#brian crain

[nilsnoeskeautor]

Meine "Die Verborgenen"-Playlist

Trapt - Black Rose

Avril Lavigne - Forgotten

Adele - Hello

Trapt - Ready When You Are

Subway to Sally - Sag dem Teufel

Alela Diane - Take Us Back

Schandmaul - Eine Waldmär

ASP - Du bist nie allein

Ganz Schön Feist - Immer wenn der Wind sich dreht

Nox Arcana - Solitude

Jupiter Jones - Und Dann Warten

Massendefekt - Tanz im Nebel

Richard Wagner - Ritt der Walküre

Käptn Peng und die Tentakel von Delphi - Monster

Versengold - Vom Zauber des Wildfräuleins

Simple Plan - Save You

Brian Crain - At The Ivy Gate

Nox Arcana - Lullaby

Lacrimosa - Alles Lüge

Avril Lavigne - I'm With You

Und falls ihr wissen wollt, wohin das Ganze mich geführt hat ...

"Choices - Die Verborgenen" ist ab 01. Februar 2025 auf Amazon als eBook oder Taschenbuch erhältlich!

[neogirlart]

[comicarthistory]

Page from Kiss Psycho Circus #31. 2000. Art by Clayton Crain and Kevin Conrad.

[roysexton]

“Stay the course… It will all work out.” HRC Michigan Instagram Live Interview (Replay) with Yours Truly

Instagram live replay of my interview with HRC Michigan – Annie, you’re a gem! We discussed my recent recognitions by INvolve People and Corp! Magazine, how Clark Hill creates an inclusive culture, the work the Legal Marketing Association around DEI, what authenticity really means, and how important it is to simply live and let live. View here. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Human…

[deep-sea-anemone]

enough about taylor swift already. reblog and tag the smallest, least known artist you listen to

[hotvintagepoll]

THE TOURNAMENT IS OVER! Eartha Kitt lounges in her deck chair in the sun, dipping her toes in the pool with Toshiro Mifune and sipping a brightly colored fruity something with an umbrella in it.

Far below in the shadow realm, however, the fallen hotties dance in the dark—let's take a minute to look back at them under the cut.

PRELIM PRETTIES:

Claude Gensac, Silvia Pinal, Ewa Aulin, Rita Tushingham, Annette Funicello, Norma Bengell, Catherine Spaak, Brigitte Auber, Micheline Presle, Nanette Fabray, Libertad Lamarque, Vera Miles, Martha Raye, Catherine McLeod, Virginia Mayo, Elizabeth Allan, Belle Bennet, Virginia Cherill, Mary Brian, Ruth Chatterton, Agnes Ayres, Merna Kennedy, Marie Prevost, Corinne Griffith, May Allison, Virginia Brown Faire, Alice Brady, and Jetta Goudal

ROUND ONE WONDERS:

