#can we get an encore of an encore mona~~~~~?

[deus-ex-mona]

mona, our cover queen of all time

[alexissara]

My Favorite Musical Artists of 2023

It is Spotify wrapped season and so instead of letting a company decide what I liked most or listened to most when it isn't totally accurate I shall instead tell you my favorite musical artists of the year and what musical art resonated most with my heart and why.

Normally I don't like to do this sort of list until it's actually the next year because in December maybe I'll get into Electronic Disco Funk and have 3 artists that should really be here but I figure now is a good time

Ado

Ado really was a machine of putting out great music both on contract for anime and songs that are just related to her own work. I found her listening to the One Piece Film Red soundtrack and loving those songs this year but her vocals on Show, All Night Radio, FREEDOM and more all are breath takingly great. She clearly knows great people to collaborate with to make amazing music and her vocals are utterly delightful with a brilliant vocal range.

Ado music is perfect for making playlists for my OCs, listening to while writing, working on chores, really just a perfect artist for every function I often look to music for.

Janelle Monae

Janelle Monae is a consistent favorite even in years where they have released no new songs they still stand among my favorite artists of the year with songs like Make Me Feel, Many Moons, Tightrope and Screwed always being on my rotation of songs. Now Lipstick Lover joins as another Monae staple that will constantly be on repeat for me. The Age Of Pleasure was a really great album and I think this era of Janelle's music was really good and I think Janelle was really bold going into being a free ass person and refusing to let themselves be defined by others on their own terms.

Reinaeiry

While I am not the biggest fan of the same kind of operatic dramatic songs that often drive many of Reinaeiry's songs, in any given year she still puts out more songs I love then songs that are not my thing. There is a touch of bitter sweetness because my ex loved her music too and so it often reminds me of her and our break up was a bit less than a year ago but having moved back around to being friends with her the music can sit comfortably in my ears as music that means a lot to me even if some songs now have bitter sweet memories tied to them it makes some songs work better too.

Yoasobi

Yoasobi has had a year getting to preform songs for some of the years biggest anime projects but this was the year I discovered her music and in it I found so many amazing songs. 海のまにまに is probably my favorite from the year but I also really enjoy Horizon, セブンティーン, Biri-Biri, and Hero a lot too. She has a lot of really banger music videos and they are just delights to watch. I find a lot of her songs are perfect chill songs to really set a nice calm wokring on something serious tone in the background, like just enough added energy to not be sleepy music.

Jamie Page

While I got into Jamie Page last year, Jamie Page's music this year has also been bangers and am still loving the songs i fell for last year. Love Renewed is a new Jamie Page classic and I am always listening to songs like Encore, Gummyworm, Bitter Sweet and People play Pretend. Jamie makes perfect poppy and fun music that can get into the sadder emotions while still being upbeat and really fun to listen to.

Joel Baylis and Shelby Harvey

The Cassette Beasts OST is probably my actual most listened to music of the year. The soundtrack is just so fucking good, like above and beyond, I really need to actually buy the album on bandcamp because I love it so much. Your Inception and Arrow of Time are probably my favorite songs from the album but Same Old Story, Wherever We Are, face down and the rest of the vocal tracks are all bangers. All these songs are gonna be forever staples for me making OC playlists and just jaming out when I am working on being creative. Their perfect songs for writing action scenes not so dominant that they take all my attention but enough to pump me up for some badass action.

Chrissy Chlapecka

Chrissy's transition from Tiktok bimbo positivity poster to pop icon this year was glamorous. She really brings something new to the early 2000s pop kinda vibe she is going for with a much more powerful and queer vibe with an aim at being a bit more intentionally political without it being so dominant in the music to pull away from them being like "dumb" pop. A lot of "influencers" attempt the transition into music but it is very clear that Chrissy is actually a musical talent who stumbled into being popular online for not doing music then used that to boost her passion.

Dorian Electra 

Weird core legend Dorian Electra is truly a musical artist who is always worth checking out even when a song is a total wiff it's usually at least fun to watch the music video. I am always relistening to my favs from Dorian but this year had a lot of great blasphemy core music like Sodom & Gomorrah but also brilliant songs like Puppet that really all captured my heart and are just great pop songs in addition to being a little funny or whatever else Dorian is going for.

Band-maid

J-rock legends Band-maid are always a favorite for me. BAND-MAID are so good at their respective gimmicks it almost makes me sad that they are tied to the gimmick of having to dress up as maids. I enjoy a good Maid outfit but I do think their music is just so seriously damn good and I do worry the gimmick is also a detraction from how truly badass their music is. They are just such amazing artists and they are just a delight to listen to especially if I am gaming and want to replace a sound track or something.

Tape Girl

Ska is my favorite kind of music, while I didn't include a ton on this list I had to include at least one Ska artist and Tape Girl was an artist I found this year who really blew me away. There were a ton of great artists I discovered this year but as of now I mostly just have one song from them I really love while Tape Girl basically has no misses. Tape Girl is really fun and the instrumentations are all so good, they are just ahhh such fantastic tracks and really songs well worth listening to.

[f1writingbyme]

Tagged by the amazing @lestappenforever ❤️ Thank you, babe!

Rules: put your music on shuffle and list ten songs that come up (then tag others, but Mona is basically the only person on here I talk to, so feel free to use the tag without me tagging you!)

Automatisch by Flemming (it's a Dutch song and I normally don't listen to Dutch songs, but this one is catchy)

It's Going Down by Nic D and Connor Prince

Creepin' by Metro Boomin, The Weeknd and 21 Savage

Nobody's Wife by Anouk (Dutch artist. She's fucking awesome)

Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day

One Love by Blue

Feel Good Inc. by Marcus Layton and Nonô

Walk by Pantera

Hey Ben by Hoodie Allen and Games We Play

Encore/Curtains Down by Eminem

And as a bonus: Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve because this is my all-time favorite. The video clip is just simply amazing.

I have one playlist where I add all the music I like, so it's a mix of old and new, rock, pop, country, dance, ballads... Name it and it's in there (as you can see). It really helps me to get through the work day, although sometimes I don't know who I am anymore at the end of the day 😂

[supernovadragoncat]

Thunderstruck Outtake: Sally Cancels the THOT in Sandor’s Dressing Room (What happened after Chapter 14)

Dedicated to @jennusdemenus who asked for a glimpse into what happened directly after Chapter 14 (aka what happened to that THOT in Sandor’s dressing room, you know the one!) 

Read on below the cut to find out! 

You can catch Thunderstruck here on AO3 and here on FF.net! Only two chapters left!  

Back to the door, Sally watched the venue thin out. This bit was always the same. The city or the venue didn’t matter. Groupies and drunks, they were always the last to go. The drunks would plant themselves in an empty floor and wail for another encore well after the band left the stage and the crew started clearing off the gear. The groupies would flock to the door Sally had planted himself in front of and wield their feminine wiles in hopes of sneaking past.

As it stood, neither the groupies nor the drunks got too far, and Sally occupied himself with self-indulgent daydreams. He was usually hungry right about now. Having scrambled for scraps earlier, tonight was no exception. While Cannibal Star was likely on the prowl for booze and women, Sally had one thing on his mind.

Soft and sweet. Heaven on his lips. He’d savor every moment.

I shouldn’t.

He’d already had two cupcakes, but then also that beer and he wasn’t a twenty-something anymore, metabolism burning through every bit of bullshit he put in his body. His gut could prove it; the wobbly bits that hadn’t been there two years ago and showed no signs of slowing down now.

What’s a third cupcake when you’ve already had two? Sally reasoned with himself.

Catering got the kind he liked; the icing wasn’t too sweet and melted like butter on a hot July day in his mouth. Not that he ever let it be known. This shit wasn’t about him and he was just grateful no one had told him to pound sand yet. If anything, Cannibal Star had become some of his closest friends, the crew like family. They took care of their own and catering got the cupcakes he liked. That must count for something.

A flurry of activity snapped Sally out of his daydream. The crew all appeared absolutely addled as a roadie hurried across the stage, hollering about something or another that beckoned the others to gape in saucer-eyed wonder. The roadie jumped down to the floor and rushed to Sally.

“Shit’s going down. Sandor and his girl,” the kid panted and nudged his way past Sally and through the door that led to the hall.

“Oh my God!” Sally damn near punted the roadie out of his way and bolted down the corridor. He caught of glimpse of fiery red hair blazing towards the back door and Sandor looking like the world was crumbling around him.

Sandor turned to Sally, at a loss and out of words, any stray bits of explanation he could manage. That all fled the man now and he tore into his dressing room like a tornado, fury quick on the heels of emotional ruin and it was a wonder the flimsy door wasn’t ripped off the hinges.

“Trouble with the little lady?”

Sally hovered outside the dressing room and recognized the voice emanating from the other side. Mona the Monster’s ludicrous attempt at sultry banter was embarrassing even in the best of times and now solidified her place squarely on the blacklist of shame.

The men of Cannibal Star didn’t spook easy and certainly put up with their fair share of crazy if it meant getting laid at the end of it. It took a lot to get added to the blacklist.

“Get the fuck out!” Sandor’s shouts exploded into the hall and he bounded towards the doorway, wrangling Mona by her upper arm as he went.

“If you think I’ll tell you twice, you’re stupider than I’ve always known you to be.”

The woman’s feet barely had the opportunity to the meet the floor before her mostly naked ass was being tossed into the hall for Cannibal Star, the crew, and all of God’s green creation to see.

Ankles buckling, she stumbled and barely caught herself when her arms shot to the cinderblock wall.

“I’m actually very intelligent—” she fired back, equal parts furious and haughty even now, mostly naked and looking haggard in the harsh fluorescent lights beaming up above.

Anger like Sally had never seen consumed Sandor. Wide-eyed fury, fists curled, chest heaving, and face burning red—if Sally didn’t know any better, Sandor was teetering on the precipice of quite literally exploding.

“You’re trash! That’s all you’ve ever been,” he seethed in a commendable show of restraint, so much so the man was shaking. He pointed a trembling finger at Mona the Monster.

A crowd had gathered in the corridor, the message having spread like wildfire. By Sally’s estimate, the entire production now lined the hall to watch this holy terror finally get taken to task. Mona the Monster had a reputation all her own—an ungodly abomination of self-righteous entitlement and paper-thin self-esteem.

Sandor shifted towards her in a quiet step and a faint smirk Sally knew to be the calm in the storm. The fury roiled beneath the surface but next came the exacting cruelty that Sandor wielded better than anyone Sally knew.

Mona seemed to know what was coming too. Her eyes scanned the hall of faces all watching in twisted delight at her impending downfall. Her arms crossed over her chest in a laughable attempt at modesty.

“In all these years you’ve been around, spreading your legs for anything with a guitar and a pulse, I’ve never gone for you,” Sandor began, voice a deep rumble, but his eyes still flashed with rage. “I haven’t even looked at you twice. I find a girl who’s leaps and bounds better than you in every conceivable way, the first girl I’ve ever loved, and that’s when you think I’m going to hit it? Tell me again how intelligent you are. You’re nothing. You’re old, your tits are saggy, you reek of cigarettes and booze. Even at your youngest, all you could ever offer anyone was a lousy lay and now you’ve defined new levels of disgusting and that’s the only distinction you’re worthy of.”  

Snickering and quiet encouragement rolled over the crowd. Mona’s eyes darted up and down the hall, desperate to find a sympathetic gaze to latch onto. For some absurd reason, her eyes landed on Sally.

“Don’t look at me!” Sally barked. “You’ve done it now, you nasty bitch.”

“Like you’ve ever amounted to anything,” Mona snapped. “You’re a nobody!”

All at once, the members of Cannibal Star hurled themselves from their perches throughout the hall, peeling away with congruent fervor to be done with Mona the Monster.

“Done! You’re done!” Sandor bellowed and lurched towards her, settling in next to Sally’s side. “If I ever see you at one of our shows or practices, you even breathe the name ‘Cannibal Star’ in this city, you’re getting a Stratocaster shoved so far up your ass, you’ll be choking on the strings for the rest of your shit-filled life.” Sandor leveled irate eyes at Sally. “Take out the trash.”

Sandor turned on his heel without another glance and disappeared in his dressing room. Silence blanketed the hall.

After all these years, the shame finally caught up to Mona and, when it came, it came like an avalanche. For the rest of them, justice came just as mighty and sugary sweet. Tears rolled down Mona’s cheeks in a river of jet-black mascara. In one last ditch effort, she reached for Thoros, tits now exposed for all to see.

“A bridge too far. Get the fuck out,” he grumbled and eyed her in a way no groupie ever wanted to be regarded. Sandor had the right of it—disgust. This woman was worthy of nothing more than that.

Mona stumbled towards Harwin, probably seeking out the softest of the bunch, the one most likely to toss her stray bits of sympathy. Sally held his breath and said a little prayer that the kid would keep his wits about him.  

“You heard the man,” Harwin sniped with usual iciness. “You’re done. Get out.”

In a few more faltering steps and gasping cries, Mona eased down the hall towards Bronn. Sally fell in after her, blocking her path should she try to flee the other way. Mona blubbered a plea and Bronn crossed his arms tight over his chest.

“This was a long time coming, sweetheart. We all stand behind his decision. Get gone.” Bronn motioned to the door at the end of the hall leading to the parking lot.

Sally remembered now that’s where that sweet little Sansa had disappeared, and he hoped like hell that girl still wasn’t out there. Or maybe it was better if she was��she could witness Mona’s fall from grace, though she probably wouldn’t enjoy it as much as the crew was now.

A wave of applause rolled down the hall, growing louder as Mona continued towards the doors with Sally close behind. At the end of the line, no rope left to cling to, Mona turned to Sally.

“Can I at least get my clothes?” she pleaded on a quivering breath.

In only heels and a thong, Mona tried in earnest to cover herself. Sally reached around her and pushed open the door. A blast of chilly air swept through.

“No, should’ve thought about that when you took them off in his dressing room.” Sally shoved Mona through to the other side and followed after. She shivered against the night air. “I mean, he came here with her. How fucking stupid are you? What exactly did you expect?”

Mona lifted her eyes from the ground and glared at Sally but must’ve thought the better of mouthing off. As it stood, she was the one humiliated for all to see and standing outside naked. Sally scanned the parking lot for Sansa and thanked the man upstairs that she wasn’t here. Hopefully, she was safe and okay.

