#hooky playlists

[jesterjunkie]

𝐻𝑜𝑜𝓀𝓎 𝒫𝓁𝒶𝓎𝓁𝒾𝓈𝓉𝓈

[sunflowerpastels]

monica would absolutely be a swiftie i will take no notes

[hookyrecords]

【 プレイリスト公開 】

牙突 や FATIMA のギタリストとして活躍する Wacha の魅力を伝える為のプレイリスト「Wacha Works」を公開しました。本人から各曲へのコメントも届いていますので見ながら聴いて下さい！

[randomvarious]

1980s Street Punk Playlist

Alright, so, a couple weeks ago I posted an update to my general 1980s Punk playlist, then last week I posted an update to my 1980s Hardcore Punk playlist, and now, for this week, we're distilling things further down another level with a brand new 1980s Street Punk playlist. Think of all this as, like, that classification system that you once learned about in one of your biology or life sciences classes...

Street punk is a specific style of hardcore punk that sprung up in the UK in the late 1970s among the urban working-class male youth in direct response to the artistic pretensions that some punks had thought that their favorite genre itself had been developing at the time. The street punk ethos is, essentially, that punk rock is for the common people, and anyone should be able to make it; it has a near-strict level of equality between performer and fan (everyone at a punk rock show is a punk, be they creator or consumer), and therefore, the idea of needing to have 'musicianship' in order to play music is pure, exclusionary bollocks. Just make some radical fuckin' noise with some chords, a drumbeat, and a bassline, and yell your angst-ridden diatribe with the same intensity of one of those lunatic blokes down at a public town hall meeting or something, and you might have a real rockin' tune on your hands ����.

And so, what some of this rawest-of-raw and back-to-basics type of punk rock ended up giving us in the early 80s turned out to be some of the most timeless and catchy shit that the genre itself had ever managed to produce. By stripping the music of any perceived overgrowth of fuss, we got some sweet and hooky anthems out of it, with simple, but infectiously energetic riffs too.

Case in point, the song that's currently rolling around in my head right now as I type this, the militant "Never Surrender" by New Mills-based oi! band Blitz, which they released in 1982. As one of their most popular songs—758K+ Spotify plays—this tune is just 90+ seconds of pure and primal jump-around-and-break-every-single-thing-in-your-immediate-vicinity fury; the soundtrack to an enormous and chaotic, no-holds-barred street brawl that's outfitted with rusty chains, brass knuckles, broken glass bottles, trashcan fires, knives, and spiked bats 😤.

Never surrender, never give in Never let the enemy win Never say why, never say die It's always worth another try

This playlist is ordered as chronologically as possible:

Abrasive Wheels - "The Army Song" The Partisans - "No U Turns" The Exploited - "Dead Cities" The Partisans - "Police Story" Chaos UK - "Four Minute Warning" Blitz - "Never Surrender" GBH - "Sick Boy" Mayhem - "Psycho" Abrasive Wheels - "Shout It Out" Resistance 77 - "Nuclear Attack" Chaos UK - "No Security" The Fits - "Too Many Rules" One Way System - "Give Us a Future" Special Duties - "Violent Youth" Threats - "Politicians and Ministers" Uproar - "Rebel Youth" One Way System - "No Return" Riot Squad - "Lost Cause" The Varukers - "Die for Your Government" The Exploited - "Rival Leaders" Broken Bones - "Decapitated" Riot Squad - "Society's Fodder" Ultra Violent - "Crime for Revenge" The Varukers - "Led to the Slaughter"

And then the YouTube version of this playlist has all of these tracks, plus a few more that can't be found on Spotify too, like the great, horror-thrashing "Psycho Killer" by The English Dogs, a tune from 1983 that *is not* a Talking Heads cover and has over 350K+ plays on YouTube right now, which makes it more popular than any song of this band's that is currently on Spotify. And its bouncy main riff sounds like something that a band like Rancid could've successfully replicated a decade or so later too.

English Dogs - “Psycho Killer” Mau Maus - “Just Another Day” Oi Polloi - “Thugs in Uniform”

And this playlist is also on YouTube Music.

So with the introduction of this playlist, we start with 24 songs that clock in at 55 minutes, but over on YouTube, we've got 27 songs that clock in at 63 minutes. So if you want a few extra goodies, including what appears to be the English Dogs' most popular song, give that YouTube one a listen.

And if you want something shorter, here's another street punk playlist that consists of tunes that are exclusively from 1982 too:

1982 Street Punk: Spotify / YouTube / YouTube Music

1980s punk rock playlist December will continue next week when we get even deeper into all of this stuff with a playlist of UK82 songs, which, no, is not just UK punk rock from the year of 1982 😅.

Enjoy!

More to come, eventually. Stay tuned!

Like what you hear? Follow me on Spotify and YouTube for more cool playlists and uploads!

[lahooozaherr]

I Will Always Find You

Chapter 4

Word Count: 5k

Warnings: angst, fluff, yearning, pining, shooting a blaster with Mando (aaaaaay) vague description of dress on reader (listen, I said it was “traditional Naboo” dress but I don’t know if such thing exists I just love that dress Padme wears by the lake lol but I’m leaving it as vague as I can incase y’all want to imagine something else, I only describe having an open back) (wanted to give Mando some skin, ok), reader runs hand through hair and has strand brushed away but no actual description of hair, Din tries to not have sexy thoughts lol

MY WORKS ARE 18+ MINORS DNI. AGELESS/BLANK ACCOUNTS WILL BE BLOCKED.

My tag list (instructions & requirements)

Summary: You and the Mandalorian spend part of your “hooky” day relaxing in a place special to you. Later, he helps you get ready for the festival. Both of you are full of conflicting emotions as realizations surface and the end of the week looms.