Angie Dickinson, Thelma Ritter, Geraldine Chaplin, Evelyn Preer, Vanessa Brown, Betty Blythe, Susan Hayward, Mae Clarke, Sally Ann Howes, Ossi Oswalda, Adrienne La Russa, Hermione Gingold, Barbara Bouchet, Melina Mercouri, Anna Karina, Edwige Fenech, Charmian Carr, Pina Pellicer, Marlène Jobert, Tsuru Aoki, Alice Roberts, Leila Hyams, Lady Tsen Mei, Geneviève Bujold, Dolores Hart, Anita Berber, Bonita Granville, Vonetta McGee, Claire Windsor, Zizi Jeanmaire, Tuesday Weld, Grace Darmond, Carol Channing, Deanna Durbin, Laraine Day, Mariette Hartey, Wendy Hiller, Candy Darling, Hermione Baddely, Valeria Creti, Ella Raines, Ann Miller, Dana Wynter, Dalida, Martine Beswick, Gale Storm, Simone Signoret, Cristina Gaioni, Mabel Normand, Stéphane Audran, Ruth Weyher, Anna Wiazemsky, Ann Sheridan, Sandhya Shantaram, Alice White, Anne Francis, Gena Rowlands, Lyda Borelli, May Whitty, Cathleen Nesbitt, Jessica Walter, Virna Lisi, Barbara Shelley, Iris Hall, Heather Angel, Anne Shirley, Joanna Pettet, Virginia O'Brien, Joan Collins, Greer Garson, Gracie Allen, Peggy Ryan, Frances Dee, Shirley Maclaine, Geraldine Farrar, Kathleen Byron, Margaret Hamilton, Eva Gabor, Francesca Bertini, Julie Adams, Olga Baclanova, Misa Uehara, Yvette Vickers, Milena Dravić, Jenny Jugo, Madeleine Carroll, Benita Hume, Olive Borden, Shirley Jones, Miyoshi Umeki, Dorothy Lamour, Gale Sondergaard, Mary Anderson, Charlotte Greenwood, Sybil Seely, Mona Barrie, Kathryn Grayson, Katharine Ross, Madge Bellamy, Rhonda Fleming, Sally Gray, Jana Brejchová, Debra Paget, Madame Sul-Te-Wan, Evelyn Brent, Zelma O'Neal, Marie Laforêt, Türkan Şoray, Beatriz Costa, Irene Zazians, Eleanor Powell, Susan Luckey, Patsy Kelly, Lil Dagover, Norma Talmadge, Dorothy Mackaill, Madge Evans, Virginia McKenna, Amália Rodrigues, Mamie Van Doren, Valerie Hobson, Isabel Jeans, Beata Tyszkiewicz, Claire Luce, Aleksandra Khokhlova, Nieves Navarro Garcia, Janet Leigh, Carmen Miranda, Jean Harlow, Aud Egedge-Nissen, Nina Foch, Jean Simmons, Piper Laurie, Katy Jurado, Jayne Mansfield, Anita Garvin, Frances Farmer, Lizabeth Scott, Joan Greenwood, Una Merkel, Arlene Francis, Ethel Merman, Doris Day, Suzanne Pleshette, Ruta Lee, Carolyn Jones, June Richmond, Eva Nil, Diana Dors, Anna Chang, Colleen Moore, Alexis Smith, Yvette Mimieux, Ruby Keeler, Viola Dana, Dolores Grey, Marie Windsor, Danielle Darieux, Jean Parker, Julie Christie, Acquanetta, Leatrice Joy, Ghita Nørby, Julie Newmar, Joanne Woodward, Sandra Dee, Eva Marie Saint, Simone Simon, Katherine Dunham, Birgitte Price, Lee Grant, Anita Page, Flora Robson, Martha Sleeper, Elsie Ames, Isabel "Coca" Sarli, Glenda Farrell, Kathleen Burke, Linden Travers, Diane Baker, Joan Davis, Joan Leslie, Sylvia Sidney, Marie Dressler, June Lockhart, Emmanuelle Riva, Libertad Leblanc, Susannah Foster, Susan Fleming, Dolores Costello, Ann Smyrner, Luise Rainer, Anna Massey, Evelyn Ankers, Ruth Gordon, Eva Dahlbeck, Ansa Ikonen, Diana Wynyard, Patricia Neal, Etta Lee, Gloria Stuart, Arletty, Dorothy McGuire, Mitzi Gaynor, Gwen Verdon, Maria Schell, Lili Damita, Ethel Moses, Gloria Holden, Kay Thompson, Jeanne Crain, Edna May Oliver, Lili Liliana, Ruth Chatterton, Giulietta Masina, Claire Bloom, Dinah Sheridan, Carroll Baker, Brenda de Banzie, Milú, Hertha Thiele, Hanka Ordonówna, Lillian Roth, Jane Powell, Carol Ohmart, Betty Garrett, Kalina Jędrusik, Edana Romney, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Kay Kendall, Ruth Hussey, Véra Clouzot, Jadwiga Smosarska, Marge Champion, Mary Astor, Ann Harding, María Casares, Maureen O'Sullivan, Mildred Natwick, Michèle Morgan, Romy Schneider, Elisabeth Bergner, Celeste Holm, Betty Hutton, Susan Peters, Mehtab, Leslie Caron, Anna Sten, Janet Munro, Nataša Gollová, Eve Arden, Ida Lupino, Regina Linnanheimo, Sonja Henie, and Terry (what a good girl)

