#he's the embodiment of chaotic energy when he performs

[niuniente]

Looking at Joon, I just realized he’s exactly like the characters I got to play when I was acting in my early 20′s.

I spent around 10+ years without really speaking to anyone unless I was spoken to - which happened so rarely I still remember every single moment someone spoke to me in those 10+ years. Why? I was so badly traumatized I was more like a ghost than a human being. Completely shut off from people and life. Even at the theater with the group I acted with, I was a mute ghost.

Yet, when I got on the stage, it was a completely different story. No one had as much confidence, fire and this chaotic riot energy as I did when it came to acting. I got all the villain roles, crazy roles, aggressive roles, loud roles. If it needed chaos, Niu was directors choice lol. The very first time I stepped on the stage in a practice to take a place of a missing actress in a very aggressive role and pulled that through without no hesitation bitch, the WHOLE FUCKING THEATER GROUP WAS SO QUIET AND SHOCKED YOU COULD HEAR A PIN DROP.

When Joon appeared suddenly, I thought to myself that he’s not my kind of a character, how interesting that he appears.

Now I get that we have a lot more in common than I realized lol.  He’s like my actor side. Only see on stage (and whenever I riot against injustice which I have done since I was a kid lol).

Ah, I miss playing chaotic heartless villains. I’m really good at those roles.

[crustyfloor]

IM SHAKING I'M ROCKING BACK AND FORTH AND HITTING MY HEAD AGAINST THE WALL...

I initially thought round 7 would be something emotional in the sense that it would be more gloomy and depressing, but no--this is literally some crazy ass upbeat techno-disco rave-themed music....in other words, It feels like a concert this time.

The atmosphere is so energetic I WASN'T EXPECTING IT.

It's interesting how they stand on a stage that symbolizes themselves equally in a meshed sort of way, blue and green, in equal distance and on equal footing, unlike round 5 when Luka used elevation to his advantage a lot, it feels different here. Round 7 feels like a mix of their styles; even the song has a soft tempo with a mix of Till's roughness in there, but the idea that they'll fight for the stage feels somewhat pushed here. They both stand on the stage like they own it, and given their nature, Luka's manipulative personality allows him to dominate the stage with his presence, and Till's unwillingness to be overshadowed and made inferior this feels like on the flip side this round will be a real, and intense competition.

Round 7 is very different because, unlike the other rounds, Luka and Till are rivals. They have no chemistry of any sort. The reason why I say round 7 will be a real competition is because all the rounds before weren't, round 1, 2, 3, and 6 focused on the intimacy and relationship between characters, they were telling a story, pouring their hearts out through their songs, while round 7 will be made into a true death match.

In typical fashion, Luka establishes himself with a sense of superiority as he spreads out, fills the arena with his presence, absorbs the energy of the stage, and captivates the aliens' attention. It's because he's confident, at least outwardly. He sets up the illusion of power this way, but truthfully, he is more controlled than ever. The strings on his costume look akin to puppet strings to me. That kind of symbolism has been shown in his other costumes before, but this feels overbearing, and trapping.

Till is more reserved in the teaser, at least in this example, he's hidden in the shadows, and how he's feeling is ambiguous, though obviously, it isn't anything good, given that he was just thrown on the stage while he's mentally unstable and confused I'm sure that's an understatement.

When Vivinos mentions Till's emotional journey...what mindset Till will bring to the stage...this round is gonna be chaotic as hell

To me, Till looks all sorts of things, and anger is most prominent. He's flashy and loud, and the colors he's represented with are his own, Till embodies rebellion, and symbolizes that he's fighting to push the barriers of his cage, while Luka embraces his. after everything he's been through I'm sure his mind is a thunderstorm of mixed emotions, even just the look in his eyes.. so considering that--his side of things will probably be a lot more messy, but there is a good sign here that shows he seems to have regained his fighting spirit he doesn't look like he'll be going down without a fight at all.

And their body language here in the last frame--The lighting in this frame looks intense, like the weight of those lights is gradually bearing down on them, Till looks strangely slouched over like he's out of it (I believe he may have been drugged by the aliens again..) while Luka, for once, isn't even looking at his audience, he's looking to the side, seemingly distracted. It's notable just how detached they look from their performance and the moment. The detached and performative nature of round 7 highlights how this performance is all merely a high-budget spectacle, entertainment for the aliens as it always was. It's a fitting vibe for Luka and Till, who had gone through the most to make it here just to have every aspect of their personalities marketed, and to be paraded around like trophies by their guardians.

(they don't want to be there, basically.)

And now the title--FOUL. Is how i'd describe it based on my reading of it.

"Blink gone" could be connected to the other teaser, "Never come back again" as in --> "blink gone--and never come back again" is maybe a reference to the things (or people) they've lost in their lives, in seemingly the blink of an eye.

In general, blink gone is related to something fast-moving. So how will that sentiment be expressed in round 7 through their perspectives?

And YET AGAIN. I come back to this official art for another more parallel, I have no idea what the bands around Tills arms are about, but these two seem to correlate. (Or they could mean nothing at all. absolutely nothing at all. But fun fact: wearing black bands on your arm can be representative of mourning)

And Luka's design here, Luka still hasn't changed his aesthetic, so nothing noteworthy other than the fact that his outfit just got more revealing, I can probably see why, if there is an alien equivalent of fan service in the universe of Alien stage. There are lines on his chest that I assume are meant to be scarring? Luka has been said to have had surgeries and experiments before so that little detail they included...ughhhh.

And Mizi will seemingly be showing up for another rescue attempt, but as expected, the area is heavily guarded, more so than in round 6, so this may be a little tricky, and I have no idea how they'll pull it off this time with the atmosphere so intense and the aliens so close to them...

(ALSO CAN WE TALK ABOUT TILL'S ARMS- *gets shot*)

[lynetianya]

Harmony in Jeonju [ Karina X Reader ]

Karina and Y/N embark on a charming date. Their day unfolds as they explore traditional shops, don exquisite Hanboks, and receive heartfelt compliments from locals.

GENRE : Fluff

TYPE : One Shot

In the bustling heart of Seoul, amidst the neon-lit streets and the ever-present hum of city life, there existed a love story that transcended boundaries. Karina, a renowned Korean idol known for her captivating performances and charismatic stage presence, was the embodiment of a whirlwind of energy. Her life was a constant whirlwind of rehearsals, interviews, and fan events. Her boyfriend, Y/N, was the calm refuge in her storm, the one who kept her grounded in the midst of her chaotic fame.

Karina and Y/N's love story had been a source of fascination for the public and media alike. They had met in the most unexpected of ways, and their connection had grown stronger with each passing day. Karina's career demanded a hyperactive lifestyle, but when she was with Y/N, she found solace in his tranquility.

One sunny afternoon in Seoul, Karina had a rare day off from her busy schedule, and she was determined to make the most of it. She had been looking forward to spending quality time with Y/N, away from the flashing cameras and screaming fans. She had meticulously planned their day together, wanting to give Y/N a glimpse of her world and, at the same time, escape from it.

As they strolled through the streets of Myeongdong, Karina couldn't help but notice how her presence attracted attention. Fans recognized her, asked for autographs, and snapped pictures. Karina handled it all with grace and a bright smile, but she couldn't wait to find a quieter spot with Y/N.

"Let's go to that cafe I found last week," Karina suggested, her voice filled with excitement.

Y/N nodded, his calm demeanor unwavering. He was used to being in the background, letting Karina shine in the spotlight. Her fame never intimidated him, and he cherished the moments when they could just be themselves.

The cafe was a hidden gem tucked away from the bustling streets. As they entered, a wave of tranquility washed over them. Soft jazz music played in the background, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. Karina and Y/N found a cozy corner table, away from prying eyes.

As they sipped their coffee and shared a piece of blueberry cheesecake, Karina couldn't stop herself from gushing about her latest music video shoot. She described the elaborate choreography, the stunning costumes, and the adrenaline rush of performing in front of thousands of fans.

Y/N listened attentively, his eyes fixed on her as if she were the only star in the world. "You were amazing Jimin," he said with a warm smile. "I'm so proud of everything you've achieved."

Karina's heart swelled with love for Y/N. She knew that he was the reason she could handle the whirlwind of her career with grace and humility. He was her rock, her constant source of support.

After their coffee, they decided to explore Jeonju, known for its traditional Korean art and culture. Karina was eager to share this side of place with Y/N, and he was more than willing to embrace the experience. They visited antique shops, admired intricate paintings, and even tried their hand at traditional calligraphy.

As they wandered through the charming streets of Jeonju, they stumbled upon a traditional Hanbok shop. The vibrant colors and elegant designs of the Hanboks displayed in the window immediately caught Karina's eye, and she couldn't resist pulling Y/N inside.

Inside the shop, they were greeted by a friendly shopkeeper who showed them a variety of Hanboks. Karina's eyes sparkled with excitement as she carefully selected a beautiful, flowing Hanbok in shades of deep red and gold. Y/N chose a more understated but equally handsome Hanbok in muted blue and silver.

Once they had their Hanboks on, they couldn't help but feel transformed. Karina's Hanbok accentuated her grace and beauty, and Y/N looked dashing in his traditional attire. As they admired themselves in the mirror, the shopkeeper couldn't contain her admiration.

"You two make such a lovely couple," the shopkeeper said with a warm smile. "You look like a perfect husband and wife."

Karina blushed at the unexpected compliment, and Y/N couldn't help but chuckle. "Thank you," he replied, feeling a sense of pride standing beside Karina.

The shopkeeper insisted on taking a picture of them in their Hanboks, and she even helped them with traditional accessories to complete their look. Karina's cheeks remained flushed with happiness as they posed for the camera, their smiles radiating the joy of the moment.

After leaving the Hanbok shop, Karina and Y/N continued their exploration of Insadong, hand in hand. The traditional attire made them feel like they had stepped back in time, and they embraced the rich cultural experience. They shared a meal at a traditional Korean restaurant, where they enjoyed a variety of delicious dishes.

As the day in Insadong drew to a close, they made their way to a peaceful park nestled between ancient buildings. Under the soft glow of lanterns, they sat on a bench, the vibrant colors of their Hanboks contrasting with the serene surroundings.

"This has been such a wonderful day," Karina whispered, her eyes filled with gratitude.

Y/N wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. "I'm so glad we could experience this together, Karina. It's moments like these that make our love even more special."

As they sat there, surrounded by the beauty of Jeonju and the echoes of traditional culture, Karina and Y/N shared a sweet kiss, sealing the memory of their day in Hanboks. In that moment, they felt like a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity, a couple whose love transcended time and place.

Amidst the serene beauty of Jeonju, Y/N and Karina found a sense of peace that was rare in their hectic lives. As they watched the sunset from a quiet park, Karina leaned against Y/N, her head resting on his shoulder.

"Thank you for being my anchor, Y/N," Karina whispered, her voice filled with emotion.

Y/N gently kissed her forehead. "I'll always be here for you, Karina. No matter how crazy life gets, you can count on me."

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the city of Jeonju. Karina and Y/N shared a silent moment, their hearts entwined in a love that defied the chaos of fame and the calm of ordinary life.

As they walked hand in hand through the streets of Jeonju, the city lights shimmering around them, Karina couldn't help but smile. She knew that their love story was extraordinary, a beautiful harmony in the midst of the vibrant chaos of their lives. In the bustling heart of Jeonju, Karina and Y/N's love was a melody that would play on forever.

