#fic music and memories

[not-rab]

part five of Music and Memories, a Marauders band AU

———————————————————————

———————————————————————

part four | part six

[anistarrose]

This isn't something I would describe as a prominent or even intentional theme, but there's something fascinating to me about how TAZ Balance characters associated with composing and performing music are almost entirely correlated with either being forgotten, or having an incredibly warranted fear of being forgotten.

Johann is obviously the latter. I have an ongoing fic about his parallels with Barry — who plays piano, and who is the character we see spend the most time knowing he has been forgotten by people dear to him, and grappling with it. And I've seen the Johann and Lup dynamic get well-deserved attention in AUs where she lives, and they get to relate to each other as violinists — yet the parallels are at their strongest in canon, where Lup is the "most" dead of all the undead characters, the "most" forgotten, the most reduced to a near-invisible specter haunting the narrative, and the most like Johann's worst nightmare.

There's even a parallel with Davenport, who is a beautiful singer, and whose life story and dreams and achievements are all completely erased. So that's three different characters whose forgotten stories — which Johann obviously does not know — still serve to silently justify Johann's fear of the same fate, emphasizing just how likely it is that it could come to pass. How yes, it would be that horrifying.

And as a non-musician, but an artist of a kind myself... it all resonates. The fear of one's legacy being forgotten is a common fear in general, but it has a particular type of teeth to it for us creatives, who shudder in terror at the thought of a masterwork — that feels like a piece of one's soul — being forgotten, let alone cut short by untimely tragedy.

But that's why I treasure, so dearly, that all of these musically inclined characters — Barry, Lup, Davenport, Johann — are not forgotten permanently, but instead immortalized by the Story and Song, no matter the varying degrees of alive and dead that they wind up in the end. I treasure the parallels between these characters that say being forgotten is a grounded, reasonable thing to fear; that it is scary — but that no matter what, memory will still find a way.

[cillyscribbles]

Summary:

Tugger puffs himself all out in his indignity. “So now I’m, what, I’m supposed to act like – we’re what, we’re just a nice little family? That’s what we’re gonna be for the next – five, six hours?”

“Everlasting. Yes,” Munkustrap says, quietly, squeezing his eyes shut. When he raises his head, he finds Tugger staring at him, head cocked ever-so-slightly to the side. Concern or distaste – he’s been getting all too good at blending the two lately. It irritates Munkustrap like a splinter under the claw, and he says, feeling as though Tugger expects elaborating, “Well, how many years has that charred theater been hiring you for – eight? And you still can’t do a little performing?”

Tugger sneers. “Oh, Straps, you want a performance? I’ll give you a performance.”

--

Or, on the wonders of meeting one's estranged brother over the death bed of one's estranged mother, theatrics, trust, and the absurdity of life at its most.

hello cats the musical fandom!! today i am offering you a humble cats au with focus on the deuteronomy brothers which i have been working on for a long while now and am very excited to share. i hope it can be a delicious crumb to your day! :3 please enjoy it and let me know if you do!

[cal-daisies-and-briars]

Hi Cal 😁😁😁😁 may I request a few sentences please? ��🙏

🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊

🌌🌌🌌🌌🌌🌌

⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨

📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚

🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸

🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮

🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮

SO EXCITED TO READ YOUR WORDS AS ALWAYS 💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞

HELL YEAH I LOVE A CHALLENGE.

27 for 🌊:

---

The only complication was the lack of his memories. The way it made Eddie feel that perhaps Buck wasn’t Buck. But he is. And that person is impossible not to love. 

That word settles over Eddie with more ease than he might have expected. Love. He’s in love with Buck. It’s not just attraction or infatuation. It’s not just good sex and good dates and good conversations. He loves him. He wants a future with him, where neither of them are lonely. 

Maddie seems to read Eddie’s thoughts, judging by the knowing smile on her face. 

“As I suspected. You’re good for him.” She winks. “Plus, Christopher is delightful.”

