#i literally imagine rook singing this in the music room

[exitstageleft-pursuedbyabear]

I present to you, Emmrook the song:

[twisted-wonderland-shenanigans]

I sent an ask earlier and I am so sorry for spamming but I've been having brain worms for the Kaiju!au.

Like we sad Vargas and Kalim being all friendly but imagine little baby Cheka playing with Yuu.

Also, just imagine Cater, Vil, or Rook doing dancing from some music player that Yuu found. Which also makes me ask if they get their own little hideaway for their human buisness. (God Crowley when his hatchling leave the nest...)

And finally, when Yuu finally gets to cook, meat or fish, are the Boys gonna try to demand they have some. I just imagine Yuu giving a piece to grim and his pupils blow out from how good it is....and then words goes around and it's all over for any peaceful cooking with Yuu.

I'm actually in the process of answering that one! I just gotta figure out a few scenarios for it to make it fun~! >v< And please don't worry about spamming me with asks if you have ideas or thoughts you wanna share about my AUs! I love receiving these kind of asks! :D

Putting under a read more because I got a little carried away 😂

----

Oooh my goodness, someone teach lil’ kaiju Cheka to be gentle with the tiny human! X’D To be honest, I almost didn't put him or Falena in the AU...buuuuut now that I think about it, that would be a crime against adorableness, and I will not stand for this! Ò.Ó I shall rectify this~!

In the AU, Cheka would be a little bigger than Grim would be in terms of height. Not quite twice his height, but still pretty big! Now imagine the lil’ ragamuffin sweetheart just trotting along with Yuu perched on his back, playfully marching across a log bridge with Grim trotting behind singing “Hakuna Matata” while Ruggie and Jack have to keep an eye on them (because we know Leona would be taking a nap and hiding from his nephew even in this AU). The only difference between this version of the two is that whenever Cheka pounces on his uncle in a play fight, Leona actually will react as though he got hurt to encourage the hunting instinct.

Hey, he may not be happy having his nephew bugging him, but he knows it’s important to know how to survive (and he’d never hear the end of it from his brother or his brother’s mate)!

When it comes to doing “human business”, it’s agreed that there is a need for privacy even amongst kaiju, so if the human disappears for a short time behind a rock or in a bush, it’s not going to be questioned by curious kaiju. Luckily Yuu won’t have to worry about poison oak or poison ivy! Most of the poisonous plants that can cause an itchy reaction are too high up for them to reach, so it’s mainly the kaiju who would experience the terrible itchy curse. Good thing they’ve got Crewel to mix up some natural medicine for them—good luck making most of them take it though! XD

Anyway, moving on: music! One of the best ways to soothe the soul and calm the savage beast. When Yuu manages to get near one of the other abandoned facilities and gets to explore it with Grim (who is literally the only one small enough to fit inside with them), it was actually Grim who stumbled across a music player. He thought it was some weirdly shaped snack or chew toy.

This resulted in a bit of a tug-of-war between Yuu and Grim, and now Yuu has a new (slightly chewed) music player! Let’s see how it transpired and what resulted afterwards, shall we?

//

“Let’s see…junk, junk, trash…wow, did they really even leave anything worth using in this place?”

Digging around in the pile, Yuu sighed as they sat back and stared at the room. Of course, this place had been ransacked already…though by who exactly was unclear, but it seemed like things had been torn apart and whatever components or guts the tech had before was now gone. But there had to be something they could use in this place, right?

Crunch!

“Pleh!”

“Grimfang, no! Stop trying to eat the plastic you lil’ gargoyle!” Yuu scolded, sighing as Grimfang spat out a few shards that got stuck in his teeth. “Ugh…one of these days you’re going to eat something you shouldn’t, you know that? Don’t come crying to me when you get a tummy ache.”

He shook his head with a snort, giving Yuu a look that suggested he was offended by the very notion that he might get a tummy ache…or at least, that’s how Yuu interpreted it. It was odd how expressive the kaiju seemed to be, seeming almost…human-like in a way, though sometimes Yuu wondered if it was just their mind humanizing them to have company.

“Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Turning back, Yuu scanned the wreckage to try and find something they could at least bring back. Even a writing utensil would do! “Okay…maybe we should try the next room and see what we can find.”

As they turned to go, they heard the familiar sound of tooth scraping against metal and sighed. What has he found this time?

“Grim, if I have to pull another pipe out of your gullet again, I’m gonna-” Yuu began before freezing, eyes growing wide at the familiar shape between Grim’s paws as he tried to gnaw on the corner: a music player. “H-hey, hey! No! Grim! Drop it!”

“Rrraowl!” he rumbled in response, his paws pulling the player into his chest fur protectively.

“Grimfang, no! That’s not a chew toy—hey! Get back here, you malevolent little gargoyle!!”

“Nyaarr!!”

“GRIIIIIM!!!!”

//Later//

The sound of static filled the den as Yuu sat in the nest, using Grimfang’s side as a pillow while they fiddled with the large and heavy music player. It had been one helluva chase around the facility, but eventually they triumphed and claimed their prize! Aside from a slight chewing on the frame, the kaiju’s fangs hadn’t really penetrated the shell and everything seemed to be in working order. To their disappointment though, they couldn’t get a radio signal no matter how many buttons they pushed or how much they turned the dial.

“Hey, MIRA? Does this island have any sort of radio signal or something?” they asked the computer around their wrist. “I can’t get anything on this player.”

“Greetings, Uhm Yuu. Answer: negative. This particular system cannot receive the signals from radio transmissions. Due to the nature of the island and its inhabitants, it is difficult to build and maintain any semblance of a tower to transmit signals across the terrain, requiring different methods to communicate with other facilities.”

“Darn it! So that means I can’t do anything with this hunk of junk?”

“Negative. As it is in proximity, I am able to access the system wirelessly and play music from the database.”