Sally spotted a flattened cardboard box perched against the fence on the other side of the lot. He motioned his head towards it. “You can cover yourself with that.”

She had the audacity to scoff. The offended breath escaped her thin, ugly lips that snarled at him. Sally prodded her shoulder with his finger and stepped to her, forcing Mona to shuffle backwards.

“Now you listen here, and you listen well, you tramp—Sansa is beautiful, and kind and she loves him. You’re not even in the same Universe as her. You have nothing to offer him. And if you think she’s some lovesick hanger-on, I’ve known that man far longer than you have, and I’ve never seen him like this. He loves her too.

“Nothing’s coming between them. Not a tour, not distance, not time. Nothing. Mark my words, they’re it for each other and they’ll figure this out. And you’ll still be a dried-up, bitter hag.

“Like he said. You’re done. I’m putting the crew on notice. If anyone catches a whiff of your skanky ass, you’ll leave here missing more than just your clothes next time.”

“Bye now!” he taunted with a wave before pulling the door shut.

On the other side, the hall had cleared out, both shows of the night now over. Sally retreated to the catering room and poked his head inside. The stars aligned in a rare formation and by some celestial miracle one lone cupcake sat pristine and unaccounted for on the table. Sally plucked it from the spot on the plate and admired the swirl of white icing on the top.

Back down the hall, he cradled the cupcake in his hands but the little flush of joy he felt was short lived as he passed Sandor’s dressing room door, wide open now. Inside, Sandor dwarfed the chair he sat in, elbows to knees and his forehead cradled in the palm of his hand.

Sally hovered beneath the doorframe, almost certain Sandor was aware that a presence had joined him. His shoulders tensed and his breathing shallowed, but the man remained resolute in his abject misery that kept him rooted where he was.

“Anything I can do?” Sally ventured.

Face still obscured, Sandor didn’t move other than the faint shake of his head. It was a wasted courtesy anyhow. What exactly could he do? Anything he could think to offer would be like tossing fistfuls of dirt into a gaping chasm that’d been created in Sandor’s life. The futility was absurd, and the man was so clearly already suffering the loss.

Sally’s gaze drifted to the cupcake in his hand—the last one, but he’d already had two, so the right choice was glaringly obvious. He paced into the room in shuffled steps and stopped in front of Sandor.  

“Here. Take this.” He held out the cupcake and Sandor finally lifted his head from his hand. Sally saw clear enough what he’d been trying to hide. Sandor’s eyes glistened with tears.  

“Those are your favorite.” Sandor shook his head and settled back in the seat. “Why do you think we tell catering to get them?”

“Always assumed it was a coincidence,” Sally shrugged. “Then it sounds like there will be plenty of cupcakes in my future. Take it.”

He jabbed the cupcake towards Sandor who took it from Sally and set it on the table next to him.

“Thank you,” Sandor murmured on a voice almost as deflated as he looked.  

A cumbersome silence fell between them and Sally took it as his cue to leave. He retreated to the door but stopped beneath the frame.

“If you’re curious, after handing her ass to her, I told her touring, distance, time, a tramp in your dressing room—I don’t honestly believe any of that is going to come between you and Sansa.”

“How do you know that?” Sandor countered and a deep crease of contemplation settled between his brows.

Sally could’ve laughed. It was obvious. Everyone that met Sansa tonight commented on it in one way or another and it all distilled down to the same damn thing—something shifted in Sandor with her around. She quieted him in a way, the stillness of peace for a man so accustomed to a life uprooted and unsettled; one who prided himself on being grounded and Sansa rooted him in a different reality—one where he was worthy of love and she was more than willing to give it.

Sandor had no family, nothing much to call his own, except now her and it scared the poor bastard in a way that meant he understood the gravity of what he’d been given. In some ways, Sally couldn’t blame him; the guy had been given the keys to the kingdom and bore the responsibility of not fucking it up.

“Just a feeling,” Sally said because how the fuck was he supposed to explain all this? The man would figure it out one way or another. “When you know, you know. You know?”

Sandor expelled a quiet laugh. “Yeah, I do know,” he said, shouldering the tremendous weight of regret. Sally had been there. The lessons of age came with more than just a few extra pounds and some things were heavier and harder to carry.

“Was she out there?” he asked and, when his eyes drifted from the floor to Sally, Sandor looked caught in a tangle between devastating sadness and foolhardy hopefulness.

“No, man. She’s left.”

Once more, Sally glimpsed the way Sandor’s eyes glistened when his gaze returned to the floor. Sandor bit his bottom lip hard and nodded.

Sally offered what paltry advice he could, and it wasn’t about placating the man. He and Sandor had an honest understanding, one that meant they could speak freely with one another and Sally took that liberty where he could and right now Sandor needed it.

“She may have left, but that doesn’t mean she’s gone,” Sally offered. “And you may not be able to get her back tonight but, one of these nights, you will. You just wait and see.”

It was a call to faith and Sally didn’t know much about what Sandor believed in and in some ways it didn’t matter. Certain things superseded the superficial constructs of belief and love was one of them. And if there were ever two people desperately, stupidly in love with one another, it was Sansa and Sandor and sooner or later they’d figure it out.

[agentmarymargaretskitz]

Vlogger Gary, annoyance at first sight.

Happy birthday! I know I’m very badly late but I still hope you enjoy this a little!

For the rest of you, consider an AU where Zari wasn’t the only one whose timeline got changed by Heyworld.

Ao3

“John!”

Someone grabbed his am, and he spun around as Gary called his name again. The other man looked stressed out and panicked, even more so than he usually did.

“What, Gary?” he snapped. Neron and Tabitha were gone, Nate was back, and the world was safe. There was no reason for him to be this anxious.

“The timeline’s changing,” Gary babbled as everyone continued to celebrate and cheer around them. “And because of that, my timeline is changing. Rip recruited me from the future. I’m a kid right now, somewhere out in that crowd, and I’m about to disappear and I’m scared.”

It was a lot to process in a short amount of time, but John shook his head.

“You’re not gonna disappear,” he promised, grabbing Gary into a tight hug. “You’re gonna be fine, you hear? You’re going to be fine.”

“Of course, I’m fine!”

              John frowned as he was pulled back from the hug. For a moment, he drew a blank on the man in front of him. Then he remembered exactly who he was. Jeffery Green, but JJ to anyone he ever met. He worked at a museum in the future and had been picked up with the Tarazi siblings when Kuasa was after their totem.  An obscure mixture of brains and chaotic energy that had saved everyone’s lives time and time again, not to mention a close friend to John.

“You saved Nate, man!” JJ cheered, slapping him on the back.

John grinned, but still felt like something had been lost in all this.

~~~~

“I can’t believe you talked me into going on this with you,” John grumbled as he walked down the hallway with Behrad. “You could have gotten anyone else- Ava, Nate, JJ?”

“Dealing with the team, my sister’s ex, and refused to go as soon as I mentioned the word influencers. You’re my only available hope of sanity tonight.”

“You wanted to come to this, Behrad,” Zari reminded him from the front. “You always keep asking what the big deal with these is all about. Now I get to show you around my life and people can hear how my little brother is an awesome superhero.”

Behrad glared. “You’re not telling anyone about that.”

“Are you sure? Because people would love to-”

“I don’t want to be on display, Zari. You know this. That’s why we went on the ship-”

              John tuned out the sibling bickering as the sound of muffled music grew louder. They had been fighting a lot more since Heyworld had reignited Zari’s desire to be in the spotlight. The attention and the documentary crew that had been on the ship gave her a taste for it again. She’d been off the ship more often now to film videos or attend events like this one. JJ was even struggling to keep her aboard, and he was always the one with ideas that made her want to stay on the ship.

              Things had been different since Heyworld somehow. It wasn’t the attention or the documentary crew or Ava moving in and Mona leaving. Something had changed and John couldn’t figure out what it was. It felt as though someone was missing, but no one else seemed to notice it. Although Gideon did have a problem with some phantom data, nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary besides the feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

“And here we are,” Zari waved at two doormen. “This is going to be fun.”

              The doors were opened up to the trio, who entered behind Zari. The whole room was lit up in purple and music pulsed around them. Huge banners advertising eyeshadow or something were on every wall along with a massive one from the ceiling. So many people filled the room, all standing out in some way. It nearly overwhelming just standing there without engaging.

Zari, however, was unaffected. This was her world, after all. “Come on, go mingle. I’ll find you when it’s time to go.”

“Is there a bar here?” John shouted to her over the music.

“Yeah, over there, I think.”

“Great, bye.”

              John followed in the direction that Zari had gestured, squeezing through the throngs of people clustered together or dancing. When he finally got there and asked for whiskey, the bartender looked almost relieved. Probably pleased he didn’t have to make some fancy ass drink like the ones he’d seen some people with. Who the hell needed a color-changing cocktail with a glow stick in it?

“Haven’t seen you before,” someone said as he accepted the whiskey.

              John turned and nearly rolled his eyes at the man taking a seat next to him. Clearly, he was one of these influencers JJ had been so desperate to avoid. He was wearing a turquoise suit over a gold shirt and had two studs piercing his right eyebrow. Behind the glasses with frames matching his suit, dark brown eyes loaded with eyeliner looked him up and down. This wasn’t just an appreciate glance, but one that seemed to be trying to profile him.

Something tugged in John’s gut, but he wasn’t sure what it was. Probably disgust of being cornered by an influencer or celebrity or whatever the hell this guy was. “First time. Came with a friend.”

“Anyone I might know?” the man pried as he accepted a glass of something that smelled like lavender and was the color of daffodils.

Now John rolled his eyes. “Zari Tarazi.”

“The Dragon Girl?” the man gasped. “Is she finally coming back into the spotlight? I’ve missed seeing her around. She always adds such class with events like this. And you said you were a friend? Lucky!”

John shrugged as he took a drink. He guessed they counted as friends. “I just came for the moral support. I take it you must be part of some circus with that suit?”

The man snickered. “Cute. I’m in the entertainment business too. I’m Gary. Maybe you’ve heard of my videos? Probably more of the spooky ones than the makeup tutorials. You know Beyond Our World? Exploring unsolved mysteries and other otherworldly events.”

“Definitely not,” John shook his head. “You cater to the conspiracy theorists, huh? Good for you.”

“Actually, the ‘Green Beans’, which my fans love to call themselves, have all kind of viewpoints when it comes to conspiracies,” Gary told him. “It’s the interest that brings people in, not their beliefs. Interest is what always brings people in to see the videos.”

“So how much in your videos is fake?” John asked. “You make up evidence to get people to believe in the things that go bump in the night, huh?”

Gary scowled at him. “How dare you, when you haven’t even seen anything I’ve-”

“I don’t need to see a thing,” John snapped, getting out of the seat and facing the man. “And you know why?”

Gary sat there, no emotion showing on his face.

“I know because I’ve seen it all. Ghosts, demons, villains raised from hell. I’ve walked in the shadows. They’re real, but no one ever believes in it. If they did, they’d all be panicking. There wouldn’t be a party. So I don’t need your content. You have nothing.”

Now Gary stood up. He had only an inch on John, but John was struggling to look him in the eyes when he noticed the hideous lime green loafers.

“I have enough,” Gary told him. “I don’t need you to bring me down. Sorry, Zari’s friend.”

He walked away into the crowd. John watched him go and finished the rest of the whiskey. The funny feeling he’d had before was back.

“Now is not the time for you to be standing around like some hapless idiot!”

              John clenched his head as the words, his words echoed in his ears. Something flashed in his head. Trying to hold Neron off with magic and shouting at someone. It was Gary, except looking more like he was with the government. He looked hurt and distraught.

That wasn’t right though. He’d called JJ an idiot and the other man had taken a swing that knocked him out. They’d buried the hatchet about it and moved on. But now that…didn’t feel right at all.

“Hey,” a hand slapped him on the shoulder as Behrad came up beside him. “We’re leaving.”

“Yes,” John exhaled and turned to face the other man. “Please, get me out of here. Where’s Zari?”

Behrad pointed to where his older sister was heading for the door. “She’s got a head start.”

“Then we better catch up.”

They started off in the direction Zari was headed, unaware that they had a tail.

~~~~

“You okay, man?”

John glanced over to see JJ entering the library. As he did, he flickered for a brief second, appearing as the normal version of that Gary guy. He recoiled in confusion and JJ frowned at him.

“Definitely going to take that as a not okay. Was it that influencer party?”

��Yeah, something happened there. Picked an argument with someone. At least it was an open bar.”

“Exactly why I avoid those things,” JJ snapped his fingers at John just as Zari walked by. “Not even for you, my dearest Zari!”

“You’re worse than Behrad,” Zari stuck her tongue out as she joined them. “So you got into a fight? Spill!”

“It wasn’t a fight. I just disagreed with him peddling lies and exciting conspiracy theorists.”

JJ got a funny look on his face as Zari leaned forward. “What did he look like? Did you get his name? Real or screenname, I can clap him on CatChat.”

“It’s not worth it. I just felt funny around him.”

“Ooooo,” JJ hopped up to squat on his chair. “Was he a demon? An Encore? An alien?”

Zari smirked. “Or did you have a crush on him?”

“But monsters, Zari! Look at all the fugitives we’ve met in the past year!”

“But feelings, JJ. Even John has them.”

Thunk!

              All three of them went quiet at the sound above them. John held a finger to his lips and started looking at the ceiling. JJ climbed out of his chair quietly and started examining the ceiling as well. Zari also was helping and had decided to start recording. Everything was silent, until there was a series of thumps that went across the ceiling and out the door. The trio looked at each other and then ran after the noise.

              They made their way down the halls of the ship, following the sounds into Mick’s room. He wasn’t there, which was probably a good thing. John looked around the room for anything that they could use, but JJ had already found a crowbar and was prying off the cover. As soon as it fell onto the ground, John climbed on Mick’s chair and peering into the open airduct. There was nothing one way, so he turned in other direction.

              He only saw the bottom of the shoe a moment before it smacked him in the face. John dropped out of the airduct and lost his footing on the chair. He felt himself crash downward and another body come tumbling out to land on him. It was gone after two seconds and JJ was helping him onto his feet while Zari screamed about a stowaway.

