#but the good news is I'm getting so many ideas for rocks 2 n 3 n 4!!!!!!!!!

[fbfh]

good news wildcats, I'm finally watching hsmtmts s4. I just finished episode 1 and I am SCREAMING.

toxic ricky is back!!!!!!!!!!! unhinged unstable season 1 ricky my darling!!!! my beloved!!!!!!!!! my pathetic soggy prayers have been answered!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hijackalx]

MALE BG3 COMPANIONS TURN ONS/KINKS +18

FEMALE BG3 COMPANIONS

NON-COMPANIONS/NON-ORIGIN COMPANIONS

A/N: i limited myself to just 5 per companion otherwise this would get wayyyy too long lol but if u guys want pt. 2 let me know 💗

ASTARION

CORRUPTION

ok this is mostly because he has more than one instance in the game where he mentions virgins lol. i think he would totally get off on "corrupting" someone inexperienced and sweet, like i can see him loving the idea of teaching u or showing u new things. will poke fun at how innocent u are and the whole time he's ROCK fucking hard 😭😭

BRAT TAMING

this man loves to play games. he likes people who have nerve but mostly because it feels so good to put them in their place. the act of MAKING u obey is so hot to him and soooo fun (he’s also into how it humiliates u by making u submit)

AGE DIFFERENCE

NOW LISTEN !!! LISTEN he is OLD !!!! as FUCK !!! he's been alive a longggg time. i think it probably turns him on to be more experienced than u not only in bed but in general. ok i will come clean i'm thinking of the conversation he has with wyll about the word "agog". like secretly he probably loves that ur so young and dumb 💗 (even if ur not actually young, just young in comparison to him) he feels some kind of superiority when he bestows his old man wisdom upon u ⚡️🧙‍♂️ also it prolly adds some "forbidden" or "taboo" feeling to the sex that he likes 🤫

BONDAGE

the fact that u trust him enough to do something like this is so hot. he likes to watch u struggle against the restraints while he teases or overstimulates u. probably the type to use silk or fluffy handcuffs lol. afterwards he’ll kiss any bruises/marks left behind (the best part)

DACRYPHILIA

I ALWAYS SAY THIS IM SORRY but since he has that sadistic side i genuinely think he's into seeing u cry. the sounds/faces u make and seeing u reduced to such a vulnerable state. will try to overstimulate u to the point of tears so he can wipe them off ur face and make u clean them from his fingers hehe 💗

GALE

TEMPERATURE PLAY

OF COURSE this mf is using magic for this. he'll get pretty creative with it too— ooh wait bondage using ICE restraints??? yes ??? no ??? can he do that ??? anyway. he will tease a lot by switching between hot and cold, mostly because he loves watching how u react. likes if u use it on him too but not as much as he likes using it on u.

EXHIBITIONISM/VOYEURISM

i think he’s the type of dude to want to watch u touch yourself. and vice versa. will also want to jerk off while watching clone!gale fuck u. he’ll want to fuck in places where u guys might get caught too, mostly because he wants to show u off and make other people envious

SEX TOYS

^^ like i said before he’ll want to watch u use toys on urself, also might like it if u let him tell u how to use it. he’ll use some too, but usually only if u want to watch him use it on himself (or if u use them on each other obv). he doesn’t really use them much alone. the exhibition part is what’s most exciting to him

FACESITTING

probably one of his favorite positions honestly. he just really likes to eat u out and he’s soooo good at it. loves the feeling of ur weight on his body and how u grind against his face. it also gives him lots of access to ur thighs so he can squeeze and kiss them 💗💗

CLONING

i already mentioned how he’ll watch clone!gale fuck u. but he will also want to tag team/double team u with clone!gale 😭😭. can he do clones of other people? if he can he might also like making a clone of u too. that would be the craziest foursome ever holy shit LMAOO imagine getting fucked by URSELF (he would be so into watching that honestly that’s a gale top 3 fantasy moment)

WYLL

BREEDING

i think he wants to have so many babies. and to stuff u full of babies. filling u up with his cum is so hot to him and he will go multiple rounds just to really get it in there LMAO also really likes the way his cum looks when it’s leaking out of u 💗

PRAISE

he loves to give AND receive praise. he will tell u how ur doing so good for him and how beautiful u look. BUT he also wants u to tell him how good he’s making u feel and how handsome he is (he’ll lowkey get kind of insecure if ur too quiet, he really feeds off of how u respond) he also likes praise in the form of noises too if ur too shy to say anything lol

ROLEPLAY

i think he would he into roleplaying a little bit. particularly him being a knight and u being his prince/princess. will want u to dress the part and everything. he really gets off seeing u in the regal get up— i don’t think he would go too overboard with the knight thing though (like putting on an entire steel knight outfit 😭😭 that would take too long to get off. he’d combust) but he’ll prolly put on a little chainmail or something if u want.

CLOTHED SEX

yeah he’s going to want to fuck u with the princess/prince fit ON. but also i think he’d really be into dry humping tbh….. like if he’s saving himself until marriage then i don’t think he sees dry humping as real sex so it’s okay ooohh that’s so naughty wyll 😈😈 probably loves to watch u get off on his thigh through ur clothes

SENSORY DEPRIVATION

THIS…… might be far fetched…… but i feel like he’d be into this. like blindfolding (yes he’d let u blindfold him too), wearing gloves when u touch each other and etc….. wait the gloves is actually so hot though like leather gloves? imagine he blindfolds u and then touches u with the gloves on…. ooh baby

FEMALE BG3 COMPANIONS

NON-COMPANIONS/NON-ORIGIN COMPANIONS

[simpcityy]

My Little Spawn Pt.8 (Dadstarion X Child!Reader)

Summary: Astarion was finally free from Cazador after being kidnapped by a mind flayer but he was stuck with one annoying task, you.

Disclaimer: I do not own Baldur's Gate 3 or any of its characters.

Word Count: 1K

Warnings: Use of (Y/N), Cazador, language, violence, spoilers for those who haven't gone far in the game, mentions of blood, animal death...Uhhh...I think that is all. MAJOR SPOILERS IF YOU AREN'T IN ACT 2 AND 3 YET.

Author Notes: I'm back, I hope I can finish this series and move on to my Rolan one. Maybe I should do another dad series with another character? I like doing these and I know you guys seem to be enjoying them as well! We are getting close to the end of this series so please remember to reblog and like if you enjoy this series.

After raiding Moonrise Towers, the group was now on the road to Baldur’s Gate with a new addition to the group, Jaheira. (Y/N) runs around in the field of flowers that the group has decided to take a short rest. Astarion watched from afar, his mind pondering over and over. What will happen once they reach the city, will Cazador be able to sense you? Will the other spawns see you and report back to him? Many thoughts were running through his head but stopped when he felt a tugged at his hand. You looked up to him, “Are you here? I’ve been calling you over and over.” You pouted only for him to sigh “I was thinking but what do you want?” he mutters, setting you between his lap. “When we reach the gates, are we going to see papa!” You beamed at him. Astarion only stayed silent before patting your head “Time will tell.” He whispers. 

