#but yeah these two have chemistry that transcends the writing

[lovincherries]

this was just an idea but could u write something where the reader is working on elvis with austin like shes an actress maybe playing priscilla and shes watching a scene being filmed with austin and it makes her feel things and she goes to her trailer and touches herself and then austin catches her doing it and they confess their feelings for eachother and then rough smut or something not sure this was just a fucked idea i had and i LOVED just the tip so i think you could write this really well

Now or Never

a/n: oh my gosh yes, i left tumblr on accident and it completely deleted what I had written originally ugh. I changed the request around a little bit but not much. idk if i’ve just exhausted myself here recently or what, but im just not feeling this one as much as Just the Tip

warnings: backshots (my personal fav teehee) smut, just general nastiness. unprotected sex.

Playing in the new Elvis movie was intimidating enough. Playing Priscilla Presley? 10x more intimidating. Playing your celebrity crushes wife and having to lay in bed with him while the whole film crew watched? Well, that was just the cherry on top of the intimidatingly tall cake. You’ve had a crush on Austin Butler since 2013, you were just 13 then and you were convinced you were going to marry the man who was 8 years your senior. Well, you weren’t technically wrong.

You fell in love with acting as a teenager, working day in and day out to get roles. You had mainly worked in underground movies and small roles in big tv shows. Your manager had helped you land this absolutely massive role, a dream come true to play the iconic Priscilla Presley.

Today you were filming the scene where you were in a bedroom with Elvis, and he kissed you for the first time. Your nerves got in the way of your performance, forcing the entire film crew to shoot the scene multiple times. It frustrated you to no end that you couldn’t get the scene down, your voice was too shaky, you weren’t confident enough one take, you were too quiet the next. And then there was Austin, he was just perfect for role. Acting in each scene better than the last; however, he never once let out any sign of frustration. 

“C’mon, Y/N. You’ve got to get the scene down by the end of the day. Everyone take 5 and then we’ll come back,” your director directly stated. You could feel the embarrassment in the back of your throat, God this was so humiliating. You just nodded your head.

“Ugh, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. It’s like there’s a mental block or something,” you mumbled as you and Austin walked away.

“I think you just need to let go of you, you’re holding too much onto yourself to become the character,” he stated calmly. That was easy for him to say, he transformed into Elvis for the role. You just shrugged your shoulders; you knew he was right. You knew he knew better than you about acting. You were both sitting in the dressing room, completely alone.

“Here, lets practice for a moment. Without the cameras, it could help with your nerves,” he suggested. He wanted to kiss you without being forced to? Of course, you were going to say yes, that would be a total no brainer.

“Yes!” You answered too quickly, “I mean yeah, yes,” you tried to smoothly recover.

He just smirked and you guys went over your lines, and it went amazing. The chemistry was perfect now, transcending into your lines and how Priscilla was. Then, you had to kiss. It was perfect, it felt like you two were actually kissing because you wanted to, not because you had to. His lips were soft, yet firm. The kiss was sweet and innocent.  He pulled away first with a smile on his face, his beautiful blue eyes staring into yours. It was intense, it held emotion, it was exactly what you needed.

“That was exactly what we needed,” he stated, reading your mind, hands cupping your face still. You were mesmerized by him, feeling like that 13-year-old girl again. He knew, he had to know that you totally had a thing for him. He wasn’t shy about it, flirting with you relentlessly, but you seemed to never pick up on it. You took it as him just being friendly.

“Everybody, back to shooting!” Your director yelled, pulling both of you from your trance.

************

The scene went spectacular, it was probably the best acting you had done in your entire life.

“Perfect Y/N, whatever you did keep doing it. That’s it for today,” the director smiled at you for the first time since you had started filming the movie. You tried to find Austin before you left for your trailer and thank him, but he was nowhere to be found. 

You shut your door and laid down for a moment, the scene from today had a heat pooling in your underwear. Being in such close proximity to Austin had that effect on you but this is the first time you ever wanted to do something about it. You were in the back bedroom of your trailer, most of the staff had gone home for the day so you had no worries of anyone walking in on you. And even if they did, you were sure you would hear them in time.

You pulled your panties to the side, your finger lightly trailing over your exposed folds. You grasped your boob with your other hand, your fingers playing with your nipples. Your fingers circled your clit, causing your hips to buck. You were extremely sensitive down there because you hadn’t gotten any in over a year.

Your other hand went down in between your folds, inserting one finger into your tight walls. You imagined it was Austin instead of you, wishing he was here to pleasure you like this. Your started to move into your own touch, moaning uncontrollably. You wished that it was Austin’s fingers doing this to you instead of your own.

“Austin,” you breathed out. Eyes tightly closed, hips still bucking in pleasure.

“Yes darling,” he said deeply, in that southern drawl. Your eyes shot open and you immediately stopped what you were doing.

He was standing in your doorway, leaning on it, arms crossed over his chest, that God Damn smirk on his face. 

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry,” you quickly apologized, “I- I don’t know what I was doing, just please forget that ever even happened,” you rushed out. You could’ve died from embarrassment then and there.

“It’s okay,” he said as he sat on the edge of your bed, you let out a sigh of relief, “but I think you gotta give me something after that little show,” he said darkly, his pupils dilated. This was so completely different than you had ever seen him before. 

“I- I don’t understand,” your brain wouldn’t let you process it, you couldn’t process it. 

“What I’m saying is,” he leaned over to you, whispering in your ear, “I wanna fuck you.”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” you tried to reason, “I’m not really that type of girl.” And it was true, you weren’t that type of girl. You had real feelings for Austin, you couldn’t just let him fuck you and then pretend like nothing ever happened.

“I’m not that kind of guy,” he responded, and you knew what he meant. It went without saying that he felt the same way about you. “Now, are we gonna talk about it all day or are you gonna let me do something about your little situation?” He gestured to your private parts and a red blush heated up your entire face. You were embarrassed that he walked in on you like that, in such a vulnerable situation.

“Are you gonna talk about doing something all day or are you gonna fuck me?” You retorted, proud that you had a comeback for his snarky comment. He kissed you then, didn’t even bother responding to your comment. It was much more intense and less innocent than the one from today, evoking a brand new fire in your loins.

He guided your hand, in the midst of the kiss, to feel how hard he was and you gasped into his mouth, pulling away. He was massive. He pulled you back in, much harsher this time. His hand travelled down the nape of your neck, past your breasts, down to the skirt you were wearing from the scene today. He rubbed on your clit over your underwear, pulling away from the kiss.

“So wet for me already,” he stated, rubbing harder and harder on your clit. You were releasing moans uncontrollably. He just watched with a smug look on his face. “Can’t wait to fuck this pretty pussy, ruin you for any man that even tries to look as you.”

You pulled his hand away. It was too much, and you felt empty. “Are you gonna fuck me or just talk about it?” You asked, unbuttoning his shirt slowly.

“You’re gonna feel me for weeks once I’m down with you,” he whispered in your ear, lifting your shirt over your head. Unclasping your bra in mere seconds it seemed. You fumbled with his belt before he just tore it off himself, unbuttoning and unzipping his pants. You were both in a hurry, he was just left in his boxers and you in your skirt and underwear.

As you attempted to take off your skirt, he stopped you. “Leave it, wanna fuck you with it on,” he stated as he pulled his boxers down. He was just as huge, if not more than you thought he was. His length was impeccable and his girth followed suite, you had no idea how it was gonna fit inside you. He flipped you over so you were on all fours, lifting you skirt to reveal your panty clad ass.

“Wait!” You stopped him as he was pulling your panties to the side. “What?” He panicked, he had no idea what could’ve possibly made you stop. Maybe you didn’t want to do this anymore?

“Condom?” You questioned, you knew you were clean and on the pill but you didn’t want him to do anything he regretted.

All he said was a firm, “no.” As he said this, his tip kissed your entrance, just barely in you. He stayed like this for entirely too lunch, “it’s now or never, Austin,” you said exasperated. You wanted him, needed him to be inside of you.

With that, he slammed inside of you, jolting you off your hands. Your face was now pressed into the mattress as he relentlessly pounded into you, “you get what you ask for darling.” And by God you did, it was the biggest stretch your poor hole had ever known. It drove you crazy.

“Look so pretty like this, me fucking into you,” he said slapping your ass, he reached his other hand below you and played with your clit. It was the most pleasurable feeling you had ever felt, never been fucked like this by anyone before. 

“G-god, Austin, can’t even breathe,” he was knocking the life out of you, his balls slapping your thighs. Your hips were bucking back into him, fucking him just as much as he was fucking you.

“Wanted to see you like this ever since you strolled onto set. You were wearing some shorts that left nothing to the imagination,” he grunted into your ear as he fucked into you. You were at a loss for words, a moan and breathy sighs were the only sounds you could make.

He pulled you by the hair, so your back was now pressed into his chest. His hands trailed to your front, grasping at your breasts to keep you up. His mouth leaving breathy kisses all the way up your neck. He was still pounding into you relentlessly, leaving you breathless.

Using one of his hands, he forced your head to the side so he could kiss you. It was a nasty kiss, the one where your teeth meet, messy, but hot.

You broke away from the kiss in order to get a breath, “A-Austin,” you moaned out his name. You could no longer keep yourself up at all, falling back down onto the bed, head in the sheets, and ass up in the air.

The pleasure in your stomach was building slowly, but surely. It was like pure heroin running through your veins. You could never, ever get enough of this no matter how hard you tried.

One of his hands went back to your clit, rubbing it harshly as he propelled into you. You were about to release, and he knew it, you couldn’t continue on much longer like this.

“ya’ like it sweetheart? Hmm, being fucked like a whore,” he grunted as his thrusts came at a faster and a harder pace, you knew he was getting close too.

“Mhmmm,” was all you could hum in response, sweat was dripping onto your back from his face. Your skirt now completely at your waist.

“Finish for me,” he said in that southern twang that he got from the movie and you came completely undone, not even able to keep your hips up any more.

It felt like pure ecstasy, an out of body experience truly. You felt him release in you, hips stuttering as he came. He stayed like that for a few minutes, almost as if he was stuck inside of you. 

“Good for me, darling, so good for me,” he breathed out, stroking your hair. He slowly pulled out, put your walls were clamped down on him. “Don’t wanna let me go, huh?” He joked. You were exhausted after that, not knowing what was going to happen next. Your body laid limp on the bed, him laying next to you now.

“So pretty, darling,” he brushed your hair out of your face. You swore you fell in love then and there in that moment.

“I like you a lot Butler, like more than I should,” you sighed, sleepily falling into his touch. Your eyes betrayed you, closing before you could hear his response.

“Well, I love you L/N, way more than I should,” he whispered into your ear, soon falling asleep to your light snores as well.

a/n: once again, not proofread. I’m trying to get them out fast and I get too excited to re-read them.

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[tennessoui]

You look really tired for the actors au? The short ficlet or the bigger universe, whichever!

hey hello!! so this is a prompt fill for the actors au, but not the space actors one (someone else already asked for that!!); this is goes in the same universe as the ficlet up on ao3!

(1k)

Actually, the thing that Anakin hates the very most about his job is the goddamn press conferences, the ad hoc interviews, the reporters who darken the room’s doorstep with a story they already know they’ll write, regardless of what Anakin says or does. 

All they need is a soundbyte or two, and Anakin hates it.

The movie trailer is out, the movie itself in post-production. Every day, he’s forgetting more and more of the dumb, stilted lines he’d had to memorize for it.

Every day, his co-star kisses them out of his mind until the only thing he can possibly think about is auburn hair and blue eyes.

If only he could find a way to tell Irene, the current reporter, this. It’s not like Obi-Wan and Anakin are in a private relationship. In fact, after Obi-Wan’s stunt in the restaurant six months ago, they’ve been very, very public. Contractually obligated to be public even.

But Irene seems to have temporarily forgotten this. She’s looking at Anakin and Padmé on the couch, and her eyes are narrowed in on the slim amount of space separating them. It’s not their fault they have to sit so close together. There are too many damn pillows on this couch.

This is one of those reporters who knows what story she wants to write, and Anakin knows it all too well. This reporter wants to write a trash-piece for a trash-website, about the chemistry between Padmé and Anakin, the forbidden romance of it all (given that, and this cannot be stressed enough, Anakin is in a relationship), the love that transcended the movie screen.

Anakin has been very, very quiet since the moment he clocked the reporter as one of those. It hadn’t been hard. She’d spent half the introductions stroking over his arm and the other half talking about how thrilled she was for such an unconventional romance to be shown on screen.

What is so unconventional about Anakin and Padmé’s characters kissing, Anakin doesn’t understand.

“Excuse me, I’m so sorry,” Padmé says suddenly. Her phone is ringing. Anakin silently begs her to stay, but Padmé is singularly incapable of ignoring a ringing phone. “I need to take this, I’ll be right back.”

The reporter croons and fusses and tells her to hurry, but there’s something very hungry in her eyes when she turns back to Anakin.

Padmé, please hurry, he thinks to himself and slouches back further into the couch.

“You’ve been so quiet, Ani!” Irene tells him.

“Uh,” Anakin says. “Yeah, sorry. I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“You look really tired,” the reporter agrees, and Anakin is offended on behalf of the make-up team who spent at least thirty minutes trying to cover up the shadows under his eyes. There’s a flicker of movement at the door Padmé had exited through, but it’s been much too short of a time for her to have finished her call, so Anakin doesn’t bother looking away from the reporter.

“Thanks,” he says. “That’s sweet.”

“Up too late…running lines with a certain co-star actress?” 

Anakin blinks and furrows his brow. “The movie’s finished being filmed. Why would we be running lines?”

She smiles, and it’s a hungry, bloodless thing. “Oh? Were you up all night doing something else with her?”

“I believe,” says a very welcome and beautiful and familiar voice, “that would actually be my job.”

Obi-Wan Kenobi flops onto the sofa next to him, all purposeful indolence and spread limbs. Anakin relaxes at the sight of him, going so far as to move over so that their legs brush together from hip to knee.

“You’re out early,” Anakin says. Not that he’s complaining. He thinks they should definitely be doing more interviews with the three of them all together, seeing as how they’re basically the main characters in the movie, but every time the executives say no.

Apparently it’s alright when Anakin and Obi-Wan are pictured being loved up in front of various restaurants and bars around the city, but sit them next to each other in an interview and suddenly all the footage is unusable.

“Mr. Kenobi,” Irene says between gritted teeth. Anakin huffs and sits up straight because that’s not nearly enough respect in her tone. She’s gotta learn to separate reality from fiction: Obi-Wan isn’t a villain, he just sometimes likes to play one.

Yes, sometimes when the cameras aren’t rolling. 

But Anakin’s into that.

“And before you ask, yes, I did keep him up far too late last night,” Obi-Wan tells her, wrapping an arm around the back of Anakin’s shoulders and pulling him closer to his body so that he’s half on top of him. “We were celebrating.”