Eyes growing wide, Yuu asked, “There’s a music database…?”

“Affirmative. I have access to a wide selection of music from all manner of media pre-downloaded from the Dark Mirror Server. Dr. Willows was an avid enjoyer of music and always kept an up-to-date selection for her playlists to aid in her work. Would you like to create your own playlists?”

“Yes!”

“Mrr…?”

//End Scene//

And thus began Yuu’s task to set up their musical playlists…much to the kaiju’s confusion even when Grim tried to explain what he could translate. For the most part, they just figured it was a weird human thing…until Yuu played the first song. Was it some beautiful, soothing song, or an excitable bop that made them excited? Nope. It was neither: what was meant to be a fun introduction to a song turned into what essentially boils down to a warped death metal demonic screech and garbled static. The sound was so terrifying that Grimfang looked like a puffy ball of daggers, and Nevermore flared up his wings like some puffy shield in a panic.

That’s why it’s important to check the volume of the music before you play it first!

It was after that when Yuu noticed a difference in the kaiju when they played certain songs—namely instrumentals. For some like Pridefang, they noticed how much more relaxed he was when harp music was playing, while when it came to wind based music like flutes or chimes, Crystalflayer/Vil would croon and sing along and the more canine-like kaiju would practically fall asleep.

Then there were the silly moments with the music.

When Goldmaker/Kalim was visiting, Yuu was playing the song “Cus I’m Happy” at random…when they noticed the shiny beetle/dragon kaiju doing the tippy-tap dance like a dog on all six legs, bouncing here and there in time to the music like a kid jumping on the bed.

And then there was the time that Bruiser/Deuce and Feralfang/Epel were tugging on something that looked somewhat like a giant leather ball that had been popped (or at least, they thought it was a ball, though it could be a bit of carcass too). It didn’t seem like they were fighting over food and more like they were just…playing. It wasn’t until they had stood frozen in place for a moment that Yuu played the song “Cotton Eyed Joe”—

And they both tugged in time to the beat. (A/N: click link for doggos in reference to the song/scene!)

Aaaah, the joys of music!

Now as for the food, as good as fruit and the vegetables were, it was a little harder to find sources of protein that were safe for human consumption on the island…or at least, sources that didn’t want to eat or swallow them whole or were out of reach. Plus, they had a continuous source of fresh meat brought to them and Grimfang throughout the day with no hassle. They just needed a way to…prepare it.

When Yuu manages to light a fire in a makeshift firepit (guided by MIRA’s survival database), Nevermore was certainly surprised to find that his hatchling had finally accepted the meat offering and confused at what they were doing with it near the fire. It’s incredibly rare for any kaiju to actually “cook” their meat, and whatever constitutes as cooked meat would be little more than chewy charcoal, so if it turns out that’s what the little human likes then so long as they eat their fruits and veggies, he’ll allow it.

//

“Aaaaand…done!” Yuu uttered, tugging one of the sticks bearing individual chunks out of the ground. They could feel the juices from the meat that had dripped down the makeshift skewer, forcing them to take care as they adjusted it in their grip to avoid the hot parts before they took a tentative bite.

Just like the fruit, the meat was tender and full of flavor as the juices dripped down their chin with each bite. It wasn’t perfect, but it was so good to have a cooked meal again that Yuu didn’t care. They’d even been lucky to find a wall of salt when they’d gone exploring with Grimfang, so at least the meat had a little extra flavor to it! MIRA had mentioned before that the island had many herbs and spices that could be used for cooking. If they could get a hold of some of these, then their meals would be so much more fulfilling!

Curious sniffing caught their attention as they turned to see Grimfang, cerulean eyes staring at the chunks still cooking on the sticks around the fire. He’d long since finished his portion, so there was no way that he should still be hungry…right?

“Mrrlh?” he grumbled, carefully pawing at the dirt near one of the sticks but not actually touching it before giving Yuu a look.

“No, this is mine. You had yours already,” Yuu told him, turning their attention back to their food.

“Prrrrrr…”

‘…oh no…’ Slowly they turned their attention back to Grimfang…and immediately they found themselves struck by the biggest, brightest pair of kitten eyes they’d ever seen, the kaiju’s forelegs curling up to his chest as he rolled over onto his side to reveal his soft, fluffy tummy. ‘…darn it, why did I have to watch those kitten videos around him!?’

His paws began to open and close, mimicking the kneading motion that the kittens in the video had done earlier.

“…augh! Fine! But just this once, got it?” Yuu said, heaving a sigh as they took another stick out of the ground and—after playing hot-potato with the cooked flesh—tossed it into Grimfang’s waiting jaws with a snap. He was purring in triumph, giving Yuu a smug looking grin…

Before he froze, pupils growing so wide that they nearly engulfed the blue of his eyes. His whole body began to shiver, jaw slack as drool began to drip from his maw. Then—rearing back on his hind legs—his paws pressed against his cheeks as he swayed almost in pure bliss, a series of trills and chirps coming from him.

“Huh. Well, uh…glad you like my cooking, Gri—hey! Hey, hey, hey, hey! NO! Grim! You had yours, the rest are mine! Stoooop! Nevermore!!”

//The next day//

“Okay, here’s what’s going to happen: I’m going to cook some of this meat using the ingredients we just picked from the forest, and while the big hunk cooks on the spit, we’ll snack on the smaller pieces. This side is yours, and this side is mine. Got it so far?”

“Mrp!”

“Good. Don’t even think about stealing my share, or I’m never cooking anything again. Got it?”

“Myah!”

Shniff-shniff…

“Huh…? Wha-!? Scrapper, no! This is mine! I-wait, I-! What are you all even doing here!? Guys!”