              John stumbled out the room and saw a flash of green disappear around a corner. He hurried after it until he caught sight of a familiar lime green. When he turned the corner, John stopped to see Mick holding that influencer Gary tightly as he tried to squirm away. He must have followed them back to the Waverider from the party.

“This is all real!” Gary was screaming, his hand still flailing about with a phone in it. “I found proof of…something. If I die, tell my cats I love them!”

John strode forward and grabbed the phone away from him. “This is all fake, just like him.”

Gary glared at John. “It’s not enough to insult my work to my face, but now you do it on my videos?”

“Shut up!” Mick ordered them. “Who are you?”

“Wow, really? Maybe you two are aliens if you don’t know Beyond Our World?”

“If you’re as annoying on it as you are right now, then I’m glad I’ve never heard of it, Larry,” John smirked.

“It’s Gary! Gary Green, you asshole!”

A shrill scream came from down the hallway before Zari ran up to join the crowd. “You don’t know Gary Green?!”

Gary looked up. “Zari Tarazi?”

“Mick, you can let him go,” Zari told him. “Guys, Gary Green is one of the biggest vloggers. He does the most amazing videos for true crime and supernatural stuff, plus a few make-up ones. We did a collab once. It was awesome”

“Zari?” JJ called out. “Is everything okay?”

“It’s fantastic!” Zari squealed as JJ came around the corner. “JJ, you have to see this. It’s Gary Green!”

JJ froze once he got a glimpse of the man Mick was now letting go. “Gary?”

Gary gaped up at him, his mouth opening and closing for a few moments before he finally was able to speak. “JJ?”

John turned to him. “Do you know him?”

“Nope!” JJ turned around, but Behrad had come up to join them and he ran into him. “Oh, come on!”

“What’s going on?” Behrad asked. “JJ? Zari? John?”

“He snuck on the ship,” John pointed to Gary. “He’s some celebrity or whatever.”

“I have a very successful brand and channel!” Gary pouted.

“He’s the male version of Zari,” Behrad muttered.

“I know you meant that as rude, but it’s true,” Zari nodded. “But how does he know you, JJ?”

JJ mumbled something.

“What’s that?” John asked.

“I said he’s my brother,” JJ repeated. “This is my brother, Gary.”

Everyone was silent, taking in the information. No one was really sure how to react to the new information connecting JJ to their stowaway.

Zari deciding to snap a selfie with a confused Gary was probably not the most appropriate though.

[ladyshilya]

DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow: The One Where We’re Trapped On TV

Let’s find out why they are all on a TV show and what Charlie is up to.

The episode starts with some serious District 13 clothing on Mona and another guy. They are apparently sanitizing history.  Atropos calls and has the guy killed because his time is up. It seems everyone is living in a dystopian world controlled by the Fates. Gary is the stereotypical crazy guy with a sign.

Mona turns on the TV where we see Zari, Behrad and Nate basically in a Friends kind of episode. I could already tell episode was going to crazy and hilarious. Behrad took off the family heirloom where and the other Zari came out of it. She then took control of Zari. She was the only person to realize they were trapped in a show. She mentioned Mona and Gary’s names which make Mona realize that Gary might not be so crazy after all. Zari finds a portal which transports them to another show. 

Now the are on a Downton Abby inspired show with Astra as the daughter and Constantine as the butler. At least Astra is with her mother. They also don’t realize they are on a show. Constantine being a butler was just wrong. Also none historian Nate didn’t know how to properly act in a historical show. They learn Constantine still has his magic so they get him to transport them to Sara and Ava’s show.

Sara and Ava as well know from the previews have the Star Trek inspired show where they are Kirk and Spock. It seems they just go around destroying civilizations. After Nate accidentally attacks Sara and Ava’s ship Zari beams them aboard. They try to explain to them what happened and Ava comes up with a possible explanation of a prison dimension. They follow a distress signal which takes them to Mr. Parker’s Cul-de-Sac. Seriously we needed Ray for the Star Trek show or to be Mr. Parker again. 

Mona leaves to get Gary and they realize they need to get into the TV studio, Which they are able to do buy saying they are dropping off mush which is what people eat. They are able to find where the shows are happening and learned they are controlled by a pre-witten script. Also that they are actual life lines in the TV shows meaning real people are trapped. 

The team kicks out Mr. Parker but they are not sure what to do. Zari tries to get everyone to remember about being Legends. Mona has the idea to write into the script that the Legends remember. They all remember what happened to them including both Zari’s. As well and Sara and Behrad dying. Nate and Zari kiss. I completely understand Constantine being pissed off he was made to be the butler. I would be upset if I was made to be the servant.

Charlie comes in pissed off because she was doing this to save their lives. It seems the deal she made with her sisters was the Legends could live if they helped promote the new world. Charlie works on sending everyone back to their original shows. 

Mick finally shows up on Sara and Ava’s show. I had seriously been wondering where he was but I did think he might have been on a prison show. Apparently Lita’s mom thinks Mick is hot. Sara and Ava do the only thing they can think of which is let the ship be destroyed. Charlie cancels their show.

Astra wants to stay on her show because she gets to be with her mom and Constantine agrees since he owes her that much. When Astra’s mom gives her a ticket to go to London so she can experience life Astra realizes her mother would want her to live. Constantine transports them to Sara, Ava and Mick. \

Zari, Nate and Behrad start going against the agenda and telling people to wake up and stop eating mush and to realize they are being controlled. This causes Charlie to cancel their show as well. Seriously I couldn’t not put Mick dressed as Khan because it was hilarious.

The group is all together and Charlie tells them they are ruining everything. She gave them all the lives they had wanted. She even separates the two Zari’s so Behrad can have his sister back. She tells them she will give them better shows. The Legends would rather go out there fighting. Now there is nothing Charlie can do to protect them. 

This episode was hilarious sometimes I really can’t with this show. It was good to give everyone something funny before the crazy saving the world episodes. In this case episode which makes me wonder where it will leave off. 

It seems next week the Legend will run into some old encores and have to fight to save the world. 

[firefighterkinard]

Meet the Legends

The Good

Behrad, the soft stoner bro that he is, fits in perfectly with the team, and he manages to have nice relationships with Sara, Nate, and Ray that’s distinct from Zari’s relationships with each of them, which is great. And while he’s definitely kind of an air-headed stoner type when he wants to be, he also fills Jax’s role of being the smart little brother - which is best seen when he immediately realises that Sara planning for them to go it alone on a mission is a bad idea. I can’t wait to see Behrad interacting more with Ava and Mick so that we can get a look at him with some of the others as well.

Speaking of dynamics, Ava and Mick going off to assassinate Rasputin together was delightful, and an article mentioned that there’s going to be some more Ava and Mick bonding in the next episode, so I’m looking forward to that as well.

Ava’s card was right and the only reason I’m glad she didn’t give it to Sara is because Sara’s very upset over Oliver’s death in-universe. Speaking of Ava, seeing her trying to not only pass herself off as cool/calm/professional, but also the rest of the team, was absolutely hilarious.

I love that without anyone who really pays attention to details or knows a lot about history, Sara and Behrad both totally missed the poisoned food. What a pair of dumbasses. But this also highlights the show’s strength - teamwork.

We finally get more scenes with John and Gary together! The subplot felt a little unnecessary (you’d think there’s be an easier and faster way for them to realise what Astra had done) but hey, it gave me more of John and Gary working together so I can’t complain too much.

I also love that they haven’t dragged out the “Nate knows something is wrong but not what’s wrong” thing (like *cough* certain shows have a habit of doing.) I’m excited to see where this goes because we’ve basically known since May that Nate would be the one to start off the slow reunion of Zari and the team, but I didn’t expect it to happen like that.

The Not-So-Good

Honestly, Mona’s exit as a main character doesn’t sit right with me, especially since we were told at SDCC that Mick’s job as a writer was going to be funding the Legends. It would have worked if it had been done over a couple of episodes, but the way it happens within a single episode makes it very obvious that this wasn’t planned very far in advance. I can only hope that it was due to Ramona having a lot going on, rather than because some people in fandom were ***** about her character. Thankfully, we know she’ll be making at least a few appearances this season, but still, it’s a bit of a downer to start on.

And while I didn’t expect much of a focus - especially after we got stuck with an eight month hiatus - it is annoying that we don’t get much fallout from Nate’s death and resurrection (which is barely given any emotional weight when it is brought up) and even Ray’s possession by Neron.

And the Twists

Is it really a Legends episode without some kind of twist?

So the encores can’t be killed, which raises a very interesting question of what they’re going to do with the others. Maybe they’ll send them to hell, or maybe they’ll have to find other... creative ways to deal with them. Hopefully not ones that involve them keeping anyone else beside the condiments.

While we knew that Nate was going to know that something was off and end up meeting Zari again, the little twist of Zari having left a message behind before she left the ship was fantastic. Even if it would have been very useful if Zari had left her name.

[lovevalley45]

untitled ficlet #94

Nate knocked on the door to Mona’s old room. Maybe he was making a bad decision, but hey, wasn’t like this team was known for making good ones. 

Okay, in retrospect, he hadn’t made the best first impression. Going in with the ‘we knew each other in an alternate timeline’ approach was a little too extreme, even for him. But since Behrad had brought Zari on the ship, she had been avoiding most of them. He was hoping that a peace offering could change that, if he knew what he was doing. 

The door slid open, something that had clearly been Gideon’s interference. Sneaky little AI, he thought, stepping inside. 

Zari was leaning against the desk, arms crossed as she looked at the screen. She had a frown on her face, seeming to barely notice his entrance. 

“Hey. Am I… interrupting something?” he asked finally. He walked over to the desk, seeing what exactly she was looking at. 

The screen was showing news feeds, all about an event in New York City, 2044. It only took one look at the photo to realize what that event was. 

“Your dressy sneaker launch,” he muttered. 

“Yeah,” she said, glancing at him. She hadn’t kicked him out, which was a good sign. It seemed like she was a little too distracted to care that he was in - well, it wasn’t really her room. “I was supposed to be there by now.”

Nate looked back at the screens. “I could probably convince Sara to let us take you there once we’re done with this Encore.”

Zari raised an eyebrow. “Encore…?”

“Not my idea. But, I didn’t just come here for chitchat. I come bearing gifts.”

She sighed, rolling her eyes. “Whatever it is, I’m not interest-“

He held up two paper bags in his hand. “Donuts?”

Glancing from his face to the bags, she took the one dangling in front. “How did you know?” Before he could even start to answer, she frowned again. “Is that because of that ‘knew each other in another life’ bullshit?” There was the expression that made him worry that she was going to throw him out.

With a guilty shrug, he opened the other bag. It was a plain glazed donut, nothing special. “Uh-huh. I might have come on a little too strong with that.”

“Definitely.” Zari took out a donut covered in strawberry frosted and rainbow sprinkles. He could have sworn he saw her crack a smile before she took a bite.

“I just wanted to apologize,” Nate said, breaking off a piece of his donut. “First impressions aren’t really my thing.”

She finished chewing, a tiny bit of frosting clinging to her lip. “I kinda got that. Do you have a napkin?”

“Oh. Yeah.” He pulled a napkin out of his pocket, happy he’d come a little prepared.

“Thanks,” she muttered. After wiping her mouth, Zari turned to him, donut held aloft in her hand. “Look, I’m not interested in being your reincarnated lover. But…” She looked around, like making sure no one but Gideon could hear them. “You’re not a completely bad guy, I guess. How about you stop it with the soulmate stuff or whatever, and we can keep it casual?”

Nate nodded, chewing on his own donut. Some part of him hurt that she didn’t want to be with him but… in this timeline, they’d just met. She had her own life going on, away from time travel and baddies back from the dead. Once he’d swallowed, he said, “Yeah. I can do casual.”

She glanced back at the screen, the news reports still lingering. “So after this Encore thing - ?” With her eyes darting over the headlines talking about her being missing from such a big event, she chewed on her lip. 

“Yes. This shoe thing sounded like a pretty big deal, so I’ll make sure that this-” He gestured to the screen with his donut. “Doesn’t happen.”

Zari turned away from the screen. “It is. I mean this- this is my life. If I’m not there-” She didn’t need to finish for him to get the gist.

He watched her glance back down at her donut, like she’d lost her appetite. It was more than her life, he realized. It was everything.  

“Hey. That’s not happen.” Nate lowered his donut. “I swear.”

She smiled - a real smile, small and just a little crooked. He felt a pang in his heart, missing something that was right in front of him. “Thanks. For the donut and for… making sure I’m there.” 

“Of course.” He resisted the urge to pat her on the shoulder as he stood up from his spot against the desk. Ray had probably noticed he’d disappeared by now, and the last thing he needed was Gideon to snitch on them. 

Before he could get to the door, he felt a hand on his arm, manicured nails against his skin. Had he still been a hemophiliac, Nate would have been afraid of the way she was digging into his arm. 

Zari kissed his cheek, barely a second of her lips against his face. If he’d touched where she’d kissed, he’d sure he would have felt the tiniest amount of sticky lip gloss. It made him wish he didn’t need to go back to the mission, to just stay here and kiss her properly. Fuck, Nate, casual. 

He turned to her, a grin on his face. “What was that for?”

“Don’t make it a thing,” she said.

Nate laughed. “I won’t.”

As soon as he left the quarters, he closed his eyes and leaning against the wall outside her room. Shit, he was screwed.

[kurumeki]

D’ERLANGER Tour 2018 in the Beginning… final live in EX THEATER ROPPONGI, 2018.07.14  [LIVE REPORT]

The live took place in EX THEATER ROPPONGI and as I knew Roppongi is kind of a fancy district, the venue itself was just as I have imagined in. Outside two big LED screens greeted us, one with the band and tour name, and bigger screen showing photos of musicians and the door opening hours. Outside many fans were already waiting, mostly for their friends, and taking pictures of the screens. I didn’t see anyone “famous”, except for Holy, the owner of Haunted House. Sugar mom knows him in person and as we approached him week earlier, at Creature Creature’s lives, that time we stayed away as he was with some other people. Later, after the live, I saw the music journalist You Mauda, but that was about it.