Getting access to the lower city was going to be difficult for the group. Tav sat on a rock after they were being denied entrance. “there must be another way to get inside…” They mutter and look around the group for any ideas. You were busy collecting different types of flowers for your father as a gift, still listening in on their conversation. This is when a thought occurs to you, a rather mischievous idea. Astarion was leaning against a pole before seeing you run past them and to the guards. “The hell are you doing?!” He follows you. You walk up to the lady, “Why can’t we go inside? Is your job to help people right?” You began. “Well yes but by orders we cannot let anyone in without a valid reason.” She leans to your height. “I don’t think my papa is going to like that, he’s been looking for me everywhere and if he finds out that I wasn’t able to go back home to him, he’s going to get really angry.” You smile at her innocently. Astarion stops a distance from you and watches. “He knows a lot of important people!” You remember that night in the Moonrise cells, that Lord Gortash. “He’s even friends with a man who looks over important! He looks just like this.” You point to the poster with Gortash's face. Upon that information, the woman pales a bit. “Lord Gortash? A-ah I see, you could’ve said that before.” She looks back at the group and yells out to bring the gate down. Astarion picks you up “You…really are his child…” He mutters impressed how you manipulated your first mortal but worried at the same time. You are really a small version of Cazador, and he wasn’t liking that. Cazador was a man who always had his way, he saw it just now with you and that woman. You had your way. 

After securing a room at the inn at a reasonable price, Astarion watched as you went with Shadowheart for your bathtime. Wyll walks over, “You’ve been quiet, that's not like you.” The pale elf looks up and sighs “Many thoughts are running in my mind…(Y/N) acted just like my worst nightmare, Cazador. I always forget they are a piece of Cazador.” He sighs “What is the next step for me? Do I exchange them to Cazador for my freedom…or…do I save them and the other spawns from him…thankfully they don’t have that mark on their back but…I have no clue what he plans for them…after reading all the books, there never seems be to a good happy ending for their kind.” He looks over to his backpack with the books he’s read so far. “They’ll grow up to be lonely…their kind is very rare, and I doubt there is another out there alive. As for family…seems like Cazador is the only one so far..so if I were to kill him, they’ll have no one…” He hated this, how can one simple small child bring him this much trouble. He would’ve toss them out in the city already and have the spawns take them back home but there was a small itch in him that prevented him. He hates it but he’s grown attached to them. “I want to resent them; I want to hate them for causing me so much trouble. I wanted to feel free the moment those ugly bastards captured me. I was away from Cazador's clutches but no!” He groans in frustration. “I was stuck with his child! A copy of him!” He felt the tears. Wyll only stays quiet letting him take it all out. He knew Astarion was going through it, the spawn was feeling overwhelmed the moment they got closer to the city. 

You stood behind the door of the bathroom listening, Shadowheart was out with the rest getting drinks after she bathed you. You only look down, playing with your hands trying to stop the tears from falling down. You glance from the door watching Astarion stomp out of the inn needing fresh air. Wyll sighs before walking over to his bed. You took this chance, you wanted Astarion to feel the freedom, even if it means without you. You walk to the door slowly and open it. Checking the hallway and walking out. 

Midnight rose and Cazador stood at his desk frowning. He watched the moon before sighing hearing the door open. “Didn’t I say I wanted to be left alone!” He turns, spotting Godey. “I know you did demand that Master but there is a gift for you at the entrance.” He bows at his master. Cazador only glares “I don’t want anything at al-” he stopped before hearing that voice, his little songbird is back. You walked to the main room and stopped by the big door. You look around, how you missed this place but a feeling within you made you rethink it. Looking back, you heard the doors open and spotted Cazador.

“Welcome home my little songbird.”

[vitaminseetarot]

Full Blue Supermoon PAC Pick a Flower: How Are You Blooming? 🧡🌸🌹💜

Hello folks and welcome back to the next chapter of my moon series, all about growing your intention over the month! I had some crazy weather and managed to get both moonrain and moonwater. The moon was SO BRIGHT outside I even attempted (poorly) to read a book underneath it. If there's collective advice I can give for all four piles, it's to get some extra sleep lol especially when full moons this bright can disrupt our schedules.

As a ritual option, if you do gather moonwater, you can consecrate it to your intent via drinking or bathing. Imagine that you're watering that which is now ready to come into full bloom. The water energy will be particularly potent since it's in the tropical sign of Pisces. It's an energy that can receive powerful insights from dreams and visions so long as one's channels are properly cleansed and cleared. If you're an artist this is a great full moon for finding a good creative idea to work with throughout the rest of the year.

Pick one of the three flowers below to find out how your seed is now flowering to its full potential during this Superbloom! Pictures provided from flowers growing in my own house and yard. Divider from @animatedglittergraphics-n-more.

1, Orange Daylily - 2, Mauve Musk Mallow

3, Scarlet Bee Balm - 4, African Violet

Pile 1: Orange Daylily

Five of Swords, Eight of Pentacles, Two of Cups, IX Hermit, King of Cups New Moon Eclipse - Expect Powerful Change, Virgo Moon - Trust, Everlasting Daisy - Fortitude

This tarot deck, I swear! Almost every time I use it, this frightening five of swords pops out. I used to gasp, but now I'm like "really, again?" Maybe that's a metaphor for your reading, pile 1. Big changes are on the horizon and you're shocked and overwhelmed and don't know what you're doing--relax, it's all going to be fine.

You are blooming through persistence. No matter what silly, inane situation or conflict you find yourself in, you have shown that it pays to stick to your vision and keep pushing through no matter what. It's become like a personal compass for you, leading you where you need to go when things on the outside become too confusing to mess with. You know scenes in shows where a bunch of people are fighting over something like a coveted treasure, then you see that one person in the background is quietly making their getaway with the treasure. If the others fighting could stop and think for a second, they'd realize that you're already several steps ahead of them.

I felt the Hermit card long before I even pulled it, so the general advice here is as simple as: keep doing what you're doing! You may not see where you want to be right now but you're success will be guaranteed once you've made it. You're being asked to trust in the process for now. If you need to hide yourself away in order to focus, then keep doing it. You need to be mindful with how you spend your energy, and petty quarrels are the biggest energy drains. Getting too many other minds involved in the process is only going to bog you down, and not with cranberries. There's already a lot going on, so give yourself chances to disconnect.

Eventually, you'll be able to reconnect again, from a healthier place. Isolation is meant to help you, not remain a staple feature in your life. Sometimes we have to step away from people in order to enjoy the time spent with them again. Absence makes the heart fonder and all that. Your sense of light and joy is the key here. Does being alone make you feel more at ease, or does spending time with someone you care about? Daylily is named for their flowers which only bloom for one day before falling away. Orange Daylily is especially optimistic. It's asking you to take it one day at a time. A day for this, a day for that.

