#heidi rhodes

[heidiamalia]

Doing RI PRIDE this Saturday AHH

[spilladabalia]

Mirror of Venus "Never Say Forever"

[noleavestoblow]

how beautiful, how marvelous, you say how divine accumulation tastes, divorcing sugar from its labor deaths

hiding the afterglow of tragedy in the spell of pleasures, luxuries, wretched white wall of happiness designed to obscure the view

every exquisite thing you���ve known has been somebody else’s drowning, a vast field of obliterations

your paradise, a whole planet on its way to extinction

-Heidi Andrea Restrepo Rhodes

[exoticalmonde]

The Evealia Guide Through Babel (event) - Part I

Wow, who would've ever thought that I have more enthusiasm to talk about the Babel event and that, which has to do with the Sarkaz race, than I do with literally anything else.

I have 0 excuses. So I shall provide none.

This is the personalized (read: for me) guide through the Babel event in Arknights, with a provided story explanation/synopsis and a run-down on the event characters/media.

Gorgeous medals by the way, there's something within me that screams and years for them. Maybe it's because I've been playing this game for two, running towards three years and I'm attached to the Sarkaz. I'm attached to Theresa and Babel and can't wait to see how this event could possibly change my opinion of Theresis and Manfred.

(Warning: The following post will contain spoilers for the event, as well as commentary on my experience. Thank you for reading.)

With all that said, I think I'm going to go through the characters first. We're happy to welcome four new Operators who would happily join Rhodes Island: Lutonada, Odda, Aroma and Ascalon.

Only one of them we already know about from the Main Theme Chapter 13; Only two of them will be relevant to the story.

So let's start with the one we won't be mentioning ever again - Lutonada.

A new 4-star juggernaut defender from Bolivar. You can see her unique in that she is the first 4-star character of this class. Alongside her are Mudrock, Penance and Vulcan. To be fair, it's a spicy- I meant, it's a pricy class, with most of the characters costing over 30DP to deploy; making it tricky to use early if you don't have at least two flag Vanguards and difficult to leave alone if they're not Mudrock.

Juggernauts are special also with their inability to be healed, making it detrimental for them to have their own type of healing in their kit. Lutonada heals when an enemy she is blocking dies. That makes her S2 the most important skill, because according to the numbers - it charges pretty fast and its mechanic is basically: >Pull enemy towards self via magnets >Block >???? >Heal Pretty easy to use and I, as a fan of Empowered Attacks, love her S1 because those sweet, sweet 230% damage on an attack for every 3 seconds on her M3 sound very nice.

Should you build her? Personally, the downside to her is that as a 4-star she has significantly less HP than Penance and Mudrock, but you can practically ignore the 200HP difference between her and Vulcan. The same can be said about their attack and defence (ALL of this at E2).

Dr. Eve will always support your simple, carnal desires above all else. You want her? Did you pull her? Then build her. To bypass the Juggernaut's inability to be healed, you can always snatch either a Perfumer, Angelina (E2 perk), Suzuran (S3), or Blemishine (S2) who all have passive healing on all allies under some conditions, or you can use a Bard supporter like Heidi, Skalter and Sora.

Her Module is kind of... Eh? For all the cost you throw, she recovers 20% HP when an enemy blocked by her dies. It does sound like a lot, but I'm not sure if it means exactly what I think it does. I wanted her but didn't get her. Hope the little ratscal joins my ship eventually.

NB: Forgot to mention - her push force is 0 for her S2 and so far it doesn't seem to change with Masteries. Keep that in mind.

---

Next up we have Aroma, this is our new 5-star Blast Caster - on the same road as Corroserum and Ifrit.

The difference between her utility and Corroserum's (I won't talk about Ifrit, because she is practically the best, most aggressive Blast Caster you can find) is within the effects of their abilities. Numbers aren't really that important here, because they're both 5-stars.

What is important to note is that while Corroserum's S1 is practically unwanted because of his 10s stun duration, his S2 is helpful because it silences the enemies for 5 seconds max at M3.

Meanwhile, Aroma deals extra ARTS damage on her S1 + she deals additional damage to AERIAL targets. It's pretty helpful but practically feels useless, because rare are the times we have aerial targets line up perfectly and for long enough to fit inside her range. Unless she is used to taking down aerial targets when they float.

Her S2 just does additional damage to enemies who have been Levitated - props to her talent. The other people who levitate so far are Chongyue, Irene, Ho'olheyak, Quanipalaat and Odda.

I... am... Not sure if her Module expands her range like the other Blast Casters'? But it sounds like it should, it would be unfair otherwise. I'm leaving it for you to decide if you want this, but it's surprisingly easy to build material-wise.

---

Which brings us to our second before last Operator, the free character in the Event whom you can get with just 40% of all the currency you'll be getting. It's a long story.

First in many things, Odda is an unseen before Earthshaker Guard. That role is kind of like Dreadnought guards, but they can block two enemies from the get-go and they do an AOE attack each basic attack.

Him, I actually got all the tickets to and dropped Ash to build. He has an empowered attack for his S1 which ends up at a chargetime of whooping 2 seconds!!! It extends the splash area as well with .5 tiles, so... He does damage of 1.5 tiles additionally.

Unlike Lutonada, Odda's S2 has Levitate with a weight of 3 or less for 0.5 seconds on each splash attack.

He doesn't have any Modules so far, but I personally have gotten attached to him through the story. I want to mention that unlike what I've noticed, his story says he is a Messenger from Kazdel. I thought it was interesting this bean with a gargantuan hammer is intended to... run around as fast as he can.

---

And finally, I almost forgot, we have Ascalon - our very dedicated Ambusher Specialist. At least that's what is said about her, but I heard that practically even Ethan is better in certain aspects.

I didn't like Ascalon when we first met her, even though her design was amazing.

Passively, her talent slows the Movement Speed of enemies and they take Ascalon's ATK as ARTS damage per second for 18/25 seconds (E1/E2). In her E2 she gets more ASPD and gains even more (wow, 8+6) if there is high ground in the 4 adjacent tiles.

Looks like this is the patch for enhanced attacks because Ascalon does 210% additional damage to an enemy, attacking twice and stores up to 3 charges in her M3 for S1.

Her S2 gives her +130% ATK, slows enemies by 60% if they are on the ground and in attack range and inflicts her T1 (the poison-esque damage) on nearby enemies when defeated. The radius of this 'nearby' means 1.3 tiles away. And it's specified that the MS reduction works on Aerial targets too, but the Talent effect is applied only to ground units.

Finally, to top it off, her range expands and she attacks faster and reduces the Physical and Arts hit rate of ground enemy units by 50%. She's more likely to be targeted by enemies, but recovers 8% MAX HP when she manages to dodge.

Her S1 gets increased, that's all.

---

Right. Everybody should be on the list. Now, to my favourite part of events - watching the YT videos that are meant to introduce the event for us.

First came the Official Babel Trailer.

Here is a script I very painstakingly made of everything written on the screen, because I'm unfortunately not that fast of a reader. During my scripting, I also noticed that the last line... is almost impossible to notice because the screen cracks and glitches when it shows up. I didn't notice it the first two times I watched it for my own pleasure.