ROUND TWO BEAUTIES:

Evelyn Nesbit, Thelma Todd, Tura Satana, Helen Gibson, Maureen O'Hara, Rocío Dúrcal, Mary Nolan, Lois Maxwell, Maggie Smith, Zulma Faiad, Ursula Andress, Musidora, Delphine Seyrig, Marian Marsh, Leatrice Joy, Sharon Tate, Pina Menichelli, Teresa Wright, Shelley Winters, Lee Remick, Jane Wyman, Martita Hunt, Barbara Bates, Susan Strasberg, Marie Bryant, Diana Rigg, Jane Birkin, Rosalind Russell, Vanessa Redgrave, Brigitte Helm, Gloria Grahame, Rosemary Clooney, Bebe Daniels, Constance Bennett, Lilian Bond, Ann Dvorak, Jeanette Macdonald, Pouri Banayi, Raquel Welch, Vilma Bánky, Dorothy Malone, Olive Thomas, Celia Johnson, Moira Shearer, Priscilla Lane, Dolores del Río, Ann Sothern, Françoise Rosay, June Allyson, Carole Lombard, Jeni Le Gon, Takako Irie, Barbara Steele, Claudette Colbert, Lalita Pawar, Asta Nielsen, Sandra Milo, Maria Montez, Mae West, Alma Rose Aguirre, Bibi Andersson, Joan Blondell, Anne Bancroft, Elsa Lanchester, Nita Naldi, Suchitra Sen, Dorothy Van Engle, Elisabeth Welch, Esther Williams, Loretta Young, Margueritte De La Motte, Ita Rina, Constance Talmadge, Margaret Lockwood, Barbara Bedford, Josette Day, Stefania Sandrelli, Jane Russell, Doris Dowling, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Donna Reed, Ruby Dee, Diana Sands, Billie Burke, Kyōko Kagawa, Françoise Dorléac, Hend Rostom, Monica Vitti, Lilian Harvey, Marjorie Main, Jeanne Moreau, Lola Flores, Ann Blyth, Janet Gaynor, Jennifer Jones, Margaret Sullavan, Sadhana, Ruby Myers, Lotus Long, Honor Blackman, Marsha Hunt, Debbie Reynolds, Michèle Mercier, Irene Dunne, Jean Arthur, Judy Holliday, Tippi Hedren, Susse Wold, Vera-Ellen, Carmelita González, Nargis Dutt, Purnima, Harriet Andersson, Yvonne De Carlo, Miroslava Stern, Sheila Guyse, Helen, Margaret Dumont, Betty Grable, Joan Bennett, Jane Greer, Judith Anderson, Liv Ullman, Vera Zorina, Joan Fontaine, Silvana Mangano, and Lee Ya-Ching

ROUND THREE ELECTRIFIERS:

Jean Hagen, Sumiko Mizukubo, Mary Philbin, Ann-Margret, Margaret Rutherford, Claudia Cardinale, Eleanor Parker, Jessie Matthews, Theresa Harris, Brigitte Bardot, Alla Nazimova, Faye Dunaway, Marion Davies, Anna Magnani, Theda Bara, Myrna Loy, Kay Francis, Fay Wray, Barbra Streisand, Bette Davis, Hideko Takamine, France Nuyen, Claudine Auger, Miriam Hopkins, Maylia Fong, Samia Gamal, Maude Fealy, Machiko Kyō, Sharmila Tagore, Lucille Ball, Ginger Rogers, Juanita Moore, Anna Fougez, Waheeda Rehman, Ruan Lingyu, Nina Mae McKinney, Ethel Waters, Nadira, Olivia de Havilland, Abbey Lincoln, Louise Beavers, Agnes Moorehead, Lana Turner, Norma Shearer, Maria Falconetti, Reiko Sato, Marie Doro, Clara Bow, Margaret Lindsay, Catherine Denueve, Madhabi Mukherjee, Rosaura Revueltas, Hu Die, Mary Pickford, Fredi Washington, Louise Brooks, Leonor Maia, Merle Oberon, Paulette Goddard, Vivien Leigh, Francine Everett, Savitri, Tita Merello, and Meena Kumari