Normally we would rush to the venue early to buy goods, but this time I didn’t like any of them… Well, maybe except for dolman sleeve t-shirt, but it costed 6,000JPY. Way too expensive. But the design of the rest of the goods was just meh, so after getting drinks and receiving flyers with D’ERLANGER we rushed to our seats. EX THEATER is fully seated venue with two floors. We were on the 1st floor, so we were lucky. And we had our seats next to the passage, having a perfect view on the stage. Two seats in front of us remained empty. We were on Cipher’s side.

The live started about 15 minutes late. “Kilmister=Old NO.7” started playing and members came on stage from left side: Tetsu, Seela, Cipher and finally – Kyo. I must say sound quality at EX THEATER is very good, though maybe it was slightly better at ReNY. But I could hear the bass properly and I could hear Kyo, so it was all good. I’m not a crazy fan of D’ERLANGER, of course I know their older songs, but not to the point where I could sing along. But Japanese fans make dancing together so easy and I really enjoy being the part of the crowd, everyone waving their hands in the same rhythm. The set from “Barairo no sekai -Le monde de la rose-“ to “Mona Lisa” was very exciting and fun. In between Kyo made one longer MC, talking about the tour final, their memories from previous shows and called the crowd in EX THEATER his “babies” in a dirty, dirty way. His sense of humour and charisma are great! Then came “Je t’aime”, a beautiful ballad that allowed everyone to rest a bit and catch up on breathing until the crazy set that started with “LULLABY”. I loved it how lights were on for audience, the same as during the MC, so the band could see us singing, jumping and dancing with them. It was such happy and joyful experience, I didn’t expect to be filled with so much happiness and love at this live, but it was absolutely healing and beautiful. We had another short break at “Everlasting Rose”, very needed, because we went completely crazy at “Harlem Queen Complex” and “Harlem Queen Romance”. The last one is absolute madness at live and I think I loved this one the most at that concert. I don’t remember when was the last time I jumped so much at a live, my legs hurt a little afterwards, but it didn’t matter.

The main set was finished and band quickly escaped the stage. Only Tetsu stayed a little longer, throwing drumsticks to the crowd. Me and sugar mom were too far away to catch anything, but it was impressive how far he can throw these. And then, I was very impressed with fans stubbornness with chanting “encore” for several minutes, without stopping, until D’ERLANGER was back. Seela, Kyo and Cipher wore band t-shirts (I still wonder why Cipher went with ugly purple t-shirt instead for amazing dolman sleeve, like Kyo did). They immediately started with “MY BLOODY BURROUGHS POEM” and then continued with “LOVE me to DEATH”. I just got carried away with amazing bass lines in these two, especially “LOVE me to DEATH”. And then, the last MC came. Kyo thanked everyone for joining them at the “in the Beginning…” tour, and for coming to see them that night. Last song was heartbreaking but powerful “Shizumu”. They left the stage real fast. Tetsu threw a few drumsticks and also disappeared. We kept chanting for second encore, but then the lady told us via speakers that the live has ended. My only complaint about the live would be its length, it was way too short! But looking at the length of D’ERLANGER’s newest album, it could have been expected from them.

I think I was the only foreigner there. I kept looking around, but didn’t see any other white fans. People also kept staring at me, but rather with curiosity than disdain. Many artists sent flowers for the tour final, but I managed to take pics earlier, when not so many people tried to take the best shot of these. Afterwards we went to a cheap Italian restaurant nearby, and it was funny to realise that half of customers there were D’ERLANGER fans.

If you want to experience pure happiness and dance all night, then I really recommend everyone to go see D’ERLANGER live, because it’s so worth it!

Kyo’s outfit from that night:

Source:  @53dddp on Twitter

Setlist:

1. Kilmister=Old NO.7 2. バライロノセカイ-Le monde de la rose- 3. Masquerade 4. 13段目の陶酔 5. Romeo&Juliet 6. TABOO 7. LOVE is GHOST 8. Mona Lisa 9. Je t’aime 10. LULLABY 11. Singe et Insecte 12. CRAZY4YOU 13. Everlasting Rose 14. Harlem Queen Complex 15. Harlem Queen Romance

EN 16. MY BLOODY BURROUGHS POEM 17. LOVE me to DEATH 18. 沈む

[vraiesmeufs]

Le rap, un genre misogyne ?

Un article de Chahinaz

Depuis ses débuts, la société dénigre le rap, le qualifiant de “misogyne” et “sexiste” et le considère comme la pire musique qu'une femme pourrait écouter, alors qu'en réalité le sexisme est présent partout, que ce soit dans la pop culture ou au sein des mentalités. Certaines remarques stéréotypées sont très répandues telles que “ce n'est pas très joli pour une fille d'écouter du rap” ou "être féministe et écouter du rap n’est pas possible" mais cela n’empêche pas le nombre de femmes qui écoutent du rap d’augmenter.

C'est grâce aux réponses de trois auditrices que nous allons vous montrer en quoi écouter du rap en étant une femme, au regret de tous ces auditeurs masculins pensant avoir le monopole, est bel et bien possible.

Ana, 17 ans, Montreuil, terminale L

“A l'âge de 9 ans, j'ai commencé à écouter du rap US avec Snoop Dogg. Je traînais sur Youtube quand je suis tombée sur ses musiques avant d’écouter des playlists de rap US, mais pas de rap français parce que je ne savais pas que ça existait. Aujourd'hui j'ai pris connaissance d'énormément de rappeurs et mes préférés sont Biggie, NAS, Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, Travis Scott, Young Thug, Meek Mill et Migos pour le rap US, puis Booba, Rohff, PNL, Damso et SCH pour le rap français. Pour moi le rap c'est avant tout les initiales de "rythm & poetry”, avec des beats inspirés d'autres styles de musique (jazz ou reggae) et des paroles inspirées d'expériences personnelles.

Je trouve que les femmes dans le rap ont toujours été rabaissées, que ce soit dans les paroles ou dans les clips. Dans ces derniers, celles-ci font souvent office de femmes objets, payées pour faire les salopes, souvent dénudées pour apporter plus de vues à l’artiste. Dans les lyrics, on ressent souvent une certaine haine envers la femme sûrement due à des relations compliquées qu’à vécu le rappeur en question. Je trouve ça rabaissant mais en vrai, je n'écoute pas vraiment les paroles, je m’intéresse surtout au flow et à la voix de l’artiste. J'en ai absolument rien à faire de ce que peuvent penser les rappeurs de meufs qui les ont blessés. 

Je pense qu'au même titre que les hommes, je peux écouter du rap car nous sommes égaux. Ce n'est pas parce que les sons parlent de putes que je ne peux pas écouter le son, n'en déplaise à certains fermés d'esprit. Je pense qu'il est possible d'écouter du rap en étant féministe, il n’y a aucune loi qui l'interdit, sinon les femmes ne rapperaient pas par exemple.“ 

Mounia, 18 ans, Longwy, terminale ES

"Pour moi le rap c'est avant tout un style de musique et c'est compliqué de poser des mots dessus donc je le définirais par l’album Le code de l'horreur de Rohff ou encore L'école du micro d'argent d'IAM. J'ai connu le rap grâce à mes oncles : ils écoutaient de tout, mais je me rappelle que beaucoup de sons de NTM ou Kopp tournaient dans la voiture. J'ai vraiment commencé à en écouter au collège, je dirais. Mes rappeurs favoris sont PNL, Kaaris, Ninho, Sadek, Kalash Criminel… 

Je ne me sens pas visée quand ils parlent de femmes dans leurs sons parce que je ne suis qu'une fille de 18 ans qui écoute ça. Même si l’image de la femme a toujours été représentée dans le rap avec des meufs comme Diam’s ou aujourd’hui Shay, elle reste beaucoup dégradée par les rappeurs. Homme ou femme, on est tous pareils et je ne pense pas que ce soit un style uniquement réservé aux hommes, la société évolue.”

Romane, 17ans, Saint Quentin, terminale S

“J’ai eu la chance d’avoir une éducation musicale très variée, je suis née dedans et j’ai accroché spécifiquement au rap par les messages clairs et bruts qu’il transmet, mais j’ai sérieusement commencé à m’y intéresser avec Nessbeal vers mes 8/10ans. Ce qui est bien avec le rap, c'est qu'il se divise en plusieurs styles plus ou moins différents. J’en ai tellement écouté et aimé que je ne me sens pas capable de citer les artistes que je préfère, c’est un style vivant en constante évolution. 

L’image de la femme dans le rap c’est la question qui fâche, je trouve que dans le rap la femme est considérée comme un objet sexuel. Bien sûr, je ne crie au sexisme pour autant parce que je sais interpréter le second degré. Je prends en compte que le rap c’est aussi un jeu, une image que se crée l’artiste et qui s’apparente presque à la caricature. Il ne faut pas oublier que la plupart des rappeurs qui tiennent ce genre de propos vis à vis des femmes sont mariés et élèvent des enfants (clin d’œil au DUC), il suffit de tendre l’oreille et de faire charbonner ses neurones pour comprendre que ce n’est qu’un jeu avec de l’exagération. De plus si le rap est de plus en plus violent envers la femme, c’est parce que c’est ce que les gens aiment et veulent entendre. Pour le coup je dirais alors que défendre l’égalité des sexes n’empêche en rien d’écouter du rap "sexiste” (qui n’existe pas réellement à mon sens) au contraire, même pris au premier degré, il permet de se mettre à la place de celui qu’on combat, interpréter ses idées pour mieux le battre. Et le rap ce n’est pas que ça, je tiens à préciser que beaucoup de femmes se lancent dans le rap ces derniers temps et qu’elles y sont malgré tout très bien accueillies, je pense notamment à de très bonnes artistes comme Princess Nokia. Le rap défend aussi de nombreuses causes autres que le féminisme ou liées, comme Mona Haydar qui fait du rap audacieux contre l’islamophobie. Pour moi, une vraie meuf est sûre d’elle et sincère, c’est tout.“

ENGLISH VERSION (translated by Emeline)

Since its beginning, society looks down on rap music, considering it as « misogynistic » and « sexist », as well as the worst music a woman could listen. Actually however sexism is everywhere in pop culture or mentalities. Some stereotypical comments are widespread, such as « it's not very classy for a girl to listen to rap music » or « being feminist and listening to rap music is not compatible » but it doesn't stop the number of women listening to rap music to increase.

Thanks to the answers of 3 listeners, we are going to show how listening to rap music as a woman, to the regret of all male listeners who think they have the monopoly, is truly possible.

Ana, 17, Montreuil, senior, litterature purposes

« At the age of 9, I started to listen to US rap music with Snoop Dogg. I hanged around on Youtube when I came accross these tracks, then I listened to US rap music playlists, but I didn't listen to french rap because I didn't know it even existed. Today I know a lot of rappers and my favorites are  Biggie, NAS, Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, Travis Scott, Young Thug, Meek Mill and Migos for US rap music, and also  Booba, Rohff, PNL, Damso and SCH for french rap music. Above all, rap music is for me the initials of « rythm and poetry »with beats inspired by others music genres (jazz or reggae) and lyrics inspired by personal experiences.

I think that, in rap music, women were always belitted, in lyrics as well as in music videos. In the latter, women are often objectified, paid to act as whores, often stripped to attract more viewers. In the lyrics, we can often feel a certain hatred towards women, certainly because of complicated relationships that the rapper has experienced. I find that degrading but I don't really listen to the lyrics actually but more to the flow and to the artist's voice. I absolutely don't care about what some rapper think about some chick who hurt him.

I think that, just like men, I can listen to rap because we are equal. It's not because tracks talk about whores that I can't listen to it, no matter what narrow-minded people think. I think it's possible to be a feminist and to listen to rap, no law is forbidding it, otherwise women wouldn't rap, for instance. »

Mounia, 18, Longwy, senior, economics purposes

« For me rap is first of all a music genre and it's complicated to find words to describe it so I would define it with the album Le code de l'horreur by Rohff or with L'école du micro d'argent by IAM. Thanks to my uncles, I came accross rap music : they listened to different genres but I remember that a lot of NTM or Kopp tracks were blaring out the car radio. I'd say that I really started to listen to rap music in junior high. My favorite rappers are PNL, Kaaris, Sadek, Kalash Criminel…

I don't feel targeted when they talk about women in their tracks just because I'm a 18-year-old girl listener. Even if the women's image has always been represented with chicks like Diam's or nowadays with Shay, women are still very much degraded by rappers. Men or women, we're all the same and I don't think that rap is a male-only genre, society is changing. »

Romane, 17, Saint Quentin, senior, scientific purposes

« I was lucky to have a very varied musical education, I grew up surrounded by music and I specifically clicked with rap music because of its clear and raw message. But I really started to get into it with Nessbeal when I was 8 or 10 years old. The good thing with rap music is that it's divided in several more or less different styles. I've listened to and loved so many artists that I don't think I'm capable of choosing my favorite artists. It's a living genre that's always changing.

The women's image in rap music is a sore point. I think that in rap music women are considered as objects. Of course I don't cry foul for all that because I know how to interpret figurative speech. I also take into account that rap is a game, an image that the artist is creating, which is almost a caricature. Let's not forget that most rappers who say these things about women are married and have children (wink wink DUC), you only need to listen carefully and to engage your brain to understand that it's only a game played with exaggeration. Moreover, if rap is more and more violent towards women it's because it's what people like and want to hear. For once I'd say that fighting for gender equality doesn't prevent people from listening to « sexist » rap music at all (which doesn't really exist in my opinion). On the contrary, even taken litterally, rap music enables to put ourselves in the shoes of the people we are fighting against, to interpret their ideas to better fight them. And rap music is not just that, I'd like to point out that lately, lots of women have been trying their hand at rap music and that they are still very welcome, for instane I think about very good artists like Princess Nokia. Rap is also defending other causes outside of feminism or related to it, like Mona Haydar who makes bold rap against islamophobia. For me, a Vraie Meuf (real girl) is self-confident and honest above all. »

[recentanimenews]

All You Need to Know for Fate/Grand Order Babylonia

Fate fans, it's a time to rejoice, because is Fate/Grand Order Absolute Demonic Front Babylonia starting this season! This will be the first time that the massively popular mobile game is getting a full anime adaptation. Previously, the first part of the story, the game's prologue, was adapted into Fate/Grand Order First Order, a single 45-minute long episode.

