelings for you, and I’m not afraid to tell anyone how I feel. But when it comes to you, I… I don’t know how to act.”

You turned to him, seeing the vulnerability in his eyes. This was a side of Hongjoong you rarely saw, something in your heart stirred the way his eyes were shaky, and his body language were far off the one you usually caught but tonight, you knew there is something bothering him and the burden on his shoulders became too much for him that he has to, or he won't get a wink of sleep. “Why didn’t you just tell me?”

He looked down, his fingers tapping nervously against the wheel. “Because I’m scared,” he confessed after a minute of silence and protest inside his head. “Scared that you might not feel the same way. Scared that I'll lose you if I told you that I love you.”

His eyes met yours, a mix of hope and fear. “I love you,” he finally said, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside. “I’ve loved you for a long time, and I just needed you to know and I wanted to tell you because I can't focus on anything, whenever I think of words on my music, you came in my head and I finish a whole fucking lyrics about you or how I want my food the way you prepare it for me, styling my outfits were much more accurate and amaze looking than I do.”

The rain outside intensified, creating a symphony of droplets against the car’s roof. You stared at him, not really expecting the sudden confession. Heck, in the middle of the night, middle of nowhere in a broken-down car because the idiot forgot to do pump some gas. You leaned clsoer to him. “Hongjoong. I’m not going anywhere. Literally, we're stuck here until you ring up Seonghwa and I can't believe I fell inlove with the son of the God of music.”

A smile tugged at your lips, reaching over to tuck a piece of hair behind his ear. “I love you too, Hongjoong.”

In that moment, despite the rain and the broken-down car, everything felt perfect that Hongjoong wanted to take a picture of the two of you but you wanted it to be subtle; coming up with a unique and witty way when Hongjoong pulled out his phone, in the view of his phone was his hand curled like half-heart, waiting for you to complete his heart when you, being the joker among the two of you, pull of your middle finger.

"Yah!" You laugh, forcing his hovering thumb to take the picture before muttering thousands of sorry before taking a proper picture.

[imsobadatnicknames2]

Never realized you were a metalocalypse fan. What are your thoughts on the albums?

Well...

Dethalbum I: Ngl, while I DO like this one, I feel like too much of that enjoyment hinges on already liking the show. Like if I were to evaluate it purely as a metal album, it's simply not an album that I can see myself listening to if it wasn't attached to the funney adult swim cartoon. Like if the cartoon didn't exist and a band released this exact album I just don't think I would consider it good. It has many decent-to-good songs but it just doesn't feel like an album, it feels like a collection of songs from a TV show, you know?

Favorite song: The Lost Vikings (idk I have a soft spot for style parodies and it's impressive how accurately this one nails Amon Amarth's musical style)

Dethalbum II: It's hard to overstate how much Brendon's instrumental composition matured between albums I and II. Like. This is at the very least an album that a real metal band would actually release, it's an album that I'd enjoy even with no connection to the cartoon (even if some of the goofier lyrics would definitely leave me a bit baffled). However, it has one (1) big problem which makes it the one I listen to the least often: I don't like the production on this one. The mix sounds extremely claustrophobic, none of the instruments feel like they have any breathing room. It's a shame because I really like a lot of the songs but the production makes the whole album legitimately hard to listen to sometimes.

Favorite track: Burn the Earth

Dethalbum III: This one is just REALLY fucking good. It unironically makes it into the list of my favorite death metal albums of all time. Probably not near the top of the list but like. A solid near-the-middle spot. It has legitimately some impressive and extremely creative guitar riffs and solos. On my first listen there were several moments that left me saying "oh that riff was fucked up" which is always a good think in a death metal album. And I love the little call-and-response some of the songs do with like. Suddenly cutting from the guitar riff to a drum fill and going back and forth like that a couple times (that little technique in particular was very influential for some of my work on the second Beyond Flesh album). Idk it's just a really fucking good album that I think would stand its own ground as a legitimately amazing death metal album if it was presented with no attachment to the cartoon.

Favorite track: Idk it's a tie between Andromeda and Biological Warfare

I haven't given the 4th one a full listen yet, but from the couple tracks I've heard it seems to be about on par with the 3rd one.

[ninoucheuuuh]

I will be okay - Octavia's Song

Well, i'm-not-talking-to-my-parent-kids, IF THIS ISN'T OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM

I feel like her song deserves more posts and more longer ones because it was amazing and so hurtful at the same time, and because i was so exited to hear it and well, I'M NOT DISAPPOINTED OBVIOUSLY 💜✨️

(put this here if you want to listen to it again 💜🫶🏻✨️)

I'm going to start with the instrumental :

When the guitar started, I SCREAMED SO HARD, LIKE IT'S THE MOMENT I'VE BEEN WAINTING FOR, WE'RE HERE ✨️✨️✨️

I reaaaaally love the melody. It's composed by very simple chords but it hits SO FUCKING HARD.

It starts with a very soft guitar, it's the start of her confession, of the spread of her feelings. Like she started to let it out a little.

And then, BAM, THAT FUCKING BREATH. ACAPELLA, NO MUSIC. THE BREATH THAT SAYS EVERYTHING. NO WORDS NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND. All her pain, like she's suffocated by the words she kept so long. Am I the only one with tears in the eyes and a pain in the heart everytime I hear this sigh ?

And then the drums start (the transition like oh myyyyy) and the piano just like little sparkles ✨️ And you fell she starts to feel freer in the song. Especially with that beautiful "OOOOooooOOOOooooh" that leads us to a more angrier Octavia (let it out baby 😔❤️)

And after that beautiful lament, we have also an angrier instrumental with the drums, the piano (no more single notes but chords) and that electric guitar ✨️ And with her grungy voice everything feets soooo well ❤️✨️

The music when she says "You were wrong" (at 1:09) INJECT IT IN MY VEINS PLZ 🙏🏻 Same for the guitar at 1:20 when there's the explosion.