ROUND FOUR STUNNERS:

Judy Garland, Dorothy Dandridge, Yoshiko Yamaguchi, Marilyn Monroe, Irene Papas, Lupe Vélez, Pola Negri, Gene Tierney, Barbara Stanwyck, Gina Lollobrigida, Lena Horne, Nutan, Jean Seberg, Kim Novak, Gladys Cooper, Tallulah Bankhead, Linda Darnell, Julie Andrews, Carmen Sevilla, Gloria Swanson, Glynis Johns, Anne Baxter, Angela Lansbury, Anita Ekberg, Toshia Mori, Deborah Kerr, Hazel Scott, Chelo Alonso, Cyd Charisse, Nancy Kwan, Devika Rani, Shima Iwashita, and Anouk Aimée

ROUND FIVE SMOKESHOWS:

Setsuko Hara, Pearl Bailey, Joan Crawford, Madhubala, Marpessa Dawn, Keiko Awaji, Rita Hayworth, Veronica Lake, Ava Gardner, Greta Garbo, Grace Kelly, Xia Meng, Suraiya, Natalie Wood, María Félix, and Mbissine Thérèse Diop

ROUND SIX SEXY LADIES:

Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren, Vyjyanthimala, Jane Fonda, Katharine Hepburn, Josephine Baker, Elizabeth Taylor, and Ingrid Bergman

QUARTER FINALIST GLAMAZONS:

Audrey Hepburn, Marlene Dietrich, Anna May Wong, and Lauren Bacall

SEMIFINALIST ICONS:

Rita Moreno, Diahann Carroll

FINALIST FABULOSITY:

Hedy Lamarr

ULTIMATE CHAMPION OF THE HOT & VINTAGE MOVIE WOMAN TOURNAMENT:

Eartha Kitt

[bilgehanmelancholy]

[mydaroga]

Fest for Beatles Fans 2024 Write-Up

In case anyone wants to know what goes on at these things, I can at least give you a run-down of what I did at this one, though as always there was far more going down than any one person could see. I tend to favor panels and discussions over bands, so I am sure I missed a lot of great music. Because the bands were great.

It was held this year at the TWA Hotel, which is part of JFK International Airport and has retained a lot of the features of when it used to be a terminal. I posted photos of it last year when I was there on a layover, and I still love it to death. They did NOT let me ride on the baggage thingy though. In addition, I was unable to secure a room at the hotel, though if they hold it here again I will be snagging one because, like I said, the place is bonkers.

Friday

I entered my cross-stitch in the art contest, because why not? While there ran into several people whom I had met last August at the Fest in Chicago.

Beatles Biography panel with Vivek Tiwary (The Fifth Beatle graphic novel) and Madeline Bocaro (In Your Mind - The Infinite Universe of Yoko Ono). Vivek comes off very passionate and sweet, very respectful of Brian Epstein and cognizant of the importance of telling his story right. Bocaro is also very passionate, but I'm afraid some of us present her personal Ono pendulum has swung too far to admit any human fault in her subject. I later bought the Brian book, but not the Ono.

First Generation Fan Panel was mostly Leslie Healy recounting her adventures, which are legion: she was at the Ed Sullivan dress rehearsal, and at Shea Stadium, and she's *also* the one who got that audio at Paul's house when she visited all four Beatles in 1967. Also, she had a Bearded Collie, which I also had growing up, so that gave me a thrill.

I entered the 60s dress up contest -- second time as Twiggy was the charm, and I won! And then there was a lot of dancing. Gogo boots, ironically, not so much made for such activities.

Saturday

Chatted with some folks because it was more interesting that listening to the speakers, oops. The guy from the Ranking the Beatles podcast is lovely and we've already been in touch since. Also Terry Crain who wrote a great coffee table book about NEMS Beatles merch, which I bought last year.

Went to the dealer's room and bought silly buttons, like TO HELL WITH THE 'BEATLES' and I ❤️ PAUL. There were butcher covers and all that jazz, and horrid dolls, and all the lovely awful things, none of which I could ever afford. But I can buy buttons!