A/N: Welp, this is getting done later than I intended. I recently visited my grandpa who is in the dying process. I had a good weekend with him and my family and tbh I thought I would be writing/reading in my spare time then but it didn’t end up happening, but that’s ok! I was able to come up with more things I wanted to add to it before so I hope everyone enjoys it. I promise we’re getting close to the smut lol I just have story building I gotta do. Also, I realized I already messed up the timeline I was trying to work with so look forward to me fixing that when it becomes more relevant. And by timeline I mean, it def takes more than a week between this and the flashback opening of the first chapter, so I’ll edit that. I’ve also been doing my best to leave reader and some other things as vague as I can but if that starts to sound weird pls tell me, I just want anyone reading to be able to see themselves in this. I also fixed the series master list banner since I kept have nagging feelings about the pictures I originally chose lol.

Song Inspo: Unfair by The Neighborhood

Inspo Playlist

Series Masterlist

Masterlist

Read it on AO3

Din only really has himself to blame for getting himself in this position, he tells himself.

He was almost immediately mesmerized by you, and he let his heart and not his mind take the reins. That was mistake number one.

He went from experiencing loss, trying (and failing) to cope with that grief, to here. With you. He knows he has to face his feelings, because meeting you has flipped his inner world upside down. 

Every night he leaves you, images of you replay at the forefront of his mind’s eye. At first he’d brushed it off, chalking this up to some playful banter with a bored princess. But then he entertained it, learned more about you, watched you, and found himself enchanted by you. 

Somehow you had made your way through the cracks of his armor. Not exactly his Beskar, but the one he built around his heart. 

He hasn’t slept much tonight, opting to use this time to reflect and at least try to gather himself. He can no longer ignore what you do to him. How the sound of your voice has become music to his ears. How your touch sends electricity throughout his body from your delicate squeezes in the spaces of his arm that are not covered in Beskar. The way your eyes almost always find his own, despite the helm covering.

When he saw you help that lost child, when you opened up to him about your own mourning and conflicted emotions about your position, he almost snapped. Something possessive, or maybe more so protective, wanted to wrap himself around you. Prevent you from having to do this anymore. He could tell you didn’t want this. Maybe you wouldn’t say it, and he couldn’t out loud, but he could feel it.

He doesn’t know what to do with his own life and hasn’t for a really long time. Now, he’s coming to terms with his feelings, and desire, for you. 

But the life he leads isn’t a life for you. Or at least, that’s what he tells himself. This life is dangerous…..and lonely. He knows he couldn’t ask you to become his just as much as you can’t, or won’t, abandon your position. It’s easier to accept that answer over the latter.

He’s let this go too far, but he can’t help it. You bring something out in him that he tried to forget he had. It’s like he simultaneously knows he can’t make you his, and that’s he’s too scared to. Which is saying a lot; a Mandalorian afraid? But not just over anything. Over experiencing that kind of love and then losing it. He can’t go through that, on top of the rest, it’s too much. 

Yet Din ignores his instincts and indulges in you. He wishes your affectionate glances were reserved for only him, and no one else. 

Catching you yesterday was almost the final straw, taking every fiber of his being to not rip away the garment bag that separated your bodies. His helmet picked up on the wild thrum of your heartbeat; and maybe he wasn’t certain how you felt but it had to mean something, right? Even if neither of you can say it. 

For now, he will force himself to settle for what he has with you until this job is done. 

—————————————————————————

“Mando?”

Din is wrenched out of his head, coming back to himself. Both of you are on a small boat steered by a droid, him across from you. He must have been lost in his thoughts on the short sail to the area you spoke of. 

You wave a hand across his helmet’s eye-line, “hey, are you in there?”

He cocks his helmet, turning back to you, “where else would I be?”

You let out an amused huff but your eyes search his helmet, concerned but observing. Returning your hand back to your lap, “is something wrong?”

“No, Cyare.”

Your face heats up, looking away quickly thinking he wouldn’t notice. It brings him instant satisfaction, the way he flusters you sometimes. The boat comes to a stop as you stand to gather the basket you brought with you. 

“One of these days, I’m going to find out what those names mean.”

Din carefully stands in the boat, stepping over the side to the dock as it approaches, “you can sure try.”

Although, the thought of you finding out has Din’s face heated, another moment to be thankful for the helmet. 

He steps up onto the dock, connected to the other side of the lake you departed from. An expansive field full of greenery and flowers, surrounded by a forest in the short distance. It was tranquil and private, just like you had described to him. 

“Isn’t it beautiful?” You remark, maneuvering your way out of the boat until his hand drops in front of you, offering help. You stop first, looking up to him to smile before taking it. His strong arm helps lift you out of the boat, effortlessly.

“I would come here to just be alone,” you continued on as you adjusted the basket and yourself. You decided on wearing a simple set of a tunic and leggings for this portion of the day, saying you’ll change later. The combination hugged your body’s curves in a way the dresses didn’t and Din certainly didn’t mind. 

He mentally scolds himself for wandering towards such thoughts. 

He follows you as you trek through the field, heading deeper towards trees that provide shade. Picking a spot, you drop the basket and plop down next to it. Sighing and stretching your legs before settling to lean against a tree, you close your eyes and inhale. Din lowers into the spot next to you, facing the view. 

Several quiet moments pass before you speak up again, “my mother found this place.” This caused Din to look at you, waiting for you to say more. You look into the sky, tightening your lips, not quite smiling and not frowning either.  

“It means a lot to you,” Din states. At this point he could tell how sentimental certain things were to you, he has very few things like that for himself. 

“It’s special to me, there’s a lot of good memories here. Time spent with her, many books….the first place I learned how to shoot a blaster.”

Din snorts before he realizes he’s even done it, you smile, raising an eyebrow at him. 

“You? You can shoot a blaster?” He teases, emphasizing the first ‘you’.

“Are you underestimating me, Mandalorian?” Batting your lashes at Din. He can hear his heartbeat in his helmet while trying to conjure an image of you, aiming a blaster in hand.

“No….” He trails off. Your eyes trained on him with a determined expression. “I just don’t expect a princess to know how to shoot.”

“Well Mando, it looks like there’s even more for you to discover about me.”