“Thank you,” Eddie smiles back. “I’m lucky, he’s a good kid. And, Genevieve is great, too. She was confident as hell calling my work and asking around until she got me.”

“She’s really come out of her shell here,’ Maddie nods. “Just like my brother, I guess.’

Like Eddie, too, he supposes. 

He doesn’t get to say so, though, because Buck comes back through the door, balancing three wine glasses in his hands like a practiced bartender. 

“Whatcha talking about?” He asks, passing Maddie hers first, then moving to sit next to Eddie.

“You, obviously,” Maddie teases.

---

18 for 🌌:

@steadfastsaturnsrings

---

Letting Chris think this was nothing more than a dream is dishonest and he hates lying to his son. And yet, thinking about this from a harm reduction standpoint, saying, actually, no, all of that happened and was horrifically upsetting doesn’t seem like a better parenting decision. So Eddie doesn’t contradict Christopher’s completely rational explanation for what he remembers. 

“Yeah, it was. Are you having a fun weekend hanging out with Buck?” 

Right. Because Chris actually thinks Eddie is with Buck, getting over his breakup with Marisol. Because he definitely didn’t tell him the truth about that, either. He couldn’t say it to himself, so he hadn’t figured out how to say it to Chris. He wants to spill right here, on the phone, but that might also be a mistake. He should probably explain it all face-to-face. 

“Uh, yeah,” Eddie replies. “You know, he and I… Well, we’re talking about some big stuff. Stuff that I’m going to talk to you about when I’m home.”

“Okay,” Christopher responds, not sounding too bothered or too interested. Well, at least he’s not worried. “Say hi to Buck for me, then?” 

“You got it,” Eddie promises.

---

21 for ⚡️:

---

Eddie smiles softly. “Yeah, I think so too.”

“So, turn down the stress a bit, Eddie,” Bobby advises. “He’s going to be okay. Maybe you can try to enjoy the festivities, too.”

Eddie sighs. “Don’t expect me to be nice to them.’

Bobby smirks, just a little. “I don’t expect me to be nice to them.”

Then they’re at an understanding, Eddie realizes. Who Margaret and Phillip Buckley are, to someone they both love so entirely and without reservation, is abhorrent to them. Eddie wonders, for Bobby, having lost his children, how agonizing it must be to watch others treat their own as disposable. 

“That being said,” Eddie relents. “I think I’ll go refill my drink, and grab him a new one.”

He doesn’t have to wait around for Buck like a security detail. He can let his guard down, just a little. 

“Good idea,” Bobby smiles. 

Eddie stands. “Okay, be back.” As he crosses the yard to the cooler of drinks, Eddie fails to notice a tactical response to his own - maybe overdone - guard dog behavior. Rather than cornering Buck, the Buckleys corner him.

---

24 for 🚨

---

That’s the answer, isn’t it? He realizes it with a crash of disappointment. There will be no more boundaries crossed between them this morning. Eddie can’t answer that need until the more important matter is settled. He has work to do.

Hating himself just a tiny bit, Eddie slowly untangles his body from Buck’s. His sore body complains at the movement. As he begins to pull away, Buck makes a small moan of complaint, and clings a bit tighter. It takes everything in Eddie not to fold right then and there. But Eddie persists, slipping away from Buck, grabbing his phone off the nightstand, and disappearing to the bathroom. 

Eddie takes a long shower. Longer than he would usually take. A water-wasting-ly long shower. He takes care of what he needs to take care of if he is going to have any ability to think today. Even then, his intellectual capacity is probably a little reduced. It’s been a very long time since he’s had sex and he woke up next to his literal dream man. Sue him for being flustered. 

When he’s done in the shower, Eddie spends a good minute looking at his naked body in the mirror. Not for any sort of vanity. Rather, because he looks absolutely beaten. He’s bruised and scraped all over. Places he hadn’t even realized he’d been hurt. Dark, hideous welts from falling and having the earth rain down on him. God, maybe it’s a good thing he didn’t throw himself at Buck this morning. 