Lovely friends entered the talent contest and proceeded to the finals, and they kicked so much ass and I am so proud of them.

Academic panel with Ken Womack, Christine Feldmman-Barrett, and Andy Nichols was pretty good, a lot of talk about how subsequent generations get hooked and sort of the state of Beatles fandom/academia today. Which feels fairly positive, in the sense that all present felt there is more respect now than there was--though still room to improve on that score.

As a side note, all of my interactions with Womack convince me he's a great guy, very passionate in his love for the Beatles and very devoted not only to doing this right but in elevating lesser-heard voices. He's a very likable man.

Speaking of, next he interviewed Laurie Kaye, who did the radio interview with John on his last day. Her story was very moving.

Tried to dance again this evening after the talent show but unlike the previous night, everyone thought we were weird and stared forbiddingly at us from their seated positions.

But my PAUL IS DEAD / IF YOU WANT IT / HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM JOHN & YOKO shirt was a hit. Finally.

Sunday

Saw Jude Southerland-Kessler talk about the "birth of the beatles" but sadly it was NOT about the tv film of the same name. So I went to chat with Adrian Sinclair and Allen Kozinn instead, which they later tweeted about.

Beatlemania in the 21st Century panel was about, well, what it says. Next was Women's History of the Beatles which was also interesting and involved various writers, teachers, fans, podcasters, etc. I got to meet Erika from BC the Beatles which was very cool.

Then came the Laurence Juber and Steve Holley panel which I have mentioned elsewhere.

Jenny Boyd talked about fashion and the Apple Boutique, hosted by a lady who wrote a book about Beatles and fashion I would like to read.

Fantastic band with great additional harmonies, which I knew who they were.

I did not win the art contest. I did get a participation ribbon. I'm not even a millennial.

We then found a quiet place to chat, of which which the hotel had many, and then I needed to go to bed so I could be bad in like five hours for my flight.

I've probably forgotten lots of things but that is the general run down. There was also a video room, two stages for bands, more art, authors and guests at tables all weekend, and Mickey Dolenz, whom I did not meet but it's cool he was there.

[beautiful-story]

🎶🎹🎻🍁🍂

[esuemmanuel]

Llega a mí, así como la espiga desprendida de su tallo por la fuerza del viento que, al soplar, se dilata y bailotea bajo el sol... Llega y me besa, dejándome impregnado de su aroma y su color; candidez que embriaga a mi corazón con el latir de las amapolas... y el mar de mis venas se agita con la delicadeza de la ternura, de ésa que trastabilla al sentirse enamorada por las caricias de una mariposa al volar... Así, así llega a mí, y el sonrojo de mis mejillas se empapa del llanto de mi alma, de ésta que solloza al saberse acongojada por la demencia de mi querer... ¡Ah, pasión ensombrecida por la perfidia del dolor, del caos, de la pudredumbre de mi vacío! ¡Porque soy el diablo vestido de poeta! Y el ángel de tus ojos ya llora... al llegar a mí.

It comes to me, like the ear of corn detached from its stalk by the force of the wind that, when blowing, expands and dances under the sun… It comes and kisses me, leaving me impregnated with its aroma and its color; candor that intoxicates my heart with the beating of poppies… and the sea of my veins stirs with the delicacy of tenderness, that which stumbles when it feels in love with the caresses of a butterfly in flight… Thus, thus it comes to me, and the blush on my cheeks is soaked with the cry of my soul, of this one that sobs knowing it is distressed by the dementia of my love… Ah, passion overshadowed by the perfidy of pain, of chaos, of the rottenness of my emptiness! Because I am the devil dressed as a poet! And the angel of your eyes is already weeping… as it reaches me.

[truearchangel]

@brokendreamscreation

[savethepinecones]

what are you listening to lately? ^_^

today ive been listening to spooky podcasts to celebrate it being october! ive tried out lore by aaron mahnke and nighty night with rabia chaudry and theyre good but not quite the vibe im looking for. im hoping to find some in depth historical spooky stuff but the one is kinda brief and the other is fictional so im probably gonna come back to them some other time.

as for music ive been listening to the hollow knight soundtrack and a bunch of piano music. brian crain, philip westley, etc. i also listened to a bunch of 40s swing instrumentals the other day because i was trying to find a song that i remember hearing when i was a kid (turns out it was in the mood by glen miller)

thanks for the ask!!