    There's one problem for people, both new to Fate and coming from First Order though. In Fate/Grand Order, the Babylonia arc is either the seventh or eighth Singularity, depending on whether you count Fuyuki (which First Order adapted) or Orleans as the first. There's clearly a lot of story that happens in the middle, none of which has recieved an anime adaptation yet. Since a large chunk of the game is essentially a visual novel, anyone trying to play it to get up to speed in time for the anime will need to spend a week or two doing almost nothing but playing the game to get to Babylonia. Alternatively, you can read this brief-ish explanation of each of the Fate/Grand Order Singularities, then go watch episode 0 of Babylonia. 

    First of all, there's several basics about the story that you need to know about: who's important, what is Chaldea, and some of the more important terms that come up a lot.

  Terms:

Singularity - A part of human history that has some kind of irregularity that isn't supposed to happen. If the irregularity isn't fixed, the foundation of humanity will crumble and all of human civilization will end.

Chaldea - The organization/facility where the game takes place. Essentially the headquarters or home base of the good guys.

Rayshift - Simply put: time travel.

Holy Grail - A reservoir of magical energy so enormous that it can grant any wish. Generally, each Singularity has one.

Servant - All of the famous historical figures that either work for or fight against the main character. There are some subcategories, like Divine Spirit and Heroic Spirit, based mainly on the figure's origin.

Master - A mage in command of a Servant.

Command Seal - A set of three powerful spells that compel a Servant to act in a specific way. Can also just give a lot of magic energy to a Servant or Master.

  Characters:

Ritsuka Fujimaru - The player character (for those coming from the game, it’s Gudao), and final Master of Chaldea. Chosen as a Master candidate but in the Commoner’s Block, so not a first pick.

Mash Kyrielight - A girl living in Chaldea and the first successful Demi-Servant, a human fused with a Servant. She is also the only Servant of the Shielder class.

Lev Lainur - One of the engineers in Chaldea and a major player in building the facility in the first place. 

Romani “Roman” Archeman - Chief medical officer of Chaldea. 

Marie Olga Animusphere - Director of Chaldea. 

Leonardo Da Vinci - Genius inventor and Roman’s effective second in command.

  Chaldea Parts: 

Sheba - A lens invented by Lev to use in conjunction with Chaldeas to view precise locations and times in the past and future.

Chaldeas - A miniature perfectly accurate replica of Earth made using the soul of the planet as the foundation and base. 

Trismegistus - The Spiritron Collection Engine, a.k.a. the part of Chaldea that allows Masters to rayshift. 

Laplace - Used alongside Trismegistus to ensure safe rayshifting. Also monitors the past and collects records of what it finds. 

Coffins - Tubes that Masters enter to be rayshifted. Can also be used as stasis pods in an emergency. 

Fate - The Servant summoning system, patterned after the system used in the Fuyuki Grail Wars.

  That's... probably not good.

  Let's start with a recap of Singularity F, which First Order adapted and which sets up the overall plot of the game and many of the most important characters. You can either read up or watch the episode yourself; just be sure to swing back here for the First Singularity!

  We meet Fujimaru, one of the mages selected to become a Master and test the Chaldea facility, which uses a mixture of technology and magecraft to see the past, and potentially travel back in time. Travelling to the future may be possible, depending on if you consider limited time events in Fate/Grand Order to be canon to the story. While wandering around Fujimaru comes across Mash, a girl who isn’t one of the Master candidates, she's been at Chaldea for longer than the others. Fou is also introduced, a white-haired squirrel-like creature whose existence is never really explained in the first six Singularities before Babylonia. Just embrace the cute furry creature and go along with it! The group also runs into Lev, Marie and Roman along the way.

Then Chaldeas goes dark and Sheba can't see anything, meaning that something happened that will cause humanity to go extinct. That's not good... The Chaldea staff also detect a part of the past that shouldn’t exist, likely the cause of humanity’s extinction. Thus, Marie calls on all of the Master candidates to rayshift to the site of the singularity, Fuyuki City. For those new to the Fate series, Fuyuki is where the Holy Grail Wars of Fate/Zero and Fate/Stay Night, the progenitor of the franchise, occurred.

  Welcome to Fuyuki. Don't worry, it's just a gas leak.

  After an explosion, all of the Master candidates except Fujimaru are either killed or injured enough that they need to be kept in cryostasis in their Coffins. As Mash is also dying, she and Fujimaru Rayshift to Fuyuki (how they do this without being in a Coffin is never really explained). Once there, Mash reveals that she is a Demi-Servant by transforming and protecting Fujimaru with a giant shield. As the pair travel throughout the city, they come across Marie, and Roman reveals that Chaldea can talk to the past directly as long as communications are set up on a leyline. How handy!

  With the group assembled, they go in search of the Singularity’s cause. Eventually, they defeat Saber Alter from Fate/Stay Night and fix the Singularity. However, in a nasty twist, Lev reveals that it was his plan to kill off humanity, and sends Marie flying into Chaldeas via a portal he opened up to the present, annihilating her, before leaving. Oof... way to make an exit... With the Singularity resolved and Lev gone, Roman rayshifts Mash and Fujimaru back to Chaldea, taking over as acting Director and saying that the remaining staff had located another seven Singularities for the pair to eliminate in order to save humanity.

    Singularity 1: Orleans

  The Grand Order begins.

  In Orleans, the “Dragon Witch” Jeanne d’Arc Alter summons a variety of Servants to attack France as retribution for burning her alive. For each Singularity, the majority of the story is self-contained or only briefly references past Singularities, however there is always something added to the overarching story of F/GO, as well.

  Orleans’ main connection to the main story is in setting up the basic cycle of Singularities, such as how the logistics of supplies and communications work, the ring of light in the sky that no one in Chaldea can detect, having stray Servants around that do not require a master, and the start of the strong bond of trust between Mash and Fujimaru. Oh, and Fou tagging along for absolutely no reason, because why not? In each rayshift, the pair go to the past then wander around until the come across something that doesn’t fit with accurate history, normally something involving a Servant in some capacity. 

  This is also when the audience meets the last of the major recurring cast, Leonardo Da Vinci, who looks like the Mona Lisa for no actually explained reason and acts as Roman’s second in command, giving the player exposition during down times. After resolving the Singularity, Mash confirms that they did not find Lev during their search, so he was probably hiding in one of the remaining six.

    Singularity 2: Septem

  What, did you think Emporer Nero would be a guy? This is Fate!

  Next, Mash and Fujimaru go to the Roman Empire and meet Emperor Nero, who existing fans of Fate might recognize from Fate/Extra Last Encore, although this version is supposed to be the actual emperor, rather than a simulation on the Moon. It turns out that the Roman Empire has been split into two, with one side being Nero and the normal Empire, and the other being the United Empire, which has the various previous emperors and other Servants Lev summoned to kill Nero. It also introduces the idea of Divine Spirits, gods without all of their normal power or Authority. In brief, Authority is the extra power a god has above normal Servants that makes them effectively invincible.

  When the group meets Lev, he mentions that Mash seems to be getting stronger, and also talks about how if not for the Chaldea team, he would already be back at some kind of Temple. He also mentioned something about “our king,” but does not elaborate before turning into a literal demon and revealing that he is one of the 72 Demon Gods, Flauros. Based on the term “72 Demon Gods,” Roman seems to have some idea who the king might be, but says that there is not enough information.

  After being defeated, Lev mentions offhandedly that his cells die off while away from the Temple, so he is not at full strength, and that he had been entrusted with the mission to incinerate the future, but that in case there were problems that they had a contingency plan. As a final effort, Lev summons a new Servant, who promptly kills him. Ouch!

    Singularity 3: Okeanos

   Still not even close to the silliest design in the franchise.

The Okeanos Singularity starts differently that the previous ones. Instead of Fujimaru waking up and going to the Command Center, there is an extra cutscene of Roman’s silhouette talking to someone called “Second,” who’s narration shows that whenever they wake up, they reaffirm that they are alive, and are grateful just to be able to do so. 

  Once the normal party of Roman, Da Vinci, Mash and Fujimaru convene to discuss the previous Singularity, Da Vinci reveals that the 72 Demon Gods were familiars of an ancient king of Israel, the greatest summoner in history, but the discussion then turns toward there not being enough information to make a definite call. After the rayshift to the next Singularity, Mash and Fujimaru appear in the middle of an ocean on a pirate ship, with only a few scattered islands nearby. After much searching and shenanigans, the main plot of the Singularity becomes Jason (of the Argonauts) trying to conquer the world by stealing the Ark from David. Even by Fate standards, this one’s a bit strange!

  The main plot comes back in when Jason is transformed into one of the Demon Gods. Whn this happens, David mentions “Solomon’s Demon Gods.” The battle comes to a close, and David cannot confirm whether the enemies they're fighting are actually Demon Gods or not. He also can't confirm whether they are the same Demon Gods that Solomon summoned or not, despite Solomon being his son. Afterwards, Roman details more about Solomon’s history.

    Singularity 4: London

  And this is London AFTER fixing the Singularity.

  At the start of the London Singularity, in the normal Command Room briefing Roman confirms that after observing the time period, there were no Singularities around the time of King Solomon. If he had used the 72 Demon Gods summoning spell to cause the end of humanity, they would’ve been able to detect it. However, Da Vinci raises the counterpoint that if Solomon was summoned as a Servant, the spell could’ve been from any era, so they wouldn’t detect it nearly as easily. As they're getting ready, Da Vinci mentions some neat info, like how they were the third Servant summoned at the facility; Mash was the second one, and no one knows who the first was. With that, it's time to rayshift to London! Everything is covered in a thick fog that it lethal to normal humans. Fujimaru is safe due to sharing a poison resistance ability with Mash. Complicating matters, the fog makes it impossible for Chaldea to give the team any warning about approaching enemies. Things could get a bit hairy.

  Since the source of the irregularity is pretty clear, humans literally can't go outside without dying, the brunt of the Singularity’s story is about tracking down whoever is causing the deadly fog. Mash begins to worry about not being able to unleash her Noble Phantasm’s full power due to not knowing its name. Mordred, a knight of the Round Table, teaches her better battle habits. Eventually, when the team fights the steam-powered robot Charles Babbage, he reveals that the reason he helped create the fog was to protect humanity from incineration. Roman later speculates that since even Chaldea was having trouble detecting anything in the fog, Servants would also have a difficult time, which might help to protect any remaining humans. 

   Okay, there's Tesla (seriously), so where's Edison?

  The group later found Babbage’s steam engine, the source of the fog, and they also run into Makiri Zolgen, another Demon God like Lev, who also mentions “our king.” He then transforms into his Demon God form, Barbatos. As they go to collect the Holy Grail, collapsing the Singularity, King Solomon appears, stating that he is one of the Grand seven heroic spirits (specifically, he is the Grand Caster), the one who summoned the 72 Demon Gods and is so powerful that he summoned himself, without any Master. He also reveals that the circle of light in the sky of each Singularity is his third Noble Phantasm.

  After Solomon leaves, not even close to being defeated, Da Vinci rayshifts the Mash and Fujimaru back to Chaldea, where Roman can barely function until Mash snaps him out of it, leading into the next Singularity: E Pleribus Unum.

    Singularity 5: America

   Fate, go home, you're drunk.

  This Singularity starts with another scene from Second, reaffirming that they are alive, and Roman saying that they are almost well enough to become Chaldea staff. Second expresses a desire to see the outside world. This time, the game also confirms more explicitly that Fujimaru is viewing these interactions via a dream. During the Command Room briefing, Da Vinci admits that they have no idea how to even track Solomon, let alone defeat him. Roman also confirms that even if they defeat the other 69 Demon Gods, Solomon can just replenish them due to the summoning spell. Well, that's lovely!

  When the Chaldea pair rayshift to the America Singularity it’s a year before the end of the American Revolutionary War with England. Instead of the historically accurate war though, the country is divided in half in a massive civil war between the East and West, with the Western States led by Presi-King Thomas Edison, a lion-headed crystallization of all US presidents leading an army of robotic soldiers The East is led by Queen Mebd and her Celtic forces.

   Granted, history wasn't my strongest subject, but I don't remember THAT being in the American Civil War.

  They run into a bit of an issue though. Edison doesn’t want them to collect the Holy Grail and collapse the Singularity. Instead, he believes that he can prevent the incineration of humanity by taking the Grail himself and creating a new timeline at the cost of destroying all of the other eras. It's time to persuade him to reconsider... through battle! After defeating and joining forces with Edison, the group splits into a northern and southern army, to split the Celtic forces. During this fight, the wizard Merlin appears, helping give the Chaldea side an edge. Before disappearing, he says to keep looking after Cath Palug.

  The Chaldea team defeats Medb, but not before she summons 28 Demon Gods. They really have their work cut out for them! The battles and Singularity come to an end and the pair go back to Chaldea. Though, something's not quite right with Mash... While going back to their rooms, Mash collapses in the middle of a hallway!

    Singularity 6: Camelot

   Things have escalated.

  The Camelot Singularity begins with the usual cutscene hinting at the story to come, followed by a scene from Second's perspective. Interestingly enough, Second outright calls herself Mash Kyrielight, and Roman is finally taken out of silhouette. Additionally, the player learns a bit more about Mash from before the two met by hearing how she thinks and what she desires. This is also the first time we're hearing about Mash not having a normal lifespan, as she was created with a predetermined lifespan. In addition to that, due to being artificially created, she cannot live outside of Chaldea’s environment.

  According to Roman, the creators of Chaldea used children in experiments to fuse them with Servants in an attempt to more safely harness the Servants’ powers. In the same discussion, Roman discloses that after the experiments were dicontinued due to being unethical (you got that right!), the previous director was found dead in his office a year later, apparently due to suicide, leading to Marie taking over the role. 

    At the end of the speech, Roman mentions that Mash has a year at most before she dies, and that Mash herself likely doesn’t know that. Mash then comes into the Command Room after her checkup due to passing out at the end of the previous Singularity, apologizing for being late.

  As the normal briefing commences, Roman reveals that the Sixth Singularity is in Jerusalem, just after the 9th crusade. Something stranger than usual with this particular Singularity is that it doesn’t exist in the normal sense. Rather, it is trying to separate itself from the rest of humanity. Due to the odd nature, for the first time Da Vinci joins the rayshift team.

  Jerusalem... isn't doing well.