AND THEN AGAIN IN THE CHLORUS AT 1:28 THE GUITAR 😭❤️🙏🏻✨️ It gives me tears 🥹❤️ Like a lament and like it goes lower

Also when she says "And when you'll gone I will be okay" it gives me soooo much Creep by Radiohead vibe, especially the "okaaaaaaaay" which sounds so similar to the "weirdoooooooo" and I love it because I think that this vocal is so beautiful ❤️✨️

And then again the guitar (so beautiful 🥹❤️🙏🏻) before the heart's scream

And when she sings there's those little high-pitched notes on the piano and the drums (amazing ✨️)

And it's calm again, the guitar only, like in the begging. It's the end of this escape, we come back in that little closet with Via and her guitar. Those notes, so soft, to highlight her beautiful voice, so sweet, like a caress for the ears, so real, so painful 🥺💔✨️

Also, obviously, the song in general gives a "You will be okay" vibe

(Well, I know it's not a very accurate analysis, it could be more specified but well. It's more a "what I feel while listening to it" and English is not my native language so it's more difficult for me to express exactly what I have in mind. But it's something that I really like to do with one of my friend with songs that we love sooooo)

Now, the lyrics and that beautiful voice that got my heart 🥹❤️✨️ :

Your boxes packed up on the bed Your words are in my head Tellin' me it will be okay You'll remember what you said Or was it just another lie ? [Sigh]

Obviously, the "you will be okay" ref yet. The confort words of her dad are still stuck in her head. And her voice, sooooo beautiful 🫶🏻✨️ When she's reaching higher notes, her voice is so soft. The way she's saying "youuuuu saaaaid" is so pure, same for "just another lie", it also highlights these words. I'd like to focus especially on that line.

The fact that she's says "another lie" is interesting, because that's implying that there are far many more than 1 or 2. Well, of course, the most obvious is the "Will you go with him and leave me behind ?" one. I don't think that she really places Stolas's lullaby as a lie - what i mean is that it's not a huge one -, because later in the song, she says it herself, "I will be okay". Even though it's difficult, she's strong enough to face it.

In my opinion, I think that she may have realised that something was wrong, long beforce the divorce and all. Because, first, she had kind of clues in Loo Loo Land. I'm thinking about this moment :

"She's always been... I haven't been... We weren't in..." Even if Stolas fails explaining to Via what's wrong with Stella, there are still words that call the attention. Especially the "always". It's not recent. Also, I think that Stella and Andrealphus' recent reactions may lead her to that point. Yes, Octavia can't even imagine what Stolas has endured with her mother for sure. Stolas never told her about their problems before. But she's not stupid, and I think she may suspect deeper problems. The "another lie" is a big package for all failed promises and non-told things.

And I must mention again that deep sigh again because it's so hurtful and doesn't fail represent her feelings 🥺💔

This place that used to be your home Would you call me on the phone ?Will I hear your voice in the middle of the night when I turn off the lights ? Or are you just another ghost ?  Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh

"When I turn off the lights" her voice is so pure and sweet when she sings high notes ✋️😔✨️ Again a cute reference to Loo Loo Land in that line, when she's calling Stolas in the middle of the night and he comes to confort her with the lullaby ❤️✨️

Using the word "ghost" was really to ripp our hearts, wasn't it ? 😭💔

And that BEAUTIFUL "OOOOoooOOOOooooh" SO MAJESTIC ❤️✨️ Like a scream. The grown sigh of the first verse, because she's starting to let it all out, it's taking more and more place. Barrett Wilbert Reed, my english is too bad to explain the amazing artist you are 🫵😔❤️✨️

How could you lie to my face ? And did our time mean nothing to you ? Were you bluffing all along ? That you would be there to see Yourself forgiven by me If you thought that I'd take it, you were wrong Oh, you were wrong

My my my, the way she sings that "all alooOOoong" is just amazing. And she has that kind of grungy voice just- sorry i'm just dying right now her voice is incredible 😭❤️✨️ Also the two "you were wroooOOOooong" are just killing me. You feel that she's angry. Because she feels abandoned, betrayed and because she feels like Stolas doesn't trust her enough to tell her clearly the things. And you feel that she's so in pain, so angry and so sad at the same time. The second "wrong" feels like a tear, you can almost hear a paper ripped in pieces 😭💔

Again we find all those stuff about the lies etc like before. Also, she wants to show that even tough she's hurt, she's strong enough to face it. But i will come to it in the chorus.

And when you're gone, I will be okay I will be okay, though I'll never be the same And I'll know that I was right to doubt you I'll grow without you, and you'll only know my name

The way she sings the two first line, so confident, is amazing. 💜✨️ And HERE, in her voice, even in the way she moves (her clenched fist), she shows that she IS strong. She's not anymore the little girl she was. She's confident. She assumes her pain, that Stolas' decision and hers will change her forever, but she will get up.

And that's clearly a thing that Stolas don't understand, and we see it by the way he talked about the divorce with her : he said nothing. Why ? He wanted to shelter her. Yes, as a parent, your role is to shelter you child. But comes a time where your child is old and mature enough to understand and bear tough subjects. And Via is totally ready to hear Stolas' story with Stella.

And when you're a child and your parents keep saying that you can't handle it, it's fucking horrible and make you so mad. And I know it by experience, as a divorced-parents-child. Aaah, the "It doesn't concern you, it's between your mother/father and I." Well, fuck you, because i'm the first victim of that fucking shitty relationship, I have the right to know what is happening. And Via must feel the same.

The way she sings the two last lines is so heartbreaking. 😭💔 You can feel that it comes from the deepth of her lungs. She's letting it out, all her pain, all her anger. Let it out my precious girl, let it out 🫶🏻😔❤️✨️ And her voice is so beautiful god, kinda grungy. It brings tears in my eyes everytime 🥺😭💔✨️

And, one of my three favourite lines, the most powerful one in my opinion : "I'll grow without you and you'll only know my name".

First, because it's just awful : they'll spend one hundred years without seeing each other. They have such a bond since the first day of her life. And all of this would be ruined. And it's just- so sad and hard that i can't hold my tears ✋️🥺

Second, because as a i'm-not-talking-to-my-father-child, it feels so relatable. I feel it so deep and so real. And i know that my fellows feel it also 🫵✨️

In short, I took the decision to not seeing/talking anymore to my dad for 4/5 years now. I just kept contact with my half-sister and my half-brother. He was a bitch to my mother all the time they spent together (it's really in short okay 😭) and in the year when they divorced (i was still talking to him), I barely saw him because he was going to see her girlfriend in another country (but like, ALL the weekends, of course he didn't sleep home, and when i called him he was not answering). We were close, but not that much, and i can say that during that year where i only saw him a little, I felt a distance. And then, when he threw my mother out, I choosed to not see him anymore. Recently, I've been to my sister's wedding (i was so fucking scared to go because i was terrified to see my grandmother again) and i saw him again. He didn't even come to say "hello" (i wasn't hurt don't worry, just suprised). And when I thought that yes, I'm a stranger to him now. Even if he loves me stil - which honestly i don't fucking know and i don't fucking care -, he doesn't know me anymore. He's missing the most important years of my life, where i changed a lot and i discovered completely myself, etc. Now, he doesn't know my tastes, my favourite colour, my friends, how i'm doing at school... He only knows my name.