“Celebrating?” The reporter asks, even if it’s clear she doesn’t want to.

“Six months,” Anakin says before Obi-Wan can, and he tilts his head up for a kiss.

The reporter looks like she’s swallowed a lemon. “There are some people who believe the two of you are faking it,” she announces, as if Anakin cares what some people believe.

“That’s ridiculous,” Obi-Wan seems to be on the same page. “And anyway, even if we were to begin with—” they hadn’t been, Anakin had insisted on trying this for real and Obi-Wan hadn’t protested at all— “then we certainly wouldn’t still be doing it after six months.”

“The press circuits—”

“I mean,” Obi-Wan says as if she has not said anything at all, “he’s quite lovable, isn’t he? After six months pretending to be in love with him, I probably would have actually gotten there. What do you think, darling?”

Obi-Wan’s slate blue eyes have a special sort of super power: the ability to drag any sort of truth from Anakin, no matter the setting. “I thought I was in love with you when I was fifteen and you were a poster on my bedroom wall,” he admits. “I had no idea though.”

Obi-Wan grins and presses a kiss onto Anakin’s forehead. He likes that sort of admission, but then, he was a child star who practically grew upin the limelight. Of course he enjoys a bit of an ego stroke.

“Oh no,” Padmé says from the doorway. “It appears my seat has been stolen.”

Lazily, Obi-Wan tilts his head to look at her. “Apologies, darling,” he drawls, hand slipping low and proprietary over Anakin’s chest. “Only, I am the villain.”

[twixtandshout]

Tagged by @pidgeonpostal! And not tagging anyone else because I have SOILED the original template (soiled it!!) in deference to my [brushes off skirt] mostly clean public-facing appearance.

...I’ve been making a lot of Spongebob memes lately for someone who has not seen Spongebob.

How many works do you have on AO3?

71!

What’s your total AO3 wordcount?

...306,834. Jesus.

How many fandoms have you written for and what are they?

Uh. Many! I do a lot of one-offs (and/or start long things I never finish) in many different places. My top three fandoms by fics written are RWBY (29), Undertale (25), Gravity Falls/Transcendence AU (4).

Bet you can’t tell where my hyperfixations have fallen. 

I’ve also got some Pokémon and Sonic the Hedgehog fics back on my ff.net account, or I think I still do, anyway, but let’s never go back there pls

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

1. Sweeter Than Honey (Undertale): Taking a Completely unsurprising first place, with over 600 more kudos than the runner-up, the haphazard Underswap fic featuring a post-college self-insert I wrote just after high school! I shake my head some at how overblown and ridiculous the gap between this and all my other stuff is (c’mon, guys, I’ve written way better fics), but this is also the fic which prompted me (and at least one other person!) to start using they/them pronouns. I’ve gotten a lot of really sweet comments about how seen and appreciated it’s made people feel, so I can’t get down too far about it.

2. To Be A Hero (BNHA): I don’t count myself as part of the BNHA fandom, for a number of reasons, but for something that’s arguably the main motivation for the entire plot, Midoriya’s quirklessness is something I’ve never thought has been handled well. This fic marked the first time I (somewhat tentatively) claimed the disability label (thanks again to Sweeter Than for prompting that realization) to hold that lens over canon. It also really shot up my chart, dang! It’s the only thing here I’d consider “recent.”

3. Three-Sentence Shipping (Undertale): Self-explanatory.

4. Brothers Beyond Bonedaries (Undertale): Ah, the way-overcomplicated AU³ I got nowhere close to finishing. One of the things I really like about Undertale is the interface screw, how Toby Fox uses the medium of the video game to pull off crazy things and enhance his game, but most of the fic written for the fandom seems dedicated to explaining it away, grounding it, rather than taking it to the next step and messing with the medium of fanfiction when you keep the story going. I tried to do something cool like that here, playing with questions like narrator and authorship and breaking the fourth wall, even taking the “final boss” fight to a “totally separate” fic reached through the first by link – but, well, then I never finished it, which probably didn’t make anything less confusing for the poor folks who missed the intent.

5. Spirit and Such (Gravity Falls: Transcendence AU): A whole fic written to line out a particular image I had, which, naturally, never made it to the page. I consider it a bit of a cautionary tale for myself when it comes to writing (near-)original content; there’s a lot I look back on and cringe. I still love the characters, though – well, the important ones – and I think just stepping away from the tried-and-true Mizar formula nets it a star sticker here.

Do you respond to comments, why or why not?

>w>; I try, but a lot of the time I just don’t have anything to say? Like, oh, you liked it? Neat. There’s not much to respond to in comments like that, and then I’m weighing falling down on an ~obligation~ to respond to every message in my inbox vs annoying people with copy-paste fluff responses all down the page. Plus I know I make more of an effort to comment on things that didn’t get the attention I feel they deserve, so if I’m driving up my own comment count with nonsense, am I preventing myself from being in a position to receive more comments later? And then if I do comment, am I being too effusive or running people’s ears off explaining things they don’t actually need to know? Sometimes people just want to express interest or admiration and don’t necessarily want a whole peek and guided tour behind the curtain.

Can you tell I have anxiety? x3;

Anyway, I do respond when I can. And I keep most of the comments I’ve gotten to go back and reread. 

What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

Hm, hmm. Lots of stuff in the TQ Nonsense series would probably qualify! I’m thinking of Unfixable, Wolfsong, and Ethanol. And there’s Bursting Through A Blood-Red Sky (I Can Live, I Can Breathe), of course, but that was always intended to have a fix-it epilogue. It’s just that I wrote it in a couple of hours day-of, stared at it, and decided I didn’t wanna just then. But now that’s As Long As You’re Still Burning Bright (I’m Still Awake), and that’s probably the best romance I’ve written, so that one worked out.

Do you write crossovers? If so what is the craziest one you’ve ever written?

Now and then! When the urge strikes. Uhhh, I’ve got a series of Doctor Who x Undertale crossovers I actually made a whole dang verse for that never made it to print. Get a couple great comments on that every few months or so. I think the World Trigger x Undertale crossover is probably weirder, though, by virtue of WT being a very small fandom. My enthusiasm kinda sputtered out on that one.

Mostly I just daydream crossovers with whatever happens to catch my eye at any given moment. I have a lot!!!! Though odds are out on whether I manage to remember any of them once the initial thought’s passed, lol.

Have you ever received hate on a fic?

Gotten a couple eyebrow-raising comments, but I think mostly I’m just too small a writer to draw that kind of attention.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I don’t? think so? Think my tastes are a little niche for most people to bother ^^;

Have you ever had a fic translated?

I had someone apologize once for any language mistakes in their comment cause they had to run it through a translator! That’s not what you asked (the answer is no), but it’s very flattering to think that someone liked my fic enough to read and comment despite the language barrier.

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yes! :D @pidgeonpostal was gracious enough to agree to co-write Five Nights at Denny’s with me off an idea about shoes. This has fulfilled a long-held dream of mine (collabing with someone, not the shoes) and also introduced me to some lovely people.

What’s your all time favorite ship?

Who has time for just one? ;3c Honestly, I care more about the characters and how the relationship – any relationship – between them changes them than I do about ~A Ship~ as a solid, bounded noun-object. I’ve got characters I like more and less and feelings about who does and doesn’t have chemistry in which directions with whom, but finding anything that agrees with those preferences is hard, harder when you take alloromanticism into account. I’ll play in any sandbox with cool toys, especially if other folks have already built sick sandcastles there.

What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

[kicks every single unfinished fic further under the bed] What nooo no WIPs here, everything on my account is either finished or does not exist

I’ve got a couple extra chapters of Sweeter Than floating around unposted, but 1. that fic’s a mess 2. high school Twixt and post-college Twixt are different people and trying to contort myself into three other me-shapes just cause people Like this fic is not something I’m super interested in 3. it’s headed for an emotional dip and I’d rather leave it where it is than post two chapters, stall out again, and leave folks with a bad end.

As for other fics... it’s looking more and more likely that v7 of my Yellow Brick Road AU will never actually make it out. >w>; I’ve got some really great ideas, but not enough to make me feel like I know what I’m doing, and that’s a big roadblock. Plus trying to engage with RT’s Atlas-Mantle worldbuilding in any serious capacity is... a headache. I can’t recommend the Happy Huntress Cinematic Universe enough, but it leaves some pretty big shoes to follow! And I’ve got small feet. <w<;

What are your writing strengths?

Dialogue’s fun, probably as an extension of characterization. I love tearing into what makes people tick, especially against the backdrop of their environment, the story they’re in, and the people they’re up against. Voice is a double-edged sword; I’ve been told my writing is really recognizable and individual, but on the other hand, I’ve been growing frustrated with with the limits of my narrative ability. There’s a strong rhythm I keep when I write (you might notice it here, even) but that leaves me feeling predictable and stale. I’m not sure I’m great at setting as a matter of course, but I’m pretty good at describing setpieces where the need comes up; that comes from my background in poetry, as does the fun I have with sublimating and abstracting complex imagery. And I think I bring some needed nuance to the universal. For good or ill, I don’t do what “everyone else” is doing.

What are your writing weaknesses?

Well, writing, for one thing. If I don’t know how something’s going to go and don’t have the urge to write it, it isn’t getting done, which means there’s a billion things that will never see the page and a few hundred more that are never getting finished. I lose momentum easily and have a hard time getting started, and I put way too much standing on finding a foothold with other people; as critical as I am of my work, I have high expectations for the stuff that passes muster, and it never seems to measure up. I’m also really uncreative. Yeah, I can mix up elements and extrapolate events, but coming up with things wholesale is really hard, which is why I avoid it wherever possible and steal/reskin stuff from other places instead.

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

Something along the lines of “Hoo boy, I am Not qualified for this but hopefully it’s decent anyway.” Maria’s Spanish lines haven’t been a big deal – I’ve used it sparingly and, as a Latin language, it should be easy for English-speaking audiences to pick up on the gist – but I’ve had a harder time with Tai’s Chinese, both because I have Even Less background there and because it is, of course, an entirely different language system. If I write it out in English or Romanized italics, am I colonizing it or changing the meaning? If I write it out in the presumed-original characters (presumed because it’s Google Translate and who knows if I’m even barking in the right forest), am I confusing or alienating my presumed-majority-English-speaking audience? Where should I put the translations? Should I put the translations? And for Frisk’s sign language, thinking back, are the brackets I used instead of quotes alienating/infantilizing? I like that different characters give the text between a different feel, but I’m not an ASL speaker – and I’m pretty sure the word is “speaker,” which would only reinforce that that demographic would rather I didn’t do that. It’s important for all these characters, I think, that they use non-English language where it makes sense; it’s part of who they are. But as a white monolingual English-speaker, I don’t think I can really weigh in.

What was the first fandom you ever wrote for?

Thaaaat’d be Pokémon, followed closely with Sonic the Hedgehog. Whether those fics are still on my ff.net account or not (pretty sure I’ve purged them, but you never know) I’ve still got a couple saved to a folder on my current laptop, ostensibly so I can look back and see how far I’ve come and more practically to allow for the possibility of furthering group cohesion through public shaming.

What’s your favorite fic you’ve written?

I still like the idea behind The Man Who Is Atlas, and Burning Bright (Still Awake) gets props for being my current fic, though it’s currently in that spot where I’m excited to get new chapters posted but also quietly marking everything up in red pen. I think Harbinger gets the crown here, at least for now.

[deadmomjokes]

For me, part of being asexual means that I get really, REALLY grouchy about a lot of romance in media. Rather, the obsession with romance, sex, and sexuality in media. I am that person that will roll my eyes and turn off a movie if it looks like it’s turning into some steamy nonsense, and I will never willingly sit through a romcom even if you paid me. Sex scenes? I’m out. Passionate kissing? Peace, I’m going to the kitchen, want anything? Call me back when the actual story gets back on. Ridiculous ‘ooh they have such SEXUAL TENSION and chemistry, let’s see how close we can get to making them kiss and just have them breathe heavily in each others faces to get our audience all bothered’? I will end you all. I HATE when books or movies or shows throw in a romantic or sexy subplot just for the lols, at least what I perceive as the lols. Basically, a romance has to be really super duper well-crafted for me to get behind it and not be just utterly enraged or completely turned off from the story.

(Also please note that when I use the term romance in this context, I’m using it as a catch all for ship-based storylines that, due to our culture’s obsession with sex, usually include or hinge on sex or kissy scenes.)

That being said. When a romance is done well, and I mean really well, I absolutely 100% lose my mind. I feel that mess in my soul.

So with that introduction, allow me to lay out a few of my favorite (and, in some instances, most maddeningly painful) romances/canon ships in media.

(read more because I went off. like I said, I feel this way too deeply when it’s done well.)

Winry Rockbell and Edward Elric in FMA:B. Slow burn, mutual pining, mutual cluelessness, what’s not to love? So soft and tender and funny all at the same time, and the mad respect Ed has for Winry is absolutely delightful. She does her own thing, and he’s totally supportive, just as she is of him. And a happily ever after??? UGH, I can’t, it’s perfect. The most straightforward and least convoluted of my whole list, and it’s comparatively easy to breeze through. FMA:B is great anyhow, so do yourself a favor and go watch it.

Audrey Parker/ Nathan Wuornos in Haven (with major caveats). Caveats first: they went overboard with the sexy stuff in my opinion. It got too smutty for me, but my tolerance for that stuff is super low, and it did still air on TV, so evidently it wasn’t as bad for the target audience as it was for my sex-in-media-repulsed self. I also find the final seasons to get a bit stale and repetitive in terms of them trying to advance the love story narrative (all the plot points for it got addressed in earlier episodes/seasons, so why are we going over it again??). They also have a bit of an issue in some episodes with dragging out conflicts because the characters just won’t talk to each other like adults. But overall, taken as a whole, it hits hard. Again, we have a slow burn, mutual pining dynamic that starts as a genuine platonic friendship, and transforms into a dimension and time defying chosen soulmates love story for the ages. The things they would do to save each other, even if it means they can never be together, just so they have the joy of knowing that their beloved is okay. The tiny ways they take care of each other- Audrey testing Nathan’s coffee to see if it’s too hot, Nathan slowing down so he doesn’t out-pace her, it’s just adorable.

Faramir and Eowyn in The Lord of the Rings BOOKS. This is an interesting one because it happens really quickly and between two minor characters. But Tolkien did this really interesting thing where he established these two characters separately, and then brought them together and played off what we knew about each of them in context of everything else that had happened with the main story, and suddenly it has, as one of my professors would say, “the illusion of depth.” Faramir absolutely falls head over heels for Eowyn but won’t act until she can deal with her own crap and be emotionally available. Eowyn realizes that she was hung up on ideals, illusions, and false dichotomies. Faramir has been through a lot and is looking for peace. Eowyn is looking for who she really is when she realizes she has more than two choices in life. They find healing together, and in the process, find what they were looking for in each other. And all that happens in the space of, like, 4 pages. I LOVE IT.