Soon, you will come to a place where you can feel more emotionally centered and your boat won't get rocked so easily. King of Cups isn't a rock, he lets himself feel tenderly and passionately, he lets others feel before him, but he doesn't let those feelings consume or overwhelm him. Don't be in a pressure to be that kind of person at the moment. You don't have to act emotionally above it all, or like you're only there to absorb the conflict. You can be King of Cups for your own sake, when you're ready to handle it. For now, quiet persistence is one way you can create emotional boundaries while you're undergoing shifts in your life.

Pile 2: Mauve Musk Mallow

Six of Wands, X Wheel of Fortune, I Magician, Eight of Cups, XIII Death Full Moon Aquarius - Show the World the Real You, Libra Moon - Sympathise, Gardenia - Awareness

I really liked the initial energy of this pile. You must have done something right! Because of your particular talents, and staying true to yourself as well, you were able to accomplish something that would have seemed impossible ages ago. It's like you're striking lucky somewhere in your life. I sense whatever this luck was varies so much because I'm not getting details as to what. The focus seems to be more on your sudden boost of confidence. It may begin to feel like things are finally starting to work out in your favor.

You are blooming through serendipity. This chance will spark a light in you to have more fun with your life. The Musk Mallow can represent playfulness, but mallow plants are notorious for their soothing capabilities. It's offering relief on the pressure valve a little so you can come back into balance with yourself again. However, this luck is not intended to last. It's there just enough to support and push you into a more positive direction, but it's not something to fall back on hoping there will no longer be worries. Allow yourself to enjoy the success but don't let it get to your head.

I think in order to receive this opportunity, you'll need to let go of something, maybe just for a little while like a break. It could be other opportunities that are tempting you or some blockage getting in the way. I get a sense for many of you that you may need to spend less time with certain people even if temporarily. This is in order to focus and allow the best possible outcome. The people you would be distancing will likely be people who don't support you or have the best intentions for your future. Don't entertain those who try to put you down for your successes. It may suck if this is a close friend or family member, but a true friend will stick around for you even if you suddenly get swept up in something good, even if you have to undergo radical change to make it possible.

Either way, I see you taking on this opportunity with a high chance for further success if you can keep your head in the game. Stay vigilant and don't rest now while the iron is still hot--strike! Take a moment to feel good about yourself without shame. It's okay to feel bad if some can't necessarily share with you in that success. It doesn't mean you have to let them drag you down with negative attitudes. You're doing your own thing, here.

Pile 3: Red Bee Balm

Ten of Pentacles (Rv), VI Lovers, Nine of Swords, XIV Temperance, Ten of Swords Third Quarter Moon - Adjustments Are Required, Aries Sun - Assert, Orange Blossom - Enthusiasm

This might be a specific message for some: are you planning to come out of the closet to anyone close to you, like family members? Or you could be disclosing a delicate secret to them about something like a choice you've recently made? Whatever it is, it has you feeling in a bit of a tangle. This is something that's been bugging you for a while and you're at the point where you're willing to step it up and change.

You are blooming through authenticity. You're coming into a place where you feel more real with yourself, and more aligned with your decisions. You're seeing yourself for who you are, with all the cultural and religious baggage at the side for now. Through that, you're able to expand your awareness on what it is you want out of life. Maybe you'd rather move than stay where you are, or change college majors, maybe you'd rather get a pet fish than a pet hamster. You have to know who you are to know what it is you want. Funny how it doesn't always work the other way around. Wants can be fickle but you're learning to balance the different perspectives.

If this choice means leaving behind values that have been passed down to you for ages, it may not necessarily be easy. It may not always involve stripping away it all. You don't have to throw the baby out with the bathwater, if you're just looking to give the child better soap. You can leave behind that which is only pulling you away from your authentic self. The rest is fluff. Tropical Aries Sun starts off spring season, reminding you that for every end you have the ability to create a new and better beginning with enthusiasm.

Be gentle with how you address this information to the outside. You may likely encounter opposition with your choices, especially those who would rather treat you like a child. Assertion is not the same as aggression, remember. We sometimes get caught up in our heads, believing everyone who's against us will always be fervently against us, which isn't always so. People can always change their minds and open up. It's not in your power to push them through that door, you can only keep the door open and point the signs in that direction. If they sting you, Bee Balm's medicine will be there with you, easing the pain and cheering you on for your commitment to yourself.

Pile 4: African Violet

Knight of Pentacles, Five of Cups, Queen of Pentacles, Eight of Cups (Rv.), Nine of Pentacles New Moon Cancer - You and Your Loved Ones Are Safe, Leo Sun - Create, Azalea - Temperance

Wherever it is in life you're focused on most, you've been diligently chipping away at it for some time. It feels like the right strike to hit gold is close. You're hoping that once you do, things will smooth out again and you can breathe. Every now and then, though, there comes a time where you have to stop where you are at in the present and breathe. As you do, notice everything going on around you and the amazing things currently at your table.

You are blooming through gratitude. It's not a typical message you get with the sad five of cups, but sometimes we have to look closely. The girl depicted clearly feels close to the seal, and they're able to bond over good times together even when dark uncertain times have crossed them. They're able to remember what was special, which any sadness on the surface can't erase. The two cups standing represent gratitude and hope. You're able to see that you've come a long way, and though there's much to still do, you can take the time to enjoy what you've accomplished so far. There's a bittersweet feeling to it, though, like you're not sure if you want to stop and mull for too much or you might feel too hard about what's been missed or left behind long ago.

Is there a worry over how loved ones around you might be reacting to your growth? This spread is signalling that you've already come so far, so there's no fret in slowing down and making time to spend with others. Family doesn't have to mean literal family, it refers to whomever you call "home". It could be your one dog and a studio apartment and I'd say "yes, take your dog on an extra walk today, not just cause they're a good dog but because you need this time to decompress and your dog wants to help you." Whether people in your life are under or over reacting, it doesn't have to affect your sense of gratitude for your progress. Maybe they're giving you no support for your efforts, or they're being overbearing to where you feel like they're actually pushing you away from what you're doing, but you're the Queen of Pentacles here, happily receiving from the Nine of Pentacles. The gratitude is in your mindset and how you approach it.

There's also one more separate advice, pile 4. Don't let your family discourage you from what you're making. Please don't toss away whatever it is you're working on now. Leo Sun wants you to be bold, open, and creatively expressive. Find a way to balance between working on it and getting feedback from everyone else. African Violets love that you care for family, but feels you could do without the smothering effect neglecting your growth. There's a time and a place for everything. Just make sure you're taking care of yourself in the meanwhile.

This reading has not been evaluated by the FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease or infection. Please ask your physician before going online.