And that's exactly what may happen between Stolas and Octavia. And the way she sings it makes it even more heartbreaking 💔

You always told me I'd be okay Well, I'll be okay, though I'm not okay today But my tears won't fall upon your shoulder I'll just get older and you'll only know my name

That verse. Her voice. So soft, so broken, so painful. Those sweet high notes with that soft guitar- my heart can't handle it 😭💔

The "though i'm not okay today" really shows her strength. She's not at her best now, and all those events have hurt her. But she will be okay. She will get back on het feet. She's brave enough and you feel the resilience and the confidence in her voice 💜🫶🏻✨️

My other favourite line : "But my tears won't fall upon your shoulder". With her voice, so soft, so sweet, so pure, reaching those lovely and painful high notes and the sound of her tears dropping. The line itself is just heartbreaking. You will no be here anymore to confort me, so I will find an other way to confort me on my own. You feel her pain 😭💔

And just to stab our hurt even more : "I'll just get older and you'll only know my name", always with that beautiful and heartbreaking voice 💔

I'm not going to talk about the animation because, well, that post is long enough and some people have already done that better than i would, but i put some screeshots here just for the pleasure :

Look how beautiful she is i love her so much 💜🫶🏻✨️

The animation is so sad with the "Or are you just another ghost ? OOOOoooOOOoooh" I sobbed while re-watching it 🥺😭

We don't talk enough about this part THE ANIMATION WAS INSANE LIKE MIND BLOWING ✨️✨️✨️ (it reminds me so much Just Look My Way, when Stolas holds the moon and the "camera" turns around him).

This song is amazing and so powerful. The voice, the interpretation, the instrumental, the references, the fact that it's a reponse to Stolas' Lullaby... I relate to it so much, and I'M PROUND to be represented by Via, my girl 💜🫶🏻✨️

"You will be okay", "I will be okay", you know what comes next : if they don't do a fucking duet when they'll make up, i swear i will put my city on fire. Bryce and Barrett have such amazing voice, and a duet will be just like a blessing - and the dead of us but don't worry, we will be okay 👌🏻✨️

[kuschelkissen]

Yeah. "The song is not a tear jerker", YES IT FUCKING IS

I'm a fucking mess, I'm crying, I'm not gonna survive this fucking show if I'm gonna be crying within TEN FUCKING SECONDS OF THE OPENING?!

"I couldn't make it to you", are you for fucking real?!

😭😭😭😭😭

Can't even really enjoy the song because OF COURSE it's in English, so i can't even tune out the lyrics!! 😭

The visuals on top??

Gorgeous, BUT HEART WRENCHING 😭😭😭

Gf was like "he's smiling 🥹", well I'm fucking not?! He's also crying! Good, we have that in common, I guess?!

^ Accurate depiction of myself rn, just add some trembling on top, well done, bilibili, well done👏

[m1ssed-m3ssages]

I'm listening to the Alice by heart soundtrack and I just want to comment on how fucking SHUAKE coded every song in this is. ESPECIALLY as a NG+ au. So here's my reasoning on every song.

West Of Words- this entire song reminds me of the popular HC that akechi would also remember the past playthroughs, and holy shit. So many of the lyrics match this. "There's a world we knew as we, before before, a story entered, a tiny key we turned, West of words" feels so accurate to it, but like the whole SONG is them. All of the different people of wonderland being the different palace leaders (specifically "there's a gold and silver song in the afternoon" being madarame) but I just. Yes. And Alfred being sick is so akechi and Akira both knowing what akechi has to do for the story to go correctly. UGHH.

Down The Hole- this one is a little harder to connect, but hear me out. Going "down the hole" is clearly Momentos, given they are going down, and it's a tunnel, and yada yada. But this song being the joy akechi and joker get from being in Momentos again and being able to fight there again? Then in their outfits just smiling together and dashing through Momentos, and it's only then, and they are "down the hole, and really on a roll"? YESS. And the other phantom thieves are so confused bc like this place is scary... And why tf do these two ppl already know it... Also ryuji saying "shoulda brought the cat" to Mona would be REALLY FUNNY. And "what happens if I can't get out of wonderland"? That's so marukis palace coded.

Still- akechi just wants to get through what's going to happen, because what else can they do? But Akira is just so... Happy to see him again, he kinda can't think about anything else for a bit. This song just being Akira trying to get akechi to slow down and appreciate what they have... UGHHHH. GOOODDDD. And the entire thing about not having enough time? And akechi's fate? And THATS why akechi is rushing?? UGHHHHH. And "walk with me still, linger on with me still." Akira saying this to akechi? And the bit following it where he's trying to reason with Akira that people already know who they are? AARRGGHHH.

Chillin' The Regrets- I'm imagining this song to be akechi getting back to his mercenary job, knowing he has to, and initially he's against it, but fuck, he forgot just how nice it felt to kill these jackasses, whether it's by shido's command or not. The entire song is him fighting between Robin Hood and Loki (his sense of self-improvement and his sense of desire). And the whole "just as sweet as rain"? To everyone else, this song is about the status affects. But Akira and akechi know what's happening in akechi's mind, whether he like it or not. GODDD.

The Key Is- the entire song being Akira talking to the phantom thieves (and indirectly to akechi who he secretly has on call during the meetings he cannot attend) and him being like "I WILL save you all, however long it takes, I won't let you suffer." Also "let them play their ghostly fraud, wound us in the name of God, to see us to dream within you" is 100% Akira hinting towards yaldaboath to akechi, but as just a general statement to everyone else. GOODDD THIS MUSICAL IS SO THEM.