[Theresa, you've forged an irreversible "fate".] [Swords and spears sharpen in fear of your bloodkin.] [You believe our differences will eventually be put aside,] [That the tribes will ultimately unite.] [Theresa, I've seen it... your wish.] [A sea of stars shining at the end of savagery,] [A new path emerging from the storm.] [But every path has an end, Theresa.] [When you surpass the limits of civilization,] [No one will be able to comprehend your love...] [They will loathe you...] [They will fear you...] [Until hate transforms the land into ruin.] [Until blood washes the memories away.] [But we do not struggle on our own, do we?] [Words of hope are engraved on wreckage.] [...You have brought us ample delights.] [So, don't let go of my hands.] [Let's see for ourselves, together.] [Watch life awaken from despair...] [I want you to believe,] [We can still stand together,] [in the sea of flowers, listening...] [To the voices of the universe...]

---

As a side note, Twitter provides another just slightly edited video of the new characters which I like to include for the fullness of the list. You can watch it Here, since I can't find it on YT.

---

Finally, here is the Arknights Animation PV for Babel.

Dying. And crying. Screaming. You can see baby Amiya. You see baby Ascalon, Manfred, Theresa... Little Logos, ilovehim. His terrible haircut, his pointy ears, the cutiest that has ever patootied, I was screeching worse than any Banshee you could ever hear when I saw him.

The speaker I'm pretty sure is Kal'tsit and the important information is provided in the video description itself:

[To advance from present to future, You first settle the past.] [Arknights: Babel] [Your Highness... I swear to you]

I remember when I saw it my first thought was: Oh my god are we seeing somebody having a father??? But then I think I got swept away seeing Manfred being tied to a pole with Theresis and Theresa being the best adoptive parents that could exist.

Also, Savage jumpscare.

Also also,

Genuinely me.

---

Last on the list for today is the furniture set: 'Scar Market Memories' A room modeled after the Scar Market based on the Sarkaz mercenaries' descriptions. The market was known for its disorder and disarray. Its visual appearance was established by a Cyclops who had been in charge for several decades.

I really like this one, it fits so well with Hoederer's furniture pack because they're both very... Sarkaz. By Sarkaz, I mean that they look like a hole you could've dug up to live in. Kind of cosy, kind of sad. Like anything Sarkaz we're about to learn.

---

This is what it looks like on the ship without the Minecraft shaders. Now let's just go through some of them and see the more interesting tidbits of information we have about the Sarkaz lifestyle.

Surely, a piece of furniture can't have any sort of angst about it. I mean, come on, it's just a room.

Downward Facing Branches

A withered thick tree branch, severed to a third of its original length. "We hang a dead tree branch above our heads to remind every Sarkaz: Death is gazing upon you."

...

...

...

What the absolute hell.

---

Long Twig

It's.... It's just a long twig.

Please.

A withered, thick tree branch, severed to a third of its original length. It is a symbol that stands in for the dead. The corpse of the tree is twisted and haggard, just like our fallen comrades in their final moments.

---

Witchcraft Workbench

A metal table full of scratches and marks, with a basket holding strange tools hanging underneath. All astute mercenaries know that they should never ask about the tools' real purpose.

God damn it.

---

Oddities Showcase

Oh, yeah, I love oddities showcases, I've seen people make miniature showcases of like... things they... like...

A collection of cheap objects brought back from all across Terra is put on display here. The "oddities" in the name refers not to the trinkets, but to the mercenaries who managed to bring them here without dying.

---

"Work and Life"

A storage rack with some daily necessities, a few wanted posters, and quite a few ID tags. Note: The ID tags are just decorations. No Sarkaz mercenaries were harmed in the making of this collection.

You're funny, you're so very funny I am clapping my thighs with amusement you freak--- *Gets dragged away by Hoederer for a 10-minute break*

---

Hoederer: "Doctor..." Me: "I don't want to read anymore..." Hoederer: "Doctor, please, you've been stalling for so long. You have to at least finish this part." Me: "Can we just please do anything else, I am going to die if I have to read another furniture set that talks about how each and every Sarkaz dies like a mayfly unnoticed and illiterate until somebody who probably minutely knew about them notices they've been gone four months past when they were meant to return-" Hoederer: "They do." Me: "... I'm sorry. I'm going back to work."

---

Steel Rail Lights

Hanging from the dark ceiling light are a cloth, a teapot, and some wine glasses; also some books. "I just put whatever on top since it's convenient. Just like how I put my life on the line for coin. Because money is convenient."

---

Messy Wine Cabinet

A messy storage shelf with wineglasses and a bottle of wine of unknown origin. Strong liquor distilled from grains is the mercs' favorite. It's cheap, strong, and "kills instantly."

---

Charcoal Oven

The charcoal fire burns slowly and projects a dark red color on the oven. To prevent indoor carbon monoxide poisoning, the "fire" here is actually a number of lights with different colors.

Are you saying.... Are you saying that they...

Okay, I think we're done here, nothing more interesting to see from the furniture set. Everything is terrible and all died, some mercenaries have artistic vision while others sleep on metal mats and other trash they put together.

I can't believe I called any of this cosy before reading their descriptions.

---

I also want to give props to all of you, each comment is such a banger I've been laughing at them separately and together for ten minutes now.

[llovelymoonn]

hello darling could you do a webweave on chronic illness/ the body you live in and love not loving you back? thank you 😘

erika l. sánchez departure \\ jessica lauren chung \\ heidi andrea restrepo rhodes wet sands: poetry exchanges: "a small disunified theory" \\ rainer maria rilke journal of my other self (via @weltenwellen) \\ erika l. sánchez all of us \\ @mysticalspiders

kofi

[thursdaygrl]

i'm home today and back in a writing mood - planning to do some drafts but i'd like a few new quick back and forth things in the meantime. like for a one liner, pick from one of the muses under the cut and pls reply cause i'm feeling a bit overwhelmed w/ ims.

crash cross, 32, straight, he/him, james marsters fc

cricket farrow, 26, bisexual, she/her, mallory bechtel fc

dove velazquez, 19, bisexual, she/her, jenna ortega fc

gisela meyer, 23-50, bisexual, she/her, madchen amick fc

grayson rhodes, 34, straight, he/him, glen powell fc

heidi laslow, eternally 30, bisexual, she/her, rebecca breeds fc

jeremy oliphant, 35, straight, he/they, kyle gallner fc

molly thaxton, 37, lesbian, she/they, lily gladstone

vienna laurendeau, 25, bisexual, she/her, zaria simone fc 

yessica vidal, 21, bisexual, she/her, maia reficco fc

[dandelionjack]

some people don’t understand what differentiates a special interest from an ordinary interest for autistic people. for me it’s about more than just intensity: when i’ve got an SI on a piece of media, i see almost everything i come across through the lens of it, like i’m wearing a [media]-shaped filter on my glasses. to allistics and some other autistics (no generalisations here — this is my personal experience only) this may seem like “obsession” or “narrow-mindedness” or “brainrot”… “why are you associating this totally unrelated thing with the fictional world you’re stuck in at the moment”?

an example: the poem i just reblogged below, by heidi priebe. my first thought upon seeing it was “this is the advice madame vastra gave to clara in deep breath”. but due to internalised cringe culture (ableism. call it what it is) i felt ashamed of tagging it as such and resorted to vagueing instead.

i remember when i was obsessed with the cthulhu mythos last summer, and suddenly every mention of the devil anywhere was nyarlathotep and every mention of new england and especially rhode island was a lovecraftiana reference. you get the gist.

i’m trying to cast off shame but it festers like a parasite within you

[shoot-me-now-or-shoot-me-later92]

I went to Margate for the Margate Gay Pride 2023 yesterday. But of course I couldn’t miss the “ADHD HYPERFICATION & WHY IT LOOKS LIKE I LOVE PEDRO PASCAL” art gallery by Heidi Gentle Burrell at The Rhodes Gallery.