2023, @VitaminseeTarot ™

[flightlesscipher]

Future Frights, Sleepless Nights

A TS Quint fanfiction

(authors note: around 3700 word count, it's a long one. I hope that this story helps make someone feel less alone. If u enjoy shit with deep meaning, check this out. The story takes place sometime before mallrats, but he is single in this timeline..sorry brandi😅. I'm not a professional, there's probably a few grammatical errors here and there, but I like to think the heart of the plot makes up for it. There is use of y/n-your name. I highly doubt it, but if kevin smith sees this, hello mister awesome. #1 I promise this is purely fictional and I do not intend on stealing your creations, it's just an expansion idea on a character of yours that I love. #2 you're fuckin epic btw ily legend #3 if this somehow someway ever gets in your hands and you read it, i would be honored to hear any words of advice or criticism to my writing. After all, you're the king of dialogue and mastermind of the most iconic plot ideas. To everyone else, pls let me know what you think as well:)Enjoy💜)

"If crime is a social disease..." you start to read excitingly, before getting interrupted by your phone ringing. "Who the fuck could that be?" It was 9 am on a Saturday. You woke up extra early just in time to watch the mailman walk all the way up to your door from your window. There isn't even a word to explain how ecstatic you've been now that your package has finally arrived. Weeks upon days upon every last minute, you've been waiting to get your hands on the newest comic. Admire every color and line down to the smallest detail. Feel every single page under your finger tips, making it yours. Fuck.

You pick up your phone and sigh in slight annoyance. "yello," you mutter, trying not to sound like you want to kick the ass of whoever the fuck is on the other end. "Hey y/n...what are you doing?" It was none other than TS Quint, one of your close friends. You would say best friend, but Brodie insists that "only one" can claim that title. Brodie actually introduced you two a while back, considering the fact that you guys had a lot of similarities. Same taste in music, same drive to be a good person, same "lousy want for cheesy romance", same soft heart, and so much more. He was right, it was definitely true. The amount of late night phone calls, drunk adventures, and much needed deep talks should earn you the best friend title, even TS secretly agrees. Maybe not THE best friend, but A best friend is more like it. Which is why he called you this early in the morning. TS could count on you when it came to almost anything. Almost.

"Playing rock, paper, scissors with myself. Why what's up," you answer sarcastically, rolling your eyes at your own humor.

"C'mon, seriously! Are you busy? Please tell me you're not." You can hear the stress in TS' voice, his tone sounding way more weak than the typical morning raspiness. He's usually one to throw a witty reply right back at you unless there's something bothering him.

"Well I wassssss trying to read that new comic I've been waiting on...but you sound like you've either got run over by a bus or you haven't slept in days. What's going on?"

A loud groan buzzes from his end. You can feel his exhaustion through the phone. "I haven't!!!! I been tossing and turning all night. I can't seem to get in a comfortable position and it's driving me insane. It's been fucking hours!"

You can't help but feel atleast a little bad for him. At the end of the day, friendship is always more important than some comic..well...for the most part. "Okay soo..your next best solution is hanging out with me?" You knew he needed some comfort, but you wanted to tease him a little before saying yes.

TS groans even louder and let's out a long sigh. "Please y/n? I'm sick of being in this house and even more sick of my inability to relax. Plus, I wanted to see you anyway..." The sincerity and pureness of his last admission made you melt. Despite Quint's many many stresses, he always has a soft spot for you.

"Let me guess. You called Brodie first. He didn't answer."

A nervous chuckle slips through his lips. You can imagine his anxious facial expression already. "Well yeah, I always call Brodie first..." Small guilt starts to flow through his veins. "You know he won't be awake till another 5 hours from now," he tries to distract you from the previous topic as his voice shakes a little.

"Hmm, so what you're telling me is that if Brodie wasss awake, you wouldn't have even bothered to reach out to me?" At this point you were just coming for his life. It's always been super easy to get under his skin.

"Damn it y/n, can I come see you or not?" Man he sounded irritable. He wanted so bad to be a smartass back but he didn't have the energy.

"Yes you can come over," you reasure him in a now warmer tone as a smile tugs at the corners of your lips. "I was just fucking with you. See you soon, Quint."

You can practically hear him jump out of bed. "Thank GOD. I'm getting dressed and leaving. See you in a few." He hangs up immediately, missing your laugh at his relief. TS sure was a character.

As you lift the comic back up to your eyes, the heroes on the pages stare right back at you. A quiet sigh escapes your lips, signifying a silent goodbye for now. You gently place the comic on your desk, gazing at the cover one more time to remind yourself of the excitement. You didn't bother changing your outfit. You felt comfy and knew TS didn't care what you looked like anyways..he'd probably show up looking a bit frazzled considering his current state. As you lazily walk to your door, you mentally prepare yourself for whatever TS is about to hit you with. The warmth of your shoes envelopes your feet as you slip them on before you head outside. You figured you'd wait for your friend to arrive, but within no time, you can already see his car in the distance speeding down the street. Faint sounds of electric guitar fills your ears more and more the closer he gets.

The car screeches as he barely parks in your driveway. Clearly he was in a rush to see you. You walk up to his car as he rolls down his window. His hair was a bit of a mess but somehow he didn't look anywhere near how Brodie looks when he wakes up. He was wearing a flannel and jeans per usual. "There you aree," he says with a smile. His eyes watch you climb into the passenger seat and close the door. "Here I am," you sigh, throwing out sarcastic jazz hands, smiling right back at him.

"Sorry I look..like this..." He awkwardly gestures at himself in embarrassment. "It has been a very long night." His hands grab hold of the wheel as he looks down at his lap and exhales.

"Atleast you don't look like jay after having an "adventurous night." You should see the look of that man with a weed hangover. His hair all over his face and his shirt somewhere across the street in a bush." He looks at you with wide eyes trying to imagine the sight. "But anyways tell me what's on your mind? What's stopping mister TS from sleeping at night?" You gently nudge his shoulder, playfully trying to get something out of him. You know he's one to feel a lot, but struggle to let it out without being asked.

"I don't..I don't know! I just couldn't get comfortable and my head was racing..with a million things. Nothing specific." The slight hint of anxiousness in his voice stood out more than a peacock in a flock of pigeons.

"Cut the bullshit TS, tell me what's wrong," you say a little sternly, careful not to sound angry at him. You've said that sentence to him on multiple occasions.

"It's nothing, don't worry. Just couldn't sleep...besides...here look. I found this new band you'll like. I burned some songs onto a cd for you." Your eyes widen as he quickly tries to shift your focus onto something else other than his thoughts. TS leans over you and whips open his glove compartment. Like always, cds and cassettes fly out onto your lap. No matter how many times you've told him, he fails to keep that part of his car organized. It really is a messy representation of his music taste.

"C'mon which one is it? I swear I put it on the top." He hurriedly shuffled through his collection. Some cds had cases, whereas others did not. He tossed some on your lap as you watched him frantically search. You always enjoyed Quint's high appreciation for great music, both underground and well-known. Sharing songs with you was just another adorable love language of his. But at the moment you knew he was avoiding facing the conflicts of his mind right in front of you. "TS..."