Those Long Eyes- this song being someone like Kawasaki or sojiro (someone parental) talking to Akira when Akira is like "I feel like I'm losing this... Person I like." And the song is their response, but it's in like a flashback format that cuts back to akechi and Akira dancing together at jazz jinn while the parental person watches them from a booth and spying on them IK ITS A REACH BUT I LOVE AUS OKAY

Manage Your Flamingo- okay this one was hard to figure out ngl, but I'm going off of the line "why don't they ask why?" For most of it, but I'm imagining this is them at the bottom of Momentos, when they see the holy grail and listening to people praise it, or the same but with the phantom thieves wondering why the cognitions don't question the rulers of the palaces. And if this is in shido's palace then it's shido's cognition of akechi doing the "will God save, the queen?"

Sick To Death Of Aliceness- I imagine they encounter a part of a side palace where each thief experiences their innermost deepest fear. The one we see is Akira's, and it's all of the thieves 'realizing' that their leader is selfish, and at the head of it all (the hatter) is akechi. The "I'm sick to death" that Alfred screams at Alice at the end is 100% this fake akechi trying to prod at Akira's fear of losing akechi.

Brillig Braellig- Akira talking to shadow shido during that one part of his battle where it's just the two of them, and the backround singers are the people on the throne shido sits on, except now theyre separate and in the backround. End of note. But fr, this song being shadow!shido telling Akira how he planned on letting akechi essentially "sign up to die"? And the line "spine up you icky sickies, line up to die" is the crowd of people knowing what's going to happen to akechi, and Akira fighting all of them while fighting shido as well? MMMMM YESSS.

Some Things Fall Away.- Morgana, just now realizing just how much Akira truly cared for akechi post-shidos palace, trying to comfort him about the fact that akechi was going to die anyhow. Also the line "shadows pause at the window, meet their gaze- their grief is yours." Being Morgana knowing that Akira is overly sympathetic, and just... UGHTFJFJR. KILL MEEE. And on the "someone strays from the window on their way, their grief is yours." At the end it's Akira sitting with his legs crossed, a shadow sitting exactly the same, and on "the grief is yours" it flickers to akechi sitting across from him, in his casual outfit with that slutty sweater vest? YESS. GAWDDDDD.

Your Shell Of Grief- just from the name alone, I want you to guess what I'm gonna say. NOPE, it's not Akira grieving akechi, now it's the OPPOSITE! This happens post interrogation room, right after his meeting with shido. He goes into Momentos, and one of the shadows try to reason with him, and for the first time ever, he freezes. More shadows join in, and they are feeding off of his apathy. I imagine they put a status ailment on him (the one where I makes you sad I forgot what it's called). The entire thing is him essentially letting himself grief for once, before rememebering that the shadows want him to grieve forever, and he pushes against them (off screen though). And at some of the turtles parts it shows how akechi views the phantom thieves way of going about grief

Another Room In Your Head- omg, this is the one that made me start all of this. This feels VERY marukis palace coded, when Akira pulls akechi to the side when he somehow notices akechi's been even more quiet than usual, and akechi has a soft moment where he wonders what Akira did, and what he will do, after losing akechi. And it's them knowing they will have to go through all of this again, and they will grieve every time, because that time might be the one where it actually sticks around. This also gives me a reason to imagine them gently cupping eachothers cheeks and crying, before ryuji walks in and is like. "🧍‍♂️."

Isn't It A Trial?- imagine for a moment; what if the shadows don't forget what happened in the last playthrough? What if they remember? Now hear me out- this song, but it's shadow akechi talking to Akira about the actual akechi, and essentially calling akechi immature and a bad person, and that he isn't ready to face his actions as a mercenary now that he's an adult, and omg. Uhhrhrhfhfhf. I'll be so fr, this one was a little harder to assign.

Do You Think We think You're Alice?- Akira having to face kamoshida palace again, but somehow the shadows can smell the confidence coming off of joker, and they realize that- given if they still remember everything- this is the joker they remember killing them, and think they need to knock him down a few legs during the final fight. Again, a harder one to connect.

I've Shrunk Enough- if akechi came back during another NG+ at kamoshidas palace, and he's helping the thieves against the big boss, and it's just akechi being like "c'mon you nerds, you know you can do better, so do better." And essentially just hyping them up.

Afternoon- akira and akechi reflecting on how they feel about the thieves and... And eachother. At "like a sister," it shows sumire and futaba (the younger siblings) and at the "like a brother" it shows Akira and Kasumi (with her face blocked by a book on gymnastics). And the song is just them reminiscing, and akechi realizing that he maybe kind of cares for the thieves. Just a smidge.

Winter Blooms- the start of another NG+, but Akira knows that he will be okay, no matter if this is the last loop or not. "Nothing comes or goes without a shadow" and it's him thinking on everyone and their personas. "Let the sorrow go, it's half the battle" it shows all of the thieves bonding at Leblanc with whoever they are grievings ghost standing behind them as if they aren't invisible. "Down the hole you go to where you are" is Akira acknowledging Momentos in his every day, just holding a to-go coffee, and breathing in the spring air.

I hope this convinces you to listen to Alice by heart because when I tell you this musical is LIFE CHANGING. and it's so shuake coded. Please for the love of God someone listen to Alice by heart while trying to connect it to persona 5 and tell me what you come up with PLEASEWKWKEJDJ I NEED MORE PPL TO BE AUTISTIC OVER ABH × P5

[nburkhardt]

Of Scissors & Wild Curls

Trying to beat out my writers block by writing an au troupe I absolutely love reading and haven’t written before. Just a heads up, it’s in modern times just so I don’t have to worry about being accurate to anything in the 80s ✌️ (this was stated on June 16th, when I started it)

anyway enjoy!

It’s the worst day of his entire life.

Right now. This is absolutely the day to end all bad days. It’ll be in his autobiography, it’ll be written in news articles and maybe a movie someday.

He wants to die a million deaths, truly.

It’s The Worst.

…. Or he might be exaggerating a bit. Just a little. Really, it’s not the end of the world.

This time at least.

Look, he’s had a long ass week and had a fight with some idiot taking pictures of him absolutely not falling on his ass. And the record label just told him that they need at least another album before letting the band take a much needed break.

Also, if he’s being truthful here, his writers block is a killer.