  When the team first rayshifts, the player has a difficult time breathing, due to the mana density in the air. Da Vinci, being a genius, had already made a mask to help alleviate the problem. How thoughtful! While driving around the desert in another of Da Vinci's inventions, Da Vinci also name drops that the previous director of Chaldea was Marisbury Animusphere. 

  The overall plot of the Camelot Singularity is solving something of a deadlock between three factions. First, the Hassans, assassins also known as the Old Men of the Mountain, trying to protect the civilians living in the mountains by fighting off invaders. Second, the Pharaohs, specifically Sun King Ozymandias and Nitocris, who generally stay in the desert to the west but will attack anything that comes near them and who’s beasts roam the land. Finally, the Knights of the Round Table and supporting enforcement knights, all led by the Lion King coming from the Holy City of Camelot, where Jerusalem once stood before the Lion King eliminated all of the crusaders and made a new city six months beforehand.

    The various knights leave the city in search of people deemed worthy of entering, and even on the outside, the city is known as a paradise where no one is ever hungry. Unfortunately, almost no one is ever found worthy of entering, and all who fail are killed. Also, it turns out that the walls of the city are the Lion King’s Noble Phantasm, the holy lance Rhongomyniad, also known as the tower at the ends of the world. As a result, when the city fills and the Lion King’s plan is complete, the rest of the world will be destroyed, so that only the city remains. 

  The Lion King, who turns out to be King Arthur herself, Saber from Fate/Stay Night, knows about the incineration of humanity and so decided to relinquish Excalibur and instead pick up the lance, giving her the power to separate the area from the rest of humanity, thus protecting it from incineration, much like Edison’s plan from the previous Singularity. And we all know how that went! As a side effect to using the lance, she has also begun to age, and has become a Divine Spirit. 

  While relaxing after saving villagers from the knights, one of the Servants travelling with the Chaldea team reveals that whatever Servant fused with Mash when she became a Demi-Servant is a knight of the Round Table! It's later revealed during the discussion of the nature of Camelot as part of Rhongomyniad, that the name of that Servant is Gallahad. 

      Our crew learns that the Atlas Institute (one of the groups that helped get Chaldea on its feet when it was being founded) made seven weapons that could destroy the world, and subsequently locked them away. To add on to that, the Institute’s main rule was that there was no taboo on what could be created inside, but nothing could be brought outside, save for seven special contracts for the Institute to work with other organizations. As of 2000, only four of the contracts had been discovered.

  At the Atlas Institute, Sherlock Holmes is the first person to mention how strange it is that the player can hold so many contracted Servants, and for such a long time too; normally Servants are only summoned temporarily and generally only with one or two Servants per Master. While researching in the Institute, Holmes uncovers information about the Fuyuki Grail War, and finds that Marisbury was one of the Masters who defeated the other six to win the Grail... But his wish was not recorded. Further research in the archive reveals that Marisbury’s assistant during the War was Roman, but that Roman’s own personal history is unknown. Continuing his research, Holmes discovers the aforementioned information about Galahad and Rhongomyniad. 

   Oh, and in the middle of everything, someone decided that the game needed a Dark Souls boss.

  Our crew leaves the Institute, but not without Holmes giving one final riddle: Why did Solomon’s plan activate in 2018? Why did he wait so long, and why not wait longer? Even Holmes only has a theory or two that he hopes are incorrect. While talking to Da Vinci on the way to confront Ozymandias for assistance, Da Vinci unveils that Roman is hiding something on par with a Holy Grail. What is it exactly? That's not mentioned, however, Da Vinci mentions that if he uses it, he’ll disappear. Welp.

  In the final act of the Singularity, the Chaldea team leads a force of several thousand villagers, the Hassans, the Pharaohs, a faction of the Knights of the Round Table, and various other Servants gathered along the way in an attack against Camelot. After they break through the front gate, the world begins to collapse as the Lion King activates the tower at the end of the world. Ozymandias and Nitocris stop the activation by launching multiple long range volleys of magic energy, including Ozymandias’s Noble Phantasm, sacrificing themselves in the process.

  The Lion King's throne, just before the final battle.

  The group confronts the Lion King, but her power is so great that she is even able to blow away Sheba, preventing Chaldea from seeing the rest of the fight. Mash unleashes Lord Camelot to protect against Rhongomyniad, Merlin is quick to comment on the fight. He asks Bedivere, one of the Servants who had been travelling with the group, to continue fighting. This is also when Merlin reveals that Bedivere's false arm is Excalibur and that he wiped Bedivere from the Lion King's memory to make it easier to fight throughout the Singularity.

  While Mash has her hands full defending the group, Bedivere instructs her on how to use her Noble Phantasm; it's a mental construct, so that as long as her will doesn’t waver, neither will the walls of Camelot. Bedivere then returns Excalibur to Artoria and dies, ending 1,500 years of atonement for not being able to give the sword back to the Lady of the Lake and thus forcing Artoria to be unable to die, the Singularity collapses. As a parting gift, Artoria tells the team that Solomon’s temple exists outside the flow of normal time. Only the seventh Holy Grail can tell them where to find it, as it’s the only one the Solomon himself sent to the past, which in turn means that the Seventh Singularity is further in the past than King Solomon’s own era. She also warns that in the last Singularity is a monster even greater than Solomon, one of the original sins of mankind.

  The team makes it back to Chaldea, and Roman announces that they’ve located the final Singularity, located in 2,600 B.C., also known as the Age of Gods: Mesopotamia. Due to how far back in time the Singularity is, the rayshift will be significantly more difficult, and the era means that the likes of demons and gods were commonplace, so it will likely be more dangerous than before.

    Singularity 7: Babylonia

      That brings everyone up to speed on the story of Fate/Grand Order up to the Seventh Singularity, Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia. 

  Here’s what we know about the Singularity going in:

It is further in the past than any other previous Singularity. As a result, it is likely to be more dangerous, due to gods and demons likely being present.

It is the last known Singularity to restore humanity (although Solomon will likely need to be defeated to truly stop the incineration of humanity).

If the mission is successful, retrieving the Holy Grail will provide a way to find the Grand Caster Solomon’s temple, allowing the Chaldea team to fight the main antagonist.

Something is waiting in the Singularity that may be even more powerful than Solomon.

Roman is hiding something with power equal to a Holy Grail.

Mash has a year at most to live.

  Observant viewers can gleam some details from the trailers, such as some characters, but other than that, much of what is to come is unknown. Even those who have already played the game aren't entirely sure what to expect, as even the first episode has scenes that are anime-exclusive, and various game scenes have either been moved to later or given much more context via the continuous nature of an animation versus a visual novel. We hope that you find yourself now fully prepared to venture into the Seventh Singularity!

  What do you think is going to happen in the Seventh Singularity? If you know what’s coming, what is something that you would’ve liked to see? Comment below, but try to keep it spoiler-free for the people experiencing the story for the first time!

  ---

Kevin Matyi is a freelance features writer for Crunchyroll. He's been watching anime for as long as he can remember, and his favorite shows tend to be shonen and other action series.

  Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

By: news+feed@crunchyroll.com

[omgmykpopfictionsandstuff]

Room 666

Elrick attendait les jeunes devant la porte et les laissa entrer alors que dans le salon de la suite ils pouvaient découvrir Jack dans une posture étrange un poirier, jambes écarter. Et plus loin, Malia en short de pyjama, avec un t-shirt trop grand et les cheveux noués hasardeusement en un chignon.

« If ya fail, Jack can say farewell to heirs » dit Faust en se servant une vodka

« I won't fail. » dit Malia « Oh hi ! »

« C'est quoi le pari ? » demanda Morganna en sortant de la salle de bains, pieds nues, portant un simple sweat-shirt trop grand et un slip en dentelle

« Mal doit sauter entre les jambes  de Jack sans le touché. » dit Faust en servant une guinness a Mona

« Vous faites toujours des paris comme ça ? » demanda Jongin inquiet pour Jack

« Y a eu pire. » dit Faust « Y a 20 ans c'était pire. »

« Tellement pire... » Elrick rit et se prit un coca « Vous buvez quoi ? »

« On doit être clean demain » murmura Mark

« Vous êtes les invités de Lipsync battle non ? » dit Jack calmement

« Oui ! » Jongin sourit

« Here I go ! » Malia courut et sauta comme on sautait un haie et passa facilement « HAHA ! » Elle fixa Faust « You'll do MY PICK ! » Malia afficha un sourire carnassier et remit ses lunettes

« I hate you » dit Faust

« Lucas mon chouchou, quel est la chanson la plus mielleuse et débordante de bon sentiments ? » fit Malia en prennant le bras de Lucas pour qu'il s'assoit à côté d'elle

« Euh.... Gee .... ? » murmura le géant

« THERE YOU GO ! » Malia sourit a Faust « Your song for tomorrow. »

« I hate you.. » Faust soupira et se resservit un verre de vodka noire pour la descendre cul sec

« Love you bro.. » fit Malia en souriant « Le sex-appeal de JUMP va prendre un coup demain. »

« Oh la ferme. » Elrick rit « T'as gagné une chanson potable... »

« T'avais qu'à pas parier avec Jack. » dit Malia

« Une règle les chéris, parier jamais avec Jack à moins d'être certain de gagner. » Morganna vida sa bière cul sec et rit un peu

« On ne survit pas un cancer sans chance. On ne survit pas non plus 20 ans de vie commune avec vous sans avoir développer des compétences extraordinaire » Jack rit en se remettant debout

« Un... cancer ? » s'étonna Taeyong

« Leucémie une fois a 8 ans, un a 28. » dit Jack, il servit un verre de vin a Jongin « Quand à mes compétences..... elles sont assez standard pour le métier. » Il rit « Disons qu'Elrick a voullut parier sur des compétences de bassiste. »

« Tu le faisais y a dix ans qu'est-ce que j'en savais que tu savais encore le faire... » Elrick rit

« Je suis bassiste... » Jack parrut outré « C'est mon métier ! »

« Je suis le seul curieux ? » demanda Lucas

« Come on show off, show 'em some real rockstar... » fit Malia en souriant

Jack sourit et prit sa basse, la posa dans son cou et joue à l'envers derrière sa tête. Tous le regardaient avec stupeur alors qu'il reposa sa basse en riant.

« Le cancer m'a prit pas mal de choses, mais ça, je l'ai toujours.. » dit-il

« Le talent ne se perd jamais.. » murmura Jongin

« Mec continue et tu finiras dans son pieu. » fit Elrick amusé

« Il serait pas contre. » nota Taemin

« Eh ! » Jongin rougit « On dit pas des choses comme ça.... »

« Mec sauf les meuf tout le monde est gay. » dit Elrick en riant

Sören sortit de la douche, lunettes sur le nez et torse nu, en jogging, montrant toute la puissance et les sculpture qu'était son corps. Il fixa les jeunes puis Morganna en plissant des yeux.

« That's mine. » fit-il

« Mine now ! » Morganna sourit « Donc on parlait sexualité ! » Elle s'étala sur le canapé

« Et on est partit pour l'explications que l'amour a deux c'est nul. » fit Malia « We get it, you're polyamorous. »

« Et je maintiens que c'est la solution contre l'ennui ! » dit-elle en riant

« Mais si on aime on peut pas s'ennuyer..... » dit innocemment Mark

« Y toujours moyen de se faire chier mon chou. » dit Elrick « Mais pas avec moi. »

« Smooth. » soupira Jack en riant « Nous avons tous des avis sur la chose.. »

« Je suis de l'avis de Mona. » dit Taemin « A deux c'est bien.. a trois c'est mieux. »

« Toi et moi on va s'entendre » Elle rit « Tu crois que si je harcèle Lola pour savoir ce qu'elle a prévu pour moi demain elle va me haïr ? »

« A cette heure-ci, Lola pionce. » Dit Malia en prenant le verre de vodka des mains de Lucas « Love, never trust any drinks from Faust. »

« Oh... » Lucas rougit

« That's Liquorice Vodka. » dit-elle

« Urghh... » Lucas grimaça

« Right » Malia rendit le verre « Baekhyunnie on t'entend plus des masses depuis que notre dieu suédois est sortit de la douche... »

« Il est … » Baekhyun cherchait un mot moins vulgaire

« Bandant ? » fit Elrick en prennant la bière de Mark « Kids don't drink.. »

« Hey I... I'm legal. » dit Mark

« Drinking is dangerous. » dit Elrick amusé

« Wh-what if I need alcool for.... courage ? » marmonna Mark

« Encore pire. » Elrick vida la bière dans un ficus

« Moi je pari... » Morganna pointa Sören « Que tu n'es pas souple du tout ! »

« Je gagne quoi si je le suis ? » demanda-t-il blasé

« Le privilège de choisir ma chanson. Lola me tuera mais c'est rien. » Morganna sourit

« Mh. »

Sören s'étira, s'avança vers un mur et monta lentement son pieds sur le mur avant d'être en grand-écart latéral. Il fixa Morganna puis baissa son pieds avant de soupirer.

« J'suis pas sadique.. » Il s'assit dans le canapé « Move. »

« Oh.. » Morganna sourit « I love you. »

« I know. » dit Sören

« Pourquoi toi t'es méchant avec moi ? » demanda Elrick

« Like you won't selling it ? »  dit Jack amusé

« Of course I'll sell it. » Elrick sourit « I'm gay enough to walk in booty shorts, corseted and high heels wearing a wig »

« Lola va faire de toi une femme sublime. » dit Malia

Elrick leva ses mains ou des ongles en acrylique rouge éclatant trônaient. Il riait un peu devant les têtes étonnés..  Et Faust qui secoua la tête.