END

My Masterlist

[ferie-anon]

Wayv dissection of birth-chart (Big 5 placements)

Note: Wayv’s group synastry is very compatible or balanced in a way, which also makes sense why their teamwork is great and their bond as a family.

Kun: January 1st 1996

Capricorn sun • Taurus moon • Capricorn mercury • Aquarius venus • Capricorn mars

With a capricorn stellium in his big 6, he rlly embodies the discipline and maturity of that energy, him being the leader and also caring for the members like a dad. He is strict yet knows when to have fun or let the members fool around, as his taurus moon paired with his capricorn sun makes him more chill yet draws the line at certain things. The way he conveys himself and leads is evident in his capricorn mercury, as he is responsible and practical. The members trust and rely on Kun for his reliability and sense of responsibility.

Ten: February 27th 1996

Pisces sun • Gemini moon • Aquarius mercury • Aries venus • Pisces mars

Chaotic energy and creativity 100x in his big 6 lol. He has a lot of ideas and creative vision that he can unleash thru projects such as his solo songs, his dance, and on top of that he can draw and etc. He’s also witty, sassy, and can make a killer comeback line, which Ten having all the star quality to capture the public’s attention. He does well on variety shows with tidbits and tea on other members which helps with the comedic timing of things. His placements also make sense for his free-spirited nature, how he follows his heart and has so many creative ideas to go with. He goes with how he feels on how to artistically convey the songs, appeal to the audience, and that makes him a great artist in the idol industry. A strong breeze thru kpop industry is wut Ten is.

Winwin: October 28th 1997

Scorpio sun • Virgo moon • Scorpio mercury • Sagittarius venus • Sagittarius mars

Quiet yet hardworking and sharp, Winwin is adored for how hard he works for what he is passionate for (eg. Acting, performing in nct). Also pretty witty and sarcastic with his wayv members and nct. He wants to show his mature and cool sides a lot but also he is seen as endearing and adorable on the way he practices and tries earnestly. Sagittarius venus and mars individuals are naturally athletic and have a knack for dancing and learning the key points of dance moves, it can explain why winwin is rlly good at dancing and grooving, plus predebut he was in a dance school in china I believe. His sag mars makes sense for why he delves into multiple hobbies or interests, this can be expressed thru his career or as a side-skill he would develop. Its probably why hes interested in acting career too. With his scorpio sun and virgo moon perfectionistic yet passionate nature, he’s able to express his artistic and musical expression and perfect it naturally.

Xiaojun: August 8th 1999

Leo sun • Cancer moon • Cancer mercury • Virgo venus • Scorpio mars

Sensitive yet thoughtful, he is usually the one receiving pranks and jokes from the other members yet he has a high eq (emotional intelligence) and the members usually joke with him becuz he’s quite expressive and they like seeing his reactions. He’s understanding and thinks about things genuinely which is why he can get worked up sometimes but in a endearing way to fans. He cares for his members and is very pure in the sense he does his best with passion and love, performing and singing - he’s good at expressing or getting into emotions (leo sun and cancer moon) which is why he also acted in a c-drama. Since he’s good at expressions and etc, when he’s performing his stage presence and key moves are very eye-catching.

Hendery: September 28th 1999

Libra sun • Taurus moon • Libra mercury • Leo venus • Sagittarius mars

His big 6 screams chaotic energy and expressiveness. He has a lot of fun or ideas in him which he can bring to light on stage and thru other creative endeavors. With his taurus moon paired with his libra sun, he may be grounded depending on his environment as seen between interactions with wayv vs. other nct units. He was more shy or quiet when with the other nct units during make a wish promotions and etc since that was the first the wayv members were introduced to the nct units comebacks. He is understanding and conscious of how to interact and once navigating the waters he’ll adapt and show himself more. His comedic timing is gold with libra mercury + leo venus + sag mars, so making other people laugh and being dramatic is his love language in a way. He is witty, knows when and wut to say, overall the spot of entertainment. He goes with the flow at times and hits up with a comedic line or dialogue that matches up with the situation or mood.

Yangyang: October 10th 2000

Libra sun • Pisces moon • Scorpio mercury • Scorpio venus • Virgo mars

All rounder prankster maknae is wut his big 6 screams. Yangyang being a libra sun with water energy of scorpio and a pisces moon makes him very creative and passionate. His pisces moon makes him sensitive to others reactions or aware of it, he’s understanding and receptive of others reactions and dynamics. His scorpio mercury paired with his pisces moon makes him playful and loves to joke with his loved ones, whether thats thru witty lines or roasting them. His scorpio mercury paired with his sun and moon placement makes him inquisitive and one to get to the bottom of things if he wanted to, which can contrast his duality of being playful and all but then he can be very “sharp” when focused on something. His venus and mars placement would further refute his work ethic with his attention to detail and organized approach paired with passion and drive to complete something when he wants to, whether thats thru solo projects, dance performances, etc. Yangyang puts his all, passion, thru wa lot of things, which is why he can rap, dance, and sing — and works to hone his skills which is why he’s well rounded in most of the skills an idol needs.

[wheredidalltheusersgo]

any ocs idm :) you can tell me about whichever ocs you like, I saw some art of them and I'm interested

—🦣

Well, I guess I'll cover the OCs I've actually posted about! I'm not good at explaining things in general and I do better with answering individual questions, but I'll do my best with these descriptions!

Worlds Collide!

Name: Alita Torren Age: 32 Nationality: German/Scottish Identity: Cis girl, Bisexual as hell Pronouns: She/her Species?: Wolf kemonomimi She's a party animal with a love for all things wild. She currently leads a superhero team called "The Sundown City Guardians." Her team means the world to her. She's got a rough exterior with a great sense of humour and a heart of gold. She's also a loose cannon and a real heavy-hitter. She's known to get riled up really easily, especially in battle. Her weapon of choice is a giant mecha-sledgehammer. Alita still holds on to childhood guilt from her best friend's death, which was the result of a hate crime. Her death is what inspired Alita to become a hero and fight against injustice in the world. She has a boyfriend named Archimedes, he's a dove harpy. She can be a bit vulgar and aggressive at times, but it's all part of her charm.

Name: Keiko Okami Age: 16 Nationality: American/japanese Identity: Girlthing?? Aro/Ace Pronouns: She/they/any tbh Species: Human After her biological parents seemingly disappeared off the face of the earth when she was barely a year old, she was adopted by a family friend and raised as his own. She decided she wanted to learn magic at a young age after witnessing her adoptive father perform a simple spell. He was unsure about letting her learn magic at first, but he eventually gave in to their demands. They were a pretty quick learner, though she's not at her maximum potential yet. She has almost NO friends, your honour. She's too unhinged to hang out with most kids her age, especially since her hijinks could get them hurt. They are THE embodiment of chaotic good. The closest thing they have to a friend is the Russian/Norwegian man in her neighbourhood who has a dark past and almost never leaves his house. They have a love for alternative fashion and art.

I'd write more but I ran out of energy. Might make a follow-up sometime in the next month

[denimbex1986]

'Doctor Who has long been known for its chaotic camp energy and nothing encapsulates this better than the musical numbers scattered throughout the iconic BBC sci-fi series.

Returning showrunner Russell T Davies certainly seems to love ensure that a banging soundtrack accompanies the hit British TV favourite: That was made clear early on in the season one reboot when “Toxic” by Britney Spears and Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love” played as “traditional Earth ballads” while the planet burned in “The End of the World”, set in the year five billion.

In recent years the show has had a particular penchant for including needle drops, dance breaks and powerhouse musical scenes for its characters, especially the villains. At this point, it’s amazing that there hasn’t been a dedicated musical episode as some sci-fi fantasy shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer – have famously done.

In a recent interview, Davies explained why he loved giving his Doctor Who antagonists a spectacular musical number as they enact their evil plans.

“In all great pop music, there’s a savagery to it… It’s like in the middle of a song, people are being slaughtered. It’s pure Doctor Who, isn’t it?” he said during the episode commentary for “The Giggle”, the third of three 60th anniversary specials.

“I’m always using pop music like that. There’s a darkness in there somewhere. The relentlessness, that’s the word. There’s a ruthlessness to pop music.”...

5. ‘My Angel Put the Devil in Me’ from ‘Daleks in Manhattan’ (2007)

We feel bad putting the only musical number not performed by one of The Doctor’s enemies at the bottom of this list, but it falls just short in the face of some truly stellar – and villainous – competition.

We also apologise because Tallulah Francis’ dazzling cabaret performance of “My Angel Put the Devil in Me” is a standout moment from the season three episode “Daleks in Manhattan”.

The glittering outfits, the sultry (and gorgeously synchronised) choreography and dreamy encapsulation of 1930s New York all blend together to make this a performance to remember.

Kind-hearted, devilishly smart and supremely talented on stage, is there anything Tallulah “Three ‘l’s and an ‘H'” Francis, played by Miranda Raison, can’t do? We think not. Well, aside from topping this ranking, of course.

2. ‘Spice Up Your Life’ from ‘The Giggle’ (2023)

Placing Neil Patrick Harris’ musical number as The Toymaker in “The Giggle” as runner-up was not an easy choice given that his performance is truly spectacular, high-camp and unnerving in equal measures.

The Toymaker was lip-syncing for his (and everyone in the building’s) life as he went on a tyrannical rampage while dancing to 90s classic “Spice Up Your Life” by the Spice Girls, dressed in a classic toy soldier’s uniform. A murderous musical number for the ages.

1. ‘I Can’t Decide’ from ‘Last of the Time Lords’ (2007)

A controversial pick for the win, but just forcing its way to victory is John Simm’s inspired performance to Scissor Sisters hit “I Can’t Decide” in the season four finale “Last of the Time Lords”.

Put simply, “I Can’t Decide” walked so “Spice Up Your Life” could run, and we would be nowhere without it. The song perfectly captures Simm’s maniacal take on The Master opposite David Tennant’s (aged-up) 10th Doctor.

He’s a Teletubbies lover, king of needle drops (who can forget the moment he blasted Rogue Traders’ “Voodoo Child” while the Earth is being ravaged), and the true embodiment of a crazed villain.

It’s camp and crazy, and, tragically, many Whovians have been criminally deprived of the full scene over the years after it was left out of certain streaming versions. Some may think it is dispensable, but we certainly don’t. This is a John Simm stan page only.'