//The next day//

“……did you guys know that Scrapper, Shellshock, Ashsong, and Heartbinder could even cook, or is this new?” Yuu asked, watching as Ashsong’s tentacles moved the herbs and spices across the cooking meat, Heartbinder’s claws and teeth ripping chunks off and handing them to the clover-marked Shellshock as he put them on skewers. Ashsong’s wings would occasionally flap, causing the flames to flare up with new life. Scrapper used his jaws to turn the makeshift spit that one of the kaiju had carved to turn the meat in a slow circle.

“Nyawr.”

“Thaaaat’s what I thought…more please!”

//

As it turns out, once the kaiju learn the secret to amazing food, it becomes one of the few things that keeps them from bickering and fighting and even have them cooperate together just to get a taste. It was a strange sight to see, and even MIRA commented that this was highly unusual behavior that hadn’t been recorded by scientists before. This raised far more questions than answers. Sure, the kaiju were dangerous, but they were intelligent.

Too intelligent…

[ryoskuna]

⭑ shaken, not stirred. | bartender!sukuna au.

notes: this thought of bartender!sukuna has been in my head for weeks, but it’s when my mom was giving me a lecture while i was thinking of sketching him as bartender that solidified the fact.  this may become a series thing, and you’re also welcomed to ask questions about this au (please do, it is one of my new favorite things). also i have no idea what reader will be in this au-verse, but i’m thinking a law student (am i self-projecting... perhaps), but i’m open to y’all’s suggestions and can do headcanons for whatever kind of reader y’all want to see. additionally, did i screenshot that picture for the banner from episode 14 bc i thought he looked extra good?? yeah... i did.

warnings: like... mild nsfw via music suggestions, mentions of drink tampering but not from sukuna 

bonus: there’s a playlist that goes with this, here.

taglist: @lethargicyashi, @night-rook, @izuniias, @skys-luce-stellare​, @skys-luce-stellare​

there’s something about 6′4 sukuna shaking a cocktail shaker to toxic by britney spears that just.... chef’s kiss.  no i will not elaborate, just think about it.

sometimes, you think he’s taller than 6′4, but that’s just his platform doc martens.

god, the man chewing on a thin stirring/cocktail straw or just holding it in his jaw, in between his teeth and watch his lips purse around it. he’ll take it out to talk, of course.

the waist apron he wears only emphasizes his shoulder-to-hip ratio

the best seat in the house is literally anywhere you can see him??? like behind him, you can see his back muscles flex, but in the front, you can see his tattoos on his chest peeking out from the fact that he is not going to ever button the top two buttons on his shirt. also, he leaves his sleeves pushed up to his elbows on most nights

tongue piercing, check. both of his ears are pierced, but he tends to change up whether he has just one in or both. 

you find out about the tongue piercing when he does his taste-testing of the drinks he mixes, via the straw drop (take a black plastic straw, dips the straw into the glass, covers the unsubmerged straw end with his index finger to create suction, lifts the straw to his lips, releases his index finger, and "tastes" the cocktail). usually he’ll put the straw in his mouth, but if he notices you’re watching, well, there goes the tongue piercing.

he wears rings, constantly. at least two, one on each hand.

he is a megan the stallion fan (and nicki minaj too, but i digress) and knows most of the words to her songs. his personal favorite is crybaby, and you being his s/o, well, he’ll sing it word for word to you while making drinks at home. he leans in and whispers the real intense/filthy parts like (”uh-uh, don’t fuck me like that fuck me like this”) yeah. he looks like he’s talking normal, but the way his voice drops more and he whispers??? goodbye world. 

sometimes he likes to tease too much while he’s singing and will lean in to lick the shell of your ear or maybe nip your earlobe, who knows

and then he’ll pass your drink like nothing ever happened

also has doja cat on his playlist, but yuji is to blame for that

cherry knot tying king

casual friday for the staff at said bar/establishment, and he’s coming in jeans and a loose tank top, you know, the ones with the drops on the sleeves on the sides??

sukuna is extremely aware of what’s happening in the room at all times. some creep hitting on someone? intervene.  someone trying to spike a drink?? he catches them in the act.  someone spiked a drink???? he just looks at the recipient, tells them to switch with him, and before they can say anything, they have a new, safe drink while he has the tampered one. 

does he grab offenders whether they’re being following creeps, coming on too strong, or trying to tamper with drinks by the scruff of their necks and carry them out personally? yes, yes he does. if you’re there, he’ll wink at you before he gives him a kick on the ass for good measure as he pushes them out the door.

he makes custom drinks for people, like he’ll ask what’s your preference in taste like sweet, strong or whatever, plus two other questions that seem unrelated but he’s managed to make the perfect drink for you 

again, he’s highly aware of his surroundings, so if you’re looking at his back, he knows, and will look over his shoulder to smirk at you, looking you right in the eyes.  (SHEESH)

thinking of him coming in on one of his days off with a ballcap and a tight, dry fit t-shirt on, so by the time he’s working, his hair is a lil messy, and you better thank heaven for that dry fit t-shirt because MUSCLES BABE

is working on his own lil drink recipe book, which means you either get to be his taste tester, or taste it when he kisses you 

this man knows he’s hot, he’s a smug shit about it, and works it to his favor. does he tie cherry knots at work because the women at the bar go crazy and give him extra tips?? yes

but if you’re there, oh sweetheart, he’s actually going to give you the cherry before putting the knot in his mouth to tie, BYE 

also.... hehe, had to mention this but uh... you could bounce a quarter off that ass of his 

he comes home from a late/graveyard shift, and just crawls into bed, smelling like syrup and cologne, just... run your fingers through his hair and he’ll be out in a few minutes

occasionally, he will sleep on the couch as not to disturb you, but the man really is too big to be sleeping on a couch.