There’s a wall just planted in his brain, cutting off any and all lyrics the band needs for another fucking album.

Where was he again? Oh, worst day of his life.

“We’re going to stop in the next town, maybe we can find a place to- help?”

He groans and throws his head back, looking over at Gareth, “dude, my hair is a fucking disaster. There’s no helping that!”

Gareth crosses his arms with a deadpan look, “Ed, I think you’re overreacting a little. It’s just a little piece of gum! It’s not even that far in your hair, maybe this can be a little-“

“Don’t say it!”

“-trim”

He glares at him, “a little trim? This piece of shit is near my goddamn neck, Gare! I CAN FEEL IT! That fucking asshole did it on purpose too, I just know it!”

There’s a little five foot asshole out in the world, that’s his number one enemy now. Slapping him on the back with a “great show, my man!” Before walking away with a snicker. At the moment he didn’t think anything of it, too busy focusing on the fans around him trying to get his attention. His adrenaline and energy buzzing too much to realize something off with that guy.

He didn’t even notice it, it was a goddamn fan to point it out. Because they felt it when they took a picture together.

See? Worst day ever.

Right now they’re in the bus already moving onto the next city for the next concert. He isn’t even sure what’s the next one, all he knows is his hair has fucking gum in it and it’s the worst thing to ever happen to him.

“I still think you’re overreacting just a little, look, maybe there’s a way to get it out without cutting anything. We just have to find a place, there’s a two day break before the next concert. Ok?” Gareth pulls his hands away from his face, “Chris even told our driver to be on the lookout for places already.”

Sighing, he leans back and looks at his best friend, “I guess you’re right”

“I’m always right, dude.”

Rolling his eyes, he gets up and decides to take a nap face down because there’s no way he’s making it worse and getting stuck to his sheets.

Okay so, he’s overreacting a little bit. But he’s been growing his hair out for years now. It’s the perfect length and just wild enough that everyone knows him just by the hair.

It’s his thing, okay?!

A phone is slammed down and he flinches before looking towards the front, “did the phone kill your dog? Or was that-“

Robin whipped her head around a pinched look on her face, “that was goddamn Fran asking for a perm, I swear to god I don’t know how you deal with her! She actually had the nerve to praise you about letting her go so long without paying! She’s scheduled for Friday, because and I quote ‘my hair is straight as a needle’ she doesn’t do shit with her hair, Steve!”

He shakes his head and grabs his water before walking towards her, “Truthfully? I kinda zone out when I’m working on her hair.”

Robin blinked at him before she burst out laughing.

Being one of the only hair salons in their tiny town has some benefits, which is taking some customers that only pay after ranking up to nearly $300. That and he can hire anyone he wants and having a crew of just their friends is a perfect way to deal with the few crazy customers they get.

Oh, and he gets to hang out with them all the time while doing something he actually loves.

When he decided to go to cosmetology school instead of whatever place his dad wanted, he didn’t think he’d end up here. Honestly. His mom told him there was a chance it would go no where, that it’ll just be another thing to add to his list of hobbies.

Baseball, basketball, swimming, drawing and lastly cutting hair.

According to his dad, all of that was pointless. Well, not basketball. To his mom, it just made him look good for future partners. Thankfully their opinions don’t matter to him much anymore, they’re long gone from this tiny town and he’s twenty five now.

Really, he doesn’t need their support or opinions anymore.

“Woah! Dingus come here!” Robin calls out without needing to, the shop is small and he’s just at his station, “there’s your dorky kids jumping around like actual kids”

Rolling his eyes, he stands next to her to find that; yes across the street is the kids- now teenagers jumping around some parked bus. He can’t quite make out what’s on the bus, his vision is shit with letters even with his contacts in. Whatever they’re excited about is probably related to their dragons game.

So definitely nothing he’d understand. Right?

His attention is drawn away from the teens because of the door opening, he spins around with a smile already on his face. “Hello, do you have an appointment today?”

Standing half way in the door is a tiny blonde with a high pony tail and clearly not from around here. He pretty much knows everyone in Hawkins, or at least he knows everyone that comes into his shop.

This person definitely hasn’t been in before, she is adorable though. Totally Robin’s type, actually. Glancing at his best friend, and yep, there’s already hearts in her eyes.

“Hi! No, actually I wanted to see if you did have any openings?” Tiny Blonde smiles and he can see her glance at Robin, “either of you?”

If he could, he’d totally leave Robin to handle this by herself. It’d be pay back for when she ditched him at the bar a few weeks ago, but he’s not that petty. “Technically she can’t cut or color anyone’s hair, but I’m free later. I got a person coming in like twenty minutes. What did you-“

“Actually, it’s for a friend of mine!” She shakes her head and pulls her phone out, glancing at it and typing something quickly before looking back at him, “Can you do like a quick, consult maybe? Not like now, but later?”

Out of the corner of his eye he sees Robin nod her head as if she’s the one going to do it. Rolling his eyes he smiles and moves to the appointment book, taking a quick glance he can technically squeeze in something. “Just a consult?”

“Maybe a trim if all goes well, we could even come in tomorrow if you can’t today. We did just get into town, I’m sure my friend will understand if you can’t” her phone beeps and he can’t tell but it seems like she’s grimacing at whatever was sent, “or maybe you know another place?”

Technically he could send them somewhere else, but he’s curious plus from the glare he can feel from Robin- he glances at her and yep, she’s glaring a hole in his head.

He doesn’t need to ask her that she wants this pretty blonde to come back.

“Nah, you can come back at four. We can chat and figure out what needs or can be done.“ he smiles at her before handing over an appointment card, “I’m Steve, by the way. That’s Robin”

She takes the card with a smile, “Oh! I’m Chrissy, you don’t realize how much this will make my friend’s day. We’ll see you then, it’ll just be you two, right?”

“Yep! See you in a few hours!” Chrissy flashed a bright smile at him then Robin before opening the door and walking away.

He doesn’t even bother looking towards Robin to tell her, “You’ve got it bad”

There’s a loud shriek and then a laugh as Chrissy walks away. She smiles before looking down at her phone to text the good news.

‘Best news of your life right now, four o’clock. Dummy’

‘THANK YOU ❤️🖤’

It’s inching closer and closer to four and Steve isn’t sure if Chrissy just forgot or that her friend decided it wasn’t worth it. Either way, he’s going to clean up now because it’s been a long day and all he wants now is to drink some wine while relaxing on his couch.