It was lovely to talk to her about ADHD and about Pedro! She’s super nice and easy going. I was nervous and went to shook her hand but she hugged me Instead! ❣️ I bought 3 postcards with a detailed drawing of Pedro’s hand and lips and she gifted me with 2 pins for the parade.

She’s preparing part 2 of her exhibition and I’m looking forward to see it!

[wankerwatch]

Commons Vote

On: Passenger Railway Services Bill (Public Ownership) Bill: Second Reading

Ayes: 351 (96.6% Lab, 2.3% Ind, 0.8% Green, 0.3% SDLP) Noes: 84 (100.0% Con) Absent: ~215

Day's business papers: 2024-7-29

Likely Referenced Bill: Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill

Description: A Bill to make provision for passenger railway services to be provided by public sector companies instead of by means of franchises.

Originating house: Commons Current house: Commons Bill Stage: Committee of the whole House

Individual Votes:

Ayes

Labour (341 votes)

Abena Oppong-Asare Abtisam Mohamed Adam Jogee Adam Thompson Afzal Khan Al Carns Alan Campbell Alan Gemmell Alan Strickland Alex Baker Alex Ballinger Alex Barros-Curtis Alex Davies-Jones Alex Mayer Alex McIntyre Alex Norris Alex Sobel Alice Macdonald Alison Hume Alison McGovern Alison Taylor Alistair Strathern Allison Gardner Amanda Hack Amanda Martin Andrew Cooper Andrew Gwynne Andrew Lewin Andrew Pakes Andrew Ranger Andrew Western Andy MacNae Andy McDonald Angela Eagle Anna Dixon Anna Gelderd Anneliese Dodds Anneliese Midgley Baggy Shanker Bambos Charalambous Barry Gardiner Bayo Alaba Beccy Cooper Becky Gittins Bell Ribeiro-Addy Ben Coleman Ben Goldsborough Bill Esterson Blair McDougall Brian Leishman Bridget Phillipson Callum Anderson Calvin Bailey Carolyn Harris Cat Eccles Cat Smith Catherine Atkinson Catherine McKinnell Catherine West Charlotte Nichols Chris Bloore Chris Curtis Chris Elmore Chris Hinchliff Chris Kane Chris McDonald Chris Murray Chris Vince Chris Webb Christian Wakeford Claire Hazelgrove Claire Hughes Clive Betts Clive Lewis Connor Naismith Damien Egan Dan Aldridge Dan Jarvis Dan Tomlinson Daniel Francis Danny Beales Darren Jones Darren Paffey Dave Robertson David Baines David Burton-Sampson David Pinto-Duschinsky David Taylor David Williams Dawn Butler Debbie Abrahams Deirdre Costigan Derek Twigg Diana Johnson Douglas Alexander Douglas McAllister Ed Miliband Elaine Stewart Emily Darlington Emma Foody Emma Hardy Emma Lewell-Buck Emma Reynolds Euan Stainbank Feryal Clark Florence Eshalomi Frank McNally Fred Thomas Gen Kitchen Georgia Gould Gerald Jones Gill German Gordon McKee Graeme Downie Graham Stringer Grahame Morris Gregor Poynton Gurinder Josan Hamish Falconer Harpreet Uppal Heidi Alexander Helen Hayes Helena Dollimore Henry Tufnell Hilary Benn Ian Lavery Ian Murray Imogen Walker Irene Campbell Jack Abbott Jacob Collier Jade Botterill Jake Richards James Asser James Murray James Naish Janet Daby Jas Athwal Jayne Kirkham Jeevun Sandher Jeff Smith Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Jess Asato Jessica Morden Jessica Toale Jim Dickson Jim McMahon Jo Platt Jo Stevens Jo White Joani Reid Jodie Gosling Joe Morris Joe Powell Johanna Baxter John Grady John Healey John Slinger John Whitby Jon Pearce Jon Trickett Jonathan Brash Jonathan Davies Jonathan Hinder Josh Dean Josh Fenton-Glynn Josh MacAlister Josh Newbury Josh Simons Julia Buckley Juliet Campbell Justin Madders Kanishka Narayan Kate Dearden Kate Osamor Kate Osborne Katie White Keir Mather Kenneth Stevenson Kerry McCarthy Kevin Bonavia Kevin McKenna Kim Johnson Kim Leadbeater Kirith Entwistle Kirsteen Sullivan Kirsty McNeill Laura Kyrke-Smith Lauren Edwards Lauren Sullivan Laurence Turner Lee Barron Lee Pitcher Leigh Ingham Lewis Atkinson Liam Byrne Liam Conlon Lilian Greenwood Lillian Jones Linsey Farnsworth Lisa Nandy Liz Kendall Liz Twist Lizzi Collinge Lloyd Hatton Lorraine Beavers Louise Haigh Louise Jones Lucy Powell Lucy Rigby Luke Akehurst Luke Charters Luke Murphy Luke Myer Luke Pollard Margaret Mullane Maria Eagle Mark Ferguson Mark Hendrick Mark Sewards Mark Tami Markus Campbell-Savours Marsha De Cordova Martin Rhodes Mary Creagh Mary Glindon Matt Bishop Matt Rodda Matt Turmaine Matt Western Matthew Patrick Matthew Pennycook Maureen Burke Maya Ellis Meg Hillier Melanie Onn Melanie Ward Miatta Fahnbulleh Michael Payne Michael Shanks Michael Wheeler Michelle Scrogham Michelle Welsh Mike Amesbury Mike Kane Mike Reader Mike Tapp Mohammad Yasin Nadia Whittome Natalie Fleet Natasha Irons Naushabah Khan Neil Coyle Neil Duncan-Jordan Nia Griffith Nicholas Dakin Noah Law Oliver Ryan Olivia Bailey Olivia Blake Pam Cox Pamela Nash Pat McFadden Patricia Ferguson Paul Davies Paul Foster Paul Waugh Paula Barker Paulette Hamilton Perran Moon Peter Kyle Peter Lamb Peter Prinsley Peter Swallow Phil Brickell Polly Billington Preet Kaur Gill Rachael Maskell Rachel Blake Rachel Hopkins Richard Baker Richard Quigley Rosena Allin-Khan Rosie Wrighting Rupa Huq Ruth Cadbury Ruth Jones Sadik Al-Hassan Sally Jameson Sam Carling Sam Rushworth Samantha Dixon Samantha Niblett