if his shift starts at 6, he comes in at 5, hair a little damp from the shower he just took, and in a clean dry fit shirt and tight slacks or dark colored jeans. he’ll either work in the dry fit shirt, or he has a button up he can change into in the back

also??? really decent and will help you get stains out of your clothes if it’s something he can swing to clean in the sink like a shirt

otherwise, he’ll write what you need on a napkin and pass it to you

fucking hates white claws with a passion, ngl

during particularly slow moments at work, you might be able to catch him plucking a few cords on the guitar that sits on stage or poking around with the piano (look, i think he’s very capable of playing instruments and his fingers are good for it)

painted nails!! they’re usually a dark purple or black, occasionally a dark red. sometimes they’re clear, but he’s gotten the idea from when he supposedly was in his emo phase (and learned to keep something on them from breaking from his younger brother’s friend nobara)

likes to dance with you to the songs on his playlist in his minimalistic kitchen in between cooking or making drinks 

at least once a month, you can catch him in a necklace

during the winter months, tight turtlenecks or ribbed long sleeved shirts are his best friends

he also drives a very nice and sleek black car (i’d imagine it’s like a black audi TT or an audi R8) that sits in the back of the parking lot and has a habit of turning his keys on his index finger as he walks towards the building/into work.

bartending might have started as a part time job when he was in college, but it’s something he’s just kept up over the years 

man fills up a lot of space and knows it, even when he’s leaning on his back countertop during breaks or on the bar to take orders with his arms folded over his chest

ANYWAYS. be nice to your local bartender because he can bite. take that as you will.

[edda-blattfe]

Holiday Headcanons

(A.k.a. Writing warm up, cause lord knows I need to get back in the game.)

- Night Raven, a bleak, desolate institution dedicated to the mastery of magic in all forms. Only the strong of spirit can see past the dismal stone walls, into the beating wealth of knowledge it truly possesses. It is not place for the feint of heart....that is, until winter comes around.

- The holiday season gives our beloved headmaster, Crowley, a chance to “warm up” the dreary castle-turned-school with cheerful tinsel, Yule trees, lights, candles, and many more delightful decorations. The hallways are no longer dreadfully dull places where the dearly departed and horrific wonders lurk, but sparkling pine scented pathways. Classrooms no longer seem like prisons to students and all the fields as far as the eye can see is dusted with shimmering snow. Fireplaces are constantly being fed logs, offering everyone some relief from the cold. Yes, Night Raven college looks splendid this time of year.

- No one knows who, or even why they do it, but every morning throughout December a copious amount of festive cookies and pastries are set out in the cafeteria. The cooks swear it’s not them, and the school records support their claims. Students have tried to catch the culprit for decades now, with no success. There are several theories flying around. Some say it’s the ghost of the first cook at Night Raven coming back to help cheer on the students for finals; others believe that it’s Crowley himself wanting to give his students a helping hand. In any case, the food is always phenomenal and greatly appreciated.

- Each dormitory is responsible for their own decorations and function organization. It’s become a sort of competition between Pomefiore, Scarabia, and Heartslabyul. You can probably guess how these dormitories do their thing, so let’s talk about why the others don’t partake.

- Savanaclaw has a long history of not caring if their holiday spirit is visible or not. If someone wants a tree they’ll put it up and pull out the old ornaments, but that’s as far as it goes unless someone wants to volunteer. There is a punching bag dressed as Santa Clause that Leona actually takes the effort to pull out of the closet himself. He gets a kick out of seeing the first year’s reaction to it.

- Ignihyde isn’t the most competitive when it comes to holiday stuff. Most of their decorations are led lights and sticks to a blue, white and silver color pallet. If Idia is feeling a little festive he’ll stick a pair of antlers on his drones with a red light where their “nose” would be.

- Octavinelle is waaay too busy with the holiday rushes at the cafe and contract signings to care about competition. Though, they’d have a good chance of winning if they did! The restruant looks like the holidays stuffed into a single glass ornament for the entire month. Tinsel and holly is literally everywhere! You’re gonna want to watch your step, there’s a few sticks of mistletoe hanging in the mess of cheer.

- Diasomnia tried to join in...but unlike the school, there is no way of dispelling the natural eerie atmosphere that hangs over this dorm. It’s like there’s a spell over the place that turns even the cheeriest of decorations into horrific, macabre pieces straight out of the Victorian era. The dorm members have abandoned all hope of trying to compete and have come to embrace their dark holiday vibe. Besides, they always win the Halloween competitions. It’s only fair that the others get a chance of winning something!

- Vil, Kalim, and Riddle are all hell-bent on winning this year’s competition....it’s a little frightening, to be honest.

- Pomefiore always gears towards a crystal and snowy wonderland theme that matches their dorm’s atmosphere beautifully! In the morning, light streams through the windows and floods the common rooms with glittering crystal rainbows more enchanting than the snowy wonderland outside.

- Scarabia focuses less on theme and more on “how many lights can we put up without violating Crowley’s regulations on light pollution.” EVERYTHING is covered in lights. It’s so strong that dorm members will wear sunglasses at night to avoid ruining their eyes. Jamil makes sure they all get shut off by around 9pm for the sake of sleep.

- Heartslabyul takes a more traditional homey approach. They have trees decked out in glistening ball ornaments and whatever the members had picked up from Sam’s. Golden tinsel is everywhere, as are bells and seasonal tea cups. Red, green and gold are the go to colors here, with occasional wonky pink flamingo wearing a Santa hat or multicolored hedgehog breaking the consistency. Decorative present boxes are everywhere and are typically stuffed with candy (cause Riddle expects to find something in them, he ain’t having any of that empty box nonsense!) for all the members.

- Azul’s favorite part of the holiday season is definitely the music. Say what you will about carols, this man will be seated at his glorious piano, tickling the ivories to whatever holiday diddy is stuck in his head at the time. Karaoke for the month is dedicated to holiday music and nobody misses a night, not even Vil.