“Alright, prove it,” he shifts to stand. He offers his hand again and you take it, firmly. When you completely stand, you're closer than he had originally intended and he can feel the tense air between you. He brushes a thumb across your knuckles before letting go. 

You give him a sly grin while motioning your hand towards him, “alright, hand it over.”

“Hold on, let’s find a better spot.”

The two of you don’t stray too far, walking into the small forest behind the tree you were previously leaned up against. Din stops and points to a different tree just a few feet away, “hit the middle of that one.”

Usually, Din wouldn’t be so keen as to just hand anyone his weapons. But, you weren’t just anyone, were you? He sets the blaster in your hand, switching off the safety. 

“Thank you,” you mutter, situating the blaster in your dominant hand, with the other coming up to steady it. 

Raising your shoulders, you assume your stance and level the blaster for aiming. He watches from behind, arms folded and observant. So far he could say you’re doing everything you’re supposed to and is already impressed, not that that shows. 

Taking a deep breath through your mouth and out your nose, your supporting hand drops and your finger twitches on the trigger. In a split second, the blaster fire perfectly hits the middle of the tree. Lowering the blaster, you let out a “Hah!” You puff your chest with pride, looking back at Din for his reaction. 

If Din didn't think he was in trouble before, he definitely is now. He hadn’t realized just how attracted he would be to a trait like that in YOU, and suddenly the armor is too hot for him.

He almost can’t bring himself to say anything in response, it feels like his heart jumped into his throat. A self-satisfied look on your face as you set your other hand on your hip, “you seem…speechless? Hard to tell.”

You were right, and that was saying a lot for Din, considering he’s not much with words to begin with. He quietly clears his throat and reaches to take the blaster from your outstretched arm, “Count me impressed.”

You beamed, but this time it’s shy as you try to look away from him as he takes the blaster. He’d tell you that was cute if that wasn’t so out-of-character for him. 

“What made you take this up?” Din asks as you return to your spot on the grass. 

“Father said ‘pick a form of self defense’ and that was my choice,” you mimic your father’s voice and shrug. “I just happened to hit it off with blasters, and now I prefer them.” 

“But have you ever actually had to use one?”

“No. I guess, fortunately?”

A silence falls, you fidget with your hands as he settles next to you, once again. 

“I know that part isn’t impressive,” you add, dejectedly.

“It’s not bad. I’m glad you haven’t had to yet,” Din then turns his head towards you. “Any more surprises?”

Your lips curl at the edges, biting your lip and stifling a giggle, “for now.” You wink at him and turn to dig through the basket you brought with, setting out various fruits. 

Din’s eyes focus on the food but says nothing. 

“Don’t worry,” you assure him, while taking a bite out of one you’d chosen. “It’s just in case you want it. I felt rude not at least trying, I can give you privacy if needed.”

Din mulls the thought in his head for minutes, considering the setting. He feels a twinge in his stomach, anxiety coming up as he shoves it back down. He’s grateful for how understanding you are when it comes to his boundaries. He hasn’t been given a lot of that when it comes to his helmet and his creed. The galaxy so far has insistently been against him when it comes to those. 

“I appreciate it,” he says. 

—————————————————————————

You choose for today, and just today, you’ll pretend. Pretend your obligations don’t exist, that you’re not a princess. That you’re just you, someone capable of being so much more than what she’s just been slated in life. Capable of being more with Mando. 

That’s when the realization finally sets in, just how deeply you’ve found yourself in love with him. You realize it’s only been several days since you’ve met him, you haven’t even seen his face! But that didn’t matter to you, you have never felt so drawn to and comfortable with someone before in your life. 

You also can’t say you didn’t let it happen, and it’s tragic almost. It didn’t help that the two of you had almost immediately fell into a rhythm together. Two stars in sync with each other’s gravitational pull, becoming a careful dance.

You can’t be with him, and he can’t be with you. But that’s assuming he feels the same way, and that you’re not really sure of. It might be better to not know. You can’t abandon your life, and he shouldn’t have to worry about you.

It hurts immensely. 

“Here, I’ll do this,” you say, shifting your body to sit back to back with him. “I can’t see you this way, and I won’t look.” 

Mando says nothing at first, visor trained on the spread you’d set out. His lack of response causes you to feel insecure. 

“I’m sorry, maybe that’s too much-“

“No. You’re fine. It works.”

You give him a small nod before turning back to face away from him. You focus your eyes on anything else; trees, hills, the sky. You hear a hiss escape from where you feel him shift to lift his helmet and your heart stops. How would it be to see that face? But you would never betray that trust he’s just displayed. 

Mando doesn’t completely remove the helmet, just lifting it enough to take bites of the fruit you’ve laid out. Fair enough, though. Whatever works for him and makes him feel most comfortable is more important to you. 

Moment’s of peaceful silence pass as you take in the sounds and scenery around you while partaking in some of the fruit you snagged. Beautiful, lush green forest and fields, a clear and beautiful sky, the silent chewing from your armored companion. You wish you could live in this moment forever.

Reality finds ways to drift back into your thoughts though, always somewhat present and hard to escape. You let out a quiet sigh, leaning your back against his. You feel him tense up, subtly. But before you can think twice about it, he relaxes back into it, giving you a small amount of physical contact. You’re relieved he allows you this.

‘I’m glad we did this,” you break the silence. “I needed a break, as brief as it may be.”

“Thank you for including me,” he says in his unfiltered voice, helmet still lifted. Your heart in your chest speeds up from hearing it. As much as you love his voice with the modulator, the actual, naked sound is music to your ears. His voice is still low but with a rich timbre. 

Worrying your bottom lip, you lean your head back onto his shoulder. He allows for that as well, maybe indulging you. It’s comforting, but also sad. 

“There’s a chance I could not become a senator, like my father.”

Mando stills, “Is that so?”

“Sort of,” you begin to explain. “We still have democratic elections. There’s a possibility of me not being elected.”

Mando gives a low hum, “What would you do then?”

A million ideas including him run through your mind at that question, but you don’t say. “Technically I’d still be serving in some capacity, it’s how our family has always worked.” Part of you had hoped he'd have something to offer, more to say to that.