[withleeknow]

oml I'm glad you had the best timee - the COLOURS, the ENERGY, it looks so pretty 😭✨️ the way I would've started bawling at my universe, you're a stronger soldier than I am 🫡

igwym abt heeseung - I literally tagged one of my posts “the embodiment of hot girl summer” (but really he's also the biggest dork and gives major 🥟 vibes. exhibit a: https://tinyurl.com/258ywev7 oh his smile:')) oh and that hair colour? he fckn owns it and I want it immortalised, like how our felix is now a natural blonde 🐥

also my algorithm was on one today: https://tinyurl.com/mr28ua3e - idk if you've seen how pretty the concept is for enha's new album package (I've yet to press the “preorder” button but it's so v tempting) and to be completely honest I'm battling with the contrast of emotions I'm feeling towards their cb vs. skz's 😟 confession time: I started stanning just before the run-up to their 5-star era and the energy was unparalleled; as fun as this teaser was and knowing how hard the boys tirelessly work to produce the content they do for stays, my heart's just not in this season's lead-up in the same way. your thoughts? ♡ it's a massive ick I can't just ignore sorry for the vibes here, have our resident dumb and dumber's single braincell as tax https://tinyurl.com/3nu5m8dk 🩷🩷

have my universe !! it was one of my favorite things that they performed that night and also one of the only two performances that i filmed from start to finish !! god it was just so amazing, truly an unforgettable experience and i'm still not over it. please excuse the shaky camerawork lol i was trying to contain myself 😂

heeseung really does own that hair color !! and especially when it's styled ?? OOOOF my guy chill 😭😭😭 yesterday i came across a jayke video (wish i could attach here but i lost it alsjjdjs) and it made me wanna start en-o'clock so bad just to witness their chaotic asses

ooooh i didn't know that enha is having a comeback soon! i LOVEEE anything that has to do with (love) letters sign me up 😩

honestly i get you. i usually don't get that excited about album releases anyway - bc there's still a chance that i won't like it when it comes out so in that case the excitement would be for nothing yk? but yeah with the upcoming skz comeback i'm feeling some type of way about it. i still feel a little out of place on skzblr (even though it'll be one year for me in october) and there are things that i feel like i'm not entitled to have an opinion on, but i did sort of fall out of them a little bit after the met and the [redacted] collab. it was starting to get better again but then after the cb announcement and the reminder that the collab will likely be on the album, i'm feeling 🥴 again. it's weird idk, i just hope it comes and goes quickly so we can put it behind us for good lol

HIS LAUGHHH i am obsessed with his stupid laugh 😭 hyunjin's laugh is one of my favorite sounds fr :((((( god they really are our dumb and dumber

[charlesbarnett]

Rock to Prose - The Evolution of a Guitarist Turned Teacher

Every musician's journey is a magnificent symphony of personal growth and artistic development. It begins with the first awkward yet determined plucking of guitar strings, evolving into captivating solos that illuminate the stage. However, for a select few, this journey takes an unexpected turn, transitioning from the spotlight of rock performances to the warm glow of a classroom. Their mission? To ignite a passion for music and bestow their exceptional guitar prowess upon the next generation of music enthusiasts. Charles Barnett Wade Hampton, a seasoned guitarist and esteemed music educator, embodies this transformation. His career serves as a testament to the harmonious fusion of performance and education, as he has shared his talents with renowned bands like Josh Dockins and The Dark Lady, Rumor Jenkins, The Falls, and The Sheriff's Daughter. Moreover, he has dedicated 13 enriching years to mentoring young talents at D.R. Hill Middle School in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.

Every musician, no matter how legendary they may become, has an origin story. It's that pivotal moment when the magic of music first enchants their soul. For our protagonist, who shall remain nameless, this transformative moment arrived during their teenage years. The seductive allure of rock music, with its raw energy and unbridled power, struck a deep chord within, igniting a fervent passion that would become a lifelong calling. As the years went by, the guitar became an inseparable part of their identity, a means of expression, a conduit for their emotions and experiences. Through relentless practice, they honed their skills, joined a band, and began performing in smoky bars and intimate venues. The thrill of performing live, the intoxicating rush of adrenaline, and the electrifying roar of the crowd all fueled their unquenchable passion for rock music. Charlie Barnett Greenville SC

Charles Barnett's rock 'n' roll days were undeniably legendary, leaving an indelible mark on the timeline of music history. The leather jackets, majestic guitar riffs, and unforgettable performances painted on the vibrant canvas of his youth defined a thrilling, adrenaline-fueled lifestyle. While this exhilirating allure captivated many, for Barnett, it served as a stepping stone. Amid the chaotic bliss of his music career, a profound transformation began to take shape within him, resonating with a different rhythm - the rhythm of teaching. This quietly growing passion sought to give back to the world of music that had gifted him so much. Guided by this desire, he dedicated himself to inspiring and nurturing the talents of budding guitarists, lighting up their individual musical journeys. This commitment would ultimately shape his lasting legacy, not just as a celebrated musician, but also as an influential mentor.

Alongside his former bandmate Brooks, Charles Barnett transformed his Lyman-based studio into a safe haven of musical exploration. It was more than just a teaching space; it was a vibrant hub where he could impart his love for music to individuals across all walks of life. From young beginners finding their rhythm to seasoned musicians seeking to refine their craft, all were welcomed to experience the transformative power of music. For Barnett, the joy of teaching went beyond fundamental guitar techniques and music theory. It was about sparking a lifelong passion for music in his students, cultivating a space where creativity and self-expression could flourish. His commitment to his students and his love for music continue to cement his legacy as an influential figure in the world of music education.

Teaching guitar, he soon realized, was not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. Each student possessed a unique learning style and specific aspirations. Tailoring lessons to suit the individual needs and goals of their diverse students became imperative. It wasn't just about imparting technical proficiency; it was also about nurturing a deep appreciation for the art and encouraging exploration across various musical genres. They endeavored to inspire his students by sharing the stories and history of legendary guitarists. By doing so, he hoped to ignite a passion for music that transcended mere technical proficiency. His classroom became more than just a place of instruction; it evolved into a sanctuary for personal growth, creativity, and self-expression.

Charles Barnett's influence transcends the boundaries of his music studio in Spartanburg County. His genuine passion for teaching and unique approach to music education have made a profound impact on countless lives. His students, many of whom have embarked on their own musical journeys, continue to carry forward the invaluable lessons they learned from him. Beyond just chords and melodies, they understand the transformative power of music for self-expression and personal growth. The legacy of Charles resounds in every strum, every note, and every song his students play, a testament to his unwavering dedication and profound love for music.

The journey of a guitarist turned teacher serves as a poignant reminder of the transformation that is intrinsic to the life of a creative soul. It's a transition from the dazzling lights and adoring fans of the stage to the quieter moments of enlightenment in the classroom. It's a process of passing on the torch of passion and knowledge to the next generation, igniting their love for music, and assisting them in discovering their unique voices through the strings of a guitar.

The life and career of Charles Barnett exemplify the transformative power of music and education. His journey from rockstar to esteemed teacher highlights the profound impact that can be made when passion is combined with a purpose greater than oneself. Today, his influence echoes through the walls of his Lyman studio, resonates in the melodies played by his students, and resides in the heart of Spartanburg County's music community. This enduring legacy is a testament to his unwavering dedication, boundless inspiration, and deep love for music, destined to inspire generations to come.

[struggle-but-its-all-ocean-floor]

I do think he toned it down for karmy. Just like Jimin when he altered his choreo. I personally don't really like the korean dancers :/ The performance just felt too technical while the American dancers feel like they actually embody the song. I'm jungkooks #1 hype person but this performance was meh to me. It just doesn't compare to the times square performance.

What has been your favorite SNTY performance (excluding iheart)?

Tbh, I also thought he toned it down, but maybe he didn't? Watching his recent performances, they're less precise in general. But maybe he was more subtle about the crotch grabbing, which I appreciate. I have to agree with you about the backup dancers actually, despite what I said. The Korean dancers are more coordinated, but I also found myself missing the more chaotic performance. I wouldn't say the American dancers embody the song though.

Ironically, I think MCountdown's SNTY performance has become my favorite performance after iHeart, and maybe TSX? I like that JK sang more at MCountdown and his outfit was great. I actually love the performance that didn't air the most. But the NY performance has his real, unedited vocals, and the energy is great...

Thanks for the ask!

[svtgg]

Edyth's Relationship With Maknae Line (Seventeen 16th Member)

Edyth is the 16th member of Seventeen. She is a 97liner and the main vocal of the female subunit Quartz. Here is a basic description of her relationships with the members. This post includes 97, 98, 99, and 00liners.

Seokmin: Angel and Devil duo. They have the same amount of energy and are incredibly naïve, it's just that Edyth intentionally causes chaos, and Dk doesn’t. Their vocals omg, they have multiple duets (OST’s) and they always go viral. They are always trying to one up each other, whether it’s a tricky vocal run or who can reach the highest note, they are actually very competitive. They bicker a lot and it is their trademark. Edyth will protect Seokmin whenever she can, he is very emotional and Edyth will never make fun of him for crying or anything like that.

Mingyu: Mingyu is Edyth’s for-lifer. She tells him all of her secrets, goes to him if she’s having a bad day, and vice-versa. Mingyu is actually the human embodiment of a golden retriever, and Edyth is the human embodiment of a a husky (over dramatic, loud, and sometimes dumb) so they really are such a cute pair. They get very giggly around each other… and it annoys Seungkwan lol. Edyth is very close with all the 97 liners (in SVT and friends), but Mingyu holds a special place in her heart. Also musically an interesting duo, Mingyu is trying to get Edyth to rap but she refuses, saying she sounds like a kid.

Minghao: They are literally “dumbass” and “oh my god, they're MY dumbass.” but they're also “chaos” and “chaos enabler.” And it’s great because they get to switch rolls. Edyth can always get the8 to have fun and relax. Minghao is like in love with her omg, it's one of the most popular ships in the fandom, since they are always talking about each other, praising each other's work, going on lunch dates together, heart eyes toward the other one. They go to all of the 97’ liner hang outs together. Jun and Edyth jokingly fight over Minghao and he likes the attention lol.

Seungkwan: Make fun of each other so much. And they argue A LOT. On screen, they play this chaotic duo that bickers but off screen they are very lovey-dovey. When they bicker, Mingyu often has to play the role of peace-keeper, coining them as an iconic trio. Edyth and Seungkwan would do Vlives where they just sing karaoke for hours on end and it was so cute,, so many iconic moments. All of this being said, there is a lot of respect for each other. Edyth gets the least amount of lines among the main vocals, getting even less than most of the members and Seungkwan is always pushing for Edyth’s vocals to be properly showcased. In case either of them miss a schedule, they sing/perform the other person's part.

Vernon: They bond over their very similar childhoods. Both have one English-speaking parent and one Korean parent. Both were child actors. They are not seen on camera together very often, but if so, they have one of two interactions: constantly teasing one another, or sitting together in radio silence (usually watching some sort of movie or tv show together). Musically they are a very interesting pair because of how different their styles are, Carats think this is an underrated duo and are pushing to get more content of the two of them.

Dino: Dino didn’t like Edyth at first. He thought she was too girly and didn’t really fit Seventeen’s concept. This was until he woke up one day at 3 am and realized that she wasn't in bed. He looked around the door, only to find her silently practicing with earbuds in their living room. Dino offered to help her, and they practiced outside to not bother anyone. That is the exact moment that Dino gained respect for her and after that he saw all of her talent that he was neglecting to acknowledge because he had been so close minded. He is always in awe of her vocal range.

Yun: Soulmate energy. They instantly clicked. Edyth had a reputation of being quiet and shy but when she met Yun, they immediately got along. It shocked everyone around them. Edyth is logical and pushy, this gets Yun going and Yun is energetic and warm enough that Edyth is comfortable being herself around her. There are fan made compilations of the two of them holding hands and Yun dragging Edyth behind, both with smiles on their faces. They have strengths in diff things (Yun in dance and Edyth in singing) so they always help each other out. Edyth often needs help with learning and memorizing choreography and Yun always offers it. Since they love each other so much, they can always count on the other to be honest about any situation.