Sam Carter and Jack O’Neill in Stargate SG1. This one will hurt you to no end. You will hate life. But gosh dang if they aren’t perfect. This is the slowest burn and most mutual pining of all slow burn mutual pining ships to ever grace media. I’m talking 8 seasons of these two sharing feelings but being unable to express it for one reason or another. What are those reasons, you ask? Jack is her superior and respects her too much to put her in that position. No fraternization on the team. Sam has career aspirations, he won’t ruin her life. He’s got his own issues to work through and knows he isn’t emotionally available. Sam is clueless for a while, then when she realizes she has feelings for him but it couldn’t be because of their work dynamic and because he’s still dealing with his own crap, she tries to move on but keeps coming back to the unspoken fact that she still loves him. To the point that she breaks off her own engagement to a great guy because she realizes she was only trying to move on-- and wasn’t successful. They are clearly in deep for each other, and yet they keep making excuses why they can’t say it.

In the whole series, they never officially get together, and I HATE THAT. There are multiple alternate realities and timelines where they are together, and happy, but in the main timeline, they can’t get over themselves, and it hurts so bad because they’re so perfect. Jack knows she’s the smartest person in the room, and he supports her and defends her and listens to and defers to her. He respects her first as an expert, then as a colleague, and then as a woman whom he deeply loves even though he can’t find it in him to love himself. She appreciates his experience and leadership, and trusts him implicitly. She knows she’s got more book smarts, but relies on his judgement and ability to remain calm under pressure. She also knows she can be real with him, and he knows that when she calls him on his BS he better listen. She is his conscience, and he is her backbone. And in between episodes where they’re clearly pining for each other, and even during, they’re really great friends and a great team. I could seriously write an essay on why this ship is both perfect and intensely frustrating, but then again, you could just watch a great and classic series and see what I mean for yourself. (Then you’d also get to meet the perfection that is Teal’c, and watch Daniel Jackson’s transition from Milo Thatch in Space to sassy beefcake demigod who still loves archaeology.)

Beren and Luthien, Tolkien part 2, electric boogaloo. A love so powerful it transcends death, fate, hell and heaven all at once. It’s kind of wild and not what you’d expect if you’ve only read LotR (or only seen the movies), because it’s more a classic fairy tale than anything, but hot dang if it isn’t still one of the most powerful, moving, deeply impactful love stories in all of writing. It’s even a “love at first sight” narrative and I STILL fall hard for it. This story legit moves me to tears every dang time I read it, or even think about it too hard.

It starts as a simple “forbidden love” story, but these two loved each other so much that they defied one of the most powerful kings in all the world at that time (who was also Luthien’s dad, oopsies), defied Satan himself and marched into Hell just for the chance to be together, and then changed the very way the world works forever just so they could stay together and not be parted. Luthien is a total BEAST, while never giving up her gentle, loving, and tender nature. For the love of this man, she defies her father’s wishes and breaks herself out of her own dang tower to go rescue her prince instead of the other way round, she sends Sauron (yeah, he’s here too!) scurrying with his tail between his legs, wrecks his house, and frees all his slaves and prisoners just to try and get to Beren, drags his butt out of heck part 1, then willingly walks into literal, actual Hell with him and proceeds to enchant Satan and all the demons within. Then she gets her bf outta there after he loses his hand, and goes back to face her father unafraid. Basically, Beren undertakes a literally impossible task just for the chance to be with Luthien, but Luthien is the one that makes it happen because she loves him too much to sit around knowing he’s going to die. She’s willing to die with him rather than live without him, but more willing to dare death to come at her and get some because ain’t no way she’s losing him.

Then, at the last, when all should have been their happily ever after, everything goes wrong and she loses her beloved, and instead of mourning forever, she yeets off her mortal coil out of pure “Oh no you didn’t, not after all we went through” just to go stand before the God of Fate and the Dead and plead with him to change the rules of the universe itself just so that she can be with Beren. And he does it, because their love is so strong. Just for them, all of existence is rewritten so that they might never be parted.

And if you don’t think that’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever heard, consider also: these two crazy kids were so wonderful that the Goodest Boy in all the world, a functionally immortal and super-intelligent dog sent from heaven itself by a literal god, willingly turned on all his masters and spontaneously learned intelligent speech just so he could help them out and be their Good Boy til the bitter end, thus (in Tolkien’s mythos) starting the whole “man’s best friend” thing with dogs. So yeah. And, uh, Tolkien based it on him and his wife, to the point of ripping their first meeting frame-for-frame from real life. It’s too much y’all.

Anyhow, this post is way, way too long, but I was just feeling the need to get that out there. Maybe I’ll have more in the future, but for now, this is what was on my mind. Particularly the last two.

[ohnojustimagine]

hello there! another long time reader and first time asker. i can’t be the only one that thinks tim thatcher and oney lorcan are fucking hot, can i? they’re both so aggressive and it make me so happy to see them beat people up🥺my two murderous sons

Hi there! And you are 100% not alone there, my friend, Oney and Thatcher are both so incredibly hot. Oney is my shameful failure when it comes to writing, because no matter how hard I try, I cannot get him, and it kills me, because I love him so much. But every time I write him, he just is WRONG, I can't make him himself and I don't know why! But he's so great, and I feel like he would be super intense when it came to fucking, like he'd get those wild eyes going and would be extremely silent but extremely full on and it would be amazing.

And Timothy Thatcher, damn. He has like the PERFECT body and that rough-yet-strangely-gorgeous face. And so angry! Thatch as thatch can, always. I did have this idea about him when he was feuding with Damian, like you're one of Damian's girls and you see Tim kind of looking at you a bit and you think it's just because they're at each other, but then one day you and him end up somewhere away from everyone else backstage, and he asks you, out of nowhere, "So why's a girl like you with a guy like him?"

And you're taken aback, but you answer, kind of insulted, "Maybe I like being with a guy like him."

"You should be with someone who respects you."

"You don't even know me, and you think you can judge me?"

"No judgement," he says. "Just... you could do better."

"What would be better?" you scoff. "Someone like you?"

"Maybe," he says, shrugging, but then he looks at you, like really looks at you, and suddenly you feel it, like there's something there, some kind of chemistry that you don't understand at all, because he's not your type, and he get all up in your space and then backs you up against the nearest wall. And he leans in, like suuuuuper slowly, and then kisses you, not even any tongue, just his lips light on yours, breath mingling, and it's like the barest taste but there's a spark in it that's undeniable. And you want more, but he pulls away, breathing hard, eyes all hot and fierce with desire, and you can see how much it's costing him to hold himself back but he does, walking off without saying anything.

And so you end up having this intensely sexual, clandestine flirtation just in weird little moments backstage when no one else is around, with all the frustrated not-quite-making out and you want to fuck him, but he won't do anything while you're still with Damian. "If you want to be with me, then you need to be with me," he tells you.

And you're afraid of commitment, because you've been with too many assholes, and you're also kind of afraid of the way Tim seems to feel about you, because you don't trust that you're worth feeling that way about, like you don't deserve that from anyone. "Can't we just... be casual?"

"I can't," he says. "Not with you."

And then of course after much angst you give in, because one night you're supposed to be going to a party with Damian and all the other girls, but all of a sudden you realize you can't do this anymore, and you tell him you're going to skip tonight, and he stops, looks at you, says, "You sure?" and you nod.

"Yeah," you say, because you are, and Damian just gives you a little smile and says, kindly, "Your choice, baby." And you wonder if he knows, but if he does, he doesn't say it.

And so you go to Tim's place and he opens the door and you look at him, and say, "Just us." And he smiles at you, all crooked and gap-toothed and it's so freaking hot, and he lets you in and then of course you have a fairly remarkable amount of totally transcendent sex, the end.

Well, apparently I'd given that idea QUITE A LOT more thought than I realized I had, there you go.

[stateofgrace-acoustic]

lover - first song ranking & thoughts

first of all i just need to say i legitimately don’t feel ‘meh’ about a single song on this album. on any other album. i always had one or two songs i was just kind of ‘take it or leave it’ about. but Lover really did that - they’re all amazing and wonderful. but here’s an attempt at an order of how much i love them!

18. it’s nice to have a friend

this really reminds me of you are in love in the way it recounts all the small gestures and steps involved in becoming close to somebody. it’s really cute and at the perfect space on the album, leading to daylight. not a mindblowing song or anything, but the vibe fits onto lover really well. i’m glad that it’s here 

17. you need to calm down

yeah, i cooled down on this one a little bit. it’s fun and the message is important, but me! is the better single tbh. still though, the feeling of empowerment this gives me over my nonexistent online haters is wonderful. and i love the attitude of the song of just looking at the assholes who live their entire lives putting energy into hating people and just being like....why are you like this. it’s pathetic. calm the hell down. so needed in our current debate culture

16. me!

a real grower! taylor and brendon urie have such good chemistry, tbh that’s really the backbone of the song. it’s just a really nice carefree spring/summertime self love song, a perfect soundtrack for when you feel happy and content with yourself. 

15. the man

just dropping the complete truth on us with this one. i’ve wanted taylor to make this song for years (and i know she said she’s been wanting to but just never found the right words!) the bridge really elevates this too. and it’s sad how relatable the entire song is in literally every aspect of professional (and personal) life for women. i don’t think it’s quite as strong as it could have been, but still really solid

14. i think he knows

this is like the fun version of dress. that’s all i got to say. just as explicit, but this time around it’s super cheeky and i love it. also goals of self confidence if i’ve ever seen them

13. paper rings

the joyful energy this has!! just makes you smile and want to dance immediately, a wonderful wholesome happy bop

12. false god

listen.....this is special. i absolutely think this is the most experimental song on the album, both in terms of the music (is that a saxophone in the bg?? it’s almost got a jazzy vibe? completely uncomparable to anything she’s ever done and still so distinctly Taylor), but also with the lyrics, where she goes into the love = religion theme which honestly....as a Florence + the Machine and Hozier fan, i don’t even need to go into how much of a vibe that is. I couldn’t have imagined it working so well for Taylor though, but honestly, this song feels perfectly brooding, summertimey, melancholy, - it’s almost like taking the darker underside of Cruel Summer and exploring it in depth! this is very much a song i need to be in a Specific Mood to really appreciate, but it’s damn well made

11. afterglow

i love the maturity of this. not just the apologizing for picking a fight, but explaining how it came to be - at the end, from a place deep seated anxiety. ‘it’s all me, in my head’ (those high notes are beautiful) you can really feel how sorry she is. at the same time, the song sounds like something bigger, like an anthem - almost like that place high above that she’s trying to elevate them to.

10. i forgot that you existed

SO MUCH FUN i keep repeating that but that’s just the mood of this album tbh, playful and mature at the same time. this song is just like, when you’re over someone but you just can’t help yourself and have to throw shade one last time before moving on. i love the bouncy beat!!

9. lover

this song is literally the feeling of ‘home’ in music. so cozy, comfortable, blissful. dreamy. perfect title track. also completely timeless - i think this is one of those songs that we will look back on in years as a classic in her catalogue, a song you will always want to play again

8. the archer

this was my definite favorite of the pre released songs. anxiety, doubts, the way they all just keep coming back and eating at you, it’s described so perfectly and painfully. and the production really makes it sound like you’re in a separate space from reality, just stuck in your head trying to find a way forward, to soothe yourself. the ‘they see right through me / i see right through me’ transition in the bridge is fantastic and keeps giving me chills. so much personal connection to this one

7. soon you’ll get better

feels weird to even rank this but......just wow. the harmonies with the dixie chicks are so beautiful, and the way the lyrics talk about the feeling between denial and desperate hope, the transition from “because you have to” to “because I have to” - I have to cling to this hope, or i won’t make i - it completely broke my heart. and the fact that Taylor can conjure all these complex emotions with just a guitar and a few words is incredible. i’m so so sorry for them and i wish all the best for Andrea with my entire heart. 

6. london boy

i already see people underappreciating this, what is going on??? there are multiple cute bouncy joyful songs on this album but this is my favorite because it’s just got a fantastic flow and melody, and i love all of the references to places and dialect specific words and it’s just so wholesome?? but what really makes this is (once again) the bridge. stick with ME im your QUEEN like a tennessEE stella mccartNEY, just the energy!! the fun!! excuse me while i listen to this every day for the rest of my life

5. miss americana & the heartbreak prince

okay, taylor’s brain in this one. i made a post talking about how this song has three layers - at first there’s the high school setting, then it references the ‘cancelling’ of Taylor’s public persona, but then it can also be seen as a comment on US politics and the whole climate of society right now. and it’s all tied together perfectly because high school is the perfect metaphor for this!! she’s basically saying we’re all behaving like immature school children, bullying each other for the stupidest reasons, mob mentality, stupid contests, fabricated stories made up to tear people down, and the feeling of loneliness but also fear and horror that comes with all that for the people who are the victims of it.....it’s literally all like high school in the worst way. i just love this concept, and the melody and production give me a little bit of a reputation vibe almost? which is perfect for the song, the dark dramatic vibe shows the feeling of fear most of all and that’s just....too real. 

4. death by a thousand cuts

........listen, i surely didn’t think that Taylor would write one of her best breakup songs in the year of our lord 2019, but here we are. it’s once again, the small moments she recounts. taking the long way home. the uncertainty if it will ever be fine again. and the bridge/second verse / whatever that part is but that entire part. ‘paper cuts from my paper thin plans’, excuse me. the fact that she wrote this about a movie where a couple breaks up after years really shows tbh, because it’s especially that kind of....not being able to find a part of yourself that isn’t influenced by the other person, that’s so horrible and makes moving on so painful. i also love the production which makes this sound so uptempo, contrasting the lyrics! idk the entire song just clicks into place for me

3. daylight

this is like a summary of the entire album (and with the reference to the past and especially red, it’s even connecting her entire discography together). it’s like the clean of this album, except this time around it feels more complex - all the subtle references to past mistakes, ghosts, that might not be so easy to wash away. i’ve already mentioned that i love about the album (and this song especially) how it doesn’t gloss over negative experiences but addresses them directly, like looking them in the eye and then saying ‘you don’t have the power to define me’. that’s what this song feels like - it’s not unabashedly celebratory, it’s actually quite melancholic, but also full of real healing, a feeling of peace and reconciliation. and the ‘i once believed love would be black and white / burning red, but it’s golden’.....excuse me.....how dare she

2. cornelia street

god, what a magical song. the kind of episodic buildup that Taylor excels at. the vibrancy of the production matching the vibrancy of the relationship as it develops, revolving around this one place in its multiple stages, and then the repeated, deep seated fear of losing all that. it’s just. ugh. what can i even say. and so so catchy. the “listen..” killed me. just like delicate, the vibe between fear and being drunk on happiness is so so well done.