It’s quiet again, this time more somber. You’d been thinking about this detail for a while, and it still felt like no way out, and you feel ashamed for even trying to look for one. Mando doesn’t respond yet, replacing his helmet to its normal position. 

You sit up and turn back to him, looking into his visor. Helmet already trained on you. 

“Thank you,” he all but whispers, barely picked up by the modulator. You give him a gentle smile in response, “Of course.”

After the afternoon had worn on some more, and some comfortable quiet moments had passed as the two of you relaxed together, you signaled it was time to go. 

Your heart tightens in your chest at the thought of every minute passing, becoming less and less time with him. You’ve tried hard to not focus on that, nor show that emotion. You want to enjoy the time you have left.

—————————————————————————

You and Din return to your suite at the palace, stopping just before the door. He assumes his regular place in front, waiting to watch you disappear inside for the time being. 

But you don’t go inside, you stop just at the threshold. You stop in your tracks, seemingly contemplating something. You turn back to him, avoiding his gaze but also not as you start to run a hand through your hair. 

“You can come in to wait for me…..if you want.” 

It’s silent again, but tense. Din can feel his heart in his throat now, mouth dry as he tries to swallow it back down. His resolve crumbles enough for him to step forward, towards you. In his usual fashion, saying nothing, he strides past you into your living space. You step to the side to allow him in and he nods to you on the way. 

Upon entering your temporary living space, he takes in the details of proof that you’ve been there. One side of the room is a luxurious, wide bed with accompanying side tables, a couch sits at the end of the bed. Across the room from there is a table with books, a rack of clothing, a vanity and dressing screen for your privacy. 

“The couch is probably the most comfortable,” you mention as you saunter past him. “Make yourself at home.”

Din does so, looking out-of-place as he cautiously sits in the middle of the soft couch. Posture straight and gaited, he looks as stiff as he feels. He is painfully aware of the effect of the whole situation on the inside of his flight suit. It’s not that he’s uncomfortable, he just never expected to be in such a private setting with you.

It’s been too long since he’s felt this kind of need and genuine desire, and that also scares him. He feels like a doomed man, mentally cursing to himself that if only you had met under different circumstances. 

You press a button on a panel on the wall near the dressing screen and all lighting in the room fades to a softer, yellow hue. You step behind the screen, bending to start removing your shoes. 

Din has to suppress the almost audible gulping sound that leaves him when he realizes he can see your silhouette through the dressing screen. He doesn’t know if you know he can see you like this and is too stunned to even say. 

“I’m happy we happen to be here right as this festival is happening,” you state. “I haven’t been to it since I was a teenager.”

He watches your shadow begin to undress, slowly peeling off your layers one by one until you’re in your underwear. Your hands move to undo the clasp on your chest band, causing an audible ‘snap’ noise. You move sideways, emphasizing a perfect outline of your front and back. He imagines your breasts must be as soft and enticing from their outline in the shadow. 

He feels a twitch in his flight suit pants then immediately seeks to contain that by resting his ankle on his knee, bouncing it repetitively to keep himself ‘busy’. He almost jumps out of his skin as you walk to the edge of the screen, only to stop just before the end and reach your hand and naked arm to the rack where the garment bag you picked up yesterday hung, plucking it.

It’s certainly not out of place for him to have nothing to say, because at the moment he can’t even muster a word. He’s way too distracted now and hopes you’re not looking for a response.

You maneuver yourself into the dress, swaying your hips side to side to slide the fabric over your body. Din unconsciously flexes his hands, imagining how those hips would feel beneath them. 

When you finish fitting the dress onto yourself, you emerge from behind the screen. When you notice him, your expression is curious and he fears he’s been caught until you ask, “are you ok?”

Din crosses his arms and stands abruptly, guarding the subtle expressions of his body language as much as he can. Give offers a curt, “Yes.” He immediately notices how flattering the dress is on you, laying perfectly with your back being the most exposed. 

You narrow your eyes at him briefly and turn to seat yourself at your vanity. Din takes the opportunity to roam the small space, observing the table of books and reading material from the event that had been unceremoniously placed there. 

You adjust yourself in the mirror of your vanity, fixing your hair. You look back at yourself with a determined look, twisting your arms to place your hair where you need it. Din watches your meticulous routine from behind, eyes flitting between your actions and yourself in the mirror. You can see him in the reflection as you work. 

“It won't be too long, but it’s a process,” you murmur, moving to grab various pieces of makeup to apply. 

Din can barely manage to offer any words as he imagines what it would be like to casually approach you, placing reverent kisses on the back of your neck and shoulders. 

“Don’t worry about me,” he finally says. 

You shoot him a questioning look where you see him in the reflection of the mirror, “are you sure you’re alright?”

Din forces himself to visibly relax, it’s uncanny how well you’ve been able to pick up on his mannerisms since you’ve met, “everything is good with me.” He feels like he sounds unconvincing and your lingering eyes in the mirror don’t help. You shrug and return to your tasks.

That companionable silence has returned as Din watches you apply your makeup, you mutter to yourself absentmindedly here and there as you move to each next piece. Some time passes before you set down your items and pat your lap, giving yourself a last look over in the mirror before standing. 

The way you look takes his breath away. He was almost shocked when he first saw how casual you’d chosen to be today but loved it all the same. He loved seeing another side of you and right now is no exception either. He felt domestic just from being allowed to watch you put yourself together. 

He wants to take you apart. 

—————————————————————————

“Well?” You query Mando as you turn side to side to get a good look over yourself in the mirror. “Do I look alright?”

He’s paused then steps closer behind you, looming over your shoulder at your reflection, you look at him. You feel your heart rate quicken under what feels like his eyes raking over you. It takes everything in you to resist the urge to turn into him and wrap your arms around his neck.

“Beautiful,” he offers the one-worded response, but that's all that needs to be said. 

You turn to him, smiling, staving off a heat that threatens to take over your cheeks, “thank you.” He cocks his helm to the side in response. 