Sarah Coombes Sarah Edwards Sarah Hall Sarah Jones Sarah Owen Sarah Russell Sarah Sackman Scott Arthur Sean Woodcock Seema Malhotra Shabana Mahmood Sharon Hodgson Shaun Davies Simon Lightwood Simon Opher Siobhain McDonagh Sojan Joseph Sonia Kumar Stella Creasy Stephen Doughty Stephen Timms Steve Race Steve Reed Steve Witherden Steve Yemm Sureena Brackenridge Tahir Ali Taiwo Owatemi Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi Tim Roca Toby Perkins Tom Collins Tom Hayes Tom Rutland Tonia Antoniazzi Tony Vaughan Torcuil Crichton Torsten Bell Tracy Gilbert Tristan Osborne Tulip Siddiq Uma Kumaran Valerie Vaz Warinder Juss Will Stone Yasmin Qureshi Yuan Yang Zubir Ahmed

Independent (8 votes)

Adnan Hussain Apsana Begum Ian Byrne Imran Hussain John McDonnell Rebecca Long Bailey Richard Burgon Zarah Sultana

Green Party (3 votes)

Adrian Ramsay Ellie Chowns Siân Berry

Social Democratic & Labour Party (1 vote)

Colum Eastwood

Noes

Conservative (84 votes)

Alan Mak Alberto Costa Alec Shelbrooke Alicia Kearns Alison Griffiths Andrew Bowie Andrew Griffith Andrew Rosindell Andrew Snowden Aphra Brandreth Ashley Fox Ben Obese-Jecty Blake Stephenson Bob Blackman Bradley Thomas Caroline Dinenage Caroline Johnson Charlie Dewhirst Claire Coutinho Danny Kruger David Davis David Mundell David Reed David Simmonds Desmond Swayne Edward Argar Gagan Mohindra Gareth Bacon Gareth Davies Geoffrey Clifton-Brown George Freeman Graham Stuart Greg Smith Gregory Stafford Harriet Cross Harriett Baldwin Helen Grant Helen Whately Jack Rankin James Cleverly Joe Robertson John Cooper John Glen John Hayes John Lamont John Whittingdale Julia Lopez Julian Lewis Katie Lam Kemi Badenoch Kieran Mullan Kit Malthouse Lewis Cocking Lincoln Jopp Louie French Mark Francois Mark Garnier Martin Vickers Matt Vickers Mel Stride Mims Davies Neil Hudson Neil Shastri-Hurst Nick Timothy Patrick Spencer Paul Holmes Peter Bedford Peter Fortune Rebecca Harris Rebecca Paul Rebecca Smith Richard Holden Robbie Moore Robert Jenrick Roger Gale Saqib Bhatti Sarah Bool Shivani Raja Steve Barclay Stuart Anderson Stuart Andrew Tom Tugendhat Victoria Atkins Wendy Morton

[watchtowerindistress]

we are not our demons (20/24) - bruce wayne x batmom

Gif source: janepetras

Author’s note: This chapter had to be split because over 7k is a bit overkill, especially with two big scenes in one chapter - with the Arkham scene before and what happens here.

Now finally the chapter that I've been hyping up to for a long time. It's the one I've been anticipating the most. Shit's gonna get real, guys! We're finally here. This chapter is going to tell you that this book is more about Ellie and Babs while Bruce is more of a supporting player.

Some recurring guest appearances and new characters are happening.

Beta-read by Heidi.

Words: 4.5k

Warning: violence (it's bloody, I'm absolutely serious), anxiety attack, language

Please reblog/leave a comment.

Series Masterlist | Want to be tagged? | Read on AO3

Dull knives Twisting my spine They're taking their time, time Till I lose my mind

- Dull Knives by Imagines Dragons -

This fog creeping around them in broad daylight was really starting to invoke a spooky feeling deep in her stomach. Ellie exhaled heavily and dropped her framed glasses on the dashboard, knowing that she didn’t want any cracks when she’d inevitably face some clowns. Trying to give Harley some privacy in changing into something more comfortable for their battle ahead, Ellie ventured outside and passed the rear of the vehicle.

“Thanks, doll,” Harley’s dull voice echoed from inside.

Popping the hood of the car, Ellie’s gaze met the inside she had stashed for safekeeping. Feeling the heat slowly getting to her, she disrobed her coat and placed it neatly right next to the coveted rucksack in the trunk. Harley’s two-handed weapon—the mallet—was safely stashed by Ivy after they got out of the institution.

Just to be on the safe side while she was waiting a few blocks around the corner of the asylum, Ellie had placed her possession in the back. She couldn’t be blamed for not trusting Harley or even Ivy enough though.

The back-seat doors closing pulled her out of her temporary doubts when Harley’s sparkly voice tingled into Ellie’s ears, “Anyone ever tell you you’re a peach?”

The blonde woman was now sporting a blindingly yellow overall that covered a neon-pink crop top underneath.

Ellie tilted her head at the woman’s choice of vibrant colors. “Did someone ever tell you that you have the subtlety of a literal mallet?”

A flattered smile drew on the corners of her mouth. “Oh, thank you, dearie.”

The roar of a motorcycle advancing from the other side of the harbor, prompted everyone to lift their head at the first sign of danger. Out of reflex, Harley pulled out the mallet out of the trunk and let the head almost dangle on the ground. As the bike got closer, two people were slowly distinguished, one had a metal rod clasped to their back while the other had some sort of weapon bound to the front of the motorcycle.

Their appearance begged the question if they were friend or foe.

Ellie’s own caution was lifted slightly from the tension in Harley’s shoulders easing.

Finally, the tires skid to a halt a few feet away from them. The driver at the front pulled off her helmet, but the revealed face didn’t ring any bells in her head. The woman with the shoulder-long dark hair somewhat looked familiar to Ellie, but she couldn’t for the life of her tell where she had seen that person before. Up close that weapon attached to the front of the bike appeared to be a nifty crossbow.

The second individual detached her covering and disclosed a furious Dinah Lance.

“Are you fucking insane, Rhodes?”

Ellie’s blushing face hinted at the embarrassment she was feeling at finally being discovered. She actually expected the unintended exposure by one of the boys and not when she was so close to the outcome.

Dinah’s outfit should have instantly told her who she was dealing with. Black leather jacket cuffed at her lower arms which layered over a black-and-gold corset top, a long bo-stick clenched in one hand and those fishnet stockings leading down from her hips. The vigilante looked like a dream come true just standing so close to her. Dinah wore punk ankle boots with a flat surface in a black color, fingerless leather gloves and form-fitting tactical pants that were see-through at the sides.

“Of course you’re the Black Canary,” Ellie muttered under her breath. “How did you find us?”

Dinah advanced towards her in all her mad glory. “How about you start talking that you’re suddenly working with the loony bin and being so hell-bent on revenge that you can’t see logic in front of you.”

“Oh, I thought we were friends, little bird,” Harley admonished with an offended tone.

Ellie frowned deeply at their familiarity and turned back towards Dinah.

“You could get hurt,” her somewhat-friend implored her.

Ellie’s hand waved back to her companions. “That’s why I brought reinforcements in the form of a metahuman and that scrappy mercenary behind me.” A movement from the side mirror assured her that, yes, Harley was waving a hand in introduction.