1. cruel summer

oh yes. and here we have an absolute perfection of a pop song. incredible catchiness. smart, clever lyrics but also that underlying vibe of sadness and anxiety. seriously, the complexity this has?? and then that soaring bridge, the chaotic but beautiful but painful reality of all of it coming together. ‘i love you, ain’t that the worst thing you ever heard?’ idk this song just transcends everything for me friends. it’s like the vibe of out of the woods or maybe even style but the lyrics are even more sharp, they cut a little deeper, literally ‘summer’s a knife’. this is a song she only could’ve written influenced by reputation: there’s happiness but there’s that edge in it too. idk if anything i’m saying makes sense. i love this song so so so much. 

[randomxfiction]

Okay, I just really need to breathe.

Thoughts about Gintama’s Yoshiwara in Flames arc (EP 139-146) 

Bare with me, cause my thoughts were still cluttered while writing this. Spoilers under the cut - - - -

Man, how do I start? Let me just put this out here: After re-watching the arc twice, I came to a conclusion that the whole Seita-Hinowa story as it is didn’t quite struck me that hard. I mean, the concept of it was good, as it talks about bonds stronger than blood. But overall, it didn’t tug much on my heartstrings. Some stories were better and more emotional than this one, either way, it still paved the tone on how the whole arc was presented.

Jumping right into it, some notable things I can’t get out of my head were of course, the introduction of new characters: Tsukuyo & Kamui.

I want to slightly talk about Gintoki and Tsukuyo’s first meeting. There was a joke that ran for some solid 2 minutes maybe? About the kunai stuck on Gin, and him denying it. I remember Shinpachi kept telling him “you’re definitely stabbed” and he’s like “no, i am not!”. Then he gets embarrassed in front of her/the hyakku? He definitely said something along the lines of “are they laughing at me?” and “now I’m too embarrassed to face them” so does these mean that he’s getting flustered in her presence? Also, you can’t deny that he’s definitely flirting with her. I mean, come on - the whole “you got stabbed” probably symbolizes that he got pierced in the heart by her. It’s good, but for me personally it felt too fast? Like, they just met, for fuck’s sake. Not that it’s out of character but I just felt it was too fast. Probably a love at first sight scenario for Gintoki. He also can’t stop saying “she’s too kind, she really is too kind” as he refers to Tsukuyo. Well? I guess our favourite samurai dork literally got lovestruck, huh? (Not to mention that Tsukuyo literally means “moon” and the whole sun & moon thing would make sense knowing that this arc is almost projecting Gintoki as the sun himself.)

Anyway, I’m still half-hearted with the whole Gintoki x Tsukuyo ship because the amount of Gintoki x Otae moments were too many from the previous episodes. Although I’m not a solid GinTae shipper, but so far, they have the most chemistry for me. And on top of it all, I feel like it’s too early to internalize Tsukuyo’s character when I still haven’t seen beyond the surface. I want to know more about her quirks and how she lives normally. Maybe from there, I’ll get a hang of her character more. She’s just still too shallow for me at this point. (Which is making me super excited for the future episodes!)

Moving on.

Here’s Kamui having an appearance and the moment he entered the frame, his sister Kagura came in with him. That was amazing. You can see the stress shooting up on her face. The more I watch Kamui, the more I get to like his character. I’m sure there’s some deeper reason on why he’s acting like that. I don’t know yet, but Gintama never failed to give their characters a very believable backstory that explains why they became the person they are at the present. So, I’m looking forward to know more about Kamui, and why he’s treating Kagura like that. Their sibling-dynamic just really hits home for me. It’s really well presented and you can feel Kagura’s emotions transcending from the screen.

Speaking of Kagura, god fucking damn that fight with Abuto was amazing. I do expected that Shinpachi would come off too weak and Kagura would play tank as she always does. But I was not ready for that creepy transformation power-up moment. Her face was fucking demonic, I swear, and it made it all the more moving for me. The more you look at her face, the more you understand that she has really sunk deep in the darkness, letting her Yato blood take over, and Shinpachi here, sealing their own sibling-relationship by calling out to her and getting her out from that darkness. That was really a big moment for those two main characters having a special familial bond that could go as far as “saving” the other from their own demons.

Also, fun fact that I noticed, Abuto’s voice actor is the same as Jiraiya’s. So when he was fighting I can’t help but hear the old pervert talking. Making it 100 times better.

Then we have Housen, the Night King. To be honest, he’s a fairly great villain. I liked the fact that he was Umibouzu’s rival, and the previous leader of the Yato. He’s fucking strong, man. But could he be a bit nerfed? I mean, he’s a fucking Yato for fuck’s sake, and he fought the Umibouzu for 3 days and 3 nights. He’s Kamui’s master, and he got defeated by Gintoki and the Hyakku? Not really convinced much, cause after all, Gin and the gang are still just human. Anyway, maybe this is what Kamui was talking about - that Housen became weak because of his thirst for the “sun” - which in the Yoshiwara world, it’s Hinowa. It could’ve meant that she made him softer, as seen in the last few moments where his life was flashing before his eyes. He literally saw flashbacks of the younger Hinowa talking to him about the sun, and how much she wants to help them make up. Anyway, he’s definitely a good villain. Strong and powerful, too. Imagine building a fucking underground city that’s untouched by the laws above.

Lastly, Gin’s character development. When he was fighting with Housen, we get to see a glimpse of his mind while in battle. It’s like he have this “chant” where he assures himself of things, reminding him to keep it together. Like he’s purifying his soul, almost praying for strength to protect what’s important for him. The way his eyes change when the scene was highly significant, and his sword fighting techniques were off the charts. Again, the fighting sequence as it is, won’t be the highest quality. But the way it was presented wasn’t bad at all. Infact, it was pretty moving for the first watch. After the hype goes down, I noticed how basic (not sure if that’s the right term) the animation were. But regardless, we don’t see him fight seriously like that too much so I’m all for it. My heart bleeds whenever he bleeds so I guess they made a pretty good job.

Ah, what else.

I feel like there’s more to talk about. For sure I’ve left a few more things here and there but these were all on top of my head. I really liked this arc and it stuck on me to the point that I don’t want to continue watching the next episode yet cause I’m still basking on the aftershock of this fucking arc. So, yeah.

Ending this by saying: its depressing how much this anime is underrated. Sigh. It’s just so good.

[justanothercinemaniac]

Epic Movie (Re)Watch #211 - Tower of Terror (1997)

Spoilers Below

Have I seen it before: Yes

Did I like it then: Yeah.

Do I remember it: Yes.

Did I see it in theaters: No.

Format: DVD

1) This was the first film Disney made based on one of their theme park attractions. It was a made for TV movie and the exterior scenes of the tower were actually shot at the attraction in Florida. Since then we’ve had Mission to Mars, The Country Bears, The Haunted Mansion, and five Pirates of the Caribbean movie. So if you like those movies you can thank this film, if you don’t like those movies you can BLAME this film.

2) With no dialogue, the film’s prologue does well to establish a basic sense of character for each of the five future ghosts. You get a sense of who they are and what they mean to each other, even if some of these conceptions will be challenged or elaborated on as the film moves on.

3) Steve Guttenberg as Buzzy.

I’m gonna be honest, this is the most prominent thing I’ve ever seen Steve Guttenberg in. I’ve never seen Three Men and a Baby or Short Circuit, so I have nothing to really compare him too. While not exactly revolutionary in the role, Guttenberg has a nice since of fun to him. There’s an innocent childishness to the part which makes the character both flawed and interesting. But it’s also not annoying or tiring which is an important balance to strike. You are invested in him, you easily root for his character which speaks both to the competence of the writing and performance.

4) The character of Abigail is actually an interesting hook into the rest of the story. She does well to pique the interest of the audience with her insight and ends up being a good definition/example of an unreliable narrator. The effectiveness is in the simplicity. Why would we disbelief her? She goes on about how no one has ever believed her, creating a sympathy there. It’s actually pretty clever.

5) When it comes to the exterior scenes of the Tower it is hard for me to invest in any sense of place. I’ve been on that ride A LOT, I know it. So I don’t see the creep factor on the outside, I’m just reminded of waiting in line and how Rock N Roller Coaster is a few yards away. This is strikingly different though from the scenes shot WITHIN the Tower. The control over set design and lighting allows for a greater sense of atmosphere than working with the prebuilt exterior of the attraction does. Unfortunately the marriage isn’t perfect but it could be a lot worse.

6) Michael McShane as Chris ‘Q’ Todd.

Q was always my favorite character when I watched this film as a child. McShane is funny and charming in the role, making Q likable when he easily could’ve come off as a spineless pest. Yet it is the way McShane plays Q’s superstition and greed in an earnest yet harmless manner which is part of what makes him so likable.

7) Kirsten Dunst as Anna.

You can see why Dunst ended up being such a successful and talented actress by watching this early film of hers. The character transcends any lazy teenage stereotype. She’s not an imitation of anyone from The Breakfast Club but instead her own person. There is a nice sense of humor, honesty, and heart which permeates her performance. You understand her confidence but also some things she’s not so confident about (like when Buzzy has her dress up like a 30s child star for some fake ghost photos) which helps to flesh her out. But more than anything else, Dunst and Guttenberg have an interesting chemistry and relationship. Which is important considering that this is the heart of the film, their bond. I dig it.

8) I say this as someone who has never seen The Shining, but some of the moments in the old hotel which is alive sometimes but at other times not (old music playing, a sense of tragedy) seems like a kid version of Stephen King’s story.

9) One of the things I think this film does well that a ride based film can struggle with is incorporating ride elements. I recapped The Haunted Mansion earlier this year and noted that while the scenes from the ride which made their way into the movie were a treat, they served no purpose at all. In this film moments like Sally in the green rain, the elevator drop, the lightning, even the five characters shown in the ride pre show are embraced as part of the film’s mythology and plot so it feels organic.

10) Jill isn’t really a character in this film. She’s not developed at all. She’s sort of just…there. She’s a connection to Buzzy’s past, acts as a way to give the audience information (both about Buzzy’s past, character, and later about Abigail), gets a frustratingly half-assed romance subplot with Buzzy (who spends most of the movie crushing on another woman), and just is written like a plot device more than a character. It’s a little frustrating.

(GIF originally posted by @marshmallow-the-vampire-slayer)

11) Buzzy’s personal arc of trying to reclaim his purpose and voice is interesting. It helps give the character a motivation more than just character.

Buzzy [on why the story matters so much to him]: “I guess I haven’t written about something I believe in for a long time.”

12) Melora Hardin as Claire Poulet.

So I’ve been watching this movie since I was like eleven or twelve. I JUST realized why Claire looks familiar.

Honestly Claire is a character who gets more development than you might expect. DEFINITELY better written than Jill. We get a sense of her motivations, dreams, morals, tragedy, and even love. She’s interesting, especially once we learn she’s one of the ghosts (which in and of itself is a nice twist for the character). All in all she’s much more interesting than you might expect.

13) Jill’s line about how Buzzy needs to, “reclaim the voice,” he lost doesn’t actually match his backstory. Like, he didn’t lose his way because he went chasing down the spectacular. He lost his way because he made a simple mistake. He had a VIDEO of the mayor taking money from the mob. This was 1997. It was a lot harder to fake videos then! That’s not him making a moral mistake, that’s him getting screwed over.

14) And this is the point in the story when we get a good twist.

Sanitarium Caretaker: “Abigail has been a patient here since 1940.”

Once we learn that Claire is a ghost, Abigail is actually the evil one, and Ms. Partridge ISN’T evil, what could’ve been a very straightforward TV movie actually has a nice second act twist in it. It helps keep you invested in the story.

15) There is a nice clear dynamic among the ghosts in this movie. They’ve spent sixty years together, all day every day. They’re their only company. So we understand their relationships, that they know each other, the fun they poke, all of it very quickly. It’s nice!

16) I really like Gilbert. He’s sarcastic and sassy. I’ve got a soft spot for sarcastic and sassy.

Gilbert [about Ms. Partridge and Sally]: “She’s a crusty old dame but she loves the girl. Can’t imagine why.”

17) If you’re a fan of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, Ms. Partridge may look familiar.

(GIF originally posted by @marshmallow-the-vampire-slayer)

19) So when Jill learns that Abigail is really Sally’s vindictive sister, she goes to Buzzy and tells him he has a story. It’s his way back in! And the story is…what exactly? This doesn’t explain AT ALL what happened to Sally and the others, it’s just extra information for an urban legend. And it’s…front page material?

20) It’s nice to see the little Halloween night ritual the ghosts have. I mean they’ve been listening in on the party for about 60 years now. Especially the little dance Gilbert and Claire have.

21) Anna getting stuck in the elevator at the end instead of Sally actually does well to up the film’s personal stakes. Sally’s already dead, but we care way more about Anna at this point and she’s the one in much more present danger. I dig it.

22) This is a nice layer to add to Abigail’s character.

Abigail [about Sally]: “They all loved her! Even I loved her.”

She IS Sally’s sister, but jealousy doesn’t trump love and sometimes hatred can be born out of love (in a sick and twisted way, mind you).

23) I’m Q.

Q [when little ghost Sally is interacting with her now elderly sister Abigail]: “This is deeply freaky.”

24) They repeat the phrase, “A spell of passion can only be countered by its contrary,” so many freaking times in the movie it HAD to have been a purpose. That’s a surprise I think most people saw coming.

25) At one point Q says, “It’s showtime!” and all I can think of is…

26) So Jill, Q, Buzzy and Anna decided to take the stairs up to the twelfth floor and then get there totally fine? That’s twelve flights of stairs! Buzzy was complaining about doing ten before! Not a drop of sweat, not a pant. I can’t even do 6 flights of stairs without being out of breathe!

27) The ending of the film at the Tip Top club is actually ver satisfying. Everyone gets what they wanted, even Abigail. It doesn’t come across as two cheesy I don’t think, just nice.

28) The credits read, “Based on the Disney · MGM Studios ride…” and I just feel old.

If you’re expecting an American classic out of Tower of Terror, you’ve got unreasonable expectations. If you’re expecting a 90 minute distraction with charming characters, an interesting plot, and just general low key entertainment, Tower of Terror isn’t a bad choice. I may be speaking through nostalgia, but I do get a big kick out of it. Guttenberg and Dunst are fun to watch, there are some surprisingly poignant moments, and overall its just nice. I like it.

