#deadmans rock roar

[fallinblossoms]

デッドマンズ (DEADMANS) - ROCK ROAR

[ensemblewithsenpai]

Nov 14th: DEADMANS’ ROCK ROAR animation music video has been released. Its beatmap will be added today at 9:30PM JST.

[xitty]

Akatsuki album: Konjiki senya yumebutai is indeed really really good. ❤️ Ito (the lead track) is good too but Konjiki senya yumebutai leaves it in shade. DEADMANS' Rock Roar is good too. Keito's solo is great! Surprisingly rock! Nice bass. Kuro's solo needs more listening, it's nice but...? Souma's solo has lovely verses but chorus lacks something maybe. It might grow on me though.

[ajwrites52]

Batober Day 1-ALIVE

Solomon Grundy, born on a Monday, 

Christened on a stark and stormy Tuesday, 

Married on a grey and grisly Wednesday, 

Took ill on a mild and mellow Thursday, 

Grew worse on a bright and breezy Friday, 

Died on a grey and glorious Saturday, 

Buried on a baking, blistering Sunday.

Batman arrived at the edge of the swamp, the fog obscuring all but his cold white eyes and the yellow circle encompassing the sigil on his chest. His boots squelched against the muck and moss under them as he wandered deeper within the bog. A chill travels down the Dark Knight's spine; he quickly pivots only to be sent flying through a nearby clearing of trees. 

"Ow." Batman slowly rose from the rubble, his vision slowly returning as a gigantic shadow loomed over him. His eyes widened, and he quickly leaped to the side, barely avoiding the giant grey fists that slammed against the ground. Landing on his feet, the Caped Crusader glared at the charging hulk of undead flesh stampeding towards him. 

"SOLOMON GRUNDY, BORN ON A MONDAY!" 

Batman fired a grappling line upwards, using it with Grundy's back to launch himself behind the zombie. Grundy growled and turned, wrenching the trunk of a tree out of the earth before throwing it at Batman like a javelin. 

"Christened on a Tuesday," replied Batman, barely dodging the deadly projectile before launching his grapple line towards the giant. The hook flies past his head, hooking onto the tree trunk behind him, pulling the Dark Knight forward giving him enough momentum to slam into his chest. He hissed in pain as both fell into the murky waters of the swamp, with Batman doing his best to hold his breath as Grundy reached for his neck. Batman responded in earnest with an elbow to the dapper deadman's nose, breaking it but doing nothing to stop him. 

"Crap!" 

Batman groaned as Grundy's massive hands wrapped themselves around his cowl. It was then his turn to be the projectile thrown. He launched out of the water like a bullet, crashing into the nearest mud pit with a loud SPLOOSH! Grundy then followed him out of the water, now huffing on account of his shattered nostril. 

"MARRIED ON A WEDNESDAY!" Grundy threw a punch, crashing into the mud where Batman landed and caking his fist in the wet earth. 

"T-Took ill on Thursday," Batman spoke, rising from behind as Grundy removed his fist to find three Batarangs embedded into his rotten flesh. After a series of faint beeps, the weapons exploded in a burst of heat and light, blinding Grundy. 

"GREW WORSE ON FRIDAY!" yelled Grundy, flailing his arms in response to being blinded. Batman fled into the shadows, firing his grappling line to act as a makeshift trip-wire. The giant tumbled around. Eventually, his ankles meet the cable, forcing him to fall into the same mud that once held Batman. 

"Died on a Saturday." 

Batman dove into the waters, using his chance as he swam more profound into the waters below. Clicking the switch on his buckle ignited the lantern on his chest, illuminating the darkness of the water. He scanned the area as best he could, his eyes widening as they finally caught sight of their target. He swam over, grabbing hold of it as he fired his line once more to propel himself out of the water and into the cold night air. 

"*cough* *cough*!" Batman groaned as he emerged from the water. In his gloved right hand was a withered and old rope connected to the source of his target. A noose wrapped around the neck of a corpse long since devoured by fish and maggots of the swamp. "Finally." 

Grundy roared as he stood over Batman, his fist ready to pulverize the Dark Detective at a moment's notice before stopping as the cowled figure removed the noose from the deadman's neck. The sun slowly rose over the horizon as Batman fell to his knees and began to dig into the mud. Grundy, frozen like a statue as it watched his opponent dig before placing the corpse into the hole. He then covered the hole, used his Batarang to etch words into a nearby stone, and used smaller rocks to surround the grave. 

"Buried on a Sunday." Batman removed his cowl, revealing his tired expression as he stared at the grave before him. "I'm sorry you were kept awake for so long."

Tears then fell from Grundy's dried eyes, his body fading away to dust as Bruce stared at the grave. The headstone placed reading the words-

HERE LIES CYRUS GOLD. 1944-1964 May you live on as you finally achieve peace.

Bruce stood up once more. From his belt, he produced a white rose before placing it under the headstone. As he walked away, he threw the noose into the water to never be seen again. Reverting to his cowled self, Batman then left the swamp as day shined over the grave. 

"Thank you." whispered a voice in the Dark Knight's ear. A faint smile found its way on his face; behind him stood the specter of a well-dressed young man with a peaceful expression on his face. As if he was finally alive for the first time in years. 

-THE END-

[clareguilty]

Bewitched by a Deadman's Heart

I had an anon request Pirate AU Gabe and then I took a month to write it im so sorry anon i hope youre still here

Read it here on the AO3 Gabriel Reyes/Reader | Pirate AU Rating: Mature/Explicit | No Warnings Word count: ~2600

You never took your eyes off the captain as he stalked back and forth through the hold. Sweeping black and crimson coat, broad hat. He had worn a white bone mask when he entered; now you could see his face. 

He wasn’t human. Not fully. Monstrous, a beast made more of smoke than bone. You had seen men like him before, cursed by Neptune. They were all the same, unrepentant bastards. You knew exactly what he wanted.

Chains chafed and scratched at your wrists and ankles, and the gag was making your jaw ache terribly. Being held prisoner was unsurprisingly dreadful. A lantern swayed violently, casting strange living shadows through your cell.

Just get on with it. You rolled your eyes. Mortals were always so predictable. This whole fiasco was more of an annoyance than anything.

The captain disappeared, vanished between one step and the next. You jumped as you felt a presence behind you. He had rematerialized within the bars of your cell.

A large rough hand grabbed your jaw, forcing your head back until you met dark eyes. 

“I hate for things to be this way,” he said, voice cold. You didn’t have it in you to believe him. How many cruel men had sailed the seas, capturing and hunting your brothers and sisters? You scoffed behind the gag.

The captain’s grip tightened and then released all at once. You slumped to the floor at his feet, glaring up at him with as much contempt as you could manage. His expression softened minutely. “You’re innocent. It was not you who cursed me with this form.”

Then let me go, you thought.

“I need you to summon Neptune. I need him to reverse what he has done.”

You did not lessen the force of your glare. The captain held your gaze: a stalemate.

But mortals lack patience, and he quickly caved. A heavy boot collided with your side, and you cried out behind the gag. Scrambling as far as your chains would allow, you never looked away.

The captain growled and disappeared once more. He emerged from the shadows, storming out of the hold and slamming the door behind him.

You slumped in your binds. Captain Gabriel Reyes, the Reaper of the Seas. The ship you were currently imprisoned on could be none other than the Blackwatch.

If anyone were to capture you, then at least it was the most fearsome pirate alive. Your pride couldn’t have handled if you had been stolen by some nobody with hardly a feat to his name.

For all the rumors that surrounded Captain Reyes and the Blackwatch, you had not known about Neptune’s curse. What had he done to earn such a fate? You wondered if he had been cursed before he turned to piracy, or if he had committed a crime worse than any other during his reign of terror.

He wanted the curse lifted. He wanted Neptune himself to undo his punishment. How precocious. How would your situation change if Captain Reyes knew you were capable of granting him his wish? It wasn’t difficult magic. You had taken on far greater feats back in the time of heroes. It had been centuries since you had really been able to test yourself.

Not that you were very inclined to help out the bastard that captured you, trussed you up, tossed you in a cell, and kicked you. Being a Nereid didn’t mean that you were incapable of bruising.

You sulked a few hours in the dim cell. The Reaper would be back. You would be able to survive torture if it came to that, but you certainly hoped this beast knew better. You looked forward to being released from your chains, then you could exact vengeance for your mistreatment.

The door to the hold creaked open and the captain stepped inside. He was still in his crimson coat, cutlass at his hip, yet he carried a bowl of food and a bottle.

Something emerged from the shadows behind you, pulling the gag from your lips. It was a neat trick.

Reyes stopped outside the door to your cell. “I-” He genuinely looked unsure. “I wasn’t sure if you needed to eat. I’ve brought you food.”

You scoffed, eyeing the bowl with disdain. “I enjoy divine offerings and sweet wine.” Divine offerings were a thing lost to time, but stale bread and boiled vegetables held no appeal for you.

The captain set the plate down and vanished. He rematerialized within the cell, leaned back against the bars, arms crossed.

You stared up at him, expectantly.

He was quiet for a long while. You waited. At last, he sighed and spoke. “I’m sorry for stealing you away.”

“Then let me go.” If he truly was sorry, he would have freed you.

“I can’t do that.” His voice was sharp. “You’re my only hope of lifting this damned curse.”

You slumped in your bonds, but your curiosity had gotten the better of you. “What did you even do to deserve the wrath of Neptune?” 

The captain’s frown deepened. “What haven’t I done? I staged a mutiny against my commander in the navy, turned against crown and company, attacked and pillaged any ship that crossed my path. I’ve slain. I’ve slaughtered. This curse has made me the perfect killer.”

You didn’t have it in you to be impressed. “Many men have done worse than you and never ended up cursed by the god of the sea.” 

The captain sighed. "It was after a victory against Commander Morrison-"

"The one you mutinied?" You asked.

“Yes, the one I mutinied. He's my greatest rival, always armed with the best of the king's dogs. We had won a battle, and gained quite a bit from it. I was boastful -- drunk -- and talking to my crew.

"'Just you wait,' I said. 'We'll take down every ship on these seas and sail right to old Neptune himself. He doesn’t stand a chance against us.' That was enough, apparently. A storm swept in, and suddenly… I was this."

You laughed. “He’s done far worse for far less offense.” Such a curse for such a trivial mistake -- the god must have been rather cranky that day. “You insult the god of the sea and decide the best way to make amends is to capture a member of his court? To tie her up and beat her? You sure have a strange method of going about things.”

The captain looked sheepish, almost repentant. 

“I have a request.” 

Captain Reyes glanced up in surprise. He probably wasn’t used to his prisoners being so bold.

“I’d like to see the moon,” you continued. 

“The moon?”

“I can still feel her call. The tides have risen. Could I just see her, please?”

You could see his mind working, trying to determine if this was a trick. That’s not to say that you wouldn’t take any chance you could get to escape, but you were patient. You would wait for the right opportunity.