“See, she joined the dark side,” Ivy spoke with a purring quality.

The botanist’s seductive words made Ellie turn her head and send her a dark glare before she shifted back towards Dinah again. Her hand was hovering in a so-and-so motion. “Not really,” she mouthed.

Dinah crossed her arms over her chest, rising to the challenge. “Believe it or not, Babs is my friend, and I’m gonna give it my everything to keep you safe. Even from them.” She tipped her head towards her partners at her back.

Harley took offense again. “Hey!”

Despite her friend’s hurt attitude, Ivy waved her hand away. “None taken.”

“Not to mention that Babs doesn’t want anything to happen to you.”

“Wait, she knows?”

Furrowing her eyebrows in befuddlement again, Ellie received Dinah’s hint when she glanced at something behind her. Gazing over her shoulder and—low and behold—there was a camera atop the embroidered entrance.

“Oracle has been tracking you ever since you visited Arkham this morning. You covered your tracks well, but she got suspicious from that interference in facial recognition. Her eyes are everywhere. We’re coming with you and that’s not up for negotiation.”

Ellie pursed her lips and got the feeling that in the end this would be the best outcome she could hope for. Her eyes swerved to the left and studied the familiar-not familiar? woman next to her. A dark-purple vest shielded her chest, and a variety of weapons such as a gun and a knife were holstered on her right thigh. Her other leg was adorned with bolts, and yep.

Tactical pants.

Maybe Ellie should have thought about fashion choices before coming to her very first extraction mission. She was merely wearing ripped black jeans and a snug vest over her white long-armed shirt.

“And you are?” Ellie gazed into the woman’s emotionless brown eyes when several voices answered for her.

“That’s Helena—”

“Crossbow Killer.”

Ellie’s head turned from one side to another due to the overlapping all-around confusion Harley’s and Dinah’s answer just gave her.

The tall woman rolled her eyes, like this was some sort of recurring vexation she was dealing with.

“That’s not…” she grumbled before her expression turned neutral again. “Huntress. Call me Huntress.”

Ellie waved her hand towards her chest. “Aether.”

“Okay,” came Dinah’s and Helena’s reply after a pause.

“Judging by your vehemence lately,” Ivy purred while leaning with her hip against the open trunk and crossed her arms over the bodysuit made of ivy covering her chest. “you’re not afraid of shying away from a fight.” A curious and assessing expression cast over her face. Ivy’s head was tipped to the side until fiery locks shielded the side of her face. “You think you can keep up with us? Get ready for a fight?”

With everything finally going down, Ellie truly felt the impending fatalism when something was supposed to end. “I can defend myself,” she appraised her own abilities in a humble way.

“Maybe you should stay at the back then,” Helena said with a low timbre. As soon as she saw everyone’s expressions, she backtracked, “As long as there’s always someone covering you, I mean.”

Ellie shrugged her shoulders. “Sounds good to me.”

“You need a weapon?” Harley inquired and clutched her mallet on the back of her neck with her upper arms.

“I have a weapon,” Ellie assured her and walked back to the trunk and loosened the knots of her knapsack.

Harley smirked. “I bet you do. What is your preference? Escrima sticks? Baton?”

“Not really.” At long last, Ellie pulled out the crowbar that displayed she meant business.

She could sense Ivy’s warm breath over her shoulder. “Oh, wow. Someone didn’t come out to play.”

Murmurs of agreement shared that sentiment. When Ellie looked up, she was astonished to meet Harley’s significant stare that was heavy with meaning.

“You’re not intending to make prisoners, huh?”

There was something in her tone of voice that stunned Ellie, and unlike Ivy’s words of appraisal.

“This is for Babs. So, what’s the plan?”

“Ladies, I’ll be your command center for this mission. Listen to my voice and you might survive today,” Oracle’s voice said through the comm link which Dinah had distributed in the form of audio devices.

“Like the vote of confidence, Oracle,” Helena offered when she operated as the lead in the front while almost all of them walked through the winding tunnels of the Funhouse.

Just as discussed, Poison Ivy was chosen to take care of the back and lock the exit with her reinforced vines.

Strange, distorted carnival music echoed from the inside the closer they got to the descending corridor.

“Gotta admit, it’s really strange hearing you as Oracle like this,” Ellie spoke over the connection.

“We’ll talk about this later,” their tech support replied tersely. “Just make sure to watch your head. Joker’s cameras are in a loop, so you should be safe. Move quickly through the Funhouse and follow the path ahead.”

The situation was starting to get to her as Ellie’s heart started to beat vigorously in her chest from the adrenaline coursing through her veins.

Harley was quickly advancing until she was treading next to Helena. Inciting Dinah’s reaction as she looked back at Ellie, she asked quietly, “What is Harley doing?”

Ellie didn’t like where this was going. Her eyes constricted with mounting suspicion.

“Do we trust the Sirens?” Dinah questioned and seemed to share her inner thoughts.

“No, we don’t,” Ellie admitted darkly before her eyes widened.

Harley jumped like a ballerina over the stairs. Her figure was no longer visible when she hollered, “Hello, boys!”

“What the hell?” Helena exclaimed before she swiftly followed behind her.

“Damn it, Harley,” Dinah called out next to her and ran into a sprint. Her long staff swinging side-to-side with every rushed step only exhilarated her own thumping heart while she tried to keep up with her.

The colorful walls felt like a strange illusion, caving in from all sides the closer they got to the commotion taking place. Dinah already leaped over the threshold when Ellie found herself dumbstruck by the wild mess she was encountering. Her eyes widened upon seeing Harley smash her hammer through a guy’s leg and cackle gleefully at the man’s torment as he held his knee to his chest.

“Oh, man up, I didn’t hit you that hard.”

Harley’s arm swung over her shoulder in anticipation like a pro baseball player—bent knees and everything. “Tell me if this stings,” she muttered darkly. A thumping sound was heard right before her clown victim fell to the floor, with a shot to the head.

Harley shrugged mindlessly after receiving no reply. “Guess it doesn’t,” she chortled lightly.

Warmth was spreading on the inside of Ellie’s palms. Her fingers clenched around the metal weapon. The blinding lights were slowly caving in on her. She could only gulp and breathe calmly to get rid of the budding migraine and nausea building in her throat.

Please, not now.

Closing her eyes, the brunette woman gripped the metal tighter in her hand to ground herself. She would not let Strange get to her now. Absent-mindedly, she twirled the rigid weapon with her fingers before she leapt into action. A crouching masked figure pulling out a gun from behind them was when Ellie drew the line.

Ellie sprinted forward. Just as he noticed her flourishing attack and pointed his weapon on her, the woman’s sharp side of her hand thrust against his windpipe. Barely reacting to the clown’s wheezing breath, Ellie used his hunkered posture to jump on his shoulders and forced him to fall to his knees as the inside of her legs choked him out. Instantly, she rolled him forward to clamp her upper thighs around his arm.

Breathing heavily now through her nose, Ellie’s mind quieted down and calmly zeroed on one thing.

Am I really doing this?

Hesitation warred on her features before she remembered something. It’s us or them.