[yellowplumfruit]

baxter ward enjoyers……butterfly waltz by brian crain….that is all…

[roysexton]

“Be open and inquisitive to all adventures before you.” Legal News covers Corp! Magazine Michigan’s 2024 Most Valuable Professionals + July 24, 6 pm eastern time … live on Instagram with HRC Michigan + dear friends Steve Fretzin and Ray Koenig with a truly lovely shout out

Thank you, Legal News’ Brian Cox, Brad Thompson, Sheila Pursglove, for the lovely support you’ve consistently shown me in my career. Grateful for you, for your friendship, and for all you do for our profession! Link to digital version. Roy Sexton, director of marketing has been selected by Corp! Magazine as one of Michigan’s 2024 Most Valuable Professionals. Sexton was among the winners of the…

[lady-astras]

posting this on main cause more people will see it ig

so I just learned Mvt 1 of Moonlight Sonata (Beethoven) and my teacher asked me what I wanted to work on learning next week

should I…

tagging ppl cause why not?

@princess--kira @skydoesthings advice plz 😭

[marinovels]

I wrote a fic on ao3 and decided to post it here as well! I'll do the same with the other one eventually, but since I just posted it I figured I might as well do it here as well. Enjoy!

(For a more immersive reading experience, listen to the song that gave this fic its title while reading the first half: Lavender Hills - by Brian Crain from the Piano and Cello Duet album.)

Thank you to AuroraLightsss, ilaiawanderlust, and Fable for beta reading this fic <3

___

It was a beautiful day. The sun sat at its apex, but there was a consistent, cool wind to cut through the heat of the rays. Whenever this breeze swept through the field, it would send a slow, satisfying ripple of purple spanning miles of rolling hills and fully bloomed flowers.

Lavender Hills - by marinovels

Legend blinked and was sitting in a seemingly endless field of lush purple flowers. The stalks were long and stuck straight up from the ground, but the ends were soft and made for a pleasant cushion beneath his hands and legs. They exuded the fragrant and notable smell of lavender.

There were fluffy white dollops of cloud in the sky, splattered throughout a vibrant blue. They varied in size, but none of them spoke of rain. They floated leisurely by, the few that crossed paths with the sun providing a brief reprieve of shade before moving along.

It was a beautiful day. Legend dared to assume it couldn’t get any more perfect. Then a wistful sigh caught his ear. He turned, and immediately revoked his previous assumption.

Sitting beside him in a much similar position, with hands bracing himself upright behind him and legs splayed out in front, basking in the sun’s glory, was Hyrule. Instantly, Legend was captivated by the sight of him, drawn into drinking in every detail, as if trying to paint it in his mind.

The rays fell around his silky brown locks like a glowing halo. They weaved around, up and down, holding each other, cupping under his ear and around his jaw, holding his face in a gentle caress. A chestnut bob of unruly curls that looked as soft as a newborn puppy felt. If it merely looked that way, Legend couldn’t imagine how it would feel to touch it. He found himself imagining anyway.

A sea of precious little freckles decorated smooth olive skin, it too illuminated to the state of radiance by the sun. They roamed over his rounded cheeks, down his neck, onto his collarbone, and what little could be seen of his chest before his tunic rudely intruded. They fell down his body like meteors in the night.

In the midst of his awed admiration, Hyrule turned to him. Legend’s breath caught in his throat as long lashes drew upwards to reveal shimmering green eyes that gleamed like polished gemstones. Flecks of gold sparkled deep within them.

As emerald green met sapphire blue, the contented smile that Hyrule had worn while he had been taking in the sun widened to a grin at the sight of Legend beside him. It was warm and genuine. It was a treasure no chest could ever hope to contain.