You stride past him, noticing his helmet visibly follow. You sway your hips ever so slightly as his visor scans you up and down. Getting closer to your door, you look back and flash him a grin and gesture with a nod, “I saw that.”

“No you didn’t,” he throws back at you, sarcastically. You snicker in response, “Come on, shiny man.”

Mando stalks towards you and stifles a chuckle, “I get a nickname too?”

“I tried, not sure how I feel about that one.”

“Not as fun as mine, mesh’la.”

—————————————————————————

The festival is bustling, vendors sell their wares and trinkets while others offer delicious and exotic street foods. There are large displays of flowers and accompanying decorations across the town and performers scattered entertaining the masses. 

You point out these things to Mando as you stroll through, your hand back in its place in the crook of his elbow. He doesn’t have much to say but you know he’s invested in your excitement and what you say. 

Here and there you'd explain the meaning behind certain displays and performances to educate him. You figure you can do the same for him as he’s done for you when he’d allowed you to poke at him about Mandalorian customs. You’d share similar traditions from your own planet and how they coincide with each other. 

You tried your best to be in the present and stop worrying about tomorrow, when you’ll inevitably have to say goodbye to the Mandalorian. You’re going to miss the camaraderie the two of you had unknowingly built together in the short amount of days. You’ve never found someone so in sync with you. 

Regardless if he has similar feelings, it’s heartbreaking all the same. It’s too scary at this point to ask. If you’ve learned anything about him this past week, it’s that his actions speak louder than his words. Although it seems he reserves many of those words and actions just for you. A self-indulgent thought you keep tucked in your heart. 

Day slowly turns into night, the sun giving way to a beautiful, pink setting in the sky. You finish up a snack you’d bought earlier as you nod at Mando, “fireworks should be soon, we should find a good spot.”

“Fireworks, huh? They really go all-out here.”

“It’s Naboo,” you laugh. “What do you expect?” 

“Do you have a spot for that too?”

You scoff in response, “of course I do.”

And that you did. It’s a bold move, but you offer him your hand, “follow me.” He takes your smaller hand in his gloved one, and it feels warm. Safe. 

You lead him along, navigating through other festival-goers until you find yourself in front of part of the forest that lines the city. He doesn’t question it though, and you bring yourselves to a small path in. When you’ve arrived, you’re at a small clearing on the side of the larger lake the show will display over. 

“I never doubted you,” he proclaims. You feel like you can ‘hear’ a smile in his tone. You turn your nose up with a ‘hmm!’. You hear a faint chuckle that barely escapes his helmet’s modulator. 

The sun is finally set, giving way to a beautiful, clear night sky. You take in a deep breath of air and admire it, smiling to yourself. You look down and notice he’s still holding your hand. You don’t say anything or move it, for fear of ending the small contact. He doesn’t try to break it up either. 

One by one, lights lift into the sky and explode. The fireworks are bright and loud and your spot is the perfect and more private place to view them. You instantly become entranced in them, their reflections flash in your eyes.

You suddenly feel a familiar shift in energy, one that you’ve been feeling all week. From the times you feel his eyes on you for long periods of time. Sometimes even when his helmet isn’t exactly pointed towards you. A feeling almost hard to explain, you just know. But you don’t turn to face him just yet, preening under what feels like his warm gaze, while you can. These last few moments are difficult to approach, no matter how hard you shove back the emotions.  

What will it be like after tomorrow? Will you feel a hole in your chest? A part of your heart that knows and wishes to know him that will forever be empty? Will you always spend the rest of your life asking “what if”?

You finally turn to him and he does the same. But there are no words. You’re both silent, save for the sounds of fireworks in the background. You look into his visor and admire the reflection of the bright, colorful explosions that play out on his helmet. It’s beautiful. 

A tension builds between you, again. But what could be said? It’s too painful to say out loud. You’ll have to speak through your actions, just as he does. 

You slowly lift the hand you’re still holding, cautiously bringing it to place over your chest where your heart pounds. You fear it might be too much when his hand stills, but then relaxes in place underneath yours. You just want him to feel your heartbeat, and he acquiesces. 

But he surprises you again, after a moment passes, holding his hand over your heart. He brings his other hand up to remove his glove, carefully plucking from his fore and middle finger, sliding it off then placing it in his pocket. 

With his now bare hand, he gently tucks a loose strand of your hair behind your ear. Instead of bringing his hand back, he caresses the side of your face. You can feel him hesitate at first, hovering slightly above your cheek, seeking silent permission. You oblige by nuzzling into his palm, relishing the feeling of his bare skin on yours.

The setting is calm but the storm in your chest is otherwise and you wish you could remain like this. Tomorrow is coming too soon, it’s too much. But you know, and he knows. 

When the show ends, the two of you remain that way for a short while after. You can’t bring yourself to end it any sooner but after some time, you decide to rip off the bandaid. When you slightly move from his hand, he returns it to himself but without putting the glove back on. 

When you return to your room, after a solemn and quiet walk back, you swear you can still feel the warmth of his skin on yours. It’s all he can give right now and you’ll hold it dear to you. 

—————————————————————————

Settling down for the night, you walk around the room to fade the lights back to the yellow hue. You sit on the couch as you read the last of a book you’ve had your nose in for the last hour. You glance up, down, then quickly back up again when you notice the silhouetted shape of something from behind your dressing screen. 

Hurriedly putting the book down, you set for the screen to investigate. Behind it is the pile of clothes and one of your suitcases that had made up the shape. You realize, to your mortification, that anything behind casts a shadow than can be seen.

That means. That earlier. That he could. He could see- Oh MAKER. 