[wheredidhiseyebrowsgo]

Hello amazing ladies! Was wondering if you have any. College Sterek fics where they are the same age? Either they go to college together or they meet there for the first time? Anything with a HEA will be awesome! Thanks bunches

(No lie, I had to ask someone what HEA meant, lol!  Whoops...)  Got TONS of college AUs over in the college tag, and the college student!Derek tag, but there’s never too many college AUs, so here’s some more!  -Emmy

And Also, I Love You by alisvolatpropiis 

(7,155 I Explicit I Complete)

Derek didn’t look at all like Stiles expected. After all, he deliberately chose a school where being a nerd was cool, so he certainly wasn’t expecting his hotter-than-a-thousand-stars roomie to be an actual cool person. Derek has muscles, like everywhere, which he has a tendency to display in skin-tight, sleeveless t-shirts for bands Stiles has never heard of; his jeans are always tight and ripped too, and he has an impressive five-o’clock shadow, the tips of his jet-black hair dyed purple. And his eyes. Stiles is pretty sure he’s only seen eyes like that in comics, or on a movie screen, or in his freakin dreams. They’re somehow simultaneously all of the colors and none of them, transcending something so pedestrian and insignificant as words to encapsulate their beauty. Stiles would come to learn that he’s also wickedly smart, and he plays the guitar and speaks multiple languages, and his sunshine smile is even more alarming that his resting murder face.

Stalkers, Lies, and Manipulations by Bertie_Beth 

(7,774 I Teen I Complete)

Stiles needs help when the guy he’s been seeing turns out to be a giant stalker. Angry, murder brows on campus will help, right?

He Gets Me High by talktowater 

(11,562 I Explicit I Complete)

Stiles and Derek act like a couple. But they’re not. Seriously! Derek has a boyfriend and Stiles has a girlfriend. They’re just friends, overly-attached and possessive friends, but that’s it. Right?

Just to See You Again by MellytheHun 

(14,950 I Explicit I Complete)   *major character death

A sterek college!AU where writing student Stiles specializes in love letters, runs a blog about it and can be commissioned to write love letters on behalf of lovers who are at a loss for words.

He makes some cash, he’s good at what he does (especially when he gets to be a little more explicit in his letters), it pays for his textbooks and that’s all he’s really looking for and life is fine. That is, until someone anonymously commissions him to write a love letter to mathematics student, Derek Hale.

There is a Brotherhood by minusoneday

(21,004 I Explicit I Complete)

So far, college has taught Stiles three things:

1) Eight am classes are cruel and unusual and should be avoided at all costs, even if it means having to enroll in something truly hideous instead, like Econ 101.

2) Dorm security is just as tight as Stiles’ orientation leader had promised it would be, and the dude guarding Scott’s dorm in particular does not respond well to bribes.

3) Mrs. McCall clearly had no clue what she was talking about when she’d insisted that Scott and Stiles needed to branch out and room with strangers, so it’s all her fault that Scott ended up with a total dick of a roommate and Stiles got stuck all the way across campus with some guy who has a girlfriend two towns over and is thus never around.

Or, the one where pledge brothers Stiles and Scott start a prank war with Derek Hale’s fraternity.

The Chemistry Between Us by coffeeinallcaps 

(26,043 I Explicit I Complete)

Meeting Derek Hale wasn’t special, or frightening, or any of the other things everyone had made it out to be. It was, actually, pretty much the opposite. Stiles didn’t even realize the guy was Derek Hale until the moment had passed.

Derek: the most infamous student at Beacon Hills University. Stiles: the freshman who falls for him anyway. Awkward encounters, concerned friends, and lots of not-so-casual sex ensue. (A ‘fuckbuddies to lovers’ college AU.)

All Earz on Me by theteapirate 

(26,448 I Explicit I Complete)  *attempted non-con

Stiles is a college radio DJ with a talent for pining and hooking up with douchebags. Derek is a college baseball player with a talent for eyebrows and misrepresenting himself. Neither boy is particularly talented at communication.

Respiration and Inspiration by MajorAccent 

(31,437 I Explicit I Complete)  *recreational drugs

“Your dad’s the fucking sheriff of my hometown,” Derek hisses when Stiles is pretending to search through the expiration dates on the cartons of 1%. “When were you going to tell me that?”

“Uhm,” Stiles stalls, closing the glass-paned door. “Never?” He ventures. Seeing the hard placed scowl on Derek’s face, Stiles knows it’s not what he wanted to hear. “How was I supposed to bring it up?” He asks, voice pitching on hysterical in the middle before he forces it back down. “Right around the first time I was sparking up, just lean over and go, “Oh, hey, by the fucking way, I’m from Beacon Hills and my dad’s the sheriff, but he doesn’t know I do recreational drugs on the weekly,” and then recite Millay to you? Yeah, because that’d work out so goddamn well.”

Losers by stilinskisparkles 

(34,234 I Explicit I Complete)

Where Derek is new to college, eager to spend his time learning, and Stiles is everything he didn’t want in a room mate. He’s loud, he’s into sports, and he keeps trying to make Derek do things.

Or, the one where Derek falls for a jock, Erica will cut you if you disturb her studying, and Jackson is a closeted romantic who pretends to hate everything.

Between Men and Lions by standinginanicedress 

(102,164 I Explicit I Complete)

“I thought we could be friends,” Derek offers, to which Stiles gets an odd smile on his face.

“Friends,” he repeats, an odd inflection.

“Yes, friends.”

Stiles laughs, just barely. It’s more of an exhalation of breath than it is genuine mirth or anything else, and then he smiles. “I’m pretty good at friends,” he says with a tilt to his head, and Derek clears his throat and has to look away.

[theplaguezine]

TIAMAT

Interview with Johan Edlund by Ted Hinds

(conducted December 1999)

Is death the end or is it really just the beginning?  At the genesis of the Swedish death metal scene, Tiamat was among the first bands to gain international acclaim with the genre in the early 90s.  By the late 90s, as the death metal movement slowed, Tiamat was one of only a few to evolve beyond it’s dying scene and transform death metal into a viable form of rock and roll.

With albums like Wildhoney in 1994, Johan Edlund, the founding member and musical mastermind of Tiamat, incorporated the psychedelic influences of bands like Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath to break free of the narrow death metal stereotype.  In 1997, Tiamat took this direction even further in the dark and tempestuous A Deeper Kind of Slumber CD, which transcended many of the boundaries between metal, industrial, and gothic music.

However, in the wake of all this success, John Edlund continued to do the unexpected.  The new Tiamat album, Skeleton Skeletron, indulges another side of the band’s musical spectrum—good ol’ fashioned rock and roll.

“I wanted to do an album that was more straight ahead and based on song writing.  More basic with strong melodies,” claims Edlund, speaking from Dortmund, Germany the day after the release of Skeleton Skeletron.  Perhaps surprising to the underground metal community, the album even features a haunting version of  “Sympathy for the Devil.”  Says Edlund, “Rolling Stones leans in the right direction for this album, which is more Stones than (Pink) Floyd.”

In fact, Skeleton Skeletron, repeatedly reminds the listener of great rock bands like the Rolling Stones, as well as bands like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, with an energetic, jam-oriented style.

“Exactly,” exclaims Edlund.  “That’s how we work.  That’s our relationship as a band. We like to jam and keep a level of excitement.  This album is not so much based on computers and programming (as earlier Tiamat records).”

Tiamat, the band, has been marred with turnover since it’s inception.  The current line-up, featuring Anders Iwers and Lars Skold, is the first that has held together for two consecutive albums.   It seems like Tiamat has finally found its chemistry.

“It really feels like this, yeah, but I’ve felt like this before. People have come in the past and it seemed like it would work out, but things change.   I can’t be naïve enough to hope for it to be that way now.”

Another thing that hasn’t changed is the lyrical landscape that Tiamat leads its listeners across during its songs--a dark trail through the ruins of lust and madness.  Only this time, that trail is less fantasy and more realism, as Edlund explores his experiences in urban Germany.   “I don’t really know where (the lyrics come from),” says Edlund.  “I just let if flow.  I try to write on the road.  I take a keyboard and laptop with me.”

With the Skeleton Skeletron “doing very well” in Europe, the album has only recently hit record stores in America.  Judging by the success of Wildhoney and A Deeper Kind of Slumber, expectations are high for the album on this side of the Atlantic, and hopefully, an American tour!

“Not right now we don’t have any plans,” says Edlund at the suggestion of touring the States, cautious of making promises so soon after the release of Skeleton Skeletron.  Yet with a powerful new album to follow-up it’s glorious predecessor’s, it’s only a matter of time before the widespread attention Tiamat has earned in Europe spreads to metalheads everywhere in North America.

Official Tiamat Facebook Page

[saturdayam]

Saturday AM Movie Review: WONDER WOMAN

So, last week...I peeped a pre-release for the WONDER WOMAN film.

It's a major event for several reasons not least of which it's the first major female heroine in this latest generation of big budget, inter-connected film universes, the first blockbuster planned film directed by a female director and the latest film in the critically-panned DC Extended Universe (aka the DC Vs. Marvel movie challenge) which is positioned as the SAVIOR of that potential multi-billion dollar franchise gamble.

So, you know, Wonder Woman is a BIG DAMN DEAL.

No pressure or anything...

The movie is directed by Patty Jenkins and stars Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Chris Pine as Steve Trevor and a diverse cast of men and women representing both World War 1 era soldiers and citizens as well as the mythical AMAZONS. In fact, it's the women of THEMYSCIRA that just OWNS this film. While I was glad to see the diversity (both ethnically and orientation-wise) of these warrior women was pulled from George Perez's remarkable run - I still wish they had gone even more ethnic GREEK (Perez preferred the idea that Diana was not an American nor native English speaker).

That is a minor issue because as I said, the AMAZONS are literally the BEST PART OF THIS MOVIE! Connie Nielsen is serviceable as a pensive, mother to Diana (aka Wonder Woman) and former Warrior, Queen Hippolyta but Robin Wright as the grizzled aunt to Wonder Woman and still a bad-ass warrior, Antiope just OWNS this segment of the film. Everything right with Wonder Woman as a film deals with this portion. Not only does it give us a young Diana as an isolated yet seemingly happy (thankfully angst-free) figure who simply wishes to protect everyone as the sort of warrior she idolizes amongst the strong, beautiful women she calls sisters but we get a cool 'animated' sequence that demonstrates the history of these women complete with Greek Gods (something I thought DC/WB would certainly shy away from to protect the middle-American Judeo-Christian sensibility). For the hardcore comic nerd like me, there is such a joy that this is the first time that this legendary group of characters is on the BIG SCREEN and with a sizeable budget so that the island, Themyscira, looks as gorgeous and as historical as I'd have hoped (something I've never both with Marvel's Asgard)!

When the story sets up its' second act with the battle breaking out between Man's world and that of the long-hidden Amazons, it's a pretty epic moment and makes me very excited for Justice League's rumored depiction of a previous war between the Amazons and the New Gods of Darkseid's Apokolips.

So, I LOVED the AMAZONS and honestly, the film is worth the price of admission for the first part alone. Afterward, it's hit or miss and this is where the film is fascinating to me because despite the film being a very paint by the numbers experience with one or two strong performances -- nothing in the rest of the movie is exceptional and yet it is EASILY DC'S BEST MOVIE SINCE THE DARK KNIGHT. Don't take it from me -- literally, EVERY REVIEW from most of the major Geek sites is saying the SAME THING.

This would seem to be high praise but folks...the reality is that the film is decent, not GREAT. The plot is relatively contrived, acting is passable in most cases without anything being transcendent, and the special effects run the now-familiar look of computerized cut-scene level graphics impersonating the actors during the more superhero-ish action-sequences. Man of Steel, Batman V Superman, and Suicide Squad were so GOD-AWFUL that a competent Ambush Bug movie would DC's best film since Dark Knight. 

What works in WONDER WOMAN is what eludes the other DCEU films...simplicity. The film is not attempting to be some teenager's version of high-octane, action-melodrama ala Zach Snyder nor is it trying to posit scholarly philosophical vigilantism theory ala Chris Nolan. This is a story in a nutshell about a woman who truly cares about people and who must confront the idea that cynicism has driven the rest of the world in violence that cannot be solved just from punching something.

When she meets Chris Pine's Steve Trevor, (his intro is pretty accurately depicted from the comics), the film shifts tone a bit more into a comedic-action fantasy. Pine is fantastic in his role. He has the looks, the charm, and the heroics to properly deliver on the idea that this Spy is tough but focused on the lives that will be lost if he takes no action. While one wonders if a grizzled spy wouldn't seem more realistic, Pine's charm brings the character an everyman quality that provides the appropriate response (one of awe) to Gadot's Wonder Woman. One could argue that it's a thankless role as none of the characters in Wonder Woman are written with more than a one-note personality and motivation but still, I found it worked more than not.

Likewise, Gadot is pretty fantastic. I have to admit that I found her physically unimpressive when she was first announced for the role during BvS. I felt weird as my commitment to diversity is pretty clear and yet I found an online "body-shamer" meme popping up occasionally whenever folks questioned Gadot's very slender frame. I think the idea of a toned and muscular woman warrior on the screen for everyone to appreciate especially as a major hero is not only obvious but profound. Think about it...how little do we get to see that style of physique profiled on the silver screen? Hell, Melissa McCarthy's body type has done more to normalize the non-model thin frame and with success and yet with Gadot it's kind of back to the status quo. That said, she clearly wants this to work. She's fully invested in the role and really brings the "warrior for peace" aspect of the character to life.

These two have real chemistry and it plays out in some of the film's best moments with great comedic scenes (Diana and Gadot are at their best when they are taking what Trevor says LITERALLY without subtext) as well as some cool action moments (the alleyway, bracelets scene is aces!). There is no denying this relationship is believable for the most part and smartly written. 

In fact, the second act which features Diana's introduction to "Man's World", is a solid continuation of the excitement from the 1st act. Many folks are going to really enjoy the first big action sequence during "No Man's Land" - an area of trench warfare that forces Diana to action once she sees man's depravity. While the sequence is pretty awesome, I couldn't help but feel a bit been there done that as well as the costume change for Diana coming across a tad cheesy. Many reviews make this moment seem like some religious experience but perhaps it's my age but I can honestly say that aside from excitement for seeing WONDER WOMAN in her costume in a battle for the first time (in this movie) - this scene seemed more mildly entertaining more than revelatory.

That said, it played well and the CG interludes while obvious were more than serviceable but it ultimately established my most disliked aspect of the film. The villain(s) were underwhelming, cheeseball, and lacked the menace that would have allowed Diana's earnest commitment to peace so profound.

This is not a DCEU problem, mind you.

As entertaining as the first IRON MAN film was the villain and the ending were every bit as lame as this film. Still, the acting and minor twist to the ending of WONDER WOMAN really elevate the film's writing to something rather enjoyable.

Simply put, I can't wait for a sequel. Seeing this crew, with the shackles off and more experience, and the CHEETAH??? Awww yeah!

WONDER WOMAN frankly works and when it's really firing on all cylinders...it's a JOY!