The captain made his choice, kneeling beside you to release the chains on your ankles. Your arms remained bound, and he lifted you to your feet with remarkable strength. He helped you out of the cell and up to the main deck, gently lifting you through the hatch. The members of his crew watched you, but didn’t say anything. You kept your gaze straight ahead.

The water was inky black save for the silver crests of waves. You longed to dive in, to return to the safety of Neptune’s court and escape the troubles of mortals. But the captain held fast to your chains.

The clouds parted, and the brilliant light of the moon washed over the ship deck. You basked in the glow. It was safety and comfort after the hours you had spent locked away.

captain Reyes was surprisingly patient, letting you gaze into the sky until the clouds rolled through once more. The darkness ached, but you resigned yourself to another sentence in your cell.

“Would you-” The captain struggled to find his words. “I do not have to take you back down below deck.” He said.

“And I suppose you’ll be setting me free then?” you smiled dryly.

“I’m sorry. I can’t. But you could remain in my quarters for the time being. Until you call to Neptune, until my curse is lifted, I cannot let you leave this ship. But I can make your time here as comfortable as possible.”

You considered his offer. “How do you know I will not simply steal away after you have fallen asleep?” It was a good way to get you locked back in the cell, but you couldn’t keep yourself from testing him.

“I don’t sleep. The curse… I am unable to rest, to dream.” He looked anguished.

“And you wish to torture yourself further by inviting me to fill your waking hours?” 

He pulled sharply on your chains. “I can lock you up again if that is what you truly wish.” His voice was an inhuman growl.

You yanked back, defiant. The bruises would look horrid, but you weren’t about to cower before this beast. “You forget who has the true power here. Locking me away will only worsen your punishment. If you thought Neptune was angry before, then you should imagine how he punishes those who have harmed the members of his court.”

The wind whipped around you, waves rising taller and taller. A crewmate shouted from below deck as the entire ship rocked on the raging sea. The captain’s eyes widened in fear. Since your capture, you had hidden the true power of your magic.

“I won’t free you,” he snarled. “Not until my curse is lifted.”

“You will treat me with the respect I deserve as a spirit of the sea,” you demanded. The ocean roared. Your threats were not empty. The captain acquiesced.

“I will protect and care for you within my power. You must call to Neptune. Have him free me.”

The waves began to calm, wind dying down between one breath and the next. You never took your eyes off Captain Reyes. “Take me to your quarters.”

-

He locked the door behind him as soon as you were inside. You took a seat on the fanciest, most plush looking chair you could find, eyes scanning the walls and shelves. Captain Reyes’s quarters were luxurious, filled with treasures and trophies from his conquests.

He dropped a bottle into your lap. You inspected it carefully.

���Sweet wine,” he said, removing his coat and cutlass to hang. “I’m all out of ‘offerings’.”

You pried the cork from the bottle with your teeth and took a sip of the wine. It certainly was sweet, nicer than you expected a pirate to have. You helped yourself to a long pull.

Captain Reyes was slouched in a chair across the room, looking decidedly mortal as he rubbed his forehead and let out a long sigh.

“Why do you refuse to do as I ask?”

You cradled your bottle, rattling the chains around your wrists as you raised your eyebrow. “I consider myself very generous when I’m not being snatched away by pirates. To be honest, I’m waiting for the first chance I get to destroy your ship and crew and escape.”

“I may just hunt you down again, you know. I could even find a way to kill you.” His words were empty, though. There was no heart behind them.

“Why do you want your curse lifted so badly?” you asked. “Does it not make you the most powerful man on the seas? Strong? Tireless? Unkillable?”

He disappeared from the chair, rematerializing right above you. Monstrous and formless, black smoke and long teeth and glowing eyes. “Is there not more than just power and glory? I am not the monster I was cursed to be. This form… I’m a beast! My own crew fears me. I’m alone. Unable to sleep or dream or feel. All of my victories mean nothing.”

You dropped the bottle in shock, wincing as it clattered and rolled across the fine rug. 

Captain Reyes was gone. Back across the room, shoulders hunched. He leaned against the wall, heaving with breaths he didn’t need.

You stood, chains rattling as you slowly made your way towards him. Reaching slowly, you placed a hand on his arm. He didn’t react to your touch. “What will you do? When you are mortal again?”

Slowly, he turned to look at you. Defeated. Captain Gabriel Reyes, the Reaper of the Blackwatch. He looked defeated.

“I’ll carry on. I’ll take my crew and my ships, and I’ll keep on as I always have.”

“Without your curse, you would be in danger.” You led him over to the bed. He sat beside you, staring at his hands. They were clawed, monstrous.

“I’m not afraid of danger.”

“What are you afraid of?” You clasped one of his hands between your own.

“I’m afraid of being alone. Of being unwanted. I’ll spend eternity as a monster, and one day I may lose myself and become nothing but beast.”

It wasn’t what you expected. The ruthless Reaper, afraid of being alone. Your heart broke for him. This wasn’t what he deserved.

“Can you unbind me?” you asked. “I promise no harm will come to your crew.”

The chains fell to the floor. You knelt before the captain. He refused to meet your eyes. Placing a hand on either side of his face, you lifted his head. His eyes were pleading.

Your lips brushed his. He recoiled at first, not expecting the touch. “Please,” you whispered, “can you trust me?”

He held still. And you kissed him once more. He responded this time yet was still hesitant to touch you. Deeper and deeper, you ran your fingers through his disheveled curls. He moaned into your mouth, and your lips curled against his.

He finally pulled away, pressing his forehead to yours as he panted and gasped for air.

You let out an undignified yelp as he scooped you into his arms and laid you on the bed. “I feel… What did you do?” He looked at his hands, dark scarred skin in the place of monstrous claws. 

“I lifted the curse.”

He stared at you in disbelief, grinning widely. “You could have done it all along? You did do it! I’m… How can I thank you?”

It warmed you to see him so overjoyed. You remembered the satisfaction of helping out heroes a millennium before. 

He was handsome, no longer a shadowy monster. Dark, scarred skin. Full lips. Curly black hair that fell across his forehead. He was still broad, huge even for a man, but now it was flesh and muscle under the thin fabric of his shirt.

The captain was kissing you again, so deeply and with so much passion. “Is this okay?” he asked.

“It’s wonderful.”

He pushed aside the fabric of your dress, kissing every inch of exposed skin. You trailed your hands over his arms and shoulders, feeling the strength and muscle from years of living aboard a ship. 

Clothes fell to the floor and soon the both of you were bare. You admired the captain’s newfound mortal body. Every scar, every mark, every dip and curve. He shuddered and gasped at each touch, not used to the sensation after so many years under the curse. You let him pin you down and ravish you. He couldn’t get enough.

You finally pushed him away, pulling him by the hair from between your thighs. “You’re mortal now,” you reminded him. “You need to rest.”

“Will you still be here when I wake?” he asked.

“I’ll stay here with you.” You opened your arms. He pulled you in close. You listened as his heartbeat slowed and his breathing evened. The ship rocked and creaked on the waves, moonlight streaming in through the glass windows.

[kittyanonymity]

Song List!! :D Some of these are super sad, ngl guys. I put warnings next to a couple songs just cause I know some of the lyrics or subject matter could be alarming, so watch out for that! I’ve been listening to this playlist non stop for like 2 weeks, just using it to get inspired for my daminette fic I started lol 

Maybe you guys’ll like it too! <3 The genres are pretty mixed, so be ready for a bit of everything lmao

Gonna want a read more, I think lol 

Stay - The Score

Natural - Imagine Dragons

Hero - Skillet 

Black and Blue - Long Hawke 

Monster - Starset

I Walk the Line - Halsey

Me Against The World - Superchick

Blue Eyes - Within Temptation

Centuries - Fall Out Boy

Walking on Air - Kerli

Decode - Paramore

Red Stars - The Birthday Massacre

Love Goes On and On (feat. Amy Lee) - Lindsey Stirling

Dance With the Devil - Breaking Benjamin 

I Don’t Wanna Die - Hollywood Undead

Devour - Disturbed

Lips Like Morphine - Kill Hannah

Death of Me - PVRIS

Not Strong Enough (feat. Brent Smith) - Apocalyptica

Warriors - Imagine Dragons

Rise - Katy Perry

Welcome Home - Cohered and Cambria

Wicked World - Cold

You’re Mine - Disturbed

Cold (But I’m Still Here) - Evans Blue 

Think Twice - Eve 6

Cirice - Ghost

Gasoline - Halsey

Angel - Theory of a Deadman

A Thousand Years - Christina Perri

Champion - Fall Out Boy

Rock What You Got (Fight Underdog Fight! Mix) - Superchick

All I Ever Wanted - Basshunter

Summertime Sadness - Within Temptation

Take a Bow - Rihanna

Undisclosed Desires - Muse

you should see me in a crown - Billie Eilish

Set Me on Fire - Flyleaf

Satisfy - Nero

Running Up That Hill - Meg Myers

Phoenix - League of Legends (Song slaps, don’t judge me)

Strange Boy - Kerli

Roar - Katy Perry 

The Mystic - Adam Jensen

S.C.A.V.A. - Hollywood undead

Misery Business - Paramore

Wanna Be Missed - Hayley Kiyoko 

Bound to You - Christina Aguilera

Anthem for the Broken - MISSIO

Taking Over Me - Evanescence 

Memories - Within Temptation 

Funhouse - P!nk

Mirror - Barlow Girl

The Last Night - Skillet 

Unfamiliar - The Birthday Massacre

Hey Hey (Vampires vs. Cheerleaders Mix) - Superchick

I Bet My Life - Imagine Dragons

Your Betrayal - Bullet for My Valentine 

New Day - Hollywood undead

Broken Pieces (feat. Lacey) - Apocalyptica 

I Don’t Care (feat. Adam Gontier) - Apocalyptica

Already Over - Red

Together Again - Evanescence

Mad Hatter - Melanie Martinez

Shatter Me (feat Lzzy Hale) - Lindsey Stirling

Miss Murder - AFI 

Forevermore (feat. Broken Iris) - Aroth

Passion - AWOLNATION

You Call Me a Bitch Like It’s a Bad Thing - Halestorm

Shapeshifter (feat. Styles of Beyond) - Celldweller

Whatever It Takes - Hollywood undead

I Will Possess Your Heart - Death Cab for Cutie

It’s the Fear - Within Temptation

Can I Exist - MISSIO

I Can’t Do This - Plumb

One Step at a Time - Jordin Sparks

Only Girl (In the World) - Rihanna

That’s What You Get - Paramore

Never Say Die - CHVRCHES

Devil’s Backbone - The Civil Wars

Kill the Lights - The Birthday Massacre

Still Here - Digital Daggers

Immortals - Fall Out Boy

No Light, No Light - Florence + The Machine

Castle - Halsey

Hearts a Mess - Gotye

Where Did the Beat Go? - P!nk

NFWMB - Hozier (it’s the pitched lesbian version though)

Next to Me - Imagine Dragons

Blood in the Cut - K.Flay 

Love is Dead - Kerli 

Crazy Angel - Kill Hannah

Dark Paradise - Lana Del Rey

How to be a Heartbreaker - Marina and The Diamonds

You Don’t Belong - Daughtry

What You Want - Evanescence

Tag, You’re It - Melanie Martinez (potential TW for this song)

Bottom of the Deep Blue Sea - MISSIO 

Had Enough - Breaking Benjamin

Ricochet - Starset

Young - Hollywood Undead

Stockholm Syndrome - Muse

High Hopes - Panic! At the Disco

Crushcrushcrush - Paramore

What’s Wrong - PVRIS

Rock This World - Hilary Duff

In the Dark - The Birthday Massacre

My Girl’s Ex-Boyfriend - Relient k

Pretty Girl (The Way) - Sugarcult

Heathens - twenty one pilots

The Bird and The Worm - The Used

Only One - Yellowcard

Now You’re Gone - Basshunter

Bad Boy - Cascada

Something Just Like This - The Chainsmokers & Coldplay

Live For The Night - Krewella

I Am Woman - Jordin Sparks

Secret Door - Evanescence

Defeated - Breaking Benjamin

U Don’t Know (feat. Wayne Coyne) - Alison Wonderland 

Black Dahlia - Hollywood Undead

Someone Who Cares - Three Days Grace

Bewitched (feat. Lady Nogrady) - Blood on the Dance Floor (don’t judge me, it’s a fun song)

Hold On (feat. Brave) - Arman Cekin

Sever The Ties (feat. Esther Sparkles) - Arman Cekin

Memories of a Girl I Haven’t Met - Celldweller

Paris - M.O.O.N.