A breeze sent its usual ripple across the lavender field, but Legend paid it no mind. He was far too focused on how gently it lifted and swayed Hyrule’s curls in its own entrancing ripple. Legend could vaguely feel his own locks whipping against the side of his face. He hardly noticed the sting, far too lost in the sight of his companion so deeply within his element.

There was a sudden, pinching longing that spiked in Legend’s chest. It was abrupt, however not unpleasant, like the teasing scratch of dirt under his palms.

Hyrule’s hair looked so horribly soft, and all Legend wanted to do was feel it between his fingers. He wanted to take his hand and caress it with his thumb, counting every freckle that lay there. He wanted to pick him up, spin him around and around, relishing his laugh, reveling in his embrace. He yearned for the warmth of his presence even while he was within it.

He was engulfed, fully trapped in Hyrule’s kind gaze. He felt comforted absolutely by his companionship. He knew that there was no one else in the world who could make him feel this way. So unconditionally cherished, so thoroughly respected and admired.

That was when he realized that he loved Hyrule. Not in the way that he had loved Marin, for it wasn’t quite romantic, or his Uncle, for it didn’t replicate the love of family, or even Ravio, for it was still more than a friendship. It was a kind of love that was very specific. It was special and beautiful and only theirs. It was the only time that Legend could say, with true certainty, that he had never loved anyone the way he loved him.

He was so wholly enraptured with his realization, that he'd nearly missed it when Hyrule parted his lips to speak.

“Link,” he uttered, so sweetly that Legend had almost missed the oddity of it.

Link. He had called him by his real name. Their shared name. Hyrule only ever called him that to calm him after one of his frequent nightmares. Or when he was being stubborn about something. It was so out of place. So eerily inappropriate.

He called his name again. “Link!”

Legend opened his mouth to ask him why he was calling him that, but his throat felt tight. He felt hot in the face, uncomfortably so. He tried to breathe through his nose and found that his chest shook with every choked breath. Something light and wet tickled his cheeks and clung to his chin and suddenly the realm around him disappeared.

The pillow of flowers beneath him became the plush velvet of a luxurious and expensive sofa. The sun disappeared behind a sheet of gray clouds that hung overhead outside the window. The vast, beauteous field of lavenders became the inside of Zelda’s study, tinted gray with the dreary weather from outside intricately designed windows. Zelda herself looked concernedly at him from her place on the matching sofa across from him.

“Good goddesses, Link, are you alright?” She fussed, practically falling off of her seat with how she leaned in an obvious, desperate attempt to read him.

Wet continued to trickle down his face and it was only then that Link realized he had been silently, stoically weeping. His face had made no move to scrunch or squint with anguish. His mind had been so deeply obscured by his own thoughts that it only had the sense to tell his eyes to weep, and nothing else.

Link tried to remember what they had been discussing before his conscience escaped him. He couldn’t. He drew in another choked breath through his mouth, feeling the cool air pry the skin of his lips apart.

“Pardon me,” he began, his voice hoarse and painfully quiet, “could you repeat that one more time? What you said before?”

The princess seemed relieved enough to have at least gotten a response from him, but was rather apparently taken aback by the question. She blinked, trying to gather up a proper reply.

“Well, erm, you asked me what kind of tea I’d made.”

“Ah, right. What kind is it again?”

“It’s lavender, Link.”

Any further questions that Zelda might have asked after that, concerning his well-being or otherwise, were drowned out in the silence of Link’s mind. Lavender. He’d been so excited when Link had shown him that field. Link remembered clear as day how his smile had shown brighter than the midday sun. How he’d vowed to protect that smile with his very life.

He remembered all the promises made. He remembered how he could never fulfill them.

The grief in that statement tore Link back into his senses, like a suddenly overwhelming tsunami. Zelda had just finished a statement and looked expectantly at him. Link had caught the final inflection of her sentence. She’d asked a question.

He turned his gaze down to his cup, filled with warm swirling brown tea. The honey that he had added before he’d lost himself made a ring, a halo around the soft brown of the rest of the liquid. Not quite knowing how to answer what he hadn’t heard in the first place, he merely spoke the words already set upon his tongue.

“Lavender was his favorite.”

___

(Hope you enjoyed! Be sure to check it out on Ao3 as well)