Is this DC's best superhero film of their new DCEU film slate?

Unquestionably -- YES!

Is this better than Bruce Timm's DC ANIMATED MOVIE Wonder Woman film?

NO -- NO and NO! Folks, if you've not seen THIS version then you're missing out. More GOD's, better writing (especially the Steve Trevor scenes), and some brutal, BRUTAL action scenes. Wonder Woman in that film is more feminist and bad-ass than hopeful as she is in the live-action.

Is this better than Marvel's Cinematic Universe movies?

Not really. I mean, it's nowhere close to Civil War, Iron Man 1, Winter Soldier and/or the first Avengers film, however, it certainly can live with the rest of Marvel's nearly dozen films.

I recommend folks see this movie for many reasons. We need more DIVERSE superhero movies (hell and more comics/ manga/ anime - but that seems to be a trigger nowadays to young folks who don't know any better) and this film could be the catalyst for such. I can only imagine the scenes in the film that showcased Diana's empathy and strength (both literal and figurative) will truly speak to young women and inspire them in much the same way that I hope Black Panther does in 2018 for young men and women of color.

WONDER WOMAN OPENS IN THE USA on JUNE 2nd, 2017

[atroopofechoesband-blog]

Band-on-Band Action:  Mahi Mahi vs. A Troop of Echoes

Here’s the fourth entry in a series of interviews with artists and musicians we enjoy and respect.  In these “double interviews,” bands ask each other a series of three questions.  No agendas, no awkward plugs, no corporate bullshit.   

This time, we’re catching up with Mahi Mahi, Providence's original two-man dance inferno.  These dudes were total legends during their tenure around the '00s, transcending the noise rock and dance music scenes to create something weird and wonderful.  And people noticed.  Mahi Mahi headlined a number of festivals and other high-profile gigs around Providence during their reign, but always stayed rooted in a strong DIY ethos.  For us, watching Mahi Mahi do their thing was a hugely formative experience during our early days.  Over the years, we've watched or played with Mahi Mahi probably 25 or 30 times, from sold-out benefit shows in Providence to anarchic house parties in rural Massachusetts.  Best band friends forever!

Mahi Mahi shredding Dan’s living room circa 2009.  Photo credit:  Matt Heisler.  

Harry (A Troop of Echoes):  One of the philosophies in Mahi Mahi was no sequencers and no backing tracks. How did this originally start, and how did it shape the way you write?

Josh (Mahi Mahi): During our beginnings and up through HE NO WA, we would play to some backing sequences that I wrote on a little Korg thingy. Pretty neat sounds, and it was inspiring in it’s own way to have that inhuman layer that we could play around. That got old pretty fast. With our mediocre sound system, we would sometimes struggle to stick to it and we’d be focusing on that too much. We shed that element and it felt great! The idea that we had “techno”-ish music, but with a real human feel was neat and seemed to really jive with the energy of the dancers. As far as shaping our writing, I’d say it didn’t shape our writing, which I think is the best case scenario.

Paul (Mahi Mahi): Yeah we definitely didn't want to depend on sequencers or backing tracks. But we did have fun experimenting with them a few times,and had a couple of songs we used them in.  But what NOT using them added for me was my personal challenge to play and BE the sequencer, playing drums while simultaneously playing a bassline was so much fun..and something I still enjoy trying to master.  Always trying to take it to the next level...

Pete, trying to make the sax sound like a slide guitar.  Photo credit:  Freddie Ross, as usual.  

Paul (Mahi Mahi):  Hate to go for the easy question..but I am pretty damn curious, where do you guys get your inspiration from? I haven't been able to put my finger on what artists might have inspired you guys.  Fugazi has to be in there somewhere...

Pete (A Troop of Echoes):  We get inspiration from a lot of different places. We didn't really have one band that was like the "touchstone" of our sound, or a primary influence. Each of us listened to very different music, but we were also definitely influenced by bands we grew up watching together early on - Lightning Bolt, The Slip, Zox (and you guys, not to make this weird). After we found our feet I think we started to get motivation in just collectively looking for cool new sounds, or coming home from tour and being so sick of playing the same songs over and over that you throw everything out the window and let yourself really jump into some new stuff you've never done before. Can we make a guitar sound like an organ? Can we make a sax sound like slide guitar? That kind of thing.  

Mahi Mahi’s legendary performance at Foo Fest, 2006.  Photo Credit:  AS220.

Dan (A Troop of Echoes): You guys have played some pretty memorable shows:  Foo Fest, Indie Arts Fest, opening for Battles, etc..  What were some of your favorite moments performing as Mahi Mahi?

Josh (Mahi Mahi): There were so many great moments! Shortlist (in no particular order):

1. Philly basement show where we blew the power a million times as everyone freaked out dancing and asbestos dust filled the air, and we played for about 90 minutes, repeating songs multiple times.

2. Playing in some basement down in N.K. That hot sweaty scene, where kids started stripping and I was looking at Paul like “these kids are in high school, are we going to get arrested?”

3. The night that we covered the Purple Rain album (with Jamez Day on guitar).

4. The couple of shows at AS220 when we played on either side of the stage while the crowd danced in the middle.

We harnessed some magic for sure. Paul (Mahi Mahi):  Pretty much all the shows Josh mentioned!  I will add the Future Friends Fest show. It was somewhere out in the woods and just about every one of my favorite bands from Providence at that time played. We played at like 11:30 or midnight, and set up all our gear on the slanted hill right in the grass and dirt.  It was so cool at that time of night because it was starting to get foggy which accentuated our cheap light set up....epic night. And overall, one of the best “vibes” shows we've played.  Another show that stands out and I wish I could remember what state it was...Josh will remember...was a basement show kind of in the middle of nowhere, no other bands showed up, and there was only about nine people there. It was a guarantee that we were not going to get our guaranteed pay that was arranged.  It didn't matter, we still set up all our stuff, and we still played with the same amount of passion as if we were playing in front of a club filled with people!

A Troop of Echoes:  Apocalypse Rock for the Discerning Consumer.  Photo Credit:  Katie Brunero.  

Paul (Mahi Mahi):  I've always appreciated how you guys don't always go for endless dark and gloomy chord progressions.  A lot of bands get trapped and feel more comfortable creating with a strictly dark color palette. The notes and colors you guys use always, for me, portray a sense of a struggle...but always give way to a very hopeful and optimistic feeling.  Have you guys ever thought about opening up the gates from hell and creating an album to listen to as we head into the apocalypse?

Harry (A Troop of Echoes):   Funny you should mention that...waaaay back in 2010 at the release show of our first album (which you guys headlined, thanks!) one of our friends wrote a short story about us based around the concept of “Apocalypse Rock,” and another friend drew illustrations. Think “Mad Max” meets “Providence loft shows.”  We only made about 30 or 40, but they sold out as soon as we put them on the merch table. 

Dan (A Troop of Echoes):  Early on, a lot of our songs were pretty balls-to-the-wall aggressive, noisy, fuck-off riffs, all that jazz.  And it was a blast.  But at some point, we got a little tired of that.  We felt trapped, and wanted to start exploring some other sounds.  It took us a while to figure out exactly how to do that (which we talk about more in our recent interview with Roz Raskin), but after a year or so of writing total garbage, we re-discovered how to make good decisions, which laid the groundwork for The Longest Year on Record.  

Pete (A Troop of Echoes): Having said that, and having just made an album of slow jam hypnosis, I’m personally totally down for making our next one the soundtrack to the apocalypse.

Mahi Mahi killin’ it at Liberty Fest, shortly before someone got hit with an errant firework.  Photo Credit:  Bob Otis of Dropdead.  

Dan (A Troop of Echoes):  What are you guys currently doing musically, and how have your experiences in Mahi Mahi influenced what you're up to?

Josh (Mahi Mahi): Music has been great for me lately. I can’t get enough of it. I’m so happy to be able to have it as an outlet. Whether it’s playing a TON on my nylon string guitar, piano and upright bass, or singing and venting with my current project Beta Motel, music is like my built-in therapist. It’s so important to have expression as a “release-valve” to get our demons out.

As far as Mahi Mahi’s “influence”, that idea gives me feedback. Mahi Mahi is a great project and what we’ve done contains so much of our heart. I say heart (singular) because creating with Paul at times felt like we were one voice. I hadn’t experienced that type of chemistry to that degree before Mahi Mahi. The main chunk of many of our tunes remained mostly intact from the first jam of the idea. It usually just worked, so we didn’t have to fiddle as much. It felt like we were channeling more than writing sometimes. So, long answer-short, I suppose that my experience in Mahi Mahi showed me that if the chemistry ain’t there… RUN!  

Paul (Mahi Mahi):  Since leaving Providence, it's been tough trying to find like-minded people to create with, but I’ve had a few production gigs and have written music for singers, burlesque dancers...and even a witch! Currently working on a solo project as well as starting to work with this cat named David Blais (Project name: Cassandra Effect).  Like Josh, music is a constant in one way or another.  Providence was a tough place to leave on the creative tip, and Mahi Mahi is definitely a tough act to follow.  Still reaching for what's next...and I am hoping a Mahi Mahi reunion can happen soon...

Pictured:  The Future.  See ya later, meatspace.  

Paul (Mahi Mahi):  Speaking of the future...considering how technology is advancing at such a violent pace, and the nature of it has become such that just about anybody who can operate a blender can make complete pieces of music without having to put in the time to learn the ins and outs of an instrument, do you guys think this will affect the quality of music in the future?  And if so, how?

Pete (A Troop of Echoes): Man, super interesting question. I have no idea (laughs). I have split feelings about it. On one hand you definitely see some bands putting out material and getting recognition before they’ve actually developed the ability to, you know, put on a good live show. And it feels really easy to slam this and say they don’t know what they’re doing. And it’s true that doing certain things digitally isn’t as hard as learning to play a physical instrument and we have to respect that. But on the other hand, I’ve had the experience of dealing with disability and physical limitations myself, which sort of makes the question look different to me. Now I sort of think of it as, “who should be allowed to participate in music?” If your hands aren’t strong enough to play drums or guitar, should you still be able to get the sounds out of your head and into other people’s? For me I think the answer has to be yes. But we still give total respect to bands that can go into the studio and nail everything in one take.

We’re patiently waiting for a Mahi Mahi reunion (and the release of their final album).  In the meantime, check out their official releases on Spotify, plus some unreleased studio tracks and live cuts on Soundcloud and YouTube.  

[newidaho]

17.  Christmas Evening

Don’t have the time/patience/desire to read with your eyes? Don’t have eyes? Well, have your friend read you this:  You can check out the audiobook for free on Apple, Google, Stitcher, or Spotify.  Subscribe for new episodes every Wednesday!

25 December 2054

After the relieved anticipation of opening new Christmas presents, the logical next step to sustaining Holiday Excitement is to try out the gifts as soon as possible.  Aside from inevitable outliers, this is how most kids and honest adults spend the latter half of their Christmas and the end of their calendar year.

The reactions to Lucidity were slightly more ambiguous.  Some families were ecstatic about the new technology.  Others weren't quite sure what to make of it.  In most cases, because it was the children receiving Lucidity as a Christmas gift, there was an extra level of anxiety for many parents as they anticipated their children trying it for the first time.

Like their parents, many of the gift receivers also didn't know what to make of the new technology.  They had a feeling it was some sort of grand new paradigm shift, but they weren't sure what exactly they would do with it yet--after all, there was currently only one application on the device.

Others, however, were, for the first time in their lives, excited to go to sleep on Christmas night.  A handful of the more unconsciously-oriented receivers had actively thought at one point or another in their life about what it would be like to play back their dreams. It was these children who were most immediately excited for the new technology.  The rest were, in general, just happy to have something new and cutting edge.

This difference in attitudes toward this new technology was perfectly displayed in the reactions of the Caston and Miller family.

The Castons had enjoyed their Christmas, going for a walk around the mountains, watching Lex's live announcement about Lucidity, having a dinner with a few neighborhood friends, and just taking it easy in general, finding time to be grateful for the company of their small family.  By the time the evening rolled around, Snow had resigned himself to another Christmas completed, his seventeenth, perhaps the twelfth he could really remember.  By 2000h, he was packing up his clothes and organizing them in his room.

'Snow?'  his mother knocked on his open door and peeked her head inside. 'Are you going to bed?'

'Not yet.  Just putting stuff away.'

'Sounds good, honey.  When you are ready to go to bed, just let me and dad know, and we can all try out Lucidity together.'

'Okay.'

'If you still want to.'

'Yeah.  I'm interested in seeing what it's all about.'

'Okay, honey.'  Emilie walked out the room and downstairs to wait with her husband in the living room.

'Does he still want to do it?' asked Darren

'Yes, he told me he does.'

'You didn't pressure him or anything, did you?'

'No!  Of course not.  I mean, I really did want to do it tonight.  I've been kind of anxious about it all day.  But, no, I didn't pressure him at all.'

'That's good.'  Darren leaned back on the couch and shut his eyes for a moment.  'It is a bit anxiety-inducing, isn't it?'

'Mm.'

'I mean, we don't really know what's going to happen.'

'It kind of reminds me of the first time you smoke pot, or something like that.'

'It's like we're about to drink some Electric Kool-Aid.  Will we see pink elephants?  Who knows.'

'You know, that sort of does scare me.'

'What does?'

'You know, like--are we going to do something irreversible?  It's like those rumors we used to hear about taking acid--how it might get stuck in the brain stem, and you start tripping forever.'

'Well, yes, Emilie, but this isn't a drug, per se.'

'It reads your dreams!'

'Yeah?'

'That's about as intense as any drug I've used.'

'Yes, but it doesn't affect your perception.  It just reads your perception.'

'I guess you're right.'

'I thought about this a lot, Emilie,'  Darren leaned forward and looked his wife in the eye, 'I mean, you know I was against even getting Snow on this train for the longest time.  But the more I think about it, the more it makes sense.  It really does read your mind--but it doesn't write to your mind.  That's an important distinction.  When you take a drug, that is literally changing your brain chemistry .  But this, I guess you could say, is just the opposite.  Your mind is what influences it.'

'I guess so.  But technology does change your mind, in a lot of ways.  Remember when cell phones first came out?  No, you're too young.'

'You're only two years older than me!'

'I know, I know.  So I don't remember it either.  But I do remember my mom telling me about when cell phones came out, and she and all her friends would feel this phantom vibrating in her pocket.'

'I remember that when I got my first iPhone.'

'Right!  So you know it. It was happening with the smart phones too.  But you see, with the smart phones, there was even more to it.  People would compulsively check their phones.  They would mess up their circadian rhythms by looking at the screen until they set their phone down right next to them to go to bed.  It was soon common knowledge that people got a dopamine hit from looking at their likes and notifications.'

'Right, I've heard all that, too.'