---

30 for 📚

---

“Hey, speaking of which, I hear fire companies are kind of like a big family. Is that true?” 

Ravi’s stomach drops. He lifts his head to meet his brother’s eyes. Anil is watching for this exact reaction. He knows exactly what he’s saying and exactly how Ravi will take it. He knows exactly what he’s threatening. He always does this. He can’t just let Ravi have anything. Ravi is out of his life, not bothering him at all. What must he need or want to come into Ravi’s home and threaten his stability? Or is it still so abhorrent to Anil that anybody would want Ravi around? 

“It becomes true,” Bobby answers. “In some stations more than others.”

“This one?” Anil asks.

“Yes,” Buck replies tightly. “We’re a family.”

“So you all know a lot about each other?” Anil asks.

Ravi’s throat tightens. 

This can’t be happening. This really can’t be happening. 

“What are you trying to ask?” Eddie narrows his eyes.

“Anil, I’m sure you came to speak with Ravi alone,” Hen interjects. “Not  to be rude, but-”

“We all have station chores to do,” Bobby agrees. 

Buck looks at Ravi very intensely. Like he’s waiting for Ravi’s opinion to chime in. Ravi won’t meet his eyes.

---

18 for 🩸:

---

“You see your guy?” Kurt asks, flipping through grainy images of strangers who happened to pass by his houseboat. None of them look like Eddie.

Sophia shakes her head. “No. I don’t.”

“You know this would be a heck of a lot easier if you left me with a photo of him,” Kurt points out as he continues to click. 

Buck bristles at the thought.

“Aw, Kurt, you know why we can’t,” Sophia says gently.

“Yeah, but you can trust me, Sophie,” he protests. “I’d never do you dirty.”

Yes. He would. If the price was right. He’s made a career of opportunism in the midst of crisis. 

“I know that,” Sophia says, squeezing his arm. “But what if you got raided, huh? I don’t want photos of him anywhere.”

They’ve not shown a single person Eddie’s picture.

---

30 for 🦮:

---

“Okay,” Maddie says quickly. “What are these dogs trained to do?”

“I don’t exactly know,” Buck admits. “They want me to meet with the trainer.”

Maddie nods. “Well, I think you should. And here me out, okay?” 

“Okay,” Buck sighs. He takes a hefty sip of beer as compensation. 

“Two nights ago, by the time you got home from work, you were too sore to get up and cross the room to grab the remote.” Maddie says. “Using your prosthetic all day wears on you.”

Well… That’s true.

“I’m still getting used to it,” Buck protests. Which is also true. 

“A week ago, you dropped your keys at a certain angle to your left, and struggled to bend over and grab them.” Maddie continues.

“Well, yeah. Okay. I still have some limitations, but won’t having a dog around be more work?” 

Buck has seen the kind of breeds they use in service work. Labs. Goldens. Collies. Shepherds. Poodles. Active, upbeat dogs. Not like a mellow giant or something. 

“And I think you’re lonely,” Maddie adds, holding firm eye contact. 

Buck feels cold. 

---

21 for 🔮:

---

“Buck.” Bobby exhales. 

“Uh, hi, Bobby.” Buck replies, a little too quickly. Like he’s trying to speed through an uncomfortable interaction.

“How’re you doing?” Bobby asks.

Because he misses him. He misses him so badly. He misses him more than the others, though he would never say it. He can’t subside on sad little updates from Eddie. He can’t continue to throw small, not very subtle questions Chim’s way. He needs to know. From the horse’s mouth, as it were. 

Buck’s mouth twists with what Bobby knows is frustration. He sighs as he shrugs. 

“I’m fine, Bobby.”

But that doesn’t seem like the truth.

“Are you?” Bobby asks. 

Buck’s mouth twitches. “It’s whatever.”

He sounds like May or Harry. 