Mando'a Translated:

Mesh'la = Beautiful

Cyare = Sweetheart

@dindjarinsmut @impala1967666 @kittenlittle24 @angel-with-a-heart @leithatnight @i-usually-main-bards-tho @dins-riduur-anthe @fatima-marisa @lalalalemonade11 @n7cje

Next Chapter

[jelliegirl]

🔱🍃🚫💤🎶 for atlas!! :D

🔱 TRIDENT EMBLEM — can your oc swim? do they enjoy swimming?

no they cannot, in fact when i first came up with them i drew this image while laughing at the idea of them getting their wings wet and being dramatic about it

🍃 LEAVES FLUTTERING IN WIND — what is/was your oc's favorite subject in school?

playing hooky dlsgj. atlas was a very bad student. but they are very interested in illusion magic! as a child they didnt like being told what to do by people who didnt bother explaining why they had to do things a certain way

🚫 PROHIBITED — does your oc drink/smoke? do they do it regularly, or is it more on occasion or for special events?

they drink at royal parties to be polite (if they are in an agreeable mood) but all food/drink is tasteless to them unfortunately. they would 10000% smoke cigarettes just to look cool and hot though

💤 SLEEPING SIGN — is your oc a light sleeper or a heavy sleeper? how are their sleeping habits?

atlas doesnt sleep in canon because theyre a fey. in a human au they'd have very high functioning insomnia and would not sleep much to the detriment of their wellbeing

🎶 MUSICAL NOTES — what type of music does your oc like? do they listen to music very often?

idk what fey music sounds like, but theyd like upbeat music i suppose? dramatic royal entrance music?

honestly they contain so many multitudes that i have several character playlists for them of different music genres and theyre all very fun to listen to! so yeah i guess in summary, theyd like upbeat danceable music of many different varieties.

also atlas would unironically love hyperpop like 100 gecs in a human au.

[astorythatwritesitself]

Rachel Ram

What if this does not belong to you

And all those things you thought were true

Turned out to just be someone else's lies?

I still have no idea how I'm actually formatting this project or anything, but fuck it, every bit of creating and musing on it helps, right? So - character board for the main character & POV of Vide - Rachel Ram, later known as Sidney Shepard.

The funny thing is, Sid doesn't consider Rachel as a deadname, not really. Rachel was... well. She was.

Rachel liked exploring the woods and studying bugs and watching stolen scary movies when she could play hooky from church or school. She spent way too much money on rigged games in the arcade, then way too much time digging through long-lost closets and crawlspaces when the place was shut down and abandoned. Rachel wrote shitty poetry and drew weird shit in journals she kept sandwiched between the mattress and boxspring, she loved Goosebumps and Scary Stories to Tell In The Dark, and was fascinated by folklore and mythology; the ideas of living gods or spirits lurking in the air, the grass, the rivers and seas.

Rachel was scared and lonely and so, so very brave, because she kept going, and kept dreaming of a future, even if she wasn't sure what form it would - could - take. She wanted to be a musician when she grew up, or maybe an actor or a comic artist, and have three (exactly) dogs.

Sid has done a lot of shitty, less than legal things in her life, and she's hoping to add 'vandalizing a grave' to that list one of these days - though, is it vandalizing, when it's your own? Either way - Rachel isn't dead, isn't gone - just grown up and changed, no different than the grubs and catterpillars she tried (and often - but not always - failed) to raise. A unique, distinct phase that deserves a hell of a lot better than being some empty casket.

(Thanks for the votes! :D Yeah the poll was 'I have a couple vague moodboard ideas but can't choose' lmao. I'll do the Deconstructing Gods one at another point - or put it to another poll depending on what else from the playlist might strike me!)

[cature]

characters. susan pevensie, himari takakura, blair waldorf, clara oswald, odette (bluth animation), celia bowen, kirakishou, clara / the changeling (patho), mina harker, arabella strange, nicolas de lenfent, faith lehane, abigail hobbs, olivia dunham, river tam, wendy darling, lelouch vi britannia, xie lian, alice morgan.

listen. boygenius, carly rae jepsen, dashboard confessional, death cab for cutie, debussy, deco*27, ellie golding, fall out boy, fiona apple, frank turner, ghost quartet, green day, james morrison, loona, majiko, mayday parade, meg and dia, my chemical romance, natori, orla gartland, paramore, perfume, radwimps, regina spektor, slipknot, stormzy, taylor swift, the 1975, the decemberists, the used, the weepies, thriving ivory, yoh kamiyama, you me at six. [insane playlist here.]

play. 1bitheart, arkham asylum, caligula effect, corpse party, dgrp, dead space, death mark, deemo, fate extra, honkai impact, legend of zelda (ocarina), lobotomy corp, nanastars, outlast, oxenfree, pathologic, payday, persona, pixel horror, red candle, resident evil, rumu, silent hill, sims, skullgirls, transistor, undertale, until dawn, warhammer, we know the devil, yume nikki.

read. animorphs, cheese in the trap, clamp, cold comfort farm, discworld, dungeon meshi, fables, hooky, inso’s law, iwtv, jjk, live forever, lotr, more than human, morning glories, narnia, old kingdom, orange, pandora hearts, rubyquest, shinshi doumei cross, strange tales of oscar zahn, sweet home, the house on falling star hill, the night circus, the red country, tokyo ghoul, uglies, uzumaki, watership, wmmap, witch hat atelier, x-men, yumi’s cells.

watch. 28 days later, 30 days of night, ahs coven, baccano, btvs, code geass, critrole, death parade, doctor who (classic, big finish, new, novelizations) firefly, fringe, fdtd, got, ginger snaps, goblin, gossip girl, hellboy, i am in eskew, juni taisen, justified, kiznaiver, labyrinth, les mis, luther, magpod (s5 hater), motorcity, mxtx, netflix haunting, no. 6, penguindrum, precure, princess tutu, rozen maiden, the thick of it, tmfu film, yorimoi, zankyou no terror.