He’s listening to Robin vent from across the salon, while cleaning the mirrors. “Despite how pretty she is, if they don’t show up soon I’m closing this place up!”

“It’s not even officially four yet, Robs.” He laughs and turns away from his mirror to clean the chair, “we have like five minutes before we give up on it.”

Robin let’s out a groan, spinning around to point at him with a glare, “It’s Friday night and I have plans, Steven!”

“I hope these plans don’t involve me, Robin. I have to be in here at fucking eight in the morning, I’d like to get at least five hours of sleep” he glares over at her, “the last time we went out and I had to work in the morning, I almost didn’t make it in”

Because of Robin’s loud laughter he nearly misses the door opening, he bounces up with a smile, “hi can I- Chrissy!”

Standing by the front desk is of course, Chrissy along with her is a tall guy with long wild curls standing next to her. He has a pair of sunglasses on and his hands shoved into the leather jacket he has on.

“Hi guys, sorry we didn’t get here sooner there was a crowd and this one couldn’t get passed it withou- ow! Eddie!” She glared at the man, Eddie apparently, and rubbing her arm.

It’s confusing but he’s not going to question it, his relationship with Robin is weird, probably weirder actually. So instead of questioning that he moves closer, “it’s fine, we were just cleaning up real quick. We said just a consult right or did you figure out what you wanted?”

Wordlessly, the two of a conversation right there. Hand movements, head nods and shakes before there’s a bright satisfied smile on Chrissy’s face appears. Eddie looks not upset per-say but definitely like he lost whatever was said in their conversation.

“Yep! He’ll do a trim, but there’s a little problem. You see, someone decided to put gum on his back and-”

Robin’s laughing again while he’s just horrified for Eddie. He can’t help but feel bad for the hair, well, maybe Eddie too. But he hasn’t said a word to them yet, still standing there with his glasses on and now crossing his arms with what looks like a pout on his face. Chrissy’s still talking about the gum and how it’s ruined Eddie’s day and they couldn’t figure out any other way to get it out.

He shakes his head, moving towards his chair and patting it, “well, I can’t figure anything out until you’re sitting in the chair and I get a closer look at the hair”

Eddie looks between the chair and Chrissy, before moving towards him and sitting in the chair. Sunglasses still on his face, a pout very much there as well. Up close, his hair is even more wild than he originally thought. The curls are a mess, that’s clear as he sticks his hand to figure out how much the gum is stuck.

It’s not too terrible, definitely bad but not enough where if he does cut it out, the hair wouldn’t be much different.

There is however, the fact that this guy is clearly not taking proper care of his hair. For as wild as it is, the curls are frizzy and not defined.

“Good news, I could cut the gum out and you’re hair won’t lose too much length or I could also try getting it out using some oil without taking scissors to your hair.”

“And the bad news?”

“You’re not taking proper care of your hair, these curls could be so much more”

He hears Chrissy let out a giggle and Robin’s definitely laughing with her, but his gaze is on Eddie, who’s mouth drops and nearly rips the glasses off to show that his eyes are wide with shock.

Steve can’t help himself, he smiles and lets his own little giggle out.

Eddie looks absolutely ridiculous and Steve might know him, like, at all. But he’s definitely someone he’d like to know eventually, being this dramatic over a little comment? That’s someone worth knowing, he thinks.

———

Ending it there lol.

Wanna know what’s funny? I started this to get out of my writers block and ended up getting it WITH THIS.

So I used wip wednesdays/weekends to push myself along and finally after also talking with @i-less-than-three-you & @strangersteddierthings I’ve decided to make this a two parter! I get to share what I already wrote AND give myself a way to write them actually getting together.

I also wanna shout out @artiststarme for helping me a bit too! They gave me a few suggestions and helped out so thank you to all three of them 🩷 you all are amazing and I love you!!

Tag list! (If you’d like to be added let me know)

@spectrum-spectre @itsfreakingbats @mysticcrownshipper @artiststarme @thereindeerlady @justforthedead89 @ronniescontinuum @freyaforestafay @littlewildflowerkitten @estrellami-1 @gregre369 @zerokrox-blog @bookworm0690 @flustratedcas @carlprocastinator1000 @marvelmwah @solliesolesito @navnae @i-less-than-three-you

@yikes-a-bee @sc00ps-ahoy @geekymagicalpotato @thesuninyaface @penny00dreadful

PS: if you made it this far you get to know that the thing with someone not paying until the bill is up to $300 is a true fucking story. There’s a lady that comes into my work (a hair salon btw) and gets away with coming in for a hair wash or color or perms and doesn’t pay! Idk why my boss continues letting her do this but she does 🤷‍♀️

[goblin-the-clown]

I started listening to the yttd musical last night. I haven't finished it yet but I decided I'm going to tell you all my opinions on the songs in the first act. I probably will make a more in depth review at some point but it was really late when I listened to it so this is just me being autistic over it 👍

Majority - I absolutely love the carnival type instrumental and Shin's maniacal laughter at the end of the song it's so good gfhgfjgdf

I'll walk you home - This is probably one of my favourites if not my favourite song from the musical it's so upbeat and catchy and it's been stuck in my head for so long SARA SARA I'LL LET YOU HOLD MY HAND!!!!!!!

Sara's house/Majority reprise - I think this is mainly just Sara and Joe talking and then Shin singing majority again so i don't have much thoughts about this but I love the way Winchi captures the panic Sara must be feeling in that moment

The first trial - SUE MILEY'S LAUGH OMG IT'S SO GOOD!!!!! I don't remember much about this one but I think there's a lot of fast moving quick lyrics which I'm always a fan of lol

Meet the cast - Kanna's part at the end literally sent chills down my spine oh my fucking god fgjdjgtjfr also I love the voices Winchi does for all of them Mishima's is very accurate lol

The box - MILEY IS BACK OH MY GOD HER VOICE I LOVE YOU SUE MILEY HER LAUGH IS SO GOOD IT'S SO MANIACAL I LOVE HER AHHGHHHG!!!!!