"Ahhh here it is!" He lifts the cd in the air between you guys, giving it a little shake as he was careful not to get thumb prints on it. You can see he had written some words on it in sharpie, but before you had time to read it he quickly inserted it into the car. Groovy bass fills the air, following the loud pop of a snare drum. TS starts lightly drumming his steering wheel with his hands. The song wasn't bad, but you reach over to lower the volume so you can talk to him.

He gently grabs hold of your hand to stop you. "Oh you don't like this one? That's okay, cause I know for SURE you'll love the next one, dude." He presses the skip button and increases the volume even more. His hand releases from yours as he air guitars to the music. It was always entertaining to see him put on a show for you, but now wasn't the time.

"TS..." you say again trying to get his attention, but ofcourse that was a fail. You sharply inhale, finally reaching to turn off the music completely. TS abruptly stops and his jaw drops. "Heyy what was that f-"

You don't let him finish his sentence for obvious reasons. "Talk to me," your voice now stern and serious. His blue eyes lock with yours, softening in such a way that reveals even more exhaustion than before. He likes to think he's good at hiding things, but Quint's eyes speak louder than any words out of his mouth will.

TS sighs and drops his hands to his lap, his fingers playing with the bottom of his flannel for comfort. "I'm scared.." The tone of his voice drops, sounding extra vulnerable.

"Scared? Scared of what??""

"Wasting time..." he mumbles, clear enough for you to hear him.

"TS what on earth are you talking about?" You slightly raise an eyebrow as you try to read the emotions on his face.

"The future, y/n! My future," he starts, his words now filled with passion. "We're not teenagers anymore. We're adults. And it fucking scares me. I don't know what I'm doing or what I should be doing to prepare myself for it all. I don't even know how to "adult."

You feel your heart drop at his honesty. His words hit too close to home. The material of your pants suddenly seems interesting as you listen to TS pour his feelings out to you.

"It all scares me. Some days I'm fine and other days I'm completely losing my mind. So much so to the point it keeps me awake at night, clearly," he again gestures to his appearance as his eyes widen in annoyance. "I don't know what to do or what I even want to do! I spend so much time trying to dive into the shit I like and find more shit exactly like it. It's almost like a distraction from entering the real world. I mean..comics, music, video games, partners...what if all of it is just a waste of fucking time?"

The pain is TS' voice felt like a flame against your skin. You hated knowing your best friend was feeling this way. Everything he was saying felt indescribably relatable, but you didn't think he realized that. "TS..."

He keeps going and doesn't let you speak. "I don't know how they do it! There's tons of other people our age who know exactly what they're doing and exactly where they're going to end up. It's like they have the list of steps right in front of them! But then what? What if they do get there? Are we just supposed to repeat the same cycle of work, eat, and sleep everyday for the rest of our lives? I can't do that!!!"

He pauses to take a breath. He gazes into your eyes searching for some kind of comfort or answers. His cheeks are starting to flush a little from his ranting. You try to chime in. "Ya know I feel-"

TS interrupts again, revealing that he still had more to say. "I like hanging out with my friends. I like spending hours in comic stores or records shops. I like being stupid and getting drunk and high and just living without any worries. But it makes me feel so guilty. I'm so confused! You don't hear about adults doing what we do. Everything is "oh I can't I have work. I have to take care of the kids. Ah shit I can't I have to pay my bills next week." It sickens me! Obviously I want a job and a good future where I don't have to worry, but I can't even begin to describe the amount of emotions that bubble up inside of me everytime I think about it all. There's so many ways to turn and paths to take! The fact that one wrong decision can completely screw up the outcome of our future scares the fucking life out of me. It's so draining! What if-"

"TS!!" You didn't want to interrupt, but God knows how long he would've kept rambling and going in circles. "I understand you," you admit.

His eyebrows raise in surprise. "You do?"

"Duh. Do you think I'm not as lost in life as you are? I'm in the same boat. You're young. We're young. It's confusing as shit yeah, but we have so much time," you try to comfort him despite agreeing with every word he said.

"But it doesn't feel like it. We may be young but not as young as we used to be. It feels like the days fly by way quicker. Especially on days we fuck around and do what we actually wanna do."

"I know it does. It's bound to be that way the older we get. That's why it's important to appreciate every second and live in the moment. You're not living life if you're just worrying about the future, man."

TS looks out the window and takes a deep breath. It looks like he's trying to accept what you're telling him but still struggling.

You reach over and place your hand on his shoulder. "It's normal to worry about this shit, TS. It's completely okay, I promise. But you gotta be in the present. I have trouble focusing on the right now, too. You know that. We all grow our own way. There's no rule or age limit to life. No matter how old you are or where you are in your journey, you will always have room for growth. Everybody's chapters are different lengths, whether it may be love, success, happiness..you have the right to take as long as you need to read each one. Even turn the pages back to them anytime..."

Quint looks at you completely dumbfounded. He couldn't believe it. You knew yourself you were a little wise when it came to helping others. Listening to your own advice is something you have to work on, though.

"And about being afraid of wasting your time..don't. You spending time with your friends and finding joy in your favorite things isn't bullshit, TS. That is what's MEANT to be happening right now. You're figuring out who you are. What you love. What makes you, you. You're decorating your soul and building the future TS that younger TS always wanted to be. And maybe time flying by while doing all these things is actually a good thing. It means you're truly enjoying what makes you, you. I think you should continue spending time where time disappears. A full life goes fast and in the end, time that flies is time well spent." You smile warmly at him, secretly being impressed at the wise words that just came out of your mouth.

"Holy shit. You're right." TS' eyes widen in sudden realization. He was always one to be extremely grateful for meaningful advice. Through the deep exhausted state in his blue eyes, you now notice a glimmer of light. A tired expression now mixed with a sense of awakeness from relief. "What do I do about fearing the cycle of doom?" A playful smile starts to form on his lips, knowing you understood what he meant.

"Honestly, I can't tell you to not be afraid about that part. Fuckin hell. You and I both are afraid of living that God awful cycle of work, eat, and sleep all while suffering silently till you die. Shit, I swear on my life that so many other people our age are afraid of that crap, too. We're young, TS. We have time. We'll figure it out. Life will do it's thing. Don't compare yourself to anyone who's "doing better than you." I say it all the time.." You put your hand out, expecting him to finish the sentence.

"Comparison is the thief of joy." He quoted in a now content tone of voice.

"Exactly, my friend. See? You had it in you all along." It pleases you to finally see TS show off a full smile this morning, especially because of your assistance. You reach out and ruffle his hair gently, the soft brown strands standing up in different directions. "You'll be alright, TS. I promise."

He pushes your hand away with a giggle and flattens down the mess. His eyes meet yours as he gently grabs hold of the sides of your face. "Thank you, y/n. You're a genius. I seriously don't know what I'd do without you."

Your heart going from a huge drop to cozy comfort in such a short time was pretty similar to a rollercoaster. But being friends with TS literally felt like being on one anyways. "No need to thank me, man. It's what I'm here for."