[jesterjunkie]

𝐻𝑜𝑜𝓀𝓎 𝒮𝒽𝒾𝓅 𝒫𝓁𝒶𝓎𝓁𝒾𝓈𝓉𝓈

[explosionshark]

Shuffle your favorite playlist and post the first five songs that come up. Then copy/paste this ask to your favorite mutuals. 💌🖤

aw thanks josie

idk if this is my FAVORITE playlist but i did shuffle my hugelong 47 hour driving playlist and got these songs

Saturdays by Twin Shadow (feat. Haim) - just a super fun little pop song by two artists I really like. Total bop, upbeat 80s vibes, it's on the driving playlist for a reason. Musical equivalent of a super sugary latte in the morning

Shove by L7 - Smell the Magic is probably my favorite L7 album ngl. Shove is a perfect album opener, grimy riffz, gnarly punk rock vox, delightfully pissed off (and timeless!) lyrics

The Grain by Hammers of Misfortune - this song has such a great epic vibe to it. I love how big the chorus is - very hooky and SO dramatic. Love the galloping heavy metal bass, and the atmosphere the keyboard provides. Killer tune.

Distortion Sleep by Soilwork - ANOTHER RIPPER. God, Soilwork was my life at one point. I still love 'em, but nothing compares to how much a 16 year old gets attached to their first spate of melodic death metal bands. Another big chorus - Speed Strid is honestly one of the best to ever do it, I never get tired of his vocals

What Might Soothe You? by Pity Sex - my FAVORITE Pity Sex song, which is a big deal, cause I love all of their songs. I love the way the big fuzzy shoegaze riffs and the jaunty percussion play off each other in this song, I love the contrast between Brennan Greaves' slightly monotone vocals and Britty Drake's high, clear voice. The lyrics are really vivid too. Ugh, it's perfect, it's the perfect Pity Sex song

Here's the playlist if you wanna listen:

rather than keeping this going as an ask game, I'll tag a few people here: @shewhosleepsalotincemeteries, @holdsteady, @peachythesequel, @nataliving, @coraniaid, and @badwolfwho1 if you feel like doin it! (no pressure)

[literaticat]

I know we are only on the cusp of the battle with A.I. in publishing. My question is for agents, AI can help write summaries and pitches. So if agents decide to use AI to help with SOME functions of their jobs, is that ethical? Is that something every agent should disclose to clients?

There already ARE ways that we "use AI to help with some functions of our jobs" -- because there's AI all over the place in computer programs, etc. For example, when I record my podcast, the program I use can generate a transcript for me, and Zoom can create a written transcript of meetings. (I don't happen to use those features, but they do exist!) My email will suggest responses and "grammarly" will correct my grammar on the fly. There are computer-generated reminders one can set up that can be activated when certain payments haven't come in. Amazon's "customers like you bought XYZ" feature can be helpful when trying to create a list of similar titles. Basically a lot of the shit we use every day, from Gmail picking the garbáge out of our emails to Siri finding a playlist for me, to Spotify MAKING a playlist for me, to somebody's smart fridge telling them they are out of milk and adding it to the grocery list -- all involve AI in some fashion, right? So I would imagine that for things like database management / organizational type situations, it could be useful in some way.

(Again, I'm a dope who does everything in notebooks and am not really hip to HOW, but I'm sure that there are things it already does or will be able to do that could be helpful for work situations or life situations or whatever.)

That said -- I'm talking here about workflow, databases, and the like. I'm not talking about the *creative* part. I might be naive, but I don't really think it CAN be used to properly write a good pitch or a summary of an unpublished book in manuscript form unless you feed it all the information (which, no, and also, it still would probably be wrong and not that good so you'd have to edit it, and also if you're going to all that bother, why not just write the dang thing yourself?)

I've just noodled around with ChatGPT a little to understand what it even is, and I'm sure I barely scratched the surface, but like -- the info it gives is not factual, and there is no nuance, and it's just *vague as hell* for the most part? I asked it to "brainstorm a list of titles for an enemies-to-lovers romance about rival figure skaters" and the titles were SO CHEESY and bad, it was basically pointless. ("Struck by Cupid's Skate Blade" is at least memorable, but not in a good way!) I asked it to write an agent bio of ME and it just made random shit up -- like it all SOUNDED right and was formatted well and if you didn't know anything about me, you'd be like "seems great!" -- but actually it was insane. Not to brag on myself or anything, but I'm a MUCH BETTER WRITER than it is. The only thing it was just as good as writing as I am was a rejection letter, because those are vague and full of platitudes on purpose.

So - yeah, idk, I don't really foresee a time when I would let a robot take over ANY real part of my job, let alone a creative part. But like -- IN THEORY? IF there was an AI that somehow actually knew how to write a killer pitch full of singular hooky details etc and a random agent who isn't me wanted to utilize that? I guess my feelings about the ethicalness depends: If the agent has to somehow "feed" the client's work into the AI thingie to make it spit out the correct info, that'd be wild and weird, and something they should not only disclose to their client, but also GET PERMISSION from their client to do, IMO. If, though, the agent is using some kind of AI program as a helpful tool to improve their own work and it DOESN'T involve giving a robot your intellectual property, I don't really see any problem.

I mean -- if gmail auto-suggests I answer an email "sounds great, thanks for the heads up!", and that's what I was probably going to say anyway, and so I click that button rather than spend twenty seconds typing it out -- I don't put an addendum saying, just so you know, AI suggested that response. :-)

[chuuuvi]

Listening to TWS because I cute girl I matched with on tinder was holding one of their albums in a pic (like not even showing it off.. i had to go full detective because only the side was showing and most of the letters were covered by her hand). Happy to say this is actually quite good! Will be going on the playlist 🥳

The QUESTION is how do I use this to my flirting advantage? Do I pretend that I already knew the group and say that I recognized the album in her pic because of that? Do I admit that I went creepy zoom mode on her picture and listened to all their music because of that and hope that she finds it endearing?? She said on her profile that she loves sharing playlists so maybe I make her a playlist and coincidentally include a song from the random bg she likes so she thinks we’re just that in sync? I gotta be strategic here 😣😣

[hookyrecords]

【 プレイリスト公開 】

Hooky Recordsが季節毎に更新しているレーベルプレイリストです。2024年春のプレイリスト「Spring Playlist 2024」を公開しました。新シーズンの始まりを新しい音楽と共にどうぞ！