Might as well - I love how this is basically a duet between Shin and Sara and the tune is just really good I don't have anything else to add other than I love Shin's voice

A shot in the dark - LIKE A DARKROOOOOOOOM SHIN SOUNDS LIKE AN ANGEL OMG

Cause you're cute - I was kind of disappointed when I found out this wasn't a song and just them talking over music because I thought a Keiji song would be cool but nvm

Steady hands - Steady haaaaands steady mind heavy hearts aren't haaard to fiiiind

I won't leave you alone - I absolutely love the contrast between Joe saying the title and Kai saying it. When Joe says it it sounds comforting but when Kai says it it sounds like a threat

Kanna's song - Oiujgjyyut this was so emotional I absolutely love the little melody that's associated with Kanna and if Shin sings it at any point I will be inconsolable for at least a week

Moving forward - Another Joe and Sara duet let's goooo

The laughing doll/Your turn to die - WHEN I TELL YOU MY JAW DROPPED I WISH I WAS EXAGGERATING MILEYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!! THE PAIN IN NAO'S VOICE IS SO DISTURBING OMG AND SARA REPEATING YOUR TURN TO DIE AT THE END OF THE SONG AAAAAAAA

I eat this shit up it's so fucking good I really hope Winchi is still working on it bc a Shin solo would be so fucking good and a Midori song would literally kill me

[toothyshoe]

OKAY SO I JUST WATCHED/LISTEN TO ‘THE STORIES OF STYX’ and i have f e e l i n g s .

I WANNA PREFICE THIS ALL WITH I HOLD RESPECT FOR THE CREATORS OF THIS MUSICAL, ITS NO EASY FEAT TO WRITE LYRICS, COMPOSE MUSIC, GATHER ARTISTS, AND HAVE DO MANY COOL ARTISTS COME TOGETHER TO WORK ON A PROJECT,,,

SPOILERS OFC FOR ‘Stories from Styx’

okay so EUGH WAIT I FEEL REALLY MEAN RN,,,WAIT UH I JUST WANNA SAY IM BEING HONEST AND NOT TRYING TO BE AND ASS OR HATEFUL,,,UH PLZ DONT HATE ME FOR MY OPINIONS PEOPLE D:

personally i feel like the music was lacking overall—-artists who are genuinely talented had their voiced muddled by autotune that clashed with the instrumentals. the storytelling was f i n e

I will say some quotes from the songs were catchy or impactful. The two songs that stuck out to me thr lost being ‘There is no name’ and ‘Crossroads’,,,,, but there were several segments of the musical that was just instrumental and had to be relied on animation to tell the storytelling is,,which isn’t the job of a musical.

however my main issue relies with the over all story

the plot of ‘The Story from Styx’ revolves around Persephone and Hades.

IF U DONT KNOW THE STORY OF PERSEPHONE AND HADES HERES A SHORT VERSION:

—-

Persephone (daughter of Zeus and Demeter) is abducted by Hades (with thr assistance of Zeus) and forces her to be his wife. Demeter, heartbroken, goes through a depression causing crops to perish and famine to rise, to the point even the gods notice and try to get her to restore the harvest. Zeus is able to convince Hades to let Persephone see her mother. Prior to leaving the underworld though Hades feeds Persephone a pomegranate. After Demeter restores the harvest, happy seeing her child again, Hades pulls up and wants to take Persephone back to the underworld. Both Persephone and Demeter are confused and Hades explains by eating the pomegranate, Persephone practically signed a contract forcing her to stay in the underworld for some portion of the year and remain his wife. The months were Persephone is gone her mother lets the crops die. The whole myth basically says explains away Winter and Summer.

—-

sigh

in ‘Stories from Styx’ the creator portrays Persephone and Hades relationship as consensual, as something they both want but her mother dislikes, which irks me the wrong way if you will. There’s also the fact that Hades is Persephone’s UNCLE.

I love passion projects, theres something to en said about someone who loves something so much there willing to put time and money and sacrifice for it AND ITS SO COOL when story’s and fables can be told in unique ways—-and i do truly believe this could have been good if the creators did not romanticize Persphone’s abuse.

I wanted to stray away from comparing this musical to epic but i feel like i kinda have to in order to get my point across. Epic derives from thr Odyssey and is about 75% to 80% accurate to the original stories details, all of which being relatively minor things. Both creators started from thr same point of needing to compose their own music/re-tell a myth, higher good singers, and commission artists.

One creator had a theme however, a message—-connections from previous songs and sagas into new ones to tell and over arching story. The other one didn’t

I really wanna like the ‘Stories from Styx’ but i fear i just cannot get behind it, this could have been SUCH A GOOD tragedy but i feel it lacking—-missing feeling and verging on monotone.

LIKE IDK IM SO SORRY IFK I HET SHES ALSO A CHASO GODDESS AND THAT HE WAS SO INCREDIBLY LONLEY AND OVER WORKED AND ALL THAT STUFF BUT LIKE G U Y S

AM I MISSING SOMTHING 😀

SIGH

i really like the stoey of Persephone and Hades—-AND IN NO WAY AM I TRYING TO DEMONIZE HADES,,,HES SIMPLY A GOD HES NOT IMMEDIATELY EVIL IN MY BAIN SIMPLY BECAUSE HE RULES THE UNDERWORLD—-THATS JUST HIS FUCKING JOB

AHHHHHHHHHH IDK

[arach-tinilith]

Six Song Soundtrack Game - Naadja

Thank you for the tag @mogruith i loved your picks for Coranzan!!

No pressure tags: @majorasnightmare @the-weeping-dawn @foxboyclit @forget-me-maybe @andrigyn <3

Rules: If you're tagged, make a new post with links to music and/or lyrics describing the following… 

Event that defines your character's past: Mother We Share

Come in misery where you can seem as old as your omens

And the mother we share will never keep your proud head from falling

The way is long but you can make it easy on me

And the mother we share will never keep our cold hearts from calling

Ive always said Naadja's canon story album is The Bones of What you Believe by Chvrches. I've referenced it in my fics as well as titled art I've commissioned with it in mind because of the impact it has on Naadja's character. This song in particular has always been about Sol'axle's death, Arazai's betrayal, and Naadja absconding from Menzobarranzan to later come back to enact her vengeance. It's why I decided so much of her arc focused on the struggle between her and Arazai as well, because they're both being manipulated by their mother and Lolth as well.