'So that changed people's brains.  And you and I were born in Gen Z, so we didn't know a world without it.  But who knows how that's changed the human species.'

'We've evolved.'

'Maybe.  But in that case it would appear that we chose our own evolution.  Or Steve Jobs did, anyway.'

'So I guess the question is, do we want Lex to handle our next evolution.'

'In a way he already has.  The real question is, do we let him take it even farther?'

'Are you two ready?'  Snow had just come down the stairs, already dressed for bed.

Emilie responded to her own question:  'It looks like we're about to.'

'Yes, son, lets enter the future!'  Darren said and smiled at Snow.  'Do you have your Lucidity?'

'Yup, got it right here,' Snow said, holding up his playing card-sized box.  There was no plastic wrap on the product--even if it had been bought at the store, that wasn't Lex's preferred style.  Too much waste.  Instead a small white circle on the top of the box showed that it had not yet been opened.

The box itself was beautiful.  It was made of a tough cardboard with a matte finish that made it feel almost metal.  As with most Lucid products, the white circle on the top edge of the box represented a magnet.  As soon as the top was lifted off the product, the circle darkened and the magnet ceased to work.  Underneath the lid, laid into the center of a tray made of the same firm material as the box, was a patch about the size of a quarter.  The outer rim, where   'L I B E R T Y' would normally have been spelled, was outlined in a bold white, finished in matte so it didn't reflect the light very harshly.  From the rim inward, the item was totally black.

Snow held the patch in his hand.  'So do you, like, have to glue it on or something?'

Darren smiled.  He hadn't been told the answer to this one, but he knew it anyway.  'Do you see an instruction booklet?'

'No.'

'That's Lex's way of assuring us that we know exactly what to do with it.  It's the same ethic Steve Jobs brought to Apple.  Intuitive simplicity that transcends a manual.'

'Oh, what would we do without Steve Jobs,' Emilie said, rolling her eyes.

'Anyway,' Darren said, 'you should only have to place the patch on your temple.  He wouldn't have made it any more complicated than that.'

'Oh.'

'And you should probably have your Lenses on--but it looks like you do.'  Darren now held his Lucidity in his hand, as did his wife.  'Are we ready?'

Together, the members of the Caston family touched the Lucidity to their temples, just as they had seen Lex do on stage one week ago.  Snow was surprised at how it seemed to latch onto his skin without him even feeling it.  He ran his hand over the patch.  It felt much smoother than he expected.  He could hardly tell where the patch ended and his skin began.  His father was right--the patch had been masterfully designed.  Now to see if it worked.

A small notification appeared about a foot in front of Snow's face.  He could tell by his parents' reactions that they were looking at the same thing.  The notification took the form of a three-dimensional virtual representation of the Patch.  Underneath it were the words:  'Would you like to Pair Lucidity with your Lenses?' and under those, two boxes with affirmative and negatory commands.

Snow waved his hand over 'yes'.  After a brief loading period, a card appeared in front of him requesting that he place one finger on the center of the patch and hold it.  He did as he was told.  An icon in the shape of the Patch appeared on the right of his field of vision with a prompt requesting he swipe the icon to his right.  As Snow swiped the Virtual Patch into the center of his field of vision, it expanded into two separate icons--the obligatory gear for settings and what looked like purple 'Z's rising and expanding until they dissipated into fog.  In the near future, Snow imagined this screen would be filled with even more applications.

'Why don't we sync up?'  Darren asked.  'I always feel like we share the experience better that way.'

The family accessed their Lenses’ Quick Menu from the top left of their field of vision and turned on Lens Syncing, allowing them to see what everyone else was seeing.  Sure enough, each member of the Caston family had the same two icons floating in front of them.  Darren waved his hand over the settings and revealed a small menu listing an option for general settings above a list of the apps on the device (Lucid Dream being the only one).  Other than that, there were options for touch sensitivity and control.

'The main settings for Lucid Dream must be in the app itself,' Darren said, closing the menu.

'I'm going in,' said Snow, waving his hand over the Lucid Dream Icon.  One of the 'Z's floating out of the icon grew to the size of Snow's head and expanded into a slab of purple fog.  On the fog was written, "Welcome to Lucid Dream.  Would you like to record your dreams tonight?"

Snow looked at his parents.  'Well?  We're really doing it, aren't we?'

Emilie nodded.  'Let's see what this is all about.'

As the Caston family agreed to have their dreams recorded for the night, the Millers were getting ready for bed just down the road.

'Alright, everyone got their patch on?' Ricky said to the family gathered before him.

'God, dad, you can see our freaking heads.'

'Ricky 2.  Come on.'  Ricky shot his son a dirty glance.  'What I meant to ask, I guess, is whether everybody is ready.'

'I don't like how this feels,' said Sera.

'You can't feel it at all!' said Ricky 2.

'You don't know what I can feel, Ricky 2.'

'It's not supposed to feel like anything.'

'Come on, you guys,' said Shelly.  'If Sera says she can feel it, I’m sure she does.  Maybe she is just too small for Lucidity.'

'No, mom!'  said Sera.  'I want to do it!'

'Family, family,' said Ricky.  ‘We're all going to do it.  Chill out, alright?'

The family navigated through the menus and set up Lucid Dream.  When they finished agreeing to the request of the purple fog, Ricky 2 spoke up again.

'Is that really all there is?  I want my money back.  Jesus.'

'You have to go to sleep, stupid,' Sera said.

'She's right, dear,' said Shelly.  'When you wake up, then you can watch your dreams.  Isn't that cool?'

'I guess so,' said Ricky 2.  'I guess I hope I have some good dreams.'

'I never dream,' said Sera.

'Everybody dreams,' said Ricky 2.  'You just don't remember it.'

'Well,' said their father, 'I guess tonight we'll see if that's the case.  Alright, kids, ready for bed?'

'Yeah, let's see what this baby can do!'  Ricky 2 said.  He gave his parents a hug and a kiss, thanked them for a good Christmas, and made his way upstairs to his bedroom, hoping simultaneously that he dreamed up something sexy and that his parents didn't ask to watch his dreams the following morning.

[rainydawgradioblog]

Music Review - Melodrama by Lorde

                               A baby Lorde. (Photo by Garth Badger)

        When 17-year-old Ella Yelich-O’Connor – better known by her stage name Lorde – released her debut EP The Love Club in 2013, the world wasn’t ready. The young New Zealander immediately caught the attention of the masses with her single “Royals”. The low, hypnotic voice; the enticing beat; the choir echoing and harmonizing throughout the verses and chorus. Add in her offbeat style and knack for dark imagery in the lyrics and you’ve got yourself an unlikely superstar. Her appearance was almost as unusual as her music. The young girl constantly utilized the drama of dark lipstick and the mysteriousness of dark clothing. YouTube exploded with videos showing how to achieve her long, thick, cascading curls and sharp winged eyeliner from the “Royals” music video. This EP release was followed up with the release of her debut album Pure Heroine on September 27th, 2013. The album became the anthem of misunderstood young women everywhere. The world loved and embraced Lorde. We gave her a Grammy, a platinum album, and an endless amount of attention and adoration.

And then, she left.

Lorde disappeared when the world needed her most. No one could say for sure exactly where she was, what she was doing, who she was with. Some theorized Taylor Swift was holding her hostage in her basement; others said that she was growing up and needed time out of the spotlight, that the creative process can’t happen in a single year and Lorde isn’t the kind of artist to just spit out an album once a year because she’s a true artist and true artistry takes time to perfect. (I, for one, wholeheartedly believed in the Taylor Swift kidnapping theory. She has sketchy eyes.) She was still posting on social media, yes, but none of it had anything to do with new music. While she was gone, she made many subtle changes that went unnoticed on the global radar - her relationship with her then-boyfriend quietly ended; she cut off those famous long, curly locks; her image changed from dark to light. Ella was reinventing herself not only image-wise but also her sound. She was growing and gosh darn it, she was going to make sure that we followed her journey of self-discovery with her. She took the time to write out what was happening and put it into an album for us, an album appropriately titled Melodrama.

                                            (Photo by Arkan Zakharov)

So, here I am. A devout fan of this alternative beauty. I snatched up Melodrama the second this baby was released and I listened the shit out of it. Without further ado, here are my thoughts on this auditory masterpiece. (Songs included because I love you and want to bless your ears as much as Lorde blessed mine.)

“Green Light” Thoughts: This song is an excellent start to the album. At first, the flow of the words with the instrumental can be a bit disorienting because it doesn’t follow the typical time signature of most songs but once those piano keys start, the song goes off. Her heart is broken but she is ready to dance her pants off. Standout lyrics: ‘Cause honey I’ll come get my things but I can’t let go / Oh I wish I could get my things and just let go Playlist you would add this to: You Broke My Heart, Please Let Me Go

“Sober” Thoughts: Once when I was 18 my mom and I drank wine together and watched Moana and I was feeling slightly buzzed and this song reminds me of that moment, except this is a lot more doom-and-gloom. It’s about being under the influence but without a lot of the fun, like when you’re so high and you KNOW you’re so high but you want to stop being so high. The entire time in the background she chants “Night, midnight, lose my mind” and boy howdy is she losing it, but to an excellent beat. Her voice conveys such strong emotions throughout the entire song, it’s enchanting. Standout lyrics: Oh God, I’m clean out of air in my lungs / It’s all gone, played it so nonchalant / It’s time we dance with the truth Playlist you would add this to: Holy Shit I Smoked Way Too Much and I Need to Lie Down Someone Find Me a Dog to Pet

“Homemade Dynamite” Thoughts: Lorde is a huge fan of harmonizing and layering her own voice, especially in the pre-chorus and chorus and this song is no different from that formula she tends to follow. As a result, the hook definitely will get stuck in your head and will inspire you to “blow shit up”. It certainly inspired me. (No it didn’t. I wanted to sound edgy.) Honestly, this song is not one of my favorites and I prefer the remix featuring Khalid, SZA, and Post Malone (that you can listen to here) but it isn’t a song I dislike, ya feel? Standout lyrics: Don’t know you super well / But I think that you might be the same as me / Behave abnormally / Let’s let things come out of the woodwork / I’ll give you my best side, tell you all my best lies Playlist you would add this to: Songs that Remind Me of That One Time I Accidentally Exploded a Beaker in Chemistry Class

“The Louvre” Thoughts: The Louvre is an angelic song. It’s soft and sweet and embodies springtime in Paris and pure childish happiness. It makes me want to flounce around a wildflower meadow at the base of Mount Rainier. In one word, this song is cute. The guitar in the background of the verses is simple, but just enough. I really do adore this song. Sure, she’s also speaking about her happiness fading and how it’s like old art hanging in a museum, but it’s nice and if you don’t focus too hard you would have no problem calling this an alternative-pop love song. I would like to hear this performed with an orchestra in the background; it would be transcendent. Standout lyrics: But lover, you’re the one to blame, all that you’re doing / Can you hear the violence? / Megaphone to my chest / Broadcast the boom, boom, boom and make ‘em all dance to it Playlist that you would add this to: Art Museum Visit Super Hype Alternative Exciting I Love Art Hell Yeah

“Liability” Thoughts: Heartbreak 101, ladies and gentlemen. That happiness from the song before has completely vanished; Ella is really hurting in this. A strong opposition to the heavy house party beats of the previous songs, a piano carries the instrumental for this slow, mournful ballad with lyrics that are painfully raw and honest. I can relate to these lyrics and the first time I heard it a single tear reminiscent of Cry Baby rolled down my cheek. If your heart has been broken and you want a good ol’ fashioned weep this is the song for you. Standout lyrics: I know that it’s exciting / Running through the night, but / Every perfect summer’s eating me alive / Until you’re gone Playlist that you would add this to: Not Gonna Lie, I Thought This Would be More Gay

“Hard Feelings/Loveless” Thoughts: This. Fucking. Song. Y’all, this has been my absolute all-time favorite song from the moment I heard it. It’s split into two parts, Hard Feelings and Loveless. Much like Liability, she sings of heartbreak in Hard Feelings, but more in the stage where you are on the verge of being able to move on from this and enter a new chapter of your life. It’s delicate and brings images of sitting on the floor in a dark room illuminated by candles, cutting flowers so you bring a new sense of life into the home you’re learning to build without your lover by your side. Loveless completely flips the script - there is a short spoken intro by Paul Simon before it launches into the beat and the chanting that will stick in your head all day: “We’re L-O-V-E-L-E-S-S / Generation / All fuckin’ our lovers heads / Generation.” Standout lyrics: I light all the candles / Cut flowers for all my rooms / I care for myself the way I used to care about you Playlist that you would add this to: I’m Cryign and I Can’at OTYpe Correnclty Oh GmY GD

“Sober II (Melodrama)” Thoughts: I’m guessing Lorde went to a party, or threw one herself and right in the middle of it she realized how sick she was of the aesthetic of parties. Like, she literally says “Gotta wonder why we bother?” Nonetheless, this song is kind of a melancholic, slow journey accompanied by dramatic string instruments that you tack onto the back of Sober (this is entitled Sober II after all) when she’s coming off of her high and having an increasingly-large existential crisis. Standout lyrics: All the terror and the horror / Gotta wonder why we bother? / All the glamour and the drama / And the fuckin’ melodrama / All the gunfights and the limelights / And the holy sick divine nights Playlist that you would add this to: I Watched Romeo + Juliet Once and Now I Wish I Was Claire Danes

“Writer In the Dark” Thoughts: The grand piano makes its grand return in this tune. Do not underestimate Ella in this song, folks; she’s sad but she’s turning that emotion into anger. This ballad is stripped back and vocally-powerful. She warns her audience that falling in love and breaking the heart of a writer will come back to bite you in the ass because writers will immortalize you with their words and melodies, and you may not like the outcome. Ouch. Maybe the violins at the end will soothe the wounds she just bit into your skin with her words. Standout lyrics: I am my mother’s child / I’ll love you ‘til my breathing stops / I’ll love you ‘til you call the cops on me Playlist you would add this to: Songs That Could Have Been on the Kill Bill, Vol. 1 Soundtrack

“Supercut” Thoughts: Awaken, my love! Lorde sees the light in this song. She realizes that idolizing a relationship does nothing but cause pain when the reality of it all fails to live up to the expectations built in her head. Us listeners are privileged enough to follow along with her journey and hear her reach this discovery. There’s a beat that refuses to quit and demands your attention in the background of the song that will, like all her songs, inevitably get stuck in your head. Arguably the best part of the song is the bridge when her voice is but an echo, stating what I think are the standout lyrics; she ends this with a loud yell. It’s such a small moment in the song but it stands out to me - honestly, it’s mostly that yell. It’s like when you feel so much in one moment all you can do is scream. I feel ya, Lorde. Standout lyrics: In my head I do everything right / When you call I forgive, and not fight / All the moments I play in the dark / Wild and fluorescent, come home to my heart Playlist you would add this to: It’s Summer, I Got My Hat On Backwards and It’s Time to Frickin Party

“Liability (Reprise)” Thoughts: This song is like a sweet caress on the cheek from the hand of healing. Typically, a reprise is the same instrumental from an earlier song but the lyrics have changed to fit the epiphany whoever is singing has had; this is Lorde’s epiphany. The instrumental has changed in this song - it’s more of a soft keyboard against a periodic metronome-like beat and Lorde’s choir of Lorde. In fact, the only thing from Liability this song has is the echo of the word liability but in this instance she is speaking to herself saying that she is not a liability, no, she is much more than this. It’s a sweet song of self-assurance. Standout lyrics: And maybe all this is the party / Maybe the tears and the highs we breathe / Oh, no / And maybe all this is the party / Maybe we just do it violently / But you’re not what you thought you were Playlist you would add this to: I’m Broken Right Now, but This Too Shall Pass

“Perfect Places” Thoughts: Aaaand our favorite party girl is back! This is the end of an emotional melodramatic rollercoaster and it’s the perfect sendoff. The entire song is spent split between a low and high harmony and it creates a pleasing blend to listen to. I don’t think anyone can really resist when she sings with that low, sultry rasp. Perhaps one of the most fun parts of the song is right before the first chorus when she makes a sound, a slight chh-chh. Singing along with that makes the song one of my favorites. Perfect Places perfectly encaptures how it feels being young and 19 and unsure of where you’re going in life but you’re at a party so you might as well party anyway and forget about your responsibilities for a minute. Standout lyrics: I hate the headlines and the weather / I’m 19 and I’m on fire / But when we’re dancing, I’m alright / It’s just another graceless night Playlist you would add this to: I’m Hyperaware of My Youth and How I Cannot Control Time and It Gives Me an Existential Crisis but Hey, Let’s Party Anyway !