01. "LIFE" by K.S.Project

02. "FRONT LINE (feat. DJうちそん)" by N.B.S

03. "花鳥風月" by 牙突

04. "Gus Burner" by DEADSTOCK DOLLS

05. "NEVER SAY DIE" by 世は死だ大助

06. "Enter The Pavlov" by lolMusika

07. "はかりしれないよ" by Sheepshead

08. "lo-fi life" by Snooze Potato

09. "MOON RIDER" by TAPE ME WONDER

10. "Fish Story" by No.13

11. "ボクノアシタ" by キャラメルパンチ

12. "My Rabbit" by DEADSTOCK DOLLS

13. "バンドを組め、バンドを始めろ" by 世は死だ大助

14. "秋空" by lolMusika

15. "Carry On" by 牙突

[yankeecandleph]

10 Best Things To Do On Valentine's Day With Your Boo

The pandemic has significantly impacted how we celebrate special occasions, including Valentine's Day. While it's important to make Valentine's Day extra special with big and fancy presents, the best gift is time spent together. Here are ten best things to do with your partner to take this year's Valentine's Day to a whole new level. Play a game together, create playlists for each other, volunteer together, set up an intimate backyard dinner, make a scrapbook of your relationship, bake something sweet, make Valentine's breakfast in bed, go for a drive, enjoy a wine and chocolate tasting, or play hooky. These activities will help you express your love and appreciation for your partner, make the day more memorable, and create lasting memories. Whether you choose to play games, create playlists, volunteer together, set up an intimate backyard dinner, or bake something sweet, there are plenty of ways to make this Valentine's Day extra special.

Learn More

Shop now via our website >>> https://serenitybliss.com.ph/

[musicarenagh]

EP Review: "Heavy Good" by Ruby Gaines Ruby Gaines, the Glasgow-based artist, has finally dropped her debut EP, "Heavy Good," and it's been well worth the wait. This four-track gem, produced by Chris McCrory and mastered by Philip Shaw Bova, is a journey into the world of eccentric and vintage music. The EP kicks off with "Woo," a track that oozes sensuality. Ruby's flirtatious and sultry vocals take center stage, drawing you in with their alluring quality. The moody instrumentals provide the perfect backdrop for Ruby's expressive performance, setting the mood for what's to come. Next up is "How It Looks," where Ruby shows off her versatility as an artist. Her smooth and tender vocals steal the spotlight, delivering catchy and hooky lyrics against a jangly musical backdrop. It's a track that's both easy on the ears and easy to get lost in. "Holier Than Cows" takes a deeper turn as Ruby delves into the theme of religious oppression. Choir-like vocals echo in the background as Ruby's voice, with its lower register crooning, creates a haunting ethereal atmosphere. It's a thought-provoking piece that leaves a lasting impression. Closing out the EP is "Heavy," possibly the standout track of "Heavy Good." It offers an intimate and vulnerable glimpse into Ruby's inner world, where doubt and anxiety lurk. Ruby's voice takes on a vintage quality here, vibrating with power before diving into the lower registers. The song's journey from vulnerability to a groovy, cathartic release is both intriguing and emotionally resonant. Overall, "Heavy Good" is a refreshing and eclectic EP that showcases Ruby Gaines' undeniable talent and unique style. If you're in the mood for music that's both sensual and thought-provoking, this EP deserves a spot on your playlist. Ruby Gaines has made a promising debut, and we can't wait to see what she does next. Listen to Heavy Good below https://open.spotify.com/album/1SfH3M0QHpVDQh9wXIhScH Follow Ruby Gaines on Facebook Twitter Spotify Instagram Tiktok

[findasongblog]

Find A Song that takes a hard, honest look at the mindless ongoing violence and conflict in Ukraine

Rowsie - Makeshift Grave

Proceeds for the sales of this single will go to the charity British-Ukranian Aid who ROWSIE have worked with in 2022 raising over £10,000 for the charity in a previous benefit concert.

ROWSIE, the four-piece band from London known for their thought-provoking, emotive brand of rock n roll, have released a new charity single titled ‘Makeshift Grave’.

The song takes a hard, honest look at the mindless ongoing violence and conflict in Ukraine, shedding light on how the destruction of truth is often the first step in rationalising psychopathic behaviour that leads to the carnage we are blatantly witnessing today.

Recorded at the world-famous RAK studios, ‘Makeshift Grave’ combines powerful lyrics,

“The f~~kers killed my grandparents too”,

and complex melodies, creating an impactful and moving experience for the listener. Topped with a great hooky chorus,

“First you kill the truth, then you kill the people, that’s the only way it works. You gotta do it in that order, so nobody knows what you’re up to.”

Speaking about the inspiration behind the song, vocalist and guitarist Richard Rothenberg said, “I was on my phone looking at the news coverage during the early days of the war. I saw this photograph in a story about the invasion; it was a woman’s legs in black and white stockings, half buried in the frozen front yard of her mother’s house. It turns out that she and her grandmother were watching Russian troops pull into town and were randomly shot - murdered. The story went on to say that the mother did her best to bury them while under constant threat. It moved me at a visceral level. My Ukrainian ancestors had had the same thing done to them after the Russian revolution. I felt compelled to write a song about it.”

For the video the band thought to involve some first-hand witnesses to the recent atrocities produced by Richard with bassist Alan D. Boyd taking on director’s duties. It’s a simple concept with Ukrainian dancer Angelina Lengyel and choreography by Anastasiia Artiushok. Costumes and floral crowns were provided by designers Nataliia Horbenko and Anfisa Polyushkevych. All have been affected by the war in personal ways.

“I left Ukraine at the beginning of the war,” says Anastasiia, “and was looking for a place to stay, start a new life, catch an opportunity to start creating again, after all those horrible things happened. I am absolutely grateful for this opportunity and happy to show it in this music video. I was wondering how such a horrible thing as a war could inspire people to create something beautiful and gather people from different countries to make art together.”

Added to FAS Spotify playlists alt rock and our times.