- The trouble trio (Lilia, Kalim, and Ace) use this opportunity to sing things like Alvin and the Chipmunk’s “Christmas Don’t Be Late” and “Jingle Bell Rock”. Their rendition of “Santa Baby” remains their best work up to date.

- Vil, Rook, and Epel prefer to sing the “darker” Christmas hymns, like “What child is this?”, “O come, O come, Emmanuel”, and “Carol of the Bells”. It’s a hauntingly beautiful display that earns their audiences’ full attention. (Vil probably gets the whole dorm to do the Carol of the bells, now that I think about it)

- Lilia has a love/hate relationship with this season. On one hand, you have tons of sugary sweet treats literally hanging off tree branches. On the other, elf jokes. Silver gave him elf pajamas as a joke once; it wasn’t pretty. (Lil gremlin went feral on his ass so fast... *imagines Silv video taping Lilia opening his present and seeing the exact moment he realizes what it is before tackling the camera head on...all you see are furious red eyes and fangs before the footage cuts out*)

- Ruggie isn’t a fan of the holidays, but he’s there for all the food!

- Believe it or not, Jade and Floyd actually takes it easy on late payments this time of year, Azul is also more prone to giving extensions. They’ve all seen or read “A Christmas Carol” and know first hand that ghosts are, in fact, very real. They ain’t gonna make Scrooge’s mistake!

- Jamil can leave or take the holiday season, he really doesn’t care that much about it. Nevertheless, he still puts in a lot of effort to make the holidays special for Kalim, who loves it with a childish passion.

- Ortho hasn’t had many Holidays, so he’s still very much in awe of everything.

- Mozus actually really likes the holiday season...at home with Lucious and a book in his armchair placed before a roaring fire, enjoying the peace and quiet.

I’m leaving off there for now, but if you’d like more holiday headcanons shoot me an ask! Gtg work on other stuff. Hope y’all enjoyed!

[scarlettkat86]

Eyy, @fluttyseed, remember the stripper Sharky fic idea? Well I took it and did a little less funny and a little more steamy. Hope you enjoy. Also tagging @deaconmcsexypants and @jacobmybeloved for reading snippets, appreciate yall. Theres also stripper sharky edits at the end because I have no shame.

Characters: female dep/rook, brief Hurk Jr, Sharky Boshaw.

Word Count: 1584

Warnings: Um, its a stripper fic, so if steamy lap dances and sharky taking his clothes off aint your thing turn away now. 

Notes: Sharky’s stagename is from a disco song of the same name by Boney M, and the song he chooses to dance to is Fire and Gold by Bobby Saint

"There is literally nothing to do in this town." Rook huffed, slouching down into the couch. "What's there to do other then betting on which local a start a fight down at the Spread Eagle?"

Hurk Jr. takes a seat beside her, shotgunning a beer before he answers. "Well amigo, we can always get wasted and let the pigs loose at the Woodsons farm. Think I could ride 'em like one of those fancy rodeo cowboys!?" 

Rook laughs at the image but shakes her head. "No way dude. Last time you and Sharky blew up a silo and set a barn on fire when i took yall cow tippin." She leans over putting an arm around Hurks shoulder. "Speaking of Sharky, where is he? Does he still think I'm gonna arrest him, cause that was just a joke."

Hurk jumps up from the couch, knocking over a few beer cans from the side table and points an acquisitive finger in her face. "You was serious that day man! I ain't ever seen someone ticked off as you was. If he hadn't of saved your ass from that bull man, you'd have taken us both in!" 

Rook stifles a laugh before pushing his hand from her face. "That'd make me an accessory to a list of crimes I'd rather not admit to being a part of." She sees his face twist with amusement, then he flicks her nose. 

"Dang, you know what. Bonafide disaster of a cop cause you're always aiding our criminal adventures, but you're the best damn friend I ever had." He rubs his thumb along his goatee then says, "I tell you what. I'll let you in on where Sharkys at, but you've gotta sweeten the deal for me brobafet."

"You insult me, then insist I sweeten the deal, seriously?"

"I'm deadly serious, like a ninja. I ain't blind and I know what you're gonna see tonight will be far more better then anythin' you could imagine. Now, what I want is simple. I wanna use your jeep while you visit Sharky at his new job. That's it."

After a few stipulations, Rook drove the 40 minutes to the next town over. "That's it!" Hurk yelled. A neon sign read, 'The Swinging Sirloin Bar'. 

"You mean to tell me I drove nearly a hour to pound a few back in some sleezy bar?!" She says squinting her eyes at Hurk.

"Whoa whoa whoa. That's somethin' I don't need to know. Now a deal's a deal amigo." Hurk says with his ears covered. She's confused, nothing she said should make him cringe like that. Rook stepped out of the jeep and he took over the driver's seat. 

"I'll see ya tomorrow amigo, dont worry Sharky won't mind riding you. Shit, what I meant was giving you a ride. In his car. Oh hell, just...bye!" He stammers and flies out of the parking lot.

That was...odd. Opening the door to the bar, everything suddenly makes sense as her ears are assaulted by women hollering and catcalling. She sees a stage with a semi naked man gyrating on a random woman seated on stage. To her right is a hallway with multiple doors, and to the left is the bar. She makes her way over, taking a seat at the end furthest from stage. Her cheeks flush, not for the sight in the room, but because she thought this was a hole in the wall bar. That serves steak. Not a strip club. 

The bartender makes his way over. "The names Seth. What can I get you beautiful?" 

Rook shrugs her shoulders, "Whiskey sour I guess. I'm here to see a friend, maybe you can point me to him? Goes by Sharky."

The man behind the counter slides her drink to her. "Only know stage names and faces, got a description?"

There's a loud commotion center stage, the man on stage now had his head up the back side of the random womans skirt, seemingly motorboating her ass. Rook curses, horrified but unable to look away. "Do uh, do all your dancers get so, hands on?"