Guilt - Nero

Love Me (feat. Jacob Banks) - Wide Awake

Daughters of Darkness - Halestorm

Never Alone - Barlow Girl

Anthem - Superchick

Burn Away - The Birthday Massacre

God is a woman - Arian Grande

I Did It for Love (feat Sean Garrett) - BoA

Beautiful Liar - Beyonce & Shakira

Angel With a Shotgun - The Cab

Anthem of the Angels - Breaking Benjamin

Everytime - Britney Spears

Haters - Hilary Duff

I Look So Good (Without You) - Jessie James

Battlefield - Jordin Sparks

Weight of the World - Evanescence

Wide Awake - Katy Perry

Cannonball - Kiesza

I Need to Know - Marc Anthony

Problem - Natalia Kills

Rude Boy - Rihanna

Counting Stars - OneRepublic

According to You - Orianthi

The Truth About Love - P!nk

I Hate This Part - The Pussycat Dolls

Eternity - Rachel Taylor

Towards the Sun - Rihanna

Ready to Fight - Roby Fayer & Tom Gefen

Brave - Sara Bareilles

Good For You (feat. A$AP Rocky) - Selena Gomez

Invisible - Skylar Grey (potential TW here) 

This Love - The Veronicas 

Beautiful - Akon

Too Little, Too Late - JoJo

Knock You Down - Keri Hilson

Bang - Armchair Cynics

Shut Your Mouth - Attack Attack!

Leaving Tonight - The Birthday Massacre

Breaking the Silence - Breaking Benjamin

Beautiful Girl - Broken Iris 

All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me) - Bullet for My Valentine

Stupid Girl - Cold

Traitor - Daughtry

Love and Tragedy - Digital Summer

Haunted - Evanescence

Iris - Goo Goo Dolls

Beautiful With You - Halestorm

My Name is Human - Highly Suspect

Can’t Love Me - It’s Alive

Gone - My Darkest Days

How Did You Love - Shinedown

It’s Not Me It’s You - Skillet 

Halo - Starset

Until the Day I Die - Story of the Year

Bitter Taste - Three Days Grace

Always Find Me Here - Transit 

Liar Liar (Burn in Hell) - The Used

The Heart of Everything - Within Temptation

I Want Out - Young Guns

World So Cold - 12 Stones

[silverfootstepswrites]

Middle Ground [2]

Stage 2: Desert Level

“Naruto.”

“Yeah?”

“What’re you doing?”

“Chewing on a leaf.”

Sasuke pinched the bridge of his nose. “I mean... I can see that. Just... why?” he pressed. 

Naruto, sitting on a stump, stared up at him, eyes wide. “This is supposed to have medicinal properties. It’ll heal me, like a few health points, I guess,” answered Naruto. 

Sasuke stared at Naruto. Then pointed at Sakura who stood a couple feet away. Also staring. 

“Why don’t you just go to Sakura instead of chewing on a plant?”

Naruto shrugged a shoulder. “An old lady in a cave told me this would heal me a couple points. So I wanted to try it. I guess I feel a little better,” Naruto answered. 

Sasuke turned around to look at Sakura, who just shook her head. 

“Where’d you even get that?” Sasuke then pressed. 

Naruto’s expression brightened. “Oh! Off that big spider we killed yesterday.”

Sakura’s forehead wrinkled. “Why... how... How would a spider be carrying a medicinal herb?” she demanded. 

Naruto shrugged again. “In its... inventory, I guess?”

Both Sasuke and Sakura turned around to look pleadingly at Kakashi. “Do you understand him”” Sakura asked. 

“I rarely understand anything the three of you talk about,” answered Kakashi before burying his nose deeper in his battered book.

-----

Once their party united, they took the quiet merchant’s path through the forests. Where the biggest danger were the occasional mosquitoes that swarmed them whenever they passed by water. 

After several days, the terrain grew more and more rocky. And the lush carpet of moss and plants began to turn scraggly. Withering up until all that was left was stone and sand. Soon, even those plants disappeared, and they found themselves on the edge of a massive desert. 

“We don’t have the supplies for this,” Neji warned as they surveyed the area. 

“And where are we even going anyway?” Sakura then demanded, turning to Naruto. 

“Oh, shit. Did I not show you the map?” Naruto replied. He set his pack down to pull a map from inside. It was made of tattered parchment. He glanced around before Sasuke pointed at a slab of rock jutting out of the ground. Nodding, Naruto walked over to it to spread the map open. Everyone followed to look at it. 

“So, we’re... here,” Naruto said. He pointed to a spot on the map. Neji leaned over to nudge Naruto’s finger into the right spot. Naruto gave a sheepish laugh.  Sakura pinched the bridge of her nose. 

“And we gotta go all the way up to the Deadman’s Peak,” explained Naruto. The tip of his finger traced a path through the desert, through a stretch of blue, and then up a jagged mountain range on the other side. “There’s an ancient temple that’s supposed to house a portal to the Abyss.” 

“And once we’re there, what do we do? ‘Hey there, Demon King’ and-” Tenten interrupted. And then she made a jabbing gesture as she blew a raspberry. Neji snorted beside her. 

“Well, no. I’m supposed to get some legendary weapon along the way. It’s at the bottom of the Sleeping Gulf,” Naruto recited as he recalled some sort of prophecy. 

“Naruto,” Sakura called. 

Eyes bright, Naruto lifted his head to look at her. “Yeah, Sakura?”

“Isn’t the Sleeping Gulf a sea?” she inquired. She pointed at the looping letters that spelled out the name. 

Naruto glanced down at her finger, then back up at her face to nod. “Yep.”

Just to confirm that she wasn’t losing her mind, Sakura looked over her shoulder at the rest of the party. Neji shook his head, as if to warn her that it was pointless to have this conversation. Kisame also made a face as he squinted down at the map. Sasuke didn’t give her any sort of reaction- just stared off into the distance.

“Naruto, can you swim?” Sakura queried. 

Naruto gave a cheerful “nope”, lips popping at the end of the word. 

Sakura nodded a little. “Okay, well, do you have some kind of artifact to get us there, then?”

Naruto shook his head. Normally, this was the part where Sasuke made a sarcastic remark. Oddly enough, he remained silent. Instead, he began very slowly rubbing his temples.

Sakura nodded again. “Fine. Last question.”

“Uh-huh?”

“Then what are we supposed to do?” questioned Sakura, a sweet smile curving her lips. 

Naruto shrugged. “I figured someone would come up with a plan. This kind of stuff always just works out, right?” he replied. 

As Sasuke’s expression turned murderous, Kakashi, who had read the warning signs in his face, seized him by the back of the cloak. At the same time, Sakura grabbed his hand before he had a chance to grab an arrow from the quiver on his back. 

“Okay. Just wanted to make sure we were on the same page,” Sakura declared in a light voice. 

“He’s gonna get us killed,” Sasuke growled. 

“I know. I know,” Sakura sighed. She used her other hand to pat his back.

They both looked up when they felt a hand clap down on their shoulders. It was Kisame, who gave them a smile. 

“I saw a town a few miles back. Let’s get drunk,” he suggested. 

“Fine,” Sasuke agreed right away. 

“Tenten, let’s go!” Sakura called over her shoulder as she followed after them. 

“Wait for me!” Naruto yelled, scrambling to fold his map up. 

They got uproariously drunk. The kind of drunk where the room started to spin when they turned their heads too fast. 

“Tenten,” Sakura said, patting the back of the other woman’s hand. 

“Yeah?” A smile on her lips, Tenten turned to her. “What?”

“I’m...” Sakura paused to hiccup and then tried again. “I’m so glad you’re here.” And then she leaned in closer. Tenten copied her. 

“I mean, like.... do you- do you see what I have to put up with?” Sakura added. And then both of them looked over at Naruto attempting to chug down an entire tankard of ale. This wouldn’t have been that impressive had they not noticed the five empty tankards sitting beside him. His feat had gathered a small crowd of spectators. A roar of approval rose when Naruto banged his tankard on the table and demanded another. 

Across from Naruto sat Kisame, who was the loudest voice encouraging him to keep drinking. Sasuke sat beside Naruto, still scowling. The plus side was that he didn’t seem intent on attacking Naruto anymore. Asuma had struck up a conversation with a troupe of traveling musicians on the other side of the tavern. His easy smile made it easy for him to ingratiate himself with almost anyone, Sakura had noticed. Kakashi sat in a corner where he had a clear view of both everyone in their party and the door. 

Sakura’s eyes returned to Naruto when she heard him cough. He sputtered on his drink, drawing more laughter and some jeers as they urged him to finish. She wondered whether they had a tab riding on what seemed to be a rather intense competition. 

“The bartender says that if someone vomits, we need to clean it up,” Neji announced as he set more drinks down in front of them. 

“Lovely,” muttered Tenten. And then she shared a snicker with Neji as they stole glances at the grizzled old man staring at them from behind the bar. Sakura barely even noticed this interaction as she heard Naruto slam down his empty drink. Another cheer rose from the crowd that had gathered around his table on the other side of the room.

Sakura continued watching a little longer before she raised her right hand. Her holy symbol hung from a golden chain that she kept wrapped around her forearm. It was probably meant to be worn around the neck, but she preferred it closer to her hand. Plus, the gold eagle was a beautiful work of craftsmanship. 

Tenten’s eyes followed her as she cast a little spell. Sparkles appeared around the tankards that had just arrived at Naruto’s table. None of the people who grabbed the drinks seemed to notice anything unusual. 

“What was that?” asked Tenten. 