And when it all fucks up

You put your head in my hands

It's a souvenir

For when you go

This line in particular is about Naadja returning and beheading Arazai. And she finds an odd fondness in his death that sort of splinters into regret because she couldn't save him from the path their mother carved for him. In an odd way, he saved her by ruining her future and ensured she would be the matron of House Duskryn. All she could do for him was kill him swiftly.

How your character sees themselves:  Lies

Icon of symmetry, swallowing sides

Fall down in front of me, follow my eyes

But I've got to see you moving, waste no time

Teach me, make me holy till

I can sell you lies

You can't get enough

Make a true believer of

Anyone, anyone, anyone

Naadja obviously thinks very highly of herself but it is contingent on how others feed into it. Which is why she leans so heavily into this belief that she is innately special with a higher purpose than anyone else, only further enabled by Lolth getting possessive over her because she is a source of divine power.

But Naadja /also/ believes much of her power comes from the skills she's learned from manipulation. In that her holiness is nothing without worshippers and that, despite deserving unwavering faith and love, she needs to ensure she will recieve it no matter what. So she will play whatever role is necessary of her so long as she gets what she needs

How others view them: Primadonna

Primadonna girl, yeah

All I ever wanted was the world

I can't help that I need it all

The primadonna life, the rise and fall

You say that I'm kinda difficult

But it's always someone else's fault

Got you wrapped around my finger, babe

You can count on me to misbehave

Primadonna is Naadja's theme song, I played it as her intro to the dnd campaign and it's still wildly accurate. There's layers upon layers to Naadja's character and the song does a good job of saying "im sad, but thats your problem" which I've always felt represented Naadja very well. She's vapid and entitled and very tragic but she really doesn't know why that's such a big deal?

And I think it's what people pick up when they interact with her as well!

Their closest relationship (platonic or romantic): Bird of Prey

I had all the world to hide

In deep fields and tall grasses

Your sight, it will not tire

Until you have me

And I love you, oh but no

Oh, you will not let me go

Now the Sun, it sets, I'm on the run

I can't get you away from me

Naadja's relationship with Zafyna is absolutely her closest. Its hard saying that as she is poly, but she has the longest history with Zafyna, and their affection past school was feuled by their obsession and possessiveness. Naadja having a sort of ownership she felt over Zafyna for bringing her into her fold. And Zafyna being possessive over Naadja as she feels their love is "true".

But it evolves into a very dysfunctional game of cat and mouse as Zafyna is hunting Naadja for leaving her and Naadja keeping a hope that she's still being hunted. Not because she wants to die (not until she surrenders), but that it means she's still worth the chase to Zafyna

 I never said I didn't want you knocking on my door

All this run and chase, it's almost like I planned it

Never have I felt arms this tight on me before

Naadja is terrified that she has nothing of her old life to go back to. But Zafyna is the one constant she has. She never said she didn't want the chase. It's almost like she keeps herself just outside of arms reach. The arms that strangle her feel awfully like an embrace.

A major fight scene: Strong Hand

Will I be the strong hand keeping you safe

or will I break you in half

and you will never be under my thumb

but you were not your own man

See the way we all run

When we know it off by heart

Played down, waiting all out

When we win or lose it this time

As I've said before, Naadja exacts her revenge on her family after returning to the Duskryn compound. I've always thought of this song as her return, dismantling the house and reconciling with her past. But she's rebuilding it with her own image in mind, without Lolth's grip on her throat. It also is a parallel to her relationships as Naadja sees herself as an inherent risk and liability because of her power, but choosing to keep her lovers close despite that.

Give me the bones of what you believe

Maybe they'll save you from me

Naadja dismantles her faith and rexamines it, preparing herself for the dangers of living in Menzobarranzan without Lolth. Again, she sees herself as a danger to those she loves, but if they gear their worship towards her, she aims to protect them

End credits song: Dinner At Eight

No matter how strong

I'm gonna take you down

With one little stone

I'm gonna break you down

And see what you're worth

What you're really worth to me

Naadja killing her mother is by no means the end of her story, but it is her epilogue. Prae'anelle has always been an almost mystical figure that's dominated her life from the shadows. If you asked her, Naadja couldn't describe her voice. So Naadja eventually breaks her down, and i think her death would be tremendously unsatisfactory for someone as imposing as a matron of a noble house. And Naadja realizes that this monumental person is just a mortal who was only meaningful to Naadja in her death so that she could live on.

[olderthannetfic]

You've said before that you like(d) The Pillow Book, right? I'm really interested in watching it but I want to at least go in prepared if it turns out to be, uh, as orientalist as the first paragraph on Wikipedia makes me fear that it might be.

Do you or your followers have any words of warning? I feel like I need a DoesTheDogDie but for racism.

--

I haven't rewatched in a few years, but I don't think it's too bad. What on earth is in that para... oh... dear.

The Pillow Book is a 1996 erotic drama film written and directed by Peter Greenaway, which stars Vivian Wu as Nagiko, a Japanese model in search of pleasure and new cultural experience from various lovers. The film is a melding of dark modern drama with idealised Chinese and Japanese cultural themes and settings, and centres on body painting.

Ahaha. Okay, that is more or less accurate, but I don't think it gives the right impression at all. Nagiko is a model during part of the plot, but I'd honestly forgotten because of everything else going on in the movie.

The plot follows her from birth through her epic revenge on the man who blackmailed her father into sex and ruined his life.

Said man was her father's publisher, so she lures him in with her calligraphy and poems written on the bodies of a bunch of different naked dudes. She's inspired by her namesake, Sei Shonagon, the author of the original pillow book. I guess she's pursuing pleasure, but it's very much some weird imitation of Sei Shonagon, not "Ooh, Asian lady do sexy things".

There are montages of book binding and song lyrics scrolling across Vivian Wu and Ewan McGregor fucking in a bathtub with random split screens that were really cool in the 90s (but kind of look like cheesy screensavers now).

The "idealised" thing is probably referring to how the fashion show she walks in takes place in an ancient temple associated with Sei Shonagon and everyone is obsessed with calligraphy skills. There are all these visually gorgeous parts that talk about ancient literature and whatnot. It's the usual Greenaway crazy visuals.

It's a batshit art film. I'd probably warn more for death and corpse desecration than for orientalism, but YMMV.