The man shrieked in agony as soon as she looked underneath after she heard the bones in his arm snapping.

Dinah’s heavy boots advanced closer. Her stormy gaze was the last thing she saw before she slammed her boot against his face, rendering him unconscious.

Ellie’s legs relaxed at her sides from the budding adrenaline. Ellie didn't give the offered hand much thought when she accepted her support in lifting her up.

“Solid,” Dinah told her with a curt nod in appreciation.

Ellie exhaled. Her stamina wasn’t the best there was. “Ditto,” she replied with just as much conviction.

Something caught her out of the corner of her eye. Ellie turned her head towards Helena and felt her heart speed up at the danger the short-haired vigilante was in.

“Huntress, behind you!” Ellie shouted in warning and watched in rapt fascination. Without a beat, Helena shot behind her with a turned wrist before proceeding like nothing worthy of note just happened.

Oracle’s voice in her ear captured the situation perfectly, “Great work, guys. I forgot how fun it was to work with you, girls.”

“Let’s keep moving, guys,” Dinah commanded with an authoritative tone, shifting her staff to her other gloved hand.

Caught off guard by the decision, Harley halted her repeated actions of bashing a person’s leg. He was already knocked out when Harley turned her head in surprise. Her widened blue eyes completed the picture of a crazed maniac.

“Oh, alright.” The handle of her mallet was braced against her shoulders. “But can’t we just break some people’s faces?”

“Harley, focus,” Dinah reminded her and walked ahead through the passageway. Helena and Ellie followed behind her while Harley nearly pressed her fingers together.

“Just a teensy bit then?”

Dinah gazed back at her and repeated the gesture. “Maybe a teensy tiny bit.”

“Yes,” Harley exclaimed in delight and thrust her elbows to her stomach.

Utter carnage followed in their wake when the women jumped from a gargantuan plastic clown head sitting idly on the ground. Exerted grunts and the Canary cry ahead of her path rang in her ears as their enemies flew against the walls with the concussive force of her meta-ability. Bodies littered the hallway that was covered with flimsy see-through wooden walls when Ellie passed them in her quest to catch up to the girls.

The hint that something was utterly wrong only came far too late when she heard something rustle behind her. Ellie felt the cold steel against her neck before she was yanked into the hard chest of someone.

“Would you look at th—?”

The unfamiliar male voice forced Helena and Dinah to twist their bodies around. Huntress’s bow already pointed towards them. Dinah’s knees were bent in attack and the fingers of her left hand were shaped into claws at her sides while she brandished her weapon in the other.

Not interested at all in that bad guy monologue, Ellie sent her new-found friends a meaningful glance before she motioned with barely a nod. The brunette clutched the hand which held the knife to her throat and threw her head back with enough force to elicit a satisfying crunch.

Thankfully, all that training Nyssa put her through felt like second nature now.

Using that imbalance to her advantage, Ellie shoved the sharp metal into his upper thigh and heard his pained whining noise echo in her eardrums. Not wanting to waste any more time, Ellie thrust the crowbar into his shoulder to push his already wounded face into her kneecap. Using every ounce of fury inside her into hurting him.

With a grunt, she flung him behind her towards the girls with a roll backwards. Without gazing back to ensure they got the job done, Ellie laid on her back and only heard a sonic scream before Helena’s arrow fired through the air to shield her from any other attacks.

She was kneeling on the floor when she turned her upper body around and just in time to watch the clown’s body crumple to the floor. The sensation of razor blades jostling behind her eyelids, made her squeeze her eyes shut to quell this blinding headache. Those blinding lights felt like stings on her temple before a pained wince finally left her lips.

The two vigilantes must have noticed something was utterly wrong with Ellie when she was still kneeling on the floor with her fingertips pinching on her temples.

“You okay, Rhodes?”

Ellie was breathing heavily while she tried to pull herself out of those flashbacks of facing Strange. It felt like she was still in Arkham, losing her ability to breathe again.

“I—I—I don’t—”

“I’ll take care of her,” Helena promised darkly.

Ellie didn’t see how Dinah reacted due to having her eyes tightly squeezed shut and only heard heavy boots stomping towards her—Helena’s, she presumed.

“Are you having an anxiety attack?” She heard her utter carefully.

Ellie breathed through her nose as she tried to calm herself down. “PTSD,” she decided to reveal which was the closest thing to explain her current condition.

She could feel Helena’s warmth in front of her when the tall woman consoled her with a serene voice, “Breathe calmly. Tell me where you are.”

“Funhouse,” Ellie muttered quietly after a few seconds.

“Breathe in through your nose and tell me three things you see, hear and feel with your senses.”

Ellie blinked rapidly and felt her heart still hammering in her chest. Giving it her everything to get back to the present. “Walls—colorful. I hear … Harley’s laughter down the hall and … feel this even texture under my fingertips.”

Her headache was only a dull sensation once her eyes no longer suffered under that brightness. Only tears remained in the corners. Helena’s brown eyes were the first thing she looked into as soon as her heart was thudding at a more neutral pace.

“Better now?”

Ellie shook her head since it didn’t matter at the moment. “We need to move.”

Helena’s eyes were wide in astonishment. “As soon as you paused for air. We may be a lot of things, but we’re not reckless.”

Nodding to herself, Ellie assured her, “I can breathe again, trust me.” Every time she had one of those migraines that would shock her to the core, flashbacks to her time with Strange would resurface. Making it hard for her to breathe.

Helena furrowed her brows at her choice of words. “If you’re sure.” Her eyes were constricted in some remnant of doubt and willingly let Ellie touch her arm to lift her up from her crouching position. Slowly starting to sense the tiredness in her bones, Ellie realized that the following morning was going to be a bitch.

Agitation darkened in Ellie’s eyes while she shook her head at herself. “I’m fine.”

Dinah’s concerned face which was seen through the gaps in the walls was directed at them.

“Guys, what’s taking so long? Am I supposed to kill all the bad guys on my own?” Harley’s childish voice sounded from around the corner.

There was something throbbing on her cheek. Ellie must have gotten hurt in the altercation just now. “Please don’t tell me we’re letting her have all of the fun by herself,” she teasingly offered.

Helena snorted with a smirk—a rare occurrence on that face with a usual blank expression.

Dinah tipped her head towards the badly renovated corridor. “No way. And we’re no killers here, Harley!”

“How boring.”

As soon as they caught up to Harley who was fighting an armada of bad guys surrounding her, Ellie noticed the open mouth of another clown contraption. She was getting the impression that they were getting close.

A manic man with the mask of a jester wildly ran towards the mouth entrance and entered the tongue when he nervously croaked, “No, no, no. Gotta warn Mr. J—”

Harley thought none of that when she threw her hammer head-first at him. Her head tilted to the side while she observed him with deep fascination while his body fell between the teeth of the entrance. Harley’s weapon slid on the even surface until the painted reddish smile on the head gazed back at them with a stop.

A few strays didn’t see themselves defeated yet, especially as a clown silently approached Harley from behind.

Sighing quietly, Ellie rushed forward and glided on her knees effortlessly until she swung her body around and with the twist of her hand, thrust her crowbar into his back. Like a sack of flour, the man fell head forward on the left of Harley.