Seth raises an eyebrow. "Well now, are you curious to find out, or jealous the friend your crushing on feels up on all the ladies in the same way?"

Rook snaps her head back around glaring daggers at the bartender. "What! How did you, I mean no. I'm not... jealous." She folds her arms across her chest. "I'm-Oh. Oh my God, he's a stripper?" She pulls her phone from her jeans and shows his picture to Seth.

"Crushing on Daddy Cool? His no touch rule drives the women crazy." Rook chokes on her drink, spewing it all over the counter. 

"He's got time for a private dance. Or you can wait for his shift to end." He laughs pouring her another drink and wiping up the mess. "But if you wait, some other woman will probably take his last dance."

That's how Rook found herself sitting on a questionable leather couch in a dimly lit room, waiting.

Ten minutes felt like an eternity, before she finally heard the door open. She resists the urge to turn around and face him when he starts speaking. 

"First things first, I got a couple ground rules. One, no touching unless you have my consent, two, hav-" Sharky stops dead in his tracks when he finally comes face to face with his customer. He twists the owl ring on his left finger, opening and closing his mouth before finding his voice again. "Uh, he-hey shorty. What uh, how-why are you here?"

Rook stretches her arms out, relaxing into the couch. "Well isn't it obvious? I've been missing you lately. Now I know why you've been gone." 

"I ain't been avoiding you if that's what you're thinkin'. Just need extra cash, and well with my record'n all..."

"Well I've got plenty of extra cash." 

"Hell dep, I can't ask for your money, I-"

Laughter bubbled up from Rook, catching him off guard. She stood up, placing her hand on his shoulder, whispering in his ear. "I don't want you to ask. I wanna see your skills, Daddy Cool." She watches as he pulls out his phone, unsure if he's actually gonna strip. Maybe it was the way she purred his stage name in his ear, maybe it was part of his act, but the next thing she knew, he's carrying her to a chair in the center of the room. Music she's never heard before starts playing and Sharky starts circling her. It's an odd song choice, she's beginning to think he's joking but then his hand reaches from behind and wraps around her neck, the other tracing her shoulder and chest. His lips graze her ear, "Remember, no touching." 

The song slows to a sensual beat and he's rolling his hips in sync with the rhythm. He slides across the floor, hands on her knees, pushing her legs apart. Her breath catches in her throat when he slides his hips between her legs, grinding against her. He leans back enough to pull the white tshirt off, wrapping it around her shoulders before running his hands down his chest. She slips her hands down his back feeling his muscles contract with each roll of his hips. Suddenly he's moving away from her, a playful smirk tugging the corners of his mouth. "Shame dep. I had one rule and you've already gone'n broke it." He sways his hips, thumbs tucked behind the waist of his jeans. "Maybe I should go?"

Rook is flustered, what she thought was going to be hilarious, is actually turning her on more than she wants to admit. She turns her head to the side, clearing her throat. "No. Don't- don't stop." She hates how desperate that came out. 

Sharky nods his head, sliding his hands to the button on his jeans. He bites his lip as he pops the button open, turning his back to her, moving his body until they drop to the floor. Sharky looks back over his shoulder and slaps his ass. Rook giggles at the sight, though the orange thong actually looks like sin on him, then he's striding her way. He puts one leg up on the arm of the chair and takes her ponytail, pulling it free, grabbing fistfuls of loose hair. 

He starts singing with the music "I need it, jesus. Burn baby burn." Pulling her head to his waist and snapping his hips. She can't resist the urge to grab his thighs, and he makes no move to stop her this time. Her cheeks are hot as his erection brushes against her chin. He pulls her head back, leaving kisses along her jaw and neck as he slides his body back down. Instinctively she wraps her legs around his hips. Sharky cups her ass, picking her up, and begins rocking against her. The music stops but neither of them seem to notice. Rook smashes her lips to his, all teeth and tongue. She pulls away as she realizes she's just kissed him. He gently lowers her back to her feet, taking a few awkward steps back. 

"I um, I don't know what came over me..I" 

He shakes his head, "Shit dep I didn't mind whatever that was."

"I wasn't finished. I was gonna see if you wanted to take me back to your place, finish what you started here?" 

"Hell yeah, but just so we're clear, you started this."

[rainydawgradioblog]

RDR Essentials – Electronic/Pop (3/2)

RDR Essentials is a weekly newsletter of alternating genres that outlines key releases of the past month, upcoming events around Seattle and happenings in the specified music genre.

Made in collaboration between Rainy Dawg DJs and the Music Director.

Releases

Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia

Future Nostalgia sees Dua Lipa reinventing herself into disco. While planning for a new album, Dua Lipa cleverly decided to fill the niche for the fun and confident disco sound that’s missing in today’s pop music. The resulting body of work sees her reaching spectacular highs. Lipa opens the album perfectly with the funky title track. She uses “Future Nostalgia” to let the listener know her aim of creating music that sounds original and fresh while still pandering to nostalgia. On “Levitating”, Lipa sings over an intricate production complete with looping synths and funky strings. The whole song is designed to make the listener move. “I’m levitating, You can fly away with me tonight, Baby, let me take you for a ride” she sings, and that's exactly what she does. “Love Again” is a slick pop song about finding love after heartbreak that amusingly opens with a sample of “Your Woman” by White Town, a song that samples the same source material as the “Darth Vader Theme”. On the highlight and possibly the best song of her career, “Don’t Start Now”, Lipa has never sounded more cool and confident. Powered by her vocals and an evolving bass line, the song demands that you take it seriously. Flawlessly flowing between the breeziness of the verses and the urgentness of the chorus, this song establishes itself as a modern classic. On “Break My Heart”, Lipa cleverly manipulates melody to surprise the listener with a brilliant chorus. Effortlessly returning to the melody of the chorus after seemingly building up to the end of the chorus, Lipa creates an extremely satisfying bait and switch. Although the production of this album is consistently successful, its power comes straight from Dua Lipa herself. Her confidence and energy give every song the extra oomph to win you over. This album makes it clear that Dua Lipa’s mission is to make every song impossible not to dance or smile to. I recommend giving this album a listen and hope you find something to have fun with.