"I'm so fucking glad I came to see you instead of Brodie. He probably would've told me to just rub one out and move on," he admitted with an awkward chuckle.

"You probably should have," you joke. That definitely would have knocked him out for sure. One of the common traits you both shared was also having crude humor at even the worst moments.

"Do you wanna do me a quick favor?" TS' eyes nervously jump around side to side. He was being playful as usual, but he damn sure always had the balls to ask despite knowing your answer.

"No."

"Okay."

The air fell silent. Faint sounds of wind and birds singing mixed with the purring of the car until TS spoke up. "So uhhh..about that comic. You wanna go inside and enjoy it with me? I know how long you've been waiting for it."

Finally. You knew TS well enough to know he was also interested in experiencing the things you loved with you, just as you did with him. There was no way he wouldn't have brought it up eventually this morning. "You bet!"

Both of you climb out his car. While you walk to your front door, he wraps an arm around your shoulder and pulls you close. He gives you a small, much needed side hug while simultaneously ruffling your hair this time to playfully get you back for earlier.

"You jerk," you mumble as you nudge him away.

"Yeah, your favorite jerk."

Like he does everytime, TS slides his shoes off at the door. No matter how many times you tell him he doesn't have to do that, he still insists it's only respectful he does. His parents raised him well without a doubt. You teased him for it, but he knew you admired that trait. Once in your room, he plops down onto your bed, face first. He stays still and groans. "mmfcomfy."

"You're so stupid haha. Move over." You grab the comic and sit on the bed next time him as he rolls over and leans back on your pillow. He snatches a still full bag of chips you had left open earlier off your nightstand and starts eating them. You didn't even care at this point. You were happy you had helped your best friend feel a little better and finallyyy was having the comic nerd moment you've been waiting for.

A common position you guys spend together took place yet again. Your head rests on TS' chest while his hands rest partially on your stomach. A lot of the time, you're holding a comic, tilting it up enough for him to also see the pages and be able to flip them for you if you're reading it aloud to him. One of the unique habits he has during these moments always puts a smile on your face. If he's wearing a flannel, specifically unbuttoned, he will throw the extra fabric over you. It's almost like he's trying to cover you with the smallest blanket, or make himself feel closer to you somehow.

"I am now in the present. Experiencing a new comic with my best friend. I can feel the time flying by already," he playfully quotes you with a soft sigh.

You start to read the comic to him, listening to him quietly gasp or hum to the art or dialogue he enjoyed. It wasn't until 4 pages in that he got quiet. You can feel his breathing pattern on your back grow slower. Careful not to wake him, you lift your head slowly to see the physical answer for why he stopped replying. Thank God. TS finally fell asleep. After all those hours of struggling and stressing, he now looks like he took a visit to Peaceful Town.

You lean back down into his chest, feeling his hands gently hold you tighter in his sleep. The comic was everything you've been dreaming about, but even in the midst of excitement, you realize this is a beautiful moment free of worries. No need to worry about responsibilities or the future or running out of time. Just as the heroes in the comic live out their purpose, you allow yourself to do the same. Living in the moment, drifting into a calming snooze with TS Quint.

-Flight🪽

[httpiastri]

OK SORRY GOING OFF OF THAT LAST MESSAGE-

PAUL ARON X POPSTAR!Y/N

LETS SAY SHE SHE WROTE SO AMERICAN BY OLIVIA RODRIGO ABOUT HIMMMM AND SHE FINALLY ADDS IT TO THE SETLIST THE FIRST NIGHT HE WATCHES HER TOUR LIVE?!?! AND AND HES IN THE VIP TENT AND ALL THEYRE FRIENDS ARE LIKE TEASING HIM/ALL THE FANS TOO POINTING AT HIM AND EVERYTHING WHEN IT GETS TO THE CHORUS OF "HE 🫵laughs at all my jokes and HE 🫵says im so american" AND Y/N POINTING AT HIM TOO/LAUGHING AT HIS FACE !! AND HES JUST THERE ALL BLUSHY AND GIGGLY AND CANT STOP SMILING AHHHHDVHWGEUEHE

i cannot handle this i love that song istg!!! jack write a fic ab this PLEASE I LITERALLY BEG OF U🧎🏻‍♀️🧎🏻‍♀️

-🧸

also omg can u tell im a music kid🌚 i relate so many songs to paul and send a lot of them to u its concerning now LMAOOO am i gonna stop tho? no🫶🏼

okay so. 1. i loooved the last ask, i got another request for paul x popstar!yn so im gonna mix those two up i think 🤭

2. i LOVE this idea too?? omfg?????? i dont think i can fit it into the same blurb but i definitely will write this too aaaaaa 🥰 the thought of paul not knowing what to do... just like "!! you all know its about me?!?"..... because i feel like a main point in this au is paul feeling a bit unsure of how he acts when he's in "her" world? sure, he's used to having teenage girls yelling his name and cheering him on, but these squealing little fans that go to y/n's shows who are interested in him just because of his girlfriend? very new situation for him.... and god yn loves taking advantage of the fact that he's a bit uncomfortable in these situations. like, pointing at him during the lyrics you wrote about, but also keeping eye contact with him through the entire chorus.... AND POSSIBLY winking at him after "oh god i'm gonna marry him if he keeps this shit up" just to see his eyes widen instantly and that cute blush spread across his cheeks 😭 (and hearing all fans SCREAM at that, oh my god)

3. im sorry that im apparently living under a rock when it comes to pop culture these days because when i saw the tiktok u linked i was like. louis huh. no way this is THAT louis?!?!?!?!!!! so uh yeah i didn't know about them 🫠 but omfg they're so cute... and ofc i had to look for more pics & tiktoks of them and goD they're so paul & yn!! like i saw the vids of his reactions to "so american".... and olivia sending flying kisses while singing it..... and just paparazzi pics of them together....... okay i cant do edits of pics but i think you get the vision??:

likeeeee again he's used to fans waiting by the track to take pics with him, or being tagged in thousands of vids of his car in races... but having paparazzi wait outside yns apartment door when he's stayed the night etc? or being followed around when out on a date?? god he has to try so hard to act normal (flustered paul is so cute istg 😭)

so uh yeah these asks have definitely brought up my motivation to write this like a lot 🥰

4. i can tell hehe i am one too!!!! or at least used to be 💔 but god its not concerning, i think it's just good 🥰 esp when you send them to me 🥰 so pls pls never stop 🙏

[seospicybin]

hi baby, allow me as an interviewer who has come to ask you questions in honour of your newly published chapter of taste which is going soooo good 🫨 if you don’t wanna answer some questions, do skip them !!

1) what’s your favourite way to cure writer’s block?

2) how do you come up with titles? do they come up with meanings or just vibes, like you go along with it?

3) are there any parts of your writing process that you wish people knew more about?

4) how do you get into the mindset of your characters?

5) what’s the inspiration behind on tour?

6) are there any easter eggs or hidden details in your work that us readers have not yet found?