Surprised by the rude interruption, the blue-eyed woman exclaimed, “Hey!” and put her hands on her hips in mock outrage. Ellie was still on her knees behind Harley when she turned her head in astonishment and gazed back at her.

“You know, you and me, I could imagine us being friends. Do you feel that too?”

Ellie smiled back disarmingly. “You know, maybe ask me later when your face is not covered in blood, huh?”

Harley carelessly shrugged and turned around, like it was no big deal. “It’s part of my charm, doll.”

In the meantime, Helena brought it upon herself to grab Harley’s weapon and threw it right back to her.

“Let’s get this over with, shall we?”

~ Barbara POV ~

Barbara licked her lips. Only the glare of her computer display lit up the lair she had built for herself. She took another sip from her to-go cup to fill her stomach.

Usually, for operations she didn’t mind eating any fast food she could get her hands into, but this time her legs were spasming from this tension in her body that only soft drinks helped.

Who’d have thought that the day came when Barbara Gordon would feel the effects of suspense getting to her?

And she absolutely hated it.

Her hands settled on the armrest of her wheelchair when she leaned back. A bout of apathy blossomed inside her when the grainy black and white footage from the inside of the Funhouse revealed the vigilantes pushing through the maze.

Joker’s last line of defense was located on the ground below when Barbara spoke into the comms, “Almost there. Jump down the pipe and move straight up the stairs.” Her eyes lingered on Joker’s green eyes overseeing his henchmen. “Joker’s waiting for you,” she mumbled tersely.

“Copy, Oracle,” Huntress replied and moved ahead as they fought against their opponents. Canary jumped ahead and twirled her staff through the air. She got three enemies in one go with her successive attacks before her sonic scream finished the job.

Barbara watched everything with something akin to lethargy as Joker shoved an underling in front of him to shield his body and escape.

“I do hope you didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye first,” Ivy teased darkly after she hovered above the stairs from the other side with the help of her vines to ward off his escape. Her voice turned into a different cadence. “Forgive me, Oracle, for not divulging my process as soon as I was done.”

“You’re here now,” Barbara replied, so no harm was done in her eyes.

“Oracle?” Joker inquired with the tilt of his head. “Who the hell is Oracle?”

“She’s our friend,” Harley spoke resolutely and stomped towards him.

His manic eyes settled with slow and startling realization on the tainted weapon Aether was carrying in her hand. His head cocked to the side at that bloodied piece of metal. The question, ‘And who are you?’ emanated from his fascinated eyes. Joker giggled crazily. Either at seeing Harley freed or just the idea of her hurting him. “Harley? What are you do—?”

“And good night!” With one swing fixated on his head, the green-dyed lunatic fell to his knees before he shook his head. Green locks danced in the air.

“Huh, thought that’d do it,” Harley muttered under her breath.

“Let’s finish this,” Dinah replied. Her fingers clenched into fists when she stood knees apart. Her sonic cry came in soft waves towards him. It sounded more like an unbearable peeping sound close to the frequency of a dog whistle. Droplets of blood streamed relentlessly from his nostrils before his ears turned bloody as well.

Joker giggled once his fingers touched the dark liquid. “Is there more where that came from?”

Ellie frowned. Before she could say something, Ivy called forth her vines and tightened around his body, rendering him almost immobile.

“This is for my friend,” Helena muttered.

Harley followed her example by smashing her hammer against his body. But Joker only giggled maniacally. Like there was nothing funnier than taking a beating.

“Wait!” Ellie finally regained her voice after seeing the mayhem they wanted to unleash. His laughter only intensified, making it impossible for the others to hear her. “This isn’t doing anything.”

Maybe there was a point to Bruce’s refusal for this kind of vengeance.

“Disagree,” Harley muttered under heaving breaths. “This is the best part of the catharsis.”

“Joker is psychotic. Pain is different for people like him. You’re hurting yourself more than you’re hurting him.” Ellie’s pleading eyes glanced around until they landed on the corner of the ceiling. “Oracle, please. It doesn’t have to be like this. This won’t end. We can find ways to make him suffer without losing ourselves in the process.” Tears pooled in her eyes at the idea of her friends getting lost in this vicious cycle of revenge. “Please.”

Silence echoed on the other end of the comm link until Barbara’s voice muttered without emotion, “Ivy. Your veins – choke him out until he loses consciousness.”

Ellie breathed out and felt relieved when the green roots tightened around his neck until the Joker’s body fell limp to the floor.

Barbara leaned back while her eyes focused on nothing. She was breathing heavily through her nose since she couldn’t grasp the consequences yet. Or maybe she just felt too tired to truly appreciate it.

A/N: First appearance of Huntress. The characters of Helena and Dinah are merely inspired by trailers and clips I've seen, but I still hope you'll be satisfied by the depiction. I actually re-did the fancast version I previously wrote about Dinah (long platinum hair), just in case the fandom really loves Jurnee's portrayal.

Harley tilting her head was like a nod to Heath Ledger's Joker in The Dark Knight. Just imagine those two together.

Writing from Babs' POV felt necessary and was an interesting change of pace since I didn't know how to write the end scene, hope you're not mad that I showed her in this chapter already.

I hope you're not disappointed that I didn't resolve this with Batman taking care of business. I felt it was more important that this was about Babs, and no one else (well, maybe the Birds of Prey). The ending was slightly changed - in a previous draft Harley merely thwacks his head. I felt like all of them needed that confrontation while Ellie needed that realization of not needing it the most.

Tagging: @mellowstatesmanhandsempath​ @ravenmoore14​ @alwayshave-faith​ @ikranfuad​ @daydreaming-gemini​ @bluegalaxyprime​ @liadamerondjarin​ @steph21369 @andrewswifes-blog​  @yanna-banana​  @blackmagicwoman

[gazellefamily]

CALL ME: THE RISE AND FALL OF HEIDI FLEISS (2004, TV) “Yo, this was... fuckiiiinnnnn awesome? It’s like the GOODFELLAS of  ENTOURAGE Aughts with the editing style of a Britney Spears music video. Meadow Soprano is horny for old men and her boyfriend, face-like-a-meteor Hungarian scumbag Robert Davi, is gonna share her with Hollywood’s rich and sex-addicted. Bear with me, it gets gnarlier. Bald Corbin Berenson, the muse of Rhode Island tattoos, as a movie mogul so impotent he needs Meadow and 2 more birds to act out a Kennedy Center Honors scenario. Or something! Cocaine will flow and cum will spill. The only real celebrities who couldn’t get their real names changed in this are Charlie Sheen and Billy Idol. You have to guess who the rest are supposed to be. Some watchable shit. -Sonny Gazelle

[screamingforyears]

IN A MINUTE:

A NEW MUSIC ROUND_UP…

@gift_nyc are here w/ “LIGHT RUNNER,” the latest single from their forthcoming debut LP titled ‘Illuminator’ (8/23 @capturedtracks) & it finds the NYC-based quintet of vocalist/guitarist Freda, multi-instrumentalists Jessica Gurewitz/Justin Hrabovsky, drummer Gabe Camarano & bassist Kallan Campbell primally_screaming & blissfully bouncing across a sub-4 mins slice of PsychPop goodness.