“I purified their drinks. It’ll taste the same, but there’s no alcohol in them,” Sakura explained. She watched as Naruto and Kisame each took huge gulps. Their eyes locked and they both began chugging as quickly as possible. “That should keep them from getting too drunk. For now,” she added. 

“Cool. Could you do that for ours, too?” Tenten then queried. 

Sakura turned her attention to their tankards. 

“I mean, yeah, I could,” she admitted. 

“Well don’t. We need to get more drunk,” Tenten then instructed. She grabbed the handle of her drink. Laughing, Sakura lifted hers to knock it against Tenten’s. And then they looked at Neji, waiting. He heaved a sigh, a smile crossing his face as he obliged them with a knock of his drink too.

After another hour or so, Tenten complained of a headache and went to get some air. Before Sakura could suggest that Neji go with her, he turned to give her a pointed look. 

“Go. Go,” she urged him with flaps of her hand. Neji hesitated to look around the room. He locked eyes with Kakashi before he looked at Sakura. Kakashi dipped his head. And then Neji was out of his chair to hurry after Tenten, who apparently was prone to starting fights when she drank too much. 

Sakura watched him, a smirk on her lips. She hadn’t understood what Sasuke had meant all those weeks back. Why would Tenten be the reason why Neji was so tolerant of other races? Elves, especially sun elves, were well-known for their superiority complex. It was the sort of arrogance that rubbed most people the wrong way. But after spending every day together with them, Sakura finally got it. Caught the way his gaze lingered on her. How he smiled just listening to her speak. She wondered whether Tenten had any idea of the elf’s complete infatuation with her. 

“Well hello there, pretty lady.”

Sakura clicked her tongue as someone sat down across from her.

Across the room, Kisame’s head perked up as he heard the slurred pick-up line. Sakura had the expression of someone trying to ignore a mosquito whining in her ear. In front of her sat one of the bar’s other patrons, who had been quietly sitting by himself up until now. As he leaned in to speak, Sakura wrinkled her nose.

Kisame slammed his tankard down. Wiping the foam on his mouth with the back of his hand, he got out of his chair. But as he took a step forward, he saw both Sasuke and Naruto shaking their heads. 

“Don’t bother. It’s faster if she handles it,” Naruto assured him.  

“Five gold that she sends him flying across the room,” Sasuke bet. 

“Nah. She’s gonna set his cloak on fire,” insisted Naruto. And when they both noticed Kisame still standing, they motioned for him to sit. Grunting, Kisame eased back down in his seat, glaring.

Across the room, Sakura heaved a sigh. She had tried telling her unwelcome companion that she was waiting for her friends to return. And that she wasn’t interested in any more company. But the man just went on rambling about himself, her beauty, and mostly himself.

As she began to feel a headache building in her temples, Sakura spoke again: “Hey. Buddy.”

“Yeah, angel?”

Sakura finally looked up, resting her chin in her hand. “How about you go fuck yourself?” she suggested with a sweet smile. And then she opened her mouth to release a flood of black insects. 

“Holy fuck!” the man exclaimed, stumbling backwards. 

A few of the tavern’s other patrons jumped out of their seats too until they saw that the insects only followed the man as he ran around the room. Some grumbled as he knocked into their tables, sloshing their drinks. As the bugs caught up to him, they began biting his neck, his hands, even his face. Screaming, he burst out of the tavern, coughing when some of the bugs flew into his mouth.

He took off into the night, squeals of terror mingling with the fading buzz of insect wings. 

Sakura closed her mouth. A funny look crossed her face. She spat out one last bug into her hand. It gave a pitiful whine as it took off into the air, trying to catch up to the rest of the horde. 

Naruto and Kisame roared with laughter, fists banging against the table. Sasuke smirked as he took another gulp of his alcohol. He scooted over as Sakura settled in beside him. 

“I’m curious about something,” Kisame suddenly said. Everyone looked at him. 

“If that’s what he gets on the first date, what does he get on the second?”

Naruto burst into hysterical giggles. Sakura kept a straight face for about five seconds before she threw her head back and laughed too. 

When Tenten and Neji re-entered the room a couple minutes later, they found Sakura and Naruto both howling with laughter. Naruto banged his fists on the table. Sakura sat with her head pillowed on her arms, just her back shaking. It almost looked like she was crying until she lifted her head and they could see her bright red cheeks.

“You should’ve told him to buzz off,” Kisame suggested. This was evidently not the first pun he had unleashed because Sasuke groaned, his forehead hitting the table. 

The following morning, their party was back on the road. Although Tenten and Asuma winced a little at the sunlight, they seemed to otherwise be in fine shape. Even Naruto, who had earned death glares from the barkeep for drinking an entire cask, was sprightly as they headed down the dirt path. 

Kisame squinted at Naruto’s back. And then he hung back a little to fall into step with Sakura. She shook her head when he offered his canteen of water. 

“So.... Doc,” he said. 

“Yeah?”

“You seem kind of winded,” Kisame began. 

“Do I?” Sakura answered with a smile. 

But Kisame went on. “Yeah. Almost like you’re tired from casting some kind of healing spell on all of us or something,” he observed. 

Sakura looked away from him. But she glanced back when he didn’t say anything else. He was studying her. Black eyes narrowed as he seemed to measure her. 

“Why would you burn a spell slot for something like that?” he wondered. 

It was Sakura’s turn to give him a look. 

“Is wanting my friends to not suffer weird to you?” she asked in return, scowling. Kisame stood dumbfounded as she trudged on. But then she glanced over her shoulder at him to add: “Besides, Sasuke whines non-stop when he’s hungover. Come on. We’re falling behind.”

-----

It took a full day to stock up on all the supplies they would need to travel through the desert wasteland. Once they ventured onto the hot sand, the complaints began. The only exception was Sasuke. As a fire genasi, he was part flame and therefore unbothered by any additional heat. His lack of discomfort offended Sakura, who spared no opportunity to glare at him. 

“Sasuke,” she called. 

“Yeah?” he heaved a sigh. Already rolling his eyes. 

“I just wanted to let you know, from the bottom of my heart, I hate you right now,” she informed him. She squinted up at the sun, then at Sasuke’s sweat-free form. 

“Thank you for that update,” he responded, not looking back at her. 

“If we have to kill one more poisonous snake, I’m gonna lose my mind,” grumbled Kisame, wiping sweat from his brow. 

“You know, if you remove the venom sacs correctly, those are pretty tasty,” Sasuke pointed out, gesturing to the long corpses strewn across the sand. 

Sakura stifled a giggle as Kisame grumbled where Sasuke could shove those venom sacs. But that laugh disappeared as they felt a rumble under their feet. The ground beneath them began to shift. Slowly, they could see scales. Gleaming eyes. Sharp fangs. 

They scrambled backward, grasping for weapons as a gigantic snake rose from its hiding place in the sand. It opened its mouth to let out a hiss. 

“....Well... shit,” Kakashi muttered. Before anyone could talk strategy, Naruto charged at the enormous serpent, greataxe swinging through the air. 

“I like your style, kid!” roared Kisame, charging right after him. 

Groaning, Sasuke turned to Sakura to share at least one commiserating look. Instead, he found her chasing Naruto, trying to grab him so she could cast resistance over him. When he jumped out of her reach, Sakura ground her back molars together. 

“Ah, screw it,” Sakura snapped. She extended her hand, holy symbol glowing as she conjured a spiritual weapon. Which was a spear that jabbed into the side of the snake. It let out a shriek of agony as purple blood spurting from the wound. 

“Nice!” laughed Naruto as he brought his axe down on the snake’s tail. 

The fight itself wasn’t so difficult. It ended rather cleanly with Naruto severing its head from the rest of its body. All was well until a young dragon stumbled out of its cave, drawn by the smell of blood. It opened its mouth to spray their party with fire. Tenten and Sasuke easily leapt out of the way. So did Kakashi and Asuma. Naruto was close enough that he grabbed Sakura and raised his shield just in time to protect them from the blast of heat. 

But the flames engulfed Neji’s arm and shoulder as he dodged a second too late. Kisame grabbed him by the cloak and yanked him out of the way. He threw him to the ground, smacking his hair and clothes to put out the flames.

“Asuma, back me up!” Tenten called as she rolled out from behind her cover to throw several knives at the dragon. Some bounced harmlessly off the tough hide. One burrowed into the soft spot on its throat. It roared in response.

“Got it!” yelled Asuma in return. 

“Naruto, get me to Neji,” Sakura said, shaking his arm a little. Without hesitation, Naruto grabbed her and threw her as hard as he could across the sand. She collided with Kisame’s back. She didn’t have time to apologize as she shoved past him. 

Neji grit his teeth, good hand clenching into the sand. Through the singed fabric of his shirt, she could see his skin- red and shiny. Already blistering where it had come into contact with the flames. They could hear the dragon unleash another roar as it swiped its claw out toward them. Sasuke’s swords slashed down onto its foot. A shriek filled the air as the beast turned on Sasuke instead, momentarily distracted.

“This is gonna hurt,” Sakura warned. Before Neji could ask, she placed her hand on his raw skin and recited the spell that would knit his skin back together. The downside was that meant that all his nerve endings regrew together along with his skin. Sakura knew first-hand how excruciating it could be. Which was why Sakura was unsurprised when Neji cried out. 

The dragon, which had been bashing the ground with a spiked tail, froze. Smoke puffing from its nostrils, it turned back toward them. 

“Fuck fuck fuck- Sakura! Look out!” Naruto shouted.

As the scales around the dragon’s throat began to glow, Sakura could see more smoke billowing from its mouth. Throwing her hand up, she drew on her magic to cast a command spell on it. She wasn’t even sure whether the spell had taken hold before she screamed, “STOP!” as loudly as she could.

And for a moment, the dragon froze. It stood there, glaring at her with bloodshot eyes. 

“Cool. My turn!”

The dragon turned in the direction of the voice right in time for Naruto’s javelin to pierce its right eye. The screech that left its mouth made Sakura’s ears ring. 

“Alright. Time to go, folks,” Kakashi announced, shuffling away from the dragon. 

“Naruto, you idiot! Warn us before you pull shit like this!” Sasuke howled. He grabbed a fistful of Asuma’s shirt and hauled him to his feet. 

“Sorry!” Naruto yelled right back as he fled.

Sakura’s gaze flickered from the enraged dragon to Neji still lying in the sand. As she tried to figure out how best to move him, Kisame scooped her up and tossed her over his shoulder. At the same time, he did the same for Neji and threw him over his other shoulder. And then he began running as fast as he could. 

A column of swirling flame erupted from the dragon’s jaws.

“Run faster!” she yelped, slapping Kisame’s back. But even as he raced across the sand, she could see the tongues of flames drawing closer and closer. Squeezing her eyes shut, she cast a shield around Kisame, praying that it would be enough to protect all three of them.

“Shit!” Sakura exclaimed as the flash of heat burned across her hand. The falcon emblem fell from her grasp, landing in the sand.  But besides the stinging in her palm, everything else seemed alright. When she squeezed one eye open, she understood why. 