7) what’s one sentence (or an feedback itself) from a feedback that has stuck to you till to this date?

8) what character do you think you’d get along the best in real life?

9) is there any ritual or process you work in while starting a new fic?

10) how do you choose the names of certain characters? do they have hidden meanings to it? for example, in the crowd series you name the children byeol and haneul.

11) if your characters had social media, what would they post about?

12) do you ever imagine alternate endings to such fics? what happens to those scenes that does not get into the final cut?

13) do you think your writing reflects your personality, or is it a space to explore sides of yourself you don’t usually show?

14) how do you balance humor and seriousness in your writing?

and last but not least,

15) how do you motivate yourself during times when you just feel a wave of anxiety or disgust when you stare at your writing? like when the words get all jumbled up and you suddenly forget what makes sense and what doesn’t?

Oh, Yubin the interviewer? Okay, I'll try my best to answer each question as Eff the fic writer 🥰

1. Way to cure writer's block is by completely detach myself from writing/reading fics altogether and start doing a new hobby until I miss writing again or an interesting idea strikes.

2. Most of them have meanings, especially the series ones. For example, since Seungmin is a photographer, I titled it Viewfinder bcs it's a part of camera you use to see what's being photographed and in the story, y/n metaphorically pointed the camera to Seungmin and not realizing that she has Minho in her viewfinder.

3. Building a complete plot and outlining it. It could take me days/weeks/months and even years to figure out. Until I am sure that the plot flows seamlessly from the beginning to the end, that's when I'll start writing. Pluto takes me a year because I keep changing the plot so many times!

4. I create a playlist or I based my character on one song and keep replaying it over and over as I'm writing.

5. Mostly because I am fascinated by the 70s era and rock music and the girlies like Bianca Jagger, Pattie Boyd, Jean Shrimpton and the groupies culture and I always wanted to have a rockstar boyfriend 😂 and oh also bcs Almost Famous is my favorite movie. I recommend it!

6. I think no one caught up to it yet but Felix from I Dare You is the same Felix from The Crowd universe. In Too Crowded, Felix mentioned about meeting someone for dinner which implies that he has a gf and yep, that's you.

7. There's this one feedback that I received saying that my writing contains a lot of emotions and I loved that because I indeed cried and laughed with these characters so it feels rewarding when I successfully convey those emotions in my writings.

8. Character that I'd get along really well irl uhm... Kim from Innings and Lou from On Tour, I think we'd make a powerful clique.

9. Idk if it's called ritual but I have to play something. Not necessarily music, sometimes I'll just play something on Netflix and just let it play in the background as I'm writing.

10. Sometimes they have meaning like in On Tour, I named the side characters from rockstar names. As for The Crowd, I named their first child Byeol because S-class was just came out during that time 😂 and for their second child I named it Haneul bcs it means sky bcs they hope that even though he's the younger sibling to Byeol, Haneul will embrace his sister Byeol because she's a star in his sky.

11. Thinking of Fuckboy Next Door Chris who regularly posts thirst trap pics and working out videos on his insta.

12. For Pluto, I originally planned it to end with Hyunjin welcoming y/n to hell but I'll save that for later. Maybe. Idk. 🙈

13. I always said that I put a piece of myself in every writing that I posted and it's the most honest part of myself that I rarely show to anyone else.

14. It depends on the kind of scene you want to portray in the story and the characters as well. I don't really have the formula but it's important to put a little wit here and there.

15. Oh, my gosh there are so many instances where I felt that way cause I have this bad habit of comparing myself to someone and I'd go by my day asking "why do they like their fics and not mine" "why can't I write like them" "no one seems to be interested in my fics" whenever that happens, I'll tell myself to step back and just stop writing. I'll retrace my steps to find the reason why I'm writing in the first place and see if it's still worth doing. I also think that if writing is your true love, you'll eventually find way back to it.

Hope that answer your curiosity, my sweet Yubin! Thank you for these delicious questions, I'd like some more 😂😋

[gracelaramusings]

Days 2 & 3: DXB Pad Thai, BOM Idlis and BKK Bright Green Night Market Pastries

I'm starting to love this stop(s)-on-the-way stint. It totally breaks up what otherwise would be a my-gosh-how-many-stopovers?!?! thang (three stopovers to get to one destination?!). Overnight in Dubai, 3 hours in Mumbai, overnight in Bangkok (since our flight arrived too late for the cheap, quick and easy flight to Laos), then the last (cheap, quick and easy!) flight to Laos! With some fabulous fireworks and Pad Thai in between (and perhaps a good curry in the Mumbai airport or on the Air India flight...). It's all part of the journey...

We were debating whether to take the slow boat into Laos. We'd heard it is really special. That would have meant flying to Chiang Rai, an overnight there, a van to the border, and then a first boat, another overnight,  a second boat... you get the idea. I've had such joyous boat journeys, but this one seemed... long. So, perhaps another time. For now, a quickie flight.

And meanwhile,  Day 2 is New Year's Day in Dubai! Since the fireworks were the main attraction, and Dubai is a shopping destination but I am not about to buy anything that I would then have to carry for three weeks in a backpack, we embraced an uneventful day. Late breakfast, late checkout, work out at the gym and hang out at the pool until we needed to go. Walking the streets of Dubai with our packs on the way to the Metro, we passed a Thai place that looked divine, so we got a head start on the Pad Thai and curry consumption.

And now, I'm in the lovely Air India plane (but my personal monitor is not working, sigh...)

So, two uneventful Air India flights were travelled. My gosh, the Mumbai airport, while not yet exceptional, has progressed light years since we were last there with the kids about 17 years ago.  Then, the smell of chemicals was so great that you could barely breathe. I'll never forget the look on the kids' faces! Then, outside, the old fashioned cars were like being in a fantastical time warp. It was such an experience! Today, local artists' work adorn the walls as the motorized walkways truck you down the corridors. Beautiful. Had we had more hours and were it not the break of dawn, we very well would have explored the audio-guided tours of the terminal's art exhibition. Next time...

So we finally reached Bangkok, took a taxi to the hotel, checked and settled in, showered away the overnight plane journey and were ready to rock n roll. 

There's no question of what to do on an overnight in Bangkok... a night market, of course! And there was one right nearby (fancy that!).

Aaah, markets. Teeming with tourists from all over, there were aisles and aisles of everything. The centerpiece seemed to be the local offering of some tall tower of some sort of meat. Hmmm, not ideal for a vegetarian-leaning pescatarian. A search for "vegetarian places near me" also were unsuccessful. In the hopes that there might be that outlier, we did what seemed to be a complete round of all the offerings. I found a place that specializes in fried tofu, taro, beans and veg spring rolls, so a perfect appetizer! Taking a spot on a shared bench near a tourist family from some Asian country, we munched the delicious treats, wishing I could share them with our kids as well...