[nclkafilms]

When all leaves are lost

(Review of ‘The Father’)

*Warning: contains minor spoilers*

Having just lost my grandmother, who suffered with increasing dementia throughout her last years, it was with a mix of excitement and grief that I pressed play on Florian Zeller’s ‘The Father’. Zeller has adapted his own play ‘Le Père’ from 2012. The language and location has been changed to English and London, and apparently this was because Zeller always has had his eyes set on Anthony Hopkins to play the lead in the film version. Seeing the film, you understand why; Hopkins is at the heart of this experimenting and brutally honest depiction of dementia and what this disease does to both loved ones and especially the person, who suffers from it. Add to that, that Zeller succeeds in what neither ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ nor ‘One Night in Miami’ fully did: releasing itself from its theatrical ancestry and becoming a full-blown cinematic experience.

At this point in my reviews, I typically go through the main plot lines of the film, but that is neither easy nor meaningful when it comes to ‘The Father’. Florian Zeller uses Hopkins’ Anthony (named after the actor to underline Zeller’s determination to get him onboard) as an unreliable narrator. A narration style that can be both confusing and annoying but also compelling and fascinating. Here it ends up being both and I am absolutely certain that this is deliberate from Zeller, who uses the narration style to give us an experience of the frustrations, confusion and anxiety caused by dementia. Slightly spoiling the experience, I have to applaud Zeller for his daring choices of not only scrambling the order of the scenes but also switching the actors from scene to scene. At first it mainly frustrates as you struggle to realise what is going on and what is reality, but the deeper we get into the film (and, thus, into the mind and mental state of Anthony), it also broadens our perspectives and heightens the film experience. 

This is - perhaps more than anything - thanks to a tour de force performance from the British veteran, Hopkins, who at the age of 83 feels more alive and better than ever. He infuses Anthony with life and a realism, which - having just experienced the disease intimately - was breathtaking in the word’s truest form. I have to admit that the range showed by Hopkins during the little more than 90 minutes shocked me. He manages to capture both the relieving moments of humour and gratitude, the sudden bursts of resentment and subtle, yet hurtful comments, and the vulnerability of losing track of every single aspect of your existence, with devastating precision and heart. While I am full of appreciation for Riz Ahmed’s work in ‘Sound of Metal’ and Chadwick Boseman’s in ‘Ma Rainey’ in particular, I have to say that Anthony Hopkins gives the performance of the year for me - without close competition. This is a master at work and it will be hard to find a better performance from Hopkins when looking back at his glorious filmography. He captivated me for 85 minutes before releasing me in the final minutes of the film, where I admittedly burst into tears not only moved by his heartbreaking performance but also as he had me reminiscing the last years with my grandmother.

The supporting cast is small (one remnant from its theatrical source) and confusing due to the fact that we are never really fully certain what their roles and relations to Anthony are. The one, who shines brightest is the ever so talented Olivia Colman as Anthony’s daughter, who despite caring immensely for her father is struggling with finding the surplus energy to keep looking after him. Colman always guarantees top quality acting and as Anne she makes no exception. Where she surprised Hollywood with her showy and over-the-top performance as Queen Anne in 2018′s ‘The Favourite’ securing her a well-deserved Oscar, she is much more quiet, subtle and timid here. She embodies the emotions of love, hurt and despondency as someone who can only observe the slow disappearance of a loved one. What she does here is the exact opposite of showy acting, but it is nonetheless of the highest order adding another perspective to Anthony’s disease and its influence on the people surrounding him. In further supporting roles Mark Gatiss and Rufus Sewell creates an appalling yet understandable male character who slides in and out of Anthony’s conscience, while Olivia Williams and especially Imogen Poots as Anthony’s newest helper adds further emotional power to the story.

One of the main reasons why Zeller succeeds so well in transforming his play into a cinematic experience is the masterful production design. While limited to more or less one location, the art directors and set designers have managed to create a clever, intricate labyrinth constantly changing the layout and interior design of the flat. This stroke of genius not only creates an interesting visual experience but also adds to the confusion caused by the unreliable narrator. The cinematography and editing also play important parts in this process by framing the locations in the same ways and structuring the chaotic story line respectively. I reckon that the technical aspects of the film will be overshadowed by both other films and the majestic nature of Hopkins’ performance, but with a less imaginative production design, a less observing cinematography and a less daring editing style, I am positive that the theatricality of the film would have taken something away from the experience.

At the helm of it all stands Florian Zeller, who not only debuts as a film director but also as a feature film screenplay writer. His vision is both clear and daring, and I have to applaud the way in which he manages to create a film that respects both its subject and his loved ones equally. It would have been easy to end up with an unlikeable lead due to the often unfiltered and biting nature of people suffering from dementia. Instead, Zeller opens up Anthony’s world and invites us inside by frustrating and confusing us as viewers. Not to fully grasp  the incomprehensible but to give us a glimpse of it, a realisation of the many emotions of losing touch with where you are, what things are and ultimately who you are yourself. Thus, revealing the powerlessness felt by everyone affected by dementia either personally or through a loved one. Here are no easy solutions, no short cuts and no Hollywood ending. Instead we are given a ruthless film about a ruthless disease.

4,5/5

[shinsorokiri]

UA Idol | Chapter Ten

Hitoshi Shinsou x Reader

Word Count: 2,417

Warnings: Language

A/N: And we’re at Hell Week! Sorry this chapter took a little longer to get out, I was driving back from my parents house to my apartment and it was all very chaotic and hectic, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless! What do you think everyone’s gonna sing next week >:)

───────────────────────────────────

Arriving at the hotel was... intimidating. It’s very fancy, and you are a college student. Mina, on the other hand, was thriving. “Oh my GOD (Y/n), we have a MINI FRIDGE!”

“LOOK AT THE BALCONY!!”

“Do you think Zendaya has ever been here? I would sell my soul to know if she stayed in this room.”

All of her little outbursts were intensely amusing, but you were too busy deciding on what you should wear to the first day of Hell Week. Luckily, the flight landed at six in the morning Los Angeles time, and since you had slept for almost the whole flight, you felt good to go. Also, if you would get to live shows, this is probably something you’re gonna need to get used to. “Okay, so this black, or this slightly blue tinted black?” you ask, holding up a few articles of clothing. Mina sighs, shaking her head before walking over to you. “(Y/n), sweetie, just wear whatever you want! You’re going to look good regardless.”

“But we’ll be on television, Mina, not everyone can look as effortlessly perfect as you can,” you say, sighing. “You’re right, there’s only a few people who are at my level. Luckily, you’re one of them. Just wear the outfit you planned to wear before we even got to LA. It’s cute as hell and it captures your personality perfectly.” She picks up the clothes you’d planned to wear and tosses them at you. She was right, you did look great in that outfit, and you don’t even know why you worried in the first place. Overthinking at its finest, you guess. “Oh, but if you need help with any other outfit, you know damn well I will help you. Now, let’s go! Time for Hell Week, bitch!”

She grabs your arm and basically drags you down to the lobby, where you two run into Shinsou and Denki. “Are you guys excited?!” Denki basically shrieks, and Mina, in return, also screams. You and Shinsou glance at each other, the pure exhaustion radiating off of you two. You both have an unspoken conversation of “How the hell do we do this” This causes both of you to break out into a grin. How cute. “Shinsou, (Y/n), hurry! We need to get to the theater!” Mina screams, grabbing both of your arms and dragging you outside of the hotel to the cars waiting to take the contestants away. The four of you pile into one of them where you find two other people. There’s a red head with an infectious smile and a blonde guy with an infectious frown. Interesting. “Hi! I’m Kirishima Eijirou!” the red-head takes no time in introducing himself as the car starts to drive to your next location. “Kaminari Denki, but you can just call me Denki.”

“Oh, and I’m Mina!”

“Uh… just Mina?” Kirishima asks, and she nods. “Well I mean my family name is Ashido, but I go by Mina. And this is (Y/f/n) and that’s Shinsou Hitoshi!” Mina introduces the two of you where wave. “Awesome! This is my boyfriend Ba-“

“Bakugo Katsuki. Shut up, shitty hair, you know you’ve had a scratchy throat for the past two days don’t fuck your chances before you even get there, dumbass,” the blonde growls, reprimanding Kirishima. Though his words are harsh, Kirishima just smiles. “Awww look at you. Worrying about me.”

“OI! I SAID SHUT UP!”

“You said… boyfriends? Are you sure, Bakugo seems more like an angry… mom?” Denki says, and Kirishima laughs while basically holding Bakugo back in his seat. Weird dynamic. Cute dynamic, but weird dynamic. Mina and Denki engage in conversation with Kirishima, and you and Shinsou give your input every once and a while but you let them just talk to each other. Bakugo keeps screaming about Kirishima needs to rest his voice, and eventually Kirishima says Bakugo needs to rest his voice because of all the unnecessary damn screaming he’s been doing. You feel your phone buzz in your pocket, and when you look at it you realize it’s a text from Shinsou. “i’m not saying we should have gotten in a different car to get some peace and quiet, but i’m saying we should have gotten in a different car to get some peace and quiet”

You smile to yourself before shooting back a quick, “you’re right, we sabotaged ourselves how tragic” to which you see Shinsou grin at before looking back at you. “Hey wait! You didn’t tell me y’all were a couple!” you hear Kirishima’s voice interrupt whatever little moment the two of you were having, and you both immediately turn red. You start stuttering out an explanation to him. “What? we aren’t…”

“Yeah, no we’re just-”

“Friends!”

“Yeah, friends!” Shinsou says, clearing his throat and awkwardly looking out the window. “Yeah right. And Kirishima and I didn’t join the mile-high club on our flight here,” Bakugo grumbles, and it’s Kirishima’s turn to turn as red as his hair. “Katsuki!”

“Oh, wow would you look at that?! We’re here!” Shinsou, uncharacteristically, screams when you pull up to the theater where you’ll all be performing. You and Shinsou get out of the car, speed-walking away from all the relationship talk. “Sorry about them,” Mina says to Kirishima, who looks genuinely confused. “They both just hate the idea of relationships even though, you know, they’re cute as hell together,” Denki explains and Kirishima slowly nods. “Well... I am willing to help them realize they actually like each other.”

“Wait, seriously?” Mina smiles, already excited when Kirishima nods, grinning just as big as she is. “Oh my god HELL YES!”

“Stop screaming Raccoon Eyes! Anyone ever tell you to let up on the eyeliner. We need to go inside,” Bakugo grabs Kirishima’s arm and starts dragging him in. “Oh my god, Denki, I’m in, he gave me a mean nickname,” Mina whispers to Denki excitedly before chasing after the two guys they just became fast friends with. Well friends with Kirishima. Bakugo is... still undetermined.

When they get inside, they find the two of you sitting next to each other in the corner of the many chairs set up in the theater lobby avoiding everyone else. “You know, I really thought some of my social skills would rub off on him. Tragic,” Denki says as they all make their way over to you. You glance up from your phone to see them walking over and you give a small wave. “A wave? That’s all we get after you literally sprinted away from us like we had an infectious disease?” Mina says, and you shrug. “Sprinted away from you guys? I have no recollection of that.”