« Not happening. » dit Faust « Nobody's doin me nails fella. » son accent irlandais ressortait violemment

-

Après cette soirée a simplement discuter, SuperM rejoignait le plateau ou ils allaient être les juges du meilleur lipsync KPOP. Le premier a se lancer fut Faust. Si Lola avait réussit à le faire mettre une perruque, blanche, des talons aiguilles et un jeans slim... en haut il avait refuser le corset et la fausse poitrine.. Il avait un regard de tueur pendant sa performance de Gee et même si il ne ratait aucun pas ou parole il avait vraiment des envies de meurtres. La performance suivante fut celle de Malia. Un classique.. Mirotic, mais amener à un autre style vestimentaire par la batteuse. Pantalon en cuir, chaîne, veste en cuir  et un soutiens-gorge en cuir, une chorégraphie respectée et une Malia parfaitement consciente de la puissance qu'elle avait. Sören fit une version proche de l'originale avec Neverland, habillée au grand desespoir de Lola qui avait pourtant essayer de le mettre torse nu, sans succès. Vint ce qu'avait appeler Ten le trio de l'enfer. Le premier a se lancer fut Jack. Il portait une chemise noir, un jeans usé destroy gris et des chaussures de ville, et sa version d'If you do fut très très, trop, sexy. Jongin en était au bord de sa chaise... puis vint la bombe. Morganna. La tenue qu'avait préparer Lola était si simple et pourtant si différente. Des cuissardes en cuir noir à talons aiguiles, des bas résilles, ce qui semblait être un slip en cuir noir et une chemise transparente noire, offrant une vue sur son soutiens-gorge noir. Sa version de Move, avec ses cheveux ondulant librement, sa chemise mal boutonnée lui donnant un air de s'être réveiller seulement quelques instants avant et le smokey eye intense donnant a ses yeux vert pomme plus d'intensité, offrait une version encore plus sensuelle d'une chanson déjà au pique de la sensualité. Taemin était conquis, et au yeux brillant de Ten, il avait trouvé sa seconde victime... Vint enfin Elrick qui arriva dans un pantalon en cuir, cuissardes à talons rouge et étant une très très belle femme maquillé offrit une version très proche de l'originale de RED.

C'est a presque l'unanimité que Jack et Morganna finirent ex-æquo.

-

« J'assure que mon intérêt pour toi n'est pas que sexuel... » murmura Taemin entre deux baisers

« Et je vous assure tous les deux que je m'en fou. » dit Morganna en embrassant Ten à pleine bouche  

« Dans une réserve c'est pas le meilleur endroit. » murmura Ten contre ses lèvres

« Ah c'est su-uhnn-r... » Morganna se recula « Room 666.. Grand Astoria, that's mine. »

Et elle sortit balançant des hanches...

« Hyung, pourquoi j'ai l'impression qu'on signe avec le diable ? » demanda Ten

« Parce que c'est tout à fait ce qu'on fait. » dit Taemin avec un sourire satisfait

[youcomeback]

Lover Countdown: 10 things I’ve been feeling romantic towards lately & songs that correspond

Hi this was originally a diary insert, turned youtube video that i’m too lazy to edit, turned into tumblr post. (: In no particular order and certainly not proofread.

1. Tea. Lately I've been drinking green tea every morning and black tea every night. I’ve been using it as my meditative time. I often sit and think but when my thoughts don’t want to fall in line I will journal. I’ve spent so much of my life scared of my thoughts so just getting to sit and breathe with my tea is growth.

Lemonade (Ukulele Version) - Jeremy Passion

Like Real People Do - Hozier

Crowded Places - Banks

2. Broadway. I was a big broadway kid, but as soon as I got to college it kind of faded. The only time I would check back in would be around Tony Awards time. It wasn’t until this past semester that I really sunk back into the culture and it feels like the part of entertainment making the most strides. Not to mention two of my faves are heading onto Broadway soon. Being welcomed back into the community feels like freedom.

Ex-Wives - SIX: The Musical

My Grand Plan - Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

Do You Wanna Ride? - Be More Chill

3. Women. No words needed, but truly the women in this world and in my family have been my biggest support and inspiration my whole life, but especially these past few months that have been really, very hard.

PrettyGirlz - WILLOW

Django Jane - Janelle Monae

Woman - Kesha

4. Tik Tok. LOL. I know you all think I’ve been joking, but I really have been spending upwards of an hour on Tik Tok a day. It’s so wild that these teenagers are so open with their lives and making content that’s intricate and kind of addicting. I tried to make them and they are HARD! (message me and I’ll leak them) And a lot of them are really devoted to it. It makes my heart go all :))))

Wait a Minute! - WILLOW

No Reason - YunggTez

Runway - Stunna Girl

5. Disney World. I’ve been thinking of nothing but thinking about Disney World lately. My family used to go every year, but after Katrina we moved and couldn’t afford a vacation that far anymore. Now I am determined. I’ve been watching videos of people going and it is magical. It’s truly a beautiful place to be and takes you somewhere else. It is a concert in park form and I need to be there soon.

Go With the Floor - Finding Nemo Musical

Sh Boom (Life Could Be A Dream) - The Crew Cuts

Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride - Lilo and Stitch

6. Coachella. I’ve never been. Once again, I’ve been obsessively watching video of music festivals online and specifically coachella has been making my heart grow. Just the idea of so many people from different places with different purposes meeting up to see some of the most talented people of our generation inspires me. I’ve never been and don’t know if I ever will, but I do know that I love the artistry that takes place every year. Including the coachella fashion.

Feels Like We Only Go Backwards (live) - Tame Impala

The Sound - The 1975 (imagine being there for that encore)

Coachella - Woodstock in My Mind - Lana Del Rey

7. High School. I haven’t been in high school in almost 5 years, but similarly to Tik Tok, I’ve been feeling especially nostalgic and romantic towards the memories and those experiencing them right now. As I enter Law School, I’m going into another setting that’s new and overwhelming and it’s making me remember how overpowering and all consuming all the feelings of high school were. I was debating between picking songs that remind me of high school tropes or picking songs that were actually popular as I was in high school. I’ve decided on both.

A World Alone - Lorde

Counting Stars - OneRepublic

Brave - Sara Bareilles

8. The Public Library. My saving grace this summer. I have absolutely no money to my name right now until my student loans come in. This summer I had absolutely nothing to do until I renewed my library card and started going everyday to volunteer. I resparked my passion for public service after working in the state capitol for so long and also reminded me what it feels like to read literature for FUN with no pressure to grow or learn from it. I read so much YA Fiction I ended up choosing songs that reminded me of these leading ladies.

She's So Mean - Matchbox Twenty

Sweater Weather - The Neighbourhood

Harry Freakin Potter - The Space Tour

9. The Sun. Everyone who knows me knows I am an indoor girl. I’ve always absolutely hated “nature” (but always protected it!). Since moving to LA, I’ve completely changed. I have this huge window that can see the sun’s journey across the sky. It’s prevented my from hiding in my room all day and has been my number one source of energy. I’ve been up with the sun and down with it. It’s the first time I’ve been fully in love with the sun and the first time in a while I’ve been in love with life.

Let's Get Married - Bleachers

Shake It Out - Florence and the Machine

Honey Hold Me - Morningsiders

10. Miss Taylor Swift. There's not enough words. I made myself not pick Taylor songs and instead pick songs that remind me of the feeling of my last huge Taylor memory - Arlington. 

I Like (the idea of) You - Tessa Violet

Sucker Punch - Sigrid

Making the Most of the Night - Carly Rae Jepsen

[ladyshilya]

Legends of Tomorrow: Romeo v Juliet: Dawn of Justness

Let’s see what happens with Shakespeare and get a piece of The Loom of Fate.

The episode starts with Ray telling Nora how her father had a talk with him and he had been thinking that maybe it’s time for them to move on from the Waverider. Nora of course wants to be sure Ray is ok with this decision which he is. While everyone is outside waiting for the bathroom because Zari is getting ready Ray tells everyone the news. Well Mick saying but Ray and Nora confirm they will be leaving after the next mission. I didn’t realize there was only one bathroom on that ship, how can they have only one bathroom with that many people. When Nate comes up Ray is doesn’t tell him that they are leaving. Mona comes back on the ship for Nora’s last book club and to talk with Mick about the person trolling Rebecca Sliver. Mick tells her not to reach out to the person. Sara tells Ray he has to tell Nate about him leaving. Ray says its his second biggest mission after going to the moon. I am think marrying Nora was his biggest mission but ok. Also all the Encore have been called back to hell by Astra.

Charlie tells everyone she gave Shakespeare a piece of the loom. Sara uses this time to try and get Ray to tell Nate he is leaving as does Gideon but Ray keeps deflecting. The guys and Charlie go to speak with Shakespeare. Constantine and Nate try to get him to give the ring back with threats. Shakespeare tells them he sold the ring to his producer. This upsets Charlie because they arrive after she had just given him the ring buy a few days. Now they have to figure out how to get the ring off the guys finger. Nate comes up with an elaborate plan that has everyone using their powers as well as him and Ray having a buddy moment. While they were doing this Charlie grabbed the ring. Ray is sad because the doesn’t want the mission to end and Nate comes up with the idea to throw Ray a bachelor party since he never got one. While this is going on a fight breaks out in the bar and all the guys fight. Ray’s suit comes loose and starts flying on its own. Shakespeare watches the whole thing. Nate is suppose to memory flash Shakespeare but he has it the wrong way because he is drunk.

While this is happening the girls have invited Zari to book club. Zari is apprehensive about book club but all the ladies helped reveal how book club helped them overcome issues in their life. Zari for a whole bunch of information she didn’t know but she comes up with the great idea of throwing Nora a bachlorette party since she never got one. Of course all the ladies love this idea. There is racing around the ship, drink and they even give Nora her very own pony. They also have a sexy fireman stripper and a pole, where did they get the pole? I guess that ship really does have everything. While they are partying they happen to notice that Romeo and Juliet has changed into a superhero play.

When the guys and Charlie are back, Sara wants to know what they did to mess this up. Sara is also drunk and Mr. Sexy Fireman shows up pretending to fix something because that is what they told him to do. The team heads back down there and Ray talks with Shakespeare and gets him to end the play correctly. Nate overhears the talk and realizes that Ray is leaving the ship and never told him. I have to say that I love in this scene how they tell the actors their play has been cancelled and replaced with Riverdale.

Now the issue is that Romeo and Juliet doesn’t exist at all. Nate gets mad at Ray for not telling him and tells him that the Legends have it and don’t need him. They find out Shakespeare’s producer pulled all him money because he thinks Shakespeare took the ring back. The team tries to figure out a way to fix this and while they are talk about Ray, Sara comes up with a brilliant idea. The team puts on Romeo and Juliet in the bar for everyone to see. Ava playing a guy fits so well. Constantine is Romeo, I had thought Nate was going to Romeo or Sara or Ava. Nate is Juliet, I thought this was going to Zari, Ava or Sara. It means Constantine was the perfect Romeo because well he would have no problem kissing them all. While Nate is doing the lines he thinks about Ray and needs a moment. Zari talks with Nate and gives him a really great prep talk with a great understanding of the play and character. Nate leaves to talk with Ray while Zari steps in as Juliet. Of course Zari is a classically trained actress who knows the lines already. Zari and Constantine act out the balcony scene. Charlie is with Shakespeare who see how much people really love his work.

Ray is packing everything up and Nora lets him know they can wait for the team to come back but Ray doesn’t want to. He leaves his picture with Nate behind. Ray says goodbye to Gideon who upset to see him go and sheds a tear. We see Ray and Nora holding hands as looking out a portal to their new life. Nate rushes into the command room looking for Ray but Ray is not where to be found. Just want Nate thinks he lost his chance to say goodbye Ray comes into the room. Nate apologizes for what he said and the guys say goodbye to each other.

Later on Nate is sad Ray is gone but Sara lets him know she is there. Mona tells Mick he would talk with his daughter. Mick doesn’t think its a good idea because of what his father did to him. Mona lets Mick know he changed her life for the better. Later that night the team can’t sleep because they miss Ray. They have a toast to him with his green juice. Zari is the only one to like the juice and everyone else runs off the throw up.

While all of this was going on Astra visit with the Coin Maker who is shocked to see Constantine running around. Astra tells her that Constantine is working for her. The Coin Maker suggest that Astra finds out what John’s plan is because wouldn’t it be better if she finds the object for herself. They use a vessel for Astra to spy on Constantine. Constantine is able to sense her and blasts her back. When Astra wakes up she tell the Coin Maker they are look for The Loom of Fate. The Coin Maker knows of this object, I think she might be one of the sisters.

I really liked this episode it was good to have an episode with no Encores. I really enjoyed Sara’s talks with Ray and Nate. Ray is one of the originals so its sad to see him go. Only Sara and Mick are left. As we have seen with Mona in this episode you can really just put up at any time once you have left. We have all seen Wally, Jackson and Amaya come back and help fight. Hopefully we will see Ray and Nora again.

Can I say I really appreciate the attention they gave to Ray and Nate’s bromance over the show and this episode. Really we need to see more of that healthy male bonds where the guys love each other but its not romantic. As a society we have gotten so wrapped up in romantic love that we have forgotten that friendship love can be just as strong. It is scientifically proven losing a friend can just be as hard and hurt as much as a break up. The Greeks even had their own word for friendship love Storge. I really appreciate it being shown on here and the fact they were able to tell each other that Ray and Nate were able to tell each other they love each other. It the one thing that really needs to be normalize Storge love, sometimes people are just friends but really love and care about each other. Friendship is a relationship.

Looks like things are going to be really crazy next episode. Zari is in bed with Nate, Mick is playing with his kid and some other crazy shit is going on while looking for the loom. I am sure the title of the episode has meaning Zari, not Zari so I wonder if Zari is going to remember more of her time on the ship before.

[theinvinciblenoob]

The Europas Awards and Unconference for tech and crypto startups will be held on July 3, in London. Tickets are selling fast, so grab yours here to mingle with the cream of Europe’s startups, VCs and entrepreneurs. The event is run in association with TechCrunch, and all attendees get first access to offers for TechCrunch events later this year.

We have some amazing speakers coming, panels and breakout sessions, and even a way to get your ticket for free.

The public online voting, running for the last month, and the Europas Advisory Board of judges have submitted their results. The two have been merged and we now have our finalists. The winners will be revealed on the night.

A huge thanks to our awesome sponsors so far: Bayer Fieldhouse Associates JAG Shaw Baker Orrick IoT Tribe Outlier Ventures Coinweb Malta Blockchain Summit Burlington PR Barclays CEW ihorizon Bizzabo Isotoma TechCrunch Colombus Capital AiPod

If there are any last minute requests to sponsor the awards and get in front of the best of Europe, you can email Petra@TheEuropas.com

The Europas will take place at a ridiculously cool London venue, The Brewery, in the heart of London’s ‘Tech City’.

Below you will find lots more information, but for now, here are our finalists for the awards, all of whom are listed on Crunchbase should you require more information.