FFO – Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Charli XCX

- Jackson Fennell

  Black Dresses – Peaceful as Hell  

On Peaceful as Hell, Black Dresses, Devi McCallion and Ada Rook, use vocal distortion and experimental production to chronicle their persistent effort to survive despite feelings of despondency and distress. “DAMAGE SUPPRESSOR”, opens up with McCallion singing “It's just rock and roll, it's not that serious” before erupting with ominous distorted synths and guitar that is later paired with an upbeat piano melody. The song carries us through an internal battle to keep living despite a sense of unavoidable hopelessness. At the song’s climax, McCallion ups the stakes with the line “Worthless dreaming, In a dying world, That I already love so I can’t give it up yet”, eliciting a strong emotional response in the listener that’s further emphasized by the slightly monotonous delivery of the other verses of the song. “SCARED 2 DEATH”, starts with spacey vocals and guitar before transforming into a hard rock song as the chorus comes in and McCallion and Rook scream “Scared to death of the whole world”. On my favorite track, “SHARP HALO”, McCallion and Rook imagine themselves as divine angels facing unimaginable suffering. This track employs a magical combination of drums, bells, synths, and distortion to frame their amazing pop melodies and dark narrative. The penultimate song, “CREEP U”, is the most accessible of the album and could pass for an experimental indie rock song. The song progresses gradually while McCallion and Rook imagine their own bodies as haunted houses, adding more and more distortion until it all explodes. Now is the perfect time to experience this album with its themes of loneliness and survival and its apocalyptic atmosphere.

FFO – 100 Gecs, GFOTY, Sleigh Bells

- Jackson Fennell

Yves Tumor – Heaven To a Tortured Mind

Heaven To a Tortured Mind brilliantly reveals Yves Tumor as the next true rock star. Pivoting slightly away from the abrasive and experimental sound of their previous albums, Yves still finds a way to remain true to themself. On the opening track “Gospel For a New Century”, Yves couples amazing pop melodies with distortion and classic trumpets to create a masterpiece. As soon as you hear Yves deliver the line “This ain’t by design, Girl”, you realize that this song is never going to escape your head. On “Romanticist”, Yves details their obsession with a possibly harmful lover. “You know you are my everything, I wanna dance into your hurricane, Blinded by your glare again” Yves sings over distorted guitar and white noise. Then as the song ends it literally explodes into fireworks as it transitions seamlessly into “Dream Palette”. When the fireworks subside, Yves sings “Floating through what feels like, A declaration of love, Our hearts are in danger” with a delivery so perfect it sends chills down my spine. Yves desperately pleads with a lover as brilliant background vocals, provided by Julia Cummings, go in and out adding further to the desperation. With melodies and an instrumental reminiscent of Prince, “Super Star” sees Yves reassuring their lover of their dedication to love with a confidence impossible not to believe. Toward the end of the album, Yves returns to the more laid back and minimalist sounds one would see on their old albums. On “Strawberry Privilege”, Yves softly sings to a lover as a bass plays and an angelic voice sings behind them. This album serves to prove the thesis that Yves Tumor will probably always be the coolest and most talented person in the room.

FFO – Prince, Blood Orange, Arca

- Jackson Fennell

Upcoming Releases:

5/15

Charli XCX - How I’m Feeling Now 

Perfume Genius - Set My Heart on Fire Immediately

Yung Lean - Starz

5/22

Baths - Pop Music / False B-Sides II

6/5

Jessie Ware - What’s Your Pleasure

 Virtual Shows:

5/5: Christine and the Queens @ KEXP

12pm PST @ “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bavZe47um4”

5/8: Dorian Electra, Machine Girl, umru, and more @ Club Cringe

5pm PST @ “www.clubcringe.com”

5/8: Yaeji and Friends @ Club Quarantine

6pm PST @ Zoom Code before event on Instagram: @clubquarantine

5/8: Noise Complaint Feat local Seattle DJs (Fundraiser for Kremwerk)

6pm PST @ “twitch.tv/subsetgetsit”

[onestowatch]

MUSIC VIDEO PREMIERE + Q&A: Alejandro- “Lost”

It happens to the best of us. We embark a personal journey with the most genuine and virtuous intentions, and then somewhere along the road, we divert into something completely different--something negative and perhaps shameful. Alejandro’s “Lost” is a powerfully honest testament to that reality, and Ones To Watch has your music video premiere along with a deeply insightful Q&A with Alejandro today. 

In the “Lost” video, a lush and beautiful nature setting is juxtaposed with the ugly truth of Alejandro’s self-identity struggle. As he comes to terms with his personal choices (“If I wanted out, I would’ve never stayed.”), grim guitar riffs and bass-infused percussion pull us deeper and deeper into his conflicted psyche. He expanded,

"‘Lost’ is about growing into or becoming something you fear or hate. Now you've come to realize that it's almost impossible to change because that fear/hate is all you really know.”

Today is a glorious day for Alejandro fans because the “Lost” music video also comes with the release of his debut EP, Alejandro. The producer who confessed that “doubt is one of [his] demons” as he lent a hand in creating Rihanna and Sia hits has officially come into his own as a solo artist, and we must say, he wears it well. Learn more about Alejandro below, and pick up his EP here.

OTW: You started producing in 2013, and you’ve already accomplished so much. Can you tell us a little about how your career started? 