“And I’m sure Tosh has no idea either,” Denki says, and Shinsou grins at him, shaking his head no. Denki and Mina groan, sitting next to you along with Kirishima and Bakugo. Of course, Bakugo was complaining that they were sitting next to you “extras” and Kirishima kept laughing it off and saying he was all bark and no bite. For some reason, you didn’t believe he was all bark and no bite. In fact, you think he was mostly bite and the bark came as a warning beforehand, but Kirishima was his owner and as long as he was around, he wouldn’t actually hurt anyone. Thanks, Kirishima. You watched as people from all around piled into the room. Some, you could tell, were California natives or had at least lived there for a long enough time to put off that energy. Others were definitely from other places all around the world, and it was really interesting to see. Also, terrifying. There were a lot of people here. And they were all after the same thing you were. It would take a miracle to actually get through Hell Week and onto the live shows. You feel your phone buzz again, and you look down at it. ‘don’t worry kitten you’re gonna kill it.’

You glance over at Shinsou who gives you a quick little wink before sending a thumbs up and smiley face to you. You can’t help but smile at that. Crazy how he knew how to cheer you up so fast. Especially since y’all didn’t meet that long ago. Guess you were just meant to be best friends.

“Oh, it looks like everyone is here,” Mina says, glancing around. Sure enough, the entire room was full. All the empty seats you saw when you came in were occupied with other people now. And that’s when a producer comes out and tells everyone to quiet down because the judges would be out soon. And cue everyone getting excited and nervous again. “I can’t wait to see what Midnight is wearing. She always looks so good,” Mina says, and Kirishima nods. “I know! It’s always so funny to see what she’s wearing compared to Aizawa.”

“Yeah if there was anyone who embodied not giving a fuck, it is Aizawa Shouta that’s for sure,” Denki says and Mina and Kirishima laugh. “Don’t you idiots think it’s a bad idea to talk about the judges when they could hear you,” Bakugo snaps and Kirishima pats his hand. “It’s okay, Katsu, I think Aizawa would take it as a compliment.” Bakugo rolls his eyes but doesn’t say anything else. That’s when the four judges walk out, and everyone goes quiet. That is of course until Present Mic starts yelling into the camera and doing his job as the best MC in entertainment. He goes on his welcome to Hell Week rant as the UA Idol makeup artists touch up the judges. Even Aizawa gets some make-up put on him, and no. No, he does not look like he enjoys that at all. “And here come the judges to let our contestants know just what is happening this year during Hell Week,” PM finishes out his, well, monologue, basically, and the cameras all turn to the judges. “Hi everyone!” Midnight says, waving to everyone. Mina was right. She does look pretty damn good. I mean it’s hard to not look good when you look like her, especially since she’s wearing an all-black bodysuit that accentuates every curve. As expected, Aizawa is also wearing all black but it’s literally a baggy long sleeve shirt and baggy black jeans. Of course, Toshinori is wearing a suit, and Keigo is wearing quite possibly the most stylish lazy outfit you could ever see. Icons, honestly. “So, welcome to Hell Week, as you know it’s called Hell Week for a reason. The reason being it always changes. The only constant being the group challenge. Other than that, you all have no idea what is about to come,” Aizawa says, and Toshinori sighs. “Aizawa why do you insist on scaring them?”

“They need to know fear. No recording artist would be anything without fear.”

“Whatever you say you absolute sadist. Anyways, we’re here to tell you the first part of Hell Week, which will be starting in about,” Keigo glances at his phone and smiles. “Twenty minutes.”

“Twenty minutes?!” you hear Mina whisper to herself, and sure enough a lot of the other people in the room are taken aback as well. You’re not too surprised, they don’t call it Hell Week for nothing. “The first challenge is what we like to call the genre challenge. If you remember, when you signed up to audition in your respective cities, you also signed up for a specific genre. We had the options of pop, rock, hip hop, r&b, country, and singer-songwriter. You’ll be reminded which one you put, and if you believe your style has drastically changed, you can switch to a new genre. You have to pick a song and put your own twist on it, show us your style shine through even in your specific genre. Oh, and if you’d want to show us some original songs... I guess that would be okay, too,” Keigo explains, and shoots a glance over at you and Shinsou. The two of you look at each other, and grin. Originals? Easy.

“Right, so pop is first since there’s so many people who are signed up for that genre. We’ll give you all about ten minutes to gather yourselves, then everyone will go into the theater. You’ll also be watching everyone, time for you all to scope out your competition,” Aizawa says as he begins to walk into the theater. “Remember though, you all made it here for a reason! Even if you don’t make it through, you all have potential to be stars!” Toshinori adds, trying to make this entire situation a little less stressful. You really wish it worked. The judges enter into the theater, and then the assigned genre you signed up for is sent to you in a text message. Singer-songwriter. Still the same. “Damnit, (Y/n), why couldn’t I have put singer-songwriter like you! There has to be so many people in the pop genre...” Mina says, frowning. “Yeah there’s a lot, but none of them are quite like you,” you reassure her, and she smiles at you. “You’re the best even though you hate me most of the time.”

“Hey Kirishima, what genre are you?” Denki asks and he grins sheepishly. “I’m pop, too.”

“Told you you should have gone into rock with me, dumbass.”

“I don’t have the voice for that like you do Katsuki, that would be wrong on so many levels,” Kirishima pouts and Bakugo sighs, wrapping his arm around him. “Listen, idiot. You’re just as good if not better than everyone else in this room. You have nothing to worry about.” This caused Kirishima to smile and kiss his boyfriend’s cheek. Wow so Bakugo did have the ability to be supportive and cute. Who would have thought?

“Well hey, you, me, and Mina are about to kill this, dude. What song are you thinking of singing?” Denki asks as you all walk into the theater. “I’m not totally sure.”

“Well you know what I say, when in doubt look to Harry Styles.”

“Thank you for that wise statement, Denki,” Shinsou says sarcastically, and Denki gives him finger guns. “Well, good luck you guys. We’ll be over here where all the singer-songwriters are,” you say, grabbing Shinsou’s arm and going to your assigned section in the theater. “Time to scope out the competition,” Shinsou says after you both sit down. “Yeah. Luckily singer-songwriters go last, so let’s just sit back and observe,” you say. This is gonna be fun.

[genesisrose74]

Karasuno Boys Singing Headcanons!

A/n: By this point I hope that everyone has seen the masterpiece that is Sugawara’s wonderful voice actor singing Under the Sea, which has won the spot in my heart for cutest thing I’ve ever heard. I then proceeded to go off the deep end of Haikyuu voice actors singing and safe to say I was in no way disappointed, so here’s some Karasuno boys singing headcanons! If you have any requests my ask box is open 💖 enjoy!

Daichi

Is it just me or would Daichi not care if someone heard him singing

He seems like the type of person who hums all the time 

Partly because it helps relax him after yelling at the team all day LMAO He doesn’t necessarily sing with lyrics every chance he gets, but when he does he’s pretty casual about it

He’ll sing in the car a lot, and it was actually the first place you heard him

Boy has a soothing playlist for school days and you always like hearing his voice when he drives you in the mornings

Will hum when you’re both doing schoolwork in his or your house

Doesn’t realize he has a good voice, so he never tries to show off all that often in front of people and thus the team has not heard him full out sing yet

So when they does hear him like, actually singing for the first time at the end of practice they’re SHOOK

Tanaka and Nishinoya instantly start spamming you with texts, asking why you hid away such a precious secret for so long

You’re sitting in the library staring at your constantly vibrating phone like ??? doesn’t he sing all the time?

When you end up texting the boys this question they go absolutely feral

At this point Daichi is losing his voice yelling at the team to calm tf down

Suga is cackling in the corner of the team gym cause he been knew

It’s absolutely chaotic literally someone come save Daichi please-

Sugawara

HAHA GET READY BOYS

Official team mom of Karasuno sings all the damn time don’t even get me started

Always humming some upbeat tune doing schoolwork, cleaning up after practice, in the car, etc.

Seriously when is this sweet baby not singing

The team is well aware of this, especially the sideline cheer squad (Yamaguchi, moi ippon nice serve!) 

Tell me he does not make up rhyming cheers under his breath during matches I dare you

Will literally make up a stupid song on the spot to describe whatever he is currently doing or feeling

Hinata bathroom vibes tbh but it’s even more out of the blue

“Got an A on my exam today, and things are going my way”

“Suga, for the love of everything please stop”

“Daichi thinks I’ll listen to what he’ll say, but I’m singing more anyway”

He is always on board with karaoke whenever Karasuno has team bonding nights

One time you are invited to this by Suga himself and he gets up and starts singing a Disney song haha guess which one 

And as often as the team has heard him sing mans is feeling it tonight for whatever reason and y’all can tell

You have never heard anyone sing Under the Sea so passionately before but it’s a gift and you’re not complaining

Asahi

Boy is so insecure oh my gosh please give him some support

Very shy about singing in front of anyone and everyone

The only time you’ve ever heard him sing was when you were over at his house and he was taking a shower

You had gone downstairs to get a snack from the kitchen and when you come back up he’s singing alongside one of his playlists

You don’t know if it’s because of the steam and the solid acoustics in the bathroom but he doesn’t sound half bad

You try not to startle him as soon as he gets out because you know how flustered he’d get

But then a while later while y’all are studying on his bed you just casually bring it up like ‘You have a nice voice, Asahi’ and that’s all

He’s a little shocked at first that you heard him but kind of smiles and sighs in relief because you liked his singing!! 🥺

Precious teddy bear is totally happy for the rest of the week, like that’s how much your praise means to him sdlkgjfdjsof he’s too cute

Eventually warms up to humming little tunes around you

He’s really blushy when he does but you pretend not to notice for his sake lmao

It makes you so warm inside that he feels comfortable enough to let you hear him

Ennoshita

In this house we do not sleep on Ennoshita

As much as he is the mom of the second years he will flaunt his stuff whenever he gets the chance and this is one of those times

If a generic pop song is on at literally any point in time and he hears it, damn right he’s going to sing 

When it comes to singing Ennoshita is hands down the most chaotic no question about it

Sometimes he’ll actually sing a verse pretty decently

And then the next line is just the embodiment of a dumpster fire and he does not care

These are the only times that Tanaka and Noya get irritated with him and not the other way around

But Ennoshita doesn’t give a shit, he’s so cheeky

Like he’ll be walking through the mall and a banger of a song like Fergalicious comes on over the speakers? You’re done for

Even if he doesn’t know the lyrics at certain points, or deadass does not know any of them at all, he’ll just power through

If there is a sports banquet complete with dancing and music and the team attends, Ennoshita is tearing up the floor and singing his heart out

Honestly you’re a little scared to interfere cause what is he even doing-

He has made quite a few friends from opposing teams with his frankly lunatic level energy

I’m looking at you Oikawa, Tendou 

Tanaka

ANIME. INTROS.