Neji, barely conscious, had managed to conjure a sleet storm over the beast. As the snow and rain pelted the sand, they extinguished the flame. The dragon scrabbled for purchase on the slick ice that had covered the sand. It huffed more fire as it struggled to gain its footing. But after a moment, it skid on a particularly slick patch and fell to the ground. 

“Eat shit, dragon tits!” Tenten howled as she raised her crossbow and unleashed a bolt in the dragon’s direction. The scaly beast writhed as the bolt drove deep into its side. 

“Kill it! I’m almost out of spell slots!” Sakura called to no one in particular. 

“Dibs!” Naruto whooped as he raised his greataxe. 

“Put your back into it, kid!” Kisame reminded him. And then, a moment later, Kisame added in a smaller voice, “Oh, shit, the ice.”

“Oh,” Sakura and Neji both said. 

Everyone watched as Naruto slipped. His momentum sent him barreling straight into the dragon, the blade of his axe plunging into the moaning creature’s  chest. 

“Oh, nevermind. That was good,” Sakura sighed with relief. 

“OW!”

With its final breath, the dragon mustered enough energy to smash its tail into Naruto’s chest, knocking him to the ground. 

“... sort of,” Sakura amended. 

Everyone waited to make sure that the dragon had stopped moving before they slowly began moving. Tenten hunted down the weapons she had dropped in her hurry. And once she had collected those, she climbed atop the fallen beast to wrench her knives from its leathery flesh. 

“Owwww. Sakuraaaa. Fix me!” Naruto whined, waving a hand in no particular direction. The front of his shirt was soaked dark red as his blood soaked through. It couldn’t have been anything too serious from the way he was both conscious and speaking. But Sakura still didn’t feel like risking it. 

“Do you want me to take you over there?” asked Kisame. 

Sakura glanced at him. She had forgotten that she was still flopped over Kisame’s shoulder. She noticed a faint scar running along the side of his neck, all the way from behind his ear, disappearing into his shirt. 

“Nah. This one’s verbal. I don’t have to touch him,” she replied.

Closing her eyes, Sakura muttered the healing prayer that she had learned many years ago. Green light encased her hand. As the divine energy flowed through her, the red streak on her hand shrunk and faded. And from on top of the melting ice, she heard Naruto inform her, “Thanks, Sakura! I’m good!”

Kisame looked from Sakura to Neji. He scratched his nose as he thought. And then he said, “You know, you guys can get down now.”

“Don’t feel like it,” Sakura responded. 

“Your shoulder is really comfortable,” Neji agreed. 

Glowering, Kisame shrugged and sent both of them tumbling into the sand. 

By the time they’d gathered their things (and Kakashi, for some reason, had harvested some of the dragon’s teeth of all things), it was time to start thinking about setting up camp. Kakashi started a fire while Asuma went to explore the dragon’s cave to see if they could take shelter inside. As Sasuke went looking for water, Sakura patted her bare wrist. She searched her pockets. 

“Ah, shit, I think I lost my holy symbol,” she announced. 

Naruto’s ears perked up. Throwing his head back, he cupped his hands around his mouth.

“Sasuke!” he shouted at the top of his lungs. 

Tenten snorted, hand on her hips. “Naruto, there’s no way he’ll hear you.” 

Ignoring her, Naruto tried again. Louder this time. “SASUKE!”

And then, there was a faint reply from far away. 

“What?!”

Kisame let out a snort. Neji shook his head in disbelief. 

“Sakura lost her holy symbol!”

There was a pause. And then Sasuke called, “Her what?”

Naruto wrinkled his nose. “Her necklace, stupid!”

There was an even longer pause. 

“Then find it, stupid!”

Naruto tilted his head to one side as he considered that. “Oh yeah.” And then he spun around once, staring at the sand surrounding them on all sides. 

“Where’d you last have your necklace thingy, Sakura? Sakura?”

Naruto turned back around to find Sakura squatting in the sand, her head in her hands. He rushed over to her. 

“Are you alright? Are you sick? Is it because you don’t have your god necklace?” babbled Naruto, shaking her shoulder. It took Sakura a long time to raise her head. And when she did, she was pinching the bridge of her nose between her fingers. 

“Naruto.”

“Yeah?”

“....If I knew where I had my symbol last, do you think it would still be lost?” she questioned slowly. Patiently. 

Naruto tilted his head to the other side, taking a long time to think. And then he looked at Sakura to shrug. “I don’t know. I’m not the one who lost it,” he answered. He looked bewildered as Kisame walked past to slap him a high five. Naruto’s confusion lasted for all of five seconds before he looked over and saw that Sakura was gone. He spotted her disappearing over a dune of sand, Tenten and Neji running not far behind her. 

“Hey! Wait up!” Naruto yelled. He grabbed the sleeve of Kisame’s tunic as he took off. 

“Why are you dragging me too?” demanded Kisame, scrambling to keep up with him. 

“It’s not fair if Sakura gets a buddy and I don’t. Duh,” Naruto answered before he continued on in his mad dash through the sand. Kisame toyed with the idea of gnawing his own arm off to escape before he sighed and decided to follow along. 

They scoured the sands for several minutes. It was easy to see where they’d been from the corpses of snakes littering their path. Some of them were missing. There were plenty of hungry scavengers in the desert who were probably glad for a free meal. Tenten kicked one of the snakes aside to check underneath.

“Dude, help me move this,” said Naruto, pointing at a giant boulder. Neji stared at him. 

“Why would it be under there?” demanded Neji. 

Naruto rubbed the side of his nose. “Dunno. Maybe it crawled under there? With god powers? Can it do that?”

Neji just continued staring at him. But Naruto started to really think now. 

“Hey, Sakura, can your holy thing move on its own? Is it, like, alive?” wondered Naruto. 

“I think Naruto’s saying something,” Tenten pointed out. Sakura straightened, dusting sand from her hands. 

“Just ignore him. He’ll stop eventually,” muttered Sakura in return. 

“Oh. There it is. Right by your foot,” Naruto pointed out a little while later. Sakura followed his finger. She squinted until she saw a little glint of gold next to Kisame’s boot.

For some reason, Kisame hesitated. His eyes darted from the gleaming symbol to Naruto. But when Sakura took a step forward, Kisame held out his hand to stop her.

“It’s alright. I got it,” Kisame assured her. He grabbed it and handed it over to her. Sakura accepted it with a smile. But as he turned away, he flexed his hand. Clenching and unclenching his fingers. Forehead wrinkling, Sakura began to wonder about it before she heard Naruto call her name.

“It’s gonna get dark. Let’s go back!” Naruto urged. 

Sakura hesitated for one last second. Feeling her stare, Kisame glanced over his shoulder at her. His eyes sharpened for a moment as he caught her gaze. Sakura didn’t look away as she thought. Slowly, she offered him a smile. 

“Let’s go, big guy,” she said. 

After a moment, Kisame smiled, too. “Sure, Doc,” he replied.

They turned around and headed back in the direction of their camp for the night.

[brothersgrim]

SEND ME ‘FIVE TIMES + A WORD’ AND I’LL WRITE A DRABBLE ABOUT OUR MUSES BASED ON IT. || ACCEPTED

@blackasteriia​ asked:

‘five times + fear’

This is not something he’d ever prepared for. He knows that. Hell, he’s always known that. He isn’t made to be a parent. He isn’t made to have a family. He is Death. He destroys and he is alone. He is always alone.

Except, now, he isn’t. There are people who depend on him. People who need him. People who, maybe, he needed, too. He can’t let them down. No matter what, he can’t let them down.

Especially not Kane.

Especially not Xion.

He knows why he has to take care of Kane. That’s his little brother, his brother who he only just got back, his blood. He would never - could never - abandon Kane again. Never.

He doesn’t know why he has to take care of Xion. It’s not that he’s complaining. It’s not that he’s upset. He just thinks she could’ve chosen much better. Someone capable. Someone who had even the slightest idea what they were doing. Someone better than him.

He sighs, wipes a hand down his face, pushes his hair back. Sits on the rocking chair on the front porch and watches as her silhouette retreats down the path.

He is the destroyer of worlds, and he has no idea what he’s gotten himself into.

---

He sees himself when he looks at her. When the hunted, haunted look enters her eyes, when her hackles rise and she tenses at shadows, he sees himself. He sees Kane. He sees someone who’s been hurt and broken by the world over and over until only sharp edges remain, someone who’s trying to figure out how the pieces fit together without cutting themselves and failing time after time.

It was painfully familiar.

He thinks to himself that she is far too young to have such grief upon her shoulders, but perhaps that is a mirror, as well.

That’s one of the reasons he knows she’s there. Watching, waiting. Because he would do the same. Sure, they could make nice, and Aeleus had still given them both the okay, but he was still a new person, in a new place. He’d wanna scope it out, too. After all, everyone in a small town like this knew there was nothing more dangerous than a stranger.

He turns the page of the newspaper, scanning down the obituaries. (Had to make sure nobody was missed.) Satisfied, he nods, folds the paper, and tucks it under his arm. Puts it on the table for Kane (he’s still asleep; rough night) before heading back out towards the workshop. As he passes the chair, he sets down a plate. It’s nothing special, but he knows it doesn’t need to be. A hungry stomach doesn’t discern.

If the sandwich is still there when he gets back, he’ll assume he was wrong, and she’s not there.

But he likes to think he knows this place pretty well, and the shadow behind that bush was a bit bigger than it normally was.

---

It all came together so perfectly. That’s what Paul said. Kane assumed he knew what he was talking about. And to look at it now, it seemed that he was right. This was almost too easy. Like it was supposed to happen.

And maybe it was.

‘Divine Justice’, that was the phrase. He had worked so long, suffered so much, to see this day. The fire. The basement. The hospitals. The torment. The misery. It all lead to this. After this, he could rest easy, right? He’d be safe. His father would be safe. They could rest. Because it was all his brother’s fault. Everything was his brother’s fault. A liar, a monster, a manipulator--

(Right?)

But it would work this time. Paul said it would. He knew best. And his brother had seemed different lately.

He’d seemed alive.

Heartbeat, (slightly) warmer skin... The Deadman was, ironically, alive. Was, in this case, meaning ‘past tense’. No longer.

His brother lies at the bottom of the grave. He doesn’t move. Not aside from the shallow, unsteady rise and fall of his chest. His eyes were closed.

Kane is dimly aware of people screaming. Shouting. Cheering. The bloodthirsty roar of a frenzied crowd. It’s background noise, white noise, static, familiar to the point of nonexistence. Somewhere, Paul is laughing. Vince is cussing and barking orders to somebody. There’s a ringing in his ears that tunnels deeper the more he tries to ignore it.

His brother still isn’t moving.

(A broken action figure, shattered at the bottom of the stairs after a spat--)

He doesn’t need to drown out the cacophony to know what it must sound like as his brother’s lungs fumble with each breath. The scent of fresh grave dirt and ancient grudges rise up with the scent of sulfur and a feeling that he can only assume is triumph.

He finally did it.

He finally won.

He was finally free.