---

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS WAS OVER 1500 WORDS

[asthedeathoflight]

You guys need to listen to the warriors album so you can get on board with my hc that cyrus is trans and also that she and masai were in love thank you

[liamgallaghermpreg]

just saw a fic rec for unholyverse on my twitter fyp like we are truly living in 2008

[lizzle-the-edu-gamer]

Chapter 3 of Living in B Minor is out!

Come dive into this fic about Shinsou Hitoshi trying to rekindle his connection with Monoma Neito in the face of an unnamed tragedy.

In this chapter, Shinsou gets approval to pursue a new avenue in his project and goes to his first day as a volunteer at the music academy. He finds he's more welcome there than he thought and one has to wonder if this is where he was meant to be all along.

[merry-the-cookie]

remembered and reread my 25k words of rpf fic from two years ago and ykno what i slayed actually

[itstimeforstarwars]

My formative years were spent as a lotr fic writer which means that every day I refrain from adding people bursting into song or putting on a play out of boredom in my fics.

[shiryawashere]

sometimes you listen to a soundtrack and accidentally cook up the outline for an entire sequel to a slowburn that's already over 50k words long

[moinsbienquekaworu]

My favourite way of feeling like there's too much emotion in my body is anything fanfic related

[not-rab]

part one of Music and Memories, a Marauders band AU

—————————————————————————————

—————————————————————————————

part two

[helianskies]

After reading Bitter Teeth and knowing you speak Italian, are there scenarios and stories you'd still like to explore having Italy as your background? And what are you favorite Italian historical periods to play with?

holy moly, months later she's finally decided to give you some sort of answer to a very interesting ask! :'0

i'm sorry i'm on my knees i'm grovelling cake i'm so sorry

i'll be honest, i love italy, i love italian, i love italians, and i would love to use it as a setting more often if it suits a fic - in a heartbeat. having been to a fair few areas now (Puglia you're next on my list bby i promise) there are such beautiful places i would love to use as backdrops, even for short works. a little romantic trip to Verona, a wet weekend in Venice, a sea swim in the marina in Naples across the bay from Vesuvius...

i think it helps with writing when you've been somewhere and can weave in personal experiences or even memories. i'd like to do it more in general, though i find my mind is not programmed easily for fluffy encounters haha. but i have fond memories of italy and i'd love to use them more as inspiration.

(what i'm trying to say is i suffered climbing up Vesuvius after a morning spent walking Herculaneum and i want someone - toni, south italy, whoever! - to feel my pain!)

anywho. as for historical periods... i dunno. as a student i only ever studied Risorgimento onwards, and very politically-based. i think the Renascimento in Florence would be interesting. i really loved visiting Davide and Venere haha (my duomo experience on the other hand...). and i'd love to learn more of Venice as a kingdom. Roman Italy i guess is a must, though i've already dabbled. otherwise, i'm not too sure....

though, when in Rome... i could send toni to walk around the Colosseum and Roman Forum omgggg... let him walk around and have his thoughts... a lil' character study...

i am never getting over leaving the Colosseum and finding a public water dispenser with sparkling water.......

OH THE TEMPLES! there were temples in the Forum! there's the Tempio di Antonino (e Faustina, ahem) and the Tempio di Romolo just across the way! i remember my mind working overtime with that nugget. the romespa was stalking me tirelessly on that part of my trip. and i'm yet to be cured!

anyways i hope that has in some way answered your question(?). i've not put much thought into the italies as characters themselves - i don't feel the same kind of draw to them that i feel with toni - but it would be curious to. i'd love to do more research into Venice during the times of the Ottoman Empire, in its sort of golden era. i'm sure i've seen a documentary or two, and i may even have a book... hmmm...

so many little threads to follow and not enough hours in the day, sadly, to do so :')

thank you for sending in the ask, it gave me an excuse to look back on some much loved holiday pics haha (and sorry again for taking my sweet time responding!) :)

[cal-daisies-and-briars]

🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸📚📚📚📚🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🔮🔮🔮

keeeeen!