He sounds EXACTLY like that opening singer from Bungou Stray Dogs I wonder why

No but actually we all heard his little song in season one, when he’s late and walking to the gym like what a king-

In summary he is a pretty good singer 

Most definitely a frequent participant during team karaoke nights and everyone enjoys his little performances

When he realizes that girls actually like guys who can sing he starts using this to his advantage 

And surprisingly it ended up working

You’re out at karaoke with some friends one night and you hop outside to get some more food for your group when you hear somebody slaying Rough Diamonds; your mind instantly goes to Food Wars

It catches your interest and then you realize...this dude goes to your school? You are positively whipped

He sees you from the doorway and when he realizes you’re enjoying the song he amps it up another three notches

Achievement get: girlfriend 

Karaoke dates and other such outings happen often, thank you very much

As much as he enjoys singing he does not overdo it like Ennoshita, who has been limited to three songs per night every time the group goes out, please for the sake of everyone’s eardrums

Nishinoya

As Tanaka’s best friend and as the co-president of simps everywhere, Nishinoya is another common singer during karaoke nights

Having fun and maybe picking up a cute girl at the end of it all? That’s literally his life agenda

He either goes for the badass, headbanging songs that are super energetic, or he jams out to the generic and famous pop groups’ songs

There is no in between

Noya has a slightly deeper singing voice but sometimes he’ll go for the stupid high notes for fun and just...completely fails

The fact that he has never successfully hit one of those notes doesn’t deter him in the slightest though; his goal is to get there at least once before he dies

He can sing so many popular TikTok audios and you can’t decide whether to be impressed or slightly disappointed with that fact

Noya doesn’t really sing at practice just because he’s focused, but when he’s walking home or getting food from Sakanoshita afterwards he might start randomly singing something

The type of person who has like a billion different playlists on his phone for the most obscure moods (honestly same Noya)

Like there’s one named “Bad Test Grade But I Won a Free Popsicle Kind of Feeling” don’t even ask 

Will put on a concert in his room and perform a whole lineup of these songs for you

Sometimes you think it’s just so he can avoid doing schoolwork but you let him get away with it occasionally

cause you’d never tell him but it’s so entertaining and kinda hot what

Tsukishima

OH GOD THIS BOY

I swear you have tried time and time again to figure out whatever the hell kind of music he listens to with those chonky headphones of his but you have never successfully completed that mission

There are only two - count em, TWO - instances where you have ever witnessed this embodiment of a salt shaker doing anything resembling singing

Number one was a literal meme TikTok where you were using Beyond the Mysterious Beyond from Land Before Time as your audio

You didn’t expect Tsukki to recognize it at all 

But he’s in the top corner of your phone screen and he is deadass LIP SYNCING EVERY WORD and you’re SENT INTO ORBIT 

DOES HE STUTTER? NOPE

Should have expected that Mr. Dinosaur Obsessed would have watched Land Before Time and loved the all the bops

That video is forever saved in your drafts because he’d literally end you if that went public but you refuse to completely get rid of it

Second time, our french fry child actually sings because Yamaguchi forces him to do a song with him lmao

It only lasts for about three verses but it’s all anyone has heard from him before and is therefore a blessing from above

If anyone has heard these two singing Sarishinohara on YouTube you know what I’m talking about if not look it up it’s an absolute gift 

Literal perfection in a duet like?? Everyone is depressed when they realize that Tsukki’s voice had been hidden from the world until that very moment

We will cherish this short taste of Singing! Tsukki for all time amen 😔🙏

Yamaguchi

Like Asahi, this precious bean is also shy about his singing 

But he will sometimes get a burst of confidence if he’s having a really good day or if someone is singing with him

When those moments arrive they are wonderful 

He sounds like an angel, not even exaggerating he’s just so pure

Has a very light tone no matter how the song originally sounds and it’s really soothing to be honest

When his little bouts of confidence wear off please for the love of God praise him in any way shape or form, it makes him feel good about himself 

On team bus rides to games, he and Yachi will sometimes sing fun tunes together to calm each others’ nerves and it’s incredibly precious

Tsukki will send you videos of this pregame ritual and you have a folder reserved for them in your camera roll 

Everyone say thank you Tsukki

He will sing for you if you’re feeling super down about something because he knows you love it 

Never fails to calm you down and cheer you up, and Yams knows in those moments that he would gladly sing for the rest of his life if it made you smile

We stan one soft, talented bean sprout 

Kageyama 

Another stubborn boy when it comes to singing in front of other people

He will hum on rare occasion but don’t expect much more

You start to realize that whenever he does start humming, though, it’s always the same song, so one day you ask him about it

It’s a song his grandfather used to sing to him when he was little and he uses it to calm himself down

You almost start crying on the spot because you know how much his grandpa meant to him 

Kags says there were lyrics to it but he doesn’t remember them besides a few random words scattered here and there

It becomes your personal mission to find the rest of the lyrics because you’ll be damned if your precious baby goes another day without hearing them again

Finally after countless obscure Google searches you find the song 

But you don’t know how to casually bring up the fact that you had spent hours obsessively looking for them into a conversation-

So one day you’re hanging out with Kageyama, but he’s been in an awful mood all week, and you decide to start singing the song that his grandpa used to but including the lyrics

And when he recognizes the words and puts the chorus together, he instantly relaxes and starts singing it with you

He is so touched and thankful that he can finally recall the song in its entirety, and now you both sing said song to each other whenever the other is feeling down

I love him so much my heart-

Hinata

When you find out he can sing you’re absolutely floored

Literally the only time in his life that Hinata can successfully speak English words and it’s in a song? And it’s coherent?? It’s a miracle

The whole team gets on his ass about sucking at English in class but being able to obliterate those lyrics when they come up in a song and the poor tangerine gets all huffy

hE’s tRyiNg HiS bESt oKaY                

His range is SO GOOD THOUGH WHAT-

You’re in the middle of a store with him and he’s been occasionally singing along to the music from the speakers and at this point you’re not even surprised at how good he sounds

But then he just starts singing in falsetto

BOI- When I say your jaw is on the floor I am not playing games 

The power he holds is beyond comprehension

He’s looking at you confused like did he do something wrong?

When you proceed to flip out over how great he just sounded baby gets so embarrassed how cute

Again, one of those people who just doesn’t know their gift and it makes him even more precious 

I would kill to have his capabilities like imagine the talent; if that whole volleyball thing doesn’t work out there’s also the music industry sir-

In conclusion: CAN SOMEONE PLEASE GET THIS SUNSHINE A MIC THANK YOU

[raeynbowboi]

The Character Forge: How to Play as Damien Lavey in DnD 5e

Today I’m making a build for everybody’s favorite spicy red baby from Monster Prom, Damien Lavey. So showcase how bold and fun you are over a bowl of knives amid the romantic glow of arson, as we conspire to dance with the devil on prom night.

The Prince of Hell

First things first, we need to be a Tiefling. Asmodeus is the standard cut of Tiefling and gets +2 CHA and +1 INT and the ability to cast Hellish Rebuke and Darkness once per long rest without using a spell slot. However, another option for subrace is Zariel Tiefling, which get +2 CHA and +1 STR and the ability to cast Searing Smite and Branding Smite. Choose whichever you feel is better for your build.

For Alignment, this guy is a psychopath, but then, most of the characters in Monster Prom are horrifyingly and endearingly amoral. We’ll call him Chaotic Neutral because just as much as he’s wiling to break the law to help you, he’ll also do it just to amuse himself. Or just for the fun of breaking the law.

For background, Damien is the Prince of Hell, and his fathers conquered Hell together. So, while it’s tempting to label him a Criminal, he’s a Noble.

Skills and Abilities

Damien appears to be completely immune to fire, and while he starts fires with matches and gasoline, there’s also an instance where he throws fire at people from the top of a stolen food pile among other times, so he has some limited use of fire magic. There is an instance where he jumps out of a pizza oven, which even the Narrator is uncertain whether Damien can teleport through fire, or if he was just waiting there in the oven for your character to show up. He has also drank straight fire, and has a literal furnace in his stomach that causes him to eat a lot of food very quickly.

Damien seems to be magically resistant to mortal wounds. While competing with Polly over whose flasks contains better stuff, Damien has a flask of radioactive absinthe, and he finds a fist fight to be a turn on which suggests that he must be supernaturally durable.

The Class Rebel

Barbarian Damien is an angry guy with a love for violence and Polly states that his talent is hitting things. As a Barbarian, Damien would become an embodiment of rage and savage warfare, but at the penalty of losing access to his spell options while raging.     Desert Storm Herald: When you rage, you create a 10 foot aura that wreathes you in flames. Creatures within your aura take Fire damage, you gain Fire resistance, ignite flammable objects with your bare hands, grant your allies Fire resistance while within your aura, and retaliate against anyone who dares hit you with a searing Fire counterattack.     Zealot: Your rage is fueled by a vow of unholy piety to wage war for your dark lord. This subclass lets you imbue your weapon attacks with added Necrotic damage, be revived from death without costing the necromancer material components, reroll a failed roll while raging, fill allies with unholy fury to give them advantage, and straight up refusing to die.

Paladin Whenever you encounter Damien at the auditorium, his designated costume appears to be some sort of black knight. Damien loves warfare and fighting, even claiming that his actual battle attire is really just 700 knives held together with barbed wire. Paladins are usually beacons of moral purity, there are some dark variants of this wholesome class.     Conquest: Conquest Paladins are focused on crushing opposition to their tyrannical rule. Considering you cheer Damien up about being the heir to Hell by reminding him he can wage war as king, this could work nicely for him. You become so terrifying that it actually hurts those who are afraid of you, punish those foolish enough to hit you, and become an avatar of combat.     Oathbreaker: While Damien has never made an oath to break, Oathbreaker Paladins create an aura of hatred that empowers fiends and undead, resist bludgeoning, slashing, and piercing damage from nonmagical weapons, and become such an embodiment of rage and fear that being near you causes mental trauma on your enemies.

Sorcerer Most fire spells are only listed as being in the Sorcerer and Wizard spell lists, and Damien obviously has strong fire associations.     Pyromancy: Your bloodline has strong associations with fire. You gain resistance and later, immunity to fire damage, and your fire spells deal added damage.

Warlock Most of the time when a character fits Warlock, the lack of spells is usually a major hang-up, but luckily, Damien’s use of magic is extremely limited to being able to throw fire. Also, in an adorable side pic by the crew, Damien is seen playing DnD with Zoe, Liam, Oz, and Slayer, and he seems to be dressed like a spellcaster, which to me looks more like a Warlock than anything else.     Fiend: An alternative option to Sorcerer’s selection of fire spells, and as the Prince of Hell, of course his powers come from infernal sources.     Hexblade: Hexblade Warlocks get the ability to swing with CHA instead of STR for weapon damage, as well as letting him bind the souls of his victims into being his slaves. While Damien doesn’t have a specific special sword, he does like knives and swords, so he likely has one that matters enough to him to bother forging a bond with it.

For this build, an Oathbreaker Paladin is very useful, as it lets you add your CHA mod to your melee weapon attack, making Hexblade irrelevant because this boost also increases the power of other fiends, letting you raise and then empower an army of the damned. So, by coupling this with a Fiend Warlock, your melee weapon attacks can deal your normal sword damage, with both your STR mod AND your CHA mod to make you an extremely deadly infernal warrior while still giving you access to fire magic and demonic powers.

Stats and Proficiencies

All of your casting options cast with Charisma, and having a high CHA stat also makes you better at lying and scaring people, so it’s a good stat for Damien to have a lot of. Strength is the other stat you’ll want maxed out so that your Oathbreaker subclass can make you an avatar of pain and carnage. After that, a high Constitution is important so that you can shrug off a stab wound or pierce your nipple with a handgun instead of a piercing gun without dying like a noob. You’ll want a decent Dexterity, but it’s not super necessary for the build. Wisdom and Intelligence will get dumped though. Damien’s not even close to top of the class, and it’s pretty easy to fool and coerce him to believe something, so he’s not exactly wise either. Then again, his strength is punching things, and that’s what his build is focused on doing.