“BLACK SKY” is the A-side/title track from @mirror_of_venus_’s forthcoming debut cassingle (8/22 @alacarterecords_) & it finds the Los Angeles-based quartet of Joy Damert, Jose Espinoza, Heidi Weber & Margot Rhodes sad_lovering their way across a 4:51 clip of shimmeringly shadowed, vivaciously vapored & dream_poppin PostPunk.

“DON’T COUNT ON ME” is the official lead single from @primtheband’s forthcoming debut LP titled ‘Move Too Slow’ (9/6 @sundaydriverecords) & it finds the Seattle-based quartet of Kevin Flores (guitar/vocals), Evelyn Frances (guitar/vocals), Shane Juretic (bass) & Mark Ramos (drums) bringing the hooks across a 2:37 clip chockfull of buzz_binning guitars & power_popping vibes.

“SHEEPSKIN CITY” is the lead single/track from @terrygrossband’s forthcoming EP titled ‘Huge Improvement’ (9/20 @thrilljockey) & it finds the trio of Phil Manley (guitar/vocals), Donny Newenhouse (bass/vocals) & Phil Becker (drums) living their “Cosmic Rock from San Francisco” lyfe across 7 sprawled mins of riffed-up, 90s_male_oriented & pre_post_indie PhilCore.

@uniform_nyc are here w/ “PERMANENT EMBRACE,” the second single from their forthcoming EP titled ‘American Standard’ (8/23 @sacredbones) & it finds the NYC-based duo of vocalist Michael Berdan & guitarist Ben Greenberg, rounded out here by bassist Brad Truax & drummers Michael Sharp/Michael Blume marrying the “psychic violence” of its vocal/music across 4 industrially pulverized & faith_no_more_ing mins.

[noleavestoblow]

that the most ordinary flower might bloom, entire worlds crumble

that your dress may twirl & catch the candle gleam, fingers bleed by needle, child bones grow old by night

-Heidi Andrea Restrepo Rhodes

[authormarialberg]

Poetry as Survival

In the Special Section “Inspiration” in the Jan/Feb 2020 Poets&Writers Magazine, several of the poets used the word “survival” when talking about how their collection began. P&W Collage #19 – Survival Heidi Andrea Restrepo Rhodes who wrote The Inheritance of Haunting (assoc link) said, “This book emerged as a result of poetry as a mode of survival and healing at the intersections of my own…

[foxgirlplushie]

Alright lets come up with some ships with half a cause, at most, to exist.

Pozymka/Destructive Dragon Demon

Nightmare/Specter/Laurentina

Heidi/Tomimi

Greyy/Transition

Goldenglow/Roberta

Gavial/Ansel

now this is what I'm FUCKING talking about!!!

Pozymka/DDD: why doesn't tumblr have black text as an option. anyway I would love to watch pozy slowly have an aneurysm as she realizes shes kinda into this gremlin

Nightmare/Specter/Laurentina: I think nightmare is just happy to have someone who understands, and Laurentina saw this catgirl and immediately went "I can fix her AND make her worse"

Heidi/Tomimi: Tomimi would be STARSTRUCK to meet a real life author just like her books!! I don't know how Heidi feels about this situation

Greyy/Transition: you've been in engineering for how long now??? and you haven't cracked your egg???

GG/Roberta: Rhodes Makeover power couple. classic case of an extrovert adopting an introvert and then they fall for each other.

Gavial/Ansel: they bicker all the time but is it actually... flirting?? no one has proof that they make out in the supply closet but gavial also has access to the security camera feeds which is probably a coincidence

[mudkissphotography]

MY YEAR IN REVIEW - 2023

Well what a year its been, a glorious hot summer, festivals, shooting exclusively for Ashnikko, and a few bucket lists ticked off.

Shooting a few rock bands at Lytham Festival (Motley Crue and Def Leppard) and discovering some great new bands at Neighbourhood Festival (CMAT and Picture Parlour).

My favourite photos this year were featured in an article on Louder Than War here:

Milky Way from Wargasm is my ultimate favourite gig shot of the year - I took this after I had done my favourite list. I have entered this into the EPAs photo competition. I love the back lighting on her hair as it flares up just at the right moment, the way the edge of her coat is tinged blue by the lighting. BOOM!

I do like lists and this is the list of bands and artists I have photographed this year:

Shows: Wargasm /Drop Out Kings | Ashnikko / Hemlocke Springs | Hot Milk / Witch Fever /Modern Error | CMAT | Suzi Quatro | Melanie Martinez/ UPSAHL | The Pretenders  | Ellie Goulding / Olivia Lunny | The Last Dinner Party / Picture Parlour | Lauren Mayberry /Kaeto | PJ Harvey | Muse /Nova Twins | Princess Goes / Baija Flo | Christine + The Queens / Rhodes | Nile Rodgers + Chic | Generation Sex / Bob Vylan / Grade 2 | Kiss/ The Wild Things /Skindred

Caroline Polachek / True Blue | Steve Harley |  Avril Lavigne / PHEM | Freya Rydings | Flaming Lips | Aldous Harding / H Hawkline | Ville Valo /Kaelan Mikla | Self Esteem/ MEGA | Beth Hart  | Suzanne Vega / Sam Lee | Carly Rae Jepsen / Lewis Ofman | Dylan /SIIGHTS | Lucinda Williams L.A Edwards

Neighbourhood Festival: Anne Marie; Self Esteem, Scouting For Girls, The Joy Hotel; The K's; The View, The Stanleys; Stone, Goa Express; Jacotene; Hannah Grae; Rachel Chinouriri; Paris Paloma; Chappaqua Wrestling; Inspiral Carpets; The Kooks, Paul Heaton. Dolores Forever; Picture Parlour; Heidi Curtis, Bonnie Kemplay; Der; Bootleg Beatles; Gaz Coombes; Kula Shaker; CMAT; Ella Henderson; The Big Moon; Sea Girls; Everything, Everything.

Lytham Festival - Motley Cure | Def Leppard |Jamiroquai | Fun Lovin Criminals | Jake Shears | Blondie | Joe Sumner | Kaiser Chiefs | Germein

All my albums can be found at my Flick portfolio here:

As the year ends, I’d like to thank the people who have been supportive, whether it be a like, a chat, a comment or a retweet. Thanks to the photographers who have shared the pit with me and shared laughs and moans and to the reviewers who have complimented my photos with their beautiful words.

It’s been 15 years since I leapt into the music business with Mudkiss Fanzine. It's 8 years since I started to shoot for academy music group as a house photographer and 10 years louder than war It’s been another memorable year in the pit.

And a thanks to the PR + artists who made it possible to get into shows in the first place. My favourite show of the year to watch was Pink in Bolton - just spectacular. This year's top highlights have been getting interviewed and photographed for the Observer and Guardian on reaching 60 and still using the punk DIY spirit and having a photo shoot with the great photographer Perou. I was delighted to have won a one-off Marilyn Monroe hand-painted jacket by Dave Sharp 2024 has some promising shows lined up (of course pending accreditation). I've also been asked to do a talk/interview in March 2024 and I have entered a photo competition for the first time ever - wish me luck. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!