Overall, this album gave birth to me. I cannot stress how much I love it. I’m at a really weird place in my life right now where I’m unsure about so many things in my future and it’s stressful as hell - I’ve had many emotional nights in my dorm room where I feel so tiny and alone in this whole wide world. The thing about Lorde is that she feels this way too, and she put it into an album for me. She’s only a couple of years older than me and a lot of this album was being put together when she was my age. She gets me. One of the best things for a young woman at this stage of life is being able to find someone, something to relate to and grasping onto that so you don’t feel so insane and Ella gave that to me. She’s given me a timeless album that I can listen to again and again and not grow sick of because I know what she means. She’s saying everything so I don’t have to and I am endlessly grateful to her that she gave me such a meaningful piece of art that I know I’ll cherish for a long, long time.

Emotions aside - she’s coming to Seattle in March! I’ll be there! Definitely crying, definitely dancing. She’ll be on tour with frickin Run The Jewels and Tove Styrke, performing March 9th at Key Arena. Tickets range from $35 to $96 and they are still on sale if you click this link right here. I hope to see you all there.

Camryn Del Donno

[voiceactinguk]

[Audio Drama] [Unpaid] Analogous Movement

In an attempt to find a new job, Elinor "Eli" Torosian finds herself and her friends dragged into a conundrum that quite literally transcends time and space itself. Analogous Movement is an upcoming sci-fi audio drama, paying homage to the detective radio dramas from the 30s and 40s, with a slight allusion to Orson Welles’s War of the World’s broadcast. The first episode is set to be released February 23rd. I will be release the episode (hopefully) on iTunes. They will also be available on YouTube.  Please email your lines to me at analogousmovement@gmail.com as an mp3 file.  Title your email: Analogous Audition and then the character you are auditioning for. Like so: Analogous Audition [Character name]. In the body of your email, please give me your name, best place to contact you, any websites or social media you might have and your discord (or skype if you do not have a discord). Also include your availability.  The auditions will close November 17th and I will get back to chosen actors towards the beginning of December. Be prepared to start production mid-December. Unfortunately, I cannot give you compensation. If in the near future, I have enough money and could make a profit off Analogous Movement, I am open to discussing it with the actors. At this time, however, you are free to put Analogous Movement on your resume and use me as a reference.  Logo is done by @shillyyshally on twitter and art of characters is done by @Pratzelwurm on twitter.  The following characters will be appearing in episode one.  -------- Narrator Anyone can audition for this role. The only thing I am looking for in terms of casting is being able to speak clearly and calmly- like a narrator would. This role is basically just announcing things such as “this is Analogous movement!” or the location of where the story is taking place. Note: Up to five people will have this role. If you have been cast as a character, you can still audition for the narrator. Any accents will be acceptable.  Line 1: Life, with its rules, its obligations, and its freedoms, is like a sonnet: You're given the form, but you have to write the sonnet yourself. A Wrinkle in Time, By Madeleine L’Engle. Line 2: Analogous Movement. Part one: The Soul’s Bandaged Moments. Gulf Coast Undercity #3, North America. July 2164. Line 3: Thus concludes our program. Tune in next time to see the thrilling conclusion! Or not. Line 4: Welcome back! Did you miss us? Eli Torosian Looking for a trans woman between the ages of 18-24. Her voice is in the countertenor range. She sounds very apathetic most of the time, or disinterested. Eli’s voice becomes more emotional when distressed or upset. Can tend to be very snappy. She speaks very fast, but slow enough you can understand her.  Eli doesn’t take herself very seriously, so don’t think you have to sound serious, you can be a little over the top. Her accent is a regular accent that you would hear in the Midwest- the Northern Inland Dialect if you will.  Line 1: [in an apathetic tone, kind of sarcastic] … okay there’s like… three different kind of responses to your question. One, I could joke and just say depression. Two, I could say I don’t know. Three is... any of my chronic illnesses. Take your pick. My personal choice is depression. Line 2: [in a tired voice] Oh jesus christ chill the fuck out. Can’t ask how far I hopped in time? Sheesh. Line 3: [upset]: Ha, after losing this job, how the shit can you expect me to find another one?! Line 4: [Ranting] No because most of those jobs were in high places for detective work and like, they’re gonna say my name or pass it around or something! I can’t fucking work for that job Cari! All my chances are fucking shot. Ndidi Hobbs Looking for a black english woman between the ages of 18-24. Her vocal range is more of a mezzo soprano. Her accent is a Northern English accent, specifically the Yorkshire county area. However, I will be okay with any English accent you already have. Ndidi speaks in a very calm manner most of the time, and her voice is a bit soft. Not to entirely give away spoilers, but she is in a situation where she has to conceal a lot of information, making her uncomfortable. Any line explaining her mission is a bit anxious and feels forced, as Ndidi is not a fan of lying. (Her name is pronounced Nn-DEE-dee) Line 1: [Introductory, explanatory] My partner and I were sent to this time period to... investigate an… [hesitant] incident. I know that sounds really fishy- cause I’m pretty sure time travel was just being invented at this time. Anyway, back to what I was saying. So, my partner and I got sent here because something happened to the past- well I guess technically that’s your present. Anyways. [clears throat] Basically, we were sent here to see how it’s going to affect our future. Line 2: [assuring] It’s not your fault, see Jas- the tall person over there, and I do this all the time. I mean, err… we investigate time problems. Like a time problem can be anything from like a criminal trying to go back and kill someone- that one happens a lot, I think you can tell why. So you’re really not the [cringing] first case that this has happened to. Line 3: [confrontational] I’ve been in this agency three years and for what? I can’t keep just… lying to someone we’re supposed to help. Can you at least let me tell her something about what we’re doing? Line 4: [casual, conversational] Well, fun facts the way they do brain chips in this time period is  dangerous in ours. I mean, most everyone has a brain chip, but the surgery is… a lot less, I guess the right word is invasive,- in 2296. I don’t know what they changed, but is it really true some people died from the old surgery? Carina "Cari" Wallace Looking for a latina between the ages of 20-25. Her vocal range is an alto to mezzo-soprano. Cari’s voice is kind of tired, and she’s kind of chill like her roommate Eli is. Though she’s less biting and sarcastic, and takes herself a bit more seriously. Cari’s voice will need to sound a little off put with what she’s dealing with, but she’s hardly ever truly mean and can sound stern when she needs to. She has that of a typical Central Texan accent. It is not too heavy. Line 1: [Encouraging] Oh come on, you’ll find something. I mean… you… just don’t put down your last five failed jobs? I mean I can bullshit and be a ref for you? Line 2: [stern] Eli, I’m sure they’re not going to spread your name around. Look, [a sigh] Eli, I understand it and everything but… I don’t want to throw you out… but I really am getting tired of not knowing how much rent you’re going to be able to pay. How about this… why don’t we go spend tonight seeing if there’s a job for you that could work? Line 3: [angry] This isn’t the time, smart ass. God, now I have to redo the share of the rent. [Cutting someone off]  I’m still pissed at you, but I don’t want you out of money until you can find another job. Line 4:  [casual, more conversational] Okay so… oh my god Eli… you can time travel now? How did you even manage that? That’s so hilarious… maybe not hilarious but, how did you manage that? I… wow this has got to be the weirdest mess you’ve ever gotten yourself in. Nari Kang Looking for a Korean woman between the ages of 16-20. Nari’s voice is in the soprano range. She needs to sound very energetic most of the time, but her reactions are a bit immature. Most of the time Nari will ramble about science- specifically her favorite, chemistry. Her voice picks up speed when super excited or when freaking out. When around people she doesn’t know, her voice is very soft. Nari is a fun character, but be aware that she can be shy. Don’t worry too much about switching between the two. She has a Northern American Inland Accent. Line 1: [getting asked a question about her latest project, excited] Oh! Well you see here I have this thing called a plasma gun and I know, I know original… but let me explain to you exactly what makes mine so unique. See most of the time they’re really short range and you can’t actually use the gun as… well a gun, but I managed to create one that is long range and can be able to shoot a continuous stream. Oh and not to mention it has the abilities to shoot quick streams if that’s your thing too. Also, my friend uhm… my friend Mel helped me design it she’s a really good designer and… oh. Right yeah sorry… uhm. Yeah this is my project! Line 2:  [explaining] Uh… well see from what I know about time travel- I don’t really know physics so I might not be accurate. Well, we’re kind of moving in a linear fashion on our timeline, but see you can step out of the linear fashion via uh… well, death. So you can understand how nasty it is to figure out a way to not… die. So what I think people do is remove any connection the timeline has on you to make you time travel and then force your body to move faster or slower or… reverse in regards to how we’re moving. Uh, well the “we” being everyone else moving linear in the timeline. Line 3: [meeting someone for first time, shy, soft] Oh. You’re… uhm… are you one of Anton’s friends? Uh… oh you’re not, I don’t think. I mean, uh… it’s a pleasure to meet you! Uh…   Line 4: [interjecting, fleeting] It can’t be a machine! There’s only one time machine in existence! No one’s ever gotten so far with time travel as to use a… a chemical! What chemical would you even use?! Anton Lowe Looking for a man between the ages of 18-25. Anton’s voice is in the baritone to tenor range. His voice is a higher pitch and a little nasally. He’s very jokey and upbeat, but often times can be kind of mean. Underneath that he’s more emotional, but that hardly ever shows. It’s usually when he’s stressed and put under pressure do you see that side of him. He has a central Texan accent.  Line 1: [snarky] Ohhhhh, just because I was right and that you lost your job. Well, I see how it is. Line 2: [embarrassed] Well your parents were nice enough to let me stay there! I’m just saying as a fact. Line 3:  [holding back laughter] No, no it’s the right time… this is fucking hilarious! Line 4:  [upset and emotional] I just… I couldn’t stand that you, the person who always had fuck ups and failures somehow is doing okay. And… I’m not! Nothing has ever happened to me that was good or bad and yet I’m letting some fucking scumbag walk all over me… and I stay cause I think it’ll teach me something! But it hasn’t! It just makes me feel worse. Melina "Mel" Iordanou Looking for a woman between the ages of 18-26. Mel’s voice is in the mezzo-soprano range. She’s often a tag along to Nari and Anton’s antics. Mel tries to be kind, but she’ll slip out and be kind of nasty if something or someone is bothering her constantly. Though Mel is more the type to notice if anyone in the group is feeling down first. She has a Northern American Inland Accent.  Line 1: [Explanatory, conversational] Oh, nothing. The usual. Anton is suffering because he lost a bunch of games in a row. And Nari wanted to hang out with someone other than him since he was going to be a sulking baby. And Cahya didn’t want to stay cooped up in their apartment while dealing with a sulking baby. So, here we are. Line 2: [Confused] Uh? Everything okay guys? Line 3: [Taken aback] No you didn’t? You had to rush to tell me you were excited about finishing your design. I thought you told everyone? Line 4: [tired] I agree, but why don’t we just focus on more positive things at the moment? Cahya Duong Looking for a non-binary southeast asian between the ages of 20-25. Cahya’s vocal range is in alto. They’re the partner of Anton and have been dating for about two years now. They’re a bit blunt often times, but usually try to do it in a humorous manner. Despite being very upfront and “brutally honest” they really do care a lot about Anton and his friends. (Their name is pronounced CHAH-yah) They have a Northern American Inland Accent. Line 1:  [Jokingly] I’ll believe you when you can hold a job for… more than… what’s the longest you’ve ever held a job? Line 2: [smug] Something wrong Nari? Line 3: [jokingly dramatic] How kind of you, to jump to your dear friend’s defense. Line 4: [Upset] Cause I think he’s a dick. And just a nasty person in general. I have no idea why Anton is dating him. But whatever, guess I have to respect someone who hates me! Load of bull ass fucking shit. Celeste Resnik  Looking for a non-binary jewish person who can at least sound older- up to their late 20s or 30s. Their voice is in the alto to mezzo-soprano range. Celeste is Eli’s Parent. They’re a bit forgetful about pretty much anything, including when their daughter starts school. Though Celeste is very kind and tries to be patient. They speak very cheerfully. They have a North Texan accent.  Line 1: [Just on the phone, conversational] Oh good! I was having issues earlier with my audio, but glad it’s working now. Oh, right sorry, I completely forgot! How was work today? I know you started it… uhm, when did you start it? Line 2: [Remembering] Alright. Oh right! I was wondering when you were coming up to visit? I just wanted to know in advance in case you needed money to take the sub. Line 3: [Concerned] Okay? Mm, you just check that. I want to see you before you go back to school at the very least. Does September sound good to you? Line 4: [happy] Oh, that’s good. I hope you’re having fun with it! But, uhm, right… why I was calling? -------- If you audition and are not cast, you are still invited to be extras for episode one and to audition future episodes. For any questions please email me at analogousmovement@gmail.com.  For any updates regarding the series, please visit the twitter, the tumblr, or the main website. Thank you and good luck!  http://dlvr.it/PwfCvG www.voiceacting.space