The first shovel pierces the dirt and it sounds like a gunshot. The second isn’t any quieter. Still, he hears the sound of Xion moving behind him. She lunges. He’s faster. He catches her easily, holds her back - don’t stop this, don’t ruin it. She’s screaming, and it’s so, so loud.

“Kane, let me go! They’re going to kill him!”

Yes. That was the point. Didn’t she understand?

They didn’t have to be afraid anymore.

---

He didn’t want this. He’d never wanted this. Even back then, back when he was young, this had never been his goal... Had it?

No.

No, not this. No matter how it had happened, he had never wanted to be a--

Paul drummed his fingers on the urn and Taker felt it reverberate down his spine. He cringed. He felt filthy. He felt powerless. He felt small. The sawdust gathered around his hands he focused on them. Focus on the work. Work. Just the work. He’ll be gone soon.

(He misses Aeleus.)

“Well, now, boy, hard at work, like always!” Paul laughed like it was a wonderful joke. At least he was in a good mood.

(He misses Xion.)

It was usually less painful when Paul was in a good mood. Later, he might think that it was grimly amusing how easily he slipped back into his old habits, but right then, he was focused on bracing himself for whatever Paul had planned for him. It would definitely not be good.

(God, he is so worried about Kane.)

“That’s what I like to see!” Paul continued. Another chuckle. Another tap on the urn. He wished he could tell Paul to stop doing that. He wished he could wring the bastard’s neck. Bury him deep so he’d never dig his way out. Rip his tongue out. Beat him to a pulp. Focus on the work. Scrape the wood. Imagine it’s the sound of Paul’s flesh sloughing off. Focus on the work.

“Hope you’ve been keeping in shape, too,” Paul carries on. Taker doesn’t look up because he hasn’t been told to. His jaw tenses without permission. “Cause you’ve got a match coming up.”

His stomach drops without permission. Oh, no. Another tap on the urn. Paul chuckles again, and the Undertaker can tell by the way his shoes screech (far too loud, too loud, too loud) that Paul’s turned to leave.

Focus on the work.

“Oh, my Undertaker,” Paul’s smile was audible. “Isn’t this wonderful? It’s just like old times!”

Just like old times. Yeah, it was. Except, in the old times, he hadn’t had a family around to take care of. He did now. He wondered if he’d ever see them again.

He almost hoped he wouldn’t.

Focus on the work.

---

Life was never simple. Nowadays, it wasn’t always bad, but it was never simple. They had a lot to plan for, after all. Growing up was a hell of a thing. ... Especially when none of them really knew how it was supposed to work.

“You had everything you need?” ‘Taker asked, peering over Xion’s shoulder. There’s a list in her hand that they’ve managed to print off from the school’s web page. It was supposed to be comprehensive.

“I think so.” She nods. Kane leans over her other shoulder. He wrinkles his nose.

“Do you really need all of this?” He tapped a few items on the page with his finger. It all seemed... A tad excessive, but then, perhaps they’re poor judges. Xion shrugged. Kane shrugged in return.

“They think I do. I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it, I guess.” She folded the list up once again and hefted the nearest suitcase. She carried it out to toss it in the back of the truck while Taker threw back the rest of his coffee. He tossed his mug in the sink; he’d wash it later. Didn’t want to be late.

“Anything else ready?” He called out the door.

“Yeah!” Xion tosses the bag into the bed. “The red suitcase and the blue bag!”

“Already got ‘em.” Kane said, making his way down the stairs.

“Alright.” Taker shrugged and scratched at his jaw. Xion grinned as she passed him on her way to the stairs.

“Think you’re more nervous than I am, Daddy.” She laughs, and he snorts, but it hides a chuckle of his own.

“Don’t be a smartass.”

“Would you rather I was a dumbass?” She grinned so brightly that he can’t do much more than roll his eyes and comment that there were enough of those, these days. Aeleus came out of the kitchen with a prepared bag of road snacks. Taker greeted him with a kiss and didn’t quite manage to steal a sandwich from the bag; before he could sulk, he was handed a different one.

“This one’s yours.” Aeleus pecked another kiss against his cheek. “Got the hot sauce you like.” Taker hummed and nodded once, crinkling the parchment paper wrapping in his hands.

“That’s everything.” Xion came back down with a book bag slung over her shoulder and another case in her hands.

“You sure?” Taker and Aeleus chorused. Kane and Xion exchange a look.

“Yes, Dad, Daddy, I’m sure.” She finished her trek down the stairs and made her way outside. Taker snuffed and followed, with Kane and Aeleus behind him. Xion threw the last bags into the truck bed, and Taker tossed a rope over the lot. After a bit of cussing on all their parts, they eventually got everything lashed down. Taker stepped back and sniffed, his hands on his hips as he gave the ropes one last once-over, then nodded his approval.

“Time to go?” Ael asked. Taker nodded.

“Yup.”

Xion and Kane hopped in the back of the truck. Their doors closed in a dull staccato as Taker slipped into the driver’s seat. Ael took shotgun, looking over his shoulder as he fastened his seatbelt. Taker took a bite of his sandwich and let the truck’s engine rumble to life.

“You excited, baby girl?” Ael asked, and Xion nodded as she pulled up a maps app on her phone. The little speaker let out clicking sounds as she typed in the university’s address. The truck rolled down the dusty road. Taker flipped the radio on to whatever station it’d been left at.

Just a little something to keep his mind off the fact that his little girl was growing up.

[wolfkat]

R?

Im assuming this is about the 5 favorite songs starting with whatever letter thing, so here goes, in no particular order

Roaring 20s by panic! At the Disco

Rock god by Selena Gomez

Rap god by Eminem

Rx aka medicate by Theory of a Deadman

And

Red like roses from the Rwby ost

[ensemblewithsenpai]

Nov 23rd: DEADMANS’ ROCK ROAR music video music video has been released. Its Special beatmap will be added on Nov 24th at 3PM JST.

[bluboothalassophile]

Blu, I have had an though of what if Raven got taken in by John Constantine instead of the Teen Titans. Also I love your writing. It always brightens my day when I see you have posted. Oh, and all the spoiler shorts make me want the stories more. Thank you for all your writing. 💜❤️💜❤️💜❤️💜❤️💜❤️💜❤️. (>0.0)>

Hello!

And I’m so happy to hear that! As to  your request, I like the way you think and I hope you enjoy the story!

Fathers…

John Constantine was many things, demon adopter was not onthe list as he stared down at a little demoness looking at him with wide,innocent, dark eyes and tangled black hair in the depths of Hell.

He had come here to kill this little menace.

Before the menace was a real threat.

He’d even come with the tools to do it and make it stick.But looking at this little girl, he couldn’t as he smoked his cigarette andthought his options through carefully. If he didn’t eliminate her then shewould grow and succumb to her father, and if her father was unleashed on theworld of the living. But if he did eliminate her, he would be killing a child,and Constantine didn’t kill children. He had one on his conscience and he didn’tneed another.

“Are you here to kill me?” the girl asked, a warm, sulfurscented breeze ruffled her hair.

The question knocked him back, it was like a punch to thegut, and he pulled the cigarette as he flicked it away. “What do you think I’mhere to do, love?”

“I think you don’t know.” she answered softly. “I’m notevil. I didn’t mean to do it.”

“Didn’t mean to what?” Constantine asked.

“I just wanted to meet my dad,” she whispered.

“Oh,” he sighed. “Come on kid.”

She looked up again and he scooped her up as he opened theportal and walked into the House of Mystery. He might come to regret this, buthe couldn’t leave the kid there to fend for herself.

~~~*~*~*~~~

“Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!” a scream had him bolting up in hisbed as he shoved Zed off him, grabbed pants and yanked open the door to seeRaven come barreling down the hall screaming as Deadman, Boston Brand and Chasran behind her.

In the four months since taking in the demon he had learnther name was Raven, not the Gem of Scath and calling her the Gem got himblasted. She was eager to learn, anything, she was so magically adept that he hadto start teaching her after she started figuring out how to read ruins. She wasalso more than willing to abide by his rules, and learning about morals andethics. She was Azarathian, her mother was Arella Roth. She was an empath. Shehad demon behaviors and characteristics which seemed to be a minor influence onher. Otherwise she seemed to be a normal human child, and after a nosey hag hadstarted sticking her nose into his business, he had simply adopted Raven. Evenfiling legal papers in England after forging her citizenship papers. Raven hadtaken rather quickly to calling him Dad and Daddy.

“What is it!?”

“Demon!” Raven launched herself at him, he caught her justas Etrigan rounded the corner with a roar.

“Oh Fuck!” Constantine slammed the door shut as he ranthrough a portal with Raven.

~~~*~*~*~~~

“You can’t be the real Devil,” Raven stated to the Devil’s face.Constantine blinked at this sight as his twelve year old sat in Lux withLucifer looking like a cat ate the canary with Raven, it was the only placeConstantine could think of with a female demon to explain puberty to Raven. Mazikeenwas here, and she was the only female demon he knew to be alive at this oldage.

“Constantine, she is just a darling little pet,” Luciferdeclared.

“Careful Lucifer, this is the Gem,” Mazikeen said walkingaround Raven.

“Nonsense, she’s my darling granddaughter, and I insist youbring her around more often,” Lucifer declared.

“Are you my daddy’s daddy?” Raven asked.

“Trigon’s creator,” Lucifer clarified.

“Oh, I never had a grandpa.”

“Fuck,” Constantine muttered. Mazikeen just looked vastlyamused.

“Then I’m your aunt Maze,” Maze decided.

Raven just nodded and smiled deviously, Constantine had afeeling that her enemies should be wary.

~~~*~*~*~~~

Ten years of having Raven as his daughter this was the firsttime he had left her behind on a job, it was for the best because he had kepthis daughter away from the Young Justice Team for this very reason.

“Constantine,” Fate greeted him.

“I heard you have a problem of Chaos,” Constantine saidlooking up at the screen past the League members.

“Our team is trapped in an energy field of some sort,”Batman said. Constantine’s eyes flicked up at the ruins dancing.

“You have fought something like this we were wondering ifyou could get around it, the children are trapped,” Diana stated.

“I never got around this,” Constantine admitted reluctantly.Flicking his cigarette away he exhaled as he stared at the screens.

“What do you mean?” Fate demanded, he could see Zatara inthere then, trying to break the surface of Nabu’s hold.

“I mean I have never gotten around this barrier, the onetime I did it was because of help I had.”

“Help from who!?” the League sputtered.

~~~*~*~*~~~

Jason covered Artemis as there were blasts at them from thatpsycho brat. Jason wanted to kill him.

“I can’t get close to him!” Zatanna shouted.

“Come out! Come out to play!” Klarion cackled.

“I’m going to kill him!” Jason snarled.

Then the shadows warped, she breezed by him. He stilled, theindifferent, pale, girl looked like she was more shadows than human and abouthis age. Her eyes were cold, dark, and she moved like a ballerina with thisfloating grace.

“Didn’t anyone tell you to pick on kids your own sizeKlarion?” she asked so coldly as a surge of power rippled in the dome they weretrapped in.