I was in middle school when I discovered music as my channel to the source. I always operated at my best anytime I played an instrument, wrote a lyric or simply hummed a melody, but I felt like I was missing one small piece to the puzzle. I played in a few bands in high school and fell in love with programming beats after I bought my first shitty recorder, but the reality was I knew I couldn't do this forever. I just felt like I wasn't good enough. I eventually surrendered to the little doubt that enjoyed following me around. So I went to college after high school. I dropped out after sitting in class one day just thinking, "What the fuck am I doing here?" I am not doing what I was put here to do. So I moved to Los Angeles and applied to the one and only Westlake Recording Studios. I was lucky enough to get a job there and worked my way up. 

Next thing you know, you have this young Mexican-American from the city of Fillmore working along side with all the biggest artists, producers and writers in the game. I began to notice I was better than I thought, and all my weaknesses were just getting stronger. I was hired at Westlake to be trained as an engineer, but while there, I found out producing was the strongest tool in my toolbox. I knew in that moment that I would eventually be making big records.

 OTW: Before going solo, you produced for Rihanna, Sia, and Ne-Yo, just to name a few. When and why did you decide you wanted to break out and do your own thing?

It was about the end of last year when I decided I was going to finally listen to my heart and pursue my own solo career. The middle of last year was when I started to notice people needed me more than I needed them, but I felt like I was still getting taken advantage of. I didn’t feel respected anymore. So I would start fantasizing about going solo, playing sold out shows, meeting with fans etc., but regardless of how good I knew I was, doubt would come back around and try to scare me. You see, doubt is one of my demons. It's a virus, a cancer. Remember the movie "A Beautiful Mind" with Russell Crowe? *Spoiler Alert* There is a scene when he realizes his friend and the little girl are imaginary because he is schizophrenic. Well, the imaginary people never disappeared after he confronts them; he just learns to shut them out and ignore them. That is what doubt is kind of like for me. It never goes anywhere, it tries its best to lure me back into the dark, and over time that demon never submits or loses its power; I just get stronger. Because of that doubt, it took time to realize I had the "secret" all along. I was waiting to tag along on someone else's success but I had what I was looking for; I just didn't believe it. I felt like I wasn't good enough again, like I would come up short if I tried to go for the gold. I didn't want to fail. Michelangelo Buonarroti said, "The greatest danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark." I read this and thought, "Its my damn responsibility to be the best I can possibly be and perform to the greatest potential which was gifted to me!" This realization is what pushed me to go solo whether people liked it or not. It’s my fuckin’ duty.

 OTW: What sets your solo music apart from the work you’ve previously done for other artists?

It's 100% true. It's organic. I am not trying to please everyone in the group, or worried if an artist's manager is going to like it or not--I am just letting go and allowing my higher self to say, sing, play what it wants because it's right and because it needs to be done. Not that I didn't have fun working with other artists. Creating is always such a beautiful experience whether I do it alone or with a team, but for once there wasn't anything stopping me. I didn't feel like there was a list of "rules" behind me while writing or producing a song.

  OTW: Who are your biggest musical influences? 

I think my biggest musical influence is Portishead. The sad thing is by the time my friend introduced me to them, they had already released all their albums. But there is no other music out there that gives me that dark/sad emotion through Beth's melodies stacked on top of the dirtiest, hip-hop grooves and breakbeats. Love that shit.

The combination of MF Doom and Madlib is a very big one for me. That Madvillainy album changed my life. It's hard to explain what it did to me, it just kind of turned on a “light.”

Kanye West is probably my biggest artist influence. He is one of the very few artists that consistently pushes the creative envelope. Just when you think you have figured him out, he pulls the rug from under you. He’s not afraid to take risks, and that really motivates me to dig deep, so deep where things start to get uncomfortable.

OTW: If your sound was a color, what would it be?

I don't really see sound in colors; I see it more in shapes. But if I had to pick a color, my sound now is an aqua blue color which fades into a purplish red, kind of like the cover art of my single "Arrows." It represents this calming wave which has some evil/darkness to it. Not that I am an evil person, but I believe we all have a little evil within us.

 OTW: Who are 3 artists on your Ones To Watch List & why?

I try not to listen to too much music. I’m already kind of overwhelmed with what I hear in my head. I am also easily influenced, so I don't like the thought of me possibly copying something from another artist without knowing it. So it's rare for me to come across new artists--by the time I come across them, they aren't really new anymore. With that said, here is my list (in no specific order):

Bibi Bourelly is one for sure. I don't know if she has an album out or not but I came across her singles "Riot" and "Ego." I knew about her writing for Rihanna, but when I heard her two singles, I was very impressed and inspired. I can feel how she allows herself to get possessed by the art. I can't imagine what we would write together.

Ian KAMAU is another. I came across his song "PohLease" and was blown away. It was exactly what I needed to hear in that moment. I haven't listened to any of his other stuff yet because when I come across a song that speaks to me, I will literally listen to that one song for a few days, sometimes a few weeks.

My third would have to be Rook Monroe, dude that wrote “Desperado” for Rihanna. We were both working at the same studio recently, but he was in the room next to me. I got to meet him, and he just “had it,” you know? I felt like he knew something no one else did. I haven’t heard any of his other music, and I don’t know if he has any solo records out yet, but after meeting him and hearing his “Desperado” demo, it was enough to make me a believer.  

 OTW: You’ve released 5 impressive singles since launching your solo career in May. What’s next for you?

More music of course, but my music is just the beginning. I want to help change the world. I want to help inspire the next generation. I am ready to re-educate not only our youth, but the people who have been misled. I want to give hope to the weak and remind them to never ever give up. Like I said before, it is my responsibility to create which will hopefully inspire others to be their best. We need to work as a unity to overcome things that are much bigger than us, and I want to remind everyone that we all have the "secret" within us. There is a Greek Proverb that says, "A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in." I'm not an old man but I am here to plant as many trees as I can, even if I don't get to enjoy their shade.