Hottest Media/Entertainment Startup Hatch Entertainment https://ift.tt/2ydx2qZ Azoomee https://ift.tt/2JCRgiV Encore https://ift.tt/1TQI1rj ACast https://ift.tt/2MtnDhO Devialet https://ift.tt/2miT9kF Blendle https://ift.tt/2JCRgPX

Hottest E-commerce/Retail Startup Deliveroo https://ift.tt/1GY5KTU bloom and wild https://ift.tt/1TQI7zo Wonderbly Catawiki https://ift.tt/1GY5NPn Eve (Mattress) Farmdrop

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Hottest Startup Accelerator Entrepreneur First https://ift.tt/2JQYY5n CyLon (Cyber London) https://ift.tt/1F4lsHw Startup Bootcamp https://ift.tt/1L1jREy Techstars London https://ift.tt/1u2uW4R Founders Factory https://ift.tt/2JPmeR5 IOT Tribe https://ift.tt/2Mulin1

Hottest Marketing/AdTech Startup Codec https://ift.tt/2JNXkkL Duel https://ift.tt/2Muljr5 AppsFlyer https://ift.tt/2JOSynh Tictail https://ift.tt/2MuljY7 Seenit https://ift.tt/2yjPpu2 Realeyes https://ift.tt/1E5iLHj

Hottest Education Startup Peergrade https://ift.tt/2BU3P1o Lexplore https://ift.tt/2MwnES2 Lingumi https://ift.tt/2ychDHf CENTURY Tech https://ift.tt/2JCRuXj ZZish https://ift.tt/2JQYZpX Aula Education https://ift.tt/2JHF94t

Hottest Mobile Startup Happn https://ift.tt/1sGGDP0 Wire https://ift.tt/1LdCBkR Huggle https://ift.tt/2JMv564 Depop https://ift.tt/2MqEXnI Fatmap

Hottest Enterprise, SaaS or B2B Startup Signal Media https://ift.tt/2JO1olb Kalo https://ift.tt/1TQIF8a talent.io https://ift.tt/2JPmf7B deepstreamHub https://ift.tt/2Mwd4uC Charlie HR https://ift.tt/2JOSCn1 UiPath https://ift.tt/2JCRC9f

Hottest Hardware Startup MysteryVibe https://ift.tt/1TQI9XU Kokoon https://ift.tt/1Pblcjn Kano Computing https://ift.tt/1P8tlUY Lilium https://ift.tt/2MultyH Ultrahaptics https://ift.tt/1TQIiun Ava https://ift.tt/1NHhbPU

Hottest Platform Economy / Marketplace DRIVY https://ift.tt/1TQHZQd Syft https://ift.tt/2JU9eNe Glovo App https://ift.tt/2JM7kLf LoveCrafts https://ift.tt/2JX53QI Lemoncat https://ift.tt/2HQ10kj Stowga https://ift.tt/2JX54UM

Hottest Health Startup Lifesum https://ift.tt/1TQIr13 Echo https://ift.tt/2JU9gVm Ada Health https://ift.tt/2HPWWk2 Lantum https://ift.tt/2MuZpDR Tictrac https://ift.tt/2y9KprY Touch Surgery https://ift.tt/1PbkJNX

Hottest Cyber Security Startup Argus Cyber https://ift.tt/1TQIOsc Fabric https://ift.tt/1PbkS3T Vchain Technology https://ift.tt/2y9KrjA PixelPin https://ift.tt/2JHFmEN APERIO Systems https://ift.tt/2JU9k7y Digital Shadows https://ift.tt/1LdCzJZ

Hottest Travel & Mobility Startup Daytrip https://ift.tt/1VojQQm https://ift.tt/2LSPaZ6 SilverRail https://ift.tt/2JU9lbC KOMPAS https://ift.tt/2fT3C2Q; https://ift.tt/2JRQuLi Hole19 https://ift.tt/2HQ5irO Blacklane https://ift.tt/2JSfOnn Seatfrog https://ift.tt/2MqEYrM

Hottest Internet of Things Startup Smarter https://ift.tt/2JU9lZa HUB Controls https://ift.tt/1sGGJ95 Kontakt https://ift.tt/UGvEnh Withings https://ift.tt/1snROKn Pycom https://ift.tt/2Mspune Puick

Hottest Technology Innovation Bragi (The Dash) https://ift.tt/1LdCA0l Ultrahaptics https://ift.tt/1TQIiun Speechmatics https://ift.tt/2Mwd51E WeTransfer https://ift.tt/1lvQELo Devialet https://ift.tt/2MsptQc SNIPS

Hottest FashionTech Startup VideDressing https://ift.tt/1Agd09Q Snaps https://ift.tt/1PbkPVY Metail https://ift.tt/2JU9o7i 21Buttons https://ift.tt/2LSPjf6 Outfittery https://ift.tt/2bc14LG

Hottest Tech For Good OLIO https://ift.tt/2JNqjoN BuffaloGrid https://ift.tt/2MsJxSr Neighbourly https://ift.tt/2JOQX0H Open Bionics https://ift.tt/2t7MZsQ Chatterbox https://ift.tt/2sYHmOt FoodCloud

Hottest A.I. Startup DigitalGenius https://ift.tt/2t7MZZS Aire https://ift.tt/2ehTdRX Cleo https://ift.tt/2jiBeZr Black Swan Data https://ift.tt/2MwnKZU StatusToday https://ift.tt/2JJVCkm Benovolent AI

Fastest Rising Startup Of The Year Revolut https://ift.tt/1TQHXrI Aircall MessageBird TransferGo DoctoLib Onfido

Hottest GreenTech Startup of The Year Viva Labs https://ift.tt/1TQIIB9 VoltStorage https://ift.tt/2JU9rju Bulb https://ift.tt/2t7MQWk Asperitas https://ift.tt/2sUoccv Metalectrique https://ift.tt/2tc8Q2f

Hottest Startup Founders Jutta Steiner, Polkadot Sriram Subramanian, Tom Carter, Ultrahaptics Joel Gibbard + Samantha Payne, Open Bionics Sean Murray, Hello Games Anna Alex + Julia Bosch, Outfittery Jasmine Anteunis Co-founder, Recast.ai

Hottest CEO of the Year Nicole Eagan, Darktrace Taavet Hinrinkus and Kristo Käärmann CEOs & Co-founders, TransferWise Demis Hassabis, CEO & Founder, DeepMind John Earner, CEO, Space Ape Games Pieter van der Does, Adyen Ismail Ahmed, World Remit

Best Angel/Seed Investor of the Year Scott Sage https://ift.tt/1TQHRQN Reshma Sohoni and Carlos Eduardo Espinal, Seedcamp Nic Brisbourne, Forward Partners Taavet Hinrikus Sarah Turner https://ift.tt/1PbkD9e Simon Murdoch https://ift.tt/1KfCnwF

Hottest VC Investor of the Year Pär-Jörgen Pärson, Northzone Christian Hernandez, Whitestar Capital https://ift.tt/1sGGJpB Sonali De Ryker, Accel Partners https://ift.tt/1PpaCk5 Eileen Burbidge, Passion Capital https://ift.tt/1Pblfvo Robert Moffat, Balderton Capital https://ift.tt/1TQIeuz Saul Klein, LocalGlobe

Hottest Blockchain/Crypto Startup Founder Jez San, FunFair Alexander Ivanov, Waves Julien Bouteloup, Flying Carpet Balazs Deme, Herdius Mona El Isa, Melonport

Hottest Blockchain Protocol Project BigchainDB https://ift.tt/2qHSGhg Aragon https://aragon.one/ Polkadot.io – Berlin – https://ift.tt/2JU9sny Melonport.com – Zug, Switzerland – https://ift.tt/2uABUPQ Radix https://ift.tt/2E4CoUE

Hottest Blockchain DApp Ascribe https://www.ascribe.io/ Verisart https://ift.tt/1qaz02o Dovu.io https://ift.tt/2HPQdGL Codex Protocol Flying Carpet

Hottest Corporate Blockchain Project Lufthansa / Winding Tree ICO EU / European Blockchain Partnership EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum IBM + Deutsche Bank, HSBC, KBC, Natixis, Rabobank, Société Générale and UniCredit Hyperledger (Linux Foundation) Billon https://ift.tt/2i7k1HY

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via TechCrunch

[creativesage]

(via Leonardo da Vinci: How to See the World Like Nobody Else)

By Zat Rana

In late 2017, Salvator Mundi, one of Leonardo da Vinci’s paintings, sold for $450.3 million.

For a child born out of wedlock in the 15th century, that’s quite an accomplishment. And yet, many would argue that this isn’t even close to being his greatest contribution to humanity.

When the word “Renaissance” is spoken, no one comes to mind faster than da Vinci. Not only was he the embodiment of an artist, but he was also a prolific inventor who contributed to everything from architecture and music to anatomy and geometry.

If you were to form a surface-level impression of this almost-mythical person, it would be hard to come to any other conclusion than the fact that he was a genius. Plain and simple. And that conclusion would indeed be right. He was a genius unlike anyone we’ve ever seen. Whether or not that genius was fully born into him at birth, however, is a different story.

While it’s difficult to draw a definite conclusion about someone who lived more than 500 years ago, it does appear that da Vinci’s genius came more from experience than good fortune, as Walter Isaacson argues in his book.

From a young age, more than any talent beyond what he earned through practice, it’s pretty clear that what drove him was his endless curiosity. Everything else can be traced back to it.

He imagined, he asked, he learned, and he did very ordinary things in an extraordinary way. While his work may be unreplicable, his method isn’t, and it shows how we can nurture similar curiosity in our own lives.

1. Observe Without Predefined Distinctions

If you look through the lens of history and study the lives of many great inventors, builders, and creators, there is a common thread that turns up more often than you would think.

While not always the case, it’s clear that some of the most important contributions that have been added to the flow of culture have been found at the intersection of science and art.

Rather than deep specialization alone, what we see is that the magic of creativity and human ingenuity is a product of the mixing and matching of different fields, perspectives, and people. It’s obvious looking at da Vinci’s contributions that he played at a similar intersection.

One thing, however, that is different about da Vinci is the fact that he didn’t really ever think of it as a distinction. There seemed to be little separation between fields in his observation.

He simply watched, noted, and contextualized things as he saw fit. It wasn’t like he was intentionally studying science one day and art another. To him, they were one and the same thing. They danced together, and it wasn’t possible to understand one without the other.

Although we are seeing more and more talk about the benefits of cross-disciplinary learning and thinking, we still create firm boundaries and are ruled by them like they inherently exist.

The truth is that there is no such thing as science or art beyond the linguistic labels we use to make sense of the different aspects of the world. There is only one reality, and that reality crosses over and mingles with itself in ways that can’t be captured by named disciplines.

Of course, naming, labeling, and creating boundaries helps us better order and make sense of the world, but at the same time, they also restrict our curiosity to a very narrow angle.

If you want to see the world for what it really is, then you have to observe without such bias.

2. Question the Mundane and the Obvious

There are 7,200 pages still left of da Vinci’s famous notebooks. That’s estimated to be about a quarter of the total volume that has ever existed. Even so, they provide incredible insight.

They contain records of his time in both Florence and Milan, they dive into his feelings of doubt and insecurity, and they discuss his relationships with friends and collaborators.

By far the most prominent appearance, however, is that of questions. And not just questions about big and important things, but also questions about seemingly small and unimportant ones. He was literally fascinated by anything and everything. In his own words:

“I roamed the countryside searching for answers to things I did not understand. Why shells existed on the tops of mountains along with the imprints of coral and plants and seaweed usually found in the sea. Why the thunder lasts a longer time than that which causes it, and why immediately on its creation the lightning becomes visible to the eye while thunder requires time to travel. How the various circles of water form around the spot which has been struck by a stone, and why a bird sustains itself in the air. These questions and other strange phenomena engage my thought throughout my life.”

While the importance of asking questions to find answers isn’t lost on most of us, to many people, some of these questions may seem uninteresting and irrelevant to their lives.

The thing they overlook, however, is that what is uninteresting and even obvious on the surface may just hold an undiscovered treasure when explored in depth. Very few things are interesting on the surface. Often, we have to make them interesting by digging into them.

Many of these questions didn’t immediately add anything to da Vinci’s works of art, but they added to the richness with which he saw the world, and that richness contributed to the way he painted valleys and rivers, landscapes and mountains, and even bodies and smiles.

There is a whole world of things worth your curiosity, but you have to look to find them.

3. Experiment like It’s Always a Work in Progress

The curse of perfectionism isn’t uncommon. It instills fear and doubt, and at some point or another, it plagues anyone who makes decisions, whether it be artists or business people.

The most apparent downside of such perfectionism is that it stops production and creation. It paralyzes people into never completing what they need to put out into the world to progress.

Given the quality of da Vinci’s painting, it’s perhaps no surprise that he was also conflicted by the need to produce only the best. In fact, the vast majority of the work he began was left unfinished, and even what he did finish, sometimes, took years and decades to complete.

For da Vinci, however, it went a step further. It wasn’t just that he needed to put his best work out there, but he also never wanted to stop improving something. What he created was always a work in progress because he knew that he wasn’t done mastering new techniques.

The Mona Lisa, for example, is thought to have been produced over the course of 10 to 14 years. Even at that point, it appears likely that da Vinci still didn’t consider it fully completed.

There were tweaks to be made and new methods to employ. When debating the possible dates of the painting, some scholars argue that parts of it could only have been done towards the end of his life due to the style used. Da Vinci was refining his skill until death.

The insight here isn’t necessarily that you shouldn’t ever finalize what you produce or decide — you should — but more that even when something is done, it can still be improved upon.

Reality isn’t static, and neither are your decisions and productions. They can and should be refined over time, and it’s on you to experiment enough to ensure you’re better tomorrow.

All You Need to Know

To conflate curiosity with genius may seem irresponsible, but when you think about curiosity as a measure of your engagement and connection to your surroundings, it isn’t too far off.

Leonardo da Vinci saw the world like nobody else, but the reason he did so was due to the choices he made in his interactions with it. He chose to always be aware and attuned.

The way you interact with and understand reality informs the parts of it that stand out to you. Curiosity is a subtle but potent weapon that each and every one of us can use to influence it.

Being curious isn’t a guarantee of any kind of ingenuity, but there is no genius without it.

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