She was the prettiest woman Jason had ever seen, as hepeeked over the rock. She wore a black trench coat, black boots, jeans and aworn shirt for Deadpool; the drawing, and ‘Ouchie!’ written on the caption.Fuck she was sexy as she stood there.

“Well, they sent you to play with me, Gem,” Klarion cackled.

“Get out of here,” the girl ordered as a portal was tornopen.

“It can’t be,” Zatanna started.

“Don’t know about you, but we’re out of here!” Dick declared,and Jason shoved his teammates through the portal before running in himself. Lastwords he heard were:

“Show me what you got, you prat.”

~~~*~*~*~~~

“We are welcoming a new teammate, today,” Bruce stood therein the cowl beside a rumpled blond man who looked half put together smoking acigarette.

“Who?” Dick demanded. Jason had a guess.

“John Constantine’s adopted daughter, Raven,” Bruce continuedas if Dick hadn’t spoken.

Jason blinked when she walked out of the shadows again, herlong black hair pulled back in a ponytail, she wore a trench coat, and lookedmore put together than her father in jeans, boots, and a grey t-shirt then.

“Hello,” she said.

“You can’t be serious! She’s a demon!” Zatanna shouted.

“A demon who saved our asses!” Jason snapped as he walkedforward. “Robin.”

“Raven,” she answered taking his hand.

“You’re awesome, and thanks for kicking his ass.”

“No problem.” she smiled. He was gone. Sunk.

Jason was pretty sure he’d just found the love of his life.A dangerous little bird.

[krispyweiss]

Founding Motörhead Guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke Dead at 67

”Fast” Eddie Clarke, founding guitarist of Motörhead and the last surviving member of the band’s original lineup, died Wednesday, according to the trio’s Facebook page.

Clarke was 67 and had been hospitalized with pneumonia.

The post said those associated with Motörhead were “devastated” by the news.

”Edward Allan Clarke - or as we all know and love him Fast Eddie Clarke - passed away peacefully (Wednesday),“ it said. “Fast Eddie, keep roaring, rockin’ and rollin’ up there as, goddamit man, your Motörfamily would expect nothing less!!!”

Motörhead frontman Lemmy and original drummer “Philthy Animal” Phil Taylor died in 2015.

Longtime band drummer Mikkey Dee mourned “the last of the three amigos” on Facebook and noted he and Clarke “always hit it off great.”

”Now Lem and Philthy can jam with Eddie again, and if you listen carefully I’m sure you’ll hear them, so watch out,” Dee wrote. “My thoughts go out to Eddie’s family and close ones.“

”Heaven just got a lot louder,” Slash bassist Todd “Dammit” Kerns tweeted. “RIP Fast Eddie Clarke. Thanks for the music. They’re all gone now.”

Clarke was with Motörhead from its eponymous 1977 debut through 1982’s Iron Fist.

He then formed the metal band Fastway, which had a run through the early 1990s, and released a few solo albums, most recently 2014’s Make My Day – Back to Blues.

"Such a shock,” former Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell wrote on Facebook. “(Clarke) will be remembered for his iconic riffs and was a true rock ‘n’ roller.”

The British rock biographer Mick Wall took to Facebook and lovingly called Clarke “49 percent motherfucker, 51 percent son of a bitch.”

On its Facebook page, Saxon called Clarke’s death “a big shock” and said, “we did not see this coming.

”We have great memories of our times with him,” the band wrote of their “good friend.”

Girlschool deemed itself “so devastated to have heard the terrible news” and offered condolences to Clarke’s family.

”Fast Eddie Clarke. R.I.P.,” Living Colour’s Vernon Reid tweeted as he quoted “Ace of Spades,” Motörhead’s most-famous track.

”The Deadman’s Hand Again…”

1/11/18

[adambarnardphotos]

The Undertaker and The Undeniable Truth

The crowd booed loudly as The Undertaker walked down the entrance ramp of the Spectrum in Philadelphia in 1992. Led in the ring by the equally pale and slightly more unnerving Paul Bearer, Undertaker set his sights for the ring, ominously sizing up his opponent. I felt the warmth of the stadium dissipate, giving way to a cold that ran up my spine, or so I had thought I’d felt. I sat with my eyes wide open under the bent brim of my Seattle Mariners hat, mesmerized by this gigantic and, apparently undead, man walk slowly and methodically towards the ring. I had no idea what “kayfabe” meant as a squirmy seven year old. I just knew this thing was the scariest thing I’d ever seen, and that my attention was completely focused on him. I was so entranced in his entrance, I couldn’t hear the roar of the crowd as his opponent, Jake “the Snake” Roberts, entered the ring to begin their match. I was captivated by the energy, the pageantry, the excitement of a WWE (then WWF) live event, and The Undertaker captured all of that by himself.

That day at the Spectrum was a wonderful touchstone in a lifelong fanaticism with professional wrestling. My brothers and I spent hours acting out all of our favorite promos from the Ultimate Warrior, belting out the theme songs of our favorite Superstars, and became deeply distressed at any sign of Hulk Hogan losing the upper hand. Saturday mornings were sacred, the squared circle our church, and the Superstars our Biblical figures, with their storylines as hallowed as the stories of Moses and Abraham. I can’t think of my childhood without the thought of the WWE in my mind. My brothers and I agonized over which Superstar would win the Royal Rumble and who, if anyone, would beat the Undertaker at Wrestlemania. WWE had grown with us, with Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage giving way to Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels, then giving way to The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin. Each year that passed brought a new storyline to become deeply involved with, new drama to be captivated by, a new Wrestlemania to desperately wait for.

We couldn’t have known as children the impact The Undertaker would have on professional wrestling and a generation of children, including the wide eyed, brown haired little boy in the nosebleed section of the Spectrum that day in 1992. His storied career has spanned more than three decades, the majority of that time as “The Deadman”. We watched him slay giants, be buried alive, become one of the darkest villains in the history of sports entertainment, transform into the American Bad Ass, and then take his rightful throne as the real “Mr. Wrestlemania” (sorry, Shawn Michaels, but you know it’s true). Last night, after his loss to Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania 33, the Deadman placed the pieces that made him iconic in the middle of the ring and symbolically brought an end to his historic career.

Life is funny sometimes. Some days bring reminders of good moments in your life. A cigarette smell brings you right back to the afternoon you spent swimming in your Uncle Lon’s swimming pool, while he enjoyed his Marlboro Lights and black coffee on the covered porch of his Levittown home. A crack of a baseball bat connecting with a 98 mile an hour pitch sends you to the hazy summer afternoon spent in the blue seats of Veterans Stadium with your brothers, dad, and favorite perpetual teenager, Uncle Rick. Waves crashing against the sandy beach transports you to the summer of your first vacation crush when you went to Cape May Courthouse with your mom and brothers, and the impending heartbreak that comes with saying goodbye when the trip is over. While her name has been eternally lost in translation between your short and long term memories, you can see her brown hair blowing in the wind as you threw sea shells into the ocean with her, and you can hear her laugh at the terrible joke you told her seconds before she kissed you. Wonderful, amazing moments that push the course of your life in new, exciting directions, and these life receipts, whether tangible or connected to senses, connect you directly to your past.

Other days are reminders of mortality and the unstoppable aging process that precedes our inevitable fate. Those reminders perpetually yield an absolute sadness, a melancholy that lingers over my daily routine like an obnoxious itch on your leg after a mosquito bite. It’s like a bitter aftertaste from a terrible drink your brother swore was delicious, and you knew better than to trust him on his decision making, but you drank it anyway, and no amount of water will dilute its foul remnants. No one and no actual thing prepares you for each loss you experience in life, nor do they buffer you from the successive losses of your childhood that accompany each passing year. There’s no guide to prepare for the first major loss in your life, as Uncle Lon slips away from cancer. The life lessons and tough skin Uncle Lon’s passing brought most certainly did not prepare you for the loss of Uncle Rick, also from cancer. Although you were older when Uncle Rick got sick, and you “convinced” yourself you could handle it because you knew it was coming, that the inevitability of his passing was sealed in his book of life, you’d literally give anything to sit and enjoy a Burger King cheeseburger and talk Phillies with him for another five minutes. You lose close friends by way of accident, and each loss never gets easier, as if I’m expecting the sudden, unexpected, and emotionally devastating passing of Scott Palek to somehow cushion me from the air constricting, guttural reaction I experience when learning Jeremy Fischer passed. Forty pounds and twice a day anxiety medicine told me that I wasn’t cushioned at all. They all become immediate reminders that the only constant in life is death, and, to quote John Mayer, “we’re never going to stop this train.”