Name: Damien Lavey Race: Zariel Tiefling Background: Noble Alignment: Chaotic Neutral Class: Oathbreaker Paladin (8)             Fiend Warlock (12) Base Stats: Strength: 20 (+5) Dexterity: 12 (+1) Constitution: 16 (+3) Intelligence: 8 (-1) Wisdom: 8 (-1) Charisma: 20 (+5) Saving Throws: Strength: +10 Dexterity: +6 Constitution: +8 Intelligence: +4 Wisdom: +10 Charisma: +16 Combat Stats: HP: 172 AC: 16 Speed: 30 Initiative: +1 Number of Attacks: 2 Hit Dice: 8d10, 12d8 Proficiency Bonus: +6 Passive Perception: 9 Dark Vision: 120 feet Proficiencies:    Athletics   History   Intimidation   Persuasion Skills: Acrobatics: +1                  Medicine: -1 Animal Handling: -1         Nature: -1 Arcana: -1                        Perception: -1 Athletics: +11                   Performance: +5 Deception: +5                  Persuasion: +11 History: +5                       Religion: -1 Insight: -1                         Sleight of Hand: +1 Intimidation: +11               Stealth: +1 Investigation: -1                Survival: -1

Damage Resistances     Fire Condition Immunities     Disease

Equipment:     Chainmail: It’s not 700 knives held together with barbed wire, but it’s interlocking bits of metal, so close enough.     Longsword: It’s just a prop, but Damien uses one in the play. Deal 1d6+13 Slashing Damage +5 Necrotic Damage on a melee weapon attack.

Paladin Feature: Fighting Style    Dueling: One-handed weapon attacks deal +2 damage.

Warlock Feature: Pact Bond     Pact of the Blade: You forge a bond with a weapon, and gain the ability to summon and dismiss it at will. The weapon counts as magical.

Warlock Feature: Eldritch Invocations     Agonizing Blast: Eldritch Blast deals +5 damage on hit.     Devil’s Sight: 120 feet of normal and magical darkvision     Fiendish Vigor: Cast False Life on self at will. Gain 1d4+4 temp hit points.     Relentless Hex: Teleport within 5 feet of a cursed target as a bonus action.     Superior Pact Weapon: Your pact weapon deals an added +2 damage.     Lifedrinker: When you hit with your pact weapon, deal +5 Necrotic damage.

Warlock Feature: Mystic Arcanum     Investiture of Flame

Spell Slots 1st (4) 2nd (3) 5th (3)

Damien’s Spellbook

Cantrips                      2nd Level     Booming Blade           Branding Smite     Create Bonfire            Crown of Madness     Eldritch Blast              Darkness     Sacred Flame             Scorching Ray     Thaumaturgy           3rd Level     Toll the Dead               Fireball     True Strike                  Summon Lesser Demons 1st Level                      4th Level     Burning Hands            Elemental Bane     Command                   Shadow of Moil     Compelled Duel          Summon Greater Demon     Hellish Rebuke         5th Level     Hex                              Flame Strike     Searing Smite              Hallow     Wrathful Smite             Infernal Calling                                         Negative Energy Flood

Actions:

Divine Sense Detect Celestial, Fiend, or Undead. Detect Holy or Unholy energy. Lay on Hands Pool of 40 HP to distribute or 5 points to cure poison or disease.

Features:

Aura of Hate You, Fiends, and Undead within 10 ft add +5 to weapon damage Aura of Protection You and allies within 10 ft. get +5 on saving throws Channel Divinity: Control Undead An undead within 30 feet of you must pass a WIS throw or obey you for 24 hours. Channel Divinity: Dreadful Aspect Choose any creature in 30 feet to become afraid of you for 1 minute on a failed WIS throw. Channel Divinity: Harness Divine Power Use Channel Divinity to restore a used 1st Level spell slot. Dark One’s Blessing Gain 17 Temp HP upon reducing a creature to 0 HP. Dark One’s Own Luck Once per rest, add 1d10 to a skill check. Divine Smite Sacrifice a spell slot, deal (x+1)d8 radiant damage, +1d8 on fiends and undead. Dueling Fighting Style Add +2 to one-handed melee weapon attack damage Fiendish Resilience When you finish a rest, choose damage to resist. Mystic Arcanum Cast Investiture of Flame once per long rest without spell slots Position of Privilege You belong in high society, lowborn bend over backwards to make you comfortable, and you can get an audience with other nobles.

With this build, Damien is an avatar of carnage, dealing anywhere from 20-25 damage with every melee weapon attack and getting two attacks per turn for 40+ damage, he’s absolutely phenomenal at slaughtering his enemies. Quite fitting for this adorkable pyromaniac. How do you feel I did with this build? Would you build Damien differently? Which player character do you like to chase the Spicy Red Baby with? I’m partial to Brian x Damien. And do you have a character you’d like to see me build? I take requests. And as always, thanks for joining me in the Character Forge, where heroes are made.

[doshmanziari]

Aldrich and the Desacralization of Dark Souls 3

Aldrich, the obsessive-consumptive cannibal saint, is one of Dark Souls 3′s most interesting figures when one sees his actions and inferred character as representing a prominent facet of humanity’s spiritual position at the time of the game’s setting. If we look at Dark Souls 3′s landscape as an assemblage of symbolics, and compare it to Dark Souls’ arrangement, we see that an inversion has occurred: the zenith is the human domain of the High Wall of Lothric, and the nadir is Irithyll/Anor Londo, once the apical sunlit land of the gods, now chilled, darkened, and sunken. And yet, even if Anor Londo only ever represented the power of a pantheonic institution, its ruination and darkness here is a much more troubling scenario; because at the “zenith” we find only stasis or stagnation, a reflection of the psychology of prince Lothric himself who has selfishly fended off fate through elusion and inactivity (if we note the series’ pattern of things being what one makes of them (i.e., reality is what one believes it to be), we may wonder if Lothric’s lameness was not self-willed¹). On the broadest scale approaching metatexuality, we see too that Dark Souls 3 is the series at its most complex and diffuse, with the collective mono-myth responsible for the Age of Fire now distant, separate, very nearly nonexistent.

For an example of this, let us look to the swamp around Farron Keep, where we must put out three flame-beacons corresponding to the Witch of Izalith, Nito, and Gwyn’s deific family. This sequence is an initiatory rite of passage, but, rather than entering into a mystery for contact with the numinous, we perform willful ignorance for mere tribalism (to witness it, anyway). For it is only through this symbolic act of un-remembering -- the nullification of the sustaining flame of myth, the obscuring of its principal actors -- that we are granted access to the Keep proper, and then to the Abyss Watchers, a clan of warriors who represent, to an extreme, “mass-mindedness”: directionless, hollow zombies who do not even remember the name of the knight they model themselves upon. All that matters here is the Clan, where insular, infinite warfare is mistaken for life-sustaining meaning (I’d make special note of the fact that the Abyss Watchers all resemble one another; the violence done to another is, in truth, violence done to the self: self-oppression misinterpreted as empowerment). As César Daly wrote, “To neglect history, to neglect memory, that which is owed by our ancestors, is then to deny oneself; it is to begin suicide.” The great abundance of such details makes it all the more startling when Shira, in the Ringed City, says to us, “Speak thee the name of God” (i.e., Gwyn).

No one can seem to agree on what exactly constitutes or delineates the Age of Fire or the Age of Dark, but Dark Souls’ Serpent Kaathe refers to the latter as "the age of men.” Given the evidence, it is difficult to not see Dark Souls 3 as marking the beginning of such an age, or at least the transition between the two. But what liberties has it brought? They are, I think, the pseudo-liberties of a desacralized world. Narratives have become aimless, attempts are made to plug up voids without examining root causes, and the self cannot be harnessed for purposeful actualization. If we seek a demonstration of the latter, think of our first major combative encounter in the game with Iudex Gundyr, whose body, midway through the fight, unleashes a chaotic mass of black, writhing forms uniformly termed the Pus of Man. The Pus of Man reappears during our initial exploration of the High Wall of Lothric, this time out of a couple of standard Hollows. Once the Pus of Man has emerged and is aware of us, any semblance of the host’s self-control is usurped by total destructive instability.

In our own bodies, pus is the result of infection, and its treatment is its release from an abscess; but the Pus of Man, thus released, does not allow for healing, because its internal causes, a symptom of a shared spiritual crisis, have gone unchecked for too long, and so it assumes complete control. It is, on one level, a coup by the id, which Freud describes as “...a chaos, a cauldron full of seething excitations. ...It is filled with energy reaching it from the instincts, but it has no organization, produces no collective will, but only a striving to bring about the satisfaction of the instinctual needs subject to the observance of the pleasure principle.” It would also not be inappropriate here to look to the concept of humorism, wherein humans’ personalities are regulated by vital body fluids, and where we find (within the most popular, four-component model) “black bile”, a secretion whose associated qualities are coldness and dryness and whose effect is melancholia: “a mental condition characterized by extreme depression, bodily complaints, and sometimes hallucinations and delusions.”

The Cathedral of the Deep is representative of the same crisis, but diverges in the shape of its consequence. If the Pus of Man recalls Manus, whose “humanity went wild”, and signifies degradation with “seething excitations”, then the Cathedral of the Deep -- a religion and a site -- signifies degradation with stagnation. Inside the Cathedral, we find that its nave and south transept is thick with liquidized decay, the perimeters encrusted by mounds of corpses. These are the matter-of-fact results of both mortification of the flesh (done by flagellation) and Aldrich’s cannibalism, prior to his relocation. What’s relevant here is the material stasis. Richard Pilbeam, in his video “The Bastard’s Curse”, compares aspects of the Deep faith to those of Shinto, placing specific emphasis on the cleansing properties of water. He notes: “Water will wash away impurity, but only if the water remains in motion.”² The motion of the water is the motion of a dynamic, reciprocal spirituality. Our own bloodflow requires circulation.

All of this talk of the body, ruptures, and liquid brings us back to Aldrich, the Devourer of Gods. Despite his title, the only god we are explicitly aware of Aldrich having consumed is Gwyndolin; but the sheer extent of rotting flesh and bones (some, no doubt, of mortals) in Aldrich’s current habitat, the appropriated chancel of the great Anor Londo cathedral, is evidence of innumerable, unseen feasts. Inspecting the soul of Aldrich, we are told that when he “...ruminated on the fading of the fire, it inspired visions of a coming age of the deep sea. He knew the path would be arduous, but he had no fear. He would devour the gods himself.” It again behooves us to approach the matter in terms of symbolics, poetic substitutions, and understand this envisioned age as a radically desacralized state of being, one where the Age of Fire has been permanently entombed, replaced by a humanity misled by vacuous obsessions which is then itself overcome by what those profanities manifested. “In time, those dedicated to sealing away the horrors of the Deep succumbed to their very power,” the description for a robe worn by deacons of the Cathedral of the Deep reads. “It seems that neither tending to the flame, nor the faith, could save them.”