HEYYYY!!!!! THANKS!

15 for 🌊:

---

Eddie takes the ambulance by himself. This is technically outside of his job description and may get him reprimanded. Lyall and Wendy promise not to say a thing. 

Driving through the rising winds and rain proves to be a challenge. El Paso sure doesn’t get this kind of weather. Neither did Afghanistan. Eddie is literally out of his element. Nevertheless, he persists, driving slow and steady - taking care to avoid windswept debris in the road - until he reaches Buck’s house. 

Buck and Maddie’s vehicles are gone. The house is boarded up, but looks otherwise abandoned. They’re not waiting the storm out here, Eddie realizes, relieved. Maybe they left the island? Or… Or maybe they went slightly more inland, to the bar. Fuck. 

Eddie drives in that direction.

---

15 for 🩸:

---

It’s hard to separate. To let Eddie get into a different vehicle. He kind of wants to put Eddie on one of those kid leashes parents use at amusement parks. He can’t quite get his heart rate to slow when he thinks about taking his eyes off of him. 

“I promise I’ll follow you back to the house,” Eddie tells him, when he notices Buck hesitating to get back in the Jeep. “I’m not leaving again.”

Buck remembers the way Eddie exposed his throat. The way he’d laid it all down on the line, given Buck total power over his life. He’ll just have to trust him. As hard as that is, after all this time. 

“Okay,” Buck agrees. “See you at home.”

He climbs in the driver’s seat of the Jeep and tries to stop his hands from shaking. 

There are a lot of things he needs to process in the short drive back to the house. Not all of which he has time to think about.

---

12 for 📚:

---

“I want to make it clear that if what your brother said was true - and you don’t have to confirm or deny - it doesn’t change anything.” Bobby’s words are stern, but his eyes are kind. “If there is support you need that I can provide, please tell me. Otherwise, this team is operated based on merit, and you are an excellent young firefighter, Ravi. End of story.”

Ravi exhales, relieved. 

“Thank you, Bobby,” he says. “Uh, it is true. Sorry I didn’t say anything before.”

Bobby shakes his head. “Not any of my business unless it impacts the job. And in my opinion, it hasn’t.”

---

15 for 🦮:

---

Eddie and Chris come over a few days later. Buck orders pizza. Eddie brings a case of beer. Chris arrives holding a large stuffed dog toy in the shape of a duck. 

“Because golden retrievers are used for duck hunting!” He proclaims, passing Cranberry the toy and sitting next to her on the floor. He hardly even notices Buck, he’s so excited about the dog.

“I’m old news,” Buck chuckles, watching Chris rub Cranberry’s belly and she wiggles on her back, stuffed duck in mouth.

“I promise he does actually miss you,” Eddie whispers. “He was talking about tonight for two days straight.”

Buck smiles. “Well, I missed him, too. And you.”

They eat at the table and Cranberry lies beside Chris on the floor. 

“I think she likes me,” Chris announces, pizza sauce smudged on his upper lip.

---

9 for 🔮:

---

What belief did Buck have in him that Bobby has mistakenly broken? 

“Just hold on a second.” Bobby pleads. “We can talk this out.”

“Can we?” Buck asks, walking towards the door and grabbing his keys. “Because you’re not really talking, Bobby.”

That’s not true. That’s definitely not true, is it?

[pikachu-deluxe]

thinking maybe i do have something going on with me

like, i do have trouble focusing i guess it just never clicked before when i heard others say that but my thing is my brain refuses to let me think about the stuff i want to think about most of the time. i usually get music going on in the background of my brain but sometimes it turns into the foreground so it's like i can't think unless i specifically focus on obstructing the music but that's so much effort just to do things

that's why i never really thought i had trouble focusing bc i thought i was just doing it wrong or something but no this requires extra effort on my part that shouldn't be needed afaik

[ereborne]

Song of the Day: May 14

"Diamond on a Landmine” by Billy Talent