Wrestlemania 33 brought one more reminder of this nonstop train. I remember speaking to my wife a few days before Wrestlemania 33, and saying, “I can’t believe Taker’s wrestling again. I don’t know how much more his body can take. He’s getting older, he’s probably past time to hang it up.” I said these things, not at all expecting him to do just that. I had the same thoughts about Goldberg, Sting, and other titans of professional wrestling coming back for one more round. Like Goldberg and Sting, The Undertaker owes us no more than he’s already given us. He’s entertained me, my brothers, and legions of fans across decades, putting his body and safety on the line in death defying, jaw dropping, heart pounding fashions, each and every time. I, like so many others, plead for more entertainment, more excitement, more action, but in reality, we’re pleading for a return to times long past. We project these fleeting wishes onto The Undertaker, a man who represents the last tangible piece of those times. The Undertaker hasn’t transitioned into that next plane of existence, like Robin Williams, The Ultimate Warrior, Chris Farley, Ryan Dunn, and countless other people, places, and things that no longer exist but in memory. The idea of him, however, his aura, and what he represents, now joins that plane in my mind. The Undertaker was the last tangible piece of my childhood that existed. I could watch his matches and remember that day vividly in the Spectrum, and become lost again as a child, discussing with my brothers whether or not was really dead and what was really in that urn. As I turn the calendar of another year of life, I find myself a year older, and another year as a father. I’ve shifted the life roles from child to father, and my father has become the wise grandfather, imparting wisdom and guidance on days where I can’t imagine my children acting any worse, and him gently reminding me that days like today don’t come back, and the better way to view life was to just breath and enjoy the ride. I snap back into the moment, looking towards two sets of little eyes above chocolate covered faces, and then repeating the Aladdin song to hear the sweet singing voice of my oldest serenade me one more time.

The seven year old boy is crying quietly, arms draped on the railing of the Spectrum, pulling his bent brimmed Seattle Mariners hat over his face to hide the tears, as another one of his heroes, and another, perhaps final, piece of his childhood makes the inevitable transition from present to past, short term to long term memory, taking its place with Uncle Lon, Uncle Rick, lost loves at the beach, and infinite life receipts, to peek out from time to time to remind us of who we are, the roads we’ve traveled, and where we’re headed next.

But I’m sitting here, typing through tears, saying “…maybe one more match for us? Please?”

Thank you for everything, Mark Calaway. You have made my life better and enjoyable in measurable ways I’m not sure I could accurately describe, and I thank you for every single moment of joy, excitement, and entertainment you’ve provided me.

[oarfishfever]

QUAG DUMPS MUSIC MASTER POST 7

i had to sweep through all of these and fix a bunch of links. here’s a new this one’s a doozy because im lazy.

previous posts: 1 2 3 4 5 6 

Chet Baker - I’ve Never Been In Love Before [Jazz] Hiromi Mine - Akutagawa Ryuunosuke’s Kappa ~ Candid Friend [Touhou/Piano] Macross 82-99 - 葛城 ミサトYEBISU (YUNG BAE EDIT) [Future Funk] マクロスMACROSS 82-99 - NEW DAWN [Future Funk] architecture in tokyo - ヒスイ MARBLE (ft. ULTRA ウルトラ) [Future Funk] architecture in tokyo - CITY (ft. マクロスMACROSS 82-99) [Future Funk] Logic - Under Pressure [Hip-Hop] Perturbator - Meet Jimmy (ft. Le Cassette) [Synthwave] Ox - Soul [VGM/Hip-Hop] Masayoshi Furukawa & Apollon Quartet - But Not For Me [Anime/Jazz] Naofumi Hataya - Burning Depths [VGM] Grant Green - My One And Only Love [Jazz] Lupe Fiasco - Mural [Hip-Hop] Thin Lizzy - The Boys Are Back In Town [Rock] BLΛNK BΛNSΗΣΣ - Eco Zones [Vaportrap] SAINT PEPSI - Cherry Pepsi [Future Funk] Carpenter Brut - Roller Mobster [Synthwave] The Green Kingdom - Untitled [Ambient] Magna - Divide (Miami Edit) [Synthwave] El Huervo - Rust [Electro] Riyou Kinugasa, Takuya Kobayashi & Hiromi Mizutani - Life Is Beautiful [VGM] Obadiah Parker - Hey Ya [Cover/Acoustic] Shibayan ft. nachi - Turn Back Time [Electro] iamthekidyouknowwhatimean - Run [Electro] El Tigr3 - She Swallowed Burning Coals [Synthwave] M|O|O|N - Dust (Carpenter Brut Remix) [Synthwave] Towkio - Heaven Only Knows (ft. Chance the Rapper & Lido) [Hip-Hop] YUNG BAE - Honey [Future Funk] Harrison - Sure Ain’t News [Future Funk] マクロスMACROSS 82-99 - Fun Tonight [Future Funk] Flamingosis - Outside/Grounded [Beats] Rika Muranaka - The Best Is Yet To Come [VGM/Gaelic Folk] ❀ Harrison ❀ - Comfort Cruise [Future Funk] Stevie Wonder - Higher Ground [Soul] Vanilla - The Winter [Instrumental Hip-Hop] コンシャスTHOUGHTS - Take Control [Future Funk] DJ Okawari - Represent (ft. Chieko Kinbara) [Instrumental Hip-Hop] BLΛNK BΛNSΗΣΣ - Ammonia Clouds [Vaportrap] BLΛNK BΛNSΗΣΣ - Teen Pregnancy [Vaportrap] ❀ Harrison ❀ - Down, B, Up, B [Chiptune] LCD Soundsystem - Get Innocuous! [Dance-Punk] Flamingosis - Football Head [Beats] SAINT PEPSI/Skylar Spence - Fall Harder [Nu-Disco] Machinations - No Say In It [Disco] Tohru Minegishi, Shiho Fujii - Staff Roll [VGM] Al Stewart - Roads to Moscow [Folk] The Long Winters - The Commander Thinks Aloud [Indie Rock] Ray Bryant Trio - Misty [Jazz] 悲しい ANDROID - APARTMENT¶ - の主人公 Heartbeat Soap Opera 恋に落ちます [Future Funk] Dance With The Dead - Nightdrive [Synthwave] Perturbator - Humans Are Such Easy Prey [Synthwave] Perturbator - Perturbator’s Theme [Synthwave] Jan Hammer - Crockett’s Theme [New Wave] マクロスMACROSS 82-99 - Lynn Minmay [Future Funk] Pete Rock & C. L. Smooth - They Reminisce Over You [Hip-Hop] Jungle - Busy Earnin’ [Neo Soul] 猫 シ Corp - Ocean Beach Highschool Prom 1984 [Vaporwave] Nujabes - Voice of Autumn [Chillhop] Disconscious - Endless Escalation [Mallsoft] 死夢VANITY - kiosk centre [Mallsoft] B L U E - ☕ Coffee Break ☕ [Mallsoft] 식료품groceries - Interlude (Lost in the Freezer Section) [Mallsoft] B L U E - \ \ Visual \ \ / / Entropy / / [Mallsoft] Toby Fox - Nyeh Heh Heh!/Bonetrousle [VGM/Chiptune] Toby Fox - Spider Dance [VGM/Chiptune] The Specials - A Message To You, Rudy [Ska] Infinity Frequencies - Lotus Bloom [Vaporwave] Skylar Spence - Can’t You See [Nu Disco] Chance the Rapper ft. Saba - Angels [Hip-Hop] Soul Purpose - Survival [VGM/Hip-Hop] Flamingosis - G E T - L O W [Hip-Hop]* NOVA - Agua de Beber [Cover/Lounge] Thomas Happ - Trace Awakens [VGM/Synthwave] Boom Boom Satellites - Shut Up and Explode [J-Rock] Hideki Okugawa - Let’s Get It On [VGM/Hip-Hop] Run The Jewels - Lie, Cheat, Steal [Hip-Hop] ２８１４ -  恢复 [Vaporwave] Floème - Joanna [Instrumental Hip-Hop] Chet Baker - Let’s Get Lost [Jazz] Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Time Is Here (Instrumental) [Jazz/Piano] Masato Nakamura - Star Light Zone [VGM] Meiko - Leave the Lights On (Silent Gloves remix) [Synthpop] Herb Alpert - The Midnight Tango [Jazz] Leslie Odom Jr, Daveed Diggs, Okieriete Onaodowan - Washington On Your Side [Hip-Hop/Musical] Carpenter Brut - The Good Old Call (ft. Franky Cadillac)  [Synthwave] Tame Impala - The Less I Know The Better [Synthpop] VHSテープリワインダー- showering together [Vaporwave] Infinity Frequencies - As Darkness Falls [Vaporwave] Skylar Spence - I Can’t Be Your Superman [Nu Disco] Masafumi Takada - Steel Python [VGM] Mitch Murder - Ocean Avenue [Synthwave] Run The Jewels - Run The Jewels [Hip-Hop] コンシャスTHOUGHTS X 悲しいANDROID - APARTMENT -『ダンス! ダンス!』 [Future Funk] ceruleancerise - cosmic space latte [Future Funk] C2C - Happy (ft. Derek Martin) [Electronic] DKO - School Pop Machine [Beats] Kamasi Washington - Miss Understanding [Jazz] Hiroshi Kawaguchi - Passing Breeze [VGM] Run The Jewels - Rubble Kings Theme (Dynamite) [Hip-Hop] Tsukasa Saitoh - The First Hunter [VGM] SAINT PEPSI - ENJOY YOURSELF [Vaporwave] Masahiro Aoki, Keiki Kobayashi - Theme of F.A.N.G. [VGM] The Seatbelts ft. Tim Jensen - Ask DNA [Anime/Jazz] The Seatbelts - What Planet Is This?! [Anime/Jazz] POCARI ステューシー  - Adorée [Vaporwave] Saint Pepsi - Better [Future Funk] 식료품groceries - s o f t drinks [Mallsoft] Televisor - The Pressure [Nu Disco] Disasterpeace - Vignette: Panacea [VGM] Disasterpeace - A Chorus of Tongues [VGM] L'indécis - Staying There [Triphop] Emapea - Smooth Walk [Triphop/Funk] Boho Fau & Elevated Soul - Really, Truly (INS) [Triphop/Instrumental] saib. - hawaiian flower. [Chillout/Tropical] Hiroki Morishita, Takeru Kanazaki, Yasuhisa Baba, Rei Kondoh, Masato Kouda - Road Taken (Roar) [VGM] Digital Voyager - Introducing Your New Spaces! [Vaporwave] ２８１４ - 悲哀 [Vaporwave] S U B W A Y S -  アイスクリーム [Future Funk] Disasterpeace - Cascades [VGM/Ambient] Perturbator (ft. Greta Link) - Venger [Synthwave] Takeshi Terauchi & His Blue Jeans - Diamond Head [J-Rock/Surf Rock] The Avalanches - Frankie Sinatra [Plunderphonics] Ryo Fukui - Early Summer [Jazz/Piano] Takuya Kuroda - Everybody Loves The Sunshine [Jazz] Daisuke Ishiwatari - Starry Story [VGM/Rock] Trevor Something - Summer Love [Retrowave] Ronnie Jones - Video Games [Disco] Masafumi Takada - When The May Rain Comes [VGM] Ryan Amon - Hail The Nightmare [VGM/Choir] tyDi - Die This Way (ft. The Ready Set) [EDM] Spyro Gyra - Morning Dance [Jazz Fusion] The Who - Eminence Front [Rock] Kraftwerk - Computer Love [Synthpop] DJ Shadow ft. Run The Jewels - Nobody Speak [Hip-Hop] Barns Courtney - Fire [Rock] BLΛNK BΛNSΗΣΣ - Dreamcast [Vaportrap] Terukazu Hiroki, Yumiko Hagiwara - Transvestite (Boutique) [VGM] DJ Okawari ft. Agehah - Chocolate [Chillhop] Waveshaper - Wisdom of Rage [VGM/Synthwave] Kn1ght - Something Memorable [VGM/Synthwave] Blazo - Essential Violet [Jazzhop] 死夢VANITY - moonlight  [Mallsoft] 死夢VANITY -  ガレリア [Mallsoft] milo - Going No Place (ft. Elucid) [Hip-Hop] Ashtar Command - Deadman’s Gun [VGM] LCD Soundsystem - you can’t hide/shame on you [Indie Rock/Live] Tatsuro Yamashita - Magic Ways [City Pop] Hiroshi Okubo - Disco Ball [VGM] Nujabes - Sea of Cloud [Chillhop] LCD Soundsystem - New York, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down [Indie Rock/Dance-Punk] Gorillaz (ft. DOOM) - November Has Come [Hip-Hop/Triphop] Shibayan -  躍る夜雀～Invitation to evening [Touhou/Electronic] Bill Evans Trio - Nardis [Jazz/Piano] Carl Norén - DonAcDum [VGM] Daisuke Ishiwatari - Jack-a-Dandy [VGM/Rock] Run The Jewels - Down (feat. Joi) [Hip-Hop] Mitch Murder - Breeze [Synthwave] マクロスMACROSS 82-99 -『82​.​99 AM』 [Future Funk] Masafumi Takada - Season of the Samurai [VGM] Rui Sato, Kokoro - No More No [VGM] MatrixMarioX - Oldies But Happiest [Mashup/VGM] Carl Norén - Bullet Rain [VGM] 

*the link is no longer available on SoundCloud; to keep the order correct, instead of deleting and remaking the post, i provided a youtube link to the song in the text of the post  

[herri-writes]

デッドマンズ (DEADMANS) - ROCK ROAR