Ready for our main course, we proceeded down another aisle and then made one of the oversized-menu-holding hawkers happy by accepting his invitation to be seated. We followed him to our seats where he presented us with a thick pages-long menu. A quick search and I found it: seabass, perfect for a pair. And an ice cold Thai beer, of course! The waiter brought us single use plastic gloves (hmmm, needed with chopsticks?...) and spread out a large place mat. Our meal soon followed: a divine, tender salt-encrusted seabass with a lime-chili dipping sauce. Perfection.

I knew what I wanted for dessert. The challenge was finding it. In one of the pass-by's, I saw a woman making little bright green waffle-like pastries in a special flower-shaped cast iron pan in a booth entitled "traditional Thai dessert." What could it be? Where could it be? 

I don't believe in the concept of being lost in a nightmarket (as long as you are not looking for someone...), so our wanderings for that special pastry took a while. So long, in fact, that we just had to first get mango coconut icecream in a fresh waffle cone. Consider it a palate-cleanse sorbet.

Soon after, we stumbled upon the sought-after. A quick inquiry revealed the source of the green: pandan leaves! 

Those who know me know: why, of course I have pandan leaves at home! Vacuum packed, ordered on Amazon, when I was last in the States. That order was out of exasperation: my search in Israel for a sapling came up empty handed. I had reason for optimism: I did find a curry leaf plant in a nursery which now wonderfully grows in my yard, producing curry leaves galore for my south Indian and Sri Lankan cooking. So, after my journey to the Philippines where pandan is a specialty, I went on a country-wide search for a nursery that sells pandan plants, knowing there is a Filipino population in Israel. Regrettably, I was unsuccessful. And though tempting, I was not about to order a sapling from abroad and deal with any agricultural import issues.

So, back to the night market pastry! Imagine my excitement that I even knew what pandan is! I ordered, waited, closely observing her on the off chance that one day I will find a worthy recipe and a similar cooking appliance. Who knows!

She handed us a bamboo basket filled with the little cakes. Yum. Delish. Note to self: find recipe.

Sealing the experience,  we hailed a tuk-tuk, a perfect end to our overnight.  Tomorrow,  Laos, here we come!

[greensparty]

Documentary Reviews: Nothin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored Story of 80s Hair Metal / BOOM! A Film About The Sonics

This week I got to review 2 different types of documentaries: a doc mini-series and an indie doc that is finally getting released a few years after it's festival premiere:

Nothin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored Story of 80s Hair Metal

I have to say, I've been digging the recent music documentaries on Paramount+. Notably, the recent doc mini-series Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza looked back at the alt-rock music festival. Best of all is that Paramount+ is able to pull footage from MTV News since MTV is a part of Paramount. So now a new 3-part music documentary mini-series has dropped this week, Nothin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored Story of 80s Hair Metal. Based on the 2021 book of the same name written by Tom Beaujour and Richard Bienstock (he co-wrote the companion book Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, which I'm a fan of), this doc is a deep dive into 1980s hair metal. The main emphasis is on L.A. and the Sunset Strip scene, but there is a few bands from outside L.A. featured as well. The give a segment to each band and then there is intersecting of bands at various points thereafter. Just some of the bands covered include Motley Crue, Poison, Ratt, Guns N' Roses, Def Leppard, Extreme, Skid Row, Vixen, and Trixter among others. There are a lot of talking head interviewees and some of the anecdotes get animated sequences to emphasize the absurdity of some of the stories.

doc poster

When I was a kid I got into metal and as a teen I was a metalhead for a while. Early tapes I owned included Twister Sister and Motley Crue. As I got older, my musical tastes evolved and some of the hair metal I was into earlier seemed ridiculous in contrast with alt rock, which seemed to have something more meaningful to say. Now as a grown up, I can look back at hair metal and realize some of it, even if it was completely over the stop, was fun and some of their songs were melodic and catchy. I've always had a special place for some of these bands. In the case of Boston's Extreme I was a big fan after discovering them on V66 as a kid I was thrilled to interview some of the members for my documentary Life on the V: The Story of V66. This doc features their guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, recounting many tales. Some of these bands didn't look at themselves as hair metal, they actually wanted to be long lasting and alas then metal got wiped out by grunge and many of the bands were dropped, broke up, or imploded. I thought it was cool they had other interviewees like director Penelope Spheeris, Steve-O, and Riki Rachtman too. As a fan who remembered that scene and was fond of the scene, I dug this doc series. But it could be that I'm too close to it to be able to judge this as a documentary and clearly say how good or comprehensive it was. They definitely hit a lot of the bands and touchstone moments of that era, but I do wish they had maybe discussed MTV's Headbanger's Ball, metal press (RIP, Circus, Hit Parader, or Metal Edge) and some of the tragedies of the scene (Steve Clark of Def Leppard comes to mind). They briefly touched upon female artists like Vixen, but I think there was room to dig deeper since there was a lot of misogyny in the music and the industry at the time. Bottom line: this is good as an overview, but with so much ground to cover it only scratched the surface at times.

For info on Nothin' But a Good Time

3.5 out of 5 stars

BOOM: A Film About The Sonics

Documentaries about the "band that time forgot" is a fascinating sub-genre within the music documentary sub-genre (a sub sub genre!?!). The idea that a band never got super famous, but made just enough of a splash to influence others and amass a cult following has become quite a popular theme in the last 10-15 years. Case in point is the Tacoma, WA garage band The Sonics, who began in 1960. I didn't know them too well, but I had been hearing a lot about the documentary BOOM: A Film About The Sonics since it had it's festival premiere in 2018. It is now being distributed by the Forge with a number of indie cinema screenings including The Regent Theatre in Arlington, MA this past week.

doc poster

Formed in 1960, the quintet had a raw garage rock sound that influenced the likes of The Stooges, Nirvana, The White Stripes, LCD Soundsystem, The Hives, and more. They released two albums in the 1960s on Etiquette Records. There is a line drawn between this band and the Seattle music scene that everyone knew in the 80s and 90s. Among the featured interviewees in addition to the Sonic members are Nancy Wilson of Heart, Kim Thayil of Soundgarden, Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Mark Arm of Mudhoney, and Chris Ballew of Presidents of the United States of America. Ballew sums it up best when he pointed out that were was fun party music like The Sonics from Seattle and it wasn't all gloomy grunge.

I didn't know too much about The Sonics beforehand, but I was attracted to this mainly because of the interviewees and my love of Seattle music. As someone who didn't know them, I kind of wished they had spent a little more time on the music itself and not just on the band history. It does show some of the band's many reunions since the 60s and how many Seattle luminaries hold them in high regard (I spotted Nirvana's Krist Novoselic in a clip of their reunion show). The director did a move that can go either way, which is injecting himself into the doc with his intro and outro. There's a joke that some documentarians set out to make a film about a subject and then they just end up making a doc about themselves and their interest in the subject. Director Jordan Albertsen managed to do it effectively by not overtaking the doc but just giving a brief anecdote about discovering them through his father. Bottom line: the doc is interesting and more than anything I wanted to go out and listen to this band more after watching the doc.

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3 out of 5 stars