Aldrich, as a deiphagous agent (although perhaps not godly to begin with himself), of course has deicidal associations.³ Most pertinent would be the filicide of the Titan Cronus, who devoured his children in fear of his prophesied deposition. We are told that Aldrich “had no fear”, but this is, I think, an ironic statement. In the same way that we may compulsively eat in order to fill an emotional-existential void, Aldrich feeds to fill the void of Dark Souls 3 which has, as M. Christine Boyer writes in reference to modernity, “[closed] off any meaningful access to the past.” Yet his murderous feasting prepares himself and the world for another void: that of the “age of the deep sea” (to be slightly literal for a moment: what, on Earth, is more akin to a void than the ocean’s depths?). At the Ringed City we observe resonances of this behavior in the locusts, who primarily inhabit the dim mire at the city’s bases (the resemblance to Oolacile’s predicament is unmistakable), and “were meant to beckon men to the dark with sermons, but most of [which] are unable to think past their own stomachs.”

We should also recognize that Aldrich did not act alone. He “had the desire to share with others his joy of imbibing the final shudders of life while luxuriating in his victim's screams.” Recall that certain deacons of the Deep are bloated, including the deceased Archdeacon McDonnell. These are ministers who have oftener partaken of feasts. So here is also a distortion of that communal principle wherein participants ingest the deity/deities and affirm life through its nearness to death. This ingestion recalls the older meaning of “embody”: “a soul or spirit invested with a physical form.” George Hersey writes, of the ancient Greeks and their sacrificial rituals, “Whatever form the victim or offering took, once it was [...] full of the god, [...] the divinity became too immense, too terrible, to be contained. It was necessary to break apart the offering. Yet even after death -- perhaps especially after it -- the animal’s carcass, the god’s container, was steeped in his presence. This is why the worshipers ate parts of it: the act was not just feasting, but communion. The worshipers’ own bodies combined with parts of the victim’s to express the fact that the god had entered them. The victim’s body parts were in fact ‘reconstructed’ now in a different way, by uniting the bodies of the worshipers.”⁴

There is no concern for any of these vitalizing affirmations with Aldrich and his followers. Indeed, we see that Aldrich himself has become “too immense, too terrible, to be contained” (just like those aforementioned “horrors of the Deep”), and so his body is coagulated hemorrhage. Constructive concepts such as selflessness, spirit, metousiosis are nullified, as the consumptive process, one of intense sadism, functions as its own end. Aldrich is both terribly and mundanely a narcissistic parasite. During our fight with him, he will burrow into the refuse of the arena to temporarily escape -- a tactic that is emblematic of his self-regressing psychology, where nothing matters except gorging, sleeping, and surrounding oneself with a playpen of mud to dive into and thus hide from the world. Remember, now, that Aldrich was canonized as a Lord and remains one. Hawkwood, a former member of Farron’s Undead Legion and a resident of Firelink Shrine, wryly and accurately comments that this was “...Not for virtue, but for might.” And when we venerate sheer might, we venerate persecution.

From this perspective, I think it is not an accident of phrasing when the description for human dregs, an object sometimes released by slain Deep devotees, says that they, once having sunk to the “lowest depths imaginable, [...] become the shackles that bind this world.” To bind something can mean to unify it, to adhere components together and provide a sort of structure; but this is done with shackles, items associated with repression and enslavement. It is another echoing of that “self-oppression misinterpreted as empowerment” (or, analogously, freedom). There may be no better conclusion to this essay than to remark upon Aldrich’s death at our ends. As the battle progresses, Aldrich’s body becomes enkindled, speckled by embers, to the extent that any zone he occupies catches on fire. This is not so different from Yhorm or the remaining Abyss Watcher; after all, they are Lords of Cinder too. But I believe that, for Aldrich, this can be read relative to the sacrificial ritual which ended with roasting specified parts of the animal and then eating them. Thus, when we kill Aldrich, even if we cannot adopt and atone for the sins of his actions, we can at least break that insatiable cycle and consign his body to the purifying fire -- so that we may, finally, take and imbibe his soul.

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¹ Dark Souls 2 quickly presents us with an example of this when a handmaid gives us a featureless human effigy and says, “Take a closer look... Who do you think it’s supposed to be? Think back, deep into your past. Yes, it’s an effigy of you.” Consider also the case of Miracles, which are not instructions but stories. Once read, they turn real -- fiction tangibly weaponized.

² See: Misogi and kegare. The concept of the sacred grotto is apposite, too, if we imagine that the latter-christened Cathedral of the Deep neighbors one. In Heavenly Caves, Naomi Miller writes, “Fascination with the grotto is rooted in the story of creation. While understood as a source of life and as a sacred spring in the classical world, in the Old Testament the grotto is often equated with the void and hence with chaos -- the formlessness that precedes the beginning. [...] ...within the Temple in Jerusalem, beneath the Stone of Foundation in the Dome of the Rock, was a cave known as the Well of Souls. This fountain of perennial water within the Temple may well allude to the cisterns and reservoirs known to be under the Holy Rock, but it also has metaphysical significance and refers to the mouth of the abyss identified with the subterranean torrent located at the earth’s center, from whence the rivers of Paradise went forth to water the four corners of the world...”

³ An example of deicide which is often not thought of as such is that of Christ, who, in his self-sacrifice as the human avatar of God, clears the way for a radically new covenant.

⁴ Walter Burket, in his book Homo Necans, posits that such sacrifices “were much later reenactments of primal ritual murders in which a god-king was killed and consumed.”

[aion-rsa]

Yasuke Review: Netflix Anime Reclaims The Story of a Black Samurai

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This Yasuke review contains no spoilers.

What’s supposedly last known about Yasuke, the documented 16th-century Black samurai of Japan, is that he was brought back into the hands of his former Jesuit owners after his samurai employment was cut short. From there, the African-originated warrior, who remarkably rose to impressive status under the warlord Oda Nobunaga despite his being a foreigner, appears to vanish from history.

Both historical and legendary, Yasuke had nary a chance to grace onscreen media, although he allegedly inspired the protagonist of the densely shaded neo-noir Afro Samurai manga-based anime. He was the star of an infamous Japanese children’s book that infamously ended in seppuku and also appeared in the 2017 video game Nioh. Had tragedy not claimed Chadwick Boseman, the actor would have starred as the samurai in a now-scrapped movie project.

Now creator and director LeSean Thomas (Cannon Busters, The Boondocks, Black Dynamite) and writer Nick Jonas Jr. are imagining this historical legend in the MAPPA-produced anime sheen of magic, werewolves, mechas, and nods to speculative history. In the words of Thomas himself on the Netflix blog, it is of “serendipitous nature about this project, how an African-American man goes to Japan to live and work amongst the very best in Japanese anime to create an anime about an African who goes to Japan to live amongst the Japanese elite and become a warrior.” Indeed, the significance of Thomas’s project centering a historical Black man in Japan is understood with further reading on how Blackness and anti-Blackness manifested in anime.

The anime opens in the midst of a waning victory in a battlefield of swordsmen soldiers, archers, mechas, and magic. As the war storm rages, an armored Yasuke (LaKeith Stanfield, also executive producer) witnesses his lord commit seppuku. Two decades later, the former samurai exists as a recluse with barely a purpose. He has sunk into his role as a sullen boatman in a small village, but he is amiably approachable enough that village kids can expect him to toss them his fish catch or pass them swordplay tips. But soon, circumstances drag him back into honor-bound duty when a mother (Gwendoline Yeo) implores him to ferry her frail daughter Saki (Maya Tanida), ridden with mysterious magic she cannot control, to a special doctor. Yasuke’s honor and abilities are put to the test. 

In the meantime, Yasuke rethinks his past bonds and allegiances during his miraculous tenure as a samurai under daimyō Oda Nobunaga. In spite of the samurai opportunity handed to him, a foreigner, on a golden platter, Yasuke is perpetually reminded he must prove his prestige as one of his elite guards. His pariah status among the Japanese elites is also what allows him to forge a friendship with the cryptic soul Natsumaru (Ming-Na Wen), the only Onna Bugeisha female samurai under their shared lordship.

Despite a compelling setup, the story has trouble fleshing out the psychological baggage of its fictionalized eponymous subject. This is most evident when Yasuke confronts a key double-crossing and its emotional consequences have the impact of a blunt sword. Yasuke is so quick and interested in tightening its tale that it does not permit the breathing space to unravel its lead samurai’s past, especially the promised emotional nuances of his allegiance to a warlord. It’s also difficult to pinpoint whether the flashbacks overstay its their welcome or don’t achieve the emotional economy. 

It is only midway through the story when the lone warrior and his child companion have time to connect that the firecrackers go off. The guarded Stanfield and the buoyant Tanida play off each other with accumulating respect, wholesome affection, and matching energy—“WE protect each other,” the little girl insists. It’s a dynamic that could have charged out one or two more episodes, and it would perk up viewers who dig the “solitary father figure bonding with chaotic powerful child” trope in The Mandalorian (which was inspired by A Lone Wolf and Cub). It is a letdown that Stanfield doesn’t spark as much chemistry with an otherwise competent Wen, stemming from the underbaked nature of their characters’ relationships. 

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The young girl’s arc to control her power and self-esteem is straightforward and therefore the easiest to follow, but because the show underwrites the complexities of Yasuke’s baggage, its main subject’s quest to overcome an identity crisis and assert his existence does not fare as well. But it’s when Yasuke shows his combative and moral prowess on the battlefield that he shines most as a character. Stanfield’s Yasuke is convincing as a soul who embodies personal convictions: his honor, desire to prevent bloodshed, and his reverence such as when he closes the eyelids of his decapitated opponent and prays.

If you’re critical of the story, there’s still plenty to enjoy about the surface-level dynamics, journeys, and striking symbolic imagery. When Yasuke occupies itself in its twistedly bizarre feudal setting, it indulges in some real fun weirdness. Enter a troupe of ruthless bounty hunters: a hulking Russian werewolf woman (Julie Marcus), a shaman (William Christopher Stephens) hailing from the Benin Kingdom who can summon phantom fighters, a spandex-clad assassin (Dia Frampton) waving scepters, and a scene-stealing sentient mecha (Darren Criss) with a Baymax inflection who ruminates on statistical success and teamwork. These bounty hunters are sure to be fan favorites and the story soon engineers them back into the narrative when they exit.

From forested sceneries, earthly purple-bathed soldier-littered battlefields, and luminous astral planes, Yasuke is polished visually with hardy character designs by Takeshi Koike, world art and art setting designs by Minoru Nishida, vivid art direction by Junichi Higashi, and color setting designer Azusa Sasaki. From the MAPPA studio that brought In This Corner of the World and Attack on Titan, its sweeping scale is no surprise.

The Grammy-nominated Flying Lotus also contributes to the mellow electronic beats that prevail whenever Yasuke proves himself in combat. Other than contributing to the story, Flying Lotus provides the soulful opening theme “Black Gold,” performed by Thundercat, and a lulling closing theme “between memories” with lyrics and performance by Niki Randa. Both songs befit the warmth of its star samurai.

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Yasuke resolves itself in a tight package. But stay for the end credits and it’s evident there’s a continuation teased without being a cliffhanger. I’m not sure whether its story proved Yasuke can sustain for additional seasons. Still, there is something about the sincere romanticism of imagining a vanished historical figure and giving him more dignified possibilities than (speculative) history could have ever given him.

All six episodes of Yasuke will be available to stream April 29 on Netflix.

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